Longenecker & Associates (L&A) has established a new engineering scholarship at Washington State University (WSU)Tri Cities to support students interested in careers that support the important missions of the U.S. Department of Energy.

L&A has committed to providing $10,000 annually to support the new scholarship, which will be geared toward those studying engineering, cybersecurity, business or other fields related to environmental management and cleanup. L&A selected WSU Tri-Cities for the new scholarship given the university’s role in preparing students for work in the DOE’s nuclear cleanup program, especially at the Hanford Site in eastern Washington. 

“More than 30 years ago, L&A got its start in the communities of eastern Washington state supporting DOE’s cleanup of Hanford,” L&A CEO John Longenecker said. “We’re excited now to help support WSU Tri-Cities students who may want to be part of this important work or aid the other vital missions of DOE.” 

“As an R1 university that has a focus on energy, environment and agriculture, our high caliber engineering and applied sciences programs draw students and it’s the partnerships with our local DOE partners that gives them career connected learning and great job prospects after graduation,” commented Sandra Haynes, chancellor at WSU Tri-Cities. “We are grateful to L&A and their desire to support students on our campus allowing them to follow their dreams.”

L&A is a proud supporter of STEM education in communities near DOE sites. Along with WSU Tri-Cities, L&A helps to fund scholarships at Northern New Mexico College, the University of South Carolina-Aiken and Tennessee Tech University. L&A is also a strong supporter of the Roy G. Post Foundation, which provides scholarships for students pursuing careers in the safe management in nuclear materials.
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“We’re committed to not only helping DOE today in its national security, environmental remediation and clean energy programs, but to building the next generation of workers and leaders necessary for continued progress and success,” Longenecker said.  

(Richland, WA) The Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) Marketing & Communications Department was presented with a first-place AdWheel Award by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at their annual Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Workshop held last week in New Orleans. Their winning entry, the Mechanic Recruitment Video, was recognized in the Best Electronic Media for Workforce Development category. The AdWheel Awards were created to recognize excellence in marketing and communications among APTA members and promote best practices within the industry. The BFT Mechanic Recruitment Video will move on to the next competition phase, vying for an APTA AdWheel Grand Award.  Winners of this prestigious award will be announced mid-summer and honored at the 2024 APTA TRANSform Conference in Anaheim in September.

“Our Marketing & Communications team’s production not only won a national award, but it has also greatly aided us in recruitment of local talent,” said BFT General Manager Rachelle Glazier. “Applicants tell us that they learned about our job openings from seeing the recruitment videos on TV, which give a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a part of the team that keeps the Tri-Cities moving.”
About Ben Franklin Transit:
Ben Franklin Transit is the public transportation system for the Tri-Cities area of Benton and Franklin Counties in southeastern Washington State. Our guiding purpose is to provide safe, reliable, affordable transportation to the community to support personal mobility, economic diversity, and growth. BFT’s Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA) covers 616 square miles and serves the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, Prosser, and the town of Finley.
In 2022, Ben Franklin Transit celebrated 40 years of providing essential transportation services to this community. Since its inaugural trip in May of 1982, BFT has grown from 45 to over 400 vehicles, including buses, Dial-A-Ride, Vanpool, and CONNECT.  The agency now services almost 1,000 bus stops and has grown from fewer than 60 employees to over 400.

Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is now accepting applications for its Award for Academic Excellence program. The bank has funded the program with $217,500 for awards to area graduating seniors. The individual awards are $2,500 each.

Applicants must reside in Yakima, Kittitas, Benton or Franklin counties, graduate in the top 10% of their class and have demonstrated high moral character, industriousness, and ambition during their high school career. Also required with the application is a one page letter of motivation outlining future plans, school and life experiences, including any challenges faced and overcome, and the impact of receiving an award. Students can review requirements and apply online now at YakimaFed.com/scholarship. The deadline for application is Friday, April 15th, 2024.

Awards are limited to two applicants from each area school. Home schooled students are also eligible. Awards are funded upon student enrollment for the fall semester following graduation. Award checks are issued payable to the school in which the student is enrolled. Recipients will be notified by June 3rd 2024.

Yakima Federal has provided nearly $2.9 million in college scholarships to local graduating high school seniors through its Award for Academic Excellence program over the past 48 years.

Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is a Washington State chartered Mutual Savings Bank with 130 employees and over two billion dollars in assets. Yakima Federal serves more than 55,000 customers with products focusing on checking, savings and home loans. Yakima Federal is open to everyone residing in Washington and Oregon and is a member of the FDIC. Learn more at yakimafed.com.

Two scholarships were endowed supporting Washington State University Tri-Cities students in honor of African American leaders. The African American Community Cultural and Educational Society (AACCES) donated funds that will assist local students in paying for college.  

The AACCES Martin Luther King Junior scholarship and the William Owen Bush scholarship will provide $2,500 each to WSU Tri-Cities students in any field of study. The scholarships were named after prominent African American individuals that had significant impacts locally and nationally. The Martin Luther King Junior scholarship recognizes King’s legacy in the civil rights movement. The William Owen Bush scholarship honors the contributions Bush made as a legislator in Washington state. Bush helped pass legislation establishing a college for the study of agricultural science, which later became Washington State University in Pullman.  

“The establishment of these scholarships was born out of AACCES’s long relationship with WSU Tri-Cities. Endowing these scholarships ensures they will live on in perpetuity,” said Vanessa Moore, co-founding member of AACCES and board treasurer.  

Founded in 2003, AACCES began as an organization supporting the history and recognition of African Americans and has since expanded to support the Mid-Columbia community through educational activities and outreach programs for African American youth, as well as economic opportunities for residents.

AACCES has had a long-standing partnership with WSU Tri-Cities, which began as a sponsorship of the university’s multicultural club. AACCES has since teamed up with several WSU Tri-Cities academics on an oral history project dedicated to sharing the stories of African Americans who worked at the Hanford nuclear site during the Manhattan project. In 2022 Leonard Moore, AACCES history and recognition committee chair, collaborated with the Washington State Historical Society to place a monument honoring William Owen Bush on the WSU Tri-Cities campus.

“We are thankful for AACCES’s longstanding support of our students,” said Sandra Haynes, chancellor at WSU Tri-Cities. “These scholarships empower students, especially African American students, to pursue a degree and make it financially easier to do so.”

For more information about scholarships at WSU Tri-Cities, visit the website.  

Kennewick, Wash.— Port of Kennewick’s recent Financial Statements audits and the Accountability & Compliance Audits were all clean, complete and accurate – with no findings, according to the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

The Washington State Auditor’s Office issued notice on February 12, 2024, officially closing audits covering detailed financial statements and statistical data, policies and procedures related to the port’s operations between 2021 and 2022.

Independent audits aim to provide reasonable assurance that financial statements are accurate and presented in a transparent manner, including disclosures necessary to provide a reasonable understanding of the port’s financial affairs.
These audits mark 28 consecutive years of clean reports for Port of Kennewick--with no findings (a finding would indicate material deficiencies within the organization).

“Having the State Auditor’s Office inspect and review our operations helps assure the public that Port of Kennewick is spending tax dollars properly and operating transparently with exacting standards,” said Nick Kooiker, the port’s chief financial officer/deputy CEO. “Twenty-eight years of clean audits is proof that our port utilizes tight internal controls to safeguard the public’s funds.”

The Washington State Auditor’s Office reports are available online at:
ViewReportFile (wa.gov) (Financial)
ViewReportFile (wa.gov) (Accountability)

The 2021 and 2022 Financial Statement Audits examined cost allocation methodology, timesheet tracking, capital assets, financial statement presentation and disclosure, cash and investments, GASB 68 state pension plan balances, GASB 75 Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) balances, property tax balances, GASB 87 leases (receivable/deferred inflow/lease interest income), construction in progress, improvements other than buildings, property lease/rental operations, general operations expenses, maintenance expenses, general and administration expenses, public, election, and governmental relations expenses, capital contributions, and payroll reconciliation.
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The 2021 and 2022 Accountability and Compliance Audits examined the areas of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), financial condition, accounts payable disbursements, payroll disbursements, credit cards, paid time off, merit awards, quarterly reporting, bank statement reconciliations; and information technology. In all areas, the audits determined that Port of Kennewick operations complied with applicable state laws, regulations and its own policies and provided adequate controls over public resources.

RICHLAND, Wash. (Feb. 7, 2024). Arts Center Task Force (ACTF) has hired Blake Smith, Townsend, Tenn., as its new Executive Director. Smith, who has more than 30 years of experience in managing and operating performing arts centers, assumed the role Monday, Feb. 5. He was chosen after a national search launched in November.

“Blake is a perfect fit for our organization with his wealth of experience with performing arts centers,” said ACTF Board Chair Steven Wiley. “He will be invaluable to our mission to build and operate the Mid-Columbia Performing Arts Center.”

The Arts Center will be sited in Columbia Park West near The REACH Museum. The 800-seat venue will be a vibrant, state-of-the-art facility for local and touring group performances. “It will enhance cultural access and quality of life for the community, promote economic vitality, and support the wide variety of local arts organizations in the Tri-Cities,” said Wiley.

Most recently, Smith was chief executive and general manager of the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville, Tenn. He previously was Director of Operations and Facility Technical Director at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston and served as Director of Concerts and Conventions at the Delta Center Arena, Salt Lake City.

Smith also is past president of the Tennessee Presenters Association, was trained in technical theatre at Arizona State University, and is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers.
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“Joining a team committed to bringing a professional performing arts center to the Tri-Cities area is the culmination of my years spent supporting and promoting live arts. It’s an exciting challenge I couldn’t pass up,” said Smith. “With the strong support this community gives its local arts organizations, it was clear to me that this endeavor to provide a home for their work and the opportunity to host a broad variety of touring performances will provide a positive cultural boost to this community and its residents.”                                                                                                 

In honor of Black History month, Washington State University Tri-Cities will be hosting a free live performance by local hip hop artist HEARNE. The event is open to the public and will take place on Feb. 16 on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. 

Bryan Christopher Hearne, also known by his surname HEARNE, is a multifaceted poet, actor, community organizer, and musician who uses his artistry to transcend boundaries and blend genres while promoting black liberation. His career began with acting in several popular shows and movies, including alongside Keanu Reeves and Michael B. Jordan in “Hardball”, and as a series regular in Nickelodeon’s “All That”. 

Hearne is involved in the local community, most notably as the co-CEO of the non-profit organization Urban Poets Society, which provides safe spaces for artists to share their talents through social justice and mental health lenses in the Tri-Cities. Hearne was awarded the CBC Martin Luther King Spirit Award in 2021 for his contributions and service. 

Hearne’s music and spoken word touches on his personal perspectives. His EP titled “I Won’t Move” was released during a period of social unrest and includes themes such as the desire for change as a black man and the instinct to protect black women. The performance at WSU Tri-Cities is described as an ode to Black History Month, and will feature his newest album, titled “Martyr,” utilizing hip hop as a form of resistance. 

“Get ready for a captivating experience as we embark on a journey through the powerful words, soulful rhymes, and music that captivates us all,” he says. 
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The free performance will take place in the Student Union Building (SUB) on the WSU Tri-Cities campus on Feb. 16 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. and is open for anyone to attend. 

Benton REA is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew W. Gould, P.E. as Benton REA’s Vice President of Engineering and Operations.

As a third-generation engineer, Gould brings 12 years of experience in the utility industry. He has dedicated his career to the safe and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity and communications while striving to make a meaningful impact in how utilities design and manage their infrastructure.

Gould began his career as a consultant with Quanta Technologies where he developed expertise on solving unique problems with electric transmission, distribution, and substation facilities. His work led him to research asset management practices of transmission and substation systems at the Electric Power Research Institute for their member utilities. He moved on to a position at Duke Energy to support the procurement and maintenance of transmission and substation assets where he managed multi-year, multi-million-dollar projects that ensured high voltage electrical equipment met future operational goals, and that remaining service life of existing assets were properly characterized and extended when possible. Most recently, Andrew worked at UtiliSource where he oversaw both the fiber communication and electrical engineering departments for several clients including many electrical co-ops.

“I’m excited to join the co-op world by working at Benton REA,” says Gould. “There is so much opportunity to bring safe and reliable electricity to the members of Benton REA through innovation, design, and operations enabling them to live productive and fulfilled lives.”
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Gould earned a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is a Professional Engineer. He serves on the board of trustees for The William R. and Erlyn J. Gould Distinguished Lecture on Technology and the Quality of Life at The University of Utah.
 
Gould and his wife have four children. In his free time, he enjoys cooking with his wife, competitive clay target shooting, walking golf courses with the occasional decent shot, and introducing his children to the wonders of the world.

​The newest round of artwork has been installed at the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC). The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will be displaying pieces in all three of the airport art areas for 2024. The Palus People display vibrant pieces focused on three important themes for the Colville Tribes: history, homeland, and the 12 bands that comprise their tribal community.
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Each year, PSC offers local artists an opportunity to display artwork in various terminals. This year’s selection from the Colville Tribes showcases a mix of historic and modern imagery, cultural touchpoints, and unforgettable vistas in the Tri-Cities region.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to share the stories of our people with all who pass through the Tri-Cities Airport,” said Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. “Through these beautiful billboards, we are able to showcase our culture—from the importance of food gathering to traditional regalia and the celebrations of the Colville people past and present.”  
 
“Once again, our Airport Art Committee has found an important regional partner with a compelling story to share,” said Buck Taft, Director of Tri-Cities Airport. “The mix of people, the incredible landscapes, and the informative videos offer several reasons to engage with the displays and learn more about the region’s indigenous communities. We hope that our passengers connect with these pieces all year long.”
 
In addition to the artwork, each display includes a QR code linking to videos created by the Colville Tribes. Passengers can scan the QR code on their smartphone to view the videos.  
 
The Palus Display by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will be up in the airport terminal through the 2024 year.