When Andrea Blodgett looks around the bustling activity rooms of the , she sees more than students doing homework or diving into science experiments. She sees possibility — possibility rooted in the same valley where she grew up, learned, played and discovered the strength of community.
That lifelong connection to the Yakima Valley, paired with her exceptional leadership, service and impact, is why Â鶹ĘÓƵ is proud to recognize her as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.
A journey shaped by the Yakima Valley
Blodgett, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, grew up in White Swan, lettering in basketball and track before graduating in 2006. Her talent and drive soon carried her to Â鶹ĘÓƵ, where she became a standout for the Yaks women’s basketball team. She earned athlete of the year honors, collected multiple all‑conference awards and helped lead her team to top tournament finishes.
Those accomplishments opened the door to Idaho State University, where she competed for the Bengals — starting in numerous games, scoring double figures in six games and earning a reputation as a tough guard with a fierce defensive edge. But beyond the stats, Blodgett says her college years, especially her time at YVC, grounded her in something deeper: belonging.
“Â鶹ĘÓƵ was where I learned who I was as a student, an athlete and a leader,” she said. “It felt like home because it was home.”
Returning home to serve the next generation
After college, Blodgett returned to the Yakima Valley and committed herself to education and youth development. She taught English at the , coached junior varsity girls basketball in Wapato and eventually became the youth activities manager for the Yakama Nation — a role that became the springboard for something even bigger.
In 2023, she helped launch the Boys & Girls Club of the Yakama Nation, fulfilling a decades‑long dream first envisioned by her grandfather, the late David Blodgett Sr., a former lifelong educator and tribal councilman, to create a safe, culturally grounded space for youth. The club now serves youth from across the Lower Valley with after‑school programs, cultural learning, arts, STEM activities, sports and summer programming.
As CEO, Blodgett jokes that she never expected to spend so much time behind a desk.
“This is a lot more admin work than I ever thought I would do,” she said. “But all the paperwork lets the kids do all these amazing things. That makes it worth it.”
Her leadership is rooted in the Boys & Girls Club mission: empowering young people — especially those who need support most — to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible students.
It’s a mission that mirrors her own lived experience.
ABOVE: Blodgett and teammate smile in front of YVC's Glenn Anthon Hall in fall 2008. TOP: Blodgett stands in the hallway of Sherar Gymnasium on the Yakima Campus in winter 2026.
A leader who understands the community she serves
Blodgett helped shepherd the application process through COVID delays, collaborated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to meet the unique needs of a sovereign tribal nation, and built programs intentionally shaped by Yakama culture and community strengths.
Her commitment is simple: create safe, supportive spaces where kids feel in control of their learning and their future.
“Here, kids get to make a choice,” she said. “We support the work schools do, but we also give them room to grow, explore and just be kids.”
She has expanded opportunities beyond the walls of the club — from field trips to Yakama Nation Fisheries to sports tournaments to experiences many youth may not otherwise encounter.
Celebrating an alumna who embodies YVC’s impact
Pedro Navarrete, interim vice president of student services and enrollment management, says Blodgett represents everything the Distinguished Alumnus Award is meant to honor.
“Through dedication in the classroom, commitment as a student-athlete at Yakima Valley College, and a deep passion for serving others, she has transformed opportunity into impact,” said Navarrete. “Her continued work with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club shows that success is not only measured by personal achievement, but by the willingness to lift up the community that helped shape you.”
“[Blodgett’s] journey is a powerful reminder to our current and future students that education can open doors and that the greatest success often comes from using those opportunities to give back.”
— Pedro Navarrete, YVC interim vice president of student services and enrollment management
Athletics Director Ray Funk, who knew Blodgett during her time at YVC and earlier at White Swan High School, says YVC athletics still carries pride in what she has accomplished.
A sign posted in YVC's Hopf Union Building in 2008 celebrates Blodgett's selection for NWACC Tournament First Team and the Eastern Region First Team.
A two-year basketball standout, she earned the Mary Sherar Award in 2008, recognizing the college’s outstanding female athlete of the year. According to Funk, her leadership and drive helped guide the women’s basketball program to a third-place finish in 2007 and a fourth-place finish in 2008 at the NWAC championships.
“Andrea has always balanced being a competitor with giving back to her people,” said Funk. “She’s committed to her team, and her experience in athletics no doubt influences the way she leads today. We are proud of the work she’s doing now as she continues to open doors for young people, just as others once did for her.”
A well-deserved honor
Today, the Boys & Girls Club of the Yakama Nation is only a few years old but already shaping lives across the Lower Valley, with about 40 students in its after-school program and between 50 and 200 participating in events and activities. Blodgett hopes to expand into more communities — including White Swan — so even more youth have access to safe, local spaces to learn and grow.
“This valley is my home,” she has said. “I came back after college and I couldn’t leave. Being able to create something for our kids here — that means everything.”
Navarrete said YVC is honored to celebrate Andrea Blodgett, a leader, mentor and alumna whose work embodies the power of education, community and coming home.
“Â鶹ĘÓƵ was the building block I needed to be successful,” said Blodgett. “It allowed me to grow as a student, as an athlete and as a person. The lessons and experiences I gained at YVC continue to shape the way I approach leadership, service and giving back to my community.”
About the Alumnus Award
The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes an alumnus who attended YVC for a minimum of three quarters, earned at least 45 credits and has distinguished themselves in a positive manner. Established in 1982 and first presented to Catherine May Bedell, the award has been given to numerous notable graduates. The selection is made by the President’s Office from nominations submitted by faculty, staff, students and community members.
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Brandon Mendoza, AA-DTA '19, graphic designer/multimedia content producer and from file.