Students

OLYMPIA – This week, the U.S. Department of Education awarded more than $2 million in Title III grant dollars to The Evergreen State College for its Strengthening Institutions Program.  

The grant money funds a five-year project that will continue Evergreen’s work to increase college capacity in student access and success for historically underserved students through holistic advising and coordinated wrap-around services. The funding will also help leverage technology to strengthen Evergreen’s student support services and expand community- and career-connected learning.  

“Evergreen’s vibrant, cross-divisional collaborations were critical to designing and securing this exciting grant,” explained Dr. Therese Saliba, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence & Student Success. “Many thanks to all the Evergreen faculty and staff who helped envision what proactive, holistic support for our diverse students could look like. We are excited to move forward to fully support our students both personally and holistically.” 

“The Evergreen State College was created to bring affordable, world-class education to everyone – especially those who are typically underserved by higher education,” said  Executive Vice President, Dr. Dexter Gordon. “This federal funding is an investment in Evergreen so we can expand student support thus enabling them to focus on their educational success.” 

Evergreen will also use the funding to create an early alert system that will identify students who are struggling and provide them with the resources they need to get back on track.  

“This is Evergreen’s first Title III grant award and will help us in our ability to identify and support students in need and provide tools for faculty and staff to ensure that all roads lead to student success,” explained Gordon.  

For more information about The Evergreen State College, please visit evergreen.edu and to learn more about student success initiatives, please visit the college’s Inclusive Excellence and Student Success webpage.  

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The Evergreen State College stands firm in our commitment to inclusivity, diversity and equity. We are deeply disappointed by the recent ruling made by the NAIA regarding transgender athletes. As an institution that values the contributions and identities of all individuals, we believe in fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and supported.

Our college community embraces the principles of fairness and equal opportunity for all student-athletes, regardless of gender identity. We believe in the power of sports to unite, inspire and empower individuals from all backgrounds. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to participate in athletics without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

While we acknowledge the NAIA's decision, we remain committed to advocating for policies and practices that promote inclusivity and uphold the rights of transgender athletes. We will continue to support all our student-athletes and remain dedicated to making sure they have the resources they need to thrive in and out of competition.

-Elizabeth McHugh, Director of Athletics for The Evergreen State College

OLYMPIA — Two students from The Evergreen State College were honored with the 2024 Student Civic Award Friday, April 19 by the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good. This award recognizes the outstanding commitment to civic engagement and service these two students have had and the significant impact they’ve had on Evergreen’s campus and beyond.

The two students, Jocelyn Moreno and Drew Bland are being recognized for their work both on and off Evergreen’s campus.

"Being an award winner is a testament to both Jocelyn and Drew’s hard work and compassion, as well as the positive impact they have had on our campus and in your community,” said Dr. John Carmichael, President of The Evergreen State College. “I am proud of the vital role they have played in creating a better future for Evergreen and everyone whose lives you have impacted."

Jocelyn Moreno is being honored for showing remarkable dedication to community-based learning and action, exemplifying a profound commitment to effecting positive change. Between tirelessly fostering service and collaboration as a leader, intern and work-study participant, Jocelyn is continually bridging the gap between campus and community. Hailing from a Washington Farmworker family, their advocacy extends to Latinx and immigrant learners, demonstrating a passion for inclusive education. Their roles with the Center for Community-Based Learning and Action have notably contributed to initiatives such as Sound Learning in Shelton and Community Schools in Tumwater. Additionally, their internship with Together!, Bilingual Clubhouse and Evergreen’s elementary dual language program underscores their recognition of the importance of native language in education. Co-founding the campus student group La Familia and spearheading the El Camino path of study in Latin American, Latinx and Multilingual education further showcase Jocelyn's impactful leadership.

Drew Bland's receipt of the 2024 Student Civic Leadership Award underscores their exceptional service as a Center for Community Based Learning and Action student-worker at The Basic Needs Center. Drew's steadfast commitment to assisting peers and community members in fulfilling their fundamental human rights aligns with a broader vision of creating a more equitable world. Their integral role at the Campus Food Bank satellite intake processes and food distribution reflects Drew's deep-rooted experience in food justice, cultivated through work on various farms, including their own family farm. Drew's community engagement extends beyond campus borders, encompassing involvement with the Lacey Makerspace and an internship with Evergreen's new Center for Climate Action and Sustainability at the Estuarium, where they facilitate environmental education with school-age students. Notably, Drew's dedication to academic excellence is evident in their rigorous studies in Psychology Capstone: Clinical and Counseling and Applied Learning at the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County, all while maintaining a commitment to athletic pursuits.

Congratulations to both Jocelyn and Drew for being recognized for their incredible work.

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OLYMPIA -- The Evergreen State College is excited to announce that its students’ self-guided multimedia walking tours, collectively known as "Olympia's Hidden Histories," has been honored with the 2024 Heritage Award by the Olympia Historical Society - Bigelow House Museum. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to Olympia's history and "Olympia's Hidden Histories" stands out for its innovative approach in bringing to light the diverse stories of the city's rich history of communities, ecology, and global connections.

“Our students are so honored by this award,” said Zoltán Grossman, Evergreen faculty in Geography and Native Studies. “Olympia’s Hidden Histories is what we hope becomes an invaluable tool for those wanting to learn about our state’s capital city and stories of its distant and recent past.”

The Heritage Award ceremony is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 27 in the Olympia Center located at 222 Columbia St. NW, celebrating individuals, historic places and organizations that have significantly shaped Olympia's rich history.

"Olympia's Hidden Histories" is a collection of self-guided ArcGIS StoryMaps tours accessible on smartphones, tablets, or laptops without needing an app. These tours aim to showcase the untold stories of Steh-Chass (Squaxin), Chinese, and working-class communities, as well as the ecological significance of the Deschutes Estuary.

In winter 2022, students from Evergreen's "American Frontiers" program published four tours focusing on the historic displacement of Indigenous and immigrant communities, salmon, and oysters, and contemporary efforts at natural and cultural restoration.

In winter 2023, the "Taking Back Empire" program added three new tours exploring the Port of Olympia connections to global trade and shipping, militarization, and fossil fuels, encompassing historical narratives and contemporary events.

The walking tours feature original and interactive maps, historical and contemporary photos, audio and video clips, and original charts, graphs, and artwork. The tours are available on any web-linked device without an app download, at https://artforces.org/hiddenhistories.

The involvement of the Squaxin Island Tribe, Olympia Historical Society, the Locke Family Association, and Salmon Defense in the research and writing process, fostered a remarkable connection between academic exploration and community engagement.

The collaboration between Evergreen students and faculty, alongside the "Walls Tell Stories, Olympia" project by Art Forces and the Rachel Corrie Foundation, has resulted in a comprehensive and engaging exploration of local history. Various grants including the Washington Humanities SHARP grant and the Thurston County Heritage Grant supported the joint project.

For more information on, “Olympia’s Hidden Histories,” please contact Zoltán Grossman at grossmaz@evergreen.edu or 360-359-8871.

Chibi Chibi Con, Evergreen’s colorful and free anime festival, returns to the college tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 25 for its 22nd year. 

The event will run from noon to 11 p.m. Admission to Chibi Chibi Con is free, which makes it an inviting, low-barrier opportunity to explore anime convention culture. As a health precaution, attendees again this year will have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter. Masks are not required but people are encouraged to wear them, especially in crowded areas. 

This convention has been produced by Evergreen students since 2001. Currently named the Chibi Chibi Con Committee, the group is one of the college’s longest-enduring registered student organizations.

Though the name Chibi Chibi loosely translates from Japanese to mean “Little Little,” Chibi Chibi Con is the largest one-day anime convention in the Pacific Northwest. Organizers estimate that the convention had over 3,000 attendees last year. 

This year’s convention will feature favorite events from past years – including the Cosplay Contest and lip sync battles. There will be three food trucks on Red Square for attendees wanting to snack. The convention’s popular Artist Alley is also back, offering handmade and hard-to-find merchandise.

The Evergreen State College’s Olympia campus is located at 2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW. Visit the convention website for maps, schedules, policies and information on volunteering.

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

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

It is estimated that the expansion of Evergreen’s athletics programming, combined with other investments in existing sports teams, should yield more than 100 additional students over the next three years. The new teams join the college’s existing intercollegiate teams - men’s and women’s soccer, basketball and track and field and women’s volleyball. 

“Anytime you have the opportunity to give potential students the opportunity to attend college while participating in an athletic activity, it is cause for celebration,” said executive vice president Dr. Dexter Gordon. “Adding new teams will also help us weave a diverse tapestry within our programs to help ensure that underrepresented groups have equal access to opportunities here at Evergreen.” 

In addition to growing enrollment, successful athletics programs help to build student life on campus, provide a stronger sense of belonging for some students, and supports student retention. Athletics is a key contributor to Evergreen’s diversity, equity, and inclusion mission, and student-athletes are retained at a higher rate.

Recruitment for new Greener athletes starts this month and the college expects teams to be established by Fall Quarter 2023. Learn more about Evergreen’s athletics programs at gogeoducks.com.  

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