Biology student Lemman Gurre sat at a high bistro-style table next to the wall of windows in the new MESA Center on the third floor of the STEM Building. From her third-floor vantage point, she could see the campus, a ribbon of the Columbia River, and Portland’s hills. In the quiet study space, she took notes as she read from her laptop screen.  

Since the MESA Center opened fall term, the space has been well used by students. Director of MESA Román Lara said students use the center to study, plug in their laptops to work, use the center’s printer, check out textbooks from the lending library, or stop in for a snack and quiet moment between classes. The inner room offers large whiteboards and tables for students to study alone or to work on group projects. 

• In the reception area, MESA ambassadors, Maisy Pantua Sibayan and Karina Hottinger connect with students, welcome them to the space, and schedule students to use the space. Both are current Clark students pursuing STEM studies.  
• In the bright lounge, comfortable upholstered furniture in chartreuse, orange, and aqua invites students to sit in the quiet space to work on their classwork, study, or take a break. Students also can grab a snack in the kitchenette which includes a microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator, coffee pot, and hot water for tea. 

What is MESA? 

MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) is a national program designed to increase the number of historically underrepresented populations to succeed in STEM fields. This includes African American, Native American, Latino/Hispanic, and Pacific Islander/Hawaiian and women community college students who transfer to universities and earn STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) bachelor’s degrees.  

At Clark, this includes a dedicated space for studying and creating community, as well as opportunities for mentorship, assistance with books and fees, conference participation, campus visits, and more. 

Clark College began its MESA program during the 2018-19 academic year. The program can serve up to 100 students and currently serves more than 80 students. Between 20 and 30 students are very active in the program. Others use the basic services, such as the textbook lending library. Learn more about Clark’s MESA program here. 

Campus and industry tours 

During fall term, Lara took a group of second-year Clark students to Seattle to attend a transfer student preview event at the University of Washington. Students learned about UW’s admission and application process, took a guided tour of the campus, and attended program-specific sessions, including a 3D printing demonstration. Some students had the opportunity to meet with academic advisors.  

Lara is planning to take MESA students to tour the campuses of Portland State University and Washington State University Vancouver during winter term.  

He also is planning industry tours for MESA students to visit local employers who hire STEM graduates. His wish list includes ABSCI, Boeing, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. 

He also promotes opportunities for undergraduate internships and research opportunities to MESA students and is always on the lookout for new opportunities. MESA students will be eligible to apply for undergraduate research opportunities at WSU Vancouver during the summer.  

Eligibility for MESA: 

• Belong to historically underrepresented populations in STEM, including Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American, Latino/Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and women in STEM. 
• Be a first-generation college student whose parents did not receive a bachelor’s degree 
• Intend to earn a bachelor’s degree in a STEM major 
• Be a citizen or resident of the U.S., DACA eligible or undocumented 
• Come from an economically disadvantaged background 
• Do not hold currently hold a bachelor’s degree in any field 

Services MESA provides: 

• MESA Center in STEM Building Room 358 
• Academic advising and transfer planning 
• Academic excellence workshops 
• Textbook lending library 
• Internship, research, and scholarship opportunities 
• University campus and industry visits 
• Professional development workshops 

About Washington MESA 

The Washington MESA program is an educational pathway program administered by the University of Washington and established by the Washington State Legislature. Clark College is one of 12 community colleges in Washington that offers a MESA transfer prep program center for its students who plan to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Learn more here. 

Clark College students who plan to transfer to Washington State University Vancouver will find a smoother, more intentional path, thanks to a new transfer agreement.

Clark and WSU Vancouver launched a new transfer agreement on January 22. The two institutions partnered to create a seamless guaranteed transfer pathway for students who are completing an associate degree at Clark and plan to transfer to WSU Vancouver to complete a bachelor’s degree.

The impetus for the agreement:

• To make pursuing a bachelor’s degree more accessible and equitable.
• To reduce barriers to a smooth transition to WSU Vancouver and eventually, to earning a bachelor’s degree
• Specifically targeted to reach underrepresented, underserved, and students of color.
• Long term: To increase the number of students who earn bachelor’s degrees in Southwest Washington.

The Guaranteed Admission program enables Clark College students to transfer seamlessly to WSU Vancouver and to reduce the time required to earn a bachelor’s degree. The reverse transfer agreement will make it easier for Clark College students to attain an associate degree if enrolled at WSU Vancouver prior to completing their program at Clark College.

“This agreement will create a clear path for Clark students transferring to WSU Vancouver,” said Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards. “By removing barriers, more first-generation students and students of color can earn a bachelor’s degree and help close the equity gap.”

Clark’s Director of Advising and Career Services Emily Meoz explained that the previous system required students interested in transferring to make the first move by contacting either a Clark advisor or the admissions office at WSU Vancouver.

“This program takes the guesswork out of the transfer process for our students,” Meoz said. “Now, instead of waiting for students to come to us, we go to them. We will create intentional outreach to students to get them on the transfer pathway early.”

Q & A about Guaranteed Admission Program

Q: How does this transfer agreement benefit Clark students?

A: Here are the benefits to Clark students:

• Direct pathway to WSU Vancouver to pursue a bachelor’s degree
• Intentional, additional support and guidance with transfer process
• Guaranteed transfer advising at Clark at least twice per year
• Early connection and long-term plan review by WSU Vancouver at least twice per year
• Special events to guide and support transfer process
• Automatic reverse transfer opt-in to earn a Clark College credential even if the student transfers prior to completing Clark’s program

Q: How does a Clark student become eligible for this transfer agreement?

A: Any student who plans to transfer to WSU Vancouver must:

• Pursue a direct transfer degree at Clark College
• Complete a declaration of intent form
• Meet with Clark academic advisor at least twice per year
• Apply to WSU Vancouver
• Complete minimum 60 credits of college-level units towards an associate degree and earn a 2.0 minimum grade point average from 100-level and higher coursework, as calculated by WSU Vancouver. Some majors at WSU Vancouver require a higher GPA.

Q: What is the essence of this transfer program?

A: It provides intentional support and guidance for students so the credits they take at the outset will transfer to WSU Vancouver. That results in students saving money, reducing student debt and increasing graduation rates of transfer students.

Q: Wasn’t there already a transfer agreement between Clark and WSU Vancouver? How is this different from the previous transfer agreement with WSU Vancouver?

A: Yes. Clark graduates with a minimum 2.0 GPA already are guaranteed admission to WSU Vancouver, but it is not widely known or marketed directly to students. The previous system required students interested in transferring to make the first move by contacting either a Clark advisor or the admissions office at WSU Vancouver. Under the new transfer agreement, Clark will create intentional outreach to students to get them on the transfer path early.

Q: How was the transfer agreement developed?

A: This transfer program was developed by Advising leaders from both Clark College and WSU Vancouver who participated in a year-long Aspen Institute project focused on increasing transfer success and reducing inequitable graduation rates among underrepresented students. Learn about The Aspen-AASCU Transfer Student Success and Equity Intensive here.

Q: Does Washington State University have similar guaranteed admission agreements with other community colleges in the state?

A: Yes. WSU has similar agreements with three other community colleges:

• WSU Pullman with Spokane Falls Community College
• WSU Tri-Cities with Columbia Basin College
• WSU Everett with Everett Community College

Welcome Week kicked off on Monday, January 8 with the first day of winter term and for the first back-to-school day of 2024. A popular feature of Welcome Week is the staffing of information tables set inside buildings all around campus with helpful volunteer staff answering students’ questions, helping them find their classes, and offering campus maps. The tabling to assist students would not be possible without so many staff and faculty volunteering their time to help Clark students. 

Just as in fall term, parking lots were crowded as thousands of students returned to classrooms and labs across the main campus, at the Clark College Building at Washington State University Vancouver, and Clark’s Columbia Tech Center after winter break.  

Unlike the beginning of fall term, when the weather invited students outside, students gathered indoors to greet friends and catch up before dashing off to their next class.  

Student Involvement Fair 

Later in the first week, Gaiser Hall’s Student Center bustled with activity as students, staff, and faculty gathered for Clark’s Winter Beach Party Involvement & Financial Wellness Fair in the Gaiser Hall Student Center on January 11. Students stopped at the tables that filled the hall to ask questions and to learn more about the college’s support services, student clubs, and programs. 

Clark College wants to ensure students know about and can access wrap-around services, including Penguin Pantry, Disability Support Services, Counseling and Health Center, and more. The Student Involvement Fair, which is held during the first week of every quarter, is an excellent way for students—particularly new students—to learn more about these programs, services, and opportunities. 

Students had the opportunity to learn more about the college’s student clubs, programs, on-campus jobs, and college and community resources. Students also connected with peers with shared interests—from learning Spanish to building a rocket to drawing comics, and more.   

To promote a fun atmosphere, students lined up for free fruit smoothies and snow cones.  

At Clark’s ASCC student government table, student leaders answered students’ questions and shared information about getting involved with student government. Read about ASCC here. 

Students stopped by the Activities Programming Board table to learn about upcoming opportunities to connect with fellow students—including Bingo, movies, trivia games, free pizza, and more. Read about APB here. 

At the Spanish Club table, students learned about opportunities to participate in field trips to learn more about the Spanish language as well as immersing themselves in Hispanic culture. 

At the Model United Nations Club table, students learned about the opportunities to participate in mock UN representations and delegations.  

 At the Columbia Writers Series table, students learned about the literary series and an upcoming opportunity to meet Anis Mojgani, the poet laureate of Oregon, on February 13. Learn more about CWS here.  

Students and graduates who have had their work published in The Iceberg, the art department’s annual student comics anthology, offered copies of the 2023 Iceberg as well as several past issues. They encouraged artists and writers to submit their work for the 2024 Iceberg. The deadline is May 1 for the 2023 Iceberg comics anthology that will be distributed in October.  

At the Korean Culture Club table, students saw traditional clothing and learned what the club offers: K-Pop, K-Dramas, Korean food, history, and more. The club kicked off the year with a dance event. Next, club members are organizing a Lunar New Year celebration in February. 

Several students crowded around the Clark Aerospace Club table to chat with aerospace club students to learn more about opportunities to help build a rocket. Behind them, their “Little Penguin” rocket they designed and built last academic year reached toward the sky. Over the summer, some of the students competed in the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket competition in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  

An increasing number of students have been requesting food assistance from the Penguin Pantry. But many students are not aware of a plethora of other food pantries offering food assistance. Students stopped by the Clark County Food Bank table to talk with volunteers who provided a comprehensive list of free food pantries available throughout Clark County.  

A student thanked the food bank volunteer, accepted the printed list of food resources, and tucked it into his backpack.  

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Did you know that Clark College collaborates with universities in our region to host interns to assist our students while gaining valuable real-world experience? Dean of Student Engagement Cath Busha organized the internship program five years ago and has been supervising interns ever since.

This academic year, Clark is hosting three social work interns with Busha providing their social work supervision. The interns fulfill their university practicum requirement by completing 12 hours per week at Clark. Their internships are nine months and span the academic year.

Busha works with Portland State University’s School of Social Work and other local universities to build internship opportunities with students working toward either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in social work or working toward a graduate certificate in Student Affairs in Higher Education.

Busha said the result is a win-win for everyone: “The students earn credits and gain real-world experience. Clark benefits from what the interns bring to the table.”

Busha added, “The interns are in school, so they bring us cutting-edge learning and ensure best practices. They build connections with our students and external partners. We learn as much from the interns as they learn from us. Clark is a great place for the social work students to immerse themselves in their field of study.”

During the 2022-23 academic year, Busha supervised two PSU interns. Alexis Washram focused on the Penguin Pantry. Cassandra Walsh worked in the office of Student Care and Conduct and worked as part of the CARE team. Both interns were graduate students in Portland State University’s School of Social Work.

Christi Williams, Associate Director of Student Care, Conduct and Complaints at Clark College, works closely with Busha and the interns. Her connections with Clark are many. First, she graduated from Clark. Second, when she was earning her master’s degree in social work at PSU, she was a Clark intern during the 2021-22 academic year and worked with Busha. After she graduated, she was hired in her current permanent position.

Williams said her internship at Clark provided a “safe environment to learn and make mistakes. I was encouraged to ask questions and learned about how not only my department runs, but how Student Affairs collaborates to ensure student success. I learned about code of conduct, community standards, and supporting the needs of our students. During my internship, I improved my skills in communication and active listening.”

Williams has come full circle. This academic year, she is providing task supervision to interns Kepler Smith and Maria George.

Meet Clark’s 2023 Social Work Interns

This academic year Busha is supervising three social work students who are completing their internships at Clark College.

Maria George (she/her) is studying social work and psychology at the University of Portland. She is completing her practicum at Clark as an intern in the Department of Care, Conduct, and Complaints.

When a faculty member refers a student for a code of conduct violation, George and her supervisor reach out to the student and ask them to schedule a meeting to discuss their options. During the 2022-23 academic year, their office mitigated 108 alleged violations. The most common were cheating and plagiarism.

George said, “In my internship at Clark, I get to take the theories and framework I’m learning in class at University of Portland and then apply that knowledge in real situations. We’re trying to understand where students are coming from and help them be successful.”

Kepler Smith (they/them) is a fulltime student at Portland State University who is pursuing a master’s degree in social work and has a passion for service. They completed their Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at the University of Oregon in 2021.

Busha said, “With an interest in serving queer and disabled communities, Kepler hopes that their combined personal and professional experience will make them an effective and approachable partner for a wide range of people.”

In their internship, Smith reaches out to students who may be struggling and helps connect them with resources. In short, it’s about recognizing a student’s needs and finding resources through Clark or the service district to meet that need. For example, a professor notices a student has stopped coming to class or a student tells a faculty member they are at risk of living in their car.

Smith said, “Sometimes Clark doesn’t have the tools to meet these needs. However, Clark is well connected with Vancouver, and it’s all about community.”

Smith and Williams recently met with local resources including Lifeline Connections and the Recovery Navigator program via Recovery Café to learn about available resources.

Smith said, “There’s crossover between houselessness and recovery. It’s an encouraging feeling to connect people with what they need.”

Jill Forgash (she/her) has worked at Clark as a student success coach since January 2022. She also is in her second year of a master’s in social work program at PSU pursuing a goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker/therapist. Forgash was able to stay in her success coach role and work with Busha to complete her employed social work internship at Clark as part of her PSU program.

Forgash explained how her work at Clark complements her classes at PSU: “My role as a success coach includes elements of macro and micro social work. I connect students to resources and help them develop tools to be successful in college.”

She works full time at Clark and is taking 8 credits at PSU. In her classes she has been learning the names of the skills she already has been doing in her work as a success coach.

“In class, we’ve been practicing skills like reflective listening and motivational interviewing—things I’m already doing as a success coach,” Forgash said. “It’s a good feeling to have a confluence of your work and what you’re learning.”

Q & A with former intern Gabriela “Ella” Santoyo Gutierrez

Gabriela “Ella” Santoyo Gutierrez was earning a master’s degree in social work at PSU when she was a social work intern at Clark working in the Student CARE, Conduct and Complaints for the Office of Vice President of Student Affairs. During her internship she helped coordinate, plan, and manage student conduct and care cases concerning students’ mental health and well-being, behavioral intervention, and academic dishonesty. She also attended and participated in national and local DEI training.

Q: How did your internship at Clark prepare you for your career in social work?

GSG: My internship at Clark helped me learn what it means to center trauma-informed practices in intervention, prevention, and wellness meetings while holding direct conversations with students. Attending DEI conferences and training were also so helpful in expanding my equity acumen and learning to tailor training to reach different audiences.

Q: After you completed your Clark internship, what other work did you do while you were still a student at PSU?

GSG: Last academic year I worked part time as an equity and civil rights coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Q: When did you graduate from PSU? Where are you working now?

GSG: After graduating from PSU spring term 2023, I was hired in a full-time role as an equity and inclusion coordinator for the City of Milwaukie, Oregon.

Q: What would you consider your dream job? What are your career goals?

GSG: This new position in Milwaukie is my dream job. I hope to gain more experience in working on community engagement and workforce development to hopefully become a director of DEI at a nonprofit or state level.

Q: What is your advice to students considering an internship opportunity at Clark College?

GSG: Be clear about what skills they want to work on, their communication styles and feedback preferences. I also highly recommend getting involved at Clark and community events whenever possible. Specifically, Clark’s office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) offers monthly B.U.I.L.D. and PPI training, but there are also opportunities to join committees (curriculum, budget, Caring Campus, etc.). Build as many networks at Clark as you can—and enjoy the bakery!

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Clark College students Max DuCom, Kohen Mahler, Zachary Zamora, and Elizabeth Zamora stood in front of their Engineering professors, peers, and a team of judges on December 5 in the Collaboratorium in the STEM Building. This was the team’s moment they had worked toward throughout Fall term. They had spent weeks designing and building their prototype. Now it was time to present their project to the group, answer questions posed by the judges, and test their prototypes.

Every term, Engineering professors Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu pose a real-world problem to their students and instruct them to design and build an object that solves the problem. Teams of four students work together. At the end of each term, teams present their prototype to the group.

This Fall term’s design objective was to design and build a rocket payload prototype that includes scientific experiments and/or technology demonstrations for the Clark College rocket that will compete in the 2024 Spaceport America Cup competition in June in New Mexico.

A payload is cargo that the rocket is carrying. A payload can be a satellite, cameras, scientific instruments, food supplies, fuel or even people.

“The engineering department offers real-world challenges to our students,” said Engineering Professor Carol Hsu. “Then our students work together in teams to solve the problem using the engineering method — by defining the problem, brainstorming ideas, designing prototypes, testing and modifying to improve solutions.”

Trial and error

At the front of the room, Max, Kohen, Zachary, and Elizabeth were ready to begin. One student attached their project posterboard to the presentation wall. Another set their prototype on the table in front of them. Another introduced their project. Each chimed in, telling what specific tasks they worked on.

Their bill of materials included:

• Double-walled water bottle: $12.88
• Wooden top: $2.94
• Arduino UNO: $23.67 (An Arduino is a prototyping micro controller that can be programmed to do multiple tasks, such as turning on lights or motors to sensing temperature or movement.)
• Load cell: $5.99
• Battery pack: $2.99
• Total cost of project: $48.47

One student mentioned that their initial idea was to use a double-walled water bottle as their vessel, but they soon realized it was not the best choice. Instead, they settled on a plastic two-liter soda bottle. They cut the top off the bottle and started again.

A judge paused a question: “May we see the prototype?”

Students walked the prototype to the judges’ table. The judges examined it carefully, passing it from one to the next so all could see it up close.

Then more questions were posed, followed by a discussion about how to improve the prototype. When the judges were satisfied, Max, Kohen, Zachary, and Elizabeth gathered up the pieces of their project and made room for the next team to present their project.

All teams tested their payload prototypes via a drop test. To simulate a 25 feet-per-second impact speed, each team secured their payload in a fiberglass rocket tube and dropped it from a height of 10 feet. Most teams’ payload survived the drop test. A few teams needed minor repairs.

Professor Tina Barsotti added, “Our students are applying engineering principles to address real-life challenges, and this hands-on, practical experience contributes significantly to the strength of Clark’s Engineering program. This mirrors the authentic situations they will likely face in their professional careers.”

About Spaceport America Cup

The Clark Aerospace team launched its rocket, Little Penguin, at Spaceport America Cup competition in Las Cruces, New Mexico in June 2023. Spaceport is the world’s largest IREC (Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition) for student rocketry teams. It is held annually by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association at Spaceport America.

Rocket teams are evaluated based on the build of their rockets, payload systems, and the flight of the rocket.

Clark College rocket team at Spaceport 2023:

• Nearly 6,000 rocketeers on 158 teams hailing from 24 countries competed in 2023.
• Clark College was the only community college that competed.
• Clark’s rocket team built a rocket that was 12 feet tall and weighed 54 pounds.
• Clark competed in the 10,000-foot apogee with COTS (commercial-of-the-shell) solid rocket propulsion system category
• Clark’s rocket payload system measured temperature, humidity, and radiation in the inner space of the rocket during its ascendant.
• Clark’s rocket soared to about 9,000 feet. It was recovered successfully after the launch.
• Looking ahead: 2024 Spaceport Cup
• Clark’s rocket team plans to launch a rocket with a 4 kg payload (about 8.81 pounds) to 10,000 feet on a non-commercial propellant formulation.
• The rocket team has invited Clark engineering teams to be part of the Spaceport competition by contributing to the design by prototyping a payload system.

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

A car pulled into the Red Lot 3 roundabout in the northwest corner of the Penguin Union Building. Sarah Gruhler, Clark’s director of Student Life, stepped up to the car and greeted a Clark student through the passenger window.  

“Good morning! Where would you like your box?” 

Gruhler, pictured at the left, who coordinates Penguin Pantry, found the student’s name on the list, asked a few questions and then turned to the crew of student volunteers and said, “Food box, two meals and a gift card.” 

Volunteers carried the food to the car and loaded it into the trunk. The student drove away with a large box of food, two holiday dinners and a $25 Safeway gift card.  

During its November distribution on the 21^st and 22^nd, the Penguin Pantry distributed 6,716 pounds of food and served 221 students plus their families, for a total of 755 people assisted.  

That’s a 70% increase from pantry statistics last November, when the pantry distributed 3,900 pounds of food and served 130 students, for a total of 431 people.  

“We are definitely seeing an increase in the use of pantry services,” Gruhler said. 

Food insecurity is a real concern  

Penguin Pantry marked its fifth year in July. The pantry supports a healthy college community by reducing hunger and food insecurity on campus and connecting students with essential resources. The pantry has become an important resource to help Clark College students stay on the path to graduation. Penguin Pantry’s assistance is welcomed by students who are navigating inflation and skyrocketing food and housing costs that have created barriers for students trying to stay in school and complete their degrees. 

Studies have shown a direct correlation between college students’ food insecurity and their ability stay in school.  

• Inside Higher Ed reported on a study of community college students and food and housing that found nearly a third of community college students ran out of food in the last 30 days and they didn’t have money to buy more food. 
• Best Colleges reports that about 23% of college students were food-insecure in 2020, and that number increased during the pandemic. The study also reported that food insecurity affected students’ grades and graduation rates. 
• Another study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reported that “food insecurity among college students is associated with lower college graduation rates.”  

Hunger: The local story 

Increasingly, more people are seeking food assistance from food pantries nationwide. Clark College’s Penguin Pantry is not alone in seeing more local people seeking assistance. 

Locally, the FISH of Vancouver pantry in downtown Vancouver continues to see client numbers increase. During the week of November 12-18, FISH of Vancouver welcomed 90 new clients, served 881 households, and fed a total of 3,375 people. Clark College students also can receive food assistance from FISH of Vancouver. 

FISH Executive Director James Fitzgerald said, “We are so thankful for community support that allows us to serve so many more people in need. We are glad to be a place people can come for food to help supplement their budgets and make ends meet.” 

Although Penguin Pantry receives some food from Clark County Food Bank, most of Penguin Pantry’s food is purchased through local stores with funds from donors. 

Clark County Food Bank manages 8 million pounds of food each year, which is equivalent to 6.7 million meals for individuals and families experiencing hunger. It works with 43 nonprofit partner agencies at 130 distribution sites, along with food bank led programs, to serve neighbors facing food insecurity throughout Clark County.  

Clark County Food Bank’s annual Walk & Knock food drive is this Saturday, December 2. You can participate by volunteering or by filling a bag with nonperishable food and putting it on your doorstep by 9 a.m. on Saturday. Here are the statistics for last year’s Walk & Knock: 2,200 volunteers, 150,753 pounds of food and toiletries donated, and $31,000 in cash donations.  

Finding food assistance: For students and others in the Clark College community who seek food assistance, find available food pantries (including Penguin Pantry) and other resources with Clark County Food Bank’s Food Finder Tool. 

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

1. Log into MyClark@Clark 

2. Look for the Penguin Pantry Order Form (right navigation) under Get Started 

3. Fill out the form completely, and submit 

4. Your confirmation email with a pick-up date/time. 

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

• Clark County Food Bank 
• Council for the Homeless 

How you can donate to Penguin Pantry: 

• Online: Give online with Clark College Foundation’s online giving form. 
• By mail: Send your check/money order to:  
  Clark College, Attn: Cashier’s Office (PUB 153)  
  1933 Ft. Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663. 
  Write the check to “Clark College” and write “Penguin Pantry” in the lower left note area. 

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

Clark College celebrated National First Generation Student Day by offering student success mentorships with renown mentor and trainer, Tamam Waritu. He tours around the nation talking to students about being of first generation and discussing student success. 

U.S. Bank provided funding to bring the nationally acclaimed mentor to Clark’s campus. 

The event was organized by Heather Leasure and Darci Feider, who are co-advisors of Clark’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter. 

Feider said, “The small group one-on-one interaction with Tamam is invaluable. You can tell he is really connected and engaged with the students.” 

Leasure explained thanks to funding from U.S. Bank, the students who participated in the day-long mentoring with Waritu will continue being mentored by him for throughout their academic career at no cost to the students. 

“Because the students are engaged, I think this will be a pivotal moment they will look back on throughout their lives,” said Leasure. 

Tamam Waritu said, “I am a first-generation student and trainer. The goal is to make that paradigm shift in the mind of these students. To transcend obstacles. To not only survive college, but to thrive.” Here’s a video of Waritu talk about being first-gen. 

Transfer Fair offers resumé help, crafts  

Another part of the event was a student transfer fair with representatives from Washington State University, Central Washington University, Warner Pacific University, Western Governors University and Columbia Southern University who are there to answer students’ questions.  

Students were encouraged to go to the Career Center to get assistance in strengthening their resumés.  

Students also had the opportunity to unwind by doing crafts, games, and puzzles. Janice Currie made a bookmark she embellished with burnished leaves, mosses, and tree bark collected by fellow student and PTK officer Natalie Perdun. Next, Currie was heading to the Career Center with her resume.  

About Tamam Waritu 

Tamam Waritu, you can call him T, is a former first-gen low-income student turned Student Trainer.  Waritu is a national student speaker and a leadership development trainer who has worked with thousands of first-generation college students and staff in over 500 college and university campuses. He holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University. 

The training the Clark students received encompasses:  

• A full-day comprehensive, hands-on training with Waritu on Clark’s campus  
• An ongoing post-training mentorship with Waritu throughout their academic journey. Students will have the opportunity to schedule virtual group mentoring sessions with him so he can provide ongoing support and guidance. 

The program is tailored to meet the needs of first-gen low-income students. He addresses some pervasive issues first-gen students face: impostor syndrome, low self-efficacy, family issues and sense of belonging.  

Students have the opportunity to gain these takeaways: 

• The ability to see themselves as an asset, not a deficit—a complete paradigm shift   
• Heightened personal awareness and clearer vision regarding academic and career goals 
• The ability to sustain motivation throughout college  
• Increased self-confidence and adopting an attitude of “I belong” and “I have what it takes”  
• A greater understanding of the science behind habit formation 

From food stamps to Harvard… 

Taman Waritu comes from a family with no educational background. He grew up in a low-income government housing with food stamps as one of their main sources of income. He graduated from one of the lowest performing inner-city high school, considered an “at-risk” student. Since he was the first person in his family to go to college, his first day of college experience felt like he was in a different world… 

Read more about Tamam Waritu here. 

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

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