MORE ENTREPRENEURS = MORE LIVING-WAGE JOBS GEOLOGISTS WHO LOOK LIKE ME CREATING SUPER GREEN CITIES WITH DENIS HAYES '64 - Clark College Foundation
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spring 2021
MORE ENTREPRENEURS = MORE LIVING-WAGE JOBS
GEOLOGISTS WHO LOOK LIKE ME
CREATING SUPER GREEN CITIES WITH DENIS HAYES ’64
2 | contents contents | 3
As a business, I need trained people that
are thinking about the future. They need
skills to do what they need to today but
their mindset needs to be, ‘What’s next?’
– Mark Zimmerman, business partner with Clark
FEATURE 14 ESSAY 18
Contents
FEATURE
More entrepreneurs =
[Spring 2021]
Volume 22, Issue 1
Copyright 2021
Clark College Foundation
6 more living-wage job
Entrepreneur Mark Zimmerman is eager to show Clark students what
can happen when they find meaningful work that they love. He and
Environmental
verve
Geologists who
look like me
Printed by Journal Graphics his wife, Sharon, are committed to matching students with industry Clark College alumni are playing an active role Geology professor Michelle Stoklosa explains how
Portland, Ore. in local and national eco-friendly efforts. They’re she and other Clark science instructors are creating
internships while being paid a fair hourly wage.
teaching the next generation of environmentalists by a sense of belonging in the classroom and making
Clark Partners changing public policies and raising awareness about their courses more welcoming to all students.
Clark College Foundation the relationship between the economy and pollution.
1933 Fort Vancouver Way
Vancouver, Wash., 98663-3598
360.992.2301
jjj
Read more at CLARK PARTNERS PRODUCTION CLARK COLLEGE FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE STAFF
4 TIDBITS clarkcollegefoundation.org
Clark Partners is published two Editor in chief Rhonda Morin Graphic design Greg Holly Lisa Gibert, chief executive officer
times a year (spring and winter). 11 CAMPAIGN ESSAY Join us on Facebook at Contributing writers Lily Raff McCaulou
Wei Zhuang Joel B. Munson, chief advancement officer
We welcome your comments at facebook.com/ClarkCollegeAlumni Daniel Rogers ’01, chief financial officer
Joel B. Munson
foundation@supportclark.org or 24 CLASS NOTES Hal Abrams, vice president of development
Claire Sykes
360.992.2301.
Join us on Twitter Rhonda Morin, executive director of communications and marketing
26 IN MEMORIAM Dr. Michelle Stoklosa
@alumniclark
Proofreaders Ed Boston For a full staff list, visit clarkcollegefoundation.org
Vivian Cheadle Manning
Join us on Instagram
Kristina Martin
alumniclark COVER: This edition includes several stories about the interdependence humans
Erica Schwenneker have with the environment. Photo by Freepik.com
tidBits
college news | 5
NEW PENGUIN NATION “Time will tell” story wins awards
PASSPORT IS DIGITAL
A
Clark alumnus is again in the spotlight. George Oberg Jr.’s inspiring
I
story about how he shaped the Pacific Northwest LGBTQIA+ movement
ntroducing the new Clark College Penguin Nation Passport.
won a bronze award from the Council for Advancement and Support
This digital passport easily uploads to a digital wallet SPRING 2020
Time of Education (CASE) District 8. Additionally, the story was recognized with an
feature on Apple and Android smartphones, and provides
will Opportunity and Inclusion Endorsement for the topic and its writers. The feature
access to an array of benefits including Clark’s alumni career tell story “Time Will Tell” appeared in the spring 2020 edition of Clark Partners
services, discounts and special offers with local businesses.
magazine.
The digital passport also has links to a directory of alumni- Penguin Nation Passport
owned businesses, audio and video resources, special events, “We felt this was a strong story, tackling a very critical issue in society today. This
social media connections, donor portals and surveys. By was a good way to profile how one alumnus impacted the movement,” said the
downloading the passport, you gain easy access to all of the Member Name
judges of the award when it was announced in January 2021.
benefits available to the Penguin Nation. OSWALD PENGUIN The feature, which was the cover story for the spring edition, details Oberg’s 50
– plus –
COVID-19: The world
Outstanding, Rising Star
years of activism beginning with the fundamentals he learned at Clark College.
has changed
alumni | Music defines him
New Clark president | Gettin
Oberg, a 1958 alumnus, is a pioneer and a hero to many who helped bring about
g back more than giving
Member Type Joined
significant social and cultural change in the region. In the wake of the 1969
Alumni March 19, 2021
Get the Clark College Pe New York City Stonewall riots, Oberg and a close-knit group of people knew
nguin Nation digital
passport by: they needed to shake up the perception about LGBTQIA+ and take a stand. That’s exactly what they did. In 2020,
• Submitting a request Oberg received Clark College’s most prestigious alumni honor, the Outstanding Alumni Award, for his activism and
online at
clarkcollegefoundation.o commitment to the college.
rg/sign-up
• Accessing your digital
wallet on your phone. Loo
for Clark College Pengui k
n Nation Passport.
• Read more about it at
clarkcollegefoundation.o
Dedicated Penguin Jock Coombe passes
passport rg/
rederick “Jock” Coombe II,
71, of Vancouver, Wash.,
died Dec. 10, 2020. He was a
F
member of Clark College’s class
of 1969 and continued to the
Newest member joins Clark College
University of Washington and
University of Portland, where
he graduated in 1972 and
Foundation Board of Directors 1976, respectively. He worked
as an engineer at Bonneville Power Administration, as
Left front, Jock
Coombe ’69 with
S
other past and
harif Burdzik joined Clark College Foundation’s Board of Directors an accounting and information systems manager at
current members
in December 2020. Burdzik is a vice president and commercial Portland General Electric, a finance systems supervisor of the alumni
relationship manager at Lewis & Clark Bank and a former executive at at General Dynamics, served in various operations relations board. He
Riverview Community Bank. He has worked in local community banking positions at Associated Technologies Inc. in California and died in December.
since the early 2000s after moving to the Pacific Northwest from his Mexico, and as a comptroller for Uniband Inc. in North
home state of Kansas. He is part of Clark College’s Veterans Advisory Dakota. Coombe was a site manager for immigration he joined Clark College Foundation’s Alumni Relations
Board, where he serves as the chair. Burdzik is also one of the founders and naturalization in Los Angeles and a senior finance Board and served on the athletics committee. His passion
of the International Festival on Fourth Plain and currently serves on and accounting manager for the Computer Sciences for Clark College reconnected him to his hometown
the Washington State University Diversity Advisory Board. He is also a Corporation at Edwards Air Force Base. He’s also a former community after retirement and was surpassed only by
director for the Friends of the Elder Justice Center and Partners in Careers. Sharif Burdzik Air Force program manager and flight test engineer. his love for car collecting, including a rare, mint-condition
A graduate of the University of Kansas and Pacific Coast Banking School, joined Clark College Coombe always felt the calling to serve. He supported the Sunbeam Tiger. The alumnus was an inspirational and
Burdzik enjoys skiing, hiking, reading and spending time with his son, Foundation’s Board of college and its students for more than 15 years. In 2018, powerful force in Clark’s community.
Directors in December.
who is a junior at Oregon State University. Photo by Aevum Images
6 | feature feature | 7
Local business helps Clark students
find meaningful work
by Lily Raff McCaulou
founded 75 years ago by a self-described As the years ticked by, something strange
“tinkerer.” The culture of experimentation happened to Zimmerman: he stayed put.
and camaraderie matched Zimmerman’s own Simplex grew from 15 employees to nearly 60.
entrepreneurial spirit. When Simplex was It developed new products and expanded its
developing an accessory for dump trucks, business overseas. Zimmerman got involved in
Zimmerman said, a longtime employee drove product development, and he holds patents on
her pickup truck to work and then watched as products such as the SkyCannon, which allows
coworkers outfitted it with pneumatics to test small aircraft to shoot water horizontally into
their new device. high-rise buildings to extinguish fires that can’t
be reached from the ground.
Zimmerman said he was also drawn to Simplex’s
deep commitment to safety. In a previous job, As his career with Simplex flourished, he began
working for a wood products manufacturer, hosting interns at the company, eager to show
Zimmerman lost a coworker who died on the Clark students what can happen when they find
job; he worked closely with his coworker’s family meaningful work that they love. He volunteered
F
to help them claim their survivor benefits. It was with Clark’s Entrepreneurial and Aeronautical
Left, Sharon and Mark a heartbreaking experience that Zimmerman clubs. He encouraged his wife to get involved
Zimmerman stand with Chris vowed never to repeat. with the college, too.
Hartnell, an air medical and
or the first decade or so of his career, Mark Zimmerman stuck to his own rule: never Continued on next page
firefighting pilot, in California stay in a job for longer than two years.
in 2017. Right, a Bell 407
helicopter using a Simplex After graduating from Oregon State University, he went to work for a large accounting PANDEMIC TIMELINE Starting here and on the following pages, is a list of some of the major milestones at Clark during the pandemic.
Agricultural Application firm, where he specialized in the manufacturing industry. He then switched to
system spraying fertilizer in various manufacturing companies and with each new job, he learned as much as he could to snag a
New Zealand in 2007. Photos
promotion—or find a new opportunity elsewhere. Eight outstanding Laptops and
courtesy of Mark Zimmerman
educators are the hotspots made
“I had an ‘up-or-out’ philosophy,” he said. “I wanted to learn and contribute to the business but I newest members of available to Clark
the tenured faculty students to learn
wasn’t willing to let myself get bored.” at Clark College. virtually.
He eventually did settle in with a company, and it was during that time that he forged a connection
with Clark College. MARCH 11, 2020 MARCH 17, 2020 APRIL 6, 2020 APRIL 20, 2020
In 2001, Zimmerman was approached by the new owners of a company called Simplex Aerospace.
Gov. Jay Inslee
They had recently purchased a small, family-owned business and were looking to help it grow and mandates that all
Clark switches 2,000
courses to online
diversify. Simplex makes aviation mission equipment—sprayers for crop dusters or for fighting state community
for delayed spring
colleges move to
wildfires, for example—and contraptions to service remote wind turbines and power lines. It was quarter.
remote operations.
8 | feature feature | 9
that already enjoy close connections with local
CALLING CLARK ALUMNI employers. Hospitals and dentists in the area
help shape current students’ educations and then
stand ready to hire them upon graduation.
When the college returns to in-person operations, there’s a need
There is a similar opportunity, he said, to forge
for volunteers. Sign up to assist with a college event or program. connections with a variety of other private
businesses to help develop a diverse workforce.
Help connect the college with new resources. And it all comes at an opportune moment,
according to Webster, as downtown Portland—
which historically outshined surrounding
Contact Ed Boston, director of alumni relations, communities like Vancouver—struggles with is and how critical it is to our economy, our
a reputation for rampant homelessness and transportation, our public health,” she said.
at alumni@supportclark.org or 360.992.2767. disruptive protests. “There is so much diversity in engineering.”
“This is possibly the first time Vancouver has Trisha Haakonstad, a career adviser at Clark, said
had to… stop hiding in the shadows of Portland internships are just one example of what she
and stand on its own merit,” Webster said. “We calls “work-based learning.” The college has an
“As businesspeople,” Zimmerman said, “we “He said, ‘you need to add quoting to the need to encourage, promote and provide the type online job board, called Penguin Jobs, where
have to partner with Clark.” curriculum—and I’ll help teach it,’” of culture that is going to create entrepreneurs, students can browse opportunities. And the
Zimmerman recalled. which is going to create businesses which is career services office can help students find
going to create living-wage jobs. ” opportunities beyond those listings, too.
Entrepreneurial culture For Zimmerman, that moment highlighted what
can happen when local businesspeople partner “There’s so much possibility… I tell
At first, someone from the college contacted
with Clark. Experts in their industries can ensure Family interest students, ‘we can try to make this look
Zimmerman and asked if Simplex would like whatever you want. It might
that Clark students receive a comprehensive and Mark Zimmerman shared his Clark experiences
be interested in having interns from the require some work, you might
relevant education so they’re qualified to work over dinner. His wife, Sharon Zimmerman, had
school’s drafting department help draw up have to research organizations
after graduation. Businesses then provide jobs for her own personal experience with community
technical designs. and get
these graduates. And when local businesses find college. She went to a four-year university but
“They said, ‘we just want them to get some the well-trained employees they need right here at then she and Mark got married and had children.
work experience, you don’t have to pay them,’” Clark, instead of having to move people in from Ten years later, when Sharon Zimmerman
Zimmerman recalled. Zimmerman agreed to other areas, the region’s economy gets a boost. decided to go back to school, she enrolled in a
the interns, on one condition: he was going to community college close to home.
Zimmerman was introduced to Nathan Webster,
pay a fair hourly wage—about $12 an hour—to
director of the club Clark Entrepreneurs, who “The education that I got there was wonderful,
anyone who interned at Simplex. The decision
inspired Zimmerman to do more for the college. just a great foundation,” she said. “And I liked
was rooted in a firm belief.
He invited Zimmerman to participate in the club, that the other students were so serious about it.”
“You don’t work for free,” he said. as well as a second club, Aerospace. Many were older, like her. Even the students who
had recently finished high school were working your materials
It soon dawned on Zimmerman that he could Webster owns a marketing firm called N&W together.’ But that’s a
Associates, where he, too, has hosted Clark interns. part time and spending their own money on A Bell 212 helicopter
do more for the college—and get more in valuable experience in and of itself,”
Webster said more and more industries are moving tuition, so they took their studies seriously. from the Ventura County
return—than host interns. One of his suppliers Haakonstad said. Sheriff’s Department in
mentioned having difficulty finding skilled away from unpaid internships. Particularly for a After an introduction from Mark, Sharon Calif., using a Simplex 304
machinists in the area. Zimmerman reached community college like Clark, paid internships Zimmerman connected with the college She added that community members like Fire Attach system in 2010.
out to a handful of community colleges in and offer equity, as many students can’t afford to work and began meeting with groups of students. Sharon Zimmerman have a lot to offer Clark Photo courtesy of Mark
without pay, according to Webster. students by meeting with them and talking Zimmerman
around Portland that taught machining. Her professional background is in municipal
engineering, which means she often works on about their careers. In fact, Haakonstad said that
“Clark was the only one I heard back from,” “And a lot of Clark students already have skills,” finding individuals like Sharon Zimmerman who
he said. “Many of them have been displaced from projects that people don’t even realize require
he said. will sit down and meet with a curious student
other jobs and they’re training for new careers but engineers—city parks, roads, sewer systems.
When she spoke to Clark students, she made can be more difficult than finding specific
Zimmerman invited his colleague to join him they already have work experience.” internships or companies.
on a tour of Clark, where the person noticed sure they knew of the broad spectrum of
that Clark’s machining program didn’t train Webster said that partnerships with local engineering careers.
“It could be a job shadow or an informational
students on quoting or estimating the cost businesses are a win-win for the college and for the interview, it doesn’t always have to be a formal
local economy. He pointed to Clark’s Nursing and “My interest is in trying to inform and educate
of a job. internship,” she said.
Dental Hygiene programs as model departments people about what the engineering profession
Continued on next page
10 | feature essay | 11
Inspired to give like to have the Clark College students take
The heartbeat goes on
advantage of that.”
When Mark Zimmerman first connected
with Clark College, he decided he wasn’t Mark Zimmerman is finding new ways to
going to give a donation. connect with Clark, too. Last year, Simplex sold
again and while Zimmerman still does some
“What I would rather do is give an consulting for the company, he puts most of his
energy into his own startup, Centaur UAS. The
Reflections on my five years at Clark College Foundation
opportunity to students, give them a leg up,”
he said. company is designing multi-mission aircraft— by joel b. munson
helicopters that are big enough to do something
F
But the Zimmermans eventually decided to like deliver COVID-19 vaccines or help with
give money to the college, too, as they heard construction that can be controlled remotely,
ive years is a long time to In my years of working for five other universities
about other ways to support students. as drones. As Zimmerman launches this next
remember anything clearly. But, I and colleges, I had never heard community
venture, he wants to reboot his internship
“We heard about some of the struggles that do remember that day, like it was leaders describe their institution in such
program with Clark.
yesterday. corporeal terms. Sure, I heard them referred
My interest is… some students have today, like deciding
to as a key cultural and educational center, an
between eating and going to school,” Sharon “I want to do it again but I want to do it more
I was interviewing for a leadership
informing and Zimmerman said. “That just floored me.” holistically,” he said. “As a business, I need
position at Clark College Foundation. It was a
intellectual hub or even a lab for economic
trained people that are thinking about the future. development, but never in such indispensable—
educating people She added that she felt compelled to donate They need skills to do what they need to today
typical Vancouver, Wash., winter afternoon. The even biological—terminology: the heartbeat of
money because she was impressed by specific air was damp and what sunlight did exist behind a community? I was experiencing something
but their mindset needs to be, ‘What’s next?’”
about what the college initiatives, such as the Penguin the curtain of clouds was quickly receding. Still, fundamentally unique between a community
Pantry, which was founded to alleviate Mark Zimmerman has seen firsthand how the atmosphere was charged with excitement, and its college. Each partner was profoundly
engineering students’ food insecurity. That’s another thing for me at least, and I definitely had that so-far- and respectfully dependent upon the other, like
businesses can benefit from working with Clark.
so-good feeling after a full day of meetings and
profession is and Sharon Zimmerman said she gains from her Energized by his new business venture, he
campus tours.
a long-time romance that was destined to carry
connection to Clark College: inspiration. The looks forward to bringing in Clark students and on. The more I heard, the more I wanted to be
how critical it is to students inspire her with their hard work and getting them excited about their own futures—
My last interview was with members of the
part of this relationship.
determination. And the college inspires her whether they go on to work for Centaur UAS or
our economy, our with its creative solutions. elsewhere.
foundation’s board of directors, and I was looking
forward to it very much. After 25 years in higher
transportation and Sharon Zimmerman is still finding new “You’ve got to be constantly changing and education, I had come to understand that there’s “If you get this job, Joel, you’ll soon
ways to give to the college. She was recently a lot to learn about a nonprofit organization
our public health. elected president of the Washington
adapting to the future or you’re out of business,
you just don’t know it yet,” he said. “It’s a process from its key volunteers. This interview would learn that Clark College is the
Society of Professional Engineers. She said of continuous improvement.” prove to be more revealing than I could have
– Sharon the organization offers a $5,000 annual
____________________________________
anticipated thanks to the insights of Nanette heartbeat of this community.”
Walker, Clark College alumna and daughter of
Zimmerman scholarship specifically for community college
Lily Raff McCaulou is a journalist whose one of its most renowned professors, Dr. Antonio
students transferring to a four-year university
to finish their engineering training. writing has appeared in The New York “Chick” Scarpelli. – Nanette Walker ’75, Clark College
“It’s something that we don’t always get a
Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian and
A successful businesswoman and long-time
Foundation Board of Directors
Rolling Stone. She lives in Bend, Ore.
lot of applicants for,” she said, “and I’d really Visit her online at www.lilyrm.com. donor to the institution, Nanette and her
family had established a significant endowed
scholarship in honor of their father. The fund After I took the post, it didn’t take me long to
PANDEMIC TIMELINE see what Nanette and the others were saying
will continue to generate financial assistance for
generations of students to come. to me during the interview. Now, after more
The 2019-2020 than five years of helping to lead the largest
Outstanding and Clark holds virtual When I asked why she and her family had fundraising campaign in the 88-year history of
Rising Star Alumni commencement
recipients are for first time. 2,500 decided to make this extraordinary legacy gift, the college, I truly understand the relationship.
announced. graduates Nanette replied with a statement that she had
locked and loaded. Equally important, I’ve come to recognize
how critical Clark College Foundation is in
APRIL 23, 2020 JUNE 3, 2020 JUNE 12, 2020 JUNE 25, 2020 “If you get this job, Joel, you’ll soon learn strengthening the link between the people of our
that Clark College is the heartbeat of this community and its notable college. And while
For the fourth community,” she said with confidence and pride. it’s true that most community colleges have some
Clark alumnus Alexis Madrigal year, CCF awarded
speaks about his seminal work “It’s up to Clark College Foundation to make kind of foundation or fundraising component
$1 million in
tracking COVID-19 data during scholarships to sure that heartbeat goes on.”
a virtual event hosted by Clark students.
alumni relations.
Continued on page 20
Watch the entire interview online. Visit YouTube.com
12 | feature and search for Clark College Foundation. feature | 13
topsoil and decimating fragile ecosystems,” overpopulation, job growth,
Hayes told the Camas-Washougal Post-Record alternative energy sources
newspaper in 2015. and socially conscious
corporations. He also
Those formative years left an indelible mark suggested ways Clark students
on the future environmentalist. Later, when can make a difference in the
he enrolled at Clark College in Vancouver, he climate.
recalls how his instructors helped him ignite his
inquisitiveness and harness his enthusiasm into In the years following that
critical thinking. first ambitious Earth Day, a
rapid succession of legislation
“Some of the teachers that I had at Clark were as unanimously voted in at the
Creating
superb as any teachers I encountered anywhere. federal level—clean air, safe
They took a real interest in their students [and] drinking water, endangered Denis Hayes speaking at the
took a real interest in me. I started to ask a whole ellipse on the National Mall in
species acts, marine mammal conservation act, Washington, D.C. in 1970.
lot of probing questions about the assumptions
super
toxic substances control act—put in place the
I had taken on faith before then. It was the first framework around new corporate behavior.
part of my intellectual awakening.”
There was a long dry spell following those laws,
green
Stanford Law School and Harvard Kennedy but in recent years, there has been an uptick in
School followed. But, it was the hitching trip corporate responsibility around the environment,
across Africa and the Middle East that proved to with a particular focus on sustainability.
be his clearest compass bearing. Companies want to endure for the next 30 to
cities
50 years; to do that, they must improve their
Super green cities behavior to survive.
The year 1970 was significant for Hayes. On “Microsoft pledged it’ll be net-carbon neutral by
April 22 of that year, the first Earth Day was 2030, and by 2050 it will be sufficiently carbon
by rhonda morin negative—that means it will have taken out of “Live the values
held bringing an estimated 20 million people
the atmosphere as much carbon as it has put
together and launching a cohesive environmental
into the atmosphere during its entire corporate
you proclaim
movement from what had been disjointed
Clark College alumnus Denis Hayes is CEO of the conservation group Bullitt Foundation. Photos courtesy of Denis Hayes
groups of random activism. Hayes was the lead existence,” said Hayes, citing one example. so you’re more
W
Denis Hayes ’64, organizer behind the Earth-friendly event. What
started as a teach-in that he was organizing for
Another is General Motors, which dramatically motivated
inspirational hen Clark alumnus Denis moment, he came to understand that humans reversed course from a 2020 lawsuit that
Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, turned into a
Hayes was in his early 20s, live inside ecosystems just like all other animals, supported undercutting clean air and greenhouse yourself to give
organizer of the he went on a quest to find but with a central difference: people had tapped global affair.
gas obligations put in place by California.
first Earth Day, his calling, hitching around into cheap, abundant energy that allowed us to “What we did on that first Earth Day was to Now GM has committed to producing no cars it your all.”
the world for three years. take advantage of and abuse the Earth. Because take all those individual strands and weave them that use internal combustion or diesel engines
speaks at a Clark His adventures took him throughout Africa, of how we were using energy and extracting
from its west to east coast; throughout the it, the world in the 1960s was teeming with
into modern environmentalism,” he said. after 2035. – Denis Hayes ’64
virtual event about
Middle East, then south-southwest; and finally environmental problems. What followed that epic event changed the way “We’re talking about serious, fundamental
how the Pacific to Southeast Asia. the world thought about and interacted with corporate commitments coming from a few
Hayes, now 76, grew up in Camas, Wash., places,” he said.
Northwest can take the planet.
“It was a profoundly important period for where pollution from the town’s paper mill
the lead in building me. It was an awakening for me,” said Hayes, permeated his childhood. Hayes discussed this topic and many more
a 1964 Clark graduate and CEO of the during the virtual question-and-answer event in
Energy revolution
healthy human “Camas is in one of the most spectacularly
conservation group Bullitt Foundation in February called Creating Super Green Cities. One question from the audience asked about
ecosystems. Seattle, during a virtual event on February 23, beautiful and biologically diverse parts of Recent graduate Kenia Torres-Rosas ’20 and
the planet. But the mill filled the air with the effects of stable social living given the gulf
2021, presented by Clark College Foundation’s current student Justin Hymas asked Hayes between the rich and poor. Hayes predicts
Alumni Relations office. unregulated poisons; it poured enormous questions submitted by guests before the event.
volumes of toxic effluent into the river; it the energy revolution will make fewer people
While on that journey, he had ample time to mowed down the surrounding Douglas fir and entities wealthy. Each of humanity’s
Hayes talked about the intersections between
think about his future and the effects humans forests in devastating clear cuts, losing rich revolutions—agriculture, industrial, digital—has
creating super green cities and being homeless,
were having on the planet. At one pivotal
Continued on page 22
14 | feature feature | 15
Clark alumni play active role in local,
national eco-friendly efforts
E
llen Ives especially loved putting “Everyone needs to know how much waste Left, Ellen Ives ‘00 in her virtual
on the safety glasses and smashing we produce in Clark County and the massive classroom in 2021. She’s a
empty apple-cider jugs against effort involved in transporting it to dispose of waste reduction specialist
the wall. As a high schooler in it—250 shipping containers totaling 7,750 tons and environmental educator
the early 1970s, every Saturday of garbage every week. About 30 percent coming with Waste Connections of
Washington. Right, front,
she went to the reclamation center her mother in as recycling is garbage, because not everyone Ives with her colleagues in
started and ran in Naperville, Ill., and helped has learned what’s recyclable. We need to change an actual classroom in 2018.
sort the glass, cans and newspapers that people what we do on a daily basis to reduce that vast Photos courtesy of Ellen Ives
brought to be recycled. amount of waste,” said Ives, who received the
2018 Green Medalist Award for Outstanding
“I’ve been an environmentalist ever since,” said Community Leader from EarthGen, formerly
Ives, a 2000 Clark graduate. As a waste reduction known as Washington Green Schools.
specialist and environmental educator with
Waste Connections, in Vancouver, Wash., she EarthGen partners with K-12 educators and
gives presentations to residents and organizations communities to involve youth in environmental
on waste reduction, recycling and composting. activities, solidifying their commitment as
Mostly, she teaches K-12 students and those they work together toward a EarthGen School
in post-secondary such as community college certification. In the 1990s, while Ives and her
students, about these topics as part of the Clark husband were raising their three children,
County Green Schools (CCGS) program with she first volunteered at Sarah J. Anderson
the county’s 130-plus public and private schools. Elementary School in Vancouver, teaching
kids about recycling; she later worked there
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the part-time as a staff assistant. Aiming for a
program’s Waste Audit project had students teaching certificate, she began taking Clark
sifting through a day’s worth of school refuse, education classes.
noting the types and amounts, to launch
recycling and waste-reduction campaigns. At “I had incredibly good instructors with whom
school cafeterias, Ives demonstrated how sort I was always talking; they listened and were
tables let kids separate their trash from recycling, interested in what I was learning, and instilled
and leave room for their untouched food to in me a love for that,” said Ives, who felt inspired
be shared with each other. She also pushed to to emulate them. With her associate degree in
reduce plastic and disposables, and replace milk education, she transferred to Washington State
cartons with dispensers. Now, because of the University Vancouver and graduated summa cum
pandemic, Ives’ classes are all online, and field laude with a bachelor’s in education in 2002. She
trips to the West Vancouver Materials was 48 years old.
by Claire Sykes
Recovery Center happen on Google Earth,
instead of in person. Continued on next page
16 | feature feature | 17
frequently reviews stormwater-runoff data and my own education.” Running Start allows high
Marquis Mason ’14
is a climate justice
proposed environmental regulations. He turns school juniors and seniors to take college courses.
community organizer at the information he learns into videos, webinars,
Citizens for a Healthy Bay podcast interviews and infographics on the toxic After high school and one quarter at Clark
in Tacoma. He regularly contamination of Tacoma’s Commencement studying anthropology and social science, Mason
organizes and participates
Bay and South Puget Sound. All this helps received his associate transfer degree focusing on
in demonstrations for the social sciences, before heading to Western
environmental justice.
inform the people Mason mobilizes to testify at
public hearings. Washington University’s Fairhaven College.
Photos courtesy of
Marquis Mason
“I try my best to reach and engage the “I hit the ground running; I knew what I wanted
young people in communities disproportionately to do with my life—to use my power and Major traffic
impacted by racism and/or economic privilege to make change.”
hardship, who are not yet involved in this corridors spew
Teaching kids kind of work because they’ve got too much on
He first got involved in activism and outreach as
their plates,” said Mason. “It’s time to pass
a student officer of Western Amnesty, Amnesty high carbon
While at Anderson, Ives started a Green start doing that, too. Use less International’s local campus chapter, which
Team of students, staff, parents and others to and reuse. Turn off lights, unplug your cellphone
the torch on to the people even younger than
he co-founded. While at Fairhaven, he served emissions
examine the school’s environmental issues and me, to get them ready to uphold the mantle from
charger when not in use, pick up litter, don’t let as an intern for a Bellingham environmental
arrive at solutions. This is the first step toward the water run. And urge stores and restaurants to
those from the 1960s and 1970s. We learned
nonprofit, helping with a statewide clean-energy
through black
becoming an EarthGen Certified School. so much about responsibility from them. As a
put those cookies in paper bags instead of plastic
young person of color, I see myself as a bridge
ballot initiative. He also worked as a professional and brown
clamshell containers.” organizer on the electoral campaign for former
“We picked up litter and staffed the school between generations.”
Lummi Nation Tribal Chairman Tim Ballew II, neighborhoods.
carnival to guide people to recycle and Ives sees climate change as the biggest threat, and for the youth-powered Our Climate.
That bridge extends to Mason’s 10 hours a
compost, among other things,” she said. and tells her students that the anguish they may
week volunteering with Sunrise Tacoma, a local
The people
“I enjoyed that and teaching, but as the feel can sharpen their awareness and propel them After graduating with a bachelor’s in
years brought more state testing, I saw to act.
chapter of the Sunrise Movement, whose goal
interdisciplinary studies (with a concentration who are hit
how it was reducing students’ love of is to stop climate change through advocacy of
in health promotion, advocacy and community
learning, and that was heartbreaking for “I’ll never stop trying or lose hope. As long as environmental justice and the Green New Deal.
engagement), Mason returned to Vancouver
the hardest are
me. I was also working 70 hours a week I’m here, I’ll always be working to make things As the local chapter’s political team co-leader,
better for the next generations.” he works on local policy, grassroots campaigns,
and worked as an engagement organizer for those on a fixed
and was exhausted.” the Oregon League of Conservation Voters in
legislative bills and with political candidates,
30% of the
while preparing young people for climate-change
Portland. He also volunteered with 350PDX, income, who
Ives decided to leave the classroom
recycling from
and instead took her gift for teaching
Bridge between strikes and direct advocacy.
a local chapter of 350.org, an international
can’t relocate
homes and
and respect for the Earth to Waste generations climate-crisis organization. There, he was
co-leader of the Black, Indigenous and People
businesses in “The environmental movement at its core is a when their
Connections. “Children know that our of Color Caucus, bringing struggles of Black,
Clark County is environment needs care and they want
The same goes for Marquis Mason ’14, a climate working-class one,” said Mason. “Major traffic
garbage. to do something, not just talk about it,”
justice community organizer at Citizens for a corridors spew high carbon emissions through Indigenous and people of color to the forefront community
Healthy Bay, an environmental nonprofit in black and brown neighborhoods. Chemical of environmental action. A year later, he landed
she said. “I suggest they choose one thing at Citizens for a Healthy Bay. floods.
Tacoma, Wash. In order to stay current on new pollutants spill into the aquifers, rivers and seas,
and let others know, and maybe they’ll
local permits and industries that pollute, he affecting tribal fishing. The people who are hit
Mason advises others on something he has
the hardest are those on a fixed income, who – Marquis
always done: “Pick a passion and run with it,” he
can’t relocate when their community floods. It
PANDEMIC TIMELINE becomes an issue of human rights. If we don’t
said. “Not everyone is going to be a climate or Mason ’14, a
human-rights organizer. ... Regardless of what
figure out the relationship between the economy,
you pick, it’s important to show up as yourself. climate justice
pollution and climate change, it’ll lead to death,
Six outstanding Baking, Cuisine
disease and an unlivable planet.”
I call it ‘radical candor’ and as long as we’re all community
faculty members professors and students rooted in community to the people who need us,
received the Clark begin handing out meals
we’re doing good work.”
organizer
College Exceptional
Faculty Award.
and treats to students
in need. Radical candor ____________________________________
Mason has always felt purpose toward people’s Claire Sykes is a Portland,
JULY 15, 2020 JULY 28, 2020 OCTOBER 20, 2020 OCTOBER 20, 2020 wellbeing, starting as a lifeguard and Red Cross- Oregon-based writer whose
certified babysitter in his teens. Being a Clark articles appear in Western
College Running Start student from 2012-14, Washington University’s
Corporations, Momentous milestones
foundations answer call reached at Savoring “made me the person I am today,” he said. “I had Window and Washington State
to help students during Excellence as it the choice and freedom to explore what made Magazine, among others.
COVID-19. Give nearly premieres live online. my heart beat and brain tick, so I could shape Visit www.sykeswrites.com.
$500,000 since March.
18 | essay essay | 19
GEOLOGISTS
WHO LOOK LIKE ME
Clark science professors are creating a sense of belonging in the
classroom and making their courses more welcoming to all students
by Michelle Stoklosa, Ph.D. Having a geologist that looked like me—a white Another I use is Earthquake Week, which occurs Professor Stoklosa’s class
traveled to the Columbia River
woman—as my instructor and mentor, made the last week of the term in Geology 101 at Clark
Gorge for a field trip in 2019.
it much easier for me to envision myself as a College. I think it’s better than Shark Week. This
A
s a kid, I had a mock classroom I started marking the insects with chalk on their Left, the geology professor
geologist. Today, I am a geologist and a full-time is usually one of the most animated weeks in my on the Owhyee River. Photos
set up in the basement of my backs so I would know if I had caught them
faculty member in the Earth and Environmental classroom. Many students have a story to share courtesy of Michelle Stoklosa
home with old textbooks, the previous night (and yes, I kept track of the
Science department at Clark College. about their earthquake experience. Others who
chairs with stuffed animals numbers). Years later when I went off to college,
have been quiet most of the term start asking
propped up in them and it was no surprise to my family that I decided to In 2021, the field of geosciences is still probing questions about earthquake risks. Still
carefully marked gradebooks on an old desk at major in biology. dominated by men—and mostly white men. others share their advice for preparing emergency
the front of the class. I don’t think then that My department colleagues and I feel strongly
I’m not a biology instructor, though. Instead, I kits. The topic is technical, yet it’s relevant to
my parents were surprised with my decision to that more students should be a part of this field
have been teaching college-level geology courses their lives, because here in the Pacific Northwest
become an instructor. since it is ripe with opportunity. We want to
for almost 20 years. How did I get from counting we are aware of the dangers of the next big
increase the number of students interested in Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Many of
I also enjoyed doing things outside—like fireflies to earning a doctorate in geology? In
our program at Clark, but also aspire to broaden the topics in my geology courses are as relevant
making mud pies, “saving” toads from the college, I had taken a few geology courses so
the participation to include more Latinx, Black, to students as earthquakes are, but I need to find
lawnmower and creating toad homes—while that I could have a minor on my transcript. An
Indigenous and other groups of people who are better ways to make other course topics just as
staying out late in the summers to catch instructor in one of my geology classes left a note
not well represented in this field. To do this we engaging to students.
We’re helping
lightning bugs (a.k.a. fireflies). At some point, on my lab exercises one day telling me that I was
need to find ways to create a similar sense of
doing well in the class. She also asked whether I
belonging in our classrooms as I experienced, but We are sharing our findings with our Clark
students develop a
had considered pursuing a career in geology. This
both surprised and excited me. My textbooks
for all people. colleagues and are looking to make even more sense of belonging
connections with our college and community
did not include many women. My colleagues and I have participated in a partners to strengthen our plan. I am grateful for in our classrooms,
National Science Foundation-funded project the expertise in Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity
called Supporting and Advancing Geoscience and Inclusion and their willingness to help us as well as reducing
Education at Two-Year Colleges (SAGE 2YC). work toward our goals.
We are part of a national cohort of faculty at the effects of
two-year colleges working together to develop Feeling as if you belong in Clark’s classrooms and
practices at our institutions that should lead to seeing instructors or classmates who look like you
stereotype threats.
broader participation and increased success of is an essential part of being an inclusive academic
students in STEM courses and field. environment. I am pleased to see more evidence – Michelle Stoklosa
that Clark is committed to closing equity gaps,
The project is helping us create a plan to and I am honored to be a part of this process,
increase the number, diversity and success of because I know it can work. Just ask college-
students in our program. We’ve been examining age me who felt recognized when her professor
our enrollment, exploring and implementing suggested she would do well in the geology field.
strategies to help students develop a sense of That made all the difference for me.
belonging in our classrooms, as well as reducing
the effects of stereotype threats. ____________________________________
Ensuring course content and activities are Michelle Stoklosa, Ph.D., is the chair of Clark’s
relevant to the lives of our students is one Earth and Environmental Science department
strategy we added into our courses. Another is and a geology professor.
talking about scientists from underrepresented
groups. We’ve got a long list of strategies to go
and our work is ever-evolving.20 | essay essay | 21
Continued from page 11 Promising Pathways fundraising campaign, Today, Clark College Foundation’s investments, To date, nearly 5,000 unique individuals and
transforming the foundation into one of the which include its endowment, property and entities have offered their voices and financial
most efficient and effective community college other assets, total $112 million. The foundation resources in support of Clark College by
supporting the main institution, it’s clear fundraising operations in the United States. has the fourth-largest endowment fund for donating nearly 20,000 gifts, totaling more than
that few colleges have a volunteer-governed, community colleges in the nation. $27.5 million to the current campaign. Nearly
self-funded foundation like Clark College The recipient of numerous accolades, Clark 60% of these donors are first-time contributors
Foundation. College Foundation has been recognized for its Then there are extraordinary people like or are giving at a higher level to Clark, an
quality publications, podcasts, alumni relations Tom and Jen Cook of Pacific Bells. They are undeniable sign that more people are choosing
Since its programs and special events. In 2018, the so committed to Clark College and its key to invest in Clark College’s amazing students,
inception in foundation’s CEO Lisa Gibert, received the role in the community that they generously faculty and staff.
1973, Clark National CommonFund Award for Leadership, contributed—as their first-ever gift to Clark—a
College the industry’s equivalent of an Oscar. The quarter of a million dollars toward the Tod and What is even more extraordinary is that many of
Council for the Advancement and Support of Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute. these philanthropic partners have continued to
Education (CASE) provides this recognition. give during a worldwide pandemic that has taken
In short, Clark College Foundation is seen as Vita Blanco decided to change her life. At more than a half-million American lives. While
an industry leader and is often called upon by the age of 37, she became the first person in there have been times over the last year when I’ve
other institutions and organizations to assist her family to graduate from college with an wondered how we will complete our ambitious
peer institutions to establish stronger fundraising associate degree in business. A grateful recipient $35 million campaign goal, I think back on those
footholds in their respective communities. of scholarships while at Clark, Vita learned wise words of Nanette Walker. I realize Clark’s
Clockwise from top, the meaning of “paying it forward,” even as she community will be there to see things through
alumna Vita Blanco, Indeed, when peers ask us how we have achieved continues to work on her bachelor’s degree at and support our deserving and needy students
former CEO Elson
this high level of respectability, the answer is Washington State University Vancouver. even during the most difficult times.
Strahan; board member
Nanette Walker; and
easy. While I would love to chalk up our success
professors Carol Hsu and to brilliant minds at work, the real reason is more Mentors Just like it has always done.
Tina Barsotti. simple and impressive: it is the people who make
up our community. There are dedicated academics like STEM Clark’s heartbeat goes on during poignant
professors Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu who social and political unrest—through leadership
not only contribute annually to faculty and transitions, strikes and protests, and difficult
foundation’s growth staff fundraising campaigns, but also mentor news headlines. With each student who
a group of young, enterprising engineering graduates or completes his/her/their coursework,
When we talk about these
students known as the NERD Girls (Not Even that heartbeat grows stronger and louder. It
individuals, we have to start with
Remotely Dorky). Tina, Carol and their students is resilient and it resonates across Southwest
Elson Strahan, leader of Clark
are slowly changing the face of the college’s Washington in a way that makes us smile, helps
College Foundation for 18 years
science, technology, engineering and math us feel proud and demonstrates just how much
in the 1980s and 1990s. Among
programs. And they are doing it with the help of we care for and about each other.
his many accomplishments
and successful relationships, community mentors and supporters who
care about diversity and creating opportunities As for my friend and colleague, Nanette Walker,
Elson worked with veteran board she’s as remarkable as ever: a constant reminder
member and donor Vernon Peterson for all students.
that I made one of the best decisions of my
Foundation to secure the largest gift in the college’s Finally, people like New York Times best-selling life when I said yes to her and Clark College
has secured and distributed history—$28 million from businessman Roy G. author and Clark alumna Marie Bostwick are Foundation all those years ago.
$76 million in donor funds and Andersen. paving the way for new and exciting authors to
endowment interest income to support emerge. Marie and her husband Brad Skinner, The heartbeat goes on.
educational programs, building projects, Keith Koplan, a local community leader and
retired business owner, recognized early on that established the Bostwick Gallivan Writing ____________________________________
faculty programs, as well as scholarships Award to acknowledge and support Clark
and awards. In fact, every year, the Vancouver needed a solid higher education
institution. The best way to do that was to secure students in the field of creative writing. Marie is
foundation provides more than $1 million Joel B. Munson is the chief
significant private investments. As a result, in one of numerous noted and successful authors
in scholarship funds to Clark students in advancement officer at Clark
the 1970s and 1980s, Koplan and others took a who found their start at Clark College.
need of support—many of whom would College Foundation.
likely drop out of school altogether without fledgling sum of donated funds and stewarded There are far too many Clark supporters to
this funding. them into one of the largest community college acknowledge, but I am constantly inspired and
asset pools in the country. emotionally moved by the hundreds, if not
Since 2015, community partners have thousands, of people I have met over the last
contributed, on average, more than $5 million several years.
per year to support Clark College Foundation’s22 | feature
Continued from page 13
triggered a great concentration of wealth for a
few in its wake. He doesn’t see the same thing
happening in what he calls the energy revolution:
how humans fundamentally change how we get
What is overlooked, he added, is that humans
need to embrace and invest in efficiency.
“The whole concept of waste as a source of status
YOUR LEGACY class notes | 23
our energy and how we use it once it’s extracted. has to somehow be abandoned. The fact of getting
from one point to another by driving a 2-ton
Sources like solar, geo-thermal or wind, which sports utility vehicle to transport a 160-pound
are modular and distributable, can be built person is just literally crazy. Much of the world is
small scale and distributed across society, getting away from that.”
making it unlikely that only a handful of savvy
entrepreneurs would benefit from the windfall.
Student ambitions
The endgame to the energy revolution,
There are many more fields of study pertaining
THEIR FUTURE
says Hayes, is to stop making materials
to the environment these days than when Hayes
from petroleum.
was in college. His advice for Clark students
“Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is design a interested in climate science is to look at studying
system that is not going to produce combustible ecological economics, environmental history or
plastics out of oil.” environmental law. Jay Gilberg ’78 understands the value of a quality
education. He received a scholarship when he
Furthermore, our energy production cycle Other advice he offers to students extends to us was at Clark. His two brothers and parents also
all: make responsible choices that reduce waste in
would become circular: produce energy, reuse attended Clark. For all it was a place to
it, recycle it and re-engineer it to keep it going. our everyday lives. This includes changing modes
of transportation, bringing food from home while
explore opportunities.
The aspiration is to keep products in circulation,
rather than combusting them, he added. at work or school, eating organic if it is affordable,
encouraging food services to compost or donate He returned to Clark in 2014 to volunteer with
The world is an energy fiend; it gobbles up coal, their excess food to those in need. the alumni board and now serves as its president.
oil, gas, wind, solar, geothermal and other sources In 2005, Jay established a life insurance policy
to power the services and support we humans use “The whole thing comes down to integrity. making Clark College Foundation the beneficiary.
each day. Hayes believes changes in behavior can Live the values you proclaim so you’re more
motivated yourself to give it your all and you’re In 2015, Jay and his wife, Monica, more than
drive down energy demands, making renewable
not a hypocrite.” doubled the policy. In time, it will provide for
sources like solar and wind more plentiful to
meet the world’s energy needs.
three named scholarship endowments honoring
____________________________________
his brothers and parents. Changing careers with three children was a
“By 2050, the world will be getting 90-percent-
daunting step for Amanda McConville. With help
Rhonda Morin is the editor Their annual gifts, matched by his employer, from Clark College, she set up a two-year plan to
plus of its energy from renewable resources, from
in chief of Clark Partners Northwestern Mutual, maintain the policy that earn an associate degree in accounting.
predominantly solar and wind, although we’ll
continue to produce a little bit more hydro than
magazine. will provide a legacy of scholarships to students, Encouraged by professors, she went further
we are today. We’ll be seeing more and more
like Amanda McConville. and is on her way to earning a bachelor in
geothermal, particularly deep geothermal, come “If my financial legacy plan can help students, applied management and a second associate
online,” he says. then it’s possible they will establish their own degree in marketing by next year.
prosperous and satisfying careers … and give
PANDEMIC TIMELINE
forward.” “I’m grateful for the scholarships I received; they
allowed me to work part time and take care of my
family. I’m building our future and showing my
Making Clark College Foundation a beneficiary
girls—Aspen, 14, Alexis, 12 and Aubree, 9—
Clark alumna to a life insurance policy, a bank account or
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Michelle Finucane, what can be accomplished with determination
receives Award for retirement plan is a simple method to
Excellence—highest
AARN, administers
and a good plan.”
honor for a donor.
the first vaccine in planning your legacy. Contact us for more tips on
Clark County.
legacy planning.
OCTOBER 20, 2020 NOVEMBER 23, 2020 DECEMBER 16, 2020 FEBRUARY 23, 2021 Hal Abrams, JD, LL.M
habrams@supportclark.org
360.992.2787
President Karin The webinar “Creating
Edwards appears on super green cities with
Vivian Manning, CFRE
the cover of Clark Clark alumnus Denis vmanning@supportclark.org
Partners magazine. Hayes” airs live. 360.992.2104 clarkcollegefoundation.orgYou can also read
