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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2019)
EDUCATION A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM Boardman educator named Migrant Education Teacher of the Year for 2019 HERMISTON HERALD Edelmira “Connie” Gar- cia, who teaches at Sam Boardman Elementary School, recently received an A+ for her efforts. A longtime employee of the InterMountain Educa- tion Service District, she was named the 2019 Title I-C Migrant Education Teacher of the Year. The Oregon Department of Education honored Gar- cia Nov. 15 during the 2019 Migrant Education Pro- gram Conference in Salem. The award is presented to an educator who has demonstrated an excep- tional commitment to Ore- gon’s migrant students, their families and to the Migrant Education Pro- gram in Oregon. Eric Volger, IMESD’s MEP Coordinator, said Garcia is engaging, ener- getic, organized and compassionate. While teaching pre- school-aged children, she creates lessons that are interactive and fun, involv- ing students in song, dance and games. Garcia’s pas- sion for teaching, Volger said, contributes to a suc- cessful learning environ- ment and an excellent rap- port with students. Contributed photo Edelmira “Connie” Garcia was honored Nov. 15 for her work with the InterMountain Education Service District. “In my nearly three decades in education, I have never witnessed a pre-K teacher who is more engaging and effective than Connie,” he said. “She is absolutely wor- thy of being recognized as Title I-C Teacher of the Year.” Michele Madril, direc- tor of communication, said IMESD’s Migrant Educa- tion Program served 1,362 students in the 2018-19 school year. For more information, contact Madril at 541-966- 3115 or michele.madril@ imesd.k12.or.us. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019 New Hermiston BMCC club is taking off By JESSICA POLLARD STAFF WRITER For the fi rst time in years, the Blue Mountain Com- munity College Hermiston Center has a new Latino club focused on leadership. It’s called “Unidxs.” “The Spanish language is very gendered,” said Nayali Contreras, one of the club’s advisors. “Uni- dos, masculine, and unidas, feminine, both translate to ‘united.’ The ‘X’ in unidxs’ is to make it gender inclu- sive. This is a way for peo- ple not to have to choose between masculine and feminine.” A year ago, campus life at the Hermiston Blue Mountain Community Col- lege Center was scant. “Last year,” said stu- dent Zayra Preciado, who is in charge of marketing for the new group, “I didn’t see much student life.” According to Contre- ras, who is coordinator for the Precision Irrigated Agri- culture Facility at BMCC Hermiston and an advisor for the group, there aren’t any clubs this year besides Unidxs. “The center has felt more alive this year,” she said. The idea for the club started growing last year, according to Contreras. Back then, she served as the school’s Student Success Coach and said there was a want to create more space in the community for the Hermiston Center’s 46% Staff photo by Jessica Pollard BMCC Hermiston Center’s new club, Unidxs, met Wednesday to discuss a recent fundraiser. Latino population. “We wanted to add a Lat- inx Liaison title to the Stu- dent Success Coach posi- tion,” she said. At a recent BMCC board meeting last month, mem- bers approved Selene Tor- res-Madrano’s contract for that dual position. Tor- res-Madrano also advises Unidxs. Contreras also dreamed of organizing a special graduation celebration for the school, which would provide a more personal cultural space in addition to the BMCC graduation commencement each year. The fi rst annual iteration of the Latinx Graduation Cel- ebration is set to take place at the end of this school year. “I was also trying to think of something not just driven by me,” she said. “As staff, I might not be here in a few years.” Enter, the Unidxs club. The club is currently comprised of six organiz- ers and fi ve members so far this year. The organizers are all planning on moving on to four-year universities after getting their two-year transfer degrees at BMCC and are interested in every- thing from journalism to kinesiology. “It’s nice to have a space to be around people who go through the same struggles as you,” said the group’s treasurer, Brenda Mendoza. Elias Esquival, the club’s president, puts it plainly. “I had no friends here before this club,” he said. “I think its growth will continue.” Their fi rst order of busi- ness is organizing fundrais- ers in hopes of attending the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute conference in Chi- cago, Illinois, this February. This month, they sold 134 dozen tamales and raised over $1,000 toward that goal. Contreras said that many schools on the west side of the state, including Ore- gon State University, send swaths of students to the national event each year. The institute’s website describes the event as a good opportunity for young people to network with pol- icy makers and prospective employers. “I’m not sure if peo- ple here don’t know about it,” she said. “But no one on this side of Oregon has made attending the confer- ence a priority.” Esquival said that now that the initial fundraiser is over, the group is kick- ing back and planning more team-oriented events as well, like bowling. But they’ve also been honing their networking skills. Recently, club members met with Hermiston-based Latino organization Raices to learn how they might help out with the organiza- tion’s events in the future. “Part of our mission is to be involved with the com- munity,” Mendoza said. Contreras hopes that as the club gains momentum, its student members will develop leadership skills that they can take with them to their next college experience. “I really want this club to be a leadership develop- ment experience,” Contre- ras said. over $10,000 in cash, freeplay and prizes weekly! Play Thursdays-Sundays on our digital WhirlWIN! Two GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGS $10,000 CASH $10,000 CASH 2X 4X 6X 8X 10X 12X Play every Thursday and your stacker increases by 2X in December! ALL MOVIES. all ages. all day! 14X 16X Continue s e v E s ' r a e New Y Not valid on holidays. Food and Drink Specials - Free Party Favors $10,000 HOLIDAY HOT SEATS LIVE MUSIC Every Friday and Saturday 8pm–Midnight Dec. 6–7 Guy Johnson Band Dec. 13–14 Decade X Dec. 20–21 Nuketown Dec. 27–28 Shanks Pony Dec. 31 NYE Party TheMix Variety Variety Country Variety Variety Dance the night away & countdown to 2020 starting at 9pm! A ll Day HOT SEATS! 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