WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center is located approximately 130 miles northwest of Spokane, Washington, and 6 miles south of the Canadian border, and is the most remote of the rural centers; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center is located in an area surrounded by mountains and overlooking the Kettle River, which winds its way through the small community of Curlew; and
     WHEREAS, Curlew has a population of around 400 with cattle ranching, mining, and logging being the leading industries; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center endures four distinct seasons, with cold, snowy winters, dry, hot summers, late, rainy springs, and sunny, dry, brisk falls; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center has a unique student government horse program, with horses purchased, cared for, ridden, and often shown in competition by students; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center offers many trade programs:
     Forestry with students mainly training as Forestry Technicians with the U.S. Forest Service;
     Carpentry operated by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America preparing students in general construction techniques, use of power tools, footing and foundation forms, wall framing, roof framing, applying composition roofing, and drywall and concrete form work;
     Bricklaying operated by the International Masonry Institute with students learning how to build arches, brick and block walls, and chimneys and set tile;
     Painting operated by the Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades providing training in proper ladder, scaffolding, and fall protection, use of respirators, eye, face, and hearing protection, surface preparation, application of paints and coatings, preparation and finishing drywall, preparing surfaces, and applying various types of wall coverings;
     Welding providing training students in gas, arc, TIG, and MIG welds;
     Facilities Maintenance operated by Home Builders Institute and providing students training in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, and general maintenance/repair;
     Construction Craft preparing students to be physically fit and equipped with the skills necessary to enter the Laborer's Union with training that includes physical fitness, blueprint reading, engineer level, site preparation, use of dump truck, jackhammer, and backhoe, and proper terminology of tools and materials;
     Medical Office Support providing training such as keyboarding, office procedures, medical terminology, medical recordkeeping, medical insurance coding, medical billing software, Microsoft Office, basic computer concepts, business math and English, communication skills, customer service skills, and more in order to prepare students for abundant placement opportunities in the health field, including such positions as Medical Records Clerk, Medical Transcription, Insurance Claims Processor, Medical Coder, Health Unit Coordinator, and Medical Receptionist; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center is small enough that everyone knows each other, with staff and students calling each other by their first names, and the remoteness of the center, by creating a drug free environment, is a positive influence for young people to really turn their lives around; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center has a Washington State accredited high school diploma program on site where students can earn high school credits and a state certified diploma, but before entering the high school program students must complete the GED program where there are five state administered tests, including Writing Skills, Social Studies, Science, Literature, and Writing Skills, with an average score of 450 for the state to grant a GED; and
     WHEREAS, The Curlew Job Corps Center provides the opportunity for students 18 or older to get on a fire crew if they successfully pass a physical fitness test, by completing a 3 mile course in less than 45 minutes while carrying a 45 pound pack on their back, and a fire fighting and sexual harassment refresher course, with student fire fighters having fought fires in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Arizona, and New Mexico; and
     WHEREAS, Students wanting to make a serious effort to be successful and get a high paying job can't find a better center than the Curlew Job Corps Center which was rated number one for average wage earned by their graduates last year;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives applaud the work of the Curlew Job Corps Center for providing young people the positive programs, training, preparation, and opportunities needed to ensure success in life; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Curlew Job Corps Center.