YAKIMA VALLEY COLLEGE Campus Update, Winter 2021
Board of Trustees: Custulo 'Cus' Arteaga Patrick Baldoz, Board Chair
President's Message
Sara Cate, M.D.
The lengthening days and buds forming
Neil McClure
on trees remind us that spring is a time
Bertha Ortega
of new beginnings. The increasing light and warmth are particularly welcome
Produced by:
following the challenges of the past 12
Dustin Wunderlich
months. While our community and the
Stefanie Menard
rest of the world will still contend with the COVID pandemic for some time, the
Contributing Photographers:
students, faculty and staf of Yakima
Dustin Wunderlich
Valley College continue to demonstrate
Stefanie Menard
tremendous resilience. In this issue of Campus Update, you’ll read several stories
Published: March 2021 If you would like to be added or removed from our mailing list, please
of overcoming barriers to achieve success — both by individuals and our community as a whole. You’ll read about Lizbeth Ochoa, who has remained committed to
contact us:
her dream of becoming a teacher despite experiencing homelessness.
Yakima Valley College
Ochoa is the YVC nominee for this year’s Transforming Lives Award
Community Relations
sponsored by the Washington State Association of College Trustees, an
PO Box 22520 Yakima, WA 98907-2520 communityrelations@yvcc.edu 509.574.4646
honor recognizing one student from each of our state’s 34 community and technical colleges. Too many current and aspiring college students sufer from housing insecurity, but in this issue you’ll also read how YVC is providing hope for
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these individuals. We are one of six Washington colleges participating
in The Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness (SSEH) Pilot
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Program. During the frst year of the grant YVC has provided assistance
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to 44 students —representing nearly half of the students served statewide by the pilot program — and helped them continue their educational aspirations. And in this issue, you’ll read how YVC is extending access to higher education through our Running Start Summer Pilot program for high school students while also addressing our region’s need for health care
Yakima Valley 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 Executive Director of Human Resource Services, YVC, South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, WA 98902; or call 509.574.4670.
professionals through the launch of a new Practical Nursing certifcate program. Thank you for your ongoing support of Yakima Valley College and our work to support student achievement and to strengthen our communities. I hope the stories in this issue will inspire you and demonstrate how we are building on these successes to advance our mission. Sincerely,
Linda Kaminski, Ed.D. President
Contents 3 Campus News 6 Running Start 7 Student Honors 8 Student Activities 9 Athletics 10 Program Spotlight - Nursing 11 Program News 13 Program Spotlight - STEM 14 Larson Gallery 15 Alumni Highlights 17 YVC's People
Cover Photo:
YVC Surgical Technology students conduct a simulation in the college's new West Campus facility.
This Page:
Top: YVC's baseball team practices on Parker Faller Field (February 2021). Middle: Medical Assisting student works on a sim man (February 2020). Bottom left: Painting student works on artwork during class (February 2020). Bottom right: Photography student edits her photo during class (February 2020).
CAMPUS NEWS
Photos of YVC's new Larson Gallery and Tasting Room on the Yakima Campus. From top: exterior image of the Gallery and Tasting Room at dusk, interior images of the Larson Gallery's Victor Ospina exhibit. Opposite page: interior images of the new Tasting Room and educational display.
Larson Gallery and Tasting Room take shape At the start of 2021, the new Larson Gallery and Tasting Room at Yakima Valley College’s West Campus were essentially empty shells inside. Since then, however, the interiors of those spaces have come to life. Trent Ball, vineyard and winery technology instructor, said the transformation of the spaces in just a few weeks has been remarkable. “I think visitors are going to be amazed at the beautiful artwork, elegant design and wonderful atmosphere,” Ball said. “The barrel feature with the oak barrel heads lining the wall I knew would be beautiful, but now that it is fully installed it is even more spectacular than I anticipated.” In February, Larson Gallery Director David Lynx installed the new gallery’s frst two exhibits — an exciting development as the previous gallery space could only accommodate one exhibit at a time. The frst, “Who’s Minding the Gallery?” highlights artwork of previous curators of Larson Gallery while the second, “Victor Ospina: A View from Corcora Valley,” features the work of the contemporary Colombian artist. Read more about these exhibits on page 14. “It’s very exciting getting into the space,” Lynx said. “Now that we’re able to make appointments for members of the public to visit I know people are going to be so impressed. The new Larson Gallery is just a jewel for the whole
3 Yakima Valley College
CAMPUS NEWS community to enjoy.” Meanwhile, Yakima Valley Vintners – YVC’s teaching winery, is in the process of hiring a new staf member who will coordinate activities at the Tasting Room to make it a comfortable gathering place for the community as well as a venue that provides additional training and learning experiences for students. Students and faculty in YVC’s Vineyard and Winery Technology Program also are in the process of creating interactive educational displays for the new space. “As part of the educational displays there are two interactive touch screens,” Ball said. “One of the touch screens is at the oak barrel head wall, where visitors will be able to learn how barrels used in the wine industry are constructed.” Ball and Lynx are also collaborating to leverage the Larson Gallery and Tasting Room being located next to one another in order to create a unique experience for visitors. “The audio and video capabilities in the Tasting Room are incredible,” Ball said. “The sound system around the outdoor sculpture garden will provide amazing ambiance for guests of the Tasting Room and Larson Gallery alike.”
Online learning extended through summer quarter 2021 In January Yakima Valley College announced the continuation of online learning through spring and summer quarters. The decision was made based on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and health data for Yakima County. Some in-person labs for workforce programs will continue based on direction of the Washington Department of Health and Governor’s Ofce. “Our priority continues to be promoting the health and safety of our students and employees, as well as their families,” stated YVC President Linda Kaminski. Both the Yakima and Grandview campuses as well as learning centers in Sunnyside, Toppenish and Ellensburg will continue to ofer all services virtually and no in-person events will be held. “Making this decision early enables our entire college community to be adequately prepared for the start of the spring and summer quarters. Thank you all for your patience and perseverance in pursuing your educational goals during these challenging times,” continued Kaminski. Decisions for Fall Quarter will be announced at a future date.
Winter 2021 4
CAMPUS NEWS
Workforce programs beneft from CARES Act funding This winter workforce-related programs at Yakima Valley College received nearly $200,000 in federal CARES Act funding to support their recovery from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, which comes from the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds provided by the CARES Act, supports YVC’s Education, Dental Hygiene and Veterinary Technology programs. Funds have helped YVC revamp and translate curriculum to provide optimal learning experiences while operating primarily remotely. It also enabled Dental Hygiene student works on a patient. YVC to restart the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Spanish cohort, which was suspended in March 2020 due to complications with moving instruction from face-to-face to online. “YVC faculty and staf have looked for innovative ways to teach our students since the onset of the pandemic and the GEER grant will support those eforts,” said Interim Dean for Workforce Education Skye Field. “Workforce education programs will play a big role in getting our state and local economy back on track and we’re grateful to have this support for YVC’s oferings.” The $199,998 grant is part of nearly $5 million in GEER funds given to community and technical colleges across the state to help restore workforce-related programs afected by the pandemic.
Latino students, alumni highlighted in YVC-Univision partnership People in Yakima Valley and the Tri-Cities are meeting some of Yakima Valley College’s most outstanding students thanks to a continuing partnership between the college and Univision (KUNW). Every Wednesday during the 2020-21 academic year, KUNW’s Orgullo Comunitario segment features a Latino student from YVC, Columbia Basin College, Heritage University or Central Washington University. In the segments, viewers learn more about each student’s academic program, personal interests and future goals. As of the end of February 2021, 10 YVC students had been featured on Orgullo Comunitario. Among those featured are Eddie Juarez, a pre-medicine student who aims to graduate from medical school and become a doctor, and Emilse Osorio, an enology and agriculture student with goals of advancing her career in the wine industry and becoming a winemaker. Orgullo Comunitario segments air during KUNW’s 6 p.m. Wednesday newscast and can be viewed for 24 hours following the newscast at kunwtv.com/watch.
YVC’s approves new strategic plan, mission statement
Eddie Juarez
Emilse Osorio and husband
A new fve-year strategic plan will guide YVC's academic programs, allocation of resources and decision-making following approval by the Board of Trustees in March 2021. Developed with extensive input from faculty, staf, students and community members, the plan outlines fve strategic direction categories that the college will advance: commitment to student learning and achievement; a culture of teaching, learning, and innovation; social justice through access, equity, and inclusion; strengthened community; and health and safety, fnancial, and environmental sustainability. The board also approved a new mission statement during its March meeting honoring the college’s commitment to advancing equity and inclusion. The new statement reads: “As a federally designated Hispanicserving Institution residing on the traditional homelands of the 14 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Yakima Valley College cultivates equity and a culture of innovative and inclusive teaching and learning. Yakima Valley College serves all students holistically, supports all students’ learning goals, and fosters achievement within career and educational pathways. We strengthen our communities by providing opportunities for personal enrichment, economic mobility, and sociocultural engagement.” 5 Yakima Valley College
RUNNING START Former Running Start students on YVC's Yakima Campus; photos taken before COVID-19 pandemic.
Running Start ofers new summer pilot program to better support students’ aspirations
Enrollment for regular Running Start admission in Fall 2021 is under way now with a priority application date of May 3. High school students in the Yakima Valley looking ahead to college will have a new opportunity to accelerate their pathway to earning a degree thanks to a new Summer Running Start pilot program at Yakima Valley College. YVC’s Running Start program is one of only three in the state selected to participate in the pilot, which for the frst time extends Washington’s popular dual credit program into the summer. Running Start, which began in the early 1990s, enables high school students to take college courses and earn college and high-school credit at the same time. Currently, Running Start students cannot access courses during summer quarter without being charged full tuition. House Bill 2864 changes that and provides funding for the Summer Running Start pilot. “The pilot program’s primary goal is to evaluate interest in and barriers to expanding the Running Start program to include the summer term,” stated YVC Running Start Coordinator Hillary Emerson. “By ofering Running Start in the summer quarter, students may be able to participate who would be unable to do so during the normal school year because of external barriers. We are especially hopeful this shift could increase dual credit access to under-served students. It also gives students more opportunity to earn extra credits and stay on course to graduate with their cohort.” In its 25-year history, Running Start has grown into a nationally recognized program that has experienced signifcant enrollment growth. Emerson noted that Running Start can be particularly benefcial in supporting the college aspirations of low-income, frst-generation and minority students. Running Start students can take any course ofered at YVC and other community colleges as long as they meet the prerequisites. Students can enroll full- or part-time, which gives them to opportunity to use the program to meet their individual needs. YVC’s summer pilot program will be available starting in June 2021 to students in the Yakima, Granger, Highland, Mabton and Wapato school districts. Yakima School District Director of College and Career Readiness W.H. Sarett said the impact of the COVID pandemic makes the expansion of Running Start into summer particularly timely. “As we look for every opportunity to provide Yakima School District students with options to build credits and get back on the path to graduation, this summer Running Start pilot program provides one more valuable choice,” Sarett said. “Given the continuing challenges that remote learning holds, this could not have come at a better time!” At YVC, Emerson said the Running Start program has experienced a high growth rate, with fall quarter enrollment growing by 25% in each of the last fve years. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted YVC has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of Running Start students attending full-time (15+ credits) with the rate rising to 86% in fall 2020 compared to the 64% of full-time students in fall 2019. Additional colleges participating in the pilot program are Skagit Valley and South Puget Sound. Visit YVC’s Running Start website for more information or call 509.574.4970 or runningstart@yvcc.edu. Winter 2021 6
STUDENT HONORS
Transforming Lives Award A single mother who overcame homelessness to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher is Yakima Valley College’s nominee for Washington state’s Transforming Lives Award. Each year, the Washington State Association of College Trustees (ACT) Awards Committee recognizes the accomplishments of nominees from each of the state’s community and technical colleges for the Transforming Lives Award. Each awardee receives a $250 scholarship from ACT. This year, YVC’s nominee is Lizbeth Ochoa. Ochoa realized that she would need additional education to provide the life she wanted for her family. Armed only with the hope of a better life, she gave up the security of a full-time job and enrolled in college. Though she became homeless shortly after quitting her job, Ochoa’s determination to better herself through education remained strong. Committed to succeeding and excited to begin a new journey, she enrolled at YVC in January 2020. “I was happy but nervous that I would not be able to catch up as quickly. My frst Lizbeth Ochoa quarter at YVC was amazing. The professors made me feel welcome and made everything very simple and practical,” Ochoa said. While Ochoa’s grades in her classes were strong, as a frst-generation college student she found that she needed help planning her educational pathway. She found that help from YVC’s TRIO Student Support Services which helped her fgure out what career path to follow and what classes she would need to complete her degree. After Ochoa graduates from YVC in winter 2022 she will transfer to a four-year university and study elementary education. She hopes to one day teach elementary school and help Hispanic students be more successful in the classroom and build awareness of opportunities to pursue higher education.
2021 All-USA Academic Team & All-Washington Academic Team YVC is proud to announce the selection of Miguel Blancas-Alejo and Chance Goodwin as nominees for the All-USA Academic Team competition. Both students are automatically named to the All-Washington Academic Team. Each year, YVC and other community and technical colleges in Washington state each select two student nominees to represent their college in the All-USA Academic Team competition. Miguel Blancas-Alejo was born in Chavinda, Michoacán, Mexico and moved with his family to Quincy, Wash., at the age of 5. Growing up Blancas-Alejo often felt discriminated against due to the color of his skin. Based on these early experiences, Blancas-Alejo began to realize that changes needed to be made in his community and flled him with a desire to help others. After volunteering at various organizations and working as a frefghter, he enrolled at YVC in January 2019 to work on his prerequisites to pursue a law degree. He will graduate in spring 2021 with his associate degree from YVC with plans to transfer to a four-year university. Chance Goodwin was born in North Bend, Wash., and moved to the Yakima Valley when he was 5 years old. He enrolled at YVC in fall 2019 to pursue a degree in English language and literature. Wanting to help other students who were struggling, he began tutoring in YVC’s Writing Center to help students who were having difculty with their essays. Goodwin has also been involved with the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) student club. He will graduate in the summer with a transfer degree. He plans to transfer to Heritage University and pursue a bachelor’s and later master’s degree in English language and literature. Each All-Washington team member will receive a commemorative medallion and a $250 scholarship from KeyBank. Thanks to the generosity of the Yakima Valley College Foundation YVC’s nominees will receive an additional $250 scholarship. 7 Yakima Valley College
Miguel Blancas-Alejo
Chance Goodwin
YVC’s Student Life ofce recently launched a new online version of the long-standing Yak student newsletter. The new Yak Blog provides an accessible way for students to learn about important news, resources and events for students. “Over the last year student governments on both the Yakima and Grandview campuses have worked to collaborate and provide more resources to students,” stated Student Life Coordinator Laura Yolo. “A key area we identifed as wanting to improve was our Yak newsletter. By moving the publication online, it allows for greater readership and online integration.” Do you have an idea you’d like to see in the new Yak? Contact Student Life to get your ideas added.
Diversity Series hosts guest speaker Robin Wall Kimmerer Yakima Valley College’s 2020-2021 Diversity Series continued this winter with a virtual conversation featuring Robin Wall Kimmerer, a scientist, decorated professor, author and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Wall Kimmerer’s talk, “Indigenous Women – Science, Wisdom, Mothering,” was centered on inspiring young women of color to pursue careers in the sciences and embrace their cultural heritage. The talk also aimed to encourage working mothers to continue their education. As a writer and scientist, her interests in restoration include not only restoration of ecological communities, but also restoration of humans’ relationships to land. Since 2005 Yakima Valley College has partnered with several local area organizations to host events and lectures through its annual Diversity Series. The events provide YVC the opportunity to bring diverse perspectives to everyday topics and push the boundaries of the term beyond race, gender, social class and sexuality.
Robin Wall Kimmerer photo courtesy of Dale Kakkak
Student Services ofers Zoom lobby to support student success This winter YVC’s Student Life ofce launched a Student Services Virtual Lobby to help students connect and get their questions answered. Breakout rooms are available for students to have private 1:1 conversations related to fnancial aid, registration, admissions, counseling and advising. Each department has a staf member available to help answer questions. Student Services Zoom session “The Student Life ofce was interested in creating a Zoom lobby because we wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to support students during this difcult time,” stated Student Life Coordinator Laura Yolo. “The students who have participated have been able to connect with student government ofcers, staf from Registration and Financial Aid and get their questions answered. We hope that more students continue to utilize this resource.” Lobby hours were available most weekdays. Based on the success of this resource Student Life is hoping to continue their eforts in the spring. Winter 2021 8
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Student governments launch online Yak blog
ATHLETICS
Former Yak stars extend impact beyond the court In 2006, Yakima Valley College wasn’t on the radar of Anthony Johnson or Shaunte Nance-Johnson. But the couple, looking for a chance to continue their college basketball careers at the same school, found that opportunity playing for the Yaks. Each shined on the court at YVC, and Johnson would go on to capture the national spotlight, earning an ESPY Award nomination for his performance in the University of Montana’s stunning come-from-behind victory over Weber State during the 2010 Big Sky Conference Championship. That triumph, however, was interrupted when Johnson tried to launch a professional basketball career with the NBA D-League Los Angeles D-Fenders. “I remember being out there in LA playing with Matt Barnes, Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant, and having this out of body experience seeing all of the Lakers’ championships and jerseys of players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hanging from the rafters,” Johnson said. “I was thinking ‘I’m going to play for the Lakers,’ but then the next day I couldn’t see out of my eye.” The impairment that ended his hope of playing professionally was one that Johnson had struggled with since sufering an injury at age 10, yet it was a secret few knew about. In 2013 Johnson underwent cataract removal surgery on both eyes. Despite those struggles, being in basketball for 15 years gave the couple the relationships and experience they needed to launch the next chapter in their lives. In 2018, they founded the events company Inner Enso. “Basketball, when you break it down, is a live event,” Johnson said. “The event space is a multi-billion dollar industry and we looked up one day and realized we’ve been in the sporting and event space for so long. We knew that we could leverage our relationships and experience into creating compelling content.” Nance-Johnson said Inner Enso focuses on creating events that foster racial inclusion and healing in order to change things at the ground level. That includes school-wide conferences, professional development for school staf, community discussion circles and other speaking engagements. “There’s this huge racial divide and we felt we needed to bring people together, raise awareness of systemic injustices and empower people,” Nance-Johnson said. Inner Enso is working with school districts across the country, from Seattle and Tacoma to Boston. The couple also is looking to start working with schools in the Yakima Valley, which the couple returned to in fall 2019 with their three children. "Something my grandma used to say is 'You might always forget small memories, but you always remember the way people treat you'," Nance-Johnson said. “I remembered all the beautiful people here and the positive energy. We were thinking about where there’s positive energy, where’s a good place to get an education for your kids, someplace safe where you know your neighbor is going to look after your kids — and Yakima came to mind frst.” While more than a decade has gone by since their playing days for the Yaks, the relationships they formed at YVC remain strong. “I don’t think about the championship we won now,” Johnson said. “I think about the practices, the camaraderie, the conversations with coaches away from the game. The championship was cool, but the freshmen I met, all these years later we’re still friends and that’s what I treasure the most.” 9 Yakima Valley College
Yakima Valley College has established a new Practical Nursing (PN) program that will address the growing regional demand for PNs in hospitals, residential care facilities, home health environments and other health care settings. The PN program is four quarters in length and results in a certifcate of achievement. The role of a PN is, as the name suggests, practical. PNs carry out a variety of duties and work under the direction of registered nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors. PNs provide direct hands-on patient care including monitoring patients’ health, measuring blood pressure and other vitals, administering basic patient care, providing for the basic comfort of patients, discussing the patients’ care, documenting patient concerns, and charting patient care services. This new program flls a critical need in south-central Washington. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics PN positions are expected PN student Victor Reyes and family. to grow by 9% in the 10-year period of 2019-2029. With a median annual pay of $47,480, this program ofers a pathway to a family-sustaining wage for individuals in the region. YVC’s new program represents the only PN program on the eastern side of Washington state and one of only six PN programs in the state as a whole. YVC Nursing Program Coordinator Wendy Baker states, “YVC Nursing is pleased to add a path for individuals interested in health care to a career as practical nurse or as a stepping stone to LPN-to-RN or LPN-to-BSN programs in the state. Providing this training in eastern Washington also serves local long-term care employers, who have voiced their need to increase the supply of LPNs to replace those who will be retiring. With just 25 credits of prerequisites and 48 PN program credits, our program has tried to streamline training while maintaining the quality instruction that has defned our nursing programs.” This new program provides the perfect opportunity for students like Victor Reyes, who joined its inaugural cohort of 10 students in Winter 2021. Reyes moved from Chile to the United States in 2001 when he was 17 years old. “Coming to America was one of the hardest decisions that I had to make,” Reyes said. “I found myself faced with the heartache of leaving behind family and friends and the intense urge to better myself and my future by reaching my educational goals.” Knowing no English, Reyes was determined to learn the language and culture of his new home. Enrolling at Walla Walla Community College, he took English as a Second Language courses and within two years learned to read, write and speak the language fuently. With a passion for helping others, Reyes began working as a caregiver. In 2017, he obtained his Certifed Nursing Assistant license through Columbia Basin College and took several prerequisite classes to meet the requirements for applying to nursing programs. A former colleague who graduated from YVC's nursing program recommended Reyes explore joining the inaugural cohort of the college’s PN program. “I’m excited to be working towards a PN degree, but my ultimate goal is to earn my RN,” Reyes said. “Becoming a registered nurse would not only be a dream come true, but it would also make me the frst college graduate in my family and that in itself is a lifetime achievement.” The PN program joins YVC’s popular Associate in Nursing (ADN-DTA/MRP) program and ofers students a fast track for entering the health care feld. YVC will admit its frst full cohort of 20 students to the program in Winter 2022. For more information about YVC’s Students in YVC's ADN-DTA/MRP program (September 2017). programs call 509.574.4902 or email nursing@yvcc.edu. Winter 2021 10
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
YVC launches new Practical Nursing program
PROGRAM NEWS
Yakima Valley Vintners earns Platinum Wine honors Yakima Valley Vintners (YVV), Yakima Valley College’s teaching winery, recently received several awards at the 21st Annual Wine Press Northwest Platinum Competition. The multi-day tasting competition included entries who have earned gold awards at any of 40 recognized wine competitions held in the Pacifc Northwest. YVC student wines were judged blindly alongside those produced by commercial wineries during the competition. In total 655 wines from British 2021 Platinum award-winning wines. Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington were evaluated. YVC's recognitions include platinum awards for the 2017 Late Registration Petit Verdot, 2016 Lemberger and 2016 Austin Sharpe Vineyard Dean’s List Merlot. The 2017 Dean’s List Tempranillo and 2017 Primitivo each garnered double gold medals and the 2019 Easy A Chardonnay earned a gold medal. “Overall, 2020 has been an impressive year for YVC’s program earning several awards at a number of state-wide competitions,” stated YVC Vineyard and Winery Technology Instructor Trent Ball. For more information about Yakima Valley Vintners and the Yakima Valley College Vineyard and Winery Technology Program visit yvcc.edu/wine or call 509.882.7007.
Surgical Technology collaborates with Confuence Health YVC’s Surgical Technology program recently collaborated with Confuence Health’s Hospital and Clinics in Wenatchee, Wash., to ofer training to hospital employees. After realizing the need to upskill its workers, Confuence Health contacted Program Coordinator Libby McRae to create a partnership to provide the training. “We have numerous graduates of the YVC surgical technologist program working in our surgery unit,” stated Confuence Health’s Perioperative technology students practice their Supervisor J. Douglas Landers. "Our patients beneft greatly from the technical Surgical skills in a mock operating room at YVC's West Campus. skills learned while attending this program.” Combining convenient online instruction, laboratory simulations and supervised clinical practice, YVC’s degree program prepares students for careers as surgical technologists. “The very concept of our program is to provide healthcare professionals that the community needs,” stated McRae. “A collaboration such as the one we have with Confuence Health is responsive to their community needs and provides them with surgical team members that will serve patients in their own community.” YVC’s surgical technology program is 96 credits in length. A program application is required, with up to 16 students accepted each fall quarter by use of a competitive point system. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in surgical technology.
Nursing Program Accreditation
This winter YVC’s nursing program hosted a site visit for continuing accreditation of its associate degree nursing program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations, like ACEN, recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. By going through the accreditation process, it further improves YVC’s nursing program related to resources invested, processes Students in YVC's ADN-DTA/MRP program (September 2017). followed and results achieved. YVC’s nursing program ofers six quarters of instruction that leads to an Associate in Nursing Direct Transfer Degree (ADN-DTA/MRP). Students who complete the ADN-DTA/MRP program and successfully pass the RN licensure exam will be considered as having met the minimum requirement for transfer into Washington State RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. 11 Yakima Valley College
Second-year veterinary technology student Sarah Vines will complete her externship at The Raptor Center, one of the premier raptor rehabilitation centers in the country, this summer. The six-week program at the center, part of the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine, will begin on June 14. “The YVC veterinary technology program has provided me with the skills and knowledge to advance my career,” stated Vines. “This foundation will be built of of as I gain more medical experience and work toward my goal.” The Raptor Center sees around 1,000 sick and injured raptors each year in the clinic. Vines will have the opportunity to participate in medical treatments, captive management, and all aspects of surgical monitoring and laboratory diagnostics. Sarah Vines “During my externship I will be able to work with and learn from veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are experts in the feld of avian medicine. I will learn how to apply the skills and knowledge I gained here in the YVC vet tech program to providing excellent care for our native wild birds,” she stated. Externships are a key component of the YVC’s two-year veterinary technology curriculum, providing students with real-world, hands-on experience. “The experience gained by clinical rotations is one of the most impactful aspects of the educational process,” stated Veterinary Technology Instructor Susan Wedam. “Experiential learning is critical in the feld of veterinary medicine, and externships provide our students opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to a variety of medical and surgical cases that are not seen while on-campus.” Vines will complete her degree in August 2021. She hopes to work at a major wildlife center and devote her career to treating native wildlife and conservation eforts.
YVC ofers fagger certifcation training
This winter YVC resumed hosting in-person Flagger Certifcation Trainings. The trainings held in January, February and March provide certifcation for work zone trafc control faggers. Social distancing and advanced safety protocols were utilized. Trafc control faggers are in demand in our area and statewide. “Continuing education and community trainings such as the Flagger Certifcation continue to grow YVC,” stated WorkFirst Director Lonni Flagger certifcation class (February 2017). Rodriguez-Funk. “YVC is providing a valuable service to various community and municipal groups and organizations in the Yakima Valley. These trainings allow community members to obtain or retain their fagger certifcation, ensuring that they are able to get and/or keep their jobs.” Trainings may also be arranged on-site for companies. Space is limited and classes fll quickly; register and pay early to guarantee your seat. For more information contact 509.574.4745 / hlundquist@yvcc.edu.
Grant provides support to students facing housing insecurity During the 2019-2020 academic year, YVC, along with fve other colleges in the state of Washington, were selected to participate in The Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness (SSEH) Pilot Program. The program supports students who are homeless or were in foster care by providing short-term housing or housing assistance; laundry facilities, storage and showers; food cards; technology; and case-management services. During the frst year, YVC served 44 students, which represents nearly half of the students served state-wide by the pilot program. In January, hoping to help the state expand the SSEH pilot, YVC Faculty Counselor Esther Huizar provided written testimony in support of House Bill 1166. “At YVC, I have witnessed frst-hand the positive impact the SSEH grant has had on students,” Huizar noted in her testimony. “An expansion of the SSEH grant would help additional Washington State post-secondary institutions address growing concerns about food and housing insecurity.” As of January 2021, YVC was serving 24 students through the program with approximately $50,000 in funding available to provide additional support during the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic year. Winter 2021 12
PROGRAM NEWS
YVC student selected for externship at raptor rehabilitation center
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
STEM courses continue to adapt and provide opportunities for student success Faculty and staf at Yakima Valley College have continued to adapt during the ongoing pandemic to provide the best learning opportunities for students. Two sections of YVC’s organic chemistry lab (CHEM 251) have met weekly for hands-on learning with safety protocols in place during winter quarter. Led by instructors Natalia Dunn and Shawn Teng, the course is designed for STEM majors. “We felt that it was critical for these major students to get some lab experience,” stated Dunn. In addition, the college’s biology and chemistry programs continue to create take-home lab kits to ofer students a hands-on learning option while studying remotely. Starting in summer 2020, lab technicians Adriana Magallanes and Kayla Johnson worked with biology and chemistry faculty to compile kits and schedule socially distanced pickup dates for students. Materials for a take-home pH lab kit for students. “With everything moving online, I feel it is important that students are getting a hands-on experience in biology,” stated Biology Instructor Amanda Gall. “The lab kits provide a great resource to give these students a feeling of being in the biology lab at home. We picked a couple of the labs and converted the protocols so that we could package them up and send them home with students. Students enjoyed being able to become a scientist for a day as they performed their labs and then had to answer questions related to those labs!” Gall and fellow faculty and staf were even able to make arrangements to get kits to students living outside the immediate area or unable to pick up the kits on campus. Topics explored in the at-home lab kits include determining pH, osmosis, DNA extraction, propagation of plants and more. Student Ashlee Walker found the hands-on experiential learning pushed her to better understand the concepts. She received two diferent kits for her Biology 160 course in the fall, one for DNA extraction and one for determining pH. "Having a hands-on experience with the lab kits really pushed myslef to A take-home lab kit exploring DNA extraction in process. increase my knowledge on the topic we were studying," Walker said. “The kits were very organized and came with step-by-step instructions to help those at home have a successful experiment.” The lab kits include all the instruments and tools needed to complete experiments at home. “After experiencing at-home labs I fnd that it is important to have them in the curriculum as it provides a way for students to be more involved. Some of my classmates are having a hard time adapting to online learning and staying motivated in a home environment. This can cause some students to feel less successful, depressed, and only doing the work for a grade instead of actually learning. By doing the at-home lab kits it provides a hands-on learning experience that is similar to one that we would be having in the lab,” Walker continued. Walker also noted how helpful the kits are to students like herself living outside of the Yakima Valley, providing the fexibility of online learning and the benefts of hands-on learning at the same time. “For me personally I was outside of Washington State during this course and always looked forward to the lab being shipped to my house. Overall, they provided a way to feel like we were actually involved in the lab and not missing out on the unique experiences that we would be having in person,” Walker said.
13 Yakima Valley College
The Larson Gallery recently brought the artwork of Víctor Ospina to the Yakima Valley in an eponymous exhibit. Ospina, who is from Armenia, Colombia, is an artist, cultural manager, volunteer and teacher. His artwork was born from the interest of involving diferent study subjects from the social sciences, such as sociology, history and anthropology, with the plastic arts. Several social issues are expressed in his works such as violence in Colombia, post-truth, the voices of the silenced and victims of war. These issues form the central axis of his work and invite viewers to refect on society, to be inspired and to be part of the change for a better country. “Abstraction, geometric fgures, experimentation, simplicity, creation, aesthetics and art inspires me,” stated Ospina. “Because with art I can create, I can solve situations intelligently and I can admire the beauty of the universe; "I Am Strong" by Victor Ospina with art, I can be the inspiration for others.” His artwork has appeared in 11 exhibitions in Colombia, Poland and the U.S. Much of his work is inspired by the Cocora Valley in the state of Quindio, Colombia. The show runs February 23 – March 26. Exhibits are open by appointment only. Schedule your visit today on the Larson Gallery’s website.
Musica!
Pablo Picasso once said, “To draw, you must close your eyes and sing.” One of the Larson Gallery’s upcoming exhibitions, Musica!, explores all the wonderful ways in which music can serve as inspiration for the creative process. The exhibit is on loan from Studio Art Quilt Associates, an international nonproft organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt. This exhibit, curated by Joe Cunningham, will include 30 works. “To me, music is fundamentally abstract,” Cunningham said. “It does not tell me what to think, it only relates a piece of the universe to which the composer has access and the ability to convey.” In explaining how pieces were selected for the show, Cunningham noted that his relationship to music is physical and emotional rather "San Antonio on My Mind" by Carolyn Skei than literal and orderly. That led him to focus on works with abstract modes of expressions rather than pictorial. “While I did keep a few representational images, I chose quilts where the artist employed more abstract devices rather than realistic ones,” he said. “They refect on my own experience of music.” The show runs April 6 – May 22. Exhibits are open by appointment only. Schedule your visit today on the Larson Gallery’s website.
Who’s Minding the Gallery? Since 1949, many of the curators of the Larson Gallery have also been artists. The new Who’s Minding the Gallery exhibit will introduce visitors to the previous curators of the Larson Gallery and some of their work. The Larson Gallery has had 15 curators since its inception with two being YVC students as well. The show runs February 23 – May 22. Exhibits are open by appointment only. Schedule your visit today on the Larson Gallery’s website. Painting by Jean Hauge
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LARSON GALLERY
Víctor Ospina
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
YVC summer research gives student Steve Isaak a foundation for future success After the death of his father, Steve Isaak moved with his mother and stepfather to Ephrata, Wash., while in junior high. During school he was active in extracurricular activities but struggled with academics, graduating in the bottom third of his class. Thinking that he would not excel in college and that he did not have many options, Isaak decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. “I never thought I was very smart,” stated Isaak. “Not knowing what to do I decided to join the Marine Corps and served my country from 1995-1999. After my time in the service ended, I eventually returned home but struggled to fnd my professional identity. I farmed for
Steve Isaak
a while, drove 18-wheelers, and worked on the docks of Seattle as a longshoreman.” By the fall of 2011, Isaak was struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. He eventually found his way to a yearlong treatment program in California, which helped save his life. After returning to Ellensburg, Wash., in 2013, Isaak decided that he needed to try something diferent. That decision brought him to Yakima Valley College. “YVC was the natural place because it was close to where I lived and the admissions were accepting of nontraditional students who may not have had the best academic record during high school,” he stated. Initially, he planned to earn an associate in arts transfer degree then pursue a bachelor’s in ministry leadership. However, during his second quarter Isaak shifted his focus after discovering that YVC’s psychology program ft the requirements needed to transfer into an arts and science bachelor’s degree program at a four-year university. The mentorship he received in YVC’s program helped Isaak build his confdence and chart a diferent course for his future. “I loved how the faculty in general appeared to meet me where I was at. Whether taking a Math 92 course under Dr. Sullivan, or the excellent guidance I received through my psychology mentor Heidi Shaw, the faculty took notice of my work, helped me grow in my defciencies, and spoke life into my trajectory going forward,” he stated. While at YVC and with the support of Shaw, Isaak had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research during the spring of 2014. That undergraduate research opportunity was provided by funding from a Title V grant. Isaak, along with classmates Rachel Gasseling and Melanie Packard enrolled in Shaw’s Psychology 209: Fundamentals of Psychological Research course, learned and applied social science research skills by conducting interviews and focus groups with other college students about practices instructors engage in that support student success. The students authored a report of their fndings titled “Breakthrough Strategies: An inquiry to teaching strategies and the course syllabus.” Even after all these years, Shaw’s mentorship is still shaping Isaak’s current research as a doctoral candidate in the University of South Alabama’s Combined and Integrated Clinical/Counseling Psychology Program. “One of my current areas of research involves the psychology of religion and spirituality,” said Isaak. “Shaw took the time away from her own research interest to fnd a book that opened my eyes to how religious and spiritual factors infuence meaning and behavior. This led to a comprehensive literature review of the feld that eventually became my undergraduate honors thesis at Central Washington University.” Isaak is in his fourth and fnal year of coursework and has successfully proposed his dissertation. He is on track to graduate with his PhD in 2022. His ultimate goal is to serve veterans as a Veterans Health Administration psychologist with a focus on trauma informed care and working as part of a clinical team supporting individuals impacted by post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Gaby Martinez was born in Phoenix, and taken to Mexico as an infant. Growing up in Mexico Martinez’s home life was turbulent with many problems arising within her parents’ marriage and family. These problems afected her emotionally and psychologically and put her personal safety at risk. At the age of 13, she was kicked out of her family’s home. Needing to get a job to support herself, Martinez dropped out of school and began working at a factory. She later worked at a clothing store and market. At the age of 15, she entered the foster care system, staying in an orphanage for six months. The next three years she Gaby Martinez bounced around a lot staying with family. Despite the struggles she faced, Martinez never lost sight of wanting to improve her life. “During all those years, I never lost the hope of pursuing my dreams and improving my quality of life,” she stated. “I not only waited until I was 18 years old when I could leave Mexico and return to the U.S, but I also focused on improving myself. I taught myself English by reading books and watching videos on YouTube.” With her sights set on a better life and the support of her cousin, she left Mexico to pursue her dreams in the Yakima Valley. Living with her cousin provided her with a stable place to stay, however she knew she would soon need a job, driver’s license and car. After dropping of her suitcase with her cousin, her frst stop was by Yakima Valley College’s campus. “The frst thing I did was to go to YVC and get informed about English classes. I was interested in YVC because it ofers ESL and ABE programs at a low cost, which made it an afordable option for me.” While she attended English classes in the mornings, she worked in the evenings in a fruit warehouse. As her English improved, she took the nursing assistant program at Living Care Retirement Community in Yakima. Working as a nursing assistant gave her the opportunity to fnd a more fexible schedule that worked better with her class schedule. At YVC, she earned her GED and then transitioned into college-level credits working towards an associate in arts - direct transfer agreement (DTA) degree. She graduated in spring 2020. “What I enjoyed the most when earning my degree at YVC was that I had the opportunity to explore diferent subjects such as communication, psychology, chemistry and anthropology. When I was growing up my education was very limited and YVC allowed me to learn about diferent programs and helped me think about which program would help me meet my future career goals.” Realizing that she wanted to pursue a degree in psychology and social services, Martinez transferred to Central Washington University (CWU) and is now pursuing a double major. Now a junior at CWU, her opportunities continue to expand. She has had the opportunity to be a teacher assistant for two of her professors. She is also currently working as a research assistant in Washington State University's Neuropsychology & Aging Lab through a 2020-2021 WSU Gerotechnology Fellowship. Her research is part of a project that is developing technology to help older adults live as independently as possible at home and improve their quality of life. She is also representing the CWU campus on the Western Psychological Association (WPA) Student Council for the 2020-2021 academic year. After earning her bachelor's degree, she hopes to transfer to Eastern Washington University to pursue a master's degree in social work. Her goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker and a college professor. Ultimately, she hopes to earn a PhD in organizational psychology, social psychology or social work and one day open her own home health care agency. “The skills that I learned at YVC set me of to be where I am today. I am grateful to the YVC faculty members who were part of my education. YVC is a great place to start working on your goals,” she concluded.
Winter 2021 16
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Gaby Martinez overcomes challenges to fnd success at YVC
PEOPLE
Q&A with long-time YVC leader Tomás Ybarra During nearly two decades at Yakima Valley College, Tomás Ybarra has witnessed a number of signifcant changes, from the increasing diversity of its student population to a wholesale reshaping of the academic culture. This summer, Ybarra will retire after serving as vice president of instruction and student services since 2006. Before coming to YVC in 2003, Ybarra served on the staf at the Washington State Board for Community College Education from 1974-77, directed a TRIO Upward Bound program for 12 years and served as chief student afairs ofcer for Bellevue College. At YVC, Ybarra led institutional reforms in instruction and student services to advance student success and make the institution more accessible, particularly for frst-generation students. As part of YVC’s process of becoming one of the frst Achieving the Dream colleges in the state, Ybarra noted the college became more data-driven in its decision making and began to encourage more experimentation in its curriculum, pedagogy and student services. Tomás Ybarra That experience laid the groundwork for YVC’s attraction to, and later adoption of, Guided Pathways to better connect students’ interests to a program of study. Ybarra recently refected on his time at YVC in a Q&A.
What is the biggest change you’ve seen at YVC during your time at the college? One thing has not changed — people who work at Yakima Valley College love this place and this work. Our pride in place and purpose has been enduring. That said, I’ve observed increased engagement and collaboration among the faculty and staf at the program and division levels, together with a commitment to experimentation aimed at increasing student success.
Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of being part of during your tenure? Yakima Valley College embraced the challenge of responding to a signifcant change in the college-going population in the valley. Within a couple of decades we became the most diverse college in Washington State, with a majority of students needing assistance to be ready to learn at the college level. Together, we responded to that challenge. Focusing on student success, we reformed fundamental practices that afect our students, while creating new opportunities for students to fnd their path and to thrive. We are making progress in student success on a level that positions YVC as a leader among the community and technical colleges in Washington State. YVC is demonstrating that equity is essential to excellence in a diverse and inclusive institution.
Tell us what retirement holds for you. I look forward to spending more time with my family and seeing more of our country. Additionally, I hope to remain a resource to community colleges in Washington State, supporting adaptive change for the beneft of students and our communities.
Following your retirement, what’s something you’re excited to observe at YVC over the coming years? We want to be the best at what we do. I am excited to see YVC continue to evolve and grow, and lead the state in student achievement.
17 Yakima Valley College
Bertha Ortega
Yakima Valley College is pleased to welcome Bertha Ortega to YVC’s Board of Trustees. Ortega was one of the founders of Heritage University and served as its vice president of academic afairs at the time of her retirement in 2013. Ortega grew up in Toppenish, Wash., and graduated from Toppenish High School. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving education and quality of life in the Yakima Valley. Prior to helping establish Heritage University, she worked as an instructor for health and human services at Seattle Central Community College, director of education transportation and early childhood specialist for the Yakama Nation and as a state bilingual liaison for the Ofce of Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I’m honored to serve as a trustee for YVC,” stated Ortega. “Dr. Kaminski has brought a new culture of what a community college can do for education, especially in a rural community. She has advanced the opportunities of a community college education to new heights and I want to be a part of a team of educators that aford those opportunities to our communities!” Ortega replaces Rosalinda Mendoza whose term ended on Sept. 30, 2020. Her term of ofce is efective January 27, 2021. YVC History Instructor John T. Menard recently presented on the topic of Bert Grant and Yakima Beer during the Sunrise Rotary Club’s monthly meeting. The subject, which was part of Menard’s master’s thesis, is one he’s presented on in the past, including last year during the YVC Faculty Lecture Series. Menard is working on a formal publication of his thesis work.
Jef Turner
Congratulations to Jef Turner, recipient of the Fall 2020 Classifed Employee of the Quarter. Turner is a Maintenance Mechanic II in Facility Operations.
YVC says goodbye to Brown, Hassen, Ferguson and Harves YVC’s campus community has sufered the loss of four former staf and friends of the college. Terry Brown served as president of Yakima Valley College from 1981 to 1985. He later served as chancellor of the Community Colleges of Spokane from 1987 until he retired in 1998. During his tenure at YVC, he was responsible for attracting seven Oregon community colleges to the NW Athletics Association of Community Colleges and initiated the YVC Athletic Hall of Fame. Carol Hassen taught art classes at YVC from 1985 to 1992 and was director of the Larson Gallery from 1989 to 2006. She also taught art at CWU for 9 years; served on the Advisory Board for the CWU College of Arts and Humanities for 7 years; and was the executive director for Gallery One in Ellensburg for 5 years. Her work has been featured in various local, state and national exhibitions. Most recently, Hassen and her husband, former YVC faculty member Bob Fisher, opened their working studio (Hassen Fisher Studio) to the public. Pam Ferguson was instrumental in the development of YVC’s English-as-a-Second Language program in which she taught and coordinated community locations from 1987 to 2015. Her instructional approach was grounded in the lives of her students and the futures they desired for themselves and their families. Ferguson was a key advocate for developing transition programs that enabled students to move beyond ESL into college courses, including being a moving force behind the development of YVC’s Spanish for Heritage Learners program. Mike Harves' frst teaching position was in Australia for two years. When he returned to the States, he began his teaching career in Union Gap, moved to Davis High School and ended his career at Yakima Valley College, where he taught from September 1991-June 2010. Upon retirement he moved to Spokane and volunteered to tutor nursing students at Spokane Falls Community College. He greatly relished his time with all of his students.
Winter 2021 18
PEOPLE
YVC welcomes Bertha Ortega to Board of Trustees
YAKIMA VA L L E Y COLLEGE COLLEGE ASSISTANCE MIGRANT PROGRAM
Support and services for migrant and seasonal farm-working students - Stipend up to $1,300 - Laptop, hot spot available - Book loans - Financial aid - Scholarship assistance
Learn more! yvcc.edu/CAMP 509.882.7070
