Saint Martin's University has strong ties with China - Olympian

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• Published February 21, 2010

All Olympians know that having three quality institutions of higher education adds to the rich and interesting fabric of our community.

But did you know that the popularity of Saint Martin’s University with Chinese families also is contributing to economic development in Thurston County?

Saint Martin’s and the Thurston Economic Development Council hosted a trade delegation from Shanghai recently, the second since 2007. And it wasn’t just a for-show junket or some excuse for businessmen to travel to America. Nor was it a shotin-the-dark attempt at a trade mission.

There’s a real relationship between China and Thurston County, thanks to Saint Martin’s. It seems the university is popular with Chinese families who want their children to have a quality U.S. education.

For example, the daughter of a member of this delegation, Bian Qing Fa, owner of the Shanghai Lianbo Investment Co., just graduated from the school with a business degree. While studying at Saint Martin’s, she met her husband, who earned his engineering degree here, and now the couple want to stay and become U.S. citizens. At the farewell reception for the Chinese delegation, Bian Quing Fa announced that he will invest in Thurston County commercial real estate.

Other members of the delegation expressed interest in exporting luxury cars to Shanghai and are exploring that possibility with a local luxury dealership owner.

ET CETERA

Are firefighters physically fit public servants? If there was any doubt in your mind, I hope you went to Cabela’s Saturday to see the Thurston County firefighters race up and down the stairs in full gear.

They are training for the annual Scotts Firefighter Stairclimb on March 7, in Seattle, where they will climb 69 flights up the Columbia Tower. It’s an annual event to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. ... The Squaxin Island Tribe held its sacred First Salmon Ceremony last week at the Arcadia boat launch. More than 350 people came out for the 15th annual celebration by returning the first salmon of the season back to Puget Sound. The ceremony honors indigenous people who fished here for centuries. ... Local attorney Steve Bean claims to have placed a bet in Las Vegas a year ago that the New Orleans Saints would win the Super Bowl. Odds at that time were 18-1. Bean is a co-founder of Community Youth Services, the Thurston County Urban League and Medic One. ... After Shelton resident Elizabeth Rublin died recently, it was discovered in her will that she left $42,000 to the city’s Huff ’n Puff Trail being developed by the parks and recreation department. ... It was billed as Sesame Street for adults, and last week’s national tour production of the Broadway hit “Avenue Q” didn’t disappoint fans at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Any show that begins with the song, “It Sucks to be Me” is clearly out to test its audience’s sensibilities. But WCPA Executive Director Tom Iovanne reports that only one patron called to say these ribald Muppets offended her. ... And, speaking of wild upcoming productions, a number of Olympia Downtown Rotarians will take the stage tomorrow night at the Red Lion Inn for the annual Rotary Idol event organized by Colleen Gillespie, Denny Peterson and Larry Poplack. If you can enjoy Rotarians singing, dancing and doing Heaven-knows-what-else, then this is for you. I only wish Simon Cowell could critique them.

George Le Masurier, publisher of The Olympian, can be reached at 360-357-0206 or at glemasurier@theolympian.com.

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