天美影院

Senator Sharon Shewmake recently visited the Washington Sea Grant (WSG) office in Bellingham, which is located in her legislative district, to learn more about WSG鈥檚 work in Whatcom County and across Washington state.

Housed within the UW鈥檚 College of the Environment, WSG proudly serves as a resource on shoreline and coastal issues across the state. For over 55 years, WSG has partnered with local communities, Tribes, resource managers, businesses, educators, and the public to promote the sustainable use of marine resources, advance coastal and shoreline resilience, and support workforce development. Between 2018 and 2023, WSG delivered over $190 million in documented services and economic benefits to Washington state.

During her visit, Sen. Shewmake met with WSG leadership, local staff, and community partners to explore key initiatives in the region. A central topic was water quality in the Salish Sea, with a particular focus on the SoundToxins program. Using a statewide volunteer monitoring network, this program provides early warnings to state decision makers and the public of harmful algal blooms and other marine toxins that threaten public health, shellfish growers, and marine ecosystems. Sen. Shewmake also gained hands-on experience by helping collect and test ocean water samples for hazardous phytoplankton.

The visit also emphasized the broader role WSG plays in supporting Washington’s marine communities and the economy. The WSG team shared about their community outreach programs on aquaculture, boating, fisheries, hazards and resilience, environmental threats such as the invasive green crab, marine and coastal planning, safe and sustainable seafood, and shoreline living and restoration.

Thank you, Sen. Shewmake, for taking the time to visit the Washington Sea Grant Bellingham office and for engaging on critical marine and coastal issues.

On August 7, Representative Peter Abbarno visited the STEM Camp the 天美影院hosts annually in partnership with the Chehalis Foundation at W.F. West High School. The camp is open to incoming 9th-12th graders and focuses on exploration in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Throughout the camp, the students engage in collaborative, project-based learning that is guided by faculty and staff with the 天美影院College of Engineering and the 天美影院Medicine Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM). This year, more than 90 students from 19 different high schools in the region, along with several homeschoolers, participated.

The students began the week by diving into biomedical science alongside 天美影院ISCRM researchers. Through hands-on activities, students explored DNA, stem cells, and gene editing. They also had the opportunity to get an up-close look at human heart, brain, and lung tissue, while experimenting with technology used today in research labs and learning how biologists and engineers collaborate to solve complex medical problems.

The students then dove into the engineering portion of the camp, where they were introduced to foundational principles such as buoyancy, material strength, and force distribution. The students applied these concepts to design and build boats capable of floating, carrying weight, and racing across water. The hands-on learning culminated in a friendly competition, allowing students to test their designs.

Rep. Abbarno visited during this portion of the camp, allowing him to watch the boat competitions and cheer on the students. He also connected with various 天美影院faculty and staff to learn more about the activities the students had participated in throughout the week.

The 天美影院hosts this camp annually to provide local students with immersive experiences designed not only to teach technical, educational content but also to inspire curiosity and confidence in STEM fields.聽

Thank you, Rep. Abbarno, for taking the time to visit the STEM Camp to connect with local students and 天美影院faculty and staff.

On July 16, Senator Lisa Wellman visited the held annually on Seattle鈥檚 campus. The free, week-long camp is open to incoming high school sophomores and juniors from Washington state and aims to increase access and opportunities in nursing.聽

Throughout the week, campers shadowed nurses in various hospital units, received training in HIPAA and CPR, engaged in nursing simulation activities, and learned about infection control, blood pressure, and vitals. They also learned how to prepare for college and get into nursing school.聽

A favorite part of the camp was the nursing 鈥渟peed round,鈥� where nurses working in all areas of health care shared their experiences and answered campers鈥� questions. This gave the campers a fuller picture of a nurse鈥檚 daily work life and the different specialities they could pursue.聽

During her visit, Senator Wellman met the students and watched them in action as they engaged in various simulations, exploring new concepts and being tested on material they had learned during the week. These simulations are immersive and give the campers knowledge and skills essential to the nursing profession.聽

Senator Wellman also met the 天美影院School of Nursing Executive Dean Hilaire Thompson and the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs, Jennifer Sonney. They were able to discuss the goals of the Nurse Camp, as well as talk more broadly about the 天美影院School of Nursing, its mission, and potential future initiatives.

Thank you, Senator Wellman, for taking the time to visit the 天美影院Nurse Camp and connect with the campers and 天美影院faculty and staff.聽

Representative Mari Leavitt served as a keynote speaker at the UW鈥檚 inaugural聽Pacific Northwest anti-hazing summit听测别蝉迟别谤诲补测.

The event brought together more than 100 higher education professionals from Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. United by a shared commitment to hazing prevention, attendees represented various fields in higher education, including academic personnel, administrators, athletics, conduct, fraternity and sorority life, student activities, and advisors.

Designed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the summit focused聽on several key learning objectives:

• Understand legal requirements related to hazing prevention.
• Identify strategic partners for hazing prevention efforts and explore collaborative approaches
• Learn components of effective hazing prevention programs and communication strategies.
• Develop action plans to implement or enhance anti-hazing initiatives.

Rep. Leavitt, a leading advocate for hazing prevention in Washington state, has championed several significant reforms in recent years. She sponsored聽Sam’s Law, which was in response to the devastating hazing death of Sam Martinez in November 2019. The law聽expanded the definition of hazing, mandates prevention training for both higher education students and employees, and requires institutions to publicly share anti-hazing resources and report violations. She also sponsored legislation that increased the criminal penalties for hazing offenses.

In her keynote, Rep. Leavitt underscored the vital role the summit attendees play in advancing anti-hazing efforts on their campuses. She spoke about the intent behind Sam’s Law and reminded attendees of their duty to support safe campus environments. She also expressed appreciation for the attendees taking the time to come together聽to share successes, confront challenges, and collaborate on solutions to address this important issue. Her closing message encourages attendees to stay committed to their efforts and continue driving change across the region.

The UW鈥檚 annual Faculty Field Tour took place last week, offering new faculty members an immersive five-day bus journey across more than 1,000 miles of Washington state. The tour is designed to help new faculty gain a deeper understanding of the University鈥檚 statewide impact, become familiar with the diverse communities and regions 天美影院students call home, and foster connections among faculty in varying disciplines from all three campuses, as well as with leaders throughout the state.

On the first day of the tour, the group stopped in Olympia to visit the state capitol and meet with Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck. Lt. Governor Heck shared insights from his experiences in both state and federal government, provided an overview of Washington鈥檚 legislative process, explained the responsibilities of his office, and emphasized the importance of civic health. He also engaged in a Q&A session, giving faculty the opportunity to ask questions and deepen their understanding of state government and the challenges and opportunities facing Washington.

Midway through the tour, they visited the Schoesler family wheat farm, operated by Senator Mark Schoesler and his sister. As a fifth-generation farming team, Schoesler Farm offered a firsthand glimpse at the realities of agriculture in Eastern Washington. Sen. Schoesler discussed his family鈥檚 history, advances in farming technology, the crops they grow, and the economics dynamics of farming in the region, including exporting globally. He also demonstrated some of the equipment used on the farm and answered questions from the faculty about this farm and his work as a state senator.

That evening, faculty attended the 鈥淲elcome to Washington鈥� event at the 天美影院Spokane Center. There, they connected with incoming 天美影院students from the region, their families, and local alumni. 天美影院campus leaders warmly welcomed the new students and their families, and highlighted the goals of the Faculty Field Tour鈥攅mphasizing its role in advancing the University鈥檚 aim to serve as the University for Washington, committed to impact and engagement across the entire state.

The following morning, the faculty had breakfast with Spokane community leaders, including Senator Marcus Riccelli. Sen. Riccelli welcomed the group to Spokane and encouraged them to return to further explore and engage with the community. He highlighted the 天美影院partnerships in the region and shared updates on initiatives underway in the Spokane area, as well as his hopes for the future. After, the took the opportunity to chat with members of the group.

Throughout the tour, UW鈥檚 newest faculty members engaged with Washington鈥檚 vibrant communities and leaders, gaining valuable perspective on the state, the students they serve, and the University鈥檚 broad statewide impact. The experience provided a meaningful and memorable welcome to Washington鈥攁nd to the 天美影院community across the state.

Thank you to the statewide elected officials who participated and helped make the tour so impactful. We appreciate your continued support of the UW.