Science Olympiad Event returns to test young minds’ collaborative, competitive skills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Science Olympiad Event Returns to YVC to Test Young Minds’ Collaborative, Competitive Skills

Yakima, WA – Middle school students from throughout Central Washington will once again show off their scientific skills during the 7th annual South Central Washington Science Olympiad (SCWSO) Regional Tournament on Saturday, January 26, 2019.

This isn’t the typical science fair where kids create and show their own separate projects; instead, the Science Olympiad brings together teams of students for group competition. Each team has 15 competing members and will form small groups for each of the 23 competition events. These events include building and testing battery-powered buggies and elastic launched gliders and conducting experiments in chemistry, anatomy and herpetology. The teams with the top overall score will move onto the state competition in April; with the winner of that competition moving on to the national event in May.

“This is an event that teaches kids to collaborate and compete in science projects at the same time,” says Cresanna Zintzun, tournament co-director and adjunct faculty at Heritage University. “It also fosters the study of and engagement in science throughout the year.”

The Science Olympiad is a national program that started more than 30 years ago, and has been held in Washington state for more than two decades. Before 2013, teams from Central Washington had to travel to Spokane or Western Washington to compete. The event is being presented jointly by the three Yakima Valley colleges and universities: Heritage University, Yakima Valley College (YVC) and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU).

“In more than 20 STEM-related events, middle school students from central WA will test their creativity, preparation and knowledge at the 7th annual SCWSO tournament. We expect a day of big achievements for small scientists in the making,” said Matthew Loeser, president of the SCWSO board of directors and a YVC biology instructor.

The Science Olympiad State Organization awarded $1,000 towards the regional tournament at YVC, which will be held in Glenn Anthon Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Teams from schools in the Yakima, West Valley and Kennewick school districts as well as a private school in Yakima are expected to participate.

You can learn more about Science Olympiad online at www.washingtonscienceolympiad.com.

For more information, contact:

Matthew Loeser, (509) 574-4858 or mloeser@yvcc.edu

Diana Rhodes, (509) 249-7737 or drhodes@pnwu.edu

Cresanna Zintzun, (509) 865-8558 or Zintzun_C@heritage.edu

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Comments sought for Heritage University accreditation

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Its accreditation status was most recently reaffirmed in spring 2014 after the acceptance of the university’s three-year evaluation.

On April 8 – 10, 2019, NWCCU’s accreditation evaluation team will be visiting Heritage University to confirm and verify the content of the university’s Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Self-Evaluation Report through collegial and compliance peer review and feedback for continuous improvement. As part of the process, Heritage University invites third party entities to submit their signed, written comments to:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165thAvenue NE, Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558-4224

Comments must be received by the Commission no later than March 8, 2019. The NWCCU will consider all comments in regard to Heritage University’s qualifications for accreditation. All signed comments will be forwarded, as received, to Heritage University, the evaluation committee, and the Commission.

To obtain a copy of Commission Policy A-5, Public Notification and Third Party Comments Regarding Full-Scale Evaluations go to www.nwccu.org  and visit either the Standards and Policies or the Operational Policies links on the website, or contact the Commission office at (425) 558-4224.

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Heritage University Announces Fall 2018 Dean’s List

Toppenish, Wash. –  The following are students who earned a place on the Heritage University Dean’s List for the fall 2018 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.

 

Marixa Abacara-Perez, Kennewick Josue Aguilar, Yakima Gissell Aguilar, Sunnyside
Amalia Akagi, yakima Clarisa Alcala, Buena Paulina Alcala, Yakima
Sonia Allende, Pasco Danielle Almanza, Granger Lorena Alvarez, Wapato
Yessyca Alvarez, Grandview Yanett Alvarez, Yakima Eilee Andujo, Prosser
Elizabeth Arellano, Toppenish Rosalinda Arreola, Toppenish Alonso Arroyo, Wapato
Alejandra Arteaga, Yakima Emma Avalos, Yakima Marisol Avila, Toppenish
Alexys Ayala, Buena Maria Ayala, Toppenish Jeremiah Baker, Toppenish
Regina Baker, Toppenish Michelle Barba, Yakima Nadine Bare, Kennewick
Sabrina Bare, Kennewick Teresa Barnes, Richland Elizabeth Benitez, Kennewick
Esther Bermudez, Kennewick Jeanne Blakeman, Pasco Cristina Blanco, Sunnyside
Zaireth Borges Zamora, Yakima Justin Burke, Yakima Daisy Bustamante Orduno, Granger
Juan Cabrera-Santos, Buena Jennifer Cantu, Prosser Roma Cantu, Toppenish
Alexandra Cardenas, Toppenish Brenda Cardona, Mattawa Janette Cardona, Mattawa
Jenny Careaga, West Richland Delia Castanon, Wapato Leslie Castillo, Sunnyside
Erica Castro, Wapato Zachary Catron, Wapato Noelia Causor, Yakima
Rosalinda Ceja Navarro, Sunnyside Jocelyn Celis Torres, Wapato Jennifer Cervantes, Toppenish
Kevin Cervantes, Pasco Lizbeth Chavez, Pasco Diana Chavez Cerda, Yakima
Ruben Chino Bustamante, Toppenish Heather Christensen, Richland Ana Cisneros Chavez, Outlook
Shelby Clark, White Swan Heather Collins, Zillah Gardenia Contreras-Vazquez, Sunnyside
Grace Corning, Benton City Melissa Correa, Pasco Esmeralda Correa, Pasco
Guadalupe Cortes, Wapato Kristina Cortez, Moxee Almarosa Cortez, Wapato
Veronica Cruz, Sunnyside Estefani Cruz, Wapato Stefany Cuaspud Guevara, Kennewick
Kathryn Curtiss, Toppenish Ashley Davis, Naches Xavier Day, Toppenish
Connie Delacruz, Yakima Cynthia Deleon, Toppenish Fatima Delgado, Toppenish
Esperanza Delgado, Toppenish Paige Delp, Yakima Jesus Diaz, Zillah
Keila Diaz, Granger Irvin Diaz, Yakima Josue Diaz, Mesa
Maria Diaz, Zillah Rylie Dixon, Kennewick Amanda Donelson, Kennewick
Sara Duran, Wapato Crecenciana Espinoza, Pasco Jocelyne Espinoza, Wapato
Kaylyn Fairchild, Pasco Krisana Fernandez, Sunnyside Flor Fernandez-Mendoza, Mattawa
Cristy Fiander, Wapato Jose Figueroa-Orduno, Grandview Spencer Fisher, Richland
Artemio Flores, Toppenish Stephanie Flores-landin, Yakima Hector Franco Velazquez, Granger
Anabel Garcia, Pasco Evelyn Garcia, Wapato Leticia Garcia, Granger
Esmeralda Garcia, Wapato Rosa Garcia, Kennewick Victoria Garcia, Pasco
Marlenne Garibay, Sunnyside Anali Garibay, Pasco Kimberling Garibay, Sunnyside
Kimberly Garibay Zapien, Toppenish Dorothy Garwood, Prosser Anahi Garza, Richland
Delia Garza, Pasco Lindsy Gatewood, Pasco Nicole Glatt, Burbank
Lesly Gomez, Yakima Tania Gomez, Pasco Rhiannon Gonzales, Yakima
Diana Gonzalez, Kennewick Noe Gonzalez, Toppenish Alfonso Gonzalez-Colin, Yakima
Amanda Goodman, Pasco Heidy Granados Lopez, Kennewick Ashley Grego, Richland
Shelby Groth, Selah Brenda Guadarrama, Granger Isaias Guerrero, Outlook
Estefania Guerrero Angel, Granger Yazmine Guido, Yakima Eva Guizar, Kennewick
Alissa Gutierrez, Yakima Melissa Gutierrez, Granger Melissa Guzman, Pasco
Alexis Guzman, Pasco Martha Guzman, Yakima Yuli Guzman, Yakima
Kori Haubrich, Sunnyside Anna Hempel, Kennewick Mayra Hermosillo, Prosser
Elena Hernandez, Wapato Lizbeth Hernandez, Yakima Xochitl Hernandez, Pasco
Tracie Hicks, Kennewick Savannah Hill, Wapato Christina Holland, Kennewick
Chaelee Hudson, Yakima Kasey Hutto, Kennewick Ricardo Iriarte, Yakima
Yasmin Islas Martinez, Yakima Jason Janovitch, Pasco Kaneeta Jeffery- Zack, Zillah
Samanta Jimenez, Pasco Miguel Juarez, Yakima Alondra Juarez, Wapato
Ekman Kaur, Kennewick April Kent, Toppenish Wendy Kleppin, West Richland
Valentyn Konko, Kennewick Viktoriia Konko, Kennewick Michael Kummer, Kennewick
Rachel LaBelle, Benton city Maria Lara, Pasco Maria Lechuga, Wapato
Shiraz Lefeber, Pasco Yovana Leyva Carmona, Wapato Ilse Leyva Manzanarez, Yakima
Idalis Licea, Zillah Andres Lima Elias, Othello Mark Litka, Richland
Brittany Loeken, Yakima Yesenia Lopez, Wapato Maria Lopez, Wapato
Elvira Lopez, Toppenish Yezie Lopez Perez, Yakima Reina Luna, Wapato
Daisy Luna, Wapato Jeffery Lybbert, Toppenish Jennifer Macias, Toppenish
Claudia Madrigal, Pasco Yareli Madrigal Luna, Pasco Marlene Magana, Sunnyside
Herminia Magdaleno, Yakima Edgar Maranon, Wapato Ana Marquez, Grandview
Rosalinda Marquez, Toppenish Cooper Martin, Yakima Daisy Martinez, Wapato
Natalie Martinez, Sunnyside Dulce Martinez, Sunnyside Andrea Martinez-Santiago, Toppenish
Christina Mattson, Richland Stephanie Maybee, Selah Sara McColloch, Pasco
Shaunacy McMurray, Yakima Ashlee Mearns, Kennewick Judit Medina, Kennewick
David Mejia, Yakima Stephanie Mendoza, Mabton Yesenia Mendoza, Mattawa
Jazmin Mendoza, Pasco Daniel Mendoza, Toppenish Karen Mendoza, Prosser
Cassandra Mercado, Pasco Jheymy Mercado-Covarrubias, Yakima Rebecca Meza, Sunnyside
Celine Michael, Yakima Jennifer Mitchell, Kennewick Gladys Monroy, Pasco
Priscila Montiel, Yakima Brenda Montoya-Roman, Yakima Ana Morales, Toppenish
Domitila Morales, Pasco Lizbeth Morales Perez, Toppenish Gabriela Moreno, Toppenish
Eva Morfin, Kennewick Kaitlin Morris, Richland James Muggli, Kennewick
Guadalupe Navarro, Sunnyside Thuan-Thien Nguyen, Pasco Edith Noriega, Sunnyside
Arlene Olea, Sunnyside Meaghan Oliver, Richland Rosa Olvera, Pasco
Lorena Ornelas, Sunnyside Esther Osorio, Toppenish Rebecca Ozuna, Toppenish
Karina Padilla, Yakima Carlos Paniagua, Sunnyside Mary Pantoja, Yakima
Seong Park, Yakima Shane Parkhurst, Kennewick Yolanda Penaloza, Mabton
Marcelo Penaloza, Toppenish Ana Perez, Pasco Hunter Perez, Kennewick
Carmen Perez, Grandview Sabrina Persinger, Pasco Eric Philipp-Petrick, Yakima
Kelsey Picard, Seatac Diana Picazo Villanueva, Outlook Allison Platsman, Sunnyside
Oscar Ponce, Harrah Carlos Prado, Yakima Katherine Priddy, Goldendale
Daisy Quinones, White Swan Laura Quintana, Union Gap Lezly Quintanilla, Yakima
Viridiana Ramirez, Pasco Briceida Ramos, Grandview Olivia Ramos Alvarez, Kennewick
Lazaro Ramos Aragon, Walla Walla Rosa Rangel, Wapato Anyssa Rebollero, Yakima
Joshua Rein, Wapato Shealynn Reuther, Wapato Alfredo Reyes, Granger
Gloria Reyes, Granger Anitramarina Reyna, Yakima Andrea Rhode, Zillah
Amy Richter, Pendleton Rosa Rios, Moxee Abigail Rivera, Zillah
Candelaria Rivera, Mabton Maria Rivera, Yakima Timothy Roa, Wapato
Morgan Roberts, Kennewick Hunter Roberts, Yakima Ellie Robins, Selah
Eileen Rodriguez, Pasco Adriana Rodriguez, Kennewick Andrea Rodriguez, Toppenish
Heidy Rodriguez, Wapato Jesus Rodriguez, Granger Liliana Roman, Grandview
Sarah Romano, Richland Juan Romero, Zillah Erika Romero-Vargas, Pasco
Dalia Romo Pinon, Sunnyside Leidy Rosales, Pasco Eva Rosenow, Kennewick
Rosario Ruiz, Yakima Jose Salcedo, Granger Renee Saldana, Yakima
Mayra Sanchez, Kennewick Danielle Sauceda, Pasco Johnathan Schab, Prosser
Erika Scheel, Meridian Margaret Sewell, Yakima Blaine Shearer, Zillah
Jeniya Slutskaya, Kennewick Gerardo Soto, Zillah Maria Soto-Galvan, Yakima
Hunter Strickland, Richland Christy Taylor, Othello Autumn Teegarden, Yakima
Destiney Theisen, Kennewick Stephanie Tolley, Othello LisaLyn Tormey, Yakima
Jose Torres, Outlook Omar Torres, Sunnyside Jonay Torres, Pasco
Yanet Torres, Zillah Maribel Torres, Kennewick James Torres, Grandview
Alejandra Treece, Zillah Anthony Tzib, Prosser Daisy Vaca, Wapato
Victoria Valdez, Toppenish Cecilia Valdivia, Yakima Maria Valencia, Toppenish
Anakaren Valenzuela, Toppenish Elizabeth Van Corbach, Sunnyside Brenda Vasquez, Toppenish
Veronica Vigil, Yakima Maurita Villafan, Toppenish Julia Villagomez, Toppenish
Eva Villalba-Arevalo, Prosser Maria Villanueva, Yakima Allyssa Villanueva-Guillen, Grandview
Citlaly Villegas, Wapato Arcelia Virgen, Wapato Cecilia Vizcaino de la Mora, Yakima
Dawn Waheneka, Wapato Kyle Wandling, Pasco Mette Warnick, Richland
Katie Wentz, WhiteSwan Shelby White, Burbank Devin Williams, Kennewick
Janae Williams, Kennewick John Williams, Kennewick Kaitlyn Wormington, Kennewick
Jasmine Yellow Owl, Zillah Valentin Zaragoza, Zillah Ruby Zarate, Moxee

 

Heritage University faculty member named ‘Distinguished Nurse of the Year’

Heritage University faculty member named Distinguished Nurse of the YearAnita shoup

Toppenish, Wash. – The March of Dimes’ Washington state chapter has named Heritage University Assistant Nursing Professor Anita Shoup as Distinguished Nurse of the Year. With this award, the March of Dimes recognizes Dr. Shoup for having a lasting positive impact on the nursing profession in Washington state.

Dr. Shoup has nearly 40 years of experience as a clinical nurse specialist and is a founding member of the Washington State Council of Perioperative Nurses, an organization now in its 28thyear. Dr. Christina Nyirati, the director of the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at Heritage, said Shoup has played an important role in developing, implementing and evaluating the BSN’s curriculum. “The dedication she’s shown in working as a nurse, influencing healthcare policy and training our students for excellence in nursing makes her a perfect choice for recognition as Distinguished Nurse of the Year,” said Nyirati.

Dr. Shoup, Dr. Nyirati and sixteen BSN students from Heritage attended the March of Dimes ceremony in Seattle last month where Shoup received the award. “While I was surprised, humbled and honored to win, I felt it was more important that the students who were there got the chance to engage in professional networking and celebrate outstanding nurses who care for patients day in and day out,” said Dr. Shoup.

Anita Shoup joined Heritage University in 2015 as an assistant professor of nursing and the coordinator of simulation and experiential learning. In addition to overseeing classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction, she oversees the program’s learning resource center and simulation suites to ensure an authentic experiential learning experience for students. Shoup has worked for Swedish Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center, both in Seattle, as a perioperative clinical nurse specialist, as a clinical nurse consultant for Mölnlycke Healthcare, and as a faculty member for the University of Washington School of Nursing. She earned her doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing all from the University of Cincinnati.

For more information, contact Anita Shoup at (509) 865-8596 or Shoup_A@Heritage.edu.

 

Heritage University and Yakima Valley College Sign MOU for Criminal Justice Program Press Release

Heritage University, Yakima Valley College sign memorandum of understanding for criminal justice program

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University (HU) and Yakima Valley College (YVC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that makes it easier for students studying criminal justice at YVC to transfer to Heritage University to earn a bachelor’s degree in that field.

The MOU ensures that YVC students who successfully complete an associate of applied science-transfer (AAS-T) degree are guaranteed to be accepted into HU’s undergraduate criminal justice program. “We want students who start at YVC and then transfer to HU to experience a smooth transition, with minimal to no loss of credit and duplication of coursework,” said Janet Foster Goodwill, criminal justice instructor and department chair at YVC. “The process by which our students can turn their two-year degree in criminal justice, into a four-year degree at Heritage has never been easier.”

YVC students who pursue a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice can take advantage of a program designed for career success. “Studying criminal justice is so much more than public safety,” said Kimberly Bellamy-Thompson, social science department chair at Heritage. “We teach innovative ways to approach public policy and justice in an ever-changing America. Students can take advantage of established internship programs with law enforcement agencies who have a need for people with critical-thinking skills, the ability to integrate ideas and a commitment to lifelong learning.”

For more information, contact Janet Foster Goodwill at (509) 574-4794 or jgoodwill@yvcc.edu or Kimberly Bellamy-Thompson at (509) 865-0748 or Bellamy-Thompson_K@Heritage.edu.

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Heritage University’s BSN Program Receives Accreditation

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University announced today that its bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program has earned accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The BSN Program met all four accreditation standards, and its accreditation status is valid through 2023, when the program will be eligible for renewal. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency and contributes to the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing. CCNE serves public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices.

Dr. Christina Nyirati, director of the BSN program at Heritage, said “the program  cultivatesnurse leaders to provide culturally competent, community-focused care. By preparing our BSN program to meet CCNE professional nursing education standards, real health equity for the ethnically diverse populations in the Yakima Valley is served.”

Heritage University President Dr. Andrew Sund said the BSN at Heritage promotes fulfillment of the Heritage University Mission, as it prepares graduates to function as providers of care, scholars, as well as leaders and collaborators. “We are proud of the work Dr. Nyirati and her team are doing to meet the regional, statewide and nationwide demand for nurses,” said Dr. Sund.

The CCNE accreditation of the Heritage University BSN program is effective as of January 31, 2018, the first day of the program’s recent CCNE on-site evaluation. For more information, contact Dr. Christina Nyirati at (509) 865-8578 or Nyirati_C@Heritage.edu.

 

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Heritage University’s Physician Assistant Program opens application process for 2019-20 academic year

Heritage University P.A. Program students Jim Peterson, Sal Lopez and Angie Bosma

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University announced today that the application period has opened for its Physician Assistant Educational Program for the 2019-20 academic year. Classes for this cohort will begin in the summer of 2019.

The Physician Assistant Program at Heritage University is one of three healthcare industry-related programs (the other two being the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Arts in Medical Science) that exist to meet the demand for highly-qualified medical professionals that are in high demand in rural communities like the Yakima Valley.

Dr. Linda Dale, the director of the P.A. Program at Heritage, is thrilled to be providing students with the education and training they need to become successful medical professionals. “We are excited to soon begin the process of sifting through thousands of inquiries and hundreds of applications from around the country from people who want to become physician assistants,” said Dr. Dale. “We will choose the top 32 candidates who want to concentrate their work in underserved, rural areas like ours.”

Dr. Dale said the program is fully committed to providing students with the best education possible and has already surpassed two other program goals related to rural health care; the first was to have two-thirds of graduates working in an underserved area (actual percentage is nearly 70 from the first three classes). The second goal was to have at least half of the graduates working in primary care (the actual is just over 50%).

The Physician Assistant program is a partnership between Heritage University and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences with which the University has a deep and growing relationship.  “The P.A. program is a tremendous example of our collaborative effort to provide for the healthcare needs of The Valley,“ said Edward Bilsky,Provost and Chief Academic Officer and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at PNWU.  “We continue to explore additional opportunities on which we can work together in the future to continue to meet those needs.”

To learn more about the P.A. Program at Heritage, visit heritage.edu/PAprogram. For more information contact Linda Dale at (509) 865-0707.

 

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Flag raising ceremony and an event honoring Yakama elders kick off Native American Heritage Month at Heritage University

Flag raising ceremony and an event honoring Yakama elders kick off Native American Heritage Month at Heritage University

Toppenish, Wash. – A flag-raising ceremony and a celebration honoring several Yakama Nation elders will kick off Heritage University’s annual recognition of Native American Heritage Month. President George H. W. Bush designated November as Native American Heritage Month in 1990.

The Heritage University Native American Club (HUNAC) and Heritage University are sponsoring the events on campus (free to the public unless otherwise noted), which include:

Friday, November 2:
Heritage University will raise the flags of the Yakama Nation, the state of Washington and the United States during a ceremony featuring the Yakama Warriors. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be held at the main campus entrance. At 10:00 a.m., Honoring Our Elders, an event celebrating Yakama Nation tribal elders Loren Selam, Sr., Marlene Spencer Simla, Wanda Sampson and Delano Saluskin and their contributions to the Yakama Nation community, will take place in Smith Family Hall. This event is by invitation only.

Wednesday, November 7:
Therapy Through the Art of Wápaas Weavingwill be held in Smith Family Hall from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., and will feature community member Bessie Wilson (Wahpeniat) teaching how to weave hemp, string and yarn into wápaas bags. Also on November 7, the Community Dinner Gathering will take place in Smith Family Hall. This event will feature a silent auction and entertainment will be provided by motivational speaker Dyami “Eagle Thomas.” The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship at Heritage, the HU chapter of American Indian Business Leaders and the HU Garrett Lee Suicide Prevention Grant have joined as sponsors of the dinner which will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

November 12 – 17
Heritage University students, faculty and staff will celebrate American Indian/Alaska Native heritage by participating in “Rock Your Mocs,” an event where people are encouraged to wear moccasins during the week. The event also honors the ancestors of indigenous peoples worldwide.

Tuesday, November 13:
HUNAC will host Ichishkíin Gamesin the Patricia Wade Temple Conference Room from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Students and families from the community are invited to enjoy games played in Ichishkīin including “Aw np’íwitak” (Go Fish), “Nax̱sh” (Uno) and more. The games featured are developed by students of Ichishkíin programs at Heritage University and the University of Oregon. No experience with the language is necessary as tutors will be teaching pronunciation and phrases at the event. Also on November 13, HUNAC member Candace Chief will hold a Ribbon Skirt Workshopand show how to make colorful, cultural skirts. The workshop takes place in the Harry Kent Building from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Monday, November 19:
Ichishkíin Family Game Nightis another opportunity for the public to play games in Ichishkíin. The game night takes place in Smith Family Hall from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 20:
HUNAC invites you to Community Storytellingat the Heritage University Tipi from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tribal elders, students and community members will share traditional stories while roasting marshmallows and sipping hot cocoa.

Tuesday, November 27:
Ichishkíin Family Game Night– Smith Family Hall, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 28:
A three-day extravaganza geared towards creating awareness of frybread will begin on this way, with the screening of the mockumentary More Than Frybreadin Smith Family Hall from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. You’ll learn why frybread is revered in Indian Country.

Thursday, November 29:
HUNAC members will show how frybread is made during a cooking demonstration outside Pigott Commons from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. People will get a chance to buy frybread during this event.

Friday, November 30:
Heritage University students and staff will have the opportunity to put their frybread cooking skills to the test during a competition outside the Arts & Sciences Center from 12:00 pm – 2:00 p.m. HUNAC members will serve as judges for the competition.

Yakama Nation and Heritage University sign memorandum of understanding to strengthen and formalize ties

Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chairman JoDe Goudy and Heritage University President Andrew Sund shake hands during memorandum of understanding signing ceremony

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yakama Nation and Heritage University sign memorandum of understanding to strengthen and formalize ties

Toppenish, Wash. – Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chairman, JoDe L. Goudy and Heritage University President, Dr. Andrew Sund have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which formalizes their working relationship and mutual goals to provide high-quality college education to Yakama tribal members.

The MOU, Dr. Sund says, reaffirms Heritage’s origins and mission to provide college education to underrepresented populations, “We strive always to stay true to the vision of the two Yakama women, Violet Lumley Rau and Martha Yallup who, along with Sister Kathleen Ross, were instrumental in starting Heritage,” said Dr. Sund. “This MOU sets forth terms for Heritage and the tribe to strengthen our relationship and formalizes the processes by which we work together on an ongoing basis to ensure we create academic programming that is culturally competent and a campus climate that meets the cultural needs of Yakama students.”

Chairman Goudy welcomed Heritage University officials and faculty to council chambers as part of the signing of the MOU. “We are very humbled in today’s time to take an action that aligns with the vision that our elders have had for the benefit of our members seeking higher education,” said Goudy. “This MOU represents a step taken in the right direction to position our membership for success and we thank Heritage University for the collaboration and commitment to the education of Yakama members.”

The MOU is the result of Heritage University board member and Yakama Nation  Human Services Deputy Director Arlen Washines searching for such a document and coming up empty. “We have a long history of working together informally, but it was time to get a formal document created in which both the Nation and Heritage could outline their commitments to each other,” said Washines. “Today marks a significant milestone in our long relationship.”

Dr. Maxine Janis, the President’s Liaison for Native American Affairs at Heritage, watched Chairman Goudy and Dr. Sund sign the agreement in tribal council chambers. “It was my esteemed honor to witness the signing of the MOU. Heritage University now more closely aligns with the Yakama Nation Treaty of 1855 honoring the land, lifeways, and culture of the people whose homelands our institution is situated.”

For more information, contact Elese Washines at (509) 865-5121 ext. 4530 or elese_washines@yakama.com, or David Mance, Heritage University media relations coordinator, at (509) 969-6084 or Mance_D@Heritage.edu.

Heritage University faculty member co-authors book examining impact of industries on Ecuadorian Amazon Basin

Heritage University faculty member co-authors book examining impact of oil and agriculture industries on the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin

Toppenish, Wash. – A book focusing on the impacts of the oil and agriculture industries on the Amazon river basin in Ecuador co-written by Heritage University assistant professor Alexander Alexiades, Ph.D. has just been published. Nuestro Vivir en la Amazonía Ecuatoriana: Entre la Finca y el Petróleo, includes two chapters researched and written by Alexiades and his colleagues in Ecuador and discusses how oil and gas exploration and agricultural development will impact the ecology and the local indigenous and mestizo communities of the Amazon region of Ecuador.Alex alexiades

Dr. Alexiades said there are parallels between the Ecuadorian region of the Amazon and the Yakima Valley. “The research into the impact of agricultural development in Ecuador is extremely relevant to our situation here in the valley,” said Alexiades. “The primary difference is that our valley is better studied, with millions of dollars of research invested into impacts to our streams rivers and long-term data going back several decades, while there is very little information available about the hydrology and ecology of the Ecuadorian Amazon.”

Nuestro Vivir en la Amazonía Ecuatoriana: Entre la Finca y el Petróleo is published by French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement in Spanish and French, and will be available for purchase on October 15 through their website.

Dr. Alexiades joined Heritage University as Assistant Professor of Environmental Science in 2015. He earned his Ph.D. in natural resources from Cornell University in 2016. He has an M.S. in biology from the University of Nevada in Reno, and a B.S. in biology from Montana State University. Since arriving at Heritage, Alexiades has published several peer-reviewed scientific articles and serves as principal investigator for the NSF i-NATURE and First Nations MESA programs to increase STEM opportunities for Native American students.

For more information please contact Alex Alexiades at (509) 865-0732 or Alexiades_A@Heritage.edu.