DelBene Checks In with Skagit Valley College

News Article

By Kera Wanielista

Rep. Suzan DelBene stopped by Skagit Valley College's Mount Vernon campus Monday morning in part to see the campus' new Lewis Hall take shape.

Construction on the new building, which will contain classrooms as well as faculty and administrative offices, was started last year. Slated for its grand opening in the fall, the project, which also tears down the old Lewis Hall, is currently 92 percent complete, said Dave Scott, director of facilities and operations.

"It's gorgeous," DelBene said. "You look at this building and the one it's replacing, and it's a huge difference."

The new building features a lot of natural light and will be environmentally friendly. It will have solar power and feature things like a planted roof, which was in full bloom for DelBene's visit.

New technology and security features fill the new building.

The building is also designed to be more student friendly, acting as a "one-stop shop" for students, with financial aid, career counseling and the university cashier all on the first floor.

"You can see the difference you get when you get a building like this," DelBene said. "They'll be able to provide the best teaching experience possible."

The project should be complete within a few weeks, Scott said. The grand opening is scheduled for fall quarter.

While she was there, DelBene, D-Wash., also checked in with students who are recipients of the Basic Food Employment and Training program (BFET), a student assistance program DelBene helped secure with passage of the federal Farm Bill.

The BFET program helps students from all backgrounds go to college by providing financial assistance for whatever barriers might be in their way.

"The best way for us to put together the best programs is to hear from you," DelBene told the students.

Overall, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

"I went (from) one day looking for random jobs to the next having a college education," Joshua Calderon said.

For many of the students, it gave them a confidence they didn't have before to move forward.

"This whole thing has just been so amazing for me," said David Elliott, a veteran who had been laid off twice. "I felt like I had reached the end, like I had no hope…. I feel really good about myself having started this and all the ups and downs."

BFET was launched as a pilot program in Washington, but because its success in getting students like Calderon and Elliot back into the workforce, it is now being expanded through other community and technical colleges across the country.

"I think in the end that's what we all want to see is people who are able to take care of themselves and their families," DelBene said.

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