Penguin Chats Podcast

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Clark College is offering all its courses remotely and they will continue that practice through the fall. There is a great opportunity at hand: the chance to offer customized training and programs directly related to business interests as they emerge from a recession. Fostering relationships with local industry with fundraising goals in mind has never been more central. Listen to the podcast Challenges and opportunities to learn more about the effects the novel coronavirus is having on Clark College and philanthropy.

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Bronze Anvil Commendation winner from PRSA.

Bones were discovered on the grounds of a Yakama Nation post office. They had been there for years. Clark Outstanding Alumna and Washington state Rep. Gina Mosbrucker was motivated to act. Through legislation she co-authored, the state changed how it tracks missing and murdered Native American women and girls. This is a remarkable story about how this Clark alumna did something that no one else has been able to do in Washington—write and pass legislation to track missing and murdered Native American women and girls.

2020 Merit Award winner by PRSA Oregon

For almost a decade, hundreds of red dresses have been hung on college campuses and outside state capitols, from freeway overpasses and in front yards, all over the United States and Canada. Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, a 1988 Clark alumna, couldn’t get the images of them out of her head. The dresses symbolize and spotlight the thousands of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, did her part to help find them with two state House bills she co-sponsored and got passed in 2019. The painting below was the inspiration for the cover of Clark Partners magazine 2019 summer edition, which featured the story of Mosbrucker’s historic legislation.

“Prayers to Return Our Sisters” painting by Loretta Gould, 2019, Mi’kmaq artist and member of the Waycobah First Nation, Nova Scotia.

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~ U.S. Rep. Dennis Heck

Winner for Clark Partners magazines.

Washington’s education senator

Cattle rancher, lawmaker, teacher, education advocate and donor upped access for students across Washington.

You’re supporting the future of this world

Student leader Evans Kaame gives a stirring account of his journey from a homeless youth on the streets of a Kenyan city to a Clark College student.

Energizing career ambitions

Local philanthropists help Clark students avoid debt and stay in college.

New Penguins flock to fundraising campaign

The majority of donors—65%—giving to the Promising Pathways campaign are first-time donors to Clark College.

Sen. Al Bauer in 2018 with two of Clark students he supports through his scholarship, Patricia E. and Senator Al Bauer Transfer Scholarship Endowment, named after his late wife.

Washington Sen. Al Bauer, cattle rancher, lawmaker, teacher, education advocate and donor, helped change the face of education in the state of Washington in the 70s, 80s and 90s through his tireless efforts to reform the K-12 system and higher education. Listen to Bauer’s versions of behind-the-scenes politicking in the State Legislature, like how he and the Democratic caucus pressured corrupt colleagues to leave their posts. Bauer also reflects on pivotal moments in his long career, like how he paved the way for Running Start, a program allowing high school students to take college credits. The senator started down the path of education reform after having watched his students struggle to write simple sentences for essays.

Student leader Evans Kaame talks about his journey to Clark College from Kenya.

The most defining moments of our 2019 Scholarship Reception are in this edition of Penguin Chats, “Promising a world of dreams.”

In late October 2019, nearly 350 scholarship recipients, donors and family members came together for an uplifting afternoon of inspirational stories supported by the generosity of donors. Clark student leader Evans Kaame gave a stirring account of his journey as a homeless youth on the streets of a Kenyan city to a college student in Vancouver, Wash.

Left to right, author Linda Marie Gilliam, author and professor Debra Jenkins, Ph.D., and principal Lucy Estrada-Guzman before the panel “Begins with a Child” began on June 25, 2019. Photo by Erica Schwenneker.

Diversity and equity. Getting parents involved with their children’s learning. Dual language programs taking hold. Curriculum of humor. Three educators explore these and other timely issues facing early childhood education with passion, expertise and humor.

Featuring former Vancouver School District teacher Linda Marie Gilliam, Clark College Behavioral Sciences Division Chair Dr. Debra Jenkins, and Harney Elementary School Principal Lucy Estrada-Guzman. Three local educators came together in late June on Clark’s campus to discuss these and other issues. Listen to their ideas recorded before a live audience. Discover resources you can use in the classroom. Leave a comment on this page and we’ll connect you with the experts.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Clark College tapped an interim president on June 25 while it undertakes its first permanent presidential search in 13 years. Continuous decreases in state funding, drops in enrollment and demographic shifts juxtapose a community that believes deeply in the Penguin Nation, as evidenced in part, by a $35 million fundraising campaign that is more than half way completed. How will Clark select the next Penguin in Chief? Who has a say in the process? How can you get involved?

President Bob Knight gestures to the audience during his State of the College address in 2015.

2019 Spotlight Award winner!

There is no doubt that President Bob Knight is passionate about Clark. He’s spent the past 13 years building relationships with all the people who make up this community’s college. He’s retired now, but will likely be remembered for his dedication to students (“It’s all about the students”) and in particular,  one young man who faced a dismal future until he met Knight. How well do you know Bob Knight? How far is he willing to go for Clark students? You might be surprised by the answer.

The opinions and ideas expressed by individuals in these podcasts do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies or Clark College Foundation or Clark College.

Earl Frederick, right, with Paul Sperlich, a Clark cook.

Chefs Earl Frederick and Aaron Guerra have unique styles—such as cooking fried chicken low and slow, or special teaching techniques that help students understand the food experience. Both instructors use Clark’s guided pathways framework in the coursework. They are two of several accomplished faculty members in Clark’s Cuisine program. Promising Pathways: The Campaign for Clark College is seeking $2.3 million for the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Institute to support Clark employees and students. Listen to tricks of the trade and how you can get involved with Clark’s cuisine experience.

Chef Aaron Guerra in the McClaskey Institute’s kitchen.

Mitchell Jackson ’93 signs copies of his book “The Residue Years.”

Mitchell Jackson ’93 is an author and educator who is playing a part in the national discourse about race relations. His newest novel, “Survival Math,” focuses on immediate decisions that African American men make to stay alive, and the prejudice of appearances. He talked to Penguin Chats in 2018 before his new book was published. In this podcast, Jackson also talks about breaking away from a life dealing drugs to pushing words. Watch him talk about how Clark College prepared him for his writing and teaching career.

Listen to Mitchell Jackson read an excerpt from his new book “Survival Math.”

The opinions and ideas expressed by individuals in these podcasts do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies or Clark College Foundation or Clark College.