On May 22, Archer Gallery was filled with visitors for the opening of the 2019 Art Student Annual Exhibition. This event showcases the best artwork produced by Clark art students in the past academic year. Students compete not only for a spot in the show, but also for awards sponsored by local businesses and organizations.
The exhibition is on display through June 15. Archer Gallery is open 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and noon to 5:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The gallery is located in the lower level of the Penguin Union Building on Clark College’s main campus.
Additional photos of the show are available on our Flickr page.
2019 Art Student Annual Award Recipients
Best in Show and Most Ambitious Stevie Hale, “New Mythology” Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore and the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
Best Drawing John Gasaway, “Bling” Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore and Collage Art Supply
Best Ceramics Shirley Morgan, “Boh, Of Course” Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics
Ceramics, 2nd Place Jessica Joner,“Peonies” Sponsored by Clay Art Center
Ceramics, 3rd Place Stephanie Bowen, “Enlightened” Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramics
Best Graphic Design Michael Fulgaro, “Visit Northwest” Sponsored by Artist and Craftsman Art Supply
Best Metal Art Channa Smith, “Ready to Potlatch” Sponsored by MESA at Clark
Best Painting Danielle Truckey, “Portrait of a Girl” Sponsored by Gamblin Paints
Painting, 2nd place Jewel Indino, “Abstract Figure” Sponsored by Liquitext Paint Company
Painting, 3rd place Katie Hyland, “Listening In” Sponsored by Golden Paint Company
Best Photography Keyanna Owen,“Untitled” Sponsored by ProPhoto
Best Photography, Darkroom Michelle Berg, “Big Picture” Sponsored by Blue Moon Camera
Best Photography, Digital Avalon Guerra, “Window Pane” Sponsored by ProPhoto
Photography Award of Distinction T.J. West, “Homeowrk” Sponsored by Blue Sky Gallery
Best Video Hayley Estep, “Woman Not Product” Sponsored by Northwest Film Center
Merit Award Sage Makela, “Album Covers” Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore
Award of Distinction Don Anderson, “A Man Has Many Moods” Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore
Photo: Nick Bremer/Clark College
MESA students engineer possibilities
Clark student Alejandra Magallanes, far left, was part of a group that won second place in a competition for human-based engineering solutions at a recent MESA conference.
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.
Mai Lee Xiong, far left, collaborated on a concept for a medical-translation app at a recent MESA conference.
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
Clark named national welding testing center
Clark’s welding technologies program allows students — and now professional welders seeking national certifications — to demonstrate their skills.
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
Welcome, professors!
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.
Helping student parents
Clark College recently received a $496,800 grant to help low-income parents pursue higher education.
The grant, which will be disbursed over four years, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents in School) program. The bulk of it will be used to subsidize child care in the college’s Child and Family Studies program for Pell Grant-eligible student-parents. About one-quarter of Clark students have dependent children, and 43 percent are low-income.
“We are thrilled to be able to take this step forward in serving our student-parents with the CCAMPIS Student Parent Support Program,” said Clark College Child & Family Studies Director Michele Volk. “We know that child care can be a barrier for many people who would like to go to college, so having safe, high-quality, and affordable early-childhood care and education right here on campus can help these students succeed and create brighter futures for their whole families.”
According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, only 33 percent of students with children complete a degree or certificate within six years; for single mothers, the rate is 28 percent. One study showed that student-parents who used their college’s on-campus child care services were more than three times as likely to graduate on time as those who did not. At a time when many colleges across the country are shutting down their child-care centers, this grant will allow Clark College to expand its services to more students.
Founded during World War II as a parents’ cooperative, Clark College’s Child & Family Studies program has evolved into a full-scale child care center providing care to children ages 12 months to 5 years. Serving more than 123 families per quarter, it also serves as a learning lab for the college’s Early Childhood Education program.
Student parents can receive CCAMPIS-funded subsidies through an application process and could begin receiving subsidized child care as soon as the beginning of winter quarter on January 7. CFS hopes to serve 40 student families during the first year of the grant.
Clark’s Pharmacy Tech ranked No. 1
Pharmacy Technician students in the Columbia Credit Union Simulation Pharmacy
Clark College’s Pharmacy Technician program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation by Washington Monthly in its annual “College Rankings” issue.
The issue, which is published in September, traditionally ranks four-year colleges and universities based on a range of criteria. However, this year marks the first time the Washington, D.C.-based magazine ranked vocational certificate programs, using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s “gainful employment” database.
Clark College’s Pharmacy Technician program is based in the college’s location at Washington State University Vancouver. Students learn in the program’s state-of-the-art Columbia Credit Union Simulation Pharmacy, as well as in externship placements with local employers. Local employers were also consulted in building the program’s curriculum, so that graduates learn the skills needed in today’s health care marketplace.
“We were already confident of our Pharmacy Technician program’s reputation in this region, but are tremendously proud to see its excellence recognized on a national level,” said Brenda Walstead, dean of business and health sciences. “Our faculty work hard to create a program that produces the kind of skilled technicians that modern pharmacies need.”
Clark College computer technology instructor Bruce Elgort recently received grants from the national organizations Teach Access and the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT), as well as the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), to incorporate accessibility principles into computer science curriculum.
Elgort was just one of 13 faculty members across the nation to receive this grant and the only instructor from a community college to do so. He plans to use the funds to enhance his current curriculum so that it expands its teaching of Universal Design principles.
“We teach accessibility in our HTML classes—you know, ‘add a description to all your images so people using screen-reader technology know what they are,’” Elgort said. “It’s time to start taking accessibility further. It’s time to create forms for people with cognitive disabilities, or physical disabilities that go beyond visual impairment.”
The topic is deeply personal for Elgort, who is visually impaired himself. “I am a user of accessibility,” he said. “I am someone who is challenged as a user of technology.”
Funded by Teach Access and PEAT, the Teach Access Curriculum Development Award totals $5,000. The SBCTC is matching that grant with an additional $5,000. Elgort plans to use the funds to develop curriculum enhancements over the summer, and have them ready to share with other faculty in the fall.
“We’re extremely fortunate to have a faculty member like Bruce working at Clark College. His strong commitment to ensuring everyone can use technology is commendable. With the Teach Access and PEAT grant, which SBCTC is matching, Bruce can impact an entire industry by making sure future web developers are equipped to develop accessible technology as soon as they enter the field,” said Jess Thompson, program administrator for accessible technology initiatives at SBCTC.
About Bruce Elgort
Bruce Elgort began his career as an electrical engineer and then moved into the world of enterprise information technology. He was responsible for designing and developing collaborative computing solutions to serve global businesses. Elgort also started one of the largest open-source communities for IBM’s Collaboration Software division. He is a popular speaker at conferences and industry events. As an entrepreneur, he created the award-winning IdeaJam idea-management software. Elgort began teaching at Clark College in 2013 and has earned the college’s prestigious Exceptional Faculty Award in 2014 and 2018.
About Clark College
Located in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving more than 12,000 students per quarter, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s oldest 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.
About Teach Access
Teach Access is a unique collaboration among members of higher education, the technology industry and advocates for accessibility, with a shared goal of making technology broadly accessible by infusing accessibility into higher education, with enhanced training and collaborations with people with disabilities. Teach Access includes members from leading tech companies, academic institutions and disability advocacy organizations and other non-profit institutions. Teach Access operates as a fiscal sponsorship fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF). To learn more visit teachaccess.org or email info@teachaccess.org.
About the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is led by a governor-appointed board and provides leadership, advocacy, and coordination for Washington’s system of 34 public community and technical colleges. Each year, about 374,000 students train for the workforce, prepare to transfer to a university, gain basic math and English skills, or pursue continuing education.
Penguins shine
The skies above Sleep Country Amphitheater filled with heavy gray clouds on June 21, but nothing could dampen the bright spirits of the more than 700 students participating in Clark College’s 2018 Commencement ceremony.
Members of the college’s 82nd graduating class encompassed every imaginable background, age bracket, and life goal. Approximately 75 of them wore the light blue robes that indicated they were celebrating their high school diploma or GED completion; another two dozen or so wore the white robes reserved for those receiving their Bachelor of Applied Science degree. The class included a record 476 Running Start graduates who were graduating from high school and college simultaneously; meanwhile, other graduates were old enough to have children of their own–and, in at least a couple cases, dressed them in matching royal-blue robes so that they could cross the stage as a family.
All told, more than 2,300 degrees and certificates were conferred upon the Class of 2018.
As the ceremony began, however, it became clear that certain themes held these graduates together. When President Bob Knight asked all graduates who had worked while attending Clark to stand, almost the entire class rose to their feet. When he next asked the first-generation college graduates to rise, the result was only slightly less unanimous.
Valeria Flores
Student speaker Valeria Flores spoke about her experiences as the first in her family to attend college. “Being a first-generation student in college is like learning a foreign language,” she said. “You don’t become fluent overnight. I had no idea where to begin. I did not know that I could apply for FAFSA. I didn’t know how to register for classes, or even how to find my classes.”
Flores went on to say that she did eventually find her path through college, and that working at the college’s child care facility had led her to decide on a career as a speech pathologist, a path that would require her to continue her education to a master’s degree.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker, retired Evergreen Public Schools superintendent John D. Deeder, spoke of his own experiences as a first-generation college student. “I recall that 51 years ago tonight, I finished my junior college career in Couer d’Alene, Idaho,” he said. “It was a big deal, because I was the first in my family to ever graduate beyond high school. It opened so many doors–I can’t tell you how important this night is for you.”
John Deeder
Deeder also spoke about the importance of education in broadening people’s perspectives. “I really believe we need to be more tolerant, we need to be more inclusive, we need to be better listeners, we need to be accepting of differences in every way–cultural, religious, political, social, etcetera,” he said. “If we do that, this society and the world that you’re going to lead in the next few years will be a better place, and that is critical.”
As is traditional, the ceremony was occasion to announce two major awards. Early in ceremony, President Knight announced the names of the recipients of the 2018 Exceptional Faculty Awards: computer technology instructor Bruce Elgort; English as a Second Language professor Sara Gallow; music professor Richard Inouye; mathematics professor Dr. Kanchan Mathur; and addiction counselor education instructor Don Wissusik. Later during the ceremony, he announced that graduate Grace Moe was the recipient of the 2018-2019 Community College Presidents’ Award in Honor of Val Ogden. This annual scholarship is given to a Clark College graduate who demonstrates leadership potential, a commitment to community service, and academic achievement. The scholarship award provides full-time tuition at WSUV and is renewable for one additional year, essentially providing full tuition to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Grace Moe
Thanks to the Clark College Foundation, scholarship finalists Chad Lipka and Mckenna Pozsgai also received $1,000 each to attend WSUV.
The ceremony ended with the traditional sounding of bagpipes. And as for those looming storm clouds? By the time the last graduate had crossed the stage, they’d broken up to reveal patches of golden sunshine. And when the graduates left the amphitheater and headed toward what their new futures held, they walked into the last golden rays of a gentle sunset, with the cheers of family and faculty greeting them on every side.
Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley. To see more photos, visit our Flickr album.
‘I did it!’
Alina Gonzalez, left, and Madison Moore, center, stand with a classmate as they wait to receive their high school diplomas at Clark College’s 2018 Commencement.
At 22 years old, Madison Moore was ready to receive her high school diploma at Clark College’s 82nd Commencement ceremony—beyond ready, really. She knew that not having graduated from high school had held her back in job searches and other opportunities.
Now she was just moments away from entering the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater so she could walk across the stage and be recognized for her achievement. There was only one thing to fear: “As long as I don’t fall, I’m good,” she said, laughing.
“If you do, it’s OK,” said her friend Alina Gonzalez. “You just get up and keep going.”
It was apt advice for this graduating class. Each robed figure waiting to enter the amphitheater—more than 700 in all—contained their own story of resilience and endurance, whether they were earning a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree.
Gonzalez had needed both qualities herself to earn her second high school diploma, this timein a second language (her first had been earned in her native Mexico). “The English was hard for me,” she said. “I can tell you, there were times when I cried, it was so hard. But you know, I think I’m going to be graduating with a 4.0 [GPA].”
Not only that, both of her daughters would also be graduating that night with associate degrees that they had earned through Running Start. More than 470 members of the Class of 2018 were graduating through that program, which allows high school students to earn college credit and, in some cases, enter four-year universities as rising juniors.
Emily Hain, who began taking classes at Clark while still in high school, and Elizbeth Browne, who simply said it had “been a while” since she was last in school, take a moment to rest before graduating at Clark’s 2018 Commencement.
Not everyone took the fast lane through college, however. For Maegen Davidson, whose graduation cap was adorned with the message “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” the journey had taken four years. Because she’d had to work while attending Clark, she’d needed extra time to earn her associate degree in Medical Office Technician and certificates in Medical Reception and in Medical Billing and Coding—and, technically, she still had a couple more classes to take over the summer, though she was being allowed to walk with her classmates.
“It feels so good to know I’m right there,” she said, pinching her fingers together to show how close she was to earning her degree.
“Yeah, she’s only been posting about it on Facebook like 20 times a day,” cracked a friend standing beside her.
“Well, hey!” laughed Davidson. “Some things are worth making a big deal about!”
For others, simply getting to college had taken a while. Originally, Elizbeth Browne had come to Clark just to learn some American Sign Language to help her in her work with toddler-age foster children. But once at the college, she decided instead to pursue an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Now she was wrestling with how to get her honors and Clark tassels to both hang from her mortarboard cap. After graduation, she said, she planned to become a “traveling granny nanny.”
Browne was not the only graduate who was older than what’s frequently considered “college age.” Wayne Schmasow was a Vietnam veteran earning his fourth college degree, this one in network technology. “I think I might come back to earn a certificate in Network Plus,” he added.
Daughter-and-father team Edna Stultz and Wayne Schmasow get ready to graduate at Clark’s 2018 Commencement.
Beside him stood his daughter, Edna Stultz, who was earning her associate degree in pharmacy technician leadership. Both had woven feathers into their regalia to honor their Native American heritage. As she stood waiting to graduate, Stultz was approached by her daughter, who took a string of beads from her to give to a friend who was also graduating.
For Stultz and Schmasow, Clark truly was a family affair: Schmasow’s wife (and Stultz’s mother) Anna Schmasow works at the college and earned her degree there as well. Stultz said that along with her family support, she appreciated the support provided by her program’s cohort model.
“Having the same classmates for three quarters was amazing and helpful,” she said. “Everybody wanted you to make it.”
Stultz also appreciated the opportunities to put what she was learning into practice, both through Clark’s simulated pharmacy and through externships. “The hands-on experience, that was a fantastic opportunity,” she said.
Raymond Gutierrez, far left poses with some Diesel Technology classmates at Clark College’s 2018 Commencement.
Raymond Gutierrez also enjoyed getting to learn on-the-job skills and work with cutting-edge equipment in his Diesel Technology program. He fondly recalled the wireless helmets he and his classmates had worn that allowed them to communicate while working on heavy equipment.
Gutierrez came to Clark after the birth of his child. “I had a baby, so I had to start thinking about a career,” said the former auto-body and -paint worker. “I went to diesel because so many things are diesel these days, there are lots of jobs.”
Gutierrez said he appreciated how much his family supported him while he pursued his degree. “I’m going to be the first in my family to graduate from college, so they were really behind me,” he said. “It became a priority for me.”
Now that he was almost about to walk across the stage as a Clark graduate, Gutierrez said, “I feel good. I feel happy. You know, people say, ‘Oh, if I can do it, you can do it,’ and you think ‘whatever,’ right? But you know what? I did it!”
Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley. For more photos from the 2018 Commencement, see our Flickr album.
A student leader with community roots
Grace Moe is congratulated by President Bob Knight at the 2018 Commencement ceremony.
This year’s recipient of the Community College Presidents’ Award in Honor of Val Ogden was Grace Moe, who graduated with an Associate of Arts transfer degree. “She has shown an exemplary work ethic, participating in student government and volunteering with community organizations while maintaining a high GPA,” said Clark College President Robert K. Knight in announcing the scholarship during the college’s 2018 Commencement ceremony.
Moe came to Clark College through the Running Start program, which allows high school students to earn college credit. A first-generation college student, Moe has excelled at Clark, serving as the president of the Associated Students of Clark College (student government) and earning a cumulative GPA of 3.82. In addition, she has volunteered with Friends of Trees, the Clark County Food Bank, and New Heights Church.
Moe, 17, says that this scholarship will allow her to complete her bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing in two years, when she will be 19 years old; because her parents are unable to financially contribute to her college tuition, without the scholarship she would have had to attend WSUV part-time in order to earn enough to cover the costs. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she intends to spend a year volunteering with her church before beginning a career at a local business.
“My roots are definitely ingrained in this area,” said Moe, who has lived in Vancouver her whole life. “I plan to give back to the community that raised me, by working in the area so that I can continue to volunteer and serve for Vancouver.”
Because Moe was already sitting on stage during the Commencement ceremony in her capacity as ASCC president, Knight invited her to the podium as he announced the scholarship. “You’ve been a wonderful leader and I know we’re going to hear a lot more about you,” he said.
