Clark College students, staff, and supporters gathered with Clark College Foundation on Oct. 13 at the Hilton in downtown Vancouver for a reception to recognize scholarship recipients and generous donors. During fall term, the Foundation awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to Clark students.

In her welcome address, Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards said she has been energized to see so many students on campus and full parking lots during the first three weeks of fall term.

Calling attention to the Foundation, its donors and family and friends supporting Clark students, Dr. Edwards said, “We want to thank you for your unwavering support of our students.”

Before the program started, Dr. Edwards had the opportunity to talk with many scholarship recipients.

She said, “The students were grateful and expressed their appreciation for the scholarship. What an upbeat and energetic environment—a perfect way to end a busy week.”

Current student and scholarship recipient Amy Chitwood spoke from the podium about how a scholarship from the Foundation, combined with Clark’s reasonable tuition and fees and the caring faculty and staff have made it possible for her to work full-time while being a full-time student pursuing a career in human resources.

“I benefited from the foundation for their generous Rex and Arlene Garrison business scholarship, which helped me pay for college,” Chitwood said. “You see people from all walks of life attending Clark, and it’s thanks to its affordability and support of their students and community. None of my accomplishments would have been possible without the support of Clark College, my teachers, the administration, and the Foundation. The connections I have made here have shaped me. I look forward to completing my degree here and becoming an alumnus. Go penguins!”

Clark College Foundation CEO Calen Ouellette, said, “This vital work of awarding scholarships to students is the ‘why’ of everything we do at the Foundation. We are grateful to our donors for their support of Clark. We are excited to award these scholarships and look forward to hearing from students after they have graduated and are doing amazing work in our community.”

Two nursing students said scholarships awarded by the Foundation have made an enormous difference in their ability to succeed in the challenging program.

Hillary Sadlowski, now in her sixth term in the nursing program, will graduate in December. During the height of the pandemic, Sadlowski was working full time as a certified nursing assistant at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center while also enrolled in Clark’s nursing program full time. She didn’t know about scholarships and grants. A counselor in the nursing program told Sadlowski that she would not be able to continue at the pace she was going. The nursing counselor encouraged her to apply for scholarships and grants.

“It was life-changing for me,” Sadlowski said. “If it were not for scholarships and grants, there’s no way I could have continued in school.”

Alejandra Valencia is in her first term of Clark’s nursing program. While she was taking prerequisites at Clark, she was working full time as a certified nursing assistant and going to school full time. She also was pregnant.

Now in addition to starting the nursing program, she is the mother of a busy toddler. Thanks to a scholarship awarded by the Foundation and a supportive husband to help at home, she does not have to add a job to her full schedule.

“I don’t think I could handle working, going to school and being the parent of 3-year-old,” Valencia said. “Thanks to the Foundation, I don’t have to be stretched that far.”

See more photos from the event on our Flickr Page.

The Clark Aerospace team launched its rocket, Little Penguin, at Spaceport America Cup competition in Las Cruces, New Mexico in June. It is the world’s largest IREC (Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition) for student rocketry teams.  

Nearly 6,000 rocketeers on 158 teams hailing from 24 countries competed at Spaceport. Clark College was the only community college accepted to participate in the competition.  

Xiunu “Sophie” Lin, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Director of Clark Aerospace Program, shared the team’s video with college staff in an email: “I’m excited to share a brief video that showcases the Clark Aerospace rocket team’s incredible journey to the 2023 Spaceport America Cup competition. This video provides a glimpse into our experience at the event and offers valuable insights into our participation.”  

• Watch the team’s video about their experience at Spaceport America Cup Competition here. 
• Read an earlier Clark 24/7 News story about the team’s rocket test launch in April here.  

Fall and winter: Building the rocket 

In October 2022, a team of six Clark students, an advisor, and a mentor was organized by the Clark Aerospace program to build a rocket for the 2023 Spaceport America Cup. 

Clark College Aerospace rocket team: 

• Students Tyler James Lawrence, Samuel Remus Banceu, Ethan Lloyd Walters, Vyacheslav Timofeyevich Lukiyanchuk, Osvaldo Monroy, and Vee Dunn 
• Mentor Jack Caynon, who guided and supported the team from beginning to end 
• Xiunu “Sophie” Lin, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Director of the Clark Aerospace Program 

Rocket specs: 

• Name: “Little Penguin” 
• Length: 114 inches  
• Diameter: 5 inches 
• Weight: 39 pounds without a motor 

The team spent about six months building the rocket for the competition. After several flight test failures and rebuilds, eventually, they had a rocket ready for the competition. 

Spring: Test flight 

Every spring, the college’s Aerospace program travels to the scrappy sagebrush landscape of Brothers, Oregon, a premier launch site for high-altitude rocket projects, 40 miles east of Bend to launch their rockets in test flights. 

Clark Aerospace launched their rocket, dubbed “Little Penguin” on April 28 using an M1845 motor. According to the team’s simulations, the rocket with that motor could potentially reach a high point of about 16,000 feet (called “apogee” in rocket lingo).  

Little Penguin launched—and reached an apogee of about 12,000 feet, but the team quickly lost sight of it. Several hours later, the team located their rocket 11 miles from the launch site. It was banged up and hadn’t held up as well as they’d hoped. 

Dr. Lin said, “After the flight test at Brothers, we had to rebuild some parts of the rocket to make it stronger.” 

Spaceport America’s Cup 

Day 1 (June 18), Arrival:  

Clark Aerospace team flew to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and checked in at Spaceport. One Clark Aerospace student observed: “It was thrilling to finally meet so many young rocketeers who share the same passion and dream we have about space and technology.” 

Day 2, Project Presentation:  

Clark Aerospace showcased their rocket at Las Cruces Convention Center. The team’s rocket attracted much attention. Next, the team took their rocket through the flight safety review. Eventually, they were granted permission to fly the following day. 

The night before the launch, students worked in the garage of the Airbnb house to correct some minor issues identified during the flight safety review. Together, they prepared the rocket for the next day’s launch. 

Day 3, Scheduled Launch Day:  

Students worked on the rocket to earn the opportunity to launch the rocket on the first day and accumulate more points. They took the rocket to the flight readiness safety inspection, where the launch control officer reviewed their rocket. It passed the final safety check. They were cleared to take their rocket to the launch site.  

Unfortunately, strong winds picked up in the late afternoon. All launch events were suspended. Little Penguin would have to wait another day to fly. 

Day 4, Second Launch Day:  

The students awoke at 3 a.m. and lined up at the gate of the launch site at 6 a.m. Building their rocket in the early morning light, Clark Aerospace was in the first group of teams to set up the tent and work on their rockets. 

One student said, “We were trying all we could to earn an edge to compete with the four-year universities. There is not much difference between us and the students from four-year universities, as long as we are willing to work as hard, or even harder than them.” 

Just like the previous day, they lined up for the flight readiness safety inspection. They were given the green light to take their rocket to the vertical launch site, where they set up their rocket. Then they settled into the bleachers to watch Little Penguin fly. 

The launch site announcer said: “We’re looking at Clark College. This is a community college. It’s good to see community colleges participate. You don’t have to be a major Division 1 school. You just need students who have the passion and interest, a little bit of support from the community and the school. Clark Aerospace is launching from Pad B3. Skies are clear. LCO (launch control officer) is counting it down. Launching in 5-4-3-2-1!” 

The rocket lifted up. For this flight, the team had attached an M1419 motor. The rocket reached an apogee of 8,529 feet. Little Penguin was recovered about 200 feet away from the launchpad, a new record for the rocket team. 

Dr. Lin said, “Our program’s projects offer a valuable chance for students to voluntarily step up and take on responsibility, enabling them to delve deeper into their true potential and explore the possibilities of who they can become.” 

Spaceport America Cup by the numbers: 

• 5,913 rocketeers participating 
• 158 teams 
• 1,329 (22%) of participants were women  
• Students hailed from 24 countries on 6 continents  
  (Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Nepal, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States) 

Next challenge: Spaceport 2024 

The next challenge for Clark Aerospace: Building their project to compete in the next Spaceport America Cup competition in June 2024. The team plans to make their own motor, build a six-inch diameter rocket, and compete in the SRAD (Student Researched and Designed) 10,000-foot category.  

Interested in joining? 

Clark Aerospace is looking for interested Clark students to join them. No prior experience with rockets is required.  

Clark’s Aerospace Club actively participates in science, technology, engineering, and math-based experiential project/aerospace design competitions, and students also attend launch events, museums, and aerospace-related activities. 

To learn more: Email clarkaerospace1@gmail.com 

Clark’s food pantry for students marks its fifth anniversary in July. Penguin Pantry had a soft opening on July 24, 2017, and an official grand opening on October 25, 2017.  

Penguin Pantry supports a healthy college community by reducing hunger and food insecurity on campus and connecting students with essential resources. Over the past five years, the pantry has become an important resource to help Clark College students stay on the path to graduation. The global pandemic, inflation, and skyrocketing prices have created more barriers for students trying to stay in school and complete their degree.  

Director of Student Life Sarah Gruhler, who supervises Penguin Pantry, says it is helping to ease the financial burden of students.  

“The Penguin Pantry was created to address student hunger at Clark,” said Gruhler. “The goal is to provide support for students’ basic needs and serve as a bridge to campus and community resources. We want students to persist to graduation and goal completion – and know the pantry can help with this.” 

Increasing Needs 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, food banks nationwide have witnessed sharp increases in the number of people facing food insecurity and accessing emergency food aid. This correlates to significant increases in the cost of food, housing, fuel, and utilities. 

• Clark County Food Bank reported an increase in food insecurity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Clark County Food Bank provided food to more than 23 percent of the population of Clark County.  
• In 2021, 40% of students at community and technical colleges nationwide were food insecure, according to the Seattle-based nonprofit organization Northwest Harvest.   
• In 2017 when the Penguin Pantry opened, almost half of Clark’s student body was classified as lower income, according to data from the college’s Office of Planning & Effectiveness 
• In 2018, campus-wide surveys indicated that 43% of Clark students were low-income and 23% had dependent children. 

Any currently enrolled Clark College student may access pantry services simply by filling out an online form on MyClark@Clark. Food is distributed once per month, usually on the last Tuesday of the month. 

Before the pandemic, students shopped for food by walking into the Penguin Pantry inside the Penguin Union Building. But the COVID pandemic changed the delivery model to a no-contact, seamless curbside pickup system on the side of Gaiser Hall off Fort Vancouver Way. That delivery method continues today. Students make appointments to pick up their food, pull their car into the lot, pop their trunk, and staff and volunteers load the food box into the trunk. 

Penguin Pantry Q & A with Sarah Gruhler 

Q: How much food does Penguin Pantry distribute during an academic year? 

 During the 2022-23 academic year the pantry has served:  

• 511 Individual students
• 1,863 family members of students  
• 1,243 boxes of food distributed 
• 28,630 pounds of food distributed 

SG: Each month the pantry also offers a bonus item – either toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, and deodorant), laundry soap, or toilet paper and a gift card to Fred Meyer or Safeway. 

Q: What are the most popular items? 

SG: The items we hear most about are our bonus items like laundry soap and gift cards. Students express a lot of thanks for those items. 

Q: Where does Penguin Pantry get its food?  

SG: Thanks to donations from community partners, we purchase shelf-stable items from Costco and get supplemental items as we can from Clark County Food Bank. 

Q: Is the pantry paid for by donations? 

SG: Yes. Other than staffing, Penguin Pantry is supported by donations. Faculty and staff are our main contributors, through monthly contributions and during our annual Thanksgiving meal drive. Anyone can donate via Clark College Foundation. 

Upcoming Penguin Pantry distribution: 

• Tuesday, August 29 
• Tuesday, October 24 

How students can request a monthly pre-packaged food box: 

1. Log into MyClark@Clark 

2. Look for the “Penguin Pantry Order Form” located in the right navigation list under Get Started 

3. Fill out the form completely and submit 

4. You will receive a confirmation email with your food box pick-up date and time.  

If students need immediate assistance with food, housing and/or other basic needs, please visit the following Clark County community resources: 

Clark County Food Bank 

Council for the Homeless 

How to donate to Penguin Pantry 

• Online: Give online with Clark College Foundation’s online giving form and choose ‘Penguin Pantry’ from the drop-down menu.  
• By mail: Mail your check/money order to: Clark College, Attn: Cashier’s Office (PUB 153), 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way. Write the check to “Clark College” and write “Penguin Pantry” in the comments area. 

Learn more at https://www.clark.edu/campus-life/student-support/penguinpantry/index.php 

Every term, Professors Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu pose a real-life problem to their engineering students and instruct them to design and build an object that solves the problem.

The last step of the project: During a three-hour competition, teams of students present their built project and then test it in front of their peers and judges from the community. Teams of engineering students competed in the challenge on June 6.

The topic of the 2023 spring competition, International Space Station Challenge, was proposed by Clark engineering alum Sarah Morgan. For the past decade, she has worked for Boeing in Houston ensuring engineering systems are working on the International Space Station.

International Space Station challenge 

Sarah contacted her former professors with an idea for the competition that was based on a project her team was working on.

Problem to solve: On the International Space Station, a pressure ventilation valve is damaged. To keep astronauts safe, students must design and build a temporary protective cover.

Sarah met with Clark engineering students via Zoom to answer their questions about the project.

“Our students were really excited about this project and got a chance to talk with an engineer with real life experience with the International Space Station,” said Professor Hsu. “Students also gain invaluable experience working with teams to solve problems.”

The Challenge

Sarah presented the challenge to the engineering students: “On the International Space Station (ISS), keeping a module pressurized is very important, but it’s also important to keep the pressure inside the station from getting too high. With this need to balance pressure in a specific range, there are ventilation lines/valves that go from the inside of the Space Station to the outside and ‘pop off’ at certain pressures.”

• The immediate problem: “One such line/valve has been damaged and an exposed portion is in an area that puts it at risk of being kicked by crew. If kicked, the vent line could become a hole from the inside of the pressurized module to the vacuum of space.”
• Problem statement: How might we design a temporary ventilation valve cover that can be assembled and disassembled and be able to withstand a 12-pound kick force?
• Working toward a permanent solution: A design team is working on a permanent solution to protect the exposed portion of this line. However, the design project is expected to take several months to develop and build before it can be flown on a supply vehicle.
• Students create a proposed temporary solution: “In the meantime, to ensure the safety of the astronauts on the ISS, an immediate temporary protective cover is required.”

Design a Solution

Students chose their team names, which included Space Penguins, Drop Kick Dynamics, and the Three Astroneers, to name a few.

Teams got to work designing a proposed temporary solution. Students chose various materials to build their valve covers: cardboard, block foam, aluminum, and polylactic acid (PLA), a popular material used in desktop 3D printing. Designs ranged from a trampoline-inspired fabric cover to a 3D-printed dome.

At the competition, each team took a turn standing in front of their professors and peers to explain their solution. Then came the moment of truth—testing what they had built. Two engineering students conducted the test of striking the design with a long-handled metal sledgehammer set to impact at a certain degree. Which designs would fail? Which designs would remain intact and protect the valve?

Top Three Teams

Professor Hsu said, “Winning the engineering competition earns the team bragging rights!”

The top three teams, in no particular order:

Team: D-Something
Students: Zane Bohyer, Caelan Heimbuch, Todd Karlsen
Project: Padded Wrench Frame

Team: Aerospace and Friends
Students: Clark Hegewald, Tyler Lawrence, Jack McMahon, Osvaldo Monroy
Project: ViceGuardian ValveArmor

Team: Stariod Engineers
Students: David Bogdanov, David Albulov, Gregory Wanner
Project: Tin Can Cover

About Sarah Morgan

When Sarah was enrolled in the engineering program at Clark College, she was president of N.E.R.D. Girls (Not Even Remotely Dorky) and was involved in the Engineering Club. After she earned an Associate of Science, Engineering transfer degree at Clark in 2011, she earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at WSU Vancouver in 2013.

Immediately after Sarah graduated, she was hired by Boeing in Houston as a structural analysis engineer on the International Space Station’s structural integrity team. She has worked at Boeing for a decade. Since 2021, she has been the ISS mission evaluation room manager, leading and integrating engineering systems for operational success.

Read a story about Sarah Morgan in WSU’s Crimson and Grey Magazine here

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Clark College honored its 87th graduating class at the 2023 Clark College Commencement ceremony on June 15 at the RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater. The college conferred 1,833 degrees and certificates on 1,601 graduates, the next generation of our community’s workers, leaders, and scholars. More than 520 graduates and their guests gathered with college faculty and staff to celebrate their achievements.  

• 1,601 graduates who earned 1,833 degrees and certificates  
• 1,406 associate degrees  
• 1,100 direct transfer associate degrees 
• 81 bachelor of applied science degrees 
• 257 certificates 
• 89 high school diplomas  
• 450 Running Start students who graduated 
• 13 graduates from Larch Corrections Center; 12 students earned high school diploma or equivalent and 1 student earned the first Associate in Applied Science degree in Supervisory Management 

President Dr. Karin Edwards told the students, “We hope we have inspired you to excel and empowered you with the tools you need to transform your own life and others around you. Use the power of your degree to make the world a better place! As you move on to the next step of your life —and your next success — know that we are cheering you on to achieve the extraordinary!” 

Trustee Cristhian Canseco Juarez followed with these words, “For those of you who also come from another culture, embrace your differences. Use your language skills and gifts to connect across cultures, to advocate for and uplift others, and to make your community a better, more equitable place.” 

2023 Commencement Speakers:

• College President Dr. Karin Edwards 
• Trustee Cristhian Canseco Juarez, who spoke in both English and Spanish  
• Student speaker Darah Watts, Running Start student who earned her associate degree 
• CCAHE Faculty Union President and Professor of Communication Studies Suzanne Southerland 
• Interim Vice President of Instruction Dr. Jim Wilkins-Luton  

“We are entering a new chapter in our lives; this new chapter leaves behind our doubts, fears, and uncertainties. Because we have succeeded. Clark College has allowed us to have this precious moment by giving us, not only the power, but the tools to earn it.”

Darah Watts, Student Speaker

Sitting in the upper section of the amphitheater, Ruby Lainez-Pintor held up a large sign in support of her sister who was graduating: “Congratulations, Berenice!” 

After the last student had crossed the stage and the students had been conferred, the amphitheater crowd erupted with a cacophony of cowbells, kazoos, whoops, and clapping. 

Student Success Stories

It was a commencement that highlighted students’ legacy, courage, and second chances. 

Ashley Freese, Biology 

Ashley originally enrolled at Clark when she was 18, but shortly afterward became very sick with Hodgkins’ lymphoma and had to drop out of school. She returned to Clark in her 30s during the COVID pandemic. At commencement she crossed the stage and received an associate degree in biology. She is transferring to WSU Vancouver in the fall to earn a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. 

Bradon Monahan, Welding 

Bradon served his country as a Marine in Afghanistan, then Okinawa, then stateside. After a series of injuries, he was honorably discharged and faced surgeries and physical therapy. He enrolled in Clark’s Welding program because he likes working with his hands and welding helps him focus and calms his mind. Bradon earned his associate in applied technologies in Welding Technology. The day after commencement, Bradon, his wife, and their six children left for their next chapter in rural Oklahoma, where they bought a home. Although Bradon’s injuries prevent him from the rigors of fulltime welding, he plans to help local farmers by making welding repairs on their equipment.  

Amelia Harris, Running Start 

Amelia earned her associate degree while concurrently graduating from Fort Vancouver High School. She is a fourth-generation Clark College student. Her great grandmother, grandmother, grandfather, mother, and father all attended Clark. Amelia’s grandmother also worked for the college for 25 years. Amelia, who was captain of her high school’s bowling team, received a bowling scholarship to Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, where she plans to major in business management and marketing.  

Thavian McKinney, Surveying & Geomatics 

On his last day of high school, Thavian severely fractured his leg, which required extensive surgery, and left him unable to walk for three months, followed by months of physical therapy. While he was recovering and could not stand for long, he enrolled in Clark’s Surveying & Geomatics program and completed his core classes online. But Thavian had to delay his first-year survey classes, which required lots of walking. He was given permission to complete two years of surveying courses during his second year. Before he graduated and earned an associate in applied science degree, he was hired as a lead survey technician at a design firm.  

Student Awards

Community College Presidents’ Award: Sonia Talero-Pachon 

Sonia received the 2022-2023 Community College Presidents’ Award in honor of Val Ogden. This annual scholarship is given to a Clark College graduate who demonstrates leadership potential, a commitment to community service, and academic achievement and is transferring to WSU Vancouver.  

Sonia exemplifies the resiliency and tenacity of first-generation college graduates. As a peer mentor in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, she worked with students in various cultural contexts, fostering connectivity, and embracing inclusivity. She believes in contributing to the community by cherishing her diversity, growing as an individual, and honoring her Colombian roots. Higher education is important to her because it opens the door to her dreams of owning and running a successful cultural events company to help systemically non-dominant communities demonstrate their artistic talent. She intends to become the first female in her family to graduate from a four-year university. 

Thanks to the Clark College Foundation’s generosity, two other graduates were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship each:  

• Madelaine Debarber 
• Alexandria ‘Lexi’ Kneipp 

PTK All-Washington Academic Team Graduates  

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the honors society for two-year colleges, chose the following graduates based on academic excellence and community service:  

• Alexandria ‘Lexi’ Kneipp 
• Ella Merusic

Read more about the honorees

Faculty and Staff Awards

2023 Exceptional Faculty Award 

• Dan Alberghetti, Network Technology 
• Chef Earl Frederick, Cuisine Management 
• Dr. Jacob Funk, Music 
• Rebecca Herman, Dental Hygiene 
• Dr. Julian Nelson, English 
• Michiyo Okuhara, Japanese 

2023 Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award (announced at Opening Day 2022)

• Christina Smith, English 
• Cydney Topping, English  

2023 Exceptional Classified Staff Award (announced at Opening Day 2022)

• Chris Layfield, Security and Safety 
• Jessica Sanders, Transitional Studies 

2023 Exceptional Administrative Exempt Award (announced at Opening Day 2022) 

• Alyssa Voyles, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

Tammy Thomas fulfilled her decades-long dream of becoming a nurse when her mother walked across the stage and attached a Clark College Nursing pin to her daughter’s lapel. Tammy was one of 29 nursing graduates celebrating completing their Registered Nurse education at Clark’s Nursing pinning ceremony on June 16 in Gaiser Student Center.  

The room was packed with families and friends—and so many babies, toddlers and young children—who had supported and cheered on their hard-working nursing students through the rigors of Clark’s program.  

During the ceremony, Ethan Cockerham received the Florence Nightingale Award, which is bestowed upon a graduate who has shown exceptional clinical performance. He spoke about how Clark’s nursing program is well respected throughout the region. When he first moved to the metro area to eventually attend nursing school, he was working as an emergency medical technician (EMT). At every hospital he walked into, he asked the staff which was the area’s best nursing program. Overwhelmingly, the answer was the same: Clark College.  

Ethan told his fellow nursing graduates: “We started at the height of COVID when it was chaotic and complicated with nursing strikes and vaccine refusals.” He added, “We’ve arrived! We have so much good to do in this world.” 

Angie Bailey, Nursing faculty department chair, explained that the Nursing graduates already have applied for licensure in the state they want to work in. They have one final step to take to earn an “RN” after their name. They must pass a rigorous exam, the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN. It is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. 

Standing in the back of the room, she nodded toward the stage where the 29 new nurses sat and said, “Our students are phenomenal.”  

In turn, each graduate stood and was pinned by someone who was important in their journey to become a nurse.  

• Emilio Gomez was pinned by his wife, an ER nurse, with the help of their two children. 
• Janey Hume was pinned by her sister, Esther, a former graduate of Clark’s RN program. 
• Miriah Mallory was pinned by her husband, who held their baby. She had become pregnant and given birth while completing the nursing program. 
• Tammy Thomas was pinned by her mother, a nurse and nursing professor. 

Tammy’s nursing story 

Tammy always wanted to be a nurse because her mother, Linda Rose, was a nurse. After graduating from high school, Tammy enrolled in a nursing program at a community college in California, but life got in the way. With only two classes to go, she became pregnant. After her daughter was born, Tammy finished her general associate degree in 2000, but she had to put nursing school on hold to raise her daughter.  

Tammy said, “I worked as a human resources manager for 16 years while I was raising my daughter, but I was always thinking about nursing.” 

Tammy watched her mother’s fulfilling nursing career, which included working at Oregon Health Sciences University and then becoming a nursing professor at Concordia University. 

Meanwhile, Tammy’s daughter, Daryl Hogan, grew up, went to nursing school and is an oncology nurse. She is earning a master’s degree so that she can become a nursing professor just like her grandmother. 

Now inspired by both her mother and her daughter, Tammy decided to return to college to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.  

She said, “I chose Clark because it has one of the best and most prestigious nursing programs around.”  

At age 52, Tammy graduated with an AA in Nursing DTA/MRP, and next will take her exam to become a Registered Nurse. Tammy is not planning on stopping there. She plans to earn her bachelor’s degree and to work in neonatal intensive care (NICU) or women’s health.  

In earning her nursing degree, Tammy joins her mother and daughter and completes their three-generation nursing family. 

“It’s been quite the journey,” Tammy said. “I have learned that I have the perseverance and courage to follow my dream,” Tammy said. “My advice to students: Don’t give up on your dreams. Believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter how old you are. Just set a goal to do what you love, believe in yourself, and take that first step. Then the next.”  

Then all 29 nurses stood and recited the Nightingale Pledge, pledging to uphold certain ethics and standards within their profession. It is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath for doctors.  

Many of these nursing graduates have transferred to Washington State University Vancouver and will begin working toward their bachelor’s degrees in the fall. There is a seamless transition between the two schools and their nursing programs. 

History of Nursing at Clark

• First pinning ceremony: 1962 
• Number of total nursing graduates: 4,351 
• Number of nursing classes graduating: 144 

Nursing Pledge 

In full knowledge and understanding, I promise to care for the sick with all of the skill and understanding I possess, without regards to race, creed, color, politics, or social status, sparing no effort to preserve quality of life, alleviate suffering, and promote health. I will respect at all times the dignity and beliefs of the patients under my care, holding in confidence all personal information entrusted to me, and refraining from any action which may endanger life or health. I will endeavor to keep my professional knowledge and skills at the highest level and give loyal support and cooperation to all members of the health care team. I will do my utmost to honor the international code of ethics applied to nursing and uphold the integrity of the nurse.  

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

The Mathematics Department is excited to announce the recipients of this year’s Sigma Scholarship. This scholarship was established in summer of 2020 to support and encourage students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields to pursue higher-level mathematics.  

Congratulations to our 2023 Sigma Scholarship recipients: 

Abou Bakar Berthe 

STEM field: Mining Engineering 

2023-24: Clark College 

Oliver Rosas 

STEM field: Civil Engineering 

2023-24: Clark College 

Spencer Henwood 

STEM field: Computer Science 

2023-24: Portland State University 

Isaac Osorio Beltran 

STEM field: Computer Science or Engineering 

2023-24: Clark College 

Post and photos contributed by Kayoko Barnhill

Engineering and Computer Science students preparing to graduate presented their projects in an expo in the STEM Collaboratorium on June 6.  

Engineering Professor Izad Khormaee explained that at the beginning of the academic year, students were assigned a task: to build and design a project that solves a real-world problem. Students proposed their project and designed it in Fall term, built it in Winter term, and improved on it in Spring term.   

Brandon Eastman (above) designed and built an electric-powered robot for use in production line automation. His project combines mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. 

“It’s very simple,” Brandon said. “It is three motors equaling three degrees of freedom. Each motor is a wheel.”  

Brandon is earning his associate degree in electrical engineering and transferring to WSU Vancouver to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.  

Mellanie Martin (above) displayed the bioinformatics program she created that applies computer science principles to biological data.  

“This program takes a DNA strand and transcribes it to RNA,” she said. “Bioinformatics is a growing field. We have so much biological data, but we don’t know what to do with it.”  

Mellanie is transferring to WSU Vancouver to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.  

Linnea Castro (above) a mother of three children, enrolled at Clark in her late 30s to pursue a career in computer science. She is transferring to WSU Vancouver to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She created a homework timer to encourage kids to focus for 25 minutes. 

“It’s fun to do a project that’s manifested around something you want to learn,” Linnea said.    

Outside on the terrace, Carlos Aragón (top of page) demonstrated his renewable energy project, Ram Power Energy, a wave-powered generator that transforms hydraulic energy into electrical energy. He hopes to use this technology to harvest the energy of the ocean waves to produce electricity and to extract hydrogen.  

Carlos is earning his associates in electrical engineering and is transferring to WSU Vancouver, where he plans to earn his bachelor’s degree while continuing to improve his project. Eventually, he believes this process could not only be used to generate energy but also to clean the oceans.   

“I’m excited to see how to use it,” he said. “I hope to inspire more students at Clark to research new sustainable and clean energy sources.” 

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Clark College International Programs students, faculty and staff gathered on June 8 to celebrate the graduation of eight students representing five countries: Canada, Colombia, Norway, South Korea, and Vietnam. Three of the graduating students have earned bachelor’s degrees.  

• Chau Boi Nguyen, Vietnam, Bachelor of Applied Science, Cybersecurity  
• Heymi Park, South Korea, Bachelor of Applied Science, Dental Hygiene  
• Jennifer Garcia-Caro, Canada, Bachelor of Applied Science, Dental Hygiene 
• Kiet Huang Ahn Pham, Vietnam, Associate of Science Transfer, Engineering 
• Oeyvin Fluge Rydland, Norway, Associate of Arts, general AA-transfer
• Sonia Talero Pachon, Colombia, Associate in Applied Science, Business Administration   
• Justin Craig Willis, Canada, Associate in Applied Science, Business Administration   
• Sungmin Yoon, South Korea, Associate in Arts, Studio Arts  

Jody Shulnak, associate director of International Programs and Maggie Li, International admissions manager, presented graduating students with colorful stoles representing their country’s flag. Students will wear these stoles over their robes at commencement. 

“The honor is ours to be a part of your story,” Shulnak told the students. 

International Programs provides support services and opportunities to foster a global perspective and cross-cultural competence for Clark College and the communities it serves. The program also offers an Intensive English Language program. During the 2022-23 academic year, the college had 55 international students. 

International students hear about Clark College in a number of ways. The college’s international recruitment plan includes armchair recruitment, working with agents, both virtual and face-to-face recruitment fairs, social media campaigns, print and online marketing around the world, partnering with EducationUSA, and more. In addition, many students have relatives living in Vancouver or Clark County. 

Shulnak said, “We offer holistic support for our international students. We also provide opportunities for students to study abroad for an academic term.”  

International students who are acclimating to living in a new country, culture, language environment, and college campus community, go through an intense adjustment period. Shulnak said the college community can help foster a sense of belonging for our international students by making an effort to learn their names, offering assistance, inviting them to share their perspectives, encouraging campus engagement, and generally creating a welcoming environment.  As a college, adopting a culture of inclusion will help international student retention. 

International Programs students were recognized for completing the Intensive English Language program, for receiving scholarships, being student athletes, and more.  

Some students spoke at the podium to offer their insight and advice for students who are not yet graduating. 

“Living abroad away from your family can be very hard,” said Sonia Talero Pachon. “Check your mental health. I have friends at Clark, at my job, and outside of Clark. That’s what keeps me sane.” She added, “The unconditional support that Clark has given me made this graduation possible, and I am forever grateful for that.” 

A slideshow highlighted the program’s connections with students throughout the year, from a space to hang out in Penguin Union Building, to Sakura Festival, bowling, a Halloween party, and field trips to Port of Vancouver and the beach. 

Shulnak recognized the program’s 2022-23 International Peer Mentors, Sungmin Yoon from South Korea and Ziyad El Amrani from Morocco. The program is accepting applications for peer mentors for the 2023-24 academic year. Students need not be international students, but must be enrolled at Clark for fall, winter, and spring terms. For information, contact International Programs at international@clark.edu or 360-992-2390. 

About International Programs:  

International Programs provides support services and opportunities to foster a global perspective and cross-cultural competence for Clark College and the communities it serves. Learn more here.  

View International Programs electronic brochure here.     

Learn about Study Abroad programs here.  

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Graduates were celebrated at the Diversity Center graduation on June 7. 

Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards challenged the graduates: “Don’t minimize your accomplishment. Be proud of it. Don’t ever forget where you came from. Be your true authentic self. Every day of my life, I remind myself I’m from the Boogie Down Bronx.” 

Three graduates participated: 

• Matty Quinn, Associate in Fine Arts (Fine Arts: Studio Arts AFA) 
• Rona Young, Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services 
• Tracy Taylor, Associate in Applied Science in Supervisory Management 

Alum Dee Harris, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion executive assistant, shared her story of living in a homeless shelter and being unsure of her future when a Clark College employee from Workforce Education Services spoke at the shelter about opportunities at Clark. Soon after, she enrolled at Clark and became a paralegal. Later she earned a bachelor’s degree. She has worked at the college for more than a decade. She has raised seven children.  

Dee said, “I never felt I didn’t have an opportunity at Clark College. This degree is yours. This is what you have accomplished. No one can take that from you.” 

In the keynote address, graduating student Matty Quinn shared their story of growing up in a low-income household that was unsafe and toxic. They first enrolled at age 18 but dropped out because “my life was a mess.” 

Later, when they decided to return to college, their mother was critical and unsupportive. Matty got help in therapy and returned to Clark. 

Matty said, “The past couple of years have been one of the biggest journeys of my life. I no longer have connections with people who bring me down. I’ve made my own family here.” 

Matty also took on leadership roles as a Student Ambassador and a peer mentor.  

“I was finally proud of myself,” they said.  

Next, Matty will be starting an internship as a paraeducator to help the future generation of kids and artists. 

Interim Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vanessa Neal, closed with this inspiration: “Change is a constant part of life. You’ll face challenges and adversity. You’ll meet people who don’t understand you. Embrace your curiosity. Follow your opportunities. Lean into your courage over fear. Honor your truest self. Remember what matters and keep going.

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish