Chris Cook – Forks Forum photo

Peninsula College President Dr. Luke Robins presented a talk to the Forks Chamber of Commerce that focused on the benefits of degrees and classes offered at the community college to the West End community, and to Clallam County as a whole. Here Robins (right) joins Forks Chamber of Commerce President Bill Peach and Peninsula College – Forks Branch Director Debbie Scanell following the talk on Wednesday, Oct. 31. 

Highlights of Robins’ talk included information on the growing importance and enrollment for online classes, how Peninsula College is adapting to budget cuts while the need for post-high school education continues to grow in Clallam County and how community college education is "one of the keys to putting Washington back to work" in a time of economic downturn. He said skilled jobs are going begging due to lack of qualified job candidates. The tight economy is also causing students to focus on improving their skills to secure work in hard times. "Lots of students are focused on getting a job," he said.

Robins said Peninsula College is committed to the Forks community and the college’s branch located on South Forks Ave. Statistics provided by Robins show 307 students enrolled at the college’s Forks Branch, taking courses ranging from basic education to four-year-degree work.