First Independent Promotes
Jerry Boehm to Senior VP

Jerry Boehm has been promoted to senior vice president of the First Independent Commercial Banking Group, Brett Bryant, the bank’s executive vice president, announced today.

Boehm joined First Independent in 2007 with 40 years of commercial banking and lending experience. He served as vice president and manager of Community Banking before joining the Commercial Banking Group in 2008.

First Independent’s Commercial Banking Group provides comprehensive financial solutions to medium-sized and large businesses throughout the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan area.

WSU Vancouver to honor
three at commencement

When Washington State University president Elson Floyd presides at the Washington State University of Vancouver commencement at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, in the Amphitheater at Clark County, two teachers and a graduate student will receive awards.

Amy Burton, who is receiving her bachelor of arts. in public affairs, will be honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement. Burton, who graduates with a 3.7 GPA, is also the primary parent of two young boys and works up to 25 hours per week as a massage therapist. “When you have a dream, [[achieving]] it may take time and hard work,” Burton says, adding: “I hope my kids will learn from my example.”

The Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence goes to Dawn Banker, clinical associate professor and academic coordinator for science programs. As part of her job, Banker meets many of her students when they are high school juniors and seniors and mentors them until they leave WSU Vancouver for graduate school or health-related careers. As part of her mentor role, Banker serves as a member of a committee that provides workshops for students that help them tackle everything from writing a strong graduate school admissions essay to preparing for academic interviews.

Joseph Cote, professor of marketing in the College of Business, will receive the Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence, for his work examining logo and typeface design, statistical methods in marketing and research in consumer behavior. His work on design broke ground in defining the intersection between aesthetics and marketing. Cote , who is internationally recognized for his publications in premier academic journals, is currently working on several studies examining how business people use influence tactics.

The 20th class from WSU Vancouver includes 648 undergraduates and 120 graduate students.

City University offering
college scholarships

Clark College graduates are eligible to apply for scholarships toward bachelor’s degrees at any City University of Seattle location – including Vancouver, Wash. 

The announcement is part of City University of Seattle’s scholarship program for community and technical college transfer students. Starting in 2009, City University’s Transfer Scholarship program will provide up to $10,800 to each student selected as a scholarship recipient.

The scholarships require full-time attendance at any City University of Seattle campus starting in the fall quarter of 2009, scheduled to start in early October.  The scholarship is for tuition only ($1,800 per quarter).

The application form is now available on the Clark College Web site.  Information about this and other scholarships are available at www.clark.edu/scholarships

Clean dogs to aid orchestra

A few weeks ago rumored headed for the chopping block, the Mt. View High School Orchestra program will continue next year. But the Evergreen School District program, whose members fill up two high school gymnasiums, needs support. Students in the orchestra, therefore, are rolling up their sleeves for an old-fashioned dog wash.

Give Spot a spring cleaning! The Dog Wash fundraiser, hosted by Happy Tails Dog Wash & Day Spa at 8056 E Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds go to the orchestra.

Melroy candidate for reelection
to Port of Ridgefield commission

Ridgefield Port Commissioner Joe Melroy has announced he will run for reelection. Melroy, a retired businessman, has worked as a community activist for over 30 years, served 4 years on the Ridgefield planning commission, and is now completing 12 years as a Ridgefield Port commissioner.

People

Karla Sylwester, an instructor in Clark College’s dental hygiene department, has been named a recipient of the 2009 Anna Sue McNeill Teaching, Learning and Assessment Award. The award recognizes an individual’s contributions to teaching, student learning and assessment in a public two- or four-year college in Washington State. Sylwester will be among five honorees statewide who will receive the award during the 2009 Pacific NW Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference, which will be held in Wenatchee this week. Sylwester is the third Clark College faculty member to receive the McNeill award. Biology professor Rebecca Martin and Teaching and Learning Center Coordinator Gail Liberman are both past recipients.

News brief

Jeff Williams, Vancouver professional organizer and owner of Simple & Clear, hosts a “Confronting Your Clutter Crisis” seminar and workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 9, in the Firstenburg Center. Cost is $15. For further information, call 487-7001.

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber Community 

• City of Vancouver Calendar