From volunteering at local nonprofits to serving on city councils, the impact of Yakima Valley College faculty is felt beyond the classroom walls.
“Their commitment to service is a testament to the connection they have with our students and the community,” says Kerrie Cavaness, interim vice president of instruction. “These committed faculty members are not just sharing information, but also getting involved in the lives of their students and community members."
Below, we explore some specific examples of how YVC faculty are making a difference through their service to the Yakima Valley community.
Earth Day at Cowiche Canyon
ABOVE: Biology Instructor Jerred Seveyka talks with participants during the Earth
Day event at Cowiche Canyon in April 2024. Photo by Jerred Seveyka. TOP: Chemistry
Instructor Emeka Udenze shows elementary age kids an experiment during a day-long
summer camp. Photo by Matt Barton, graphic designer/multimedia content producer.
Among numerous ties between YVC and Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, Geology Instructor Katharine Solada, Chemistry Instructor Suki Smaglik and Biology Instructor Jerred Seveyka volunteered during the organization’s most recent Earth Day event — a family-friendly and interactive experience where participants learned about the area while taking a stroll through the blooming Cowiche Canyon.
Solada and Smaglik helped participants learn about the time and forces that helped shape the local landscape, while Seveyka lead a talk about birds.
“The geology of our area is quite explosive, a lot of volcanic events formed our home here,” said Solada. “It is important that the public is aware of the active volcanoes here to understand the hazards they may face when the Cascades erupt. On top of this, Yakima and the canyon are very geologically unique, something that most people don't know about.”
Solada especially loved being able to share information about the Tieton andesite lavas, which are among the longest known andesite flows in the world. She and Smaglik also shared information on the Yellowstone Caldera and its role in area flood basalts and the explosive history of the Cascade Range.
Participants look through a spoting scope at birds during Earth Day. Photo by Jerred
Seveyka.
"This [Earth Day] event allows people to know that geology is attainable for them and that they can learn more at YVC if they are interested,” said Solada. “This is just an amazing event to showcase science to the public in a fun way.”
Seveyka, who has volunteered during the event for several years, brought eight students with him this year to help community members learn about local birds.
YVC student volunteers worked in pairs running stations where spotting scopes pointed at bird nests.
“The students got to practice interacting with children and adults of all ages and experience the excitement these participants expressed when they see something really beautiful and awe inspiring through the spotting scope,” said Seveyka.
“For my biology students, we get to practice taxonomy, but for all of the volunteers they get to practice teaching and interacting with people of all ages. I hope that they see how engaged many older participants are and realize what life-long learning looks like.”
The experience also allows Seveyka to extend concepts from his courses into the real world.
“Few students that participate in this annual event have ever watched birds, seen a nesting hawk or owl, or seen baby raptors,” said Seveyka. “They get exposed to an area they often haven’t been to, experience wildlife that they have never seen and meet members of the public that are engaged in lifelong learning.”
Bringing art to Grandview
Detail of Untitled artwork by student Jack Romos-Cisneros. Photo by Monika Lemmon.
Instructor Monika Lemmon is always on the lookout for ways to increase the presence of art on the Grandview Campus. She recently transitioned from part- to full-time to help meet the increased demand as more lower valley students return to in-person classes.
“More art classes in Grandview has meant that more students have an opportunity for creative self-expression through visual art,” said Lemmon.
Last spring, she helped curate an exhibit of student artwork in the college and city library. Pieces displayed ranged from paintings to charcoal drawings.
“It was exciting to see all of the wonderful work that students made throughout the year displayed together,” said Lemmon. “I felt honored to share the students' creative accomplishments with the other Grandview students and faculty as well as library patrons."
Detail of Untitled artwork by student Martiza Barcenas. Photo by Monika Lemmon.
Students were also excited to participate in a show on their own campus.
"It was a nice opportunity to show the community what we as students can do artistically,” said Jack Romos-Cisneros whose painting featured apples on a platter. “It was also awesome to see what the other Grandview students created in the other art classes offered at YVC."
For student Martiza Barcenas, who selected a drawing for this show, the appreciation made an impact.
"It was nice getting to share what we have done and receive recognition for our hard work," Barcenas said.
A second art show on the Grandview Campus is planned for March 2025.
Speaking up for overdose awareness
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Instructor Deniele Fleming along with members of the Wellness Society Club volunteered at an International Overdose Awareness event in August. The annual event brings community partners and individuals from around central Washington together to share resources, tell their stories and to remember those whose lives have been lost.
For the SUD program, the event held at Yakima’s Sarg Hubbard Park, provided a platform to raise awareness about the critical issues surrounding substance use and overdose. It allowed students and faculty to engage with the community, share valuable information, and highlight the importance of prevention and support services. YVC was among 30 community resources who participated in the event.
“This engagement not only enhanced the program’s visibility but also reinforced its commitment to addressing substance use disorders through education and outreach,” said Fleming.
The Wellness Society Club benefited by fostering a sense of community and solidarity among its members and the broader student body.
“Students were able to take an active role in advocating for mental health and wellness, thereby promoting a culture of empathy and support on campus. Additionally, it helped the club to network with other organizations and professionals in the field, which could lead to future collaborations and initiatives,” said Fleming.
Faculty help lead local theatre
Drama Instructor Ray Pritchard, center, performs as Big Jule in the Warehouse Theatre
Company's production of "Guys and Dolls." Photo courtesy of Ray Pritchard.
A love for community and theatre led Drama Instructor Ray Pritchard to become active in community theatre — serving in various roles for the Warehouse Theatre Company for the past six years.
“I went up and watched a production, thought it was fantastic, and decided to audition for an upcoming role. Then the next thing I knew I was acting for them, directing for them and then on their board.”
He currently serves as immediate past president of the WTC board of directors and helps decide which shows are selected for the stage. Over the summer he auditioned for and was cast in the part of Big Jule in the musical “Guys and Dolls” and served as lighting and set designer for their fall production of “The Hobbit,” which was on stage in September.
“That’s one of the things I love about the Warehouse Theatre Company,” says Pritchard. “Every time there is a need for support, someone steps up to help. It just shows that community theater is really a community!”
In the past YVC and WTC have partnered in joint productions and plans are in the works for another joint venture in the summer of 2025.
Spreading a love for science
Chemistry Instructors Emeka Udenze, left, and Sam Mazhari, right, demonstrate a science
experiment for students during a summer camp session held on YVC's Yakima Campus in
July 2024. Photo by Matt Barton.
Over the summer Chemistry instructors Emeka Udenze and Sam Mazhari along with Physics Instructor Stephen Rodrigue and Lab Technician Gabe Lepe hosted a day-long summer camp in partnership with OIC of Washington.
“Our focus was to increase the curiosity and interest of the students in STEM,” says Udenze. “We wanted to help develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while encouraging them to think of pursing STEM education in the future.”
The event was extremely successful with 90 students from area schools ranging from first grade through middle school participating. Demonstrations included the popular screaming gummy bear, lava lamp, acid-base reaction, expanding balloons and more.
Future outreach events fostering a love of STEM learning among children are planned for winter and spring.
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant.