Goals and Objectives

Goals of the Compass 2 Campus program:

• To encourage underrepresented, low-income, diverse, students, starting at the fifth grade to complete high school and enroll in some form of post-secondary education.
• To provide mentors and role models for area youth using a service-learning model.
• To provide 5th graders an opportunity to visit and experience a University.
• To support educational achievement through tutoring.
• To increase awareness of life options after high school.
• To provide scholarships for C2C students who graduate from High School and are admitted to WWU.
• To develop teaching, communication and leadership skills among college mentors.
• Offer mentoring experience to WWU students as a way to give back to their community.

Why Compass 2 Campus?

This program was established from an original program created by Cyndie Shepard at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay called Phuture Phoenix. It was designed to encourage students who typically do not consider higher education in their futures, and to provide support and tools necessary to complete high school and consider some form of post-secondary education, whether at a university, college, community college, technical college or trade school.

C2C benefits the community because it helps kids gain the skills and ambition to succeed in life. It hopes to increase high school graduation and college attendance rates while helping these students to enter their futures with increased confidence and improved goal setting abilities. The result is having a better trained and better educated workforce and a community empowered by active productive citizens.

What happens at C2C?

All 5th graders from participating schools visit and tour the WWU campus every fall. Their C2C mentors show them around and chat with them about what it is like to be a college student.

The C2C mentors then visit their students throughout the school year for a minimum of 4 hours per week to tutor, develop relationships and mentor them.

As the fifth graders progress through middle and high school, C2C mentors continue to serve these students to offer encouragement and support to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.

A new cohort of 5th graders is added to the program every year, as C2C continues to follow previous cohorts through 12th grade.

Schools

Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College students serve as mentors to participating C2C students in grades five through 12.

Currently, students in grades five through eight from participating Whatcom and Skagit County schools are mentored in the program.

As students progress through middle and high school, the C2C mentors will follow them, supporting their achievement toward graduation.

Participating schools:

School locations

Partners

Contact us

Cyndie Shepard greets children at a recent Compass 2 Campus tour.

"I think we miss a lot of very bright children by just assuming that they'll never make it because they don't do well in school. We typically let those kids go. We're saying, 'We're not letting you go.'" - Cyndie Shepard

Cyndie Shepard
Miller Hall 002B
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9040
360.650.3093
cyndie.shepard@wwu.edu

Shar Sarte Prince
Miller Hall 2C
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9040
360.650.4565
shar.sarteprince@wwu.edu

Kristine Kunchick
Miller Hall 2A
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9040
360.650.4481
kristine.kunchick@wwu.edu

Theresa Kingma
Miller Hall 4C
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9040
360.650.4421
theresa.kingma@wwu.edu

Karen Marion
Miller Hall 6A
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9040
360.650.3314
karen.marion@wwu.edu

What is Compass 2 Campus?

The Western Washington University Compass 2 Campus Mentorship Initiative is a pilot program implemented by House Bill 1986 which passed both Houses of the legislature on April 21, 2009. The program is designed to increase access to higher education by providing an opportunity for students from traditionally underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds in Whatcom and Skagit counties to be mentored by C2C students.

The program has the following objectives:

• Increase GPA and reduce truancy among elementary students.
• Empower kids to make good choices about the future.
• Increase C2C students' leadership and commitment to giving back to their community.

Our overall goal is to help more students graduate from high school and encourage them to consider some form of higher education.

We are excited about this initiative! This program has the chance to make a real difference in the lives of hundreds of young students in our community. We would love to have your involvement, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Program history

Vision: "Compass 2 Campus fosters university and community academic collaborations that promote a college going culture for all students, developing leaders who are empowered to create the future."

Mission: "To increase access to higher education by providing an opportunity for students from traditionally underrepresented and low-income backgrounds in Whatcom and Skagit counties to be mentored by trained Compass 2 Campus students."

The Compass 2 Campus program focuses on furthering educational opportunities for underrepresented, first generation, diverse children in Whatcom and Skagit County Schools. It was originally conceived at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay as the Phuture Phoenix Program by Cyndie Shepard, the wife of Bruce Shepard, President of Western Washington University, and Ginny Riopelle, UW-Green Bay Council of Trustees member.

Cyndie was taking a tour of Green Bay area schools in January 2002 after her husband's recent appointment as Chancellor of UW-Green bay. While at a local inner city school, she had the opportunity to sit and talk with a 5th grade boy in the principal's office. During the course of their conversation, she became concerned. The young boy felt that he had no hope for a bright future. He felt that he would end up like his father, who was in prison.

Cyndie was aware that Northeast Wisconsin had a lower than average rate of students graduating from high school and going on to college. This brief encounter inspired Cyndie, an educator herself, to think about ways she could encourage children in the Green Bay area to finish high school and pursue some kind of post-secondary training or education. Cyndie and Ginny sat down at lunch to discuss what she had experienced and brainstorm ideas about a mentoring program. An afternoon of chatting produced a blueprint for a program, which they chose to call Phuture Phoenix because it promoted UW-Green Bay, the founding institution, and was symbolic of its mascot, the Phoenix. From this "blue print," Cyndie developed the mentoring program at UW-Green Bay and it has been successfully running since 2003.

When Cyndie and her husband, Bruce, came to Western Washington University in the fall of 2008, she was contacted by the Higher Education Coordinating Council Board in Olympia to better understand the Phuture Phoenix concept they had seen on the UWGB website. Cyndie was asked to present at a meeting of the "K-12 Pipeline Committee" working on ways to increase access to higher education for Washington students. After her presentation, the HECC Board asked if Cyndie would consider transporting a similar program to Western and create a pilot mentoring initiative for other colleges, universities, and post secondary institutions to have as a model for possible replication. They offered to support this initiative by creating a legislative bill and working to pass it.

In April of 2009, HB 1986 was passed by the Washington legislature and signed into law by Governor Gregoire, establishing Compass 2 Campus as the pilot mentoring initiative for the state of Washington. This bill gives credence to the commitment of the state to support mentoring as an effective way to encourage post secondary education to underrepresented students in our K-12 school system.

In the fall of 2009, Western Washington University mounted the Compass 2 Campus program with the support of nine local school districts in Whatcom and Skagit counties, Western faculty and staff, and hundreds of Western student mentors.

Sister programs and educational partners ››

UW-Green Bay's Phuture Phoenix

This is the original award winning program in Green Bay, Wisconsin that has been bringing 5th graders to their campus since 2003 and following them until high school graduation, offering encouragement, tutoring and support from trained university student mentors. Visit the program at http://www.uwgb.edu/phuturephoenix/.

WWU's Compass 2 Campus

The Western Washington University Compass 2 Campus Mentorship Initiative is a pilot program implemented by House Bill 1986 which passed both Houses of the legislature on April 21, 2009. The program is designed to increase access to higher education in Washington state by providing an opportunity for students from traditionally underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds in Whatcom and Skagit counties to be mentored by C2C students.

UW-Eau Claire's Blugold Beginnings

This is the third sister program modeled after the original Phuture Phoenix and mounted in the spring of 2010 on the UWEC campus. Shepard also helped to mount this program with UWGB colleagues through a grant from the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, based in Wisconsin. Visit the program at http://www.uwec.edu/dos/blugoldbeginnings/.

Silver Lake College's Look Ahead Lakers

This program at Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Manitowac, Wisc., is the fourth sister program modeled after the original Phuture Phoenix. Visit the program at https://www.sl.edu/about-silver-lake/events-and-community-programs/look-ahead-lakers-2/.

PLU's Parkland Education Project

Visit the program at http://www.plu.edu/service/News.php.

Watch the videos

Visit our YouTube playlist to check out out the videos from Compass 2 Campus over the years.

Some of these videos have been posted on Western Today:

• Compass 2 Campus program offers path to the future for young students
• 'Do you like your job?' Fifth graders grill WWU President Bruce Shepard
• Highlights from 2010 Compass 2 Campus tour day
• 2010 Compass 2 Campus opening ceremonies
• Program highlight: Compass 2 Campus
• Cyndie Shepard talks about Compass 2 Campus before state House committee
• KING5 TV interviews Cyndie Shepard about Compass 2 Campus
• KING 5 News: Teacher helping young students embark on 'field trip to their futures'

Become a mentor

Compass 2 Campus does not exist without student mentors. If you’re interested in joining our class to become a mentor, read the information below.

How does the program work?

The program has a 3 credit introductory course students must enroll in to become a mentor. For the first three weeks of each quarter Compass 2 Campus trains student mentors to work in elementary and middle school classrooms with underrepresented, low-income, diverse, students to provide positive role models and encourage students to view some form of post-secondary education as achievable. In weeks 4-10 mentors spend 4 hours a week directly working with students at our site placement schools. After completion of our introductory course students can enroll in our continuing courses up to four times for credit and continue expanding their experience and learning initiated in the introductory course.

Who can be a mentor?

All Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College students are able to become mentors by taking the first mentorship training class: EDUC 201 (WWU) Co-Op 190 Section H (WCC)

What is the commitment?

• Attend class for the first 3 weeks of the quarter
• Complete 4 hours of service for weeks 4-10 at school site (total of 28 hours a quarter)
• Submit a Washington State back ground check with $12 processing fee
• Attend 2 check in classes at the middle and end of the quarter
• Complete all classwork to the best of the student’s ability
• Communicate regularly with the program

I want to be a mentor; sign me up!

• WWU students
• WCC students
• Volunteers

Still have questions?

Check out our FAQ page or contact us directly at (360) 650-4565 or shar.sarteprince@wwu.edu.

WWU student mentors

Getting started

STEP 1: Consult classfinder for current CRNs and class times. Search: EDUC 201 or Professor Cyndie Shepard. Select 1 class and 1 lab time that fit into your schedule.

STEP 2: Register Online through Web4U. If the class and lab time you select conflict times please contact Cyndie.Shepard@wwu.edu to obtain an override code.

STEP 3: Join Western and Whatcom mentors in making a difference for local students! Classes are conducted at WWU for the first 3 weeks of the quarter and labs in weeks 4-10 are at area school sites in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

First time mentors sign up for:

EDUC 201 - WWU Youth Mentoring I (3 credits): Introduction to mentoring using a service learning approach. This campus-wide initiative is designed to encourage underrepresented, low-income, first generation and diverse 5th -12th grade students to graduate from high school and consider post-secondary education. It teaches C2C students the dispositions/behaviors necessary to become a successful academic mentor for these students.

Returning Mentors sign up for:

EDUC 202 - WWU Youth Mentoring II (3 credits; repeatable up to four times for 12 credits): Field based mentoring using a service learning approach. Expands on earlier experiences with underrepresented, low-income, first generation and diverse 5th-12th grade students.

*All registration follows the official Registers Office schedule

WCC student mentors

STEP 1: Select one class time that fits your schedule. Options are M/W/F from 8 to 8:50 a.m. or T/Th from 11:30 to 12:50 p.m. or 4 to 5:20 p.m.

STEP 2: Select one lab time that fits your schedule. You need four total hours per week.

Available four-hour time slots are 8:30-12:30, 9-1, 10-2, 10:30-2:30, 11:30-3:30 and 12:30-4:30, Monday through Friday.

Available two-hour time slots are 8-10, 8:30-10:30 and 3-5 on Mondays and Wednesdays; 8-10, 8:30-10:30, 2:30-4:30 and 3-5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 8-10 on Wednesdays and Fridays.

STEP 3: Register with Whatcom.

• Take your selected class and lab times to Jan Adams for approval.
• The class that will be listed on your Whatcom transcript is: CO-OP 190 Section “H”

For more information, contact Jan Adams at jadams@whatcom.ctc.edu or (360) 383-3700 or stop by her office in LDC 116.

STEP 4: Join Western and Whatcom mentors in making a difference for local students! Classes are conducted at WWU for the first 3 weeks of the quarter and labs in weeks 4-10 are at area school sites in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Volunteer mentors

Once a student has completed the 201 course, he or she may also volunteer to continue mentoring in the schools. The student must register with the program as a volunteer and follow program guidelines and procedures to be included. Volunteer involvement is offered every quarter except summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join?

All Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College students are able to become mentors by taking the first mentorship training class: EDUC 201 (WWU) Co-Op 190 Section H (WCC)

What is the commitment?

• Attend class for the first 3 weeks of the quarter
• Complete 4 hours of service for weeks 4-10 at school site (total of 28 hours a quarter)
• Attend 2 check in classes at the middle and end of the quarter
• Complete all classwork to the best of the student’s ability
• Communicate regularly with the program

What will I actually be doing at the schools?

Depending on the site placement our mentors are doing a variety of service at the schools. Mentors provide one to one, small group, and whole class support through purposeful academic tutoring and mentoring in all academic areas. Mentors also help run afterschool programs, support sports teams, and spend time with students at recess, lunch and in-between class times. In all areas mentors focus on building relationships with students to encourage and enable their educational aspirations.

How do I get to my site placement?

Mentors must be able to provide their own transportation to WWU and site placements at local schools in Whatcom or Skagit County. Regular bus routes are available to a very limited number of site placements. Limited carpools are also available.

What if I want to mentor more than 4 hours a week?

Mentors who volunteer more time than the required 4 hours a week are recognized for their dedication. Completion of more than 5 hours extra service earns a letter of recognition from Western Washington University’s President Bruce Shepard and the Compass 2 Campus Director and first lady, Cyndie Shepard.

I'm not an education major, so what's in it for me?

Students from all majors have the opportunity to make a big difference in the life of a child. Mentors also gain valuable skills in leadership, communication, and working with diverse populations. Compass 2 Campus is a great way to get involved directly with the community and gain experience many future employers are looking for.

How can I help?

Compass 2 Campus is a huge effort, and support is always needed in a variety of ways.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Become a mentor
• Become a lead student
• Volunteer to help
• Donate to Compass 2 Campus

For additional questions please contact us directly: (360) 650-4565 or shar.sarteprince@wwu.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join?

All Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College students are able to become mentors by taking the first mentorship training class: EDUC 201 (WWU) Co-Op 190 Section H (WCC)

What is the commitment?

• Attend class for the first 3 weeks of the quarter
• Complete 4 hours of service for weeks 4-10 at school site (total of 28 hours a quarter)
• Attend 2 check in classes at the middle and end of the quarter
• Complete all classwork to the best of the student’s ability
• Communicate regularly with the program

What will I actually be doing at the schools?

Depending on the site placement our mentors are doing a variety of service at the schools. Mentors provide one to one, small group, and whole class support through purposeful academic tutoring and mentoring in all academic areas. Mentors also help run afterschool programs, support sports teams, and spend time with students at recess, lunch and in-between class times. In all areas mentors focus on building relationships with students to encourage and enable their educational aspirations.

How do I get to my site placement?

Mentors must be able to provide their own transportation to WWU and site placements at local schools in Whatcom or Skagit County. Regular bus routes are available to a very limited number of site placements. Limited carpools are also available.

What if I want to mentor more than 4 hours a week?

Mentors who volunteer more time than the required 4 hours a week are recognized for their dedication. Completion of more than 5 hours extra service earns a letter of recognition from Western Washington University’s President Bruce Shepard and the Compass 2 Campus Director and first lady, Cyndie Shepard.

I'm not an education major, so what's in it for me?

Students from all majors have the opportunity to make a big difference in the life of a child. Mentors also gain valuable skills in leadership, communication, and working with diverse populations. Compass 2 Campus is a great way to get involved directly with the community and gain experience many future employers are looking for.

How can I help?

Compass 2 Campus is a huge effort, and support is always needed in a variety of ways.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Become a mentor
• Become a lead student
• Volunteer to help
• Donate to Compass 2 Campus

For additional questions please contact us directly: (360) 650-4565 or shar.sarteprince@wwu.edu

Volunteer to help

As part of our tour day, many groups of students will be touring the Western campus. We will need to have some experienced adult supervision on campus that day. These adults will be needed as a safety measure to be present on the WWU perimeter, answering questions about locations on campus, helping in emergencies or with problems, maintaining cell-phone communication with the program director to relay needed information, and generally talking with students, acting as ambassadors for the Western campus.

If you would like to be a volunteer for Compass 2 Campus, please fill out the information and return it via completion of the Volunteer Registration Form. You will then be contacted about attending a meeting in late September to set up your volunteer post and give you information about the tour day. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help our young students consider college in their future!

Become a lead mentor

Compass 2 Campus supports lead mentor positions through work study grants and private funding in the schools we serve. These positions will be for WWU students, education students preferred, who either qualify for work study programs through Financial Aid or meet the requirements for the position (non-work study) and who wish to spend eight to 10 hours per week working with fifth- through 12th-grade students and fellow WWU students throughout the school year. The responsibilities of these positions include:

• Working with the program director to develop and organize the field placements for the WWU student mentors enrolled in the mentoring course.
• Collaborating with on–site school principals, counselors, and/or teachers to identify and schedule 5th and 6th grade students needing tutoring and/or mentoring assistance.
• Assisting in scheduling WWU students for their field placement experiences; monitoring their work with students; keeping records of their participation.
• Collecting attendance and grade improvement data as directed by principals, counselors and the program director.
• Assisting WWU students assigned to schools with questions, issues of concern, placement, student issues, etc.
• Keeping the program director informed regarding problems, issues of concern, etc.

Educational benefits of this work experience:

Students selected for these positions will be interfacing with 5th, 6th and 7th grade students, teachers, school personnel, and principals in the schools in which they are assigned. They will benefit educationally by developing leadership skills within this milieu, understanding the school community in which they work, building relationships with future educational colleagues, developing teaching and communication skills, and strengthening collegial relationships with their peers as part of a concerted effort to assist young children from low –income, diverse backgrounds. These skills will assist in teacher preparation for these students, thus building their repertoire for future employment in the teaching or human service profession.

Current Lead Students:

Donate to Compass 2 Campus

Donations are accepted via the the WWU Foundation website.

Donation Gift Levels

Donors

Charter Club Members

Compass 2 Campus Tour Day 2012

• WWU Faculty and Mentors
• Donors

  Mike J. Bathum Marshall and Jan Bronson Heidi Jansen Doornenbal Catherine Riordan & Philip Thompson Karen Louise Stout Target Peter and Laurel Browning Sara Ann Nichols BP Foundation Advantage Vending and Distribution Mark and Anchana Bergeson Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods Michael and Xann Olsen Bruce and Cyndie Shepard Steve and Woon Agnew Marlene Sue Davis Tom and Carrie Hayden Mark and Joanne Knittel Penny S. Rings Susan Rose Sanchez Jim and Debora Wardlow Carmen and Richard Werder M. Lee & Kristopher Glendening Philip and Nancy Janney Keith and Theresa Kingma Melanie Mankamyer William and Leslie McRoberts Bob and Marilyn Monahan Ingeborg Paulus & Roy Potter Melissa Freeman Witecki Jack and Pamela Walker Brenda-Lee Karasik Irene Emelen Mullan Daniel Pike and Kelly Hart

  The UBS Foundation USA GivingStation Columbia Bank Cecilia S Poon Isabella Prince Verizon Foundation Stephanie Carol Artino Lea Aune Holly Baker Vonnie Baumgartner Gunnar and Kristi Birkeland David and Cheryll Blair John David Boswell Anne Matyas Bowen Stephanie and Richard Bowers Carl Bruner Eileen V. Coughlin Barbara Jane Craig Michael and Christy Cullum Margaret and Marc Curtis Dennis and Susan D'Amelio Paula Rae Dagnon Deborah L. DeWees John Dlouhy & Maggie Murphy Effie and Daniel Eisses Kevin and Christine Fazio David Fuchs & Marianne McElroy Lynda Goodrich & Sara Penley Tamara Gregoire Ann Habenicht Robin and Daniel Halliday Margo Marie Hammond Joseph and Sarah Hunter Mauri Ingram and Lee Eberhardt

  Nancy Kay Jordan Brenda-Lee Karasik Kathleen Kitto & Dennis Waller Rafeeka Kloke Fred Henry Kunchick Craig and Pamela Lang Karen and Robert Lee Russell A. Lee Karen Lerner and John Moffat Lanny and Cathryn Lewis Kelli Linville and Will Roehl Ricardo Lopez Brian and Elaine Lynch Larry and Billie Marrs William and Leslie McRoberts Derrick and Jodi Mears Bob and Marilyn Monahan Gabrielle Morganti Diana and Larry Munsen Gregory and Grace Munson Christopher and Astrid Newell Peoples Bank Daniel Pike and Kelly Hart Catherine Riordan & Philip Thompson Allison Schreuder Jennifer Grace Shelton Megan and Perry Stanfield Jerry and Lori Timblin Jim and Joan Ullin Mark and Susan Venn Lindsey and Jan Vereen Gene and Peggy Zoro Clara Belle Capron Jack and Klaire Pirtle Susan Rose Sanchez

• Community volunteers
• Elementary Schools
  • Alderwood Elementary School
  • Blaine Elementary School
  • Lucille Umbarger Elementary School
  • Central Elementary School
  • Fisher Elementary School
  • Lummi Nation
  • Ten Mile Creek Elementary School
  • Washington Elementary School
  • Everson Elementary School
  • Nooksack Elementary School
  • Sumas Elementary School
  • Harmony Elementary School
  • Mary Purcell Elementary School

Tour information

C2C Day

Each fall, all fifth graders from participating schools are brought to the WWU campus for a "kick-off" tour. The tour day is a coordinated effort between the university, local school districts and the community. The tour is an all day field trip for the students and their teachers and they participate in the following ways:

• Touring "real" WWU classrooms where professors have opened the doors and provided a view of college education for the 5th graders. Over 125 classrooms and demonstrations have been open to our tour guests.
• Touring university housing and activity centers where Western students typically live and participate in university offerings.
• Visiting WWU service centers, so that young students also get a bird's eye view of how to navigate a university.
• Touring the WWU library, a favorite to our 5th graders, to see the educational treasures available to students.
• Viewing Western's cultural resources; sculptures, art galleries, music, theatre and dance performances.
• Lunching on campus with mentors at the Viking Union.
• Opportunities to meet the university administration; the President has "cookies and questions" with the kids to talk and get to know the kids.
• Teachers receive opportunities to extend their education through in-services, dialogue sessions, campus tours and work time with colleagues.

Related links:

• Compass 2 Campus Teacher Form
• Compass 2 Campus Student Interest Form
• Watch video from Compass 2 Campus over the years

News coverage

Stories about C2C and its sister programs appearing in the news media:

• YMCA Names New Honorees for NW Women’s Hall of Fame
• WWU Receives Another Recognition for Community Service
• The Western Front: Woodring programs recieve national award
• FDLP Connection: Introducing Fifth Graders to Government Publications
• The Bellingham Herald: Whatcom fifth-graders learn about college at Compass 2 Campus day
• The Bellingham Herald: Photos: 2011 Compass 2 Campus
• Western Today: Photos: Area fifth graders learn all about college during Compass 2 Campus tour day
• WWU Press Release: Compass 2 Campus Brings Hundreds of 5th Graders to WWU Campus October 27
• WWU Press Release: Wisconsin Council honors program co-founded by Cyndie Shepard
• Western Front: Compass 2 Campus hosts second annual field trip
• Western Front: Fifth-graders experience campus life
• The Bellingham Herald: 900 fifth-graders to visit WWU
• KING 5 News: Teacher helping young students embark on 'field trip to their futures'
• WWU Press Release: Compass 2 Campus Brings 900 Fifth Graders to WWU Campus Oct. 23
• KGMI News/Talk 790: Compass 2 Campus To Bring 900 Fifth Graders to WWU

Awards

State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant

Compass 2 Campus is the stand-alone winner in Washington State! This grant is part of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board Service Learning grants, using funding to "support youth-led service learning projects to solve issues important to State Farm and communities across the United States and Canada."

• State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship® Company Grants

Daily Point of Light Award

Cyndie Shepard, director of the Compass 2 Campus program at Western Washington University, has been given a Daily Point of Light Award, which honors individuals and groups creating meaningful change in communities across America. The Daily Point of Light Award was founded by former President George H. W. Bush during his presidency to engage individuals, families, businesses and groups to solve community problems through voluntary service. During his presidency, President Bush distributed 1,020 Daily Point of Light Awards, placing volunteer service at the top of his agenda. President Bush continues to sign all of the awards, including the one received by Cyndie Shepard.

• Cyndie Shepard receives Point of Light Award

President Obama’s Community Service Honor Roll (w/ Distinction) 2012

Beginning in 2006, annually, the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll focuses on universities and colleges across the nation solving community problems and achieving "meaningful, measurable outcomes in the communities they serve."

• U.S. Government. "NationalService.gov 2012 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll." National Service Newsroom. Corporation for National and Community Service, 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/honorroll_2012.asp.

College Bound Champion 2012

Awarded to Program Director Cyndie Shepard to honor the "extraordinary commitment to students and diligence in promoting the College Bound Scholarship."

WASA Award

The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) has awarded its first-ever Northwest Region Community Leadership Award to the Compass 2 Campus program at Western Washington University.

• WWU's Compass 2 Campus Program Wins Education Award

Photos

Photo galleries from Western Today, the campus news and information outlet:

• 10/24/2012: 900 youth visit Western for Compass 2 Campus
• 10/23/2012: The Bellingham Herald: 2012 Compass 2 Campus
• 2/6/2012: Compass 2 Campus honored at WWU basketball game
• 10/26/2011: Area fifth graders learn all about college during Compass 2 Campus tour day
• 6/3/2011: C2C volunteers celebrate mentors with free ice cream on Vendor's Row Thursday
• 10/26/2010: Hundreds of fifth graders visit WWU for Compass 2 Campus tour day
• 10/27/2009: Compass 2 Campus program brings hundreds of fifth graders to WWU
• 10/26/2009: Hundreds of students involved in mentoring program to visit campus Tuesday

Student Stories

• Our field trip to WWU, by Rolando
• WWU is a great school, by Aaron Gutierrez
• WWU field trip was awesome! by Ruth
• I love my friends, by Thao Nguyen
• Western Washington University, by Tuyen Le

Student Stories

Our field trip to WWU

by Rolando

One time at school we went to Western Washington University for something called Compass to Campus. It was a school field trip that only fith graders can go to. In this photo essay I will tell you why Western Washington University is the best college I’ve ever gone to.

In this first picture are Aaron, Colby, Bryan, Chazz, and me. They were my partners for the field trip. In this picture was us before going into the gym where we were supposed to go because we were going to have a big assembly. At the assembly they were going to tell us what we were going to do there.

In this second picture is me on the stage because I was one of the three kids that got to experience how it would feel to graduate. After that Mr. Lear and Mrs. Korn took pictures of me. This picture was taken by the WWU photographer who said I was going to be on the WWU website. I was sort of shy because I don’t like taking pictures. Then they interviewed me and asked me how I felt about graduating.

Last in this picture are my buddies and me and one of our mentors named Hannah. We are next to the big water fountain at Red square at WWU after the big assembly where I got my diploma.

Finally our field trip to Western Washington University was really fun because of the activities we did like going into one of the professors laboratory. Also, it was fun because I graduated and got a diploma and got to shake Cindy Shepard’s hand and other important peoples’ hands.

I never thought that a college could be fun because I thought it was all about learning and studying. But now that I went on this field trip I realized that going to college is good for my future. College is not boring especially Western Washington University.

Student Stories

WWU is a great school

by Aaron Gutierrez

We had a field trip to go to Western Washington University. Only 5th grade went. The program was Compass to Campus. I think that Compass to Campus has good sculptures and cool cars. Let me show you how.

First there was a sculpture that you can go inside of. We all did. They took a picture of us in the sculpture. In my group was me, Rolando, Colby, Chazz and Bryan.

Behind the sculpture was my teacher Ms.Hornof. Then we got out of the sculpture. Then we went to a sculpture of stairs. The stairs go up and down. I didn’t know that the stairs went down so I ran really fast. Then I got on the stairs. Then the stairs went down and I almost fell down but I held on to the wall.

Next there was a car that you can go in but you can’t ride it but you can get in it. I did. It felt weird.

The car was long. My feet were small compared to the car. I tried to put my feet in the front but my feet were too small.

Then there was another car it was white. I asked the man if I can go on it . But he said no because it will be to hard to go in and to get out. Then I said ok. I looked around the car. It looked COOL! Then I looked inside it and it looked like that they put a lot of work in it.

Last but not least I realize that Western Washington University is really a great school because it might help me in the future. It might help me to get a good job. For example, if I want to build cars this might be a good college for me.

Student Stories

WWU field trip was awesome!

by Ruth

WWU FIELD TRIP WAS AWESOME! I had a wonderful time. Let me tell you what was fun.

First I met new people named Vivian and Josh. They were my mentors who took good care of me. They were really nice and funny. Josh talks really funny that’s what’s really funny about him.

Next, my group was fantastic. I hope my group had a nice time. And I hope my group liked our mentor. And I know my group had a nice time because of the picture. Everybody is smiling.

One time in the writing center, we were writing. They gave us a word frightening. I wrote Josh is really frightening. Because he gave us the scary look and tried to torture us with his funny accent.

Last but not least, this makes me realize how much fun it was. And I owe it all to Cyndie Shepard. Thank you for the cookies and all the other wonderful things you gave us.

Student Stories

I love my friends

by Thao Nguyen

This is a picture of my friends and me at WWU College. In the pictures you will see Carina, Ruth, Bekkah, Vivian (our mentor), and me.

This is a fountain the shooting at the big rock with my group.

I enjoyed the WWU and clever photo shoot for every skin, and I also into this type of do.

And I’d like you to do so and I hope that Carina, Ruth and Bekkah can learn it is good.

I love to go with Carina, Ruth, Bekkah and Vivian to go WWU. Friends is a very good. I love friends, and I like WWU is a good, and to go elevator this is a good, and Carina said I like elevator, I very like to go the elevator, and I like to go with friends and Vivian.

Thank you group and Vivian.

Student Stories

Western Washington University

by Tuyen Le

Have you ever gone to Western Washington University before? Well I have. Western Washington University was fun to go to for a field trip. If you want to know about Western Washington University read my essay.

First you should know that we got to hang out with friends (but you can’t pick who in your group). On the left, is a picture of my group--Ivon, Abby, Yesenia, Anthony, and me. They were in my group when we were at Western Washington University. It was only for 5th grade.

Last but not least, when we were in Carver Gym it was so loud. It reminded me of one time I was sitting next to people in my group. Everybody was talking and laughing. Then the music turned on so loud. Nobody was talking anymore. It was so quiet. And the music was turned louder and here came the VIKING mascot. When the VIKING jumped out it scared me. I almost started to scream. But I didn’t. Everybody in the gym started to scream.

First I thought college was going to be boring and that the students studied all the time. Now I know college is fun. But remember when you go to college it is going to help you find a good job to work even though is hard. Don’t think college is boring. It is more fun than you think.