Campus Connection Spring 2022 

image of staff members participating in HEAL campus events

Stepping Up and Stepping Out!

Thanks to a $10,000 OEA Choice Trust Health and Well-being Support Grant, employees at Treasure Valley Community College are stepping up for better health through the TVCC HeaL (Healthy Living) Program.  Activities began in April with a festive kickoff featuring healthy refreshments, wellness kits, and demonstrations in yoga and mindfulness. 

Employees are also stepping out by taking breaks to get out and walk the campus either with a group or with a friend.  We are excited about the number of participants in the Stepping Out Club.  Past and future events, include yoga and mindfulness classes for employees, Intuitive Eating 101, and Financial Workshops with special incentives to keep everyone movin, movin, movin toward healthier living.


image of cessilee meyers and mauna kea delong

The Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) hosted the All-Oregon Academic Team luncheon in April at the Sunriver Resort to honor and recognize exemplary community college students from around the state.  Student scholars representing TVCC were Cessilee Meyers and Mauna Kea DeLong.

Cessilee Meyers, a first-generation student, decided to attend TVCC to pursue a career in child therapy.  Meyer’s shared, “TVCC has helped me receive my degree and get closer to my goals.”

Mauna Kea DeLong plans to transfer to the University of Florida after finishing her AAOT at TVCC. Her future goals are to double major in Journalism and Business and pursue a career in the professional sports industry.

image of the tvcc rodeo team

TVCC's Chukar Rodeo attended the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming on June 12-18.

But even before the competition began, TVCC’s rodeo program had already received one of the top awards.

TVCC Rodeo Head Coach Drew Pearson was selected as the 2022 National Coach of the Year by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). Drew was selected as Coach of the Year for the Northwest Region in April 2022. That honor put him in the running for the National Coach of the Year Award and he was notified on June 9, he had won. This prestigious award is voted on by all the Regional Faculty Directors, student directors, the National Office and the NIRA Commissioner.

Congratulations Coach Pearson!

image of caresse basaraba shaking hands with president dana young

Student achievements were celebrated at the 2022 Red Carpet Affair: Annual Awards Banquet. Many awards were given, ranging from athletic accomplishments, success in the classroom, or other involvements with organizations on campus.  Pictured is the 2021-2022 ASG Vice President, Caresse Basaraba, receiving the Ben Wrenn award from President Dana Young.

image of Yutziri Pelayo and President Dana Young

On June 1, the TVCC Foundation and Nursing Department held their annual Nursing Scholarship Award presentation. As part of the celebration, scholarship donors had the honor of presenting awards to selected nursing students.

Nursing student Yutziri Pelayo was presented with the Helen Moser Nursing Scholarship by TVCC President and Moser family member Dana Young.

image of makayla kelly standing next to the map kiosk

Makayla Kelly, ASG Alumni, stands in front of the newly installed campus map located near the fountain area on campus. The 2021-2022 Associated Student Government prioritized this project, which was spearheaded by Kelly as the Administrative Senator. Special thanks to BSU’s GIMM Department, who created the campus map and to TNT Signs for its installation. Kudos to Makayla Kelly for making this project come to life this year!

image of nursing bed and table with manniquin

Thanks to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center-Ontario, the Nursing Department received 7 surplus hospital beds and over-bed tables last winter. These new furnishings along with more recent equipment purchased with grant funds (patient whiteboards, glove mounts, and respiratory bags and tubes) provides TVCC students with a real-world clinical experience. The Nursing Department and the College were grateful and excited to receive these much-needed items for our program.

image of Daniel Liera-Huchim, Charla Wheeler, Board Vice Chair Mark Wettstein, Board Member Cheryl Cruson, President Dana Young, John Wootton, Cathy Yasuda, Board Member Stephen Crow, Julie Hernandez, and Board Chair Dirk DeBoer at the GED graduation

Congratulations to the 49 adult community members who completed their GED between 2020-2022! On June 9, 2022, TVCC held a commencement ceremony for these outstanding individuals to honor their accomplishment. We are very proud of you!

Pictured above, President Young, TVCC Board members, and the Adult Basic Skills staff.

image of the tvcc 60 year logo

1. The 1964 graduating class had a total of 12 graduates; however, this was not the first official class. The distinction belonged to a group of 12 nurses who had completed the college’s Licensed Practical Nursing program. the previous November.

2. In the fall of 1965, TVCC moved from the borrowed classrooms in Ontario High School to its current location. The campus was formerly a nine-hole golf course.  The administrative offices were located in the old club house and all classes were held in the Vo-Tech Building.

image of the happy birthday pell grant banner

Happy 50th Birthday, Pell Grant! Since its inception on June 23, 1972, approximately 2,386,279 Oregon students have benefited from $6,187,642,682 in grant funding.

image of the moonshot for equity logo

Governor Kate Brown Launches Moon Shot for Equity Initiative for Eastern Oregon College Students.

Read the article here