News & Awards

SPSCC has launched an exciting new program for students who will be taking an idea and turning it into investment-worthy, entrepreneurial enterprises. The Entrepreneur Academy is a tuition-free, add-on program designed for eligible, second-year SPSCC students seeking to learn what it takes to transform an idea into a viable startup business.

SPSCC Foundation’s team encourages everyone to take the time to stay well-informed about their financial health. One way to do this without feeling overwhelmed is to focus on learning about one aspect of financial wellness at a time. National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to pause and do just that.

Graduate Miriam Padilla’s vision for her new career began as a student specializing in SPSCC Culinary Arts Chef’s training program. Long before she received her AAS degree in Culinary Arts, she knew she wanted teaching to be an important aspect of her career. Now, her dream has come true, and she is making a difference in the community.

Former SPSCC colleagues Deb Smith and Cindy Uhrich are founders of Olympia-based Bittersweet Chocolates, LLC. Together they blend their lifelong connections to the South Sound, support for student success, and appreciation for the local community with a deep passion for chocolate.

The SPSCC Foundation has recently established the Betti Vocational Endowment, an initiative dedicated to supporting the educational journey of students enrolled in Professional Technical (Prof Tech) programs at SPSCC. Beginning in Fall 2024, students across various Prof Tech programs will have access to three distinct awards under the Betti Vocational Endowment.

SPSCC and the SPSCC Foundation today announced a $1.8 million gift from the OJ & Mary Christine Harvey Educational Foundation dedicated to student scholarships.

SPSCC staff, faculty and students have a lot to be proud of when it comes to implementing innovative climate solutions to protect ecosystems on more than 100 acres across the college’s campuses. From installing solar panels to help mitigate consumption of nonrenewable energy resources, to adopting safe, pesticide-free landscaping practices that protect watersheds, SPSCC finds innovative ways to continuously evolve its approach to environmental stewardship on campus. These efforts are also reflected in the work faculty are doing to design related curricular activities.

To support its commitment to making education accessible for all, SPSCC provides an integrated network of basic needs services to minimize barriers to student success. This work is made possible through collaborations between the various on-campus services and departments, and partnerships with local social services agencies.

America’s Credit Union is excited to announce new scholarships that will enhance the lives of SPSCC students.

TwinStar Credit Union and SPSCC Foundation are committed to working together to ensure that students thrive. Their longstanding partnership continues to demonstrate how supporting student success leads to broader community success.

SPSCC is excited to welcome Kelly Green, Christine Hoffmann, and Amber Wetzel as the SPSCC Foundation’s new fundraising team.

She lived her life to make a difference – and did! She literally crafted our local human services system over 50+ of her 85+ years. Now, a group of people are taking action to ensure her legacy lives on. Plaques and monuments are fine, but the members of the League of Women Voters, Thurston County (LWVTC), want to follow her lead and use the medium of giving.

SPSCC's Veteran & Military Family Resources Center is a welcoming space on campus for students and their families who have served. In recent years, it has gone through a transformation thanks to the participation and collaborative support of student veterans and Veteran Specialist Michelle Erzen. Renovation plans for a larger space are in the works for fall 2023.

On March 14, 2023, approximately 275 Native youth from local tribes will participate in this year’s FIRE Summit. Statistics show indigenous students are the least enrolled in higher education nationwide. The Summit gives Native youth from across Washington state a chance to change that.

In 2022, the SPSCC Foundation has awarded students $662,040 in scholarships in addition to $238,576 in grants, totaling an estimated $900,616.

The Science, Engineering, and Math (SEM) Pathway provides a comprehensive array of programs designed to give students the foundation they need to pursue fields in research, engineering, and much more. Included in the long list of subjects are Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Math, and Physics. Courses in this pathway prepare students for a wide range of scientific and technical careers and transfer opportunities to 4-year universities.

SPSCC and the SPSCC Foundation today announced its largest gift in school history, a $2.5 million gift from the Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation. The gift will impact the college’s Professional Technical degree programs, as well as Healthcare programs in the Dr. Angela Bowen Center for Health Education.