From the president

Lisa Gibert, president/CEO, Clark College Foundation

The depth of talent and sacrifice at Clark continues to amaze me. Hailey Rowden, who you will read about in this edition of Partners, could easily have a long and prosperous career as a full-time musician. At age 20, she is already a professional who performs regularly in the Northwest. But her desire to teach music is what’s driving her education at Clark. Rowden juggles the demands of her collegiate studies while performing and teaching young people how to play piano. More than 80 students have benefitted from her instruction. You can have the pleasure of hearing her perform during the month of December at Michael Allen Harrison’s Christmas at the Old Church.

Another accomplished woman is Nancy Boyce ’08 who blazed the trail as the first female field mechanic in Alaska for Caterpillar. Not one to back away from a good challenge, Boyle has found her niche below deck in a marine craft wedged between the components of diesel engines in sub-zero temperatures. It’s taken a few years for Alaskans to accept a tall, blond-haired woman as a legitimate power generation mechanic—one of the most dangerous technologies in diesel engines because of the high-voltage electrical mechanisms. But Boyce has overcome much of the sexism by proving her exemplary skills time and time again. She credits Clark’s Automotive program for putting her on the path to a rewarding career. Today, she’s a small business owner in Juneau.

These are just two examples of the thousands of individuals at Clark who have trained or are currently preparing for a specific goal, discovering a new passion or quenching their thirst for education. They all rely on Clark College to provide affordable, high-quality academic courses that prepare them for the workforce and their personal goals. Donors, like you, bridge the financial gaps that make their education possible.

Thank you for all that you do for Clark students. Should you be ready to contribute at the next level, please visit our Give Now page at www.clarkcollegefoundation.org or return the enclosed envelope to open opportunities for the women and men in Southwest Washington and beyond.