Triennial Report 2020-23
FIND YOUR
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
Whatcom Community College is a vibrant community dedicated to excellence. We continue to grow and thrive, and our students are the reason. I look back at the last three years in awe. As a community of educators and learners, we continually evolve to meet our students where they are in today’s economic and social landscapes, and to fulfill our mission and our promise to students. The pages to follow include stories and achievements of our dedicated faculty and staff; our community of donors and supporters; and most importantly, our talented and diverse students. As we look toward to the future, we are excited to renew and expand community connections; deliver high value education; create an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible culture; and deliver educational experiences that foster student success. Thank you for your partnership and support in making Whatcom an amazing place!
Kathi Hiyane-Brown, Ed.D. President
Kathi Hiyane-Brown, Ed.D (top left) President
WCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES Teresa Taylor, Chair (top right)
Economic Development Project Manager and Medical Records Supervisor, Lummi Indian Business Council John Pedlow, Vice Chair (center left) Retired, CEO, Broadcast Electronics, Inc. Wendy Bohlke, J.D. (center right) Retired, former Senior Counsel and Washington State Assistant Attorney General Jeff Fairchild, J.D. (bottom left) Partner/Attorney, Faber Fairchild McCurdy
Rebecca Johnson (bottom right) President, Health Center Solutions, Inc.
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About Whatcom Whatcom Community College (WCC) is regularly recognized as one of the nation’s top community colleges based on student success. With affordable and accessible programs at WCC, students from every age and background can create their own pathways that align with their specific goals and interests. WCC is a destination for cybersecurity, healthcare, business, and engineering studies, offers three bachelor of applied science degrees (Applied Business Management, IT Networking-Cybersecurity, Social Work), 50+ degrees and certificates, career and workforce preparation, online courses, and personal and professional enrichment classes. WCC serves nearly 7,000 students annually.
Vision Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education.
Core Themes Achieving Success • Building Community • Advancing Equity • Enhancing Effectiveness
Mission Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society.
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Diversity Equity & Inclusion Initiatives WCC is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible campus . Our campus initiatives over the past three years include: Identifying and promoting ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. Supporting WCC’s Simpson Intercultural Center, which is a curated space for everyone to feel safe and secure within the campus community. The Simpson Intercultural Center provides resources and support, especially for BIPOC, LGBTQA+, disabled, and other systemically non-dominant communities. Everyone is welcome to attend events, receive tutoring, advising, or stop by to find a community. WCC’s Intercultural Center provides robust programming and sponsors over 70 events each year. Launching our Intercultural Center peer navigation mentorship program where students are connected with peer mentors who help them transition to college by finding academic, cultural, and social support systems, and connecting with each other and the campus community.
Below, clockwise from top left: Talkin’ Stories Event - Effects of Social Media; Intercultural Center Peer Navigators; LatinX Soccer Night Event; Dia De Los Muertos Celebration.
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WCC continues with its endowed lecture series launched in 2022 by the WCC Foundation, to create transformative engagement and learning opportunities that promote and advance communities of color, gender, and justice. The series called Dismantling Racism and Advocating for Justice began in fall 2021 as part of WCC’s opening week and will continue for 10 years. Each lecture will feature distinguished national and international speakers, scholars, artists, and/or writers, and is intended to stimulate conversation and innovation through sharing of stories, experiences, insights, and ideas. The mission of the endowed series is to advance equity across the WCC campus and local community by building understanding and offering diverse perspectives, which is
Ericka Hart Activist, Writer, Educator, Endowed Lecture Series Speaker
key to upholding social justice and equity work at WCC.
Each of the highly qualified speakers is chosen by a WCC campus appointed committee with an intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. In June of 2022 WCC held the first speaking event featuring Ericka Hart (pronouns: she/they). Ericka is a Black queer femme activist, writer, highly acclaimed speaker, and award-winning sexuality educator with a Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University.
Below, From left: Tanya Zaragoza-Rosas, Director for Intercultural Services; Veronica Perez, Student Completion Coach and Manager; and Yusuke Okazaki, Associate Director for Intercultural Services.
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Community Support
For Whatcom Community College and the WCC Foundation, our students are the top priority. The College is dedicated to providing the highest quality academic instruction along with wraparound support systems necessary to help students flourish and persevere in their academic journeys. We know that financial hardship is a key barrier to completion. Our students have shared with us that having a supportive community is one of the most critical issues for them. The Foundation and the College recognize our generous donors for providing important scholarships and emergency funding. Our donors’ vital support signifies to our students that someone believes in them and recognizes their efforts. This is important validation for a student and can be a seminal moment in their journey. They looked for help, and their community at WCC stepped forward. Many of our students work full-time while attending college full-time and are also balancing taking care of family members. The scholarships and emergency funding our students receive allow them more time to study, cover essential costs, and pay their rent. Having housing and food security allows students to focus on their educational goals. We thank our community of donors for their support of our students.
2022 Foundation scholarship recipients
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WCC Foundation’s Scholarships & College Support
2021-22
2020-21
Scholarships $358,996 Total # of students benefited: 252 Emergency Grants $180,000 Total # of students benefited: 300+
Scholarships $309,967 Total # of students benefited: 239 Emergency Grants $62,320 Total # of students benefited: 100
Funds for Excellence* Increase in funds: 43% Amount raised: $264,205*
Equity Initiatives # of new endowments: 1
Funds for Excellence* Increase in funds: 18.4% Amount raised: $184,765
*To support innovative college initiatives
2022-23
Scholarships $322,776 Total # of students benefited: 400
Emergency Grants $35,221
Faculty Emergency Funds $1,963
Funds for Excellence* Amount raised: $151,132
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President’s Award Winners
After working in the field of geography for many years, Breanne came to Whatcom to pursue a career change into the healthcare field. At WCC, Breanne served as president of the Student Nurses of Whatcom club. She and her fellow nursing students selflessly volunteered their time at the Community Vaccination Clinic and partnered with the Whatcom County Health Department and Bellingham Technical College to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to community members. Since graduating with her nursing degree, Breanne is working in a hospital setting and eventually plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health. Outside of her schoolwork, Breanne volunteered as a ski patroller at the Mount Baker Ski Area. She was also the 2020-21 WCC Foundation Stacie Rae Morse and Baby Delta Rae Memorial Scholarship recipient. 2021 Award Winner Breanne Huckabone Graduated Spring 2021 with an Associate in Nursing degree with honors 2022 Award Winner Emily Worthy Graduated Spring 2022 with an Associate in Science - Transfer degree - Civil and Mechanical Engineering with honors
Emily began taking classes at Whatcom as a freshman in high school. It was in her first college level math class that she discovered a passion for math and science. Emily’s leadership was exhibited at multiple levels. She held herself to the highest academic standards and invested deeply in WCC by supporting her fellow engineering and STEM students. She also volunteered as an Engineering Peer Mentor, which allowed her
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Cece was a proactive-starter and an undaunted advocate for historically resilient populations. Her academic focus on becoming an electrical engineer was unparalleled. She had an outstanding academic record by possessing a 3.94 GPA, and exhibited deep commitment to her involvement with her classmates and WCC’s campus. She participated in the Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Math club, was a part of and contributed to the STEM Excellence through Engagement in Collaboration, Research, and Scholarship program; was an engineering peer mentor, also served as a math tutor, and was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. WCC’s Engineering faculty, Eric Davishahl shared, “I had Cece as a student in ENGR 240: Applied numerical methods. I can confidently say she was among the top five students who I have ever worked with in the fifteen years of teaching this course! She commonly finished assignments well before due dates but stayed engaged, helped and supported other students in their work. Her work on open-ended projects was exemplary, going well beyond the minimum requirements and approached graduate level analysis with insight as she explored the nuances of the course content. It is no surprise that she was essentially a straight-A student in WCC’s challenging engineering curriculum. I was impressed by Cece’s focus and drive as she worked toward her academic and career goals as an electrical engineer working in the medical device industry, with the larger goal of addressing systemic racial biases in the US healthcare system and improving health outcomes in communities of color.” 2023 Award Winner Cece Lovelace Graduated Summer 2023 with an Associate in Science - Transfer degree - Engineering with honors Emily also recognized the vital importance of creating collaborative, safe spaces for women in STEM fields. She led the charge on restarting and becoming the president of the Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Math club (ASWEM). Emily graduated with a 4.0 GPA and continued her educational journey at the University of Washington in their Civil Engineering program. to share her passion for STEM with the wider engineering community, and organized game nights so engineering students could meet like-minded STEM majors to create a community.
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Laidlaw Award Winners
2021 Award Winner Ida Marie Faolotoi
Graduated Spring 2021 with an Associate in Science - Transfer degree - Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical, Industrial and Materials Science Engineering
Ida majored in mechanical engineering and intended to use her degree to do humanitarian work. She was a strong voice for social justice in WCC’s engineering program, and actively participated in an event called “Engineers Show Up,” which featured a series of program-wide discussions centered around scholarly articles on social justice themes in engineering education. Ida courageously shared how she had personally experienced inequalities in engineering, and continued to be a powerful voice for diversity,
2022 Award Winner Carlos Morales Graduated Spring 2022 with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree with honors equity and inclusion at WCC. Ida was a Resident Advisor (RA) for Cedar Hall, the College’s first on-campus student housing. As an RA, Ida worked hard to welcome student residents to campus and made them feel a sense of belonging in their new home. Ida was the recipient of the WCC Foundation Earl Settlemyer Scholarship, as well as the Sherif Family Scholarship for Women in Engineering.
Carlos came to Whatcom after working as a chef and music engineer, and enthusiastically jumped into his required classes for his Associate in Arts and Sciences - transfer degree. He overcame his anxiety about enrolling in math classes, and in fact excelled in it. He quickly became engaged in the campus and joined Whatcom’s Writing Center as a tutor and volunteered at multiple local organizations in the Bellingham community.
Carlos Morales was a remarkable student with an outstanding academic record and an innate ability to relate with and help his fellow students.
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Carlos’s contributions to Whatcom’s campus and community included him serving as a Student Ambassador for the college and WCC Foundation, volunteering for the Bellingham Food Bank, the Washington Native Plant Society, and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. His educational experiences at Whatcom coupled with his community volunteer work played a key role in his decision to pursue a Master of Public Health degree.
2023 Award Winner Jessica Van Diest
Graduated Summer 1999 with a Medical Assisting Certificate, Winter 2020 with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree, and Winter 2023 with an Associate in Nursing degree
Jessica recieved three credentials from Whatcom Community College: a Medical Assisting certificate, an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree, and an Associate in Nursing degree. Jessica overcame significant barriers in her quest to become a nurse and did not let her learning disability or becoming a young mother stop her from pursuing her dreams. Her accomplishments demonstrated her hard work and resilience.
Jessica was nominated for the Laidlaw Award by the entire nursing faculty as her efforts struck a resounding chord. Here are some of things the WCC nursing faculty shared about Jessica: “She overcame substantial hurdles to arrive at her final nursing school success, being a full-time nursing student and single mom of two children. In addition, she persevered with scholastic excellence despite a learning disability. She was an excellent student, in all aspects, displayed professionalism and maturity that makes any educator glad to have her in class. Even in the graduation pinning of her cohort in Winter 2023, Jessica stepped up and was elected by her peers to be the Class Speaker, which she did gladly and very well!” Jessica was altruistic at heart, truly dedicated to her community. For example, she served as a first-aid volunteer for the Bellingham Bay marathon and volunteered 120 hours as a precepting nurse in the Peace Health Emergency Department. During COVID-19 she helped out on her parents’ farm to plant, grow, and harvest, and produced and donated over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to the Ferndale food bank. Jessica was a role model, and is employed as a registered nurse.
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Heiner Family Endowed Scholarship
2020 - 2021 Award Winner
Alejandra Hobi Graduated Summer 2019 with an Associate in Arts - Visual Communications degree, Spring 2020 with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree in the Honors Program, Spring 2022 with a Bachelor of Applied Science - Applied Business Management degree cum laude, and Spring 2023 with a Associate in Business degree with honors
Alejandra Hobi was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. in 2010, where she got married and had two daughters. She started at WCC in January 2017 and completed an Associate in Visual Communications degree and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She received two Discipline Awards, one in English and one in Visual Communications. In 2019 she was chosen as one of the two representatives of WCC in the All-Washington Academic Team.
2021 - 2022 Award Winner
Chau Phan Graduated Winter 2022 with an Associate in Business degree with honors
Chau Phan came to Whatcom as an international student from Vietnam because she believed in WCC’s vision to support her academic journey. She graduated with an Associate in Business and went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management at a four-year institution. After graduating she hoped to use her knowledge to contribute to and make a positive impact on her community.
2022 - 2023 Award Winner
Megan started at WCC in 2020 to study business and accounting. She has been very involved in her local community. She volunteered to make and distribute boxed food to those in need and stayed involved in local initiatives. Megan was also awarded multiple Whatcom Foundation scholarships, which have supported her in continued studies. Megan Jones Began in Fall 2020 studying towards an Associate of Applied Science- Business Administration degree
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Luis Pimentel was inspired to begin the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at WCC after receiving outstanding medical care during an illness. It was important to him to be able to give back to his community by becoming a PTA. He learned about WCC’s PTA Hybrid Program which aligned with his ambitions and the need to attend online part-time. This scholarship helped him make ends meet and provide for his wife and son while he focused on his PTA studies. Louis Pimentel Graduated Spring 2023 with an Associate of Applied Science-Physical Therapist Assistant degree 2022 - 2023 Award Winner All Washington Academic Team WCC Students
2020 - 2021 Award Winners
Nathalie Belmore Graduated Spring 2021 with an Associate in Science - Transfer degree - General Engineering with honors
Nathalie led WCC’s Advocates for Women in Science Engineering and Math Club (AWSEM) where she served to help underrepresented student populations succeed in rigorous science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and advocated for those who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM careers. She also worked on campus as a math tutor and engineering peer mentor. Nathalie was also the recipient of the WCC Foundation Sherif Family Scholarship for Women in Engineering.
Vi Nguyen Graduated Spring 2021 with an Associate in Business degree with honors
International student Vi Nguyen came to WCC from Vietnam and received her transfer degree at WCC. She served as an Associated Students of WCC senator, and as vice president for both the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Vietnamese Student Association. Vi was a recipient of a WCC Foundation scholarship and received an additional scholarship for her academic merit from the Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU).
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All Washington Academic Team WCC Students
2021-2022 Award Winners
Patty Hammer Graduated Spring 2012 with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree, and Fall 2021 with a Certificate - Substance Use Disorder Professional
When Patty Hammer worked as a certified peer counselor she realized that most of her clients were dealing with substance abuse. So, she decided to pursue a certificate in Substance Use Disorder Professional at Whatcom Community College. She was accepted to WCC in early 2020, just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but was still able to pursue her certificate. Patty became a substance use disorder professional trainee at Lifeline Connections while working toward state certification.
Kennedy Lange Nursing Program Candidate
Kennedy Lange was honored to be nominated for the All-Washington Academic Team. Throughout her life, she worked hard to give her best effort and put her best foot forward. She was beyond thankful to all who supported her in her academic career, especially her parents, school teachers and peers. She is continuing her education in the healthcare field.
João Rios-Caldas Transfer Student Graduated Fall 2021 with an Associate in Business degree with honors
João Caldas was a member of Whatcom Community College’s international student population who graduated in 2021. He transferred to Baruch College in New York, and João said he “made the most of this opportunity at Baruch, just as I did at Whatcom.” He was passionate about finance and planned to manage portfolios. João was a part of the soccer team at WCC and continued playing the sport at Baruch College.
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2022-2023 Award Winners
Lisa Flick Graduated Fall 2022 with an Associate of Applied Science - Physical Therapist Assistant degree with honors
After a profound recovery through the practice of yoga, Lisa discovered her passion for healing people through movement and mindfulness. With a decade of experience, she applied for Whatcom’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program to further her education and broaden her scope of practice. Lisa believed in the power of community and worked to inspire her colleagues to advocate for the advancement of the profession. As a student, she served as the Student Liaison voice for all PTAs across Washington State, and she served as a Core Ambassador and Leadership Scholar with the American Physical Therapy Association.
Nakanlaya Tupsamphan Graduated Spring 2023 with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree with honors
Nakanlaya was an international student that truly exemplified what it meant to be a leader. In her first year at WCC, she took on the challenging role of Senator for the Associated Students of Whatcom Community College. She also volunteered as a leader with the planning team at Talk Time at Whatcom, a community for international students to practice their English conversational skills in a safe space. She maintained a perfect GPA all while she studied in an unfamiliar country and immersed herself in the
campus community. After she completed her media arts degree at WCC, she planned to transfer to California State University, Long Beach to complete a degree in Film and Electronic Arts. She hoped to find a career in film production.
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Transforming Lives Award WCC Students
2020 ACT Transforming Lives Award Nominee
Nicholas Williams Graduated Spring 2020 with an Associate in Applied Science Transfer - Cybersecurity degree with honors, and Fall 2022 with a Bachelor of Applied Science, IT Networking - Cybersecurity degree cum laude
Years ago, Nicholas Williams was homeless and living in a tent at one of the local beaches in his hometown in Santa Cruz, California. He dealt with the deaths of several close friends which had sent him into a spiral of depression and self-destructive behaviors during his teenage years. He had dropped out of high school, and getting an education was the last thing on his mind at the time. He developed a drug addiction that started in his late teens and followed him into his mid 20’s.
Everything changed when he landed a part-time job at a local computer recycling center and quickly found himself spending most of his days there. One of the guys he was working with invited him over to his house after work one day to help him with a project. When he got to his house, the first thing he noticed was that he had computer parts strewn out all over his carpet. They spent the afternoon putting together what would come to be the first computer he’d ever build. He eventually decided to go back to school and enrolled in some general education classes at his local community college. When he first started back out on his educational journey, he had what felt like a mountain of unknown challenges ahead of him. He said the best decision he made was to move to Washington state. By the time he was enrolled at Whatcom Community College, he had a decent understanding of what it would take to succeed as a student and had proven to himself that he was capable and willing to achieve his educational goals. Since then, he received his WCC associate degree with honors in cybersecurity and his applied bachelors degree cum laude, served as an original member of the Pod Leader student mentor program on campus, became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and made tons of new friends. Educational accomplishments aside, he said that Whatcom Community College helped form him into the person that he never thought he could be. He remains forever grateful to the WCC campus community and to all those who helped him along his journey.
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2022 ACT Transforming Lives Award Nominee
Carlyn Finerty Graduated Spring 2023 with an Associate in Applied Science-Transfer Biology degree with honors in the Honors Program
Carlyn faced many challenges in her pursuit of her higher education. She was determined to overcome them, and found support from role models at Whatcom Community College and was able to turn her college career around. Carlyn was service-minded and acted as a mentor to many on campus. She was passionate about advocating for all Whatcom students. Carlyn was particularly interested in opening up discussions and conversations that address equity and inclusion for neurodivergent students and
those with disabilities. Her strength and commitment to having difficult conversations was admirable. She served on the Campus Diversity Committee, the Accessibility Committee, and as Associated Students of WCC (ASWCC) president. Carlyn helped to transform others’ lives, as well as her own.
2023 ACT Transforming Lives Award Nominee
Eva Brown Graduated Winter 2022 with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree
Eva graduated with an Associate in Arts and Sciences and planned to continue her studies to pursue an RN or ARNP degree. Eva completed all of this while she faced many obstacles and raised a daughter with love and compassion, and showed her that women can be successful in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Eva was an advocate for pursuing one’s dreams in the face of adversity. She was a firm believer that regardless how many times you fail, you had to keep going in order
to succeed. This perseverance led Eva to all of her successes at WCC. Eva transformed her life and was an inspiration, and reminded us that believing in yourself first is the most important step. In the words of her WCC English professor, Brian Cope, “[Eva] was the type of person we need to celebrate at Whatcom.”
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NCYTE Scholarship National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center
Adam Brendgard Graduated Summer 2022 with an Associate in Applied Science Transfer - Cybersecurity degree with honors
Adam Brendgard was one of 15 cybersecurity and computer information systems students who received scholarship awards from WCC’s National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE). These scholarships were made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation and coordinated by WCC Foundation. Brendgard studied Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity at WCC. He came to Whatcom after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. “After four
years of experience in the U.S. Coast Guard, I found my niche and future career path that I knew I would excel at. I was inspired to attend Whatcom because of the College’s impressive cyber program,” Brendgard shared. While his service in the Coast Guard provided some tuition assistance via the G.I. Bill, he shared that receiving the NCyTE scholarship helped bridge the gap for additional education costs and rent and the scholarship lifted a burden off his shoulders. After graduating from Whatcom, Brendgard enrolled at Western Washington University to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity and to continue with a master’s degree. “Whatcom opened the door to a career I’ll excel at, and I know I’ll enjoy it for the rest of my years.”
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Alumni Spotlight
Altynay Bekbossyn Graduated 2021 with an Associate in Science - Accounting degree, and an Associates in Arts - Early Childhood Education degree with honors
Why did you choose WCC? Before coming to the US, I was looking for an affordable and safe place to study. Back in 2016, I Googled “what is the safest place to study in the US?” and WCC was listed as one of the top five safest places to study (4th place nationwide). What did you do after graduating? I graduated in 2021 and worked in a daycare center and in January 2023 decided to join WCC as an employee. While at Whatcom I received multiple
scholarships and emergency funding through the WCC Foundation which helped me to graduate, so I thought it was my time to pass on kindness people had shown to me by helping others, so I decided to work at WCC. What was your favorite memory of WCC? Being part of the student government: I felt empowered, we planned and threw fun activities on campus, engaged with students, and met with the college President and the Board of Trustees (It was an honor for a student, not everyone gets that chance!) Did you have a favorite professor? My Favorite professor at Whatcom was Katherine Burns, my English 101 instructor. I was an English Language Learner (ELL) and when I took an English 101 class, I felt insecure about writing an essay in a different language. I had so many concerns about passing the class with a good grade, but thankfully, I had a great teacher. She had an individual approach to each student, and she helped me grow a lot. We connected on the personal level and the conversations I had with her helped me to shape part of my identity. What does Whatcom Community College mean to you? WCC became my “second home.” I spent five years at WCC and when I arrived as an international student, I didn’t have friends or relatives at WCC and everyone I met along my journey became my new family.
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‘Cosmic Totem’ at Kulshan Hall : 2004 David Govedare & Bill Sargent (glasswork), Washington State Arts Commission, Art in Public Places program
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Faculty & Staff Recognition
Full-time Faculty Excellence Award: Tealia Sagle Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award: Cynthia (Cindy) Johansen Fran Hudson Award for Excellence (classified staff): Custodial Services Judy Hoover Award for Excellence (exempt staff): David Klaffke 2020 - 2021 Honorees
2021 - 2022 Honorees
Full-time and Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award: All WCC Faculty Fran Hudson Award for Excellence (classified staff): Chris Bouchard Judy Hoover Award for Excellence (exempt staff): Becky Rawlings & Raquel (Rocky) Vernola
2022 - 2023 Honoree
Judy Hoover Award for Excellence (exempt staff): Robin Preisinger
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Notable College Achievements
NEW PROGRAMS AND DEGREES Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Fleet Management certificate of proficiency, launched fall 2020
Software Development Associate of Applied Science, launched fall 2021
Social Work Bachelor of Applied Science, launched fall 2023
WCC SIGNIFICANT GRANTS 2020-2023 In 2020 , the U.S. Department of Education awarded WCC over $1.2 million for a new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant. The SSS grant is the College’s second TRIO grant, which, through a competitive application process, are awarded to institutions with experience serving disadvantaged youth. In 2020 , the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded WCC a $100,000 grant through 2023 for a project titled Situating Ourselves in the Salish Sea: Using Experiential Learning and Storytelling to Inspire Critical Thinking about Place.
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In 2020 , the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded WCC a $150,000 grant through 2024 titled I-CURE: Institutionalizing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences to Improve STEM Equity. Since 2020 , WCC has received over $7.1 million across two large grant awards from the National Security Agency (NSA) to lead the Candidates National Center through 2024. The center is responsible for assisting applicants as they prepare for National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) designation. Since 2020 , the Washington State Employment Security Department has awarded WCC over $340,000 across three awards for Career Connect Washington Intermediary grants through 2022. In 2021 , the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program awarded WCC a $7.5 million grant to lead the National Cybersecurity Training & Education (NCyTE) Center for five years (2021-2026). In 2021 , Microsoft Philanthropies awarded a $1.5 million grant titled Accelerating Community College Cybersecurity Excellence (ACCCE) to the WCC Foundation on behalf of NCyTE Center through 2024. In 2022 , the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded WCC a $686,975 grant titled Preparing Early Engineers through Context, Connections and Community (PEEC3) for five years (2022-2027).
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Notable College Achievements, cont’d
Achievements in Cybersecurity
In summer 2022 , Whatcom Community College (WCC) was designated a Washington State Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity, reflecting WCC’s ongoing commitment to narrowing the gap between cybersecurity employer workforce needs and the College’s supply of work-ready graduates. In December 2022 , Whatcom Community College’s (WCC) National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCyTE), in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), hosted a strategic summit focused on addressing the nation’s exploding workforce gap in cybersecurity. With a focus on community colleges and their unique contributions to workforce development, participants from the northwestern region of the U.S. and across the nation examined what is working, what is needed, and how federal programs may be able to help stimulate key initiatives and strategies identified during the event. Over 95 invited stakeholders in cybersecurity workforce development participated. Above Photo: (left to right) WCC Summit attendees: Dr. Suzanne Nielsen, Director of Cyber Workforce & Education Strategy, Office of National Cyber Director; Lynn Dohm, Executive Director, Women in Cybersecurity; Dr. Kathi Hiyane- Brown, President Whatcom Community College; Camille Stewart Gloster, Deputy Director, Office of National Cyber Director; Amy Kardel, SVP Strategic Workforce Relationships, CompTIA; Paul Tortora, Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director for Workforce & Education, Office of National Cyber Director; Janice Walker, Cybersecurity Special Projects Director, NCyTE, WCC.
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Thunderbird Art Installation
In February 2023 Whatcom Community College had a new sculpture installed named ININYAX’A7N Thunderbird, by Indigenous artist James (Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun) Harry of Squamish Nation. James (Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun) Harry’s sculpture provides WCC’s campus and community with opportunities to learn about the diverse and rich cultures of Indigenous peoples and to honor their significant contributions across history. WCC is grateful to artist James (Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun) Harry for sharing his culture and teachings with our community through his art.
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Numbers that count: Our Students
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
7,151 6,927 7,491 students served annually 3,351 2,929 2,750 FTE (full-time equivalent) students 19:1 16:1 16:1 student-faculty ratio
1,149 940 925 Running Start students 51% 54% 44% students benefiting from financial assistance 84% 76% 76% are pursuing transfer degrees
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2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
152
140
146
257 323 322 international students 455 451 408 employees 34% 36% 37% students of color
veterans
41% 39% 35% first-generation college students 127 129 113 student athletes
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WCC Financial Review
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
WCC OPERATING EXPENDITURES
$27,968,625
$33,729,850
$35,104,655
Institutional Management
$2,500,953
$2,551,086
$2,642,982
Student Services
$4,364,681
$4,534,387
$4,908,609
Administrative Services
$3,443,693
$3,459,665
$3,638,262
Instructional Administration
$1,056,793
$1,560,312
$1,434,395
Instruction
$15,867,681
$20,815,973
$21,637,906
Library Services
$734,824
$808,427
$842,501
WCC OPERATING REVENUE
State Allocation
$18,514,970
$18,932,754 $21,138,270
Student Tuition and Fees
$5,630,482
$5,617,571
$6,586,116
Local Funds & WCC Foundation
$3,823,173
$9,179,525
$7,380,269
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WCC Foundation Assets
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Cash Assets
$18,212,473
$18,200,00 $19,847,010
Pledges / Grants Receivable
$47,061
$95,654 $151,181.20
Endowment Investments
$9,713,462
$8,695,766
$9,216,24
Land & Building Assets
$7,690,833
$7,492,589 $7,294,345
WCC FOUNDATION REVENUE
Total Support and Revenue
$458,661
$708,958 $2,998,612
EXPENDITURES
Scholarship and College Support
$665,746
$528,493
$674,660
Management Expense
$88,759
$77,684
$82,910
Fundraising Expense
$10,365
$13,728
$42,585
2020-23 Triennial Report | 29
About WCC Foundation
The mission of Whatcom Community College Foundation is to enhance educational opportunities by providing student scholarships, supporting faculty development, and assisting with key college initiatives. Founded in 1987, WCC Foundation’s primary role is to help students achieve their aspirations by funding their education through grant and scholarship programs, with the ultimate goal of creating global citizens living out their potential and giving back to their community. It is only then that our mission will come full circle. We are, in other words, creators of opportunity.
Cheryl Thornton, Co-Chair Carolyn Simpson Scott, MD, Co-Chair Mario Alem Bruce Burpee Bob Carmichael, Secretary Deborah DeWees, Interim Executive Director Tim Douglas Emmanuel (Manny) Eusebio, MD Anne-Marie Faiola Kathi Hiyane-Brown, EdD, WCC President Beverly Jacobs Rebecca Johnson, WCC Board of Trustees Liason Shawn Kemp Bob MacIsaac, Treasurer Allen Pemberton
Saran Poovarodom Jennifer Slattery EMERITI DIRECTORS Kurt Anderson Victoria Dahlgren Brenda-Lee Karasik, PhD Ron Kleinknecht, PhD Michael Langey Lynne Masland, PhD Andrew Moquin Susan Sandell Phyllis Self Satpal Singh Sidhu
John Stewart Robert M. Tull
Foundation Building, Whatcom Community College Campus
30 | Whatcom Community College
From the Board
“When I first began volunteering for the Whatcom Community College Foundation, I was new to Whatcom County. This effort provided me an opportunity to learn about our community and I quickly connected with new people who are also motivated to work for change. Helping with community outreach and raising funds for scholarships has a direct impact on the lives of WCC students. In the current economic environment, our students are facing increasing financial pressures and often work full-time while
Dr. Carolyn Simpson Scott, MD Immediate Past Chair
juggling coursework and family commitments. If we can help alleviate their struggles by providing financial assistance, we not only transform their lives but build a community which is more tolerant and understanding of individual differences. It is exciting to watch the growth of our students and I am proud that my volunteer efforts help them achieve their goals. I appreciate all our current volunteers and welcome anyone new who also has a desire to improve the path to education for WCC students.”
“When I served on the WCC Board of Trustees, I quickly gained insight into the remarkable learning community that has evolved at our college. It is noteworthy for the commitment of both faculty and staff to student success. During my time as a trustee, all statewide trustees agreed to institute Transforming Lives Awards, which recognize the powerful stories of students who decide to change their lives and communities by vigorously pursuing their educational pathways.
Tim Douglas WCC Foundation Board Director
Each term, faculty and staff clearly applaud the role each person plays to foster student achievement. Students often comment that the support and concern someone on faculty or staff demonstrated raised their confidence and ignited their passion to continue. This College is the prime reason I volunteer on the WCC Foundation Board to find funds for scholarships and emergency funds so our students can propel themselves forward!”
“I am inspired that WCC offers a quality pathway to education for so many diverse populations - from the financially challenged or marginalized to those returning to school for a career-boosting degree.”
Victoria Dahlgren, Emeritus Board Member
2020-23 Triennial Report | 31
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID BELLINGHAM, WA PERMIT NUMBER 152
237 W. Kellogg Road Bellingham, WA 98226 whatcom.edu
Notice of Non-Discrimination Whatcom Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, genetic information or age in its programs and activities. For Title IX compliance, contact Title IX Coordinator, by phone: 360.383.3400 or email: titleix@whatcom.edu.
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