Sandra Kambly graduated as the salutatorian of her Chinook, Montana high school graduating class in 1961 and enrolled in Kinman Business College in Spokane. She met her future husband there and after graduation, they moved to San Francisco where she began working for Standard Oil of California as a temporary worker. After two weeks, she was hired full-time and received many subsequent promotions. When she left in 1969 to become a full-time mother and homemaker, she was the Human Resources Supervisor. In 1974, after a divorce, she and her 5-year-old daughter moved to Kennewick, where her mother lived to start a new life.
There, she took classes at Columbia Basin College to update her clerical and administrative skills and began working for the Reinig and Barber law firm where she worked until her death. CBC played an important part in Sandra’s ability to resume a meaningful career and to enhance her technical job skill during her employ.
She died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1999 due to a pulmonary embolism. Her determination and energy serves as an inspiration to others. The Sandra Kambly Memorial Scholarship is a tribute to her character and will inspire others to advance their careers and lives through determination and education.