A DAY TO MAKE --
AND CELEBRATE -- HISTORY

Clark College continues its 75th anniversary celebration
with a series of special events on Tuesday, May 12

VANCOUVER, Wash. –   May 12 will be a day to make -- and celebrate -- history at Clark College as the college continues the year-long celebration of its 75th anniversary.  

The unveiling of the 2009 Phoenix

The festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with the unveiling of the 2009 Phoenix, the student literary and art publication of Clark College. 

That publication, which was hatched as “The Egg” in 1959, is celebrating its 50th anniversary during the college’s 75th anniversary.  In 2008, Phoenix was honored by the American Scholastic Press Association as the best college literary art magazine in the country.  

The unveiling of the 2009 Phoenix will take place in the college’s Penguin Student Lounge in the Penguin Union Building from 3-4 p.m. 

The members of the student leadership team for the 2009 Phoenix are:

Daniel Acosta- Business Manager/Assistant Editor

Whitney Anderson- Co-Layout Editor

Emily Antoine- Literary Editor

Sarah Campeau- Photo Editor and Designer

Nathan Childs- Fine Art Editor

Robert Cramer- Distribution Manager/Illustrator

Jason Curl- Photographer/Illustrator

Chris Flanders- Co-Layout Editor

Kristin Haagen- Graphic Designer

Stacey Hargis- Graphic Designer

Angel Hayes- Graphic Designer

Leah Kooiman- Assistant Editor

Jennifer Lewis- Assistant Editor

Kristen Weigand- Web Editor

Professors Rita Carey and Kathrena Halsinger serve as advisors to Phoenix.

The opening of the 2009 Art Student Annual

At 4 p.m., the activities will move downstairs to the Archer Gallery for the opening of the 2009 Art Student Annual.  That evening, the exhibit will be open until 7 p.m.

The Art Student Annual, the college’s traditional end-of-year exhibition of student work created in Clark College Art Department classes, will be on display through June 9.

The Clark College Time Capsule Celebration – Opening a historic time capsule and dedicating a new one

At 5 p.m., the festivities will move to Gaiser Hall where Clark College President Robert K. Knight will open the time capsule from the college’s 50th anniversary celebration.   He is scheduled to be joined by Ellis F. Dunn, who served Clark College for 30 years in a number of roles including interim president.  On October 1, 2008, as part of the college’s 75th anniversary celebration, the college dedicated the “Ellis F. Dunn Community Room” in Gaiser Hall in his honor.

Bob Moser, who served as director of public relations at the college for 25 years, partnered with former Clark welding professor Ryan Collins to create the time capsule.  Moser also organized the items that the time capsule contains. 

Following the opening of the 50th anniversary time capsule, the college will dedicate a sculpture by artist Beth Heron which will house a time capsule in honor of the college’s 75th anniversary.  Items being considered for inclusion in the time capsule will be on display during the event.  The time capsule will be opened during the college’s 100th anniversary celebration during the 2033-2034 academic year.

After receiving associate degree from Clark College, Beth Heron earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art at Portland State University.  She has been a part-time instructor at Clark College since 1988.  In 2006, she was honored as a recipient of the college’s Exceptional Faculty Award. 

Beth Heron blends complex physical skills with advanced artistic skills and techniques and demonstrates this unique combination to her students in a hands-on way every day. As one of her students noted, “She teaches welding, the use of oxy-acetylene torches, the use of monster machines…Yet, on another day, she teaches a class in jewelry, probably one of the more sensitive and delicate skills to teach.”

Heron’s art has been displayed in galleries throughout Washington and in Oregon and California.  In Vancouver, Wash., “Water Forms,” a fountain created by Heron, is located on Officer’s Row in the National Historic Reserve.  Heron’s sculpture, “Winged Women,” is on display in a downtown sculpture park.

About the May 12th celebration

All events are free and open to the public.  Gaiser Hall and the Penguin Union Building are located on the north end of Clark College’s main campus.  Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  Parking maps and driving directions are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Clark College President Robert K. Knight said, “This day of special events honors the theme for our 75th anniversary celebration as we ‘preserve the past, honor the present and embrace the future.’” 

Knight added, “Our college was founded during the Great Depression.  It’s ironic that our 75th anniversary has found us once again facing tough economic times.  But it also reminds us that our founders believed in a bright future for our college.  Today’s college is the legacy of their belief.  Tomorrow’s college will be the legacy of our belief in a bright future -- for the next 75 years and beyond.”   

Knight thanked the community supporters who, in his words, “have truly made our 75th anniversary celebration possible.”

Our Community Supporters

Through the efforts of the Clark College Foundation, generous support from the community has enabled Clark College to host members of the Penguin Nation and the greater community at free or low-cost events throughout the year.  Individuals and organizations that have pledged their support include:

Platinum Sponsor – Arnerich, Massena and Associates
Gold Sponsor – The Columbian
Diamond Sponsors – iQ Credit Union, Legacy Health System and Bank of America
Other Contributions – Moss Adams, Julia Bakery, Burgerville and Corwin Beverage Company; Carol Curtis and George Welsh

Funding for the sculpture which will house the 75th anniversary time capsule has been provided by an anonymous donor; Arnerich, Massena and Associates; Dr. Charles Clemans; and Nancy Hungerford.

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EDITOR’S NOTE:  The college invited former director of public relations Bob Moser to participate in the opening of the 50th anniversary time capsule, but he is unable to attend.  He is generously providing some notes which will be incorporated into the ceremony.  We have also invited welding professor emeritus Ryan Collins and hope that he will be able to join us.