Every year, just a day or two before Clark College’s commencement ceremony, Clark College President Bob Knight and other college leaders attend a smaller ceremony at Larch Corrections Center to celebrate graduates of the college’s GED preparation program there. This year, they will have plenty to celebrate: Not only did the program see a record number of students pass the GED during the 2018-2019 academic year, but in May its tutoring program became the first prison-based tutoring program to be certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).

Fifty students passed their GED certification test this academic year–four more than the previous record of 46. For these students, passing their GED not only provides them with an important credential–the equivalent of a high school diploma–but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment and self-worth that can help them pursue better paths in their lives after their release from prison.

Larch inmates who become tutors through Clark College’s program also gain marketable skills and work experience. Having the program be certified by the CRLA adds legitimacy to that experience.

According to findings published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology, inmates who participated in correctional education programs are 28 percent less likely to commit new crimes, compared to inmates who didn’t.

The program was featured on the front page of the June 9 issue of The Columbian.

Photos: Clark College/Kelly Love

Clark College has
selected Gold Hill Associates to assist the Board of Trustees in identifying
and recruiting a new president for Clark College.

Clark College President Robert K. Knight has announced he plans to retire August 31 at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year. He has served as college president for 13 years, helping Clark College expand and grow both in its programs and locations. Clark College is the largest community college in Southwest Washington and one of the largest community colleges in the state of Washington.

“For more than a
decade President Knight has provided stability and vision helping the college
grow, adapt and serve its community,” said Paul Speer, board trustee. Speer and
board vice chair Jane Jacobson are co-leading the board’s recruitment and
selection process. “This is an important moment for Clark College. We are
looking for the right person for the next chapter of the college,” said Speer.
“The board is fully committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive and
transparent national search. Gold Hill Associates will be a good partner in the
process.”

Gold Hill
Associates was selected following a competitive bid process. Its CEO, Dr.
Preston Pulliams, has worked in a variety of higher education leadership roles
for 25 years. From 2004-2013, he served as District President at Portland
Community College. Gold Hill has made successful placements at more than 20
colleges in the Pacific Northwest.

Gold Hill
Associates will also assist the board in identifying and recruiting an interim
president for Clark College.

The interim
president is expected to serve beginning August 2019 for a one-year period
allowing sufficient time for the permanent presidential search. The interim
will not be considered as a candidate for the permanent position.

“The presidential
search will also be assisted by a Presidential Search Advisory Committee
including representatives from the college and external community,” said
Speer.  “We look forward to updating and receiving feedback from the
community as we move forward.”

All interested
applicants must contact Gold Hill Associates directly. To contact Gold Hill
Associates or learn more about the presidential selection process, visit Clark
College’s website: www.clark.edu/presidential-search.

 

On Thursday, June 20, Clark College will honor its 83rd graduating class at
the 2019 Clark College Commencement ceremony. The ceremony will take place at
6:30 p.m. at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater. The keynote speaker is Julianna
Marler, CEO of the Port of Vancouver USA (see full bio below).

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 Julianna
Marler

Julianna Marler is the CEO of the Port of Vancouver USA. Prior to her appointment, she served as the port’s Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Marler is the first female CEO in the port’s 105-year history and one of just a handful of female port CEOs in the U.S.

Prior to joining the port in
2008, Marler worked at the City of Vancouver for nine years, where she served
as the procurement services manager. Recipient of a 2018 Iris Award – an award
honoring women of achievement in Southwest Washington – Marler engages in
ongoing activities to encourage and support women in leadership positions.

Marler is a Vancouver Rotary
Club member and serves on the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,
Greater Portland Inc Board of Directors, American Association of Port
Authorities Board of Directors, and the Washington State University Vancouver
Advisory Council. She was recently appointed to the Association of Washington
Business Board of Directors.

A native of Vancouver, Marler
attended Clark College and received her bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration from Washington State University Vancouver.

Clark College Theatre finishes its 2018-2019 season with Proof by David Auburn.

Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play, Proof is an emotional examination of the relationship between genius and mental illness. On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her fathers who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s madness—or genius—will she inherit?

This production’s cast includes: Kelli English as Catherine; Patti Tipton as Claire; Ryan Larson as Hal; Dan Haggerty as Robert. The director is Zak Campbell.

This show contains adult themes, language, and content.

View additional photos of “Proof” on Flickr.

Show Dates: May 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25. All show times are at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Theatre, Frost Arts Center, on Clark College’s main campus. Maps and directions are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

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 Penguin Union Building room 013, as soon as possible.

Clark’s MESA program is still in its first year, but already it’s providing new opportunities for student success.

MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) is a national program dedicated to encouraging under-represented populations to succeed in STEM fields. At Clark, this includes a dedicated space for studying and creating community, as well as opportunities for mentorship, assistance with books and fees, and conference participation.

This March, two Clark MESA students attended the MESA Student Leadership Retreat at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, Washington, along with students from 15 other MESA community college programs from Washington and California. Mai Lee Xiong and Alejandra Magallanes were able to participate in activities to boost their professional development and leadership skills.

They also participated in a competition for human-centered design solutions, breaking into groups to identify a problem, interview a potential user of their solution, and prepare a poster and oral presentation to explain it to others.

Xiong’s group focused on health care disparities that arise from language barriers between health care providers and patients whose first language is not English. They proposed the development of an app to translate medical information into different languages–one that would include medical terminology not available through tools like Google Translate. The project was a perfect fit for Xiong, who is studying biology and plans to pursue a degree natural medicine after her bachelor’s degree.

Alejandra Magallanes’s group also decided to tackle an issue related to healthcare: the availability and convenience of Pap smear exams to detect cervical cancer. They proposed a device that could be used at home to collect a sample of cervical cells. It could be used by people who have difficulty attending doctors’ appointments or who may avoid Pap smears because of the uncomfortable nature of the exam–and in doing so, could increase the number of people who receive preventative care. Magallanes’ group won second place in the competition, which includes proposals from more than 20 teams.

As with Xiong, Magallanes’s project aligned well with her interests; like Xiong, she is studying biology and plans to transfer to a university for her bachelor’s degree after graduating from Clark College in 2020.

“This experience really helped show the value of having the MESA program at Clark College,” said MESA director Dr. Ellen Harju. “It was wonderful to see these two students be able to work and succeed with their peers in an environment that allowed them to be their authentic selves. I’m excited to see more of our MESA students get the chance for these experiences.”

Clark’s MESA program is located in the STEM Building rooms 206/208 and is open Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. More information about the program is available online at www.clark.edu/cc/mesa.

Photos: Clark College/Ellen Harju

The Clark College welding technologies program is proud to announce its accreditation as an American Welding Society (AWS) testing center. This accreditation makes national certifications available to both students and professional welders in the region who are seeking to advance their careers.

Beginning May 1, Clark
will make a number of certifications available for testing. The most common is
the Certified Welder (CW), which tests welders on procedures used in the
structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal, and chemical refinery
welding industries. Certifications available include Steel, Stainless steel and
Aluminum. In conjunction with the AWS certification, Clark College also offers
the Washington Association Building Officials (WABO) welding certification at
the Clark facilities.

Fees for certifications
will start at $300, with more-complex testing requiring up to $600. All testing
will be completed at the Clark welding lab located on the main campus, at 1933
Ft. Vancouver Way in Building AA2. The college will provide all the needed
steel, stainless steel, and aluminum materials required for completing the
certification examination.

Professionals
interested in testing for either AWS or WABO certifications at Clark College
may contact welding faculty member Brian McVay at 360-992-2359 or bmcvay@clark.edu
to discuss their certification requirements, the costs, and testing schedules. For
more information about Clark College’s welding technologies program visit www.clark.edu/cc/welding.

“We are excited to be
able to serve our community by providing this unique testing, which will help
expand the opportunities for career advancement in the industry and support
this region’s economy,” said McVay, noting that the next-closest AWS Accredited
Testing Facility is in Tacoma, Washington.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

On Friday, April 26, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Clark College invites the community to participate in an evening of free, family-friendly activities that celebrate both Latino culture and the value of literacy.

“Celebración de Mi Gente: El Día del
Niño/El Día del Libro” (“Celebration of My People: Day of the Child/Day of the
Book”) is an annual event hosted by the college. It is free and open to the
public. It is always held on or near the Mexican holiday of Día del Niño (April
30), which is also celebrated as Día del Libro
by the American Library Association. The festival will feature interactive
performances and activities, dancing, face-painting, bilingual games,
environmentally sustainable crafts, and delicious snacks. Clark College’s
mascot, Oswald the Penguin, will be on hand for photos with visiting children.

The event will be held in the Gaiser
Student Center 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. 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.

Photos from Clark’s 2017 Celebración de Mi Gente are available on
Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/clark_college/albums/72157683286542155. Video of
past celebrations can be viewed on Clark YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gNxuROUfDdY.

On Thursday, April 18, Clark College’s 2019 Sakura Festival will honor the historic ties of friendship between the sister-cities of Vancouver, Washington, and Joyo, Japan.

The
festival will begin at 1:00 p.m. with opening remarks near the Royce E. Pollard
Japanese Friendship Garden, which is located next to the Beacock Music Hall on
Clark’s main campus. Dignitaries who are scheduled to speak include Mayor Anne
McEnerny Ogle, Clark College President Bob Knight, Japanese Consul General
Takashi Teraoka, and Clark College Japanese Scholarship recipient Kiho Takedoa.

The
opening ceremony will include a koto performance by Yukiko Vossen and a
performance by the Clark College Women’s Choral Ensemble. The koto, a stringed
musical instrument, is the national instrument of Japan.

From
2:30 to 3:30 p.m., the Sakura celebration will continue in the Gaiser Student
Center, where guests will enjoy family-friendly cultural activities including
performances by the Clark College Japanese Cultural Club, traditional
calligraphy by Sora Shodo, a greeting from the college’s Child & Family
Studies program, and drumming by members of Takohachi TakoQ. Cookies and tea
will be served. Information about the Sakura Ceremony is available at www.clark.edu/cc/sakura.

All
events are free and open to the public. The Sakura Festival is sponsored by
Clark College, the City of Vancouver, and the Vancouver Rotary.

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.

Twelve outstanding educators are the newest members of the
tenured faculty at Clark College. Dr. Amy Castellano (phlebotomy), Dr. Cara
Cocchiarella (physical health and education), Dr. Catherine “CeCe” Crosby (biology),
Dr. Jacob Funk (music), Hannah Jackson (mathematics), Julie Lemmond (business),
Dr. Xiunu “Sophie” Lin (physics), Meredith Lynch (Transitional Studies
English), Dr. Sam May-Varas (Transitional Studies English and mathematics),
Donivee Randall-Jones (nursing), Michelle Roth (English as a Second Language),
and Dr. Michelle Stoklosa (geology) were all granted tenure during the Clark
College Board of Trustees meeting on March 13. They will be honored at a
college reception on April 22.

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

Dr. Amy Castellano

Dr. Amy Castellano holds a Bachelor of Science in physiological sciences from the University of Arizona and a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine. In additional to her teaching and research work at both her alma maters, she has previous work experience at Tucson Medical Center, Banner Medical Center, Oregon Health and Science University Hospital, and as a naturopathic physician at multiple clinics.

At Clark College, Dr. Castellano serves as department head of
the phlebotomy program, and is a member of the program’s Advisory Committee,
the Healthy Penguin Walkabout Committee, and a task force to define the
college’s core healthcare curriculum.

“My teaching philosophy hinges on the belief that the
learning environment provides the foundation for growth, has the ability to
empower or demotivate students, and that a culture of positivity, respect, and
community should be created,” she said. “My goal is to cultivate a supportive
space for students to grow, allow their individual strengths to emerge, and
show a genuine interest in their success.”

Dr. Cara Cocchiarella

Dr. Cara Cocchiarella earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and health and human performance; her Master of Science in health and human performance; and her Doctorate of Education in educational leadership from the University of Montana. She has coaching and teaching experience in a wide range of educational institutions, including Lincoln High School, Peninsula Elementary, University of Montana, Gonzaga University, and University of Montana Western.

Dr. Cocchiarella has taught health and physical education at
Clark College since 2016. She currently serves as the lead instructor for the
college’s Fitness-Wellness course and is also a member of the college’s Queer
Employee Resource Group.

“As a teacher, I employ numerous active-learning modalities and
strive to make all lessons applicable to the lives of my students,” she said.
“The supportive community that we build in each of my classes is essential in
terms of maximizing engagement and individual growth of all students.”

Dr. Catherine “CeCe” Crosby

Dr. CeCe Crosby earned her bachelor’s degree in cellular and
molecular biology from Western Washington University and her master’s and
doctorate degrees in soil science from Washington State University. She has
previous teaching and research experience at Washington State University, Green
River College, and Tacoma Community College. She joined the faculty at Clark
College in 2016.

At Clark, Dr. Crosby serves as faculty liaison for the
college’s MESA program, which encourages underrepresented groups to participate
in STEM. She also serves on a pillar group for the college’s work to adopt the
Guided Pathways model of higher education and volunteers at the college’s
Science Olympiad competitions.

“My goal is to invite my students to see themselves as
scientists by developing their natural curiosity about the world and giving
them the skills to explore using the scientific method,” Dr. Crosby said. “I
focus on the skill development, learning from mistakes, and the practical
applications of knowledge to solve difficulty problems.”

Dr. Jacob Funk

Dr. Jacob Funk holds a Bachelor of Science in vocal
performance from John Brown University, a Master of Music in choral conducting
from the University of British Columbia, and Doctor of Musical Arts in
conducting from the University of Missouri Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music
and Dance. Before coming to Clark College in 2016, he had previous teaching
experience with Northwest Arkansas Community College, John Brown University,
and Berean Academy (a private K-12 school in Elbing, Kansas).

At Clark College, Dr. Funk serves as director of the vocal
music program, including the college’s Chorale and its Women’s Choral Ensemble.
He is also a faculty advisor for the music department.

“The choir rehearsal is what inspired me to want to be a
teacher and an artist, and I want to share and give that experience to others,”
he said. “My objective is that through their choral experience, my students
will learn about all aspects of music, learn about themselves, experience the
joy of creating something beautiful and meaningful together, and be better,
more educated people because of it.”

Hannah Jackson

Hannah Jackson hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics
from Willamette University and a Master of Science in mathematics from Syracuse
University. She has previous teaching experience at the University of Denver,
Arapahoe Community College, University of Colorado Boulder, and Front Range
Community College.

Currently Jackson coordinates Clark College’s college algebra
course and is part of the team piloting a new sequence of introductory-level
mathematics courses. She also serves on the college’s Math Activities
Committee.

“My teaching philosophy is that you cannot force a student to
learn,” Jackson said. “You must make them want to. I achieve this through high
levels of energy, enthusiasm, and a true love of my subject matter that comes
across clearly to my students, gets them excited about the course, and makes
them want to come to class and learn.”

Julie Lemmond

Julie Lemmond earned her Bachelor of Science degree in
business and management and her Master of Business Administration with a
concentration in finance from Marylhurst University. She began teaching at
Clark College in 2006 and has previous teaching experience at Marylhurst
University and Oregon State University.

At Clark, Lemmond serves as lead instructor for the college’s
accounting and finance courses; a Quality Matters reviewer; an accounting
tutor; and a faculty advisor in the college’s business program. Additionally,
she has led the accounting faculty through the process of adopting and
maintaining accounting resources and provides accounting resources to tutors to
help them support students.

“My objective is to help students become competitive in the
business world by developing logical and ethical business minds,” Lemmond said.
“I believe that anyone who wants to attend college should be able to attend
college.”

Dr. Xiunu “Sophie” Lin

Dr. Sophie Lin holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
physics from Xiamen University in China and the University of Kentucky,
respectively. Prior to coming to Clark College in 2016, she taught at Eastern Kentucky
University and at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.

At Clark, Dr. Lin serves on the college’s BUILD EXITO work
group, which provides research opportunities in STEM fields for Clark students.
She has also volunteered when the college has hosted a regional Science
Olympiad.

“As a science instructor, I believe in setting high and
specific goals for students at the beginning of a course and motivating them to
learn,” Dr. Lin said. “To engage students in active learning, I adopt various
kinds of research-based teaching approaches, including ‘peer instruction,’
in-class exercises, experiment demonstration, and backward course instruction.”

Meredith Lynch

Meredith Lynch earned her Associate of Applied Science degree
from Tacoma Community College and both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from
the University of Washington Tacoma. She served on the faculty of Pierce
College in Puyallup, Washington, for more than 10 years before coming to Clark
College in 2016.

At Clark, Lynch serves as vice-chair of the Environmental
Integrity Council and as Transitional Studies liaison to the English
Department. She also serves on the team responsible for redesigning the
college’s composition courses and co-requisites.

“I meet my students where they are and use collaborative,
student-centered, active-learning strategies to help them achieve their
educational goals,” Lynch said.

Dr. Sam May-Varas

Dr. Sam May-Varas earned his bachelor’s degree in economics
from the University of South Florida, his master’s in education from City
University, and his doctorate in educational leadership from Lewis & Clark
College in Portland, Oregon. He also holds a K-12 Administrator License through
the University of Oregon. May-Varas has 15 years of work experience in the K-12
system, both as a teacher and an administrator. He also has teaching experience
at Portland Community College and has taught at Clark College for four years.

Since coming to Clark, May-Varas has been active in numerous Transitional
Studies committees and works groups on topics that include academic standars,
identifying barriers to enrollment and student success, and recruitment. Additionally,
he serves on the Pillar 3 Work Group for the college’s work toward adopting the
Guided Pathways model of higher education and has helped develop curriculum for
the college’s High School 21-Plus and Welding I-BEST programs.

“In my position as
an educator, I believe in empowering students to engage actively in the
learning process,” he said. “This engagement offers individual students the
motivation to continue in education and ultimately reach their educational and
career goals.”

Donivee Randall-Jones

Donivee Randall-Jones earned her Bachelor of Science degree
in nursing from York College in Pennsylvania and her Master of Science in nursing
education from Walden University. She is in the process of completing her
doctorate in nursing practice and educational leadership from Walden.

A certified emergency nurse, Randall-Jones also holds
certificates in advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support,
and trauma nurse core courses. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, she has many years
of experience working in the emergency departments in Californian hospitals as
well as at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. Before coming to
Clark College in 2016, she taught at Mt. San Jacinto Community College in
Menafee, California.

At Clark, Randall-Jones serves on her department’s
accreditation, curriculum, and sub-curriculum committees. She also has served
as a mentor to incoming teaching staff in her department.

“Nursing is a very broad profession in terms of knowledge
base and skill set,” Randall-Jones said. “There are many shades of gray when
the human body is involved, and my teaching approach fosters clinical reasoning
and judgment to help students make evidence-based decisions while in those gray
areas.”

Michelle Roth

Michelle Roth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology
from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and a Master of Arts in teaching English
to speakers of other languages from the University of Washington. She has
previous teaching experience at University of Washington, Portland Community College,
and Mount Hood Community College.

Since coming to Clark College as an adjunct instructor in
2000, Roth has been part of the college’s Transitional Studies department,
teaching in both its English as a Second Language and its Career and Academic
Preparation programs. She helped develop the curriculum for international
students in the college’s Intensive English Language Program, where she served
as department head. Currently, she serves as curriculum development lead for
three Transitional Studies courses and as a member of the Transitional Studies
Academic Standards Committee. Additionally, she is currently president of the
Washington Association for the Education of Speakers of Other Languages
(WAESOL), where she has served as a board member since 2015.

“Learning an additional language as an adult is an inherently
vulnerable act,” said Roth. “Therefore, my first task is to ensure that the
classroom is a place that supports my students’ bravery. Through real,
relevant, communicative activities, students gain the confidence and language
skills to achieve their career and academic goals.”

Dr. Michelle Stoklosa

Dr. Michelle Stoklosa earned her bachelor’s degree in biology
from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania and both her master’s and
doctoral degrees in geology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She has
previous teaching experience at Boise State University, Portland State
University, Marylhurst University, and Clackamas Community College. She
currently teaches in Clark College’s earth and environmental science
department.

At Clark, Stoklosa assisted in the development of the Natural
Sciences Course Alignment Rubric for the Associate of Arts degree, represented
adjunct faculty on College Council, and co-led a workshop at Faculty Focus on
Learning. She currently serves as a faculty advisor for the geology program.

“My goals for students are similar to those I have for myself
as a scientist: that we directly interact with the Earth, develop critical
thinking skills, and ultimately appreciate the Earth and the field of geology,”
she said.

About Clark College

Located in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving up to 12,000 students per quarter, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education. The college currently offers classes at two satellite locations: one on the Washington State University Vancouver campus and one in the Columbia Tech Center in East Vancouver. Additionally, its Economic & Community Development program is housed in the Columbia Bank building in downtown Vancouver.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley. No photo available for Donivee Randall-Jones.

On March 21, two outstanding students represented Clark College at the 23rd annual All-Washington Academic Team ceremony, honoring 59 students from Washington state for their academic excellence and community service.

Top students from 33 of Washington state’s community and technical colleges were honored at the annual ceremony, which was held at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia; each received a medal and a $250 scholarship from KeyBank and became eligible for additional scholarships from private sponsors as well as transfer scholarships from four-year colleges and universities. Angela Kyle was also awarded a $750 scholarship from WSECU. Gov. Jay Inslee, who served as keynote speaker at the event, presented a signed proclamation declaring March 21, 2019 to be All-Washington Academic Team Day. 

The All-Washington Academic Team is a program of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Earlier this month, Alpha Sigma Phi was awarded the highest honor of Most Distinguished Chapter in the Greater Northwest Region, along with four other awards. 

This year’s Clark College All-Washington Academic Team members share many things in common: They both came to Clark in their 30s, after many years away from school; both are members of the college’s Entrepreneur Club; and both have found confidence in their capabilities through their achievement at Clark. Below is a bit about their stories.

Angela Kyle 

After graduating from high school, Angela Kyle went straight to a state university, intent upon becoming a teacher. But when she became pregnant with her first child, Kyle dropped out and put her educational plans on hold. It was only when all four of her children were in school that Kyle felt she could focus on her own goals again. She enrolled at Clark College in 2016. 

Kyle, now 41, said her experience at Clark was dramatically different from what she experienced at a large state university. “At university, they’re so focused on academics,” she said. “You’re kind of on your own. But at Clark College, they’re focused on the student as a whole. It’s so hands-on. Even online instructors share resources with us, from the Penguin Pantry to tutoring.” 

Kyle has taken a mix of face-to-face and online classes to balance her schoolwork, volunteer work, and family obligations. She is on track to graduate this June with both a transfer Associate of Arts and an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration. She is also dual-enrolled in Central Washington University’s online program, working on a bachelor’s degree in social science/interdisciplinary studies with a minor in accessibility studies.  

Kyle’s responsibilities extend beyond her academics. She currently works as a Student Ambassador; serves as social media coordinator for the college’s Entrepreneur Club and as president of Clark’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter; and volunteers for both her local PTA and the All-American Girl Scholarship Program—all while maintaining a 3.63 GPA. While her work has been challenging, Kyle said she was inspired to keep going to be a role model to her children. 

“They see me, and college isn’t scary,” she said. “My oldest son is at Clark now too, through Running Start. None of my kids see college as unattainable.”  

Kyle wants to spread that message beyond her family. She plans to become a college advisor so that she can support other students—especially those, like herself, who are the first in their families to attend college. 

“My whole journey has prepared me for this career,” she says. “I’ve been all the kinds of student: I’ve been the freshman in a dorm straight out of high school, I’ve been the older student with a family coming back to school. Wherever a student might be coming from, I can relate to every part of the path they might be on … and hopefully make their journey a little shorter than mine was.” 

Heather Leasure 

Heather Leasure was sitting in the audience at her cousin’s graduation when the thought struck her: She should go to college herself. “My cousin is 11 years younger than me, and I felt embarrassed that she was getting her bachelor’s degree and I didn’t even have an associate,” she recalled. “So I came home and enrolled in summer quarter.” 

At Clark, Leasure discovered she had leadership and academic strengths she had never recognized within herself. As president of the college’s Entrepreneur Club, she helped start a new event at Clark called Pitch Fest, where budding student entrepreneurs could bring their start-up ideas and compete for a chance at the $25,000 grand prize offered at the University of Washington’s Business Plan Competition. She serves as public relations officer of the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and volunteers as a precinct commission officer in her neighborhood—all while maintaining a 3.82 GPA.  

In her first year at Clark, Leasure was struck a terrible blow that could have derailed her promising start to college: The store where she worked closed and she was laid off. “Financial aid has been the biggest support service for me, because without them I would not have been able to continue attending,” she said.  

Leasure said that she remains committed to continuing her education because she wants a more stable economic future. “I’m 36 and have worked since I was 15 in jobs that I had no future in,” she said. “What motivates me is the will to be better and to do better.” 

Leasure credited her mother as another motivating force in my life. “She didn’t graduate from high school, but she went back later in life and got her GED and an associate degree,” she said. “She is very proud that I returned to school after such a long break and have really come into my own.” 

Soon, Leasure’s mother—and maybe her cousin too—will have another graduation ceremony to attend: Leasure is on track to graduate this June with a transfer Associate of Arts degree. And she doesn’t plan to stop there: She’s planning to transfer to Washington State University Vancouver and earn her bachelor’s degree in business management. 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley