Take Our Children to Work Day

_{Lucas Canchela, son of Andrea Canchela (Human Resources) planted seeds with the help of Chef Aaron Guerra.} *_{Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish}*

Clark College welcomed dozens of employees’ children—from toddlers to teens for Take Our Child(ren) to Work Day on April 25. The annual national celebration is held on the fourth Thursday of April. This is an over 30-year tradition that aims to show children the value of education and that they can aspire to work in any field.

At Clark, it is an opportunity to educate children about college as a pathway toward a career, and the importance of higher education and jobs on campus. It also promotes Clark’s programs in support of the college community.

_{Three generations making Vision Boards. Left to right: Joanne Vaughn (Financial Aid) with her daughter, Janessa McLachlan and her granddaughters, Aria and Chloe McLachlan.} *_{Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish}*

_{Kelsey Gramm (Credentials Department) and her sons Othello Conley, Anthony Conley, and Justice Gramm draw self-portraits in the Diversity Center.} *_{Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish}*

_{Vanessa Bural (Human Resources) with her husband Tyler and their sons Jackson and Hugo.} *_{Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish}*

This fun family day gives young Penguins an opportunity to do hands-on activities and see the campus where their parents and grandparents work. Many employees volunteered to create and coordinate the busy day of activities. The rainy weather curtailed and changed some activities, but there were still many ways for kids to be engaged.

Throughout campus, Clark welcomed our young visitors with a slate of activities including:

Security desk: Free kid ID badges
Welcome Center: Scavenger hunt and campus tour
Bookstore: Penguin guessing game and free lanyards; youth clothing sizes for purchase
McClaskey Culinary Institute: Eat, paint cookies, and plant seeds
Teaching and Learning Center: LEGO, crafts, and games
GHL: Create a vision board
Diversity Center: Draw a self-portrait and more
PUB (Penguin Union Building) 161: Artist talk and drawing with Epiphany Couch
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics): Hands-on activities: 3D printing, electrical circuits, Newton’s laws of motion
Cannell Library: Ribbon cutting for the Family Study Room
Tutoring Center: Open house

And more!

_{Oswald poses with Genevieve Layfield, daughter of Chris Layfield (Security).} *_{Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish}*

Kids Explore Sakura Festival

_{Left to right: Chandra Chase (Foundation) and Tasaday Turner (Advising) brought their children to the Sakura Festival.} *_{Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley}*

After the children explored and did many hands-on activities and projects, the families headed for Gaiser Student Center to check out the Sakura Festival.

The event offered children much to experience, including:

A Koto performance by Mitsuki Dazai
Singing by Clark College Treble Ensemble directed by Dr. Jacob Funk
Admiring beautiful kimonos worn by participants
Taking home their names written in Japanese calligraphy on rice paper
Watching a martial art demonstration by Oregon Koto-Kai
Getting their photo taken with Clark’s mascot, Oswald
Enjoying ice cream sandwiches hosted by Umqua Bank on behalf of Clark College Foundation’s PenguinsGive annual giving event
Eating hand-painted cherry blossom cookies created by Clark’s baking students

_{One of the most popular events at the Sakura Festival was the Japanese calligraphy artist who wrote your name in Japanese and adorned it with gold ink.} *_{Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley}*

As families left the Sakura Festival, our young penguins wearing their special Clark name badges clutched rice paper with their names written in calligraphy, art projects, and the remnants of cherry blossom cookies. Laughter and the excited voices of children resounded throughout Gaiser Student Center.

Surely, they will remember their fun day at Clark College!

More photos from the Sakura event can be found on our Flickr page.