A quick reminder today from Everett Community College…
Photo: Everett Community College Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) students collect water samples.
This is the last information session date before the May 1 application deadline.
Visitors and prospective students can see student work, meet faculty members, learn about the program and see the facility, including the oceanography research lab and 120-gallon seawater tank.
Two new classrooms were added to existing ORCA space in fall 2014. The expansion will allow more junior and senior high school students to participate in ORCA.
ORCA is an early college academy for high school students, who can earn up to two years of college credit while completing their high school education. Most students graduate with an associate’s degree in addition to a high school diploma.
The program is the only early college academy of its kind in the country. ORCA uses the local marine environment as the unifying theme for all academic disciplines.
The ORCA program recently began using a 34-foot custom-made research vessel that was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. This vessel is critical to the research initiative at ORCA, said director Ardi Kveven.
Through the study of the Snohomish River Estuary, students develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills through their work on board. While this local study helps students develop a sense of place of the region, the skills they develop are relevant to all disciplines. Students will present their findings from the boat based research during the program information session.
ORCA is sponsored by EvCC and was initially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The academy was recently awarded two National Science Foundation grants, including one for the ORCA lab and one for its new research vessel.
For more information, contact ORCA Executive Director Ardi Kveven at 425-267-0156 or visit EverettCC.edu/ORCA.
April 6, 2015
Everett