Our Stories

Walter Crandall, donor "I made a contribution to the Clark College Foundation for the purpose of establishing a partial scholarship fund for Hispanic students who attended Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School. That was it, or so I thought. But through the leadership of College and Foundation staff, the story took on a life of its own. Five months later, Clark College had established an outreach program for Hispanic parents and students at Sarah J. Anderson to attend a monthly event at the College. This outreach will have a profound impact on these students and their families as they realize College is Possible. I feel honored to be a small part of the story. I certainly plan to make further contributions to the Foundation."

Charylie Abernathy, English—Helene Schoen Scholarship recipient, 2006 "My first year at Clark brought astounding realizations and an intense desire to question, learn, and teach. I am completely entranced and highly interested in literature, music, psychology, and history, and with this intense interest comes an eager hunger to devour every bit of information and make as many connections as I possibly can. Despite a variety of talents and interests, I am discovering that my career of choice would have to be that of a professor, dealing particularly with comparative literature. Due to the generous donations of the Fordham and Vossen families last year, I have been able to pursue an amazing variety of classes at Clark. I have such a passion for learning that this is the greatest gift anyone could have given me!"

John Skelton, Business Administration—Pat Fencl GED Scholarship recipient, 2006 "As a recipient of the Pat Fencl GED Scholarship, I express my thanks for your kindness in sponsoring this scholarship; your generosity will allow me to fulfill my dream of attending college, and bring me a step closer to the goals I have set for my education. I am honored to have received this award, and I will strive in my studies and beyond to ensure that I exceed the expectations and responsibilities that accompany the tremendous opportunity that this scholarship represents."

Bill and Marlene Anderson, scholarship donors First as students working their way through college and then as parents helping their children with education expenses, Bill and Marlene Anderson learned firsthand about the challenges of paying for higher education. Empathy with others facing similar obstacles led them to establish scholarship support for Clark students. The Andersons' motives for establishing this fund stem from a deep and abiding belief in the importance of education. They characterize their practice of philanthropy as providing opportunities for people to make better lives for themselves, just as education has been a key to their own success.

Caitlyn Abshire, Spanish—William and Marlene Anderson Scholarship recipient, 2006; Alfred and Ernestine Apsler Scholarship recipient, 2006 "I am excited to begin this new educational experience so that I can accomplish my ultimate career and academic goals. I began to realize how important it is to be bilingual in our multicultural world. I had the privilege of volunteering at Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School in the Spanish Immersion Program. I was able to observe how well first grade students gasped both languages so naturally. This experience furthered my desire to study Spanish. Clark College will afford me the opportunity to remain in an area where I will be able to continue serving others with my knowledge of Spanish."

Regina Wiler, Business—Antonio F. Scarpelli Business Scholarship recipient, 2006 "Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation of your kind offer and generosity of your scholarship gift. The scholarship will help my educational needs as I continue my education at Clark College. I will always remember your kind gift because it is people like you that contribute to the successes of others and enhance their possibilities for their future."

Michael Bay, Education—Barbara Ryan Education Scholarship recipient, 2006; L.M. Hidden Scholarship recipient, 2006; Military Officers' Association of America Scholarship, in honor of Colonel James V. Chriss, U.S. Army, recipient, 2006 "I chose to be a math major because that is what I wanted to teach. I went into the military and that is where I have been for the last twenty-nine years. I never lost my goal of being a math teacher, I just put it on hold while I got married and raised a family. I chose to teach math, not because it came easy to me, but because it didn't. I believe that the fact that I had to struggle through the concepts of math will make me a better teacher because I can empathize with my students who are having difficulty grasping the concepts, as I did. The only way that I can get the education I need to become a teacher is through the financial help that your scholarship can provide."

Jim and Pat Fencl, scholarship donors As an instructor in Clark College's Adult Basic Education program, Pat Fencl recognized incredible potential in many of her GED students. Unfortunately, Clark had no scholarships available to help these students pursue their goals. Fulfilling her passion of helping others, she leveraged a small inheritance and created an endowment for the "Pat Fencl GED Scholarship." Her gift has already provided several students tuition at Clark. The endowment continues to grow through annual gifts from Pat and her children. "Clark College has given me a lot," states Pat. "I just wanted to give something back."

Angela Corll, Social Sciences—William and Marlene Anderson Scholarship recipient, 2006 "I have come to love Social Sciences because I have seen the results that come out of these works. I have been involved with community services since I was twelve years old. I believe that people deserve second chances, and I want to continue to give back to my community that was gracious enough to give to me. This degree will allow me to have the ability to work in a career that I truly love and enjoy."

David Harriman, Psychology—E. Faye Dailey Volker Scholarship recipient, 2006 "Words cannot describe how thankful I am to have the honor of receiving a scholarship to help achieve my desired education. After receiving this scholarship, I knew that this next year would be as stress-free as is possible. This means that I can spend more time focusing on my studies rather than finances, a reality that seems quite unrealistic to many. For these reasons, I consider myself very fortunate. I want to thank you for your generous donation, and your obvious compassion for students to achieve their desired educations."

Carla Zorzetti, Pharmacy—Hi-School Pharmacy Scholarship recipient, 2006; Vancouver Rotary Scholarship recipient, 2006 "Thank you very much for the scholarship that you have granted me for this year. This motivates me even more to work hard toward my career so I can help others, too. I know pharmacy is the right career for me because it incorporates both my love of science and my passion for helping people. As a pharmacist, I will be as fair and nonjudgmental as possible when helping others because I am a prime example of someone who owes a great deal to those who have helped me when I truly needed it. I want my dream of achievement to propagate to others and give them hope that hardships can be overcome through hard work and dedication."

Monte Hidden, scholarship donor While holding on to the family tradition of giving back to the community, the Hidden Charitable Trust has also blazed a new trail with the Clark College Foundation which will continue well into the future. Unique features of their scholarship program are its flexibility and its availability only to returning Clark students who are committed to completing their educations and starting their careers in the Clark County area. Monte Hidden, a 1967 Clark alum and President of the Trust, states that, "Our intent is to keep our donations in Clark County, with the expectation that the fruits of our gifts will remain in the County in the future."

Melinda Green, Nursing—W.C. Davis Nursing Scholarship recipient, 2006; Vancouver Methodist, Dr. J. Clifford Stickney Scholarship recipient, 2006 "I had such wonderful experiences when my children were born-so many incredibly caring nurses-that I decided I wanted to work in that field once my children were older. Now is my chance. I look forward to graduation and the opportunity to work with growing families as they bring their babies into the world. Please accept my sincere thanks for the generous scholarships. Your gift will be a huge boost to help me on my way. Thank you for helping me to achieve this dream."

Eric Schneider, Business Administration—Davidson Insurance Company Scholarship recipient, 2006; Rex and Arlene Garrison Business Scholarship recipient, 2006 "This scholarship will be a tremendous help to me in achieving my education and career goals. I plan to major in Finance and minor in Management Information Systems and I want to become involved in the finance operations of a large business. I have always felt that a person cannot complain about how a school or government is run if they do nothing to try and change it. I believe that the struggles I have endured in the past have helped to prepare me for the challenges I face now, and my desire to succeed has only been sharpened."

Olga Bocharov, Civil Engineering—Ray Northcutt Scholarship recipient, 2006; Russian Scholarship recipient, 2006 "I plan to use my career and technical skills in the future by becoming a leader in the male dominated field of engineering. I look at challenges as doors of opportunity. I want to become a role model and mentor for other women with similar aspirations. It is an opportunity for me to go to college and accomplish an academic goal I have had my whole life."

Ted and Clarissa Farnsworth, donors In an interview shortly before his death in 2004, Clark alum Ted Farnsworth was resolute when he said, "Clark College changed my life!" Many of Clark's students over the last 50 years would also say that Ted changed their lives. He was instrumental in launching the Penguin Athletic Club, and the campus Chime Tower was built while he was on the Alumni Association board. Ted and his wife, Clarissa, worked in concert with the Clark College Foundation to ensure that their financial gifts to Clark would continue in perpetuity. Through creative estate planning and asset management, their contribution is able to meet their long-term personal objectives while benefiting the College.

George Gross, Horticulture—C.H. "Shorty" Allen Horticulture Scholarship recipient, 2006; Master Gardener Foundation Scholarship recipient, 2006 "My educational goal is to complete the Horticultural program at Clark College with an emphasis on plant propagation and nursery operations. In addition, a focus on business administration is essential to the long-term success of my business ventures. Clark College is the preferred provider of the educational requirements that I have at this time. The time spent in technology has taught me much about problem solving and creating solutions that delight consumers. The scholarship award is greatly appreciated and will be used to continue my goals in the area of life-long learning."

Briana Peters, Drama—William and Marlene Anderson Scholarship recipient, 2006 * Clark College Foundation Scholarship recipient, 2006 "Ever since I was little I said I wanted to be an actress. The activities that I am involved with have greatly prepared me for this career. Launching a theatrical ministry was derived from a project in DECA. From my involvement with DECA I learned essential life skills like how to solve problems, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and leadership. This scholarship award will enable me to concentrate on school instead of working to save money. My family and I offer our sincere gratitude. You have taken a big load off my shoulders and words cannot accurately describe my thankfulness."

Kenneth Yeager, Computer Science—L.M. Hidden Scholarship recipient, 2006 * Clark College Foundation Scholarship recipient, 2006 "I have long had an interest in computer sciences and software development. My experience is varied, as I have built and maintained websites, established networks, assembled and repaired computer hardware, installed countless operating systems, and assisted business people and the elderly alike in the use of their computers. I have long striven to be on the cutting edge of internet technology. Your help will be greatly appreciated as a key component to my success as a college student and computer technician."