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for at-risk kids.     Director of Multicultural Recruitment Melannie Denise Cunningham received the administrator award for her relentless advocacy for higher education and commitment to helping young people access college. Other nominees were Nicole Jordan, Jonathan Adams, Joanne Lisosky, Ginger Peck, JoDee Keller and Marianne Taylor.The Ron Pierre Vignec Community Partner Award, named in honor of “Pastor Ron,” a campus pastor in the 1980s who also ministered in the Salishan community on Tacoma’s

late 1800s.  Education was a priority for these immigrants. Starting with very little, they first built their farmhouses, then their church, and then a school. Over the decades, this university has grown to become a proud and acclaimed institution— noted for its commitment to diversity, justice and sustainability, in addition to academic excellence.  Dear students, you are all a part of this inspiring history. The PLU of today is a testament to the hard work and core values of these first Norwegian

toddlers, and she can donate time to creative jobs for nonprofits. She also told the Business Examiner she’s already learned a profound, Lute-like life lesson: “Go with your gut. It’s often a lot more helpful than your brain.” Zach Powers ’10, Media & Content Manager, PLU. The Business Examiner cited Powers’ passions for communication, outreach and creative programming, along with his “all-in” engagement with local politics and government, arts and culture, athletics and education. Plus, he coaches

and two high schools, Yaden said — and one of the certificated Tacoma teachers is a coach in PLU’s program this year. Additionally, the Chinese language coach is a graduate of PLU’s STARTALK program. “There’s built-in leadership,” Yaden said. STARTALK is offered through PLU’s School of Education. The curriculum is designated for teaching so-called “critical languages,” non-Western European languages that are taught less frequently but are critical for federal government purposes, such as national

education and started looking for jobs. Those real-world skills include cross-discipline teamwork, problem-solving, hands-on learning, maximizing strengths and limiting weaknesses.    A signature feature of the new minor is the Makerspace, a dedicated area in Hinderlie Hall that allows people to gather, collaborate and stretch their creativity. Whiteboards, art supplies, prototyping materials and communal equipment are available for use, providing an opportunity for creative growth outside a traditional

emerging urban and community leaders to engage the college campus and their communities at home. Having already been awarded the Palmer’s Scholarship —an award that supports Pierce County students of color access to a higher education —Mosa now had all the funding he needed to attend college. “Scholarships are really important to me and people like me,” Mosa said. “Being a person of color, it’s really hard to attend college. Most of us end up going to the workforce, so a scholarship is really important

dive into difficult conversations about race relations in the United States.“The consciousness of this country is shifting,” says Cunningham, who works in the PLU Campus Ministry office and partners with the university’s Center for Graduate and Continuing Education to produce People’s Gathering events. “Where we are right now in our nation’s history and our national rhetoric, we need to learn how to talk about race. Most of us learn about race on our own, and that can be really difficult.” Each

after completing his Master’s in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Western Washington University. He also works as a master resilience trainer and performance expert at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Willis spoke with us about how he incorporates his education into helping students succeed on and off the field.What goals did you have in mind when you returned to the PLU football program? My initial goal was to come and serve the players and coaching staff in whatever capacity I could. PLU and PLU football

as continuing education opportunities. The formation of the college and the integration of these programs is also allowing us to better partner with local health care and wellness organizations. It’s important that we don’t just work in isolation, and that we’re working in partnership with community members and organizations that care about the health and well-being of our communities. Partnerships with local organizations not only help us all better meet the needs of people, but it also creates

seeking more than workshops and events can complete the Pierce County Business Skills Courses co-presented by the School of Business and PLU’s Continuing Education. The program offers busy small business owners and entrepreneurs a way to work on their business on their own time, at their own pace. Small businesses can access free and flexible on-demand and online training in bookkeeping, graphic and web design, marketing strategies, and more to enhance their skills and improve their business