Campus Update Spring 2019

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Campus Update, Spring 2019

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Board of Trustees: Patrick Baldoz Sara Cate, M.D.

Letter from the President

Neil McClure

I recently read about a research project

Rosalinda Mendoza

from Georgetown University Center on

Robert Ozuna , Board Chair

Education and the Workforce. The research noted that in 2020, 65% of all jobs will

Produced by:

require some postsecondary education, as

Jay Frank

compared to only 28% of the jobs in 1973.

Stefanie Menard

I am especially proud that Yakima Valley

Contributing Photographers:

College continues to contribute to meeting

Jay Frank

the growing need for a skilled workforce in

Stefanie Menard

our communities and our state.

Published: July 2019 If you would like to be added or removed from our mailing list, please contact us: Yakima Valley College Community Relations PO Box 22520

On June 21, we awarded 1,154 degrees and certificates to over 1,000 proud graduates. Among those are 69 Bachelor of Applied Science graduates and 171 Running Start students, a record number, who earned both their high school diploma and associate degree concurrently. These graduates are now prepared to transition to a university or to provide much needed services within our communities as highly skilled professional and civic leaders. In this issue of Campus Update, you can learn about their

Yakima, WA 98907-2520

inspirational stories and the many challenges that many have overcome on

communityrelations@yvcc.edu

their paths to academic success.

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The end of each academic year is a time for celebration with Commencement, completion programs for our College and Career Readiness students who are earning high school diplomas, pinning ceremonies for our many health programs, and recognition of outstanding faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners. As we conclude our 90th anniversary year, we are extremely grateful for all of the generosity and community support that has enabled Yakima Valley College to provide

www.instagram.com/yakimavalleycollege

affordable higher education opportunities to thousands of students since

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1928.

https://twitter.com/YakimaCollege 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 Director of Human Resource Services, YVC, South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, WA 98902; or call 509.574.4670.

Sincerely,

Linda Kaminski, Ed.D. President

Contents 3 4 5 9 11 12 13 14 15 17 18

Commencement Graduate Highlights Graduate List 2018-2019 Commencement Awards Program Highlights Campus News Scholarships Celebrating Success Student Activities Athletics YVC’s People

Cover Photo: Graduate Jesus Venegas holds his diploma at YVC’s 90th Annual Commencement Ceremony. Venegas earned his Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Information Technology Networking - System Administration This Page: Top: North Campus Commons in springtime Middle: Raven Kask speaks at the College & Career Readiness Completion Ceremony Bottom left: Alec Gomez throws a strike during a game against Blue Mountain Community College Bottom right: ASYVC Officers Eveyln Ochoa and Perla Chavez (center, right) during a visit to CWU’s Challenge Course Back Cover Photo: YVC’s Automotive Service Technology Program partners with Vintiques Car Club of Yakima to host a Car Show on the Yakima Campus

COMMENCEMENT This June YVC celebrated its 90th Commencement Ceremony at the Yakima Valley SunDome. The annual ceremony provides family and friends the opportunity to celebrate the work of YVC’s graduates. The class of 2019 earned a total of 1,154 degrees and certificates. This year’s ceremony included an impressive number of Running Start Students, 171 in total, who earned both their high school diploma and two-year degree. This year’s graduating class also included bachelor of applied science recipients in business management, dental hygiene, and information technology networking- system administration.

Graduates also earned professional and technical degrees, transfer degrees and certificates. These graduates are now prepared to enter the workforce in their respective fields or transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue further education.

The graduates were addressed by keynote speaker Mr. Ricardo Garcia. Over four decades ago, Garcia became an advocate on behalf of the valley’s farm workers, pushing for social change and social justice.

This movement was successful in establishing a chain of community-based organizations addressing health care access, preschool education, housing and economic development. Garcia was one of the four founders of radio station KDNA 91.9, the Spanishlanguage outlet that took to the airwaves in 1979. He was the first executive secretary for the commission on Mexican American Affairs, served as the executive director of Northwest Rural Opportunities, and served as the general manager of Radio KDNA-FM. He retired in 2008.

YVC graduate Anita Valdovinos delivered the student commencement speech. Valdovinos was born and raised in the Yakima Valley as the eldest of eight siblings born to immigrant parents. She moved to Texas with her father following her parents’ divorce. At the age of 15, she saw her father deported, and decided to remain in the United States, eventually graduating high school in the top 10% of her class. She initially put her dream of pursuing a college degree on hold, but following the birth of her first child, she decided to return to the Yakima Valley and enroll at Yakima Valley College in 2015. Having completed her associate in arts transfer degree, she plans to continue her education at Central Washington University, studying zoology.

3 Yakima Valley College

Class of 2019 By the Numbers 1,154 Degrees & Certificates 69 Bachelor’s Degrees 191 Attended Grandview Campus 17-66 Age Range of Graduates 171 Running Start Students 336 Graduating with Honors 15 Veterans

David Lindgren was born in Sacramento, California, but moved around often as a child.

He lived in the areas of Davis, Fresno, Bakersfield, as well as the Caribbean Island of Grenada while his dad was attending medical school. He played basketball throughout high school and came to YVC to play the sport he loved. During his athletic career at YVC, Lindgren scored over 700 points, with averages of 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game during the 2018-2019 season. He helped lead the Yaks to the 20172018 NWAC Championship Tournament and played in the 2019 NWAC Sophomore AllStar Game. Lindgren was selected to receive the NWAC Academic-Athlete of the Year Scholarship. He also received the team’s Yak Altitude Award and Rock Award. David graduated with an associate in science degree and plans to transfer to NCAA Division II Colorado Christian.

Mukobe Lukwesa Mukobe Lukwesa was born in Zambia. She later spent 12 years living in Namibia before moving to Northern Iraq with her family to follow her father’s career. In 2017, she made the decision to study internationally. Originally settling in Ellensburg, she studied for one year at Central Washington University (CWU) before transferring to YVC. A committed student, interested in biology, Mukobe has excelled in her coursework and has valued her education and the resources available. Outside the classroom, Mukobe maintains a part-time job as an office assistant in YVC’s Student Residence Center. She is also active in the STEM Club and participates in the Finish Strong Program, which provides wrap-around support for students studying in STEM fields. She graduated with an associate in science degree from YVC. She plans to transfer to CWU and work towards a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Brendon DeRuyter Brendon DeRuyter grew up in the Yakima Valley, attending first Sunnyside Christian and then receiving home-schooling. He enrolled in YVC’s Running Start Program in the fall of 2017. The next year, DeRuyter was selected to participate in YVC’s undergraduate research projects. He worked with YVC faculty and a group of students to collect and analyze bacteria in Soda Springs Hot Spring, located in the Naches Valley. Brendon has also been an active member of the STEM Club. Wanting to give back to the community, he volunteers at Prosser Community Church and is a past search and rescue volunteer for Civil Air Patrol. In addition, he works on his family’s dairy farm and job shadows for a large animal vet. He graduated this June with an associate in science degree. In the fall, he plans to transfer to Washington State University’s veterinary college.

Judith Mendoza Judith Mendoza was born in Aguililla, Michoacan, Mexico, and grew up as one of ten children. Mendoza’s family often struggled to provide enough food and clothing. She completed high school in Mexico and took accounting courses before relocating to the Yakima Valley. She began working in the agriculture industry as a warehouse worker.

She also worked as a custodian. Wanting more for herself and her family, Mendoza enrolled at YVC with the goal of learning English. She later was encouraged by faculty to continue her studies and participate in YVC’s I-BEST program. She graduated this June with her associate of applied science transfer degree in business administration.

In addition, she was recently hired as a Fiscal Technician II in YVC’s Purchasing and Central Receiving Department. She plans to continue her education by enrolling in YVC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management program.

Spring 2019 4

GRADUATE HIGHLIGHTS

David Lindgren

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2019

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: Alma J. Acevedo • Omar Alegria-Soto • Natali Amador • Maksym Anokhin • Lupe Bazan • Pennie Marie Beason • Breane Blodgett • Ariana Castr • Oscar Marjo Celius • Rebecca Cor• Daisy Cruz • Katherine M. Estrada • Sarah Frazier • Dario Haquet • Maximiliano Herrera • Emily M. Linder • Olivia Luna • Vicente Manjarrez • Tomaza Maria • Amber E. McEntire • Juliana Medina Anguiano • Blanca L. Mendoza • Sophia A. Morales • Cecilia Naranjo Heredia • Nicole A. Nesmith • Ernestina Ortiz • Rita I. Quezeda • Lorena Ramirez • Laura Ramos • Celest Riojas • Celedina Rosales • Liliana Rutz • Yesenia Sanchez• Carlie René Shuel

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE: Samantha Belton • Derek Christopher Byrne • Sadie Dieken • Lorena FloresConda • Brianna Marie Forsell • Nichole Froehlich • Jaylene Danielle Gomez • Blanca Gonzalez • Rebekah Gosen • Kylie Hutchens • Cassidy Johnson • Natasha Lake • Cassandra Monique Llamas • Yvette Llamas • Maricruz Lopez • Cecilia Naranjo Heredia • Alexa Briana Peralta • Angela Lynn Pilch • Esmeralda G. Ramirez-Aguilar • Adriana Sandoval • Miria T. Zamora BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY NETWORKING SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION: Wesley B. Baker • Craig Beard • Charles Boothe • Jason Clark • Eric Danjanic • Spencer Harrison • Kenneth Mears • Danny Ortiz • Joseph Paradis • Katherine Elizabeth Piedra Rojas • Richard Springsteen • Alexander Tikhomirov • Kyle Truchon • Eliazar Valero • Jesus P. Venegas ASSOCIATE IN ARTS-DTA: David E Abarca • Destiny R Abrams • Jasmine G Abrams • Brigitte Acevedo • Maria R Aguilar • Susana Agundis • Brenda L Alatorre • Deyci B Alejandre • Tyler D Allen • Heba B Alsarama • Christina Alvarez • Daisy N Amezcua • Tania Anaya • Hunter L Anderson • Cassie J Andres • Daisy Antunez • Mariali Antunez • Ana M Aparicio • Angel J Aquino • Jovanni A Arellano • Clay M Ashworth • Jessica N Avalos • Sydnee M Averill • Yanelly Avila • Nicholas A Bachmeier • Johanna J Badillo • Andrea G Barbosa • Warren M Barreiro • Nataly Barrios • Lauren E Bauer • Vanessa M Bazan • Bo W Beecroft • Juan Beltran • Haley G Benedetti • Rosana I Benitez • Jacob T Bensch • Marisol Bentley-Valdez • Nicholas C Berge • Kylee M Bernath • Brandon C Beskow • Steven C Betts • Sydni N Billups • Venezza B Bires • Janelle K Birge • Devin N Bishop • Dustin C Bishop • Dylan A Bishop • Benjamin J Blakney • Harrison T Blankenship • Ben D Bobeck • Jackie E Bobeck • Claudia Bonilla • Debbi M Bonilla • Sonia R Bown • Serenity M Brasker • Amanda N Bridger • Elizabeth Brito-Fernandez • Zach W Bronkhorst • Jaxx L Brown • Zachary D Brown • Andria R Brumley • Kylah D Bunch • Ashlee A Burch • Michael A Buttrey • Jacob M Caffrey • Clarisa Calderon • Jennifer Calderon • Dilan Calva-Acevedo • Caitlin F Canup • Monserrath A Cardenas • Stacey R Cardenas • Mercy Cardoso-Palacios • Rylynn H Carney • Alayna M Carpenter • Nancy Casas-Blanco • Kevin R Cassidy • Brandy N Castro • Hailee M Catron • Ramos Gricelda Ceja • Fabiola Cerna • Vanessa Cerna • Enrique S Cervantes • Janet B Cervantes • Jennifer G Cervantes • Brisa E Chavez • Jesus Chavez • Melissa Chavez • Perla Y Chavez • Anthony Chisholm • Eunsol Cho • Blanca E Cisneros • Nora Cisneros • Caitlin E Clark • Iridiana Clemente-Garibay • Kaylee R Clerf • Aracely Cohetzaltitla • Samantha M Conger • Kaitlynn R Corbin • Tessie J Coscarart • Julia V Couchman • Maurissa Cowdrick • Christin E Cowin • Taylor M Crain • Olivia R Crawford • Trysten R Crawford • Araceli Cruz • Otto R Cruz • Carina Cuevas • Chris H Cuevas • Oscar W Cuevas • Leslie K Cummings • Sarah A Daley • Kashif A Davis • Tiffany M Deccio • Arianna D Deherrera • Eric S Deleon • Emily G Delgado • Jonathan A Delgado • Hannah M Devoe • Ulyses M Diaz • Nate L Dixon • Courtney A Dohman • Anel Dorantes • Carolynn J Dotson • Lahoma D Doublerunner • Kirstin A Douglas • Kurtis R Drake • Jereme S Drebing • Felipe Duarte • Colin C Dubuc • Breanna K Dunn • Koto H Durkee • Tyler J Earley • Adam K Eckert • Peyton Eckman • Brandi N Edgar • Corey L Edgar • Elyse M Endicott • Christina Escobar • Alec D Espinoza • Yazmin E Espinoza • Janai M Esqueda • Kayla K Esqueda • Malea M Esqueda • Ricardo J Esqueda • Alondra Estrada • Laury E Estrella • Deborah J Etheridge • Karina K Fajardo • Allison N Farabee • Basil Fassett • Lori A Ferguson • Yesenia K Figueroa • Alyssa N Fink • Eliud E Flores • Erik F Flores • Kelsey E Flores • Karla J Flores-Zepeda • Stefan W Franz •Brenda Y Frias • Vanessa I Fuerte • Emmanuel I Garcia • Erika S Garcia • Giselle R Garcia • Irene C Garcia • Javier Garcia • Noelia E Garcia • Athziri A Garibay • Jessica S Garo • Love A Garza • Kathleen L George • Yanet S Gil • Braden D Godfrey • Ryan D Golob • Alec R Gomez • Anna C Gomez • Elias F Gomez • Rebekah A Gomez • Shania A Gomez • Andrea L Gonzalez • Fortino Gonzalez • Gabriela A Gonzalez • Mariana Gonzalez • Tabitha K Gonzalez • Veronica H Gonzalez • Vincent F Gonzalez • Yeraslin Gonzalez • Jhaire Gonzalez-Ochoa • Erika C Goodall • Brooke L Goodpaster • Trinity Grajeda • Celine De Vore Gray • Rachel Gruber • Vanessa Guerrero • Jeniya M Guillen • Keely R Guisinger • Stephanie E Guizar • Jorge A Guizar-Cuevas • Heather L Gurney • Carolina Gutierrez • Humberta Gutierrez • Viana Z Gutierrez • Yair I Gutierrez • Martha H Guzman • Miriah F Guzman • Saida E Guzman • Eryn J Haddox • Andrew T Hall • Clara-Beth Hamill • Kassara Y Hansen • Shannon C Harris • Carla C Hearin • Michael R Heese • Jasmin Heredia • Angelica A Hernandez • Catherine G Hernandez • Julio C Hernandez • Sabina Hernandez • Teodoro O Hernandez • Yuritzy Hernandez • Rogelio Herrera • Ruby Herrera • Vianca L Herrera • Dathan J Herron • Dalton K Hiatt • Ashlynn A Hofstad • Kaden J Hooper • Reagen D Howerton • Brandon D Huff • Jordyn K Hunt • Nicolas N Hutt • Abigail A Ibarra • Alicia G Ibarra • Jessica Ibarra • Lizeth Islas • Mallory M Isley • Anna M Ixta • Hunter M Jacob • Matthew P James • Chezeray J Jasso • Christella Jean-Juste • Danica M Jenck • Davina Jenck • Margaret Jensen • Cynthia E Jimenez • Jackelin Jimenez • Emily R Jones • Audrianna E Kallie • Logan W Kansanback • Simranjeet Kaur • Christine M Kennedy • Barbara Kephart • Jesse D Kerby • Lilli A Kiel • Lilly M Kikendall • Patrick C Kingman • Anna M Kissel • Austin Knight • Jason M Kochis • Kali Kruger • Donnell M Lacey •

Little • Raquelline Llaguno • Itamar Lopez • Jenifer L Lopez • Juan C Lopez • Kyana R Lopez • Maricela Lopez • Rene A Lopez • Sandra Lopez • Veronica V Lopez • Yasmin Lopez • Jacqueline M Luna • Kassandra Luna • Norma E Luna • Diana E Luquin-Monroy • Samantha L Lyczewski • Emily G Lyon • Hannah F Lyon • Ivan Macias • Carson W Mackey • Nicholas A Maddon • Ana L Madrigal • Mariela Madrigal • Cady A Magallon • Marcus T Maldonado • Alex T Mallula • Sydney N Manning • Nikki A Maples • Karla Y Maravilla • Alison Y Marin • Daisy Marquez • Megan A Marshall • Alondra S Martinez • Gerardo A Martinez • Jaden K Martinez • Jasmine Martinez • Jennifer Martinez • Johnny Martinez • Jose Martinez • Juan M Martinez • Lizette J Martinez • Marco Martinez • Jennifer Martinez-Rabadan • Lexi D Mathers • Taylor N Mathews • Jennifer M Matthews • Kaylie J Mattingly • Ruby M Mayo • Harlee C Mccoy • Emily Marie McDougall • Zoe L McLavey • Berenice A Medina • Cindy Medina • Jesus E Medina • Erin K Meloy • Alexya M Mendoza • Brandon Mendoza • Cassandra Mendoza • Diego A Mendoza • Ethan M Mesa • Morgan E Metz • Emily K Meyer • Bryce C Mills • Andrea V Miranda • Rebecca N Mitre • Brenna D Modine • Yesenia Montes • Emilia Montmeny • Jennifer A Montoya • Jose Montoya • Julie C Moore • Anazeli Mora • Anabel Morales • Geovanni L Morales • Eduardo Moran • Ariandra E Moreno • Elvira I Moreno • Annahi Morfin • Darlene V Mulkins • Cody A Murdock • Viviana L Murillo • Asil W Mustafa • Guadalupe Myers • Diana Najera • Kailie A Nations • Adrian E Navarro • Adriana M Navarro • Diana G Navarro • Raymond Navarro • Sienna A Nelson • Vanessa A Nieto • Christopher Ninatanta • Priscilla Noriega • Arturo X Ochoa • Amy N Okelberry • Citlalli K Olivares • Adriana E Orozco • Rosa B Orozco • Enrique Ortiz • Juan J Ortiz • Marissa Ortiz • Amanda M Pacheco • Annabelle J Padgham • Joaquin Padilla • Chelsea R Palomarez • Lyzbeth Palomino • Olivia Parker • Andres Pasaye-Hernandez • Karla P Patino • Melissa Paulus • Jasmine T Paxton • Maria G Penaloza • Briana I Peralez • Kenia A Peregrino • Briceida D Perez • Erick Perez • Estrella Perez • Giovanni Perez • Kassandra Perez • Mayra A Perez • Kimberly PerezMaldonado • Ryan D Peterson • Tristen J Phillips • Andrea P Picardal • Andres Ponce • Ketra E Pope • Lucerito M Quevedo • Kaya V Quick • Aleyna Quiroz • Sofia Rabadan • Ashley Rabadan-Osorio • Stephanie Rabanales • Brianna H Ramirez • Damian C Ramirez • Neli Y Ramirez • Rene R Ramirez • Anna I Ramos • Baneza Ramos • Cesar Ramos • Ricky A Ramos • Cristal Selene Rangel • Edith Rangel • Lydia K Rasmussen • Skylar T Redmon • Aubrey N Reierson • Natalie C Renteria • Jesse E Reyes • Yaralit Reyna-Cortez • Taylor M Reynolds • Emily E Rickett • Quentin R Rickey • Jennifer Rico • Kendall R Riley • Manuel I Riojas • Edgar Rivera • Kaitlyn M Rivera • Yoanna D Rivera • Mariela Rivera-Garcia • Ariana B Roberson • Gabriela M Rocha • Alyssa Rodriguez • Amiah L Rodriguez • Betsaida V Rodriguez • Ciela A Rodriguez • Elena Rodriguez • Fabian Rodriguez • Felipe Rodriguez • Kyoko I Rodriguez • Neida A Rodriguez • Yuleidy Y Rodriguez • Yuritzy Rodriguez • Blanca Rodriguez-Mendoza • Talita B Rogers • Naomi H Rojas • Ruben G Rojas • Karina Roman • Lilianna Romero • Heidi M Root • Karla M Ruelas • Carlie D Ruff • Laurissa J Ruiz • Russell Ryan • Haneen A Saed • Alexus R Safford • Hipolito C Salazar • Rosa M Saldana • Nicholas A Salinas • Destiny Y Sanchez • Griselda M Sanchez • Jenelle I Sanchez • Juan S Sanchez • Luis E Sanchez • Yesenia Sanchez • Linda A Santiago • Victoria L Santoy • Diana L Saucedo • Katelyn M Schell • Zachary J Schloss • Kieran G Schoen • William A Schuler-Iv • Abbigail T Scott • Jaslyn Serna-Negrete • Alejandra Serrano • Lilibeth Serrano • Karina Severino • Anjela G Sevilla • Alexis J Sexton • Rani S Sharaf • Stephanie A Sharaf • Mason J Shaw • Samantha N Shively • Misty R Shook • Ashley P Shurtleff • Lizette A Sierra • Roman A Sifuentes • Trennen Slade • Brandon C Smith • Caleb M Smith • Karina L Smith • Kayla S Snodgrass • Daniela A Solis • Jaqueline Solis • Carmela I Solorzano • Angelica Y Soria • Jose T Soto • Miriam Soto-Guillen • Isabella K Sowers • Ryan E Spraker • Brady R Stevens • Lily M Stewart • Schuyler A Stewart• Eli B Storlie • Corinne R Strong • Ariel I Taylor • Josephine L Taylor • Anayeli Tellez • Lacey M Temple • Joseph Thomas • Trevor N Thomas • Connor W Thompson • Eriberto Torres • Flora I Torres • Johanna Torres • Yoana E Torres • Andrew T Townsend • Sarah A Trevino • Julian A Trinidad • Kyler R Tripp • Peter E Troianello • Cole A Tweedy • Kora L Udell • Ashley R Uffelman • Felix O Ulloa • Orfelina Uribe • Monica M Uriostegui • Cheyenne O Urlacher • Victoria Vaca • Aaron M Valadez • Erika L Valdez • Sergio Valdez • Anita B Valdovinos • Daniel C Valencia • Esgar Valencia • Lizeth A Valencia • Sariah D Valencia • Summer M Valentine • Sarah L Valenzuela • Seth A Valenzuela • Julissa P Valero • Alicia B Valle • Javier G Vallejo • Johnny D Van • Alayna F Vanover • Melissa A Vantrease • Christian Vargas • Gabriel O Vargas • Luis J Vargas • Valeria Vargas • Teresita Vega • Litzy F Velasco • Maria S Ventura • Ian A Vickers • Sandra M Villalobos • Paola Villanueva • Jaxon O Vocana • Catarina M Waldon • Allison J Walker • Nathan J Wallace • Jaren R Wallulatum • Kortney J Walsh • Taylor J Walters • Tammy J Watson • Annabel M Way • Kollin S Whelan • Jacob D White Elk • Brittany S Whiz • Jenna Whorton • Beaudry M Widner • Scott T Willey • Demira T Williams • Michaela T Williams • Veronica L Wilsey • Jeffrey Jase Wilske • Autumn N Wilson • Taylor L Yates • Josh C Yeates • Ananiapum K Young • Kaige J Zagelow • Sarai E Zamora • Amiya M Zavala ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

IN ACCOUNTING: Jacklyn R Brown • Maritza I Dimas • Janie Larios • Jose Olivera • Briana M Rodriguez • Terri L Rodriguez • Irene R Sampson • Micaela A Schultz • Selena S Trevino ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE AEROSPACE MACHINING TECHNOLOGY: Marcelo Vera ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN AGRIBUSINESS: Ismael Andrade • Dustin P Carr • Erik I Estrada • Andrew G Hicks • Rick L Larsen • Hector M Mendoza • Morgan R Voorhies ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY: Gilbert W Young

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2019

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS-DTA: Alicia N Lamont • Jada Lang • Maria G Larios • Asher L Layton • Danielle V Lemieux • Alejandro Lemus • Brittany N

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2019

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Valerie A Brookshire • Alex Chacon-Vasquez • Abraham Lopez • Fredy S Marin • Judith Mendoza-Robledo • Raymond O Negrete • J’shon A Reed • Blanca A Sanches ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Cassandra R Almaguer • Anna G Appel • Michelle Ayala • Jessica Gonzalez • Shawna L Johnson • Charlene L Krentz • Maegan M Michael • Maria C Trevino ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY BILINGUAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ASSISTANT: Nevis N Ayala ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY BILINGUAL LEGAL OFFICE ASSISTANT: Yadira Avila-Baez ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY LEGAL OFFICE ASSISTANT: Emily E Medina • Gabriela E Torres ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT: Jacqueline Flores ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP SPECIALTY: Irene R Sampson ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: Hector Badillo • Jacklyn R Brown • William E Gaethle • Guillermo Gomez • Austin D Gutierrez • Ana M Ramos • Lindsay N Smith • Selena S Trevino • Jose V Valle ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MARKETING SPECIALTY: Carl D Gangl ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY STUDIES: Austin J Bowers • Tempa D Danforth • Timothy W Fields • Chloe L Guster • Jo-Anne F Hart • Debra L Hong • Roseanne M Johnson • Debbie A LaVelle • Lina Y Orozco • Raquel S Pulido • Amanda R Rodriguez • Jordan R Sargent • Meagan A Takamori • James W Tuning • Ana C Ventura • Laura Villegas • Ashley L Yalovich ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY: Nathan R Arrigoni • Aldo H De Paz • Tanner L. McKinney ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Hamzah G Abdelrahman • Martin Aguilar-Brambila • Magen A Aragon • Raven C Bolen • Johnathan R Campos • Todd A Compton • Violent Force • David J Gomez • Miguel A Perales • Edgar D Velasquez ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE TRANSFER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

EDUCATION: Lucia Gonzalez • Amanda McKay • Kayla J Ortiz ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Astrid K Arreola • Rosa C Carrillo • Danielle C Deprey • Rainbo R Heneghen • Zoila R Quintero ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PRESCHOOL SPED OPTION: Maria G Ceja • Ana G Cuevas • Maribel Jalifi • Mariana Severino ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY: Edgar Camarena • Calvin T Klingele • David P Makhanov ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GENERAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST: Gerardo E Lopez • Andrew J McClellan ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GENERAL: Jacob E Bennett • Jyra F Fernando • Amaury Garcia-Cummings • Chris A Guinn • Beckett K Hofmann • Gerardo E Lopez • Andrew J McClellan • Alonzo H Nava • Jonathan L Reeves • Olivia A Vidriesca • Todd O Williard • Jenifer R Wilson • Rashawna M Wright APPLIED SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NETWORK ADMINISTRATION: Andres A Flores • Jonathan E Hesseltine • Joshua T Hoptowit • Casey L Jacobe • Cody A Kallenberger • Gerardo E Lopez • Nathan K McDaniels • Noah M Mungia • Alonzo H Nava • Jonathan L Reeves • Jason A Rice • Olivia A Vidriesca • Todd O Williard ASSOCIATE OF ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED

SCIENCE IN MEDICAL ASSISTING: Corina Acevedo • Griselda Bejarano • Guadalupe Camarena • Zaira Campuzano • Candelaria Corona • Fanny E Cruz • Olga Cuevas • Mariela Delgadillo • Maria G Doolin • Maira L Gonzalez • Patricia A Jaime • Maria C Laguna • Jeny Lopez • Angelita Madrigal • Kayla Amber Magana • Veronica Ornelas • Llesenia Ramos • Maria L Rivas • Elizabeth Verduzco ASSOCIATE OF ASSOCIATE OF

APPLIED SCIENCE IN MEDICAL BILLING & CODING: Charlotte M Batte • Sabrina M Gipson • Danelle A Gluth • Samantha R Grenz • Megan E Jamison • Reyna I Medrano ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN NURSING: Michelle M Bender • Jeremy M Boose • Marshall W Clement • Nancy G Cortes • Patrick A DePrey • Saul Fuentes • Mariela Herrera-Morales • Camille E Huck • Amelia A Jackson • Soniya Kunwar • Maria D Lupercio • Rosa E Madrigal • Amalia Martinez • Marizza Mejia • Martin R Melo • Tiffani L Merrill • Erick Rodriguez • Danielle R Steinmetz • Jennie Yeung ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN PARAEDUCATOR: Jennifer L Garza ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN PHARMACY TECHNICIAN: Celeste E Cantu • Odessa M Cantu • Stephen G Mahinay • Veronica J Simmons • Anadelia Tapia-Meza • Gonzalo B Teran ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN RADIOLOGIC SCIENCES: Zachary L Andress • Savannah J Bonny • Ashlee A Burch • Seth M Clayton • Bradley E Flathers • Shelby D Garcia • James C Hamlin • Ryan S Johnson • Monica Y Martinez • Judy A McCormick • Emily M Murphy • Kyle B Pettit • Griselda M Sanchez • Melanie S Sliger • Sydney J Stearns • Robert D Summers • Shalimar E White ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED

SCIENCE IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY: Anaid Barajas • Jesse W Conner • Dominique C Grubb • Katie L Hayward • Brandon R Jones • Carolina Marquez • Makenzie R Matthes • Kyanne L Radtke • Daniel F Rivard ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY: Leonel E Alvarez • Allyson B Carothers • Cole M Godfrey • Brittney A Jackson • Shiann M Kane • Anne M Keene • Alexandra M Leavitt • Emma M McKay • Alyssa P Miller • Jessica A Moreno • Amber C Ryan • Hanne E Sautter • Brianna I Smith • Gina R Stevens • Tea P Tindell ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE TRANSFER IN VINEYARD TECHNOLOGY: Jose Rodriguez-Garcia ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED

SCIENCE IN VINEYARD TECHNOLOGY: Enrique J Moreno • Samuel M Mosman ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN WINERY TECHNOLOGY: Sangeetha Kunhiraman • Sara Moreno • Sabrina L Strieck • Ryan J Wyatt ASSOCIATE IN BUSINESS-DTA: Fermin A

Robert Crisostomo • Karyna S Foia • Sara M Fowler • Eliab Garza • Cooper S Gunner • Amanda M Holland • Holliah A Hove • Corey S Hurst • Juan G Ibarra • Maria P Ibarra • Jaskaranpal S Khinda • Osvaldo Lopez • Tania G Lopez • Ysela Lopez • Chi Lu • Crystal Mendoza • Karren A Mulkins • Daniel Nieto-Rodriguez • Anabel M Palomera • Sydney P Preston • Nora A Requena • Ricardo Reynaga • Adrianaya M Roettger • Aleisha E Rogers • Teisha M Rogers • Alondra J Santana • Yuridia Servin • Shannon Leeanne Siweck • Katlyn L Stavig • Adriana S Trujillo • Graciela Vera • Luke N White • Brent A Wilske • Lucas L Zepeda ASSOCIATE IN GENERAL STUDIES: Abisag Almaguer • Ashley N Berrey • Ashley A Brownlee • Denise Carreon • Kevin R Cassidy • Briana G Cordova • Carter E Edler • Jaime S Gaytan • Sydney J Hanson • Kelly J Held • Blanca A Hernandez • Jesse Hernandez • Luis Hernandez • Adam Mosquito • Wyatt Oberloh • Samantha E Paschen • Jennifer M Sifuentes • Noe Uriostegui

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE - TRACK 1: Joshua B Bilsky • Kaylin J Burge • Brendon D Deruyter • Aaron D Gallegos • Joshua N Heese • David A Lindgren • Isaiah N Lopez • Mukobe K Lukwesa • Teresa S Mabbutt • Alexis A Rojas • Madeline G Sargent • Krystin Scribner ASSOCIATE IN

SCIENCE - TRACK 2: Coby R Boyd • Rommel E Castro • Marcos J Cruz • Chris H Cuevas • Ramy Taha Elshafey • Esteban Garcia • Eric Hernandez • Jillian T Hottelli • Teresa S Mabbutt • Madeline M St. John • Antonio G Valencia • Cole J Wallen ASSOCIATE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE-DTA: Jasmine B James • Luis A Rodriguez • Antonio G Valencia CERTIFICATE IN ACCOUNTING CLERK: Jacklyn R Brown • Irene R Sampson • Jillian K Stacy • Selena S Trevino CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY GENERAL OFFICE ASSISTANT: Michelle Ayala • Stacey L Clark CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST: Beatriz Armas • Ruben G Tovar CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: Jacklyn R Brown • Lisa R Lopez • Irene R Sampson • Jillian K Stacy • Selena S Trevino CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS ACCOUNTING: Jacklyn R Brown • Irene R Sampson • Jillian K Stacy • Selena S Trevino CERTIFICATE IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY STUDIES: Deidre M Ater • Jered J Carter • Armando Maciel • Kelly M McFarland CERTIFICATE IN CNC OPERATOR: Tanner L McKinney CERTIFICATE IN COMMUNICATIONS/CALL TAKER: Todd A Compton • Marti Aguilar-Brambila • Raven C Bolen • Violent Force • Marcus I Olson • Edgar D Velasquez • Miguel A Perales CERTIFICATE IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY: Yesenia Garcia • Matthew Kamara • Laura D Lindell • Sarai Ochoa • Itzel Uribe CERTIFICATE IN CORRECTIONAL: Martin Aguilar Brambila • Violent Force CERTIFICATE IN CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION: Johnathan R Campos • Violent Force • Marcus I Olson • Miguel A Perales • Marti Aguilar-Brambila • Raven C Bolen • Auston W Unland • Edgar D Velasquez CERTIFICATE IN DENTAL ASSISTING: Alexis L Buckman • Claudia S Cervantes • Brenda Cruz • Yvonne N Fout • Maria E Garcia • Dalia Gomez • Yeraslin Gonzalez • Daisy Gutierrez • Kelly M Hernandez • Daniela Saucedo-Ceja • David Torres • Monica M Uriostegui • Aylin Vaca CERTIFICATE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GENERAL: Todd O Willard CERTIFICATE IN MEDICAL ASSISTING: Corina Acevedo • Patricia A Jaime • Maria C Laguna • Jeny Lopez • Veronica Ornelas • Margaret Wilson • Amber D Zavala • Joanna Orozco • Lorelei J Rivera CERTIFICATE IN MEDICAL INTERPRETER: Griselda Bejarano • Maria-Elsa Diaz-Lopez • Inez Z Dominguez • Jacqueline Flores • Sandra M Munoz CERTIFICATE IN PHARMACY TECHNICIAN: Brenda L Akers • Celeste E Cantu • Odessa M Cantu • Alondra L Montenegro • Anadelia Tapia-Meza • Gonzalo B Teran CERTIFICATE IN PHLEBOTOMY: Carissa Aranda • Marisol Bentley-Valdez • Michael B Bingham • Alicia Castro • Marissa A Gaines • Esteban Garibay-Perez • Andriana L Gonzalez • Kelsey S Gonzalez • Jasmine M Heady • Stephanie Laurel • Benjamin B Merry • Allison R Monroe • Samantha Reyes • Cynthia B Acevedo • Rachel Alvarado • Chelce C Cannady • Griselda B Correa • Adrianna O Cortez • Vanessa O Cortez • Brandy R Craven • Alma L Gutierrez • James S Marshall • Yesenia Martinez • Marisol Najera • Jesusa V Pina • Alejandra Sanchez CERTIFICATE IN POLICE CLERK/SUPPORT SPECIALIST: Martin Aguilar-Brambila • Johnathan R Campos • Todd A Compton • Edgar D Velasquez • Raven C Bolen • Violent Force • Marcus I Olson • Miguel A Perales CERTIFICATE IN STATE

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Gabriela Amezcua CERTIFICATE IN STATE INITIAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Elisabeth G Allen • Yolanda Campos • Mario E Carrillo • Adriana Cortes • Ana G Cuevas • Maria E Dimas-Ramirez • Aurora Garibay • Kathy Gomez • Ramona J Guerrero • Angel T Herrera • Eva M Montesdeoca • Guadalupe D Montoya • Melissa G Morrow • Merary M Perez • Lisette Pimentel • Selena T Polk • Virginia Reynoso-Moran • Yanet Salamanca • Porfiria Sanchez • Terrie L Weaver • Eva M Zamora • Maria C Zaragoza CERTIFICATE IN

STATE SHORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION - ADMINISTRATION: Gabriela Amezcua • Amy J Cervine • Kimberly A Galaviz • Esther M Hernandez • Alexandra G Nunez • Celia Rivera CERTIFICATE IN STATE SHORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION - GENERAL: Elisabeth G Allen • Gabriela Amezcua • Gisttane S Carrillo • Mary N Cervantes • Amy J Cervine • Adriana Cortes • Ana G Cuevas • Claudia R Delatorre • Kimberly A Galaviz • Denise Godinez •Ramona J Guerrero • Justyne M Nalley • Alexandra G Nunez • Alyssa A Saiz • Kathryn L Temple CERTIFICATE IN STATE SHORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION - INFANTS &

TODDLERS: Esmeralda N Benavides • Evelia Covarrubias • Ana G Cuevas • Brenda L Eck • Esther M Hernandez • Elisa Martinez CERTIFICATE IN STATE SHORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION - SCHOOL AGE: Esmeralda E Cisneros • Ana G Cuevas • Nayra Santos CERTIFICATE IN TREE FRUIT PRODUCTION: Ismael Andrade • Drew T Beecroft • Rick L Larsen • Damien C McBride • Morgan R Voorhies

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2019

Abundes • Jessica Alcaide • Kassandra Arriaga • Katie L Balam • Jose Enrique Barreras • Kevin Barron • Karanjot S Chana • Brian Cienfuegos •

COMMENCEMENT AWARDS

Distinguished Alumnus Award Verlynn K. Best

Verlynn K. Best is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce. As a single mother, and an adult learner, Best enrolled and excelled at Yakima Valley College, earning three degrees in 1997. “My experience at YVC was a turning point in my adult life and provided me with a quality education to pursue a career I love and I’m passionate about,” she states. Committed to making her community a better place, Best has served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and is currently serving in her eighth year as CEO/President. She is a tireless advocate for local business and community interests. She has also served on the board of the Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau and is currently serving on the board of Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives. She is also a past volunteer of Habitat for Humanity and has participated in builds all over the United States.

Distinguished Service Award Bob Berry

With the Distinguished Service award, YVC honors Bob Berry for his contributions in establishing a partnership between YVC and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Berry has spent the better part of the last 20 years in Spanish-language broadcasting in the region, first in radio, as the managing partner of stations in Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, the Tri-Cities and Yakima. After selling these stations in 2008, he was hired to launch a new Univision affiliate (KUNW) and run its day-to-day operations. In 2014 he assumed the same responsibilities for KIMA and CW9. “I wanted to make a difference in my career so I turned my attention to our Hispanic community,” he says. “I wanted to provide the news and information people need to achieve the goals they have for their families. That’s why it was so important for us to partner with YVC. From Orgullo Comunitario on KUNW to the biweekly stories on KIMA we showcase what the best and brightest are doing, and how a strong college education propels them to success.”

Faculty Emeritus Award Rhonda Taylor

Rhonda Taylor graduated from the YVC’s Nursing Program in 1977. She then transferred to Washington State University earning a bachelor’s degree before continuing her studies at Gonzaga University, where she earned a master’s degree in Family Nurse Practitioner. She started teaching at YVC in the Nursing Program in 1989 and later served as the director of the program for over 20 years. Taylor also served two Governor-appointed terms on the Washington State Nursing Commission. During that time, she chaired the committee work that resulted in the new state continuing competency laws for nursing practice. She was also appointed to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and served there for ten years. At the end of her tenure on the National Council, she was honored with the National Outstanding Contribution Award. Newly retired, Taylor and her husband Mike divide their time between Yakima and Arizona.

9 Yakima Valley College

Ben Mayo

A life-long Yakima Valley resident, Ben Mayo graduated from YVC before earning a bachelor’s degree in music. He spent the next few years traveling the country and working as a professional musician. In 1982 he returned to YVC and pursued a degree in civil engineering. During this time, he began tutoring in physics and realized how much he enjoyed it. He earned his teaching certificate from Central Washington University and began teaching math part-time at YVC. He later earned his master’s degree and was hired to be the full-time math instructor on YVC’s Grandview Campus, eventually transferring to work on the Yakima Campus. In addition to his work inside the classroom, Mayo has also written two textbooks currently in use by the math department. A humorist, he has also written five books of puns titled, “What’s the Difference Between…?” while also developing a game based on these works.

Robert M. Leadon Excellence in Teaching Award Kathy Laws

An instructor in the College and Career Readiness division, Kathy Laws teaches courses in reading, writing, college prep, and transition to college.

Laws grew up in the Yakima Valley, graduating from Davis High School.

After working for a couple years packing fruit in a warehouse, she decided to attend YVC, taking early childhood education classes and earning her transfer degree. She had no plans to continue her studies until she was encouraged to do so by long-time YVC instructor Ellwood Crosier. She transferred to Central Washington University and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. In 1985 she was hired to work part-time at YVC’s Sunnyside Learning Center, later transitioning to teach at the Toppenish Learning Center and then in Yakima. Laws is known for her passion for students and their success, particularly as expressed in her work creating “bridge” programs to help students transition to college-level courses.

Darlene Koch Classified Employee of the Year Award Richard Miller

Richard Miller is an Information Technology Specialist III in the Technology Services Department. Miller was born in Yakima, graduating from West Valley High School in 1981. He started his career as a maintenance technician in area nursing homes. Nearly two decades later, Miller returned to school, earning a degree in communications from Perry Technical Institute. He was hired full-time in YVC’s Technology Services department in August 1999. Since then, his position has morphed and grown with evolving technologies. Currently, Miller oversees video conferencing operations for classes on both the Yakima and Grandview campuses, conferences, and special events. He also provides audio/visual systems design and technical support for e-learning. On campus Richard is well known for his technical knowledge, helpful nature, and always going above and beyond for YVC students, faculty and staff.

Spring 2019 10

COMMENCEMENT AWARDS

Sherrie & Daryl Parker Faculty Award

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

AST Students Earn Honors and Scholarships

Three students from YVC’s Automotive Service Technology program recently participated in the 2019 Washington State SkillsUSA Competition. SkillsUSA is an applied method of instruction for preparing America’s high performance workers in public career and technical programs. Students Erma ‘Jessica’ Villarino and Gilbert Young earned gold medals, respectively, in the categories of Job Demo - Open and Customer Service. They also earned the opportunity to compete at the National Competition in Louisville, Kentucky in June. There, Young received a bronze medal in Customer From right: Sabino Rivera, Erma ‘Jessica’ Villarino, Gilbert Young Service, while Villarino earned honors in the category of Presentation - Open. Student Sabino Rivera also excelled in the state-wide competition, earning a silver medal in Customer Service. In addition, these students also received 2019 Vintiques of Yakima Car Club Scholarships.

Villarino took home a $1,000 award, while Young and Rivera received $500 awards. Scholarship awards were presented during the program’s End of the Year BBQ & Car Show.

Program Spotlight: Business Technology YVC’s Business Technology (BT) program continues its success placing students with local businesses. Students gain hands-on experience through cooperative learning experiences, and almost half secure jobs based on their co-op work before they graduate. The rate is higher for legal office students, with 90% obtaining a job before graduation.

Many students who have found success in YVC’s program have gone on to become valuable staff members on campus.

YVC’s BT program offers several two-year degrees including administrative assistant, medical office assistant, and legal Business Technology graduate Maria Garcia helps students at office assistant, each with a bilingual option available. the Enrollment Services Counter in the Deccio Building.

Short-term certificates for general clerk, bilingual clerk, and legal/medical receptionist are also available.

“Getting my associate of applied science in administrative assistant proved to be a foundation of my academic career, as several years later I came back to get another associate of applied science degree and bachelor of applied science degree,” stated Program Support Supervisor Sarah Frazier. “Because of the courses and the instructors teaching those courses, I am a strong, professional woman,” she continued.

For more information visit: www.yvcc.edu/btech

Grape to Glass Gala - A Winemaker’s Dinner YVC’s Vineyard and Winery Technology program hosted another successful Grape to Glass Gala this past May. The event included dinner provided by Guerra’s Catering, paired with wines from YVC’s own Yakima Valley Vintners and the wineries who employ YVC graduates. A partnership with YV Tech Culinary program allowed students to work alongside the professional caterer to serve guests. As a special added attraction, this year’s social hour included beer from YVC alumni Ryan Wattenbarger owner of Moonshot Brewery.

The event also included music and a silent and live auction, YVC Student and Cellar Manager at Barnard Griffin Winery with proceeds benefiting student scholarships. Thanks to Shane Carey at the Grape to Glass Gala with his wife. the generosity of donors, over $9,000 was raised. “With a record number of attendees, the Gala was another scholarship fundraising success,” stated Vineyard and Winery Technology Instructor Trent Ball. “The partnership with the grape and wine industry, local community, YV-Tech, volunteers and the gracious donors are instrumental for this event.”

11 Yakima Valley College

The college’s West Campus Expansion is gaining momentum, with the construction phase of the project out for bid, and late 2020 targeted for completion. A new parking lot has been laid, satisfying a need identified during the process of planning Palmer Martin Hall. There is new monument signage, fencing, and landscaping now in place. “When you drive down Nob Hill Boulevard, the look has substantially changed,” said Vice President of Administrative Services Dr. Teresa Rich. “It’s becoming a more beautiful corner, and we’re happy, even though it’s Landscape installation along YVC’s West Campus early in the process, to remain on time and on budget.”

Fully renovated, the property spanning the south side of Nob Hill Boulevard from 16th to 18th Avenues will house Allied Health programs, a new public exhibition space for the Larson Gallery, a wine tasting room for YVC’s Vineyard and Winery Technology program, and meeting space.

90th Year Brings Enrollment Growth In a period of slight enrollment decline for community colleges across Washington state, YVC has enjoyed a year of growth in its student population. The college saw five percent growth in its Full Time Equivalent (FTE) measure during winter quarter, as compared to the same quarter the previous year. The college enjoyed particular success in recruiting Running Start (+9%) and College & Career Readiness students (+11%). This growth followed a fall quarter that brought a seven percent year-over-year increase in FTE. “It’s great to see an increasing number of our community members utilizing services and resources YVC has to offer,” said Financial Aid Director Oscar Verduzco. “I would attribute part of the increase to improved communication and coordination between Admission, Registration, Advising and Financial Aid. Addressing financial barriers has also been a priority, beginning with full utilization of all financial aid programs to meet the needs of a greater number of current and prospective students.”

Teacher Education Completes a Successful First Year

A successful first year for YVC’s Bachelor of Applied Science – Teacher Education program ended on a high note, with all 29 students in the inaugural cohort planning to return next year. Those students will be poised next June to graduate with dual endorsements in Elementary Education and English Language Learning. In addition, the program is adding 43 new students this fall, with new partnerships established with both the East Valley and Selah school districts. Of those new students, 11 will form a Grandview cohort, attending classes on YVC’s Grandview Campus and partnering with the Grandview School District. “We had support from the top down,” said Faculty Director Dr. Melissa Matczak, “which allowed us to sustain a quality program, and keep students in the program. It was thanks to a very strong collaboration across our entire campus.”

New Leadership on Campus YVC is excited to welcome two familiar faces to leadership positions at the college. Mr. Steven Sloniker has joined the Human Resources Services Department as the new Executive Director. Prior to joining YVC he served as the Director of Human Resources and later as the Interim Executive Director of Human Resources at Highline College. He also is familiar to YVC’s campus community through his work as a Staff Representative for the Washington Public Employees Association. Sloniker has a bachelor’s degree in political economy and a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Washington.

YVC also promoted Mr. Dilbar Chhokar as the Director of Technology Services. Chhokar served as the Interim Director and as a Software Developer and Information Technology Specialist in the Technology Services Department prior to his promotion. Chhokar has a bachelor’s degree in information technology administrative management and a master’s degree in information technology administrative management from Central Washington University.

Spring 2019 12

CAMPUS NEWS

Progress Continues on West Campus Expansion

SCHOLARSHIPS

Annual Foundation Award Ceremony

YVC Foundation Board Member Ann Miller presents a scholarship

This May, the YVC Foundation hosted their 22nd Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony, providing $650,000 in scholarships funds for the 2019-2020 academic year. In all, 220 students received scholarship awards, with an average of $3,000 for most students. Since 1977, the YVC Foundation has worked to provide financial support to students. Starting with $140,000 from ten donors, the Foundation’s endowment has grown exponentially to over $12,000,000 from 150 donors. In its 40-year history, the Foundation has awarded more than 5,000 scholarships to students, totaling more than $5.8 million.

Rotary Scholarships This spring, the Rotary Club of Yakima awarded vocational scholarships to students pursuing college degrees during the 2019-2020 academic year. Awards were presented to 20 students in all. Vocational scholarships were received by the following YVC students: Clara Durheim (Vet Tech), Kathleen Schneider (Vet Tech), Goreti Alcantara (BAS Teacher Education), Luis Alegria (BAS Business Management), Miguel Blancas Alejo (Business Technology), Blanca Cisneros (BAS Business Management), Nathan Dagdagan (Nursing), Rachel Fowler (Dental Hygiene), Sergio Gonzalez (Electrical Technology), Briana Lopez (Radiologic Science), Kailynn Rae (Nursing), and Amber Tupy (Nursing).

In addition, the club awards academic scholarships to deserving students in the Yakima Valley. This year a record number of applications were received and nineteen students were awarded scholarships for the 20192020 academic year, five of whom are YVC Running Start students. Academic scholarships were presented to Koto Durkee, Anthony Krueger, Simranjeet Kaur, Anna Swedin, and Ariel Taylor.

Early Achievers Grant YVC’s Early Achievers Grant delivered scholarship awards during the 2018-2019 academic year to 110 students.

Provided by the Washington Department of Early Learning, this scholarship opportunity is available to students employed at an Early Achievers facility. The scholarship can help support students seeking continued education in both the traditional and I-BEST model. “Over the 2018-2019 academic year the Early Achievers Grant has helped by providing tuition, book funding and personal support. During this time these students have earned a combined total of 76 certificates and one associates degree,” stated Early Achievers Grant Coordinator Denise Paikuli.

Beyond Dreaming Scholarship

In May, YVC proudly awarded its Beyond Dreaming Scholarships to deserving students. These scholarship awards provide support to DREAMer (undocumented) students, with educational expenses while attending YVC. This scholarship provides much needed financial support to students who are not eligible for other awards due to their immigration status. Awards were presented to 43 students. YVC has offered Beyond Dreaming Scholarships for the past four years distributing $133,369 dollars to 124 students.

NeST Scholarship

YVC’s New Scientist Training (NeST) Grant provided scholarship awards during the 2018-2019 academic year to 14 students majoring in STEM fields. NeST scholarships were awarded to: Rommel Castro, Jasmine James, Hector Torres, Jonny Zuniga Romero, Jazmin Chua, Briseida Fajardo, Timothy Gibson, Nathan Thompson, Aldo Depaz, David Lindgren (featured on page four), Teresa Mabbutt-Wing, Oluyemisi Akinbade, Emmanuel Garcia, and Marissa Ortiz. Each student received funding to support their education expenses, including tuition, books, and personal expenses. In addition, each student received extra mentoring and support from YVC faculty member Stephanie Ahlgren. Funding for these awards is provided by the National Science Foundation (Award #1564520).

13 Yakima Valley College

CELEBRATING SUCCESS Clockwise from top left: Mark Rogstad and Tessa Southards, Donald Roeber with student, Kathy Laws and Jeff Wood, Margarita Rodriguez, Mary Dahlin, Julie Harris with students, Sybil Miller and Deborah Wilson, and Plaques for Years of Service.

Employee Recognition Ceremony

At the end of each academic year, YVC celebrates the outstanding service of faculty and staff during the annual Employee Recognition Ceremony. Held in the Hopf Student Union Building, the gathering brings together colleagues from across disciplines and campuses. During this special event employees are recognized for their years of service. In addition, retirees are honored and given a farewell for their many years of dedication to the college.

Honoring Retirees

Mary Dahlin English Composition Instructor September 2000 - April 2019

Jeffery Wood Director of Facility Operations April 1989 - July 2019

Julie Harris Dental Hygiene Instructor January 1982 - June 2019

Edna (Jody) Payton-Edwards Margarita Rodriguez Information Technology Specialist 3 Office Assistant Lead November 1998 - June 2019 April 2006 - October 2018

Years of Service 10 YEARS

Erin Anderton Michael Alamos Al Garcia Connie Jensen Gregory Kent Heidi Matlack Keith Overland Julie Swedin Jennifer Townsend

15 YEARS

Claire Carpenter Cindy Hoffman Michael Jenck Virginia Kemper

15 YEARS (cont.)

Kim Nolt William Sizemore Shawn Underwood Tomas Ybarra

20 YEARS

Martin Meister Susan Meredith James Mills Carol Schneider Blair Shean Tessa Southards Debra Terry Deborah Wilson

Donald Roeber Machine Instructor January 2013 - September 2019

25 YEARS

Tracy Arostegui Janet Foster Goodwill Jill Widner Clarissa Wolfe Rhonda Taylor

30 YEARS

Eric Anderson Michael Lane Katherine Laws Jeffery Wood

Spring 2019 14

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Spring Fling

Christian Montes races Jasmine James at Spring Fling

ASYVC and GSC each hosted annual Spring Fling events in May, allowing students to have fun, celebrate the end of another academic year, and learn about the different clubs and student organizations available to them. Students were able to climb a rock wall, compete on an inflatable racetrack, joust (or sumo wrestle) with a friend, or have themselves drawn in caricature.

“Spring Fling is our largest event of the year. This event is a way for the student governments on both campuses to thank everyone at YVC for the support they have given students during the academic year,” stated Student Life Coordinator Laura Yolo.

The Laramie Project

A scene from YVC’s Production of The Laramie Project

This spring, YVC’s Playmasters presented The Laramie Project, the acclaimed 2000 play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws across the country. “The story of Matthew Shepard is one that needs to continue to be told. Although we as a country have come a long way since this brutal hate crime, we still have a long way to go,” stated Drama Instructor Ray Pritchard.

Past, Present and Future Concert

YVC College Choir and YVC Cadences perform

As a part of YVC’s celebration of its 90th year, the choral program hosted a “Past, Present & Future” concert in Kendall Hall Auditorium in early June. The singers performed popular songs from the past 90 years, and as a special feature, former YVC Athletic Director Jerry Ward provided campus-themed historical tidbits from the time period of each musical selection.

Safety Awareness Fair This spring ASYVC hosted a Safety Awareness Day, bringing representatives from nearly all local emergency response agencies to campus to interact with students in the HUB. Psychology Instructor Eliann Carr gave a presentation on active shooter prevention and safety, while members of YVC’s Security & Safety department helped educate students on ways to respond effectively in dangerous situations.

Representatives at YVC’s Safety Awareness Fair

From left: Brynlee Ward, Hope Wilson, Evelyn Ochoa

15 Yakima Valley College

ASYVC Elections A new lineup of student leadership is in place following ASYVC’s springtime elections, with some familiar faces: incoming ASYVC President Brynlee Ward is the returning goalie for the Yaks soccer team, while incoming ASYVC Vice President Hope Wilson is a featured soloist in the YVC choral program. Other new ASYVC members include: Treasurer Evelyn Ochoa, Secretary Penny Tahmalwash, Public Relations RuthAnn Laurvick, Lead Student Ambassador Pedro Caballero, and Programmer Christian Montes.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES From left: Emily Washines speaks about missing and murdered indigenous women, NEW Women’s Leadership Institute Participants with Representative Gina Mosbrucker, Larson Gallery’s Department of Visual Arts Exhibit

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women ASYVC hosted an event this spring exploring the topic of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW).

The event included a presentation by Emily Washines, founder and CEO of Native Friends, a Native lifestyle empowerment brand that focuses on language, history and culture. Washines, who is of Yakama, Cree and Skokomish heritage, serves as a part-time ethnic studies instructor at YVC, and helped in the founding of the justiceforyakama.com website. “ASYVC chose to host an event on MMIW to help raise awareness on this national and international issue. Serving residents of the Yakima Valley, including the members of the Yakama Nation, it was important for this year’s student government to honor and support our Native community in Central Washington,” stated Student Life Coordinator Laura Yolo.

NEW Women’s Leadership Institute This spring, students had the opportunity to participate in the NEW Women’s Leadership Conference held on the Yakima Campus. NEW Leadership is a non-partisan program developed by the Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP) to educate, empower, and encourage college women to become politically active and to take on leadership roles. YVC was honored to be selected to host an intensive NEW Leadership institute. Students had the opportunity to meet women leaders, learn about politics, and develop and practice leadership skills through panel discussions, workshops and hands-on projects. Speakers at the institute included Representative Gina Mosbrucker, YVC Counselor Maribel Jimenez, and Yakima City Council Members Holly Cousens and Dr. Kay Funk. “The leadership skills developed by the NEW Leadership Conference is important to women in local politics within our community,” stated STEM Academic Intervention Coordinator Cristy Rasmussen. “This program provides support and a road-map for women on how to become involved at all levels,” she concluded.

Larson Gallery In May, the Larson Gallery held the Department of Visual Arts Student and Faculty Exhibition. More commonly known as DoVA, this exhibit featured the work of students from spring, summer and fall quarters of 2018 and winter 2019. Disciplines on display included ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and design. The event is consistently one of the favorite exhibitions of the year and a wonderful opportunity to purchase art. The show is also an opportunity for instructors to demonstrate the creativity of their own personal work. DoVA’s success springs from the artistic and instructional talents of instructors Rachel Dorn, John Bissonette, Meghan Flynn, Bruce Lindell, and Chris Otten. A total of 101 works were installed, with $1,200 in cash awards and gift certificates presented. This exhibit is followed by the Larson Gallery Guild Member’s Exhibition, which concludes a series of six exhibits in the Larson Gallery each year.

This has been a terrific year for the Larson Gallery Guild’s capital campaign, as the group works to establish a new gallery on YVC’s new West Campus location (on the southwest corner of 16th Ave. and Nob Hill Boulevard). Through fundraising pledges, gifts, and events, the Guild has raised $1,086,000 toward their goal.

The new building will help them better fulfill their mission of supporting YVC and inspiring artists, students and the community through exhibits, programs and special events.

Spring 2019 16

ATHLETICS

Baseball YVC’s baseball team enjoyed another winning year, finishing the 2019 season with a record of 30 wins and 19 losses. In each of Head Coach Kyle Krustangel’s four years leading the squad, the team has achieved at least 30 wins. Despite an offense loaded with first-year players, the team finished second in the NWAC in runs scored with 343, an average of seven runs per contest. The squad also finished ninth (out of 28 2018-2019 Men’s Baseball Team teams) in pitching, with an earned run average of just above four runs per game. The season was highlighted by two wins against Bellevue in the Super Regional tournament, earning the team a berth in the NWAC Championships, an eight-team doubleelimination tournament at Lower Columbia College. Unfortunately, the team did not advance, dropping contests against Everett and Mount Hood, but remains poised for another successful season next year as one of the perennial powers of the NWAC. “We were able to see all our freshmen get experience, and next year our lineup should be sophomore-heavy,” says Krustangel. “We’re going to need some freshmen to throw a lot of innings for us, but the incoming class could be our best ever.”

Softball

Despite a challenging season in the wins and losses column, YVC’s softball team displayed the sort of perseverance that bodes well for the future. “Although we were out-manned, I’m very proud of this group of girls,” said Head Coach Chuck Bodeen. “ This team knew how to compete, and the ones who stuck through it are ready to go out and compete in life.” Unusually cold and inclement weather pushed back the start of the season, and by the time conference play began, 2018-2019 Women’s Softball Team the Yaks roster faced a numbers challenge, with only 12 players, many of whom were forced to play out of position. YVC completed the season with a 2-35 overall record, 0-32 in NWAC East Region competition.

Von Oelfoffen and Gomez Named Athletes of the Year Kamri Von Oelhoffen (basketball) and Alec Gomez (baseball) have been named YVC’s Female and Male Athletes of the Year. Von Oelhoffen, a sophomore from Richland, is now a two-time NWAC First Team All-Eastern Region selection. She scored 1,001 points in her two-year career (513 as a freshman, 488 as a sophomore), and this season received the prestigious Coach’s Award for her contributions on and off the court. Gomez, a sophomore from Sammamish, led the entire NWAC with 104 strikeouts this past season, and was named a First Team AllEastern Region Pitcher. He posted a record of eight wins with only one loss, while pitching a total of 81 innings.

Hall of Fame Ceremony Returns

Corwin King, grand-nephew of the late Elizabeth Prior, is presented with a Hall of Fame plaque in her honor by Athletic Director Ray Funk.

17 Yakima Valley College

Late May brought the return of YVC’s Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet.

Team and individual awards were given out for current athletes, while luminaries from the college’s past received permanent enshrinement in the college’s Hall of Fame. Inductees included Dr. Terry Brown, Bob Everson, Phil Hinrichs, Dr. Donald Hughes, Elizabeth Prior, Wayne Purdom, and the YVC 1977 Baseball Team. “It was neat to see our current student-athletes receive recognition for their efforts and for them to honor the student-athletes who came before them,” said Athletics Director Ray Funk. “The turnout exceeded my expectations and I look forward to building upon the event in future years.”

PEOPLE From left: YVC Foundation President Glenn Rasmussen with Executive Director Stacey Kautz and Donor John Vivian, Elizabeth DeVilleneuve speaks with students at Davis High School, Monty Walker, Taylor Walters, Dr. Kenneth Zontek, Dr. Tim Jeske.

Marcia Somer Memorial Scholarship Established

In honor of the late Dean of the Grandview Campus Dr. Marcia Somer, a scholarship has been established with the YVC Foundation. This new scholarship provides financial support to students attending the YVC Grandview Campus. For more information, or to make a contribution, contact the YVC Foundation at 509.574.4645.

Yakima Music en Acción Higher Education Access Committee

Counselor Elizabeth DeVilleneuve recently joined a new committee that has formed as part of Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA) Higher Education Access. Currently, the group is working on strengthening their students’ connections to higher education institutions and a higher education pathway, and starting a scholarship.

YVC Says Goodbye to Patterson, Newbill, Hinze

YVC’s campus community has suffered the loss of three outstanding and valued instructors. Instructor Greg Hinze taught history, geography, and political science on the Grandview Campus for the past three years.

Prior to joining YVC, he taught full-time at Heritage University. An alumni of YVC, Hinze graduated in 2005 transferring to Central Washington University where he earned bachelor’s degrees in history and geography and later earned a master’s degree in history.

Instructor and Foundation Board Member Jim Newbill taught history for several decades, retiring in 1998.

He was well-known for his lectures and his scholarly achievements, including co-editing two books and publishing several historical papers on the labor movement in the Yakima Valley. Memorial contributions can be made to the James G. Newbill Scholarship fund through the YVC Foundation.

English Instructor Brian Patterson began his tenure as an English faculty member on the Grandview Campus in 2012. Prior to his arrival at YVC, Patterson taught for 19 years at Olympic and Whatcom Colleges in Washington and Truman and Columbia Colleges in Chicago, IL. In his six years of teaching at YVC, he taught composition, literature, and national cinemas courses. There is an effort underway to establish a scholarship in his name, for more information, contact the YVC Foundation at 509.574.4645.

Awards and Congratulations

The Associated Students of YVC honored several individuals at this year’s spring recognition event. Awards included: Eliann Carr, Instructor of the Year; Marivy Vasquez, Advisor of the Year; Laura Yolo, Distinguished Service Award-Admin/Exempt; Roxanne Baca, Distinguished Service Award- Classified; Taylor Yates, Student of the Year; Running Start, Program of the Year; ASL, Club of the Year. The Grandview Student Council also presented awards to Greg Hinze, Faculty of the Year; Emma Sandoval, Staff of the Year; and Kevin Cassidy, Student of the Year.

Congratulations to YVC Student Taylor Walters, who recently received the 2018-2019 Herodotus-Gedosch Award. First given in 1994, this award was created in the spirit of Herodotus, the “Father of History,” and Robert Gedosch, a former YVC history instructor, to recognize exceptional history students. Walters received books tailored to her personal interests and recognition on a plaque in Glenn Anthon Hall.

Congratulations to Student Services Coordinator Marivy Vasquez, who was recently accepted into Southern Oregon University’s Summer Language Institute for Spanish Teachers.

English Instructor Jill Widner was recently notified that her chapbook, A Middle Eastern No, was selected as the 2019 International Winner of the Southword Chapbook Fiction Competition. In addition, “Yalda & Zhila,” one of the stories was published in the May/June 2019 issue of Kenyon Review Online.

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