Pierce College News

Pierce College District Chancellor Michele Johnson joined the presidents of Tacoma Community College, and Clover Park and Bates technical colleges in an episode of “Northwest Now” on KBTC television on April 1. They discussed the statewide budget cuts and the unique ways community and technical colleges are continuing to meet the needs of their respective communities.

Author of The Ecology of Hope and its follow-up Hope in Hard Times, Ted Bernard will speak at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, in the new Rainier Math and Science building (Room 363). This event is free and members of the community are encouraged to attend.

Bernard, a geographer, co-wrote The Ecology of Hope in 1997 after visiting nine communities throughout the country in search of stories of sustainable resource management. Thirteen years later, Bernard revisited these sites and recorded each community’s progress for his new book, Hope in Hard Times.

Bernard, a leader in the sustainability movement nationwide, will present a slideshow of his research and experiences, and engage in dialogue with the audience about the issues surrounding sustainability and communities.

According to Peter Kaslik, a Pierce College math instructor and organizer of the event, Bernard’s visit provides the local area with an incredible opportunity to learn from, and get inspired by, one of the leaders in the field.

“This transition to more sustainable communities is happening and it’s important for Pierce College to be a leader in our area,” said Kaslik. “Ted Bernard’s visit is a great way to inform our community and keep the sustainability topic alive.”

Bernard will be signing books after his presentation. Guests can bring their own books or purchase one at the Pierce College Bookstore.

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is located at 9401 Farwest Drive SW, Lakewood.

Diaper change? Check. Bottle? Check. Blanket? Check. So, why is the baby still crying?

There is a better way! Starting Saturday, April 10, Pierce College’s Continuing Education program is debuting a new sign language course for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers. The Sign With Baby course will teach the basic signs babies need to express their wants and needs. The 90-minute class will be held at 9:30 a.m. for six Saturdays, April 10-May 22 (no class April 17), at Pierce College Puyallup. Cost is $99.

“Children as young as 8 months can learn to sign,” explained Nancy Clapp, teacher for the Sign With Baby series at Pierce Puyallup. Clapp teaches American Sign Language courses at Pierce College and Orting High School. “All infants can benefit from watching and learning to recognize signs used by parents and caretakers. This course will provide the basic vocabulary skills so that adults and older children can communicate with babies and toddlers who do not yet have the verbal skills to express themselves.”

In addition to easing babies’ and parents’ frustration, said Clapp, studies have shown that early exposure to sign language can have lasting impact on a child’s brain development and future education.

“Studies show that learning to sign at this tender age actually increases the number of neural pathways forming in the brain and the frequency of synaptic activity,” Clapp described, adding that the IQs of children who learn to sign as infants “tend to be several points higher than those of non-signing infants.”

The first session on April 10 is a parents-only class, but parents may bring one preverbal child with them to each subsequent class.

Register in person at either Pierce College Puyallup, 3901 39^th Ave. SE, or Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, 1601 Farwest Drive SW, Lakewood; by phone by calling the Registration Line at (253) 864-3330; or online. For questions or additional information, call (253) 840-8450.

Pierce College will celebrate the accomplishments of four former students at the annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet at 6 p.m. April 14 at Pierce College Puyallup.

Honorees this year are:

Deighton Maragh

Before taking a job in the computer lab at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom as a high school student, Deighton Maragh had only a passing interest in computers. He had no idea what he was going to do with his life, or even if he’d go to college. But, at Pierce, both as an employee and as a student, he was challenged and inspired, and he soon learned that computers were his passion. Deighton now works as the principle service engineer for management platforms and service delivery at Microsoft.

Jonathan Harris

After serving in the Air Force in Vietnam, Virginia-native Jonathan Harris returned to McChord Air Force Base uncertain about his future. After a mentor on base told him a college degree was the best way to get promoted, he started taking classes at Pierce College (then Fort Steilacoom Community College) using money from the GI Bill. Jonathan took every class he could and quickly worked his way up the military ranks. With his renewed confidence, he also began serving the community and spent 12 years on the Steilacoom school board and 20 years as the assistant tournament director for the state high school basketball championships. He retired from the Air Force in 1995 as Chief Master Sergeant and served as Chief of Chiefs.

He now works as the deputy director of the Air Expo and Air Mobility Command RODEO events, which occur on alternating summers at McChord and draw thousands of spectators and competitors.

Jody Woodcock

When disasters and emergencies strike Pierce County, Jody Woodcock is the second in command. As the deputy director of Pierce County Emergency Management, Jody is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the entire department, a job she finds deeply satisfying. Jody began her education as a transfer student at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. A member of the college’s honors program, she always had an interest in writing and politics. Journalism seemed a natural fit for the outspoken, energetic student. She transferred to Pacific Lutheran University and began working as a communications intern for the county in 1990. By 1993, she was hired on permanently and worked 11 years in the Pierce County Executive’s Office. Nine years ago, she transitioned into emergency management.

John Gibson

Eight months after graduating from high school, John Gibson was drafted and deployed to Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star. After his service, John worked as a TV repairman, but, as one of nine children in a poor family, John had watched his parents struggle and he wanted more financial security for himself and his wife. He began taking business courses at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. Today, he’s one of the most successful men in Tacoma. In addition to his real estate projects, including the award-winning Metropolitan Apartments downtown, John is the founder of Cool Cycles, a mobile ice cream company that raises money for children in Africa. He also donates his time as Santa Claus for the Tacoma Rescue Mission and other agencies, and is widely loved for his kind, generous spirit.

For more information or for tickets to the event, contact Ruth Ann Hatchett via phone at (253) 864-3261 or via email at rhatchett@pierce.ctc.edu.