A needs assessment survey 11 years ago by Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Navy College was the catalyst behind a celebration last week at the CPO Club in Oak Harbor.

“The question was, ‘What one major or degree offering would you like to see?’” said Cheryl Pollock, NAS Whidbey’s Navy College director. “The answer we heard repeatedly was ‘a business degree.’

“Of all the proposals we saw, Columbia College’s plan exceeded the others in both quality and range of degrees offered,” Pollock said.

The college, based in Columbia, Mo., celebrated its selection and its first successful first decade at NAS Whidbey at the event Aug. 4.

A friendly crowd of current students, former alumni, faculty, and guests gathered to hear Dr. Gerald Brouder, president of Columbia College, offer his congratulations and gratitude for the accomplishment.

MarJean Knokey, director of Columbia College, NAS Whidbey, introduced Dr. Brouder and the other speakers, and shared some statistics for the college.

“Columbia College granted degrees to 559 students in the last decade, and we now serve between 600 and 700 individuals yearly at NAS Whidbey,” she said.

In his remarks, Brouder thanked the Navy for its support, and praised the local staff and faculty.

“We are very proud of the fine job the professors and instructors are doing here,” said Brouder. “I want you to keep up the fine work for another 10 years to come.”

One of the college’s greatest strengths is the quality of its faculty, said Dr. Brouder. From the faculty’s perspective, having motivated students and a supportive administration has likewise been invaluable. Lacy Meeks, a Columbia College English instructor for two years, says she’s benefitted from having both.

“Students at Columbia are different — they are self-starters, and it’s been a pleasure for me to teach them,” said Meeks. “And I’m proud to say that the administrators make it a pleasure for us as teachers to work here,” she said.

Columbia College strives to make the best use of a blend of Internet-based and online courses to grant versatility to its students. It was also the first college at NAS Whidbey to offer computer-based testing for CLEP and DANTES – an important development for military members and others with valuable life and workforce experiences.

Carrie Finch, a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer at NAS Whidbey, touted the advantages of Columbia’s online offerings.

“I’m working on a master’s degree in general studies,” she said. “This college has some pretty cool instructors on staff here who are willing to more than meet you halfway,” she said. “It’s been a great experience for working adults and others who need flexible scheduling.”

Many students choose business majors, just as the needs assessment indicated, but not all. Jamie Lapointe, wife of Aviation Maintenance Adminstrationman Third Class, Andrew Lapointe, is majoring in history.

“I love history, and could easily see myself working in a museum,” said Lapointe.

Her husband Andrew is taking an accounting course.

“I’m looking at the fields of finance or accounting,” he said. “I may want to run my own business someday.”