Congratulations to Clark College’s Surveying and Geomatics team who earned top honors at a prestigious national competition held over spring break, taking first place at the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) 24th Annual Student Competition.

Accompanied by Professor Brian Miyake, six Clark students traveled to Silver Spring, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., to compete against 25 academic teams from across the country. Clark College was the only school representing Washington or Oregon—and the competition marked the college’s first-ever entry into the event.

Clark’s first-place Surveying & Geomatics team:

• Robert Clapham, Class of 2026
• Eli Deschand, Class of 2025
• Rebecca Dunphy, Class of 2025
• Trevor Geivett, Class of 2025
• Brian Hankins, Class of 2026
• Milad Sadegi, Class of 2026

Clark’s team received support to attend the competition from the following:

• Land Surveyors Association of Washington
• Minister & Glaeser Surveying. Inc.
• PBS Engineering and Environmental 
• Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon
• S & F Land Services
• Westlake Consultants, Inc. 

“I am so proud of our Clark College students and their outstanding performance in this national competition. Most of the students had never visited D.C. before, so it was a completely new place for them to practice their surveying skills amongst so many historical sites,” Professor Miyake said. “The team showed exemplary professionalism, teamwork and survey ability in timed events and in the local D.C. community, while representing our state and college with pride and confidence.”

The competition consisted of one day of monument scavenger hunt and one day of technical field exercises–with students utilizing historical and modern survey instruments to complete tasks. A course was laid out on Capitol Mall between the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial.

Day 1: Monument Hunt. The first portion of the competition was a staged scavenger hunt.

• A list of D.C.-area monuments were assigned a point value and provided the day before the event.
• Monuments farther away or more logistically challenging were assigned higher values due to the risk of finding fewer of them.
• Monuments selected are older and are significant to the history of surveying in the area.
• Teams were released from the hotel in 30-minute increments and had six hours to complete their task. Teams were provided Metro public transit cards. No other mode of transportation was allowed. Teams had to stay together.
• Scoring: Teams accumulated points based on the point values of the monuments visited.
• Teams proved they reached the monument by taking a photo with a timestamp or a group photo in front of the monument. Extra points were provided for social media posts with those photos using #NSPS and #YSN.

Day 2: Measurement Exercises. The second portion of the competition was a four-part timed exercise to evaluate students’ technical ability while requiring some knowledge of historical concepts. Transportation and equipment were provided.

1. Route layout: Students were asked to layout a route using a baseline and plans provided using a Trimble Robotic Total Station. Performance was graded on the accuracy of calculated points versus plan and amount completed in time allotted.
2. Traverse: Students were asked to perform a four-sided traverse with a chain and compass. Performance was graded on the following criteria: closure, accuracy of leg distances and accuracy of internal angles.
3. Triangulation: Students were asked to complete a triangulate exercise of an unknown position from two to three known positions with a theodolite. Performance was graded based solely on the accuracy of the missing variable and calculating the area between the theodolite stations and the unknown position.
4. Boundary reconnaissance: Students were asked to calculate a series of points given any number of information that one might find on a deed/plat and utilize those in locating specific real-world points utilizing a Leica GPS unit. Performance was graded on the following criteria: Accuracy of calculated points vs plan and amount completed in time allotted.

About Surveying and Geomatics

Surveying and Geomatics involves the accurate assessment, measuring, and plotting of land and water boundaries for development projects that include buildings, roads, and bridges. Clark’s program uses state-of-the-art land surveying equipment and techniques to prepare students for entry-level work in government and private sector roles.

Learn more

• Surveying and Geomatics at Clark College
• National Society of Professional Surveyors 24th Annual Student Competition

Two Clark College students were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and community service at the 28th annual All-Washington Academic Team ceremony, held April 24 at South Puget Sound Community College in Lacey.

Seth Stigall Barranco and Anton Vlasov represented Clark College as members of the prestigious All-Washington Academic Team, a statewide program that honors high-achieving students from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges. The program is part of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.

They join more than 80 scholars from across Washington State who are pursuing transfer or workforce pathways and demonstrating excellence both in and out of the classroom.

Darci Feider, advisor of the Clark College PTK chapter, Alpha Sigma Pi, said, “I’m incredibly proud of Seth and Anton for being named to the All-Washington Academic Team. Their hard work and commitment to learning have made them outstanding representatives of Clark College.”

Seth Stigall Barranco

Anton Vlasov

All-Washington Academic Team Ceremony

Each student received a medal and a $250 scholarship from Key Bank. They also are eligible for additional scholarships from private sponsors and transfer scholarships for four-year colleges and universities.

Program sponsors:

• Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges
• Washington State Association of College Trustees
• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
• Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges

Scholarship sponsors:

• KeyBank
• Washington State Employees Credit Union
• Washington State Association of College Trustees

Learn more

• All-Washington Academic Team
• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)
• Clark College PTK chapter, Alpha Sigma Phi

Fall term’s Engineering Design Competition featured an edible building material: Pasta!

Teams constructed towers with dry pasta. They could use any type of pasta, and the towers ranged from round rigatoni beauties to tall, elegant lasagna sculptures. And there’s another catch: the towers had to have spaces for two small toy penguins to stand.

On the day of the competition, towers were tested for their ability to withstand force. They used an “Instron machine” to test the towers, which imposed increasing load on the towers. Some of the pasta towers burst with the force, making for an exciting minor pasta explosion.

The goal of the pasta towers was to reach a minimum of 20 Newtons of force, but many towers achieved taking hundreds of Newtons of force and some even hit over 2700.

Carol Hsu, an engineering professor who led the project, said “Watching the towers get crushed is always exciting, especially when it is catastrophic! In this competition, the students were challenged to design towers capable of withstanding a specified range of loads. Every team rose to the challenge with their pasta towers. Their success was largely due to prototype testing. Great job!”

Tina Barsotti, another engineering professor, explained that the project was devised by the students themselves. “Really what we’re teaching is the engineering design process.”

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

Congratulations to our 2023 Sigma Scholarship recipients: 

Abou Bakar Berthe 

STEM field: Mining Engineering 

2023-24: Clark College 

Oliver Rosas 

STEM field: Civil Engineering 

2023-24: Clark College 

Spencer Henwood 

STEM field: Computer Science 

2023-24: Portland State University 

Isaac Osorio Beltran 

STEM field: Computer Science or Engineering 

2023-24: Clark College 

Post and photos contributed by Kayoko Barnhill

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

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

Three graduates participated: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

To equip their engineering students for success, professors Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu encourage their students to create community by participating in campus and community outreach events, including STEM NERD Girls.  

These outreach events available in Engineering program provide opportunities for diverse learners to explore and achieve their educational goals by promoting social connectedness through peer support, volunteering, networking, professional interaction, and mentoring.  

“Building community fosters collaboration and connectedness,” said Professor Barsotti. “By providing these opportunities, the program encourages students to continue their paths in the STEM field. This helps us to retain students from systemically non-dominant groups.” 

Engineering graduates remain connected 

Four Engineering graduates who volunteered in outreach events also formed a study group when they were Clark students. Over the years, they have remained friends and continue to encourage each other as they transitioned to pursuing bachelor’s degrees, and now in the early years of their careers. They spoke on a panel at a Women in STEM tea on May 17 in the STEM Building. 

Megan Sarygin, Gabriella Miller, Shiori Baba, and Marie Roza heeded their professors’ advice when they were STEM students at Clark College. They volunteered in NERD Girls and contributed to other outreach and campus events. After they graduated from Clark, they transferred to various universities, but they continued their study group as they faced the rigors of advanced STEM classes and projects.  

Some years later, they still connect and remain friends. Now instead of seeking advice about college classes, they discuss the successes and challenges they are experiencing as young women working in male-dominated STEM fields. 

Megan Sarygin  

Profession: Field service engineer, Tokyo Electron US   

Education:  

• Clark College Running Start student; Associate of Science, mechanical engineering, 2019 
• Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, minor in business administration, Washington State University Vancouver, 2021 

Insights:  

“Developing your social skills is very important, just like your hard skills. Social skills are just as important as your classes, getting good grades, and studying. Make connections. Work in a group. Work on your communications skills.” 

“Ask for help. In a lab at WSU Vancouver, we were using a mill and a lathe to make small parts for a gyroscope. Using the lathe did not make sense to me. I was so far behind. The lab instructor was patient and opened up the lab on the weekend for extra work on the lathe. It was so nice to have it click in my brain.” 

Gabriella Miller

Profession: Associate mechanical design engineer, Curtiss-Wright Corporation 

Education:  

• Clark College, Associate of Arts, mechanical engineering, 2018 
• Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, Washington State University Vancouver, 2022 

Insights:  

“When we were growing up, it wasn’t expected that a girl would go into a STEM field.” 

“I wanted to work in a field where there are always questions to answer, opportunities to learn.” 

“I was drawn both to aerospace and neuroscience. I asked myself: Space or brains?” 

“Being able to make mistakes is sometimes harder for women. People can be more critical.” 

Shiori Baba

Profession: Project engineer classified as civil engineer, Bonneville Power Administration 

Education:  

• Bachelor of Science degree in geology/earth science, University of Washington, 2016  
• Clark College, supplemental prerequisite engineering classes to transfer to Portland State University 
• Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, Portland State University, 2021 

Insights:  

“Networking is a scary term, but who you know is important. You don’t know who will be your boss or what opportunities may come up because of word of mouth.” 

“My agency makes transmission lines and maintains substations. It’s been male dominated, but I’m seeing more female engineers now. BPA has been putting in efforts for more diversity within their workforce.” 

“It’s okay to make mistakes. Just make sure you learn from your mistakes.” 

Marie Roza

Profession: Senior emerging technology engineer, Skanska, the fifth-largest construction company in the world 

Education:  

• Clark College Running Start student and Associate of Science degree in civil engineering, 2019 
• Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, Portland State University, 2021 

Insights:  

“In engineering, there are so many options. You aren’t limited.” 

“Construction is very male dominated. Only about 13% are women. But within my company, we have an amazing focus on diversity and inclusion.” 

“Make your connections within your classes. It’s important to have a support system, especially as a woman in STEM. I could not have made it without these three.” 

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Gaiser Student Center was a hub of connection between employers and people seeking jobs during the Clark College Career Fair on May 17.

It was the college’s first in-person Career Fair since 2019. In total, 70 regional employers engaged with more than 300 students, alumni, and community members. The event was organized and hosted by the college’s Career Services team.

Open to all students, alumni and community members, the Career Fair offered job seekers opportunities to meet local employers representing various industries and programs of study, to find internships, part- or full-time jobs, and explore career opportunities.

The hall was filled with tables staffed by representatives eager to talk to potential employees about jobs and paid internships. At every table, employers were hiring.

• Clark County consistently is looking to fill 40 to 50 positions, said Rori Jones, human resources representative. Some of the positions are entry level.
• Thompson Metal Fab is hiring welder/fabricators, said Michael Moore, vice president of business development. The company has connections with the college’s welding program, but Moore added they also hire people without welding skills.

  He said, “We’ll give you free training onsite and access to top-notch benefits.”

• Matt Wadleigh of the YMCA is looking to hire preschool teachers, summer camp counselors, swim instructors and other positions. The key criteria?

  “Patience,” he smiled. “And like to work with kids, families, and active older adults.”

• FedEx is hiring package handlers and operations managers, said Susie Martinez, talent acquisition coordinator at FedEx. Martinez, a student at Mount Hood Community College, says FedEx offers tuition assistance up to $5,250 per year for employees who are college students.
• The City of Ridgefield is hiring students pursuing a finance degree to fill part-time summer intern positions.
• IQ Credit Union is hiring entry-level teller positions, including high school interns. It offers a week-long hands-on paid training.
• Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen Public Schools are hiring school bus drivers, paraeducators, and teachers.
• Washington Department of Labor and Industry is hiring paid summer interns in many interest areas.
• PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center is hiring registered nurses, medical assistants, and pharmacy technicians.
• Fresnius Medical Care is hiring dialysis technicians and dialysis nurses.
• PharMerica is hiring pharmacy technicians.

And more…

“The overall response to the Career Fair experience has so far been overwhelmingly positive,” said Emily Meoz, director of advising and career services at Clark College. “Career Fair planning and day-of coordination was a success, thanks to partnerships with community members and departments across the college.” 

Job seekers also had an opportunity to get a professional headshot photo taken in a photo booth for their LinkedIn accounts and other professional social media platforms.

Cath Keane, associate director of career services, said her team has been planning the event since October.

She said, “My greatest worry was: will people come? Will businesses come? We’re so pleased with the turnout. We have a waiting list of employers.”

Student success story

Clark College graduate Michael Peterson talked to people about career opportunities at Fred Meyer. After Peterson graduated from Clark in 2018, he transferred to WSU Vancouver, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in personnel psychology and human resources management in 2020. Now he’s the district human resources specialist at Fred Meyer. He says he covers hiring, onboarding and more for 15 stores.

He credits his two years at Clark as crucial to his success in a job and field he enjoys.

“I learned time management at Clark,” Peterson said. “I learned to balance my workload while going to school full time and working full time. I wouldn’t have been successful at WSU Vancouver if it weren’t for what I learned at Clark.”

Learn more

• View a complete list of participating employers.
• Connect with Clark College Career Services at https://www.clark.edu/enroll/careers/

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Clark College’s Model United Nations team earned honors at the 72^nd session of Model United Nationals of the Far West, A Force for Good: Global Health and Development for a Sustainable Future from April 21-25 at Whittier College in Burlingame, California. Clark competed against 29 other colleges, most of them four-year institutions. See a list of all participating colleges and their assignments here. 

Model UN activities were on hiatus during the COVID pandemic. 

“It’s been three long agonizing years since the last Model UN Far West,” said Professor Joseph Cavalli, Model UN program director at Clark. “I am ecstatic to report that your Clark College MUN team won honors this this year, picking up where we left off in 2019. This year, in a highly competitive field, Clark College represented Malta and Vietnam.” 

Topics included promoting the safe use of nuclear technology in the eradication of marine microplastics, protecting civilians—especially those with disabilities—in combat zones, and human rights and unilateral coercive measures such as sanctions. 

Model United Nations is a simulation program in which hundreds of thousands of students worldwide participate in model sessions of the United Nations to advance their understanding of the principles and means by which international relations are maintained.  

Clark’s student delegates recognized 

“Special kudos go student delegates Kathryn Johnston, Lanie Smith, and Casey Figone,” said Professor Cavalli. “All three received the Mike McBride Outstanding Resolution Certificate Third Committee for their position paper on UCMs (unilateral coercive measures).” 

Additionally, Kathryn Johnston and Lanie Smith were selected to chair committees at the MUNFW conference in 2024.  

Professor Cavalli added, “Lanie was asked to chair one of the most challenging committees in the MUN universe, the Security Council. This is a big, big deal. Chairing a committee at MUNFW has always been the exclusive purview of the elite California universities as well as Arizona State and University of Arizona respectively. Keep in mind 95% of the student delegates competing are political science and prelaw majors.” 

He added that on Clark’s Model UN Team, “Lanie, Kathryn, and Casey are physics, engineering, and computer science majors respectively. It is nice to see STEM mix it up with the liberal arts.”

In February, Clark’s Model UN team attended the NW Model UN Conference in Portland, its first in-person conference since the pandemic. Clark’s team represented Japan, Kenya, and Latvia. Topics included sustainable mountain development, Human Rights Council periodic reviews of Haiti, Japan and Israel as well as nonproliferation regarding the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.   

Two of Clark’s Model UN team members had been chosen to serve as leaders for the Portland conference. Casey Figone was Assistant Secretary-General of Conference Services. Lani Smith was Director of the Security Council, a much coveted position.  

Next, Clark’s team will compete in Northwest Model United Nations conference November 17-19 in Seattle. 

To participate in Clark’s Model UN team:  

• Model UN typically meets weekly during the academic year. 
• To get involved, contact Professor Joseph Cavalli at jcavalli@clark.edu 

UN and Model UN Facts: 

• The United Nations was founded in 1945. 
• Hear the Secretary General’s message to Model UN here 
• Learn more about Model UN here 

Three Clark College students are among those being recognized for their academic excellence and community service.  

Alexandria (Lexi) Kneipp overcame her social anxiety by stepping up to be a leader, first in high school and now as a Phi Theta Kappa officer. Volunteering has helped her become more connected to the college and her neighborhood community. She enjoys leading and assisting others in navigating difficulties or making someone’s life easier. After she graduates this spring, she will transfer to Western Washington University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. 

Lexi received another PTK honor by being selected as a Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar. She will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a bronze medallion. She will be recognized at the PTK International Conference and the All-Washington Academic Team ceremony, both in April.  

As one of the top 16 award recipients of the PTK’s All-Washington Academic Team, she will receive a $750 scholarship from Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECC). 

Bruce Adams was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. It significantly impacted him and his ability to do his job as a lab courier. His new career goal became to have a career again. He is determined to earn his degree. As he returned to college, Bruce initially was concerned about online learning, but the resources available for virtual learning eliminated his fears. He will graduate this fall with honors in the Health Information Management program and looks forward to returning to the workforce. 

Ella Merusic was motivated by her parents, who worked hard to overcome difficulties in life for her benefit. They gave her the support she needed to improve her life and future. Ella is looking forward to graduating with honors in Biological and Biomedical Sciences this summer. She plans to transfer to Washington State University to continue her studies to become a software designer/engineer who can better others’ lives through her work. 

The top three recipients will be announced at the Washington State Conference. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Association of College Trustees (ACT). The ceremony will be livestreamed via the SPSCC YouTube channel. 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Two students whose stories began on almost opposite sides of the earth have found success in the face of adversity at Clark College. Martin Parrao and Lidiya Nikolayev represented Clark College at the 2015 All-Washington Academic Team Recognition Ceremony, held on March 26 at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington.

About Lidiya Nikolayev
About Martin Parrao
About the All-Washington Academic Team

About Lidiya Nikolayev

Lidiya Nikolayev, 30, came to the United States with her parents from Moldova when she was almost 6 years old. From early on, she displayed a head for business. “When I was 12, I met a nice lady who’s a real estate agent, and she taught me to read contracts,” recalls Nikolayev, who speaks English, Turkish, Russian, and Hindi. “My family had a side business buying homes and fixing them up to resell, so I started helping with that.”

Small wonder, then, that Nikolayev is now pursuing a career in finance. But there is a more personal and painful reason for her interest as well. The truth is, she began to hone her financial acumen while caring for her son, Ivan, who was born with cerebral palsy. Faced with daunting medical bills and limited income, Nikolayev became expert at managing a budget. Ivan passed away in 2011; as Nikolayev recovered from her trauma, she became determined to go to college and find a career that would not only make her self-sufficient, but allow her to create family-friendly jobs for other parents. “No parent should have to sacrifice time with their children to have a career,” she says. “More companies in the corporate world should be creating work environments with flexible schedules that allow employees better balance between work and family responsibilities.”

Nikolayev enrolled at Clark in 2013, and quickly gained notice for both her aptitude and drive. She has just finished a quarter in which she took a staggering 22 credits, divided between classes at Clark College and at a community college in Texas, where she is enrolled in online courses. This is even more challenging than it sounds—because the Texas college is on a semester system and Clark uses a quarter system, Nikolayev can be prepping for a midterm in one class while taking a final in another, and she rarely gets a vacation since one or the other of her schools is almost always in session while the other one is on break.

Nikolayev devised this strategy to facilitate a possible transfer to the University of Texas at Dallas, whose business program she admires. “For six months I bothered the heck out of both colleges’ advising and credentials departments figuring it all out,” she says with a laugh. The plan worked: Nikolayev has been accepted at UTD, as well as at multiple other universities, though she is still weighing her options before deciding on a transfer destination.

In addition to her turbo-powered studying, Nikolayev continues to help with her family’s farm; serves as student representative on many of the college’s administrative committees; and volunteers with both Phi Theta Kappa and the Association for India’s Development. In 2014, she earned an OSWALD Award from Clark College Student Life for her volunteer activities. And she has maintained a high grade point average all the while. Her secret? Not a lot of sleep and a whole lot of personal organization, plus using the flexibility of online learning to do coursework when it fits her schedule.

Nikolayev says she learned her work ethic early on from her parents. In addition to farming and investing in real estate, her father does seasonal work at factories, while her mother worked 14-hour shifts as a housekeeper during Nikolayev’s childhood—often taking night shifts so she could spend the days taking care of the children.

“I’m going to be the first person in my family to get a bachelor’s degree,” Nikolayev says. “I’ll work as hard as it takes to get there.”

About Martin Parrao

When Martin Parrao’s family moved from Chile to the Pacific Northwest in 2006, Parrao was already 15 years old. He spoke no English. “The process of learning English has been one of the longest and most difficult challenges I have ever faced,” he says. “Going through high school was very difficult for me, but I was determined to work extra-hard so that one day I could reach my goals and prove to my parents that their efforts to come to this country were not in vain.”

That hard work paid off: Parrao went from taking English as a Second Language classes to graduating from Battle Ground High School with honors in 2009. He enrolled at a four-year university, but quickly encountered a new challenge. “I took one class, and it was super-expensive,” he says. “I couldn’t afford to keep going.”

Parrao, 24, is a legal resident of this country, but he is not yet a citizen. This means that up until recently, he could qualify for in-state tuition, but not for federal or state financial aid. A 2014 Washington state law called the “Real HOPE Act” now allows students like Parrao to be eligible for state financial aid, but at the time, Parrao found himself facing thousands of dollars in tuition each quarter, even if he attended part-time, with no hope of assistance.

Parrao regrouped. He dropped out of university, realizing that his limited funds would go farther at Clark. Even so, he had to work for months to save enough money to take a single class, meaning that for his first three years at Clark, he could only afford to take one or two classes a year.

At the end of 2011, another challenge emerged: His family decided to return to Chile. Many young people might have taken that as a sign to give up, but Parrao became even more determined to pursue his dreams. “For me, just the sacrifice of having to learn a whole new language when I was 15, and working so hard to graduate high school with honors—to go back would mean all that effort was wasted,” he says.

Parrao began applying for scholarships, working closely with Clark College Outreach/Scholarship Coordinator Lizette Drennan to identify opportunities. “Lizette was a great help,” Parrao says. “Every time I had a question, she was there for me.” The work paid off in 2013 when Parrao received a scholarship that allowed him to begin attending Clark part-time, followed by another that allowed him to become a full-time student.

At first, Parrao wanted to get a terminal two-year business degree; he assumed he wouldn’t be able to afford more than two years of college. But as he continued to excel in his coursework (he currently holds a 3.96 grade point average) and as scholarships and the Real HOPE Act began to make attending college full-time affordable, he realized that he could do more. “I realized, ‘This is the moment,’” says Parrao, who is engaged. “Because if you go out and work full-time and get married, you will not be able to do everything you can do right now.”

Parrao chose to return to Clark to complete a transfer Associate of Arts degree. He plans to transfer in the fall to the Washington State University Vancouver, where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Meanwhile, he continues to work two jobs—as a computer lab aide in Clark College’s Tech Hub, and as sales support for an industrial supplies company. He hopes to one day run his own business so he can provide jobs and scholarships to those who, like him, have more potential than resources.

Parrao says he greatly appreciates the opportunities provided to him by employers, friends, scholarship donors, and Clark College. “For my situation, this is probably the only way I could ever have done it,” he says. “It made me realize how important it is to have opportunities for everyone. And that was given to me at Clark. It’s changed my life.”

About the All-Washington Academic Team

The All-Washington Academic Team is a program of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges. The team honors students who demonstrate a commitment to success in the classroom and service in their communities, and has become the showcase of the Washington community and technical college system. This year’s team consists of 65 students representing all the state’s 34 community and technical colleges.

Gov. Jay Inslee was on hand to acknowledge recipients at the 20th annual ceremony, hosted by South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Wash. Phi Theta Kappa, the Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges (TACTC), the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges, and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges sponsor the event. All-Washington Academic Team members received scholarships from KeyBank and became eligible for scholarships from TACTC, the Washington State Employees Credit Union, and transfer scholarships from all four-year colleges and universities but one in Washington State.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley