Mabton School District receives $5,000 grant from Yakima Valley Partners for Education to help students impacted by Covid-19

Mabton School District receives $5,000 grant from Yakima Valley Partners for Education to help students impacted by Covid-19

Toppenish, Wash. – The Mabton School District has received a $5,000 grant from Yakima Valley Partners for Education (YVPE) to help 850 students impacted by the coronavirus. The district will use the money for school supply kits that will be distributed to students through its school meal distribution program which delivers more than 6,000 meals to kids at 73 locations across the district.

Dr. Joey Castilleja, the superintendent of the Mabton School District said his district was hard hit by school closures due to the virus. “Without a lot of notice, we were all suddenly expected to attend and teach school online. Families were just not ready for such an endeavor. Things as simple as scissors and glue sticks are basic school supplies that kids now need at home. These supplies mean a lot to our kids,” said Castilleja. “By providing students with the tools they need to complete their school assignments, they have one less barrier to overcome due to Covid-19.”

Save the Children secured $2,500 and obtained a matching grant from First Book, a non-profit based in Washington D.C. for a total of $5,000 for the kits. Save the Children is one of the more than a dozen partners of YVPE, a coalition formed by Heritage University to address the challenges of educational attainment faced by communities in Yakima County across the cradle-to-career continuum. This collaborative approach is known as Collective Impact and is already showing promise in the lower Yakima Valley.

Save the Children, which operates in more than 200 rural communities across 13 states, joined YVPE through its partnership with the Grandview School District. In Grandview, Save the Children offers its “Early Steps to School Success” home-visiting program to children ages three years old and younger and their parents. Save the Children, a national leader in early childhood education, has leveraged its resources in support of children and families throughout the lower Yakima Valley.

For more information, contact Suzy Diaz, Heritage University – Collective Impact Director at Diaz_S@Heritage.edu or (509) 480-9354.

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First-ever virtual “Bounty of the Valley” Scholarship Dinner raises more than $817,000 for student scholarships

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University’s 34^th annual “Bounty of the Valley” Scholarship Dinner, which was held virtually this past Saturday evening, brought in $734,755 during the event. Gifts coming in over the four days following the program have resulted in an additional $83,750, for a total of more than $817,000 as of Wednesday. The gifts will be given directly to students as scholarships this coming year.

The premier fundraiser for student scholarships at Heritage University, normally held at the Heritage campus in Toppenish, had to be done differently this year due to coronavirus limitations. It became a one-hour television event aired in central Washington on KAPP/KVEW-TV and live-streamed on the Heritage website.

The program featured many video segments of Heritage students sharing their Heritage experience and describing the ways scholarships made their dreams of going to college possible. Student speaker Maria Soto shared her story – that because of her parents’ sacrifices and scholarships made possible by the university’s supporters, as well as her determination, she was able to earn a degree in social work from Heritage. She talked about her goal now of helping the area’s agriculture workers thrive.

Heritage alumni also appeared and gave insight into the careers they’ve been able to pursue as a result of earning their degrees.

Several longtime corporate sponsors and individual supporters also appeared on the program. Many said they’d first given to Heritage after learning about the numerous obstacles students face on their educational journey and have continued to do so over the years. They encouraged people watching the program to contribute as well.

Dana Eliason, Heritage’s Senior Director of Donor Relations, expressed elation at the results of the first-ever virtual event: “Our team realized in March that we were going to have to do this critical fundraiser entirely differently this year. And friends of the university recognized the importance of responding with their contributions. We are so grateful they responded as they did.”

Heritage University’s President Dr. Andrew Sund, said he is thankful that the event introduced Heritage to a wide audience of people who may not have known a lot about the university or how students’ educational goals depend on a wide range of donors.

“In addition to being able to reach our existing friends, we’ve made many new friends across the valley and the state this year,” said Sund. “I’m hopeful they have found a place in their hearts for Heritage.”

The virtual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship dinner can be viewed in its entirety on the Heritage University website at Heritage.edu/SD2020. Donations to student scholarships can be made on the same page by clicking on the “Support Me” button. For more information, contact Dana Eliason at (509) 865-0441 or Eliason_D@Heritage.edu.

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Heritage University to present the annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner on KAPP and KVEW TV Saturday, June 6 at 7pm

HU President Andrew Sund as he appeared through a camera viewfinder during the recording of segments for the virtual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner (Ross Courtney Photos).

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Heritage University to present the annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner on KAPP and KVEW TV Saturday, June 6 at 7pm

Toppenish, Wash. – For 34 years, the annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner has been hosted on the Heritage University campus in Toppenish on the first Saturday of June. This year because of the coronavirus safety protocols in effect, the University has had to create a virtual scholarship dinner. The one-hour event will air on KAPP/KVEW TV in Yakima and in the Tri-Cities as well as stream online at heritage.edu/sd2020 on Saturday, June 6 at 7 pm.

The Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner is the University’s most important fundraiser of the year. All of the proceeds go directly to student scholarships in the coming academic year and according to David Wise, Vice President of University Advancement the need for scholarships has never been greater. “In the changed world that we find ourselves in at the moment, so many students and their families have lost their jobs, which they count on to help pay for college. In order for our students to stay in school, the need for scholarship support will be more critical now than ever.”

The event will feature stories from Heritage students and alumni, as well as appearances from many community, business, and political leaders. Wise is optimistic about the event and its ability to raise the funds needed. “If there is one thing I know about the Yakima Valley it is about the generosity of the people who live here. I think it is the nature of this special place we call home. There is a pride in this valley and a desire to help the community thrive. They see education as vital to continued growth and demonstrate their belief in the Heritage mission through their giving.

Dana Eliason, Senior Director of Donor Relations at Heritage is usually the chief architect of the annual dinner and was both melancholy and excited about this year’s virtual event. “I will so miss seeing all of our amazing friends who gather on campus each year in June. But I know in my heart it is not the dinner that they come for, it is the stories of our students. That is why they come each year and that is why they give. The students they invest in go on to contribute to our wonderful community in meaningful ways. That is the dividend our donors reap from their giving.”

President of Heritage University, Dr. Andrew Sund thinks that not only does the virtual scholarship event have the potential to raise the necessary scholarship funds needed for students, but has the potential to introduce Heritage to a wide audience across the valley, who may have heard about Heritage but not know much about it. “I will miss the annual gathering on campus, it is always such a joyful evening. But I think we will make many new friends across the valley as a result. I know they will be encouraged by what they learn, and I hope, find a new place in their hearts for Heritage.”

For more information, contact Davidson Mance, Director of Media Relations at Heritage University, (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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New Yakima Valley education initiative secures $11,000 in grants to help Yakima Valley families impacted by Covid-19

Toppenish, Wash. – A $10,000 grant secured by the Yakima Valley Partners for Education (YVPE) will be used to help 220 families in the Lower Yakima Valley impacted by the Covid-19 virus. The Latino Community Fund of Washington, one of the members of YVPE, secured the grant from the Communities of Color Coalition, and will use the money to give food vouchers to families in Mabton, Grandview and Sunnyside hardest hit by business closures due to the virus. Fiesta Foods in Sunnyside is also providing $1,000 to help with this emergency relief.

Micaela Razo, project manager for Latino Community Fund in central Washington, said many low-income migrants in Mabton, Grandview and Sunnyside now have no incomes to feed their families after losing their jobs. “These families have no other way to provide for their loved ones, and are in need of the economic support this grant will bring,” said Razo.

Latino Community Fund is a member of YVPE, an organization formed by Heritage University to tackle the challenges of educational attainment faced by communities in Yakima County across the cradle to career continuum – also known as collective impact.

In administering this specific grant, the organization will work with the school districts of Grandview, Mabton and Sunnyside to identify the families impacted by Covid-19 to provide them with food vouchers they can use immediately.

Heritage University to implement distance learning in response to Coronavirus concerns

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Heritage University to implement distance learning in response to Coronavirus concerns

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is taking precautions to protect the health of its students, faculty and staff, their family members as well as the community beyond campus. Today Heritage President Dr. Andrew Sund announced protocols that follow closely the guidelines of the Yakima Health District, the Washington State Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control, to minimize the spread of the virus.

The first will be to extend Spring Break for undergraduate students through Sunday, March 22, 2020. There will be no classes the week beginning March 16, 2020. “During this time, we expect faculty and students to prepare to continue their programs using available online platforms, making other arrangements for distance learning or other mechanisms that maintain social distancing protocols,” said Dr. Sund.

Sund said beginning March 23, 2020, Heritage will deliver almost all instruction online for a two-week period through April 5, 2020. “Instructors will communicate with students electronically on how to obtain study materials, turn in assignments, and participate in a remote instruction environment,” he said.

Dr. Sund also announced all events taking place on campus between March 13, 2020, and April 30, 2020 will either be canceled or postponed. Decisions will be made whether to hold events scheduled for after April 30 as changing conditions warrant.

As a point of social responsibility, Dr. is strongly discouraging Heritage community members from traveling or attending events with large numbers of individuals. “We are taking these measures so that we may minimize the spread of the virus.”

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

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Heritage University to offer Master of Education in Reading which prepares teachers to help students overcome dyslexia and other reading disorders

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Heritage University to offer Master of Education in Reading that will prepare teachers to help students overcome dyslexia and other reading disorders

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is now offering a master’s and undergraduate degree, as well as a certificate program that prepares teachers to help students overcome dyslexia and other reading challenges. The Master of Education in Inclusive Education: Dyslexia, ESOL and Cultural Competence provides students with in-depth training on the theories, practices, pedagogy and technology in the field of reading education.

Kari Terjeson, chair of the Department of Teacher Education, said the program was developed after educators and school administrators told her there was a great need for expertise in this field. According to Terjeson, “Candidates who complete the program will know how to identify, evaluate and deliver specialized instruction to students who, for reasons of language barriers or learning disorders, are struggling to learn how to read and write.”

According to Terjeson, the M.Ed. in Reading degree program at Heritage was developed according to the Washington Educator Standards, along with the Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading from the International Dyslexia Association and the International Literacy Association. “Reading and writing are fundamental skills that all students need to build a lifetime of success, and this program will train teachers to help their students overcome their challenges and build their love of learning,” she said.

The flexibility of this master’s degree allows students to complete classes in on-campus lectures, online classes, and show competence in subject matter, which involves completing a portfolio assignment and an objective exam proving mastery. Students completing the program coursework or demonstrating proficiency and receive a passing score on the necessary Washington Educator Skills Test (WEST-E) and/or National Evaluation Series (NES) can earn endorsements in ELL/BLE and Reading, which qualifies them to teach reading across all grade levels within their area of concentration. A Reading or ELL/BLE only endorsement option is available for teachers who already hold a master’s degree. Those completing the program will be able to demonstrate several learning outcomes, which ultimately act in the best interests of struggling readers and readers with dyslexia or other reading disorders.

The Master of Education in Reading program is open to current educators who hold a Bachelor of Arts in Education or a Bachelor of Education. For more information, contact Shari Foster at (509) 865-8623 or Foster_S@Heritage.edu, or Kari Terjeson at Terjeson_K@Heritage.edu. For interviews, contact Davidson Mance at (509) 969-6084 or Mance_D@Heritage.edu.

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Heritage University announces Fall 2019 Dean’s List

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Heritage University announces Fall 2019 Dean’s List

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

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

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Heritage University announces a new director for its Tri-Cities branch campus at Columbia Basin College

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Martin Valadez

Heritage University announces a new director for its Tri-Cities branch campus at Columbia Basin College

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University President Dr. Andrew Sund has announced a new director for its Tri-Cities branch campus at Columbia Basin College. Beginning January 6, 2020, Martin Valadez, currently the Director of Workforce Education at Heritage, will lead the regional site.

The former director of the Tri-Cities operation, Dr. Marisol Rodriguez-Price had expressed a desire to return to the professorate within the College of Education. Dr. Sund saw this as an opportunity to make structural changes in the operation that would better align the CBC campus with the main campus in Toppenish. “Our regional site will be directed by an administrator reporting in the same chain as the Director of Admissions. This will allow for closer collaboration between Admissions and the regional site,” Sund said.

In announcing this administrative change, President Sund praised Rodriguez-Price for her excellent work over the last four years at CBC. “Heritage is grateful to Rodriguez-Price for her commitment to the Tri-Cities regional site. She is an invaluable contributor to the Heritage University community and her dedication to the University’s mission is estimable,” said Dr. Sund.

Valadez will report to David Wise, the VP of Admissions, Marketing and Advancement; Valadez, Wise and Admissions Director Gabriel Pinon will form a team sharply focused on recruitment and admissions at the CBC campus where Heritage offers five Baccalaureate degrees: accounting, criminal justice, elementary education, psychology and social work, as well as a Master in Teaching graduate degree.

Valadez is exceptionally involved in both the academic and business communities in the Tri-Cities, where he has lived since 2006. Valadez has extensive higher education experience as both a professor and as an administrator. His most recent higher education work was at CBC where he served as a professor of history and intercultural studies and then as the Vice President for Diversity and Outreach. He also has strong business connections through his work as the former CEO of the CBC Foundation. Just this month, Valadez returned to the role of president of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he has served in various roles for more than ten years. He is also Board Chair with Communities in Schools Benton-Franklin; a board and executive committee member with the Tri-Cities Economic Development Council (TRIDEC); a trustee and vice-chair for Mid-Columbia Libraries, and a member of the Washington State Complete Count Committee.

Valadez will continue his work in Workforce Education through a period of transition. Rodriguez-Price will transition back into the College of Education, where much of her work will continue to be in the Tri-Cities.

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

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Heritage students to pack food boxes for local families as part of “Pantry of Hope” campaign

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Heritage students to pack food boxes for local families as part of “Pantry of Hope” campaign

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University Enactus students will pack much-needed food boxes for 400 Yakima Valley families as part of the annual “Pantry of Hope” campaign. The boxing will take place Friday, December 13, 2019 in Smith Family Hall located in the Arts and Sciences Center at Heritage University in Toppenish. The boxes will contain perishable and non-perishable items and will be given to the families that participated in student-organized financial literacy events earlier this year.

Local media are invited to take pictures and video of the boxing process, which is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. and finish by 3:00 p.m.

To prepare for “Pantry of Hope,” Heritage Enactus students applied for corporate grants and worked with local grocery stores and businesses for food and other essentials. The students also worked with Lower Valley Credit Union to develop the financial literacy program that teaches families how to create and live on a budget.

The students have been holding “Pantry of Hope” for more than a dozen years. Over time, the program’s impact to help families in need during the winter months has caught the attention of other organizations. This year, the Yakima Housing Authority and Educational Service District 105 in Yakima reached out to Heritage Enactus to partner in providing short-term help to their clients.

“By offering financial education workshops and collecting food items, we have provided a pantry-filler for more than 3,000 families in the last decade,” said Heritage Enactus Director Dioselina Verduzco. “Communities all over the Yakima Valley have come to learn that the Pantry of Hope can give families the extra support they need during the winter months.”

The food boxes packed during “Pantry of Hope” will be picked up by the families on December 14 at several locations including Granger, Sunnyside, and Yakima. Also on December 14, select families will be picking up their boxes at Heritage as part of the “Winter Wonderland Family Event” taking place from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Dioselina Verduzco at (509) 865-0419 or Enactus@Heritage.edu, or David Mance at (509) 969-6084 or Mance_D@Heritage.edu.

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Heritage University professor co-authors second book on dealing with water crisis in South America

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Heritage University professor co-authors second book on dealing with water crisis in South America

Alex Alexiades, Ph.D. holds the two books he’s co-authored on dealing with water crisis in South America.

Toppenish, Wash. – A new, one-of-a-kind book written to be a resource for Indigenous communities and leaders, natural resource managers and government organizations in protecting freshwater rivers in the tropical Andes and Amazon has been co-authored by Heritage University Associate Professor Alex Alexiades, PhD. Los ríos de las cuencas Andino-Amazónicas (Rivers of the Andean-Amazonian Basins) was co-authored by Alexiades and collaborators to help communities worldwide protect their water from pollution. It is being published in Spanish by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito Press located in Ecuador.

Dr. Alexiades says a recent World Economic Forum Global Risks Report ranked the water crisis as one of the five most important potential threats to worldwide economic and social stability. “The water supply in many regions is becoming scarce as demand exceeds supply while contamination increases. Since 1971, this combination has resulted in more than 80% of freshwater species to dwindle in numbers, or become extinct,” he said. “Because of this alarming threat, it’s more important than ever to help communities understand, monitor and protect their freshwater resources. Los ríos de las cuencas Andino-Amazónicas will enable communities to make better resource management and conservation decisions.”

The work by Alexiades and his partners has received financial support from the Latin American Water Fund Alliance, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the National Science Foundation. The Nature Conservancy and several other agencies collaborated with the authors on Los ríos de las cuencas Andino-Amazónicas for its work to improve water quality in the Andean-Amazon region for both the people and the environment.

Los ríos de las cuencas Andino-Amazónicas is the second book on an environmental crisis authored by Dr. Alexiades and his colleagues. Their first book, Nuestro Vivir En La Amazonía Ecuatoriana: Entre La Finca Y El Petróleo (Our Life in the Ecuadorian Amazon: Caught Between Petroleum and Agriculture), came out in 2018 and detailed the struggles of local indigenous and mestizo communities and their environment as they faced increasing threats from mining, petroleum.

For more information contact Alex Alexiades at (509) 865-0732 or alexiades_a@heritage.edu. To schedule an interview with Alexiades, please contact David Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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