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MEMBER NEWS

WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Honored for Her Role in Supporting Local Entrepreneurship

11/20/2023

1 Comment

 
Karl Dye, President of TRIDEC, and Diahann Howard, Executive Director of Port of Benton presented the award to Sandra Haynes, as she was unable to attend the awards ceremony.
Karl Dye, President of TRIDEC, and Diahann Howard, Executive Director of Port of Benton presented the award to Sandra Haynes, as she was unable to attend the awards ceremony.

​Sandra Haynes, chancellor of Washington State University Tri-Cities, was awarded the Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, also known as the “Sammy” award by the Richland Rotary Club at their annual Entrepreneurial Award ceremony on Nov. 7. This award is granted to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the local community through entrepreneurship and leadership.  

The Richland Rotary presents two entrepreneurship awards annually: entrepreneurial awards for local businesses, and the “Sammy” award. These awards were originally created in 1996 to honor the creative and talented entrepreneurs in Benton and Franklin counties, with a focus on the region’s economic development efforts. To be considered for the Sammy award, each nominee must be a leader in their community, and have contributed to entrepreneurship in the community, either by being an entrepreneur or fostering entrepreneurial spirit through the creation of jobs, companies, mentorships, investments, programs, or services, either inside or outside of the person’s job. 

The nominating committee selected Haynes because she has been a driving force in several entrepreneurial community and academic programs since being appointed chancellor in 2018. In June 2023, WSU Tri-Cities was one of six winners of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize for their Empowering the Future Energy Workforce program. This program creates new academic programs, establishes new collaborations with industry, and expands local entrepreneurial activities. The university is developing a curriculum for the Clean Energy Ambassadors Network involving students, faculty, and industry mentors to tackle local climate change challenges that affect disadvantaged communities. With a focus on the environment and clean energy, and a need for more student-industry engagement, the DOE prize is driving new collaborations and strengthening existing ones. 

“Ultimately, entrepreneurship is about seeing a need, figuring out how to meet that need, and pushing forward to make sure that it is done,” said Haynes. “WSU Tri-Cities is entrepreneurial in that we see needs, we go out and fill them, and we serve our community while doing that.” 

Haynes emphasized the importance of the university’s mission in serving the region. “I’ve always believed that an institute of higher education cannot just be in the community, it has to be of the community. That’s why we have a mission to serve our community, no matter what higher education institution you are in. It is especially important for our campus because, even though we are part of a larger system, we are located in a community where local students come to us for a quality education and they stay here.” 

These successes, among other accomplishments on the WSU Tri-Cities campus, contributed to the consideration of Haynes for this award. Haynes initiated the launch of the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures, and has been a champion of research on sustainable aviation fuels in the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory, partnerships with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, STEM education programs for K-12 schools, and the participation in the community benefits plans for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub. She is also the chair for the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) board of directors.  
​
The Richland Rotary partners with TRIDEC, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Research District, Fuse, Port of Benton, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Benton Franklin Workforce Development Council in granting this award.  
1 Comment
IT Telkom link
12/8/2024 05:13:45 am

What is the significance of the Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, and why was Sandra Haynes recognized with this honor?
Greeting : <a href="https://it.telkomuniversity.ac.id/blogs/">IT Telkom</a>

Reply



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  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Membership Directory
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    • Membership Features
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Stakeholder, Leader, & Growth Level Members >
      • Stakeholder and Leader Profiles
  • EVENTS
    • Chamber Calendar
    • Annual Events >
      • Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
      • Women in Business Conference >
        • Call for Speakers - Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference
        • ATHENA Awards
      • Tri-Cities Diversity Summit
      • State of the Cities
      • Elected Leaders Reception
      • Tri-Cities Day at the Capitol
      • Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium
    • Monthly Membership Luncheon
    • Business After Hours
    • Ribbon Cutting Request
  • PROGRAMS & SERVICES
    • Ambassador Club
    • Ask the Experts
    • Business Builders Resource Roundtable
    • Business Resource Navigator
    • LEARN Groups
    • Member Advertising Opportunities
    • myTRI 2030
    • Office Depot Savings Program
    • Washington APEX Accelerator >
      • Meet the Buyer
      • Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government
    • Workforce & Education >
      • Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day
      • Washington Workforce Portal
      • Job Board
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative Action and Advocacy
    • Business Advocacy Letters
    • 2025 State Budget
    • Vote for Business
    • 2024 Legislative Score Card
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • Annual Report
    • Email Updates
    • Website Sponsors
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Committees
    • Policies
    • Tri-Cities Strategic Alliance Partners >
      • Benton-Franklin Council of Governments
      • TRIDEC
      • Visit Tri-Cities
    • Tri-Cities Community Map
    • Built for Prosperity - Strategic Plan 2024-2026