President Knight takes a moment to joke with the crowd during his 2017 State of the College address.

At his annual State of the College address on January 20, President Bob Knight spoke about the importance of an organization finding its “true north,” which he defined as “the very reason the organization exists, and what it can do better than anything else.”

Knight went on to say that Clark College has been steering its course toward its own true north, which he said was encapsulated in its mission statement: “Clark College, in service to the community, guides individuals to achieve their educational and professional goals.”

“There are two absolutely key words in this statement: ‘community’ and ‘guides,'” he said.

President Knight with students, left to right, David Malagon-Lopez, National Anthem singer Cori Weaver, ASCC Finance Director Bill Skates, and ASCC Executive Assistant Jennette Kachmar.

Knight pointed out several ways the college is helping to better guide students, including work on implementing a “Guided Pathways” model of education that helps channel students into well-planned routes to their degrees; new enrollment labs and Penguin Welcome Days to help students be prepared for college before they even begin classes; and the expansion of the COLL 101 class to all incoming students planning to earn an Associate of Arts degree. He reminded the audience gathered in Gaiser Student Center that almost three-quarters of Clark’s student body were first-generation college students.

“They need that structure,” he said. “They need that extra help and support.”

Knight also highlighted some of the ways the college is working with its community. He mentioned the strong relationship Clark’s Automotive Technology program has developed with local businesses like Dick Hannah Dealerships, who recently donated $4,000 tool kits to students working there. And he gestured to the temporary wall on one side of the student center, blocking off construction of the Tod and Maxine Culinary Institute, which, when completed later this year, would be the only nonprofit culinary institute within 120 miles.

Knight pointed out that the culinary institute, as well as Clark’s newly opened STEM Building, would not have been possible without generous support from the Clark College Foundation, which for the first time this past year surpassed $1 million in scholarship donation. When the state did not fully fund the STEM Building’s construction, Knight said, “our Foundation came to the rescue through our community and raised the money to build that facility. Not every college in this state has that luxury.”

Continuing the theme of community, Knight discussed the important role Clark College at Boschma Farms would play in the under-served northern portion of the college’s service district. While the land for this new facility in Ridgefield has been acquired, funding for the design phase has not been included in Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed budget for the next biennium. “This project is a cornerstone in what Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow like to remind me is the state’s fastest-growing city,” Knight said.

Stacy Watne holds her Presidential Coin.

As is traditional, Knight used the address as an opportunity to hand out Presidential Coins to individuals who provide exemplary service to Clark students, the college, and community. New this year, Knight bestowed two coins on individuals who are not employees at the college–alumnus George Welsh ’67 and professor emeritus Dr. Larry Easter–as well as to two employees, custodian Stacy Watne and Disability Support Services Program Support Supervisor Irene Cheney.

Knight concluded by saying that while he realized that the U.S. Presidential Inauguration was also happening that day, he would not be commenting on it except to say, “Whatever goes on nationally won’t affect what happens at Clark College. Clark College will remain an open, safe, inclusive environment.”

To see more highlights of the past year at Clark College, watch this video:

Photos: Jenny Shadley

More photos can be viewed on our Flickr page.

The Clark College Dental Hygiene Program will hold a free children’s dental clinic on Saturday, February 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the main campus of Clark College. The event will take place in the Firstenburg Dental Hygiene Education and Care Center in the Health Sciences Building on Clark’s main campus.

Dental hygiene students from Clark College will provide care under the direct supervision of licensed dental hygienist and dentists. Services will include cleanings, sealants, x-rays, sealants, doctor’s exams, fluoride, and select emergency treatments for children ages 18 and under. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the Dental Hygiene Business Office at (360) 992-2158.

This is the eleventh year that Clark’s Dental Hygiene has offered a free children’s dental health day. In addition to this event, the college’s Dental Hygiene students provide low-cost dental hygiene care to the community as part of their clinic practice.

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663. Driving directions and parking maps are available atwww.clark.edu/maps. If you need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Penguin Union Building room 013 as soon as possible.

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

The identical sessions will be held 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, in the Clark College gymnasium in the O’Connell Sports Center, located on the southwest corner 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/technical courses as long as the students meet the criteria and the classes are college-level.

The program, which can significantly reduce the cost of a four-year 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. According to Associate Director of Running Start Linda Calvert, these annual information nights frequently attract hundreds of interested students and parents to the college, which is why the college hosts two sessions. Fall Quarter 2016 Clark College welcomed 2432 Running Start students, which was up by 163 from the previous year.

These information sessions are for students and parents who want to know more about beginning the program in fall 2017. Calvert explained, “These optional sessions provide a great chance to hear current Running Start students candidly describe their experiences in the program. You’ll also hear about the eligibility criteria, deadlines, and more.”

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

Calvert noted, “Running Start is not for everyone. It requires not only college-level skills, but also college-level maturity. Successful program participants who flourish under the academic rigor of Running Start are generally self-motivated and looking for additional academic challenges. Students frequently tell us that they like the learning environment at the college and the ability to gradually sample the college environment.”

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 360-992-2366.

Clark College is inviting the public to come back to school for a series of free lunchtime seminars that explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Begun in 2015, the Clark College STEM Seminar Series launches its 2017 Winter season on Friday, January 20, at noon in Clark’s new STEM Building with “Hair-Raising Volcanic Hazards.”

This seminar features Liz Westby of the U.S. Geological Survey sharing information about volcanic hazards and their impacts, along with monitoring efforts on Cascade Range volcanoes. She will also be sharing a series of videos about volcanic hazards.

Other winter quarter events in this series include:

• Feb. 3: Amazing Animal Acupuncture with Dr. Christy Novick, veterinarian at Feline Medical Clinic and owner of Columbia Companion Animal Acupuncture
• Feb. 24: Historic and Hazardous Hanford with Ginger Wireman, outreach specialist for the Washington Department of Ecology working at Hanford
• March 10: Great Gravitational Waves with Dr. Duane Ray, former instructor for Clark College Economic & Community Development and holder of a doctorate degree in physics

All events are held on Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. in Clark College’s new STEM Building on Clark’s main campus. All are open to the public. Light snacks will be available and guests are welcome to bring their own lunches with them.

“We already do lots of outreach to encourage interest in STEM among our community’s young people through our annual Science Olympiad and other events,” said Clark College STEM Coordinator Erin Harwood, who helps organize the seminar series. “This is a way to show adults as well that learning about STEM can be lots of fun. We’re hoping people start looking forward to these seminars as a great way to spend their Friday lunch break learning something new.”

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available atwww.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), or visit Penguin Union Building room 013, as soon as possible.

Award-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson began his college career at Clark. Photo: Charlotte M. Wales

During the 2017 winter quarter installment of its renowned Columbia Writers Series, Clark College will welcome back former student Mitchell S. Jackson, an award-winning author. Mitchell will read from and discuss his writing from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17, in room PUB 258 on Clark’s main campus.

“I’m excited about Mitchell’s reading because I think it will be a great opportunity for Clark students to hear from someone who grew up in the area and attended Clark,” says English instructor Alexis Nelson, who co-directs the Columbia Writers Series. “I also think The Residue Years suits the college theme of Transformation, in addition to being a unique and powerful read.”

Raised in Portland, Mitchell Jackson is the author of The Residue Years, a novel that Mitchell has said includes many autobiographical elements. The award-winning book centers on the relationship between Champ, a young African-American man struggling to balance his ambitions with his circumstances, and his mother Grace, recently released from rehab.

Jackson began his college career at Clark in 1993, where he played basketball under then-coach David Waldow. “My time at Clark was formative,” says Jackson. “It taught me that I would have to work hard to achieve my goals, that I’d have to take responsibility for my decisions. Coach Waldow was tough on me, but he was also a figure I needed at that point in my life.”

Jackson transferred to another college after one year at Clark, eventually earning an M.A. in writing from Portland State University and an M.F.A in Creative Writing from New York University. He currently resides in New York, and serves on the faculty of both New York University and Columbia University.

The Residue Years has earned significant accolades since its release in 2013. It was praised by publications including The New York Times, The Paris Review, and The Times of London. Jackson is the winner of a Whiting Award. His novel also won The Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence and was a finalist for the Center for Fiction’s Flaherty-Dunnan First novel prize, the PEN/ Hemingway award for first fiction, and the Hurston / Wright Legacy Award. Jackson’s honors include fellowships from TED, the Lannan Foundation, the BreadLoaf Conference, and the Center for Fiction. It was also the 2015 Everybody Reads selection of the Multnomah County Library. The New York Times said in its review of the book, “Jackson’s prose has a spoken-word cadence, the language flying off the page with percussive energy … there is a warmth and a hard-won wisdom about the intersection of race and poverty in America.”

The event is free and open to the public. Directions and maps are available online. Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services (DSS) Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP). The DSS office is located in room 013 in Clark’s Penguin Union Building.

The Columbia Writers Series was launched at Clark College in 1988, bringing local, national and international authors to the college and the region. Information about the Columbia Writers Series is available at www.clark.edu/cc/cws.

Clark College will honor the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Wednesday, January 18, with “Transformation: A New Era of Social Activism,” a keynote address delivered by Rosa Clemente. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Gaiser Student Center on Clark’s main campus from noon to 1:30 p.m.

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.

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

About Rosa Clemente

Rosa Clemente

Rosa Clemente is co-founder of the National Hip-Hop Political Convention and a leading scholar on Afro-Latinx identity. From Harvard to prisons, Clemente has spent her life dedicated to scholar activism. She is currently a doctoral student in the W.E.B. Dubois department of UMASS-Amherst. Throughout her scholarly career, Clemente has been a constant presence through the many political struggles facing Black and Latinx people in the 21st century. She has sat on various boards throughout her career including Black Lives Matter, the National Priorities Project, The Brecht Forum, and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Additionally, Clemente served as the Green Party’s candidate for Vice President in the 2008 U.S. election.

In an effort to better serve its community and broaden the availability of education, Clark College is hosting variety of free information sessions to help those interested in pursuing their educations at Clark during the upcoming 2017 winter quarter, which begins in January.

In addition to its free Financial Aid Information Night on Dec. 7, Clark College is offering three different types of sessions:

• General Information Sessions are designed to answer questions people may have about enrolling at Clark. Topics include budgeting, career exploration, financial aid, and the application process. The next General Information Session is scheduled for December 1; for a complete list of upcoming sessions, visit clark.edu/future/infosessions.
• English as a Second Language Information Sessions help non-native speakers interested in improving their English language skills. Clark’s Transitional Studies department offers low-cost classes designed for adult immigrants and refugees. The next ESL information session is scheduled for November 28; for a complete list, visit clark.edu/cc/esl. Bring a photo ID; friends and family are welcome to attend.
• Enrollment Labs are a new service Clark is offering to help students who have applied to Clark but need assistance completing the registration process. New students are able to register for classes, apply for financial aid, get technology support, and receive one-on-one assistance with other issues—all in one convenient morning or afternoon session. The labs are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning November 29; for a complete list, visit clark.edu/future/enrollment-labs.php.

“We know that choosing to pursue an education is an important decision that can feel daunting for many people,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Belden. “Clark College is committed to serving our community and making higher education accessible to all, so these outreach efforts are just an extension of our ongoing mission.”

On Wednesday, December 7, specialists from Clark College’s Financial Aid Office will be on hand to answer questions from prospective students and parents about navigating the world of financial aid.

Clark’s annual Financial Aid Information Night provides information about Clark’s admission process, scholarship opportunities, financial aid grants and loans, how to apply, and much more.

The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Clark College’s main campus in Gaiser Student Center. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

This event is free and open to the public; it requires no advance registration or reservation. Information is available at the Clark website at http://www.clark.edu/cc/fan. If you have any additional questions, please direct them to Clark College’s Financial Aid Office in Gaiser Hall at 360-992-2153 or finaid@clark.edu.

Event Schedule:

• 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Open House
• 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Financial Aid Presentation by Chippi Bello, Clark College Associate Dean of Financial Aid
• 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Question-and-Answer Session

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

Clark College is celebrating International Education Week, a program of the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with events on Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18. Highlights include:

Thursday, November 17

11 a.m.  – 12 p.m., PUB 161: International Employers Panel. Discover what it takes to operate in a global economy from representatives of major regional employers.

12 – 4 p.m., Gaiser Student Center: International Festival. This free, family-friendly event includes international food, cultural presentations by Clark College international students, live performances, and public proclamations from both Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt and Clark College President Robert K. Knight.

Friday, November 18

10 a.m. – 12 p.m., CTC 153: Mexican cooking class. $40 per person, hosted by the Clark College Spanish Club.

1 p.m. – 3 p.m., CTC 153: Mexican cooking class. $40 per person, hosted by the Clark College Spanish Club.

2 p.m. – 3 p.m., GHL 213: International Service Learning Presentation. Hear from Clark College students about their recent service-learning trip to Mexico.

Full event listings are available online at www.clark.edu/cc/ieweek. All events are open to the public; all except the Mexican cooking classes are free. All events take place on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way except for the cooking classes, which take place at Clark College at Columbia Tech Center at 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd. Full 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.

Image courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Clark College Theatre opens its 2016-2017 season with the Tony Award-winning play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang.

Middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries Masha. Some of the show’s elements are derived from works of Anton Chekhov, including several character names, the play’s setting in a cherry orchard, and the theme of the possible loss of an ancestral home.

Cast includes (shown left to right): Madison Harris (Nina), Kennedy Marvin (Masha), H. Gene Biby (Vanya), Linda Owsley (Sonia), Matt Brown (Spike), Danielle Neblock (Cassandra). Mark Owsley is directing.

Show Dates: Nov. 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19. All show times are at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Theatre, Frost Arts Center, on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA.

Ticket Information: Students (with ID) $9; Alumni (with membership) $9; Senior Citizens $11; General Admission $13. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Clark College Bookstore in Gaiser Hall, online at http://www.clarkbookstore.com/site_theatre.asp, or call 360-992-2815.

If you need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Gaiser Hall room 137, as soon as possible.

Photos: Jenny Shadley/Clark College

More photos can be viewed on our Flickr page.