Cascadia Tech News

Spring is an exciting time at Cascadia Technical Academy! If you or someone you know is interested in joining us next year, select programs still have openings—don’t miss this opportunity! See the list of openings below.

We also have two key events coming up: Our VIP Tour on March 25 is a great chance to see our programs in action, and on May 2, we invite you to support the Cascadia Tech Foundation at Aspire, their annual gala. Your support helps provide scholarships and resources for our students.

We’re working on the construction document phase for the much-anticipated Building 100 replacement project.

Best of luck to all of our CTSO state competitors in SkillsUSA, HOSA, FBLA, and Mock Trial.

Enjoy this edition of our newsletter!

We are doing great things!

-Joan Huston

Cascadia Technical Academy helps high school students across Southwest Washington build their future careers. Because the school doesn’t receive bond or levy funds, Cascadia Technical Academy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) raises money to provide essential equipment, scholarships, and emergency support for our students.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year—the ASPIRE Gala—will be held May 2, 2026, at ilani Casino Resort. We need your help securing exciting items for our Silent and Live Auctions!

Questions? Contact Dave Cole at 360.604.1098 or david.cole@evergreenps.org

We have an opportunity to bring state capital funding back to Southwest Washington to replace Cascadia Tech Academy’s Building 100. This is not a bond, levy, or new tax. It is funding from Washington’s capital budget in Olympia, and constituent voices help decide where it goes.

• We are requesting $4.5M for construction documents, the step that brings us to shovel-ready

• Building 100 expands access by 29% for students who want hands-on career training

• Every dollar invested returns $3.80 to our community through jobs and economic activity

• This supports the growth of public safety and infrastructure programs, strengthening our community’s future

March 4 - Early Release (No Session 2/Cosmo 2)

March 11 - Dennis Kampe Scholarship Applications Due

March 18 - Early Release (No Session 2/Cosmo 2)

March 20 - Progress Report - T4 Ends

March 20 & 21 - Annual E-Waste Recycling Event

March 23 - Progress Report - T5 Starts

March 25 - VIP Tour

April 6-10 - Spring Break (No School)

April 15 - Career Fair

April 22 - Early Release (No Session 2/Cosmo 2)

April 29 - Dennis Kampe Scholarship Interviews

Healthy students are better prepared to learn in school & succeed in life!

Due to instructors by March 11th, 2026

1. This scholarship is intended for current seniors who have post-secondary plans. Scholarships can be used to pay for books, tuition or tools in order to support students as they go to colleges,

universities, technical schools or enter an apprenticeship program.

2. Scholarship recipients are initially interviewed and selected by each program’s Advisory Committee and may receive an award of up to $5,000.00.

Interviews with GAC Advisory and CTA Foundation committee members: 5:00pm-9:00pm Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Join us for a day of connection and insight to learn how Cascadia Technical Academy serves high school students across Southwest Washington.

This tour is intended for community members and parents. It is not for students.

Learn about:

Why Washington State Skills Centers work

How our programs prepare students for real-world careers

Summer school opportunities for incoming 9th–12th grade students

Recruiting staff directly from industry to bring real-world expertise to the classroom

Cascadia Tech operates as a cooperative serving 10 districts in Southwest Washington

Plus, take a guided tour of our classrooms and see students in action as they gain hands-on experience in a variety of career fields!

We look forward to welcoming you.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

$14 Lunch
Online registration and prepayment required by March 17, 2026.

Cascadia Tech Academy

12200 NE 28th Street

Vancouver, WA 98682

Mt. Rainier Room

The event will be presented by Director Joan Huston. Enjoy a campus tour and a delicious lunch prepared and served by our Culinary, Baking & Pastry Arts students.

For questions, please contact Wendy Anderson at 360.604.1050 ext. 2159 or wendy.anderson@evergreenps.org.

By Elin Schmeusser, Criminal Justice student from Woodland High School

Maritime Technology student, Lucas Reich won a $1000 Shining Star Scholarship at the waterPOWER Workforce meeting, presented by Northwest Hydroelectric Association.

Business Principles coordinated a food drive to support our own Cascadia Tech families. The top four donating programs were Medical Assisting, Fire Science, Automotive Technology, and Culinary, Baking & Pastry Arts.

Thank you all for making this food drive such a success!

This year the program tried something new and brought three teams instead of two so more students could participate. It was a bit of a risk to spread the talent across three teams, but it was absolutely worth it to see how much everyone grew. More students competed than ever before, and the anticipation before the announcements was real.

The top three teams moving on to state:

1st – Columbia River High School
2nd – Cascadia Technical Academy CJ Red Team
3rd – Camas High School

While the Blue and White Teams’ final placements haven’t been announced yet, all three teams performed incredibly well. The students earned more Best Witness and Best Attorney nominations than any other team. With so many strong competitors, they often split votes each round which makes it harder to take the overall award but that’s a great problem to have.

Congratulations to the Mock Trail team!

BEST WITNESS
Luna Bracke
Olivia Keating
Peyton Winston
Jinx Brickley
Hailey Goldsmith
Mary Guiher
Valerie Salcedo
Zaine Maxwell
Lylah Carlson
Travis Jacobs
Jocelyn Cole

Best Attorney
Jinx Brickley
Soffia Samus
Mary Guiher
Hailey Goldsmith
Trapper Rayburn
Micah Nelson
Jack Baker

Izabella Metz-Chandler

We are thrilled to announce and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Cascadia Tech students in the recent SkillsUSA Southwest Region Technical and Leadership competitions.

These accomplishments not only reflect the hard work and dedication of our students but also highlight the high-quality education and guidance they receive at Cascadia Technical Academy. We are proud of their success and the positive representation they bring to Cascadia Tech. The SkillsUSA competitions test students' technical skills but also emphasize leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Our students have demonstrated excellence in both technical and leadership contests.

Commercial sUAS Drones

Gold – Brody Elwell, Taylor Lingeman - Aviation Science & Technology

Silver – Oxour Lloyd, Rayan Shiva - Criminal Justice

Bronze – William Gilliland, Zaine Maxwell - Criminal Justice

Computer Maintenance

Gold – Fabius Tuluc - ITS3

Silver – Ryan Penaloza - ITS3

Bronze – Matthew Aleksandrov - ITS3

Information Technology Services

Gold – Coleson Schmidt - ITS3

Silver – Wiliam Spencer - ITS3

Bronze – Chloe Frack - ITS3

Automotive Maintenance & Light Repair:

Gold - Hannah Haldeman – Automotive Technology

Silver - Wyatt Dunstone – Automotive Technology

Bronze - Jonathan Brashler – Automotive Technology

Automotive Service Technology:

Gold - Paul Varivoda – Automotive Technology

Silver - Stefen Lake – Automotive Technology

CNC 3-Axis Programmer

Gold – Hunter Rick – Pre-Engineering Design Technology

Cybersecurity:

Gold – Caleb Carver, Grayson Tinker - ITS3

Internetworking:

Gold – Jack Ticknor - ITS3

Silver – Yevhenii Shvets - ITS3

Technical Drafting

Gold - Nolan Kopman – Pre-Engineering Design Technology

Silver - Henry Elgin – Pre-Engineering Design Technology

Bronze - Manveer Hundal – Pre-Engineering Design Technology

Leadership Contests at Fort Vancouver HS – February 7th.

Related Technical Math:

Gold - Reagan Stevens - Construction Technology

Silver - Caden Thompson - Construction Technology

Bronze - Connor Rapp – Construction Technology

Community Service:

Silver - GiGi Bustillos, Rylee Grant, MC Kayden Sonnenberg - Cosmetology

Bronze - Payton Kasinger, Isabella Duenas, Shadae Jaques - Cosmetology

T-shirt Design

Bronze - Joshua Contreras - Construction Technology

📣Are you a current sophomore or junior? Openings are still available for the 26-27 school year. Reach out to your high school counselor with any questions.

We have space in the following programs:
Aviation Science & Technology
Barbering-Incoming Juniors Only-Session 1 Only
Fashion Design
Forest Management -Session 1 Only
Information Technology Systems, Service & Security (ITS3)
Maritime Technology
Pre-Engineering Design Technology-Session 1 Only
Teaching Academy-North (Offered Session 1 Only)
Teaching Academy-East (Offered Session 1 Only)

At Cascadia Technical Academy, high school students can:
✅ Earn College Credit
✅ Obtain Industry Certifications
✅ Participate In Internships
✅ Gain Valuable Skills At No Cost
✅ Save Money On College Tuition And Other Training

A BIG thank you to our sending school conselors! The 2026 Draft for the 26-27 school year was a success!

Ava Bonner completed the Cosmetology program at Cascadia Tech in 2023 and has since built a successful career in the industry. She is now a manager at Sports Clips, where she leads a team and continues to grow her professional skills. Ava recently returned to Cascadia Tech to work with current students on the clinic floor, sharing her experiences and offering guidance. Her visit gave students the opportunity to learn firsthand about working in a fast-paced salon environment. She also encouraged them to stay dedicated to their training and take advantage of every learning opportunity available.

Click each photo to view the program video on YouTube. Follow us at @cascadiatechacademy.

Whether it is back to school, getting ready for a new job, getting yourself ready for the big day or just your everyday maintenance, our students can help you look your best.

There are a variety of services to choose from:

Hair Cuts

Thermal Style/Service
Spiral Perm
Scalp Treatment
Shampoo Style
Updo Formal Style
Hair Color Services
Peek-a-Boo Tape In Hair Extensions

The Salon is open Monday-Thursday 11:45 AM - 5 PM.
Our last appointment is no later than 2:00 PM

Please call for an appointment at 360.604.1080 or book online.

All chemical services on these days will be scheduled at 12:00 PM (no later) to allow enough time for our students to perform the requested service.

All color appointments need an allergy test 24 hours prior to service.
Walk-in appointments are welcome before 1:00 PM

Salon hours, prices, and services are subject to change

Information Technology students at Cascadia Technical Academy accept e-waste donations.

When can I bring my donation?

8:00 am - 1:30 pm on the 3rd Friday of the month during the academic year:
February 20th
April 17th
May 15th
June 12th - Last Day

​Email ray.nelson@evergreenps.org with questions about donation items or an alternative drop-off schedule.

We DO accept:

• Computers/Internal Components (Cases, RAM, Hard Drives, Motherboards, etc.)

• Printers

• Peripheral Devices (Keyboards, Mice, Headphones, etc.)

• Miscellaneous Cords/Data Cables (Ethernet Cables, Power Cables, etc.)

• Mobile Device (Cell Phones, Laptops, Tablets, etc.)

We do NOT accept:

• Cascadia Tech does not accept appliances, TV’s, Styrofoam or batteries

• Earth Friendly Recycling will take appliances

• Goodwill, West Van Recycling, and Central Transfer and Recycle accept TVs

Hovde and Hooser can help students and their families fill out their FAFSA, College/Tech School Applications, Apprenticeship Applications and any Scholarships you might be applying for.

If you are struggling with any social, emotional, academic or family issues, either counselor will be available to schedule a meeting with you. Please email them at Ryan.Hovde@evergreenps.org and/or Dena.Hooser@evergreenps.org.

For additional resources or help, Clark County has a 24/7 Crisis Line available by calling 360-696-9560 or 1-800- 626-8137. You can also call or text 988 to connect with a trained counselor with the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline.

We have openings for CTE 302 - Student Personal Development and Leadership. Program costs will be going up!

We accept candidates from around the state of Washington at the following locations for the three in-person courses:

Cascadia Tech Academy - Vancouver
Sno Isle Tech Skills Center - Mukilteo
YV-TECH Skills Center - Yakima

CTE 101 - Elements of Teaching (Fall)

CTE 201 - Advanced Instructional Techniques (Winter/Spring)

CTE 302 - Student Personal Development and Leadership (Winter/Spring)

Cascadia Tech offers a Washington State-approved CTE Plan 2 Certification program. We accept candidates from around the state of Washington.

From the front lines of industry to the front of the classroom, your expertise is the ultimate curriculum. The most powerful lessons aren’t found in textbooks—they are lived. The CTE Plan 2 Business and Industry Route honors your professional journey, providing a pathway to turn your years of real-world mastery into a rewarding teaching career at the secondary level (grades 7-12). Lead your industry’s future by inspiring the next generation of innovators with your skills.

Why Choose Plan 2 Business and Industry Route?

• Fast-Tracked Pathway: Your documented years of industry experience serve as the foundation of your certification, significantly reducing the time spent in preparatory coursework compared to traditional academic teaching routes. Our program takes on average 1-3 years.

• Address the Skills Gap: You’ve seen firsthand the skills the workforce needs. By entering the classroom, you have the direct power to shape the local economy and prepare students for high-demand, high-wage careers.

• Career Longevity & Benefits: Transition into a role that offers a stable schedule, competitive public service benefits, and the emotional reward of mentorship—all while staying connected to the industry you love.

  
  

Why Choose Cascadia Tech?

• High-Quality, Relevant Curriculum

• Experienced CTE instructors

• Most Cost-Effective program in the state

• In-Person class components so that you can work in a cohort

• Asynchronous and hybrid components for flexibility
  
  

For more information contact:

Suzy Jajewski-Koehler, Coordinator, at Susan.JajewskiKoehler@evergreenps.org or 360.604.1090 Sayge Sword, Support Clerk, at Sayge.Sword@evergreenps.org or 360.604.1099

We're thrilled to announce the new app for Cascadia Tech! It's everything Cascadia Tech, in your pocket. With the new app, you can access documents, events, news updates, and even emergency notifications.

Cascadia Technical Academy thanks our corporate sponsors! Contact Dave Cole at david.cole@evergreenps.org for additional information.

12200 NE 28th Street Vancouver, WA 98682

Main Office: 360.604.1050

Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Attendance: 360.604.1077; Spanish 360.604.4029; Russian 360.604.4028

CascadiaTech.org

info@cascadiatechnicalacademy.org

Session Times

Attendance_CascadiaTech@evergreenps.org

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