Body of Work – Wings Summer 2024

English major Millie Land loves a good romance. Stories with strong women, smart women living wonderfully rich lives. Stories of women finding love, adventure and happiness. They are the women whose wit and spirit carry them through adversity with grace and whose beauty turns heads whenever they walk into a room. In books, their appearance is described in detail— raven-haired or with golden locks, tall or petite, skin the color of caramel, ebony or alabaster. Their figures may be slender, athletic or curvy, but one thing they never, ever are is fat.

A smiling young blond woman pictured in a mirror frame

Millie Land

“In our modern-day Western society we hold a very narrow standard of beauty when it comes to body composition. Thinness is revered, sometimes to the point where unhealthy bodies are held up as the standard we all must strive to achieve,” said Land. “Fatphobia in media, literature and social media is prevalent, and this portrayal diminishes individuals whose bodies do not conform to these impossible standards.”

What started as a study for Land to take on during her first research experience through the Leadership Alliance at Johns Hopkins has turned into a passion project. She’s spent the past four years returning to her analysis, often called to it without the pull of a class assignment. Land was so drawn to her research that by the time she enrolled in the course where she would compile her senior thesis, she had already completed enough analysis to move right into her writing.

THE MAKING OF AN ACADEMIC

Land wasn’t a traditional college student when she came to Heritage. She graduated from Selah High School in 2014 and wanted to be a veterinary technician. She started in a vet tech program at a community college and worked at a veterinary clinic when a puppy’s tragedy during a routine procedure showed her the dark side of caring for animals.

“I knew it wasn’t for me,” she said. “I couldn’t stand the heartbreak.”

Land left the program and her job. For the next six years, she worked as a home health aid and tried to figure out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

“I knew I wanted to do something that I really loved. That I was passionate about,” said Land. “I’ve always loved reading and writing and decided I would find a way to make a career out of that.”

Land enrolled at Heritage and declared her major in English. At the time, she thought she would get a degree and a job in something like copywriting, marketing, or teaching, although she wasn’t sure that the K-12 setting was right for her. Then, she took an ethnic literature class and met Dr. Winona Wynn, the director of the Mellon Mays and Leadership Alliance programs.

“Dr. Wynn started talking to me about the programs and the opportunities I had after Heritage. She introduced me to the idea of getting my Ph.D. and becoming a college professor,” she said. “She made it all seem so obtainable.”

That summer, Land became a Leadership Alliance Fellow. She found herself at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. The experience required her to pick a research topic for that summer’s focus.

“I knew I wanted to do some kind of analysis on body diversity and representation in the media,” said Land. “It is something that is very personal to me. I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life and never saw anyone in the books I read or the programs that I watched that I could relate to.”

THE BRIDGERTON EFFECT

At the time of Land’s summer research experience, the historical romance series Bridgerton, based on a book series by Julia Quinn, was one of the most-watched programs on Netflix. Millions of people binge-watched the program, wondering with great anticipation who the mysterious Lady Whistledown could be. Among the cast of glamorous characters was Penelope.

“Penelope was the only character who was like me. She was plus-sized and was dismissed by all the others. They only saw her as the poor soul destined to live life as a spinster. Nobody saw her cunningness or expected that she was amassing this empire for herself.

“I decided my study would focus on this series, mostly through critical analysis of the books.” It was a decision that would shape the trajectory of her academic career.

When Land returned from her ten weeks in Baltimore, she was changed. Her experience had shined a light on what she always felt was a truth in literature and the media, but now she was armed with the skills to bring that truth to light with academic analysis and evidence.

“People have always been fascinated by the human body. But our modern-day vision is much different than what was historically revered. Before the 19th Century, depictions of beauty in the human form, particularly that of women, were once much more aligned with what most women look like. They were more voluptuous and rounder, with soft bellies, protruding breasts and full thighs. Thinness has only been the beauty standard since the mid-1800s.

“Today, when a fat woman is represented in literature, movies, television, and social media, she is often portrayed as lazy and unworthy of love or appreciation. She is the fat, funny friend or the villain. Or, if she is a central character, her story is about losing weight. She can find love and happiness only after she gets the weight off.”

The effects of this lack of representation are chilling, she said, particularly when considering youth and young adult literature.

“If children only see fat people represented in a negative light, or valued only when they lose weight, their perception of people with larger bodies is skewed. They are taught that fat people are unworthy of success or love and must accept the way society treats them until they fit the standard beauty model. Moreover, it gives those who are not fat permission to belittle and bully those who are and damages the mental health of larger youth who are told again and again that they are unworthy and invisible.”

THE CONTROVERSY OF SIZE

The study of the portrayal of plus-size characters in literature and popular media is a surprisingly controversial research area. Some point to an obesity epidemic in America and the adverse health effects of being overweight as a reason why fat people should be excluded from the media. Others scoff at the idea of the study of weight stigma being a legitimate academic pursuit. However, Land points out that the pitfalls of turning a blind eye to the issue are substantial.

“The lack of body diversity representation in our media is taking its toll on our youth. It can contribute to the psychological development of eating disorders and takes a toll on mental health.

We are seeing children as young as eight years old dieting because they think they are too fat.

“The pushback that comes when a fat person is in the public light is ridiculous. Including fat people in our narratives isn’t glorifying obesity. It is including a significant percentage of our world’s population and inviting us all to the table to share the full range of human experiences.”

The good news is that there has been some positive movement in recent years to build inclusivity around body size in the media. Larger artists like Lizzo top the Billboards. Shows like This is Us have plus-size characters in leading roles that don’t focus on their weight loss journey. Even Bridgerton, the series that started Land’s research, is bringing its fat character into a leading romantic role. Still, there is a lot more work to be done.

“Fat people are here. We have careers and families. We live rich and rewarding lives. We experience success and failure, love and heartbreak. Our stories are not diminished because of our body size,” said Lund. “The media has the power to change societal standards by addressing representation in all forms. I hope that as we become a more inclusive society, we see more writers and creators expanding their ideas of diversity to include people of size. Only then will we start to see some real positive change.”

This spring, Land’s research while at Heritage came to a head. She submitted her senior thesis. “I got an A!” she said.

She is now working with her professors to fine- tune her thesis so that it will be used as part of her graduate school submissions. She is planning on applying for Ph.D. programs this fall. Additionally, she is looking at several options for publishing her work in scholarly journals.

“I see my research progressing in so many ways once I move on to graduate. I can focus just on literature, or I can focus on popular culture, media studies, cultural studies, art, and even activism,” she said. “That’s the beautiful thing about English studies; it is multifaceted. It allows us to see the world through others’ eyes and experiences through diverse perspectives. I am aiming to progress the conversation and write about the past and present to bring to light those different experiences and bring a voice to those who are underrepresented, such as those in fat bodies.”

The Answered Prayers of My Grandmothers – Wings Summer 2024

Focus on indigenous tradition leads student to Heritage University’s American Indian Studies major —
and a plan to teach the next generation.

Lateet Olney, a freshman majoring in American Indian Studies, remembers the prayers, the singing, the dances. Most of all, she remembers the reverence of her family’s traditions. Growing up on the Yakama reservation in a big family, she was raised as a member of the Native American Church in a very spiritual home. At her father’s knee, she learned about the “red road” — the name Indigenous people use to refer to living life with a deep respect for oneself, for elders and young ones, for creation and the Creator: a state of being in harmony with the universe.

“These are the traditions your grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother lived,” her father told her.

Young woman in front of a Native American tepee holding a large check representing a scholarship award.

Lateet Olney holds a poster-sized check that represents her scholarship award

From the time of Olney’s earliest memories, people from various tribes would gather at her parents’ home. She remembers the most devout and active among them were her uncle and aunt — PeterJoe and Audrey — and how they guided her toward the “powwow trail” as she approached adulthood. As she journeyed from one powwow to another throughout the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest, Olney became completely immersed in Indigenous culture.

As she learned more about the celebrations and spiritual customs of her own and other tribes, she saw how honoring and practicing those traditions kept them alive and meaningful. She saw the way they were purposely passed on to the young people.

Olney prayed before each journey for greater knowledge, understanding and growth, and she received it. The powwows, the celebrations, the physical journey brought clarity to her personal journey.

HERITAGE PROGRAM FORMALIZES EDUCATION

Olney found the next step in her evolution in Heritage’s American Indian Studies program, a major in which history, linguistics, art, literature, and social studies all combine to inform students on the past and present of indigenous people.

The program was designed to promote a rich and layered understanding of the Native American experience, said Blake Slonecker, Chair of the Department of Humanities. “In the most basic sense, we are a native-serving institution, and we understand ourselves as being rooted in the place where we are, so the program is a natural outcome of this,” Slonecker said.

The program is small but has been steadily growing. Most students who enter the program are members of the Yakama Nation or members of the tribal community. Eleven percent of Heritage’s students are Native American.

A young woman wearing Native American designed clothing looking downward

Lateet Olney

“Because of this, it’s important that we create and offer a learning environment where students can explore what is essential to their identities,” Slonecker said.

As much as possible, the Heritage courses are taught by Indigenous instructors. Current Yakama instructors include Greg Sutterlict, Ph.D., Languages and Literature professor and Director of the Center for Language Revitalization & Preservation, who teaches the Yakama language Sahaptin, known as Ichishkiin. Vivian Harrison and Ida Shock, both Yakama, are art instructors. Arlen Washines, a Yakama elder, has taught history and traditional knowledge of the Yakama people at the University of Idaho and will teach a course on the subject at Heritage this fall. Elese Washines, enrolled Yakama, has taught tribal governance and sovereignty for several years.

Slonecker credits Maxine Janis, Ed.D., President’s Liaison for Native American Affairs, as instrumental in connecting Yakama instructors with the university — a much-needed aspect ofthe program. He also says having Yakama staff members in place in Advising and Admissions means the major is increasingly actively discussed with enrolling students.

“Having more staff members who are Yakama talking about the program means more students become interested in it,” Slonecker said. “Within a small community like ours, including within the Yakama Nation, word of mouth makes a difference.

“We’re actively working to bring more indigenous faculty on board as we also encourage more students to consider this major.”

WALKING IN “TWO WORLDS”

Olney sees Heritage’s American Indian Studies program as a way to help her people honor their ancestors and, at the same time, move forward. She said one important way that’s been done more effectively in recent years is via the nearby Mount Adams School District practices.

“Our grade schools are bringing in some of our Yakama ways, welcoming people in Ichishkiin, recognizing we are all on Yakama land, having powwows and traditional food feasts,” she said. “These were not part of my experience in grade school.”

She notes that the Yakama Nation Tribal School is only middle school and high school, not grade school, but said that what’s now included in the Mount Adams School District curriculum does represent progress. She notes that some Sahaptin is taught, but “our teachers are aging, so we need to figure that out. There are big shoes that need to be filled.

“There needs to be an understanding among more Yakama people about what and where we come from, our traditions, and how to walk in the two worlds together.”

Olney wants to be an educator or work in nonprofit management. Other paths for an American Indian Studies major include becoming an archivist, advocate or cultural resource manager, tribal administrator, researcher or journalist.

“The more we have students come into the program, graduate, and move into successful careers, the more we get on people’s radar,” Slonecker said.

FINDING THAT SENSE OF DIRECTION

Lateet Olney is an early riser who takes time to experience each morning as a ritual. She gets up and opens her curtains, goes to the kitchen sink and fills a glass with water. She sits and drinks, putting her focus on “good thoughts” about what she wants to do in the day ahead. Following her own quiet time, she walks into her 11-year-old daughter Madison’s bedroom to gently wake her.

“I tell her not to rush,” Olney said. “I never want her to rush. It’s important to start the day slowly.”

She wishes for her daughter the same things she wishes for herself and all her people.

“I wish for her a happy and healthy life,” Olney said. “That she can find joy. That she can find her own purpose.”

Olney thinks about the four pillars of her religion, though she hesitates to call it a “religion.”

“That’s because it’s a way of life,” she said. “Thinking about our Native American Church and the four main pillars — they are love, faith, hope and charity. When I think about those and the red road, I believe if you’re following them, you can find a sense of direction.”

As she learns more about her people’s traditions and beliefs, whether at a powwow or during her day at Heritage, she feels a sense of awe.

“When I’m learning, sometimes it has me speechless, whether I’m taking a thousand notes or quietly listening,” she said. “We are taught to be quiet. We are taught to never think we know it all but to take it all in, our history, our language, our art. When I get to learn, I reflect on all that I am.”

As Olney decided on her educational path, she said her main thought was, “I don’t want to be wrapped up in a work world that isn’t connected with who I am.

“What I chose with this program means learning everything I can so I can share it,” Olney said. “I want to keep our traditional way of life alive and live it every day and pass it on to our children, not just for them but for the generations after them.

“They’ve done it all for us to keep this prayerful way of life moving forward. In this way, I am the answered prayer of my grandmother and her grandmothers before her.”

Thanks a Million! – Wings Summer 2024

People holding up signs to read "Thank You!" and "$1,109,291"

Heritage University students and staff hold up signs revealing the amount raised during the 38th Annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner.

When it comes to fundraising, there are always two goals—the one you know you can reach and the one you dream of achieving. For Heritage’s Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner organizers, the dream number has been $1,000,000 for several years. This year, the dream came true.

People holding up numbers during the paddle raise portion of the Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner.

Guests of the Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner lift bid numbers during the paddle raise portion of the event.

After all final gifts came in through June, the total raised was $1,109,291! “It is incredible!” said David Wise, vice president for Advancement and Marketing. “A million dollars has been floating out there as a stretch goal for a few years.”

“Just think about what this means for our students. So often, we hear from them that they never thought they would be able to go to college. Then, they came to Heritage where people they never met gave the gifts that make their dream of earning a degree a reality. Time and again, they tell us that those gifts are more than the dollars they receive; they are validation that they are capable and a motivator that sees them through the challenges that inevitably come during their studies.”

Scholarship Dinner is the single largest fundraising event the university holds each year. Since its inception 38 years ago, the event has brought in more than $8 million to support student scholarships.

A collage of photos with people talking to each other and emcees addressing the crowd.

HU Chairman of the Board Bob Gerst speaks with a guest of the event; emcees Alex Vera and Gerardo Ruelas speak to the attendees from their podiums.

This year, the dinner occurred on Saturday, June 1, on Heritage’s main campus in Toppenish. Guests who attended the event in person mingled with students during the dinner reception in Heritage’s Eagles Café before making their way to Smith Family Hall for the program, which was live-streamed to audiences throughout the country. The total raised at the night’s end was an impressive $803,590. Organizers knew that the total would increase over the month as gifts from those who could not attend trickled in.

“There were a number of our most ardent supporters who had conflicts the night of the dinner and could not attend,” said Dana Eliason, senior director of development and the lead planner of the event. “It was surreal seeing the number rise closer and closer to that $1 million mark as the gifts from those who were not at the dinner continued to come it.”

Collage of pictures from the Bounty of the Valley; people holding up bid numbers; a student speaking; guests making a toast.

From left to right: a guest holds up a bid number; student Lillie Wesley shares her higher education story with attendees; and event goers raise their glasses in a toast.

“Most of our students come from economic backgrounds that make higher education unaffordable,” said Dr. Andrew Sund, Heritage president. “The unwavering community support our students receive is crucial for their ability to earn college degrees. For over 40 years, the extraordinary generosity of our donors has enabled more than 11,000 individuals to graduate from Heritage. These graduates have contributed to the community as educators, business leaders, healthcare professionals, and more throughout the Valley. We deeply appreciate their remarkable support.”

FARE THEE WELL, FRIEND

For the past 13 years, Scholarship Dinner has been the baby of Senior Director of Development Dana Eliason. She’s overseen everything from the selection of the artwork to approving gourmet menus to working her magic with donors and sponsors. Under her tutelage, Scholarship Dinner has grown from raising an impressive $150,000 event to an astonishing $1 million plus. It’s been a labor of love, but her time at Heritage is coming to an end.

Dana Eliason

Eliason is retiring and will leave her position at the university in July. While Scholarship Dinner is perhaps the work Eliason is most known for, her role at the university went much deeper. Over the years, She was part of the team that raised millions of dollars for the construction of seven new buildings on campus, the development of student support services, the development of academic programs, and, of course, student scholarships.

“Dana’s legacy at Heritage is one of dynamic inspiration, stylish presentation, active compassion and unwavering dedication,” said Bob Gerst, chair of the university’s Board of Directors. “She’s touched countless lives and leaves an indelible mark on our institution and our hearts.”

Non-profit agencies in Western Washington are turning to Heritage University master’s program for mental health counselor education and training for their employees

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Non-profit agencies in Western Washington are turning to Heritage University master’s program for mental health counselor education and training for their employees

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is helping non-profit agencies in western Washington meet the demand for mental health counselors by offering their Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling (MMHC) program to non-profit employees. The hybrid MMHC program delivers an HU-created curriculum to Seattle-area non-profit agency employees who find it challenging to earn their master’s degree due to schedule constraints, family responsibilities, and the cost of obtaining the degree.

Forty-one students across two cohorts representing eleven non-profits are enrolled in the program. The first cohort comprised 23 students from six agencies (Catholic Community Services, Center for Human Services, Community House, Therapeutic Health Services, Transitional Resources YMCA of Greater Seattle) started classes this past spring. A second cohort of 18 students from an additional five agencies (Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Consejo Counseling Services, Evergreen Health, Vine Maple Place and WAPI Community Services) will begin classes this fall.

Amy Nusbaum, Ph.D., chair of the psychology department at Heritage says the versatility of the MMHC program’s curriculum will allow graduates in western Washington to work as mental health counselors in a wide array of fields. “Our program is proud to partner with these incredible professionals who are already doing vital work in their communities,” said Dr. Nusbaum. “We are excited to be a part of that work by providing the graduate education needed to help address the mental health crises happening in King County, the Yakima Valley, and beyond. Heritage University has a long history of designing degree programs to meet the needs communities are experiencing, and this is just another example of the Heritage mission in action.”

YMCA of Greater Seattle Program Director Genell Hennings says the MMHC will help agencies like hers meet their emerging need for master’s professionals in local community behavioral health agencies. “The MMHC program addresses the critical shortage of master’s level behavioral health providers from historically marginalized groups – specifically individuals living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities within King County,” said Hennings.

Graduates of the program agree to work in a therapeutic capacity at their sponsoring agency for a period of four years in exchange for this tuition free graduate school opportunity. For more information contact Amy Nusbaum at (509) 426-4536 or nusbaum_a@heritage.edu. For help coordinating interviews, please contact Davidson Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University awarded prestigious WASA award for its impact on public education in Washington

Heritage University administrators holding award and standing on stage with WASA representatives

Heritage University administrators accept the D.A. Davidson Barbara Mertens Legacy Award given to Heritage during the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) awards ceremony in Spokane, Wash. on June 24, 2024. From left to right, Dr. Rick Cole, Associate Professor, HU Education Administration Program; Joel Aune, executive director, WASA, Dr. Andrew Sund, HU President; Dr. Catherine Zeisner, Chair, HU Education Administration Program; Dr. Antonio Estudillo, Chair, HU Teacher Preparation Program; Hannah Bulla, Public Finance Associate, DA Davidson (award co-sponsor); and Mike Villarreal, WASA President and Superintendent Hoquiam School District.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University awarded prestigious WASA award for its impact on public education in Washington

Spokane, Wash. – The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) honored Heritage University with the D.A. Davidson Barbara Mertens Legacy Award. Dr. Rick Cole, associate professor of the Education Administration Program at Heritage and Dr. Andrew Sund, president of Heritage University, Dr. Catherine Zeisner, chair of the HU Education Administration Program and Dr. Antonio Estudillo, chair of the HU Teacher Preparation Program accepted the award on behalf of the university during the 44th annual WASA Honorary Award Luncheon in Spokane, Wash.

The D.A. Davidson Barbara Mertens Legacy Award recognizes an individual or group who has had a significant impact on public education in Washington and a legacy that has a lasting influence. Dr. Sund said while this prestigious award is in recognition of the university’s work, it is largely a testament to the work of Dr. Cole and his colleague, Dr. Ken Bergevin, Chair of the Education Administration Program, and their contributions to education and exemplary service to the community. “Their vision, commitment and tireless efforts have not only shaped the lives of countless students but have also helped to pave the way for the next generation of school leaders in the Yakima Valley,” said Dr. Sund.

Dr. Melissa Hill, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs at Heritage said Dr. Bergevin and Dr. Rick Cole have been instrumental in helping Heritage achieve this recognition. “The collective efforts of Dr. Bergevin and Dr. Cole have made a significant impact on the educational landscape of our region, and we are truly grateful for their collaborative spirit and dedication to serving the needs of school districts in our region,” said Dr. Hill.

The 44th annual WASA Honorary Award Luncheon was held in Spokane, Wash. on June 24, 2024. For more information, please contact Davidson Mance, media relations coordinator at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University Announces Retirement of President Andrew Sund, PhD

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Heritage University Announces Retirement of President Andrew Sund, PhD

Toppenish, WA – Heritage University announces that President Andrew Sund, PhD, the institution’s third president, will retire on June 30, 2025, after an impactful and dedicated eight-year term.

Dr. Sund has led Heritage University with distinction since 2017, fostering a period of significant growth and development for the university. Under his leadership, Heritage has expanded its academic programs, increased student enrollment, and strengthened community partnerships. Dr. Sund’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and student success has been the hallmark of his presidency.

A true champion for equity and accessible education, Dr. Sund has ensured that Heritage University remains an inclusive institution that serves students from all backgrounds. His efforts have made higher education more attainable for many who might otherwise have faced significant barriers. Additionally, Dr. Sund has been instrumental in the significant growth of the University’s endowment. His strategic vision and effective fundraising efforts have strengthened the university’s financial foundation, ensuring that Heritage University can continue to provide quality education and support for our students for generations to come.

“It has been an honor to serve as the president of Heritage University,” said Dr. Sund. “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and grateful for the support of our talented faculty, dedicated staff, and inspiring students. As I prepare for my retirement, I look forward to watching Heritage continue to thrive and grow.”

Sund expressed his desire to teach, write, and spend time at his homes in Chicago and near Santiago, Chile as the primary reasons for his decision to retire.

In preparation for Dr. Sund’s upcoming retirement, the Heritage University Board of Directors will engage in a national search to identify the next president.

“The board is deeply appreciative of Dr. Sund’s visionary leadership and the numerous accomplishments during his tenure,” said Bob Gerst, Chair of the Heritage University Board of Directors. “We are committed to finding a successor who will build on his legacy and lead Heritage University into its next chapter of excellence.”

The search committee will commence its work immediately, with the goal of identifying and appointing a new president before Dr. Sund’s retirement date to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

Heritage University will host a series of events in the coming months to celebrate Dr. Sund’s contributions to the university and to provide opportunities for the community to express their gratitude.

For more information, please contact Davidson Mance, Media Relations Coordinator at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University’s 38th annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner raises $803,590 and counting for student scholarships

Heritage University’s 38th annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner raises $803,590 and counting for student scholarships

Heritage University’s 38th annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner, held this past weekend, brought in $803,590, with the amount expected to grow. The premier fundraiser for student scholarships at Heritage was also live streamed for those who wished to attend remotely.

For the third year in a row, Bounty of the Valley featured hosts Alex Vera and Gerardo Ruelas, two Heritage alumni from the Yakima Valley who have gone on to successful careers with Costco Wholesale at the company’s headquarters in Issaquah, Wash.

Heritage University alumna Lillie Wesley, who recently graduated from Heritage inMay with a B.S. in biology, served as the student speaker. Wesley is enrolled Yakama who was born and raised in the Yakima Valley. She graduated from Toppenish High School in 2019 and started her college career at Heritage the following fall semester. Her fascination with how the human body works and desire to help address the medical needs of those living on the Yakama reservation goes back to her earliest years. She decided to major in biology to give her a foundational education for graduate studies that would prepare her for a medical career. Wesley completed research experiences every summer during her undergraduate studies. She worked with Yakama Nation youth at the tribal school on a forest survey, completed an air quality study with the EPA, researched beet leaf virus with the USDA, researched spider webs in Costa Rica, and studied muscular degeneration from ALS and spinal bulbar muscular atrophy at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She is working at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences as part of their summer program, and she plans to enroll in an EMT certification program. She wants to work as an EMT for a few years before exploring specialized studies in the medical field.

Heritage University President Andrew Sund, Ph.D., expresses profound gratitude to the supporters and sponsors of Bounty of the Valley, whose continued investment in student scholarships makes a significant impact. “Most of our students come from economic backgrounds that make higher education unaffordable,” said Dr. Sund. “The unwavering community support our students receive is crucial for their ability to earn college degrees. For over 40 years, the extraordinary generosity of our donors has enabled more than 11,000 individuals to graduate from Heritage. These graduates have contributed to the community as educators, business leaders, healthcare professionals, and more throughout the Valley. We deeply appreciate their remarkable support.”

A recording of the Bounty of the Valley live stream can be viewed by clicking on the button below, or by visiting Heritage.edu/Bounty. Donations to student scholarships can be made on the same page by clicking on the “Raise Your Paddle” button.

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Heritage University makes appearance on two prestigious “Best Colleges” lists

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Heritage University makes appearance on two prestigious “Best Colleges” lists

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University’s mission to make higher education accessible to anyone with the talent and drive to pursue a degree – regardless of economics, culture, and geographic location – is gaining recognition as a “best college” on two different lists. Niche.com, a college ranking and review website, placed Heritage at number five on its “Best Private Colleges in Washington” list; and U.S. News and World Report ranked Heritage at number 50 (out of 104) on its “Best Regional Universities-West” list.

Niche says while both private and public schools contribute significantly to postsecondary education, private institutions stand out because of their smaller size, esteemed reputation, and flexible programs. They generally offer smaller class sizes, leading to more direct instruction and support. Heritage has long championed its strength in small numbers. “Heritage students enjoy an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio,” says Heritage University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Melissa Hill, Ph.D. “They don’t feel like just a number. They get more one-on-one time with their professors, individual tutoring and advising, as well as other opportunities that students who choose a larger university will never experience,” said Dr. Hill.

While U.S. News rankings are based on several categories of quality indicators, including outcomes (graduation, retention, and graduation rate performance), peer assessment, and faculty resources, to name a few, many of the universities listed alongside Heritage have histories spanning decades, even centuries. Heritage has attained a ranking in the top half of the list while only being 42 years old, a staggering accomplishment considering it is a widely believed consensus in the higher education community that it takes a long time for schools to achieve a high rank. U.S. News’ research also shows that the greater access students have to quality instructors, the more likely they are to be engaged in their classes, learn, and ultimately graduate. “At Heritage, our students learn from world-class professors right here in the Yakima Valley,” said Heritage University President Andrew Sund, Ph.D. “These professors have connections to businesses who offer career-launching internships, while others have relationships with scholars programs at prestigious colleges nationwide that can put students onto the path of pursuing master’s degrees and doctoral degrees,” said Dr. Sund.

Heritage University welcomes the prestige and reputation boosts that come with these recognitions. “We believe the rankings reflect the investments we have made into our programs and the experiences our students receive as a result of them,” said Vice President of Advancement and Marketing & Communications David Wise. For more information, please contact Davidson Mance, media relations coordinator, at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University Class of 2024 Commencement

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Heritage University to hold Class of 2024 Commencement at
Yakima Valley SunDome

Yakima, Wash. – Heritage University celebrates the Class of 2024 at Commencement on Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred upon students graduating from the Heritage Toppenish campus and the Tri-Cities regional site. Overall, 197 students earned their degrees at Heritage this year.

Jim Pigott of Seattle, Wash., philanthropist, and generous benefactor of Heritage University will present this year’s commencement address. Pigott and his wife, Gaye, are long-time supporters of Heritage and its students. Among their many initiatives are the creation of the Gay and Jim Pigott Nursing Endowment at Heritage and Seattle Children’s Hospital made through a $4 million gift in 2023 and the establishment of the Moccasin Lake Foundation Scholarship. Additionally, they have funded numerous campus projects, including the construction of the Gaye and Jim Pigott Commons which is home to the university’s café, conference rooms, and student lounge and is an integral part of the daily operations at the institution. The number of lives impacted by the Pigotts’ philanthropy is immeasurable. Throughout their lifetimes, they’ve supported countless organizations through their charitable giving and volunteer services throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

It is also with profound honor and remembrance that Heritage University announces the posthumous awarding of an honorary doctoral degree to Professor Emeritus of Education Edwin “Ed” Rousculp, who passed away in January. Rousculp’s tenure at Heritage began in 1983 when he started teaching English in the evenings as an adjunct instructor while still teaching at the Yakama Nation Tribal School. After leaving to pursue his graduate studies at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., he returned to Heritage in 1993. as a full-time faculty member in the College of Education. That same year he was appointed Chair of the Teacher Education Program. He served in that role until 2005 when he became the Director of the Center for Intercultural Learning and Teaching, where he remained until his retirement in 2022.

Heritage University will present the 2024 Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumnus Award to Jennifer Johann for her dedication to helping lift the field of education and the educational outcomes for all children in her community. Johann earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education in 2004 and an M.Ed. in professional development in 2007 from Heritage. Johann has spent 19 years teaching in the Mount Adams School District and currently teaches third grade at Harrah Elementary School. Throughout her career, she’s built a rapport with her students that cemented her reputation as a teacher who truly cares. Outside the classroom, she assists other Harrah Elementary students through her work as a 21^st-century supervisor for the NCAC-Farmworkers Clinic after-school program. As an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, Johann brings her cultural insights to her work, promoting inclusivity and diversity within the school and the broader community. Among her many efforts, she created the Since Time Immemorial website for her district, which provides teacher and school resources that incorporate indigenous perspectives into education.

Heritage will also announce the recipients of the Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award, which is presented to all undergraduate students who earned a perfect 4.0 during their studies, and the President’s Council Student Award of Distinction during the ceremony.

The Yakima Valley SunDome is located at 1301 South Fair Ave. in Yakima. Parking is free. Additional information is available online at https://heritage.edu/student-resources/commencement-2024/.

For more information, contact Davidson Mance, media relations coordinator at (509) 969-6084 or Mance_D@Heritage.edu.

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A Heart for Heritage – Wings Spring 2024

When Dick and Pat Twiss made the Yakima Valley their home 57 years ago, they brought with them a passion for making a difference in the lives of those around them. Dick, now a retired cardiologist, dedicated 45 years to delivering essential medical care that not only extended the lives of his patients but also enhanced their overall well-being. His expertise was literally lifesaving, fostering longer and healthier lives for countless patients.

However, the Twisses’ impact goes beyond the medical realm. Together, their shared commitment to elevating the quality of life in their community led them to support many civic endeavors and eventually to Heritage University, where they became a transformative force. Their dedication has unlocked doors of opportunity through education for countless individuals. While maybe not lifesaving in the same way as a heart surgeon, the lives they have touched have been transformed in meaningful ways.

Dick and Pat Twiss have orchestrated a narrative of community enrichment. Their story is a testament to the profound influence that compassion and commitment can have on both the individual and the community at large, creating a legacy that resonates with the transformative power of education and the ripple effect of philanthropy.

The Twiss’ Heritage story began shortly after the university began in the early 1980s. A colleague told Dick about “a couple of nuns” from the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary who had started a college in rural Toppenish, Washington, just a few miles south of Yakima.

“I was educated for 12 years in The Dalles by the Sisters of the Holy Names,” said Dick, who grew up in the small Oregon town. “I was familiar with sisters’ work in primary and secondary education and was curious about what they were doing in Toppenish. I asked my colleague to introduce me to the sisters so I could learn more.”

Pat and Dick Twiss

Dick and Pat traveled down to the fledgling campus and met with Sister Kathleen Ross, Heritage’s founding president. At the time, Heritage had only been operating for four years. It was little more than a few classrooms in a former elementary school and a library created from books handed down from its predecessor school, Fort Wright College. As they toured the school and met with Ross, they also talked to a few of the students, and faculty and staff.

“We were impressed by the work being done and by the students we spoke to,” said Dick. “They were all so dedicated, and the students were eager to learn. Sr. Kathleen and her staff were creating an environment and teaching style unlike anything else. It was specifically designed so that the students they were working with would be successful. For the most part, these students were low-income, minorities and the first in their families to go to college, and they had no other options available to them to earn a degree.”

That first meeting sparked a nearly four-decade-long relationship that helped build the institution as it stands today. Their financial support has funded student scholarships, including an endowed scholarship in their name dedicated to helping students studying to enter the medical field, helped student clubs travel to national competitions, and helped build a thriving campus. They even expanded the footprint of the university when they purchased the old Toppenish Grange, which sat across the roadfrom the college, and gifted the property to Heritage. That old building was used for many years as an art room and meeting hall before the property was converted to house an early learning center.

As impressive as their generosity towards Heritage is, their commitment goes much deeper than their financial support. Dick spent a total of 21 years on the board of directors, once from 1990-2002 and a second time from 2007- 2016, and he was the Board Chairman from 2007-2009. He’s been part of the leadership team at almost every significant milestone in the university’s history: every multi-million-dollar capital campaign, the construction of nearly every building on the campus, the development of some of the university’s most successful academic programs, and the transition of leadership when Ross announced her retirement and the subsequent national search and hiring of Heritage’s second president, Dr. John Bassett.

Dick and Pat have also been fixtures at many of Heritage’s key events. They cheered on their favorite team at the polo fundraising events that took place during the university’s early years. They’ve attended every Scholarship Dinner. They were there for the openings of ten campus buildings, including the Arts and Sciences Center, Petrie Hall, Kathleen Ross snjm Building, the Martha B. Yallup Health Sciences Building and Violet Lumley Rau Center. They were part of the crowd of supporters who celebrated Ross when she retired and welcomed both Bassett, and current president Dr. Andrew Sund, at their inaugurations. And they have been among the scores of families and friends who cheered for graduates as they walked across the stage to get their well-earned degrees at several commencements.

“What is truly remarkable about Dick and Pat is how great their hearts are for this university and our students,” said David Wise, vice president for Advancement. “Every time there is a need, they are among the first to step forward and say, ‘How can we help.’ Together, they’ve made more individual gifts to Heritage than any other donor. There isn’t a student at Heritage, past, present or future, whose education hasn’t been touched by Dick and Pat.”

For the couple, what first excited them about Heritage, and what has kept them such ardent supporters over the years, is the impact the institution has both on the lives of the individuals who are attending the college, as well as on the community in which it serves.

“You can so clearly see the need here,” said Dick. “The need for a university to provide education to those who are unable to go anywhere else to learn, and the need for supporting scholarship so that these students can afford to go to college.

“Education is truly life-changing for these students and their families, and we can see the impact they are making in our schools and businesses and health centers after they graduate.”

Pat added, “There are lots of colleges out there, bigger colleges, who do a fine job educating young people. But they have so many more resources available to them. We feel like, through Heritage, we are really able to make a difference.”

“We are very proud of the university,” said Dick. “It gives us great pleasure knowing that we’ve been a part of their success.”