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.
Portland Literary Arts Adventure, January 25th 2024
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.
Our 2023 event was the largest to date. An impressive total of 445 Students in attendance, not only from White Salmon Schools, but from Klickitat, Lyle, Trout Lake, and Pacific Crest Innovation Academy schools. The wide participation showcased the growing significance of Career Day in our region.
Career Day has become an indispensable platform for our students, empowering them with the tools and insights necessary to make informed decisions about their future career paths.
College and Career Day will be held on March 27th, 2024 at Columbia High School. We are grateful to have sponsorship provided by ESD 112, One Community Health, Riverview Bank, Walmart, and First Independent Bank.
For more information please email our College and Career Day Coordinator at: careerday@wsvef.org
Since 2006, the WSVEF has granted funds to support our district's Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes through donations from our community. Learn more about those programs in this great video by Story Gorge, which features Chris Hipskind, one of our incredible CTE teachers.
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 2023.