ORCA

Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) is receiving a $333,688 grant from the National Science Foundation to increase the number of college students studying geoscience. The three-year grant funds summer scientific research opportunities for ORCA students, tuition for summer college classes, travel to scientific conferences and a $1,500 stipend for students who complete the summer program. ORCA is an early college academy for high school students, who can earn up to two years of college credit while completing their high school education. Most students graduate with an associate’s degree in addition to a high school diploma. This is ORCA’s fourth NSF grant, representing an investment of nearly $1 million dollars for the program since 2009. Grants include funding for the ORCA research lab, research boat and collaborative research as part of the Community College Undergraduate Research Experience. 

Everett Community College English instructor Josh Searle is a recipient of the 2017 Anna Sue McNeill Assessment, Teaching and Learning Award. He was recognized for his “extensive contribution to both teaching excellence and leadership” for creating interdisciplinary learning, English assessment and research. Searle is a founding faculty member of EvCC’s Ocean College Research Academy (ORCA) program and has taught at EvCC since 2002. In addition to English, he teaches humanities and political science.

The family of an Everett Community College Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) graduate is donating 3.8 acres of waterfront property on south Whidbey Island for EvCC students to use for research. The undeveloped land is being donated by Gary and Kathi Lang. Kathi’s daughter, Rebekah, graduated from ORCA in 2013, finishing her last two years of high school and first two years of college at the same time. ORCA is an early college academy for high school students focused on marine science and hands-on student research. The family is donating the land to the ORCA program “because of everything it has done for my daughter,” Kathi Lang said. “To be able to do something for kids in the future, that’s really important to us.”

Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) will launch its new custom-built research boat with a celebration at 11 a.m. Nov. 22 at the Port of Everett. The dedication of the Phocoena (the scientific name for harbor porpoise, pronounced FOE see nuh) will happen at the port’s travel lift, located in front of ORCA’s classrooms at 1205 Craftsman Way in Everett. After a ceremonial bottle of champagne is broken across the bow, visitors can take tours of the boat.