Commencement ceremony marks milestone of 75th anniversary celebration

Clark College's yearlong 75th anniversary celebration reached a milestone in June as students donned caps and gowns to receive their diplomas and certificates.

The 2009 commencement ceremony was held June 18 at The Amphitheater at Clark County. Guest speaker Vail Horton, who was born without legs and with improper bone growth in his arms, rode a skateboard to the center of the stage and inspired the graduates as he shared his life story and reminded them that "they can be anything they want to be."

Dora Hernandez, who graduated with an associate of arts degree and is interested in pursuing studies in Human Development, received the President's Scholarship Award for a transfer student from Clark College to Washington State University Vancouver. Hernandez will receive full tuition and fees while she earns her bachelor's degree at WSU Vancouver.
 
The evening also included a special diploma presentation to World War II veteran Wilbert Kalmbach, who first took classes at Clark College in 1947. Kalmbach noted that he had not been able to take part in his high school graduation ceremony, U.S. Army graduation ceremony, or Clark's 1969 commencement ceremony. That year, he believed he had finally earned enough credits to graduate from Clark College. Sixty-two years after taking his first classes at Clark, he marched in commencement as a graduate and received a diploma from Clark College President Robert K. Knight. He also received two standing ovations.

During the ceremony, three faculty members were honored as recipients of the 2008-2009 Exceptional Faculty Award. The honors went to Priscila Martins-Read, professor of English as a Non-Native Language; Dr. Katherine Sadler, professor of history; and Lisa Staley, art instructor. Planning and Effectiveness administrative assistant Cindy Heck and Assessment Center program manager Mirranda Saari were honored as recipients of the college's Exceptional Classified Staff award.

More than 350 students took part in the graduation ceremony. During the 2008-2009 academic year, 1,276 men and women have earned degrees and certificates from Clark College.

Larch inmates take The Next Step to success

A partnership between Larch Corrections Center and Clark College has evolved from an evening part-time adult education program into a program where offenders can pass the General Education Development (GED) tests, earn information technology certificates, and graduate from the automotive program.

On June 19, Clark held an annual graduation ceremony as 24 offenders graduated from the Partners in Parenting program, 25 offenders received information technology certificates of proficiency, 16 completed Clark's new automotive program, and 56 offenders received their GEDs.

"The ultimate goal is to have Larch offenders prepared to be successful with their families and at work when they release into the community," said Community Partnership Program Coordinator Nancy Simmons.

Studies show the importance of employment to successful reentry. With unemployment rates in Washington state nearing 10 percent, offenders releasing from prison are facing increased challenges.

Kathy Goebel, associate director for the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, delivered a message to the graduates and reported education is key to being successful when releasing to the community.

"A disproportionally large number of offenders return to low-income and predominantly minority communities that have relatively few unskilled jobs available. Corrections education needs a sharp focus on employability issues," said Goebel in an article for the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. "Inmates who address their educational needs during confinement do better when they return to their families and communities and are significantly less likely to be reconvicted."

Scholarships

Clark College President Robert Knight presented two offenders with Clark College Foundation scholarships. Randall Henderson was awarded the Rex and Arlene Garrison Automotive Scholarship and the John Ringer Automotive Scholarship, and will enroll in Clark's Toyota automotive program. Gary Warden received the Kevin Currie Computer Scholarship and will study computer science at Clark.

Warden, a first-generation college student, has been incarcerated for the majority of his adult life and realizes the challenges of releasing into a world plagued by economic distress.

"Being released into a downed economy, where even experienced and educated people are out of work, it could be a recipe for certain failure," said Warden. "A door has been opened to show me the way, and I now have - in addition to a scholarship - hope."

Henderson, also incarcerated for a major portion of his adult life, said that a program and opportunity like this will likely help him stay out of prison for good.

"I enrolled into a class that at the time I had no idea would give me a plan that was realistic," said Henderson. "The Clark College automotive class here at Larch has given me real direction with my life and I knew that this was something I would love to do with my life. My family is very proud of me."

Former sociology professor, dean, vice president, and interim president Ellis Dunn died Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Dunn served Clark College from 1959 until his retirement in 1989 - which included a year as interim president in 1981-1982, during what was also a challenging time economically. "We had to revise the budget downwards five times in the academic year," Dunn commented in the 75th anniversary book, "Voices and Dreams."

Also during his year as president, Dunn set the stage for what is now Clark's tobacco-free campus policy. Dunn, himself a smoker, banned smoking in classrooms, offices, hallways, and other public areas at the college.

As part of the college's 75th anniversary celebration, the college community honored his legacy of service by gathering in Gaiser Hall to dedicate the Ellis F. Dunn Community Room.

During the dedication of the community room named in his honor, Dunn said, "The splendor of this room - and indeed the entire campus - gives no clues to the college's humble beginnings. I'm grateful for the honor the college has bestowed on me. It is the community room and the community will develop dreams here for the future to continue the commitment to academic excellence."

Dunn also participated in the opening of the 50th anniversary time capsule in May of this year, joining Clark College President Robert K. Knight as historical items were shared with members of the college community and the public.

"Ellis Dunn believed deeply in our college and our mission," said President Knight. "His commitment to academic excellence and his dreams for the future helped shape Clark into the college of today - and positioned it for the next 75 years. Our continuing commitment to those standards will honor his work and his life." Knight added, "Beyond his dedication and professionalism, I will always remember Ellis' warmth and kindness. He was a passionate supporter of our college and our students. I know that he was very proud that our community room is named in his honor. It's a fitting tribute to someone who played such an important role in the history of our college and our community."

Knight noted that he met Ellis Dunn before joining Clark College. "Ellis was a member of the Vancouver Rotary and always drove Lew Cannell to the meetings," said Knight. "I was in the Army then. At one point, Ellis had a hospital stay so I volunteered to drive Lew Cannell to Rotary. So Ellis - a legendary figure at Clark - enabled me to meet another legendary Clark figure - Lew Cannell - long before I came to the college. I feel privileged to have known both."

A memorial service was held Monday, July 13 at 2 p.m. at the Old Liberty Theater in Ridgefield. His family suggests that gifts made to the Ellis F. Dunn Memorial Scholarship at the Clark College Foundation will be a special way to honor his memory.