By Flynn Espe

More than 120 Washington State University Tri-Cities students presented their academic projects Wednesday at the annual Showcase for Research and Creative Activities. This year’s event brought together more than 65 solo and group projects spanning multiple majors and disciplines.

Across three campus buildings, students set up scientific posters and, in some cases, hands-on demonstrations of their work as they chatted and mingled with other students, faculty, and community guests.

Read or click here to jump to the end to view the winners and honorable mentions.

Solving energy problems near and far

Presenting from the first floor in Collaboration Hall, Hasan Cruz, student intern for Ģ������Ƶ’ , presented his research involving pumped storage hydropower as a partial solution to the problem of peak power grid demand.

“It’s a huge water battery that stores long-duration potential energy and then releases it when it is needed the most during peak hours of the grid,” Cruz said. “So the grid gets stressed and we need to meet demand, because people seem to forget that electricity is something that we need absolutely every second.”

He conducted his research under the mentorship of Ģ������Ƶ alumnae Danielle Young (’19 BS Civ Eng, ’21 MS Civ Eng), a project manager at Battelle. As a civil engineering major, Cruz says he was thrilled to discover the strong connection between his field of study and the energy industry.

“When I started my civil engineering major, I thought it was only construction,” Cruz said. “It turns out there’s so much more, and energy is one of those fields that I never thought would be possible.”

A few spots over, fellow INEF intern and biology major Zoe Pfeifer summarized her research into fusion technology. She noted that Washington state is a major hub for companies at the forefront of fusion machine design and development, and breakthrough discoveries may be closer than we think.

“We already have a lot of policy in place to help entice companies to come here,” Pfeifer said. “Even globally, there are 160 fusion facilities being worked on right now worldwide.”

In a separate showcase room, a group of students had a plastic model showing their proposed designs for a much different kind of energy problem: how to deal with heat waste from a small modular reactor on the surface of the moon. Those students — Kaamel Ahmed Sidiqi, Minh Vu, Sam Arthur, Jon-Luc Ritchie, Peyton Viera, and Stephanie Volatile — presented their mechanical engineering senior capstone project, in which they worked under the guidance of an industry sponsor at Framatome.

“As we’re getting closer to interplanetary travel, we’re looking into building habitats elsewhere in the solar system, specifically the moon or Mars, currently. They’re planning on using small modular reactors — around 100 kilowatts thermal, or so — to power these habitats,” Viera said. “The issue with that is you can only utilize so much energy from these reactors before it just becomes a byproduct.”

With a specific target in mind — safely dispersing 74 kilowatts of wasted heat into the moon’s vacuum-like environment — the group did a deep dive into whatever research they could find that would help get them started.

“Our sponsor had us look into NASA research papers, private industry papers, and university papers,” Volatile said. “I personally used a lot of the library sources that WSU gave us to point us into the private industries and try to get as much as we could.”

Eventually, the team settled on a folding-aluminum-panel radiator design that fit within the specifications for being deployed and assembled on the lunar surface.

“Same type of thing for a car — it has a radiator,” Ritchie said. “This is just a radiator for a nuclear reactor.”

Protecting online systems and spaces

Meanwhile, multiple students and teams were showcasing their research into methods and ideas for improving or addressing threats to online and computer systems.

Computer science majors Jaydon Larios and Tyler Jase Schab walked visitors through their development of a web platform that evaluates the vulnerability of a user’s password by simulating multiple cracking methods.

“The system processes each password through different hashing algorithms,” Larios said. “It estimates the actual time it would take to crack these passwords.”

It turns out, short and common passwords really do take mere seconds for would-be attackers to crack.

Nearby, Yozelyn Chavez and Luckie Devers talked about their approach to preventing leakage of personally identifiable information in large language models, or LLMs for short. They represented half of their capstone project team, which also included Gabriela Nicacio and Alan Valencia who were studying abroad in Sweden.

“Basically, if you’ve ever entered in your information, even just your first and last name, to an LLM, it can remember that,” Devers said, adding that anyone who has sent their resume to an AI chat bot will have likely used their email and phone number as well. “We want to remove that in the end, so nobody else can attack the LLM and get your information.”

Their solution was to train an LLC on a five-step prompt sanitization procedure meant to spot each instance of identifiable information included in a prompt and replace it with a fake substitute, while still preserving the quality of the LLM’s response. The LLM would then go through a background process of gradually unlearning the personally identifiable information completely, to protect against any future attacks.

“LLMs are getting super advanced, and AI is getting super advanced,” Devers said. “We need to eventually come up with these ideas that defend against it and help protect the consumers.”

Advancing the humanities, social sciences, and environment

Over in the Learning Commons area of the Consolidated Information Center, even more students presented on their research posters, including several projects in the humanities and social sciences. One recurring theme involved psychological studies on evolving attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Other groups presented on historical examinations of ethnic migration, the Hanford Site cleanup and its legacy, environmental science experiments, and much more.

Students Clarissa Garcia Arroyo, Grady Grasseth, Carola Garcia Mendez, Zachary Shortt, Jairo Villasenor, and Lori Wollerman Nelson reported on the results of their study on what birds are eating in local vineyards — and whether these winged neighbors are friends or foes to wine growers?

“It’s a little of both,” Villasenor, an environmental and ecosystem sciences major, concluded.

For his team’s five-week experiment, the group created fake grapes and worms from plasticine clay, which they distributed throughout the Ģ������Ƶ research vineyard. At the end of each week, from October to November, the group collected the scattered items and assessed each item for damage to determine if a bird had tried to eat it before repeating the process.

“We had clusters of grapes alone. We had clusters of grapes and worms together. And we also had worms just by themselves,” Villasenor said. “Birds ultimately preferred grapes by themselves, and they also preferred worms by themselves. They did not prefer when they were together.”

While the birds showed a stronger preference for grapes than worms in general, Villasenor said it might be because the quantity of plasticine grapes was also significantly higher.

Hydrogen Hogwash takes over East Building stairwell

Tucked away in a different corner of campus, an artist collective comprising 12 digital technology and culture (DTC) majors transformed a ground-level East Building stairwell area into a warm and vibing 24-hour pop-up exhibition dubbed “Ctrl + Alt + Create.” Each of the 12 artists, who went by the name Hydrogen Hogwash, contributed to the space with an interactive multimedia experience.

Sophia Valdez enticed visitors to sit and relax with a turntable, headphones, and selection of vinyl records. Claire Giles projected an animated vignette she’d pieced together from marked-up video taken during a spring break road trip.

Jo Pickard mounted his artwork to three panels of a makeshift wall set up at the base of the stairwell. His pieces included a framed collage of famous pop-culture heroes and a full-length mirror partially adorned with two emblematic superhero symbols — giving viewers a chance to see and reflect on their own inner hero. He also incorporated a scannable Spotify playlist of heroic tunes to set the mood.

“It’s really easy to be heroic when you’re a superhero,” Pickard said. “But being heroic is whatever you think. It’s like waving at somebody when they’re having a bad day, being nice to someone, helping where you don’t have to.”

The exhibit served as the DTC majors’ capstone project, which also involved the creation of a Hydrogen Hogwash zine featuring humorous and imaginative depictions of animals being transformed by radiation exposure. Copies of the zine were available to view at the exhibit as well.

“I have always been an artist to some degree my entire life, and just getting the chance to work with a team and put this together has been really gratifying,” Pickard said. “I feel like I’ve really come into my own since being here these last couple years.”

Awards and honors

The showcase concluded with a brief presentation of awards, voted on by a handful of faculty and industry guest judges.

Associate professor of mathematics and event organizer Ryan Learn stressed the importance of honoring the impressive scope and caliber of students’ scientific and artistic achievements.

“This is an opportunity to recognize all of the really great work that students are doing beyond the curriculum,” Learn said. “Some of these people are answering questions that have never been answered before, solving problems that have never been solved before.”

Prior to the main showcase poster presentations, event organizers welcomed a group of juniors from Delta High School who participated in some interactive activities. Many of the same student groups from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences also presented their senior caps during a separate SEAS Design EXPO event on Friday.

The showcase received funding from Battelle Foundation and Washington Research Foundation.

Here are the award winners by category.

Best Capstone in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Digital Control Educational Projects (DCEP)

Landon Johnson, Isaac Rheinschmidt, Jose Cisneros, David Hysjulien

Honorable Mentions:

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Analyzer, Daniel Chavez Edwin Quinonez Hunter Ufford Armando Becerra

A Holistic Approach to Protecting Personally Identifiable Information from Leakage in LLMs, Gabriela Nicacio, Luckie Devers, Alan Valencia, Yozelyn Chavez

Best Capstone in Mechanical or Civil Engineering

Design Improvements to Nuclear Pellet Sheet

Serena Posada, Kolby Tucker, Dean Macduff, Marvin Mendoza, Elysia Howlett, Melissa Vaca Ixta

Honorable Mention:

Preliminary Evaluation of Artificial Ground Freezing: Excavation & Shoring Multi-Criteria Alternative Analysis for Bechtel’s Waste Treatment Plant Site, Aliyana Avalos, Angel Cerna, Cynthia Carmona, Daniela Gonzalez-Sepulveda, Corben Kane, Kayla Konahap, Roy Leal, Abi Macduff, Juan Mendoza, Razan Osman, Luiz Saldana, Joseph Salim, Brianne Zehnder, Marina Zolotnyuk

Best Graduate Student Research Project

Drought Evolution in the Nile Basin: Characterizing Development and Recovery Phases and their Meteorological Drivers

Meklit Berihun Melesse

Best Undergraduate Research Project

Swelling behvior of NBR O-rings in neat hydrocarbons relevant to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Kaamel Ahmed Sidiqi

Best Course-Based Project in the Sciences

Ashen soils affect growth but not germination in Bluebunch Wheatgrass

Skylar Brustad, Caleb Deines, Carlos Renteria, Mark Tabangcura, Zachary Shortt, Lori Wollerman Nelson

Honorable Mentions:

Birds in Vineyards: Friends or Foes? Jairo Villasenor, Grady Grasseth, Carola Garcia Mendez, Clarissa Garcia Arroyo, Zachary Shortt, Lori Wollerman Nelson

Spider Size and Web Size in Orb Weaver Spiders, Justine Gutierrez, Camden Seavoy, Zachary Shortt, Lori Wollerman Nelson

Targeted Keylogging Through HID-Based Bas USB Attacks, Sebastian Gonzalez

Best Course-Based Project in Liberal Arts or Psychology

Behind the Silence: Oral Histories of Migration, Labor, Injustice, and Family Sacrifice

Belinda Contreras-Barajas, Litzy Renteria, Andre Mayoral

Best Institute for Northwest Energy Futures Project

Evaluating the Future of Nuclear Energy Through Small Modular Reactors in the Pacific Northwest

Parjot Pawar

Honorable Mention:

Benton County and the Tri-Cities Power Production and Industrial Expansions, Timothy Poole

By Flynn Espe

When Washington State University Tri-Cities student Jeff Wilson looks back on his 21-year career in the U.S. Navy, there’s no shortage of memorable places and experiences that spring to mind.

“I was turning wrenches on airplanes and going out to sea, watching the sunset—then working all night, looking at the stars and watching the sunrise again,” he says. “It was wonderful.”

Wilson enlisted in May 2001. His military service took him to both coasts of the continental United States—including in Virginia, California and Florida—and twice to Japan. His first job was servicing fixed-wing aircraft, working on hydraulics and metalcraft for the E-2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound, before moving on to helicopters. After serving for a few years as a recruiter in his home state of Washington, he returned to the world of aircraft, directing flight deck operations and supervising others in daily maintenance. At one point during his first station in Japan, having achieved the rank of chief petty officer, Wilson oversaw 34 enlisted sailors.

“I made the rules, took their input and tried to have fun and make it as family-ish as we could,” Wilson says. “There were a bunch of administrative skills that that I picked up along the way as far as organization goes, meeting deadlines and that kind of thing—being able to work with anybody from anywhere, with any kind of background.”

By the time he retired in 2022, Wilson says he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next, only that he was eager to try out something new. Taking advantage of his GI Bill education benefits, he eventually chose Ģ������Ƶ to pursue his bachelor’s degree and the surrounding community as a new place to settle with his wife and two young boys, hoping to be close to his extended family as well.

“We drove over here from Pensacola and then lived in my sister’s friend’s basement for a few weeks while we looked for a place to live,” Wilson says.

Today, Wilson is on track to graduate this spring with not one, but two undergraduate degrees from Ģ������Ƶ. His first major, a B.A. in Social Sciences, was completed in 2024.

“I had a focus on anthropology, history and psychology, and that was fun because I got to write in a lot of different styles,” he says of his first two years as a Social Sciences major. “I just had a really good time researching and writing papers.”

With some education benefits remaining after his first graduation, Wilson wasn’t ready to move on from WSU just yet. Not wanting to enter a master’s program, however, he instead opted for a second major in Digital Technology and Culture (DTC).

“One of the UCORE classes I took was a DTC class with Assistant Professor Phillip Mudd, and it was using Photoshop and Illustrator,” Wilson says. “I had a whole lot of fun doing that.”

Designed for students who want to explore a wide range of creative media and storytelling formats, the Digital Technology and Culture major gives students extensive hands-on experience in areas such as web and graphic design, 3D animation and more.

“We’re really getting familiar with the Adobe Suite,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot of about myself and just how hard it is to create something.”

For one recent assignment, Wilson and his classmates each designed and built their own version of a Rube Goldberg machine, in which the machine’s purpose revolves around a playfully overcomplicated—as opposed to practical—outcome. Determined not to spend money on his device, Wilson used random tools from his home garage, including at least one component that harkens back to his naval roots.

“I have an 18-inch marlinspike, which is a tool that the boatswain’s mates used to tie knots and big lines for ships,” he says. “I have a sign that says, ‘Will it work?’ And then if it works, the sign flops down and says, ‘Yup.’ Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

One of Wilson’s favorite projects as a Cougar combined history and visual art when he worked under the guidance of Ģ������Ƶ Assistant Professor Robert Franklin, assistant director of the Hanford History Project, to create an archive celebrating the work of the late visionary artist James Acord. For that project, Wilson received funding through the Ģ������Ƶ Summer Scholars program to document and preserve Acord’s sculptures and creative techniques, which often incorporated the use of radioactive materials to highlight the dangers of nuclear waste storage.

“He was the only [private individual] to get certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to handle and possess radioactive materials,” Wilson says. “He was his own radiation safety officer. And he developed a way to extract the radioactive material out of Fiestaware, which were these old plates from the ’40s.”

Looking ahead, Wilson says he’s still open to many potential career paths. Drawing from his managerial experience as a Navy chief and his current academic projects in digital design, for example, Wilson says he could see himself as a project manager for a creative team.

Regardless of where his journey leads next, Wilson credits his time at Ģ������Ƶ for providing a smooth transition from military to civilian life. For now, you can still often find him working at the Veteran’s Center, a campus space where he enjoys lounging, studying, and interacting with students from all walks of life.

“Some folks are veterans. Some folks would never join the military. And we all get along,” Wilson says with a smile. “It’s been a good couple of years of just interacting with the professors and the students and meeting people.”

Physical currency has been reimagined by students in two art classes at Washington State University Tri-Cities, who joined forces for a unique exhibit showcasing new designs for money. The designs are on display in the CIC building on the Ģ������Ƶ campus. ��

The two classes, Art 103: 3D art and design, and Art 332: digital art and design, were tasked with rethinking what the future of currency could look like by using skills they learned throughout the semester. Students from each class were divided into pairs and given the opportunity to design a bank note and coin pairing, as well as the monetary symbols used on each of them. The designs were first hand-drawn, then designed electronically. The bank notes were then printed on paper, while the coins were 3-D printed, then cast in aluminum through sand casting.����

Professors Marguerite Finch, who teaches 3D art and design, and Peter Christenson, who teaches digital art and design, developed the assignment to consider the history behind currency as one of the first versions of mass-produced art by the Greeks and Romans. With the advent of credit cards, physical currency is used less frequently, so the assignment required students to think creatively and collaboratively about the interpreted values of their end products.����

“I have always enjoyed collaborating with other instructors on assignments and appreciate this opportunity to work with Professor Christenson and his class,” said Finch. “Prompts like this give students an opportunity to creatively work through a problem and see visually how you can develop a concept in different ways, but that can still be unified as an end result.”��

Connor Mitchell, a student in the digital art and design class, appreciated working with one of his favorite professors while having creative freedom to consider the possible uses for his designed currency. “We decided to utilize aquatic elements in our designs as a way to create something that could be used in international trade. I enjoyed creating something that may not be the most practical, but is rather a fun and creative exercise.”��

The currencies will be displayed in CIC until the end of January.

Student finds passion for multimedia arts as result of experiences at BMCC and Ģ������Ƶ

By Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ

RICHLAND, Wash. – When thinking about what college choice would be best for him, Hermiston native and future first-generation college student Kyle Kopta knew he wanted to stay close to home. It was a decision that would allow him to save money, but also gradually expand his network.

As a student, he completed the first year of his associate’s degree through as part of the program, which helped him save a year on costs of tuition and provided him with gradual entry into the college setting.

“It was a perfect fit for me, as it allowed me to meet my lower division general education requirements and quickly transfer as a junior to any institution of my choosing,” he said.

While at BMCC, Kopta said he enjoyed being near family while still maintaining that hometown environment. The community aspect, he said, was one of his favorite parts.

“It had a hometown feel where everyone knew each other,” he said. “It felt like an extension of the surrounding community, rather than being separate from it.”

When deciding what four-year university he wanted to pursue, affordability and proximity to family remained primary factors, in addition to his career interest in the multimedia arts. He discovered that Washington State University Tri-Cities, located just 40 minutes from Hermiston in Richland, Washington, had a digital technology and culture program. The program would allow him to apply his passion for photography, video, graphic design and fine arts as part of a well-rounded degree that had eventual outlets for a variety of career paths.

Seamless transfer to Ģ������Ƶ

The transfer process between the two institutions, Kopta said, was seamless. He said with his AAOT degree, everything transferred to Ģ������Ƶ without any problems.

“My experiences at BMCC laid the groundwork for helping me navigate higher education, in general,” he said. “As I moved to Washington and began my Ģ������Ƶ journey, I felt well-equipped to tackle anything that came my way.”

Preparing for future career in multimedia arts

Through digital technology and culture courses at Ģ������Ƶ, Kopta learned the fundamentals of a wide variety of multimedia skills, ranging from graphic design, to video production, to sound editing, to photography, to typography and more. He said he enjoyed that the program didn’t put his passions into a single box.

“The digital technology and culture program here at Ģ������Ƶ ended up being the next logical step for me in my career,” he said. “I was attracted to the multidisciplinary nature of the program because I knew it would allow me to explore all the things that interested me, simultaneously. Other programs were rigid in their approach, but the digital technology and culture program would allow me to explore all my options as an artist, designer and working professional in the field.”

At Ģ������Ƶ, Kopta became involved with a wide variety of hands-on experiences and student organizations. He helped curate student exhibits and display his own work through a variety of art shows and symposiums on-campus. He served as part of the Associated Students of Ģ������Ƶ as its graphic designer. He lent his skills in the multimedia arts as a teacher’s assistant and tutor for the campus’ digital technology and culture program, in addition to serving on the Washington State Arts Commission. He also currently serves as an intern through the Ģ������Ƶ marketing and communication office.

This spring, Kopta also had the opportunity to create and curate a that allowed users to virtually walk through a digital gallery space to view student art, just as one would during non-COVID-19 times. It is those sorts of experiences, he said, that proved to be true highlights of his college career.

“Being able to see and experience all of the work our Coug community is doing is always my favorite,” he said. “The people I am surrounded by are constantly engaging in such important and innovative work. I never know what to expect from my peers, and that’s the best part.”

Saving on costs

Throughout his college journey, Kopta received several scholarships, including the Ģ������Ƶ Douglas P. Gast Scholarship in memory of his late digital technology and culture professor. Kopta said he was honored to receive such a significant award that honored his late professor.

This past year as part of his senior year, Ģ������Ƶ also launched the I-82 Advantage program, which now allows students from Umatilla County to attend Ģ������Ƶ for in-state tuition rates. Kopta was able to save even more on tuition.

Looking toward the future

After graduating this past spring, Kyle is staying on as a student intern through the summer in the Ģ������Ƶ marketing and communication office.

His experience both at BMCC and Ģ������Ƶ, he said, helped him not only navigate the college setting successfully, but also find his future career. As a result of his experience, he hopes to pursue a career in marketing, specifically working in higher education, where he can help other students find their future interests and careers.

“Marketing allows me to work in design, photography and video, simultaneously,” he said. “I would also love to continue working in a higher education setting. Collaborating with different groups of people on all different sorts of projects is important to me. Working at a college allows me to do just that.”

Applications open at BMCC and Ģ������Ƶ

Applications are open for summer and fall 2021 at both BMCC and Ģ������Ƶ.

To apply to BMCC, visit . To apply and/or transfer to Ģ������Ƶ, visit .

Ģ������Ƶ digital technology and culture student Kyle Kopta.

For more than 80 years, Washington State University has recognized ten of the top seniors in each graduating class. The WSU Alumni Association selects these women and men who represent the highest standards in specific aspects of the college experience, including academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service, and visual and performing arts.

Kyle Kopta, a senior studying digital technology and culture at Ģ������Ƶ, was selected as a WSU Top Ten Senior for the category of visual/performing arts.

He is a talented graphic designer, photographer, videographer, writer and overall creative. He serves as an intern with the Office of Marketing and Communication, served as a graphic designer for the Associated Students of Ģ������Ƶ, serves as a DTC lab tutor, as well as on the Washington State Arts Commission. He transferred to Ģ������Ƶ from Blue Mountain Community College.

VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS

• College of Arts and Sciences
• Digital technology and culture
• Ģ������Ƶ
• Hermiston, Oregon

INVOLVEMENT

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; President’s Honors List, summa cum laude; ASWUTC Perseverance Award; Douglas P. Gast Fine Arts Scholarship; member, committee of the Washington State Arts Commission overseeing the Washington State Art Collection; graphic designer for ASWSUTC; marketing intern for Ģ������Ƶ; teacher’s assistant and tutor in the��; host of biweekly community radio show; and Ģ������Ƶ Student Employee of the Year for the 2020-2021 academic year

FAVORITE WSU EXPERIENCE

The Ģ������Ƶ Undergraduate Research Symposium and Art Exhibition is held at the end of each semester. What stands out most to me is really those shows. Our students are making just incredible work. I helped put it on when we were in-person. Being able to showcase their work and my work is always the most fun event. I’m currently 3D modeling a space for us so we can hold it virtually this semester. I’m doing it in my free time; I’m not doing it paid or part of any job. It’s something I know how to do and can donate. It’s just so important for students to have this kind of culmination for all their hard work. They create all this amazing work, and they have to be able to somehow show it.

Ģ������Ƶ also has a lot of mentors who helped me navigate the higher education world and the art world. I grew up in a rural area. There were zero galleries. Neither of my parents graduated from college, but they have been so supportive of my journey in higher education. I couldn’t have done it without them and my professors, who helped me succeed inside and outside the classroom. I think art in general has been a vehicle for self-growth in my professional, personal, and academic life. Through video, photography, and painting, I can learn about myself and my community and how I fit into it and I can help other people. Sometimes the things you don’t expect can end up having the most impact and being the most rewarding. Limitation can breed innovation.

FUTURE PLANS

I’ve really found a love for marketing. It’s not something I expected to love as much as I do. I came to Ģ������Ƶ putting myself in a box, saying, “I’m going to become a videographer or graphic designer,” but I’ve been awarded so many opportunities to collaborate with so many different WSU departments that I’ve found I have a real love for creating things for the community with other people. My plan now is to get a marketing job. I contemplated whether I should move to a bigger city or stay local, and I think I’ve kind of settled on staying local because it’s really important to me to foster this small but tight-knit arts community. I really want to contribute to the Tri-Cities community what I wish I had growing up in Hermiston.

Course creates complex machines that were shared through digital film projects

By Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ

RICHLAND, Wash. – For an Art, Science and Technology course at Washington State University Tri-Cities, the transition to virtual learning proved not only to be a natural transition. It played to the course’s sweet spot.

As the title of the course suggests, students bring together what some may consider two sides of a coin – art, and science and technology. But for Peter Christenson, an associate professor of fine arts, the blending of the two fields is natural.

Through the course, Christenson has students create devices that are not only visually appealing, but bridge the gap between physical art and what can be presented digitally online. The sharing of these projects online, he said, provides a perfect fit for virtual learning.

“The transition to virtual has been beneficial in some ways, especially in more digitally-focused classes,” he said. “It is essentially a natural extension to everyone’s practice. Our students are brilliant and very adaptable. They are the creative class of the campus. I have been impressed with their work ethic and diligence … With the social context we are going through, I have been impressed with the work that students are putting out.”

Rube Goldberg machines

Many people have probably witnessed Rube Goldberg machines on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram Stories – they just didn’t know what they were called. A ball or other device drops down an increasingly complex matrix of movements, devices and contraptions, all for one goal – to perform a simple task.

The machines, named after the American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who coined the contraptions through his cartoons, serve as a demonstration of what can occur when art is blended with physics and engineering, Christenson said. It proved to be the perfect project at-home amid the pandemic, he said.

While many are stuck at home, students took objects that are commonly found in their house to devise a complex layout. The students filmed the moving device as it traversed its matrix. The video was then shared virtually as a class, as well as with peers and friends. It compelled students to think critically, all while creating art and entertainment that helps maintain connections among students, virtually, Christenson said.

“The Rube Goldberg project is a fun opportunity to arrive at engineering and scientific production via art and creative play,” he said. “It explores the historical relationship between art, science and technology and how these have generally been intertwined.”

The best of both worlds

For the Rube Goldberg project, the class studied up on the complex devices, each choosing a particular style that was most suited for their idea or task. After creating the devices by hand, the students recorded the machines in action, with the intent of sharing them digitally with one another as a class. They used their creativity to create both a physical art piece, as well as a video work of art through filmmaking.

Kyle Kopta, a senior digital technology and culture major, came up with the idea for what he calls “The Photo Machine” for his project, where the machine automates the process of taking a photo of oneself. The user turns a handle, which activates a gear mechanism, drops a marble into a tube and triggers the shutter on a camera.

“In doing this, I want the operator to ask themselves, ‘Are the actual mechanisms that resulted in the physical taking of the photo the photo machine? Or could I, myself, more accurately be described as the actual photo-taking machine in this process?’ “

Kopta built the contraption in his apartment, where he also filmed and uploaded the video showcasing how his machine worked. The project also allowed him to explore partnership opportunities with students from other disciplines.

“In working on this project, I was really excited with the high-level of collaboration we were able to maintain in a virtual class format,” he said. “As a class, we would take time to bounce ideas off each other and look at other artists who created similar machines. For my project, I was able to recruit the help of a friend in the engineering program for a few tips and materials. That interdisciplinary approach was key for me.”

Kopta also relished the opportunity to engage with his classmates in virtual critique sessions, where the students have the opportunity to provide feedback, assess the different projects and what makes them most effective.

“These critique days are always my favorite days of class, and this remains true in our virtual learning environment now,” he said. “Everyone takes a radically different approach to these projects, and I’m always surprised by what my classmates are able to put together.”

 

Media contacts:

Peter Christenson, Ģ������Ƶ associate professor of fine arts, peter.christenson@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

New agreement helps students save on costs

By Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ

RICHLAND, Wash. – Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Tri-Cities signed a new agreement on Monday, Nov. 16, that creates a seamless pathway for students to complete their first two years at CBC and transfer to Ģ������Ƶ, which saves students costs.

Students significantly save on costs, as students in the program do not pay for the transfer application to attend Ģ������Ƶ, do not pay for the cost of their transcripts to transfer, and tuition is also frozen from their first semester enrolled at Ģ������Ƶ. In other words, if tuition rates increase anytime while enrolled at Ģ������Ƶ, students continue to pay the tuition rate from their first semester at Ģ������Ƶ.

Students also benefit from one-on-one support throughout their educational journey from both CBC and Ģ������Ƶ from their first term in the program. They work directly with academic advisors from both institutions to solidify complete programs of study. This helps to ensure that students complete their degree programs on-time and reduce the likelihood of taking courses unnecessarily that won’t directly transfer.

Close partnership a win for all students

Ģ������Ƶ Chancellor Sandra Haynes said she is excited to sign a new agreement with CBC, as it helps reduce the complications and cost to students who wish to first attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year university.

“Our two institutions work together to create seamless pathways so that students can get the most out of their educational experience and graduate on-track,��on-time and career-ready,” she said. “With Ģ������Ƶ serving freshman, transfer, first-generation, low-income and non-traditional students, we are opening more doors to meet students where they are,��today.”

Woods said CBC is also excited to strengthen its partnership with Ģ������Ƶ.

“Many of CBC’s graduates choose to become Cougs, while staying right here in the Tri-Cities,” she said. “This agreement smooths that transition. Whether a student chooses to pursue a four-year degree at CBC, Ģ������Ƶ, or any other institution, we are committed to helping each student find their best path forward.”

Students see direct benefits

Dawn Hughes, a current Ģ������Ƶ education student and alumna of Columbia Basin College, said transferring from CBC to Ģ������Ƶ provided a great local and affordable option that was a best fit for both her and her family.

“I moved to Tri-Cities in 2006 and was raising a family,” she said. “When I decided to go back to school, it fit our budget and our busy schedule. It was also convenient because I could take classes in-person, locally.”

Hughes said she received tremendous support from both her instructors at CBC and Ģ������Ƶ. When she started school, her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She served as her sister’s bone marrow transplant and was going to have to miss some school.

“My professors were so supportive through that,” she said. “Professors from both programs are that way. They want you to succeed.”

Apply to Bridges

Applications are open now for the Bridges Program. For more information and to apply, visit tricities.wsu.edu/bridges. To qualify for the Bridges Program, students must apply in their first year at CBC and complete the “Declaration of Intent” form. Have questions or want to meet with someone about your options? Email tricities.bridges@wsu.edu.

For more information about CBC, visit . For more information about Ģ������Ƶ, visit tricities.wsu.edu.

By Maegan Murray, WSU��Tri‑Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri‑Cities will now offer in-state tuition rates to students in Umatilla County,��Oregon, through a new program called the “I‑82��Advantage.”

“With our proximity to��Oregon, just across the Columbia River, it only makes sense to provide greater access to an excellent university education in such close proximity,” WSU��Tri‑Cities Chancellor Sandra��Haynes��said. “This program applies to all prospective students who reside in Umatilla County.”

The program will save residents from Umatilla County thousands in tuition costs. By paying in‑state rates, tuition will cost $11,144 per year, compared to the $26,087 that an out-of-state student would pay for non‑resident tuition.

Those interested in attending WSU��Tri‑Cities for spring��2021 are encouraged to apply by Nov.��15. Individuals interested in attending WSU��Tri‑Cities in fall��2021 are encouraged apply by Jan.��31.

Applications can be completed online at��.��After completing the application for admission, prospective students from Umatilla County should complete the WSU��Tri‑Cities I‑82��Advantage application to qualify for in‑state tuition rates.��Apply for the I‑82��Advantage program at��.

Students applying to WSU��Tri‑Cities should also make sure to complete the WSU��Tri‑Cities scholarship application by Jan.��31 at��.

For more information about the I‑82��Advantage program, visit��tricities.wsu.edu/admissions/i82advantage.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this cost-saving option for local students in Umatilla County,��Oregon,”��Haynes said. “We continually try to identify ways where we can meet students where they are. The COVID‑19 pandemic presents additional financial challenges for many local families. We do not want it to prevent students from achieving their dream of attending college that will help in setting them up for success for their future.”

WSU��Tri‑Cities will also continue to offer what is known as the Border��Bill program. The State of Washington’s Border��Bill allows��Oregon residents��who live in specified counties, or who have recently moved to Washington from those counties, to attend WSU��Tri‑Cities��part‑time (8��credits or less per��semester) and pay resident tuition rates. The specific Oregon counties whose residents are eligible for this benefit are: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood��River, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Washington. The application to apply for that program is located at��tricities.wsu.edu/finaid/tuition-waivers.

For those with concerns about COVID‑19 and returning for any in‑person learning, all WSU��Tri‑Cities classrooms are now equipped to offer virtual instruction, regardless of whether a class is offered in‑person or virtually.

ACT and SAT��scores are also not being used as a factor for admissions decisions through spring semester��2022.

For more information about WSU��Tri‑Cities, visit��.

 

Media contacts:��

Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell),��maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ

RICHLAND, Wash. – Sharing the complete picture of humanity, especially the hard topics, so that one-day she can affect positive change.

That’s the reason photographer and Washington State University Tri-Cities alumna Madison Rosenbaum first picked up a camera. Shedding light on difficult social issues and providing a voice for the unheard is also what led her to document local protests following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

The images themselves do the talking, and they allow others to share their own stories, Rosenbaum said.

“There are seven billion people on this planet experiencing the world differently every day,” she said. “If I can provide a glimpse into those experiences for others intentionally or unintentionally seeking to better connect with humanity, then my artistry is serving the purpose I want it to.”

Photography as a catalyst

Rosenbaum said she hopes her photographs of this month help the community mourn the unjust deaths of African Americans, tell the stories of those still experiencing racism and inequality, and serve as a catalyst for positive change.

“As an artist and someone who identifies as white, I want to do better at providing a space for marginalized groups­—for black, indigenous, people of color—to see themselves in art and to have their stories heard,” she said. “I will always be a believer that storytelling through photography can help be the bridge to connecting and understanding someone else’s lived experience with an open mind and open heart.”

Photography, she said, can often shed light on feelings, emotions, actions and even consequences where words may fall short. In her recent photographs of the protests, the portraits display the frustration, grit and pain experienced by many as they held signs stating “Black lives matter,” “I can’t breathe” and “Together we stand.”

“In an age of social media, it is easier than ever to be vocal about social issues,” she said. “I hope those viewing my work are choosing to listen to the stories told by those in the photographs and take their stories to heart. Their experiences are valid and real.”

Building a foundation with education

While she didn’t know it at the time, Rosenbaum said choosing two seemingly unmatched degree programs to double major in at Ģ������Ƶ, digital technology and culture and psychology, helped open her mind to how she could use creativity to shine light on social issues.

Through her digital technology and culture courses, she mastered and refined the skills and techniques that now allow her to capture color, angles, light and emotion in her art, and she learned the power of using art to shine light on important topics. Her psychology courses, she said, provided a foundational understanding of the human mind, and how humans interact and relate.

During her senior year, Rosenbaum was invited by digital technology and culture professor Peter Christenson to participate in the “Women artists from the Columbia Valley” exhibition, which featured 64 contemporary female artists and their work. As part of her submission for the exhibition, Rosenbaum collaborated with two other artists on images of mental health, and specifically her personal journey with depression.

“They were self-portraits that we each helped one another construct and produce,” she said. “Being in front of the camera as a model exploring something incredibly vulnerable was difficult, but I realized it was an outlet to discuss something that I was passionate about and often did not have the words for. It was the first step for me in understanding storytelling through photography and an experience I keep in mind always as I help others explore theirs.”

Telling stories

After that first exhibition, Rosenbaum began producing and participating in other photography and art projects that helped shed light on social, emotional and political topics.

She organized Ģ������Ƶ’ first student-curated photo exhibition, which featured artist-submitted works on the topics of domestic and sexual violence, social injustice, racism, sexuality and inequality. She said while it made some people uncomfortable, it was well received by individuals who stated that it helped them explore hard to discuss topics.

After graduating from Ģ������Ƶ in 2015, she expanded upon a series of photographs she began as a student called “,” which features dozens of individual portraits and stories that explore vulnerabilities of humankind and examine sociopolitical barriers through an artistic lens. She began another series titled “” on what life is like as an immigrant in 21^st century America, as well as a series specifically detailing struggles with mental health called “.”

In March of this year, amid the COVID-19 health crisis, she began a series detailing individuals’ experiences from home and those who work on the frontlines in healthcare titled “.” The series features individuals from the Tri-Cities area, as well as others who live around the world. Many said they wanted to participate because they wanted to share their personal experiences, and also as a way to connect while everyone feels so isolated.

“When Madison asked me if I would be interested in participating in the project, my family and I [had recently] experienced a tragedy and I wanted to share a realization,” said Carina León, a participant in the project. “My life has suddenly become more precious, and I want to be more conscious of the moments I have with myself and with my loved ones.”

“I participated in ‘Tales from Home’ because I wanted to give people the perspective of someone in the heart of the pandemic, one of the largest metropolitan hotspots in the world,” said Maximilian VonderMehden, a Ģ������Ƶ alumnus and a nurse in Los Angeles. “I wanted to give some perspective that even if the disease isn’t ‘right at your doorstep,’ what we’re all doing still matters, still plays a part, and is still essential.”

Using art to open eyes

Rosenbaum said while some of her projects may make people uncomfortable, it is for the purpose of positive change, and it has helped to open her eyes to her own inherent thoughts and emotions.

“I want to challenge viewers and their biases,” she said. “I want to challenge my own views and biases. These stories have changed my life. I have become more educated about the histories and cultures and experiences of marginalized groups. I have become an advocate in my community. My work to dismantle white supremacy and examining my white privilege is a constant journey, but I am trying every day and in every story I share.”

Photography, Rosenbaum said, is a way to not only express herself, but to express the thoughts, emotions, struggles and triumphs of others.

“We can all be agents of change,” she said. “Blog. Write. Sing. Create. Photograph. Draw. Paint. No matter your craft, do it with intention.”

To view Rosenbaum’s work, visit .