SPRING EDITION ■ APRIL 2020 ■ VOL 13 ■ NO 4 The Blazer Bulletin OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CENTRALIA COLLEGE FOUNDATION

2020 Distinguished Alumnus Pages 6-7 login, learn, and continue with their impressed with the services education plans in grand fashion. IT has set up for us so that we can access everything we need College staff have been doing remotely. I must admit that I can extraordinary work. Facilities staff still do everything I need, but I am has been cleaning the buildings slower at accomplishing tasks on to safeguard us when we return. my remote desktop and am still Student services staff has been getting used to online meetings. helping students get everything Tyler is working on scholarship they need to be successful in the awarding and Kylea is working on classroom, and administration projects with our donor and new and the business office have been accounting software. All events Letter From paying the bills and making sure are cancelled for spring, so we are everyone is on track for the future. getting ahead on other tasks. Centralia College Such great enthusiasm and hard work from everyone. One place where we could use help Foundation from you - a place where you can At the foundation office, we are all Everything is moving and make a big difference. That is our keeping very busy working from emergency fund. Students are in changing very quickly these days our homes. I am completely and although I am writing this in need right now. They need help early April, by the time we print this bulletin, and you receive it in the mail, our situation could completely change.

Maybe we will all be outdoors together running through fields of tulips.

But more likely, we will still be finding our way through the many complexities of COVID-19 in our CC staff (L to R): Connie Smejkal, Jake Fay, Steve Ward, Joyce Hammer, and William Westmoreland communities.

Currently, the campus is closed and staff is all working remotely. Next week will be the start of spring classes - all remote classes (except some labs that must be done in person). Can you imagine that, ALL remote classes. What a feat for all of our faculty to have accomplished this! I know our students are going to have adjustments as well and CC Foundation board and staff (L to R): Kylea Johnson, Mark Scheibmeir, John Klumper, I am confident they will adjust, Christine Fossett, Peter Abbarno, Tyler Kaut, Jim Sherrill

2 | THE BLAZER BULLETIN Board Members Biographies with personal supplies, food, and books. With the remote classroom situation, some of them now need Brendan hardware to get online access to their classes. Va n d e r Ve l d e New Board Member You can make a difference to As the operations manager at Hemphill-O’Neill them now with a donation to our Company, Brendan, in close collaboration with emergency fund. We are taking company owners, leaders, and the board, plans, mailed-in gifts and gifts posted to budgets, and manages operations for all forestland activities. Prior to our website to benefit this fund. working for Hemphill O’Neill, Brendan served as the budget director Please consider whether you could for the state Attorney General’s Office. Brendan received a Bachelor of offer assistance today. If not, we Commerce in Finance and Accounting from the University of Ottawa, appreciate you thinking of our Canada, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of students when you are able. A Washington. He is keen to serve the local community and help promote direct link to the secure donation investment in Centralia College. Brendan currently lives in Centralia with page on our website is www. his wife Erin and their four young children. centralia.edu/foundation/donate. aspx.

Although the physical campus is John Klumper empty of many people, we are all Board Member Since 2015 still working to benefit the great John Klumper was injured while working in the students who attend Centralia timber industry and went back to Centralia College College. The SWFT Center is about 10 years after high school. He took classes progressing toward readiness for towards a business degree and earned his real estate next year’s students, and the faculty license in 1990. He is now in charge of business and staff are more prepared than development at Lewis County Title. He said the ever to help students succeed and college’s retraining program helped redirect his life and now, some learn. 30 years later, he is helping make decisions on the foundation board that directly impact many. John reminds everyone, “Don’t go chasing As we move through this crisis waterfalls.” and ahead toward a more normal time, know that your college and foundation are ready and we will Brian Watson “keep the doors open” even though New Board Member it may be done remotely for now. Brian Watson is the regional executive sales manager for Lafromboise Communications, the parent My thanks for your support of the company of The Chronicle. A former Centralia foundation and Centralia College College student himself, Brian also has a daughter students. who attended CC. Brian and his wife Jen have been Best wishes and good health, married for 15 years, and they have four children and one grandchild, with Christine Fossett another on the way. They enjoy spending time together outside as an Executive Director active family. Brian said he’s honored to serve on the foundation board to enhance the education and the lives of students.

THE BLAZER BULLETIN | 3 Give the Gift of Education Donor Notes and Save on Your Taxes

Thanks to the help of Jim Rang Kristy Shanafelt and Susan and Modern Machinery, we Austin have created a recently received a $5,000 scholarship for Running Start gift for diesel and engine students from W.F. West High repair scholarships from the School to assist with books and Dennis and Phyllis Washington lab expenses. Foundation.

Sylvia Freund has been a Two of Pete Corwin’s children steadfast supporter of our have added to the scholarship students. She regularly in his name to benefit a music contributes to the scholarship student. Thanks, Renee Corwin- in her late husband’s name. Rey and Jeremy Corwin. The Vic Freund scholarship is If you are 70 1/2 or older the IRS requires for students studying a foreign you to take a required minimum language. distribution from your IRA, 401k, or 457(b) Two brothers, Howard and retirement account. This distribution is Richard Batie, continue to taxed. For some people this distribution promote the Batie Science Members of the Class of ’63 may be unnecessary at times. Scholarship each year to keep established a scholarship for You can donate all or a portion of students focused on their a general studies student in your distribution directly to bene t education. 2011. Janet Rusin and Dave a student’s education. This saves Blanchard, both class members, you from paying the tax and have recently donated to that provides an impactful donation to help a student improve their life. Thomas Lockhart has donated effort. Fellow class members to the Centralia Arts Support who have recently donated Team (C.A.S.T) with a donation to other scholarships include for needed equipment Stanley Moon, Nadine Murphy, purchases. Luana Graves, Penny and Mike Merriman, Susan Miller and Marilyn Weinstein. Way to go, Altrusa is one of our many local FOR INFORMATION CONTACT Class of ‘63! Christine Fossett, service groups that support Centralia College Foundation Executive Director a scholarship each year. Their 360-623-8451 support continues with a [email protected] Since September 2012, Thorlea foundation.centralia.edu $1,000 for a nursing student Kirtz has been donating each this fall. month to the scholarship her This information is not intended as tax, legal or mother began. The scholarship nancial advice. Contact your personal advisor for was established in 1989 and information speci c to your situation. continues to grow thanks to the The Centralia College Foundation is a registered generosity of Thorlea. 501(c)3. Tax ID #91-1195403

4 | THE BLAZER BULLETIN Laura Dolezal: From Centralia College to the State Crime Lab Laura grew up in Centralia and had analysis to identify the human finished the most advanced math remains of soldiers from World War classes at Centralia High School in II, Korea, and Vietnam. her sophomore year. She found the challenge she needed at Centralia “I loved the work. It was very College through the Running Start rewarding to help people find their program. family members after so many years, but I missed Washington,” “I started with just one class a she said. “The environment was quarter – pre-calculus to calculus calling me back.” 2,” she said. “I ended up with two degrees – an associate in science Laura started working at the and an associate in arts.” WSP Crime Lab in Vancouver in 2013. She conducts DNA analysis Initially, Laura wasn’t sure what she for criminal investigations. She’s When you hear Laura wanted to do or what she wanted assigned a case and follows it Dolezal is a DNA analyst to study in college. She knew she through to the end, sometimes for at the Washington loved science, especially biology, several years. State Patrol Crime Lab but she didn’t want to go into in Vancouver, your medicine or research. Her advisor “A lot of evidence doesn’t give helped her see a third option. helpful results and you have to impression of what that keep asking yourself, ‘What can I means likely stems from “Science always made sense to try now?,’” she said. “You really have decades of detective me. I enjoyed learning how the to enjoy the puzzle-solving. You shows on TV. body works. My advisor at the time have to read the results and the helped me come up with forensic conclusions for what they are and It’s not that at all. science as an option,” she recalled. not make assumptions. You have “Forensic science brought me the to be unbiased in everything.” science I loved, plus the critical thinking, and it played into my Laura said enrolling in Running It’s a lot less interest in solving puzzles.” Start at CC gave her options she glamorous. We’re couldn’t have had in high school, not running around After CC, Laura transferred and helped lead her to a career she first to Western Washington loves. in high heels, that’s University, where she earned for sure,” Laura said her bachelor’s degree in cellular “Centralia College set me up very with a laugh. “A single and molecular biology, then to well,” she said. “It wasn’t a hard case can take years of George Washington University in transition. I felt like the classes testing and analysis, Washington, DC, where she earned were a good size, and I was able to her master’s degree in forensic be as independent as I needed to and going to court. We science. Being in “the other be. I was in high school, but I felt don’t have results in Washington” opened up career like any other college student. Plus, an hour. and internship opportunities she I was able to get a really strong never imagined and she spent foundation in science, which led to five years in Maryland doing DNA me finding my career.”

THE BLAZER BULLETIN | 5 2020 Distinguished Alumnus Jimmy Ritchey

The Centralia College “I apply things I learned from Foundation is honored to Ken Kimble every day in my announce Jimmy Ritchey profession. He was the number as the 2020 Distinguished one reason I went to school Alumnus. Ritchey is a country there.” music songwriter and record producer who has worked with He didn’t know it at the time, some of the biggest superstars but another class he took at CC in over an would pay off in his future. impressive career spanning “Larry Fagerness’ law class over 25 years in Nashville. was fantastic, as well,” Ritchey Ritchey grew up in a musical added. “Having to deal with family in Centralia. His great- contracts in all aspects of my great grandparents had a band life and business, has been and both grandmothers and helpful to understand legal several uncles were musicians. language early on. I actually He began playing in childhood represented my band in court and went on to master the when we couldn’t afford an mandolin, acoustic guitar, attorney over some concert banjo, bass, fiddle and electric dates that were contracted and guitar. then canceled. We won.”

In his late teens, he began In 1995, Ritchey moved to commuting to Seattle, where Nashville and found almost he worked as an accompanist immediate success. In just 10 for country stars such as years, Ritchey co-wrote four , top-10 hits, produced albums and , when they for more than 10 artists, played were touring in the Pacific guitar on dozens of recording Northwest. In between these sessions, and created his own gigs, Ritchey played in local song-publishing company, bands and attended classes at Vibe Room Music. He has also Centralia College from about toured coast-to-coast as a road 1987-90. It was CC instructor musician. Ken Kimball that drew him to the campus. As a songwriter, Jimmy Ritchey has earned wide respect with “Ken Kimball, my music ’s “I Gotta Get professor, was a fantastic music to You” and “Twang,” Terri theory professor,” Ritchey said. Clark’s “If You Want Fire,” Mark

6 | THE BLAZER BULLETIN Chesnutt’s “Things to Do in “I Met a Girl” is the longest working with newly signed Wichita” and ’s running song to hit No. 1 in Sony Nashville recording Artist career breakthroughs “Don’t Mediabase/Aircheck history Robert Counts (who recently Think I Can’t Love You,” “Startin’ at 49 weeks. It also spent 58 released his first single), Pam With Me” and “The One That weeks at radio. Tillis, as well Got Away.” He has also co- as a new project with Jon written songs recorded by His studio credits as a Secada who has sold over 30 Montgomery Gentry, Kellie musician include such artists million records and won three Pickler, Joe Nichols, Mark as Tracy Lawrence, Jill King, Wills, David Nail, Clay Walker, Sara Evans, Vince Gill, Tracy Grammys. William Michael Morgan, Byrd, Chuck Wicks, Randy He continues to write songs Trace Adkins and others. More Travis, Bobby Bare, Lee Ann every day and develop the than 40 of Ritchey’s songs Womack, Richie McDonald, careers of other Nashville have been recorded by major Ted Nugent, Randy Owen, artists. Jim Lauderdale and Daryle artists. Singletary. He estimates that Ritchey has won awards from he has been an instrumentalist He also spends a significant the Broadcast Music, Inc. on more than 25 artists’ amount of time in the and the American Society records to date. community volunteering at of Composers, Authors, and local schools to mentor and Publishers for his work with Ritchey’s Vibe Room Music, instruct students. His success both Jake Owen and Kenney founded in 2008, has allows him to give back to Chesney. published songs recorded by organizations by donating his Keith Urban, Billy Currington, time and talents performing As a producer, Ritchey crafted The Henningsens and Kenny at events to raise funds, most Tommy Shane Steiner’s “Then Chesney (“Come Over”), as recently for the Leukemia/ Came the Night” album and well as his hits with Owen Lymphoma Society, Operation its hit 2002 single “What If and Strait. The company’s She’s an Angel.” He was also “Somewhere South of Crazy,” Song for Veterans, and the behind Clay Walker’s “A Few co-written by , was March of Dimes. Questions” 2003 CD and his nominated for Song of the Jimmy returns to Centralia hit singles “I Can’t Sleep” and Year at the 2012 International often to visit family and “A Few Questions”. Blaine Bluegrass Music Awards. Larsen’s “Not Too Bad for a friends and the occasional Good Ole Boy”, Joanna Smith’s Jimmy Ritchey has worked to performance. He said he still “Country Like Me” and Greg develop the careers several turns often to our own Cal Bates’ big hit of 2012 “Did it of Nashville’s now bright Taylor, a lifelong friend, as for the Girl” are Jimmy Ritchey stars when they were first his “go-to” any time he has productions, as are the Jake newcomers, succeeding in a technical music related Owen collections “Startin’ with obtaining their first publishing questions. Me” (2006) and “Easy Does It” deals and recording contracts. (2008). That list includes Jake Owen, Sam Hunt, Greg Bates and At this time, the traditional He also produced William William Michael Morgan. commencement will not be held in June. Michael Morgan, “I Met a Girl”, We will celebrate Jimmy’s induction at which went to No. 1 in 2017. Jimmy Ritchey is currently the 2021 commencement.

THE BLAZER BULLETIN | 7 2020 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

Rudy Gideon Richard Moore 1956-58 1962-64 On Feb. 8, Centralia College Baseball Basketball & Baseball inducted four new members Gideon is part to its Sports Hall of Fame. of the what At CC, Moore is commonly was part of Following a raucous called “the the Fearsome luncheon filled with laughs last generation that did not Threesome with Michael Smith and great memories, the play Little League baseball,” and Jerry “Hardrock” Woods. and went on to be a standout He went on to play basketball official induction ceremony player at CC and beyond. In in Castle Rock for 15 years and was held at halftime of 1957, Gideon and the Blazers fastpitch for more than 20 the women’s basketball won the southwest conference years. He played on Longview’s championship. Gideon was also Boondox Tavern team, which game in the Michael Smith the college’s valedictorian that won the men’s Washington State Gymnasium on campus. year. He went on to play one Fastpitch Championships. He year in the Chicago Cubs farm umpired high school and college system, in the Appalachian baseball for more than 50 years League, and attended spring and for high school and college training with the Cubs in 1958. softball for 25 years. He also was He coached Babe Ruth and Little a referee for high school football League teams for more than and basketball for 30 years. a decade, and umpired Little League games for four years.

8 | THE BLAZER BULLETIN Skip Friese 1956-57 High School-College Track, Baseball, Football, & Partnership Yielding Big Basketball Gains for Chehalis Students Friese lettered at CC six times – twice each in football and basketball, and once In 2017, the Chehalis Foundation and the Chehalis School each in track and baseball. He was known as a quick, speedy, District formalized a partnership with Centralia College and scrappy player who led by to support WF West High School students beyond high example. His work ethic was school. The Chehalis Student Achievement Initiative aims legendary. At only 5’7” tall, he to get 60 percent of WF West students to earn a college or averaged 18 points per game in basketball and was in the vocational credential past high school. starting lineup for two years in both football and basketball. To get there, the foundation the finish line yet, but we are funded several initiatives at out of the blocks and have set Centralia College (CC), including a really good pace,” said Robert Marcus Hinton a robust summer program for Cox, vice president of Student 2005-06 graduating seniors, additional Services at CC. “Chehalis School Basketball support for math, peer District employees and college mentoring, social engagement, staff are collaborating like Hinton and a staff person at the college never before to increase college averaged 23 dedicated to WF West graduates completion.” points per at CC. game and led Since its launch with WF West the league in scoring. He was Those efforts are paying off. graduates in 2017, the college the team captain and led the has expanded several of these team to a fifth place finish in Forty-nine percent of WF West’s programs to all students and the conference tournament. He Class of 2017 graduated from is working to add additional was named to the first team all- CC within two years of finishing services. league and made the NWAACC high school. That’s a 10 percent All-Star second team. He was increase over WF West graduates “From the beginning of this heavily recruited and went on from 2015 and 2016. partnership, the Chehalis to earn a Division 1 scholarship Foundation and Centralia from Eastern Washington So far, the WF West Class of College have treated this as a University, where he was named 2018 is showing even bigger pilot program. It was always our team captain. At EWU, he went gains. Already, in only a year, 37 plan to expand the successful 6 for 6, setting a single-game percent have graduated from elements across the college. record for 3-point percentage. CC. What we have learned from He made the Dean’s List twice this partnership is already and graduated with a 3.5 GPA. “We couldn’t be happier being applied to benefit other with the initial results of this students,” said Bob Mohrbacher, program. We haven’t reached Centralia College president.

THE BLAZER BULLETIN | 9 When Matthew Rounsley tells people he wants to go into politics, he gets one of two reactions. “They either say, ‘Ugh, politics!’ and ask why I would ever want to do that, or they say, ‘Good for you, we need someone like you in politics,’” he said. “Either way, I know I’m in it for the right reasons and I want to make a difference.”

Matthew Rounsley, Centralia College Class of 2020

10 | THE BLAZER BULLETIN During the legislative session earlier this year, office that supports agriculture and farmers.” Rounsley, 21, worked as one of only two interns in the state for the State Board for Community and Rounsley is completing his associate in arts and Technical Colleges (SBCTC). For about 20 hours a was able to attend CC tuition-free thanks to the week, he went to committee hearings, monitored foundation’s Valedictorian Scholarship. He was various meetings, and testified when needed recently selected to represent CC as one of two before the state House and Senate on issues members of the All-Washington Academic Team. affecting higher education students. He earned He is president of both the CC chapter of Phi Theta five college credits for the experience. Kappa the Greater Northwest Region chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. “It was so exciting, very busy,” he said. “Every week we met with a different person on the SBCTC staff “I’m a first-generation college student,” he said. to learn about some aspect of the college system “My family is so excited for me. They’ve always and we had legislative strategy sessions every encouraged me to go to college. I’m so grateful for Thursday to discuss the prior week of the session all the support I’ve received from my family, from and the week ahead. There were a lot of bills and Jody Peterson (CC’s Phi Theta Kappa advisor), from things were always changing.” all my teachers. It’s been a great experience.”

Rounsley didn’t always plan to go into politics. He expects to transfer to a four-year college in the In fact, he initially wanted to teach agriculture. fall to study political science. He grew up on a farm and got involved with the Future Farmers of America in high school. You can help Centralia College After graduating from Tenino High School as students of all majors and interests valedictorian, he took a year off to serve as a state with a tax-deductible donation toward officer for FFA. Part of that work included a couple weeks in Olympia learning about political relations scholarships. Gifts to a general study and advocacy. or specific scholarship can be made on our website at www.centralia.edu/ “I loved it,” he said. “I decided I wanted to be a foundation/donate.aspx. lobbyist for agricultural issues or hold an elected

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Christine Fossett Tyler Kaut Kylea Johnson Margie Linn Centralia College Foundation • 360-623-8942 • foundation.centralia.edu Executive Director Foundation Specialist Program Coordinator Office Assistant