Dear College Community, 

As members of the Board of Trustees, we want to add our voices to the many who are expressing sorrow at the passing of our fellow Trustee, Jane Jacobsen. 

Those who knew Jane will remember her warmth, her kindness, and her seemingly limitless capacity for positive energy. Jane would show up with fresh baked shortbread cookies just because she was thinking of us. Whenever there was a college event, you could count on Jane to be in attendance, joyfully participating in any activity offered. Whenever we had the opportunity to engage with students, Jane was the first to congratulate them on their successes and let them know she believed in their capacity to build better futures for themselves.

She also unwavering when it came to making difficult decisions. When there was critical work to be done, Jane would diligently roll up her sleeves and get to it. 

Whatever your role at the college, you have probably been touched by Jane’s work. During her two terms as a trustee at Clark College, she served in many roles, including Board Chair from 2019 to 2020. She also served on the college’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee, Social Equity Advisory Council, Guided Pathways Committee, and as an alternate Legislative Action Committee Representative to the Washington State Association of College Trustees.   

Perhaps what we will miss most about Jane is her foundational belief in the power of community. She was always there to remind us that whatever decisions we made about Clark College would have profound effects on the entire Southwest Washington region. The Clark College Board of Trustees commits to honoring Jane’s memory by holding her love for our community at the center of all we do.    

It was a true honor and privilege to work with Jane. Her presence will be truly missed.   

With loving memories, 

Clark College Board of Trustees 

• Rekah Strong, Chair
• Jeanne Bennett, Vice Chair
• Cristhian A. Canseco Juarez
• Paul Speer

Today the college community learned that Clark College Trustee Jane Jacobsen had passed away over the weekend.

“Jane became a Clark College trustee in 2016, and throughout her two terms on the Board she was an indefatigable cheerleader for the college,” wrote Clark College President Karin Edwards in an email to the college community announcing the news. “She liked to say that Clark was ‘the community’s college,’ because to her, uplifting and positively impacting the community was the most important and valuable part of our mission.”

A resident of Vancouver for more than 30 years, Jacobsen had profound impact on the region. She served in leadership roles with such organizations and projects as The Columbia Land Trust, the Marshall Lecture Series, the Columbia Gorge Commission, as well as many others.

Of the many achievements in Jacobsen’s life, the one her name is perhaps most closely connected with is Confluence. Jacobsen was the founding executive director of this ambitious nonprofit project to express the history of the Pacific Northwest through art and Indigenous voices. The Vancouver Land Bridge, located within Historic Fort Vancouver, is a Confluence installation.

During her two terms as a trustee at Clark College, Jacobsen served in many roles, including Board Chair from 2019 to 2020. She also served on the college’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee, Social Equity Advisory Council, Guided Pathways Committee, and as an alternate Legislative Action Committee Representative to the Washington State Association of College Trustees.

“I know Jane touched the lives of many people at the college—including my own—and I know she will be missed,” wrote President Edwards in her email.

An email from the Board of Trustees the college community read in part: “Those who knew Jane will remember her warmth, her kindness, and her seemingly limitless capacity for positive energy. Jane would show up with fresh-baked shortbread cookies just because she was thinking of us. Whenever there was a college event, you could count on Jane to be in attendance, joyfully participating in any activity offered. Whenever we had the opportunity to engage with students, Jane was the first to congratulate them on their successes and let them know she believed in their capacity to build better futures for themselves.”

• Read the Board of Trustees’ full letter
• Read an article in Partners Magazine about Jane Jacobsen’s motivations for supporting students
• Listen to an interview with Jane Jacobsen about her work with Confluence
• Read the Columbian‘s obituary of Jane Jacobsen

A public Celebration of Life is scheduled for June 15 at 11:00 a.m. in Esther Short Park. Confluence has also created a tribute page where people can share their memories of Jacobsen and have their condolences forwarded to the family. Survivors include her husband, Paul, her sons, Ben and Gabe, a daughter-in-law, Allison, and two grandsons, Henrik and Emmett Jacobsen. 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Clark College has announced the hiring of Brad Avakian in the role of Vice President of Human Resources. He will begin at the college on June 10.  

“We are excited to bring someone with Brad’s breadth and depth of knowledge into this crucial leadership position at the college,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “His expertise will be crucial as we begin the complex work of returning to campus after more than a year in remote operations.” 

Avakian earned his bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and his doctorate of law from Lewis & Clark University. For many years he worked as a lawyer specializing in civil rights cases. Later, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon Senate representing parts of northeast Washington County. Avakian also served three terms as Oregon’s Commissioner of Labor and Industries, during which time he was a strong advocate for career and technical education programs, as well as for equity for women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Since leaving public service, Avakian has taught Politics and Public Policy for Managers in Willamette University’s MBA program and worked in private practice as a mediator and arbitrator. 

“Clark College is a historic school with an exciting and bright future,” said Avakian. “I am so grateful for the chance to join the Human Resources team and broader Clark Community. It’s good to be a Penguin.” 

Washington Governor Jay Inslee visited Clark College on April 30 to announce the state has certified two current Clark programs as Career Launch programs. The endorsement will provide students with opportunities to “earn as they learn” as Clark partners with local employers to provide students with meaningful, paid, on-the-job experience in their chosen industry. 

Clark College’s new Career Launch programs are: 

• A partnership with Eurobake Bakery to provide students with paid work experience as they earn an Associate in Applied Technology (AAT) degree in Professional Baking & Pastry Arts Management 
• A partnership with MacKay Sposito to provide students with paid work experience as they earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Surveying & Geomatics 

“This is a great opportunity for students at Clark College,” says Dr. Karin Edwards President of Clark College. “Working strategically with our industry partners, we can help develop the talent pipeline that will allow local companies to grow and will provide outstanding opportunities for our students to succeed.” 

Clark now has six Career Launch programs; three more are in development. Career Launch programs are a win-win for everyone. They create opportunities for students to get real-life paid work experience, complete their education and be successful in their chosen field. Career Launch helps our business partners fill the workforce pipeline with skilled, experienced employees.  

The two programs join the college’s already-existing Career Launch partnerships:  

• AAT in Mechanical Instrumentation (part of the Mechatronics program) in partnership with SEH America, Silicon Forest Electronics, Analog Devices, Inc., and Kyocera International, Inc. 
• AAT in Toyota T-TEN Automotive in partnership with Toyota America Corporation 
• AAT in HiTECC Automotive in partnership with Dick Hannah Dealerships 
• Associate in Science – Transfer Track 2 (AST2) in Engineering in partnership with SEH America  

Clark’s proposed Career Launch programs in cybersecurity and welding technologies are pending review by the Career Launch Endorsement Review Committee. 

Armetta Burney, Interim Dean of Workforce Professional and Technical Education and STEM, said, “At Clark College, we understand the value and importance of building relationships with our local industry partners. These relationships play a critical role in the growth and development of our students as they obtain the career and academic training they need to prepare them for their next step after graduation. Our goal is to develop Career Launch Endorsements across the many degree programs that we offer to include CTE, AA transfer and our BAS programs.” 

Benefits of Career Launch programs 

During his visit, the governor met students in the two new programs.  

Then he led a roundtable discussion about the benefits of Career Launch programs. Joining in the discussion were President Karin Edwards; Clark College Trustee Chair Rekah Strong; Armetta Burney, Interim Dean of Workforce Professional and Technical Education and STEM; Erielle Lamb, Clark Surveying & Geomatics instructor; Alison Dolder, Professional Baking & Pastry Arts Management instructor; Vickei Hrdina, Executive Director, Career Connect Southwest, Career Readiness & STEM Initiatives; and industry partners and three students. 

Geared for working adults, Clark’s Surveying & Geomatics program currently offers remote classes Monday through Thursday evenings with in-person, on-campus classes on Saturdays. About one-third of the program’s students already have a bachelor’s degree and are making a career change. Many are juggling a full-time job with full-time school. Going forward, students will benefit from being paid for their hands-on work opportunities with program partners—helping both them and their families. 

Tim Kent, the program’s coordinator, says, “It’s a grand opportunity for this to be a state-supported program that will benefit our ability to train up-and-coming survey professionals.” 

Partner input 

Industry partner Tim Schauer, past president and board of director chair of MacKay Sposito, said, “Without this program, we’d be training people ourselves—and that’s difficult and expensive.” 

He noted that these are family-wage jobs and said MacKay Sposito pays licensed land surveyors $125,000 in its Federal Way office. 

Industry partner Joshua Svenhard, Eurobake President, emphasized the benefits of the partnership with Clark College: “If I invest in the community in this way, it benefits the students, the college, Eurobake—and my industry.” 

Schauer of MacKay Sposito noted that because jobs are changing quickly, “the connection between community colleges and industry leaders is key.” 

Governor Inslee focused on the important role of community colleges in their communities: “Community colleges are the best bang for your buck. And they’re the point of entry for entry for any program you want to pursue. It opens up all those doors.”  

Looking around the room he added, “These are dream factories here.” 

Vaccination Visit 

Governor Inslee also visited a vaccination clinic being held the same day, also in the STEM Building. The clinic was conducted in conjunction with Rite Aid Pharmacies, WPEA, and AHE. It was open to Clark College employees, their families, and students. During the day, 179 individuals received the Pfizer vaccine for free. 

Vaccinations are an important step in the process of returning to on-campus operations. The college has announced it will be offering more than 500 classes with on-campus components in fall term—roughly one-third of its total class offerings for that term. 

The college will host another vaccination clinic in May so that participants can receive their second vaccine dose. Future clinics are under discussion. 

About Career Launch 

Career Launch is a program of Career Connect Washington (CCW), an organization founded to bring industry and education together to provide pathways for young people to succeed in college and career. There are already 10,000 students enrolled in Career Launch programs, including Registered Apprenticeships. The recently passed 2021-2023 biennial budget provides additional resources for Career Connect Washington to reach more young people, especially those furthest from opportunity, at a time when they are so impacted by COVID-19.  

More photos can be seen here.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Last week Clark College published its 2021 fall class schedule, which includes more than 500 classes with on-campus components. This is a major step by the college—which has been in remote operations since March 2020—to safely return to campus this fall. 

“This is an exciting moment for the college, as we prepare to safely welcome large numbers of students and employees back to a campus that has been too quiet for far too long,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “At the same time, it’s important to understand that we are not making this decision rashly. We will continue to follow the guidance of our state and local public health agencies to ensure that this return is done with everyone’s safety in mind.” 

Fall term begins Monday, September 20. The fall schedule is released early to give students ample time to consider their options and sign up for classes. Registration for both summer and fall terms opens on May 10. 

Currently, about one-third of Clark’s fall classes will be in-person—a much lower percentage than during pre-pandemic times, but much higher than the handful of lab classes that were being taught on campus during the 2020-2021 academic year. More classes may be added over the next several months as the college closely monitors the COVID-19 pandemic response. 

“Our faculty are excited to get back to in-person instruction in the fall, but are prepared to roll their classes back into online delivery if the COVID landscape changes,” said Interim Vice President of Instruction Genevieve Howard.  

Some of the fall in-person classes will be hybrid classes—in other words, taught partially in a classroom and partially online. This allows students to have a chance to get the hands-on learning that Clark College is known for, while still limiting the amount of people on campus at any given time. Other classes will be “web-enhanced”—taught in person, but with online materials or activities to read or complete online. Still other classes will be taught fully in person. Students can search for in-person, hybrid, and web-enhanced classes on CTCLink, the state’s online software system. 

The college is also developing plans for some support services to return to campus as well, while retaining the virtual help center that has operated throughout the pandemic. The college has already announced its plans to bring back athletic competition in the fall; athletic practice returned to campus in spring term. An announcement has also been made that the 2021 Commencement ceremony will be held in person on June 17, though with restrictions on how many people may attend. 

The college is working to ensure its infrastructure and equipment meet its needs for re-opening the college safely. Visitors may need to use safety precautions like hand sanitizing, face coverings, and health screenings in order to participate in on-campus activities. Details will be announced closer to fall term. 

The college is taking care to include student voices in its decision-making process, sending out a survey to all current students this past week to get their input on what services and supports are most important to them. The survey results will help inform the college in planning for fall.  

“We will center the students in all our planning,” said Michele Cruse, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs. “Their voice is vitally important as we begin this slow and gradual process of returning to campus.”  

This article was updated on June 22 to reflect the increased number of in-person classes being offered in fall.

Clark College students shared the obstacles they have overcome during the pandemic during “Student Voices: The Realities of Being a College Student during COVID.” The April 15 Zoom panel was presented by Clark’s Teaching and Learning Center and moderated by Director of MESA Dalila Paredes.  

The panel grew from Paredes’ work with MESA, a program that supports underrepresented student populations pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. When she meets one-on-one with a student for the first time, she starts the Zoom session by asking the student how they are doing and what challenges they have faced during the pandemic. Their common struggle is figuring out how to pay their tuition. But their challenges go far beyond money. 

Paredes said, “So many of their stories are incredible. Many students have been furloughed from their jobs not just once, but twice. Many are parents. They are in multiple-generation households and are taking care of their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncle and their children—with very little resources. We have students from war-torn countries, intergenerational households, poverty. Students who have lost their housing. Family members who are ill.” 

She added, “I wanted faculty to hear these stories—to hear students say, ‘These are my hurdles. This is how I overcame them.’ For underrepresented students, COVID is just one more hurdle. It’s just one more thing for them to navigate.” 

Two of these Student Voices stories are featured below. 

Pearl Muodzi 

Pearl Muodzi, 20, is majoring in biology at Clark with an eventual goal to become a doctor. She had a comfortable life in her native Zimbabwe where she lived with her parents and three brothers. She had a private school education.  

But her life changed drastically beginning with her father being diagnosed with a rare type of inoperable cancer. She became his caregiver. Her father died in 2017. A few months later she was walking with her brother when men driving fire trucks and army trucks pulled up and began shooting people. 

Muodzi recalled, “I found myself sprinting for my life with my little brother.” 

Things in Zimbabwe grew increasingly unstable. The president was ousted, inflation was rampant, and life became more difficult. Muodzi, her mother, and younger brother took a two-week vacation to visit family in Vancouver and to get a break from the challenges back home. But the week they arrived in Vancouver, civil war broke out in Zimbabwe. Friends and family in Zimbabwe sent videos showing soldiers killing people just outside the gate of their family home.  

Muodzi said, “I cannot begin to explain how shocked I was. We could not go home. Our two-week vacation turned into an immigration situation. When you’re going on vacation, you carry a small suitcase and just a few things from home. We left everything behind.” 

Muodzi’s two aunts welcomed her family into their home and helped them. Eventually, her mother found work and they moved out into their own place. 

Muodzi said, “There we were, trying to start a new life.” 

In fall 2020, Muodzi enrolled at Clark College as a full-time student. To help pay for her education, she works 25 to 30 hours a week at a mail-shipping business. 

In Zimbabwe she had just completed her Cambridge exams and already had studied college-level biology, chemistry and math, but those classes were not accepted. She had to start over. Despite the challenges of a new country, new education system, online classes and working, she earned a 3.9 GPA at Clark.  

Navigating college in America during a global pandemic has been just one more challenge for Muodzi.  

She said, “I’m proud of my growth. I’ve learned how to tackle challenges differently. To endure challenges. I’m proud of myself for stepping up in my academic life.”  

Money and time are her biggest barriers.  

“Balancing working and going to school is challenging. Most of the time I am tired. I’m not doing as well as I could.” 

Muodzi said, “A big motivator for me is my parents. I want to be a doctor because I want to find a way to cure the disease my dad had. I also am inspired by my mother who works day and night to provide for us. I see my mother work so hard. I can’t take school lightly.” 

Muodzi’s pathway to become a surgeon includes completing two years at Clark, then transferring to WSU Vancouver to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology. Next she plans to attend University of Washington Medical School. It’s a long road ahead of Muodzi, but she already has come so far. 

Marcell Richard  

Marcell Richard, 31, is a full-time Clark College student who is pursuing a biology degree. His eventual goal: to earn a degree in forensic toxicology. Richard is experienced at climbing over obstacles to reach his goals. 

He’s a first-generation college student raised by his single mother. His father is black; his mother is white. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer last summer and became very ill, Richard stepped up to be his mother’s caregiver.  

Due to COVID, last year Richard was laid off from his job waiting tables and bar tending. He exhausted his unemployment benefits. He and his partner, also a Clark College student, have a two-year-old daughter. When their lease expired in January, they could not afford their apartment. Richard moved in with his mother, in Gresham, Oregon, to be her caregiver. His partner moved in with her own mother in Vancouver with their daughter. Richard spends the night with his partner and daughter two to three times a week to maintain some continuity in their young daughter’s life—and to be a couple with his partner. They are saving their money in the hope of eventually being able to rent their own place and be together again. 

Richard diligently is overcoming challenges. He recently started a work-study job with Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as a student consultant. He’s a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for community and technical colleges. Richard is a BUILD Exito student, a MESA student, and is a student advocate for MESA.  

He explained, “I’m trying to uplift students and form a community, especially during these times when we’re isolated and apart. I’ve been given an opportunity to go to school and have received scholarships and help. It’s time to give back.” 

Richard listed his biggest barriers: “Trying to take care of my mom and watching her health deteriorate. Also, I’m away from my daughter half of the time. It puts a strain on my relationship with my daughter and my partner. I bury myself in my studies. That’s how I cope.” 

Through all the loss and challenges, Richard said, “Many times, I’ve tried and failed due to pitfalls, but I’ve never given up on my education. Despite the difficulties, I’ve stayed in school. I have a lot more schooling to go. This is the path I chose.” 

Richard plans to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master of Science degree in Biology with a minor in chemistry, and eventually apply to medical school to study forensic pathology. 

He added, “Everyone has a different narrative. We don’t know what other people are going through. Kindness goes a long way.” 

His advice to fellow students navigating through the pandemic: “If you’re like me, you have this sense of imposter syndrome. That you can’t do it. But you can do it. Take one leap of faith. Reach out to resources and groups. Make connections. It’s all about breaking out of your shell and creating a support system. Get as much tutoring help as possible if you have problems with math like I do. Clark has so many programs and resources to help students. Use them.” 

Longtime State Legislator and Clark College alumnus Albert “Al” Bauer, whose work made a major impact on not just Clark College but on all of Washington State’s educational system, died today at the age of 92.  

“Clark College has a heavy but grateful heart today as we mourn the passing of retired State Senator Al Bauer,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family. Penguin Nation has lost a great man who dedicated his life to supporting students and our community.” 

During his time as a legislator, Bauer championed the cause of public education in Washington State. He conceived of the Running Start program, which allows eligible high school students to attend community college tuition-free. He is also largely credited with making possible the Vancouver location of Washington State University. Indeed, the building at Clark College where the first WSUV classes were taught—before the university’s permanent campus was built—now bears his name. Bauer Hall now houses many of Clark College’s math classrooms, as well as faculty and staff offices. 

Yet the man who once was declared the “education senator” by Washington Gov. Gary Locke was himself a high school dropout. The son of a local dairy farmer, he planned to go into farming as well and thought he wouldn’t need an education. 

But in 1948, after being laid off from his 80-cents-an-hour cannery job and earning the equivalent of a GED through a correspondence course, Bauer went to Clark College requesting admission as a freshman. He suspected he might be rejected. Instead, the office congratulated him on his effort, allowed him to enroll, and urged him to keep his grades up.  

“That was the turning point in my whole life,” he said on the occasion of Clark College’s 75th anniversary. “I attribute whatever I’ve done to my family and to Clark College for encouraging me to keep going.” 

Bauer attended Clark for two quarters before leaving to enlist in the U.S. Navy, where he served for six years. While in the Navy, he trained new recruits in navigation. This gave him his first experience with teaching, and when he left the Navy in 1954, he re-enrolled at Clark with the idea of becoming a teacher. 

Bauer always praised the education he received at Clark College. During the college’s 75th anniversary, he spoke about Herman Foster, who taught German, among other subjects. “He would say, ‘Albert, you probably ought to get a little tutoring,” said Bauer. “Come in at 4 o’clock three nights a week and let’s see if we can keep you on track.’ He was just a dedicated academic.” 

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and a Master of Education from Oregon State University, Bauer took that example to heart during his own 20-year career teaching in area schools.  

It was Bauer’s teaching career that eventually led to his next career in politics. He became active in the teacher’s union and was elected president of the Vancouver Education Association. In 1970, he was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives, where he served for nine years. By his second term, he chaired the Education Committee and began earning a reputation as a creative and committed champion of public education. In 1980, he left the House to run for State Senator, a position that he went on to hold for 20 years. 

Bauer brought his experiences as both a student and a teacher to his legislative work around education. It was thinking about how to lower the state’s high school drop-out rate, as well as the boredom he felt during his own high school years, that inspired him to propose the Running Start program.  

Bauer never forgot his experiences at Clark College and was a staunch supporter of the college that gave him his educational start. He was a longtime donor to scholarships funded through Clark College Foundation. But he never meant or expected to have his name on a building. Bauer’s late wife, Pat, and fellow state Sen. Joe Tanner, sought—without Bauer’s knowledge—to have a Clark building named for him. He later said he was shocked when he learned his name was emblazoned on Bauer Hall. 

This article will be updated with details of his memorial service when they are available. 

To read more about Sen. Al Bauer, read this article from Clark College Foundation’s Partners Magazine. 

On April 15, two outstanding students represented Clark College at the 25th annual All-Washington Academic Team ceremony, honoring students from Washington State for their academic excellence and community service. Bios for students Erin Lysne and Natalie Worthy appear below. 

Top students from 33 of Washington state’s community and technical colleges were honored at the annual ceremony, which was held virtually due to COVID-19; each received a medal and a $250 scholarship from KeyBank and became eligible for additional scholarships from private sponsors as well as transfer scholarships from four-year colleges and universities. Natalie Worthy was also awarded a $750 scholarship from Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU). Gov. Jay Inslee served as keynote speaker at the event. 

The All-Washington Academic Team is a program of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. It is co-sponsored by the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, Washington State Association of College Trustees, and State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Besides KeyBank and WSECU, scholarships are funded by the Washington State Association of College Trustees. 

About Erin Lysne 

Erin Lysne, 29, has always loved the outdoors. That passion led her to pursue a career in geology. Despite encountering attitudes from some people that geology is a “man’s field,” Lysne has excelled in her studies, becoming a geology tutor and starting Clark College’s first Geosciences Club. She volunteers with environmental organizations including Friends of Trees, the Vancouver Water Education Resource Center, and the Cascade Volcano Observatory. She plans to continue her education to earn a doctorate in volcanology. 

About Natalie Worthy 

Natalie Worthy began volunteering at age 8 and hasn’t stopped since. She recently earned a silver Congressional Award for her community service and was also named Miss Battle Ground’s Outstanding Teen in 2020. She balances her many volunteer activities with being a Running Start student, working part-time, and performing in musical theater. She plans to continue her studies at a university and achieve her lifelong dream of being a professional performer. 

Clark College has begun a new partnership with industrial business Vigor to provide specialized training for current Vigor employees. Clark College Welding faculty have created a six-credit Marine and Pipe Welding course starting in the summer 2021 term.   

Instruction will be delivered in a hybrid format (on-line lectures and in-person labs) to 10 employees for one term. The signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) is the result of numerous conversations between the college and the company on how best to partner to give employees access to specialized training that will help them advance in their careers and fill a critical need in the ship-repair industry.   

Caleb White, who heads Clark College’s Welding and Fabrication Technology program, met with Vigor leaders and then invited them to campus pre-COVID to observe Clark’s welding lab.  

White said, “We are excited to work with Vigor as we better understand their specific needs and they can see our capabilities and our applications in working with pressure vessels. We were able to demonstrate that our faculty have the expertise and knowledge to design and facilitate the training that Vigor was seeking to enhance the skillset of their welders. Vigor benefits, Clark College benefits and most importantly our students benefit from the partnership.” 

“Vigor is excited to partner with Clark College to train the next generation of welders,” said Hilary Pickerel, Workforce Development Manager at Vigor. “This program will be a great opportunity for current Vigor employees to pursue a career in welding and family wage jobs at places like Vigor. Development opportunities like this are core to Vigor’s Evolution value, which drives our employees to grow and master their skill sets.”

About Clark College  

Founded in 1933, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately three-quarters of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.  

About Vigor

Vigor is a values-driven, diversified industrial business operating in eight locations with 2,300 people in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Built around a collection of powerful, unique assets and differentiated capabilities, Vigor excels at ship repair, specialized shipbuilding, and handling important, complex projects in support of energy generation, our nation’s infrastructure and national defense. With deep respect for people and the planet, Vigor strives to be a positive, regenerative force for good – environmentally, in the lives of its employees and in the community. Vigor … Industrial Evolution. For more information, visit vigor.net.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have caused many financial challenges for Clark College students. Some have lost jobs, while others have found themselves facing steep medical bills. With schools closed for months, many students with dependent children were scrambling to pay for child care.  

That’s where Clark College’s emergency grants program comes in—and, starting in spring term, it’s about to start helping even more students than before. 

Soon after the college moved to remote operations in spring 2020, it set up a one-stop clearinghouse to manage all the different sources of emergency funding available to students experiencing a financial crisis. These sources include community organizations, Clark College Foundation, state funding—and the largest source of all, federal funding distributed through the 2020 CARES Act. 

By December, however, that CARES funding—about $2.6 million dollars—was almost exhausted. 

“We averaged awarding around $96,000 a week over the last three terms,” said Sheri Terjeson, who manages the Emergency Grants program. “Our students have faced incredible challenges paying for basic needs like rent and food, not to mention school supplies and health care.” 

By December, Terjeson and the rest of the Emergency Grants Committee were desperately trying to figure out how to stretch out the few remaining grant funds to help students in the coming winter term. Fortunately, just before the new year began, Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), providing additional funding for students. 

“That funding really came just in the nick of time,” said Terjeson. “We all breathed a sigh of relief when we heard the news—and then started running full-speed to get that funding ready for our students as quickly as possible.” 

In winter term alone, the college disbursed more than $635,000 in emergency grants to 668 students. Now, however, with the CRRSAA and the funds in President Biden’s COVID relief package that was signed into law in March, the college expects to award approximately $1.1 million to students in need during spring term 2021. 

Unfortunately, that federal funding excluded certain kinds of students from eligibility, including Dreamer (DACA and/or undocumented) students. But the Washington State Legislature also recently approved new funding for emergency grants to students, including Dreamers. The grants can be applied for through the same Emergency Grant Application as is used for all other emergency funds. 

“Really, our message to students is that, if they are worried that financial hardship is going to derail their educations, they should fill out the Emergency Grant Application, and let us see if there’s a funding source that matches up with them,” said Terjeson. “There are a lot of different sources of funding—from the government, from generous donors through the Clark College Foundation, from funding sources dedicated to supporting a particular subset of students like veterans or students of color—and we will do our best to find a source that can be used for that particular student’s case.” 

“What we don’t want is for students to stop their educational journeys because of a financial crisis,” added Dr. Michele Cruse, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs. “Once students drop out of college, it can be very difficult for them to come back. We know that a college education can have life-changing benefits for students, their families, and their communities. That is why we are working so hard to keep our students supported during these challenging times.” 

And now, thanks to this increased funding from multiple sources, the college will be able to help more students than ever. 

If you are a student experiencing financial hardship, please visit our Emergency Grants page to learn how to apply for emergency assistance.