Soap Lake High School offers U of W classes

SOAP LAKE - Soap Lake High School added classes through the University of Washington's "UW in the High School" program.

The school offers English 131: Exposition and Oceanography, 101: Survey of Washington Waters for both high school credit and, if students pay a $350 tuition fee, college credit.

It was oceanography teacher Matt Brewer's students' participation in UW's Orca Bowl, an ocean sciences knowledge competition, that ultimately led to the Soap Lake High School's involvement in the UW in the High School program.

For the last two years, Soap Lake students have traveled to Seattle to compete in Orca Bowl, said Brewer.

Richard Strickland, a UW oceanography instructor, approached Brewer at one of the events and encouraged him to participate in the program.

At first, with the ocean some 300 miles away, Brewer didn't think his kids would be interested in oceanography, but the distance hasn't diminished their enthusiasm.

While senior Chad Payne has always been interested in science, participating in Orca Bowl and the oceanography class opened him up to the idea of a career in oceanography, he said.

"I just moved over here from Seattle and I had no idea what Orca Bowl was and I was like a half hour away from the ocean," he said. "And then I came over here and got involved with Orca Bowl."

The knowledge competition provides a "boatload of opportunity," he said.

But as fun as it is, Payne is learning more in Oceanography 101 than he would have only participating in Orca Bowl, he said.

Before taking oceanography, junior Deonne Ramm knew she wanted to be a welder. She still does, but after taking oceanography, she's broadened her prospects. She's now considering tying her interest to something involving oceanography, perhaps becoming an underwater welder, she said.

"It's been great," said English 131 teacher Sandy Barnes. "The kids are really motivated."

The students have to pay $350 per class to the university for college credit and Epsilon Sigma Alpha donated seven $150 scholarships to help the students with the cost, she said. The school seeks additional donors.

"It's a fraction of what tuition would cost if they really went to UW," she said.

Brewer and Barnes hope to rotate class offerings each year, they said.

Donations to help pay college tuition are tax deductible and recognized by the Soap Lake Board of Directors. Donations should be made at the district office with "UW tuition" in the memo part of the check.

For more information, call the high school at 509-246-1201.