Programs

In addition to annual giving and working to acquire outside grant funding for the school, the WSVEF hosts ongoing programs to further enrich students’ educational opportunities.

College Essay writing workshop series 2024

The WSVEF is proud to announce its sponsorship of a College Essay Workshop tailored for college-bound juniors at Columbia High School (CHS). The workshop, facilitated by experienced college writing instructor Ashley Erdely, aims to equip students with essential academic writing techniques and strategies to make their essays stand out in college applications.

Taking place in the Library at CHS, this workshop offered a unique opportunity for rising seniors to enhance their application profiles beyond mere grades and test scores. By participating, students gained invaluable insights into personalizing their applications, a crucial aspect in today's competitive college admissions landscape.

Book Club & Live author event series

WSVEF has been thrilled to be included in Portland Literary Arts’ Students to the Schnitz program! With the support of Portland Literary Arts, students at Columbia High School are given the opportunity to explore the writings of world renowned authors and attend their lectures at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. We’re grateful to PLA for this opportunity to expose White Salmon students to some of the best writers and thinkers of our time.

The latest event featured gifted storyteller, David Grann, who has penned books that have been adapted into major motion pictures, most notably, “Killers of the Flower Moon”. CHS students will have the opportunity to attend a lecture with Aimee Nezukumatathil, the author of “World of Wonders” in April of 2024. WSVEF is proud to foster a love for literature and learning among our students, and partnerships like these play a vital role in achieving that goal.

College & Career Support

The WSVEF and the  White Salmon Valley School District regularly collaborate to provide career and college preparation, training and awareness to students. 

Career Day
Since 2017, the WSVEF, in partnership with Columbia High School, organizes a Career Day for students in grades 8-12 to participate in during regularly scheduled school hours. To ensure an enriching experience, we had over 75 dedicated career professionals present at the event in 2023. These professionals provided insightful presentations to small groups of students and also engaged in one-on-one interactions during the Career Fair portion.  This diverse and interactive format allowed for our students to gain valuable knowledge and guidance directly from experts in various fields.

The 2023 Career Day at Columbia High School was our largest to date, with an impressive 445 students from White Salmon, Klickitat, Lyle, Trout Lake, and Pacific Crest Innovation Academy in attendance, showcasing the growing significance of this event in our region. In 2024, we continued the momentum with more than 380 students connecting with over 75 career professionals to gain valuable insights into the connections between education, career paths, and goal achievement. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors—One Community Health, ESD 112, Riverview Community Bank, First Interstate Bank, and Walmart—for helping us make this impactful event possible.

Regional College Fair at Columbia Gorge Community College

In fall of 2018 and 2019, the WSVEF brought 100 high school juniors and seniors to a College Fair at Columbia Gorge Community College. Students had the opportunity to meet with representatives of colleges and universities from throughout the region, and nearly all students who participated reported that attending the fair helped them solidify college plans. The WSVEF is again participating in this event for the Spring of 2025.