Project NANO Showcase

Project NANO Showcase highlights projects by middle school students

Middle schools in the Tri-Cities area recently got the chance to present nanotechnology-related projects during Project NANO Showcase at The REACH. The Showcase is an event sponsored by the special outreach partnership between Heritage University in Toppenish, Heritage University at CBC as well as the Kennewick, Richland and Pasco School Districts. Research posters presented by several teams at the May 23 event in Richland, Wash. covered many aspects of nanotechnology.

The projects and their presenters included:

Charged with Pollen
Marie Curie STEM Elementary

Our Guinea Pigs Are Gone! A Forensic Mystery
Captain Gray STEM Elementary

Nanoethics: Just Because We Can, Should We?
Barbara McClintock STEM Elementary

Diatomaceous Earth
Chief Joseph Middle School

Dr. Bob Kao of Heritage University said every research team performed at an outstanding level. Participating teachers received a Foldscope microscope and kit for their classes as well as a free three-month subscription to Journal of Visualized Experiments, which was funded by a recent science education grant from the nationally and internationally recognized Society for Developmental Biology.

Recognizing Yakama Nation Treaty Day

New Heritage University holiday to Recognize Yakama Nation Treaty Day

June 8, 2018 marks the 163rd anniversary of the signing of the Yakama Nation Treaty of 1855, the treaty that formed the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Heritage University is commemorating this day by declaring a new holiday which will close campus. This new holiday will pay special tribute to the Yakama Nation whose homelands the institution is situated upon. Please join us in honoring this day by attending the various festivities planned at the Yakama Nation Tribal Headquarters on Fort Road.

Excerpt from the Yakama Nation Treaty of 1855

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the treaty-ground, Camp Stevens, Wall-Wall Valley, this ninth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and Fifty-five, by and between Isaac I. Stevens, Governor and superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory of Washington, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned head chiefs, chief, head-men, and delegates of the Yakama Palouis, Pisquouse, Wenatchsahpam, Klikatat, Klingquit, Kow-was-say-ee, Li-was, Skin-pha, Wish-ham, Shyiks, Ocehchotes, Ka-milt-pha, and Se-ap-Cat, confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and describes land lying in Washington Territory, who for the purposed of this treaty are to be considered as one nation, under the name of “Yakama,” with Kamiakun as its head chief, on behalf of and acting for said tribes and bans, and being duly authorized thereto by them.​

“College in the High School” for Yakima School District

Primary Provider of “College in the High School” for Yakima School District

Yakima School District (YSD) and Heritage University have administrators signed a memorandum of understanding that will make Heritage the primary provider of free college credits for College in the High School (CHS) classes for YSD’s A.C. Davis and Eisenhower students. YSD Superintendent Dr. Jack Irion and Heritage University President Dr. Andrew Sund signed the agreement at YSD’s administration office last month.

Chapter of the Year title at national AIBL conference

HU team captures Chapter of the Year title at national AIBL conference

The Heritage University American Indian Business Leaders team has captured the national title of Chapter of the Year for the second year in a row. Team members competed at AIBL’s 2018 Leadership Conference at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel in Chandler, Arizona late last month.

We congratulate the team for their outstanding performance!

People of the Big River 2018 field class

Participants wanted for People of the Big River 2018 field class

The Heritage University Environmental Science Program is now accepting students for the People of the Big River 2018 field class. The intense, two-week hands-on class takes students on a tour of the Inland Northwest and combines Western science with Native American Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and intergenerational cultural sharing. Students will meet with tribal leaders and elders as well as sciences and natural resources managers.

People of the Big River takes place July 7-22. If you are interested in participating, contact Jessica Black by clicking the button below.

Email Jessica Black

BSN Pinning ceremony

Pinning ceremony honors first graduating cohort of BSN program

Heritage University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program celebrated its first graduating cohort with a pinning ceremony last week. A pinning ceremony honors the students’ journey to becoming a nurse and marks the pivotal moment of their transition from student to full-fledged nurse.

The ceremony also featured a blessing titled “Blessing of the Hands and Hearts” as well as a lighting of lamps.

Pictures of the entire pinning ceremony are posted on the Heritage University Facebook page. Click the button below to see the images.

Pinning Ceremony Pictures

36th annual Commencement

Heritage University holds 36th annual Commencement ceremony

Heritage University celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s graduates during the 2018 Commencement at the Yakima Valley SunDome on Saturday. Three hundred twenty-five students received their degrees from Heritage this year.

Dr. Lori Alvord, the first Navajo woman to become a surgeon, served as commencement speaker. Student speakers included Jesica Alvarez as baccalaureate degree speaker, and Alfredia Thompson as master’s degree speaker. Colleen Sheahan, class of 2000, received the Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumni Award.

 

Pictures from Commencement are posted on the Heritage University Facebook page. We’ve also created a music video featuring commencement. Watch it by clicking the link:  https://t.e2ma.net/click/h97ijb/ht3khf/5nn3wd

Enactus captures 2nd place at Nationals

Enactus students capture 2nd place at Nationals

eritage University’s Enactus presentation team recently captured 2nd place in its league at the Enactus USA National Exposition in Kansas City, Missouri. Nearly 90 teams from universities and colleges from across the country competed at Nationals which took place in mid-May.

Team members Kevin Lopez, Anitramarina Reyna, Josceline Mora, Marcus Bravo, Yasmin Silva Sepulveda, Melissa Gomez and Omar Moreno delivered a presentation which focused on four Heritage Enactus projects aimed at helping the community.

The team also included information technology team members Miliset Bustamante and David Mance and were led by advisor Dioselina Verduzco.

Congratulations Heritage Enactus!

The Future of DACA

KCTS 9 and Heritage University co-sponsoring The Future of DACA: A Conversation with Attorney General Bob Ferguson

KCTS 9, the PBS affiliate in Seattle and Heritage University are collaborating to present The Future of DACA: A Conversation with Attorney General Bob Ferguson at the Yakima Valley Museum in Yakima, Wash. on May 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Ferguson will speak out on the legal challenges that aim to block the Trump Administration’s plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Future of DACA will also include video profiles of some local DACA recipients who will share their stories.

DACA allows the 800,000 undocumented young people known as “Dreamers” to live and work legally in the U.S. Washington has joined 14 states in suing to allow the program to continue.

Kimberly Bellamy-Thompson, social science chair at Heritage University said the university wants people to have a better understanding of DACA. “Part of the mission of Heritage University is to provide access and equity and promote community engagement. Our mission is to educate and share knowledge with those that seek to better themselves and their families,” said Bellamy-Thompson. “There are many people who are still unfamiliar with the immigration policy that established DACA in 2012.”

The Future of DACA is part of KCTS 9’s “Borders & Heritage” series highlighting immigration stories from the Northwest. Longtime KCTS reporter and Yakima Valley native Enrique Cerna will serve as program moderator. The event is free and open to the public. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis. To ensure seating, participants are encouraged to RSVP at kcts9.org/events.

For more information, contact Kimberly Bellamy-Thompson at (509) 952-7288 or Bellamy-Thompson_K@Heritage.edu.

Heritage University Hosts Career Fair 2018

An upcoming event at Heritage University will connect Yakima Valley job seekers with more than 30 employers. Career Fair 2018 is free and open to the public and will also allow participants to network with other professionals.

Career Fair 2018, a collaboration between WorkSource Yakima and Heritage University, will also help employers learn more about opportunities to host interns and work with academic programs at Heritage. Attendees interested in graduate-level social work programs will have the opportunity to meet representatives from Eastern WA University, Seattle University, University of Washington and University of Washington Tacoma.

Career Fair 2018 will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Smith Family Hall located in the Arts and Science Center on Heritage University’s main campus in Toppenish. Employers interested in participating in the event should contact Melissa Hill, interim vice president for Student Affairs, at (509) 865-0411 or hill_m@heritage.edu.