Kathryn Hale Whidbey Island Campus ◆◆ Save the Dates ◆◆ Celebrating a Million Dollar Year! ALL-WASHINGTON ACADEMIC TEAM President’S Message
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SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE September 2011 Jeramy Harstad Inside this Issue Mount Vernon Campus ◆ Achieving the Dream ◆ Northwest Higher Education Coalition ◆ Department of Commerce Energy Grant ◆ Go Green and Save Big Foundation ◆ Keeping Johnny’s “Machine Shop Dream” Alive ◆ Wade and Frances Schroeder Kathryn Hale Whidbey Island Campus ◆ Save the Dates ◆ Celebrating a Million Dollar Year! ALL-WASHINGTON ACADEMIC TEAM PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE September, 2011 SVC is the Pathway to a Brighter Future TABLE OF CONTENTS hile the state of Washington and 2 President’s Message Wthe nation continue to experi- 3 All-Washington Academic ence the effects of the “great reces- Team sion,” Skagit Valley College remains 4 Achieving the Dream dedicated to creating pathways to a 5 Northwest Higher Education brighter future within the communi- Coalition ties we serve. By providing low-cost access to high quality education and 6 Go Green and Save Big BOARD OF TRUSTEES industry-aligned workforce programs, we help students gain 7 Foundation: Keeping Johnny’s improved job skills that move them toward the fulfillment of “Machine Shop Dream” Alive their dreams. 8 Foundation Accepts $500,000 Our commitment is built upon the contributions of Bequest From Alums people whose dedication and vision have shaped SVC as a 9 Million Dollar Year! center of learning excellence. These individuals are our exceptional faculty who are passionate about active engage- Save the Dates Debra Lisser ment and academic success. They are our students who 10 Sunny & Kit Vanderboll Chair demonstrate excellence in the classroom and the community. Presidential Search And, they are our supporters and donors who make student dreams a reality with their quiet generosity. Collectively, the © 2011 Skagit Valley College contributions create a culture and a spirit of service that are Currents is published by the uniquely Skagit. Skagit Valley College Public Information Office, In this edition of Currents, we are pleased to share sev- 2405 East College Way, eral remarkable accomplishments and milestones with you. Margaret Rojas Mount Vernon, WA 98273 As our cover story, we will showcase our two All-Washington Vice Chair email: [email protected] Academic Team members, Jeramy Harstad, from the Mount Editors/Writers: Arden Ainley, Jennifer Fix, Vernon Campus, and Kathryn Hale, from the Whidbey Island Kelli Tolf, and Carl Young Campus. I am also delighted to announce that Skagit Valley Design/Production: Don Cairns College has been selected as one of 30 community colleges Skagit Valley College provides a drug-free environment and does not discriminate nationwide to participate in the Achieving the Dream on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or age network, colleges that are committed to improving student in its programs and employment. The success and completion. In addition, we will celebrate a following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Lindsay Fiker tremendous year of fundraising by the SVC Foundation— non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of Human Resources a year that saw more than a million dollars raised— that will 2405 E. College Way Mount Vernon, WA 98273 help Skagit Valley College and its students! 360.416.7794 On behalf of the faculty, staff, administration, and Board of Trustees, I trust that you will find meaningful COLLEGE MISSION Skagit Valley College exists inspiration in Currents and continue to help us make to expand opportunities and Skagit Valley College an important and accessible pathway horizons for students and for all who dream of a brighter future! Don Piercy to improve the communities Sincerely, in which they live. We achieve this by welcoming and valuing diverse learners, providing quality education and support, and contributing community Dr. Gary Tollefson leadership and service. John Stephens President 2 September 2011 All-Washington Academic Team SVC students, Jeramy Harstad and Kathryn Hale, named to the All-Washington Academic Team 2011 wo Skagit Valley College (SVC) students, Jeramy Harstad, of Mount Vernon, and Kathryn Hale, of Oak Harbor, were honored at the 16th TAnnual All-Washington Academic Team ceremony held March 24th at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Both students are members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the official honor society for two-year colleges. With more than 300 people in attendance, the ceremony provided an opportunity for community and technical college students to be recognized for their academic achievements and community involvement. This year’s team was comprised of 63 students representing 33 community and technical colleges from throughout Washington. Many legislators, college trustees, and family members also attended the celebration. Governor Chris Gregoire was on hand to recognize each team member and their accomplishments. In addition, each student received a commemorative medallion from his or her college president. Helping to honor Ms. Harstad and Ms. Hale were SVC President Gary Tollefson and Whidbey Island Campus PTK chapter advisor Jeff Stady. All team members received a $750 scholarship from the Northwest Education Loan Association and KeyBank of Washington. Jeramy Harstad is a non-traditional student at the Mount Vernon Campus and plans to become a homicide detective. She will receive her third degree in three years from Skagit Valley College next spring. She served as President of the Theta Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa for 1.5 years and as a Vice-President of the Greater Northwest Region for one year. Currently, Jeramy works in the SVC Student Life office as an event programmer. This fall, she will be dually enrolled at SVC and in Central Washington University’s distance education program. In addition to her own studies, Jeramy home- schools the oldest of her two children and operates a not-for-profit charity in Mount Vernon. Kathryn Hale is a Digital Imagery major at SVC’s Whidbey Island Campus in Oak Harbor. As an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, Kathryn has been provided with an outlet for one of her passions in life…being an active community volunteer. Currently, Kathryn is working to help establish Phi Theta Kappa members Kathryn Hale of Oak Harbor (top) and Jeramy Harstad a volunteer program for the Life Skills program at her local middle school of Mount Vernon were selected for the that assists moderate to severely handicapped students. After graduation, All-Washington Academic Team 2011. Kathryn plans to utilize her photography skills to capture some of the earth’s beauty to emphasize the necessity of protecting and celebrating the planet. Congratulations to Jeramy Harstad and Kathryn Hale for their outstanding accomplishments inside the classroom and within their communities! September 2011 3 Skagit Valley College joins Achieving the Dream The leading national community college reform network of 160 colleges is committed to improving student success and completion. of SVC. “Each student The college has committed to enters our doors with assessing the effectiveness of these a dream, yet many policies and practices, institution- encounter barriers alizing the approaches that prove that delay their suc- successful, and sharing the findings cess. With new data- widely. Through Achieving the Dream, driven strategies and SVC will have the opportunity to learn leadership from the from other Achieving the Dream insti- Achieving the Dream tutions, and receive assistance from grant, those barriers experienced practitioners in building will be transformed a culture of evidence campus-wide, us- into bridges, allowing ing data to identify problems, setting more of our students priorities, and measuring progress to achieve academic toward increasing student success. success.” The all-college introduction to “Closing achieve- Achieving the Dream will occur during ment gaps and improv- SVC’S fall in-service in September ing student outcomes where Governance Institute for ignifying its strong commitment is extremely difficult Student Success (GISS) data will be to student success and comple- work. The ambitious commitment of presented. Following the presenta- tion, Skagit Valley College Skagit Valley College S is commendable,” said (SVC) is one of 30 community colleges nationwide selected for the Achieving William Trueheart, “Each student enters our doors with the Dream (ATD) 2011 cohort. SVC’s President and CEO of selection was the result of a com- Achieving the Dream. a dream, yet many encounter barriers petitive grant application process and As an Achieving that delay their success. With new includes a $250,000 grant award over the Dream institution, the course of five years. Skagit Valley College data-driven strategies and leadership Achieving the Dream, a national will use this opportunity from the Achieving the Dream grant, non-profit organization, is the leading to bolster its efforts to national community college reform help students succeed in those barriers will be transformed into network of 160 colleges committed completing their degrees bridges, allowing more of our students to improving student success and and programs. This will to achieve academic success.” completion, particularly students of include coordinating color and low-income students. The student success efforts organization works on multiple fronts across different college — including efforts on campuses and departments, effectively using data tion, faculty and staff will explore ad- in research, public engagement, and to identify and prioritize barriers