Heritage University Land Acknowledgement

Heritage University formally signed a Land Acknowledgement Statement on November 10, 2021, recognizing the Indigenous peoples as the traditional stewards of the land in central Washington on which Heritage is located, and the Yakama Nation’s enduring relationship with their territory. The statement, signed by tribal elder Kip Ramsey and Heritage University president Andrew Sund, marks the university’s first official acknowledgement of this connection. Maxine Janis, Ed.D., President’s Liaison for Native American Affairs, emphasized that the Land Acknowledgement Statement provides a consistent and official message of respect for the land. Sol Neely, Ph.D., associate professor of English at Heritage and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who helped write the statement, highlighted its role in strengthening ties with the Yakama Nation and promoting long-term actions to support Indigenous students.

Heritage University Land Acknowledgement Statement:

Heritage University Land Acknowledgement

STEM educators invited to STEM education empowerment event at Heritage University

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STEM educators invited to STEM education empowerment event at Heritage University

Toppenish, Wash. – Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instructors in the Yakima Valley are invited to attend “STEM in Action 2023,” an educators’ summit at Heritage University on Saturday, October 14, 2023. At STEM in Action, high-energy speakers and leaders in STEM education will empower and inspire teachers with innovative teaching methods, explore cutting-edge STEM resources, and engage with fellow educators who also share your passion for nurturing curiosity and critical thinking in students.

STEM in Action speakers include:

Joe Marquez – educator, technology leader and the Director of Academic Innovation for CUE. Marquez is also the co-host of the Sons of Technology podcast and YouTube channel.

Tyler Rablin – tech coach, educator, author, and presenter. Rablin is known for creating intentional technology integrations and assessment strategies that build a culture of learning.

David Stiner – Career & Technical Education teacher at Toppenish School District and education consultant. Stiner teaches computer science and graphic arts with a focus on getting students ready for the workforce.

Suzanne Depoe – Google test engineer. Depoe leads the way in expanding STEM studies for Indigenous students throughout the United States by bringing robotics programming to tribal communities.

STEM in Action 2023 is co-sponsored by Toppenish School District and Heritage University and will be held on October 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost is $40 and will earn educators clock hours. Lunch will be provided. Interested educators should act now, registration for STEM in Action 2023 closes October 9, 2023. To register, visit www.bit.ly/stemsummit23. For more information, please contact Barb Moses at bmoses@toppenish.wednet.edu or Maggie Dawson at dawson_m@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University to hold ribbon-cutting for campus food pantry

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Heritage University to hold ribbon-cutting for campus food pantry

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for “Eagles Market,” a new food pantry that will serve students, faculty and staff and their families. Eagles Market is in the Sr. Elizabeth Simkins Hall on the west side of the Heritage University campus in Toppenish. The ribbon-cutting will take place Friday, September 29, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.

Eagles Market will address food insecurity among students and their families. Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to nutritious food. Many college students face financial challenges and struggle to afford sufficient and healthy meals as they balance school, studying and family life. By establishing a food pantry, Heritage helps ensure that students have access to nutritious food especially when they are away from campus.

Corey Hodge, VP of Student Affairs at Heritage, said the food pantry can contribute to the overall well-being and health of students by providing regular access to nutritious food. “In a recent student survey, many respondents said having a food pantry would reduce the stress of having to find food and allow them to concentrate on their studies and help them do better in school,” said Hodge. “By providing a reliable source of food, Heritage and its benefactors show their commitment to support the well-being of students and foster an environment conducive to learning.”

Eagles Market is made possible through the generosity of the Kwik Lok Corporation in Yakima, Wash., and an anonymous donor in Washington state. The owners of Kwik Lok say supporting projects like the Eagles Market at Heritage University completely aligns with their mission that creates an inclusive culture that fosters innovation to increase the success of its customers and health of the planet. “One of the ways we walk our values at Kwik Lok is building partnerships to increase our impact in our communities. Our support of the Heritage Food Pantry is crucial in fostering a compassionate community where no one goes hungry. Together, we can make a difference, nourishing not only bodies but also the spirit of solidarity within our local community.”

The grants have also allowed Heritage to hire a food pantry coordinator who will oversee the operation of Eagles Market. Heritage has secured a relationship with Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) in Yakima to supply frozen, refrigerated, and non-perishable food items to the food pantry, where they will be safely stored and packaged for distribution.

For Eagles Market operating hours and for more information, visit heritage.edu/eaglesmarket.

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Heritage University to Host El Grito de Independencia Celebration in Commemoration of Mexican Independence Day

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Heritage University to Host El Grito de Independencia Celebration in Commemoration of Mexican Independence Day

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is delighted to announce its upcoming El Grito de Independencia celebration, scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This lively event will be held at the picturesque Toppenish campus, in commemoration of Mexican Independence Day.

El Grito de Independencia pays homage to the historical “Cry of Dolores,” a pivotal moment in Mexican history that ignited the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish rule. The re-enactment of this event will take place at 7:30 p.m. A distinguished representative from the Mexican Consulate in Seattle will lead the El Grito ceremony.

Promising an array of vibrant Mexican-style activities and games, El Grito will be an engaging affair for all attendees. The event will be animated by the dynamic hosting of DJ David Soto and the lively performances of Grupo Vico and folklore dance group Raíces de mi pueblo. Families can look forward to a multitude of attractions, including traditional Loteria games, engaging kid crafts, an assortment of food and beverages, captivating traditional dance performances, live music, and an informative resource fair.

The celebration will be open to the public, and admission is entirely free, reflecting Heritage University’s commitment to community engagement and cultural celebration.

For individuals and businesses interested in becoming vendors at El Grito de Independencia, there are still limited vendor opportunities available. To register as a vendor, contact Jennifer Renteria-Lopez via email at renteria-lopez_j@heritage.edu or phone at (509) 517-2040.

For media inquiries, please contact: Davidson Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University announces Fall 2019 Dean’s List

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Heritage University announces Fall 2019 Dean’s List

Toppenish, Wash. – The following are students who earned a place on the Heritage University Dean’s List for the fall 2019 semester. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must be full-time, matriculated undergraduates who have earned semester grade point averages of 3.5 or better.

Marisa Abarca-Perez, Kennewick	Brisel Acuna, Yakima	Gissell Aguilar, Sunnyside
Paulina Alcala, Yakima	Deyci Alejandre, Toppenish	Maritza Alvarez, Sunnyside
Yessyca Alvarez, Grandview	Yanett Alvarez, Yakima	Carmela Andrade, Mattawa
Eilee Andujo, Prosser	Ana Aparicio, Yakima	Adrian Araiza, Yakima
Rosalinda Arreola, Toppenish	Hema Balderas, Wapato	Yosi Barajas, Yakima
Michelle Barba, Union Gap	Anjuli Barragan, Toppenish	Maria Barrios, Union Gap
Grace Bennett, Kennewick	Sulem Bernal, Sunnyside	Alyson Blair, Kennewick
Jeanne Blakeman, Pasco	Abigail Bravo, Sunnyside	Chandler Brimley, Kennewick
Alyssa Buck, Mattawa	Jesus Buenrostro, Yakima	Ruben Bustamante, Toppenish
Daisy Bustamante Orduno, Granger	Roma Cantu, Toppenish	Jennifer Cantu, Prosser
Brooke Capetillo, Toppenish	Jenny Careaga, West Richland	Juan Castaneda, Toppenish
Marlene Castillo, Yakima	Leslie Castillo, Sunnyside	Andrea Ceja, Toppenish
Jocelyn Celis Torres, Wapato	Kevin Cervantes, Pasco	Jesus Cervantes Valencia, Yakima
Diana Chavez Cerda, Yakima	Maria Ciriaco, Toppenish	Noemi Cisneros, Wapato
Isaiah Cisneros, Toppenish	Ana Cisneros Chavez, Sunnyside	Karina Colin, Sunnyside
Yuliana Colin-Flores, Pasco	Madison Contreras, Pasco	Melissa Correa, Pasco
Esmeralda Correa, Pasco	Guadalupe Cortes, Wapato	Almarosa Cortez, Wapato
Estefani Cruz, Wapato	Vanessa Cruz, Pasco	Alondra Cruz-Valladares, Yakima
Ashley Davis, Naches	Xavier Day, Toppenish	Connie Delacruz, Yakima
Esperanza Delgado, Toppenish	Katherine Di Biase, Kennewick	Keila Diaz, Granger
Irvin Diaz Tapia, Yakima	Ginger Dingus, Kennewick	Chestina Dominguez, Toppenish
Amanda Donelson, Kennewick	Ashley Douglas, Yakima	Kaylee Drummond, Richland
McKenzie Durand, Yakima	Taylor Ebbelaar, Grandview	Amanda Epler-Alegria, Kennewick
Jocelyne Espinoza, Yakima	Kaulin Everham, Kennewick	Sandra Feria, Grandview
Krisana Fernandez, Sunnyside	Artemio Flores, Toppenish	Erick Flores, Toppenish
Julia Flores, Toppenish	Zahira Flores Gaona, Yakima	Luis Garcia, Outlook
Evelyn Garcia, Wapato	Leticia Garcia, Granger	Esmeralda Garcia, Wapato
Jose Garcia, Wapato	Jacqueline Garcia-Hernandez, Outlook	Marlenne Garibay, Sunnyside
Dorothy Garwood, Prosser	Anahi Garza, Richland	Rigoberto Garza, West Richland
Enedeo Garza-Ramirez, Toppenish	Samantha Gilmore, Yakima	Irwin Godinez-Cruz, Toppenish
Lesly Gomez, Yakima	Tania Gomez, Pasco	Carmen Gonzales, Toppenish
Anayeli Gonzalez, Othello	Zoe Gonzalez, Prosser	Mariah Gonzalez, Toppenish
Noe Gonzalez, Toppenish	Sandra Gonzalez, Kennewick	Heather Gooss, Yakima
Kamimsa Goudy, Toppenish	Jason Grajales, Brownstown	Heidy Granados Lopez, Kennewick
Steven Greenwald, Richland	Anna Griffith, Kennewick	Shelby Groth, Selah
Sonia Guerrero, Toppenish	Yazmine Guido, Yakima	Kaylyn Gunnier, Zillah
Alexis Guzman, Pasco	Martha Guzman, Yakima	Yuli Guzman, Yakima
Anayeli Hermoso-Sedano, Yakima	Stephanie Hernandez, Wapato	Lizbeth Hernandez Islas, Yakima
Maira Hernandez-Gonzalez, Sunnyside	Paola Herrera, Kennewick	Ruby Herrera, Sunnyside
Bethany Herring, Kennewick	Pete Herron, Yakima	Tracie Hicks, Kennewick
Christina Holland, Kennewick	Samantha Horvath, Kennewick	Nansi Iniguez, Zillah
Guadalupe Iniguez, Zillah	Kaneeta Jeffery- Zack, Zillah	Leonila Jimenez, Toppenish
Zuzeth Jimenez, Toppenish	Samanta Jimenez, Pasco	Irene Jimenez, Toppenish
David Juarez, Yakima	Kathleen Kasper, Richland	Ekman Kaur, Kennewick
Wendy Kleppin, West Richland	Viktoriia Konko, Kennewick	Valentyn Konko, Kennewick
Julia Korotkov, Richland	Maria Lechuga, Wapato	Shiraz Lefeber, Pasco
Ilse Leyva Manzanarez, Yakima	Yovana Leyva-Carmona, Wapato	Andres Lima Elias, Othello
Mark Litka, Richland	Elvira Lopez, Toppenish	Yezie Lopez-Perez, Yakima
Kassandra Luna, Union Gap	Daisy Luna, Wapato	Jennifer Macias, Toppenish
Yareli Madrigal Luna, Pasco	Herminia Magdaleno, Yakima	Yaritza Maravilla, Toppenish
Elisa Mariscal, Toppenish	Natalie Martinez, Sunnyside	Alondra Martinez, Wapato
Dulce Martinez, Sunnyside	Daisy Martinez, Wapato	Andrea Martinez-Santiago, Toppenish
MaKayla Mathews, Richland	Christina Mattson, Richland	Stephanie Maybee, Selah
Judit Medina, Kennewick	Luis Medina, Zillah	Kailyn Mendez, Yakima
Debbie Mendez, Yakima	Miguel Mendoza, Toppenish	Andrea Mendoza, Yakima
Yesenia Mendoza, Mattawa	Guadalupe Mendoza, Umatilla	Jazmin Mendoza, Pasco
Stephanie Mendoza, Mabton	Valentin Mendoza, Grandview	Juan Mendoza Mendoza, Yakima
Alondra Mendoza-Gomez, Pasco	Diana Meraz, Tieton	Cassandra Mercado, Kennewick
Celine Michael, Yakima	Priscila Montiel, Yakima	Brenda Montoya-Roman, Yakima
Payton Moore, Richland	Shamira Moore, Yakima	Elizabeth Moreno, Yakima
Gabriela Moreno, Toppenish	James Muggli, Kennewick	Diana Najera, Union Gap
Susana Naranjo, Yakima	Joselin Navarrete, Yakima	Guadalupe Navarro, Sunnyside
Carrington Nevard, Richland	Edith Noriega, Sunnyside	David Olden, Yakima
Arlene Olea, Sunnyside	Meaghan Oliver, Richland	Elizabeth Orozco, Grandview
Kitzely Ortega, Pasco	Esther Osorio Rangel, Parker	Liliana Padilla, Grandview
Joaquin Padilla, Toppenish	Miguel Palma, Yakima	Yerim Park, Yakima
Marlene Paz, Kennewick	Yolanda Penaloza, Grandview	Ana Perez, Pasco
Hunter Perez, Kennewick	Eric Philipp-Petrick, Yakima	Allison Platsman, Sunnyside
Angela Ponce, Zillah	Ruby Prieto, Grandview	Kristina Prikhodko, Kennewick
Hunter Pryse, Yakima	Dennise Quebrado, Yakima	Maria Quezada, Grandview
Blanca Quiroz Marin, Prescott	Stephanie Rabanales, Sunnyside	Adrian Ramirez, Toppenish
Alexandra Ramirez, Yakima	Elizabeth Ramirez, Toppenish	Stephanie Ramirez, Pasco
Viridiana Ramirez, Pasco	Briceida Ramos, Grandview	Olivia Ramos Alvarez, Kennewick
Rosa Rangel, Connell	Anyssa Rebollero, Yakima	Rocio Regis, Toppenish
Araceli Regis, Toppenish	Karen Reyes, White Swan	Gloria Reyes, Granger
Juan Carlos Reyes Francisco, Buena	Anitramarina Reyna, Yakima	Makenzie Richardson, Selah
Viviana Rico, Pasco	Rosa Rios, Moxee	Morgan Roberts, Kennewick
Adriana Rodriguez, Kennewick	Marisol Rodriguez, Yakima	Lizbeth Rodriguez, Wapato
Cassandra Rodriguez, Grandview	Karina Rodriguez-Escalera, Yakima	Monica Romero Castro, Grandview
Leidy Rosales, Pasco	Eva Rosenow, Kennewick	Rosario Ruiz, Yakima
Milca Ruiz M, Richland	Ella Ryadinskiy, Kennewick	Rhonda Ryan, Richland
Ana Saldana-Carrillo, West Richland	Kathleen Sanchez, Toppenish	Jenny Sanchez, Toppenish
Katellin Santiago, Toppenish	Angelita Santillan, Pasco	Aiyh Sarama, Sunnyside
Danielle Sauceda, Pasco	Robert Schreiber, Yakima	Delia Serna, Sunnyside
Karly Serrano, Yakima	Ida Shock, Toppenish	Gabriel Sillas Ramos, Grandview
Yanna Slutskaya, Kennewick	Jeniya Slutskaya, Kennewick	April Smith, Selah
Jacob Snell, Kennewick	Daniela Solis, Yakima	Diana Solorio, Granger
Gerardo Soto, Toppenish	Maria Soto-Galvan, Yakima	Miriam Soto-Guillen, Wapato
Cody Stamper, Pasco	Anothony Stewart, Yakima	Nathan Thompson, Yakima
LisaLyn Tormey, Yakima	Maribel Torres, Richland	Yanet Torres, Zillah
James Torres, Grandview	Yoana Torres, Sunnyside	Brayan Torres Gutierrez, Sunnyside
Daisy Vaca, Wapato	Maria Vaca, Yakima	Maria Valencia, Toppenish
Jazmin Valencia, Yakima	Anakaren Valenzuela, Toppenish	Jacquelyn Vargas, Yakima
Maria Vargas, Sunnyside	Brenda Vasquez, Toppenish	Teresita Vega, Yakima
Angelica Vela, Yakima	Paola Villanueva, Sunnyside	Alejandra Villasenor, Kennewick
Citlaly Villegas, Wapato	Dawn Waheneka, Wapato	Tori Wapsheli, Toppenish
Whisper Weber, Yakima	Robyn Webster, Yakima	Morgan White, Kennewick
Devin Williams, Kennewick	Sara Wilz, Pasco	Miranda Yale, Brownstown
Sonja Young, Kennewick	Amarani Zamora-Portugal, Kennewick

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Seven-year accreditation reaffirmation reflects Heritage University’s commitment to higher education for all

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Seven-year accreditation reaffirmation reflects Heritage University’s commitment to higher education for all

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University President Dr. Andrew Sund announced two recent milestones that demonstrate Heritage University’s commitment to delivering higher education opportunities for all people of the Yakima Valley. The first, the reaffirmation of Heritage University’s accreditation by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for another seven years, and the second, the adoption of a board-approved strategic plan for the University’s growth and continuous quality improvement through the year 2022.

Accreditation is a process of recognizing educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. Eight accreditation evaluators visited Heritage University for five days in early April to review the institution’s seven-year self-evaluation report. Following their visit, the evaluators commended Heritage in five areas:

The deep commitment of its faculty, staff, and administrators to the mission of the University, which guides them in outstanding support of transformative, student-centered education, developing leaders who embrace social justice and community engagement.
Its dedicated, data-driven efforts to support student access and equity, as exemplified by the summer Math Bridge and English Academy programs that have enabled hundreds of students to advance from developmental to college-level study.
The Center for Intercultural Learning and Teaching’s (CILT) dedication to the delivery of high quality and continuous faculty development in areas of program review and assessment, the use of classroom technology, cultural responsiveness and care of students, and pedagogy that supports academic excellence for all students.
The culture of assessment among its professionally accredited undergraduate and graduate-level majors and programs.
Its Board of Directors for advancing the mission of Heritage University through its strong leadership, engagement, advocacy, philanthropic support, and discerning recruitment of new members to the Board.

In a letter to Dr. Sund reaffirming Heritage University’s accreditation, NWCCU President Sonny Ramaswamy stated “The NWCCU is committed to an accreditation process that adds value to institutions while contributing to public accountability. This action was taken after consideration of the evidence, including the institution’s Self Evaluation Report, the Peer-Evaluation Report, and information received as part of the institutional representative meeting with NWCCU Commissioners.”

Dr. Sund represented Heritage at the NWCCU Commission meeting in Park City, Utah last month at which the Chair of the visiting team officially presented her report to the Commission. “I am happy to report that the commission accepted the report of the visiting team with no additional comments. It is a reflection of our faculty and staff’s ongoing commitment to achieving the Heritage mission and that we meet the Commission’s expectations for complying with the accreditation criteria,” said Dr. Sund. “The accreditation renewal reinforces our conviction in the Heritage mission to empower a multi-cultural and inclusive student body to overcome the social, cultural, economic and geographic barriers that limit access to higher education embracing a transformational student-centered education that cultivates leadership and a commitment to the promotion of a more just society. We will continue to support the initiatives that made the university what it is and develop new programs that are responsive to the needs of students and the Yakima Valley community we serve.”

Recent initiatives demonstrating the University’s commitment to the valley include:

Strengthening the University’s relationship with Yakama Nation: This year instituting the Full Circle Scholarship which allows enrolled members of the Yakama Nation to attend Heritage with no out of pocket expense for tuition.
Reinforcing alliances with both Yakima Valley College and Columbia Basin College to make seamless the transfer process for their students.
Adding the Heritage@Work, workforce development unit, to enhance training and development opportunities for local industries in preparing their employees for increasingly challenging positions within their organizations.
Enhancing the University’s partnership with Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) through shared programs including the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) and the Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA): Both preparing graduates to succeed as innovative leaders in the delivery of healthcare in the Yakima Valley and nationwide.
Developing closer ties with Valley High Schools: Students can participate in the University’s “New Horizons” program that allows their students to earn college credit while still in high school at no cost; and establishing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Yakima School District (YSD) to become the primary provider of free college credits for College in the High School classes for YSD’s A.C. Davis and Eisenhower students.

The Strategic Plan adopted by HU’s 30-member board of directors in June lays out a roadmap for growth and continuous quality improvement at Heritage through December 31, 2022. The initiatives embraces are directed at growing the offering of services to students. These include implementing programs to meet the transportation, health resources and nutritional needs of students; completing a feasibility study on having on-campus housing; and implementing a sports program. “I’ve been blessed to work with faculty and staff who are dedicated to designing programs that further our mission,” said Dr. Sund. “Thousands have trusted this institution to transform their lives through their Heritage experience, and our strategic plan and renewed accreditation only embolden our intention to do just that.”

In addition to regional accreditation of the University, several programs at Heritage are accredited by accrediting bodies responsible for certifying competency in specific programs. They are as follows:

Medical Laboratory Science: The MLS program at Heritage is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Lab Sciences (NAACLS).

Education: State of Washington approval through the Professional Education Standards Board (PESB) has been granted to the following education programs: Residency Teacher; and Residency Principal/Program Administrator.

Nursing: The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Heritage University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. It is also approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.

Social Work: The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) effective with the class of 1997. The program was re-accredited in 2019.

Physician Assistant: At its September 2018 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) extended Accreditation-Probation status for the Heritage University Physician Assistant program until its next review in September 2020.

For more information, contact David Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Bountiful Giving and Grateful Hearts

Nearly three-quarters of a million dollars! That is what Heritage’s generous donors contributed to support student scholarships in a single night at the 33rd annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner.

“Scholarship Dinner is one of the most magical evenings of the year,” said David Wise, vice president for Advancement. “I say this all the time; Heritage is truly blessed with some of the most gracious and generous friends and donors. The work we do here at this university simply would not be possible without their continued commitment. Some of our most ardent supporters come year-after-year, for 10, 20 even 30 years in a row, to be part of this great event that celebrates our students and ensures that they, and future generations of students, can access a quality college education here in the Yakima Valley. Their commitment to this institution and our students is truly heartwarming and humbling.”

The event brought 250 people to the university campus on the first day of June, and raised a total of $742,275 in gifts that came in through a combination of sponsorships, table sales and paddle raises. This brings to the total raised since its inception to more than $7-million.

“One of the things that makes this so beautiful is who is giving,” said Wise. “Most universities have a deep alumni base that stretches over many generations, and their alums are by far their greatest source of contributions. Heritage is a young institution. We do not have that same luxury. Our donors are, for the most part, complete strangers to the students in whom they are investing. They give to Heritage, to our students, because they believe in the power of education, in the ability of Heritage to deliver that education, and in our students’ capability to succeed, graduate and make a real difference in the world.”

The event, with its gourmet meals, fine wines and attention to details, has a reputation for being one of the premier dinners of its kind in the Yakima Valley. Local favorite Gasperetti’s Gourmet Restaurant catered the four-course meal, and O Wines and Columbia Crest provided the wine. An original piece of artwork by Central Washington artist Rich Kimura—a work created from folded vintage fruit labels that is a cross between origami and a kaleidoscope image—set the feel for the evening. And of course, the students themselves take the starring role, hosting the evening and sharing their stories with the guests.

Board members Rick Linneweh and John Reeves.

The night’s grand total: $742,275 raised!

Guests raise their numbers high to make their gifts during the paddle raise at the end of the evening.

Recent graduate Shelby Clark, B.S.N., Nursing, shared a bit about her journey and the importance of scholarships.

Vice President for Advancement David Wise leads the paddle raise.

Dr. Andrew Sund and his wife, Norma Chaidez raise their paddles to support scholarships.

Bertha Ortega, Senator Curtis King, Ester Huey

Jim Barnhill sports his Heritage jersey emblazoned with his Boy Scouts number and Scholarship Dinner paddle raise number.

Retired Rep. Norm Johnson and Sharon Young

All Nations Student Powwow

Heritage freshman Candice Chief Scabbyrobe dances in the women’s jingle competition.

The gloom of an early spring storm couldn’t keep away serious powwow dancers and singers who came out for Heritage’s 3rd annual All Nations Student Powwow in April. More than 500 people came to the campus for the one-day event, which featured drumming, singing and dance competitions, as well as storytelling, a stick game and wápaas (basket) weaving demonstrations. And of course, vendors selling everything from Indian fry bread tacos to hand-crafted jewelry to blankets and t-shirts filled the grounds.

This is the third year that Silas Martinez has competed at the Heritage powwow. Here he is dancing in the boys junior traditional competition.

The powwow is hosted by the university’s two Native American student organizations, the American Indigenous Business Leaders of Heritage University (AIBL) and the Heritage University Native American Club (HUNAC). Student volunteers plan, organize and host the event.

“The powwow affirms our community’s place on our campus. We can celebrate our culture while also sharing it with our larger Central Washington community,” said Keegan Livermore, HUNAC president and powwow organizer.

Chris Paul Jr. was one of the many who entered the hand drum singing competition.

Dancers of all ages competed in men’s and women’s traditional, fancy, grass and jingle dance competitions—from tiny tots (children who are under five years old) to adults over 55. Kids 17 and under competed in the Stan Strong Special, which was hosted to bring awareness to suicide prevention. During one particularly meaningful special dance, a crowd of men, women and children — some in regalia and some in street clothes — danced around three featureless mannequins dressed in red. The REDgalia blanket dance raised money and awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women in the Yakima Valley and beyond.

Competitors in full regalia joined the grand entry into the arena to start the day.

The drum group Chute #8 served as head drum for the powwow. Heritage University board member and long-time supporter Arlen Washines, deputy director for Yakama Nation Human Services, was the master of ceremonies for the third year running. Karen Umtuch was the whip woman for the second year in a row. Caseymac Wallahee served as the arena director. Toppenish Longhouse catered the evening meal. The event was sponsored by Yakama Legends Hotel and the CIA Recruiting Program.

Ashley Crossing-Horse competes in the women’s traditional category.

Jason John dances during one of the inter- tribal dances between competitions.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So…get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss

For every Heritage University graduate, there is a book of stories— stories of challenges met, obstacles overcome, victories celebrated, and paths yet to be traveled. For some, Heritage is the launching pad into the job that will build into a rewarding career. For others, it is the start of an academic journey that will take them into graduate and doctoral studies.

Here’s where five of our Class of 2019 are heading now that this chapter of their life has ended. Oh, the places they’ll go!

MARIA VILLANEUVA

B.S., Chemistry

Throughout her undergraduate studies at Heritage, Maria took full advantage of the research opportunities that were offered to her. She studied human diseases at the University of Virginia and at Montana State University and plant diseases with the USDA in Wapato. What her experiences taught her was that she wanted to be on the patient care side of things in the health care field. Maria applied to the Washington State University Doctor of Pharmacy program and was one of only a handful of applicants accepted. She will start in the four-year program this fall.

SHELBY CLARK

B.S.N, Nursing

Ever since she was 10 years old, Shelby wanted to be a nurse, just like her aunt who served as a nurse in the Army. When she started at Heritage, her goal was to graduate and start a career as a flight nurse. However, after two rotations at Indian Health Services, she developed a passion for public health. Her advisor, Dr. Christine Nyirati suggested she apply to the University of Washington’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, Population Health Track. Much to her surprise, Shelby was admitted and will start in the program this fall. Her goal is to return to the Yakama Nation to work for her tribe to help improve the healthcare system.

JOHNATHAN SCHAB

B.A., Business Administration

Johnathan entered Heritage with the goal of graduating in just three years. Not only did he accomplish this goal, he did so with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

As part of his degree requirements, Johnathan completed a summer internship with Ramsey Companies, a family-owned conglomerate in the lower Yakima Valley. They were so impressed with him that they offered him a full-time position as a financial analyst after graduation. He started his career early this summer.

CASSANDRA GARCIA

B.S., Biology

Cassandra entered Heritage set on becoming a teacher. However, partway through her education she had a change of heart and decided to work towards a career where she could work with the animals that she loves. With her advisor’s help, she became a science major and created a plan to become a veterinarian.

Admission into veterinary school is notoriously competitive, with nearly 1,500 students clamoring for 133 seats at Washington State University alone. Starting this fall, Cassandra will be one of those lucky few who are joining the Doctor of Veterinary Science Class of 2022.

JHEYMY MERCADO

B.S.W., Social Work

Jheymy is passionate about helping people suffering from mental illness to live their best life. She completed her practicum working at Comprehensive Health Care and was hired by the company shortly thereafter. She is a case manager who works with incarcerated men who have been found to be unfit to stand trial, helping them to prepare for their legal proceedings. In addition to entering her career, Jheymy was accepted into the social work graduate program at Eastern Washington University. She will be a full-time grad student, and full-time employee starting this fall.

To see a special message from Johnathan, Cassandra and Jheymy about their time at Heritage and the importance of scholarships, go to heritage.edu/sdvideo.

Legal Eagles

Legal Internships Give Students Opportunities to Serve Their Communities

Last semester, two Heritage students took a different route to work than normal. In January, they began six-month fellowships at two local organizations, working with attorneys to get a sneak peek at what a law career might look like. The program is called The American Rural Communities (ARC) Law & Policy Fellowship, and it was launched last year as a collaborative between Heritage, Columbia Legal Services (CLS), Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and PopUp Justice.

HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE BUILDS STUDENT SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE

Senior Noemi Sanchez, a history major, joined Columbia Legal Services as an intern-fellow and junior Maria Rivera, who is studying criminal justice and history, joined the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. The non-profits provide legal services to underrepresented populations in the community. CLS advocates for laws that promote social, economic and racial equity for those in poverty, often through class action litigation. Northwest Immigrant Rights Project devotes itself to supporting immigrants through advocacy, legal services and education.

Maria Rivera at the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project in Granger, Wash.

During these internships, the students were mentored by practicing attorneys and gained practical, professional skills as well as learned about experiences other attorneys had in law school and in their careers – especially as people of color. In addition, the students promoted and were guests at a set of workshops called the Lunchbox Series. The series brought together experts in law and social justice who are advocates versed in the diversity and unique aspects of rural communities to share thoughts, provide guidance and answer questions.

The organizations maximized the students’ skills and their enthusiasm to dive in, introducing them to cases and tasking them with projects like conducting client interviews; gathering, organizing and cataloging research; and distributing information about resources through community outreach.

LIVED EXPERIENCE LEADS STUDENTS DOWN DIFFERENT LEGAL PATHS

Sanchez and Rivera learned about the fellowships from Kim Bellamy-Thompson, who is chair of the Social Sciences department at Heritage. “Both students see the need for social change in the community,” said Thompson. “I knew they would be interested in the fellowship.”

Thompson said she looked for juniors or seniors who have strong writing skills and even more so, have a fire in them, believing that action for these causes can lead to a change.

PIPELINE TO LEAD MORE LOCAL STUDENTS TO RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY

For her part, Sanchez was trying to figure out if law school was a must for her real career passion, public policy, which propels social justice through legislation. Rivera was certain law school was her next step, but she wanted more exposure to daily life as an attorney as well as more direction about proceeding to law school.

Senior Noemi Sanchez at Columbia Legal Services in Yakima.

Lori Isley, a directing attorney at CLS, said students like Sanchez are an asset to her organization and the community.

“This has been a very exciting collaboration,” said Isley, who was one of Sanchez’s supervisors and mentors. “One exciting part for me is developing a pipeline from our community into law school by providing context and connection and then having them come back and serve our community.”

Sanchez has been working on the organization’s Working Family Project, which focuses on the undocumented community and farm workers. This is a special interest for Sanchez because she grew up in a family of farm workers and she saw workers with untreated injuries or wage issues who were afraid to speak up for fear of losing their jobs. As a student who identifies as a queer and non-binary student, Sanchez is also passionate about advocating for LGBTQ inclusion in the schools.

“So many Heritage students bring lived experiences of the challenges faced by many in our community,” confirmed Isley. “Having them makes our work more effective. Their own stories are a source of power, and it helps them connect with others on the journey.”

Isley said Sanchez organized research and cataloged information requests so litigation could proceed more quickly and smoothly. She also helped elevate the organization’s community outreach by assisting Insley with visits to camps of H2A workers, using social media to locate and reach out creatively to people in Mexico for a case, and even recorded a Facebook video to explain a settlement in layperson’s terms. Community outreach actually proved to be one of Sanchez’s favorite aspects of the work.

“It’s been really exciting,” said Sanchez about their visits to the camps. “I love to connect with people and show them they are not alone. This means a lot to me because my parents and grandparents didn’t have access to these things.”

Sanchez is still planning to work in public policy, but she has decided that law school can equip her to do that, first at the city and county level, and later, she hopes, at the state level. “When I first came here, I was unsure about law school, because I’m so policy driven,” she said. “What I learned is policy changes can come out of litigation, so even as an attorney, I can still create change.”

NON-PROFIT ENVIRONMENT, CLIENT STORIES IMPACT RIVERA

While Sanchez was pondering the value of law school, Rivera needed no such confirmation. She had been single-mindedly pursuing the goal of earning a Juris Doctorate from the minute she set foot on the Heritage campus. She had taken two years off after high school and had worked for a law firm during that time, so she knew it was what she wanted. When she joined the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, however, she was surprised by how much she enjoyed the non-profit environment, something she admits she had never considered.

“There are four attorneys here working 100 cases, and they all have pretty big hearts,” said Rivera, who described the all-female office staff she worked with as nurturing, strong and persistent.

The fellowship dovetailed with Rivera’s long-term goal to practice immigration or criminal law in the Valley. She has a curiosity to know what makes people do what they do and for uncovering details that may prove someone’s innocence.

Rivera said her daily tasks were similar to a paralegal’s. She took notes, researched background information on immigrants’ countries of origin to document facts that could strengthen their cases for remaining in the U.S. Many clients had difficult lives before arriving in the Valley.

“I’ve taken the declarations of two clients so far,” said Rivera, who explained that it’s part of the immigration process. “They sit down with me and tell their stories about why they came to the U.S. many times, traumatic events have occurred, and it’s a process that results in the reopening of those wounds.”

As Rivera guides them gently through conversations that can take two or three hours, she tries to capture as much detail as possible while walking slowly toward topics that are painful for them. She believes it’s a privilege to be entrusted with their stories. “It’s not something I take lightly,” she said somberly.

Both Rivera and Sanchez now share the same goal – attending law school and then returning to the Valley to put their law degrees to work in their community.

Bellamy-Thompson said the fellowship would not be possible without someone willing to step up and fund it. Thankfully the Laurel Rubin Farm Worker Justice Project stepped in and provided all of the funding necessary. Isley shared that the project, which exists to make internships available to students interested in pursuing law careers that provide services to farm workers in Washington, has a long history of funding law school students, but this was the first time the organization supported undergraduates.

“We can do great things if we have the funding,” said Thompson, who hopes to offer the ARC Fellowship again to students in spring 2020.

“I can’t imagine not coming back to this community after law school,” concluded Sanchez, who is hoping to begin law school in the fall of 2021. “I just want to give back to the people who have given so much to me.”