Bountiful Generosity – WINGS Summer 2023

Gifts to Heritage’s annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner breaks records and tops last year’s total raised by more than $100,000!

It was a record-breaking year for Heritage’s annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner. The event brought in $872,549 for student scholarships, nudging out the previous record set in 2020.

“Words simply cannot express how grateful we are for all the support our friends and donors give to this university and our students,” said David Wise, vice president for Advancement and Marketing. “Our students depend upon the scholarships they receive in order to earn their degrees. Having so many people step up to provide the funding that makes their education possible has a dual effect. Not only does it reduce the barrier that the cost of going to college could have for students, but it also gives them and huge psychological boost knowing that others believe in their capability.”

Scholarship Dinner is the university’s single largest fundraising event. Since it began 37 years ago, it has raised more than $9 million, with every dime going directly to support Heritage University students.

Student speaker Miguel Mendoza

“It is undeniable that the support our students receive from the community is what allows them to earn their college degrees. For more than 40 years, it is the amazing support of donors that has created the opportunity for nearly 11,000 people to earn their degrees at Heritage. Eleven thousand people who have then gone on from here to serve the community as educators, business leaders, healthcare professionals and more throughout the Valley. We are grateful for their incredible support,” said Andrew Sund, Ph.D., president of Heritage University.

For the second year in a row, the event occurred both in person and virtually. The program portion was live-streamed online, allowing those who were unable to attend the ability to participate from the comfort of their homes. Virtual guests were able to “raise their paddles” with just a click of a button on their computer.

“We have several supporters who have difficulties traveling. Some have been coming to Scholarship Dinner for years, and they are committed to our students. They’ve told me how much they enjoy being able to still participate, even if they are not physically in the same room,” said event organizer Dana Eliason, senior development director. “It is heartwarming to see their commitment to this university and our students.”

This year’s event program is available to watch online, and contributions are still being accepted. Visit heritage.edu/Bounty to view the video and click “Raise Your Paddle” to make your gift.

Rosie Saldaña’s Heritage story came full circle this year when she was selected to paint the artwork for the Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner. As an undergraduate at Heritage, she depended upon scholarships to help her fund her education.

“I’m tremendously overjoyed by the honor of being asked to paint this work,” she said.

Her painting, entitled Bounty of the Valley, portrays images and symbols of the Yakima Valley and Heritage University—fields of apples, workers bringing in the crops, Mt. Adams, and the statue at the university’s entrance.

“I also incorporated butterflies in the painting, a symbol of becoming something better than when we started,” she said. “I think a lot of students can relate to this. We start at school not really knowing what we want to do, we go through the process, and we blossom into butterflies, and we’re into this new career.”

Saldaña graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts in 2017. Today she is a working artist and Artistic Director at Mighty Tieton. In May, she received her Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University. page23image35661776

Class Notes – WINGS Summer 2023

2015

Cialita Keys (B.A., Environmental Studies) joined the Community Development team with the City of The Dalles in Oregon, where she is working as a planning technician. Prior to this, she worked for the Yakama Nation Environmental Management as a resource coordinator.

 

 

 

2018

Gabriel Antunez (A.S., Pre- Engineering) graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering in May.

Jose Ortiz-Garcia, Ph.D. (B.S.) graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Chemistry in May. In June, he joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he is a physical chemist and a postdoctoral research associate doing catalysis on metal oxide surfaces for the activation of C-H bonds.

 

 

 

2019

Jose Carrillo (B.A., Business Administration) joined the Business and Professions Division at the Washington State Department of Licensing, where he is working as an excise tax examiner. Prior to this, he was a financial aid program coordinator at Heritage University.

Maria Diaz (B.A., Psychology) started a new position at the Yakama Nation Tribal School. She is the school’s new counselor. Maria spent four years prior to this working as the enrollment services coordinator at Heritage University in the Admissions department. Additionally, she earned a Master of Arts in Psychology from Fisher College in May 2022.

 

 

 

Brenda Lewis (B.A., Business Administration) joined Heritage University’s Admissions team in May. She is working as a transfer student admissions counselor. Prior to this, she spent two years working as a general ledger accountant for the Yakama Nation.

 

 

 

 

2023

Perla Bolaños-Zapian (B.A., Business Administration) joined the Heritage University Advancement Team as the Donor Events and Stewardship Coordinator. page8image35677536

Restoring hope and pride – WINGS Summer 2023

Heritage University Alumnus of the Year Ryan Washburn has spent his entire work life helping people rebuild their lives.

As a veteran service representative at Columbia Basin College, he helped veterans navigate college life. As program director at Elijah Family Homes, he helped low-income families in recovery become self-sufficient through stable housing and supportive services. In his current role as Therapeutic Court Coordinator in Benton County’s District Court, his work ensures that people struggling with mental illness and addiction get help to lead healthier lives.

But what means the most to Washburn isn’t the job titles that populate his resume. It’s the individual people he’s helped.

They’re people like “Charlie,” a veteran of the first Gulf War who returned home wondering where he belonged. He used drugs, became addicted, was arrested multiple times, and spent years in and out of what Washburn calls the “revolving door of the justice system.”

Entering Veterans Court following his release and having been ordered to check into “clean and sober housing,” Charlie absconded. He was promptly kicked out of the program that was designed to help him.

When he appeared in court, Charlie asked to read a letter he’d written. Through his tears, he said he’d promised his mom if he were given another chance, he wouldn’t disappoint her again. The judge let him remain in the program under the stipulation that his every move would be under Washburn’s vigilant watch.

“Today, Charlie is working on his bachelor’s degree in addiction studies with a plan to become a substance abuse professional,” Washburn says. “And he’s back with us, mentoring others.”

It was only after Charlie completed treatment that Washburn learned the extent of what he dealt with every day.

“He’d been in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Kuwait,” Washburn says. “He pulled his dead friends from the rubble. He was 19 or 20 years old.

“He suffered textbook Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – and we hadn’t even known about it.

“I learn every day that not all wounds are visible. And what people also don’t see is that there are a ton of people who work hard and, with support, they change their lives.

“I get to help them do that.”

NAVIGATING HELP

Washburn knows what it’s like to struggle. After serving eight years in the United States Navy in three consecutive Arabian Gulf deployments, he had trouble finding a sense of direction. He ultimately enrolled at Columbia Basin College (CBC) and got a work-study job helping veterans transition to college. There he put his love for his fellow vets to work, regularly going above and beyond his job description.

“I wouldn’t just tell them what office to go to; I’d take them there and introduce them,” he says. “I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t fit in.”

As that proclivity for connecting with other vets was recognized, Washburn was approached about becoming a “veteran navigator” for the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA). There, he instituted regular trainings for faculty and staff on how to better serve veterans.

After earning an associate’s degree from CBC, Washburn enrolled at Heritage. He majored in education until two of his instructors, who had noticed his easy-going relationships with other vets, suggested he consider social work. He changed his major to interdisciplinary studies and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2012. He then pursued a master’s degree in clinical social work at Walla Walla University.

“Through the observant eyes of my professors, I was guided to the path of social work where I was able to lead a life of service to others,” says Washburn. “I strive to embody the values of Heritage in my everyday life as I lead others in their service to others.”

UNDERSTANDING OTHERS

At Walla Walla, Washburn did an internship with Elijah Family Homes, a nonprofit providing stable housing and supportive services to families in recovery. He remembers going into that internthip with the mindset, “if you want to quit drugs, you just quit.” He said that his thinking shifted on his very first day on the job.

“My field supervisor took me to meet a client who asked me if I was an addict. When I told her no, she said, ‘You have to understand how we think and feel and act.’ So she took me to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. I learned very quickly that addiction is a disease.

“It was a profound ‘aha’ moment of my life that, wow, these people have real struggles.”

Ultimately, Washburn was asked to be Elijah’s program director and felt such a sense of purpose there that he thought he’d never leave. But when he was offered a position in the Benton County Veterans Court that would give him the authority to make a more significant difference in people’s lives, Washburn accepted. He was hired as its first case manager and would be integral in starting its Substance Abuse Court.

Washburn’s exemplary work got him promoted to run the entire Therapeutic Court program, which also oversaw Mental Health Court. He expanded existing programs and added a Recovery Court.

“In these courts, you’re stipulating that for 12 to 24 months, you will follow all conditions – showing up in court, drug testing, counseling, staying out of trouble, staying employed or looking for employment, or going to school.

“It’s judicial accountability and treatment rolled into one. We’re all up in their business all the time, but we slowly pull back the support. The person gets into a life of sustainable recovery, a productive life, and, ultimately, it reduces recidivism while making the community safer and saving taxpayer dollars.”

LOVE FOR COMMUNITY

“The only thing Ryan loves more than his community is his family,” wrote Eric Andrews, Washburn’s former colleague, in his Outstanding Alumni nomination. Washburn is a devoted husband and father of three boys; with a job that can be stressful, he says he finds deep peace and enjoyment in family time.

“My work is challenging, but it makes a difference. We restore hope and pride, reuniting families. We’re affecting real change and saving lives.

“I don’t know how many people have said, ‘If it wasn’t for this program, I’d have been dead by now.’

“I have goosebumps when I talk about what we’re able to do. It just makes my heart really happy.” page13image35779584

Eagles soaring – WINGS Summer 2023

After years of sacrifice and late-night study sessions, Heritage graduates celebrated earning their degrees at the 2023 Commencement in May.

All totaled 239 students earned their undergraduate and graduate degrees at Heritage this academic year.

This year’s Commencement address was given by Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney, who retired after serving as a representative of the 46th legislative district of Washington state from 1997 to 2012. She is a former small-business owner, delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Assistant Commissioner for the Employment Security Department. The student addresses were given by Andrea Ceja (B.A., Business Administration) and Alfredia Thompson (M.I.T., Elementary Education).

Seventeen undergraduate students graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, earning them the Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award: Lizette Santos Guijarro, Maria Mendoza, Jiovanna Roman, Rosa Valenzuela, Biriana Carachure, Aisha Cervantes Acuna, Arisbeth Borges, Elvia Valdovinos Cruz, Julian Licea, Daisy Fernandez, Michael LeClair, Brenda Palencia, Carsen Bach, Beau Filbert, Diane Chavez, Maria Reyes, Elizabeth Juarez. Additionally, Heritage awards the President’s Student Award of Distinction to a single undergraduate with a distinguished record of academic excellence and service to the university.

This year’s recipient was Kathleen Sanchez (B.A.Ed., Elementary Education). Sanchez graduated magna cum laude. During her time at Heritage, she was involved in the Student Government Association, a member of Kappa Delta Chi sorority, a work-study for several departments, and a volunteer assisting with marketing and fundraising.

Additionally, Heritage recognized Ryan Washburn (B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies in Education) as the 2023 Violet Lumley Rau Alumnus of the Year. page13image3204656

 

 

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

Business Administration
Vanessa Lynn Estrada

Interdisciplinary Studies in Mathematics
Torre Alexis Chavez

Interdisciplinary Studies in Mathematics
Jose DeJesus Ramos

Social Science
Angel Ramirez

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Biology
Emilee Jane Bernath
Andrea Mendozav

Business Administration
Eric Agaton Ang
Gabriel B. Albert
Kathleen Leann Aragon
Perla Ximena Bolaños Zapien
Manuel Carbajal
Andrea Ceja
Anajeli Delaluz
Rafael Farias, Jr.
Karina Garzon
Tania Lopez
Sukay Navarrete
Juan Manuel Quintero Macias, Jr.
Pablo Gerardo Vera Rivera
Zeena Waheneka

Criminal Justice
Nayeli Arroyos
Jose Basilio
Yesenia Bengochea
Christopher Mitchel Clinton Berk
Briana Ruvi Carachure
Briseida Carbajal-Prudencio
Erandy Caro
Janet Lorraine Dixon
Alayna Juliane Fernandez
Erick Flores
Sheree Lynn Mahoney
Carson Bigbear Northwind
Gerardo Perez
Elizabeth Perez Hernandez
Adrian Ramirez
Anahi Razo
Marisol Rodriquez
Karina Sanchez
Ivan Santiago
Jerrilyn Stevens
Oscar Alanis Suarez
Diana Nohemi Valdivia Ortiz
Catalina Valencia Gomez
Jacquelyn Vargas

English
Anjuli Anagelie Barragan
Mary-Alice Elizabeth Correa

Environmental Studies
Noah Matthew Sampson

History
Anjuli Anagelie Barragan
Jacquelyn Vargas

Interdisciplinary Contract
Yadira Escoto

Mathematics
Josue Aguilar

Mathematics Education
(5-12 Credential)
Ben George Whitings

Psychology
Adriana Bravos
Melany Bridgett Cesena Salinas
Elizabeth Guerrero Fariass
Zahira Vanessa Flores-Gaona
Jacaranda Isabeth Garcia-Tovar
Elizabeth Gil-Ambriz
Stephanie Louise Gomez
Kamimsa Josephine Goudy
Violeta Yoselin Herreras
Maria Magdalena Mendoza
Lizbeth Morales
Cristal Quiroz Marin
Jiovanna Roman
Lizette Santos Guijarro
Rosa M. Valenzuela
Tori Katie Wapsheli
Veronica Louann Wilsey

Visual Arts
Felicia Sondrol
Allison Kaylee Platsman
Karen C. Reyess
Aaron Maldonado Valadez

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EDUCATION

Elementary Education (K-8)
Tania Adalia Alvarez
Audrey Roberta Armstrong
Broam Arroyo
Carlos Issac Cantu
Darlene Carrillo-Rangel
Aisha Cervantes Acuna
Alondra Cruz-Valladaress
Yasmin Cuellar
Jennifer Guadalupe Flores Romero
America Naomi Fonseca
Julissa Garcia
Itzy Gissel Gonzalez
Anna Laura Guzman
Jessica Lizbeth Guzman
Sandra Yoana Guzman
Serena Hernandez
Maira Guadalupe Hernandez Gonzalez
Brandon Clay Humphrey
Christa Marie Jimenez
Sandra Ledezma
Diana Cristal Martinez
Israel Roel Mendez
Lorena Mercado
Crystal Mesina
Elise Chreie Moneymaker
Annahi Morfin Ixtas
Ana Laura Olivares
Vicente Fabio Olivares
Joel Lorenzo Ortgea Lozano
Sandra Rabadan
Shakira Ramiraz Moctezuma
Alisha Nicole Ramos
Ana Victoria Ruiz
Melissa Ruiz Moreno
Liliana Sanchez
Jose Sanchez Salas
Kathleen Sanchez
Katelyn Marie Schell
Christopher Silva
Marcos Daniel Silva
Maria Guadalupe Tellez
Andrew Uribe

Middle-Level Education

Karina Colin-Cordna
Jacqueline Tlatelpa Zacatenco

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Accounting

Eden S.C. Davis
Adrian Guerra
Carlos Daniel Iraheta
Tina Marie Janes
Samuel Segovias

Biology
Abigail Bravo
Nathan Shawn Buck
Jesus Alberto Buenrostro Mendoza
Guadalupe Merced Iniguez
Zuzeth Danila Jimenez
Elizabeth Juarez
Yaritza Silva Maravilla
Miguel Mendoza
Ruby Nava-Guevara
Tyler Jonah Olney
Mayra Lizeth Quintero Luciano
Brenda Yesenia Gonzalez
Elizabeth Nicole Van Corbach
Trystin Nikole Yanez

Biology Biomedical
Maria Isabel Barrios Hernandez

Environmental Science
Xavier Martinez Chavez
Darren Eugene Olney

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Nursing

Rosalinda Arreola
Cindi J. Badillos
Hema Balderas
Evelyn Arisbeth Borges
Cecilia Marie Delaney Druffner
Kristina Kay Dillon
Rachel Aubrey Elizabeth Duce
Guadalupe Gabriela Garcia
Love Ann Faith Garza
Abigahil Garzon
Luis Felipe Juarez
Yasmin Lopez
Brenda Jazmin Luna-Lopez
Samantha Paris Peterson
Gabriela Guadalupe Rodriguez Suarez
Rosario Jazmin Ruiz Gonzalez
Jaquelyn Marie Scott
Maria Jose Soto

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK

Social Work
Angie J. Aguilar
Jennifer Alvarez
Maria Guadalupe Alvarez
Carsen Lee Bach
Amanda J. Beavert
Elizabeth Desiree Belieu
Maria Esthela Bernal
Elisabeth M. Blanchard
Judy Edit Bucio-Salas
Lizette Campos
Gabriela Castaneda
Sergio Cervantes
Nancy Diane Chavez
Courtney Kristine Corbitt
Guadalupe Delgado
Erica Gabriela Diaz
Karen Diaz
Chestina Sally Ann Dominquez
Sophie Larraine Elwell
Daisy Marie Fernandez
Beau Daniel Filbert
Dalia Gomez Giron
Isabel Gonzalez Perez
Lizeth Gonzalez Orozco
Jaqueline Hidalgo Lopez
Christina Rose Laws
Michael Laird LeClair
Julian Alejandro Licea
Enrique Jose Licona
Desiree Denise Gonzalez
Miriam Longoria
Maria Elena Lopez
Alma E. Lopez
Jessica Macias
Christian Mendoza Magallan
Lilia Martinez
Sharmira Marita Moore
Alejandra Morales
Orlando Munoz Delgadillo
Mami Nyafuraha
Brenda Faviola Palencia Viveros
Maria Reyes
Amanda R. Rodriguez
Monique Sarae Rodriguez
Jasmine Nicole Romero
Ashely Sabalza
Jenny Lee Sanchez
Stephanie Sanchez
Katellin Santiago
Aiyh A. Sarama
Janette M. Torres
Thanya Michelle Valdovinos
Elvia Mireya Valdovinos Cruz
Justina Marie Valenguela
Jayleen Nohemi Vasquez
Deanna Vasquez Chavez
Kaylee Ann Wade-Walsh

 

 

MASTER OF ARTS

Multicultural English Literature and Language
Myriah Starr Barringer
SaraBecca Martin
Elizabeth Christine Nelson

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION

Educational Administration (Principal)
Bethany Nicole Cardenas
Dusty Wirtzberger
Joseph Wirtzberger

MASTER IN TEACHING

Elementary Education
Sina Ari Bigelow
Brenda Cardona
Kathleen Megan Habel
Lindsay Nicole Nelson

Elementary Education Specialization in English Language Learners
Yosi Barajas
Clarisa Calderon
Oswald R. Fonseca
Luis Adrian Horn
Norma Imelda Manzanarez
Fabiola Ramirez-Leon
Erika Sanchez
Alla Mikhaylovna Shvets
Megan Grace Wilkinson
Cresanna L. Zintzun

Elementary Education with a Specialization in Special Education
Cassandra Justine Berry
Maggie Lynn Fiocchi
Kayla Christine Johnson
Ryan Kahl
K. Scott Reinmuth
Shawn Leonard Scabby Robe
Charlotte Marie Schroeder page13image36565600

Dancing to his own beats! – WINGS Summer 2023

There was a time, not so long ago, when you had a better chance of hitting a Las Vegas jackpot than becoming an international recording artist. After all, in Vegas, all you need is one lucky roll of the dice. Making it as a musician, however, was a lot more complicated. For that, you needed a magical mix of talent, charisma, passion, and grit blended with a healthy dose of meteoric luck, plus a team of high-powered music executives and stylists with big-money budgets.

While becoming a musical megastar is still rare, and you still need the talent, technology has made music production accessible to a world full of burgeoning artists. Best of all, you don’t even have to play an instrument to write and produce a musical hit that will broadcast to fans worldwide.

It is here in the virtual kingdom of online music production that Heritage University senior Peter Dodson Dance, aka CabinTheCollective, feeds his creative soul and is building an audience of followers.

STUDENT, TEACHER, MUSIC MAKER

Dodson Dance finds inspiration for his craft everywhere. It comes in the noise of everyday life: the sound of baristas foaming a cup of joe or a micro beat heard through the window of a passing car.

Sometimes it’s an earworm of sound that comes from nowhere and repeats over and over in his head.

“I’ll get this start of an idea. Sometimes it will start as a little melody in my head or a drumbeat that I think is interesting. I’ll grab my phone and kind of sing it into a recording that I can take back to my studio later,” he said.

The magic happens in his studio, a small room in his home. Dodson Dance’s instrument of choice is his computer keyboard. By his own admission, he has had very little musical training. The only real instrument he plays is the piano and very little at that. However, using the computer program FL Studios, he becomes a master musician, virtually proficient in every instrument one would find in a band: drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, and even the brass section. He uses the program to build songs by creating the rhythms and melodies played by each instrument. The process is kind of like painting with sound. He starts with an idea, finds a sound that he likes in one instrument and builds the musical shadows and highlights, instrument by instrument.

“My goal is to build a full, layered sound,” he said. “I start with my initial idea and build on that single thought. As it builds and becomes more interesting, I’ll bring in other sounds, play with them and keep mixing things until it feels complete.”

His songs “start with the beat,” he said. The words come later, sometimes years later. When he’s ready to start adding lyrics, Dodson Dance steps up the microphone. He’s the vocalist on almost every track.

“The music drives the lyrics,” said Dodson Dance. “It portrays a story in my head. When I go back to the music, I’m often just freestyling the words into the mic. I say what I feel or what the music conveys to me.”

Dodson Dance describes his music as “feel- good, inspirational hip-hop.” His songs have a synthesized sound with strong underlying beats and rapped vocals.

“I want people to be inspired, to want to hear more and understand where I’m coming from,” he said.

His foray into music production began seven years ago when he was a 15-year-old kid getting together with his buddies after school. Music was extremely influential to the teens. They’d dance and listen to their favorite artists, vocalizing their favorite sounds. Before long, the crew began to play with sounds more formally using their computer and music production software. They would mix musical ideas, spinning off the hip-hop music they loved listening to on the radio. Dodson Dance found he had a talent and a passion for what they were doing.

“It got to the point where I thought, ‘Man, this is good. I really want to share it,’” he said. “I had some friends who were dropping songs online on SoundCloud, so I started putting my music there too.”

SoundCloud is a music streaming service known for giving new artists a platform where their music can be heard more broadly. However, SoundCloud music is only playable by SoundCloud members. Dodson Dance wanted to play with the musical big boys. A few years ago, he expanded his reach, publishing his songs on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music under the name CabinTheCollective. He’s created videos and released them on social media giants TikTok and Instagram. While he still has a way to go before he reaches influencer status, he is building a following.

“It would be crazy to say, ‘I want to be a rock star.’ I love making music and sharing it with others, but what I really want is to be a teacher,” he said.

Music is a passion and a hobby for Dodson Dance. He started at Heritage three years ago as a computer science major. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize his heart wasn’t in computers.

“I was talking to my mom, and she said I should consider becoming a teacher. She said, ‘You’re good with kids. Children work well around you, and you work well with children. They listen to you,”’ he said.

His mom knows a thing or two about teaching. She is Gloria Jones-Dance, an associate professor in Heritage’s Teacher Preparation program.

Dodson Dance took his mother’s advice and switched his major to elementary education. Last semester he completed his practicum at Whitney Elementary in the Yakima School District. He taught first grade. The experience affirmed that he was on the right path.

“The experience taught me that young minds need lots of repetition, and kids are ready to learn at all ages. It was fun but also taught me to be serious to ensure students were doing their work,” he said.

BALANCING TWO WORLDS

While hip hop as a genre has a reputation for being less than child- friendly, Dodson Dance believes that his avocation and future vocation need not be mutually exclusive.

“I spent a lot of time thinking about this,” he said. “I am an adult, and I make my music for other adults, but I think about that eight-year- old out there who could find my songs on the internet or who may be listening to my music with his parents or older brother or sister. I don’t want to expose them to messages they might not be ready for. That’s one of the reasons that I keep my messages positive and inspirational.”

He also thinks about how music can be integrated into this teaching.

“Music helps me inspire creativity in students and create musical opportunities,” he said. “I can see possibly turning lessons into song, delivering information rhythmically or melodically, or even engaging with the kids through music.”

With two more semesters left to complete his degree, Dodson Dance is concentrating on making the most out of what is left of his college career, and building his next great beat to add to his ever-growing collection of streaming songs.

You can hear Peter’s music through streaming platforms Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. Or follow him on TikTok or Instagram. In all platforms, search for CabinTheCollective. page13image36565600

Making strides for health justice – WINGS Summer 2023

Each June, during the semester between their junior and senior years, a dozen Heritage University nursing students leave the Yakima Valley to work at one of the largest specialized care centers for children in the nation.

In an innovative joint effort between Heritage’s nursing department and Seattle Children’s Hospital, the students enter a four-week pediatric care clinical rotation. They tend to patients under the tutelage of veteran nurses and gain a working understanding of the realities and practicalities of caring for sick and chronically ill children and their families.

Each student’s 120 hours at Seattle Children’s represents an important type of diversification in their clinical experience, a full year before graduation – one that expands their consciousness and their experience while enhancing the hospital’s growing commitment to diversity.

Seattle Children’s began hosting small cohorts of Heritage nursing students in 2017, and the program has continuously evolved and grown since.

The hospital provides Heritage and its students with several significant resources: a nursing professional who works as an adjunct faculty member at Heritage during the academic year prior to the students’ rotation, housing in the University of Washington dorms during their clinical rotation at Children’s; the option to return for an intensive 160- to 180-hour senior preceptorship; and upon graduation, guaranteed employment interviews. If hired, relocation to the Seattle area is paid for by Seattle Children’s.

A GROWING PARTNERSHIP

Beginning in their junior year, Heritage nursing students traditionally do multi-week, on- location clinical practice in various disciplines: women’s health and maternity, primary care of children, family health, and hospitalized adults. They work in community health and critical care, at hospitals throughout the Yakima Valley, and even at Heritage’s Early Learning Center.

The experience of Seattle Children’s turns things up a notch. Students gain experience in a highly complex system of care for acutely and chronically ill children and their families who come from a four-state area and include Latinx, indigenous, and undocumented children. Heritage’s student population is demographically similar; 80 percent of students are people of color.

The first steps of the partnership took place when Christina Nyirati, Ph.D., R.N. and Debra Ridling, Ph.D, R.N. first spoke in 2015. Nyirati is the director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program and chair of Heritage’s nursing department. Ridling is Associate Chief Nurse and Senior Director of Nursing Practice and Research at Seattle Children’s.

“I knew they were pretty saturated because they host 800 nursing students every year,” said Nyirati. “But we explored whether there could be a relationship that would benefit our students and Seattle Children’s and its patients and families. The arrangement has grown to what we’re doing today.”

BRIDGING CULTURES

Seattle Children’s prospectus on the project included the following statements: “The C.D.C. declared racism a serious public health threat in 2021. The National Academy of Medicine’s ‘Future of Nursing 2020-2030’ report declared action was needed to interrupt disparities that are systemic throughout healthcare.”

“They identify one strategy as increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce to better reflect the population,” said Ridling. “That’s a big part of what this program is about. Heritage students share the same cultures, language and background as many of our families, and that goes a long way in making them feel more comfortable. They see someone they identify with. They converse in their native language.

“They act as cultural brokers for this facility, and that’s a huge benefit to Seattle Children’s.”

Heritage nursing curriculum includes learning about “ethical comportment,” meaning their manner or presence, and that, to practice ethically, they must at times speak up on behalf of patients and families. They are taught to bring their lived experience and knowledge to their practice.

“Our students bring a realness and a humility to the experience of nursing,” said Nyirati. “We make sure they know that their background is rich and important, that they come to us already with that, and we’re there to expand on it. We cultivate their courage to be that presence.”

NURSE BENEFITS STUDENTS

Ten months before this year’s cohort of Heritage nursing students crossed the Cascade Mountains to Seattle, the nurse who would help provide an early connection from the Yakima Valley to Seattle made her way to Toppenish.

Bilingual and bicultural hospital-based nurse Genevieve Aguilar was selected to join the Heritage staff as interim joint faculty. She contributed to two semesters of clinical practice instruction and helped integrate students’ knowledge of theoretical nursing concepts into clinical practice.

Aguilar developed a unique connection with the students, enhancing it with an open-door policy and a personal touch.

“I think many of the students could easily see themselves in me,” Aguilar said. “I shared a lot about my journey, including in real time, as I applied for my Ph.D. studies. They got a sense of what that might be like for them.

“I think it’s been a mutual understanding from a cultural perspective.”

SUSTAINING THE PROGRAM

While at Seattle Children’s, Heritage nursing students do assessments, give medications, listen, watch, ask questions, and absorb it all. When solicited, they share their clinical reasoning.

“Our students are taking care of children with highly complex health problems; they’re not just observing, they’re practicing nursing under close supervision of faculty,” said Ridling. “They tell us they’re treated as professionals and colleagues, that the nurses pull them in and want them to learn.”

Once they graduate, many Heritage nursing school alumni will remain in the Yakima Valley, where their hearts reside, to serve their communities. Some will practice on Yakama land, serving indigenous people whose access to healthcare is limited. Some will take their place at Seattle Children’s. Some will further their education. A graduate may choose to become a certified pediatric nurse, pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree, or get their Ph.D.

As they evolve along their paths, the program they participated in will evolve as well. Development professionals at Seattle Children’s and Heritage are working to provide for its growth.

“We’re talking to people and organizations we both have relationships with about how we can improve health care outcomes in rural communities and at this regional hospital,” said Rueben Mayes, Regional Partnerships and Philanthropy Officer at Seattle Children’s. “This work is something Heritage has been doing successfully with Seattle Children’s for six years now, and it’s growing.”

The housing is costly. Mayes points out the senior preceptorship program will be growing, and the relocation stipend needs to increase.

“We’re looking for sustainable funding for all of it through an endowment.”

Nyirati’s vision for Heritage Nursing and Seattle Children’s extends even further.

“Our dream is to have an endowed chair, someone who is an experienced, doctorally prepared professor of nursing, who would come with years of experience in bridging both the practice and nursing education, that would benefit both organizations,” she said.

“It can leverage both of our organizations to become national leaders in modeling this equitable pathway toward transforming the health of all the nation’s children.

“We can do this not only for the Valley and Washington State, but for the nation.”

A recent report by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) predicted that the United State’s healthcare system will face a number of challenges over the next decade – An aging population with more complex medical needs; an ever-growing shortage of medical professionals, including skilled nurses; and social factors that influence both people’s health and wellness as well as their ability to access quality healthcare. Topping the list of actions needed to adequately address these concerns are educational programs that train nurses to work with diverse populations in community-based healthcare.

With its student body that is more than 75% Latinx and Native American, this area is where Heritage shines. However, continuing to provide high-quality nursing education that meets these standards has its challenges.

“Nursing is an expensive program for colleges,” said David Wise, vice president for Advancement. “When you look at all of the elements within the program: recruiting doctoral-level faculty, the simulators and medical equipment students first learn to use on campus, not to mention the expenses that come from the clinical rotations at medical facilities throughout the region, the costs can be enormous.

However, the implications of this program for the health and welfare of the communities we serve are equally as enormous. That’s why we are building an endowment explicitly dedicated to securing the nursing program’s financial welfare.”

This fall, Heritage and its partner, Seattle Children’s Hospital, are each launching capital campaigns to build endowments to support Heritage nursing education. Funds raised by Seattle Children’s Hospital will defray financial barriers, such as housing and relocation expenses, that Heritage students face while undergoing their four-week practicum. Additionally, it will fund joint-faculty appointments where hospital nursing staff are loaned to Heritage for teaching positions on campus.

Heritage’s endowment will provide the university with the necessary resources to attract and retain distinguished faculty members, who will bring their expertise and experience to enhance the academic programs within the nursing department. These positions will facilitate developing and implementing innovative teaching and learning techniques that will enable students to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their careers.

YOU CAN HELP ENSURE THE FUTURE OF THE NURSING PROGRAM AT HERITAGE UNIVERSITY THROUGH YOUR GIFTS TO THE NURSING ENDOWMENT. VISIT HERITAGE.EDU/GIVING TO MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY. page8image3865008

 

 

 

 

Heritage University nursing program director receives 2023 Nurse Educator Award from Washington State Nurses Association

Christina Nyirati accepts 2023 Nurse Educator Award from Washington State Nurses Association

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Heritage University nursing program director receives 2023 Nurse Educator Award from Washington State Nurses Association

 

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University nursing program director Christina Nyirati, Ph.D., was recently recognized for her work in bringing nursing education to under-represented populations. Nyirati was awarded the 2023 Nurse Educator Award by the Washington State Nurses Association during its convention in May.

The award is given every two years to a member who has demonstrated excellence in nursing education through evidence-based, innovative, and inspirational methods that incorporate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Nyirati founded the BSN program at Heritage University in 2014 with the mission to advance the health of multicultural families and communities in rural environments through excellence in nursing education, service, practice, and community-based research.

“I have worked with students who come to me and say I want to be a nurse, but they had been told by their high school guidance counselor they couldn’t be a nurse because they didn’t start speaking English until they were 7, 9, or 11 years old, and they didn’t have access to college prep courses,” said Nyirati in her acceptance speech. “Most of our students have been denied admission to as many as three nursing schools.”

The school has now graduated 80 highly capable and motivated nurses from rural communities who understand their communities.

“She has shaped the nursing program’s emphasis on cultural inclusivity with particular sensitivity to the Native communities from which it draws many of its students,” said Judy Huntington, MN, RN, who nominated Nyirati. Huntington served as WSNA executive director for nearly 19 years.

Heritage University President Andrew Sund, Ph.D. said that Dr Nyirati is truly deserving of this recognition from the WSNA. “Dr. Nyirati has dedicated her career to the exceptional education of nurses and to the elevation of the nursing profession to the highest standards. Her dedication to preparing health care professionals that serve their communities with the highest level of care possible is extraordinary.”

The WSNA Recognition Awards are made biennially in celebration of individuals who have made substantial contributions in nursing practice, leadership, education, and research. Nyirati was one of 10 individuals recognized at this year’s event. WSNA is the statewide association for the 110,000 nurses in Washington state and has been at the forefront of nursing advancements since it was founded in 1908.

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

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Martin Valadez promoted to Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Heritage University

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Martin Valadez promoted to Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Heritage University

 

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University President Andrew Sund, Ph.D. announced on July 13, 2023, the promotion of Martin Valadez from director of the Heritage University Regional Site in the Tri-Cities to Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives at Heritage University. In this role, Valadez will oversee university operations at its new regional site in downtown Kennewick, Wash. and at its branch campus at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash. as well as take a leadership role in developing additional strategic initiatives for the university.

Valadez joined Heritage University in 2019 as the director of the newly formed Workforce Training and Education program known as Heritage@Work. A year later, Valadez was selected to become the director of Heritage University’s Tri-Cities branch campus at CBC. Valadez has lived in the Tri-Cities since 2006 and is an active leader in the area’s academic and business communities through his experience at CBC as a professor and as the VP for Diversity and Outreach. He also has strong business connections through his work as the former CEO for the CBC Foundation and as a member and vice chair of Gesa Credit Union board of directors. Valadez also recently returned to his role as president of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he has served in various roles for more than 13 years. He is also a board member of the Tri-Cities Economic Development Council (TRIDEC); on the board of directors of the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC); and current Chair of the Mid-Columbia Libraries board of trustees.

Dr. Sund says the adaptability and flexibility shown by Valadez when taking on new roles make him the perfect choice to develop and foster new projects for university growth. “Valadez has a proven track record with delivering consistent results and achieving targets in every venture,” Sund said. “He has shown an ability to grow positive relationships with clients, partners and colleagues which enhance Heritage’s reputation and drives growth. This promotion is a result of his exceptional work and in recognition of Martin’s service to Heritage University.”

Valadez expressed gratitude for this recognition of his contributions to the University thus far and the opportunity to contribute in a larger role. “Heritage has been changing the trajectory of students’ lives for more than 40 years and it is an honor to be a part of an organization that is 100% mission driven.”

Valadez officially started his new role as VP of Strategic Initiatives on July 1. For more information, please contact Davidson Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Star of children’s book written by second graders is now a learning ambassador for children in the Yakima Valley

Houdini poses for pictures with children at the Heritage University Early Learning Center during a reveal event on June 15, 2023

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Star of children’s book written by second graders is now a learning ambassador for children in the Yakima Valley

Toppenish, Wash. – Houdini Was is a story about a classroom pet hamster written by a second-grade class at White Bluff Elementary School in Richland, Wash. The class entered the story into a contest by Scholastic Books called the Scholastic National Challenge in 2010, and their book won first place over more than 2,000 entries nationwide. Fast forward to 2023, Yakima Valley Partners for Education (YVPE) and its partners are bringing Houdini to the children of the Yakima Valley as a learning ambassador. On June 15, the teacher whose class at White Bluff Elementary wrote the story, Christan Conners, and one of her students from that year, Lily Ferguson, read Houdini Was to children at the Heritage University Early Learning Center. Afterwards, Houdini, a costumed mascot, appeared and posed for pictures with the children.

YVPE director Suzy Diaz said longtime Heritage University benefactors Ken and Sharon Smith of Yakima, Wash. became interested in YVPE’s literacy efforts and wanted to help. The Smiths, parents of Christan Conners, purchased the publishing rights to Houdini Was, had 500 copies printed, and are now making the book available to schools and organizations in the Yakima Valley.

YVPE’s partners think Houdini will be a “hamster-iffic” learning ambassador.

“The ESD is thrilled to be joining with other community partners in the Houdini project,” said Educational Service District 105 Director Shane Backlund. We’re looking forward to supporting Houdini’s mission of serving as a learning ambassador throughout our region, and we can’t wait to get started with this partnership.”

“Houdini’s journey from a class pet to a symbol of resilience touched the hearts of young minds. In their words and art, Houdini becomes a beacon of hope,” said Humberto Rodriguez, CEO of United Family Center. “The Smith family’s dedication to sharing this story nurtures healing, reminding us that even in grief we find the power to create light.”

“Early literacy helps children develop a rich vocabulary, self-expression, and reading comprehension and promotes life-long learning,” said Vanessa Frias, director of Parents as Teachers at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (YVFWC). “These skills prepare children for school by encouraging a love for books and an eagerness to learn. Our organization is happy to support Houdini.”

For more information, please contact Suzy Diaz at (509) 480-9354 or Diaz_S@heritage.edu or Davidson Mance at (509) 969-6084 or Mance_D@heritage.edu.

Pacific Power awards $7,500 grant to Heritage University to support health sciences

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Pacific Power awards $7,500 grant to Heritage University to support health sciences

Toni Petty of Pacific Power presents check to Heritage University VP of Marketing David Wise at Heritage University, June 21, 2023

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is pleased to announce it has once again been awarded a grant from Pacific Power Foundation, this time in the amount of $7,500. This is the fifth year in a row Heritage has received the grant, which will be used to fund scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the health sciences field.

David Wise, VP of Advancement and Marketing for Heritage, was presented a grant check from Toni Petty, Pacific Power Regional Business Manager at Heritage University on June 21, 2023. “I am so grateful to Pacific Power Foundation for their continued support of the Heritage University mission of providing educational opportunities for students of the Yakima Valley,” said Wise. Their generosity helps to eliminate financial hardships for students, particularly those pursuing health science degrees.”

Petty said Pacific Power Foundation supports Heritage University’s mission of making a college education accessible. “We are pleased to support Heritage University with this donation from our Foundation,” said Petty. “The Pacific Power Foundation is committed to strengthening the vitality of our communities through such grants.”

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

About the Pacific Power Foundation:

The Pacific Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 1.9 million customers in six western states as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington, and California) and Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net/foundation.

 

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