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Students
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The Daily Evergreen
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TRIO stories
The academic pipeline serving low-income and first-generation students at Washington State University has many success stories.
WSU alumni of TRIO programs tell about their paths after Washington State.
Ariana Garcia (’16 Socio.) — McNair as a Gateway to Research (Council of Graduate Schools GradImpact spotlight, 2021)
Cristal Reyna Thompson (’13 Microbiol.) — Doctoral success for a McNair alumna at the University of Notre Dame and beyond
A talk with Ivan Valdovinos
Ivan Valdovinos (’15 English, Spanish) came from the small town of Soap Lake to Wenatchee Valley Community College and then Washington State University. He was first … » More …
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Dynamic TRIO
![WSU students at Zion National park for Outdoor Recreation Center trip](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2021/08/2021fall-ORC-memories-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Memories of the ORC
They trekked and climbed, skied and snowshoed, camped and hiked, biked and paddled—and learned some things about themselves along the way.
The experiences they shared and skills they gained as participants or employees at Washington State University’s Outdoor Recreation Center shaped their careers, grew into lifelong passions, and became treasured memories.
Here, in celebration of the ORC’s fiftieth anniversary this year, they share some of the moments and history that helped define them and the long-running program.
The beginning
He didn’t start it, and it wasn’t his idea. But Chris Tapfer is often credited with both. That’s because he got involved with … » More …
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No one in the stands
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2021 Top Ten Seniors
![Woman on a paddleboard riding the Snake River](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2021/08/2021fall-ORC-timeline-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Outdoor Recreation Center timeline
Highlights from the history of the Outdoor Recreation Center
1969—Christopher Tapfer (’73 Rec.) enters WSU and works as a ski instructor for a physical education class at Tamarack Mountain. The same year, WSU buys the North South Ski Bowl, now known as Palouse Divide. It will be managed by the Outdoor Activities Program until 1980. It’s sold in 1984.
1971—The Outdoor Activities Program (OAP) is established as part of ASWSU. Tapfer and a graduate assistant teach winter survival, mountaineering, and canoeing.
1972—Tapfer takes over management of the OAP, which moves into Compton Union Building for the next 29 years. During this era, the … » More …
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The new job normal
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