Congresswoman Emily Randall Visits Grays Harbor College
Posted on: Feb, 5, 2025
GHC Student Life leaders Kenny Plang, Mia DeJesus, Peja Springer, and mascot Charlie Choker welcomed Rep. Randall to campus. Named after the iconic role of choker setters in the region’s history and local logging communities, it is a GHC tradition for Charlie Choker to welcome elected officials to campus (when Charlie’s schedule allows – the mascot position is a student job).
After meeting Charlie Choker and the Student Life team and taking a few photos, Rep. Randall went on a tour of campus led by GHC President Dr. Carli Schiffner and Executive Director of the Grays Harbor College Foundation Lisa J. Smith.
The group visited a Drawing Lab and met Art Instructor Nathan Barnes; a Biology Lab, where Biology Instructor Anita Plagge’s class was extracting strawberry DNA; and a Welding class, where Welding Instructor Chris Jez showed the group around the program, which is located on the lower Aberdeen campus alongside GHC’s Automotive and Diesel Technology programs. In addition to visiting classes, the tour stopped by the Native Pathways program and met Tribal Navigator Cherie Edwards and Native Pathways student employee Kui Tahkeal Jr.
“It is just a joy to be here,” said Rep. Randall. “I got to visit a few classes and hear from faculty and students who are clearly so invested in a thriving community.”
After the tour, Rep. Randall met with GHC students, faculty, and staff for a roundtable discussion in GHC’s new tulalW Student Center.
Dr. Schiffner introduced Rep. Randall to the group. “Prior to her recent election, she spent six years in the Washington State Senate advocating for student basic needs,” said Dr. Schiffner. “We are excited to welcome Congresswoman Randall to campus and show her some of the programs she helped champion years ago, which have come to fruition to benefit the students here at Grays Harbor College,” she added, citing GHC’s student basic needs programs including a food grant that provides free and reduced-price, nutritional meals to qualifying students.
In addition to basic needs programs like the food grant, GHC offers several student support resources, including three federally funded TRIO programs that provide student services and outreach at GHC, in local high schools, and in the community: TRIO Student Support Services, Upward Bound, and the Educational Opportunity Center. TRIO staff and students were present to share information and stories about their programs.
To kick off the group discussion, Rep. Randall described her path from higher education to the State Senate and now to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Like more than 80% of GHC students, Rep. Randall was a first-generation college student. “I’m the first in my family to get a college degree, and I had to leave the state to afford to go to school after I graduated high school,” she shared. “Over the last few years, I’ve worked really hard with education leaders across the state to make college more accessible at home, so folks don’t have to choose between staying with their families and getting an education – so folks can invest in their communities by learning here, growing the economy here, and supporting their families here.”
After hearing her experience in education and politics, students had the opportunity to ask the congresswoman questions. Emily Wright, a student in GHC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management program, asked Rep. Randall for her input on a project for her grant writing class. Wright was tasked with creating a grant proposal for an organization or cause, and was focusing her project on community mural art. “What are your thoughts on mural art and how it might affect a community?”
“Amazing!” said Rep. Randall, before sharing ideas that Wright could research that might help with her project.
Rep. Randall fielded more questions from students, faculty, and staff in the room, with topics including AI, recent executive orders, and reflections on her first month in Congress.
Amelia Saunders, a student in 11th grade at Ocosta Jr./Sr. High School and member of GHC’s TRIO Upward Bound program, said she learned a lot from the discussion. “I really enjoyed meeting with Congresswoman Emily Randall. She was really informative and inspiring to listen to,” said Saunders. “I also like her focus on building relationships and finding common ground with others. One thing that she said that really stuck with me was, ‘Maybe we can’t change their minds, but maybe we can make a little space.’”
Saunders’ reflections provide just one example of the meaningful discussions that took place during Rep. Randall’s visit. Throughout the visit and roundtable discussion, she highlighted the importance of education and community colleges in preparing for the future.
“I believe in community colleges, desperately, because the folks here in these classrooms and online, all of you, are so much a part of what makes the community here in Grays Harbor strong, and Aberdeen and Hoquiam strong. It’s what makes Washington State strong,” said Rep. Randall. “It’s what ensures that we are ready for the next wave of technological innovation and the economy of the future.”