Join Ģ������Ƶ with a gift to support student success and student hardship relief as part of #CougsGive Day on Wednesday, April 14!

Ģ������Ƶ is raising dollars for the following funds as part of #CougsGive Day:

• Ģ������Ƶ Chancellor’s Excellence Fund
• Ģ������Ƶ Scholars Excellence Fund
• Ģ������Ƶ Emergency Hardship Fund

To donate, visit cougsgive.wsu.edu/tricities.

Every dollar goes toward supporting student success and preventing student hardship. It’s been a tumultuous year. Let’s celebrate our students with a donation that celebrates them!

SEB/ASWSUTC Student #CougsGive Day Sharing Challenge
Win Coug prize packs or a $200 Bookie gift card
Winners announced at noon (prize packs) and 8 p.m. (gift card)

Share a quick sentence or story about someone at Ģ������Ƶ who changed your life for the better on , or and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

• Five students will be randomly selected to win a Ģ������Ƶ prize pack (announced at noon)
• One student will be randomly selected to win a $200 gift card to The Bookie (announced at 8 p.m.)

Alaska Airlines Faculty Challenge
Faculty can earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines voucher for their department
Winner announced at 1 p.m.

The Ģ������Ƶ academic department with the most donations from faculty to one of the three Ģ������Ƶ #CougsGive Day funds will earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines flight voucher for their department.

HAPO Cares Challenge
Unlock a $500 HAPO matching gift
Announced at 3 p.m.

The first 10 gifts to the Ģ������Ƶ Scholars Excellence Fund unlocks a $500 gift from HAPO Community Credit Union.

Show Your Cougar Pride Challenge
Win a Coug prize pack
Winner announced at 5 p.m.

Share on ,�����ǰ��� about why you give to Ģ������Ƶ and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

A winner will be selected to win a Ģ������Ƶ Coug prize pack.

CougsGive Employee Challenge
Unlock a $500 Advancement matching gift
Announced at 7 p.m.

The first 10 Ģ������Ƶ employees to give to the Ģ������Ƶ Student Emergency Hardship Fund will be matched by the Ģ������Ƶ Advancement team (up to $500).

Ģ������Ƶ Chancellor Challenge
$500 and $250 additional gifts from Chancellor Haynes
Winner announced at 10 a.m. next day (April 15)

The top two Ģ������Ƶ #CougsGive Day funds with the most unique donors will unlock $500 and $250 gifts, respectively, from Chancellor Sandra Haynes.

By Maegan Murray, WSU Tri‑Cities

Anna Plemons, Ģ������Ƶ assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, reads “Where Do I Sleep?” with daughter Josephine.

RICHLAND, Wash. – In light of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order by Gov. Jay Inslee, as well as K-12 schools not returning to in-person learning throughout the state, Washington State University Tri-Cities launched a new website dedicated to educational children’s activities and a new reading program where kids virtually read along with Ģ������Ƶ faculty and can earn WSU prizes.

�ճ����website features a variety of do-it-at-home activities ranging from those that pertain to WSU and Coug spirit, such as creating your own Butch T. Cougar mask, to science experiments and other fun activities using supplies that most families likely already have and use in their home.

Additionally, through the new “Super Coug Readers” program in partnership with The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, children can watch videos of Ģ������Ƶ faculty reading their favorite books. Children can also earn prizes for completing a Super Coug Readers reading calendar and/or completing a “Super Coug Readers Bingo” challenge.

The project is being led by the Ģ������Ƶ community engagement team in partnership with the Ģ������Ƶ College of Education and The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia.

“As a public university, we saw an opportunity to provide children and their families with fun and educational activities that are safe and readily available to complete in their own homes, especially during this unusual time,” said Jaime Heppler, Ģ������Ƶ executive director of advancement and community engagement. “Many parents, such as myself, are looking for engaging activities for their kids. This new website and reading program provide activities that foster learning and curiosity. We are excited to offer this as a resource for our regional families.”

Benefits of reading aloud with your kids

Elizabeth Barnes, executive director of The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said children who read for at least 20 minutes per day score in the 90^th percentile in standardized tests, are successful in school, are more likely to graduate from college and become successful in life.

“The skills and knowledge you gain from reading or being read to from birth are astronomical,” she said. “This is a very natural partnership for The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and Ģ������Ƶ, as both organizations are trying to better the community through education.”

New Ģ������Ƶ Cougar Family Fun website that provides educational activities for young children and their families.

Barnes said children reading along with Ģ������Ƶ faculty presents a great way for children to be exposed to different educational opportunities and careers that are available in the regional Tri-Cities community.

“What kind of impact could an engineering professor have on a young girl and her parents if they were to hear ‘Rosie Revere, Engineer,’ for the first time?” she said. “What kind of connections to the real world could this have on a family that may never have contemplated a life for their daughter in the sciences?”

Reading with industry experts – Ģ������Ƶ faculty

Sara Sorensen Petersen, a Ģ������Ƶ clinical assistant professor of education and board member with the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, said she and her fellow faculty members are excited to provide educational opportunities for regional students to learn from faculty members in a range of fields and from a range of backgrounds and cultures.

“Speaking as a mom and an educator, it is great for kids to see others than mom and dad reading, as well as see professionals in their communities and learn a bit more about what they do,” she said. “We have female science professors, for example, that could inspire young girls to think about a career in the sciences. It’s just a great tie-in and presents a great opportunity for our local families.”

A free resource for families

The new Cougar Family Fun website is available for free and accessible to the public.

Additionally, The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia is supplying Ģ������Ƶ with an assortment of children’s books that will be given out at the Ģ������Ƶ Cougar Cupboard sponsored by Lamb Weston food pantry, in addition to food pick-up locations in Pasco and Kennewick for Ģ������Ƶ students and their families.  on pick-up locations and how to donate can be found online.

Media Contacts:

Jaime Heppler, Ģ������Ƶ executive director of advancement and community engagement, 509-372-7207, jaime.heppler@wsu.edu

Sara Sorensen Petersen, Ģ������Ƶ clinical assistant professor of education, 509-372-7395, sarapetersen@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ public relations/communication coordinator, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, Ģ������Ƶ

RICHLAND, Wash. – An exhibition at Washington State University Tri-Cities will showcase art professionally created by WSU faculty and staff from across the state now through Feb. 28 at the Ģ������Ƶ Art Center.

“A Pink Scaffold in the Great Rann (Kutch, India)” by Avantika Bawa, WSU Vancouver associate professor of fine art.

A grand opening for the exhibition is scheduled for 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the Ģ������Ƶ Art Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibition will feature a range of styles of art, including interactive and electronic sculptures, ceramics, photography, painting, drawing and more. It will specifically feature works from 16 faculty and staff from the Ģ������Ƶ, WSU Vancouver and WSU Pullman campuses.

At the grand opening on Jan. 31, attendees will have the opportunity to meet many of the artists featured, enjoy wine and light refreshments, as well as get an up-close look at the works of art.

Remarks begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature:

• Sena Clara Creston, Ģ������Ƶ clinical assistant professor of fine arts and digital technology and culture
• Squeak Meisel, WSU chair and associate professor and sculpture coordinator of fine arts
• Kathleen McAteer, Ģ������Ƶ vice chancellor for academic affairs and clinical associate professor of biology
• Matthew Jockers, dean of the WSU College of Arts and Sciences
• Reza Safavi, WSU associate professor, graduate coordinator and digital media coordinator of fine arts

“American Photographs” by Douglas Gast, Ģ������Ƶ associate professor of fine arts.

The grand opening reception is free and open to the public. For a complete list of artists and their works featured, visit tricities.wsu.edu/art-center.

“We have a variety of highly-skilled and wildly talented faculty and staff members whose work will be featured and prominently displayed for this WSU exhibition,” Creston said. “We invite our community members to come out and witness the excellent artwork of our accomplished faculty and staff.”

The Ģ������Ƶ Art Center is open from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday.

For more information about the exhibition, visit tricities.wsu.edu/art-center/.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will honor 12 individuals as part of its 2018 Women of Distinction class during a gallery exhibition opening and reception at 4 p.m. on April 20 in the Consolidated Information Center Art Gallery on campus.

The Ģ������Ƶ Women of Distinction program recognizes female students, staff, faculty, alumnae and community members who have made notable contributions to the campus and their community through service, teaching or involvement.

“It is our honor and privilege to recognize exceptional female leaders, mentors and overall professionals that have given back to the university and their communities,” said Chris Meiers, Ģ������Ƶ vice chancellor of student affairs. “These are individuals who have improved access to educational opportunities, created pathways for others to be successful and generally provided incredible support to the next generation of leaders.”

Those being honored as the Ģ������Ƶ 2018 Women of Distinction class include:

• LoAnn Ayers – United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties president and CEO
• Eadie Balint – Ģ������Ƶ professional development and community education coordinator
• Diahann Howard – Port of Benton director of economic development and governmental affairs and Tri-Cities Research District executive director
• Savanna Kresse – Ģ������Ƶ junior studying history and pre-law
• Kate McAteer – Ģ������Ƶ assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs
• Mysti Meiers – Ģ������Ƶ senior academic advisor
• Judy Morrison – Ģ������Ƶ academic director for the College of Education and associate professor of education
• Maegan Murray – Ģ������Ƶ public relations/communication coordinator
• Sarah Newcomer – Ģ������Ƶ assistant professor of education
• Darlene Scrivner – Columbia Basin College special assistant to the president
• Karen Sinclair – Mission Support Alliance project manager
• Dani Young – Ģ������Ƶ junior studying civil engineering

After the ceremony on April 20, all photos and biographies of the award recipients will be on display in the East Building hallway next to The Bookie, Ģ������Ƶ’ student bookstore.

The honorees will also be highlighted on the Ģ������Ƶ Women of Distinction website at /women-of-distinction/.

Contact:

Danielle Kleist, Ģ������Ƶ specialist assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, 509-372-7104, danielle.kleist@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will honor its international students, faculty and staff members with a new international flag installation and celebration that will take place at 1:15 p.m. on Monday in the Floyd Atrium on campus.

There will be an initial total of 32 flags represented of the known 32 countries of current international students, faculty and staff that will be hung as part of the installation. Members of the public are welcome to attend the celebration.

“These flags are displayed in a prominent place in recognition of faculty, staff and students who have come to our campus from countries around the world and of their diverse backgrounds and experience strengthen the campus,” said Jana Kay, campus registrar.

As part of a brief celebration for installation, the campus community will hear from Kate McAteer, assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs, Israa Alshaikhli, president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Tri-Cities, and Yuna Okamoto, a student in the Intensive American Language Center, on the importance and impact of having the installation on campus.

If there are flags not represented of current campus community members’ home countries, those individuals are encouraged to contact Erika Kraus, Ģ������Ƶ international student coordinator, at erika.kraus@wsu.edu. Additional flags will be installed as they are identified.