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P r o f i l e s i n e x c e l l e n c e M a i n e — A P h oto P o rt r A i t o f t h e P i n e t r ee S tAt e 135 offers students the opportunity to obtain the first two years of a baccalaureate credential at WCCC before transferring to another college or university. The Certificate credential is an important part of the success of students because it offers an achievable one- year completion goal. Many certificates are "stackable," students have the opportunity to gain skills in one oc- cupational area and return to study for a second year in a related occupational area to become multi-skilled technicians and earn an associate's degree. Technical and career programs provide classroom instruction in theory, and students practice skills in laboratories or in clinical training sites. Modern classrooms, laboratories and training areas are the site of caring, student-cen- tered instruction. Students also have the opportunity to pursue a transfer degree in liberal studies. Application-based learning in real life settings is the hallmark of instruction at WCCC. It is common for stu- dents to complete community service projects reflective of the objectives of their training. For example, build- ing construction students, trained in renovation and assisted by the residential and commercial electricity students, may help build a new office at the local police department. Heavy equipment operations students ex- tend their skills by completing important earthwork for the Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge. Students have the opportunity to live in apartment- style housing and study in a multicultural, interna- tional environment. Canada and two tribes of Passa- maquoddy people bring a richness of diversity that few campuses enjoy. Located in the housing complex is the Outdoor Ad- venture Center, which provides all types of equipment from tents and mountain bikes to skates and kayaks, as well as a climbing wall in the St. Croix Hall gym- nasium. Along with serving adults, the Center brings in many K-12 students to use the climbing wall or to learn to hike and kayak, helping the public and private schools to meet guidelines on student wellness and en- vironmental awareness. Maine's ruggedness and geographic diversity, from the ocean to the mountains, provide many opportuni- ties for outdoor adventures and sports activities, from fly fishing for salmon in Grand Lake Stream to snow- mobile and ATV excursions on well-groomed trails. The College, located adjacent to the historic St. Croix River, also abuts Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge with its many hiking and cross-country ski trails and oppor- tunities to study wildlife. In addition, the beauty of the region inspires the work of many artists, musi- cians and writers who come to Washington County to work or study. WCCC serves as an educational, community, and economic development resource for Washington County and beyond by providing educational opportunities with individualized attention to all who desire to gain technical skills, develop career specializations, engage in self- improvement, and/ or prepare for transfer. Hillary Holbrook, a heavy equipment maintenance student, participates in a live training at the Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge.