Walla Walla Sunrise Rotary

06/17/2026

05/14/2026

At Walla Walla Community College, student success stories come from every corner of the world — and Bildad’s journey is one of perseverance, leadership, and inspiration.

Originally from the Marshall Islands, Bildad came to WWCC through Transitional Studies as an academic preparation student in the Career and Academic Preparation program. Since he has excelled academically while also becoming a mentor, friend, and source of encouragement for fellow students.

Today, Bildad is pursuing a degree in Biology OTA and continues to maintain an outstanding academic record while inspiring those around him through hard work and determination.

Pictured left to right: Kendra Coffeen, Education/Career Navigator; Jennifer Vaughn, Transitional Studies Instructor; Bildad Bildad; and Maury Fortney, Rotary Club President.

Stories like Bildad’s remind us that education changes lives and that every student belongs at WWCC.

04/22/2026

Big congratulations to Trace Green!

Trace was recognized as the March Student of the Month by the Walla Walla Sunrise Rotary Club—and it’s easy to see why.

Balancing academics and athletics at a high level, Trace holds a 98% in Anatomy & Physiology while serving as a starting pitcher for the WWCC baseball team. He’s maintaining a GPA above 3.8 as a pre-nursing student, all while bringing a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and professionalism to everything he does.

This fall, Trace will take his next step at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon, where he’ll continue both his academic and baseball journey.

Pictured: Trace Green with Maury Fortney (Rotary Club President) and Pete van D**e (WWCC Science Instructor).

We’re proud of you, Trace—your future is just getting started.

02/19/2026

Walla Walla Sunrise Rotary Club meeting yesterday honoring their January Student of the Month, Aaron Kaufman

Aaron has shown great achievement in his math courses at WWCC. He has consistently earned top grades in the calculus sequence, and is currently completing an honors project in Calculus III. In addition to his achievement in math, Aaron is a student athlete on the baseball team at the college. Aaron plans to transfer to a four-year institution next year to pursue a degree in computer science. We are proud to recognize Aaron as the math department's student of the month!

In the photo: Aaron Kaufman on the left, Chris Mehl (Math Faculty) in center, and Maury Fortney (Club President) on the right.

02/14/2026

People walking in Oregon are seeing messages of peace. More than 1,000 wooden poles with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in different languages are already standing in the state’s parks, greenways and other public places.

More Peace Poles are being installed this year by members of Oregon’s Rotary Clubs along a new route launching next year called the Oregon Peace Trail.

Inspired by Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago, the Oregon Peace Trail is designed for people to be in nature, inviting relaxed conversations, listening and stretches of quiet contemplation.

Read more here: https://theoregonian.visitlink.me/rZP-ka

📸 Janet Eastman

01/02/2026

12/20/2025

12/17/2025

Drawing tomorrow