Centralia College Explained

Centralia College
Established:1925[1]
Endowment:$7.8 million[2]
President:Robert Mohrbacher
Administrative Staff:212
Students:4,803[3]
Country:United States
Coordinates:46.716°N -122.9594°W
Former Names:Centralia Junior College
Sports Nickname:Trailblazers
Mascot:Blazer Bill

Centralia College is a public community college in Centralia, Washington. Although it primarily offers certificates and Associate degrees, it also offers a few Bachelor's degrees. Founded in 1925, Centralia is the oldest continuously operating community college in the state of Washington.[4] The college sits on 29acres in the middle of the town of Centralia. There is a branch education center, Centralia College East, in the town of Morton and the college offers a range of online and correspondence courses. Overall, the college serves an area of 2409sqmi in Lewis County and southern Thurston County under the administrative classification of Community College District Twelve.

History

Centralia College opened in 1925 under the name of Centralia Junior College. Developing slowly at first, the college constructed its first physical campus in 1950 with Kemp Hall.[5] Also, in 1948 the college received its accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.[6] Growing from an entrance class of 15 students, the college has an enrollment of 4,803 students in 64 academic programs. The college is affiliated with the private Centralia College Foundation, founded in 1982 by community members, to supplement its public resources.

The college is also home to Michael Spafford's The Twelve Labors of Hercules, a series of murals commissioned in the early 1980s for the House of Representatives' chambers.[7] From 1982 to 1987 they were covered with curtains due to their perceived (by some) sexually suggestive nature and later were placed in storage. Following a decade of negotiations, the college acquired the murals in 2002 for display in the Corbet Theatre.[8] [9] Murals created by Alden Mason and originally displayed at the Capitol were moved to the college library in 1990.

Academics

In 2012 the college began offering a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management degree. It now offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Diesel Technology degree and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Science and Application Development degree.

Campus

In 2023, the college, in partnership with Collegiate Housing International (CHI), completed an off-campus student apartment complex providing affordable accommodations for students in part due to the ongoing housing crisis. The dormitory complex can house up to 110 students. With an occupancy of 8 people per living quarters, each unit shares a common room and is pre-furnished.[10] The following year, the complex was begun to be used as limited and temporary housing for Centralia high school students who are homeless. The project, named Scholars Haven, enrolls the students into the college's Running Start program.[11]

Artworks

The campus contains several murals including works by Alden Mason and Robert Calvo. The mural collection, Twelve Labors of Hercules, by the artist William Spafford that was created in the 1980s for the Washington State Capitol but removed due to complaints, resides at the college.[12] A mural in Washington Hall features Merce Cunningham, a dancer and choreographer from Centralia.[13]

Athletics

The college's mascot is the Trailblazer and the athletics program includes teams for women's volleyball, men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's fast pitch softball and women's golf. These teams play in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).[14]

The college is home to a sports complex known as Bob Peters Field. The site, begun in 1999 through the purchasing of neighborhood lots, was declared completed in 2023 after an official groundbreaking the prior year. The complex was named after the college's athletic director, the longest serving director in Washington state history. The athletic compound is 4acres and hosts fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. Student fees of over $3 million were used for the construction of the complex.[15]

Notable alumni and people

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Centralia College. the Chronicle. December 25, 2015. A Timeline: 90 Years of Education at Centralia College. The Chronicle. May 27, 2021.
  2. As of June 30, 2011. Web site: U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2011 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2010 to FY 2011. National Association of College and University Business Officers. January 17, 2012. 22. February 10, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201322/http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2011_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values_Final_January_17_2012.pdf. 2013-10-29. dead.
  3. Web site: College Search . 2009-03-28 . 2009 . College Board .
  4. News: Centralia College. the Chronicle. December 25, 2015. A Timeline: 90 Years of Education at Centralia College. The Chronicle. May 27, 2021.
  5. Web site: Centralia College International Programs Student Handbook . 2009-03-28 . Centralia College . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722083827/http://www.centralia.edu/international/pdf/CompleteHandbook.doc . 2011-07-22 . dead .
  6. Web site: Directory of Institutions A — D . 2009-03-28 . 2009-03-28 . Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities . https://web.archive.org/web/20171011021640/http://www.nwccu.org/Directory%20of%20Inst/Alpha%20Cluster/a_d.html . 2017-10-11 . dead .
  7. Web site: Exiled murals may surface in Centralia . 2009-03-28 . Farr . Sheilla . 2001-06-08 . The Seattle Times . The Seattle Times Company .
  8. Web site: Controversial murals go to Centralia College . 2009-03-28 . Associated Press . 2003-08-30 . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Hearst Seattle Media .
  9. Web site: Controversial murals on the move . 2009-03-28 . Thomas . Ralph . 2003-09-03 . The Seattle Times . The Seattle Times Company .
  10. News: Sexton . Owen . Take a look inside Centralia College's new student apartments . November 21, 2023 . The Chronicle . November 8, 2023.
  11. News: Sexton . Owen . Partnership forms to house homeless Centralia students in college campus student apartments . April 2, 2024 . The Chronicle . March 29, 2024.
  12. News: The Chronicle staff . Art in the Park celebrates a decade . April 15, 2024 . . May 22, 2006.
  13. News: The Chronicle Editorial Board . Our Views: The Most Famous Centralian? Merce Cunningham . August 12, 2024 . The Chronicle . June 10, 2009.
  14. Web site: Athletics at Centralia College . 2009-03-28 . 2008 . Centralia College .
  15. News: Nance . Jesse . Centralia College Honors Campus Stalwart With Bob Peters Field . July 24, 2023 . The Chronicle . May 23, 2023.
  16. News: The Chronicle staff . World-Renowned Pianist, Centralia Native Charlie Albright to Return for Holiday Performance at Centralia College . April 16, 2024 . The Chronicle . November 9, 2022.
  17. News: Walton . James . As Leaves Fall on Esplanade, We'll Remember Aadland . April 16, 2024 . The Chronicle . November 2, 2013 . Guest columnist from President of Centralia College.
  18. News: The Chronicle staff . Centralia College Asks for Nominations for Distinguished Alumnus . April 16, 2024 . The Chronicle . October 26, 2017.
  19. News: Aadland . Gordon . The Amazing Bag Lady from the Nation's Capital . July 24, 2024 . The Chronicle . July 23, 2010.
  20. News: Fitzgerald . Celene . Jimmy Ritchey Selected as Centralia College Distinguished Alumnus . April 16, 2024 . The Chronicle . April 22, 2020.