Press Release
Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Contact: Ardi Kveven, Executive Director of ORCA, 425-267-0156; akveven@everettcc.edu
EvCC’s Ocean Research College Academy Named a Finalist for National Award
Photo: Everett Community College President David Beyer, Ocean Research College Academy Director Ardi Kveven and EvCC Vice President of Administrative Services Jennifer Howard accept an award recognizing the ORCA program as a finalist for the national Bellwether Award for innovative community college instructional programs.
EVERETT, Wash. – Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) was recognized Jan. 30 as a finalist for the national Bellwether Award for innovative community college instructional programs.
ORCA was selected out of 360 nominations as one of 10 finalists in the Instructional Programs and Services category, which recognizes programs and services that foster or support teaching and learning in community colleges. Thirty finalists in three categories were honored at the national Community College Futures Assembly conference in Orlando, Fla.
“It was exciting to be recognized and to be able to showcase the powerful teaching and learning that occurs at ORCA,” director Ardi Kveven said.
ORCA is the only early college in the nation that uses the local marine environment as the unifying theme to integrate the core academic disciplines. High school students can earn up to two years of college credit for free while completing their high school education through the Running Start program.
In January, ORCA moved to a new location on the Everett waterfront that features an oceanography research lab funded by a National Science Foundation grant.
The Community College Futures Assembly annually recognizes outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future. Pasadena City College was selected as the winner in the Instructional Programs and Services category for its no-cost, summer math preparation program for inner-city students.
For more information, contact ORCA director Ardi Kveven at 425-267-0156 or akveven@everettcc.edu
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