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PEOPLE
Congratulations to Library and Archives Paraprofessional II Helen Valderhaug. She is the award recipient of the Winter 2015 Classified Employee of the Quarter. Valderhaug works in the Library and Media Services Department.
Salomé Yates
Congratulations to Instructional and Classroom Support Technician Delia Castaneda on her award as the Spring 2015 Classified Employee of the Quarter. Castaneda works for the Basic Skills Division on the Grandview Campus.
Darrion Simons
Athletes of the Year
Each year coaches representing all of the YVCC athletic programs vote on the athlete of the year awards. The awards honor student-athletes who have excelled both in the classroom and in their respective sport. This year the Female Athlete of the Year Award was given to soccer player Salomé Yates. Yates scored eight goals and had four assists for the Yaks, making her one of the best offensive midfielders in the NWAC East Region. She was selected to play in the NWAC All-Star game and contributed one goal and two assists in the decisive 5-1 victory. Yates also played basketball for the Yaks this season. She is on track to complete her associate of arts degree this summer and plans to attend Central Washington University in the fall. The Male Athlete of the Year Award recipient is baseball pitcher and centerfielder Darrion Simons. He threw in 10 games for a total of 60 innings, producing a record of 5-1 with a 0.75 ERA. He was selected to the All-East Region Team as a pitcher and also was named Second Team All-NWAC. Simons will pitch for the Yakima Pippins this summer. He is considering numerous offers from around the country to continue his collegiate pitching career.
Helen Valderhaug
Delia Castaneda
The Associated Students of YVCC recognized several individuals at this year’s spring recognition event. Awards include: Greg Kent, Teacher of the Year & Advisor of the Year; Roxanne Baca, Classified Staff of the Year; Jessica Vigil, Exempt Staff of the Year; Edwin Andrade, Student of the Year; and MEChA, Club of the Year. The Grandview Student Council also presented awards to Maricruz Mendoza, Staff of the Year; Brian Patterson and Steven Mock, Faculty of the Year; and Mario Aguilar, Student of the Year.
Best wishes to YVCC’s recent retirees including: Barbara Bartz, nursing instructor; Barbara Cook, administrative assistant to the vice president administrative services; Linda Dalton, office assistant III in the student residence center; Pamela Ferguson, basic skills instructor; Donna Fulton, program assistant in dental hygiene; Cherilynn Grabenhorst, office assistant III in enrollment services; Chris Ivy, allied health instructor; Jim McCormick, speech instructor; Duane Reed, English instructor; Sharon Redifer, coordinator of special funding; Debra Selam, basic skills instructor; and Suzy West, executive assistant to the president. This spring YVCC employees were saddened by the loss of instructors John Fairbrook and Pete Orgill. Fairbook was hired in 1946 to develop the curriculum for YVCC’s Engineering Department. He taught civil engineering courses for most of the years between 1946-2013, taking short breaks to return to work in the industry. Fairbrook was one of YVCC’s longest standing instructors, teaching either full- or part-time for more than 60 years. Orgill was an alum of YVCC and also played baseball for the college. He was a passionate educator and coach throughout his career at local schools. He also taught astronomy at YVCC part-time from 1995 to 2015. Congratulations to Yakima Valley Vintners on their most recent honors at the Seattle Wine Awards. Awards include: Double Gold for 2014 Textbook White Gewurztraminer and 2012 Dean’s List Primitivo, and Gold for 2012 Graduates Last Hurrah Syrah and 2012 Final Exam Cabernet Franc.