Logging and mill work have been on their way out for years, and Onalaska students need a different plan, Principal Rich Rasanen said in an interview with The Seattle Times earlier this year. His message: “Your parents had other opportunities — your opportunities have to be earned differently,” he said.
Centralia College will honor the Onalaska School District’s commitment to higher education on Oct. 12 by celebrating Onalaska Day.
On June 8, the Centralia College Board of Trustees recognized the 2017 graduates of Onalaska High School with an unanimous motion that scheduled the day of recognition to take place during the fall quarter.
All 43 members of the high school’s graduating class of 2017 were accepted to two- or four-year colleges, according to a press release from the college. Thirty-eight of those students committed to attending college this fall.
“It’s quite an accomplishment for a school district to have such a high percentage of students applying for college immediately after graduation,” Centralia College President Bob Mohrbacher said in the release. “Research proves the value of higher education. Students who go on to complete career and technical training programs or earn a college degree benefit from greater financial stability and job security. All of these directly impact families and communities. I applaud the efforts the Onalaska School District has taken to ensure its students succeed long after they’ve graduated high school.”
Staff and faculty members at Centralia College will be asked to wear the Loggers’ colors of purple or gold, as well as buttons that state, “It’s a great day to be a Logger at Centralia College.”
College trustees and administrators will hand out free coffee and donuts in the morning. The clock tower is also set to glow purple in honor of the recent graduates.
The trustees will acknowledge the event at their board meeting that same day.
