March 12-19, 2016

Lend a hand to the communities impacted by the SR 530 mudslide during a service learning trip to the Stillaguamish Valley.

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March 22, 2015 marked the one year anniversary of the SR 530 Landslide. During the year, WSU Extension continued to work side‐by-side with communities in Snohomish County on long-term recovery. For a second summer in a row, WSU sponsored paid student internships to assist Arlington and Darrington with a wide range of projects.

“Coming into this experience, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my degree,” one student commented. “Now, I am not only very clear, but I have developed skills and learned to be a leader, all while having the best summer and helping my home town.”

Working with the affected communities taught students about the nature of stress and trauma on individuals and communities as well as understanding what it takes to be resilient.

The internship experience has influenced how students are designing their academic and professional futures, according to exit interviews. Students have shared that the experience opened their eyes to different avenues, exposing them to career options, connecting their studies to real life applications, guiding their academic choices and helping them develop new skills that are applicable in the classroom as well as in future jobs.

All fourteen student interns, including six who were part of the previous year’s program, were from Arlington and Darrington. The students’ eagerness to help out in their communities resonates through one student’s reflection: “I loved being involved in my town and I am now more passionate about my community.”

The projects were based on community needs and were matched to the backgrounds and interests of the selected WSU students. Students worked on projects that included engaging teens in a Summer Youth Forestry Institute, providing nutrition and STEM education for youth and creating economic development strategies. They assisted the Fire Department, Engineering Department, Police Department and Natural Resources Department in Arlington with numerous projects. They also helped with public relations, communications and community events, and did the legwork needed for a new park in Darrington.

This SR 530 Summer Internship Program is a project of the CAHNRS/Extension SR 530 Mudslide Team that was created by the late President Elson S. Floyd to assist impacted communities after the landslide.

Written August 2015 by Phyllis Shulman, Special Projects Manager and Curt Moulton, County Director, WSU Extension.

City of Arlington Press Release July 30, 2015

ARLINGTON, Wash. — In the past year since the mudslide, Washington State University has made a commitment to the Stillaguamish Valley to help the area recover economically, environmentally and emotionally. In addition to tuition waivers for the 2014-15 school year and clean-up projects, WSU has sent a recovery team out for hands-on progress in relief. The past two summers, WSU interns from the Stillaguamish Valley have come to help their hometowns.

Elizabeth Norris works in the City of Arlington on public relations and community outreach. Elizabeth works under supervision of Recreation Manager Sarah Lopez and completes projects on promoting local events. Elizabeth also has compiled several brochures for the city’s parks & recreation and public art. “Elizabeth’s help during this busy season has really allowed the City to accomplish more communication projects this summer,” said Ms. Lopez. In the previous summer Elizabeth was an intern for the Town of Darrington.

“I’ve really enjoyed the past few summers working with WSU on the mudslide recovery effort. It gives me experience in my education and provides a way to give back to my hometown following the slide,” says Norris on her experience.

Returning intern Hannah Hoffman works directly with the Stormwater Department. She has gone out to multiple neighborhoods across Arlington inspecting their storm systems, and determining whether they need to be cleaned or not. She also is working on a report on the Oso mudslide, which includes data on turbidity, precipitation, and metal samples. Hannah has also learned about the components of the NPDES Permit, and what it means for the City to stay in compliance.

Kendra Knepper, a returning intern, works at the Arlington Police Department. She assists with clerical work, records and front window assistance to the public with their questions and concerns.

“It has been a wonderful opportunity to see how a public safety organization works from behind the scenes and intern in a field that is directly related to my education,” says Knepper. Her supervisor, Loralie Carlson, says that Knepper is a great asset to the Police Department and that she is thankful for the opportunity to participate in the program.

Ian Davis works in Arlington with the Public Works Department on various projects from updating traffic counts in Arlington streets, surveying ramps, organizing construction plans, and GIS database work.

Carson Davis works in Darrington on public projects. A returning intern this summer, Carson has worked under Mayor Dan Rankin. Carson works on establishing county property to become city parks, as well as creates hiking trail signs and designs bridges over small creeks in the area.

Makayla Markezinis also works in Darrington helping with community outreach. She has been working out of Town Hall under supervision of Mayor Dan Rankin doing different tasks around the office. Makayla has done various other projects to assist the community.

WSU has several other interns working for the slide relief. Colby Cavanaugh, a returning intern, has worked as a student liaison between the University and the Stilly Valley. He helps plan fundraising banquets and oversees projects ongoing throughout the whole year.

“Working on recovery projects in my hometown has been very humbling but also rewarding. I truly enjoy seeing both my hometown and college communities working together,” says Cavanaugh.

Josh Robinson and Justin Surber work together on the America’s Best Communities Grant, in which Arlington and Darrington together made quarterfinalist. Through community outreach and economic planning, they help the area attempt to make it to the next round. Other interns include Chelsea Mctee, Cheyenne Hanshaw, Sarah Peterson and Natasha Huestis.

Make a donation here in support of WSU’s efforts to rebuild the communities affected by the 530 mudslide, please follow the link below.

Thank you for your support!

WSU provided internships for 10 students to help with recovery efforts following the SR 530 mudslide during the summer of 2014. One of the interns, Tesia Lingenfelter, documented some of their experiences in this video.

President Elson S. Floyd on WSU’s role in the mudslide recovery efforts.

Friday, September 5th, 2014, 5PM to 9PM

The WSU 530 Slide Recovery Team and the ASWSU invite you to join us on the Pullman campus for a three-course banquet and silent auction in support of the communities, families and WSU students affected by the March mudslide near Oso, Washington.

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