windermere tri-cities

Charter College

Charter College in Pasco completed an expansion in mid-February allowing the certified school to offer an HVAC program and adding a new student bookstore.

The $164,000 addition includes three 300-sq.-ft. classrooms, a bookstore, a resource room, a tool room and a 2,000-sq.-ft. lab.

G2 Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor for the project and Eric Little of ALD Architects designed the reconstruction project.

Charter College is at 5278 Outlet Drive in Pasco.

For more information, go to www.chartercollege.edu.

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by Mary Hopkin
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

windermere tri-cities

CH2M HILL gives $1 million boost to WSU Tri-Cities Engineering/Science Programs

2011 CH2M HILL has pledged to donate up to $1 million over the next five years to support growth of the Washington State University Tri-Cities science and engineering programs.

“This is the first-ever, single-donor, seven-figure pledge to our campus,” WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein said. “CH2M HILL has proven time and again that it believes in higher education in our community. This gift will allow us to expand our academic offerings, including planning for a civil engineering degree, to meet the demands of regional employers. This is a tangible investment that will benefit the area.”

CH2M HILL manages the U.S. Department of Energy Central Plateau Remediation contract on the Hanford Site.

The donation will establish two CH2M HILL Faculty Fellow positions (an academic director for science and a civil engineering professor), lend support to the school’s Science and Engineering Advisory Council, and create internship opportunities with bona fide career potential.

“This is a proud day for CH2M HILL, knowing that we’re making an investment that will lead young people here in the Tri-Cities to higher education and future careers in science and engineering,” said John Lehew, CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company President and Chief Executive Officer.

Adding two faculty members will position WSU Tri-Cities to expand its civil engineering offerings to a full Bachelor of Science degree and will provide leadership for the College of Sciences programs.

WSU Tri-Cities currently offers the first three years of civil engineering courses, with the senior year to be completed at WSU Pullman.

The Tri-Cities’ campus already offers degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science within the College of Engineering and Architecture. The College of Sciences programs include environmental science, life science, and physical science. In addition, the College of Education programs at WSU Tri-Cities include a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for teachers.

CH2M HILL’s previous gifts to WSU Tri-Cities total $2.2 million. Those separate donations, made over about a decade, have provided $130,000 in scholarships for the first freshman class in 2007, hired a computer science faculty member in 2001, provided research grants for graduate students, and established entrepreneurship courses and internships for business students.

CH2M HILL’s donation is a part of The Campaign for WSU. Since July 2006, the WSU Foundation has raised $549.5 million toward a goal of $1 billion to increase support for WSU’s students, faculty, research and programs and to leverage the University’s impact across the state, nation, and world. WSU Tri-Cities’ portion of this goal is $25 million, and is focused on sustainable energy, wine science, scholarships, K-12 STEM education, and efforts to earn federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

CH2M HILL is an employee-owned global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations, and program management for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. The firm’s work is concentrated in the areas of water, transportation, environmental, energy and power, and facilities and infrastructure. The firm has been named five times to the list of FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For.

WSU Tri-Cities is located along the scenic Columbia River in Richland, Wash. Established in 1989 with upper division and graduate programs, WSU Tri-Cities expanded in 2007 to a full four-year undergraduate campus offering 17 bachelors, 14 masters, and seven doctoral degrees. Learn more about the fastest growing campus in the WSU system at www.tricity.wsu.edu.

 by Mary Hopkin
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business