The Columbian: Community

Ridgefield School District celebrates April employees and students of the month

The Columbian — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:22:33 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — During the April 14 board of directors meeting, Ridgefield School District officials recognized the April employees and students of the month.

Mountain View High School student serves as page for state Sen. Paul Harris

The Columbian — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:21:15 +0000

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Daisy Conway, a junior at Mountain View High School in Vancouver, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington state Senate at the Capitol in Olympia.

Clark County Food Bank receives $50,000 donation

The Columbian — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:20:16 +0000

VANCOUVER — The National Association of Letter Carriers Vancouver Branch 1104 presented a check to the Clark County Food Bank on March 9 for $50,000. It was a combination of matching donations of $25,000 from the Vancouver branch and $25,000 from the National Association of Letter Carriers headquarters. The donation was made in the hopes of helping to eliminate hunger in the local community. Branch 1104 is a community-oriented union and aims to do as much as possible to help feed the hungry, especially during this particular time of need, officials said.

Savings Grace Church’s Easter events draws 145 community members

The Columbian — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:23:12 +0000

BATTLE GROUND – Saving Grace Church of the Nazarene hosted a large crowd of community members during their two Community Egg Hunts Easter Sunday.

Vancouver Fire Department honors 36 with awards at annual ceremony

The Columbian — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:59:46 +0000

VANCOUVER — On March 11, the Vancouver Fire Department recognized firefighters, city employees and community members for acts of courage, lifesaving care and outstanding service during its annual Vancouver Fire Awards ceremony.

Emelia Pendergraft named Washington State Youth of the Year

The Columbian — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:21:17 +0000

VANCOUVER — Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington recently announced that Emelia Pendergraft has been named the Washington State Youth of the Year, the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can achieve at the state level. Emelia is the first teen from BGCSW to receive this prestigious recognition.

Battle Ground Citizen of the Year 2025 announced

The Columbian — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:58:37 +0000

BATTLE GROUND – The committee for the Battle Ground Citizen of the Year surprised the 2025 winner while doing none other than volunteering their time. Johanna Hyatt was attending the General Federation of Women’s Clubs meeting when the committee showed up to announce she was chosen as the recipient for the 2025 honor. Hyatt was very surprised and honored.

Saving Grace Church hosts first community meal

The Columbian — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:57:20 +0000

BATTLE GROUND – Saving Grace Church of the Nazarene has successfully hosted its first community meal Sunday on March 22, with more than 35 guests and church volunteers in attendance.

Police cruisers crammed with snacks to benefit local students

The Columbian — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:56:19 +0000

BATTLE GROUND — On March 28 the Battle Ground Police Department partnered with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Battle Ground Education Foundation to host the inaugural Cram the Cruiser event at the Battle Ground Fred Meyer.

Opsahl Dawson establishes first-ever accounting faculty fellowship at WSU Vancouver

The Columbian — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:47:28 +0000

FOUR CREEKS — Opsahl Dawson, an accounting, assurance and business advisory firm serving the Pacific Northwest, has pledged $105,000 to establish the Opsahl Dawson Endowed Accounting Faculty Fellowship in the Carson College of Business at Washington State University Vancouver, creating the first endowed faculty fellowship in accounting on the campus.

World Down Syndrome Day celebrated with Red Carpet Gala

The Columbian — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:47:26 +0000

RIVERIDGE — Each year the World Down Syndrome Day puts on a spectacular for families of Down syndrome kids. This year’s formal Red Carpet Gala was held on March 21 at the Vancouver Elks Lodge #823. With the help of family and friends the lodge room was converted into a ballroom with beautifully decorated tables and a red carpet down the center roped off with brass stanchions and red decorative rope.

Ridgefield Lions give $3,000 to Ridgefield High School robotics team

The Columbian — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:36:14 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — The Ridgefield Lions Club recently donated $3,000 to Steel Ridge, the high school’s award-winning robotics team. Members of the team gave a demonstration of their robot at the Lions’ meeting on March 25.

Over 100 Washington and Oregon high school students compete at Clark College

The Columbian — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:49:41 +0000

CENTRAL PARK — Over 100 high school students from across Oregon and Southwest Washington gathered at Clark College on Feb. 28 for the ninth annual Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl, a regional Japanese language and culture quiz competition owned and operated by the Japan-America Society of Oregon. This year marks a record number of participants since the creation of Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl in 2017.

WHS students pitch energy ideas to Clark Public Utilities

The Columbian — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:45:08 +0000

WASHOUGAL – Students at Washougal High School stepped into the role of urban planners and grid engineers this spring, presenting innovative proposals for the future of regional energy supply. Proposals, which focused on energy generation strategies that balance long-term grid reliability, environmental concerns and conservation efforts, were judged by a panel of guest experts from Clark Public Utility District (who asked questions and provided real-world feedback on the students’ ambitious designs.

Ridgefield sophomore to serve as student ambassador in central Mexico

The Columbian — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:45:05 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — Zander Earl, a young man heavily involved in school and community activities, has been selected by the Greater Clark County Rotary Club to serve as a youth ambassador to central Mexico. He will serve as a Rotary Youth Exchange student to an area that stretches from Acapulco on the west coast to Veracruz on the east coast and includes larger cities such as Puebla and Cuernavaca.

Fort Vancouver Rose Society hosts annual auction

The Columbian — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:01:44 +0000

ARNADA — An exciting rose auction was held by the Fort Vancouver Rose Society on March 4 in the Parish Hall at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (the event had been moved from our regular meeting night of March 5 to March 4 to accommodate a pre-planned church event).

‘She Did That!’ event draws a crowd

The Columbian — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:51:48 +0000

ARNADA — A crowd of 119 people filled the Clark County Historical Museum on March 6 for an evening of fun, food and stories about, and from, inspirational women.

Shahala Middle School student serves as page for Sen. Paul Harris

The Columbian — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:38:50 +0000

CAMAS – Lily Maloney, an eighth-grader at Shahala Middle School in Vancouver, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia.

Ridgefield School District celebrates March employees and students of the month

The Columbian — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:18:09 +0000

RIDGEFIELD — On March 10, Ridgefield School District officials recognized the March 2026 Employees and Students of the Month at the regular board of directors meeting.

Mother of Twins Club announces Mother of the Year

The Columbian — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:19:11 +0000

VANCOUVER — The Columbia Mothers of Twins Club has chosen Ally Castaldi as their 2026 Mother of the Year. The Castaldis are the proud parents of boy/girl twins, age 3; a son, age 1; and are expecting in July. Ally has been a member since 2023 and has served on various committees.

Vancouver woman is delegate to United Nations commission

The Columbian — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:17:09 +0000

VANCOUVER — YWCA Clark County is proud to announce that it will send a delegate to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. As part of the YWCA network, YWCA Clark County is honored to participate in this global gathering focused on advancing gender equity and supporting women and girls worldwide.

Shahala Middle School student serves as page for Sen. Paul Harris

The Columbian — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:17:06 +0000

BENNINGTON — Daniel Kwon, an eighth-grader at Shahala Middle School in Vancouver, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington state Senate at the Capitol in Olympia.

Washougal High School students share impact of career and technical education

The Columbian — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:49:20 +0000

WASHOUGAL — Washougal High School students Madeline Brock and Jake Larzalere spoke to the Washougal school board about the impact of career and technical education programs on Feb. 10. The students said CTE coursework and leadership opportunities help prepare students with real-world, job-ready skills.

Foundation celebrates record, opens 2026 scholarship applications

The Columbian — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:46:03 +0000

VANCOUVER — The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington recently opened online applications for its 2026 scholarship cycle. Last year, the program awarded a record $1.44 million to students pursuing postsecondary education in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Saving Grace Church donates blankets to Hope Village

The Columbian — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:46:01 +0000

BATTLE GROUND — Members of Saving Grace Church of the Nazarene recently collected and delivered about 40 blankets, gloves and handmade hats to the residents of Hope Village in Vancouver.