Read more about recent news and achievements of YVC and the college community.
New partnership advances access for Yakima students
ABOVE: YVC Interim President Teresa Rich, right, shakes hands with Yakima School District
Superintendent Trevor Greene while Central Washington University President Jim Wohlpart,
left, looks on. TOP: Rich, right, speaks during the Memorandum of Understanding event
held on September 26, 2024.
This fall Yakima School District (YSD), Central Washington University (CWU) and Yakima Valley College (YVC) entered into a partnership with a goal of developing a system that offers integrated, seamless and guaranteed pathways for high school students to earn postsecondary credentials.
Leaders from the three organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September that outlines a series of collaborative conversations designed to create various pathways for YSD students to earn credit toward the completion of a postsecondary degree in Washington.
“We owe it to every young person in the Yakima Valley to provide clear and equitable pathways to earn a postsecondary credential that will open up opportunities to achieve their dreams,” said YVC Interim President Teresa Rich.
The upcoming conversations will revolve around:
- Defining coursework completed through Running Start and College in the High School that will be publicly shared with YSD students.
- Developing a plan that ensures students who complete the general education program at YVC or CWU will not need to complete the program at the other institution.
- Creating clear pathways for students interested in specific degrees at YVC so they can complete coursework in either Running Start or College in the High School.
“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with YSD and CWU to expand access to an excellent education and create a better future for students and our entire community,” Rich said.
The MOU will be in effect through at least September 2026, and can be extended if all three parties agree.
Sue Wedam earns Veterinarian of the Year Award
Sue Wedam speaks with a Veterinary Technology student during a surgical lab on YVC's
Yakima Campus.
Sue Wedam was recently awarded the "Veterinarian of the Year," from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Wedam served as a faculty and directed YVC's Veterinary Technology program for a number of year prior to retirement. Earlier in her career, she co-owned Prosser Animal Hospital in Prosser and helped establish emergency veterinary hospitals in Yakima and the Tri-Cities area of Pasco, Richland and Kennewick. Wedam is a past vice chair of the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. She volunteers as a clinical communication coach for veterinary students at Washington State University.
Deborah Wilson honored for volunteer work
Deborah Wilson, left, accepts an award from SHIIP members.
Former Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) coordinator Deborah Wilson recently received the Mike Klug Award from the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). The award, given in memory of Klug, a career Medicare expert with a long history of working with and for the program, recognizes the outstanding contributions of a SHIIP volunteer.
“Not only has Deborah been a dedicated and knowledgeable SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) volunteer counselor for years, but she also took over the volunteer coordinator role while our program's administrative assistant was out of the office on leave,” said RSVP Coordinator Kelsey Brontide.
“As the former director of our larger volunteer program, her continued dedication to service at our SHIBA station during her retirement stands out as particularly admirable,” continued Brontide. “Over two decades of work with hundreds of volunteers could cause the average human to burn out on community service programs, especially one they once managed from the inside-out, but Deborah is anything but average and her heart for our community shows.”