Semester at sea for college student

Emily Grachek, who graduated from Tahoma High School in 2007, will be one of two students from Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. who will study aboard the “floating campus” ship MV Explorer beginning this month.

The sophomore’s semester at sea will begin with a departure Aug. 29 from Nassau, Bahamas and end Dec. 19 when the ship docks at Miami, Fla. The itinerary will include stops in Brazil, Namibia, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii and Costa Rica. A blog and slideshow from the voyage will be posted at www.semesteratsea.org.

New principal for Black Diamond Elementary School

Gerrie Garton has been named principal of Black Diamond Elementary School.

She previously was Enumclaw School District’s director of professional development and community relations.

Garton replaces Ginger Callison, who is transferring to the principal position at the district’s Thunder Mountain Middle School.

American Foresters honor GRCC again

Green River Community College’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters has been named best in the nation for the third year in a row by SAF.

The award will be formally preseented at the SAF national conference in Reno, Nev. this fall.

GRCC was honored for a its instructional and community service activities, including a study of biofuels that was spearheaded by Adrian Patterson, chairman of Green River’s student chapter. Other projects included donating firewood to flood victims in the Chehalis area and co-hosting student activities at last year’s SAF national convention in Portland, Ore.