Community Colleges of Spokane at Pullman

Calendar

Dec-Jan: Adult Basic Ed, GED/HS; Online Drop-in, M-Th Dec 3, 10am: Community Chat (all welcome) Dec 8 &15, 10am: SFCC Transfer Tuesday Dec 11: Final Day of Fall Quarter ‘20 Jan 4: First Day of Winter Quarter ‘21 Jan 14: SFCC Pullman Honors Student Recognition Feb 9, 10am: Community Chat (all welcome) Feb 12: Financial Aid Priority Funding Spring ‘21 Feb 22-26: SFCC Intercultural Week Mar 9, 10am: Community Chat (all welcome) Mar 15: New Student Admission Deadline for Spring ‘21 Mar 25: Final Day of Spring Quarter ‘21

ABE, GED, & HS21+ Completion

Saida Garsellaoui recently completed her High School Diploma at the Pullman Center of CCS. By experience and outlook on life, she is a citizen of the world. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Saida is originally from Tunisia and, to date, has resided in six different countries before making Pullman the home for her husband, their six children, and one granddaughter. Saida is now embarking on her very first college classes. Saida shared the following with us: Tell us about yourself.

I come from a little country named Tunisia that exists in Northern Africa right between Libya and Algeria. Even though I am now a U.S. citizen, I consider myself a citizen of the world since I have lived in seven different states and six different countries. On this journey around the world, my husband and I had six children, and now I am a grandmother to one granddaughter. How did you get started at our college? Saida Garsellaoui

I found out about SFCC when my daughter was ready to start her college education. When I took her to the Pullman Center, I discovered that they have an adult education program where people of any age can get their GED. I jumped at the chance to start learning again. How did the program work for you?

Being in the program came with ups and downs. It was challenging for me to balance my home life along with my work life. I still had kids in high school, so managing my time was really important and a frequently stressful task. Yet, being a student of this program had a lot of positive social aspects. The community that you build within it, the friends you make, and the new people that you meet and mingle who come from all parts of the world and have all kinds of backgrounds. I feel honored and proud to be part of this community and program. And look, the idea that even at my age and after such a long time without studying, I started something new and exciting. What would you advise others thinking about their education?

The one advice I want to give newcomers to the program and, really, anyone else: Cherish the time that you have in education as well as the people you connect with during your studies. Some days will be challenging, but with a little patience, perseverance, a clear mindset, and help from your teacher and friends you will make it across the finish line. What comes next for you?

Ha, the most challenging part of the program was worrying about the end of the program. What would I do once I finished? But because of the amazing experience, I plan to challenge myself even more! I will start taking college classes to continue my education. Amazing, isn’t it?

Complete your high school diploma with us now! High school completion is a competency-based program for adults 18 years or older, which credits you for previous education, work experience, and a GED score. Our high school completion courses are available online and each student has an individualized study plan. With our open enrollment, you can start today. Call us 509.279.6458.

Dyan Bledsoe

Patrick Forster

Season’s Gratitude and Hope

On behalf of the staff and students at the Pullman Center of the Community Colleges of Spokane, we extend our deepest gratitude to the many individuals and organizations on the Palouse who have supported us throughout this challenging year. We started the calendar year celebrating our 20th anniversary of serving the Palouse. We got through the year because of the many helping hands and caring hearts in our community. With you we share the hope for a new year in which public health, economy, and civic life thrive and bring new opportunities to our interdependent communities.

As members of the community, many of our students have maintained their employment at local businesses, earning and enjoying their labor's fruits and dignity. Our students in need have received support from outstanding organizations such as the Community Action Center, Alternative to Violence on the Palouse, and United Way of Whitman County. Many of our students are also co-enrolled in Pullman and area high schools or at Washington State University. Both institutions have continued to serve throughout the pandemic with the interest of students as their priority. As an educational institution, we understand the pressure of competing demands on our operations and services, especially in a time of unprecedented crisis. We appreciate their unfailing commitment to service to the lives of thousands of students. We are immensely grateful to WSU, who extended many of their health services, from COVID prevention to flu shots to our student community.

Finally, we want to acknowledge the outstanding services that the City of Pullman has maintained without interruption and that have sustained so many in our Pullman Center community during this extended crisis. To mention just three: The Pullman Neill Library for educational and entertaining materials; Pullman Transit for getting around; the Pullman Chamber for staying informed.

We are deeply moved to be part of a community that values solidarity and the greater good. We are prepared to serve as the organization for broad college access and equitable educational attainment on the Palouse. We will be committed to building strength and resilience in our community in the coming year and the decade ahead. Dyan Bledsoe, ABE Faculty and Center Manager Patrick Forster, Assistant Dean

185 Veterans Way, Pullman WA, 99164; just east of WSU’s Daggy Hall

Email pullman@sfcc.spokane.edu; Phone 509.322.2706; Web pullman.sfcc.spokane.edu