Inside this issue: 1937 grad shares life story..................page 3 Grad trades Europe for teaching............page 4 LCC a family tradition .........................page 5 Volleyball standout is new coach.........page 7
The future looks bright I took a wonderful sabbatical this fall, traveling around our beautiful nation, reading about the founding fathers (and mothers!) and visiting places important in our history. As I read and traveled and reflected, one thing became clear to me.
English and preparing for citizenship in our English as a Second Language classrooms. We improve so many lives, so many ways.
Yes, the state invests heavily in education, but not enough to make it accessible to all. Not enough to Our nation is still wrestling with the same keep our science labs or other equipment issues our founders faced: foreign affairs, current. Not enough to compete for the wars and taxes; distrust of government, and “I never thought my best instructors. Not enough to equip that truth versus “spin.” They couldn’t agree on commitment could beautiful new fine arts center solutions to some issues—such as slavery and be deepened…but we’re building. the fact that native people already occupied the it has been.” To be as good as we Continent—and left those to future leaders. want to be, LCC also Our founders also knew that their great needs private support. experiment—a democratic republic—would fail unless I’m grateful to the many people leaders and the electorate were educated. People need and companies who have stepped to be able to read and to understand history. They need up and pledged support to be trained in critical thinking and to understand their to this dream of human rights and responsibilities as citizens. potential; of beauty and ideas and community. I never thought my commitment to Lower Columbia We’re nearing our goal College’s mission could be deepened, but it has been. in the reachinghigher Our civilization, our democracy and our community major gift campaign, cannot reach their potential without educated citizens and the future looks who understand issues, support themselves, and bright indeed. influence their governments and the rest of society to move forward and provide for all. Education is a public good, and that’s why the state invests so much in it. We don’t just educate people for the difference we can make in their incomes. We teach civic responsibility and enrich the community too. Thousands are learning in our English, math and science classrooms or enjoying our wonderful sports and cultural events. Hundreds of immigrants are learning
Catalyst is published by Lower Columbia College in coordination with the LCC Foundation. Please contact editor JoAnne Booth with your comments and information at: Lower Columbia College PO Box 3010, Longview, WA 98632 (360) 442-2111, jbooth@lowercolumbia.edu We like to feature our alumni in Catalyst and help you stay in touch with your friends at LCC. Please let us know what you’ve been doing. Contact JoAnne Booth. Would you prefer to receive the Catalyst electronically? Are you receiving more than one copy? Are you changing your mailing address? If so, please contact Marcy Gilchrist at (360) 442-2132 or mgilchrist@lowercolumbia.edu Visit the LCC Foundation’s new website at lowercolumbia.edu/foundation
Dr. Jim McLaughlin, President Lower Columbia College
Warm up for Red Devil Cook-Off You’re invited! Please come to the Red Devil Cook-Off on July 13, 2007 from 6 until 9 p.m. in the LCC Quad. You’ll enjoy great food, fun, music, raffles and refreshments while raising money for LCC student scholarships. Eight local restaurants have already signed up to compete with their favorite chili recipes. Tickets ($25) will be available at the event, or in advance at the Foundation office, (360) 442-2130.
1937 graduate shares life story, local history Delos Wilma, 89, writes at his computer. Big windows look out over Kelso, the town where he was raised. These days he writes mostly letters, but after retiring from Longview Fibre in 1982, he spent five years writing a book, his life story, which is really our story. He grew up while Longview was under construction and had his share of adventures, including the Flood of 1933, when the dike broke and water stood several feet deep in their part of town. Wilma graduated from Kelso High School, where he met the love of his life, Agnes Genevieve Evans. When Wilma started at Lower Columbia Junior College in 1935, the College was in its second year; holding most classes at R.A. Long High School. The next year, LCJC moved its 7-person staff and classes to the Longview Library basement. “I knew Dr. Bauer, the President. He had a cubbyhole office down there in the basement.” Wilma was an honor student, elected Freshman Class President, had a role in “The Mad Hopes” and worked two part-time jobs. He and a dozen other Forestr y majors took their classes from Otto Schraeder, who became Wilma’s friend. They learned about trees and took extra classes one summer at Pack Forest. He minored
in Chemistry and landed a lab assistant job his sophomore year, also working Saturdays at Weyerhaeuser. After graduating from LCC magna cum laude in June 1937, he headed for the University of Washington. Wilma and a buddy rented a room in the garage of an apartment house and worked in the kitchen of a girls’ boarding house. “I started plugging away and I did pretty well. I was editor of the Forest Club Quarterly.” He graduated from the UW magna cum laude in 1939 and entered the university’s master’s program, with a $450 fellowship to carry him through the next year. He received his master of science in Forestry in June 1940. He went to work at Longview Fibre that November—the day Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to his third term— and spent his entire 42-year career there. He started on the “Bull Gang,” doing manual labor around the mill and learning about the mill operation, but he eventually moved into the Technical Department and worked his way up, becoming the Chief Paper Inspector and then Assistant Paper Mill Superintendent. Meanwhile, he and Agnes raised their five children, built a nice house, and went camping—all the things that fill a family album. He was a Scout leader and active in Lions, Toastmasters, Elks and Methodist Church. Four of their children attended LCC, so his memories return to the college, and events such as the muddy “powder puff” football game where his oldest daughter, Gail, ran back the kickoff for the only score of the game. On April 16, 1988, he and two others were inducted into the LCC Hall of Fame. Today, his dear wife has passed on, and he lives at Canterbury Park, where he writes, visits with friends and looks out at a town he helped to shape. The Longview Public Library and Cowlitz County Historical Museum have copies of Wilma’s book, “Me, Myself and I.”
You can make a lasting gift in the new LCC Rose Center for the Arts. We’ll engrave your name or the name of someone you’d like to honor on an auditorium seat for $1,000 per seat. For information on naming opportunities, contact Merlene York, Lower Columbia College Foundation, at (360) 442-2131 or myork@lowercolumbia.edu.
Teaching calls Running Start grad home
Gift Highlights
Phil Ayoub got a Running Start on his college education at LCC. Now, after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and working in Europe for two years, he’s returned to LCC to teach Political Science while waiting to enter a PhD program.
Gifts listed below are highlights of what was received by the LCC Foundation from July 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007. Every effort is made to list your name correctly. If there is an error, or you would like to change how you are listed in the future, please contact Marcy Gilchrist in the LCC Foundation office at (360) 442-2132.
“I’m living proof that Running Start does work,” says Ayoub, who graduated at age 17 from both LCC and Castle Rock High School in 2001. He moved on to the University of Washington, graduating in 2003 from the Jackson School of International Studies, focusing on Europe, with a minor in German. He “Those four teachers received his master’s degree helped me want to be from the University of North a teacher myself.” Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 2005. His graduate work focused on Trans-Atlantic relations, American and European Union policy and included a year of study at German universities. The son of a Jordanian father and German mother, his interest in international relations came naturally. The family lived in Jordan for three years while he was small, and he has German dual-citizenship. Ayoub interned in Berlin with a multi-national law firm as a research assistant in energy issues, but found that law appealed to him less than his other job, with a Berlin tour company. “I really enjoyed it: being with people; the questions; the interaction.” Now teaching Political Science parttime at LCC, he’s happy to be part of the college that served him so well. “The social science department here really is outstanding.” He really enjoyed Michael Strayer, David Benson and Gary Meyer, but Rhonda Meyers’ Biology class was one of his favorites. “You always had the feeling that you didn’t want to disappoint her…Several LCC instructors have that quality.” “Those four teachers helped me want to be a teacher myself.”
Support to Scholarships American Association of University WomenCowlitz Branch
Support to Programs and Equipment Needs Bob and Ann Beal
John and Jenna Anderson
D & C Lemmons Enterprises, LLC
Max and Karen Anderson
Evans-Kelly Family Foundation
Vicki Baker B-W Construction, Inc.
GL Booth, JG Davis & Associates, PLLC
L. Oriana Cadman
Georgia-Pacific
Gary and Kaye Clinch
Georgia-Pacific Foundation
Nadine and David Coburn
Steve and Ann Hanson
Columbia Analytical Services
E. Kenneth Henderson
Columbia Bank
Howard Charitable Foundation
Columbia Ford Chrysler Hyundai, Inc.
J & S Foundation
Greenberry Industrial
Robert W. Jones
Eleanor B. Jechort
KLOG-KUKN
Melanie Jechort
Dottie K. Koontz
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
The Legacy Group, Ltd.
Lower Columbia Pathologists, PS
Brian and Maria Magnuson
Marcella Mashinter Jim and Marianne Mitchell Hughson Mooney PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center Don and Pat Rodman Rebecca Saunders
Delphine H. Love Pacific Fibre Products, Inc. Richard and Judi Peters Red Canoe Credit Union Don and Pat Rodman State Farm Companies Foundation John and Phyllis Westervelt
Jane Schaaf
Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
Bette Staub
The Wollenberg Foundation
Vada Van Vessem
1 Anonymous
Weyerhaeuser Company Women’s Affaire
Gifts of Material and Equipment Kenneth Chandler Michael Eberling Charles Hess Justin and Angela Hylton Skip and Gail Mezger Larry Morgan Ted Powell Deborah Tossberg
LCC: A family tradition Rachael Rahn didn’t go away to college right after high school, but it wasn’t because she couldn’t. “I wasn’t ready to leave yet, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated from high school,” she said. Her parents, Diana and Kevin Rahn (both LCC grads) recommended LCC. “We’ve seen so many times that kids go away to college, get jaded about it, come home and never go back,” Diana said. “We encouraged Rachael to go to LCC, and told her we thought she’d like it.” Mom and Dad were right. “I like how small it is here,” says Rachael. “I didn’t want to go anywhere big and I still don’t. I like getting to know my teachers and “I’ve recommended LCC the other students in my classes.” to other parents. I think
you get every bit as good Rachael played an education here.” volleyball at LCC too. “I loved sports. I had a Diana Rahn blast. I got a lot better here,” Rachael said. She’ll graduate from LCC this spring and the volleyball coach at her first choice transfer college, Linfield, has encouraged her to turn out for the team.
Her mom graduated from LCC in 1977. “It was great. I was fortunate to get into the LCC Senate, so I was the Dance Commissioner both years. That was a lot of fun,” Diana said. She booked bands for the college’s Saturday night dances and the students also started a coffee house. After graduating, she went on to Western; then transferred to the University of Portland, where she earned her degree in Sociology. She worked as a parent educator in LCC’s preschool co-op before she and Kevin had their second child. Kevin graduated from LCC in 1976, then went on to PLU and, later, earned his law degree at the Northwestern School of Law (Lewis and Clark). “I’ve recommended LCC to other parents,” Diana said. “I think you get every bit as good an education here.”
Major gift campaign nears $4.5 million goal The LCC Foundation’s reachinghigher major gift campaign is charging down the home stretch. Donations approach $3.9 million and our $4.5 million goal is within reach. June Rose’s $1 million donation in September 2006 gave the campaign a tremendous boost. The new Fine Arts building– to be finished in time for Winter ‘08 classes–will be named the Rose Center for the Arts in honor of Mrs. Rose and her late husband, Stanley, a local businessman and community leader. “Mrs. Rose has been a longtime supporter of LCC, especially in music, the arts and student scholarships,” said LCC President Dr. Jim McLaughlin. “Her generosity has allowed us to add back some features that were cut to bring the building’s cost to within budget, and will help us get this landmark project established.” About $650,000 has been contributed to the campaign’s Healthcare Initiative, helping the College to double the capacity of its Nursing Program to meet the serious shortage of trained nurses. In 2006-07, the LCC Nursing Program will graduate 90 Associate Degree nurses, twice as many as in 2002-03. We’ve added more scholarships and purchased some of the latest equipment, such as simulated patients with integrated software, IV simulators and online clinical skills training programs. Two Nursing classrooms have been remodeled and rewired, and Nursing now has its own multiuse computer lab. The Nursing Program hopes to host an open house in May. LCC’s new Pulp and Paper Technology degree program is now in its second year, and Longview Fibre, Georgia-Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, Boise Cascade and NORPAC continue to provide support. Donations are purchasing equipment, paying faculty and supporting scholarships.
Gift Annuities Give a gift . . . Receive income for life By creating a charitable gift annuity, you can receive a fixed income for the rest of your life and make a significant donation to Lower Columbia College Foundation. A charitable gift annuity can benefit you personally by ensuring: • Fixed lifetime payments for one or two people • Partially tax-free payments • A substantial income tax deduction For more information, please contact Merlene York at (360) 442-2131 or email myork@lowercolumbia.edu
New dean joins LCC Robert C. Rodger, J.D., joined Lower Columbia College as Dean of Instructional Programs in January. He comes to LCC from Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he was Department Chair for Arts and Communication at Klamath Community College.
Rodger was also interested in law, so he earned his law degree at the UO and went to work in 2001 as a Deputy District Attorney in Klamath Falls. He loved trial work, but really missed teaching. “I started moonlighting teaching in my first year as a prosecutor.”
As a young man, he worked in construction, but an injury sent him back to school. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in English, at the University of Oregon, and began doctoral work in medieval literature at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, focusing mainly on translating Old English manuscripts. Returning to Oregon, he taught community college English in the Portland area for six years.
He jumped to Klamath Community College, teaching English, philosophy and business law, and moved up to department chair.
LCC Athletics levels scholarship playing field Starting next fall, LCC will be able to offer better scholarships to its student athletes. Washington community colleges’ top athletic scholarship had been frozen for years at $200 per quarter. This year, the state’s NWAACC athletic directors and college presidents agreed that the colleges could sweeten the pot, paying up to 65% of the athlete’s tuition, or $560.30 per quarter. In February, LCC’s Board of Trustees approved its part, a 25% tuition waiver, which the school will fund starting this fall. “On behalf of the student athletes, all I can say is thanks to Dr. McLaughlin and the board for showing this commitment to our student athletes,” said LCC Athletic Director Kirc Roland. The Booster Club and other community supporters stepped up to the plate to raise the extra $21,000 per year needed to fund LCC’s quota of 51 (153 per year) 40% scholarships. “Our fundraising auction January 12th became more focused on scholarships,” said Roland. “We raised $26,000 in our auction this year.”
At LCC, he’s looking forward to making the new Rose Center for the Arts “a real hub between the College and the widest section of our community. It will work in conjunction with the Columbia Theatre, and provide more avenues for performers of every age in our community.”
Red Devils thank Red Canoe CU Red Devils. Red Canoe. That natural connection was spelled out on the walls of the Myklebust Gym this winter. Red Canoe Credit Union donated a pair of oversized Daktronics scoreboards for the gym and an oversized baseball scoreboard for David Story Field. The scoreboards promote the credit union’s new name, which changed from Weyerhaeuser Employees Credit Union earlier this year. “Red Canoe is dedicated to giving back to the community through financial contributions, resource donations and staff volunteering,” Red Canoe CEO Bob Kane (an LCC alum) said in a press release. “We are pleased to support LCC and their successful athletic programs.” The baseball scoreboard—installed at Story Field in time for the first home game March 3—is nearly 30 feet long and features a “retro look,” with many of the same features of the old scoreboard. Athletic Director Kirc Roland is accepting bids for the old scoreboards—each a big piece of LCC history.
“Buddy Black was a great attraction and he gave us some outstanding auction items.” said Roland. “We had more bigticket items, and people really opened their checkbooks.” An anonymous donor provided a wonderful collectors’ item: a shadowbox holding a picture of Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, with an autographed baseball below each star. “It went for $6,000.” Roland said the better scholarships will help us compete for top athletes with our NWAACC rivals in Oregon, who can offer their athletes full tuition waivers. LCC’s scholarships will be parceled out as needed among our athletes.
LCC alum is new volleyball coach Marcy Gilchrist, Resource Development Specialist for the LCC Foundation, will take over as head coach for the Lady Devils volleyball program this year. “We were very fortunate to find such a quality coach and person right here on our campus”, said LCC athletic director Kirc Roland. “Marcy is an intense coach who wants to take LCC volleyball to the championship level.” As Marcy Watkins, Gilchrist was an R.A. Long standout from 1987-89, leading the Lumberjills to three consecutive state volleyball tournaments. She was MVP and captain of two of those teams and “Coaching at the collegiate was named to the All State team, as well as level is a step I have always the All League & All wanted to take.” District teams twice. She was a member of the LCC Red Devils’ 1991 NWAACC championship team, where she garnered MVP of the NWAACC tournament. She played the next three years for Central Washington University, graduating with a B.A. in political science in 1995. Her coaching career began that same year as the varsity volleyball coach at Kalama High School and continued at Madison High School in Portland and Sandy High School in Sandy, OR. She was an assistant at LCC during the 2001-03 seasons and, most recently, she coached at Three Rivers Christian in Kelso. “Coaching at the collegiate level is a step that I have always wanted to take,” said Gilchrist. “As a player for LCC, I learned a great deal about the game from (former LCC coaches) Jocelyn Price and Bill Tuggle. I intend to draw on many of their coaching principles and incorporate them with my methods and styles.” Marcy and her husband Brian live in Longview with their three daughters. She is currently recruiting players throughout the Northwest for the 2007 season and she hopes to land some top local athletes.
Devils are hot again! Lower Columbia College athletes continue to succeed, both in the classroom and in the arena of play. Both the Red Devil and Lady Devil basketball teams made it to the NWAACC Championship Tournament, March 1-4 in Kennewick. The Lady Devils came home with the 4th place trophy, placing in the tournament for the third year in a row. The LCC volleyball and women’s soccer teams will both have new leadership next fall. Marcy Gilchrist takes over as volleyball head coach (see story left). After two years as an assistant coach at LCC, Steve Taylor takes over as head coach of the Lady Devils soccer team. Steve is known as a fine recruiter and his knowledge of soccer is impressive. We have high hopes for both Marcy and Steve’s teams. The diamonds shine bright at LCC and this spring’s softball and baseball teams will be no exception. Tim Mackin’s Lady Devil juggernaut smashed the competition last season on the way t o i t s 7 t h N WA A C C championship in eight years. The D’s will again be powerful with a good mix of returning power and exciting freshmen pitching. Kelly Smith’s Red Devils will be young and inexperienced, but you know they will be talented. The Devils will again host the NWAACC championship tournament May 24-28 at Story Field. In fact, Lower Columbia College and the NWAACC have agreed on a new threeyear contract to host the prestigious event through the 2010 season. The LCC athletics program continues to emphasize academics. The all-sports GPA is currently at 2.88, above the LCC average.
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