Pierce College District offers a variety of arts, entertainment, and educational events to enrich the lives of the community members we serve. In addition, some departments like Pierce College Theatre and Music offer hands-on learning opportunities for our students.

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is located at 9401 Farwest Drive, SW, Lakewood, Wash.

Pierce College Puyallup is located at 1601 39th Ave. S.E., Puyallup, Wash.

Lakewood Community Center is located at 9112 Lakewood Drive S.W.

July 19: Nursing Information Session at Pierce College Puyallup
Join the nursing department staff at Pierce College Puyallup to learn how you can get trained for an exciting career in nursing Thur., July 19 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. You’ll learn how to get started as a pre-nursing student at Pierce College, hear about the dual admit program with the University of Washington Tacoma, review prerequisite coursework and more. For more information, contact (253) 840-8355. To request disability accommodation, contact the Access and Disability Services Office at least 10 days in advance at: (253) 964-6468/V, (253) 964-6228/TTY, or dssaccess@pierce.ctc.edu.

Aug. 2: 14th Annual Pierce College Golf Scramble
Join the Pierce College Foundation in supporting scholarships at Pierce College with the 14th annual Pierce College Scholarship Scramble Thurs., Aug. 2 at High Cedars Golf Club, Orting. The full day event features an 11 a.m. shot gun start and concludes with a dinner and auction. Registration is $150 and can be completed online at www.pierce.ctc.edu/foundation/events/golfscramble or by calling (253) 864-3260. All proceeds help fund student scholarships at Pierce College. The event has raised more than $390,000 in its 14-year history benefiting students in need and awarding students for academic ability, artistic talent and more. Last year 140 golfers raised $55,000. The event is sponsored by Pierce College Foundation and Waste Connections, Inc.

Aug. 16: Nursing Information Session at Pierce College Puyallup
Join the nursing department staff at Pierce College Puyallup to learn how you can get trained for an exciting career in nursing Thur., Aug. 16 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. You’ll learn how to get started as a pre-nursing student at Pierce College, hear about the dual admit program with the University of Washington Tacoma, review prerequisite coursework and more. For more information, contact (253) 840-8355. To request disability accommodation, contact the Access and Disability Services Office at least 10 days in advance at: (253) 964-6468/V, (253) 964-6228/TTY, or dssaccess@pierce.ctc.edu.

Toiya Gist, a graduate of the Business Management Program at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, says she “left the college a totally different woman than when I arrived…I was ready to take on the world.”

When she enrolled at the college 10 years ago as a divorced mother of three young children, Toiya was baffled when her instructor said to “use word processing to complete your assignments.”

“Fortunately, I asked a lot of questions and was directed to the college’s computer labs and Writing Center where I began to develop computer and writing skills that I have continued to build on,” said the graduate of Evergreen State College-Tacoma.

Recently, Toiya joined the Business Management Advisory Committee at Pierce where she was a work-study student while going to school.

“I’ve had a lot of help getting to the place I am today — employed since 2000 as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration through their “Outstanding Scholar Program,” she noted.

Serving on the Business Management Advisory Committee is one way I can give back to the department that helped me become successful and self-sufficient,” said the former client of Washington Women’s Employment and Education (WWEE), an advocacy and training organization for disadvantaged women.

Another Pierce graduate who benefited from the practical knowledge he gained in the Business Management Program at Pierce is Marcus Lee. Two years ago, Lee and Alex Cho, a friend who also is a graduate of the Business Management program, became partners in the Entrust Lending Group located in downtown Seattle. Marcus said the program at Pierce “helped Alex and me sharpen our entrepreneurial skills; the mentoring in business planning we received from our instructors helped us confirm we could blend the ying and the yang of our personalities to succeed as business partners.” The company now has 12 employees working with residential and commercial clients.

Paul Gerhardt, Ph.D., coordinator for the Business Management department at Fort Steilacoom, said that successful graduates such as Gist, Lee and Cho reflect the value the department places on developing professionals who “put their hearts and their minds into their work.”

“We also stress the concept that business is as much about relationships as it is products and services,” said Dr. Gerhardt, author of a recently published book, Diversity at Work: What Every Leader Should Know to be More Effective. The book is available in area bookstores as well as the Pierce College Bookstore and on Amazon.com.

Dr. Gerhardt explained the Business Management Program is one of six areas of specialization in the Associate in Business Program at Pierce. Designed for students to earn a one-year certificate or a two-year associate’s degree, the program includes courses in leadership, supervision, human resources management, and small business planning.
“The certification courses are a practical way for students as well as those already employed to enhance their business skills in specific areas,” continued Dr. Gerhardt, indicating certification courses are offered on-line as well as during the day, evenings and weekends at the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses.

Dr. Gerhardt added, ‘It’s becoming harder and harder to find qualified applicants for entry-level management positions … our program gives students a way to get their ‘foot in the door’ with businesses of any size and distinguish themselves with the breadth and depth of their knowledge of business management principles and practices.”

Media Contact Information
Brian Benedetti, acting director, college relations
(253) 964-6549, bbenedet@pierce.ctc.edu

Sally Perkins, marketing
(253) 964-6587, sperkins@pierce.ctc.edu

Summer quarter registration is now underway at Pierce College District. Classes for university transfer, professional development, basic skills and continuing education start June 25 at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Pierce College Puyallup and Pierce College at South Hill Park.

Students can study Business Management, Early Childhood Education, Digital Design, Art, Engineering, Theatre, Music, Computer Networking Engineering and more earning a two-year associate’s degree and transfer to a four-year university or they can train for a new career in high demand professions like dental hygiene, nursing, construction management or homeland security. Many of our courses are offered online to accommodate the working adult.

If you want to learn just for fun, Pierce College offers a variety of personal enrichment courses that will bring out the summer adventurer in you. You can earn college credit while traveling to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Don’t want to travel so far? You can stay closer to home and climb Mt. Rainier. If you’re more interested in a walk on the fairway, learn golfing basics with classes offered at several area courses.

Early fall registration is also underway. Fall quarter classes start September 19. Remember to check out the colleges’ new child development centers at both campuses. For more information, call: (253) 964-6501 or visit us online at www.pierce.ctc.edu.

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is located at 9401 Farwest Drive, S.W., Lakewood, Wash. Pierce College Puyallup is located at 1601 39th Ave., SE, Puyallup, Wash. Pierce College at South Hill Park is located at 716 South Hill Park Drive, Puyallup, Wash.

~end~

Sally Perkins, marketing manager
(253) 964-6587 sperkins@pierce.ctc.edu

A total of 2,927 students from Pierce College Puyallup and Pierce College Fort Steilacoom will be awarded associate degrees or certificates during commencement ceremonies at 3:30 p.m. June 15 in the Tacoma Dome. An additional 99 students will receive high-school diplomas.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Bruce Takata of Seattle, an associate of the Co-Intelligence Institute based out of Eugene, Ore., which supports the development of “new, wiser forms of civilization.” Takata will discuss “Living a Life of Possibility.”

A former member of the Institute for Creative Development, Takata is a member of the board of trustees of the Center for Ethical Leadership (CEL). The organization’s mission is to “motivate people to practice ethical leadership, inspire institutions to create cultures of integrity and gather the community to animate cultural change, all for the common good.”

Also on the program are David K. Hamry, chair of the Pierce College District Board of Trustees; Michele L. Johnson, Ph.D., district chancellor; Denise Yochum, president, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom; Tana Hasart, Ed.D., president, Pierce College Puyallup; faculty members Jacquelyn Jones, Sandy Lewis and Beth Norman;and Associated Students presidents Matthew Roberson, Fort Steilacoom, and Sean Cooke, Puyallup.

Providing music will be members of the Puyallup Concert Choir and the Pierce College Concert Band.

The Pierce College District serves more than 25,000 people each year with colleges in Lakewood and Puyallup as well as its Extended Learning division that includes more than 20 sites throughout the county. The college offers comprehensive programs in university transfer, job training, basic skills, and personal and professional enrichment courses and seminars.
~end~

CONTACT: Bryan R. Powell, Grants & Resource Development Manager
PHONE/FAX: (253) 864-3259 / (253) 864-3123
E-MAIL: BPowell@pierce.ctc.edu

LAKEWOOD – Pierce College Foundation is pleased to announce that the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary on Tuesday, May 22nd from 4:00 to 6:00pm at Lakeview Elementary School (8800 121st Street SW). All our welcome to come and join in the celebration. Following refreshments and demonstrations of the Clubhouse in action, there will be some short remarks at 5:00pm commemorating the first 5 years of the Clubhouse’s operation in Lakewood. Over the past 5 years, the Clubhouse has served more than 1,000 youth in Lakewood. The Clubhouse, as a part of Lakewood’s Promise, provides low-income youth with a safe and productive after-school environment to work with mentors, gain self-confidence and learn computer skills.

Further cause for celebration is the continued support the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse receives from the community. The Clubhouse has recently received a $15,000 grant from Intel Corporation and a $5,000 grant from Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation. In addition, Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation has also generously donated a dozen computers to the Clubhouse to upgrade the program’s equipment.

Pierce College Foundation is the parent organization of the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse, overseeing and acting as the fiscal agent for the Clubhouse. The mission of the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse is to provide a creative and safe after-school learning environment where young people from under-served communities work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology. Pierce College Foundation’s mission is to build relationships with the community and acquire resources to support academic excellence and educational access at Pierce College. For more information about the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse, please visit our website at: www.pierce.ctc.edu/clubhouse. For more information about Pierce College Foundation, please visit our website at: www.pierce.ctc.edu/foundation.
# # #

Media Contact Information:
Sally Perkins, marketing manager
(253) 964-6587
sperkins@pierce.ctc.edu

Pierce College Dental Hygiene students provide teeth cleaning, other services

Second-year students in the Dental Hygiene Program at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom are offering a range of services including teeth cleaning, X-rays and treatment for adult patients who haven’t had their teeth cleaned in several years, and who may have periodontal disease.

The gentle, quality care is offered at fees dramatically lower than those of other dental care providers, according to Sharon Golightly, Ed.D., the program’s director.

Potential patients who contact the program receive a free screening appointment to determine their suitability for treatment. Once accepted for treatment, patients will have their teeth cleaned and may receive other appropriate services such as X-rays, fluoride treatments or small fillings on selected patients. Patients with sensitive teeth and/or gums may be given a local anesthetic.

Dr. Golightly emphasizes the importance of dental health in maintaining overall well being, pointing to recent studies that have found a connection between periodontal inflammation and heart disease. “The cleaner the mouth, the healthier the person,” she said.

The program works with area dentists and clinics to make referrals for further treatment, and X-rays can be sent with the patient. Dental insurance and Medicaid coupons are accepted. For a free screening appointment call (253) 964-6694. For additional information about the Associate in Dental Hygiene Program, visit www.pierce.ctc.edu/Denthyg.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact (253) 964-6694. Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is located at 9401 Farwest Drive S.W., Lakewood.

~end~

Media Contact Information:
Sally Perkins, marketing manager
(253) 964-6587
sperkins@pierce.ctc.edu

Three Pierce College students are among recipients of Washington Awards for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) who were honored at a recent banquet in the Performance Lounge at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.

Stella Robinson, a WAVE recipient in the social service/mental health program at Pierce, was one of two guest speakers during the event. Along with Robinson, other Pierce College WAVE award winners are Dental Hygiene students Shanti Lambert and Teri C. Williams.

As WAVE recipients, students will receive monetary grants to pay for undergraduate expenses for two years at an accredited public or private college or university or a licensed private vocational school in Washington State. To continue using the award, students must maintain a term grade point average of 3.0.

Robinson’s goal is to obtain a four-year degree in the social service field. Denise Arnold, social science/mental health program coordinator, said in her nomination, “Every so often a student stands out with leadership skills, compassion, and academic fervor in the classroom. Appropriately named, Stella is that star.”

Williams hopes to work at a clinic serving low-income patients after obtaining a bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene. Sharon Golightly, Ed.D, Dental Hygiene program director, stated in her recommendation, “Teri is an outstanding student… she is on time, respectful of her instructors and never misses a day of school.”

Lambert, hoping to be the first person in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree, eventually would like to become a clinical instructor in a Dental Hygiene program. Melinda Davis, clinical instructor in the Dental Hygiene program who nominated Lambert, described her as “a leader…always very positive, caring and encouraging. Her teamwork exemplifies what we strive to have all students achieve in our program.”

Others honored at the banquet included WAVE educators of the year from Pierce College: Doug Jensen, director of legal studies at the Fort Steilacoom campus; and Jim Hendricks, coordinator, computer information systems (CIS), at the Puyallup campus. Jensen was chosen for his thoughtful and conscientious commitment to the Pierce College District, in addition to adhering to high standards for his paralegal students. He has developed strong partnerships within the legal community and has placed hundreds of paralegal students in law firms throughout the region. Hendricks moved from Pierce College Fort Steilacoom to Pierce College Puyallup in 2006 to assist with program development there and to CIS programs across the district. He was selected for his leadership and dedication to the CIS program.

The WAVE Banquet is sponsored by Pierce County Careers Connection (PC3), a 13-year partnership of five Pierce County technical and community colleges (Pierce College-fiscal agent), 15 school districts, three Chambers of Commerce, the Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board, Pierce County Central Labor Council,
Tacoma-Pierce County Education and Training Consortium, Wells Fargo, CIMCO Sales and Marketing, Inc., and Harborstone Credit Union.

~end~