Starting March 1, Clark College students will no longer have to pay for the C-TRAN bus pass called “BackPASS,” thanks to an interlocal agreement between C-TRAN and Clark College. 

“We are grateful to our partners at C-TRAN in our shared efforts to provide for students and improve accessibility,” said Dr. Karin Edwards, Clark College President. “Together we have removed one more barrier to help improve student retention and success.” 

The new benefit applies to all enrolled students. Students need to have their Clark College ID card in order to receive the bus pass sticker. Both can be obtained through the Clark College Bookstore.  

While many students are taking classes remotely and online during the pandemic, the bus pass allows them unlimited transportation on the C-TRAN’s local service area. “Many of our students rely on public transportation to get to and from work, home and school,” said Josiah Joner, Associated Students of Clark College President. “A bus pass is essential and now it’s available to everyone regardless of ability to pay.” 

Kindergartners at King Elementary explore copies of The Cat in the Hat donated through the Clark College Bookstore. Photo: Clark College Bookstore/Kaina Barba

On March 2, staff members from the Clark College Bookstore participated in Read Across America Day by reading the Dr. Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat to kindergartners at King Elementary. But these volunteers didn’t just share a love of reading with the children: They also gave each student his or her own copy of the book to take home and keep.

The books–110 in all–were collected during the Bookstore’s eighth annual Book Drive in February. Students, faculty and staff purchased and donated copies of The Cat in the Hat so that each kindergartner at King Elementary would have a brand-new book to take home and share with their families.

“This is a really big deal to the kids, because so many of them come from low-income homes where there’s no money for non-essential items,” says Bookstore buyer Marti Earhart, a coordinator of the book drive. “When we hand each of the kids their own shiny new book, they get so excited!”

This year’s goal of 80 books was easily met just a few days into the two-week book drive, so donors continued to buy and donate Dr. Seuss books for the school’s library. The library at King Elementary received 30 various Dr. Seuss titles for students to check out and enjoy.

Donors of the books were asked to put their name on a nameplate that appeared on the inside front cover of each book. “At some point the kids will realize that the person whose name is in their book wanted to share their own love of reading with them,” says Earhart. “Hopefully this book will give kids confidence to open more books on their own. ”

Read Across America Day commemorates the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

Photos: Clark College Bookstore/Kaina Barba

This article was contributed by Marti Earhart.

King Elementary students enjoy their new books, donated through the Clark College Bookstore’s 2015 book drive.

Smiles dominated the scene at King Elementary School on March 2 as volunteers from the Clark College Bookstore read Dr. Seuss’s classic The Cat in The Hat to four kindergarten classes as part of Read Across America Day. Following the book readings by volunteers Kaina Barba and Megaera Jarvis, each student received a new copy of the book to keep for their own, courtesy of the Bookstore’s annual book drive. A total of 100 copies were donated by community members, students, staff, and faculty.

Clark College Bookstore volunteers Megaera Jarvis and Kaina Barba read to King Elementary students during Read Across America Day 2015.

“What better way is there to get a child excited to read than with a Dr. Seuss book?” asked Bookstore buyer Marti Earhart, who helps organize the Book Drive. “When the books were handed out, the kids were so excited to open their books to see what words they recognized.”

“The Clark College Book Drive is a wonderful opportunity for King students to hear another adult read a book to them,” King kindergarten teacher Shari Perea said afterward. “The students treasure the book that they receive from the Clark (volunteer) and it, in some cases, is the only book that they own.”

Over the last seven years, the book drive has provided over 1,100 books to local kindergarteners.

Story submitted by Marti Earhart

Photos: Marti Earhart/Clark College Bookstore

As Theodor Geisel (aka “Dr. Seuss”) once wrote, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Heeding those words, Clark College has chosen to make the beneficiary of its sixth annual “Seuss-a-Palooza” book drive and literacy event Vancouver’s Crestline Elementary School, which was destroyed by fire in February 2013.

The Clark College Bookstore is hoping that Seuss-a-Palooza supporters will purchase 190 copies the Dr. Seuss classic, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. The books will be given to kindergarteners and first-graders at Crestline’s temporary location on Read Across America Day (held on March 3, the day after Geisel’s birthday). Books will be read aloud to students by volunteers from Clark College Bookstore.

Copies of the selected Dr. Seuss books will be available for purchase and donation Feb. 10-21 for $6.85 each (plus tax). Each book will have a nameplate for the donor’s name. Donors will be able to purchase books at the Bookstore or online via the Bookstore’s website at www.clarkbookstore.com, making it quick and convenient to participate in the book drive.

“Last year’s book drive had already begun when we learned about the fire at Crestline, so it was unfortunate that we couldn’t collect donated books for them then,” said Clark College Bookstore buyer Marti Earhart, who helps organize the event. “However, the Crestline students are still in temporary facilities and are sacrificing a lot while they wait for their school to be rebuilt. We chose Crestline students as the book recipients of this year’s book drive because we want the children, parents, and staff to know we think of them and care.”

The Clark College Bookstore is located in Gaiser Hall on the northern end of Clark’s main campus. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps. Information about the bookstore is available at www.clarkbookstore.com. For additional information, contact Marti Earhart at the Clark College Bookstore at 360-992-2261.