Centralia C
ollege is celebrating its 90th year and we should be celebrating what a gem we have right in our midst. Continuous learning or Lifelong Learning as they call it is an important part of our community and Centralia College has certainly embraced it. If you have not taken a class at the college, please consider it the next time their quarterly catalog comes in the mail. Having done so recently I can say it is a good way to meet new people, gain new skills and get out of the house.
Since the college is celebrating 90 years there was a lot written in The Chronicle this week and of particular interest is some of the little known history of the college:
Enrollment: In 1925 = 15; In 2015 = 7813
Campus: Occupied the third floor of the Centralia High School in 1925. Now the Centralia College campus is 40 acres in downtown Centralia, with three satellite campuses.
Teachers: In 1925 there were 6 part-time teachers (shared with the high school) and now days there are 82 full time and 135 part-time teachers.
Degrees: In 1925 there were no degrees but all graduates transferred to the University of Washington as Juniors. In 2015 the college offers two Bachelor degrees, 6 Associate degrees, 15 Certificates and 63 programs of study.
As I read through the history of the college it is like looking at a reflection of our country’s history. The school lived through the Great Depression, spearheaded efforts to support the war in 1942, expanded after the war to accommodate GI Bill students, expanded again to meet the influx of baby boomers, and expanded again to include the clean energy program in 2004. This is a rich history that we need to appreciate and take advantage of!
The latest Continuing and Community Education catalog offers health and fitness, art, culture and even agriculture classes. Many of the courses offer Lifelong Learning 50+ discounts which is a bonus. Check it out!
Quote of the Week:
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
Happenings this week (or next):
Tuesday, September 22nd: The Two Town Tuners (Barbershop) will be playing a fundraising event 
at the Lewis and Clark Building at 117 W. Magnolia, Centralia. The show starts at 6:30 p.m., admission is free and donations for refreshments are requested.
Thursday, September 24th: Potluck night at Stillwaters Estates. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place. Bring your favorite dish to share and bring a plate. Silver, cups and napkins are provided. This is always a good time and the food is amazing.
Saturday, September 26th: The FOX Theatre film series continues with “The Poseidon Adventure.” Showings at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $8 for singles and $20 for family (up to 4 people). 123 S. Tower Avenue. This is another classic movie shown in our very own classic theatre.
Saturday, September 26th: For Gardeners: Gardening for everyone sponsored by the WSU Lewis County Master Gardeners. This is a day of gardening classes, open to the public and free of charge. Topics include: Irrigation, Ethnobotany, plant care, Bats, Bees and weeds. No pre-registration – just show up just before 9 a.m. at Washington Hall at Centralia College. This is located on the corner of Walnut and Washington avenues. I took classes at a similar session last spring and enjoyed the experts talking about several interesting topics. You show up and get a copy of the agenda and then go to the classes you are interested in. A great way to learn something new!
Tuesday, September 29th: A forum for Centralia School Board Candidates to be hosted here at Stillwaters Estates. All six candidates up for election (for three positions) will be here for a question and answer session hosted by Stillwaters resident Bill Brumsickle. The forum starts promptly at 6 p.m. so get here early to claim a good seat.
Weather:
We have a day of clouds and rain showers which continue into tomorrow. Then we are in for a few days of sunshine and 70s. It looks like the next rain isn’t expected until late next week so we will have another nice September weekend to enjoy!
2 COMMENTS
The college is truly amazing!
One more benefit of having the College here is the Lyceum series, a free lecture event every Wednesday at 1:00 PM during the academic year. This series covers various subjects, generally very interesting, although sometimes a bit esoteric but very stimulating, presented by knowledgeable and dynamic speakers. It is astounding how few people from Stillwaters attend this series. What a great way to be able to have an early lunch downtown, then stimulating the brain among students seeking knowledge and furthering their post=high school education. They are our future movers and shakers as well as exerts.
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