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

• How do Clark students who are enrolled in technology or engineering programs learn about the multitude of career paths available to them?
• Who can offer them real-world insights about what it’s like working as a civil engineer in the private sector versus the public sector?
• Where can students find out about paid summer internships in their field?

The answer to these questions is simple: Career Connect!

Career Connect events are open to Clark students, alumni, and community members. They provide opportunities to make connections and learn about internships, jobs, careers, and academic pathways. Clark staff, faculty, and local employers were in one place to support students. Opportunities are also regularly posted on Penguin Jobs, Clark’s online job and internship board.

Career Connect networking events provide an opportunity for Clark students in specific programs to connect with employers. At the Career Connect on February 4 in Cannell Library, students pursuing engineering and technology career paths had opportunities to meet with industry professionals and explore their career options.

Connecting with employers

At the Multnomah County table, students were waiting to speak to the two representatives. Cole Whitehurst, who coordinates Multnomah County’s College to County Mentorship Program, had good news for Clark students. The program is hiring about 50 summer interns in a variety of county departments. The internships pay $24 per hour.

Whitehurst handed students a flyer with a QR code that linked to the internship webpage and encouraged them to apply. Applications will open March 14 and will close at 9 a.m. on April 15 deadline. It requires a resume and cover letter.

At the Wallis Engineering table, an Engineer and a Recruiter spoke with a Clark engineering student who had many questions. What kinds of projects do civil engineers work on? What does the day-to-day work look like?

Similar conversations happened throughout the space as students and industry professionals talked about the opportunities in their professions.

Connecting with resources

“If students would like assistance creating a resume and cover letter for any opportunity, the team at Career Services is ready to help,” said Alex Kison, Workforce and Student Engagement Navigator of Career Services.

In addition to exploring career pathways, students connected with the Career Services team, the Academic Advising department, and Student Success Coaches, learning more about the resources available in the Clark College community.

The following employers participated in the Career Connect on February 4:

• Clark Public Utilities
• C-Tran
• edgefi
• Multnomah County, Oregon
• Wallis Engineering

About Career Connect

Career Connect Events are open to Clark students, alumni, and community members and provide opportunities to make connections and learn about internships, jobs, careers and academic pathways. Clark staff, faculty and local employers will all be in one place to support students.

Next Career Connect

Who: Clark students enrolled or interested in biological, social, and physical sciences or STEM. All students and community members are welcome!

When: Tuesday, February 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: STEM Building Room 156

What to expect: Local employers and industry professionals will be at these events to speak with you about what it’s like to be in their profession and engage with you in career conversations. If you are currently looking for a job or internship related to STEM fields, you are encouraged to bring your resume to share with local employers. 

Learn more: https://www.clark.edu/enroll/careers/events/

Make connections on campus

• Advising Services: advising@clark.edu or (360) 992-2345 or GHL 108
• Career Services: careerservices@clark.edu or (360) 992-2902 or GHL 108
• Student Success Coaches: Schedule a session here

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Award-winning poet Paisley Rekdal captivated a packed audience at Clark College’s Winter Columbia Writers Series on January 30. Students, faculty, staff, and community members filled Gaiser Hall 213, eager to hear her share from her work West: A Translation—a compelling collection commissioned to honor the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad. Blending poetry with multimedia storytelling, Rekdal’s work offers a powerful reexamination of history, migration, and identity.

Rekdal spent five years working on the project. Her research led her deep into railroad archives, where she found an abundance of histories celebrating the wealthy landowners and financiers behind the project. But stories of those laborers who built and worked for the railroad—the Chinese laborers, Black porters, and women who worked behind the scenes—were either absent or barely mentioned. Through her work, Rekdal seeks to restore their voices and reckon with the gaps in America’s historical narrative.

Rekdal said, “I’m half Chinese. I was aware of the history of the transcontinental railroad. I wanted to put the laborers of the railroad on the forefront.”

Countless Chinese who built the railroad with their sweat paid with their lives, but the railroad didn’t keep track of the number. Their stories are lost. When the two ends of the railroad were joined by the driving of the last spike on May 19, 1869, the work of the Chinese laborers was completed. Seen as a threat to the jobs of white laborers, they were no longer welcome in the U.S. and were denied a path to citizenship.

Rekdal talked about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that not only marginalized Chinese people but rounded up and detained them in a government-built detention center on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, some for up to two years.

Rekdal said many of these incarcerated Chinese people carved poems on the walls of the detention center in their own language. In her book, she included one of these poems that elegized someone who had committed suicide while in detention at Angel Island. At the event, Rekdal shared other poems she wrote in response to the stories.

She said, “This whole project is based on footnotes, but I wanted it to be the primary story.”

Today Angel Island is a state park that includes U.S. Immigration Station Detention Barracks Museum, an historic building preserved to show the original carvings that the detained immigrants left behind. Now we can learn about those lost stories.

Learn more:

West multimedia project by Paisley Rekdal

West: A Translation book by Paisley Rekdal is available in the Clark College Library

Angel Island State Park including U.S. Immigration Station Detention Barracks Museum, an historic building preserved to show the original carvings that the detained immigrants left behind from 1910-1940. Rooms are staged to reflect detention conditions.

Immigration Station at Angel Island State Park It It was designed to process Chinese immigrants whose entry was restricted by the Chinese Exclusion Law of 1882.  

The Chinese Exclusion Law of 1882 was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States.

About Paisley Rekdal

Paisley Rekdal is the author of four books of nonfiction, and seven books of poetry, most recently, West: A Translation, which won the 2024 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and was longlisted for the National Book Award. Her work has received the Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA Fellowship, and various state arts council awards. The former Utah poet laureate, she teaches at the University of Utah where she directs the American West Center. Learn more about Paisley Rekdal here.

Next Up

All Columbia Writers Series events are free and open to the public. For more information email: creativewriting@clark.edu

Spring Columbia Writers Series: Chelsea Bieker: May 29 at 10:00 a.m., PUB 258A-C

Chelsea Bieker is the author of three books, most recently the nationally bestselling novel, Madwoman, a Book of the Month club pick The New York Times calls “brilliant in its depiction of the long shadows cast by domestic violence.” Her first novel, Godshot, was longlisted for The Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and named a Barnes & Noble Pick of the Month. Her story collection, Heartbroke won the California Book Award and was a New York Times “Best California Book of 2022.” Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Marie Claire UK, People, The Cut, Wall Street Journal, and others. She is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Writers’ Award, as well as residencies from MacDowell and Tin House. Raised in Hawai’i and California, she lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two children.

Fourth Annual Clark College Spring Writing Workshop: Saturday, May 31, PUB

The Clark College Writing Workshop is an annual creative writing festival. It is comprised of author readings and writing workshops and invites Clark students and the Vancouver and surrounding communities to come together to celebrate writing and practice craft. Workshop facilitators include renowned writers as well as Clark faculty.

About the Columbia Writers Series

The Columbia Writers Series has been a part of Clark College since 1988, bringing local, national and international authors to the college throughout the year. Writers who have visited Clark College through the series include Ursula Le Guin, Donald Justice, Sherman Alexie, Marvin Bell, William Stafford, Jamaica Kincaid, Gerald Stern, Carolyn Forchè, Natalie Diaz, Karen Russell, Jess Walter, Dana Spiotta, Mitchell Jackson, and many others.

Learn more at https://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/cws/ or email creativewriting@clark.edu

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

The large, blooming gardens of native wildflowers that pop up each spring on Clark’s campus don’t happen by accident, but through careful maintenance by Bee Campus Project Manager Steven Clark, the Bee Committee, and the help of our community.

We need volunteers to sow wildflower seeds at several bee garden locations on campus on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14. Consider it your Valentine’s gift to native bees and other pollinators.

Although the flowers from last year scattered their own seed, a couple gardens this year need re-tilling, which means we need to plant fresh seeds in a few spots. The seeds are sown now, in the winter months, so they can take root in the soil and grow.

If you wish to volunteer, wear shoes and clothes appropriate for muddy, chilly conditions and prepare to walk over uneven terrain.

• Thursday, February 13: Meet at the Japanese Garden fountain at 1:00 pm (https://maps.app.goo.gl/gWvN3oRPdQpbZ8QK8)
• Friday, February 14: Meet in front of Hanna Hall on the north side at 1:00 pm (https://maps.app.goo.gl/d29CJEfDQQEQ63uZ9)

Clark who coordinates the college’s Bee Campus initiative has led the college in planting native wildflowers, to make the campus more attractive to bees and other pollinators. These flowers and natural areas where bees can make nests and lay eggs are helping Clark establish this bee habitat.

Pollinators—including mason bees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and hummingbirds are essential for the planet. They are responsible for the reproduction of almost 90% of the world’s flowering plant species and 30% of our food.

Depending on the weather, look out for flowers to start popping up in April with full bloom in mid-May.

About Bee Campus

In April 2023, Clark College earned certification as a Bee Campus affiliate, becoming the fifth college in Washington to earn that distinction. Clark joined 165 other college campuses and 179 cities across the country united to make their landscape attractive to pollinators.

Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA are initiatives of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a Portland-based nonprofit. Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities and college campuses to sustain pollinators by providing healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants that are free of pesticides.

A Bee Campus USA affiliate is a college campus that includes a 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:

• Clark College’s Bee Campus USA initiative
• Bee Campus USA
• Four simple ways to help pollinators

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

The NERD Girls and GEEKs, an ASCC student program, hosted an “experiment social” on Tuesday, January 28 in the STEM Building Collaboratorium, inviting the Clark STEM community to come together to hang out and explore by doing hands-on science experiments. The student-led club is directed by professors Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu.

At the social, attendees created stress balls, made wildflower seed paper, and “elephant toothpaste,” (using dish soap to trap oxygen gas bubbles and create a foam that looks like toothpaste). Some projects were more successful than others, but the students kept trying and approached the experiments in different ways to achieve better results.

Professor Barsotti said, “The best part of the social experiment was how it brought students together for hands-on experimentation—proving that failure is just part of the journey in science and engineering. One student thought they had made a mistake when making their stress ball, but upon completion, they realized it was exactly what they intended.”

According to its mission statement, the student program “strives to provide opportunities for diverse learners to achieve their educational goals by promoting social connectedness through peer support, volunteering, professional interaction, and mentoring. By providing these opportunities, the program encourages students to continue their path in the STEM fields.”

This mission can be summarized by one student’s answer to the question: “What do you like about the club?” The student smiled, pointed at her friend, and said, “Well, I met her.”

Clark NERD Girls and GEEKs hosts events throughout the year. Last December, they hosted the Second Annual Free Holiday Market that gives students and their families an opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for their families and themselves—for free. Read more about that here.

Learn more

NERD Girls posts about upcoming events on its Instagram. You can also reach out to Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu for more information.

Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent

Students gathered in the Penguin Student Lounge on January 14 for the Winter Queer Luncheon, an event designed to foster community, connection, and belonging. This term’s guest speaker, Caitlin Malvar (they/them), didn’t come alone—they were joined by their therapy dog, Oso, who has become somewhat of a Clark College celebrity.

Malvar, the Basic Needs Navigator in Clark’s new Basic Needs Hub, delivered an address titled “Be Where Your Feet Are.” Hosted each term by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the free luncheon provides a welcoming space for queer students and allies to come together.

About Caitlin Malvar

Growing up with two supportive and competitive parents who had played collegiate sports, Malvar’s life centered around playing basketball—including playing in high school and collegiate basketball at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

But then the pandemic hit. All activities—including basketball—paused. Eventually, when activities slowly started up, Malvar left the team. They earned a master’s degree during COVID. Instead of a joyful commencement ceremony surrounded by classmates, family, and friends, they sat at a laptop and watched their name scroll down the screen.

Words of wisdom from Caitlin

• “Like all of you, COVID gave me downtime to reflect on what was important to me moving forward. After I graduated with my master’s degree, it was the first time that my life wasn’t planned by a basketball coach. I kept getting hung up on the idea that I have lived, breathed, and bled basketball for the last fifteen years of my life. How the hell would I do anything else? Am I anything else?”

• “Then I remembered I was a whole human being before basketball. Sure, my parents taught me to work hard, dedicate myself to my sports, and to win. With time and space to remember who I was before basketball, I remembered they also encouraged me to try new things, to appreciate the outdoors, to learn how to cook from scratch, and to be a great friend.”

• “During the next year, these were going to be the things I was intentional about reincorporating into my life.

With parental pressure to get a real-world job, Malvar decided that rather than move back home to Portland, Oregon to find work, they would stay in Flagstaff, a small city in the northern Arizona mountains. They got a barista job in a small coffee shop.

Malvar said, “In many ways, this small coffee shop gave me my life back.” Then they recited a long list of how their first post-college job impacted their life:

“What could have just been coffee turned out to be…

• Meeting people who would reignite my love for camping.
• Finding my first queer community.
• Trading lattes for freshly harvested vegetables to cook with.
• Discovering my furry best friend, Oso.
• Embracing creativity in new ways
• Mastering the art of pizza-making
• Learning how to live off the grid.
• Meeting the love of my life
• Finding friends who would visit us in Oregon, after we moved away.”

Malvar said, “Even now, I continue to learn that life is not a race. Life is not a competition. Life is not a game that you can win or lose.” And here’s a list of their lessons learned:

“For me, this life is about …

• Building a home with those that I love and trust.
• Gathering friends around a table, sharing endless bowls of soup.
• Learning how to make things with my hands.
• Taking Oso on new adventures so he can have new dreams.
• Embracing my queer self – loving who I am and who I am becoming.
• Becoming more than I ever imagined. And in so many ways, it feels like it’s only just starting.”

Malvar said, “Slowing down and being where my feet were was the single most important thing I did when I finished school.”

Then Malvar invited everyone to visit Oso and them in the Basic Needs Hub.

Learn more about the Basic Needs Hub:

Located at Gaiser Hall GHL 216Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Contact: 360-992-2766 or email  basicneeds@clark.edu

• Basic Needs Hub Opens
• Why Basic Needs are Essential by Dr. Edwards

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

• Diversity Center, Gaiser Hall 214
• 360-992-2292 or email: diversity@clark.edu
• www.clark.edu/cc/diversity

Save the Date: Next DEI luncheons

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

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Clark College students considering a future in communication had a unique opportunity to connect with experts from Washington State University’s renowned Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. On January 23rd, the Clark College Communication Studies Department hosted a transfer panel and Q&A session in Gaiser Hall 205, giving students firsthand insights into bachelor’s degree pathways in the field.

Molly Lampros, communications studies professor, welcomed two special guests:

• Nanu Iyer, program director of the Murrow College of Communication at WSU Vancouver
• Imran Haider, director of online programs for the Murrow College of Communication at WSU

Lampros spoke about how Clark students who earn an associate of arts transfer degree can transfer to WSU, enroll in the Murrow College of Communication, and pursue a variety of degree options at the WSU campuses in Vancouver, Pullman, Everett, or the global (online) campus.

She told the students: “Ask questions to figure out how your career will continue in communication studies.”

Iyer started the program titled ‘Where Can Murrow Take You?’ by asking students to think broadly: “Where do we use strategic communications?”

A student replied, “I don’t know if this is where you’re going—but—everywhere?”

Iyer nodded. “Yes! Strategic communication is the brain behind every brand. Every field—including health care and government—needs people with communications skills.”

Haider agreed, “For me, having a communications degree has meant versatility. It allows you to open a hundred other doors that other majors don’t.”

He listed the variety of fields taught in WSU’s respected Murrow program: classes in journalism, advertising, public relations, and corporate communications. Then he added, “The classes are innovative. Exciting. What you’ll need in your career. These skills are flexible and versatile and have application in today’s communications world.”

A robust discussion followed, with Clark students asking questions to learn about the career opportunities they could pursue in communications studies.

“I was very pleased with the level of student engagement and thoughtful questions asked,” said Lampros. “Students were excited and grateful to meet program directors from different campuses, and they seemed enthusiastic. Several students chose to dress up for the event, and many made professional connections on LinkedIn immediately following the panel.”

During fall term, she took her Mass Media students to Murrow College at WSU Vancouver for a thoughtful workshop about misinformation and propaganda. Lampros, Iyer, Haider, and WSU Vancouver faculty member, Elizabeth Candello, spoke about the benefits of Clark’s associate’s transfer degree and its alignment with Murrow College. Lampros invited Iyer and Haider to make a presentation on Clark’s campus, and they agreed.

The Communication Studies department hosted a Clark-to-Portland State University transfer panel in 2023, but this was the first Clark-to-Murrow transfer panel event. It likely will not be the last.

“I’m always looking for ways to support my students in their transfer efforts and help them make connections to the workforce, which will set them up for success,” said Lampros. “It can be rare to find opportunities to build community outside of the classroom and I am happy to help bridge that gap for our students.”

She added, “Many of my students indicated their intention to transfer to WSU and expressed gratitude for the panel. An event like this underscores the importance of our collaboration with WSU and shows students that a transfer degree is accessible and approachable. This event also demonstrates the vast and diverse career paths possible with a degree in Communication Studies.”

Preparing to transfer

Clark transfer advisors Laura Arellano-Karki and Tasaday Turner attended the presentation at the invitation of Lampros.   

Turner, associate director of Advising and Student Success, said, “I really wanted to be there to support students and to provide information if needed.” She added, “It was great to hear how different people found themselves in a communication field and how that field is so very vast and broad.”

Turner reminded Clark students who plan to transfer to a four-year university: “Students should remember to apply early, get their financial aid forms completed, and submit their scholarship applications ASAP!”

Murrow College of Communication at WSU

Murrow College majors in strategic communication are offered at the Vancouver, Pullman, Everett, and global campus and include:

• Advertising
• Integrated strategic communication
• Public relations
• Risk and crisis communication

Murrow College majors in journalism and media production are offered at the Pullman campus only and include:

• Broadcast news
• Broadcast production
• Media innovation
• Multimedia journalism

These Murrow College minors are offered at the Vancouver and Pullman campuses:

• Communication
• Sports communication
• Health communication and promotion

Learn more

• Learn about the WSU Edward R. Murrow College of Communication here.
• Learn about Murrow College majors and minors here.
• Learn about Edward R. Murrow’s legacy here.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley