Cristian Delatorre didn’t just return to college — he found a community that helped him overcome addiction and thrive. Today, Delatorre is a leader on campus and through his involvement is inspiring others.
Born in Mexico and raised in Yakima, Delatorre is working toward an associate degree in the . His return to school followed years of battling alcoholism and drug addiction — a struggle that got worse after his father’s death by suicide in 2014.
“The day my dad wanted to talk to me, I didn’t realize it would be the last time,” said Delatorre. “I was caught up in my own world and told him I’d catch up with him later. After his passing, I struggled for years with the guilt of that decision.”
By January 2022, he chose a different path and entered treatment.
That choice led to a life-changing encounter. While doing outreach for his sober living community as part of his treatment at a Catholic Charities event, Delatorre met YVC instructor Daniele Fleming. “She asked about our group, our free patient program and invited me and other members of the group to speak to her class,” Delatorre said. “That’s where it all started and why I’m here today attending school.”
Shortly after speaking to YVC students, Delatorre was around two years of sobriety. His sponsor asked what was next — work, school or something else.
ABOVE: Delatorre, center, helps Tenya Moravec, left, with a t-shirt design for the college's powwow event in November 2025, while Trendsetters Club advisors Karyl Johnson and Maria Armenta look on. TOP: Delatorre speaks with another club member in the Raymond Hall Maker Space.
“He had attended Perry Tech and encouraged me to go back to school,” said Delatorre. “Then things just clicked. I thought, ‘There’s a reason you ran into Daniele — maybe that’s my calling’.”
Delatorre’s transformation accelerated when he joined student clubs.
“The Wellness Society was the first club I ever joined,” Delatorre said. “I liked the idea of a group that offers moral support — one that promotes being there for one another — and that’s what grabbed my attention.”
The Wellness Society works to build a culture of awareness through community education and encourages healthy lifestyles for academic success. For Delatorre, it was a natural fit.
But he didn’t stop there. Over winter break in 2024, he launched the Trendsetters Club, a creative space for students to design accessories, apparel, other items and express themselves.
Delatorre, center, aligns a heat‑transfer vinyl design created with the Trendsetters Club’s Cricut machine.
“I thought, ‘What can I do to be more involved in school and help other students engage?’ Giving them the opportunity to do something that’s actually fun,” said Delatorre.
The club’s first fundraising project — handwoven keychains featuring YVC colors and the Yak logo— sold out, raising more than $165. Today, Trendsetters operates out of the Raymond Hall Maker Space, thanks to support from Library and Media Services Director Leslie Potter Henderson, who provided equipment such as a Cricut and heat presses. The club now takes custom orders for campus events, such as the 2025 powwow.
“We make T-shirts, hoodies — just designing anything technically — and give students total control and opportunity to do something different,” Delatorre said. “I’ve never heard of a club like that here on campus.”
The Wellness Society and Trendsetters clubs are just two examples of the more than 25 that complement academic experiences, foster leadership and provide community service opportunities across the college and Yakima Valley. Students can also create new clubs to meet unique interests, ensuring there’s a place for everyone to connect and get involved.
T-shirts designed by members of the Trendsetters Club are on display.
Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
Club involvement opened doors to experiences Delatorre never expected. Last spring, along with college staff, he represented 鶹Ƶ at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE), an experience he calls transformative.
“The sessions that stood out to me were the Latinx ones,” he said. “They shared stories and ideas like creating a journal with poetry, artwork and stories. We brought that idea back and are in the process of creating one for YVC.”
Despite his packed schedule of clubs, classes, work at Triumph Treatment Center and mentoring students, Delatorre remains focused on his long-term goal: becoming a therapist.
“My goal is to go for my bachelor’s and eventually my master’s degree,” he said. “I haven’t changed career goals since I got into college.”
Members of the Trendsetters Club in front of the Raymond Hall Maker Space.
Paying it Forward
For Delatorre, involvement isn’t just about staying busy — it’s about giving back.
“One of the things I’ve been taught is that you have to learn how to receive your gifts,” he said. “I’ve received a lot of support, a lot of love — from my group, from my family and on campus. This is why I like the Trendsetters Club, because we’re giving back a lot.”
Delatorre hopes other students will take advantage of opportunities like NCORE.
“I really hope another student gets to live that experience,” he said. “It was a great opportunity. I see now that there’s a lot out there — you just have to look for it and take advantage of those moments.”
Looking back, Delatorre sees how far he’s come since 2022.
“Back then I was quiet, shy — nothing like what I am today,” he said. “Everything has molded me into the person I am now. Ten years ago, this wasn’t me. I didn’t think about anybody but myself. Nowadays, I’m the helping hand, reaching out, making sure students know they have someone they can rely on.”
Story and photos by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant.