In this Issue

Campus Parking Update

by Pete Babington
 

Dr. Bell did the impossible.  Last week, she went to Olympia with a highly irregular request for parking funding (due to the loss of Midway).  It was a very tough sell for a bunch of reasons:

• The State typically does not fund parking, as they expect institutions to fund their parking from parking fees (and ours does not generate enough revenue to adequately address our needs.)
• The loss of Midway does not qualify as an “emergency” because it poses no threat to life or property, so emergency funding was not available.
• And worst of all, the timing was awful.  The state budget was essentially set and was unlikely to change.  The Senate and House had already each approved slightly different versions, so all that remained was for a committee to make them match up.

Yet somehow, Dr. Bell convinced our legislators to convince the Legislature to include $550,000 in the state budget so HCC could build some more parking.  The funding is in this year’s budget, so we can build it this summer.  Ka-Ching.

I am not an expert but have a little insight into this process, and I didn’t think we had any real hope for funding.  Hats off to Dr. Bell, and all of the legislators in Highline's four legislative districts: Senators Margarita Prentice, Tracey Eide, Karen Keiser, Erik Poulsen, Representatives Velma Veloria, Zack Hudgins, Skip Priest, Mark Miloscia, Dave Upthegrove, Shay Shual-Berke, Joe McDermott, and Eileen Cody.  In addition, legislators in leadership positions who were instrumental in obtaining the emergency funding were: Representative Hans Dunshee,  44th District, Chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee; Senator Darlene Fairley, 29th District - Asst. Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee; and Senator Mike Hewitt, 16th District - Vice Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.  A legislative staff member who was instrumental in the process was David Schumacher, Capital Budget Coordinator/Economist for the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
 

Highline Seeks Nominations for Distinguished Alumnus Award

The college is seeking nominations for the college's 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award.  Started in 1990, the award honors former Highline students who are making outstanding contributions in their chosen fields of endeavor.  Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who attended Highline in 1968-69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990.  Last year's recipient was Junki Yoshida, CEO of Yoshida Groups.  Nominees should be former Highline students who attended the college prior to the 1999 academic year and who have made significant contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership.  Nominees will be asked to submit a resume and personal profile that will be reviewed by a campus selection committee.  The person selected will be invited to accept the award and speak at Highline's commencement exercise June 9, 2004.  Nomination forms are due by April 16, 2004, and are available in the Resource Development office, or email Mark McKay at mckay@highline.edu. 

WOMEN'S  CELEBRATION

Wednesday, May 5th, 2004, promises to be a day of fun and excitement with the 22nd Annual Women's Celebration.  The day begins at 10:30am with a silent auction on a wide variety of items, followed by our guest speaker, Julia A. Boyd, a noted psychotherapist and author of four highly praised and best-selling self-help books.  Julia will be speaking on "Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Feats" which will lead us into the presentation of the Extraordinary/Ordinary Women Awards.  

Auction - Guest Speaker - Awards - Appetizers --- What a celebration it will be!       
MAY 5, 2004   ---   10:30am - 2:00pm 

This year's Women's Celebration will be sponsored by Women's Programs and the Child Care Development Center.

7th Annual Festival

    Outreach Services in collaboration with Cooperative Education is excited to be hosting the 7^th Annual Spring Festival on Friday, May 14^th 2004, from 9:00am - 1:00pm. This is an event that is put on for the benefit of area high school students as well as current Highline students, and this year promises to be our biggest and best yet!  Activities will include a job and career fair, college fair, several college and career-related workshops, campus tours, live entertainment, a BBQ lunch, contests, and much more.  Spring Festival gives students the opportunity to visit with representatives from over 30 in and out-of-state four-year colleges and universities as well as over 40 employers from the area, while attending various workshops and enjoying lunchtime activities. 

   New for 2004 we are developing a program track for junior high students that will run in association with the Spring Festival.  This track will expose future Highline students to opportunities and resources available in making career and education choices. As part of the event, all junior high and high school students will be given a “Festival Card” to fill with initials from employers and workshop presenters that will entitle them to a BBQ lunch for only $1.00! 

   Last year, over 600 students attended from area high schools. So far this year we have already taken RSVP’s from high schools and junior high schools in excess of 1000 students. Events like this require cross-campus support if they are to be successful. The cooperation and support we have received from Instruction, Student Programs and volunteers has allowed us to grow this event in terms of scope and value to the community. Spring Festival has been such a success that other community colleges have begun to copy our format; fortunately we will always host the “Original” Spring Festival. Please stop by if you get a chance.    

In its fourth year, this event has been successful in raising the much-needed funds for our students.  Our goal this year is to raise $100,000.  The evening will include a social hour, dinner, short program, and live auction.

If you are interested in attending, tickets are $125 and may be purchased through the Foundation office in building 9.   For more information, contact Rachel or Mark in the Foundation office at extension 3774. 

- Case of Hogue Estate wine
- Golf packages
- Flowers for a year
- Feast prepared by Mark McKay & Junki Yoshida
- Entertained by a President (Dr. Bell)
- A Wealth Plan Road Map
- Fly Fishing
- Private wine tasting
- Boat trip around the Sound
- Mt. Rainier Winter Escape
- Hilton Hotel stay in Rainier Suite & dinner at Spencers
 

Random Act of Recognition

James Peyton
 

Welcome to Our Team 
(since March  2004)

Name

Position

Department

Events

Books Are Fun Fair 
New, hard-backed books 40%-70% off retail price.  A portion of the proceeds will go to the Emergency Scholarship Fund.
April 13, 2004; 8am-5pm
Lower lobby, bldg. 6
Sponsored by Women's Programs 

7th Annual Unity Through Diversity Week
April 26-30, 2004

Washington State Students of Color Conference
May 6-8, 2004
SeaTac Double Tree Hotel  

The Foundation at Highline Community College 4th Annual Spring Gala
May 15, 2004, 6pm
Hilton Conference Center - SeaTac

Washington State Faculty & Staff of Color Conference
October 27-29, 2004
Red Lion Inn at Quay, Vancouver, WA