Zach Lattin, Clark College’s IT accessibility coordinator, engaged the audience with his thought-provoking presentation (including playing his guitar!) at the winter Students with Disabilities Luncheon on March 6. Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the free, public event provided both meaningful conversation and a delicious free lunch. This time, students from the small-group communications class served the food.

Lattin, who tests software for accessibility standards and teaches students how to use assistive devices, spoke plainly about the advances and challenges of making a college education accessible for all.  

Drawing from his own experiences navigating accessibility challenges as a student at the University of Washington, Lattin emphasized the importance of equitable access in higher education.

He said, “I didn’t always have access at UW.”

Pushing Back on Inspiration Porn

Lattin discussed how historically, the stories of people with disabilities have been used for “inspiration porn”—a term coined by disability activists Stella Young and Lydia X. Brown.  

The three types of “inspiration” stories identified as “inspiration porn” include:

• Disabled person does something extraordinary, and it’s presented as inspiring because the person is disabled, not because 99% of the general population could not have achieved it.
• Disabled person does something mundane, and it’s presented as inspiring because it’s assumed disabled people are incapable of doing anything at all.
• Disabled person does something not overtly negative to disabled person, and it’s presented as inspiring because it’s supposedly magnanimous and saint-like to be nice to someone with a disability.

He said, “It’s about framing how our stories are told… If a story of yours is being framed in one of those three ways, feel free to push back on it.”

Understanding Models of Disability

Lattin discussed the issues with the charity model of disability and the medical model of disability, and talked about why we should push toward the social model of disability.

• In the charity model, people with disabilities are treated as objects of charity and pity.
• In the medical model, people with disabilities are viewed as sick with a need to be cured.
• Meanwhile, the social model focuses on how systemic and environmental issues create the primary barrier to success for people who are disabled.

On the social model, he said, “I personally believe this is what we should be moving towards.”

Lattin added, “I personally do not view my blindness as something to be cured. I see it as a lifestyle, a way that I exist, and part of my identity.”

Challenging Assumptions

To illustrate the importance of social models of disability, Lattin shared a story about his team testing the accessibility of automotive software in Clark’s mechanic shop. He asked the luncheon attendees what percent of the software they thought was accessible.

The guesses were similar: “None! Five percent!”

Surprisingly, Lattin said, the software was 95% accessible. “This tells me that the barriers to access for automotive are not technology—it’s other barriers.” It challenged even his own assumptions.

He used to have techno-utopian attitudes, believing that technology would solve access problems. But now he believes “we need to be doing more than solving problems with technology… We need to address systemic barriers.”

Ending on a High Note

Lattin gave a mini concert, playing his guitar and singing an original song. Laughing, Lattin explained the song was written for two folks on a bus who, speaking in Spanish, thought he couldn’t understand them when they said demeaning things about his disability. When they both arrived at the courthouse, they found out that Lattin would be their translator.

Further Reading

Lattin suggested multiple texts for further reading, including:

• “Disabled people are not your feel-good back-pats” by Lydia X. Z. Brown
• Models of Disability Tip Sheet from Mobility International

Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI):

• In-person: Diversity Center, Gaiser Hall 214
• Phone: 360-992-2292
• Email: diversity@clark.edu
• Website: www.clark.edu/cc/diversity

Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent

More than 30 women veterans from various military branches gathered at Clark College on March 4 for an inaugural listening session designed to cultivate connections, share their struggles, and address their unique needs.

Hosted in partnership with the Clark College Veterans Center of Excellence, Clark County Veterans Assistance Center and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, the event provided a space for open dialogue, with additional participation from veterans via Zoom.

The idea for the session emerged from last fall’s Veterans Resource Community Fair, where women veterans voiced the need for dedicated spaces to share their experiences and available resources, and access support.

Additionally, representatives from various Veterans Affairs departments joined via Zoom to listen to the women and to offer information about available resources.

Veteran Sonja Wood, who works at Clark County Veterans Assistance Center, was one of the organizers. She said, “For four or five years, I wanted to do a women’s symposium where women vets could meet other women vets in their community and talk about issues women vets have faced.”

The organizers listed issues experienced by women veterans, from believing they do not have a voice or a place at the table to knowing what benefits and services might be available to them and to their families.

Wood added, “Our goal is to listen to you, and work to find solutions and resources.”

Veteran Veronica Roberts, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, said, “Knowledge is power. Some women who served in the military do not believe they are veterans. They do not realize they qualify for benefits.”

She stood at the front of the room and encouraged women veterans to share their stories, ask their questions, and find their voices.

Donna Larson, Associate Director of the Veterans Center of Excellence at Clark College, said, “I am so pleased that so many women veterans participated in this opportunity to build community and share useful resources across all service branches and ages.”

Larson, who is a veteran, added, “It was fulfilling to witness the connections formed at this first community roundtable. I look forward to our next gathering and anticipate this group of women veterans will continue to forge relationships, build community, and help one another find resources that can enrich their lives.”

Learn more

• Veterans Center of Excellence at Clark College
• Clark County Veterans Assistance Center
• Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

We were honored to welcome around 50 Black/African American high school students to Clark College on February 20. Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the event provided students with a welcoming space to explore higher education pathways, connect with mentors, and take the first steps toward their future.

Held during Black History Month, the Roots to Excellence event introduced local Black students and students of African descent to Clark as a pathway to higher education and future careers. Students also learned the necessary steps to enroll at Clark.

The event was organized by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, NAACP, ACT-SO Vancouver, Vancouver Public Schools, and Evergreen Public Schools.  

We were pleased to have students from Union High School, Henrietta Lacks High School, and Fort Vancouver High School join us to celebrate Black History Month and learn about exciting opportunities for their future.

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vanessa Neal said, “These events are so affirming for the students who attend. It’s so important to be in community and create spaces of belonging for all, especially those who are most historically marginalized. Those who attended shared that they were thankful for the opportunity to engage in this event. Moreover, students felt seen.”  

Sitting at tables in Gaiser Student Center, the high school students listened to inspiring messages from Dr. Edwards, who gave a warm welcome to the high school students. Additionally, students heard messages from Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vanessa Neal and Vice President of Instruction Dr. Terry Brown. Tanisha Harris delivered a message from Senator Maria Cantwell and a representative from the Portland Trailblazers shared valuable information about job opportunities.

The event was highlighted by Erin Jones’ powerful keynote address, “Roots to Excellence: A Journey to Clark College.” Jones is a teacher, speaker, and the author of Bridge to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing. Jones also spoke at Clark during Staff Development Days in August 2024.

We were also thrilled to have MarcusAntonio Gunn, who performed the Black Anthem, Lift Ev’ry Voice. The history of the song, often referred to as “The Black National Anthem.” The lyrics were written in 1900 by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson; his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, composed the music.

Additionally, students had an enriched experience engaging with the Anasi Beat Drums who performed traditional dances and songs from Ghana, West Africa, and the wobble dance. The students truly immersed themselves in the performance, with many participating in the dance.

Delicious soul food was catered by Ja’Das Soulful Eatz. Following lunch, students had a guided walking tour of the campus.

Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ODEI is committed to serving all students, with a focus on systemically non-dominant groups (Jenkins, 1995-present) as they navigate Clark College. We help foster and retain a diverse college community, which includes students, faculty, and staff.

Clark College’s goal of fostering a social and equitable college community is in part directed by the State (SBCTC), which has charged all community and technical colleges to lead with racial equity. ODEI is committed to serving people from systemically non-dominant populations as they navigate Clark College by helping to foster and retain a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff.

Our office supports individuals with their academic, personal, and professional development, as well as provides training and educational resources for all members of the college community around diversity, inclusion, power, privilege, inequity, social equity, and social justice.

Learn more: Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (clark.edu)

Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent

Getting the beautiful native wildflowers that bloom across campus in spring requires the help of many hands to spread seeds.

Despite rescheduling due to snowy weather, volunteers from throughout Clark College donned boots, gloves, and warm clothing to sow wildflower seeds in the cold at several bee garden locations on campus on February 19 and 20. Even the softball team organized to come out.

They sowed a variety of native seeds including yarrow, camas, lupine, Oregon sunshine, Clarkia, checker mallow, blue-eyed Mary, western burnet, and desert parsley. The gardens receiving fresh seeds this year are the ones that required re-tilling. Most of the time, the wildflowers will self-seed, leaving seeds on the ground to grow the following year.

Steven Clark, Bee Campus Project Manager, said “I love having volunteers because while bees are wonderfully self-sufficient, this is our opportunity to help them to be happy in our gardens. We broadcast the seeds by hand and it’s a fun activity to do here and to do in your own yard.”

Enjoy strolls across campus and see the Bee Campus gardens from late May to early July, peaking in June, following the flowering of the Shirofugen cherry trees in April.

Map of Bee Campus gardens

Certified Bee Campus

In April 2023, Clark College earned certification as a Bee Campus affiliate, becoming the fifth college in Washington to earn that distinction. A Bee Campus USA affiliate is a college campus that includes a bee habitat.

In the spring of 2023, students, staff, visitors, and, importantly, bees, saw native flowers sprouting up in gardens across campus. These flowers and natural areas where bees can make nests and lay eggs are helping Clark establish this bee habitat. Clark College—and other Bee Campus USA affiliates—show that the built environment (such as campuses, neighborhoods, city parks, and even roadsides) can feature a thoughtful design that allows bees to thrive in shared areas.

Learn more at Clark’s Bee Campus webpage here.

Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent

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Have you ever wanted to dance Bollywood style in a flash mob? Now’s your chance!

The International Day planning committee is offering a free Bollywood dance lesson with Portland-based instructor, Poorna Sridhara. In this session, you’ll learn basic dance moves to a vibrant Bollywood song — so that you can hit the dance floor with confidence and join the fun in a flash mob-style performance on Thursday when we celebrate International Day. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear so that you can move around freely and come ready to dance and have some fun!

Bollywood Dance Lesson (Free!)

• Monday, February 24 from noon to 1 p.m.
• Gaiser Hall, Room 213
• Learn the moves to a lively, upbeat Bollywood routine with Poorna Sridhara!
• Limited space — first come, first served.

What is Bollywood dance?

Bollywood dance is a colorful and theatrical style that blends traditional Indian dance with contemporary Western influences. Known for its expressive movements and high energy, this dance style is a hallmark of Indian films, commonly known as Bollywood movies. Sample Bollywood dance here.

Both the Bollywood dance lesson and International Day are free events open to the entire college community.  Don’t miss out on the fun!

International Day

Thursday, February 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (see estimated schedule below)
Gaiser Student Center

Presented by International Programs, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Clark’s World Languages program

Enjoy the following fun, engaging, and FREE activities:

• Free food from around the world!
• Henna tattoos
• Interactive dance demonstrations: Bollywood, Peruvian, Cumbia, and Samba
• Info on clubs, programs, and community partners
• Chinese drummers and dragons demonstration
• Study Abroad information
• Language Lab
• Giveaway prizes
• More!

About International Day

International Day is a highlight of International Education Week, a global celebration of the benefits of international education and cultural exchange. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education promotes programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from around the world to study, learn, and exchange experiences.

Learn more

• Check out the International Day Facebook event page. Help spread the word!
• Questions? Email international@clark.edu

The sixth annual Northwest Regional Equity Conference (NWREC), hosted by Clark College’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from February 12-14, exceeded expectations—cultivating compelling conversations, powerful learning, meaningful connections, and the deep, intentional dialogue that occurred throughout the event.

For the first time, the conference featured a full day of in-person sessions in addition to virtual sessions, responding to past attendee feedback and creating new opportunities for engagement. Over three days, more than 400 participants took part in thought-provoking presentations and workshops designed to advance equity and inclusion in our communities.

Next year’s NW Regional Equity Conference is scheduled for February 11-13, 2026.

Ijeoma Oluo’s keynote: Make connections to do this hard work

On the opening day of the conference, attendees gathered in the Gaiser Student Center to listen to keynote speaker Ijeoma Oluo, who presented “Be a Revolution.” It is the title of her most recent book. Its subtitle is “How Everyday People are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can Too.” For more than an hour, the rapt audience listened as Oluo provided encouragement and practical advice woven together with her stories.

Some excerpts:

Oluo began: “I know it’s a tough time to be doing equity work in education. We have to keep fighting because not only are our educators showing up, but so are our students.”

She encouraged educators to create spaces of safety for students and teach students how to be in community with each other.

Recalling an earlier conversation with poet Saul Williams, he told her, “Not everyone wants to be alive during a revolution. Some people don’t want to fight.”

Oluo said, “It’s important to know our history. We have in our blood and bones the making of revolution. We fight systems, but we have to find our successes in the people we’re fighting for. Make connections with people who are doing equity work.”

She added, “Remember what you’re fighting for. It’s so easy to be consumed by what we’re fighting against.”

Stating that systemic racism robs us of time, she said, “Now that racism is really at the doorstep of everyone, it’s suddenly an emergency. It’s important that we take this deeper. We have to start building accountability. It’s important to recognize how exhausting this work can be.”

Oluo referenced the 381-day Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott (December 1955-December 1956) that began with Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. She asked the audience to imagine how exhausting it must have been for those who showed up for more than a year to protest racial segregation—and stopped riding the bus and instead walked everywhere. What would have happened in the civil rights movement if the protesters had given up because the work was too hard?

“How do we keep going?” she asked and then offered this practical advice: “I realized that I had to start treating my mental health as part of my job. When I start planning for my own care, I do better work. We’re going to have to treat our care as part of the work.”

Oluo said, “The work was always going to be hard. The systems were built this way. At times like this, hopelessness is a privilege. But my father survived genocide. What does hopelessness mean when I am the walking, living dream of my ancestors? I want more for us than just struggle. We must have struggle, but we also must have joy, care, connection, love.”

She encouraged people to seek community: “Invite people to join you in this work. We survive by working together. We share resources. We protect each other. We’re going to need each other in these times ahead.”

Learn more about Oluo here.

Keynote Addresses from Virtual Sessions

Thursday virtual fireside chat: Dr. Bettina Love, author and William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Vanessa Neal facilitated an engaging dialogue with Dr. Love about various aspects of her New York Times best-selling book, Punished for Dreaming. Learn more about Dr. Love here.

Friday virtual keynote: “JT” Jasmin Marie Mageno Torres presented “Beats of Liberation: Hip Hop, Education, and Decolonizing My Story.” JT advocates for equity for students at West Valley College in Saratoga, California.

Colleges/educational institutions that presented workshops included:

• Ball State University
• Bellevue College
• Cascadia College
• Clark College
• Clover Park Technical College
• Columbia Basin College
• Columbia University
• Edmonds College
• Highline College
• Lane Community College
• Lewis & Clark College
• Lower Columbia College
• Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
• Oregon Health & Science University
• Pierce College
• Portland Community College
• Portland Public Schools
• Renton Technical College
• Seattle Colleges
• Shoreline Community College
• South Seattle College
• Tacoma Community College
• University of Washington
• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
• Washington State Diversity and Equity Officers Commission
• Washington State University
• West Valley College
• Western Washington University

Workshop presenters represented included:

• BJS Consulting
• Clark County Public Health
• Crown & Heart Healing
• Co3 Consulting, LLC
• DAWN
• Education Policy Improvement Center
• Kaiser Permanente
• Love and Justice Consulting, LLC
• Me Out Loud, LLC
• Multnomah County
• Museum of Nature
• NAACP
• Parfait Bassalé Consulting
• PeaceHealth Hospice
• Share the Flame
• Story Spark Collective
• Washington Student Achievement Council
• Whatcom County
• Whatcom WAVES
• Wild Iris Consulting, LLC
• With the End in Mind, LLC

Thanks to these conference sponsors:

• Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
• Clark College
• CareOregon
• College Spark Washington
• Oregon Department of Transportation
• PeaceHealth

Learn more

• Access the complete Conference Agenda
• NWREC on the web: NW Regional Equity Conference (clark.edu)
• 2026 NWREC is scheduled for February 11-13, 2026

If you’re a fan of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Lurch, Cousin Itt, and Thing, you’re in for a treat. The Addams Family is coming to Clark College’s Decker Theatre. The Addams Family, a Broadway musical comedy, will be presented at Clark College on February 28, March 1, 6, 7, and 8. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

Summary: The Addams Family, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice wrote the book. Andrew Lippa wrote the music and lyrics for the songs “When You’re an Addams,” “Wednesday’s Growing Up,” “One Normal Night,” “Tango de Amor,” and many others.

Decker Theatre Crew

• Dr. Gene Biby, program director, oversees all elements of the season’s productions.
• Lisa Conklin-Bishop is directing this production.
• Mark Owsley, technical director, oversees all technical elements in every production.
•  Kyra Sanford is the scenic designer, scene shop foreman, and scenic artist.
•  Galatia France is the costume designer.

 “This show has been on our radar for a couple of years. We felt this was a great time to produce this show, given the popularity of the television show, ‘Wednesday,’” said Biby. “We had also chosen two rather serious plays as our fall and spring shows and wanted a light-hearted comedy for the winter quarter.”

He is correct about the popularity of the Wednesday series on Netflix, which is among the most-watched series on the streaming service. The Addams Family has been popular since cartoonist Charles Samuel Addams introduced his eccentric, macabre characters to readers of The New Yorker in the 1930s. The Addams Family evolved into a 1964 television series with a catchy theme song (see the lyrics at the end of this story), and then spun off into animated TV programs, theatrical films, video games, and a Broadway musical.

Clark College’s Decker Theatre is one of more than 200 theatrical productions of the musical in 2025 throughout the U.S. and also in Canada, Cambodia, Italy, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Theatre in Frost Arts Center on Clark’s main campus. Please enter through the front entrance, and go through the lobby, and the theatre entrance is located in the southeast corner of the courtyard.

Tickets:

• General admissions: $12
• Senior Citizens (60+): $10
• Clark students, faculty, and staff: Free by providing Clark ID

Reserve your tickets here.

Learn more: https://www.clark.edu/academics/programs/dept/theatre/season.php

The Addams Family: Fun Facts

Origin: The Addams Family characters were created in the 1930s by American cartoonist Charles Samuel Addams who created a series of 150 stand-alone single-panel comics that featured a cast of macabre characters who became known as the Addams Family. About half of his comics were published in the New Yorker over 50 years until his death in 1988.

Franchise Timeline includes:

Television

• Original TV series, 1964-1966: The Addams Family TV series, based on Charles Addams’ characters, aired for two seasons, with all 64 episodes filmed in black and white. The lead of Gomez Addams was played by John Astin; Morticia Addams was played by Carolyn Jones.
• Animated TV series: The New Addams Family (1973) and The Addams Family (1998-1999) both produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired on Saturday mornings.
• The Netflix series, Wednesday (2022) stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams.

Theatrical films

• Series of live-action theatrical films, the 1990s: The Addams Family (1991); Addams Family Values (1993); Adams Family Reunion (1998), all starring Raul Julia as Gomez, Angelica Houston as Morticia, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, and Christina Ricci as Wednesday.
• Animated theatrical films: The Addams Family (2019) and The Addams Family 2 (2021)

Broadway musical: A musical comedy adaptation, The Addams Family, opened on Broadway in 2010.  It starred Nathan Lane as Gomez Addams and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia Addams. It closed on December 31, 2011, after 35 previews and 722 performances.

Video games: At least seven video games based on The Addams Family released between 1989 and 2022 on various game consoles

The Addams Family Trivia:

Q: What is Wednesday Addams’ middle name?

A: Friday

Q: Which Oscar Award-winning actress provided the voice of the character Pugsley in the 1973 animated TV series The Addams Family?

A: Jodie Foster

Q. Can you sing the Addams Family Theme Song from the 1964 TV series?

The Addams Family Theme Song (This song is not in the musical production to be performed at Clark College.)

Composer Vic Mizzy wrote and arranged the theme for the 1964 “The Addams Family” TV series. Mizzy was a longtime composer for Hollywood films and television programs. The song’s arrangement was dominated by a harpsichord and a bass clarinet, and featured finger snaps as percussive accompaniment. Regardless of the quality of your voice, finger snaps are required. Sing along to the original theme song here

The Addams Family theme song (1964)

They’re creepy and they’re kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They’re all together ooky
The Addams family

Their house is a museum
When people come to see ’em
They really are a screa–um
The Addams family

Neat…Sweet…Petite…

So, put a witch’s shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We’re gonna play a call on
The Addams family

Chishayla Kimmons’ educational journey has been anything but ordinary—but that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring. As the president of Clark College’s Black Student Union and a soon-to-be graduate in business and marketing, Kimmons took center stage at the Winter Students of Color Luncheon on February 6 to share her story of perseverance, purpose, and resilience. From navigating multiple colleges to finding her home at Clark, she embodies the power of determination and the impact of community.

The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs. The purpose of the student luncheons is to allow students and employees to hear inspiring stories, connect with faculty, meet new friends, consider different career paths, and identify community resources and potential mentors.

President of the college’s Black Student Union, Kimmons’ educational journey hasn’t been linear and has never been traditional. She started at Portland Community College and then attended Arizona State University. Next, she enrolled at Aveda Institute and currently is a student at Clark College. Her goal has always been to focus and finish what she started, even if she couldn’t finish where she initially started. She says her motto will always be to never give up while inspiring others.

Dr. Edwards wrote in her weekly email to faculty and staff: “I had the pleasure of attending the Students of Color Luncheon, where Chishayla Kimmons, who will graduate in June with degrees in business and marketing, shared her journey. After enrolling in several colleges, Chishayla found her place here at Clark. She expressed her appreciation for all the college has provided her.”

Q & A with Chishayla Kimmons

Q: How has your career path changed since you attended your first college classes at Portland Community College?

CK: Since attending my first college classes at Portland Community College, my focus has always been business. Now, I am heavily focused on business and marketing.

Q: Along your journey, did you experience an obstacle that made you change your course—and it turned out to be a better option for you?

CK: Having a child changed that course for me. Prior, I allowed life and outside factors to get in the way and to shift my focus, which resulted in me dropping out of college the first time. Having a child brought that initial hunger back. Now I am enrolled at Clark College, which in turn was a better overall option for me.

Q: What have you learned along your educational journey that you’d like to pass on as advice to Clark College students who are unsure of their career path?

CK: Something that I have learned is to try all the things! You don’t have to fit in a box. If you want to be an astronaut, be one. If you want to be an astronaut and a chef, be that! You may find that along your journey, you want to switch courses and that is okay too! Keep trying until you find that career that best suits you and who you are today!

Q: What other encouragement do you offer to students?

CK:

• Remember: It is never too late!
• Never, ever give up!
• Focus and finish!
• You got this!

Scholarships Awarded

Two Clark students were awarded scholarships during the Students of Color Luncheon:

• Mercy Kariuki, a student enrolled in the Pre-Nursing DTA program, was awarded the Constance Baker Motley Scholarship.
• Navjot Hundal, a student enrolled in the Dental Hygienist program, was awarded a DREAMers Scholarship.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) offers these and other scholarships in partnership with the Foundation and the community. Apply at the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by emailing Rosalba Pitkin at rpitkin@clark.edu or calling 360-992-2672.

SAVE THE DATE: Next DEI luncheon

• March 6 at noon: Students with Disability Luncheon in PUB 161

Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI):

• In-person: Diversity Center, Gaiser Hall 214
• Phone: 360-992-2292
• Email: diversity@clark.edu
• Website: www.clark.edu/cc/diversity

Rotarians from around Clark County joined Clark College Foundation and Clark College for a tour of the new Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) at Boschma Farms on February 4. Located just east of the Ridgefield Junction, the building will welcome its first general education classes during spring term. The Advanced Manufacturing program is under development.

Angela Torretta, above, of Clark College Foundation welcomed the Rotarians: “Clark College at Boschma Farms exists due to community demand. The college has been in conversation with individuals and organizations in Clark County who have shared the need for a local training center to provide skills to the current and future advanced manufacturing workforce.”  
 
Next, Amy Easton, president of the Rotary Club of Greater Clark County, stood on the steps of the AMC and greeted her fellow Rotarians: “This is a unique opportunity for all seven Clark County Rotary clubs to come together, foster collaboration, and celebrate our shared commitment to supporting education and strengthening connections within our community.”

Jay Schmidt, board chair of the High-Tech Council and Clark College’s Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Committee, paraphrased Dr. Terry Brown, Clark’s vice president of instruction: “This building will be a great place for experiential learning.”

Then the Rotarians divided into groups for a guided tour of the state-of-the-art building. They toured the classrooms equipped with the latest advanced manufacturing technology, the light-filled general education classrooms with high ceilings and tall windows, the quality assurance lab, the computer lab, and the collaboration spaces. They also toured conference rooms and other spaces that will be available for the community to rent for meetings, community groups, and other events.

The tour ended in the impressive high bay—the heart of the building. Here students will learn the fundamentals of advanced manufacturing, which is a network of automated technology designed to produce products with high efficiency in manufacturing processes, while reducing lead times, materials, and manufacturing defects.

Will Zander, above far left, director of the new Advanced Manufacturing program, stood in the enormous high bay and pointed out the equipment to the Rotarians.

In the next 10 years, the region of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon anticipates a shortage of 1,755 advanced manufacturing technicians. Designed with input from industry partners, this high-bay, and the entire Advanced Manufacturing Center, is where students will gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to step into an in-demand career and meet the growing industry need.

Soon, Clark College’s Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms will be a hub of experiential learning that will train the workforce for tomorrow.

All seven Rotary clubs in Clark County were present:

• Rotary Club of Greater Clark County
• Rotary Club of Vancouver
• Rotary Club of Vancouver Sunrise
• Rotary Club of Battle Ground
• Rotary Club of Camas-Washougal
• Rotary Club of Lewis River
• Rotary Club of Three Creeks

Q & A with Amy Easton, president, the Rotary Club of Greater Clark County

It was Amy Easton’s idea to offer Rotarians a tour of the AMC.

Q: Why did you decide Rotarians should tour the AMC?

AE: Rotarians are deeply committed to supporting education, workforce development, and community engagement, so when I learned about the new Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) at Clark College, I saw a great opportunity for all seven Clark County Rotary clubs to come together and experience this transformative project firsthand.

The AMC represents a major investment in technical education and job training, which aligns with Rotary’s mission to foster economic development and strengthen communities. I wanted our members to see how this facility will prepare students for in-demand careers, and how Rotary can continue to support initiatives that create lasting impact in our region.

Q: When did you reach out to the Foundation?

AE: I first connected with the Clark College Foundation last summer to explore the possibility of organizing a tour for Rotarians. From the start, the Foundation was enthusiastic about the idea, and we worked closely to coordinate an event that would give Rotarians an inside look at the facility before it officially opens to students. The collaboration was fantastic, and we’re so grateful to the Foundation for helping make this event happen.

Q: What do you think about the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Clark College having a presence in Ridgefield/North Clark County?

AE: The Advanced Manufacturing Center is a game-changer for Ridgefield and North Clark County. It not only expands Clark College’s reach but also creates new opportunities for students, local businesses, and the workforce in this growing region.

By providing hands-on training in advanced manufacturing and skilled trades, the AMC will help bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring that students graduate with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand careers.

Having this state-of-the-art facility in Ridgefield means that local students and employers alike will benefit from a stronger, more connected pipeline of talent, boosting economic growth in North Clark County and beyond.

Learn more: https://www.clark.edu/about/visitors-guide/getting-to-clark/boschma/

Photos not credited: Clark College/Susan Parrish

The Clark College 61^st Annual Jazz Festival is in the books! Thanks to the student musicians, band directors, chaperons, family, and community members who attended the 61^st Annual Clark College Jazz Festival from January 30 through February 1. Nearly 60 middle school and high school jazz bands performed for an appreciative audience at the world-class jazz festival.

The festival’s top award, the 2025 Dale Beacock Memorial Sweepstakes trophy, was awarded to Mountain View High School Jazz I of Vancouver, Wash.

The jazz bands represented middle schools and high schools from a large region. Although many of the student musicians live in Clark County or the Portland metro area, many came from much further away —from as far north as Port Angeles, Washington, as far east as Yakima, and as far south as San Jose, California. Here is an overview of the participating jazz bands:

• Middle school jazz bands: 13 bands total, including 8 from Clark County, and others from Portland, Chehalis, Lacey, and Seattle
• High school “A” division: 6 bands total, including 2 from Clark County, and others from White Salmon, Port Angeles, and Langley
• High school “AA” division: 11 bands total, including 5 from Clark County, and others from Portland, Chehalis, Yakima, and Seattle
• High school “AAA” division: 12 bands total, including 6 from Clark County, and others from Portland, Lake Oswego, Seattle, Lake Stevens, and Bothell
• High school “AAAA” division: 10 bands total, including 4 from Clark County, and others from Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Seattle, Lake Stevens, and San Jose, California
• In addition, 5 bands across all divisions performed to receive comments only, but did not compete. They represented schools in Clark County, Portland, and Yakima.

New: Farrell Family Instrument Award

The inaugural Farrell Family Instrument Award was presented to Clark College student Ian Arellano Mendez, who received a Buffet B flat clarinet. Norman Farrell is a Ridgefield musician and community volunteer. He and his wife, Carol Tocco, see access to a high-quality instrument as an essential part of achieving excellence in the continuing pursuit of college-level musical training. This award, made at the discretion of the Music Department, will go to a promising student participating in the Jazz Band at Clark College.

Mr. Farrell explained his impetus for providing the new award: “I had the good fortune to play great instruments from an early age; they have been a crucial and joyful part of my musical life.”

Middle School Awards

Middle School Silver Division jazz ensemble:

• 1^st place – Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, Wash.
• 2^nd place – Wy’east Middle School, Vancouver, Wash.
• 3^rd place – Hockinson Middle School, Brush Prairie, Wash.

Outstanding section awards:

• Best trombone section: Wy’east Middle School, Vancouver, Wash.
• Best trumpet section: Hockinson Middle School, Brush Prairie, Wash.
• Best rhythm section: Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, Wash.
• Best saxophone section: Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, Wash.

Outstanding musician awards:

• Sellwood Middle School, Portland, Ore.: Archer Kleiss, Sean Hansman
• View Ridge Middle School, Ridgefield, Wash.: Maddy Gilbert
• Chehalis Middle School, Chehalis, Wash.: Maxton Hill, Jackson Groberg
• Lauren Middle School, Battle Ground, Wash.: Kylie Grier
• Wy’East Middle School, Vancouver, Wash.: Henry Ormson
• Tukes Valley Middle School, Battle Ground, Wash.: Addie Sahler
• Beaumont Middle School, Portland, Ore.: Jack Levenson, Ben Beadie
• Skyridge Middle School, Camas, Wash.: Charles Moen
• Aspire Middle School, Lacey, Wash.: Gio Ramirez
• Hockinson Middle School, Brush Prairie, Wash.: Jack Andreev, Landon Brown, Ashton Clark, Linnea Currens
• Liberty Middle School, Camas, Wash.: Keiran Ohta
• Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, Wash.: Julia Vaughan, Audrey Senescall, Lenka  Dzunic, Oren Sternberg
• Chief Umtuch Middle School, Battle Ground, Wash.: Carson Coker

High School “A” Division Awards

“A” Division – High school jazz ensemble:        

•  1^st place – South Whidbey High School, Langley, Wash.
• 2^nd place – Seton Catholic High School, Vancouver, Wash.
• 3^rd place – Beaumont Middle School Jazz Ambassadors, Portland, Ore.

“A” Division – Outstanding section awards:

• Best saxophone section: Seton Catholic High School, Vancouver, Wash.
• Best trumpet section: South Whidbey High School, Langley, Wash.
• Best trombone section: South Whidbey High School, Langley, Wash.
• Best rhythm section: Beaumont Middle School, Portland, Ore.

“A” Division – Outstanding musician awards:

• Columbia High School, White Salmon, Wash.: Lila Witherrite
• Henrietta Lacks High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Jeremy Solis, Francisco Ramirez-Vasquez, Graham Rank
• Northwinds Homeschool, Port Angeles, Wash.: Eve Breithaupt
• Beaumont Middle School, Portland, Ore.: Evan Krall, Jack Flusche
• Seton Catholic High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Stephen Samwell, Gibson Lueck, Brennan Richardson, Kyler Dixon, Leo Gerhart,  Nancy Nguyen
• South Whidbey High School, Langley, Wash.: Connor Porter, Liam Watkins, Abram Durham, Mila Wright, Olin Nelson, Felix Kehl, Irene Stewart

High School “AA” Division Awards

“AA” Division high school jazz ensemble:

•  1^st place – Mountain View High School Jazz II, Vancouver, Wash.
• 2^nd place – W.F. West High School, Chehalis, Wash.
• 3^rd place – Heritage High School Jazz II, Vancouver, Wash.

“AA” Division – Outstanding musician awards:

• West Valley High School, Yakima, Wash: Maggie Eldridge
• La Center High School, La Center, Wash.: Oliver Stub
• Parkrose High School, Portland, Ore.: Sophie Ohle
• Grant High School, Portland, Ore: Daiel Gerber, Zach Hillenbrand
• Mountain View High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Reggie Kellog, Joshua Leahu
• Ingraham High School, Seattle, Wash.: Elliott Emerson
• Isaiah McCaw – Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, Wash.
• Columbia River High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Furious Hill, Macie MacDonald
• W.F. West High School, Chehalis, Wash.: Caleb Gill
• Heritage High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Joy Sanchez
• Bishop Blanchet High School, Seattle, Wash.: Cormac Saleem

High School “AAA” Division Awards

“AAA” Division – High school jazz ensemble:   

• 1^st place – Mountain View High School Jazz I, Vancouver, Wash.
• 2^nd place – Grant High School Jazz II, Portland, Ore.
• 3^rd place – Heritage High School Jazz I, Vancouver, Wash.

“AAA” Division – Outstanding musician awards:

• Union High School, Camas, Wash.: Reese Billington
• Grant High School, Portland, Ore.: GeorZia Doughty, Sasha Burns, Xander Buck, Reed Bevan, Sasi Isreb
• Lake Oswego High School, Lake Oswego, Ore.: Rowan Ducker, Mia Jensen
• Lake Stevens High School, Lake Stevens, Wash.: Kylie Forston, Brody Gray
• Prairie High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Gavin DeMoss, William Johnstone
• Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, Vancouver, Wash.: Lillian LaFontaine, Jack Melton, George Powell
• Hockinson High School, Brush Prairie, Wash.: Levi Brown, Mason Seal, Thilo Kluth, Jack Smith, Brenden Weber
• Garfield High School, Seattle, Wash.: Sam Brookover
• Lake Stevens High School, Lake Stevens, Wash.: Gabe Lawrence
• Ingraham High School, Seattle, Wash.: Meler Eagan, Nathan Doyle, Beckett VanDyke, Riley Mason
• Mountain View High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Harrison Matz, Rey Notarte, Venunye Tamakloe, Bella Fitzgerald, Kenji Tanaka, Shiloh Rush
• Bothell High School, Bothell, Wash.: Sachita Kadirvelu, Nathan Jonart
• Heritage High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Henry Ngo, Dakotah Leach

High School “AAAA” Division Awards

“AAAA” Division – High school jazz ensemble:

• 1^st Place – Garfield High School Jazz I, Seattle, Wash.
• 2^nd Place – Grant High School Jazz I, Portland, Ore.
• 3^rd Place – Union High School Jazz I, Camas, Wash.

“AAAA” Division – Outstanding high school musician awards:

• Glencoe High School, Hillsboro, Ore.: Holly Hesemann
• Lakeridge High School, Lake Oswego, Ore.: Mila Kaplan, Elaina Stupples
• Branham High School, San Jose, Calif.: Matsya Vinodh
• Skyview High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Jonah Travers Powers
• Prairie High School, Vancouver, Wash.: Aubrey Grier, Ruth Sprenger
• Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground, Wash.: Driggs Hemming, Ekaterina Kalinin, Maddox Cheen-Connley
• Union High School, Camas, Wash.: Isabelle Cryan, Cooper Givens
• Garfield High School, Seattle, Wash.: Timothy Park, Brayden Wang, Will Heath, Bolan Delange

Comments Only Participants

Outstanding musician awards (bands who performed, but did not compete)

• Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, Vancouver, Wash.: Soren Vrosh
• Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground, Wash.: Eli Lennick, Joseph McKnight
• Vernon Middle School, Portland, Ore.: Beatrix Heller
• Covington Middle School, Portland, Ore.: Colton Woods, Trinity Harter
• West Valley High School, Yakima, Wash.: Keira Osburn, Hyrum Jensen

Congratulations to all the fine bands who participated! Please join us next year on the last weekend of January for the 62nd Annual Clark College Jazz Festival.

About Clark College Jazz Festival

The Clark College Jazz Festival has evolved since its beginning in 1962 when Don Cammack, Hudson’s Bay High School band director organized a one-day high school stage band invitational, the Southwest Washington Jazz Festival, at Hudson’s Bay. Over the decades, under the direction of dedicated music educators Dale Beacock, Chuck Ramsey, Richard Inouye, and Dr. Doug Harris, the festival expanded. In 1970, Beacock, then band director at both Clark College and Fort Vancouver High School, held the festival at Clark College for the first time. The Clark College Stage Band Invitational at Clark hosted 17 high school jazz bands. Beacock’s vision for a competitive jazz showcase for schools throughout Washington and greater Portland promoted the festival’s growth. In 1971, 32 bands competed over two days; participation grew to 52 bands by 1976. The 60^th Annual Clark College Jazz Festival in 2024 welcomed 56 middle and high school jazz ensembles, more than 1,200 student musicians and more than 3,000 people during the three-day event, directed by Dr. Doug Harris, director of bands at Clark College. 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley