Clark College students Kai Welch and James Simina volunteered at the event.
Clark hosted the Eighth Annual Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl on March 15. Organized by the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO), the event welcomed over 100 high school students from twelve schools across Oregon and Washington. This year was the largest Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl to date.
Clark College welcomed over 100 high school students from across Oregon and Washington for the 8th Annual Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl on March 15. Organized by the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO), this year’s competition was the largest yet, bringing together students to test their knowledge of Japanese language, culture, and history.
In addition to competing, participants attended a college fair, where Clark students, including volunteers Kai Welch and James Simina, shared their experiences and encouraged future language learners.
Not only do competing teams test their knowledge of arts, culture, geography, and language, but they get to attend a college fair to learn about schools and network with other students.
Two Clark students, Kai Welch and James Simina, volunteered at the event. James shared his experience learning Japanese at Clark with prospective high school students during the college fair.
2025 Results
Level 2 1st Churchill High School (OR) 2nd International School of Beaverton (OR) 3rd Woodinville High School (WA)
Level 3 1st Westview High School (OR) 2nd Woodinville High School (WA) 3rd Bothell High School (WA)
Level 4 1st Sunset High School (OR) 2nd Bothell High School (WA) 3rd International School of Beaverton (OR)
Organized by the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO), the event welcomed over 100 high school students from twelve schools across Oregon and Washington. This year was the largest Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl to date.
About the Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl
The largest regional quiz competition on Japanese language and culture, the Japan Bowl invites 100+ high schoolers across Oregon and Washington to compete together. It’s run by the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO). Every year, the top teams go on to compete at the national level in Washington, D.C.
Left to right: Admissions Recruiter Gaby Posteuca, keynote speaker Vita Blanco, and Entry Services Program Manager Amy Tam.
Clark College Entry Services and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion welcomed approximately 160 students from local high schools to the annual Discovering College Confidence event on March 11. This annual event provides opportunities for BIPOC high school students to participate in a series of activities meant to:
Address the excitements and fears around college
Explore pathways and supports available in the college environment
Discover how embracing your identity can enhance your college experience
The day kicked off with a powerful keynote from Clark College alumna Esmeralda “Vita” Blanco, who shared her inspiring academic journey from high school diploma to higher education success. Students then participated in interactive workshops, engaging activities, and prize giveaways—all designed to help them envision a future in higher education.
The event’s workshops included:
Navigating Financial Aid & Scholarships with Confidence
Your Well-Being, Your Power: Taking Charge of your Mental & Physical Health
Empower Your Voice: Choosing Careers That Align with Your Values
Success in College: Learning Your Voice
Running Start: Own Your Voice, Own Your Future
Participating schools in Clark County included Battle Ground, Evergreen, Fort Vancouver, Henrietta Lacks, Heritage, Hockinson, Hudson’s Bay, Mountain View, Prairie and Union high schools.
Amy Tam introduces Vita Blanco as she comes to the stage.
Keynote Address
Vita Blanco, a Latina, single mom, and woman of faith addressed the high school audience with her academic story that started at Clark College as an adult student in the high school diploma program, continuing for an associate of applied science degree, then transferring to Washington State University Vancouver to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Here are excerpts from Blanco’s address:
“On my third day [at Clark College]…I shared with Sam [May-Varas], ‘I’m not returning tomorrow. Thank you so much.’ And that was such a pivotal moment because I was able to be open and real—even though I didn’t want to, and I was very ashamed, and that I didn’t know how to do the homework. He sat with me, he told me that he believed in me, and that what I did in that homework was the reason why I needed to be here…It took just one teacher, one person to believe in me, in the classroom…I knew that I was supposed to be here.”
“I had a high school GPA of 1.7. I was a dropout. Fast forward to when I graduated with my high school diploma with a 4.0—but better yet, I was able to help my youngest daughter. She asked me the week before I was going to graduate. ‘Mom, will you help me with my eighth-grade essay,’ and for the first time, I was able to show up for her and help her with her homework. That was such a joy to remember.”
Blanco continued studying at Clark College and worked as a Student Ambassador. In 2019 she graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration and was awarded the Community College Presidents’ Scholarship to attend Washington State University Vancouver. Read her story here.
She said, “I started that fall…to get my undergraduate degree—I thought, yes, I learned everything at Clark College, but I had learned in a few months in that I had imposter syndrome. I thought, ‘man, this is hard, this is harder than I thought,’ but I began to persevere as I learned about imposter syndrome. Maybe it was some of my voices of upbringing, my community, my voices inside of me, and not feeling that I belong there. But I kept showing up.”
“I believe that Clark College has really, really been able to help me overcome those fears and doubts and barriers that I faced.”
Blanco ended her speech by asking the audience to stand up.
“Stand up because your worth being seen and heard.… your story matters, your voice matters, you matter, and your work is being seen and heard.”
After graduating from Washington State University Vancouver with a bachelor’s degree in integrated strategic communication, where Blanco served as student body president, she is now working for a local dentist managing a team of employees. She credits her time as a Student Ambassador working under Amy Tam as valuable experience.
“Amy [Tam] was my boss, and it was the grace that she showed me over and over again that I thought, what am I doing? How I’m showing up, I don’t even know what I’m doing. And it was pretty amazing. I knew I knew how to help and love people, but she showed me grace over and over and that grace today still just reminds me how to show grace to others.”
Schools can contact the Welcome Center at start@clark.edu to learn about future events, inquire about campus tours, and how to get started at Clark College.
Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley
Exploring Technology and Engineering Careers
A student chats with Career Services employees Alex Kison and Michael Caldwell about the Career Connect event.
How do Clark students who are enrolled in technology or engineering programs learn about the multitude of career paths available to them?
Who can offer them real-world insights about what it’s like working as a civil engineer in the private sector versus the public sector?
Where can students find out about paid summer internships in their field?
The answer to these questions is simple: Career Connect!
Career Connect events are open to Clark students, alumni, and community members. They provide opportunities to make connections and learn about internships, jobs, careers, and academic pathways. Clark staff, faculty, and local employers were in one place to support students. Opportunities are also regularly posted on Penguin Jobs, Clark’s online job and internship board.
Career Connect networking events provide an opportunity for Clark students in specific programs to connect with employers. At the Career Connect on February 4 in Cannell Library, students pursuing engineering and technology career paths had opportunities to meet with industry professionals and explore their career options.
Connecting with employers
Multnomah County employees talk to a Clark student about more than 50 paid summer internships
At the Multnomah County table, students were waiting to speak to the two representatives. Cole Whitehurst, who coordinates Multnomah County’s College to County Mentorship Program, had good news for Clark students. The program is hiring about 50 summer interns in a variety of county departments. The internships pay $24 per hour.
Whitehurst handed students a flyer with a QR code that linked to the internship webpage and encouraged them to apply. Applications will open March 14 and will close at 9 a.m. on April 15 deadline. It requires a resume and cover letter.
Wallis Engineering employees chat with a Clark student about civil engineering career opportunities.
At the Wallis Engineering table, an Engineer and a Recruiter spoke with a Clark engineering student who had many questions. What kinds of projects do civil engineers work on? What does the day-to-day work look like?
Similar conversations happened throughout the space as students and industry professionals talked about the opportunities in their professions.
Clark Public Utilities employees speak to a Clark student about internship and employment opportunities.
Connecting with resources
“If students would like assistance creating a resume and cover letter for any opportunity, the team at Career Services is ready to help,” said Alex Kison, Workforce and Student Engagement Navigator of Career Services.
In addition to exploring career pathways, students connected with the Career Services team, the Academic Advising department, and Student Success Coaches, learning more about the resources available in the Clark College community.
The following employers participated in the Career Connect on February 4:
Clark Public Utilities
C-Tran
edgefi
Multnomah County, Oregon
Wallis Engineering
About Career Connect
Career Connect Events are open to Clark students, alumni, and community members and provide opportunities to make connections and learn about internships, jobs, careers and academic pathways. Clark staff, faculty and local employers will all be in one place to support students.
Next Career Connect
Who: Clark students enrolled or interested in biological, social, and physical sciences or STEM. All students and community members are welcome!
When: Tuesday, February 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: STEM Building Room 156
What to expect: Local employers and industry professionals will be at these events to speak with you about what it’s like to be in their profession and engage with you in career conversations. If you are currently looking for a job or internship related to STEM fields, you are encouraged to bring your resume to share with local employers.
The large, blooming gardens of native wildflowers that pop up each spring on Clark’s campus don’t happen by accident, but through careful maintenance by Bee Campus Project Manager Steven Clark, the Bee Committee, and the help of our community.
We need volunteers to sow wildflower seeds at several bee garden locations on campus on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14. Consider it your Valentine’s gift to native bees and other pollinators.
Although the flowers from last year scattered their own seed, a couple gardens this year need re-tilling, which means we need to plant fresh seeds in a few spots. The seeds are sown now, in the winter months, so they can take root in the soil and grow.
If you wish to volunteer, wear shoes and clothes appropriate for muddy, chilly conditions and prepare to walk over uneven terrain.
Clark who coordinates the college’s Bee Campus initiative has led the college in planting native wildflowers, to make the campus more attractive to bees and other pollinators. These flowers and natural areas where bees can make nests and lay eggs are helping Clark establish this bee habitat.
Pollinators—including mason bees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and hummingbirds are essential for the planet. They are responsible for the reproduction of almost 90% of the world’s flowering plant species and 30% of our food.
Depending on the weather, look out for flowers to start popping up in April with full bloom in mid-May.
About Bee Campus
An important aspect of our Bee Campus certification is education; you can find several interesting facts about bees at the Bee Gardens
In April 2023, Clark College earned certification as a Bee Campus affiliate, becoming the fifth college in Washington to earn that distinction. Clark joined 165 other college campuses and 179 cities across the country united to make their landscape attractive to pollinators.
Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA are initiatives of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a Portland-based nonprofit. Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities and college campuses to sustain pollinators by providing healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants that are free of pesticides.
A Bee Campus USA affiliate is a college campus that includes a bee habitat. Clark College—and other Bee Campus USA affiliates—show that the built environment (such as campuses, neighborhoods, city parks, and even roadsides) can feature a thoughtful design that allows bees to thrive in shared areas.
Author and abolitionist educator Dr. Bettina L. Love closed out a week of events on campus that honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the National Day of Racial Healing. During the college’s annual MLK celebration presented by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the college community had opportunities to participate in three events designed to restore, educate, and empower.
Vanessa Neal, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, summarized the week’s events: “What an honor to host Dr. Bettina Love on our campus to complete our week honoring Dr. King. Dr. Love’s words were thought-provoking and for me, affirming.”
She added, “The 2025 MLK Celebration at Clark College is more than a series of events—it’s a call to action. Whether through restorative practices, insightful dialogue, or powerful keynote addresses, this week will leave you inspired to continue Dr. King’s work of justice and equality.”
January 21 – Sound Bath
Sound bath therapist Hiroko Hibbard led two sound bath experiences for the college community on January 21.
In alignment with the National Day of Racial Healing, we began our journey with a restorative healing space—a sound bath—a healing session that prepared participants to engage in the week’s events. It was an opportunity to connect within and find the balance needed to pursue equitable outcomes.
Sound bath therapist Hiroko Hibbard from Healing Hado led two sessions in Gaiser Hall 213. As people entered the room, she invited them to find a comfortable position on a yoga mat, the floor or a chair. She uses crystal bowls, gongs, and other sound-healing instruments to create a tranquil atmosphere.
Referring to a sound bath as “one of the great preventative medicines,” Hibbard explained that a sound bath combines the healing power of sound frequencies and vibrations with aromatherapy. Participating in a sound bath can help reduce stress, balance energy, and promote overall wellbeing.
“Everyone will experience the power of sound frequency,” she said. Then as people settled in and breathed deeply, the sounds began reverberating throughout the room.
If you’re curious about what a sound bath is, here’s a video of a sound bath.
January 22 – Book Discussion
The book discussion group included (left to right): Dr. Terry Brown, Terri Haye, Courtney Hoover, and Vanessa Neal.
Vanessa Neal led a thought-provoking discussion of Dr. Bettina Love’s book, Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal. The discussion preceded Dr. Love’s keynote address by exploring the historical and systemic barriers to educational equity and how we can envision healing pathways.
Tables were together to form a big circle in the Penguin Lounge, PUB 161 so that people could discuss some big ideas in Dr. Love’s book: telling your truth, white rage, erasure, school integration, reform and more.
Neal started by saying: “There’s not a closure piece to Dr. Love’s book. Accept non-closure. Be open to researching and learning on your own.”
Excerpts from the Book Discussion:
“Why is truth telling so important to racial healing? Why is it important to center truth on racial healing?”
“Our stories define us and how we interact with each other. Often, we make up stories about the person in front of us. When there’s space for truth, you realize you’re not the only one who experienced that.”
“If we’re not speaking truth, whose life are we living?”
“There was no space for Black children at school. They were actively erased.”
“Erasure means I don’t acknowledge you as being human.”
“When I think about erasure, I think of a pencil eraser. It takes deliberate, intentional effort to erase. It’s an engineering feat to erase—to dehumanize people.”
Vanessa Neal wrapped up the session by saying some progress has been made, but there is still so much work to be done. How do people do the work, but not get overwhelmed?
Neal asked, “So what is your action? What can you do? What will you do?”
January 23 – Keynote Presentation by Dr. Bettina L. Love
Wrapping up the college’s week of events honoring the legacy of Dr. King, Dr. Bettina L. Love spoke to an attentive audience in Gaiser Student Center. Dr. Bettina Love holds the esteemed William F. Russell Professorship at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is the acclaimed author of Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal, a New York Times bestseller.
In her keynote, Dr. Love delved into the struggles and possibilities of creating a future rooted in abolitionist teaching. She is the author of We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom.
Abolitionist teaching is built on creativity, imagination, boldness, ingenuity, and rebellious spirit and methods of abolitionists to demand and fight for an educational system where all students are thriving, not simply surviving.
After the keynote, Dr. Edwards, far left and community members stood with Dr. Love for a photo.
This event was open not only to the Clark community, but also to the greater community. Some educators had driven a distance to attend. One had taken a wellness day at work to attend.
Dr. Love provided insight into Dr. King’s work, beginning with his inspiring speech during the August 28, 1963, March on Washington and going up to the Poor People’s Campaign.
Excerpts from Dr. Love’s presentation:
“Racism is a byproduct of capitalism and greed.”
“Dr. King is saying for real justice, it’s about your values. If your values don’t change, what’s the point?”
“Your fate is tied to another person’s fate. You don’t get to step out of this. We are entangled together.”
Dr. Love to college students: “You’re here not just to learn, but to be transformed by what you learn. If you don’t leave here with more critical thinking, more humanity, that’s a problem.”
Dr. Love quoted Dr. King:
“For years I labored with the idea of reforming the existing institutions of the South, a little change here, a little change there. Now I feel quite differently. I think you’ve got to have a reconstruction of the entire society, a revolution of values.” — Dr. King told journalist David Halberstam in April 1967
In Dr. King’s last book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community, he wrote: “A year (after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965), the white backlash had become an emotional electoral issue in California, Maryland and elsewhere. In several Southern states, men long regarded as political clowns had become governors or only narrowly missed election, their magic achieved with a ‘witches’ brew of bigotry, prejudice, half-truths and whole lies.”
Several audience members stood in line after the keynote to meet with Dr. Love and have their books signed.
Left to right: Wilma Raines, Dave Smith, and Ceci Ryan Smith gathered to remember Bob Knight.
PUB 161 was packed with the Clark College community—both present and past—as they gathered to share stories about former Clark President Bob Knight during a remembrance event on January 10.
Knight, who led Clark College as president from 2007 to 2019, passed away on December 14. He was 67.
Penguin Nation Remembers Bob Knight
Julie Taylor, who worked in the president’s office, experienced Knight’s sense of humor and practical jokes daily.
Taylor said, “Bob had a tradition of buying the loudest, most obnoxious penguin toys and lined them up on my counter. As he left for the day, he would activate every penguin toy on his way out, and said, ‘See you later, Julie.’” Taylor would be serenaded by a loud, obnoxious penguin chorus at the end of every day.
Mark Magdaleno, head baseball coach, said that in his 43 years as a professional baseball coach, Bob Knight understood the value of student athletes. He said, “Bob knew our athletes had a choice of what college to attend. He embraced our athletes in their choice to attend Clark.”
Magdeleno said Knight often attended Penguin baseball games, even after he retired. He added, “He cared about his student athletes. He cared about this school. God bless you. Let’s go, Penguins!”
Michelle Golder, event services manager, shared several stories about Bob’s fun-loving nature and the office pranks: “Bob lived every day to the fullest. He loved Clark and genuinely believed the work we did was making a difference in our community. He created the presidential coin to recognize Clark employees for going above and beyond.”
She added, “After I organized my first commencement, Bob found me in my cubicle to especially thank me for a job well done. Kindness came second nature to Bob. He was one of the most genuine people who cared about others.”
Sylvia Thornburg and Kathrena Halsinger.
Kathrena Halsinger, Interim Dean of Social Sciences and Fine Arts, recalled that Knight greeted her whenever they saw each other walking on campus. He also frequently attended the annual release parties for The Phoenix and opened the event.
Rhianna Johnson, currently director of Guided Pathways and Partnerships, was the director of Clark’s educational programs at Larch Corrections Center in Yacolt when Knight was president.
Johnson said, “Bob was so supportive of the program. He always attended the graduation ceremonies. He also came to play basketball with Larch students. He really cared about helping incarcerated people reenter society successfully.” She added, “We used to have Clark faculty and staff softball games. Bob was, of course, the pitcher.”
Wilma Raines, a Clark alum and a longtime donor to Clark College students and athletics, was Knight’s workout buddy at O’Connell Sports Center. Raines said, “We hit the gym every morning at 6:30, and started with the elliptical.”
Ceci Ryan-Smith, who was a Clark College alumni board president and Clark College Foundation board member when Knight was hired, said the leadership went around and around about Knight not holding a Ph.D. in Education, which is a typical requirement for a community college president. But Ryan-Smith spoke up on Knight’s behalf: “He may not have a Ph.D. in education, but he had a Ph.D. in life. I believe ultimately, we all won because we got Bob.”
Sudha Fredrick, vice president of Information Technology Service, Steven Clark, biology professor, and Sylvia Thornburg, who was dean of Instructional Planning during Knight’s tenure, were among those who also shared their “Bob” stories.
Calen Ouellette, Chief Executive Officer at Clark College Foundation, served as emcee. He wrapped up the program by saying: “In closing, I encourage each of you to carry Bob’s example with you. Whether it’s through a kind word, a purposeful act of service, or a bold step toward a better future—honor his legacy by making a positive impact, just as he did. Thank you for joining us today to remember Bob Knight. His legacy will forever inspire the Penguin Nation.”
Left to right: Rosalba Pitkin, Sheila Davis, Becky Archibald, Duana Johnson, Kayla Morgan, Michelle Britz, and Ed Goodell.
On Friday, November 1, Clark College welcomed the community to its annual POWWOW as it hosted Educating for the Seventh Generation, a celebration of Indigenous cultures in Gaiser Student Center.
It was a family affair for all ages — from toddlers to teens, from young parents to senior grandparents and great-grandparents all reveling in the cherished community event. Vendors set up at tables to sell their crafts, including jewelry, art, and clothing.
First, Native American veterans presented the colors. Next, drummers sitting in a circle on the stage, pounded rhythms and chanted. That was the signal for the dancers. Wearing colorful regalia, dancers moved rhythmically along the floor as the bells on jingle dresses tinkling along with the drums.
Attendees were invited to participate in a round dance, and they jumped in, including Vancouver, Washington mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. A blanket dance was also performed, and the blanket was spread out to collect donations for the college’s Dreamcatcher Scholarship.
Dreamcatcher Scholarship
One highlight of the event is announcing the students who were selected to receive a Dreamcatcher Scholarships. The scholarship is designed to help current and future Clark College students who identify as Native American Indian, Alaska Native, Hawaiian Native or indigenous to the Americas. The Dreamcatcher Scholarship will be awarded from the fund in the name of Becky Archibald and Anna Schmasow for their endless commitment advocating the education for the Seventh Generation.
The 2024 Dreamcatcher Scholarship recipients are:
Michelle Britz
Dabai Do Che’
Kayla Morgan
Kayla Morgan, far left, receiving a hug from Sheila Davis.
Scholarship recipient Kayla Morgan said, “I’m from Aniak, Alaska. I proudly embrace my Yup’ik heritage.”
The Clark College student is in her first quarter of the dental hygiene program pursuing her goal to become a dental hygienist.
Morgan said, “The Dreamcatcher Scholarship allows me to pursue this path, providing crucial support as I advance in my education and work toward making a difference in dental health.”
Scholarship recipient Michelle Britz has Tlingit ancestry. She is pursuing an associate in arts degree at Clark College and plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree to pursue her career goal of occupational therapist. Britz is a single mother of three young sons. Her oldest son with disabilities has been an influencing factor in her direction of study.
Left to right: Michelle Britz, Becky Archibald, Anna Schmasow, and Duana Johnson.
She said, “It’s been amazing seeing him grow and learn from various therapies. I’m very interested in how the mind and body work together. I’ve also always enjoyed helping people. Working with people directly keeps me engaged.”
Britz added, “It feels like I have a mountain in front of me, but I am going to do my absolute best to provide a happy and full childhood for them. Luckily, I have an opportunity to gain a degree that would allow me to help people and still be available for my children in the after-school hours. This scholarship, along with FAFSA, would relieve me and my family of some of the financial stress that tuition presents.”
History of the POWWOW at Clark College
Since 2009, Clark College has celebrated Indigenous cultures during the first weekend of November with a powwow that includes music, dance, food, vendors, honoring of veterans, and the announcement of the Dreamcatcher Scholarship honoring our vision of Educating for the Seventh Generation.
Clark College coordinates and hosts this annual event in honor of Native American Heritage Month. “Educating for the Seventh Generation” references our responsibility to teach the future Seventh Generation to maintain our resources, traditions, and customs. It is the way of caring and preserving for the Seventh Generation, which is a true sustainable practice to consider the impacts of every decision for the next seven generations into the future.
Mechatronics Technology Professor Ken Luchini (center) instructs students from iUrban Teen on mechatronics machinery.
Ten local middle- and high-school students visited the mechatronics technology labs at Clark College Columbia Tech Center on April 1 during spring break.
The students came to campus as an exploratory field trip with the nonprofit iUrban Teen, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) plus arts education program that brings together underrepresented teens and young adults of color for career exploration and mentoring. Learn more about iUrban Teen here.
Mechatronics Technology Professor Tina Jenkins worked with iUrban Teen to bring the group to campus during Clark’s spring break, which coincided with the spring break of local school districts. It proved to be an ideal time for the group to visit the labs to learn about Mechatronics Technology.
Learning about Mechatronics
Mechatronics technology is a growing technical field that deals with the integration of mechanical and electronic components managed by a control system. Clark’s program emphasizes current concepts and technology by providing practical, hands-on experience with the latest industry-standard equipment. Coursework includes process control systems, instrumentation/automation systems, conveyor systems, palletizer systems, and robotics systems.
Before they entered the lab, each student slipped on a pair of polycarbonate safety glasses. These students would not simply be observing. They were going to actively learn about mechatronics and participate in hands-on activities.
The iUrban Teen students were divided into two groups. The first group gathered in the electrical and power distribution systems lab around Ken Luchini, who leads the mechatronics program.
Sporting a long blue lab coat, he stood at a whiteboard and gave an overview of mechatronics and an industrial motor control circuit the students were going to use. Then he stood at an industrial controls training system cart, a training device that provides
students with a flexible system allowing for hands-on experiments in wiring and troubleshooting of control circuits.
First, Professor Luchini demonstrated the motor starter with jog/stop circuit. Then students took turns operating the industrial motor controls.
Across the hall in the fluid power lab, Mechatronics Professor Tina Jenkins (above) instructed the second group of students about how to use pneumatics. Specifically, she supervised students practicing extending and retracting a simple cylinder circuit. She also introduced students to the flexible manufacturing system where students learn to operate and troubleshoot a manufacturing process.
Standing nearby, Monte Gantka, a mechatronics classroom support technician, instructed students how to use vacuum technology that uses compressed air to pick up nuts, bolts, and other small objects.
In both labs, students were engaged and focused as they learned about mechatronics technology. Before they set foot in the mechatronics lab, it is likely that none of the students had ever heard of mechatronics. By the time they left the labs, all of them had been given the opportunity to grasp a basic understanding of the industry and its potential career pathway.
Professor Jenkins said, “We were excited to have the opportunity to work with iUrban Teen to introduce local middle and high school students to Clark’s mechatronics technology program. Who knows how we might have impacted students’ career paths today? I am hoping we see some of these students in our mechatronics program in the coming years.”
Ken Luchini is retiring on June 30, after 10 years as a Clark College mechatronics professor. Tina Jenkins will become the new program chair in the 2024-25 academic year.
Simone Thomas, iUrban Teen’s program manager, accompanied the students on the field trip and learned about Mechatronics as she stood beside the students. She thanked Professor Jenkins in an email: “The students enjoyed their time in mechatronics. We would love to continue this partnership and come back with more students next year.”
Journalists representing two news media outlets, The Columbian newspaper and KPTV Fox 12, also attended the lab visit and interviewed Clark mechatronics faculty, staff, and iUrban Teen students. They filed these stories:
Associate in Applied Technology degree in Mechanical and Instrumentation Automation
Career fields: mechatronic technicians work in semiconductor manufacturing, transportation, plastics production, computer manufacturing, aerospace, and more.
In honor of Black History Month, the Clark College Bookstore window is displaying an exhibit featuring the work of two local Black artists, Claudia Starr Carter and Philemon Reid. The exhibit is on loan from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of Vancouver. The artwork was curated by Carter’s sister, Bridgette Fahnbulleh of NAACP and Holly Jander Williams, a NAACP volunteer who worked with Carter on exhibits. View images from the exhibit at the end of the article.
What: Black History Month focus on local artists Who: Sculptor Claudia Star Carter and painter Philemon Reid Where: Clark College Bookstore exterior window When: Through March 4 Art loaned by: NAACP of Vancouver
Rosalba Pitkin in the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) office coordinated with NAACP to bring the exhibit to the campus bookstore to share with the Clark community. Monica Knowles worked with Pitkin to showcase the art in the bookstore window.
Pitkin said, “Recognizing these Black artists celebrates cultural richness, promotes representation, and contributes to a more inclusive environment.” She added, “I am grateful to NAACP for sharing this art, to Bridgette Fahnbulleh and Holly Jander Williams for selecting these pieces. This provides an opportunity for more people to enjoy this art and learn about these artists.”
When 150 Black high school students, faculty, and administrators visit campus on February 28, they will have an opportunity to see the exhibit.
Claudia Starr Carter
Photo courtesy of Holly Jander Williams
Claudia Starr Carter (1954-2022) was an advocate for sharing Black history and Black art. She was a member of the NAACP Vancouver executive board and chair of NAACP’s Black History Month committee. She was a self-taught ceramicist and mixed media artist, a historian, a children’s education advocate, and a champion of Black history and Black art.
Carter produced the bulk of her work in the ceramics lab at Clark College, where she took classes. Professor Lisa Conway from Clark’s Art department said Carter was her student first, and then volunteered for several years for the college’s ceramics studio, helping to keep the ceramics lab open later in the day and evenings so students could work.
“Claudia Carter was a wonderful, warm presence in the ceramics studio at Clark College for many years,” said Professor Conway. “She started here as a student herself, then later worked as a studio monitor, helping other students realize their creations. Claudia was very giving and helpful in the studio at Clark and had a great sense of the power of her inner creativity. Claudia drew strong connections between her artwork, her family, culture, and history. She was experimental in her artwork, and her enthusiasm for the material and the creative process were a source of inspiration for others.”
Almost a year after Carter’s death, a retrospective of her work was displayed in Gaiser Hall and Frost Arts Center at Clark College in February 2023 to celebrate Black History Month.
Fellow Vancouver sculptor Russel Ford said he and Carter became friends when Clark’s ceramics studio was closed during the pandemic, and he invited her to use his kiln. Their connection grew.
Ford wrote: “Claudia was deeply invested in telling the story of the Black community in Vancouver. Her goal was to create works that would inspire members of the black community to feel that this land was their land, that they were in no way excluded from the fabric of this community. She encountered little in terms of black art growing up and she wanted to help change that by working passionately in her chosen medium: ceramics and sculpture… Clark College offered her an opportunity to do just that. For many years, she could be found volunteering at the Frost Art Center, encouraging the many students that she encountered, and whenever possible, delving into the history of Black Vancouver.”
NAACP Vancouver wrote this tribute: “A concern over the scarcity of books and art depicting the history and contributions of African Americans in Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest eventually led Claudia to become both a tireless researcher and collector of local Black History and folklore. She was also an advocate of educating African American children about their history and roots in Vancouver and Clark County. Under Claudia’s leadership, the NAACP began an annual exhibition at Vancouver Community Library addressing Black History in Vancouver, the State and Northwest from early explorers through World War II. Claudia was committed to increasing education and dialogue on Black History in schools and in the community.”
Where to see Carter’s work: Carter’s sculpture “Elephant Goddess” is on permanent display in Vancouver Community Library, 901 ‘C’ Street, Vancouver.
Philemon Reid (1945-2009) was a self-taught artist who was born in Georgia, served in the military, attended college at night, and was an engineering technician with Bonneville Power Administration in Vancouver. Shortly before his death, Reid was awarded a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from North Portland’s Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.
Reid said about his art, “From an early age I was drawn to Cubism and the artist Picasso… I developed my own style… One of my main subjects has been music. I have a great love for blues and jazz, and I create from my moods and the feelings I experience while listening to music or just from my subconscious being.”
After Reid’s death, journalist Bob Hicks wrote an in memoriam of Reid: “He did the thing he loved to do, which was to paint and sculpt images of the African American musicians who played the blues and jazz. He often listened to Coltrane or Miles or Ella while he was making his own art.”
The Skanner newspaper wrote: “Reid’s love for blues and jazz, particularly musicians John Coltrane, Miles Davis and singers Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson, was reflected in his colorful paintings and sculptures. Although Reid’s only formal art training was in high school, he developed his own unique style that was heavily influenced by Cubism and the artist Picasso.”
Barry Johnson of OregonLive wrote that Reid’s work “often featured characterizations of musicians, and there’s something vaguely jazzy about his work—loose but formful and transporting. Where do they take you? To an ideal world, I think, where art and music are what matters. And his African American subjects, painted in a style that recalls the Harlem Renaissance gone cubist, somehow imply a sense of both singular creativity and community, especially his representations of small combos… I find that Reid’s work makes me want to ‘play,’ too – not jazz, necessarily, but anything that requires some intensity and creativity, anything that the company of other creators enhances.”
Tanna Engdahl, Cowlitz Tribe Spiritual Leader, sat on the stage in Gaiser Student Center and pointed to the image of a long, eel-like fish projected on the screen.
“Does anyone know what this is?” she asked.
Someone in the audience shouted, “Lamprey!”
Engdahl nodded and asked, “Has anyone tasted lamprey?”
In the sea of 130 people in attendance, only a few raised their hands.
Engdahl laughed, “Well, I haven’t–and I won’t!”
Engdahl captivated her audience of Clark employees, students, and the greater community during her presentation “Cowlitz: Then and Now” on November 21 in Gaiser Student Center. Held during Native American Heritage Month, the event was hosted by the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Employees who attended received Power, Privilege and Inequity (PPI) credit.
“I am grateful to Tanna for connecting with the college community to share stories about the Cowlitz people,” said Vanessa Neal, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “I also want to mention that Tanna was an essential member of Clark’s 2022 Strategic Planning Committee, has supported the development of the Land and Labor Acknowledgement we use today, and continues to be involved with our Social Equity Advisory Council. I continue to be grateful for Tanna and the intentional relationship that we – as a college – are continuing to build with the Cowlitz Tribe.”
Engdahl’s presentation included taking time at the end to answer every question from the audience. She responded with thoughtful, informative answers.
Members of the community along with faculty and staff ask questions.
Weaving stories
As Engdahl shared images on the screen, she told stories about her tribe’s history, culture, their struggle to have a homeland, and their environmental stewardship as they look toward the future.
Engdahl talked about how her tribe lived before white Europeans began settling in the Pacific Northwest. The Cowlitz people followed a cyclical rhythm of living on the land. Most of the time, they lived in longhouses in large villages near rivers and streams for easy transportation via canoe. Some of the tribe followed harvest cycles to gather huckleberries, wapato, camas root, and to fish and hunt for game including deer.
She shared how her people’s hands were rarely idle. They made everything they needed. They harvested cedar bark, soaked it in a creek to make it pliable, then wove it into dresses, capes, hats, sleeping mats, and more.
Although there was always so much work to be done, her people also gathered for dancing, drumming, and storytelling. So many stories to tell!
Engdahl spoke about how the presence of the white man changed her people. Their ships brought diseases that killed 98% of the Cowlitz people. Still, the white men kept coming. When the white men tried again and again to move her people from their homeland to reservations, the Cowlitz said “no.” Again and again.
She spoke about how alcohol and drugs destroyed individuals and tore families apart. She also talked about the importance of the Indian Child Welfare movement “to keep our children with their people, their families.”
Family and community—not just today but for generations into the future—is always at the forefront of everything the tribe does.
Members of the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion with Tanna Engdahl. Left to right: D. Harris, Andra Spencer, Katia Quintero, Mike Law, Tanna Engdahl, Vanessa Neal, Rosalba Pitkin, and ODEI peer mentors.
Looking to the future
Engdahl talked about how her tribe is being good stewards of their land. Long ago, her people harvested camas root, one of their staples in the diet. The Cowlitz are replanting camas in areas where it once thrived. Reintroducing camas bodes well for a future with sustainable native plants for indigenous foods.
Another good sign for the future: The Washington Legislature passed legislation requiring Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State curriculum or other tribally developed curriculum be taught in all K-12 schools. Despite the mandate being unfunded, more school districts across the state are offering courses that tell the essential stories of our indigenous brothers and sisters.
Engdahl emphasized a most important message: “We are still here.”
She said there is much work to be done as the tribe moves forward. And more stories to tell.
Engdahl teaches a course about the Cowlitz Tribe through Clark’s Continuing and Community Education program. She taught the class during Fall term and will teach it again during Spring term.
