Kindergartners at King Elementary explore copies of The Cat in the Hat donated through the Clark College Bookstore. Photo: Clark College Bookstore/Kaina Barba

On March 2, staff members from the Clark College Bookstore participated in Read Across America Day by reading the Dr. Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat to kindergartners at King Elementary. But these volunteers didn’t just share a love of reading with the children: They also gave each student his or her own copy of the book to take home and keep.

The books–110 in all–were collected during the Bookstore’s eighth annual Book Drive in February. Students, faculty and staff purchased and donated copies of The Cat in the Hat so that each kindergartner at King Elementary would have a brand-new book to take home and share with their families.

“This is a really big deal to the kids, because so many of them come from low-income homes where there’s no money for non-essential items,” says Bookstore buyer Marti Earhart, a coordinator of the book drive. “When we hand each of the kids their own shiny new book, they get so excited!”

This year’s goal of 80 books was easily met just a few days into the two-week book drive, so donors continued to buy and donate Dr. Seuss books for the school’s library. The library at King Elementary received 30 various Dr. Seuss titles for students to check out and enjoy.

Donors of the books were asked to put their name on a nameplate that appeared on the inside front cover of each book. “At some point the kids will realize that the person whose name is in their book wanted to share their own love of reading with them,” says Earhart. “Hopefully this book will give kids confidence to open more books on their own. ”

Read Across America Day commemorates the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

Photos: Clark College Bookstore/Kaina Barba

This article was contributed by Marti Earhart.

The Association of College Employees, otherwise known as ACE, is a group of college employees who work together to raise money for scholarships and textbook assistance for employees. If you are a permanent classified employee or an hourly employee that has worked for at least one year, you qualify for textbook assistance. You can receive up to $80 per quarter/semester, and all we ask in return is that you pay it forward by working 10 hours at any of our fundraisers. Any employee or immediate family member can qualify for the scholarship, which is made available annually. You could receive anywhere from $200 to $500 for use in the next academic year, with the same request that you pay it forward by working 10 hours at any fundraiser.

We can’t do this without your help. The annual ACE book sale is a way to raise funds for ACE scholarships and textbook assistance. The sale, which takes place in Gaiser Student Center, runs 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on March 2 and 3, and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on March 4. You can help in several ways: You can spread the word about the sale, you can donate books to the sale, and you can volunteer your time to work at the sale. Give your fellow employees a hand.

This article was submitted by Linda Tuve.

Prof. Kathleen Perillo receives a Presidential Coin from President Knight at the 2016 State of the College address.

In 2007, Clark College President Bob Knight introduced a new honor at Clark College: the presidential coin.

The coin is given to faculty and staff members who provide exemplary service to Clark students, the college and the community. The honorees are decided by the president and are kept secret until the names are announced–generally on Opening Day in the fall or during the annual State of the College address.

Five Clark College employees received Presidential Coins during his 2016 State of the College address on January 21. They were:

Karen Driscoll, left, was congratulated by her colleagues from Economic & Community Development, Tracy Reilly Kelly and Bonnie Peterson. President Knight praised Driscoll as “a great mentor to so many people both inside and outside the Financial Aid Office.”

Karen Driscoll

President Knight characterized Financial Aid Director Karen Driscoll as “the best financial aid director in the state of Washington.”

Driscoll has earned praised as a leader not only at Clark College, but in the state. She has served as the president, vice president, treasurer, and legislative representative of the Washington Financial Aid Association; represented the state of Washington as the Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators board president; served as president and treasurer of the state’s Financial Aid Council; and is an active member of the State Need Grant Legislative Group representing community colleges.

“She is an approachable and genuine leader and probably the only person I know who likes to read federal financial aid updates over her morning cup of coffee,” said Knight.

Driscoll, who has led Clark’s Financial Aid Department for eight years, is retiring later this year.

Maria Masson receives a round of applause with her Presidential Coin.

Maria Masson

Maria Masson joined Clark College in 2014 as Assistant Director of Human Resources and, in the words of President Knight, “hit the ground running.”

Masson’s role has included providing human resources services tot he college community and leading the college’s benefits team’s efforts to comply with complex and ever-changing regulations. Recently, she was also named the college’s Title IX Coordinator. She has also served the college as an adjunct instructor teaching Spanish.

“She is always willing to help where she is needed and approaches her work with a problem-solving attitude,” said Knight.

Ken Pachico, right, has served as Director of Security & Safety for 12 years.

Ken Pacheco
After a distinguished career in law enforcement in Portland, Ken Pacheco was hired in 2004 as Director of Security & Safety. Pacheco also serves on Clark’s Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Team, its Emergency Management and Planning Committee, as a Title IX investigator, and as the college’s representative on the statewide Safety, Security and Emergency Management Council.

“He can always be counted on to respond quickly to any incident, day or night, and even on weekends,” said Knight. “He is known for his calm, ‘just the facts ma’am’ approach to his job, as well as for being fair-minded in enforcing the College’s policies and regulations.”

Prof. Kathleen Perillo, center, with STEM Coordinator and biology professor Erin Harwood and Dean of STEM Dr. Peter Williams.

Kathleen Perillo

Biology professor Kathleen Perillo began teaching at Clark in 1999 and was awarded tenure in 2002. She presented on biodiversity in 2008 as part of the college’s respected Faculty Speaker Series. She has worked with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in support of western pond turtle recovery activities in the Columbia River Gorge and she is the co-founder and president of the Center for Eco-dynamic Agriculture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting biodiversity in agriculture.

More recently, Perillo has been leading efforts on native-plant restoration on the main campus, as well as the development of a new environmental science degree.

“Most importantly, with members of the college and Ridgefield communities, she is leading the visioning for sustainability efforts at the North County site,” said Knight.

Vanessa Meyer

Congratulations to Vanessa Meyer, recipient of the 2015 Fall Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award.

Meyer is the Secretary Senior in the Behavioral and Social Sciences unit, and is the sole support for both divisions, which encompasses 10 departments, 21 full-time faculty, and 35 adjunct faculty. Vanessa was nominated with input from 23 Clark employees.

Meyer is described by her nominators as “friendly, helpful, efficient, knowledgeable, innovative and committed.” She is known to be a natural collaborator who lends her talents and skill sets to develop strategies that can replace outdated modalities and allow departments to function smoothly.

Nominators commend Meyer for treating everyone with the utmost respect and taking on challenges with humor and grace. As one colleague describes it, “I’ve worked with Vanessa Meyer for over 10 years and her exemplary work ethic has always impressed me. She’s organized, knowledgeable, and very efficient. She effectively meets the goals that are set for her, and completes all tasks in a timely manner. It appears that nothing is beyond her ability to accomplish.”

Congratulations as well to this quarter’s other nominees:

Linda Healy works as Program Support Supervisor for Advising Services and is called the “glue that keeps the office together.” Linda is a caring and compassionate leader who leads by example and is the first to support new projects and initiatives. She engages colleagues and staff in sometimes difficult but important conversations; addresses challenges instead of ignoring them, and is a firm believer in continuous improvement. Healy acts as liaison between departments because she is highly respected and well-liked by her fellow colleagues. As one nominator explains it, “She has a way of bringing people together to get a job done. Linda isn’t just a cooperative spirit, she is the spirit of compassion and good will and she is a pleasure to work with.”

Dan Simonson works for Facilities Services as a Maintenance Mechanic, and is described as an “outstanding team leader for Facilities.” He has a strong work ethic; is committed to whatever job he is assigned to; is never without his tools, and is always willing to help when he can. His nominators admire the quality of his work; his calm, steady demeanor, and find his cost-saving suggestions helpful. Simonson is considered to be efficient, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. One nominator wrote, “He has a kind heart and it shows in his everyday interactions with everyone.”

As Maintenance Mechanic in Manufacturing Technology, Mitch Sott is termed “Resident Mr. Fix It” in the bakery. He is accessible and responsive to their needs, and deemed “indispensable” to the department. Sott is known for quality work and a consistently quick turnaround time for projects. He has saved the department money by being creative and willing to tackle anything asked of him. The tag line in the bakery is “Don’t throw it out, call Mitch. If he can’t fix it, he’ll make a new one.” Sott’s work is not only functional, but also artistic. He is always pleasant and friendly, and he makes his customers feel valued.

Eighty-eight Clark Penguins got up and moving during the month of October for the first ever Walktober Challenge, a physical-activity challenge in which employees competed against the WSU Vancouver Cougs and the Lower Columbia College Red Devils. Some participants hiked, biked, or ran off-campus; others chose to take a fitness class or walk the Penguin Paths on the main campus walkways. Regardless of the activity, all steps added up to earn Clark College second place for the highest step average. Clark may not have taken home the trophy this year, but the college did have the highest number of participants, and collectively logged in 27,734,670 steps. Way to go, Penguins!

A big congratulations to the top three Clark Champions who logged the most steps and were each awarded a prize:

• 1st place at 679,836 steps: Sally Demos, Library
• 2nd place at 663,350 steps: Mark Bolke, Biology
• 3rd place at 647,902 steps: Randy Givens, Nursing

Library and Archives Paraprofessional Sally Demos. Photo courtesy of Sally Demos

Biology professor Mark Bolke. Photo courtesy of Mark Bolke

Nursing professor Randy Givens. Photo courtesy of Randy Givens

Professor Veronica Brock

“This is where I grew up,” says Professor Veronica Brock from her office in O’Connell Sports Complex on Clark’s main campus. “My dad was a professor here, teaching physics and astronomy. I was a student here. I grew up with ‘Penguin blood,’ as we like to say.”

Brock, who recently marked 20 years of teaching at Clark, didn’t intend to follow in her father’s footsteps. After graduating from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania with a Master of Science degree in cardiac rehabilitation and primary prevention, she remained on the East Coast working in cardiac rehabilitation. But gradually she began to realize that she didn’t love the clinical aspects of her work as much as she did teaching patients about their health.

“I’ve always just followed my heart when it came to career and jobs,” Brock says. “Every job I got, I’d say, ‘Oh, I like this aspect of the job—let’s do more of that.’ When I worked in cardiac rehab, I realized my favorite part of my job was the educational element.”

Brock began teaching health and physical education, and when she decided to move back to the Pacific Northwest, taking a position at Clark seemed like a natural fit. “It was a good match for my heart, with this job’s teaching and learning focus,” she says. “And I love the idea that, as an open enrollment institution, we provide an opportunity to everybody. That’s such a cool idea: If you want an education, you can get an education.”

Brock—who teaches health, physical education, fitness trainer, and health and physical education classes—says she loves seeing the changes her students make as they learn to develop new approaches toward their own health.

“In our curriculum, we don’t just want students to change their behavior during the class,” she says. “We want to teach lasting change, and that requires motivation. Motivation is two things: importance and confidence. You have to be able to define why it’s important for you to be doing this, and you have to be able to believe you can do it. If you don’t have motivation, you’re probably not going to stick with any exercise or health practice long-term.”

Brock’s certainly shown long-term motivation to make Clark a stronger institution. She has invested much of herself into Clark—professionally, personally, and financially. She has served on numerous committees, including the Healthy Penguin Nation Committee to promote employee health, and is a regular donor to the Clark College Foundation.

Brock says she began donating to the Foundation when her two children, now teenagers, were enrolled in the college’s Child & Family Studies program as preschoolers, making her family third-generation Penguins.

“My kids are the amazing people they are today because of that program,” she says. “So that really prompted me to give—I could see the program needed support.”

Since then, Brock has donated regularly to the Foundation, which supports capital improvements to the college as well as scholarships and programs to promote academic excellence.

“I like putting my money toward solving problems,” Brock says. “Education is a solution; if you educate the world, the world can change. It’s a very direct way to say, ‘I believe in what I’m doing and I believe in our students.’”

Read Veronica Brock’s Top 10 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

PEBB Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) and Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)

If you wish to enroll in or continue your Medical FSA and/or DCAP, open enrollment is the time to do it. You must enroll or reenroll no later than November 30 for the January 1, 2016 coverage year.

The Medical FSA allows you to:

• Set aside part of your paycheck, before taxes, to cover qualified medical expenses for you and your family members.
• You may set aside as little as $240 or as much as $2,500 during 2016, which will be deducted from each paycheck in equal installments.

The DCAP allows you to:

• Set aside part of your paycheck, before taxes, for child or elder care expenses.
• You may set aside up to $5,000 per household ($2,500 each if married and filing separate tax returns) which will be deducted in equal amounts from each paycheck.

Want to learn more about the FSA and DCAP? Live presentations on November 9, 2015, from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm in PUB 161

Navia Benefit Solutions (formerly Flex-Plan Services) is offering webinars throughout the month of November. To see the webinar schedule, visit the Navia Benefit Solutions website.

In addition, Navia Benefit Solutions will have representatives available at the benefits fairs.

Shine a light on your medical plan options in 2016

Choose the best plan for you and your family – Choosing a medical plan is important. Many people think first about cost and which doctors and hospitals are in the network. There are other things to consider when choosing the plan that is right for you and your family.

Think about these questions as you review the 2016 plan options:

Providers:

• Are the providers I want to see in the plan’s network?

Coordinated Care:

• Will my provider share information that helps the providers work in partnership to make decisions about my health care?
• Will I receive care by providers who are supported by a system with the goal of keeping me healthy and getting me the care I need?

Nurse line, online resources:

• Does the plan have access to a 24/7 nurse line or medical help line for after-hours support or to help me decide whether I need to see a provider?

All medical and dental plans that are currently available in 2015 remain available in 2016.

Skip and Lori Jimerson at Skip’s retirement party

On September 24, Clark College bid a fond farewell to retiring Grounds Manager Skip Jimerson. The Penguin Student Lounge was filled with colleagues who’d worked with Jimerson over his quarter-century at the college.

Jimerson began his career at Clark as a custodian in 1990 and shortly thereafter moved to the grounds division. Once there, his strong work ethic and dedication helped him advance until, in 2008, he was named grounds manager.

Many people stood to share memories of Jimerson, often referring to his famously laconic demeanor. (Indeed, true to character, Jimerson declined to make any public remarks at the party.) “Skip is a quiet leader,” said Clark College President Bob Knight in his remarks. “He doesn’t talk much—he talks with his actions. He cares about this institution.”

Director of Facilities Services Tim Petta said, “In my mind, I’m going to think about you as the college’s Lorax—you speak for the trees.”

Grounds Manager Skip Jimerson and CADD Professor Keith Stansbury share a laugh at Jimerson’s retirement party after 25 years of service. At the party, Director of Facilities Services Tim Petta, not pictured, referenced the quotation on this plaue that reads, “A society grows greeat when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

Jimerson was instrumental in making Clark College officially recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the past five years, as well as in an ongoing effort to plant state trees from all 50 states on the college’s main campus. Colleagues mentioned many other projects he’d helped realize, ranging from outdoor play spaces for Child & Family Studies to work on new facilities like Clark College at Columbia Tech Center and the new STEM Building being built on the main campus. Other colleagues praised him as a manager.

“What I most value is his gentle spirit,” said Director of Career Services Edie Blakley. “Some of our students have less-than-stellar backgrounds. Skip, you’ve always given people a second chance, and that has really touched my heart.”

There was one more colleague who had plenty of praise for him: Lori Jimerson, Skip’s wife of 26 years, who works as a fiscal specialist in Facilities Services. “I’m going to miss him as a coworker, honestly,” she said in between serving slices of cake to the gathered guests. “He’s an excellent colleague. … He’s really put his heart and soul into this place.”

Photos: Clark College/Hannah Erickson

Opening Day is traditionally the occasion for announcing the yearly Exceptional Classified Staff Awards, which recognize two classified employees for their contributions to Clark College. Recipients receive a glass plaque and $1,000, funded through an anonymous donor’s contributions to the Clark College Foundation.

For their “exemplary work performance, outstanding service to the college, a positive and cooperative spirit, and/or special achievements or contributions to the college,” BEECH Unit Operations Supervisor Jeri Kemmer and Facilities Services Maintenance Mechanic Thor Tesdale were named the winners of the 2015-2016 Clark College Exceptional Classified Staff Awards.

Jeri Kemmer

Jeri Kemmer, BEECH Unit Operations Supervisor

Jeri Kemmer is the Unit Operations Supervisor for Basic Education, English, Communication & Humanities (BEECH) at Clark.

The following comment from one of her Secretary Seniors best summarizes Kemmer’s exemplary work performance: “Jeri really does go above and beyond when it comes to working at Clark College. She doesn’t just do her job. She is constantly exploring ways to make everyone’s job easier and she’s been instrumental in many changes that have happened within our unit and across campus. She won’t simply accept the status quo. If there is a problem, she wants to find a solution that benefits everybody.”

In her 19 years of working at Clark, Kemmerhas served on numerous committees at Clark and has attended over 300 hours of professional development training in order to benefit herself, her job, and everyone at Clark. One office assistant wrote, “Jeri’s work ethics are exemplary and she always has Clark’s best interest in mind.  She makes all of us better employees. I love working with her.”

In addition to her work here at Clark, Kemmer runs an international nonprofit called Strong Harvest International with her husband, Rick.

Thor Tesdale

Thor Tesdale, Facilities Services Maintenance Mechanic

Thor Tesdale is a Maintenance Mechanic in Facilities Services and has been with Clark College for more than 15 years.

Nominated with input from 10 Clark employees, Tesdale is described as someone who is “always smiling and willing to problem-solve.” One of his nominators remarked, “One of the things I admire most about Thor is his respect for all individuals. Thor’s personality is inclusive and he desires to work together to achieve the necessary job-related outcomes.”

Another nominator wrote, “His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. He creates a positive work climate.”

Other characteristics attributed to Tesdale’s outstanding work performance include responsiveness, collaboration, efficiency, creativity and communications skills. Nominators describe a colleague who responds promptly to all phone and email messages, is always on time for scheduled meetings, and makes sure all involved individuals understand the decisions that have been made. They say his communication skills are critical to making sure jobs are completed correctly and on time. As one nominator explains, “Even when deadlines loom and tensions mount, Thor’s calm and respectful personality is a beneficial addition to Facilities Services.”

Other finalists for the award were:

• Karmel Baldwin, Secretary Senior, Life Science
• Guisela Eberle, Human Resource Consultant 1, Human Resources
• Ernie Hafso, Custodian 1, Facilities Services
• Jeri Kemmer, Admin Service Manager, BEECH
• Marianne Luther, Secretary Senior, Counseling & Health Center
• Vanessa Meyer, Secretary Senior, Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Gail Robinson, Secretary Senior, eLearning
• Carmen Roman, Program Specialist 2, Advising
• Tia Schmidt, Administrative Assistant 3, Nursing
• Susan Taylor, Program Manager A, International Programs
• Thor Tesdale, Maintenance Mechanic 2, Facilities Services
• Lynn VanHoomissen, Program Support Supervisor 1, Security & Safety
• Heather White, Program Support Supervisor 2, Disability Support Services

The Clark College Foundation instituted the yearly Exceptional Classified Staff and quarterly Classified Staff Excellence awards in 1997 to recognize exceptional staff members. Nominations may be submitted by classified, administrative and exempt staff; faculty; students; alumni; retirees; college trustees; and Foundation directors.

As a member of Team Work Well, Clark College upholds Governor Inslee’s statewide initiative to support healthy lifestyle behaviors for our employees. Research shows that healthier employees are happier employees. With that in mind, we are developing a comprehensive wellness program based on the feedback provided in the wellness survey sent out in May.  Thank you to those of you who participated!  Your input has been a catalyst for this program as the wellness team plans activities, events and learning opportunities for the Clark College Community.

The mission of the Healthy Penguin Nation program is to engage, educate and empower our community members in adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors that will help improve their personal and professional lives. The focus of the program is the “whole-person” and encompasses more than eating and exercise habits. The Healthy Penguin Nation is a holistic program focused on the Six Dimensions of Wellness that studies show contribute to overall well-being:

• Emotional
• Environmental
• Intellectual
• Physical
• Social
• Spiritual

Here are some ways to actively participate in the Healthy Penguin Nation program:

• Visit the Healthy Penguin Nation webpage and educate yourself on the Six Dimensions of Wellness, and access tools and resources for healthier living.
• Complete a confidential, online well-being assessment and receive a customized report with action plan that will help you take steps to improve your health and well-being:
  • PEBB-subscriber employees – visit Smart Health
  • All employees – Visit MHN
• Join the Clark College Thompson Fitness Center and make your health and wellness a priority.
• Share your favorite healthy recipe and/or personal wellness testimonial with the community (send to kferguson@clark.edu).
• Participate in an upcoming wellness event:
  • October – Walktober (walking) Challenge (individual prizes awarded plus a college challenge between Clark, Lower Columbia College and WSU Vancouver campuses!)
  • November – Penguin Wellness Month (Clark Benefits/Wellness Fair, Benefits Open Enrollment, NotMe Diabetes Prevention event, plus an array of educational sessions scheduled at various times and locations for your choosing).
  • January – Biggest Loser Challenge through the Thompson Fitness Center
  • Monthly lunch and learn sessions – topics TBA.

We hope you will join us by participating in the Healthy Penguin Nation program!  Participation is voluntary, but highly recommended for those who are interested in pursuing a healthy lifestyle, who have made some healthy changes and would like support, or those who already lead a healthy lifestyle and would like to enhance and build on their personal wellness commitment.

All levels of health and fitness are welcome!