On May 22, Archer Gallery was filled with visitors for the opening of the 2019 Art Student Annual Exhibition. This event showcases the best artwork produced by Clark art students in the past academic year. Students compete not only for a spot in the show, but also for awards sponsored by local businesses and organizations.

The exhibition is on display through June 15. Archer Gallery is open 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and noon to 5:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The gallery is located in the lower level of the Penguin Union Building on Clark College’s main campus.

Additional photos of the show are available on our Flickr page.

2019 Art Student Annual Award Recipients

Best in Show and
Most Ambitious
Stevie Hale, “New Mythology”
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore and the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art

Best Drawing
John Gasaway, “Bling”
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore and Collage Art Supply

Best Ceramics
Shirley Morgan, “Boh, Of Course”
Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics

Ceramics, 2^nd Place
Jessica Joner, “Peonies”
Sponsored by Clay Art Center

Ceramics, 3^rd Place
Stephanie Bowen, “Enlightened”
Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics

Best Graphic Design
Michael Fulgaro, “Visit Northwest”
Sponsored by Artist and Craftsman Art Supply

Best Metal Art
Channa Smith, “Ready to Potlatch”
Sponsored by MESA at Clark

Best Painting
Danielle Truckey, “Portrait of a Girl”
Sponsored by Gamblin Paints

Painting, 2^nd place
Jewel Indino, “Abstract Figure”
Sponsored by Liquitext Paint Company

Painting, 3^rd place
Katie Hyland, “Listening In”
Sponsored by Golden Paint Company

Best Photography
Keyanna Owen, “Untitled”
Sponsored by ProPhoto

Best Photography, Darkroom
Michelle Berg, “Big Picture”
Sponsored by Blue Moon Camera

Best Photography, Digital
Avalon Guerra, “Window Pane”
Sponsored by ProPhoto

Photography Award of Distinction
T.J. West, “Homeowrk”
Sponsored by Blue Sky Gallery

Best Video
Hayley Estep, “Woman Not Product”
Sponsored by Northwest Film Center

Merit Award
Sage Makela, “Album Covers”
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Award of Distinction
Don Anderson, “A Man Has Many Moods”
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Photo: Nick Bremer/Clark College

High
school students and their families have an opportunity to attend a free Running
Start Information Night at Clark College on Wednesday, March 13, from 7:00-8:00
p.m. in the O’Connell Sports Center gymnasium on Clark’s main campus.

The
information session, which outlines the process for entering the Running Start
program in fall 2019, is open to the public with no registration required.
Attendance is optional but encouraged as attendees will hear from Running Start
participants and learn about the program’s eligibility criteria, benefits, and
more. 

Running
Start allows eligible juniors and seniors to earn college credit while
fulfilling their high school graduation requirements. Participants in the
Running Start program attend Clark classes alongside the general college
population. They can choose from a full range of academic and professional and
technical courses, as
long as the students meet the criteria
and the classes are college-level. 

The
program, which can significantly reduce the cost of a four-year college degree,
has proven popular in Southwest Washington. In addition to the potential cost
savings offered through participating in the program, Running Start also
provides an opportunity for students to challenge themselves academically.

According
to Christina Smith, an instructor in Clark’s Department of English, there are a number of qualities that Running Start students can
foster in order to successfully navigate the college environment. “Curiosity, deep desire to learn, and willingness to
ask questions in and out of class—these are the traits and skills that lead to
success in college,” said Smith.

Reid Brown, a current Running Start student, emphasized that
frequent communication with professors can be helpful, along with utilizing
services such as tutoring and meeting with advisors. “The environment at Clark
is very inviting to young students and there are many resources available to
help them with the transition into the college community,” said Brown. 

With
careful planning and dedication, some Running Start students earn their
associate degree from Clark by the time they complete high school. One such
student is Maria DeBartolo, who will graduate this
June with her high school diploma and an associate degree in Nursing from
Clark. “I will be ready to enter a nursing program, which is something that I
never thought I would be able to do at 17 years old,” she said. 

Running
Start students pay for books, transportation, and some fees, but do not pay
full Clark College tuition. Students can be part-time or full-time in Running
Start. Fees are subject to change by the Washington State Legislature. A fee
waiver is available for those demonstrating financial need. 

Clark
College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Wash. Parking will
be available in the college’s Red lots on the east side of Fort Vancouver Way
and in the Purple Lot on the west side of Fort Vancouver Way. Driving
directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps. 

Individuals
who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in
this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at
360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 013, as soon as possible. 

For more information on Running Start, visit the Clark College website at www.clark.edu/runningstart. For information about Running Start Information Nights, call 360-992-2366.

Five women representing
exceptional leadership, philanthropy and community service are the winners of
the 2019 Iris Awards, honoring women of achievement in Southwest Washington.
They will be recognized at an awards reception on Thursday, March 7.

Awards
will be presented to Ann Fischer, founder of the Healthy Equitable Living
Project; Stacey Graham, president of the Humane Society for Southwest
Washington; Rekah Strong, executive director of Educational Opportunities for
Children and Families; and Lynn Valenter, vice chancellor for finance and
operations at Washington State University Vancouver. H-RoC, a non-partisan
political action committee dedicated to the advancement of elected and
appointed female leaders in Southwest Washington, has chosen Columbia Springs Executive
Director Maureen Montague for the Iris Award they sponsor.

The
award ceremony takes place in Gaiser Student Center on Clark College’s main
campus. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m. The event
is open to the public and tickets are on sale through the Greater Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce at https://www.vancouverusa.com/events/details/2019-iris-awards-reception-18904. The cost
is $35 per person. A table sponsorship, which includes eight tickets, can be
purchased for $310. Seating is limited. 

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving
directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps. Anyone
needing accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this
event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at
(360) 992-2314 or (360) 991-0901 (VP), or visit Penguin Union Building room
013, by February 26.

About the Iris Awards

The
Iris Awards follow in the tradition of the Southwest Washington Women of
Achievement Awards, which began in 1985 at Clark College. In 2012, the event
was reintroduced as the Iris Awards, still celebrated on or around
International Women’s Day (March 8) and with the same core mission: honoring
the lasting and far-reaching contributions of women in Southwest Washington and
beyond.

This
year’s awards are sponsored by Clark College, the Clark College Foundation,
the Vancouver Business Journal, the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce,
and H-RoC.

The 2019 Iris Award Honorees

Ann Fischer

Ann Fischer is the founder of
the Healthy Equitable Living Project (HELP), a food pantry located at the First
Presbyterian Church in Vancouver. HELP was launched in 2013, when the Vancouver
Health Department asked if the church could assist local schools in serving
families who were experiencing food insecurity. Fischer began by soliciting
donations from neighborhood grocery stores to help five families. Over the past
six years, HELP has expanded to serve between 50 and 60 families from 14
different schools.

Through the food pantry,
Fischer makes sure people are not only fed, but fed well. Fischer hand-selects
many of the products that the pantry offers, with a focus on high-quality,
nutritious, and organic foods. It is not unusual for Fischer to remember
individual patrons’ specific dietary needs, from vegan to gluten-free. She also
created the pantry’s Breakfast Club, where families are served a hot breakfast
while they wait to shop, giving them a chance to build community and
friendships.

Fischer has a long record of service in the community, ranging from supporting her local church to organizing fundraisers for children’s organizations. For 25 years, she ran an antique shop called Turnabout that offered assistance to people who were transitioning their living situations.

Stacey Graham

Stacey Graham has served as president
of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) since 2013. Graham’s
career spans 40 years leading for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Her
wide-ranging work experience includes positions in the Oregon Legislature
and Oregon Governor’s Office, as well as key roles in public
relations and advertising agencies, the United Way of the
Columbia-Willamette, and the Vancouver-based First Independent Bank. 

Graham joined the HSSW team
charged with creating a sustainable and effective business model; raising the
level of awareness and visibility of the Humane Society in the local community
and animal welfare industry; and dramatically increasing the save rate of the
animals in care. Under her leadership, HSSW launched
a five-year, $6 million capital campaign. In 2018, HSSW was named the Best
Nonprofit in Clark County. 

Graham’s community service
includes serving as city council president in her hometown of Stayton,
Oregon; on the boards of the Clark County YWCA, The Historic Trust, the
Lighthouse Community Credit Union, Nonprofit Network of Southwest
Washington, Metropolitan Family Service, Northwest Pilot Project, Portland
Radio Project and H-RoC; and on the Empower Women + Girls steering committee. Graham
has helped develop strategic plans for many local nonprofits, including North
County Community Food Bank, Vancouver Symphony, Partners in Careers, Clark
County Arts Commission and Pink Lemonade.

Rekah Strong

Rekah Strong is a highly
accomplished public and non-profit executive. She currently serves as the executive
director for Educational Opportunities for Children and Families (EOCF), the
largest early learning organization in Southwest Washington.

Prior to this position,
Strong served as chief of operations and equity officer for the United Way of
the Columbia-Willamette and chief diversity and inclusion officer for Clark County.
Earlier in her career, Strong spent more than a decade working for the State of
Oregon to improve outcomes for children and families in Oregon’s child welfare
system. 

Strong has a long record of public service and community involvement in Southwest Washington. During her tenure with Clark County, she helped lay the initial framework and push for the Clark County Freeholder process and expansion of the Clark County Council. More recently, she was reappointed by Governor Jay Inslee to serve as a Clark College trustee and actively advocates for education. She was also recently selected as the newest board member of Clark County’s Developmental Disability Advisory Board, and has served on the boards of We Reign Youth Foundation and Southwest Washington Chapter Red Cross.

A Clark College alumna,
Strong earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and master’s degree in
Social Work from Portland State University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D.
in Social Work Research. 

Lynn Valenter

As the vice chancellor for finance
and operations at Washington State University Vancouver, Lynn Valenter leads a
range of functions including budget and accounting, capital planning, dining
services, facilities operations, human resources and public safety. She began her
career at WSU Vancouver more than 20 years ago, holding roles as facilities and
auxiliary services manager and director of finance and operations before being
named as vice chancellor in 2015. Valenter has been instrumental in increasing
WSU Vancouver’s public engagement and service during an important period in the
campus’s growth.

Valenter’s engaged,
enthusiastic, and equitable leadership style has been of service to both the
university and the local community. As an active member of Empower, she
supports initiatives that help local girls and women, and she is a frequent
volunteer with Winter Hospitality Overflow, an organization that helps people
in need during the winter months. Her board service includes Camas Civil
Service, Institute for Metropolitan Studies at Portland State University,
Columbia Credit Union, H-RoC, Greater Portland Inc., and the Columbia River
Economic Development Council. In 2016, Valenter was honored by the Portland Business Journal as a part of
their Women of Influence in the nonprofit category.

Maureen Montague

It is no exaggeration to say
that Maureen Montague has been involved in the Southwest Washington region her
entire life. A graduate of Hudson’s Bay High School, she returned to Vancouver
after earning her bachelor’s degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland
and began working for Janus Youth Programs, serving at-risk youth in a shelter
setting.

After leaving her job to
become a stay-at-home mother, Montague remained deeply involved in her
community. A visual artist and a published writer, she volunteered at local
arts nonprofits and was a founding member of North Bank Artists. These
activities gave her experience with grant-writing and collaborating with
partner organizations on events, skills that would become useful in her
developing career. Additionally, her writing skills led her to be recruited to
serve on the digital team for President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election
campaign.

In 2013, Montague was hired
as the executive director of North Bank Artists, where she organized the
Vancouver Arts District with community partners. In 2016, she was named the
executive director of Columbia Springs, an environmental education nonprofit
and protected urban natural area on the Old Evergreen Highway in Vancouver. Her
work is focused on financial sustainability, program development, and
improvement of all community services.

Clark College Theatre continues its 2018-2019 season with the 2012 revamped version of the musical Godspell.

Godspell 2012 is a masterful retelling of the original musical sensation, injected with contemporary references and dazzling new arrangements. It was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), and it took the world by storm. A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage.

The cast includes: Jacqueline Baxter, Andrew Hallas, Sammy Williams*, Breanna Kurth, Christina Taft**, Moe Lewis, Danielle Neblock*, Michelle Eussen **, Colin Smith* and Janoah Stegall*. The director is H. Gene Biby and April Brookins Duvic provides vocal direction. Note: Cast member names marked with a single asterisk are current Clark College students; double asterisks indicate Clark College alumni.

Show Dates: Feb. 22 and 23, March 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9. All show times are at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Theatre, Frost Arts Center, on Clark College’s main campus.

Ticket Information: Students (with ID) $10; Alumni (with membership) $10; Senior Citizens $16; General Admission $20. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.clarkbookstore.com/site_theatre.asp, or call 360-992-2815. View the entire Clark College Theatre season at www.clark.edu/cc/theatre.

For more photos of the show, visit Clark’s Flickr album.

If you need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Gaiser Hall room 137, as soon as possible.

The Clark College Automotive Technology department welcomes prospective students and their families to its annual Open House on Wednesday, February 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

This
event is free and open to the public, though organizers ask guests to RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clark-college-automotive-open-house-tickets-55283786293.
It takes place in the college’s automotive shop in Building AA-1 on Clark’s
main campus at 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way. The closest parking is in Orange Lot 1.
For maps and directs visit www.clark.edu/maps. Light refreshments will be served.

Guests will be able to tour the program’s 14,000 square-foot facility, meet with faculty and staff, connect with local dealership managers, and speak with professional technicians about career opportunities. They will also be able to learn about the college’s Dealer Ready programs, which allow students to earn income and work experience through internships during the course of their degree program.

About the Clark College Automotive Technology Department
With a program history that spans more than 40 years, Clark College’s Automotive Technology department has received community recognition for producing top-tier automotive technicians and for its focus on hands-on learning and partnerships with dealerships that include Toyota, Honda, Dick Hannah, and Audi.

Since 2007, Clark College President Bob Knight has presented
Presidential Coins to faculty, staff, and community members to honor their
exemplary service to the college and the community. In 2016, President Knight
expanded the coins’ recipients to include exemplary supporters of the college.
The honorees are decided by the president and are kept secret until the names
are announced–generally on Opening Day in the fall or during the annual State
of the College address in January.

Six Clark College employees received Presidential Coins during
the 2019 State of the College address on January 17.

Eben Ayers

Eben Ayers first began working for Clark College as an
intern in the Security department while he was in high school. Starting in
2004, he worked in part-time positions at the college until becoming a
full-time security officer in 2012. Since then, Ayers has developed into the
Security department’s primary training officer for all new-hire parking
enforcement and security personnel.

“He is well-known throughout the college for being
approachable, responsive, and caring,” said Knight.

Ayers’s professionalism and compassion has been recognized by the local community. In October 2017, he was featured in an article published jointly by The Independent and The Columbian that illustrated his strong work ethic and commitment to serving the Clark community.

Randy Broberg

For the past four years, Randy Broberg has been a volunteer
tutor in the Veterans Resource Center. As a veteran himself, having served in the
Navy in the late 1960s, Broberg is known for being willing to offer whatever
help and support the student veterans need to be successful.

“He drives from Portland to volunteer four or five days a
week, for seven hours a day, sometimes coming in as early as 6 a.m. to help
students prepare for exams or go over troublesome homework,” said Knight.

His students describe him as patient, supportive,
encouraging, and having a great sense of humor while being able to lend a
sympathetic ear when needed.

Karen Hagen

Karen Hagen has been a Clark College employee since 1994. Beginning
as a receptionist, she has worked her way through several positions including
database management, facilities maintenance, IT oversight, and departmental
historian. Hagen currently works as the Accounting & IT Manager for the Clark
College Foundation, where she is the longest-tenured employee.

“Her attention to detail, her pleasant personality, and her
overwhelming commitment to Clark College and its mission make Karen a dedicated
and exemplary employee,” said Knight.

Vanessa Neal

Vanessa Neal, pictured above, has been an employee of Clark College since 2016 and has made many positive contributions in that time. As an Employee Development Manager, Neal focuses on providing meaningful, engaging employee development opportunities for staff and enhancing the employee experience. She also co-chairs the Teaching and Learning Days Workgroup.

“She cares deeply about the college community and has a genuine interest in the well-being of those around her,” said Knight. “Not one for surface interactions, she is known for pausing folks to ask, ‘No, how are you really doing?’”

Janice Taylor

Since 2006, Janice Taylor has held nearly every staff
position in Tutoring Services. She began as a part-time work-study student
before becoming a full-time Program Assistant and then Program Manager. For the
past 18 months, Taylor has served as Interim Associate Director. She supports
college-wide initiatives by serving on committees and work groups, including
co-leading the Guided Pathways Pillar 3 group.

Taylor is known for brainstorming creative ways to improve
services and provide equitable access to resources to improve student outcomes.
In the words of President Knight, she tracks data “like a bloodhound,” searching
out bits of information so Tutoring Services can make informed decisions about
how to use resources effectively to support student success.

Bill Raedy

As an adjunct math instructor at Clark College for 20 years, Bill Raedy has helped countless students, but Knight shared one recent story that exemplified Raedy’s willingness to go the extra mile for students.

When a student had missed several days of class, Raedy reached out in concern. He learned that this student was a veteran and had been the last living member of his combat team, and he confided that he was contemplating ending his life. Raedy immediately reached out to the Veterans Resource Center. Together they were able to get the student connected to resources and convince him he was safe and welcome at Clark.

“It took a whole team to get this student up on his feet again,” said Knight before presenting Raedy with a coin. “But it all started with this one instructor caring enough to reach out to the student and knowing enough to connect him to the right resources on campus.”

Members of the Clark community help plant a Yoshino cherry tree at the 2018 Arbor Day celebration. Left to right: US Forest Service officer Dave Olson; International Programs director Jane Walster; Clark College president Bob Knight; and Clark College trustee Royce Pollard.

On April 11, Clark College celebrated tree planting and care at the annual Arbor Day celebration. Led by Clark College International Programs director Jane Walster, the ceremony took place on the northeast corner of Fort Vancouver Way and McLoughlin Boulevard.

The theme of this year’s event was “The Gift of Friendship.” At the ceremony, Clark trustee and former mayor of Vancouver Royce Pollard announced the gift of 200 new Somei Yoshino flowering cherry trees donated by Tatsuo Ito of SEH America, a Japanese manufacturing company in Vancouver. The new cherry trees—along with the 100 Shirofugen cherry trees donated more than 25 years ago—act as symbols of the college’s enduring friendship with Japan.

President Bob Knight accepts the Tree Campus USA award from U.S. Forest Service officer Dave Olson.

According to Tim Carper, a member of the Campus Tree Advisory Committee, 100 of the donated trees were planted prior to the ceremony, including 20 trees at Clark’s Columbia Tech Center location, and the college is determining where the remaining 100 trees will be planted.

At the ceremony Clark College was also awarded with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA designation for the eighth consecutive year. Dave Olson of the U.S. Forest Service presented the award to Clark College president Bob Knight.

The Arbor Day celebration concluded with a ceremonial planting of one of the Yoshino cherry trees donated by Ito.

Photos: Clark College/Tim Carper

Ever since the popular art movement Vancouver Rocks! began motivating residents to paint and hide rocks all around their community, Clark College’s main campus has been a popular spot for stashing the hand-painted treasures. Now the college is becoming an active participant by hiding about 100 Clark College rocks in Southwest Washington.

Started about a year ago, Vancouver Rocks! is based on a simple idea: People paint rocks and then hide them in public spaces; other people find the rocks, and then re-hide them for others to find. Often, people post their finds, as well as hints on where to find rocks, on a public Facebook group with more than 35,000 followers. The goal is to build community, encourage creativity, and provide individuals and families with a fun, free activity–all ideas that made it a natural fit for Clark College.

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni were invited to paint a collection of rocks that will be hidden around downtown businesses and local parks. To inspire their rock designs, participants were asked, “What comes to mind when you think of Clark College?”

Beginning on August 4, Vancouver area residents will have the chance to find Clark-themed rocks hidden in parks and other public spaces. In addition to adding a rock to their collection, each community member who finds a Clark rock can redeem it at the Welcome Center for a free cookie from the McClaskey Culinary Institute. One special rock, painted by Clark’s culinary faculty, will earn its finder lunch for two at the institute.

The rocks are hidden throughout the college’s service district–meaning not just Vancouver, but also all of Clark and Skamania counties as well as part of Klickitat County. Each rock has a label on the back that explains how the rocks can be redeemed. Rocks may be redeemed between September 25 and December 31, 2017.

Oswald greets visitors to the 2016 Clark County Fair.

Clark College will again be participating in the Clark County Fair, which runs August 4-13.

Faculty, staff, and students from across the college will lead family-friendly activities and competitions that highlight Clark’s educational and extracurricular offerings as a part of this year’s fair theme of “Game On!” Each day of the fair will feature a different department, ranging from Alumni Relations to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

Clark’s activity schedule for the fair is as follows:

• Friday, August 4: Faculty and staff from across Clark College will lead games of Penguin Toss & Trivia with the chance to win prizes.
• Saturday, August 5: Alumni Relations will be offering a range of giveaways with their Prize Wheel, as well as information about upcoming alumni events.
• Sunday, August 6: STEM faculty and the student club N.E.R.D. (Not Even Remotely Dorky) Girls will be helping fairgoers build kinetic butterflies and paper LED circuits and leading a Fruit & Vegetable card game.
• Monday, August 7: The Automotive Technology department is challenging people’s fine motor skills with their Dexterity Boxes.
• Tuesday, August 8: Poetry faculty from the English department will be creating “Poetry on Demand” using unique prompt words provided by fairgoers.
• Wednesday, August 9: Staff from Human Resources and the Office of Diversity and Equity are getting to know fair attendees with a question-and-answer game called “Keep It Real.”
• Thursday, August 10: The Athletics department will be running games of mini-basketball, with prizes available.
• Friday, August 11: Representatives from the Health Occupations programs will be on hand to offer health assessment games and tests.
• Saturday, August 12: Faculty and staff from across Clark College will lead games of Penguin Toss & Trivia.
• Sunday, August 13: Faculty from the new Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute are hosting games of Cuisine and Professional Baking Jeopardy to test visitors’ food knowledge. Their edible prizes include mini cupcakes and savory brittle.

The college also will have staff available during the fair to answer questions about available programs, financial aid, Running Start, and to help students with applying to Clark and registering for classes. Current students, prospective students, and alumni can stop by the booth for special giveaways and prizes—and Oswald the Penguin, Clark’s loveable mascot, will be on hand for photos throughout the fair. Additionally, Human Resources will be present on Wednesday, August 9, with information about job openings and working at Clark.

All activities will take place in the Clark booth on the midway at the fairgrounds. For more information about Clark at the fair, visit www.clark.edu/cc/fair, and follow Clark College on social media. For additional information about the fair including ticketing, maps, and directions, visit www.clarkcofair.com.

Student Jorin Copeland turns to his artwork featured in the 2017 Phoenix.

On May 16, Clark College’s award-winning art and literary journal, Phoenix, unveiled its 2017 edition at a reception in PUB 161. Taking inspiration from the Clark community, the Phoenix staff adopted the collegewide theme of Transformation for the new journal. Through more than 70 works of poetry, fiction, interviews, photography, paintings, and more, contributors’ pieces explore moments of change and growth.

At the reception, Clark student and Phoenix managing editor Megan Robb spoke of the personal challenges she has faced and how it inspired her to write a poem for the journal titled “Inner Reflection.”

“We have the choice to transform ourselves repeatedly, shedding the dark, hurtful pieces of our soul and regaining some beauty. This is what I was doing when I wrote this piece,” Robb said. “I had decided it was time to stop wallowing in the unfamiliarity I felt with myself and begin readying myself for change, for regeneration, a personal transformation that brought me to the doors of this college.”

Beyond the personal, transformation is a natural part of creating Phoenix, says fiction editor Ashlee Nelson. She spoke at the reception about the unique perspectives that each year’s students brings to the publication and the possibilities that arise when different creative minds collaborate.

“Whatever next year’s edition of Phoenix brings, it will be its own,” said Nelson. “It will represent Clark’s creative student body and their interests. It will be Clark at a moment in time before it transforms again, as students become alumni, and community members become students. There is something special about Phoenix in this way.”

The staff of the 2017 Phoenix. Faculty co-advisor Liz Donley (black jacket) stands in the center.

The Clark community is not the only one that recognizes how special Phoenix is—the journal recently won the National Program Directors’ Prize for design for undergraduate literary magazines by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP).

Each year, AWP honors two national undergraduate journals with a content and a design award, and past winners have included journals from Columbia University, The New School, Kansas City Art Institute, University of Washington, and other prestigious institutions. This is the first time in a decade that the award has gone to a two-year college.

The judge for this year’s award, Lisa Noble, Creative Services Manager of Edelman Financial Services, wrote, “From cover to cover Phoenix stands out as an exemplary publication in design, quality, and concept . . . The publishers of Phoenix should feel very proud of what they’ve created. It is an important collaboration that succeeds in showcasing the diversity of talented individuals who chose Clark College to develop their craft.”

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley. To see more photos from the event, visit our Flickr album.