Read about the exciting things going on with our current students and alumni. Learn about job changes, professional achievements, a marriage or new addition to their families, gatherings with other YVC alumni or other significant news.
Do you have news to share with your classmates? Submit your news and photos by emailing communityrelations@yvcc.edu.
SUD students attend Merrill Scott Symposium
TOP: Students walk near the south entrance of the Hopf Union Building on YVC's Yakima Campus during spring quarter. ABOVE: Members of YVC's Wellness Society student club during the Merril Scott Symposium in April 2025.
Students Cristian Delatorre, Tanya Duncan and Rita Lindey from YVC's Wellness Society club along with Substance Use Disorder Instructor Deniele Fleming attended the Merrill Scott Symposium at the Yakima Convention Center on April 10-11, 2025. During the event they explored key topics like addiction treatment, trauma-informed care, law and ethics, spirituality and co-morbidity. A highlight of the event was Clint Hurdle, former MLB player and coach, who shared his inspiring recovery journey, leaving a lasting impact on all attendees.
Grandview Art Club creates banner for ELLA organization
ABOVE: YVC Student Life Program Assistant Stacy Wahl and student Alejandro Rios Mendoza. BELOW: Rios Mendoza works on the banner project in YVC's Grandview Student Activity Center.
The Grandview Art Club recently completed a banner for the Empowering Latina Leadership & Action (ELLA) organization, contributing their artistic talents to support a community event held on May 1.
The banner, which featured work by students AnnaMaria Delaluz, Alejandro Rios Mendoza and Flor Solis and YVC Student Life Program Assistant Stacy Wahl, was created on a quick turnaround to be ready in time for the event.
The banner was used during their May Day March organized by ELLA, a group focused on advocacy and empowerment.
BASIT student earns prestigious internship with Idaho National Laboratory
Donily sitting at his desk at the Idaho National Laboratory in early June 2025.
Samuel Patrick Donily, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology Networking 鈥� System Administration (BASIT) student at 麻豆视频, has secured a competitive paid internship with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), working in partnership with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Donily, who is expected to graduate in the summer of 2026, began his internship on June 2 and will continue through August 9. He arrived at INL on May 27 to prepare for the experience.
鈥淭his opportunity is a dream I never thought possible,鈥� Donily said. 鈥淚t could shape my future in ways that mean everything to me 鈥� offering a path with Department of Defense and INL credibility, while simultaneously equipping me with specialized skills unobtainable elsewhere.鈥�
During the internship, Donily is gaining hands-on experience in real-time incident response and modern defense techniques against nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical threats. He is also working with cutting-edge technologies to enhance communications, data transfer and security response systems.
鈥淚鈥檓 expecting to gain hands-on training and experience with research and tech advancement projects in hopes to improve both our country鈥檚 energy industry as well as cyber defense structure,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut my main goal is to provide a career outlet that can support my family and a skillset that I can use to support our local community.鈥�
Donily hopes to use his experience to inspire other students and promote internship opportunities in the Yakima area.
鈥淚 want to see Yakima become a thriving center for education and general togetherness,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ringing back my knowledge and experience, I hope, will promote that ideology and drive for the rest of the students.鈥�
Automotive student awarded $1,000 scholarship from Auto News Foundation
Steve Saleen, the founder and CEO of Saleen Automotive, left, with YVC student Fabian Jimenez and YVC Automotive Service Technology Instructor Murray Ruggles.
Automotive Service Technology student Fabian Jimenez was recently selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Auto News Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of automotive professionals.
Jimenez was honored at the foundation鈥檚 annual fundraiser event in March at Griot鈥檚 Garage and 132 Slotcar Raceway in Tacoma. The scholarship was offered exclusively to YVC鈥檚 Automotive Service Technology program, marking the foundation鈥檚 effort to expand support to automotive programs on the east side of Washington state.
鈥淭his was a short-notice opportunity,鈥� said Murray Ruggles, YVC AST Instructor. 鈥淭he Auto News Foundation reached out to me at the end of January and expressed interest in including more programs from eastern Washington.鈥�
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA 鈥�05, communications consultant. Photos by Menard and submitted.