Highline Community College

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY

DATE: October 10, 2007

CONTACT: Mary Averett, (206) 878-3710, ext. 3557, maverett@highline.edu

Lisa Skari, (206) 878-3710, ext. 3705, lskari@highline.edu

Highline Community College Hosts

International Consortium of Educators for Economic Development

Keynote Address by Representative Phyllis Kenney

DES MOINES, Wash. — Highline Community College is hosting the annual international conference of the International Consortium of Educators for Economic Development (ICEED) in Seattle, October 17 through 20 at the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Seattle. The keynote speaker on Friday will be Representative Phyllis Kenney.

ICEED is a group of educators from Canada, Mexico and the United States who share a passion for ways in which education can drive economic development and strengthen international trade. ICEED has been working on the issue of international trade within North America for more than a decade. With its headquarters at Rancho Santiago Community College in Southern Califorina, ICEED is made up of higher education institutions from NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement) countries. This is the first time that Seattle is holding the annual ICEED conference.  Approximately 140 educators, business leaders, and policy makers are expected to attend.

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Highline Community College

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The conference theme, International Business & Trade: Education Development = Economic Development, focuses on the impact education has on economic development through its support of international business and trade.

“We’re delighted to bring the conference to Washington in order to discuss higher education’s part in understanding the impact of trade on Canada, Mexico and the U.S., while examining its impact on economic development ,” said Highline Community College interim president Jack Bermingham, Ph.D. “The conference is an opportunity to promote educational partnerships and opportunities for our region.”

The ICEED conference will be held at the Red Lion at 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 9,500 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with online, day, evening and weekend classes, and takes a multi-cultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. At the core of Highline’s mission and vision are the principles of stewardship for all students, regardless of their backgrounds. Highline does this by participating in and leading innovative local, state, national and international initiatives. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and noted author Ann Rule.

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