Top row, left to right: Dr. Lindsay Christopher, Michael Ludwig, Brian McVay, Alexis Nelson. Second row: Toby Peterson, Mary Ellen Pierce, and Lora Whitfield

Seven outstanding educators are the newest members of the tenured faculty at Clark College. Dr. Lindsay Christopher (English), Michael Ludwig (dental hygiene), Brian McVay (welding), Alexis Nelson (English), Tobias Peterson (English), Mary Ellen Pierce (nursing), and Lora Whitfield (early childhood education) 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.

“Tenure is a landmark moment—both in the careers of the individual faculty members, as well as in the history of the college as a whole,” said Dr. Tim Cook, Vice President of Instruction. “These faculty members will become a crucial part of the college’s community and will help shape its curriculum and character for years to come. I look forward to seeing these talented and passionate educators contribute to Clark’s collective legacy.”

About the faculty members

Dr. Lindsay Christopher

Dr. Lindsay Christopher holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Mercyhurst College and University of Buffalo, respectively. She earned her Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Denver. Her teaching experience includes the University of Denver, Arapahoe Community College, and Clark College.

At Clark, Dr. Christopher has participated in college-wide initiatives focused on integrative learning; power, privilege, and inequity; open education resources; and the college’s “common read” book and theme. She leads the English Department’s literature and technical writing work groups and has also taught “Introduction to Clark College,” a course designed to help new Clark College students succeed at the college.

“At the core of my teaching practice is the conviction that when students engage in active inquiry in a diverse curriculum that honors their experience, they begin their journeys to becoming powerful thinkers and creators, innovative leaders, and dynamic citizens,” said Dr. Christopher.

Michael Ludwig

Michael Ludwig is a Clark College alumnus, having received his Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from the college in 1997. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Eastern Washington University and is completing his Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.

Ludwig has 16 years of professional experience as a dental hygienist in private practice and 14 years of teaching experience at Clark College. He currently serves as the Lead Restorative Instructor in the college’s Dental Hygiene program.

“Students learn in a variety of ways,” said Ludwig. “My approach is to utilize a variety of teaching methods to reach as many students as possible in an organized manner while providing clear goals and expectations.”

Brian McVay

Brian McVay is also a Clark alumnus, having attended Clark’s welding program before going on to a four-year ironworker apprenticeship. He has work experience as an ironworker, a quality assurance inspector at Cascade General Shipyard, and as an ultrasound operator for nondestructive testing. McVay, who has taught at Clark for three years, is a Certified Welding Inspector and a Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) Test Examiner.

At Clark, McVay helps advise future students and gives tours of the welding program. He is the faculty advisor of the Clark College Welding Club and administers WABO weld testing. He is also active in outreach work to regional industry to assess its needs.

McVay says his teaching philosophy involves showing the real-world applications of lesson material and making sure students understand the material thoroughly.

Alexis Nelson

Alexis Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a nonfiction emphasis from Portland State University. She has teaching experience at both PSU and at Clark.

At Clark, Nelson has served as co-director of the Columbia Writers Series and has grown it from an annual to a quarterly event. She also founded Subtext, the college’s annual literary festival, and serves as co-advisor for the college’s creative writing club.

“My approach to teaching is hands-on and student-centered, with an emphasis on group discussion, workshopping of student writing, and learning to read as writers,” said Nelson.

Tobias Peterson

Tobias Peterson holds bachelor degrees in both Spanish Literature and English from the University of Texas at Austin. He earned a Master of Arts in English from George Mason University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a focus on poetry from Texas State University. Peterson has teaching experience at Austin Community College, Texas State University, Portland State University, Clackamas Community College, and Clark College.

At Clark, Peterson has served on numerous college-wide committees and task forces, including Planning and Accreditation, Program Improvement Process, Teaching and Learning, Opening Day Planning, Strategic Plan Development, Credit for Prior Learning, and Title III Grant. He serves as the evidence chair for the Academic Excellence Core Council and is the former co-chair of the Outcomes Assessment Committee. Within the English Department, he serves on the Creative Writing and the Technical and Professional Writing committees. He also helps coordinate the annual Clark Crossings Reading Series.

Peterson described his approach to teaching as “outcomes-focused and project-driven. I see my role as a ‘guide on the side,’ to inspire, enable, and empower my students to meet learning goals in applied settings and through practical application.”

Mary Ellen Pierce

Mary Ellen Pierce earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alaska and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. She has 35 years of work experience as a registered nurse working in a variety of settings, including hospitals, post-acute care, community-based care, and legal nurse and health care consulting. She has extensive experience in nursing administration, as well as four years of experience as a nurse educator.

At Clark, Pierce serves on the Academic Standards and Program Improvement Process committees, as well as numerous departmental committees. She is also an active member of the college’s Guided Pathways faculty team, which is tasked with planning Clark’s transition to this successful, structured model of higher education.

“I believe in dynamic teaching that engages students in the learning process, challenges them to think, question, and use their ‘nursing voices’ to promote optimal patient care and best practice,” Pierce said.  “I believe learning is an ongoing process that serves to enhance and strengthen each person’s skills and abilities and that inclusive collaboration and mutual respect are key components of positive growth, both individually and collectively.”

Lora Whitfield

Lora Whitfield is a Clark College alumna, having earned her Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education in 2002. She earned her Master of Arts in Human Development with a specialization in Early Childhood Education and Bi-Cultural Development from Pacific Oaks College. Whitfield has work experience at Albina Early Head Start in Portland, Ore., and at the Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium.

During her time teaching at Clark, Whitfield has served on the Clark College Early Childhood Advisory Committee, the Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Council, the State Board Faculty of Color Mentorship Program, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

“As an educator, I am committed to treating each individual with respect,” Whitfield said. “I believe respect is paramount in creating environments that promote students’ ideas, passions, and interests in a meaningful and organic way. I strive to provide settings where everyone can share their ideas without bias and be included in all aspects of learning.”

Addition on June 14: Kay Cook

Math professor Kate Cook was granted tenure during the Clark College Board of Trustees meeting on June 14.

Cook earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and education at Principia College in Illinois and her master’s degree in mathematics at California State University, East Bay. She has previous teaching experience at Portland Community College and began teaching at Clark as an adjunct in 2008.

Cook’s involvement at Clark includes leading the Core to College Grant team, serving as the course coordinator for statistics courses in the Mathematics Department, and presenting mathematics worksheet ideas at local and national conferences.

“I try to meet the student at their level and encourage them forward to new confidence and ability in math,” said Cook, who lives in Vancouver. “I’ve found that a bit of humor helps make that rocky path more enjoyable.”

Ruixuan Bai and Meghan Jackson are Clark College’s nominees to the 2017 All-Washington Academic Team.

One student plans to spend her career overseas; the other traveled across an ocean to study here. But on March 23, the stories of Meghan Jackson and Ruixuan Bai will converge when they represent Clark College at the 22nd annual All-Washington Academic Team ceremony honoring 63 students from Washington state for their academic excellence and community service.

The All-Washington Academic Team is a program of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Top students from each of Washington state’s 34 community and technical colleges will be honored at the annual ceremony, which will be held at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia; each will receive a medal and scholarship, and will become eligible for addition transfer scholarships from in-state colleges and universities.

About Ruixuan Bai

Ruixuan Bai

When Ruixuan Bai first traveled from China to Clark College to study as an international student, it was her first time riding in an airplane. Bai, now 21, began her educational journey at Clark in the college’s Intensive English Language Program three years ago. She has since become an active member of the Clark community. She has served as both a Transitional Studies Peer Mentor and an International Peer Mentor at the college, as well as vice president of the Associated Students of Clark College, president of the Chinese Culture Club, and president of the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Additionally, she volunteers at Peace Health Center and at Share House.

A first-generation college student, Bai chose to study in America on the advice of her parents, who urged her to broaden her horizons and learn from other cultures. She chose Clark in part for reasons of affordability and in part because of its prestigious nursing program.

“At first it was hard,” she said. “I didn’t know that much language. I wasn’t used to the food—I wound up in the emergency room because my stomach hurt so much. But I really like the people here. They are very kind and very patient with my English. And I can eat the food now!”

Bai developed her goal of working in medicine after the death of her beloved aunt from uterine cancer. Currently, Bai is double-majoring in biology and business. She holds a 3.85 grade point average and plans to graduate from Clark in fall 2017, after which she hopes to continue her education in the United States.

“I want to have a better future, but I’m still deciding what that will look like,” she said. “I like the life here, but I miss my country and my family. I haven’t celebrated Chinese New Year since I came here.”

About Meghan Jackson

Meghan Jackson

Meghan Jackson came to Clark College through Running Start, a Washington state program that allows high school students to earn college credit. The Washougal High School student said she was looking for an advanced learning environment, as well as the opportunity to explore interests before entering a four-year institution.

“College was always a given for me, but I never really knew what I wanted to study,” said Jackson, 17. “Part of why I wanted to do Running Start was so I could try different classes and find out what interested me most.”

The strategy worked: Inspired by her women’s studies and political science courses at Clark, Jackson decided to pursue a career in international diplomacy. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average at Clark and expects to graduate in spring 2017. In addition to her studies, Jackson plays high school soccer and serves as president of Washougal High’s American Sign Language Club.

Thanks to Running Start, Jackson may be able to enter university with sophomore or junior standing, thereby helping relieve the financial burden of college tuition for her parents. She says earning scholarships like the one provided to All-Washington Academic Team members not only helps further ease that financial burden, but also helps confirm her decision to begin college at an early age.

“I work really hard, I study a lot,” Jackson said. “To be able to say I’m a part of this, it’s special to me.”

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Staff from the 2017 Independent. Photo: Dee Anne Finken/Clark College

Clark College student journalists brought home first- and fourth-place honors from the annual Associated Collegiate Press’ midwinter conference, held March 2-5 in San Francisco.

The Clark College Independent website outpaced 14 other two- and four-year colleges to win first place in the large-school online news category. The print edition of the Indy (to use its nickname) finished fourth from among 12 entries from community colleges.

Editor-in-chief Ieva Braciulyte said the Indy’s success in the competition felt rewarding. But she also said she and the 11 members of her staff who traveled to San Francisco valued attending the workshops and meeting other student journalists. “It was so exciting to network and get to know the struggles of other newsrooms and how they problem-solve.”

Braciulyte said she also appreciated support from the Associated Students of Clark College, which funded the trip.

“I know the conference inspired and educated our editors,” Braciulyte said. “That will get passed down to next quarter’s staff and benefit the newsroom for a long time.”

Students from 84 colleges and universities attended more than 100 conference workshops, presented largely by media professionals and journalism faculty from colleges and universities across the country. Topics included things like newsroom leadership, photography, investigative reporting, interviewing, social media, and dealing with controversial stories.

Clark students Marvin Peña and Diana Aristizabal, who produce the Independent’s Spanish-language insert, Mundo Clark, also presented a workshop. “Can You Hear Me Now? Creating New Media Outlets” detailed their efforts to create Mundo.

Peña, who is from Venezuela, has been a member of the Independent staff for three years. He and Aristizabal, who is from Colombia, created Mundo last year as a means for bridging cultures at Clark.

Peña said he appreciated the chance to explain his work to an audience of other college students. “It was challenging because it was my first time presenting on this level,” Peña said. “But it was inspiring because I got to inspire people, and get feedback from other students working on new projects.”

The Independent staff publishes a print edition every three weeks and updates the online edition regularly at www.clarkcollegeindependent.com. The award-winning website was designed in 2014 by then-student Lisa Presley.

Presley, who is now studying psychology and human development at Washington State University Vancouver, said the creation of the website was a laborious process between her, then-editor-in-chief Zach McMahon and Independent advisor Dee Anne Finken.

“We wanted to improve on the look and make it user-friendly,” Presley said. “We also wanted it to still have a newspaper look with the text columns, and we worked with the Disabilities Services office to make it accessible… It’s kind of my baby.”

The ACP is the nation’s oldest and largest membership organization for student journalists, said executive director Laura Widmer.

This article contributed by journalism professor Dee Anne Finken.

Keeley McConnell ’16

You want to know Keeley McConnell’s strategy for success, the thing that’s helped her go from remedial math to high-level medical research? It’s this: Stay focused on the path in front of you. One foot in front of the other. If you can make that next step, you can keep going.

Four years ago, the next step was: Get the kids in the car. Pack everything else in around them. Get the heck out of Dodge before your ex comes back.

Eighty miles later, McConnell and her three children arrived at a shelter for victims of domestic violence. She’d left her job, her home. She had no idea how she would support her family on the money she earned as a medical assistant. But one thing at a time. Find a place to live, get some stability.

It was only three months later, when McConnell had moved her family into an apartment, that she considered college. “When I was in high school, I never thought about college as an option,” she says. “I’d taken one class when I was pregnant with my son, but I tested into the lowest level of math they had and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this is going to take forever!’”

However, a friend encouraged McConnell to come with her to apply to Clark College. Just as she’d feared, McConnell tested into DVED 21, the lowest-level math course offered at the time. But one thing at a time. Keep your eyes on the path.

McConnell’s other strategy has been listening to advice from friends, family, and mentors. When an instructor suggested she enroll in Clark’s Math Academy program, McConnell signed up. This yearlong program pairs standard classroom time with dedicated math labs, where students get extra help understanding difficult concepts. McConnell describes it as “the key to my success in math.”

Keeley McConnell helping a student in Clark College’s STEM Tutoring Center.

By the time McConnell finished her last Math Academy class, not only was she prepared to enter college-level math courses—she’d been recommended to become a math tutor herself. The experience helped boost her confidence and gave her the tools she needed to continue pursuing her dream of becoming a physician’s assistant.

That goal would require her to spend two more years at Clark to earn an associate degree, plus another two at a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s, followed by at least two years of medical school. But. One foot in front of the other. Stay focused on the path in front of you.

McConnell continued to thrive at Clark, finding she enjoyed the intellectual challenge of biology coursework. And once again, a mentor stepped in to change the course of her life. When biology chair Dr. Travis Kibota first approached her about applying to the BUILD EXITO Scholar Program, she was skeptical. Run by Portland State University in partnership with Oregon Health Sciences University, and with funding provided by the National Institutes of Health, the program helps undergraduates from diverse backgrounds become successful in health research careers.

“I was hesitant at first, because I wasn’t originally interested in going into research,” McConnell says. “But it’s been the most amazing opportunity.”

Through her participation in BUILD EXITO, McConnell joined a cohort of students from community colleges in the region who formed a Research Learning Community. Within that RLC, she could learn about careers in research, develop skills, and connect with mentors. She also had a built-in social network to help her make the adjustment to a four-year institution after she graduated from Clark in spring 2016.

“If I had had to do all this without EXITO, I would have been really overwhelmed,” she says. “I knew everyone at Clark—staff, faculty, students. PSU was huge. But the EXITO staff have been there for me—you can go in and ask them anything.”

Now a junior in her second semester at PSU, McConnell is deeply immersed in research in her chosen field of trauma medicine; she’ll even see her name on some upcoming research papers, a big boost to career advancement in the research world. “I work with the Chief of Trauma at OHSU,” she says proudly. “I wear a pager; when a call comes in, I’m there, collecting data and samples.”

McConnell says it was overwhelming when she first walked into OHSU. “I looked up and thought, ‘I’m so close. I’m literally standing in the building I want to have my future in. It’s what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.’”

Keeley McConnell, left, celebrates graduation from Clark College in 2016 with a friend.

She still faces challenges. While BUILD EXITO students receive a stipend that significantly eases the financial burden of being a college student, McConnell still works 30 hours a week outside of school to support herself and her three children, now ages 8, 9 and 18. And she struggles to find time to be present for her children as a mom.

“It’s probably my biggest challenge right now,” she says. “But they’re great, they’re my little drivers. I want them to have something better. They need to see that, when you want something and you work really hard at for it, you can get it.”

McConnell brought her son with her earlier this year when she was invited to the Washington State Association of College Trustees’ Transforming Lives Awards banquet, where they sat between Clark College President Bob Knight and two state senators. “I wanted him to experience that,” she says. “But once we were there, I realized how big a deal this was for me, too. With me, I get so focused on the road ahead, I don’t spend much time thinking about the big picture. It made me realize, ‘Oh, gosh, I guess I have come a long way.’ And, you know, my kids and I–we’re still moving forward.”

Are you a student interested in participating in BUILD EXITO? The application deadline for the 2017-2018 year is February 28, and there is a free application help session on Friday, February 24, 10 a.m. – 11:50 a.m., in SHL 124.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

The Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute will improve students’ access to food on campus and provide a state-of-the-art training center for the culinary arts.

Clark College is excited to announce the launch of the new Cuisine Management and Professional Bakery and Pastry Arts programs. After four years of developing an updated curriculum and modernizing the existing kitchens and dining spaces, the new Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute will welcome its first class of students in the fall of 2017.

The college is hosting two free informational sessions for prospective students interested in the culinary programs on Thursday, February 23 and Monday, March 6. Both sessions will be held at 6 p.m. in PUB 161 on Clark’s main campus. Maps and directions are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Thanks to a $4 million gift from The Tod and Maxine McClaskey Family Foundation, Clark was able to transform its existing facility into a state-of-the-art teaching and dining establishment. The new building will create a community space on campus that highlights the growing influence of food on our culture and also provides students with real-world experience in a production kitchen, retail bakery, full-service dining room, and variety of food kiosks. All services will be open to Clark’s community and the general public.

“This new facility will provide an immediate positive impact for both the college community and the culinary programs,” said Dr. Tim Cook, Vice President of Instruction at Clark College. “We are able to provide students with career-focused, affordable culinary education at a time when many other local programs are closing their doors. When the institute opens, it will be the only public culinary program within 120 miles.”

Clark culinary students can choose between two modern, competitive programs: Cuisine or Professional Baking and Pastry Arts. In both programs, students learn classic techniques, kitchen fundamentals, and real-world skills, and then combine that knowledge with practical experience in high-volume food production.

One-year certificate programs and a two-year associate degree will be offered. Additionally, students interested in four-year degrees can advance their culinary careers with Clark College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management degree program—or take advantage of transfer partnership agreements the college has forged with both the Cascadia Technical Academy and Washington State University Vancouver.

“There is a growing demand for culinary and hospitality professionals in this region,” said Aaron Guerra, executive chef instructor and head of the culinary arts department. “The culinary landscape is shifting and Clark College is well suited to face the changing industry because we’re not afraid to do things differently.”

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the Cuisine and Professional Baking and Pastry Arts programs, but are unable to attend either informational session, may visit www.clark.edu/cc/culinary.

Clark College Theatre continues its 2016-2017 season with the award-winning musical, Urinetown by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis.

Urinetown is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics—and musical theatre itself. Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, this musical is the winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards.

Cast includes: Jeremy Abe (Bobby Strong), Tirza Meuljic (Hope Cladwell), Greg Saum (Lockstock), Chloe Payne (Penelope Pennywise), Bruce R. Kyte (Caldwell B. Cladwell), Jeremiah Stephens (Senator Fipp), Megan Smith (Little Sally), Mila Boyd (Josephine “Ma” Strong, Robert Altieri (Old Man Strong/Billy Boy Bill), and Tristan Colo (Mr. McQueen). The director is Dorinda Toner; vocal director, April Duvic; and choreographer, Alicia Marie Turvin.

Show Dates: Feb. 17, 18, 24, 25 and March 2, 3, and 4. 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) $11; Alumni (with membership) $11; Senior Citizens $13; General Admission $15. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Clark College Bookstore in Gaiser Hall, 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.

View more photos on our Flickr page.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

More than 100 children received care at the 2017 Children’s Free Dental Health Day.

Some days, it’s like the Tooth Fairy is trying to tell you something.

For instance, there’s nothing like losing one of your baby teeth to remind you that you need to visit the dentist. Fortunately for Juliet Shiemke, age 7, students from the Clark College Dental Hygiene program had organized a Free Children’s Dental Health Day just when she needed it most. Within hours of having another one of her front teeth pop out on Saturday, February 4, she was sitting in a dentist chair in the college’s Firstenburg Dental Hygiene Education and Care Center making sure the rest of her teeth were clean and healthy.

“My wife saw a flier for this at Juliet’s school, and it really came at the right time,” said Juliet’s father, Marc Shiemke, as he watched a Clark College Dental Hygiene student clean her teeth. “We moved up from Arizona six months ago and haven’t gotten dental insurance yet.”

Shiemke’s wife, Dallas, was sitting in a nearby bay with their 3-year-old son, Brendan. Like his sister, Brendan left the dentist chair with a clean bill of health and a bag full of goodies.

“Dental hygiene is very important for our kids,” Shiemke said. “I know I didn’t have the greatest care when I was growing up and I kind of suffered for it in my adult life—needing some bridges and teeth pulled. I want to make sure my kids get the best care for their teeth so they don’t have to go through the same stuff that I’ve gone through.”

That’s the idea behind this annual event, said Dr. Peter Lubisich, a pediatric dentist who serves on the college’s Dental Hygiene Advisory Council and organizes the volunteer dentists who help make this day possible. “In a sense, we’re a safety net for those who fall through the cracks” of the state’s dental-insurance coverage, he said. “One of the main reasons kids miss school can be because of tooth decay.”

Casey Hedeen takes notes on a patient at the Children’s Free Dental Health Day.

While Children’s Dental Health Day, now in its 11th year, is the largest free-care event held by the Dental Hygiene program, its students regularly contribute free or low-cost care in their community. Indeed, the two students who led this year’s event originally became inspired to take on the mammoth responsibility after participating last spring in a free dental day for adults through a local nonprofit.

“The first patient we had there, we had tears in our eyes from the reaction that she had,” recalled Casey Hedeen, who expects to receive her Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene this spring. “With the free clinic, she got what’s called a ‘partial’ so that she didn’t have a missing front tooth. She was in tears. At that moment, we knew this is what we wanted to do: We wanted to be part of something bringing that kind of change to people’s lives.”

Hedeen and her classmate Stephanie Pfeifer have been working on the event since September. With the help of many other student volunteers, they have publicized the event, organized appointments, and worked out the logistics of getting almost 130 children and their families in and out of the clinic smoothly.

“Even though we do it every year, we really want the students to plan their own event,” said Prof. Kristi Taylor, Interim Program Director of the Dental Hygiene program. “This gives them first-hand knowledge, not only to plan a public event and to actually see what it’s like and what that takes, but also to be one of the clinicians providing that care for the people who are coming here.”

As far as Marc Shiemke and his family are concerned, the students did a great job. “From the moment we walked in the door, the staff’s been super-friendly and super-efficient,” he said. “I thought it would take a long time, but we’ve probably been here half an hour and we’re almost done.”

Indeed, just minutes later, Juliet was sitting up in her chair. The Clark student who had been cleaning her teeth smiled and congratulated her on being a great patient, then held up her hand. And Juliet, flashing the brightest of gap-toothed smiles, returned the student’s high-five and got ready to go home with her family.

Photos and video: Clark College/Nick Bremer

President Knight takes a moment to joke with the crowd during his 2017 State of the College address.

At his annual State of the College address on January 20, President Bob Knight spoke about the importance of an organization finding its “true north,” which he defined as “the very reason the organization exists, and what it can do better than anything else.”

Knight went on to say that Clark College has been steering its course toward its own true north, which he said was encapsulated in its mission statement: “Clark College, in service to the community, guides individuals to achieve their educational and professional goals.”

“There are two absolutely key words in this statement: ‘community’ and ‘guides,'” he said.

President Knight with students, left to right, David Malagon-Lopez, National Anthem singer Cori Weaver, ASCC Finance Director Bill Skates, and ASCC Executive Assistant Jennette Kachmar.

Knight pointed out several ways the college is helping to better guide students, including work on implementing a “Guided Pathways” model of education that helps channel students into well-planned routes to their degrees; new enrollment labs and Penguin Welcome Days to help students be prepared for college before they even begin classes; and the expansion of the COLL 101 class to all incoming students planning to earn an Associate of Arts degree. He reminded the audience gathered in Gaiser Student Center that almost three-quarters of Clark’s student body were first-generation college students.

“They need that structure,” he said. “They need that extra help and support.”

Knight also highlighted some of the ways the college is working with its community. He mentioned the strong relationship Clark’s Automotive Technology program has developed with local businesses like Dick Hannah Dealerships, who recently donated $4,000 tool kits to students working there. And he gestured to the temporary wall on one side of the student center, blocking off construction of the Tod and Maxine Culinary Institute, which, when completed later this year, would be the only nonprofit culinary institute within 120 miles.

Knight pointed out that the culinary institute, as well as Clark’s newly opened STEM Building, would not have been possible without generous support from the Clark College Foundation, which for the first time this past year surpassed $1 million in scholarship donation. When the state did not fully fund the STEM Building’s construction, Knight said, “our Foundation came to the rescue through our community and raised the money to build that facility. Not every college in this state has that luxury.”

Continuing the theme of community, Knight discussed the important role Clark College at Boschma Farms would play in the under-served northern portion of the college’s service district. While the land for this new facility in Ridgefield has been acquired, funding for the design phase has not been included in Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed budget for the next biennium. “This project is a cornerstone in what Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow like to remind me is the state’s fastest-growing city,” Knight said.

Stacy Watne holds her Presidential Coin.

As is traditional, Knight used the address as an opportunity to hand out Presidential Coins to individuals who provide exemplary service to Clark students, the college, and community. New this year, Knight bestowed two coins on individuals who are not employees at the college–alumnus George Welsh ’67 and professor emeritus Dr. Larry Easter–as well as to two employees, custodian Stacy Watne and Disability Support Services Program Support Supervisor Irene Cheney.

Knight concluded by saying that while he realized that the U.S. Presidential Inauguration was also happening that day, he would not be commenting on it except to say, “Whatever goes on nationally won’t affect what happens at Clark College. Clark College will remain an open, safe, inclusive environment.”

To see more highlights of the past year at Clark College, watch this video:

Photos: Jenny Shadley

More photos can be viewed on our Flickr page.

The Clark College Dental Hygiene Program will hold a free children’s dental clinic on Saturday, February 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the main campus of Clark College. The event will take place in the Firstenburg Dental Hygiene Education and Care Center in the Health Sciences Building on Clark’s main campus.

Dental hygiene students from Clark College will provide care under the direct supervision of licensed dental hygienist and dentists. Services will include cleanings, sealants, x-rays, sealants, doctor’s exams, fluoride, and select emergency treatments for children ages 18 and under. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the Dental Hygiene Business Office at (360) 992-2158.

This is the eleventh year that Clark’s Dental Hygiene has offered a free children’s dental health day. In addition to this event, the college’s Dental Hygiene students provide low-cost dental hygiene care to the community as part of their clinic practice.

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663. Driving directions and parking maps are available atwww.clark.edu/maps. 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 Penguin Union Building room 013 as soon as possible.

High school sophomores and juniors can learn how to take the next step in their education by attending one of two optional Running Start Information Night sessions at Clark College.

The identical sessions will be held 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, in the Clark College gymnasium in the O’Connell Sports Center, located on the southwest corner of Clark College’s main campus.

Running Start allows eligible juniors and seniors to earn college credit while they fulfill their high school graduation requirements. Running Start students attend Clark classes along with “regular” college students. They can choose from a full range of academic and professional/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. Some Running Start students are so motivated that they earn their associate degree from Clark at the same time that they earn their high school diploma. According to Associate Director of Running Start Linda Calvert, these annual information nights frequently attract hundreds of interested students and parents to the college, which is why the college hosts two sessions. Fall Quarter 2016 Clark College welcomed 2432 Running Start students, which was up by 163 from the previous year.

These information sessions are for students and parents who want to know more about beginning the program in fall 2017. Calvert explained, “These optional sessions provide a great chance to hear current Running Start students candidly describe their experiences in the program. You’ll also hear about the eligibility criteria, deadlines, and more.”

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.

Calvert noted, “Running Start is not for everyone. It requires not only college-level skills, but also college-level maturity. Successful program participants who flourish under the academic rigor of Running Start are generally self-motivated and looking for additional academic challenges. Students frequently tell us that they like the learning environment at the college and the ability to gradually sample the college environment.”

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.