Spring 2014 Contents


State of the Art: Health Sciences Building is Underway

Architect's rendering of the Health Sciences Building northwest entry

Right now it’s just a construction site, muddy and surrounded by chain link. But in 2016, Bellevue College’s newest building will open – a state-of-the-art Health Sciences facility. An architect’s rendering of the Health Sciences building site plan featuring two green roofs and multiple rain gardens. Click to enlarge The $39 million, 70,000-square-foot building will ...more about State of the Art: Health Sciences Building is Underway


Veterans Get Help at Bellevue College

Assisting U.S. Army veteran Thomas McElearney, Jr., are Leslie Strand, assistant financial aid director, and Veterans’ Office assistant Joshua Kienlen

Since the Post 9/11– G.I. Bill was passed in the fall of 2008, Bellevue College has responded by adding more services for veterans. Federal education benefits for veterans represent a substantial investment by the government and by veterans in time and effort. But veterans can encounter serious obstacles as they adjust to academic life and ...more about Veterans Get Help at Bellevue College


New Veterans Monument Unveiled

Veterans attending the ceremony

Bellevue College leadership unveiled a new, permanent sculpture on the main campus Thursday, December 5, 2013, honoring American service men and women. Bellevue College President, David Rule, Marie Gunn, chair of the Board of Trustees, faculty artist, Ross Brown, and Aaron Malec, Bellevue College Association of Veterans president, each spoke briefly to the students, faculty, ...more about New Veterans Monument Unveiled


Underserved Group Excels In and Out of the Classroom

OLS students

A program as unique as its students. On the second floor, of an otherwise unassuming office building at Bellevue, Donna Hudson is leading a lecture on environment and community. It’s the type of scene you’d expect to see in a movie depicting college life: the professor asks a question of the class and in short ...more about Underserved Group Excels In and Out of the Classroom


Off to a Running Start

Robert Lee is more than halfway to earning a transfer associate’s degree and on track to enter a university – and he’s still in high school. Lee is one of 1,593 Running Start students taking tuition-free classes at Bellevue College (BC). Now in its 20th year, Running Start provides up to two years (six quarters) ...more about Off to a Running Start


A College is Born

1968 graduating class

In 1957, when the entire population of the Eastside was only 22,000, a community college planning committee of Eastside citizens and school district officials was formed. That committee made enough progress in five years that voters in 1962 passed a $575,000 levy to establish a junior college. In 2013, the BC gymnasium could no longer ...more about A College is Born


Involvement Adds Value to Students’ College Experience

Sophia Trinh

“One of the reasons Bellevue College is such an outstanding place to be a student is that there are so many opportunities for involvement,” said recent BC grad Sophia Trinh, of Bellevue. Besides theatrical groups, musical ensembles, and athletics there are about 90 diverse campus organizations. Students involvement in campus clubs is not just for ...more about Involvement Adds Value to Students’ College Experience


Project Management Students Help Farmers Market Host Successful Fundraiser

The Friends of Farmers Practicum team included Tina Crispo, Debra Burke, Angela Wood, Amber Cassidy, Kirsta Cyrus, Adriana Duran, Sherrina Sezto, Ravi Sekhon, and Chris Curtin.

Last Spring, students in BCs Continuing Education Project Management Practicum developed a plan for a Fall fundraising event for the Mercer Island Farmers Market. In the Practicum, CE’s Project Management Certificate capstone course, students form a team and apply skills, techniques, and concepts acquired from the program’s earlier classes to initiate, plan, execute, monitor and ...more about Project Management Students Help Farmers Market Host Successful Fundraiser


Meet Michael

Michael Elsworth Louis Hatt

Michael Elsworth Louis Hatt, Age 24. Assembly Technician for Skills Incorporated How did you learn about the OLS program and what helped you decide to check it out? My parents learned of OLS through a legal convention at Seattle University around 2006-2007 and then talked to staff and parents to learn more about their experiences ...more about Meet Michael