Loryn Kykendall, “Walla Walla Community College Kicks Off Fall Quarter with Rising Enrollment,” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, link to the article.
When James Barton signed up for ancestry.com four years ago, he never imagined it would lead him to Walla Walla.
The 35-year-old, who was living in Alaska at the time, got his ancestry results back which said they’d identified a person who was either Barton’s biological child or parent. It turned out to be his father, who lived in Walla Walla and didn’t know Barton existed.
Today, Barton lives in Walla Walla, has a relationship with his father and is 10-months sober thanks to the recovery program at the Christian Aid Center.
“I’ve battled with drugs and alcohol most of my life, so he shipped me up here and found me a place at the Christian Aid Center where I could stay,” Barton said. “ I joined a program and I’ve been doing great and I’m in school now, clean and sober.”
Barton is one of thousands of students who started their fall quarter at Walla Walla Community College last week, with the first day of classes on Monday, Sept. 23.
WWCC’s enrollment, both at the Walla Walla and Clarkston campuses, is up 11% this fall. While enrollment numbers won’t be final until the end of the quarter, the current headcount for Walla Walla’s campus and online is about 2,550.
“We are pleased by this fall’s strong enrollment numbers,” WWCC President Chad Hickox said. “This signals that the college is offering the programs that our students want and need. We also know that higher education benefits not just the individual and their families, but the entire community.”
Loryn Kykendall, “Walla Walla Community College Kicks Off Fall Quarter with Rising Enrollment,” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, link to the article.