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frost named College President

New Era: Frost to Replace James Walton, Who Will Retire By Courtney Simmons The Blaze

After months of searching for a new college president following Dr. James Walton’s announcement of retirement, the Centralia College Board of Trustees has voted unanimously for Dr. Robert Frost to take his place, effective July 1 of this year. “We are very happy to welcome Dr. Robert Frost to Centralia College as our new president,” said Stu Halsan, board chairman. “We know he will be a good fit for the college, both respecting our history and leading us into the future.” Dr. Frost recently served as interim superintendent/ president of the College of the Siskiyous, before which he was the college’s vice James Walton retiring president of student learning. His qualifications include a doctorate in higher education from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, a master’s degree in history/international relations from Webster University in St. Louis, and a bachelor’s

The Blaze / File Photo

Robert Frost gestures as he answers a question from the audience at Minnie Lingreen Auditorium on the campus of Centralia College during a public forum Tuesday evening. Frost was one of three candidates for president of Centralia College. He was selected unanimously by the Board of Trustees.

degree in English from Wichita State University, Kansas. Frost is fluent in Spanish, which he has taught as a tenured community college professor, along with history and humanities. He is well-known as a speaker on rural colleges, international education, and

the challenges societies face in an era of rapid globalization. Frost has been married to LaDona Martin-Frost for 26 years, and together they have two daughters. The couple’s eldest daughter is currently attending Humboldt State University, and their youngest

daughter is a student and Mt. Shasta High School. “The selection process has taken many months, and we would like to thank all those who participated,” Halsan said. “Those who took part in the campus and community forums, served on the search

committee, and the many who submitted comments during the selection process. Without participation and support from everyone, we wouldn’t have been able to find such a highly qualified candidate as Dr. Frost.”

By The Blaze

The Centralia College Robotics program invited middle schools throughout the region to attend the Blazer Bot 2014 competition on Saturday, April 19. The event consisted of a friendly competition where each school's team would create robots of their own, primarily out of Lego building blocks, to compete in three different categories: Sumo Bot, Follow the Line and Drag Race. The event lasted nearly four hours and was met with great success. The event was held with the idea in mind to get students an early start on passions for robotics and a possible interest in Centralia College's Electronics, Robotics and Automaton (ERA) workforce education program.

Edward Riley / Centralia College

A student prepares for the Sumo bot competition.

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Members of team GS2.0 from Washington Elementary School were awarded the Sportsmanship Award, which was voted on by the E-Club members and judges.

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Students compete in a Sumo bots competition, during which two robots must autonomously locate each other, and both attempt to push each other off of the arena during the two-minute timed event.

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Centralia Robotics Show Building Blocks of Program

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Blaze 2 • The Blaze, Centralia, Wash., May 2014 Contact us at editor@centraliablaze.com

Walton Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Retiring College President Receives Phi Theta Kappa Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award By Courtney Simmons The Blaze

The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society, with 1,285 chapters on college campuses across all 50 states as well as multiple other countries and U.S. territorial possessions, is the largest honor society in higher education. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted into the society since it was formed in 1918, and approximately 135,000 students are inducted annually. In April, PTK honored Centralia College’s president, Dr. James Walton, with the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, named for the late Dr. Michael Bennett, president of St. Petersburg College in Florida, is presented to a college president or campus CEO at either a two-year or senior institution who has both been a supporter of PTK and is retiring from his or her career. Since beginning at Cen-

‘‘I’m proud of Centralia College, our PTK students, and the many achievements these students have made to the college and the community over the years. They each have a tremendous commitment to involvement in our college and community.’’ James Walton

college president

tralia College, Dr. Walton has been an advocate for and supporter of the honor society, which has a large presence on campus and annually sends two students to the All-Washington Academic Team event. He will be retiring this year. The award was presented during a ceremony in Orlando, Florida, during PTK’s annual

convention. “It’s an honor to receive this award,” Walton said. “I’m proud of Centralia College, our PTK students, and the many achievements these students have made to the college and the community over the years. They each have a tremendous commitment to involvement in our college and community.”

Bachelor Degree of Applied Science in Diesel Technology Receives NWCCU Accreditation By Courtney Simmons The Blaze

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Beginning this fall, Centralia College will be offering a new bachelor degree program: the Bachelor of Applied Science in Diesel Technology (BASD). The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the agency responsible for ensuring that accreditation standards are met, has

approved the program. “We have worked extremely hard to make sure that we have a quality diesel program,” Larry McGee, associate dean of bachelors programs, said. “As we developed the program, we worked with diesel professionals such as Pape Machinery, NC Machinery, and Cummins Northwest, making sure that we not only met but exceeded

industry standards. It is our goal to provide the industry with quality graduates they want to hire.” Accreditation from the NWCCU was the final goal the college needed to meet, and now Centralia College is among only four colleges in the nation offering a bachelor of diesel technology. It is the first one on the West Coast as well

as the first community college to offer a program of this kind. The college offers a twoyear program in diesel technology, and the new BASD is designed for student who have earned that degree and wish to further their education. “Graduates of our program will have higher level skills in dealing with technical complexities in the diesel field, and

Library to present “Espectáculo Latino,” a performance of Latino music and dance. The event is free and intended for audiences of all ages. The performance will take place at Centralia College’s Corbet Theatre on Friday, May 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) will be offered in the lobby for free, courtesy of Latinos Unidos. Tony Anaya, Pastor at the Iglesia Cristiana Resurrección Church in Centralia, will act as master of cer-

emonies. The program will include: • Argentine Tango with Tacoma’s Luis Perez and Sumiko Webb of studio Backstreet Tango who will dance various forms of the tango from the rhythmic to the contemporary and a style from the Golden Age of Tango in the 1940s and 50s • Cuban Conga Drums by Tristian Gallegos, a local musician • Brazilian Choro Music with Choro Tomorrow, an

Olympia-based group of musicians who play a popular form of urban instrumental music with an emphasis on improvisation. • Mexican Folk Dancing (Baile folklórico) by a local group of children from age 6 to 12 with traditional costumes •••

will have management skills that are a key ingredient in a successful business environment,” McGee said. ...

For more information on the BASD program, contact Larry McGee at lmcgee@centralia.edu or visit the Centralia College website at http://bachelors.centralia.edu/.

Tweet Espectaculo Latino, a Latino Music & Dance Event with us! Free: Cultural Event Will Be Presented at the Corbet Theatre at Centralia College By Courtney Simmons The Blaze

Latinos Unidos, a Centralia College club dedicated to educational, cultural, social and political representation for Latinos as well as community service, will be teaming up with the Centralia Timberland

Two More Shows: Tickets Available for Thursday, Friday By Courtney Simmons For The Blaze

The Centralia College Theater Department is currently between performances of the

the chronicle DelivereD 3-Days a week

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$ just

their journey. It depicts every phase of life on their journey westward, from marriage and childbirth to illness and death. “Quilters” was written by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek. It was first performed at the Denver Center Theater and in 1984 had a brief life on Broadway, earning six

Tony Award nominations. Thursday’s performance will begin at 7 p.m., and Friday’s will begin at 8 p.m. in the Wickstrom Studio Theater. Regular tickets are $10, senior and student tickets are $8. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling (360) 7369391, ext. 301.

• No more checks to write or payments to mail! • Save off regular monthly home delivery • All you need is a valid Visa, Mastercard or Debit Card (with a Visa or Mastercard logo)

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An event that has been in progress since the founding of Centralia College in 1925

You are invited ...

Corbet/Kemp Statue DedicationCeremony

COMPARE THE SAVINGS! 1 month billed: $12.90 1 month EZ-Pay: $10.00 6 months billed: $65.15 6 months of EZ-Pay: $60.00

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to the unveiling of the statue honoring Margaret Corbet, the first superintendent of Centralia Junior College and Katharine Kemp, dean of women.

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Centralia College campus, south side of the Aadland Esplanade near the clocktower The statue was created by local sculptor Jim Stafford. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 360.736.9391, EXT. 290 • FOUNDATION.CENTRALIA.EDU

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musical, “Quilters,” the story of a pioneer woman and her six daughters. The show opened on May 8, and it will return to the stage Thursday, May 15, before closing on Friday, May 16. “Quilters” is a series of interrelated scenes, following the pioneer women through

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For more information contact the Centralia Timberland Library at (360) 736-0183 or visit www. TRL.org.

Centralia College Theater Presents ‘Quilters’

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CAMPUS NEWS

Your Look at Centralia College Life

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Blaze 3 • The Blaze, Centralia, Wash., May 2014 Your Voice, Your Views

No Gains for 12th-Graders on National Exam WASHINGTON (AP) — Handing out dismal grades, the Nation's Report Card says America's high school seniors lack critical math and reading skills for an increasingly competitive global economy. Only about one-quarter are performing proficiently or better in math and just 4 in 10 in reading. And they're not improving, the report says, reinforcing concerns that large numbers of today's students are unprepared for either college or the workplace. Scores on the 2013 exam in both subjects were little changed from 2009, when the National Assessment of Educational Progress was last given to 12th-graders. The new results, released Wednesday, come from a representative sample of 92,000 public and private school students. The report follows the justreleased and seemingly more encouraging research that U.S. high school graduation rates in 2012 reached 80 percent, a record. One possible explanation is that lower-performing students who in the past would have dropped out of school are now remaining in the sampling of students who take the exam, said John Easton, acting commissioner of the Education's

sponses to a survey about their educational experiences offered some clues about their performance. Among the findings: • Students who reported rarely or never discussing reading interpretations in class averaged lower scores than those who had such discussions daily or almost daily. • An overwhelming majority reported that reading was enjoyable. Students who strongly disagreed with that idea had scores much lower than those who strongly agreed. • Math scores were higher, on average, for students who took calculus and lowest for students who had not taken a math course beyond Algebra I. • Math scores were higher for students who reported math was their favorite subject, believed it would help them in the future or thought their class was engaging. Even as 12th-grade scores have stagnated, fourth- and eighth-grade students have made slow but steady progress on the exam since the early 1990s; most progress has come in math. Michael Petrilli, executive vice president at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, said it's unclear why younger students are doing better while high school

Department's National Center for Education Statistics. Wednesday's results are likely to embolden supporters of the Common Core standards that are being rolled out in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Designed to develop critical thinking skills, they spell out what math and English skills students should master at each grade. There have been political storms in many states over the standards, which were pushed by governors who were concerned about the skill levels of their high school graduates. Opponents say the standards have a federalist bent and are untested. Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and a former governor of West Virginia, said the new national results speak to a "desperate need for the aggressive implementation" of the standards. In reading, the 38 percent share of students performing at or above the proficient level was lower than when the assessment was first given in 1992, when it was 40 percent. Scores have remained similar since 1994. Past comparisons in math date only to 2005. Scores had increased from 2005 to 2009. Student participants' re-

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seniors are not. "This is one of the great mysteries of education today is why are we not seeing the same improvements at the 12thgrade level as the fourth- and eighth-grade level," Petrilli said. One speculation is that high school seniors simply aren't motivated when they take this exam. More ominously, another thought is that students are taking watered-down classes and "all we've done is put them in courses with bigger titles," said Mark Schneider, the vice president at the American Institutes for Research. He is the former commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. At all levels, there continue to be racial disparities. Among high school seniors, white and Asian students scored higher on average in the recent results in both reading and math than black, Hispanic and American Indian students. Asian students scored higher than white students in math but did not do significantly better in reading. As in past years, male students did better than female students in math, but females outperformed males in reading. The new results did not include global comparisons, but U.S. students historically do

poorly on international assessments compared to many foreign peers. Education Secretary Arne Duncan noted that despite the good news related to graduation rates and scores in younger grades, high school achievement has been flat in recent years. "We must reject educational stagnation in our high schools, and as a nation we must do better for all students, especially for African-American and Latino students," Duncan said in a statement. Community colleges and four-year institutions have been trying to improve their remedial education programs, given that only about one-quarter of students who take remedial classes end up graduating. It's estimated that more than one-third of all college students, and more than onehalf in community colleges, need some remedial help, according to research from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition to the national scores released Wednesday, 13 states voluntarily participated at a greater level and had scores reported.

Hundreds Attend Annual Centralia College Job Fair

Got Skills? The Blaze is always accepting submissions from Centralia College students for the opinion page, photos of events, or even comics. Think you’ve got what it takes to write for The Blaze? Email Editor-in-Chief Courtney Simmons at editor@centraliablaze.com, or call The Blaze World Headquarters at (360) 807-8250.

B THE BLAZE STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Courtney Simmons Web/Print Design: Dakota Rakestraw Sports: Luke Kilgore Comic Artist: Ely Tilley Reporters: Taylor Tryon Luke Kilgore Contact us at: (360) 807-8250 editor@ centraliablaze.com Visit us at... centraliablaze.com

GET IN THE LOOP Pete Caster / pcaster@chronline.com

Above: Job seekers and vendors fill the Michael W. Smith Gymnasium on the Centralia College campus for the 2014 Job Fair on Wednesday, April 30, in Centralia. Left: Douglas McClure, 18, Chehalis, fills out an application as he walks around the Centralia College Job Fair on Wednesday, April 30, at the Michael W. Smith Gymnasium in Centralia.

A vendor walks her supplies out the door after the Centralia College Job Fair at the Michael W. Smith Gymnasium in Centralia.

Look for our Saturday commentary by John McCroskey

Want to submit your letters to the editor? Contact us at “editor@centraliablaze. com,” or call The Blaze World Headquarters at (360) 807-8250

May 14 Named Student Employment Day for Students at Centralia College Read More Online @

If you are interested in summer employment on campus, please note that summer on-campus jobs will be posted on Monday, May 19, in front of the Student Job Center on the Job Board on the upper floor of the Student Center Building. Students may begin working on July 1, and must be intending to enroll in at least six college credits during the summer quarter in order to be eligible for a summer job on campus. If you have any questions questions, please call or e-mail Joanie at 736-9391, extension 208, or jrogerson@centralia.edu.

Centralia College Student News on the Web

ATTENTION STUDENTS

in gross wages by year-end and we expect similar earning potential this year. We are proud of our team of student workers, as well as our dedicated student employee supervisors.

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Dr. James Walton has signed a proclamation announcing that May 14 is Student Employment Day at Centralia College. The proclamation affirms the importance of the student workforce at our college and

acknowledges that the college’s ability to provide quality service and maintain programs is enhanced by employing students at Centralia College. This year, we have placed over 300 student workers on the Centralia College campus! Last year, our student employees earned more than $525,000

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For The Blaze

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By Joan Rogerson

Centralia College Student News on the Web

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Blaze 4 • The Blaze, Centralia, Wash., May 2014 Your Look at Centralia College Athletics

TRAILBLAZER SPORTS

Moore Offense Key for Blazers STANDOUT: Castle Rock Product’s Hefty Batting Average Leading West Division-Champion Lady Blazers

teacher and my dad works at a paper mill. My whole family works hard, so I'm sure that's where my work ethic comes from." Moore's advice to younger athletes seeking success? Confidence and hard work are the keys. "I think it's just about staying confident up there and knowing that you can actually do it," Moore said. "Putting in reps and having confidence in yourself are probably the most important things, not only as an athlete, but as a person." This year's Lady Blazer softball squad has already made history with a first-ever West Division title, but the women don't plan on stopping there. They have the ultimate goal in mind of going all the way and winning the NWAACC Championships, which begin Friday and run through Monday at Delta Park in Portland. "We come out every year and we want to win it all. Our expectation is to be as competitive as possible and bring new traditions and add another chapter to the history of Centralia College softball," Moore said. As a coach, there is something Matt Bajo sees out of the former Rocket that is more meaningful than her efficiency on his softball team. "The biggest part that I'm happy and proud about is that she is having fun and enjoying it out there," Bajo said. "It's a really special thing to see."

By Luke Kilgore For The Blaze

By The Numbers

Have a mobile phone? chronline.com/mobile Brandon Hansen / bhansen@chronline.com

Megan Moore, from Castle Rock, leads Centralia College’s softball team with a .508 batting average.

Hot Bat Sophomore Megan Moore has mae a big impact for Centralia this season. Here are her statistics through the regular season. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG 38 130 41 66 7 2 2 28 10 6 22 .508

"They're always there for me and they help me through a lot if I need anything," Moore said. "They are the ones that got me involved in sports since before I can remember. My mom is a

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Centralia College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, genetic information, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. All inquiries regarding compliance with access, equal opportunity and/or grievance procedures should be directed to the Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Centralia College, 600 Centralia College Blvd, Centralia, WA 98531, or call 360.736.9391, ext. 671, or 360.807.6227/TTY.

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an unorthodox style. Naturally a right-hander for throwing and daily use, Moore steps up to the plate batting as a lefty. "When I was younger, one of my coaches had us all bat lefthanded and I was one of the few that actually stuck to it," Moore said. "I'm so used to it that batting right might be pretty ugly." When asked about what makes her team unique, Moore remarked on the overall chemistry between her and her fellow Blazers. "We are all such great friends and that really helps us come together as an actual team and work together well," Moore said. "We're either on the field together or you can find us hanging out at each other's house. We're always together and we love each other. We're like a big family." Bajo praised Moore for exemplifying the teams mantra of chemistry and camaraderie, saying that Moore doesn't lead vocally, but through her actions. "She has this great positive attitude and she is always out there smiling no matter what is going on and it's very infectious," Bajo said. "She leads by her actions alongside her effort and hard work, and she sets the example which her teammates follow right behind her." In whatever spare time Moore may have, she spends it with her friends, teammates and family. She enjoys hiking and loves to sing (though she claims to not be very good at it). She also works out in the off-season to keep her body in athletic condition. As a two-sport athlete, Megan currently holds a 3.41 GPA at Centralia and plans to transfer to Eastern Washington University to work towards a master's degree in Communication Disorders. Moore's family has served as her main supporters and inspiration throughout the years. They still come down to watch her games often.

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From Castle Rock High School-prospect to breakout two-sport athlete at Centralia College, sophomore Megan Moore has been full of surprises — especially to coach Matt Bajo and the Lady Blazer softball team. "She was by far the biggest surprise we've had," Bajo recalled. "I knew she was going to have to get back into it, but I never expected it would happen so quickly. My expectations have been well surpassed." With a whopping .508 batting average — the third-best in the entire Northwest Athletic Association of Community College — Moore's bat has been crucial in leading Centralia to an 18-2 final West Division league record and the team's Pertinent statistics in first-ever league title. the Centralia College Moore's road to Centralia world of sports was one that wasn't originally in the cards for the Castle Rock Centralia Baseball alumni. Graduating from a softball program that finished Record: 15-25 first and third in Moore's sophLeague: 9-16 (fourth) omore and senior years, respectively, Moore originally had Team Leaders thoughts of attending Lower Columbia Community College Batting Average — and, once she got to Centra1. Brennan Casteel .333 lia, she wasn't planning to play 2. Connor Perry .300 softball. 3. Justin Wilson .290 Moore was invited by best 4. Sam Gillenwater .277 friend and fellow Castle Rock 5. Justin Rinta .237 graduate Maddi Klingberg to attend a Centralia College open gym for volleyball. As the open RBIs gym concluded, head coach Su1. Brennan Casteel 23 san Gordon offered both wom2. Justin Wilson 18 en a spot on the team. 3. Justin Rinta 11 Moore played on the court 4. Connor Perry 9 at the libero position for the 5. Sean Harris 9 Blazers. Wanting to keep a focus on schoolwork without overloading her schedule, West Division Moore opted not to play softStandings ball her freshman year, much to Lg Ov Bajo's dismay. Pierce 22-3 27-11 "What's neat is I always Tacoma 20-5 35-6 thought she was a better softball L. Columbia 17-8 30-13 player," Bajo said. "I watched Centralia 9-16 15-25 her throughout high school and was surprised she wasn't Green Riv. 6-19 9-31 playing softball in college. We Grays Har. 1-24 3-34 couldn't get her the first year but when she came to play the second year, she just picked up Centralia Softball where she left off." Bajo stayed persistent, and Record: 26-13 when this season rolled around, League: 18-2 (first) he asked the 5-foot-7 sophomore to come out and play. Team Leaders Moore accepted this time, and the Blazers softball squad welBatting Average comed her with open arms. 1. Megan Moore .508 "My first love would proba2. Lauren Fisher .424 bly be softball," Moore said. "It's 3. Caitlyn Paul .400 a hard decision. I went with vol4. Emma Brattain .370 leyball my first year and I really 5. Haley Graham .368 enjoyed it. But this year, softball has been a very good experience." RBIs The team had high hopes 1. Erika Brower 37 coming into the spring season. 2. Haley Graham 37 "We knew we had a pretty 3. Caitlyn Paul 34 good group and that it was go4. Megan Moore 28 ing to be better than it ever 5. Emma Brattain 27 has," Moore said. "During the preseason, we were struggling a little bit but we were also West Division playing pretty good teams. We Standings ended up coming together as Lg. Ov. a team and we actually ended Centralia 18-2 26-13 up beating Chemeketa one day Pierce 16-4 24-17 after they killed us the past Highline 12-8 18-18 two times, so we knew that we Grays Har. 9-11 9-23 could do it." As for her current success, Green Riv. 5-15 7-23 Moore didn't expect it in the S. Puget So. 0-20 0-32 slightest. "I never expected to be doso well, especially since I Want More ing took a year off," Moore said. "In Blaze Sports the first alumni game, I asked 'Wow, should I be here Coverage? myself, right now?' But since then, it has gotten way better. We've gotten a lot of practices in as Check us out with well, so I think that's helped a your phone lot." Jumping from high school competition into the college level has proven to be a challenging adjustment for many players. Moore has risen to the challenge and actually boasts a better batting average now than she did in high school, adding 28 RBIs and two home runs in Or, go to: the Blazers' 38 games. centraliablaze.com Moore's success comes with