By Kristine Sherred
Article via The News Tribune

With the opening of Heritage Distilling Company’s tasting room and bar, the South South has a stunning new craft beverage destination that, by next year, will add an eater’s paradise and an amphitheater.

"Strings Attached" student art exhibition is popping up at Heritage Park on Capitol Lake from June 1 - 7.

Sparked by conversations around the Netflix film "The Social Dilemma", students in two different art courses created pieces that represent the dangers and costs of social media, as well as re-imagining the app icons for popular platforms around the concept of authentic connection. The students collaborated with SPSCC Counseling, Library, and the Art Department. 

Article via ThurstonTalk.com
By Nancy Krier

The Leonor R. Fuller Gallery at SPSCC is proud to host the 16th Annual SPSCC Student Art Exhibition from June 1 to June 24, with the opening reception happening Friday, June 4, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Pieces in the exhibit are the result of SPSCC’s art faculty selecting outstanding work created by students in studio art classes during the 2020-21 year. Works include ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, digital photography, mixed-media, 2D and 3D design exercises, and sculpture. A continuous slide show of student work is also included in the exhibition.

The SPSCC Board of Trustees passed a resolution on Jan. 12 to name the SPSCC executive boardroom, located on the Olympia Campus, the Cindy K. Hough Boardroom. Hough has served on the SPSCC Foundation Board since its inception in 1982 and is one of only two original members who continue to serve.

Tien Tran moved to the Pacific Northwest from Vietnam in 2011. That fall, she enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) and high school completion classes at SPSCC. After completing her high school diploma, she worked a couple jobs and ended up as a licensed homecare aid. After a few years, she knew she was ready to come back to SPSCC and further her education.

“I was proud of myself for getting the diploma, but I had thought about a career in medical assisting since before I came to the U.S.”

On Friday, April 2, a small group of past and current student leaders met at the newly completed Health & Wellness Center to officially welcome Percy the Kraken to the Clipper family.

Percy (pronouns they / them / their) is more than a mascot. They’re a student-led project that spanned over four years from idea to completion. SPSCC student leaders devoted a year to allow time to research, talk over concepts, and look at sketches before selecting the kraken by vote. And it’s easy to see why the legendary deep sea creature won out.

When SPSCC debuted Percy in early April, we spoke with three previous Associated Student Body (ASB) student leaders who played an important role in bringing our new mascot to campus. They shared their experiences of developing Percy and how it feels to be a part of SPSCC’s history.

Kristina Hoferer was the ASB Vice President of Clubs and Organizations from 2018 to 2020. She is currently attending Brigham Young University-Hawaii remotely to earn a Bachelor’s degree in TESOL Education.

Article via ThurstonTalk.com
By Molly Walsh

Article via ThurstonTalk.com

When COVID-19 came to town, Thurston County community and economic development agencies jumped into action by creating a collaborative, collective impact response model that has since yielded millions in funding for Thurston County businesses, nonprofits, and impacted workers.