Mid-Columbia Partnership Running Start Info Night
2026-03-03 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mid-Columbia Partnership, WA, United States
Learn more about the WSU Tri-Cities Running Start program! Through Running Start, high school students can take courses through WSU Tri-Cities tuition-free.
More info about Running Start: tricities.wsu.edu/running-start

Richland High School Running Start Info Night
2026-03-04 18:00 | Richland High School, 930 Long Ave, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Learn more about the WSU Tri-Cities Running Start program! Through Running Start, high school students can take courses through WSU Tri-Cities at little to no cost to them.
More info about Running Start: tricities.wsu.edu/running-start

Digging for Energy: Why Critical Minerals Matter
2026-03-10 15:30 - 17:00 | CIC 120, WA, United States
Our energy future requires abundant critical mineral resources. But what is a critical mineral? This panel brings together academic, national laboratory, and industry expertise to discuss what critical minerals are, where they come from, and how they relate to the energy challenges we will face in the future. This panel presentation is geared toward a non-technical audience.
Join us in person or online! Register to attend here.
Panelists include:

Erin Benson, Assistant Professor of Critical Minerals, WSU School of the Environment and INEF Faculty Fellow
Nabajit Lahiri, Research Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Sidney Smith, Government Affairs Manager, American Exploration & Mining Assoication
Aaron Feaver, Executive Director, Joint Center for Deployment & Research in Earth Abundant Materials
Moderated by Sean V. O’Brien, Director, Energy Forward Alliance

WSU Tri-Cities 3 Minute Thesis Contest
2026-03-11 15:00 - 16:00 | East 212
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition for doctoral students. The challenge? Clearly present your doctoral thesis to a non-technical lay audience in 3 minutes or less, using a single static PowerPoint slide.
The first-place winner of the Tri-Cities 3MT competition will receive $1,000 and go on to compete in the all WSU 3MT finals on March 25 in Pullman.
The top three winners of the WSU finals in Pullman will receive money for travel to a research conference of their choice!
The second-place winner of the Tri-Cities 3MT competition will receive $750.
Register for the competition by March 5 at 5 p.m. to compete. Review rules and eligibility criteria here.

Cougar Tracks: Art of Pairing Workshop
2026-03-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, 2140A Wine Country Rd, Prosser, WA, 99350, United States
Join Cougar Tracks for a hands-on workshop exploring the fundamentals of food and wine pairing through guided tasting and interactive sensory activities. Perfect for wine lovers, tasing room teams, and anyone looking for a unique holiday gift or team experience. Reserve your spot

SEAS Showcase: Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Open House
2026-03-25 16:00 - 17:30 | WA
Explore academic programs, research, and teaching labs in the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences! Register by March 23

Art(Math + Science) = Creative Intersections: Exhibit Opening & Panel Discussion
2026-04-15 17:00 - 19:00 | WSU Tri-Cities Art Center, 2710 University Dr, Richland, WA, 99354, United States
Join us for the exhibit opening and panel discussion for Art(Math + Science) = Creative Intersections!
This cross-disciplinary exhibition explores how art transforms learning across disciplines. Featuring work from WSU Tri-Cities College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences students and the middle school learners they teach, it highlights how creativity and critical inquiry enrich STEAM education and teacher development.
Interactive stations invite visitors to experiment with mathematical patterns, artistic processes, and hands-on activities that reveal how art can make complex ideas intuitive and fun.
Exhibit curated by Yichien Cooper with collaboration from Tyler Hansen, Destiny Kuespert, and Ethan Smith. Exhibit runs from April 15 to August 13, 2026.

Herbert Parker Lecture: Can We Really "Calculate? a Risk?
2026-04-15 18:00 | East Auditorium, 2710 University Dr, Richland, WA, 99354, United States
How do scientific models translate into real-world decisions? Using internal dosimetry as a case study, this lecture explores how radiation risk is quantified — and where calculation meets judgement.
Led by François Paquet, Deputy Director for Research and Expertise in the Environment at the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR, France), Paquet is a globally recognized expert in radiological protection and internal disometry. He serves as Vice Chair of ICRP Committee 2 and Chair of the ICRP Task Group on Internal Dosimetry, and has authored more than 180 peer-reviewed publications. This event is free and open to the community. Join us in-person at WSU Tri-Cities or watch online. Sponsored by the Herbert M. Parker Foundation in partnership with Washington State University Tri-Cities, the Parker Lectures honor distinguished scientists, memorialize Mr. Parker’s contributions to radiation protection, and enhance public understanding of radiological issues.

Crimson Connections: Alumni Networking Night
2026-04-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Student Union Building
Join fellow Cougs for an energizing evening designed just for you. Connect with WSU Tri-Cities alumni from a wide range of industries across the Tri-Cities region. This is your chance to build real relationships with professionals who’ve already walked the path you’re on. Register to attend

2026 Campus Academy Awards: Vision & Achievement
2026-04-20 16:00 | East 266, WA, United States
Please join us to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our fellow WSU Tri-Cities faculty, staff, alumni, and community supporters. This is a campus-wide event, so everyone is invited!
Award categories being announced:

Distinguished Teaching Excellence Award
Outstanding Business Adjunct Faculty Award
Outstanding STEM Adjunct Faculty Award
Distinguished Research Excellence Award
Distinguished Employee Excellence Award
Outstanding Community Partner Award
Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award

Showcase for Research and Creative Activities
2026-04-29 12:00 - 14:00 | Collaboration Hall, WA, United States
The Showcase for Research and Creative Activities will exhibit undergraduate and graduate research, scholarly, and artistic projects from the 2025-2026 academic year.

Order of the Engineer & Pledge of the Computing Professional Ceremony
2026-04-30 14:15 - 16:30 | CIC 120, WA, United States
Graduating seniors in engineering programs are invited to register for the upcoming Induction Ceremony, where they will accept the Engineer’s Obligation, a key tradition of the Order of the Engineer, and receive the Engineer’s Ring.
For graduating seniors in computer science and related programs, the Pledge of the Computing Professional Ceremony will take place alongside the Order of the Engineer Ceremony. Each graduating computer scientist who has recited the Pledge receives a brass lapel pin that spells ‘HONOR’ in ASCII code.
This ceremony symbolizes inductees’ dedication to upholding ethical and professional standards, while recognizing the societal impact of their work and fostering a commitment to advancing the public good.

Multicultural Graduation Celebration
2026-05-08 17:30 - 20:30 | Collaboration Hall, WA, United States
In partnership with the Dreamers Club, Black Student Union, Latinos Unidos and Washington State University Tri-Cities is honored to invite graduating students to the 5th Annual Multicultural Graduation Celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8, in Collaboration Hall.

The Multicultural Graduation Celebration is a special opportunity to recognize the success of graduating students while lifting up their cultural heritage and celebrating community at WSU Tri-Cities. Please RSVP to attend by April 27 to receive a multicultural stole to wear during graduation.

2026 Commencement
2026-05-10 13:00 | Toyota Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick, 99336
Join us in celebrating our WSU graduates!
Full details can be found on the commencement webpage.
