3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
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Date:		February 8, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Author, Heritage University Faculty Member to Celebrate Release of
Earth Angels Book on Valentine’s Day

Toppenish, Wash. – Richland, Wash. author Karen Nicksich and Heritage University Assistant Professor Miguel Juarez are celebrating the publication of their co-authored book, Earth Angels, a pictorial documentary chronicling the lives of “specially-abled” children.  Earth Angels will be released at a book signing event at Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Avenue in Pasco, Wash., in the Library Building, room 102 on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend.

Earth Angels features the personal stories of ten families who have children with special needs. It chronicles the joys and challenges the parents of these children face on a daily basis. Heritage University social work students Ana Tapia and Delaney Helmerson provided research assistance for Nicksich. The pair assisted with interviews and photo sessions with the families, and helped sort through 1,500 images to select the ones featured in the book.

Nicksich praised Tapia and Helmerson for their work with Earth Angels. “Seeing Ana and Delaney connect with great people will help them realize that they are part of something big and beautiful. I will be forever thankful for the truly limitless potential that these young women have,” Nicksich said. “Earth Angels is a book about community, empowerment, self-expression, self-esteem and love. It is a book about abilities, not disability. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with Miguel Juarez and Heritage University on this book.”

For more information, contact Miguel Juarez at (509) 840-3095 or Juarez_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