Grays Harbor College Celebrates CDL Graduates and Log Truck Donation

Posted on: May, 30, 2023

GHC CDL graduates and instructors pose for a photo in front of a log truck that was donated by Sierra Pacific Industries — GHC CDL graduates and instructors pose for a photo in front of a log truck, which Sierra Pacific Industries donated to the program. SPI's donation of the log truck creates opportunities for future CDL students to train on a variety of vehicles.

Grays Harbor College, Worksource, and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce came together last week to celebrate the completion of another successful Commercial Driver's License (CDL) course. Representatives from Sierra Pacific, Lemay, Harbor Wholesale, and other regional employers attended the event to support the graduates, discuss employment opportunities, and interview the graduates for jobs with their organizations.

The combined graduation and hiring event has become a new tradition in GHC’s six-week CDL program. The spring cohort’s celebration was especially momentous. Representatives from Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) attended the event to donate a log truck to the CDL program.

“Log truck drivers are in demand in the region and Sierra Pacific is proud to partner with Grays Harbor College to train tomorrow’s workforce,” said Lisa Perry, SPI’s Community Relations Manager.

Since January, 2022, 98% of GHC’s CDL students have passed the Washington State Department of Licensing’s driving test on the first try. This spring, 100% of GHC students passed the test on the first try, outperforming other public colleges' CDL programs by 21% and private schools' CDL programs by 40%. To learn more about GHC’s CDL course and to apply for space in an upcoming cohort, please visit ghc.edu/cdl or contact Marjie Stratton by phone at 360-538-4011 or by email at marjie.stratton@ghc.edu.

GHC Foundation Scholarship and Workforce Funding Eligibility

Residents of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties are eligible for a CDL scholarship. In order to receive the scholarship, individuals must complete the online questionnaire available at forms.ghc.edu/wfs-application.

After completing the questionnaire, individuals who qualify for Workforce Funding will receive financial assistance through those programs and will not be eligible for the CDL scholarship. Individuals who do not qualify for Workforce Funding programs will be awarded the CDL scholarship from the Grays Harbor College Foundation. Students who were previously awarded the CDL scholarship are not eligible for the scholarship again but are encouraged to apply for Workforce Funding to determine eligibility for those programs.

GHC CDL graduates — Graduates of GHC's spring CDL cohort pose for a photo during the spring graduation and hiring event.