On Wednesday, May 23, Clark College received approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the college’s regional accrediting body, to begin offering its third baccalaureate program: the Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services (BASHS).

The BASHS degree program is designed for students who already hold an associate degree in Addiction Counselor Education or a related field, allowing them to advance their careers in the behavioral health professions. Sample courses include Multicultural Counseling in Human Services; Trauma, Grief, and Loss; Practical Family Therapy; and Systems and Social Justice.

Full-time students can complete this 90-credit program in two years. Designed with working professionals in mind, classes are taught in-person two evenings a week, with electives being offered online. The program also provides all the educational requirements necessary to sit for the Washington Department of Health Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP) exam.

“This degree program answers a need we’ve heard from local employers, who want professionals who are cross-trained in mental health and addiction,” said Dr. Marcia Roi, BASHS Program Director and head of the Addiction Counselor Education department at Clark College. “It also serves the needs of our students, who historically have not had a straightforward pathway to a bachelor’s degree that also meets the educational requirements of the CDP exam.”

The college is currently taking applications for fall 2018, the first term the new degree will be offered. For more information or to apply, contact Marcia Roi at mroi@clark.edu. Information is also available online at www.clark.edu/cc/bashs.

It’s become an annual tradition: hundreds of Clark College students showing up to meet potential employers as graduation looms near. But while Clark’s Career Fair has become a familiar part of the academic cycle, not everyone realizes how many of those employer booths are staffed by former Clark students—some of whom attended the fair themselves, once upon a time.

Leslie Matheney, an HR generalist for Burgerville, remembered attending the fair before graduating from Clark in 2008 with her associate degree. “At the time, I wasn’t really ready for it,” she said, noting that she had just been looking for part-time work as she geared up to transfer to WSU Vancouver, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources and personal psychology.

Matheney, who was at the May 3 fair to recruit seasonal crew members and managers, said she felt being a Clark graduate helped her when she did start looking for full-time, permanent employment. “I think, especially because I was looking for a position at a local company, it was good,” she said. “I think that Clark is really well respected in this area.”

Sgt. Fred Nieman stands with a colleague at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office table.

Sergeant Fred Neiman, who was recruiting for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, said that his workplace also values the diversity of Clark’s student body. “What we look for is folks who have a variety of education and background,” he said. “You deal with all kinds of people in public safety. So to have a background of diverse education and experiences, and knowing how to interact with lots of different kinds of people—that’s valuable.”

Neiman has a long personal connection with Clark College. Not only did he attend classes here in the late 1970s, but he came back to work as its Director of Security for eight years. Clark is also where he met his wife, and their three children all earned associate degrees from the college.

“It’s a wonderful institution,” he said. “I enjoyed attending here when I was a student, and I enjoyed working here when I was an employee.”

Vicky Barnes also has a child who graduated from Clark. She earned her own associate degree here—with highest honors, no less—while he was still a teen.

Vicki Barnes

“I often got mistaken for a professor on campus,” laughed Barnes, who was at the fair to recruit for Woodland Public School, where she is the HR coordinator and district office manager. Barnes said she enjoyed her time as a Penguin, even though it meant long days—she attended Clark while working at WPS. “This is something I wanted to show my kids—that you can be a life-long learner.”

“It definitely benefited me in HR,” she said. “You learn how to engage with people, how to get out of your comfort zone.”

As if to prove this, she quickly turned to a woman eyeing her display of job descriptions to answer questions about open positions in the district.

According to Clark College Employer Relations Specialist Scott Clemans, 15 of the 110 employers who registered for this year’s fair indicated that they would have Clark College alumni present.

“Smart companies send alumni to events like these because they’re great role models and mentors for current Clark students,” Clemans said. “The alumni show current students what’s possible after college, and give great advice on how to achieve it. And of course, they relate to Clark students on a level that other recruiters simply can’t.”

Clemans added that the fair was an impressive success. “Not only did we have 110 employers registered to attend—the maximum the O’Connell gym would hold—but we had to create a wait list for interested employers and probably had about 20 more who were interested but contacted us too late to register,” he said.

This year’s job fair included not only employer booths but also a photo booth where visitors could get a professional portrait taken for their LinkedIn accounts. Leading up to the fair, Clark College Career Services also hosted numerous workshops and events, as well as the annual Career Clothing Closet, to prepare students and guests for the day. The fair, which is open not just to Clark students but to all job-seekers in the community, saw 923 visitors this year—up 15 percent from last year’s attendance.

Top photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley. Photos of Nieman and Barnes: Clark College/Hannah Erickson.

The 2018 Student Art Annual comprises approximately 150 student artworks.

Approximately 150 works of art by 93 Clark College students are on display at this year’s Student Art Show in Archer Gallery. Clark College art faculty narrowed down from an original pool of about 400 submissions. Artist Victor Maldonado made the final adjudication of awards. Maldonado is Inclusion Specialist and Professor of Art at the Pacific Northwest College of Art and was part of Clark College’s Art Talk series earlier this academic year.

The show runs through June 16. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday through Saturday 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Archer Gallery is located in the lower level of the Penguin Union Building on Clark College’s main campus.

2018 Art Student Annual Award Recipients

Best in Show

Joanna Lafayette, “Sad Jo”
Sponsored by Artist and Craftsman Supply and Dengerink Art Supply

Award of Excellence

Bryce Van Patten, “Emma”
Sponsored by Dick Blick Art Supply

Award of Excellence

Stephanie Hale, “Inner Machinations”
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Award of Excellence

Emily Clark, “Re-define Woman”
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Award of Merit

Albina Kokhanevich, “Self-portrait”
Sponsored by Collage Art Supply

Best Ceramics

Channa Smith, “Reconciliation of the Ancestors”
Sponsored by Clay Art Center

Ceramics Award of Excellence

Sara Brandt, “Vase”
Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics

Ceramics Award of Distinction

Eric Burres, “Stellar Rust”
Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics

Ceramics Award of Merit

Chiara Marcy, “Light Beyond the Breaking Point”
Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics

Best Photography Award

Lexi Dufault, “Tomorrow Looking Into Today”
Sponsored by Pro Photo

Photography Award of Excellence

Tricia Davis-Payne, “Windows”
Sponsored by Pro Photo

Photography Award of Excellence

Gwenn McGill, “Hidden Memories”
Sponsored by Blue Moon Camera

Photography Award of Excellence

Cy’aira Shotwell, “Disconnect”
Sponsored by Blue Sky Gallery

Best Metal Arts

Ray Bennett, “Mask”
Sponsored by Handley’s Rock and Jewelry Supply

Best Welded Sculpture

Scott Kemper, “Love Blossoms”
Sponsored by the Clark Welding department

Welded Sculpture Award of Excellence

Ashley Kemper, “A Bowl in a Garden”
Sponsored by the Clark Welding department

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley. For more photos from the show, see our Flickr album. 

Clark College welcomes the community to its third annual Healthy Penguin Walkabout on Saturday, June 2, on its main campus. This free, family-friendly event offers a wide range of opportunities for personal health assessments, wellness-related education, and healthy activities.

Activities run 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will take place both indoors and outside. Guests will begin their visit in Gaiser Hall, where they can register and receive an event passport as early as 9:30 a.m. Gaiser is most easily accessed from the Green 1 and Red 3 parking lots. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

This year’s event is organized and volunteer-staffed by Clark College faculty and students from the Business and Health Sciences Unit,Clark College Athletics, and Child and Family Studies.

Free health assessments and learning activities include:

• Blood glucose levels
• Oral Health and Wellness
• Body mass index (BMI) and body fat percent
• Grip strength and balance
• Diabetes risk level
• Blood pressure and pulse
• Stress reduction strategies
• Sports skills challenge with Clark College athletes
• Children and families connecting with nature
• Medication safety
• See inside an ambulance

Stations on the walkabout will include children’s activities, fun souvenirs, healthy snacks, a raffle for both adults and children, as well as additional prizes that include an annual membership to the college’s Thompson Fitness Center. Children’s activities include a “ninja warrior” obstacle course in the O’Connell Sports Center gymnasium. Guests are also invited to walk a half-mile “Penguin Pathway” through the college’s beautiful, 90-acre campus and arboretum. Organizers are also collecting donations of non-perishable food and personal-hygiene items for the college’s Penguin Pantry. Guests will receive one extra raffle ticket for every four pantry items they donate.

To learn more about the details of this event, visit www.clark.edu/cc/walkabout.

This event is a part of the college’s focus on inter-professional learning for Clark Business and Health Sciences students. “When healthcare disciplines work together, including business, healthcare is more efficient in terms of cost, resources, and time,” said Dean of Business and Health Sciences Brenda Walstead. “The event also increases engagement and learning among Clark College’s students, and provides the community with access to a wealth of information that can lead to healthier outcomes for all individuals.”

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), prior to the event.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

On Thursday, June 21, Clark College will honor its 82nd graduating class at the 2018 Clark College Commencement ceremony. The ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater. The keynote speaker is John D. Deeder, recently retired superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools.

More than 700 students are expected to participate in the ceremony, celebrating the completion of their bachelor’s degree, associate degree, certificate, and/or high school diploma or equivalency.

The ceremony also will include the announcement of 2018-2019 Community College President’s Award. This annual scholarship is given to a Clark College graduate who is transferring to a degree program at Washington State University Vancouver (WSUV) and who demonstrated leadership potential, a commitment to community service, and academic achievement. The scholarship award provides full-time tuition and is renewable for one additional year, essentially providing full tuition to complete a bachelor’s degree.

The Sunlight Supply Amphitheater is located at 17200 NE Delfel Road in Ridgefield, Wash. Tickets are not required to attend. 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), prior to the event. For more information visit www.clark.edu/cc/commencement.

About John D. Deeder

John D. Deeder

John Deeder served as Superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools for 15 years. He retired in 2017 after 48 years as an educator. Prior to his time at Evergreen, he was an administrator, principal, teacher, counselor, and coach in several Oregon school districts.

Deeder received his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Idaho and his Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College. He has his Principal Credential from Portland State University and Superintendent Credential from Lewis and Clark College.

Deeder has done private consulting, including work for the Northwest Regional Laboratory as an “Onward to Excellence Trainer” and as an adjunct professor of instructional theory for Portland State University.

While in Clark County, Deeder has served on the boards of numerous organizations and non-profits, including the Fort Vancouver National Historic Trust, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia River Economic Development Council, the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, Partners in Careers, nConnect, the STEM Network, Columbia River Mental Health, Boys and Girls Club, and others.

Deeder and his wife, Janet, have two grown children. They recently welcomed their first grandchild.

This article was updated on June 8 to reflect a change in keynote speaker.

Lydia Fleming and Sterling Buck star in Clark College’s production of “The Shape of Things.”

Clark College Theatre continues its 2017-2018 season with The Shape of Things by Neil Labute.

A dark tale of what people will do for love and art, the story revolves around four college students whose lives are inalterably changed when two of them become involved romantically. At first, Adam is flattered when attractive art student Evelyn takes an interest in him. But complications ensue as Evelyn begins to exert more and more influence over Adam’s appearance and behavior.

“In the play, Evelyn talks about the subjectivity of art; how different people can come away with different feelings from the same thing,” writes director Ted Jonathan Gold in his program notes. “While there are many ways to make what some consider good or provocative art, I believe art makes you feel something. Sometimes it makes you feel a way you didn’t expect or want to feel. I believe that if you leave the theatre and you feel nothing and the play fades quickly, then you did not witness true art. My hope for this production is that you leave having experienced good art that sticks with you. I hope you leave affected, whether you enjoy that feeling or not.”

First staged in 2001, the play was made into a film featuring the original cast in 2003.

This production’s cast includes: Lydia Fleming**, Sterling Buck*, Stevie Riepe*, and Olga Gula*. Note: Cast member names marked with a single asterisk are current Clark College students; double asterisks indicate Clark College alumni.

This show contains adult themes, language, and content.

Show Dates: May 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26. 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 $12; General Admission $15. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.clarkbookstore.com/site_theatre.asp, or call 360-992-2815.

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.

Photo: Jenny Shadley/Clark College. More photos can be found on our Flickr page.

The Clark College Columbia Writers Series is offering a week of writers, readings, and events on the college’s main campus during its fourth annual Subtext Literary Festival. On May 14-17, the college will host well-known authors, as well as readings and events by Clark students and faculty. (See full schedule below.)

The Columbia Writers Series was launched at Clark College in 1988, bringing local, national and international authors to the college and the region. Information about the Columbia Writers Series is available at www.clark.edu/cc/cws.

Schedule

Monday, May 14

Poetry-To-Go Event
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Cannell Library

In the tradition of poet Frank O’Hara’s Lunch Poems, Clark College writing professors will set up vintage typewriters and type personalized poems for passersby on their lunch hour in Cannell Library. Stop by for a hot-off-the-press poem, or if you’re feeling inspired, type a poem yourself.

Columbia Writers Series presents Roger Reeves
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., PUB 258 A-B:

Roger Reeves’s poems have appeared in journals such as Poetry, Ploughshares, American Poetry Review, Boston Review, Best American Poetry, and Tin House. He was awarded a 2015 Whiting Award, a Pushcart Prize, a Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University, and a 2013 NEA Fellowship. His first book, King Me (Copper Canyon Press, 2013), won the Larry Levis Reading Prize from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Zacharis Prize from Ploughshares, and the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award. He is an Associate Professor of English at The University of Texas at Austin.

Tuesday, May 15

Conversation with novelist Marie Bostwick
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., LIB 101

[NOTE: Space is limited for this event. Please register in advance by emailing anelson@clark.edu.] Marie Bostwick is a USA Today and New York Times listed bestselling author of uplifting historical and women’s fiction, including the popular Cobbled Court Quilt and Too Much, Texas series of books. She has been a featured speaker at the Paducah Quilt Festival and the Houston International Quilt Festival and has given keynote addresses at both the Florida Writers Association and La Jolla Writers conferences.

Phoenix unveiling
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., PUB 150

Clark College’s national award-winning art and literary journal, Phoenix, will unveil its 2017-2018 edition with readings from student authors and free copies available for guests. Additionally, Lacy Davis, writer of the graphic memoir Ink in Water, will share her work. An interview of Davis by a Phoenix staffer appears in this year’s journal.

Wednesday, May 16                                                                            

Lecture by Leni Zumas and writing awards ceremony
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., PUB 161

Leni Zumas’ novel Red Clocks, published in January 2018, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and a Publishers Weekly “Top 10 Literary Fiction” pick. She is also the author of the story collection Farewell Navigator and the novel The Listeners, which was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Originally from Washington, D.C., Zumas now lives in Oregon and teaches in the BFA and MFA programs at Portland State University.

Thursday, May 17

Clark Crossings (student and faculty reading)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PUB 258A:

Clark College students, faculty, and staff will read original essays, fiction, and poetry at this annual event. This year’s theme is “time.”

Columbia Writers Series presents Kate Berube
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., PUB 258 A-B

Kate Berube (Bear uh bee) is a children’s book author and illustrator. Her book The Summer Nick Taught his Cats to Read was named the Best Picture Book of 2016 by both the Chicago Public Library and the School Library Journal, while her book Hannah and Sugar earned the Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature from Literary Arts Oregon and was shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize.

All events are free and open to the public, though pre-registration is required for the Marie Bostwick event. Directions and maps are available online 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 (DSS) Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP). The DSS office is located in room 013 in Clark’s Penguin Union Building.

On May 7, a reception was held in Gaiser Student Center to welcome the nine newest  members of the tenured faculty at Clark College. Glenna Afflerbaugh (dental hygiene), Patricia Atkinson (economics), Caron Ford (career and academic preparation), Rebecca Herman (dental hygiene), Yusufu Kamara (economics), Donald Ludwig (sociology), Laura Nagel (library), Robert Weston (mathematics), and Tess Yevka (psychology) were all granted tenure during the Clark College Board of Trustees meeting on March 14.

Tenure is awarded by the college’s Board of Trustees based on professional excellence and outstanding abilities in their disciplines. The granting of tenure is based on the recommendations of tenure review committees to the vice president of instruction, which are then forwarded to the president, who presents a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Recommendations are based on self-evaluations, tenure review committee evaluations, student evaluations, supervisory evaluations, and peer evaluations. The final decision to award or withhold tenure rests with the Board of Trustees.

About the faculty members

Glenna Afflerbaugh

Glenna Afflerbaugh graduated from Clark College’s dental hygiene program with an associate degree. She received a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. She has worked as a dental hygienist in private practice and began teaching at Clark in 1994. She has served as senior lead clinical instructor in Clark’s dental hygiene program since 2015.

At Clark, Afflerbaugh coordinates mock board exams for senior dental hygiene students; she also mentors and advises students as they move through the dental hygiene program. She also serves on the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee.

“My teaching approach is to lead with integrity, and provide a learner-centered environment in which trusting, supportive, and synergistic relationships allow individuals to grow, become empowered, and accomplish their goals,” said Afflerbaugh.

Patricia Atkinson

Patricia Atkinson earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in economics from Marist College and Portland State University, respectively. She has taught at Clark College since 2008, and has previous teaching experience at Portland State University and other community colleges in the Portland-Vancouver metro region.

At Clark, Atkinson serves as Lead Economics instructor and sits on the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Business task force. She co-hosts weekly brown-bag lunches where students are invited to discuss different economic topics, and also serves as advisor to the college’s Chess Club.

“As an economics instructor, I try to create community in the classroom and connect economics to students’ everyday life,” Atkison said of her teaching philosophy.

Caron Ford

Caron Ford received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University. She earned her English Teaching Credential and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University Bakersfield. She has previous teaching experience at South High School in Bakersfield, California, and has worked at Clark College since 2009.

At Clark, Ford serves as I-BEST Lead Teacher for the Department of Career and Academic Preparation (CAP), as the curriculum developer for CAP English, and as the Transitional Studies CAP representative in the college’s work to adopt a Guided Pathways model of higher education.

“I approach teaching from a learning perspective, and I approach curriculum from a student perspective,” said Ford. “I want my students to see themselves in what they read and what they write so they can effectively engage in, challenge, and change the world.”

Rebecca Herman

Rebecca Herman graduated from Clark College’s dental hygiene program with an associate degree. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Communication, as well as a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, at Concordia University.

Herman has previous work experience as a clinical dental hygienist for many years. She has also taught at Mt. Hood Community College. She began teaching at Clark College as an adjunct instructor in 1994. At Clark, Herman advises and mentors students as well as new faculty. She serves on the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and regularly contributes to work and initiatives within her department.

“My approach to teaching is to focus on student learning and retention,” said Herman. “I also believe a learner-centered environment is best for the students to achieve outcomes.”

Dr. Yusufu Kamara

Dr. Yusufu Kamara earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with honors from the University of Sierra Leone. After being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in Economics from the University of Kansas. He has previous teaching experience at Avila University, Baker University, Neosho County Community College, and the University of Kansas (all of which are located in Kansas). He began teaching at Clark College in 2015.

Dr. Kamara sit on the International Education Committee at Clark college, and has helped to plan the college’s annual International Education Day. He also serves as a faculty advisor to the college’s Harambee Black Student Union.

“I always strive to create an interactive and inclusive class environment, providing the opportunity for students from all backgrounds to participate in collaborative problem solving, engage in constructive class discussions, and to relate the issues discussed to their communities and beyond,” said Dr. Kamara. “I focus on developing the critical thinking skills students need understand and apply the basic principles we cover in class.”

Dr. Don Ludwig

Dr. Don Ludwig earned his associate degree from Spokane Community College and his bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University. He holds doctorate degrees from both the New York-based International University for Graduate Studies and from Portland State University.

At Clark, Dr. Ludwig has served as the Faculty Assessment Liaison and Sociology Department Lead; a Guided Pathways faculty liaison; and the Clark Representative to The Democracy Commitment, a non-partisan national program to promote civics at community colleges. He has participated in both the I-BEST and Learning Communities and the Integrative Faculty Learning Community. He also served as a faculty panelist during a 2015 discussion on economic inequality.

“Teaching and learning should be committed to social justice and equity in all things and all ways,” said Dr. Ludwig. “The best question you can ask my students on any day is, ‘What are you learning today, why is that important, and what are you doing about it?’”

Laura Nagel

Laura Nagel earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Art History from Pacific Lutheran University. She earned her Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Before coming to Clark, she worked as a librarian at Linn-Benton Community College.

Since coming to Clark in 2015, she has served on the Library Leadership Team, as the Collection Development Lead, and as the Business and Health Sciences Liaison. She also served as project director for the college’s 2016 hosting of a traveling exhibit called “Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Heath and Illness.”

In discussing her philosophy toward education, Nagel quoted the librarian James Elmborg, saying, “I tell students that it is my job to work with them to find, evaluate, and use information to ‘ask and answer questions that matter to them and to the world around them.’”

Robert Weston

Robert Weston earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Oregon State University and his master’s degree in Mathematics from The City College of New York. His work history includes teaching mathematics at numerous institutions in both New York City and Portland for 10 years, working as an instructional designer for an online college, and serving as a consultant on education projects through his own small business.

At Clark, Weston serves on the Guided Pathways Steering Committee and is developing a co-requisite remediation version of MATH 105.

“Student understanding of mathematics is developed by well-designed experiences that challenge students in a supportive environment,” said Weston in describing his teaching philosophy. “In order to meet these challenges students should be supported in developing effective study habits, organization skills, and healthy attitudes towards learning.”

Tess Yevka

Tess Yevka earned her bachelor’s degree from Marylhurst University and her master’s degree in Counseling from Portland State University. Her previous teaching experience includes Carrington College, Marylhurst University, and Mt. Hood Community College. She has additional work experience as a counselor in private practice and as a community educator working in child-abuse prevention.

At Clark, Yevka serves as a member of the Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee and the Faculty Development Subcommittee. She assists other faculty members in setting up and conducting online classes as well as in creating accessible teaching materials. Additionally, she is involved in the Vancouver community as a certified Long Term Care Ombudsman.

“My teaching philosophy is to make it real,” said Yevka. “By anchoring the content of a course in the context of daily life, students learn real-world application. Being able to see the relevance of material, and have the opportunity to apply it, increases interest and participation.”

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Clark College will host two events for lovers of native plants this May. Its fifth annual native plant sale will take place at the college’s greenhouse on May 3, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m, and May 4, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Additionally, the college will host a talk on native plants on May 3, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., in Anna Pechanec Hall room 201.

About the Native Plant Sale

All of the native plants available for purchase were planted and grown by Clark College biology and environmental science students in the college’s Native Plant Center greenhouse.

Community members will be able to select from a wide variety of native plants, with an emphasis on flowering perennials, self-seeding annuals, and small shrubs perfect for any yard. Species available include Yarrow, Heal All, Mock Orange, California Poppy, Red Flowering Currant, Meadow Checker Mallow, Red Osier Dogwood, and more. Other products include student-made gardener’s soaps and seed balls for attracting pollinators.

Plant sales support the college’s Science Consortium Fund, which supports greenhouse operations and the costs of unique field studies class trips to places such as Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon and the Lava Beds National Monument in Northern California. Students who participate in the four- and ten-day trips pay $500 to $750. The fund offsets those expenses, making the experience accessible to more students.

The sale will take place outside the college’s greenhouse, located at on the east side of campus near the intersection of E. Reserve Street and McLoughlin Boulevard. Most plants are priced at $10 or less. Students will be available to assist customers with transporting plants to vehicles.

For more information about the plant sale, contact nativeplantcenter@clark.edu or visit www.clark.edu/cc/plantsale.

About the Native Plant Talk

Clark College STEM Coordinator and biology and environmental science instructor Erin Harwood answers the question “Why native plants?” in this informative lecture on the importance of native plants to our local ecosystem. Harwood will also cover how to select, plant, and care for native plants in your home garden. The talk will provide detailed information on approximately 10 native plants that will attract wildlife to your yard, along with other benefits. This event is free and open to the public.

Both events take place on Clark College’s main campus. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. 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 the Penguin Union Building room 013.

Photo: Clark College/Nova Gump

Children from the college’s Child & Family Studies program celebrate Sakura and the newly named Kageyama Path.

It was if the trees knew how special this day was. For the past week, the 100 shirofugen cherry trees that grace Clark College’s campus had held their blossoms tightly closed against the gray, chilly weather. But the morning of the college’s annual Sakura Festival, the newly emerged sun seemed to wake them up, and by that afternoon they had created the perfect, pale pink backdrop for the day’s opening ceremony near the Royce E. Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden.

“Look at the beauty of these trees,” said Clark College President Bob Knight during his opening remarks. “Three days ago, it was not like this.”

Knight added that the trees were full of symbolism. “Each year as these trees blossom, they signal new hopes, new beginnings, and the joyful arrival of a new spring,” he said.

Japanese Consul General Takashi Teraoka holds a parasol for John Kageyama.

This year, the trees also signaled a fond farewell, as John Kageyama—the man who, more than a quarter-century ago, had donated these trees to the City of Vancouver—announced that this would be the last time he made the trip from his home in Japan to Vancouver.

“We’re just very grateful that Mr. Kageyama decided to donate those trees back in 1990,” said Knight. “We know he will be here forever in spirit, and these trees will remind us of him.”

Vancouver mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle enjoys Yukiko Vossen’s koto performance with some of the Sakura Festival’s youngest guests.

Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle noted in her own remarks that the trees were also symbolic of international friendship, including Vancouver’s sister-city relationship with Joyo, Japan. “John, it is my hope that the friendship between our countries lasts for many, many more centuries,” she said to Kageyama from the podium.

The 92-year-old Kageyama also addressed the guests, recalling what prompted him to make the generous donation to the city. At the time, he was serving as president of America Kotobuki Electronics, a subsidiary of Panasonic that was headquartered in Vancouver.

John Kageyama, third from right, and Japanese instructor Yoko Sato, far right, with students in Clark’s Japanese language program.

“The people in Vancouver were really friendly, hard-working,” he said. “I was trying to decide how to pay back these friendly, kind people. Then the newspaper said that the State of Washington will be celebrating its centennial, and that was my inspiration. Cherry trees in Japan mean everything—happiness, everything.”

In honor of Washington’s 100 years of statehood, Kageyama donated 100 cherry trees to the city, who decided to plant them on Clark’s main campus. Today, they are a signature element of the campus, a popular destination for family photos and picnics. Recently, the college was graced with a donation from SEH America of 200 cherry trees, some of which have been planted on the opposite side of the walkway from the original trees. Others will be planted at Clark College at Columbia Tech Center and at the future site of Clark College at Boschma Farms in Ridgefield.

International student Suzuka Hitomi, in kimono, with friends she’s met while studying at Clark through a scholarship.

Other speakers at the event included Takashi Teraoka, Consul General of Japan, and Suzuka Hitomi, a Japanese student studying at Clark College through a special scholarship program. Guests were also treated to performances by the Clark College Women’s Ensemble and by Yukiko Vossen on the koto, the national instrument of Japan.

After the official remarks, the festival continued with cultural displays and performances in Gaiser Student Center. But before guests made their way up the hill, there was one last announcement: The walkway that runs alongside the shirofugen trees through the southwest corner of the campus had been renamed the Kageyama Path. A stone marker that will be placed at the beginning of the path was unveiled.

“I hope this will help us to remember the path to peace, as demonstrated by Mr. Kageyama,” said Knight. “In the spirit of Sakura, Mr. Kageyama, this will always be in your name.”

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