New WSU Tri-Cities Program Paves Path From High School CNA To Bachelor’s In Nursing (Photo) -05/23/25

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities welcomed 10 students from Tri-Tech Skills Center into the inaugural class of its Nursing Bridge program during an award ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, at Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick, WA.

The new program is designed to expand access to nursing careers by creating a direct, supported pathway from high school CNA training to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The initiative is funded by a grant from Career Connect Washington Program Builders.

Students selected for the Nursing Bridge program will complete the first two years of pre- nursing course requisite while gaining two years of paid Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) experience in one of 3 partnering hospitals. Upon meeting all admission requirements, they will receive direct admission to the WSU Tri-Cities College of Nursing to begin the pre-licensure BSN program.

“This is such an amazing opportunity for high school students who already have their CNA license and want to advance their nursing careers,” said Heather Kraemer, Nursing Bridge coordinator. “The fact that they can gain hospital experience while working toward their degree really helps remove barriers to getting that critical hands-on training.”

The program is a collaboration between WSU Tri-Cities, the WSU College of Nursing, Tri-Tech Skills Center, the Career Connect Washington, and local hospital partners including Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Lourdes Health and Trios Health.

The students selected for the program are:

• Karyme De La Mora, Kennewick
• Sydnee Garsjo, Kennewick
• Emmerson Gimlin, Mesa
• Briana Guizar, Kennewick
• Sidona Inslee, West Richland
• Cadence Iverson, Kennewick
• Zoey Kunkel, West Richland
• Jade Mojica, Kennewick
• Ana Plascencia, Pasco
• Jacob Rodrick, Kennewick

Lisa McKinney, assistant director, Angela Nemeth, CNA program director and Roger Potts, pre-Nursing instructor at Tri-Tech were instrumental in helping to recruit the first cohort of students. “We are very excited to recognize these pioneering students and celebrate the launch of a program designed to strengthen the local health care workforce and support the next generation of nurses,” McKinney said.

For more information about applying to the WSU Tri-Cities Nursing Bridge program, including eligibility requirements and application steps, please visit the program website. Inquiries may also be emailed to Christina Chacón, academic director of the WSU Tri-Cities College of Nursing, at Christina.Chacon@wsu.edu

Media Alert: Controlled Burn On WSU Tri-Cities Land Helps Train Firefighters And Aids Research On Wine Grapes -05/21/25

What: The Richland Fire Department will conduct a controlled burn as part of their wildland fire training academy on a section of unused land on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. In addition, graduate students conducting research on the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes will use the opportunity to capture smoke for their research.

When: Friday, May 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Weather permitting)

Where: The controlled burn will be in the vacant land near the WSU Tri-Cities Wine Science Center, just off George Washington Way near the intersection of Crimson Way and 1^st street.

Why: Great photo/video opportunity and opportunity to share information about how local fire fighters are training and preparing for wildland fires. It’s also an opportunity to share information about the research WSU Tri-Cities is doing on the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes and how this research is benefiting local wine grape growers.

Who: Richland Fire Department, WSU Tri-Cities  

RSVP: Please contact Leslie Streeter, WSU Tri-Cities Director of Marketing and Communications at leslie.streeter@wsu.edu or (209) 606-9144 (mobile) if you plan to attend.

Bechtel National Donates $60,000 To WSU Tri-Cities Engineering Program (Photo) -05/20/25

Richland, Wash. – Engineering students at Washington State University Tri-Cities will soon benefit from a state-of-the-art materials testing machine, thanks to a generous $60,000 donation from Bechtel to support the university’s engineering program.

This contribution will help fund the purchase of a new Universal Testing Machine (UTM), significantly enhancing the university’s capabilities in testing material properties—particularly for 3D-printed materials.

The UTM is a critical tool that allows students and faculty to perform comprehensive tests on the mechanical properties of various materials. While current lab equipment can assess standard metals such as aluminum and steel, it lacks the capability to test the increasingly common 3D-printed materials. As 3D printing becomes a standard practice in the industry, the ability to characterize printed material properties is essential for proving design effectiveness.

“This donation will provide our students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment, preparing them for successful careers in engineering and technology,” said Changki Mo, director of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at WSU Tri-Cities. “We are incredibly grateful to Bechtel for their support.”

“Supporting students today helps build the skilled workforce of tomorrow. By investing in hands-on learning at WSU Tri-Cities, we’re helping future engineers gain real-world experience while strengthening the community we call home,” said Brian Hartman Project Director and Bechtel Senior Vice President. “Bechtel is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with WSU.”

Bechtel, an engineering, construction, and project management partner to industry and government, has been a longtime supporter of the WSU system’s engineering programs with donations totaling more than $300,000 since 1994. In 2011 and 2012, Bechtel made donations toward the university’s electrical engineering laboratory. The university purchased new lab equipment and supplies, which enhanced lab instruction and student experiences. Purchases included electronic components, test equipment, computers, software, and compensation for a part-time electrical engineering student to maintain the lab infrastructure. In 2023 Bechtel donated $160,000 to support the tutoring center, Learning Assistants program and scholarships at WSU Tri-Cities.

To learn more about WSU Tri-Cities School of Engineering visit https://tricities.wsu.edu/engineering/

WSU Tri-Cities Welcomes 14 High School Seniors Into Teaching Bridge Program (Photo) -05/19/25

RICHLAND, Wash. – Fourteen high school seniors from four Mid-Columbia school districts have signed commitment letters to join Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities through the Teaching Bridge program—a career-connected pathway that allows students to earn a teaching degree while gaining paid classroom experience.

As part of the program, students will attend WSU Tri-Cities full-time to pursue a teaching degree while working part-time as substitute paraeducators in their home school districts. Teaching Bridge is designed to remove the traditional two-year gap between high school graduation and teacher preparation by connecting students with early admission, paid internships and real-world classroom experience from the start.

“The Teaching Bridge program has fostered strong partnerships between WSU Tri-Cities and the Kennewick, Richland, Prosser, and Pasco school districts. We are able to benefit from new freshmen enrolling on our campus as they start the program and the districts benefit from having sub-paras working in their districts at the same time they take courses on campus,” said Judy Morrison, professor and academic director for the WSU Tri-Cities College of Education.

This year’s Teaching Bridge cohort includes students from Kennewick, Pasco, Prosser and Richland school districts. Pasco, Prosser and Richland school districts hosted signing ceremonies earlier this month and the Kennewick School District will host its event on Tuesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. at the district office in Boardroom B.

Kennewick School District

Six students from KSD joined the program: Ashley Cortes, Brianna Chavez, Natalie Day, Yaretzy Davalos, Janet Salgado, and Kendall Taylor.

“We are so proud of these amazing students,” said Traci Pierce, superintendent of the Kennewick School District. “It’s exciting to see our current students graduating KSD and entering WSU to become future educators. We know they will succeed, and we are excited to welcome them back as KSD staff!”

Pasco School District

The Pasco School District recognized four students during an awards ceremony on May 6: Roxie Bates, Daisy Hernandez Garcia, Ashley Lopez, and Feel Moo.

Superintendent Michelle Whitney expressed her enthusiasm for “grow your own” programs like Teaching Bridge. “In Pasco, growing our own teachers is more than a pipeline—it’s a promise.” Whitney said.  “The WSU Tri-Cities Teaching Bridge program brings that promise to life by creating a clear, supported pathway for our students to become future educators. Through early admission to WSU and hands-on experience as substitute paraeducators, these students are learning, earning, and building meaningful connections with the very communities that raised them. This program reflects our deep commitment to embracing diversity, fostering community investment, and developing passionate educators who will make a lasting impact right here at home.”

Prosser School District

The Prosser School District held a signing ceremony on May 13 for two students: Kammie Dunkin and Yulissa Corona.

Deanna Flores, assistant superintendent for the Prosser School District appreciates that the program is a win-win for students and school districts. "The Teaching Bridge program has become an effective way to connect our students with teaching careers in our district, while setting them up for employment opportunities that give meaningful school experiences,” she said.

Richland School District

Johanna Bauman and Jaxon Jones from the Richland School District were recognized in a ceremony on May 15. Shelley Redinger, superintendent for the Richland School District praised the program for the way it Inspires the next generation of educators and offers a meaningful pathway for students to explore the teaching profession and gain valuable real-world experience. “We are truly grateful for the opportunities this program provides our students," she said. 

Amy Miller, director of Career and Technical Education for the Richland School District commented “The WSU Tri-Cities Teaching Bridge program is an enriching experience that empowers future educators to connect, lead, and inspire.  Students are immersed in real classroom settings, serving as paraeducators and gaining firsthand experience with the systems and structures of today’s schools.”

Through the Teaching Bridge program, students will:

• Receive support with college applications and financial aid.
• Earn early admission to WSU Tri-Cities.
• Participate in paid cooperative internships as paraeducators.
• Learn as a cohort and access professional mentorship.
• Begin building their careers in education from day one.

After completing the two-year program, students are prepared to apply to the WSU Tri-Cities Bachelor of Arts in Education program. Upon completion, they will be eligible for Washington state certification in elementary education and may earn an additional endorsement in special education, English language learners, or bilingual education.

Students in the program will work 10 to 18 hours per week, gaining up to 600 hours of on-the-job experience while completing 60 semester credits of undergraduate coursework.

Teaching Bridge is designated as a Career Launch program by Career Connect Washington, a statewide initiative that prepares students for high-demand, high-wage careers through hands-on, career-connected learning.

More information about the Teaching Bridge program is available at tricities.wsu.edu/education or by contacting program coordinator Danica Garcia at (509) 372-3766.