Inspiring Success Story: Jason Holland

“I tell people thinking about school that it can be easy, when you’re focused,” ~ Jason Holland, newly employed Machine Trades graduate.

Jason Holland

Jason Holland was still finishing his LCC degree in Machine Shop when he started working at Waite Specialty Machine in Longview.

Jason was part of the wave of Manufacturing Occupations students who received American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding to pay for their first year at LCC. Out of 19 in their group, 10 earned their one-year certificates and two more left in their last quarter because they got jobs.

Jason went on to get his Associate in Applied Arts degree in Machine Shop, along with his high school diploma. In addition, he overcame another challenge: chemical abuse.

“I’m three years clean. My treatment counselor advised me to go to school. I took his advice and it really worked out.” Thanks to treatment, he had “a whole new train of thought” that boosted him through school.

LCC Machine Shop instructor Kam Todd not only taught Jason his new skills, but helped him find a job. Waite Specialty Machine had approached Kam right after Commencement looking for a recommendation. Todd knew Jason needed a job (Jason and his fiancee have eight children between them) and recommended him. Todd also kept in touch with Jason’s boss at Waite while Jason earned credit for his work experience.

Kam is often contacted by employers looking for good workers, and freely refers his graduates.

“My Manufacturing Occupations and Process Manufacturing students are getting jobs too. There are jobs out there, but employers want people with skills,” Kam explains.

Jason Holland and Jim Peters, his supervisor at Waite

Jason enjoys his work in the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine shop at Waite.“I'm learning a lot every day,” he says.

“Waite has hired a number of people out of LCC,” says Jim Peters, CNC Department Supervisor at Waite.

In fact, Jim is an LCC grad himself. “I was one of the first CNC students,” he explains. He has LCC degrees in Machine Shop and Automotive Technology, and also studied Diesel Technology before joining Waite. He even watched his Machine Shop instructor write the grant to buy the first CNC equipment.

“LCC instructors work hard at keeping the programs and equipment current.” Jim says.

Regarding the local job market, Jim says, "We’ve weathered pretty well at Waite. We’re diversified through different industries. It’s starting to pick up!”

Learn how you can get started too!

Inspiring Success Story: Cami Wood

“When I returned to school in the spring of 2006, I was unsure of myself...".

Cami Wood

This summer we heard from Cami Wood, a 2009 Lower Columbia College graduate and winner of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, the largest award given to a community college transfer student nationally.

Cami wrote that she'd completed her bachelors degree in sociology at Brigham Young University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and  was accepted to the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU. She starts in the Fall of 2012.

In her letter Cami said:

“When I returned to school in the spring of 2006, I was unsure of myself and my academic abilities. Fortunately I was guided and directed by amazing advisors, instructors, and supervisors who believed in me and pushed me to excel. Although I received an incredible education at BYU, it does not compare to the exceptional education I received at LCC. My experiences as a tutor taught me patience, study skills, and gave me greater confidence in my abilities. The classes at LCC were rigorous, thought provoking, and prepared me well for my undergraduate education. Thank you for guiding me, challenging me, and believing in me.”

We are so proud of Cami. A story from the Longview Daily News says it very well:

Scholarly Success: LCC's Cami Wood collects unexpected honor, The Daily News, May 16, 2009

Here's more about Cami, excerpted from Lower Columbia College's 2009 Annual Report

Transfer Advisor Pat Boerner congratulates
Cami Wood on the news of her scholarship.

Camiliana Wood won the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a highly-competitive national award based on academic excellence, financial need, leadership, service, and drive to succeed.

The mother of three boys was one of 30 community college students — out of 500 applicants — to earn the scholarship in 2009. She is LCC’s second Jack Kent Cooke winner. The award will give Wood up to $30,000 a year to study psychology and political science at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She plans to later enroll at BYU law school and possibly teach law herself some day.

Returning to school wasn’t easy for Wood, who, besides earning straight-A’s at LCC and working in the Tutoring Center—ran two part-time businesses and volunteered as a Boy Scout leader, soccer coach and with Longview’s Summer Reading Program.

The scholarship will allow her to spend more time with her family. The Woods moved to Provo this summer.

Civic Circle Closure: August 28 - September 18

Traffic Advisory: Due to construction in the Civic Circle, traffic access into the circle will be closed August 28 through September 18.

People accessing Lower Columbia College during the closure will need to use alternate routes.

Note: Construction is scheduled to be completed before Fall Quarter classes begin on September 19 - see Academic Calendar.


Suggested alternate routes to Lower Columbia College:

To access

• Campus Services
• Head Start
• David Story Field
• Parking Lot I (20th Avenue Lot)
• Parking Lot J (behind Mylebust Gymnasium)

Please use Ocean Beach Highway to Olympia Way and access 19th or 20th Avenue.

To access

• Parking Lot F (Administration Building Lot)
• Parking Lot G (Rose Center Lot)
• Parking Lot H (Maple Street Lot)

Please use Washington Way and access Maple Street.

Campus parking lots not impacted by the closure

• Parking Lot A (Don Talley Lot)
• Parking Lot B (Vocational/Gym Lot)
• Parking Lot C (15th Avenue Lot)
• Parking Lot E (Rose Center Delivery Lot)

For more information please see:

• City of Longview Civic Circle Improvements Project
• Civic Center Closure Map
• Lower Columbia College Campus Map

See also: Google Map

View Larger Map

Follow Up on Financial Aid Portal

Access to the Financial Aid Portal for LCC students continues to be temporarily unavailable. The state is working to correct the problem and anticipates it will be up and running on Monday, July 25.

Again, we apologize for the inconvenience. Please check the Portal on Monday, July 25. We will continue to keep you updated.

Remember, the Priority Application deadline for students requesting Financial Aid for Fall quarter is Monday, August 8. More deadlines are listed at http://lowercolumbia.edu/finaid.

Important Financial Aid Update

Access to the Financial Aid Portal for LCC students is temporarily unavailable while a problem with the state system is corrected.

Please check back in 24 hours for updates.

The Priority Application deadline for students requesting Financial Aid for Fall quarter 2011 is Monday, August 8. More deadlines are listed at http://lowercolumbia.edu/finaid.

Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.

ANGEL maintenance on June 15-16

Lower Columbia College experienced unexpected problems with the ANGEL server on Tuesday, June 14. We understand the inconvenience that is caused when work is lost. Therefore, to prevent an unexpected loss in service, we have have scheduled maintenance.

The ANGEL server will be down:

For a 15 minute window (may be less)
10:45 am to 11:00 am
Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday June 16

Please do not do work in ANGEL during this time.

If you are logged into ANGEL, you will lose your work. The maintenance procedure should not take the full 15 minutes. Once final exams are over we will have more time to install a permanent fix.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Thank you for your patience.

Congratulations Class of 2011

Online Service Interruptions: May 27 - 30, 2011

Some online services will not be available during the Memorial Day weekend (May 27-30, 2011), due to a statewide upgrade of servers supporting several important functions for Washington’s community and technical colleges.

All services are expected to be back online Tuesday May 31.

The following online services will not be available for use from the LCC website starting Friday, May 27 at 5:00 pm.

Services for Students:

• Web/online Application for Admission
• Web/online Registration
• Online Payment Options
• Financial Aid Status/Portal
• Student Portal
• Create account or change password
• Student Kiosk functions
• Grades/Transcripts (unofficial)
• PIN Change
• Student Schedule Lookup
• Wait List
• American Opportunity Tax Credit

Services for Employees:

• Earnings History
• Instructor Briefcase

The following online services will be available for use during this time:

• LCC website
• Online Class Schedule: Summer and Fall Quarter (Note: Available Seats Option will not display)
• LCC Online Bookstore (Note: Summer textbook lists will be available online beginning Friday, June 3)
• ANGEL – online learning course management system
• Library databases
• Ask WA library reference service
• Student email
• Staff email