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January 9-February 22: Don Crook: Painting the West The Larson Gallery hosts Don Crook: Painting the West. Known as the “Norman Rockwell of Western Art,” Crook covers historical subjects such as Lewis & Clark, cowboys, and wildlife of the old west. Opening reception is Thursday, January 9 from 5:00-7:00pm. For more information: 574.4875 or www.larsongallery.org
January 16: Home Basketball Games Come cheer for the men’s and women’s basketball programs at their home games in Sherar Gym. For a complete list of upcoming athletic events visit www.goyaks.com
February 1: Light Night The Larson Gallery Guild, in partnership with The Seasons Performance Hall, presents the 2nd annual Light Night. This fundraising event will celebrate the light in Yakima from artificial to natural and will feature live music, hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment. The cost is $60 per person. For more information: 574.4875 or www.larsongallery.org
February 8: Sealant Day YVCC’s Dental Hygiene Program hosts the 21st annual Dental Sealant Day on Saturday, February 8. Sealant Day provides free dental sealants, fluoride varnish, and visual dental exams for youth ages 4-21. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 574.4917.
February 15-16: Red Wine & Chocolate Join Yakima Valley wineries as they celebrate a weekend of Washington wines. Taste YVCC student-produced wines at YVCC’s teaching winery Yakima Valley Vintners. The tasting room is located on YVCC’s Grandview Campus. For more information: www.yakimavalleyvintners.com
February 26: Faculty Lecture Series YVCC’s Faculty Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, February 26 with History Instructor Dr. Ken Zontek. His lecture, Buffalo Nation, will be held at 7:00pm in the Parker Room. For additional information: www.yvcc.edu/calendar
March 5: Taste, Tour & Teach Join us for the 5th annual Taste, Tour & Teach. The free event will include an evening of wine education and wine tasting. It will be held from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Yakima Valley Vintners, YVCC’s teaching winery, located on the YVCC Grandview Campus. For more information: 574.6810.
March 7-April 19: Functional Art: The Wine Country Home The Larson Gallery presents Functional Art: The Wine Country Home, a national juried art exhibition which looks at how art is expressed in functional items such as clothing, jewelry, dishes, fixtures, and furniture. Opening reception is Friday, March 7 from 5:00-7:00pm. For more information: 574.4875 or www.larsongallery.org
April 25-27: Spring Barrel Tasting Yakima Valley Vintners, YVCC’s teaching winery, located on the YVCC Grandview Campus will open its tasting room during the valley’s Spring Barrel event. Taste our student-produced award-winning wines. For more information: www.yakimavalleyvintners.com
Distinguish Alumnus Nominations Open! Nominate a YVCC alum for YVCC’s Distinguished Alumnus Award by February 28. For criteria and additional information visit: www.yvcc.edu/alumni
February 22: Science Olympiad
Scholarship Applications Now Available!
YVCC hosts middle school students from across the Yakima Valley to compete in a variety of science-based challenges. Top performing schools earn an invitation to the state Science Olympiad tournament. For additional information: www.yvcc.edu/calendar
The YVCC Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2014-2015 academic year. Complete applications are due March 14. For more information: 574.4645 or www.yvcc.edu/foundation
Contents 3 4 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14
President’s Letter Campus News Larson Gallery Annual Report to the Community Student Activity Highlights STEM Research Opportunities Athletics Alumni In the Classroom Sharing Good News
On the Cover Jessica Lopez is enrolled in YVCC’s Automotive Service Technology program working towards her applied science degree in automotive technology. The accredited program provides hands-on training to prepare students for employment in the dynamic high-tech automotive repair industry. For more information: www.yvcc.edu/automotivetech
Marine Biology Cameron Mugleston holds up a sea star during a field trip to the Puget Sound to study life in the tide pools. Students in YVCC’s marine biology and biology for majors courses also visit Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and Breakwater Marina.
Produced by YVCC Community Relations Niki Hopkins & Stefanie Menard Published December 2013 If you would like to be added or removed from our mailing list, please contact us: Yakima Valley Community College Office of Community Relations PO Box 22520 • Yakima, WA 98907-2520 email: communityrelations@yvcc.edu / 509.574.4646 Yakima Valley Community College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, genetic information, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. All inquiries regarding compliance should be directed to the Director of Human Resource Services, YVCC, South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, WA 98902; or call 509.574.4670.
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From the President
President Dr. Linda Kaminski Board of Trustees Paul McDonald Rosalinda Mendoza Robert Ozuna Lisa Parker Patricia Whitefoot, Chair VP of Administrative Services Teresa Holland
As fall quarter quickly comes to a close and the holidays approach, I am gratefully reflecting on the many positive events that have occurred during fall quarter. After being postponed for two years, we were finally able to secure funding for our next building—Palmer Martin Hall. It was gratifying to finally break ground amid the sounds of demolition of the old buildings. We are especially pleased that this building will be built by the same local contractor that helped design and construct much of the Yakima Campus, including many of the original facilities—G. H. Moen. This fall we also celebrated the installation of a 30-kilowatt photovoltaic solar panel array on top of Glenn Anthon Hall. This was made possible through a Blue Sky grant from Pacific Power. The solar panel array will not only provide efficiencies through renewable energy for the campus, but also provides educational opportunities for our students and the community. Finally, we are honored to have been selected as one of eight community colleges in the nation to be recertified as an Achieving the Dream Leader College. Leader Colleges are designated on the basis of having demonstrated commitment to the use of evidence to improve student success outcomes and engaging their entire staff in helping students to succeed. In this issue of the Campus Update you will read about many more exciting activities and the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff. Most of all, we are grateful to each of you for your continued support of higher education in the Yakima Valley.
Sincerely,
VP of Instruction and Student Services Tomás Ybarra Deans Arts & Sciences Kerrie Abb Workforce Education Paulette Lopez Student Services Leslie Blackaby Grandview Campus & Basic Skills Dr. Bryce Humpherys
Linda Kaminski, Ed.D. President
campus news
From left; Sheri Brockway, Lisa Parker, Paul McDonald, Linda Kaminski, and Michael Moen. Palmer Martin Hall - courtesy of BORArchitecture.
Palmer Martin Hall On November 12 YVCC broke ground on the newest addition to the Yakima Campus: the long awaited Palmer Martin Hall. The building will be located on the southeast corner of South 16th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard. It will be home to art, communication studies, early childhood education, and modern language instruction. Specifically the building will contain classrooms, offices, art studios, digital art, language and speech labs, plus a seminar room and study spaces. The 43,879 square foot building was designed by Yakima’s BORArchitecture, PLLC and will be constructed by local contractor G.H. Moen, LLC. At the event Dr. Kaminski welcomed special guests including Sheri Brockway of BORArchitecture and Michael Moen of G.H. Moen. Both spoke about their excitement for the project and their history of working with the college. Alumnae Sheri Brockway and her team have been instrumental in the design of the college and continued in that excellence with Palmer Martin Hall. The firm provided an environmentally sensitive concept of sustainable architecture with the use of natural light, low energy consumption and organic, renewable resource materials that are energy efficient to produce minimum waste. In addition, a solar panel array will be installed on the roof. BORArchitecture worked closely with YVCC faculty and staff to create a state-of-the art learning environment with inviting student study areas. Michael Moen, and his wife Jody, are third generation owners of G.H. Moen. With his parents, Don and Kathryn, in the audience it was a memorable day for the family. G.H. Moen built Prior Hall, the first structure on the current campus grounds in 1949. Palmer Martin Hall marks the continuation of their work over a 64-year period. Artist Kay Kirkpatrick has been selected to create and install artwork in the new building as part of the Washington State Art in Public Places program. Kirkpatrick is collaborating with the college and the architects to incorporate her art into the building design. The completion of the project is scheduled for May 30, 2015.
A Historical Look at the Yakima Campus YVCC is proud to have G.H. Moen, LLC of Yakima build Palmer Martin Hall. The following timeline gives a historical perspective of the company’s impact on YVCC’s Yakima Campus. “I believe that when you observe these projects you see well designed and constructed projects,” stated Don Moen. “We see, when we close our eyes, teams of owners, architects, craftsmen that made it happen. Many are no longer with us. Their structures are testaments of their pride and skills. And so it continues with new teams and craftsmen of equal and changing skills. We are friends when we start and we will be friends when we finish,” he concluded. Timeline:
• 1949 Prior Hall
• 1961 Glenn Hall
• 1980 Sundquist Hall remodel
• 1957 Hopf Union Building
• 1961 Kendall Hall
• 1985 Sherar Gymnasium remodel
• 1957 Palmer Hall
• 1966 Anthon Hall
• 1992 Glenn Hall remodel
• 1957 Sherar Gymnasium
• 1966 Raymond Hall
• 2013 Palmer Martin Hall
• 1957 Sundquist Hall
• 1971 Pedestrian Overpass Sources: YVCC Facility Condition Survey, YVCC historical capital project reports, and G.H. Moen.
campus news
Pacific Power Blue Sky Solar Panel Project On November 21 YVCC and Pacific Power hosted an event to celebrate the installation of the solar panel array on the roof of Glenn Anthon Hall. The 30-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array was made possible through funding from Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program. In addition, a monitoring system which shares live data from the array has been installed in the lobby to provide maximum visibility to students and visitors. The first project of its kind in Yakima County, YVCC is excited to be a leader in sustainable energy practices. Speaking at the event was Bill Clemens, Pacific Power’s regional manager for the Yakima and Walla Walla areas and Dr. Matthew Loeser, YVCC biology instructor. Both shared comments on the impact this project is making on students and the Yakima community. Instructors in the science department, as well as other disciplines, will incorporate real-world data from the solar array into their curriculum. YVCC’s Facility Operations staff took the lead on the installation and maintenance for the array. As part of the grant, they are also participating in outreach efforts with local schools. The event was well attended and provided a chance for the community to learn about the YVCC monitoring system and see a working solar panel on display.
Title V Cooperative Grant YVCC and Heritage University (HU) were awarded a Title V Cooperative Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant, which began in October, will provide $3.6 million to the institutions over the next five years. “YVCC and HU share a commitment to provide higher educational opportunities to residents of the Yakima Valley, including first generation students,” stated YVCC Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Tomás Ybarra. “Our faculty and academic leaders work to improve educational outcomes for all students. This grant is a new and unique opportunity for the colleges to collaborate in two very promising strategies, experiential learning and culturally embedded curriculum,” he continued. The collaboration focuses on three areas: culturally embedded instructional strategies, experiential education opportunities, and a writing center at HU.
YVCC Welcomes New Board Member Rosalinda Mendoza In July YVCC welcomed Rosalinda Mendoza to the Board of Trustees. She is a graduate of A.C. Davis High School and earned her bachelor of arts degree in economics from Whitman College. Mendoza is currently an independent consultant who provides expertise in the areas of strategic planning, program and organizational development, operations, and policy. She has been actively involved with numerous community activities and organizations including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, a research study on the economic and social well-being of Washington Latinos, and as a student mentor and presenter for the College Success Foundation. Ms. Mendoza states “My experiences as the daughter of immigrant farmworkers in rural Washington exposed me to the challenges many students face in pursuing a higher education and the endless opportunities that come with a college degree. Yakima Valley Community College serves as the gateway for students not only to receive an education but also to help their families and communities economically.” Ms. Mendoza’s term is effective June 19, 2013 until September 30, 2015.
larson gallery Don Crook: Painting the West Starting January 9 the Larson Gallery will display the work of Don Crook, a western historical painter, now approaching his 80th year. His work has appeared in the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Washington DC because of its historical depiction of Washington State. Crook, known as the “Norman Rockwell of Western Art” covers historical subjects such as Lewis and Clark, cowboys, and wildlife of the old west. His paintings have appeared in magazines such as National Geographic and Thoroughbred Breeders Association Magazine and on book covers and in galleries throughout the west. Seven paintings from the Lloyd Wiehl Collection detailing the History of the Hanford Wright Brothers by Don Crook. Reach will move from their present display at the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology in Richland to the Larson Gallery for this exhibition. In addition, two of Don Crook’s paintings from the Larson Gallery Guild permanent collection will be on display. Crook’s work has won over 40 Best of Show awards in galleries throughout the west. An alumnus of YVCC, Crook’s artwork has historical ties to the college. While studying at YVCC in the 1950’s he demonstrated his promising talent and created a portrait of a Yakama Indian. This portrait served as the college mascot until the adoption of the Yak mascot in 1997. In 2003 Crook was the recipient of YVCC’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Don Crook: Painting the West will be on exhibit in the Larson Gallery through February 22, 2014.
58th Central Washington Artists’ Exhibition
Clockwise from top; Fast by Octavio Moro, Portrait of a Dog by Cheryl LaFlamme, and Fire Bird 2013 by Ruth E. Allan.
This fall the Larson Gallery hosted the 58th Central Washington Artists’ Exhibition. The exhibit featured 70 pieces of art submitted by various artists from Yakima, Benton, Kittitas, Walla Walla, Chelan, and Grant counties. The artwork ranged in media including: acrylic, ceramic, watercolor, glass, jewelry, collage, fiber, oil, photography, bronze, encaustic, gouache, metalworking, and wood. Over 200 entries were submitted. The artwork for the exhibit was selected by guest juror Dr. Steve Grafe. Dr. Grafe is the curator of art at Maryhill Museum of Art. In the past he has worked collaboratively with Larson Gallery Director David Lynx on projects for the Yakima Valley Museum. Both also served as jurors for the 40th annual ESD 105 Regional High School Art Show hosted at Allied Arts last March. The opening reception was held on November 2. Over $4,000 was presented in awards to the artists. The awards are sponsored by local businesses, organizations, and art patrons. The Larson Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday 1:00pm to 5:00pm. For more information: www.larsongallery.org, follow on Facebook, or visit the gallery’s blog at lggartists.blogspot.com. Information and Photographs provided by the Larson Gallery.
√annual report
Our Focus Mission Statement Yakima Valley Community College enriches and enhances individuals and communities by delivering accessible, student-centered education. YVCC addresses the needs of our diverse communities by providing learning opportunities in basic literacy; academic, professional, and technical education; and lifelong learning.
Core Theme 1: Community YVCC embraces its role as both a provider of higher education and an employer, and actively seeks partnerships to provide opportunities for the economic, social, and cultural development of our external and internal communities.
Core Theme 2: Access YVCC strives to provide access to our diverse community. YVCC encourages and supports our community members’ participation in services and educational programs.
Core Theme 3: Success YVCC’s learning-centered environment focuses on its diverse students, providing a foundation for lifelong learning and enabling the achievement of educational goals.
Our Students Vocational 28%
40 or Above 13%
Academic 39%
Under 20 26%
Multiracial or Other Race African American 2% 1% Asian/Pacific Islander 2% Native American 4%
White 39%
30-39 15%
Hispanic 52% Developmental 12%
20-29 46%
Basic Skills 21%
Course Type
Age
Ethnicity
Data for this report provided by: Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Budget Office, Grant Office, Financial Aid, Human Resource Services, and the Vice President for Administrative Services. Sources include: State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Annual Report, Data Warehouse, and Financial Aid Management.
Our Data
2012-2013 Academic Year
Operating Resources 2012-2013
Total $23,869,180
$20,000,000
Enrollment
State Operating Funds $15,391,410 64%
9,226 Annual Headcount 4,608 Full-time Equivalent $15,000,000
Graduating Class of 2013 1,127 total degrees and certificates awarded 546 degrees; associate in arts, business, science 351 degrees; associate of applied science, general 230 certificates; vocational, high school diploma
Employees
Tuition $7,521,540 32%
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
307 Full-Time Employees 36% Faculty 46% Classified 7% Exempt/Professional 8% Administrative
Local Funds $956,230 4%
0
State & Federal Grants & Contracts 2012-2013
Financial Aid 2012-2013
Total $4,305,597
Total $28,104,255
$20,000,000
$2,000,000 Grants and Waivers $16,975,104 60%
State Grants $1,633,822 38%
$15,000,000
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
Local $1,674,026 39%
$1,500,000
Student Loans $7,849,286 28%
Scholarships $2,137,783 Work Study 8% Outside Agency $736,895 $405,187 3% 1%
0
College Infrastructure Projects
$1,000,000
Federal Grants $997,749 23%
$500,000
0
Yakima Campus • Remodel of the Skills Center building to accommodate YVCC’s new aerospace and advanced machining programs. • Installation of campus video surveillance system. • Pacific Power Blue Sky renewable energy grant to install a solar panel array on the roof of Glenn Anthon Hall. Grandview Campus • Remodel of the main building entryway to create 2,188 square feet of indoor informal seating and study area. • Remodel of the Activity Center for student gathering space and student government offices.
students Student Activities This fall YVCC kicked off the 9th annual Diversity Series on October 17 with a concert featuring music group Quetzal. The East Los Angeles band pushes the boundaries of Chicano music and plays a mix of Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock. In addition to the concert, the group held workshops at YVCC and a local elementary school. “Diversity is more than the suggestion of variety, difference, or of being considered. It is acknowledging that minority voices or perspectives exist but are not fully represented or examined in cultural systems,” stated YVCC Chicano Studies Instructor Maria Cuevas. “This year’s theme of Worldviews, Perspectives, and Practice addresses this idea by inviting us to listen, witness, consider, and perhaps incorporate those “alternative” world views which may offer new and exciting ways of living and/or to more fully engage those who exist outside or on the margins of a cultural system. In our culture, it is not necessary that everyone participate equally but rather, as individuals, we periodically push ourselves to those places that we are not familiar and as a society, reevaluate our goals,” she concluded. For additional event dates in this year’s series visit www.yvcc.edu/diversity Yakima and Grandview students and staff including the Business Club, Brothers and Sisters United, Gender and Sexualities Association, Engineering Club, Disability Support Club, Associated Students of Yakima Valley Community College, Grandview Student Council, and the employee Professional Development Committee partnered to support the Marine Corps annual Toys for Tots campaign. Their efforts resulted in over 500 toys being donated to children in need throughout the Yakima Valley. The group also held fundraisers and sold raffle tickets to gather additional funds. In total over $600 was donated. YVCC’s Disability Support Club hosted its first Turkey Toss competition. Participants threw frozen turkeys with winners selected for the greatest distance accomplished. First place went to Francisco Alfaro, second place to Stacey Sanchez and third place to Thomas Mirdez. The event raised earned over $100 to provide a holiday meal for a YVCC student in need.
From top; participants at the Diversity Series workshop; GSC officers Itzel Alvizo and Eva Velasco, and employee Michele Blondin during the Toys for Tots drive; Francisco Alfaro at the Turkey Toss; YVCC Playmasters during the production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Below; ASYVCC officers celebrate national breast cancer awareness month.
YVCC Playmasters presented Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The production was directed by YVCC Instructor Alicia Bickley and YVCC Student Brandy Fisher. Performances were held November 14-17 in Kendall Hall Auditorium. One of Williams’ best-known works, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. Set in the plantation home in the Mississippi Delta, the play examines the relationships among family members. The lead roles were played by YVCC students Emily Goodell and José Andrade. The production also featured YVCC students and community members. “Our production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof gave a youthful energy to a Pulitzer prize winning play of mendacity,” stated Brandy Fisher. During October the Associated Students of Yakima Valley Community College (ASYVCC) and the Grandview Student Council (GSC) focused their efforts on supporting the battle against breast cancer as part of the national breast cancer awareness month. ASYVCC held several fundraisers on the Yakima Campus to raise over $200 for a YVCC student who is undergoing chemotherapy. In addition to the cotton candy, cupcakes, ribbon, and T-shirt sales, ASYVCC staged educational mannequins in the HUB to help teach students about the symptoms of breast cancer. In Grandview, GSC decided to the support the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Their activities included a nacho feed, a spa day, and a Smash for Cash event. In total they raised $450 dollars. “We chose to support breast cancer because it is something that affects everybody. There are many community members, as well as students, that have been affected by it one way or another,” stated GSC President Itzel Alvizo.
stem
YVCC students gained real-world research experience through YVCC’s STEM summer internships. The program is funded with a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which the college shares with Heritage University.
Summer Research Opportunities in STEM: Science, Engineering, Math, and Science Salmon Movement in Oak Creek Biology Instructor Dr. Matthew Loeser worked with students Michael Fox and John Olsen on their research project at Oak Creek in Naches, WA. Access to this area is provided by an extensive network of roads; however these roads and bridges cause the creek to be funneled into culverts which may affect salmon and other aquatic life. “The students surveyed all major culverts on Oak Creek and collected water quality data,” stated Loeser. “Based on their assessment, specific culverts have been identified as potential barriers to salmon movement. These recommendations have been provided to the two major landowners, the U.S. Forest Service, and The Nature Conservancy,” he concluded. Hop Research in Collaboration with John I. Haas Two teams of YVCC students and Chemistry Instructor Dr. Sam Mazhari partnered for the second year with local industry leader John I. Haas, Inc to pursue hop research. The first group included Prosper Doe, Alonzo Rodriguez, and Chris Sutphen. Their research focused on extracting and measuring the percentage of alpha and beta acids present in a sample of hops. “This was an invaluable experience to me,” stated Doe. “I acquired many skills that I otherwise would have not obtained, and many of these skills will be very useful to me while in the graduate pharmacy program,” he concluded. The second team included Abigail Bravo, Kyle Mellander, and John Rheaume. Their efforts focused on essential hop oil extraction. “As microbreweries are gaining popularity nationwide, interest in distinct and aromatic beers is also growing. Students in this project spent their time purifying the hop oils using steam distillation under various conditions,” stated Mazhari. Water Quality in the Yakima River Students Chelsea Croshaw, Vernon Sperry, and Melanie Tucker worked with YVCC Chemistry Instructors Dr. Tanya Knickerbocker and Stan Conrad. Their research focused on testing the water quality at different locations on the Yakima River. The Yakima County Waste Water Treatment Plant is currently remodeling the area near the plant to restore the flood plain and increase salmon habitat. “Billy’s pond is being deepened and the levee that currently prevents the area from flooding is being removed. With this change in fluid dynamics, the quality of the water in the Yakima River must be monitored to ensure that the remodeled flood plain doesn’t significantly alter the quality of the downstream water,” stated Mazhari.
Opportunities Around the United States Participating in a nationally competitive application process, YVCC students Chad Carman, José Guizar, José Avilia, Lupita Garfias, David Funk, and Marti Scott were selected for internships at universities and research labs across the United States. José Guizar spent his summer working at the University of Iowa in its chemical and biochemical engineering department. His research focused on growing cells in an Atrazine environment. Atrazine is a chemical used in crops and is known to affect animals and humans. “My job was to revive cells, create a medium to feed the cells, and grow cells in different environments such as different temperatures, different flow rates of medium, and different types of reactors. Then an optical density was taken to figure out the growth of cells after 24, 48, and 72 hours,” stated Guizar. “I learned a lot during this experience. I was able to see how the real world works in the chemical and biochemical field,” he concluded. Chad Carman interned at the Ames Laboratory in Ames, IA. José Avilia participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates located at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Lupita Garfias worked at Research Experience for Undergraduates located at Western Washington University (WWU) in Bellingham, WA. David Funk also interned at WWU in the Chemistry Department, and Marti Scott was at Pacific Northwest National Labs in Richland, WA.
athletics Al Rogers is Coach of the Year YVCC’s Head Volleyball Coach Al Rogers was honored in November as the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Eastern Region Coach of the Year. Rogers started his coaching career with the Yaks in 1978 as the assistant volleyball coach. In 1988 he became the head coach. This season marks Coach Rogers’ 25th year as head coach of the Yaks. He was selected by a vote of his peers. “This year’s team made an amazing run when nobody thought it was possible and the result was a berth in the NWAACC Championship Tournament. No doubt this award is a reflection of those efforts by the players and coaches,” stated YVCC Athletic Director Ray Funk.
Volleyball The YVCC Volleyball Team started strong in their opening scrimmages, unfortunately, they were not able to maintain this momentum as the regular season began. “From there it all went downhill. We were 0-7 before we won our first league match,” stated Head Coach Al Rogers. “We did win some big matches at the Everett Community College Crossover Tournament, and then we stepped it up the second time through the league. I started looking at the results and standings and figured we needed to win three matches to get in the NWAACC Tournament,” he continued. The Yaks accomplished the task with a 3-1 match over Treasure Valley Community College, a 3-2 at Columbia Basin College, and a big win over Big Bend Community College to earn a spot at the tournament. “I was happy that the girls got to go and experience something that big,” he continued. The Yaks were led offensively by Kat Ferguson and Janae’ Stanley. “Janae’ took us through our last three matches with a .340 hitting efficiency and blocking with 10 stuff blocks and 4 block assists for 3 matches. I have to give the players credit, they fought hard down the stretch,” he continued. Individual honors were awarded to sophomore players Shelby Hein and Rachel Gasseling who earned spots on the NWAACC 2013 All-Academic Team. “I am proud of these two young women. I judge my success not only with victories but also with how my players turn out. I am blessed to have this fine pair in my program,” Rogers concluded.
Shelby Hein
Rachel Gasseling
Soccer The Yaks Women’s Soccer Team came out strong during pre-season play with a 3-1 record. Unfortunately, the season did not continue with that degree of success in the win-loss columns as the young team worked hard to be competitive in the league. “The freshman class of 13 recruits, under the leadership of 4 returning players, had opportunity to gain valuable playing time,” said Head Coach Peter Monahan. The Yaks team captain, midfielder Yzzy Castro, was selected to represent the Yaks in the annual sophomore All-Star game.
Pirate Plunder Adventure Race The YVCC Women’s Basketball Team participated in the annual Pirate Plunder hosted by the Yakima Valley Sports Commission. The players, along with Head Coach Greg Oldham, competed in the 4+ mile race. The course includes 16 obstacles of varying activities such as a tire climb, mud pits, and a water slide. The basketball season is under way in Sherar Gym. For men’s and women’s schedules visit www.goyaks.com
alumni Alumni Highlight: Matt Hunter Growing up in Buena, WA Matt Hunter learned at an early age that you must work hard to get ahead in life. In middle school he began working in the cafeteria to help put food on his family’s table. With few friends, he buried himself in his schoolwork and began tinkering with electronics. In 2005, Hunter moved to Seattle to study graphic design but chose to return to the Yakima Valley when his mother was diagnosed with breast Matt Hunter cancer. Needing to find a new focus, Hunter worked in the retail industry before making the decision to attend YVCC. “I chose to go back to college because I wanted more in life. I also knew that I had a talent for computers, primarily networking, and that it would be a waste if I didn’t utilize that,” stated YVCC Alum Matt Hunter. While on campus, he was instrumental in resurrecting the student Information Technology Club and served as its president. In addition he was a member of YVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Club honor society. “I loved everything about YVCC’s program! But if I had to cut it down to the two aspects I loved the most, it would be the curriculum and real-world applicable subjects that we learned, and the amazing and inspirational teachers that deliver them,” continued Hunter. Hunter graduated this fall with an associate of applied science degree in network administration. He currently works for Allan Brothers Incorporated as a network support technician, a position he secured while attending YVCC. “YVCC has drastically changed my life in the best possible way. Before starting here, I was reluctant to imagine my future, primarily because I was afraid of the realization that it wasn’t a bright one. But, after receiving such an amazing education, I’m excited at not only the successes I’ve already made, but also for the ones that I now have the confidence to achieve, thanks to YVCC,” concluded Hunter.
Alumni Association The Yakima Valley Community College Alumni Association is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is committed to its mission of connecting alumni with YVCC. Established in 1977, the association focuses its efforts on fundraising for student scholarships, nominating the annual Distinguished Alumnus Award, and preserving of the college through acquisition of historical documents and publications. In an effort to establish a sustainable fundraising source, the Alumni Association has partnered with the YVCC Bookstore to sell custom designed Liberty Bottleworks water bottles. The bottles can be purchased in the YVCC Bookstore with proceeds benefitting the scholarship fund.
Stay Connected! Join the Alumni Association and share your good news. We want to hear from you! Visit the new website at www.yvcc.edu/alumni or contact Deborah Wilson at dwilson@yvcc.edu / 509.574.6872.
Did you know? The first recipient of YVCC’s Distinguish Alumnus Award was Ms. Catherine May-Bedell. Born in Yakima in 1914, May-Bedell graduated from Yakima Valley Junior College in 1934. She served in the Washington State Legislature from 1953-1958 and became Washington’s first woman elected to Congress. She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1959-1970. The mother of two children, May-Bedell was a teacher, radio-broadcaster, and legislative news commentator before she began her political career. In Clio’s Corner we share historical facts and memories about our college. A special thanks to Mr. Jim Newbill, longtime YVCC history instructor and current honorary director of the YVCC Foundation for his contributions to this idea.
In the classroom “This I Believe” YVCC students explore their beliefs
Author Luis Urrea discusses his novel Into the Beautiful North
The Big Read This fall YVCC joined the Yakima Valley Libraries and participated in The Big Read. Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in America and to encourage individuals to read for pleasure and enlightenment. This year, Luis Urrea’s novel Into the Beautiful North was selected. The English Department hosted the author as well as guest speaker Martin Valdez, vice president for diversity and outreach at Columbia Basin College, who spoke on themes from the novel, including the topics of borders and cultural identity. “With the rise of technology, our current students have grown up with procuring both information and entertainment on their I-pads, I-pods, computers, and cell phones. That rise seems to have coincided with the fact that students just don’t read books much anymore,” stated YVCC English Instructor Sandra Schroeder. “With the growth of social media, reading seems an isolated activity to them. The Big Read, however, creates a larger community of readers that shifts student attitudes about reading, allowing them to engage in more conversations with a variety of people about what they’re reading, and they begin to fully appreciate the value and delight that a good book can provide,” she concluded.
The first day of English 090T class begins with a test. No, not a punctuation or grammar test. The test is about beliefs. Here’s a sample: Write an “A” if you agree or a “D” if you disagree beside each of the following statements. Words can hurt. Love conquers all. How you act in a crisis shows who you really are. Soon the room is pulsing with conversation as the students compare answers in small groups and begin to tell stories that illustrate one of the statements with which they all agree. I circulate, trying to learn names, catching snippets of stories. Here, under a row of windows, four women break into laughter, disquieting as smashing glass. Opposite them, at the center of the room, an older Hispanic man speaks in hushed tones, a thick index finger tracing the path of a story on the desk in front of him while two students follow the map with their eyes, nodding respectfully. Few, if any, of these students entered the class knowing one another. Yet their conversations suggest an immediate familiarity. I interrupt. “So where do beliefs come from?” “Family.” “The media.” “Rush Limbaugh!” (The class groans.) “And do your beliefs stay the same, or can they change?” I ask. “They change.” An energetic discussion follows, and in the weeks to come the class begins crafting essays that focus on a belief and how it was formed. By week three, I’m immersed in drafts that are heart wrenching, funny, uplifting, and sometimes profound. Though some students may choose to delve into dark subject matter, each essay delivers a positive message to readers. This positive affirmation is the hallmark of a “This I Believe” essay. Not simply a classroom writing assignment, “This I Believe” essays are the result of a nationwide writing project. The idea originated in the 1950’s with Edward R. Murrow who created a radio program of the same name to generate dialogue about beliefs as a means of combatting the fear and distrust plaguing Americans. The program was revived in 2005, resulting in a weekly NPR broadcast on Bob Edwards Weekend show, a website where “This I Believe” essays may be read and listened to online, and a variety of books and CDs. Several colleagues in the English Department and I have developed material for our precollege level writing classes based on this community dialogue. Typically, our developmental writing students have many lived experiences and life challenges which can make it difficult for them to succeed in an academic setting but also can be rich substance for reflection and writing. Experiences with poverty, teen pregnancy, homelessness, addiction, and so on are often an unspoken presence in the classroom, which may undermine a student’s sense of belonging even if those experiences have played a part in motivating the student to pursue a college education. The invitation of a “This I Believe” essay, then, provides an opportunity to explore a life question student writers may otherwise keep hidden. Other educational benefits proliferate, as well. Listening to beliefs that may be different from the student’s own can lead the student to a greater level of understanding and respect for those differences. Students also become sensitized to writing with a genuine purpose and for a real audience, since they may submit their essays on the This I Believe website to be considered for online publication. While contributing to class discussions, the students form a unique bond and see themselves as part of a larger, ongoing conversation that really matters. For their stories do matter. Though students who place into English 090T may have lower persistence and graduation rates compared to other YVCC students, I see success for them, particularly with “This I Believe” content, in ways that aren’t captured in typical institutional measures: the way they learn to take pride in their voices on the page, risk sharing sometimes deeply personal and painful experiences in order to provide hard-earned wisdom for the benefit of others, begin to see themselves as agents of change (most especially for their children), and understand that writing is not merely a means of communicating but also a means of understanding and self-actualization. In the upcoming editions of the Campus Update, you will hear from some of these students. You’ll get to read their essays and perhaps, as I have, be drawn into the community dialogue about beliefs that they’ve initiated here at YVCC. Submitted by Dodie Forrest. Forrest teaches English at YVCC and is the director of the Yakima Campus Writing Center. In 2012 she was awarded the Daryl and Sherrie Parker Faculty Award for her outstanding work with students.
people Congratulations to Community Relations whose Voices website of student highlights won a Bronze Medallion Award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). In addition, Communications Consultant Stefanie Menard attended the NCMPR Conference held in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Vice President of Administrative Services Teresa Holland recently participated in the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accreditation evaluation visit to Tillamook Bay Community College. She is also serving as chair of the SBCTC’s Business Affairs Commission for 2013-2014 academic year.
Senaida Lopez
In September YVCC hosted the House Higher Education Committee. President Dr. Linda Kaminski, along with Vice President of Administrative Services Teresa Holland, Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Tomás Ybarra, Counselor Elizabeth DeVilleneuve, and Biology Instructor Dr. Matthew Loeser participated in the meeting providing valuable information about higher education in the Yakima Valley. Congratulations to Senaida Lopez on her award as the Summer 2013 Classified Employee of the Quarter. Lopez is a Bilingual Secretary Senior on the Grandview Campus. Congratulations to Adelina Martinez on her award as the Fall 2013 Classified Employee of the Quarter. Martinez is a Bilingual Office Assistant II at the Toppenish Learning Center.
Adelina Martinez
Director of Accounting Services Clarissa Wolfe, Fiscal Analyst III Lisa Rice, and Fiscal Technician III Tessa Southards recently attended a Budget, Accounting, and Reporting training at Green River Community College.
YVCC Board Members Paul McDonald, Rosalinda Mendoza, Robert Ozuna, Lisa Parker, and Patricia Whitefoot recently attended the 44th annual Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Congress in Seattle. In addition, Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness Shelia Delquadri, Faculty Director Wilma Dulin, Lisa Parker, and Dr. Linda Kaminski presented “Measuring Up: The Role of Trustees in Supporting and Sustaining Student Success.”
David Blink Performs in Morelia YVCC Music Instructor David Blink recently traveled to Morelia, Mexico. Once a month the city closes the downtown area and hosts a concert to celebrate the lighting of the cathedral. During this celebration, Blink was given the honor of performing. “I was backed up by the Juan Alzate jazz group. We performed three numbers, the first was a composition that the group collectively composed called “Cantera” featuring myself on the handpan,” stated Blink. “The next was a composition I composed in March dedicated to the Conservatory de las Rosas entitled “Jardin de las Rosas”. The last piece was an electroacoustic piece which was timed to the fireworks called “Armas Stomp,” he concluded. David Blink performs in Morelia, Mexico.
YVCC Foundation honors Mary Sundquist
Mary Sundquist awards a scholarship to a YVCC student during the annual scholarship award ceremony.
This fall the YVCC Foundation honored Mary Sundquist with the 2013 Director of the Year Award. Sundquist joined the Foundation in March of 2008. During her time on the board she has been very active in all scholarship activities including rating scholarship applications and awarding them at the annual awards ceremony. Currently, she serves as the chair of the scholarship committee. Sundquist follows in the footsteps of her father William Russell III and father-in-law Marvin Sundquist who were instrumental in the creation of the YVCC Foundation. “Mary Sundquist is a crucial part of the Foundation’s yearly scholarship awards,” stated YVCC Foundation Director Stacey Kautz. “Her dedication to YVCC students and the scholarship process makes her an invaluable resource to the Foundation,” she concluded.
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