College eager for move Trinity Lutheran to open Everett campus in fall

Published 10:59 pm Friday, February 29, 2008

EVERETT – Trinity Lutheran College is counting down the days until it opens its doors. On Friday, its Web site listed 184 days, 17 hours and 50 minutes until the college arrives in Everett.

The Issaquah college is moving into the five-story Port Gardner building and plans on opening its doors to students and public by the fall quarter, ahead of schedule from its original 2009 goal. The college has spent more than $3.5 million in renovations to the four floors it will use for classrooms, a library, bookstore, music room and student commons.

Officials expect 150 students from all over the Pacific Northwest, including some from Everett Community College, to enroll for fall classes starting in September.

“They can start their education at Everett Community College and then finish it here,” said chief operating officer Donna Marie Bertrand.

Bertrand feels the college is ideally situated not only to meet the needs of students, but also to reach out and be a positive influence in Everett.

“Students can help and interact, reaching out to people here. That is part of their education,” Bertrand said. “Service learning is important. We want to be an example of positive social values to a hurting world, which was hard because of our previous location.”

The Issaquah facility was sold to The City Church of Kirkland. It was a rambling property that was originally created as a retreat for nuns, but the remote area made it difficult for students to preach what they practice.

“Now we are partnering with churches that are a stone’s throw away,” Bertrand said. “Central Lutheran Church is 294 steps away from our front door, we’ll be using their church for chapel services.”

And yes, she did count the steps.

Bertrand’s enthusiasm for public service is infectious; her desire to be a good neighbor in Everett, and beyond, is clear.

Trinity Lutheran College has established regular missionary trips to Tanzania in Africa and Italy.

The college has a special relationship with Jacob Mameo Ole Pualo, the Bishop of the Morogoro Diocese in Tanzania.

After all, he graduated from Trinity Lutheran College in 2003.

For more information on Trinity Lutheran College, call 425-392-0400 or go to www.tlc.edu.

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.