Breaking Barriers – Wings Fall-Winter 2024

The story of the impact of higher education is frequently told through the lens of students—the personal changes that come through more opportunities, the increased earning potential throughout their lifetimes, and the generational impact as children of college graduates are more likely to earn degrees and access the benefits of doing so. The story that isn’t told as frequently is the community impact made through college attainment.

Spring semester 2024 was the start of a new graduate degree program at Heritage. The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling began as a direct response from schools and community health agencies needing more master’s-level practitioners from diverse backgrounds. The stories of the agencies involved, their employees earning their degrees, the people they serve, and the existing need embody the value of higher education to communities at large.

THE NEED IS VAST

Like so many communities large and small across the United States, the greater Seattle region is grappling with a social crisis. Drug addiction, particularly to opioids, is on the rise, with the number of overdoses more than doubling between 2020 and 2023.

Homelessness is up, too. The Unsheltered Point-in-Time Count conducted by King County this year showed the number of homeless individuals rose by 23% in the last two years. Statewide, it’s estimated that more than 1.2 million adults have a mental health condition, with more than half of these people unable to receive treatment.

It’s easy to look at statistics like these and forget that behind the numbers are very real people suffering. They are some of the communities’ most vulnerable individuals in desperate need of assistance. Yet that assistance can be difficult to access. There is a real shortage of service providers. It’s estimated that 2.8 million Washingtonians live in communities without adequate access to mental health care. Plus, internal factors, such as the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction, cultural beliefs, and inadequate or no health insurance make many people in need of assistance reluctant to seek it. Further complicating the issue is a lack of diversity in the mental health and dependency workforce. Nationally, only 12% of mental health counselors are people of color.

Genell Hennings, director of education enhancement programs at the YMCA in King County, who worked closely with Heritage as the university developed its master’s degree program, explains that this lack of representation is a critical barrier.

“People who are seeking therapy want to see people who look like them, who can identify with them,” she said. “There is a level of trust that comes when we are sitting across from someone who shares our cultural background. When I am coming to you as a Black woman, I don’t want to have to explain my Blackness. A Black provider will be able to identify with me. We are all more comfortable when we are with others who share our cultural norms.”

That trust, she said, is crucial. It’s difficult to build and maintain. If a person seeking treatment has a negative experience, the chances of that individual seeking or accepting help in the future are diminished, as are their chances of conquering their demons.

She further explains that community mental health, which predominately serves people who are low-income and on Medicaid, operates by assigning those seeking services to a provider. This makes building and maintaining that trust much more difficult. The ability to choose a provider that you are comfortable working with is a luxury reserved for those who can pay out of pocket for services or who have private-pay insurance.

RESPONDING TO THE NEED

Donnie Goodman, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at the YMCA of Greater Seattle, conceptualized this program in 2008. In 2022, a King County MIDD (Mental Illness & Drug Dependency) funding opportunity presented itself that aligned with the program’s mission of increasing capacity in community behavioral health. Goodman and Hennings worked with leaders from multiple community behavioral health agencies to create this program that focuses on encouraging individuals from historically marginalized groups – specifically people of color, those living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC community— who are working in mental health and chemical dependency to return to school to earn a master’s degree. The program would pay for the students’ college tuition in exchange for their agreement to remain at their place of employment to provide therapeutic care for at least four years after graduating. At the same time, Heritage was building a new master’s degree program in mental health counseling. The university later received a $6 million grant from the US Department of Education to create a program that would prepare students to become licensed mental health counselor-associates in Washington state and increase the number of mental health professionals working in area school districts. The program was being designed with working professionals in mind, with classes being held synchronously one day a week. Like the YMCA’s developing program, its intent was to prepare underrepresented students to enter the field to diversify their profession.

“We know that our Yakima Valley community, as well as others across the state, are desperately in need of mental health providers. This is especially true for folks who are either uninsured or on state insurance – it’s an equity issue,” said Amy Nusbaum, chair of the Department of Psychology. “Our proposed solution was to create a new and innovative partnership that would address the urgent mental health needs that adversely impact our communities across the state.”

The timing was perfect! The YMCA secured grant funding to support their program for two years and partnered with Heritage to provide the hybrid online master’s degree program. The first cohort of 23 students from six agencies (Catholic Community Services, Center for Human Services, Community House, Therapeutic Health Services, and Transitional Resources YMCA of Greater Seattle) started classes in January 2023. Among them are Deidre Smith, Kenny Smith (no relation to Deidre) and Jungwon Yoon. While each enrolled in the program for different reasons, all three are committed to serving their clients and communities more deeply after graduating.

ON THE FRONT LINE

A portrait of a woman with shoulder-length black hair with red streaks wearing a checkered black and white jacket

Deidre Smith

Deidre is a substance use disorder professional at the YMCA Social Impact Center in Auburn, Washington. The center provides wraparound services for youth and young adults, including counseling, employment training, educational support, and a shelter, as well as counseling and suicide prevention for individuals of all ages. Smith provides outpatient substance abuse counseling to a caseload of 30-45 people. She decided to enroll in the master’s program to get the credentials she needs to serve her clients’ mental health as well as addiction treatment needs.

“So many of my clients have dual disorders and need mental health therapy along with their dependency treatment. The way my license is now, I have to hand them off to someone else to provide mental health counseling. That creates another barrier for them. Trust is not easy in this field. When I hand them off, they have to build trust with someone else and tell their story to someone else again. I want to be able to serve them holistically,” she said.

Kenny is a co-occurring disorder mental health clinician at Catholic Community Services in Seattle. He works with many homeless individuals through two different shelters and with people living in a permanent supportive housing facility. He knows firsthand what his clients are going through. Their road is one that he walked for many years.

“I’m transparent with my clients. I tell them, ‘I was where you are, man. If I can do this, you can do this.’ It gives them a sense of motivation, I tell them it is a rough road, but if you stick with it, you can make it.

Close-up of a man with glasses wearing a long white sleeve and a black vest

Kenny Smith

“A lot of them are pulling your chain and telling you what they think you want to hear. I know because that is what I used to do. But it is important that we don’t give up on them because, eventually, the one pulling the chain will want to be saved.

“I’m in the master’s degree program because I want the training and the information that comes with it. I have no plans to become a manager. I’m a boots-on-the-ground guy.”

Yoon is a clinical manager working at the Catholic Community Services Matt Talbott Center in the Belltown region of Seattle. The center provides recovery and treatment services for individuals who experience challenges with substance abuse, mental health and homelessness. Her program serves nearly 100 people, a majority of which are engaged in intensive outpatient treatment. “The opposite of addiction isn’t recovery,” she said. “The opposite of addiction is connection.”

Yoon explains that, for many of their clients, the center is their community. Church is held there on Sundays, and community events take place there throughout the year.

“They are very protective of us,” she said. “When there was a week of unrest near us a few years back, our clients surrounded the center and protected it.

“When we see people using substances are sleeping in our back alley, we feed them and give them water, and we tell them, ‘maybe, one day, we will see you at our front door.

Portrait of a woman with long black hair wearing a white top and green jacket outside

Jungwon Yoon

“For us, it’s not just about getting them to stop taking drugs. It’s about helping them thrive, reunite with their families, and being happy. Everyone deserves to be happy. I think this is why people love our place and have such a sense of ownership.

Yoon’s goal is to bolster further the forms of treatment and services offered by Matt Talbot Center after she earns her master’s degree.

THE IMPACT MULTIPLIED

Deidre, Kenny, and Yoon’s stories demonstrate the bigger picture. They are just three people in a cohort of 23 in this first class alone. This fall, a second cohort of 18 students from an additional five agencies (Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Consejo Counseling Services, Evergreen Health, Vine Maple Place and WAPI Community Services) started the program. Another 25 students are expected next year. In just three years, 66 master’s-level mental health practitioners from diverse backgrounds will be in the field in the King County area working with thousands of vulnerable community members.

On top of these numbers are the Yakima Valley students who are not part of the YMCA grant program. The first cohort of these students started attending classes in person on the Toppenish campus this fall. Future classes will enroll annually, and in two years, a steady stream of graduates will start filling vacancies in area schools and community health agencies where, like their western Washington counterparts, they will work with people with the greatest need for assistance.

This is the impact of higher education on communities!

A Lifetime of Service – Wings Fall-Winter 2024

When Heritage University Professor Gregorio Ochoa walks into his first Introduction to Social Work class each semester, he writes his name and the letters “MSW” after it on the chalkboard.

“I ask my students, ‘What does the MSW stand for?’” Ochoa said. “Invariably, they say, ‘Masters in Social Work.’

“And I say, ‘It stands for “Mexican social worker.”’ Yes, I’ll tell you eventually how I got my master’s and how it all came together for me, but for now, I want you to know that part of our bond is that we’re mutually Mexican.”

That has meaning for his Latinx students in particular as they approach the work of their chosen field, said Ochoa, because their work will be all about helping people, likely fellow Latinx people.

At 70 years their senior — he turned 90 on November 20th — Ochoa is forthright about the challenges they will face. But his indomitable spirit, his cheerful way of discussing life and one’s ability to make a difference in other people’s lives is ageless.

DETERMINED TO GET AN EDUCATION

He’s lived through years of social tumult, he’s experienced plenty of racism, and he’s seen the face of actual evil up close. Yet Ochoa’s life has been filled with immense personal growth, learning, and purpose — all of which began with a very intentional pursuit of education.

Born and raised in California by a Mexican mother and Native American father, Ochoa’s parents were focused on the value of work and making a living, not education.

“My parents thought you should just get a good-paying job, like the job I had at one point working in the Wyoming oil fields,” Ochoa said. “I made $150 a week.”

It was good money at the time, and his parents thought work like that was all one needed to live a decent life, Ochoa said. But he didn’t agree.

So he joined the US Navy at 17 — knowing the GI Bill would be his path to a college education. He’d been enrolled in the seminary from age 11 to 15, during which time the value of education was instilled in him by the priests who taught him there. Ochoa eventually left the idea of being a priest behind but took the love of education with him.

He married at age 22, and his wife Donna gave birth to a daughter the next year. When she experienced severe postpartum depression following the birth, Ochoa assumed responsibility for their daughter.

“I felt I l had lost my wife to this awful thing,” Ochoa said. “She was sad and distant. I didn’t understand why, but I needed to find out.”

It would be the beginning of a lifelong interest in mental health.

FASCINATED BY LEARNING

In the college classroom, Ochoa felt intense interest in many subjects. “I was enthralled with my history course, and I wanted to be a historian,” he said. “And then I would take a biology class and was amazed by science, so I wanted to be a scientist.

“I was just moved all over the place with the learning that was going on and how interesting it all was to me.”

Ultimately, Ochoa was most fascinated by sociology and psychology. As he pursued his coursework, he also took jobs from which he could learn. During his freshman year at San Luis Obispo Junior College, he got a job as a psychiatric technician working with patients who were identified as “sexual psychopaths and the criminally insane” with the California State Department of Mental Health. It was a tough job that paid very little, he said, but he learned a lot about people and the world of psychiatric care.

He soon enrolled at California State University at Northridge and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Planning to acquire his master’s degree, he applied to eight universities and was accepted into each. He earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 1966.

Ochoa credits college professors and mentors as well as supervisors in his various jobs with helping him along his educational and professional paths.

“I think in social work, what can make a difference is if you have a supervisor who is willing to teach what they know,” Ochoa said. “I always had that.”

Ochoa said his supervisors always seemed to want to promote him to administrative positions, but he wanted to work directly with people.

“That was and is what I love best,” Ochoa said. “What matters more to me than anything is working directly with people who need help.”

A professor sitting at a table across from three students in a classroom.

Social Work professor Gregory Ochoa talks with students following a class at Heritage University

FINDING A PLACE AT HERITAGE

Ochoa’s life’s work has taken him from California to Arizona to Washington, from senior and lead clinician positions at various mental health organizations — Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health and the Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic among them — to faculty positions at UCLA, Arizona State University, the University of Washington, and now Heritage since 1990.

Ochoa remembers his children’s reactions as they drove through eastern Washington State, what would come to be home for them and for Ochoa for the next 35 years and counting.

“Going over the Snoqualmie Pass, they exclaimed they had never seen so many Christmas trees,” Ochoa smiled. “And, unlike California, all the rivers had water in them.

“This was the place that was right for my family.”

A few months after beginning his work in Yakima, WA. in 1989 at Comprehensive Mental Health Services, a colleague told him she was teaching at a small liberal college in Toppenish called Heritage College.

“She said they had two classes without an instructor and asked if I might be interested in helping them out,” Ochoa said. “I asked her what the courses were, and because they were Multicultural Counseling and Family Therapy, which resonated with me and I enjoyed teaching, I told her I would be able to help them.

“I’ve been at Heritage ever since,” he smiled. “They keep giving me new contracts.”

DECADES OF CHANGE . . . SLOW CHANGE

Looking back, it can appear Ochoa has led a charmed life. He’d tell you it’s been his attitude and his strong beliefs that have made the real difference.

He discovered what interested him in life. He did well in college and succeeded professionally, having support from professors, mentors and job supervisors, and he earned advanced degrees.

Jobs seemed to come his way, with growing responsibilities and professional gratification. He was helping people he felt called to help, and he was able to make a difference in people’s lives.

But Ochoa came of age in a time that was both evolving and tumultuous — a time that had a direct effect on his life — and his determination to be of service to others through social work.

Ochoa was taught English by two nuns in elementary school where he studied. Both thought it was important to teach him English in such a way that he would not have an accent.

“So Immigration Services wouldn’t arrest me, they told me,” he said. “That’s how it was then, and it’s no different today with the political talk about gathering all the immigrants and returning them to where they came from. It’s a huge amount of déjà vu.”

In 1966, at the University of Southern California, 75 students were admitted to his class. Among them, was one Mexican, one Asian, one Native American, and one Black student. “But there were hundreds of thousands of Latinos in Los Angeles County alone,” Ochoa said. “That has changed and is different today, depending on the university.

“The amazing changes in populations in various states where half the people are Latino, that brings to bear a significant number of students that are going on to higher education. It’s hard to ignore a population that is so huge — and that is some progress.”

In 1969, in Southern California, Ochoa’s focus was on helping young people, yet that positive focus sometimes met with complications from people whose interests were malevolent. His therapy group was visited by some who sought to take advantage of people who were seeking help — among them, Charles Manson, whose cult “family” went on to murder nine people across Los Angeles over two nights.

“He came there to prey on vulnerable individuals,” Ochoa said. “I told him he was not welcome, though no one could ever have imagined what he would have gone on to do.

“My whole life I have protected the vulnerable. That is what this was.”

Social Work Professor Gregory Ochoa during one of his glasses at Heritage University

In 1971, when he visited the School of Social Work at the University of Washington in Seattle, the School’s dean was locked in his office.

“Students — Latino students — had nailed his door and windows shut,” Ochoa said. “It was an act of defiance by minority students who were not going to leave until the department hired a Latino professor.

“That was a point in time where things were changing for minority students. That dean interviewed me through a window. I had my résumé with me and handed it to him, and a few months later they offered me the position.

“Progress,” Ochoa said.

In 1989, when Ochoa accepted a supervisory position at a mental health organization in Yakima, there were two PhD-level clinical psychologists on staff. A few weeks after he’d started the job — as their boss — one of them handed Ochoa his resignation.

“I asked him why, and he said, ‘I like your ideas, but I just can’t work for a Mexican.’ I told him, ‘I have no choice but to accept your resignation. There’s nothing I can do about being a Mexican.’

“We change what we can, and sometimes you just have to accept things you cannot change, such as other people’s attitudes.”

AFFECT WHAT YOU CAN

Ochoa has waited for the world to change while changing what he can. Always he’s decided to focus on the good.

“My whole career, in every role, I focus on reality but also on possibility and fighting for what is right,” he said.

Just as his professors and other leaders helped him chart his course and find success, he works to do the same for his students as the “Mexican social worker” he is.

“It makes a difference to students to see leaders and instructors who look like them, talk like them, and have experiences like theirs,” Ochoa said. “That’s who I am, and I am here to help them.”

Ochoa believes that one of the most critical needs in social welfare/social work education today is that universities continue to hire more faculty that look like their students of color.

“Heritage does very well with this,” he said.

Not even contemplating retirement, Ochoa said his commitment to helping students learn how to protect people, especially Latinx, Native and other marginalized people, is as strong as ever.

“I see it as my commitment to social justice that sometimes people need to be confronted,” Ochoa said. “Many of our people are like lambs, and some people are like wolves, and we need to make it clear that they are unwelcome.

“That’s really the way I saw it throughout my life, and I have had to, at times, say it out loud.

“I think probably my whole life I’ve been doing that. I’ve been defending and helping people who need it.”

Agentes de Cambio – Wings Fall-Winter 2024

When Heritage opened its doors a little over 40 years ago, the diversity of the professional community in the Yakima Valley didn’t reflect the communities they served. In communities where most of the population was culturally Hispanic, Latinx, or Mexican, few teachers, social workers, business leaders, and other professionals shared that culture. With more than 11,000 graduates, we are seeing some demographic changes. But there is still a lot of work to be done.

Judi Montes

Today’s Heritage University student is tomorrow’s community leader. They are the change-makers. Here are a few of their stories.

Sophomore and criminal justice major Judi Montes is not just preparing to be a community leader; she is one already. As a dedicated volunteer and organizer in her hometown of Granger, Washington, Montes is actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce and Granger Lions Club. She has helped organize and volunteered at initiatives such as the local schools’ PTO, holiday parades, and the annual Cherry Festival. After raising three daughters, she is pursuing her dream of earning a college degree to further contribute to her beloved community.

Granger is a small agricultural town with a population of under 4,000, predominantly Hispanic. In this tight-knit community, residents rely on each other to solve problems and support one another. Montes’s journey from a single mom to a community organizer reflects this spirit.

“Everything started with my daughters,” Montes explains. “As a single mom, I was determined to help my daughters succeed. I volunteered for their schools and enrolled them in sports, always helping with whatever activities they were involved in.”

Her commitment to her children led her to the Inspire Development Center, where she became one of the most active volunteers. Her involvement was so significant that she was invited to Washington, D.C., to discuss the importance of early learning programs for migrant families with legislators. “It was fascinating to see the national efforts to secure funding for these centers,” she recalls.

As her engagement deepened, Montes recognized that her community faced challenges beyond those she encountered through her children’s activities. After starting a full-time job at Inspire, her activism intensified. She interacted with many families and began understanding her community’s broader issues, including immigration problems and neighborhood safety concerns.

“People often come to me and share the challenges they’re facing, whether it’s struggling with immigration, accidents, or issues they notice in the community. I’m always here to listen and truly value when others feel comfortable approaching me with their concerns or suggestions. It’s important to me that they know their voices are heard, and together, we can work towards finding solutions,” Montes said.

In 2023, she was asked to run for a position on the Granger City Council. “Things in our community were not going well, and it was time for a change. Parents work late, and there’s little for children to do—no pool, no youth center, and gang activity is increasing. We need action,” she said. Montes ran for office and won with 63% of the votes.

Starting her council position coincided with her second semester at Heritage. “I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. The law is power, and it will enable me to do more for my community,” she explains. “Getting my degree and becoming a lawyer will help me build my network and make a difference.”

Montes emphasizes the importance of community collaboration: “We are here to help others. Getting things done isn’t just about money; it requires people—those who can initiate and sustain change. I want to be that person.”

Yadira Cuellar is passionate about her Mexican heritage and committed to helping young people overcome mental health challenges. Currently a student in the Master of Mental Health Counseling program, she aims to dismantle the barriers that hinder individuals from living fulfilling lives.

“In my community, there are many stigmas and misconceptions surrounding mental health,” Cuellar said. “The Mexican culture often views mental illness as a sign of weakness, but that’s not true. The brain is an organ; like any other, it needs treatment when it’s unwell.”

Yadira Cuellar

After graduating, Cuellar returned to the Yakima Valley, where she became a case manager for young people involved in the foster care system, juvenile justice centers, or transitioning out of drug rehabilitation. “Many of these young individuals have endured traumatic experiences. They often struggle with behavioral disorders, come from broken homes, and find it difficult to move past their trauma,” she said.

As a case manager, Cuellar plays a vital role in the therapeutic team, connecting participants with essential services such as drug treatment, housing assistance, and mental health support. While she enjoys her current role, she aspires to have a more personal impact on young people’s lives. Earning her master’s degree will enable her to provide one-on-one counseling, allowing her to address the underlying mental health issues that hinder individuals from living independently and productively.

There is a pressing need for mental health providers from diverse backgrounds who can relate to the demographics of their communities. In Yakima County, which is 51% Hispanic, there is a significant shortage of Latinx behavioral health clinicians. “When someone Mexican walks through the door and sees that I am also Mexican, there’s a level of trust,” Cuellar said. “That shared background and understanding of similar beliefs, values, and traditions help foster a relationship of trust.”

Currently, in her first semester of the master’s program, Cuellar balances her studies with her work as a case manager. She expects to graduate in May 2026 and plans to continue her career in the Yakima Valley as a therapist for young adults.

Cuellar’s journey is a testament to her dedication to breaking down cultural barriers in mental health care, ensuring that future generations have the support they need to thrive. Through her work, she honors her heritage and paves the way for a healthier, more understanding community.

Being a Mexican means breaking a lot of things. Breaking cycles, breaking down obstacles, breaking through prejudice and out of limited expectations.

For a man in his early twenties, Salvador Ayala Vaca has wisdom beyond his years. It was learned through triumphs and tragedies, lots of hard work, and sage advice from his late father. Ayala was just a few months from graduating from high school when his dad passed away.

“My dad used to tell me, ‘We’re not rich. But you have something in your hands, an American citizenship, that will open many doors. Use it, and you’re going to see lots of good things.’”

Salvador Ayala

Now a senior majoring in computer science, his academic résumé rivals any Ivy League school student. He has completed eight research experiences, including stints with Amazon, the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., and collaborations with leading agricultural companies. He’s mentored students in the College Assistance Migrant Program and the CRESCENT program and is a tutor in the Academic Skills Center.

Ayala was sixteen when he and his family immigrated to the United States from Mexico. They were a hardworking family. In Mexico, Mom, Dad and the two brothers worked in the fields, often more than 13 hours a day, every day. Coming to America meant Ayala and his brother would have a better chance at a better future.

“When we came to America, we weren’t scared,” said Ayala. “We knew how to work hard. We knew that, in America, we could find jobs that pay better, and my brother and I could get a better education.”

The challenges he and his family faced when they moved to the United States—racism, difficult manual labor, low expectations of others, learning a new language, and finding his place in a new country—motivated him to excel in education.

“I want to inspire others who immigrate to this country. They can accomplish their goals. They can get an education. If you have the passion and the motivation, nothing can stop you.

“I see the sacrifices of my people every time I drive to Heritage. I see them in the fields picking apples, pears, and hops. It’s an honor to be Latino. My people are the ones who bring food to the table; without us, this country would be very different.

“I also know that this work is hard and dangerous. People are out there working in 100-degree-plus temperatures. We can do things through technology to make their jobs better and safer. I want to be part of the work that creates technology to improve their working conditions. With a degree in computer science, I can help companies collect and analyze data to improve their processes.”

Ayala is set to graduate this spring. He plans to enter the workforce and return to school after a few years to earn a master’s degree.

Being the oldest child in a traditional Mexican family comes with a lot of responsibility, especially when you are the oldest daughter. For junior and education major Jackie Martinez, being the oldest is a position of honor and one that prepared her for her future career as a teacher.

“I’m glad I have the privilege of being the oldest. It is definitely not a burden,” she said. “I developed a caring, nurturing personality because I grew up caring for my younger siblings. I feel like that will help me when I have my classroom one day.”

Jackie Martinez

Martinez knew very early on that she wanted to be a teacher. When she was in the fifth grade, a little boy, Eduardo, started school in the middle of the year. He had moved with his family from Mexico, and he didn’t speak a word of English. Her teacher didn’t speak Spanish. She asked Martinez if she could sit with Edwardo and help him with his lessons.

“It felt good helping out and seeing Edwardo start to grasp what we were studying and start to fall in love with learning,” she said. “Through him, I could imagine what it must be like to go someplace new where you didn’t know the language and then find that one person who guides you and helps you feel comfortable and safe. I knew then that I wanted to be that person.”

While her teachers were a big influence on Martinez throughout her K-12 years, it was the ones who shared her Mexican heritage that really inspired her to do well in her studies and strive for a college degree after graduating.

“Sunnyside is a Hispanic community. When I was in school, the only people I saw who looked like me and shared my cultural heritage worked in the fields. There weren’t a lot of Hispanic teachers in my school.

“I was in the eighth grade when I had my first Hispanic teacher. She was my hero. She looked like me. She knew my culture and what it was like to have parents working in the fields. I could relate to her.

“That kind of connection is important,” said Martinez. “It helps children feel safe in their classroom and more open to learning when they feel like the teacher can relate to what is going on in their world. Plus, it helps them see themselves in roles outside of farmwork. I want to be that person for my students.”

When Martinez graduates, she wants to return to the school system that raised her and teach the children in Sunnyside.

“There is a lot of work to be done in my community if we want to break the cycle that keeps our kids from prioritizing education,” she said.

Heritage senior and business major Christian Verduzco wasn’t out of elementary school when he started his first business. The tiny tot entrepreneur wanted to earn a little extra money, so he sold his shoes. In a few months, if all goes to plan, those won’t be the last pair of shoes he’ll sell. Verduzco dreams of leveraging his business and marketing degree enter the big business of sportswear. And, he has a hook, his culture.

Christian Verduzco

“Hispanic employees bring a lot of benefits to their employers,” said Verduzco. “We have great empathy, a strong work ethic, dedication, discipline and loyalty.”

Not to mention, he said, with Hispanic households being one of the fastest growing demographics both in their numbers and their purchasing power, bringing employees with this cultural background into management positions in companies large and small makes good business sense.

“Having focus groups can only get you so far,” he said. “Nothing beats having someone of the culture to market to the culture. There are so many nuances to being Hispanic that people get wrong. Just look at how we see Mexican, Hispanic and Latino used like they represent the same group of people. They don’t. When businesses make assumptions and get them wrong, it’s obvious and can negatively impact their bottom line.”

For Verduzco, business success is as much about personal accomplishment as it is about being a role model for young people growing up like he did—the children of hardworking immigrants who sacrificed education for survival.

“There were not a lot of role models for me in Sunnyside,” he said. “There was a lot of violence and expectations that I would just go into the workforce after high school. I was lucky that my parents always pushed me to get an education. My mom would say, ‘You’re really smart, son. I want you to do something more than I got to do.’”

With graduation half a year away, Verduzco is starting his job search. Where he will end up remains to be seen, but what he will accomplish and the significance of that accomplishment to his family and community is indisputable.

“Me and two of my siblings are the first in my family to earn a degree,” he said. “The first to have a wide path of opportunities ahead of us.

“A message I have for future students is to believe in yourself, trust in God, fight for your dreams. You may not have it all figured out but keep working, have that faith that it will all come together. ¡Si se puede raza!”

Boundless Determination – Wings Summer 2024

A student dressed in a cap and gown with a big smile at a graduation ceremony surrounded by other graduates

Scenes from the Heritage University Class of 2024 Commencement, May 11, 2024

An entire class of graduates overcome unprecedented challenges to earn their college degrees.

The road to graduation is never easy. There are always challenges, unexpected obstacles, and a few hard-earned lessons that pop up along the way. But, for this year’s graduating class of Heritage Eagles, the road to graduation was more than a little bumpy. This is the class that started their academic journey in the midst of a pandemic. Their first two years of college were spent almost entirely online. They had to be more disciplined and creative to study independently, often in less-than-ideal environments where distractions were high and access to the resources they needed limited. There was no campus life. No meeting with their cohort for small group learning over lattes and snack cakes.

A collage of students attending a graduation ceremony

Scenes from the Heritage University Class of 2024 Commencement, May 11, 2024

Still, they persisted, with knife blade focus on their goals and an understanding that earning their degrees would be life-changing and worth the hard work and sacrifice.

On Saturday, May 11, 198 students celebrated with family and friends and Heritage faculty and staff at the university’s 42nd Commencement. Their accomplishments were made sweeter by the monumental challenges they overcame to make them happen.

Scenes from the Heritage University Class of 2024 Commencement, May 11, 2024

This year’s undergraduate address was made by Andrew Martin (B.A., American Indian Studies). Areli Leion (M.I.T., Elementary Education) presented the graduate address. Jim Pigott was scheduled to present the Commencement Address, but an unexpected illness forced him to cancel. Instead, President Andrew Sund spoke, honoring Pigott’s years of dedication to Heritage University and its students.

During the event, 13 students were recognized for their academic and leadership accomplishments. The twelve students who graduated with perfect 4.0 GPAs received the Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award: Karina Delgado, Isai Diaz, Bryawna Fletcher, Kelsey Flores, Jhow Garcia, Briana Garza, Sandy Gonzalez Perez, Marisol Johnson, Amairani Martinez, Tar Mo, Dianne Nunamaker and Sky Silva. Delgado also recieved the President’s Student Award of Distinction, which is presented to an undergraduate with a distinguished record of academic excellence and service to the university. She earned a B.A. in Psychology while studying at the Tri-Cities regional site.

Additionally, Heritage recognized Jennifer Johann (B.A.Ed., Elementary Education, 2004 and M.Ed., Professional Development, 2007) as the Violet Lumley Rau Alumna of the Year.

Scenes from the Heritage University Class of 2024 Commencement, May 11, 2024

During a particularly moving portion of the program, Sund awarded Professor Emeritus of Education Ed Rousculp a posthumous honorary doctorate degree. Rousculp passed away in January following a long illness. His career at Heritage spanned more than 30 years. He started as an adjunct instructor, then became the chair of the College of Teacher Education. In 2005 he transitioned to the Director of the Center for Intercultural Learning and Teaching where he stayed until his retirement in 2022. The degree was presented to his wife, Susan Rousculp, and their three sons, Josh, Tom and Sam Rousculp.

Graduating students holding certificates while on stage

The “A” Team” A dozen students graduated with a perfect 4.0 which means they earned a perfect score in every one of their classes

Sharing Heritage – Wings Summer 2024

A powwow participant wearing a Native American headdress seen from behind

When the Grand Entry procession of veterans and dancers at Heritage’s All Nations Student Social Powwow made its way into the arena to open the day’s festivities, it was a moment of great significance. It was a welcome back to Heritage alumni; to dancers, drummers and singers; and to friends who faithfully attended the annual event before COVID, and whose presence at the university was deeply missed. It was a celebration of the hard work of the students who planned, promoted and executed the event. And it was another milestone in a collective return to normalcy after the pandemic’s interruption to all our lives.

The powwow was held on the Heritage campus in April under a vivid blue spring sky. The event was entirely organized by students in Heritage University American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL) and the Heritage University Native American Club (HUNAC). Vendors selling everything from t-shirts and handmade Native American crafts to frybread tacos and beverages outlined the enormous tent that served as the arena. Organizers estimated a crowd of about 500 people, including dancers, drummers and vendors, in attendance.

“The powwow is a great way to highlight the rich culture of Native people and share it with the community,” said Kansas Arnoux, HUNAC president. “We were honored to invite the community to celebrate with us and to experience a bit of the cultural traditions that we hold close to our hearts.”

AIBL of HU President Latrishia Scabbyrobe agreed with Arnoux. “The powwow promotes mental health and wellness for our community by building a connection and an appreciation of our past through song and dance,” she said.

A collage of powwow participants dressed in Native American designed outfits

Scenes from the All-Nations Student Social Powwow at Heritage University, held April 20, 2024

The first All Nations Student Powwow was held at Heritage in the fall of 2017. It was initially started by a handful of students in AIBL. Jacob Billy (B.A., Environmental Science, 2017) was one of the students involved in planning that first event. He’s been the head of the Grand Entry at every event since, including this one. Billy traveled from Warm Springs, Oregon to lead this year’s entry.

This year’s event differed from previous years in that it was a social event rather than a competitive one. Instead of a single head drum, drum groups signed up and the first five received a stipend. Likewise, dancers received stipends to sign up in their categories, which included Tiny Tots (5 years and under), Golden Age (55+), Juniors and Adults. For the women/girls, there were Fancy, Jingle and Traditional dances. For the men/boys, there were Fancy, Grass and Traditional dances. Additionally, there were two intertribal dances, where all in attendance, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, were invited to dance together, as well as a Rabbit Dance and a youth hand drum competition.

Scenes from the All-Nations Student Social Powwow at Heritage University, held April 20, 2024

The powwow also celebrated other cultures. A Nigerian drum group opened the event prior to the grand entry and The Hunters, a family of musicians that include Heritage Professor Dr. Yessenia Hunter and student A Hunter, had a Fandango performance prior to the powwow’s closing round dance.

“Heritage has a special and valued relationship with the Yakama Nation. Our past, present and future are inextricably tied to the Indigenous people of this area. The powwow is an important event for the University and our students and we are all thrilled by its return,” said President Andrew Sund. “We look forward to watching this event grow.”

Body of Work – Wings Summer 2024

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

A smiling young blond woman pictured in a mirror frame

Millie Land

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

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

THE MAKING OF AN ACADEMIC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE BRIDGERTON EFFECT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CONTROVERSY OF SIZE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Answered Prayers of My Grandmothers – Wings Summer 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HERITAGE PROGRAM FORMALIZES EDUCATION

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

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

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

A young woman wearing Native American designed clothing looking downward

Lateet Olney

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

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

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

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

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

WALKING IN “TWO WORLDS”

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

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

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

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

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

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

FINDING THAT SENSE OF DIRECTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks a Million! – Wings Summer 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FARE THEE WELL, FRIEND

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

Dana Eliason

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

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

A Heart for Heritage – Wings Spring 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Pat and Dick Twiss

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2023 A Year in Review

It was a very busy and productive year at Heritage in 2023. The university celebrated many impressive accomplishments, including expanded degree programs, a new regional location, record-breaking fundraising, strengthened partnerships, and students achieving greatness. Here are a few highlights.

Tri-Cities Expansion!

Heritage expanded its reach in the Tri-Cities area by opening a new regional location in Kennewick. Students can now complete all four years of study in one of six majors – accounting, business administration, criminal justice, education, psychology, or social work – without leaving the Tri-Cities area. Or, they can complete their first two years in Kennewick and then attend classes at the main campus in Toppenish to complete their studies in any of Heritage’s degree programs. It welcomed its first cohort of freshmen for the fall 2023 semester.

The university maintains its relationship with Columbia Basin College (CBC), and students graduating from CBC continue to seamlessly transfer to Heritage to complete their bachelor’s degrees on the college’s campus.

New Graduate Programs!

Heritage developed two new master’s degree programs, the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs.

The MSW program was developed through the support of a five-year, $5.5 million federal grant awarded to Educational Service District 105, which included provisions for the university’s program development. This fall, the program received pre-candidacy status from the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation, opening it up to begin recruiting for a fall 2024 start.

A five-year, $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education supported the development and launch of the mental health program. It received approval from the university’s accreditation board and is currently recruiting its first cohort of students who will start in the fall.

Breaking Records!

In June, the 37th annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner broke all previous records, bringing in $872,559 for student scholarships. The event was held at the Toppenish campus and live- streamed so that those who could not attend in person could still participate in real-time.

Strengthened Collaboration!
Heritage and Children’s Hospital of Seattle cemented their partnership surrounding nursing education and shared goals to increase diversity within the profession and improve healthcare in rural communities. The partnership brings hospital nursing staff to Heritage to serve as adjunct faculty members and allows Heritage students to complete a 4-week pediatric clinical rotation at the hospital.

Together, Heritage and Children’s launched a multi-million-dollar campaign to create endowments to support the program in perpetuity. In fall 2023, Jim and Gaye Piggot, who are deeply invested in supporting healthcare and education, announced a $4 million gift to be divided between the two organizations, establishing the Gaye and Jim Pigott Nursing Endowment at Seattle Children’s and the Gaye and Jim Pigott Endowed Chair of Nursing at Heritage.

For the Children!

Heritage opened the new Early Learning Center (ELC) at its Toppenish Campus in March. Construction of the $4.1 million state-of-the-art facility started in spring the year before. It was funded by an anonymous donor.

The new ELC has five classrooms and is larger than the previous facility, allowing it to increase enrollment from 74 to 90 students. Its location, just east of the university’s main campus parking lot, makes it easier and safer for parents to pick up and drop off their children.

The ELC programs are designed to offer experiences that enhance and enrich each child’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical and creative development. It serves children from 12 months through pre-kindergarten.

Addressing Food Insecurity!

Heritage opened Eagles Market, a program to address food insecurity among students and their familes. The food pantry is supplied with frozen, refrigerated and non-perishable food items by Opportunities Industrializaiton Center (OIC) in Yakima. It is open for students to stop by and pick up free, nutritious food Monday through Friday. It was made possible by a contribution by Kwik Lok Corporation in Yakima and through a gift from an anonymous donor.