Special Advisor for Diversity and Equity Sirius Bonner

Sirius Bonner, Clark College special advisor for diversity and equity, was presented with the Compass Award at the Urban Spark Collective’s fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast, held January 18 in Clark College’s Gaiser Student Center.

The Compass Award is given to an individual or organization that carves a new path for diversity and inclusion in education, in the workplace, or through community engagement. As Special Advisor for Diversity and Equity, Bonner advises and supports Clark College’s Executive Cabinet, College Council, Cultural Pluralism Committee and the entire college community. Since joining Clark in 2011, Bonner has introduced new programs to the college; brought a sharper focus to issues of power, privilege and inequity; overseen the opening of a new Diversity Center on the main campus; and expanded the number of opportunities for faculty, students, and staff to build their skills.

Bonner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Before coming to Clark, she served as the Director of Multicultural Recruitment and the Multicultural Affairs Student Program Coordinator at Reed College and later as the Assistant Director of New Student Programs for Diversity Recruitment at Portland State University.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast is sponsored by a number of community organizations. The event is the brainchild of community activist Deena Pierott, who is the founder of diversity executive search firm Mosaic Blueprint. This year, the breakfast had a surprise guest: U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia), who worked with Dr. King in the Civil Rights movement, spoke to the assembled guests. In her remarks upon accepting the Compass Award, Bonner said she was inspired by Rep. Lewis, noting that he had inspired her to “get into trouble” in the quest for equity for all people.

Vancouver Mayor and Clark alumnus Tim Leavitt presented the award to Bonner. The event keynote speaker was Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia, an Oregon native and psychiatrist at Oregon Health & Science University.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Professor Kathrena Halsinger discusses her work with a student at the opening of the Art Faculty Biennial.

Clark art faculty spend their time at the college fostering and honing their students’ creative skills. But what about their own creative work? At the Art Faculty Biennial in Archer Gallery, running through February 8, everyone has a chance to see what the college’s faculty produce when they’re not busy teaching.

Wind and Drive and SIX6JEWELS, archival prints by art instructor Mariana Tres.

The wide range of their creativity was on display during the show’s opening reception on January 14, as faculty, students, and other visitors gazed at works that ranged from painting to ceramics to multimedia installations.

“I think it’s a really diverse show, but everything still fits very well together,” said art professor Kathrena Halsinger as she stood in front of her own contribution, a linked collection of digital prints. It hung between sculpture instructor Beth Heron’s installation of aluminum and bright-blue glass and Marina Tres’ striking, large-format prints of old watch gears.

All Fall Down, multi-channel video by art professor Senseney Stokes.

Many visitors paused at length before Professor Senseney Stokes’ All Fall Down, in which a stack of vintage black-and-white televisions showed linked video footage of gravel falling through a tube that seemed to travel from one screen to the next. Stokes, who is on sabbatical to learn gallery management in preparation for becoming Archer Gallery’s new director, said that she collected many of the old televisions years ago from thrift stores or just off the side of the road, but that these days they’re almost impossible to find. “I had to get the rest off of eBay,” she said with a wry smile.

Left to right, art faculty members Gabriel Parque, Carson Legree, Lisa Conway, Senseney Stokes, Grant Hottle, and Kathrena Halsinger.

Art professor emeritus Carson Legree, who is currently serving as Archer Gallery’s director this academic year, said that the Art Faculty Biennial is different from other shows that the gallery hosts, which often feature works by prominent artists in the region and the country. “This show really is about the campus, and about the students, and about faculty members’ relationships with each other and with their students,” she explained. “I think it’s interesting for students, because they see we’re all still working artists, we’re all still trying new things.”

Kelsey Lavin sketches her professor’s work during the Art Faculty Biennial.

Student Kelsey Lavin confirmed Legree’s statement. “It’s inspiring to see more than one type of art, to see all the different styles,” she said, pausing for a moment in her sketches of Professor Lisa Conway’s ceramic flowers to point to instructor Ben Killen Rosenberg’s watercolors on a free-standing wall nearby. “I have always respected the faculty here, and this [show] just adds to that.”

Lavin, 23, has taken two art classes at Clark, and hopes to take more before her anticipated graduation in 2015. A first-generation college student, she is considering entering the college’s Associate of Fine Art degree program, with the end goal of becoming an art teacher and working artist herself.

Legree said that she hoped that everyone at the college–students, faculty, and staff–would visit the show. “It gives the rest of the college a chance to see our work,” she said. “We really do have a very strong and vibrant department.”

To see more images from the show visit our Flickr page.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

President Robert K. Knight pauses for a moment in his 2014 State of the College address.

At 80 years old, Clark College still has plenty to learn–that was the message Clark College President Robert K. Knight conveyed in his annual State of the College address.

Knight took a moment to acknowledge that the college was in the midst of celebrating its 80th anniversary, but then said that, rather than focusing on the past, “I have been … thinking about what steps we can continue to take to ensure that Clark College at 100 is the vibrant and important place that it is today.”

Knight said that he thought the college was “on the right path” in that respect, pointing to recent accomplishments such as a very successful accreditation visit by representatives of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, during which the commission acknowledged the improvements Clark has made in the area of shared governance.

Presidential Coin recipient and Automotive Technology professor Mike Godson, right, with Dick Hannah representative Gary Schuler. Godson and Schuler worked together to help create a partnership that allows aspiring automotive technicians to take classes at Clark College and work at Dick Hannah simultaneously.

Other recent accomplishments Knight noted included:

• Receiving funding for a new building on the main campus dedicated to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), scheduled to break ground in summer 2014;
• Recent state approval for a $35 million satellite location in northern Clark County at a site still to be determined;
• The success of the Clark College Foundation’s “Ensuring a Bright Future” fundraising campaign, which is predicted to reach its goal of $20 million in spring 2014;
• The introduction of a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene, the first bachelor’s degree to be offered by the college;
• A statewide record in the number of online courses certified by Quality Matters;
• The opening of a Veterans Resource Center on the main campus to help the college’s estimated 800 student veterans;
• The continued development of a new Strategic Plan for the years 2015-2020;
• Clark’s leadership role in transitioning to ctcLink;
• New programs and opportunities for students to participate in cutting-edge learning in the automotive, aeronautics, and bioscience fields;
• National awards won by Phoenix, Clark’s journal of arts and literature;
• Increased enrollment in Clark’s Honors Program.

Knight acknowledged that Clark’s enrollment has decreased for the first time in recent years. “We expected that,” he said. “It’s a good thing, because it means that people are finding jobs. We expect enrollment to continue to go down a little bit.”

President Knight with Che’yna Shotwell. Shotwell, a junior at Mountain View High School, is part of the Penguin Promise partnership between Clark College and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington, which provides Clark College scholarships to those students who fulfill the program’s stringent academic requirements. She is on track to become the first student to receive such a scholarship from the program, which was announced at the 2013 State of the College address.

Knight explained that administration and staff were already discussing how to manage the college’s enrollment. “We have to determine what is the right size for Clark College,” he said. Then he added, “As we continue to be the most over-enrolled community college in Washington, we haven’t turned away students yet.”

Knight stressed that any decisions about the college’s future would need to be based on whether or not they helped students learn. “As long as I am president, we will never forget that the student comes first and is the only reason we have a job and the only reason we’re here,” he said.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

See more photos on our Flickr page.

View the entire speech on CVTV.

A student gets assistance during an annual open house event for Running Start students that’s held at the Clark College Bookstore during the start of each fall quarter.

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, Jan. 22, and Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, 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. In fall 2013, Clark College welcomed 1,904 Running Start students, surpassing all other Running Start enrollments in the state community college system.

Associate Director of Running Start Linda Calvert, far left, supplying information to students at the Bookstore’s Running Start Open House in 2012.

These information sessions are for students and parents who want to know more about beginning the program in fall 2014. 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, testing procedures, 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. Fee waivers and limited textbook assistance are available for those demonstrating financial need.

Linda Calvert noted, “Running Start is not for everyone. It requires not only college-level skills, but also college-level maturity. Successful program participants 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 Gaiser Hall Room 137 two weeks in advance of the events.

For information about Running Start Information Nights, call 360-992-2366.

“Abu Ghraib” sculpture by Rex Silvernail

Clark College’s Art Selection Committee recently honored the legacies of two local artists by placing their work in Cannell Library.

In fall 2012, friends of the late Rex Silvernail approached Clark College about receiving one or more of his artworks. Silvernail, an accomplished sculptor, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and wanted to ensure that his art would be kept available to the public after his death. Clark is among many institutions that stepped forward to house his work; others include the Portland Art Museum, Hallie Ford Museum, Maryhill Museum, Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve, and the Fort Vancouver Regional Library.

Silvernail was born in Tacoma, Wash. He earned his MFA from Northern Illinois University and later received a Fulbright Scholarship to attend the Kitanmax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art–the first non-Native person to do so–where he learned traditional methods for manipulating wood. He became known for an artistic style that blended contemporary Western techniques with ancient traditions of craftsmanship, creating works that emphasized his interest in environmentalism and world peace.

“Shilo” wood and paper sculpture
by Rex Silvernail

Silvernail died in April 2013. By then the Art Selection Committee had already begun the process of accepting and placing two of his works: Shilo and Abu Ghraib. The former is a joyous piece made in honor of Silvernail’s granddaughter; the latter has been called “one of his strongest anti-war statements.” Together, they provide a cogent summary of Silvernail’s breadth of subject matter as an artist.

“We chose to place the pieces where they would have maximum visual impact and viewing accessibility,” said Art Selection Committee member and art professor Lisa Conway. “We wanted a space that would enhance the dimensional qualities of these unique pieces, and allow for them to be really set apart from, yet showcased within, their surroundings. After months of considering various sites across our campuses, the committee chose the library location. Cannell Library continues to be a great place to view art on campus.”

The third piece placed in Cannell is a large bronze casting plaque known as “The Lincoln Medallion.” It depicts a young Abraham Lincoln sitting beneath a tree, reading a book, with the inscription “I will study to prepare myself and maybe someday my chance will come.” It was made by George B. Clausen, the father of recently retired business technology professor John Clausen. The younger Clausen, together with his sister, Grace Sorensen, donated the piece to the college in memory of their parents.

Bronze casting plaque of Abraham Lincoln by George B. Clausen, donated by retired business technology professor John Clausen and his sister, Grace Sorensen

George Clausen was, like Lincoln, a self-taught man. He quit high school in order to support his family when his own father became ill, teaching himself the trade of architectural drafting. He also taught himself bronze casting; his works were housed in, among other places, the Oregon State Capitol and the Vista House. In 1937, when he created the mold for the Lincoln Medallion, he was working at the Portland Art Museum.

John Clausen and his sister wanted their father’s medallion to be placed at Clark College–and specifically in Cannell–because of its theme of education and reading.

These three pieces are just the most recent to be sited by the Art Selection Committee, which is responsible for selecting art through the Washington State Arts Commission Art in Public Places Program. This program facilitates the acquisition, placement, and stewardship of artwork in state-funded building projects. One-half of one percent for art funds is generated by new construction projects in state agencies, community colleges, universities, and public schools. Local committees representing project sites make all final artwork selection decisions.

In addition, the Art Selection Committee is responsible for acceptance and location of donated art objects, markers and monuments (other than instruction/gallery items) and the purchase and location of art objects acquired through means other than the Art in Public Places Program. The committee monitors and makes decisions regarding the maintenance and care of all college art objects.

Currently, the college’s art collection includes almost 300 artworks in media as varied as metal sculpture, painting, line drawing, and textiles.

President Knight delivering the 2013 State of the College Address.

Clark College President Robert K. Knight will give the annual State of the College address on Thursday, Jan. 16. As the college celebrates its 80th anniversary, President Knight will update the college and members of the community in the address, which he says will focus on “Looking Forward at 80.”

Among the topics that President Knight will be discussing are the plans to break ground on the new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) building in the summer of 2014, the progress of strategic planning efforts at the college, and the role of new programs and partnerships.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 11 a.m. in Gaiser Student Center on the college’s main campus. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Wash. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

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 Gaiser Hall room 137, as soon as possible.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Before we toss those 2013 calendars in the recycling bin, we wanted to pause for a moment to savor the year that was. Members of the college’s Communications and Marketing staff went through the Clark College Flickr site and pulled out some of their favorite images from the past year. Whether it’s a challenging Theatre production, a response to rural residents asking for more educational opportunities, or the proud smile on a scholarship recipient’s face, these photographs tell the story of the college’s ongoing mission to enhance the community through learning. We can’t wait to see where that story takes us in 2014!

2013 State of the College

President Bob Knight explored the strengths and challenges of Clark during his annual State of the College address in January 2013.

Basic Education Open House

Winter quarter 2013 opened with a big change for Clark's Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language services, which moved from Town Plaza to the T Building on the main campus.

51st Annual Jazz Festival

Seattle's Roosevelt High School I took the 2013 Dale Beacock Memorial Sweepstakes Award during the 51st Annual Jazz Festival in January.

MLK Keynote Speaker Dr. Darryl Brice Clark College

Martin Luther King Jr Day Keynote Speaker Dr. Darryl Brice spoke at Clark College on Tuesday, January 22.

Theatre musical production: RENT

Clark College gained praise for its ambitious production of this Tony Award-winning musical during winter quarter.

Spencer West: The Power of We

In March, Spencer West shared his inspirational story of his climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Classes in the Gorge Information Nights

In March, Clark officials met with members of the Stevenson-Carson and White Salmon communities to discuss offering classes in the Columbia River Gorge.

Mature Learning turns 40

On March 29, Mature Learning celebrated its 40th anniversary with a half-day event at CTC.

Washington State Science Olympiad

On April 13, Clark hosted students from Washington state high schools and middle schools competing in more than 50 different events at the Washington State Science Olympiad.

Library Snapshot Day

On April 17, Clark College Libraries celebrated Library Snapshot Day with the unveiling of new READ posters featuring members of the Clark College community.

Sakura Festival

Prof. April Duvic leads the Women's Choral Ensemble during the 2013 Sakura Festival in April.

Career Days: Clothing Closet

Career Days 2013 began with the Career Clothing Closet, which provides students with free professional clothing for the career-related events to come.

Artist-in-Residence Shantell Martin

Shantell Martin's residency at Clark College culminated with a digital drawing performance with Clark College student jazz musicians Max Wike, David Floratos and James Powers in the Archer Gallery.

Alumni Student Dinner

George Welsh and President Bob Knight congratulate Outstanding Alumni Award recipient Prof. Michael Greenwood '61 at the Alumni Student Dinner in June.

Pheonix Unveiling and Student Art Show

Kesha Fisher, left, unwrapped new issues of Clark's literary and arts journal, Phoenix, at its unveiling in May.

Spring Thing

ASCC celebrated the end of spring quarter with its annual Spring Thing celebration.

Commencement 2013

Little did Ramona Vercher know as she waited in line to participate in Commencement that she would be named the Presidential Scholarship recipient during the ceremony.

GED/High School Completion Ceremony 2013

Dena Brill celebrates after receiving her GED during the GED/High School Completion Ceremony. Brill is the first ABE graduate to become president of the Associated Students of Clark College.

Opening Day

In September, before the beginning of fall quarter, Clark College employees and trustees greeted Opening Day with awards, updates, and a little dancing.

Columbia Credit Union Simulation Pharmacy Simulation Lab Opening

Clark College President Robert K. Knight and Columbia Credit Union President Steve Kenny cut the ribbon signifying the official opening of the simulation pharmacy.

Student Staff Softball Game

On October 3, students and staff participated in the annual students vs. staff softball game--and, bucking tradition, Team Staff won, with help from new softball coach Mandy Hill.

Elementary Science Olympiad

Students from Harney Elementary School at the Benthic Bugs competition during November's Elementary Science Olympiad.

Educating for the Seventh Generation

Dancing at Clark's annual celebration of indigenous cultures in November.

Theatre presents: "Curse of the Starving Class"

The final moments of the "Curse of the Starving Class" by Sam Shepard, Clark College Theatre's fall quarter production.

"Attend" by Mike Rathbun

Mike Rathbun hand-crafted his custom installation "Attend" and painstakingly assembled it inside Archer Gallery.

International Education Week

German professor Julian Nelson, right, translates as one of his students reads a German children's poem during the International Read-In, a part of Clark's observation of International Education Week in November.

Clark College student Darryl Ramsey addressed guests at the Legislative Breakfast.

Clark College held its first Legislative Breakfast on December 6, inviting legislative leaders in the districts that the college serves to hear more about the college’s achievements and challenges.

The event got off to a late start due to an unexpected snowfall that had begun the night before. Nevertheless, six legislators were in attendance: Washington State Representatives Paul Harris, Jim Moeller, Liz Pike, Monica Stonier, Brandon Vick, and Sharon Wylie. Clark College Board of Trustees members Jada Rupley, Sherry Parker, and Chair Royce Pollard also attended, as did many staff, faculty and students.

As guests enjoyed breakfast fare (including pastries provided by the college’s Culinary Arts-Bakery program), they were welcomed by Associated Students of Clark College (ASCC) President Dena Brill. President Bob Knight and Trustee Pollard also greeted attendees.

As a member of the Washington Community and Technical College system, Clark does not lobby the legislature directly, but Pollard laid out some of the key issues that Clark will be watching during the upcoming legislative session, including the continuing funding challenges created both by statewide budget problems and by underfunding of community colleges in particular. Also, Clark College’s north county project will be back before legislators this winter, as the project has been approved but funding has not yet been allocated. The project, which will provide a new Clark College facility in the northern portion of the Clark College service area, is likely at least 10 years away.

Dr. Peter Williams, Dean of STEM

President Knight spoke about the strong local support for the college, including some recent partnerships with business and industry, and about student success. Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Dr. Peter Williams provided legislators with a preview of many things happening in STEM and thanked them for their support of capital funding for two-year colleges. Clark College will break ground on a new STEM building in 2014.

Some of the biggest impact in the program came from Brill and another student, Darryl Ramsey, who is transitioning from military service to a career in network technology. Both students spoke to the legislators about the importance of the college in the community and in their own lives. They thanked the legislators for their support, and encouraged them to continue to keep Clark College in their minds as they went to Olympia.

Photos: Clark College/Jennifer Kirby

Professor Deena Godwin, far left, with Honors Program students Patrick Hardy, Christopher Yoong, Alida van Breda, Jason Langley, Lynne Rochelle, Jennifer Campbell, and Ben Putnam.

Clark is well known for providing its students with hands-on learning opportunities in career-oriented fields like nursing, dental hygiene, and automotive technology. Even so, you might imagine that the highly academic and cerebral Transfer AA Honors Program would be too elevated an atmosphere for “learning by doing.”

Guess again: As the students in Prof. Deena Godwin’s Honors Small Group Communication class explained during a presentation on December 5, their experience with conquering a real-life challenge not only taught them how to apply the theories they’d learned in the class to an actual problem, but also helped prepare them for the sort of situations they’re likely to encounter in their work lives, no matter what field they wind up in.

The students were given an assignment at the beginning of the quarter: Come up with ways to introduce more Clark students to the Honors Program, a newly developed course of study designed to provide high-achieving students with challenging coursework to prepare them for pursuing higher degrees at four-year institutions.

None of the students had difficulty with the actual goal. As Honors Program students themselves, they knew first-hand the benefits of participating in the program: the chance to take academically challenging classes with other high-achieving students, the Honors credential on their transcripts, one-on-one mentoring with a faculty member, the freedom to really delve into a topic of interest through a capstone project, and scholarship opportunities through the Clark College Foundation’s Honors Program Scholarship.

But while the students were happy with the goal of the assignment, they were less sanguine about the format, which involved working in groups of three to five. (After all, the course is called Small Group Communication.) Many students originally balked at the idea of group projects, fearing that their classmates would not perform to the same high standards they set for themselves. “I came into this really scared because I knew it was a big part of my grade, and my grade is everything to me,” said Jason Langley.

What the students discovered was that their challenges of working in a group were not the ones they’d feared: For the most part, students did their work. Rather, the problems were ones encountered in many workplaces: conflicts in vision, differences in communication styles, negotiating between bright individuals who were accustomed to dominating their work groups, coordinating busy schedules, clarifying tasks and goals. This is when the tools they were learning in class came in handy. As the students continued their presentations, terms like “setting expectations” and “going back to our norms” began sneaking into their language.

In the end, the groups came up with varied ways of achieving the assignment’s goal, ranging from presentations to College 101 classes to a brief video outlining the Honors Program’s advantages. While the students encountered unexpected challenges–one group wound up having to dismiss a member, after weeks of mediation–they all agreed that the class had taught them valuable skills.

“Although we had a tough time working together as a group, I personally believe we’ll be better students and future employees because of this experience,” said Patrick Hardy, who was in the group with the dismissed team member.

Clark College Foundation CEO and President Lisa Gibert, who attended the presentation, agreed. “I would say you had the more valuable experience in many ways, because you are experiencing what you’re going to experience in the real world,” she said.

Student Ben Putnam said he planned to use the skills he’d learned through this assignment in future group work. “The next time I’m assigned to work in a team, I’ll be the weird guy who says, ‘Yeah, let’s write these rules down before we start,'” he said with a grin.

For more information about the Transfer AA Honors Program, visit www.clark.edu/honors.

Photo: Clark College/Hannah Erickson

Readers of the Gettysburg Address were, left to right, Tracy Fortmann, Rowena Tchao, Claire Bauer, Rosalba Pitkin, Bill Charles, Tim Leavitt, Julie Eddings, Bill Ritchie, Pat Jollota, Lisa Gibert, and Sirius Bonner.

Four score and five people attended a recitation of the Gettysburg Address on November 19, the 150th anniversary of that famous speech’s delivery by President Abraham Lincoln. The event, which was organized jointly by Clark College Mature Learning and the National Park Service’s Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (FVNHS), took place in Foster Auditorium.

The event was part of the Learn the Address project, an effort by documentarian Ken Burns, along with numerous partners, to encourage Americans to video record themselves reading or reciting the address.

Eleven different presenters recited lines of the speech: Vancouver Mayor and Clark alumnus Tim Leavitt, Clark College Foundation President and CEO Lisa Gibert, Clark College Assistant Vice President of Corporate & Continuing Education Kevin Kussman, Fort Vancouver Superintendent Tracy Fortmann, Clark College Special Advisor for Diversity & Equity Sirius Bonner, Skyridge Middle School student Claire Bauer, Mature Learning student Bill Charles, Northwest Indian Veterans Association Color Guard member Julie Eddings, Crossroads Community Church pastor Bill Ritchie, Clark College Diversity Outreach Specialist Rosalba Pitkin, Clark College Foundation Annual Fund Specialist Rowena Tchao, and Clark College Mature Learning instructor and Clark County Freeholder Pat Jollota.

The program also included period Civil War music by “Illinois” Doug Tracy; a presentation of the colors by the Northwest Indian Veterans Association Color Guard; lecture on Lincoln by Mature Learning instructor Dr. Elliott Trommald; a lecture on Fort Vancouver’s role in the Civil War by Tracy Fortmann; a welcome by Clark College Vice President of Administration Bob Williamson; and the reading of a Walt Whitman poem by Clark College Trustee Royce Pollard.

“This program is one of several this year that we are doing in a partnership we have inaugurated with the National Park Service and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site,” said Mature Learning Manager Tracy Reilly Kelly, who emceed the event. “Our co-programming will focus on history and archaeology.”

Reilly Kelly added that FVNHS staff had told her that they appreciated that Clark College President Bob Knight made it back from China just in time to attend that evening’s launch of the Fort’s new exhibit, “The Civil War in the West: A New Birth of Freedom.”

Story submitted by Tracy Reilly Kelly

Photo: Clark College Mature Learning/Don Gardener