Centralia College’s Phoenix Center Name Change to Honor Odegaards

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Centralia College will be renaming the Phoenix Center on campus to honor Gary and Kay Odegaard.

The new name will be Odegaard Phoenix Center.

“With more than 50 years of combined teaching and service at Centralia College, and a lifetime of service to the community, the Odegaards exemplify service, dedication, and commitment for the betterment of students and community,” stated a press release from the college.

The Phoenix Center supports the transition of students into academic and workforce programs by identifying gaps in their skills. Classes focus on the English language, GED and high school completion, student success, and pre-college writing, reading and math. The center also offers college placement exams and proctored testing, stated the release.

“We feel honored by the recognition,” the Odegaards said in the release. “Centralia College means so much to us, and we’re amazed by the growth the campus has undergone. The campus is looking more like a university, but it still has that small town feel.”

Kay Odegaard retired from Centralia College in June 1997 and was a faculty member since 1969. She was a popular instructor and leader on campus, helping students prevail over challenges to their educational goals, stated the release.



She worked in the basic skills area, and co-founded the Phoenix Center with Frank Edge. Odegaard was instrumental in bringing awareness to the challenges disabled student’s encounter, and was the college’s first disability services coordinator. She worked as a consultant to community colleges in Oregon. While working with students who had learning disabilities, Kay also taught workshops focused on students with disabilities to other educators, stated the release.

Gary Odegaard retired in June 1993 and was a faculty member at Centralia College since 1969. He was the chairman of the business and management division, and served on numerous councils and committees while at the college. He taught reading improvement classes that helped lead to the creation of the Phoenix Center, stated the release.

He also served as a legislator in the Washington State Senate for 12 years, was instrumental in a capital project that raised funds for the Walton Science Center, and helped move the Corbet Theatre project through the state legislature. Gary played a key role in keeping the Green Hill School open during the 1970s, served on the board for the National Slingerland Institute to train teachers who work with dyslexic students, and also served in the cabinet of then Governor Dixy Lee Ray for a short time.

“Gary and Kay Odegaard are great examples of what makes Centralia College great,” college President Dr. Robert Mohrbacher said in the release. “They have a tremendous dedication to this college and to our community, and I am thrilled we can honor them by naming the Phoenix Center after them.”

The naming ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on Sept. 30 in the Kirk Library on the college campus. The event is open to the public.