High school students can learn how to take the next step in their education by attending one of four optional Running Start Information Night sessions at Clark College.

The identical sessions will be held 7:00-8:00
p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5; Monday, Feb. 24; Monday,
March 9; and Tuesday, March 24. All four events, which are free and open to the
public, will be held in the Clark College gymnasium in the O’Connell
Sports Center, located on the southwest side of Clark College’s main campus.

Running Start allows eligible juniors
and seniors to earn college credit while they fulfill their high school
graduation requirements. Running Start students attend Clark classes along with “regular” college students. They can choose from
a full range of academic and professional and technical courses.

The program, which can significantly reduce the
cost of a college degree, has proven popular in Southwest Washington. Some
Running Start students are so motivated that they earn their associate degree
from Clark at the same time that they earn their high school diploma. These
annual information nights frequently attract hundreds of interested students
and parents to the college, which is why the college is hosting four sessions
this year. Clark College welcomed 2,428 Running Start students at
the beginning of the 2019 fall term.

These information sessions are for students and
parents who want to know more about beginning the program in Fall 2020. While
the sessions are completely optional, they are a good opportunity to hear
current Running Start students candidly describe their experiences in the
program and to learn about the eligibility criteria, expectations, timelines,
and more. Students and parents who live on the eastern side of the college’s
service district can also find out about expanded options available at Clark’s
East Vancouver location at Columbia Tech Center.

Running Start students pay for books,
transportation, and some fees, but do not pay full Clark College tuition.
Students can attend part-time or full-time under the Running Start program. Fees
are subject to change by the Washington State Legislature. A fee waiver is
available for those demonstrating financial need.

Clark College is located
at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Wash. Parking will be available in the
college’s Red lots on the east side of Fort Vancouver Way and in the Purple Lot
on the west side of Fort Vancouver Way. Driving directions and parking maps are
available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Individuals
who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully
participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support
Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 013, as soon as possible.

For more
information on Running Start, visit the Clark College website at www.clark.edu/runningstart. For information about
Running Start Information Nights, call 360-992-2078.

As the entry deadline approaches for Pitch Fest 2020 at Clark College, last year’s winners say participating in the Shark Tank-like competition sponsored by Clark Entrepreneurs made an enormous difference in moving their business to the next level.  

Teams of Clark College students are invited to apply for an opportunity to pitch their entrepreneurial business ideas at Pitch Fest 2020. The competition is open to any Clark College students enrolled full time from fall 2019 through spring 2020 and who maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. The deadline to apply is 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31. See details and apply online at clarkpitchfest.com/. 

Last year, when Clark College students Alison Warlitner and her husband, Scott Warlitner, entered the 2019 Pitch Fest competition, they hoped to glean expert advice from the business-owner judges. The couple recently had begun making CBD-infused bath bombs in their home, marketing them under the business name Cherry River CBD. Ali and Scott advanced to the competition’s final round of top three student businesses—and they won. 

Fast-forward one year after its Pitch Fest success. Cherry River CBD has tripled its gross sales, connected with capital investors, and hired their first employee, who markets their products at vendor trade shows. Emboldened by their Pitch Fest success, Ali pitched their business to a Shark Tank producer hearing pitches in Portland. Although they weren’t invited to pitch on camera on the TV show, the experience pushed the Warlitners to keep going. Last summer they were invited to be a sponsor of Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival. Actor Jim Belushi, who owns a cannabis farm in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, hung out in their booth. 

Scott, a fine arts student at Clark, will graduate at the end of winter quarter. Ali, a Clark graduate, is pursuing an accounting degree at Washington State University Vancouver and plans to graduate in spring 2021. They live in The Dalles, Oregon, 90 miles from Vancouver. Four days a week, they drive to their classes—90 minutes, each way. Their sons, ages 3 and 5, attend the college’s Child and Family Studies program. 

The couple met when both were enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Virginia. After completing active-duty service, they moved to the Pacific Northwest, where Ali grew up. But one thing hampered their new life: Scott suffered from chronic pain due to injuries he sustained while in the military. Originally a nonbeliever in CBD, he was treating it with narcotics prescribed by the VA. But after Scott began taking CBD daily to relieve his pain, he realized the cannabinoids worked, and he stopped taking the narcotics.  

This experience led the couple to begin thinking about creating their own CBD business. And, as luck would have it, this is when Ali walked by a poster advertising Pitch Fest outside her math class at Clark College. Enrolling in the contest forced the Warlitners to clearly articulate their business plan, refine their marketing materials, and answer tough questions posed by judges. It also provided them with mentorship from successful entrepreneurs that helped them take the next steps in their business. 

“We’re absolutely a success story,” says Ali. “While we would have made those steps eventually, Pitch Fest is the reason we were able to move so quickly in establishing ourselves as a viable business. We wouldn’t be where we were today if not for the help we received from Pitch Fest, Clark College and the Clark Entrepreneurs.” 

The Warlitners produce their CBD-infused bath, beauty and wellness products in their home. The hemp oil is grown on Ali’s cousin’s farm in Woodburn, Oregon.  

Cherry River has been featured twice in Broccoli, a Portland-based magazine created by and for women who use cannabis. Ali has spoken on a couple of podcasts about being a veteran, a business owner, a full-time college student and a mother of young children. 

“I’ve become a sought-after formulator in the cannabis world,” Ali says. “I like to bake. It’s just with different ingredients.” 

So far, Ali and Scott have invested all profits back into their company. In 2020, they hope to start paying themselves a salary. They also are considering opening a production facility in Hawaii. Learn more at https://www.cherryriver.net/ 

About Pitch Fest 

January 31 at 8 p.m.: Deadline for Clark College student teams to apply 

February 21 from 9 a.m. to noon: Top 24 teams participate in Clark Entrepreneurs trade show at Gaiser Hall Student Center. The free event is open to the public. In the afternoon, the top 12 teams pitch their business ideas to the judges in a format similar to the TV show “Shark Tank.” 

March 6 final round: Top 3 teams polish their pitches and present to judges; closed to the public. 

About Clark Entrepreneurs 

Founded in 2016, Clark Entrepreneurs is a student program under the Associated Students of Clark College. The club welcomes any student interested in starting a business. Its purpose is to encourage and support students with their entrepreneurial ideas and expose them to the resources to help grow ideas, support real student business ventures, and scale businesses. Program Director is Nathan Webster. Student Rebekah Sharp-Regnier recently became marketing event director. Learn more at https://clarkpitchfest.com/about-us/ 

Read more about the Warlitners and other student veterans in Clark College Foundation’s Partners magazine article.

Clark College will honor the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, January 21, by exploring a little-known aspect of the local African-American experience: the “Buffalo Soldiers,” all-black regiments who served in the U.S. military in the 19th century. The event will include both a screening of parts of a documentary film called Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest and a collection of historic memorabilia related to Buffalo Soldiers. All events are free and open to the public.

The film screening will take
place at noon, followed by a discussion with some of the individuals involved
in creating Buffalo Soldiers of the
Pacific Northwest as well as members of the non-profit group Buffalo
Soldiers of Seattle. The history display will be on view from 11:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. All events take place in Gaiser Student Center on the Clark College
main campus. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.
Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest examines
the history of African-American regiments formed by the U.S. government in the
1860s to help secure its interests in the West. These often-forgotten soldiers
served their country in many capacities—everything from constructing roads to
fighting in battles. The 56-minute documentary film, which is currently in post-production,
explores the history and legacy of this region’s Buffalo Soldiers.

In honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service to others, Clark College encourages your
donation of hair and skin care products for African-American families served by
YWCA Clark County.

For more information about
this event, visit www.clark.edu/cc/mlk.

Individuals who need
accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event
should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at
360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP),
or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB)
room 013, as soon as possible.

Dates have been set for the open forums for community members to meet the three finalists for the Clark College President position. These forums are a chance for members of the Clark College community and other stakeholders to meet the finalists and ask questions about their leadership experience and philosophy.

Each candidate will hold two open forums during their visit to the college: one that’s open to the public, and one that’s specifically for students. The forums will be recorded. On January 27, the videos will be available to review at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php. There will be links to provide feedback available through February 4, 2020.

Biographies of all three finalists are available online at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php. Full resumes are also available online at http://www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/forums.php.

A fourth finalist, Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, has withdrawn from the hiring process.

Open forum dates

Public open forums

All public forums are scheduled for noon to 1:00 p.m. in Foster Auditorium on the college’s main campus. Each forum will be live-cast to the college’s Columbia Tech Center and Washington State University Vancouver locations–room numbers are posted at http://www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/forums.php.

• Tuesday, January 14: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College
• Friday, January 17: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College
• Wednesday, January 22: Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College

Student-focused forums

All student-focused forums are scheduled for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium on the college’s main campus.

• Monday, January 13: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College
• Thursday, January 16: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College
• Tuesday, January 21: Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps. Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 013, as soon as possible.

Clark College will host a group of four Tibetan Buddhist monks from South India from Monday, January 13, through Friday, January 17, as they construct a sand mandala in Cannell Library on the college’s main campus.

All events are free and
open to the public; they are co-sponsored by Clark College International
Programs, Clark College Libraries, and Dharma Light Tibetan Buddhist
Association of Vancouver. (Full schedule printed below.) Cannell Library is
located on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way in Vancouver,
Washington. Maps and directions are available at www.clark.edu/maps.
Anyone needing
accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event
should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at (360)
992-2314 or (360) 991-0901 (VP), prior to the event.

This project can be
appreciated simply as a beautiful and intricate time-based art form. But
according to Tibetan Buddhist belief, a sand mandala is meant to create a
profound experience of compassion for any who attend. The positive effects of a
sand mandala construction are believed to radiate out over the entire region,
blessing the environment and the beings therein, in an effort for world peace. The
mandala is destroyed in the closing ceremony, as a lesson in the impermanence
of all phenomena. The opening and closing ceremonies will include traditional
Tibetan Buddhist chanting and music. The closing ceremony will also include a
procession to the Columbia River, where a small portion of the colored sand
will be poured into the water as a form of blessing.

Schedule of events

Opening Ceremony    

• Monday, January 13,
  12:00 – 12:30 p.m.

Mandala Construction

• Monday, January 13,
  12:30 pm – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday,  January 14, 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 15,
  10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 16,
  10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, January 17,
  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Public Talk

• Tuesday, January 14, 12:00
  – 1:00 p.m.

Venerable Lobsang Dawa, with the help of translator Lobsang Dhondup,
will speak about the history and meaning of the sand mandala, as well as the
importance of compassion in daily life.

Closing Ceremony:

• Friday January 17, 2:00
  – 3:00 p.m., followed a procession that leads to the Columbia River from 3:00 –
  3:30 p.m.

The Clark College Board of Trustees has announced the completion of a major step in selecting the next Clark College President. The trustees selected four finalists Wednesday, December 18, at its monthly public meeting. The board acted on the recommendations made by the search advisory committee that conducted interviews with ten semi-finalists last week.

“It’s a milestone in our search and a moment to celebrate,” said Board Trustee Paul Speer. “The Search Advisory Committee has accomplished its task in finding Clark College four outstanding candidates. I thank them for their excellent and collaborative work.”

The four finalists are: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College; Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, district vice provost of institutional effectiveness at Miami Dade College; Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College; and Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College. Full biographies of all four finalists are available online at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php.

Clark College received 65 qualified applications as it began its recruitment process in September with the assistance of a national search firm, Gold Hill Associates. The Search Advisory Committee comprised of community leaders, college employees and students then reviewed the applications and narrowed the field to ten semi-finalists. Last week, the committee interviewed all ten candidates and made their recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

“This was a great process to be part of,” said Al Schauer, a committee member and business leader. “I appreciated the robust discussions and ultimately, the strong consensus within the committee that Clark College has four outstanding candidates to choose from.”

“This has been an inclusive search with multiple perspectives represented in the process,” added Eric Merrill, Clark College Foundation Board Chair and member of the President Selection Committee. “This is a critical leadership position for the college and our community. It’s exciting to see high-caliber candidates who want to serve as our next college president.”

The finalists will be invited to the college in January for constituent panel interviews and public forums. It is expected that the Board of Trustees will make its selection by the end of February 2020 and that the new President will begin onboarding in the summer of 2020 in preparation for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Current Interim President Dr. Sandra Fowler-Hill was hired in June 2019 to lead the college through the transition. She was not a candidate for the permanent position. Fowler-Hill stepped in when former college president Bob Knight retired last summer.

“Having an interim president has allowed the college and the community this important time to carefully consider who will lead the college into the next decade,” said Speer. “Dr. Fowler-Hill has provided key leadership at a critical time and will help the onboarding process with our next President.”

More information about the ongoing search process can be found at www.clark.edu/presidential-search.  

The finals have all been handed in and students are enjoying
some much-deserved rest during Winter Break, but here at Clark College staff
are busy getting ready for Winter Term, which begins January 6.

There are plenty of exciting classes to look forward to, including:

• The Small World Initiative (BIOL 105), a collaboration with Yale University that teaches Clark College students to search for potential new strains of antibiotics
• A wide selection of fine arts classes, including Metal Arts, Ceramics, and Graphic Design
• Business courses like Small Business Management, Introduction to e-Business, and Introduction to International Business

It’s not too late for new students to get started at Clark. Visit our new students page to learn how to begin 2020 by getting on the path to a new career.

For continuing students, the time is now to register for the next term. Need to talk with Advising or other student services during Winter Break? We’re open all December long!

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

On Wednesday, December 4, the award-winning Clark College Orchestra will present its fall concert as part of the 2019-2020 season celebrating the 30th anniversary of Dr. Donald Appert as Clark College Music Director/Conductor. This all-orchestral extravaganza will include La Valse by Maurice Ravel, Nuages and Fêtes from Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes, and Josef Suk’s Symphony No. 1 in E Minor.

The performance is at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Skyview High School in Vancouver. Admission is free and open to the public. Donations to the Orchestra General Fund will be accepted at the door.

For
complete information about all the Clark College Music Department concerts
including the orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and choirs, please see http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/music/music-concerts.

About Dr. Donald Appert

Dr. Donald Appert has appeared as a guest conductor in Japan, Australia, Central America, and throughout Europe. In Italy La’ovadese wrote, “… the performance of the ‘Serenade in C Major’ of Tchaikovsky, under the exceptional direction of Appert, was in such a style that it brought out the elegance and grace of the melodic lines with Mozartian inspiration.”  Giornale di Sicilla praised his interpretation of Nielsen’s First Symphony as “lyrical with an airy freshness,” and his conducting as “precise, painstakingly accurate, and diligent.” In the United States, he has appeared as a guest conductor of the Vancouver (Washington) Symphony, the University of Texas – Arlington Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Central Arkansas Symphony.

As one of only five musicians chosen, Dr. Appert received the 2015 Honored Artists of The American Prize for “individuals who have proven themselves to be musicians of sustained excellence over a number of seasons.” Adding to this distinctive honor is his 2011 The American Prize in Orchestral Programming – Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award for his work with the Oregon Sinfonietta. 

Dr. Appert was awarded the 2015 ASCAPLUS Award in recognition of his performances in Italy and the United States. His awards in previous years were for performances in Romania, Qatar, Europe, Central America, Japan, and the United States. Dr. Appert is the recipient of the 2014 Clark County Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, and in 2009, he received the Washington Community College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Humanities. 

As a member of ASCAP, most of Dr. Appert’s compositions have been performed throughout the world. A recent work, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, commissioned by and for Jeffrey Butler of the Houston Symphony, had its world première to great applause on June 17, 2018, with Mr. Butler as soloist and the Clark College Orchestra accompanying him.       

Clark College has been named a 2020 Best for Vets college in the Career and Technical College category by Military Times.

For 10 years, Military Times has conducted an extensive, editorially independent,
objective study evaluating the many factors that help make colleges and
universities a good fit for service members, military veterans, and
their families. The final rankings for 2020 can be found here. More details about the rankings can be found on militarytimes.com.

“This is the third year in a row that
Clark College has been recognized as a Best for Vets college,” said Clark
College Veterans Resource Center Interim Manager Dave Daly. “I think it speaks
to the systems we’ve built to support our student veterans and ensure that they
are successful in their transition from military to academic life.”

Opened in 2014, the Veterans Resource
Center offers student veterans a wide range of
services and resources, from free tutoring to help accessing GI Bill benefits.
The space includes couches for socializing with fellow veterans, computer labs,
shelves and racks of free textbooks and clothing, and staff who can help
connect student veterans with resources or just listen to their experiences
without judgment. Additionally, the center has partnered with Clark College
Dental Hygiene and the American Legion Post 176 to provide subsidized dental
care to student veterans.

Currently, 304 Clark College students identify as veterans.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Clark College announced today November 14, 2019 that Rashida Willard has accepted the position of Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the college effective immediately.

“Rashida has earned the respect of her peers, our students and the
community as a strong and effective leader,” said Clark College Interim
President Sandra Fowler-Hill who made the appointment. “She has created and
developed structures, spaces and programs to help remove barriers for students
and she’s leading the effort to create a culturally competent campus to help
students succeed. The college is thrilled to make this announcement.”

Willard joined Clark College four years ago as Operations Manager
of Administrative Services. She has taught as an adjunct professor, has served
as Director of Operations and Risk Manager, and for the past 17 months has
served as Interim Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

During that time, she has developed, aligned and integrated new
and existing initiatives and procedures into a cohesive platform to foster a
more inclusive, welcoming and diverse college community.

“I am deeply invested in this work, and am passionate about
creating inclusive, safe and welcoming environments where all students have maximum opportunities to succeed,” Willard said.
“I am eager to move forward in community and collaboration, building on our
team’s momentum of the last several months.”

Willard was
a participant and graduate of the Social Justice Leadership Institute for the
Washington State Community College System in 2017-2018 and was nominated as a
Real Hero by the Learn Here Project in 2018. She is also a part of the
Vancouver Police Chief’s Diversity Advisory Team.

Willard
holds a master’s degree in Business Administration, a bachelor’s degree in
Business Administration, and an associate degree in Organizational Dynamics.
She is currently attending Concordia University, pursuing a doctorate in
Education with a concentration in Professional Leadership, Inquiry and
Transformation. Her current research explores strategies that faculty and staff
employ to create culturally engaging spaces for students of color attending
predominantly white institutions and how campus racial climate affects their
persistence and completion rates. This research will be used to examine and
identify strategies to close the equity gap among students of color in higher
education.