Heritage University BSN Program to Hold Pinning Ceremony for Graduates

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		April 27, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University BSN Program to Hold Pinning Ceremony for Graduates

Toppenish, Wash. – The Heritage University Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will celebrate the inaugural BSN program cohort Class of 2018 with a pinning ceremony Thursday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. in Smith Family Hall at Heritage University. Dr. Jeri Milstead, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, FAAN of the College of Nursing at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, will deliver the keynote address at the BSN pinning ceremony.

Dr. Milstead is the editor and senior author of Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide, 4th ed., and Handbook of Nursing Leadership: Creative Skills for a Culture of Safety. Milstead was a policy advisor in the Washington, DC office of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), was president of the State Board of Nursing for South Carolina, and held leadership positions with State Nurses Associations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. She retired in 2008 as Professor and Dean Emerita, University of Toledo College of Nursing. She currently provides consultation on public policy, leadership and education.

Dr. Christina Nyirati, director of the BSN program at Heritage, says the solemnity of the pinning ceremony is not lost on her nor the students. “The pinning ceremony, which will no doubt become a tradition at Heritage, is an important symbol of nursing students’ hard work and dedication,” said Dr. Nyirati. “It will be a time for these students to come together and celebrate with their classmates and loved ones. But most importantly, this ceremony marks the pivotal moment of their transition from student to full-fledged nurse. It will also be a proud moment for our nursing faculty as we see them achieve their dreams and goals, and we will relish in their accomplishments.”

Historically, a nursing pinning ceremony honors and celebrates nursing students and their journey to becoming a nurse. The ceremony will also include a blessing entitled “Blessing of the Hands and Hearts.”

The students of the first cohort of the Heritage BSN program have been eagerly anticipating the pinning ceremony throughout their entire student nursing career. “This is the final step we as students need to take in order to complete the journey we started in wanting to make a difference in healthcare for the residents of our communities,” said graduate Julie Rodriguez.”

For more information on the BSN Program Pinning Ceremony, contact Dr. Christina Nyirati at (509) 865-8578 or Nyirati_C@Heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Heritage University to Become Primary Provider of “College in the High School” for Yakima School District

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		April 20, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University to Become Primary Provider of “College in the
High School” for Yakima School District

Toppenish, Wash. – Yakima School District (YSD) and Heritage University (HU) administrators will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will make Heritage the primary provider of free college credits for College in the High School (CHS) classes for YSD’s A.C. Davis and Eisenhower students. YSD Superintendent Dr. Jack Irion and Heritage University President Dr. Andrew Sund are expected to sign the agreement on Monday, April 23, 2018, 2:30 p.m. at the Yakima School District administration offices located at 104 N. 4^th Avenue, in Yakima, Wash.

CHS, offered by some institutions of high learning, affords students the opportunity to earn high school and college credit for college-level courses taught at high schools like Davis and Eisenhower. For the next two years, the students at those schools will be able to take Heritage University courses in English, history/humanities, math and science. Credits earned by students in those courses can be transferred to any college or university. There will be no charge to YSD students for taking the courses or for college credits earned, and for one transcript sent to the college of the students’ choice.

Heritage University Interim Provost Dr. Kazuhiro Sonoda says the CHS program offered by Heritage will stay true to the university’s mission to empower a multi-cultural and inclusive student body to overcome the social, cultural, economic, and geographic barriers that limit access to higher education. “Our program intends to provide access for advanced study for qualifying high school students in a manner that minimizes enrollment barriers,” says Dr. Sonoda. “The primary goal of the program is for students to increase preparedness for college through exposure to college-level work as given through HU. The secondary goal is for students to earn college credit when their performance demonstrates the required competencies for HU courses.”

Heritage University administrators believe Heritage’s reward for providing the CHS goes beyond recruiting. “As the only all-inclusive four-year university located in the Yakima Valley, we will be honored to have a hand in the educational growth of high school students at Yakima schools,” said HU President Sund. “The CHS program at Heritage will ultimately increase the number of students ready for college.”

Dr. Irion is thankful for the opportunity to work with Heritage leadership on an initiative he believes will truly benefit students of the Yakima School District. “Our systems for preparing our students for college are strengthened because of partnerships with institutions of higher learning like Heritage University,” Irion said.

Dr. Irion and Dr. Sund will be available for interviews following the signing of the MOU. For more information, contact Dr. Kazuhiro Sonoda at (509) 865-2354 or Sonoda_K@Heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Costco Co-Founder’s Foundation Selects First Cohort of Five Scholarship Recipients

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		April 19, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Costco Co-Founder’s Foundation Selects First Cohort of Five Scholarship Recipients

Toppenish, Wash. – The Sinegal Family Foundation, started by Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal, has selected five students who will comprise the first cohort of Sinegal Scholars at Heritage University. These five students will receive the Sinegal Family Foundation Scholarship, which includes full-tuition, fees and a $500 stipend for books. This cohort will also enjoy regular mentoring opportunities with the Costco/Heritage team including Jim Sinegal himself.

The recipients and the schools they represent are Yuli Guzman, AC Davis High School; Juan Mendoza Mendoza, AC Davis High School; Lizbeth Morales Perez, Toppenish High School; Maritza Alvarez, Grandview High School; and Brayan Torres, Heritage University.

Yuli Guzman says college is now a possibility for her thanks to the Sinegal Scholarship. “This scholarship is a huge relief for me and my family,” said Guzman. “I was on the verge of not being able to get an education because of money.”

Brayan Torres was thrilled to learn that his hard work paid off. “Winning the scholarship is great,” said Torres. I can now focus my attention completely on my classes and opportunities to further my education.”

A $1.14 million donation by the Sinegal Family Foundation to Heritage University last year will provide scholarships for five students each year for four years of study. By year four of the program, there will be a cohort of 20 Sinegal scholars on campus. Sinegal and his wife Jan are excited about the opportunities students will have through these scholarships, and are thrilled to help Heritage University continue its mission of serving students and developing outstanding graduates.

The five recipients were selected by a panel which included Sinegal and a Costco management team made up of Heritage University graduates. The process of narrowing the field to five recipients was extremely difficult. “The students selected presented themselves exceptionally well,” said Jim Sinegal. “We are enthusiastic to work with them in the coming years, and are looking forward to watching them grow academically and experientially.”

For more information, contact David Wise, VP of University Advancement and Marketing at (509) 865-0717 or wise_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Washington State Supreme Court Justice to Speak at Heritage University Youth and Justice Forum

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		April 18, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington State Supreme Court Justice to Speak at
Heritage University Youth and Justice Forum

Toppenish, Wash. – Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez will deliver the keynote speech during the annual Yakima Valley Youth and Justice Forum at Heritage University. The forum for middle, high school and college students takes place Friday, April 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and several police chiefs from cities in the Valley as well as those from the state and federal level will participate in the forum.

The Youth and Justice Forum has three goals. The first is to educate students from under-represented communities about professions and employment opportunities in the legal system; second, to enhance students’ knowledge and education of law; and third, to help build trust between youth and those in the justice system.

New this year will be a panel of lawyers and law school students talking to college students about law school applications, attending law school, and providing information about law careers. The panel will be moderated by Federal Court Clerk, Francisco Carriedo.

Kimberly Bellamy-Thompson, Heritage University assistant professor of criminal justice says the forum is a unique opportunity to introduce young people to the personal and professional sides of justice system leaders. “These personal connections are meaningful. The Youth and Justice Forum will give students a better understanding of the justice system and the wide range of career opportunities the entire system has to offer.”

Steve González was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court effective January 1, 2012, and subsequently won a contested race for a six-year term. Before joining the Supreme Court, Justice González served for ten years as a trial judge on the King County Superior Court hearing criminal, civil, juvenile, and family law cases. In 2015, Justice González and the other Washington Supreme court judges heard oral arguments for three cases at Heritage University visited Heritage University as part of the “traveling court” program.

For more information, contact Kimberly Bellamy-Thompson at bellamy-thompson_k@heritage.edu or (509) 865-0748.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Heritage University Hosts Career Fair 2018

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

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

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

Heritage University Hosts Career Fair 2018

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		April 11, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University Hosts Career Fair 2018

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

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

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

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Heritage University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Expanding Enrollment to Meet Growing Need for Highly Skilled Nurses

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		April 4, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Expanding
Enrollment to Meet Growing Need for Highly Skilled Nurses

Toppenish, Wash. – To meet the expanding need for nurses in hospitals, community health and primary care settings, and in schools, the Heritage University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is expanding enrollment to 24 students for the fall 2018 semester.

The BSN program enrolled the first cohort of nine students in fall 2015, which will graduate this year. These graduates will serve communities in which they have resided all of their lives and for which they express a caring passion. With a firm commitment to meeting the needs of the local community, the Heritage Nursing program is preparing a permanent workforce of highly skilled nurses who will contribute to the transformation of the health care system in the Yakima Valley. “In order to meet the huge demand for qualified registered professional nurses in the Yakima Valley, Heritage University is expanding the number of students admitted into the BSN program,” says Dr. Christina Nyirati, director of Nursing at Heritage.

Heritage University was granted permission in 2014 from the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) to develop the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Interviews with local and state health care leaders revealed the significant demand for this program in the Yakima Valley.

Aligned with the Heritage University Mission, the BSN program mission is to advance the health of multicultural families and communities in rural environments through excellence in nursing education, service, practice and community-based research. Heritage University, located on the Yakama Nation Reservation in the heart of the Yakima Valley, prepares nurse leaders to provide culturally competent, community-focused care.

Upon successful completion of the BSN curriculum, graduates will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). The BSN program incorporates professional nursing standards and guidelines as the framework for the development of the baccalaureate nurse. “Our students are succeeding in a rigorous but nurturing BSN program. We are focused on making sure our students are well-prepared. They are reaching, and often exceeding national standardized testing benchmarks. We are looking forward to high rates of completion, and licensure exam pass rates. We know employers will welcome our grads,” said Dr. Nyirati.

Interested candidates can contact Melissa Sanchez, Administrative Coordinator for Nursing at Heritage by emailing Sanchez_M1@heritage.edu

To set up an interview with Dr. Christina Nyirati, contact David Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Two Accomplished Scientists to Speak at Heritage University Event Showcasing Student Achievements

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		March 29, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Accomplished Scientists to Speak at Heritage University
Event Showcasing Student Achievements

Toppenish, Wash. – Two dynamic and accomplished scientists, Dr. Michael Landry, with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave (LIGO) Hanford Observatory and Dr. Rodney Cooper, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Wapato, Wash., will serve as keynote speakers during the Heritage University Gathering of Scholars Symposium on April 3, 2018 at Heritage. The event will showcase scientific research projects by Heritage University undergraduate students and graduate students in the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS).

Dr. Landry is a detection lead scientist at LIGO and a physicist with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba in strange quark physics, and his research into gravitational waves began in 2000 when he joined LIGO as a postdoctoral scholar with Caltech. He has worked on many aspects of the LIGO experiment, interferometer commissioning, leading the installation of advanced detectors and data analyses.

Dr. Cooper is an Agriculture Research Service (ARS) scientist with the USDA. The ARS is the USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency, and Dr. Cooper has mentored many Heritage University students who have earned internships with the USDA office in Wapato.

Twenty-two Heritage students will deliver oral and poster presentations on their research, which cover a wide range of subjects including biology, nursing, computer science and environmental sciences. Also featured will be displays of artwork by Heritage University art students. The Heritage University Gathering of Scholars Symposium will take place April 3, 2018 in the Patricia Wade Temple and Barnhill Fireside Rooms from 8:30 am to 2:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Dr. Pedro Chavarria at (509) 865-0412 or Chavarria_P@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Free Easter Egg Hunt at Heritage University

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		March 22, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Easter Egg Hunt at Heritage University

Toppenish, Wash. – An Easter egg hunt with more than 30,000 Easter eggs is just one of the many family-friendly events to be featured at the family fun day “Easter Eggstravaganza” on March 31, 2018 on the Heritage University campus in Toppenish.

The free activities begin at 12 p.m. and go until 3:00 p.m. and will feature food, games and activities for all ages. Free hotdogs and Coca-Cola products will be served along with food and drink vendors. Free games include jumpers, duck pond, sack races, and a bean bag toss, to name a few. The event also features live music, Yakima SunKing ticket raffle and an iPad raffle. The Easter egg hunt, for children ages one to 12, will take place at locations across campus beginning at 2:30 p.m. Prizes will be announced at 3:00 p.m. People are encouraged to bring their own baskets for this event, but there will be 250 baskets given out.

This is the fourth year for the “Easter Eggstravaganza” at Heritage University, which is presented by the Omega Delta Phi fraternity in collaboration with Gamma Alpha Omega Interest Group and co-sponsored by Heritage University.

For more information, contact Jesus Mendez at (509) 853-6673 or MendezJ1@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Education consultant and public speaker to deliver keynote address at Heritage University’s International Women’s Day Event

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		March 2, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Education consultant and public speaker to deliver keynote address at
Heritage University’s International Women’s Day Event

Toppenish, Wash. – Education consultant, public speaker and former candidate for Washington State Superintendent, Erin Jones, will be the keynote speaker at “Women2Women,” Heritage University’s celebration of International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 17, 2018.

Ms. Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in black, white and diverse communities. Jones has received many awards during her career, including “Most Innovate Foreign Language Teacher” in 2007; “Milken Educator of the Year” for Washington state in 2008; and in 2013, she was recognized as a “Champion of Change” at the White House. She’s worked for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and in 2016 she ran for State Superintendent, a race she lost by a mere 1%. At the time of her candidacy she was the first Black woman to run for any state office.

“Women 2 Women” celebrates the women of the Yakima Valley and supports early childhood education. It is organized by Heritage University’s Women 2 Women collaborative and is sponsored by the university’s Center for a New Washington. Funds generated by the event go to child care scholarships for students whose children attend the Early Learning Center.

“Education is a key factor to improving the lives of women and children,” said Dr. Natalie Martinkus, director for the center. “The stress of taking care of children can take its toll and become a barrier to women trying to earn their college degree. We want to break down these barriers while providing their children the crucial cognitive and physical start they need for later success.”

Doors open for the event at 9:00 a.m., the program begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at noon. The event features artwork displays which celebrate the accomplishments of local women in both art and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Refreshments will be served. Registration is $50, and can be completed online at http://www.heritage.edu/2018Women2Women. For more information, call (509) 865-0450, or email newwashington@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu