From the President
President/CEO Lisa Gibert visits with donor Jane Hagelstein. Photo by Tara Omnes
I look out my office window each day and marvel at the future of Clark College as the pipes, pumps and other mechanical infrastructure are put into place in the new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) building. This structure represents the heart and soul of tomorrow—higher educational attainment and family-wage jobs for the region.
Among the many state-of-the-art labs and classrooms in the building, there’s one in particular I’d like to call out—the cadaver lab. For 25 years, Clark has been at the forefront of anatomy and physiology education for community colleges with our five-table human cadaver lab. Students rave about the experiential learning the lab offers. Likewise, employers who hire our students say they are better prepared for their jobs because they can think critically about the three-dimensional aspects of the human body after having studied cadavers.
Our new STEM building will add a second lab with six tables and serve an additional 1,000 to 1,200 students annually, essentially doubling the college’s capacity. As a result, Clark will be able to advance accessibility and create rich technological learning environments for all of the science fields.
Similarly, the expansion of our popular Toyota Technician Training and Education Network program (T-TEN) with another dealership in the area will give more eager students entrance into quality in-demand training. The details are still being worked out, but I can tell you the newest addition to the program is set to launch next fall. The technicians are in high demand, often getting high-paying jobs before they finish the program. Furthermore, the relationships forged by the college and the business community are second to none.
The foundation cherishes those business relationships and in May presented the inaugural Corporate Friend of Education award to SEH America, a Shin-Etsu Chemical Company. The company’s kindness is displayed daily through the beauty of the Royce E. Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden and student support thought the Dr. Kanagawa Japanese Friendship Scholarship.
And finally, my heart is heavy at the passing of our dear friend Ed Lynch. His kindness, as well as his late wife Dollie, helped set the tone for giving in this community. We can all learn from his generosity of spirit, determination and caring. In his honor, the Lynch family established an engineering scholarship. Please visit our Give Now page on our website to contribute to his legacy.
Lisa Gibert
President/CEO, Clark College Foundation
