Library Services receives excellence award
YVC’s Library Services recently received the 2025 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.
The LEAD Award honors academic libraries’ programs and initiatives that encourage and support inclusive excellence and belonging across their campus. These include research, technology, accessibility, exhibitions and community outreach.
TOP: Participants listen to a sexual health and intimacy workshop held in Yakima's Raymond Hall Library in February 2025. BELOW: Yesenia Navarrete Hunter and her husband perform and talk about music during a Dia De Los Muertos event in the library in 2023.
“We know that many academic libraries are not always recognized for their dedication to diversity, inclusion and access” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity. “We are proud to honor these college and university libraries as role models for other institutions of higher education.”
Yakima Valley College was featured, along with 33 other recipients, in the March 2025 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.
New agreement benefits YVC teacher education grads
BAS-TE students celebrate with Instructor Netty Hull during a coin ceremony celebrating
new graduates in June 2024.
YVC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAS-TE) program has partnered with Saint Martin’s University on a new articulation agreement for the university’s Master of Education in Inclusive Education (MED) program.
The BAS-TE program offers multiple pathways leading to teacher certification in K-8 schools with optional endorsements for English Language Learner and Early Childhood Education. The program is residency-based with candidates completing an intensive residency experience (student teaching) that provides hands-on work in K-8 classrooms under the guidance of a mentor teacher and field supervisor within local partner schools.
The agreement, which began in January and runs through June 2028, gives six YVC BAS-TE graduates guaranteed admission for this pathway to earning a master’s degree at a reduced tuition rate.
Carol Milliron published by Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Nursing Instructor Carol Milliron’s article “Commotio Cordis” about cardiac arrest in athletics was published in January on the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association website.
Business Leaders Society mixes with community leaders
Members of YVC's Business Leaders Society during the winter quarter 2025 mixer.
YVC’s Business Leaders Society (BLS) student club recently launched a quarterly mixer. The events provide networking opportunities for current students pursuing careers in the business industry. For the inaugural event, held in December, over 33 participated. Included were Jonathan Smith, executive director for the Yakima County Development Association, Kristi Foster, chief executive officer of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and YVC instructors Kyle Ashley, Emilee Oldham and Kevin Palmateer. Instructor Holly Cousens, with YVC’s Business Technology program, shared her experiences while serving on the city council and as Yakima’s deputy mayor. Her talk challenged BLS students to follow their dreams and reminded them that they can achieve their goals right her in the Yakima Valley.
The BLS club was reestablished during the Fall 2025 after a brief hiatus following Covid. BLS holds member meetings the third Thursday of the month at 2:15 p.m. via Zoom.
Save the date. The BLS will host a Workforce Education Division Career Fair May 8, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Hopf Union Building (HUB).
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Dustin Wunderlich, director of community relations, Juan Padilla, public relations student assistant, and submitted.