WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO HELP DEVELOP WHATCOM MARITIME ATLAS THROUGH REGIONAL PARTNERSH

Bellingham, Washington, July 15, 2026 — Students in Whatcom Community College's Engineering in Context (EiC) program will help bring local maritime history to life through the development of the new Whatcom Maritime Atlas, an interactive digital storytelling project supported by a $15,000 grant from the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area's Maritime Washington Grant Program.

The grant was awarded to the Whatcom Maritime Heritage Museum in partnership with the Port of Bellingham, Blue Water GIS, the Working Waterfront Coalition, and Whatcom Community College.

The Whatcom Maritime Atlas will use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to showcase Bellingham Bay's maritime history, working waterfront, marine trade, and ecology through interactive maps and QR-code story markers located throughout the waterfront. The project will connect residents and visitors with stories that highlight the region's rich maritime heritage while documenting the ongoing transformation of the waterfront.

As part of Whatcom Community College’s partnership in this project, students enrolled in WCC's 2026–27 Engineering in Context cohort will help develop the Whatcom Maritime Atlas through an interdisciplinary, project-based learning experience. Working alongside community partners, students will apply engineering, mathematics, and history concepts while helping document the environmental, cultural, and economic changes shaping Bellingham Bay.

Students participating in the Engineering in Context cohort will receive a $400 participation stipend funded through the program's National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The stipend will be added to participants' Orca Card accounts and may be used at the campus bookstore and The Cove café.

The 2026–27 academic year is the final year of NSF funding for the Engineering in Context program.

Students interested in joining the 2026–27 Engineering in Context cohort should contact engineering advisor, Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia (pmcdonnellingoglia@whatcom.edu) to learn more and register for the required courses.

About Whatcom: Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Washington, is a destination for cybersecurity, healthcare, and business studies and offers three bachelor’s degrees in computer science, IT Network-Cybersecurity, and Social Work as well as transfer degrees, online and hybrid courses, career and workforce preparation, and community education classes. With affordable and accessible programs at WCC, students of every age and background can create their own pathways that align with their specific goals and interests. WCC consistently enhances its range of programs to support students in transitioning to four-year institutions and successful careers. New high school graduates, laid-off workers, seasoned employees, future university students—all students count on WCC to support their academic and career goals. For more information, visit www.whatcom.edu.