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COVER
ABOVE The future home of Flathead Community College. COURTESY FVCC
FVCC
50 YEARS OF FVCC
Kalispell’s community college is approaching its half-century milestone as a vital and cherished part of the Flathead Valley
Last month, the new owner of two of the valley’s historic tim- ber mills — Weyerhaeuser Co. — shuttered operations at the facilities. The Washington-based com- pany laid o 72 mill workers along- side another 100 who were ushered out of administrative positions in recent months.
The closures delivered a hit to the local economy and a painful blow to the fami- lies involved, some of whom had worked multiple generations in the timber trade.
Faced with the sudden news and uncertainty over the future, the Colum- bia Falls workers received a special
BY DILLON TABISH
presentation before being let go. Sta members from Flathead Valley Commu- nity College arrived at the timber mills with folders lled with information and resources. They handed out pamphlets detailing the more than 100 academic programs o ered at the Kalispell campus, including several industrial and occupa- tional certi cations for welding, machine operations and other trades. They pro- vided testimonials from students of all ages, including middle-aged men and women who had abruptly lost their jobs but returned to college and gained a fresh start in a new career. And the college rep- resentatives gave out nancial aid forms
highlighting the a ordability of attend- ing school — roughly $4,100 a year for Flathead and Lincoln county residents — and the large amount of community sup- port, which surpasses $800,000 a year, that goes toward scholarships.
“We know, certainly, if you haven’t been in school for a while, whether it’s high school or college, it’s pretty intim- idating to have to come onto a college campus,” FVCC President Jane Karas said. “So we went there to talk to them and show that we’re geared to them and their needs.”
“As a community college,” she added, “our mission is to meet the needs of the
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM