�鶹��

Leadership and Change

Greener grads are government leaders and artists. They are scientists and entrepreneurs. They are people who found their passion and purpose at �鶹��. The college, now 50, is dedicated to ensuring that students continue to dig deep and pursue their passions. It’s also committed to ensuring that every student feels a sense of opportunity and belonging when they come to campus.

The Grand Experiment

I entered �鶹�� as a first-year student in 1972, a member of the college’s second entering class—ready to be part of a new, bold effort in higher education. It was a transformative experience for me, as it is for many of our graduates. Four years after I began, I left �鶹�� ready to take on the world.

In November �鶹�� welcomed 450 local Latinx High School students for the 2022 Latinx Youth Summit. With 35 workshops, activities, and performances this summit immersed students in the exciting possibilities of college, careers, and personal growth for their futures. The theme for this summit was: "Quisieron enterrarnos, pero se les olvidó que somos semillas/They wanted to bury us, but they forgot that we are seeds." 

OLYMPIA – Both women’s and men’s wrestling and cross-country will be added to �鶹��’s student athletics programs starting in Fall 2023. 

“Student athletes make great Greeners,” said �鶹��’s president Dr. John Carmichael. “They are self-motivated and community minded. We look forward to welcoming more student-athletes to �鶹��.” 

OLYMPIA – �鶹��’s House of Welcome will host a forum with a speaker and a panel on “The Legacy of Residential Boarding Schools for Native Americans, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6-8pm at the s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome on �鶹��’s Olympia campus at 2800 Dogtooth Lane, Olympia, WA 98505. 

Hello and happy fall 2022. This update will provide a brief overview of legislative related activities during the 2022 interim and some good news about campus!

OLYMPIA – For the first time ever, �鶹�� will welcome trick-or-treaters at its Lord Mansion, located in the heart of Olympia’s historic Capitol neighborhood.

From 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Halloween evening, staff, faculty, and student volunteers will be providing treats to all the ghosts, goblins, and of course, geoducks who venture up to the festively decorated “Monster Mansion.” There will also be photo opportunities with Speedy, the college’s mascot, throughout the night.

OLYMPIA – On a day where sports will be headline news in Seattle with the Seahawks and possibly the Mariners playing, �鶹�� in Olympia will be celebrating its own athletics program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. 

�鶹��’s Recreation and Athletics Hall of Fame will induct alum and former head soccer coach, John Purtteman and the 2002 Men’s Basketball team. 

OLYMPIA – �鶹�� is hosting the 20th Annual Latinx Youth Summit on November 22. This will be the first in-person summit since 2019 when it was held at Saint Martin’s University and was last hosted by �鶹�� in 2016. 

This college and career event is open to high school students, their parents, and their educators in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. 

Olympia – Lt. Governor, Denny Heck has been named the 2022 Joseph Albert Dear Distinguished Alumni Award Winner by his college alma mater, �鶹��.