Pinnacle Newspaper 2024

ISSUE 1 EST. 2024

WELCOME
THE PINNACLE EST. 2024
Carpe Diem!
Letter from the Manager
As we move forward with this first publication in almost
four years for the student newspaper, I look back on the
experiences that have happened to make this a reality and
cannot believe how far we have come on this road to relaunching.
The student newspaper began on The Fort Steilacoom
campus seven years after the college was founded
in 1967. The college was only 7 years running, when it
decided they needed a newspaper-The Pioneer. In 1994
the Post newspaper was launch at the Puyallup Campus.
The founding members of the college realized how critical
it was for students voices to be heard on campus.
Student voice runs deep in the threads of student life on
both campuses. As soon as I was hired, I had no idea the
huge task that was set before me. I knew I would be in
charge of relaunching the student newspaper, but what I
didn’t know was how different the path would be for the
new paper. That instead of two papers, we were going to
launch a district paper. To add to this, we had new structures
for student jobs, newspaper content and the fact that
the paper was going into a new direction-an online interactive
platform. During COVID many college newspapers
survived by no longer publishing printed papers, but by
going 100% digital.
The student newspaper at Pierce College had many new
challenges that it faced, as we tried to rise from the ashes
from the previous structure. I faced an unknown new
student team, that if this team didn’t work well with each
other, the relaunch could be short lived. A new joy to this
job was how amazing, artistic and wonderful the new team
turned out to be, which without this, the paper would not
have made it to the relaunch.
On top of all of this, the student newspaper moved to
a different team structure on campus as well, The Office
of Student Life, now we work as a team with two new
directors-Joey Adams at Fort Steilacoom and Aki Smith at
Puyallup, whose support was critical to our success.
The wealth of knowledge and support the student paper
has received from the OSL was vital in the papers come
back. I would also like to thank all of the faculty, staff and
students that have helped us work on and create this inaugural
publication. -by Laura Taylor
STAFF
Puyallup-POST
Editor-In-Chief
Treva Adkins
Graphic Designer
Grace Corrales
Student Media Coordinator
Kyla Reese
Writer/Photographer
Jackson Park
Fort Steilacoom-Pioneer
Editor-In-Chief
Dennis Freire
Graphic Designer
Le Pham
Writer/Photographer
Ruby Garcia
Writer/Photographer
Sean Pule
Letters to The Editor-
Have an opinion on our
publication
events, or policy?
email-
TAdkins@pierce.ctc.edu
DFreire@pierce.ctc.edu
Cover Art-
Hand drawn by our amazing on
staff artist Grace Corrales
Thank you to everyone that
contributed to making this
publication a success!
Mission Statement
To accurately publish news
that focuses on student voice
that informs Pierce College on
events of interest, relevance
2

INSIDE...
04//Rise from the Ashes
The background on the journey behind relaunching the
newspaper.
06//Study Hacks
14//Veteran Affairs
A look into the programs Pierce offers for our Veterans.
17//Food on Campus
Students want to know what are some different options
for eating on campus and how Pierce offers support for
those students in need.
07//Inspiration
How to stay inspired this quarter into the new year.
08//OSL Relaunch
The newspaper looks into the Office of Student Life future
with Directors Joey Adams @ FS and Aki Smith @
PY as they redesign the new structure moving forward.
16//International Foods
What are some of your favorite dishes from around the
world? Students take a moment to share.
18//Silenced Voices
Who are some of the famous people in our past that
we do not know about? Could some of our history be
silenced? Read here for history forgotten.
10//Raider Sports
A glimpse into Raider Sports.
12//Advising
Looking at how to improve advising for students.
13//PTK & TRIO
Two programs that offer amazing opportunities in a students
path towards graduation.
3
20//Wellness
How do we stay centered and relaxed as students? A
deep look into how to stay healthy as a student.
22//Ally on Campus
How to support individuals on campus.
24//Choir 4 ALL
The choir is making a come back in a big way, where
sining is open to all.
26//FS&PY EVENTS
Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup event pages for the Winter
Quarter.
28//BIRD NEWS

Rise From The
ashes
by Dennis Freire
“Now that Student Media
is embedded into a much
larger program, there’s
many more opportunities
for
collaboration
and working
together that
just wasn’t
there
before.”
- Laura
Taylor
In early 2020, both of Pierce
College’s Student Publications—
Fort Steilacoom’s Pioneer and
Puyallup’s Post—were losing steam
due to different programs being
run at each campus and the loss of
interest due to the lack of campus
involvement. These were the final
nails in the coffin for both publications
during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Four years later in 2024,
the newspaper has been revived
with new life. Instead of having two
newspapers exclusive to each campus,
they have been combined into
one—The Pinnacle—and is now a
district publication.
Sabrina Stevenson, a former Editor-in-Chief
for The Pioneer, said
that there’s too many students that
are travelling between campuses
for one to not have news about the
other, so she is ecstatic to hear
about the merging of both papers.
The Pinnacle
4

“I was thrilled to learn that it’s a district paper now
because the community should be the ‘Pierce College
District’ not ‘Pierce College Fort Steilacoom’ or
‘Pierce College Puyallup.’”
The Pinnacle is not only a printed and digital newspaper;
it also has a website and plans for podcasting
and video production. The challenge of
getting all these projects up and running as a
district is not lost on Student Media Manager
Laura Taylor.
“It’s a week-to-week battle of restructuring
and figuring out the balance
of how everything works, and
just taking the paper in a new
direction that has never been
done before.”
Regardless, she remains steadfast
in her efforts to relaunch
the publication. By restructuring
the student positions
to where some of
them work with each
other across the different
campuses, she
has overcome many
of the brand new
challenges that
she has faced
and is excited
to see the
future of
Student
Media.
5

Study Hacks
by Ruby Garcia
Is your New Year’s resolution for 2024 to get better grades? We have some
creative life hacks, tips, and exciting resources to help you finally gain control of your
grades! Bonus thoughts from President, Matthew Campbell and Dean of Student Success,
James Lett.
https://flocus.com/
Flocus is 100% free with no subscription
needed, no in-app purchases and absolutely
zero ads, just create an account using your
email and enjoy its simple yet fun features.
Once you’re signed in, you are greeted with
the home dashboard featuring a greeting
and a big bold clock. Go to the bottom right
and click on the ambient mode button,
enjoy some nice scenery as you
study without the pressure of
time. Next to the home
button is the focus button
with Flocus’s biggest
feature bold on
its dashboard,
the pomodoro
timer.
Have you heard of AI productivity? Using Taskade,
you can create To-Do lists, mind maps,
calendars and so much more! Taskade has
both a web browser and a mobile app so you
can be productive on the go. Taskade is free
but for extra useful features and unlimited AI
usage, you can pay a monthly subscription.
Taskade Key Features:
• Workspace
• Folders
• Projects
• AI prompt templates
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Templates
• Mind map
6

How Does the Fort Steliacoom President and Dean of
Student Success Feel About a Certain Study Hack?
Matthew Campbell, Pierce
College Fort Steilacoom
President, states that he
does not recommend listening
to catchy music while studying,
“especially not music you want to sing
along to”. But the Dean of student success,
James Lett, disagrees, “I am a musical
learner” said Lett, “I can’t study
in the quiet, I need constant noise”.
Eveyone studies in their own way.
Inspire
These two very important figures
at Pierce College gave
conflicting answers, while Lett
and Campbell may not agree,
they are still amazing people to seek
guidance from. Besides music, Lett is
also really adamant about reminding
yourself why you’re working towards
your goal. “Anytime I’m going through
some type of challenge, I always have
my goal written down…sometimes you
get kind of frustrated…I always had reminders
telling me, ‘this is why I’m up
at midnight writing a paper.”
by Ruby Garcia
Inspirational Movies
by Kyla Reese
What does the word inspire mean to you?
Is it a person, a feeling, or something that
you can explain?
The definition of Inspiration, according to
the Oxford Languages, is the process of being
mentally stimulated to do or feel something,
especially to do something creative.
I however would argue that Inspiration cannot
be defined in one such way; the Collins
Dictionary defines an inspiration as someone
and something that makes you or others
want to do or achieve something. The thing
that 7both definitions have in common is the
positive tone.
• Forrest Gump- Inspires you to
channel a sense of optimism through times
of adversity, and to always appreciate the
simple things in life.
• Soul Surfer-Never give up on
our dreams, and don’t let your setbacks
keep you from fulfilling your dreams.
• Matilda- An inspiring film that
teaches us to stand up for ourselves and
those in need.
• Hustle- Focuses on the power of
perseverance when overcoming physical
and psychological obstacles.
• Rocky- Believe in ourselves, to
never give up on our dreams, and to fight
for what we believe in.

The New and Improved
Office of Student Life by Dennis Freire
Student Life Offices continue to support
Pierce College students. Their
food and hygiene pantry program
has been rising in popularity, so as
the OSL’s free bus passes (ORCA Cards) and
Student IDs are being dispersed for Winter
Quarter 2024.They also have more snacks to
give away than ever. However, all of this success
is only possible because of those who
have worked to get things up and running
again.
The Coronavirus Pandemic created
many challenges for the community
of students here at Pierce College,
including the loss of social interaction
between peers, faculty and campus
staff. That loss also greatly impacted the
Office of Student Life. “It was just a super
ghost town at that time,” said Joey Adams,
Director of Student Life at the Fort Steilacoom
campus, “everything’s online, no students
on campus, just nothing going on at
all…and there were several kinds of failed
attempts at [coming back] because, you
know, new COVID strains came out.”
Up until this point, Student Life
was in dire straits, but now in
2024, four years after the pandemic
started, the OSL is shining
bright once again. Adams calls the Student
Life team “Wave Creators” as they all hold
important roles in their relaunch of Student
Life. These teams are divided into 4 sections:
Student Media, Activities Board, Clubs and
Organizations, and Student Government.
Director of Student Life at the Puyallup
Campus, Miguel
Akira “Aki” Smith, talked about
the challenges of having to guide
the Activities Board side of things due to
a full-time staff vacancy: “Right now, I feel
like I’m divided into 17 pieces of needing to
manage, different people, and I would say
that’s probably one of the biggest challenges,
because I have to manage up, down, and
laterally in my job.” Smith also talked about
the current
8

Activities Board events and their
positive effects on students. “I think the
impact that it has had on our students
employees is the realization what they do
matters to more than just them, and so I
believe that’s where the true value is.”
Engaging student interest in clubs
is a difficult task that Iopu Ignacio,
the Student Engagement Manager,
tackles with excitement. When
asked about the success of clubs, he was
ecstatic about the progression. “You know,
from eight clubs last year…like 32 clubs [in
2024,] I would say it’s a significant gap that
you cannot ignore,” Ignacio said. According
to Ignacio, his main goal is to keep clubs
afloat, reminding them there’s resources if
they need them, and overall making sure every
club is getting what they need.
Not many students know how they
can take an active role in the
policies enacted in the college,
and Student Government is just
the place to suggest ideas. Student Government’s
main goals are making sure students
are getting the resources they need to succeed
and that their voices are heard in policies
that are passed, plus an expanded focus
on inclusivity on campus, according to Student
Government President Lily Yokoda and
Former Student Government Vice-President
Liliana Somnuk-Eigenseher.
To check out everything the OSL
offers, feel free to come down
to the College Center Building
Room 210 in Puyallup or Cascade
Building Room 418 in Fort Steilacoom
and see what their office offers or
to talk to one of their front desk staff,
you can call...
253-964-6373 (Fort Steilacoom) or
253-840-8416 (Puyallup)
Have a fantastic winter quarter!
“Don’t be afraid to take action.
You have the power to do it.”
– Student Government President
Lily Yokoda
9

aider athletics
Mission
STAtement
STAFF DIRECTORY
Director of Athletic
Men’s Commissioner:
Duncan Stevenson
DStevenston@pierce.ctc.edu
Assistant to the Athletics
Director:
Keilani Cruz-Williams
KCruz@pierce.ctc. edu
IT
i s the mission of Raider Athletics to
create and foster an environment that
provides opportunities for all student athletes
to enrich their collegiate experience through
participation on competitive athletic teams, enhancing
the intellectual, physical, social, moral
and cultural development of the whole person.
Women’s Commissioner:
Cheryl Batschi
CBatschi@pierce.ctc.edu
https://pierceraiders.com
HEAD/ASSISTANT COACHES
Women’s Volleyball:
Head Coach:
Valerie Koch
Assistant Coach:
Cami Medlock
NWAC Volleyball All-Stars:
Abby Draghici - MVP
Mame Leia
Tatiana Parker-Borrero
Rhegan O’Nei
10

BASEBALL
Head Coach:
Kevin Davis
Assistant Coach:
Jim O’Dell,
David Smallwood
Ian Turner
SOFTBALL
Head Coach:
Brent Freeman
Assistant Coach:
Lewis Santos
Lauren Hatch
Brent Freeman
E
R
S
!
MEN’S SOCCER
Head Coach: Steve Aguilar
Assistant Coach: Dan Stueckle
John Morrison
Shawn Tobius
A
R
I D
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Head Coach: Luke Howells
Assistant Coach: Marc Russell
Scott Rickley
James Long
O
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Head Coach: Marquessa Gilson
Assistant Coach:
Russell Gilson
Kellis Dack
11
G
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Head Coach:
Danny Richards:
Assistant Coach:
Andrew Fuller
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Head Coach:
Brian Kovacevich
Assistant Coach:
Michael Wright
Kenny Hart
NWAC Soccer All-Stars:
Ashlyn Kennedy-MVP
Tatiana Schiedt
Sophie Avery
Kaylee Mithun
Morgan Nal
Nathan Iniguez
Gavin Forman
Ethan Shoemaker

PIERCE COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE FOUND IS-
SUES WITH ADVISING...
THE DEAN OF STUDENT SUCCESS HELPS US UNPACK THE REASONS WHY?
by Ruby Garcia
“We have the responsibility to train our staff to
be good communicators”-Matthew A. Campbell,
President of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom
A n anonymous student survey has
expressed the issues students have
regarding advising. A shortage of
advisors is one of the most common
issues students face. For example, one
respondent said, “There’s not a lot
of advisors for IT majors…Often the
professors have to act like advisors to
make up for it.”
Dean of Advising, James D. Lett, may
have an explanation for this: “We have
a number of staff who would have retired
had COVID not kicked off…they
wanted to help the college…but once
they were coming out [of COVID-19],
they went ahead and retired…[or]
moved on to other opportunities.”
was waiting ages for a response.”
Lett has proposed innovations on communication,
“Our career counselors
have been doing things like classroom
visits… finding places where students
might be gathering both virtually and
in person to see if maybe we can go
there to share information.” A texting
platform has also been in consideration
and may be implemented.
If you’re a international student looking
for an advisor, James knows exactly
what to do, “Students
participating in the International
Education Program may contact their
advisor by scheduling an appointment
through Starfish or emailing
international@pierce.ctc.edu.”
Other concerns include the way advisors
communicate with their students.
One student responded to the survey
by saying, “My first experience with an
advisor wasn’t the best. I could only
call or email them, which made
communication super slow. It felt like I
HELP US IMPROVE ADVISING BY FILLING OUT
OUR ANONYMOUS SURVEY.
12

PIERCE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
TRIO Support Program
Pierce College’s TRIO program is a Student
Support Service branch of the SASS department
that provides academic advice along
with helping students transfer to four-year
colleges. Unlike the advisors at Pierce, TRIO
contains specialized helpers that offers
students a vast amount of knowledge and opportunities.
Joining TRIO gives free access
to advantages and support such as tutoring,
mentoring, scholarship support, emergency
funding and more.
For more details contact Terry Green
TGreen@pierce.ctc.edu or visit room C322
TRIO INTREST FORM
TRIO INFORMATION
Pierce College Foundation Scholarship
https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/foundation-scholarships
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa recognizes the academic
achievement of college students and
provides opportunities for its members to
grow as scholars and leaders. Scholarships
are the main reason students join PTK. The
group offers two types of scholarships to help
students complete an associate degree and
prepare for transfer to a four-year college.
Upcoming Scholarships :
Leaders of Promise
IPSLEI (Graham/Coleman/Resurreccion)
Workforce Development
Contact Iopu Ignacio IIgnacio@pierce.ctc.edu
for more information about PTK
13

NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION:
MILITARY TO VETERAN STUDENT
by Treva Adkins
Military service members have a
unique experience, one that can be
life changing regardless of branch
or length of service. The structure of the
military imposes a structure on the individual.
Upon discharge from service, newly minted
Veterans are thrust back into civilian
life. Into a system that does not operate
in the same manner. This transition can be
fraught with hardships and uncertainties.
It can leave many Veterans feeling out of
place and without direction.
Andrew Pierce, District Manager for Veteran
Support Services at Pierce College,
is taking a novel approach to providing
equity-based support services to ensure
Veteran Students are successful during
their transition from military service to
higher education.
“For myriad reasons, we know that some
Veterans have a difficult time seeking
resources and asking for help,” stated
Pierce, “The transition out of the military
and into civilian life is disorienting.”
Pierce speaks from a position of familiarity;
he is a Veteran himself who transitioned
out of the United States Navy and
into higher education.
“I understand first-hand the stress and
uncertainty that comes with the transition
process. You feel like an outsider.”
Data suggests that around half of all recently
separated Veterans don’t connect
with available resources and benefits for
several years, and some only when they
are in crisis.
This is the goal at Pierce College, to meet
Veteran Students where they are, to guide
and support them through that transition.
Pierce is in the process of developing a
peer-mentor program that will pair incoming
Veteran students with existing Veteran
students. Pierce College Veteran Services
will be that next duty station, ready to welcome
their fellow Veteran to their next billet.
The Veterans Support Office is also focused
on hosting events that highlight the Veteran
population on campus including the Veterans
Day Celebration.
“Making sure the Veteran feels welcome is
only the start. We must give them the tools
to be successful in the civilian world, not
tearing away the tools they come with from
the military, but rather teaching them how
to adapt those skills for a new environment,”
said Pierce.
The goal of the VSO is to build these programs
and create an atmosphere where
Veterans feel they are an integral part of
the community and make Pierce College an
invaluable partner to Veterans transitioning
out of military service.
14

Government Shutdowns and Veteran Students:
During a government shutdown, the
Department of Veterans Affairs can
face challenges in its operations and
services. However, the GI Bill, which provides
education benefits to veterans, is
an entitlement program, and its funding is
separate from the annual appropriations
that fund government agencies.
In the past, during government shutdowns,
the VA has been able to continue processing
benefits because the funding comes from a
mandatory source rather than discretionary
appropriations. This means that, even
when there is a government shutdown, the
funds allocated for the GI Bill are not supposed
to be directly impacted.
Despite this, there are still some potential
disruptions in other services provided
by the VA. Services related to disability
claims, home loan guarantees and vocational
rehabilitation may be affected.
It’s important to remember, if government
shutdowns become a common tactic in the
legislative branch, that this entitlement
program isn’t a bottomless pit. Students relying
on the GI Bill need to stay informed
about updates or changes in services that
may occur during a government shutdown.
The VA typically provides information on
its website to keep veterans informed about
the status of services during such periods.
Another aspect that gets overlooked is the
active military students at JBLM. Active military
students are not protected under the
VA umbrella because they are not veterans
yet. Their funding for education, housing,
disability and more can be interrupted.
Keep in mind that the specific impact of a
government shutdown can vary. It’s crucial
for our vets using the GI Bill to stay in
touch with Veterans Support Services and
Recourse Offices as well as the VA regional
office for the most up-to-date information
during any period of government shutdown.
15
Veterans Resource Center: CEVSS@pierce.ctc.edu

FOOD Choices on Campus by Laura Taylor
2ND
Vending Machines
Ok so I know what your thinking-YIKES
vending machine
food!!! But hey, vending machine
options at Pierce College
are improving. Student Government,
President-Sam Pena-
Rojas, has been working with
Vista Vending to improve what
goes into the machines.
When you think about vending,
it’s just cookies and chips, but
Sam has been in discussions
with them to include healthy
options like protein bars, nongmo
minimally processed, and
other vegan options.
When in a hurry, check out the
vending machines, there might
be an option in there that will
keep you full until after class.
1ST
Aladdin Dining
The Aladdin Campus Dining offers food
choices that range from a breakfast burrito
to healthy options like a cobb salad. Students
enjoy the wide array Aladdin offers,
as shown in the “You spoke, we listened”
board displayed in the cafeteria. Aladdin’s operating hours on
both campuses are from 7:30am-2:00pm.
Aladdin also caters most if not all of the events at Pierce College.
For example, for the event called Fright Fest they created a
horrifying buffet display of purple pasta, meat ball eyeballs and
scary pumpkin cookies.
You can’t go wrong with all the choices Aladdin stirs up or any of
the tasty options they provide at most events.
3RD
Cash Deprived?
What do you do if you are low
on money and you cannot afford
Aladdin or the vending
machines?
The Office of Student Life
@ FS and PY offer free food
options for students who are
struggling with food insecurity,
so stop by either office
to get more information.
If you want to help out or
need help there is a food and
coat drive that starts from Jan
15 to Mar 1st, to learn more
visit the OSL.
16

INTERNATIONAL FOODS
by Kyla Reese
Pierce College is full of diverse students that are
here from all around the world, they have unique
flavors and recipes that they would like to share.
Click on the QR code to watch a video on how to
make it!
Scrambled Eggs with Tomato
This is an extremely popular Chinese
dish that can have either a sweet or salty
flavor depending on what you like.
Sinigang
This dish from the Philippines, is a sour
and savory stew.
Attieke
A common side dish in The Ivory Coast
also known as Côte d’Ivoire. Attieke is
made from cassava that had been grated
down to resemble the
texture of couscous.
17

SILENCED VOICES
History is a rich environment full
of diverse stories, it is important
to uncover those untold
narratives that have shaped the world we
know today. These forgotten stories shed
light on some important figures that are
not taught in history classes. It is important
to recognize their accomplishments
and not overlook them and their contributions
to history.
Did you know that Hedy Lamarr, an
actress and inventor, worked to
create a communication method
to help send coded messages during WWII?
This method was eventually used by the US
Navy and was part of the journey to invent
Wi-Fi. She was inducted into the National
Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014, according
to the National Women’s History Museum.
Henrietta Lacks was an African American
tobacco farmer in the 1950s diagnosed
with a terminal disease. At
the age of 31 she devastatingly passed away;
her death however came with a great discovery
for medical science. After studying her cervical
cancer, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine,
it was found that her cells were unusual,
they were unlike the other cells of cancer
patients because instead of dying they were
18

multiplying.
H
er cells were
used to save
millions of lives
by contributing to
the development of
the polio vaccine, cancer
treatments and the
HPV vaccine.
19
The first woman of
color to be elected
to the House of Representatives
was Patsy Mink in
1964, less than 60 years ago. It
took over 170 years from when the
House of Representatives was established
for a woman of color to be elected.
Patsy Mink was a second-generation
Japanese immigrant who completed her
undergraduate degree in education and went
on to earn a law degree. She even has the Title
IX law, which is the Equality in Education Act,
named after her.

It’s Times Like These We Live
to Learn Again BY TREVA ADKINS
It’s no secret that the uncertainty, isolation, and constant conflict of the Covid era is
having lasting effects on our population as a whole. Even as we walk to class, meet for
lunch or attend a student life event, for many, the scars are still tender.
College students face numerous tests on their mental health. It’s a transitional time
in life where financial pressures, academic and familial obligations can take a toll on
anyone.
There are mental health resources available on campus.
Pierce College provides short-term counseling
services to enrolled students free of charge.
Talk-therapy can help students address
personal and emotional issues.
Even with the aid of mental health
professionals, chronic depression
can make sufferes feel help-
less and lonely. The brain is
physically altered by these
negative thought habits
and changing the patterns
might be as simple as try-
ing something new. Then
do it again. And again.
And again.
In a recent study on
chronic depression,
researchers have high-
lighted the impact of
learning a new skill in
alleviating those negative
patterns. The re-
sults suggest that the
process of acquiring a
new skill not only stimu-
lates the brain but also
contributes to a significant
improvement in men-
tal well-being.
20

“Learning to play the piano has been a
transformative journey for me. It gave me
something positive to focus on, a reason to
get out of bed each day.”
Sarah Thompson
Participants diagnosed with
chronic depression enrolled
in various skill-based activities,
ranging from art and
music to coding and cooking.
Over the course of the study,
participants consistently reported
a noticeable improvement
in mood and a reduction
in feelings of sadness and
hopelessness.
The therapeutic benefits of acquiring
new skills extend beyond
the immediate sense of achievement.
Participants reported an enhanced
sense of purpose, increased
self-esteem, and a greater ability to
cope with stress. This holistic approach
to mental health treatment has the potential
to complement existing treatments.
Lois Ridgley, MS LMFT explains: “When a person is
willing to learn a new skill, it changes the emotional
climate of their days, and is often a first step in managing
depression.”
The groundbreaking research raises questions about the traditional
approaches to managing chronic depression, paving the way for a more
diversified and personalized approach to mental health care.
As society wrestles with increasing mental health challanges, the prospect
of a simple and effective new tool, learning a new skill, emerges as a beacon
of hope for those seeking to help themselves in finding effective, sustainable
ways to overcome chronic depression.
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THRIVING WHILE LEARNING
Student resources are available
WWW.PIERCE.CTC.EDU/MENTALHEALTH

Blueprint for Allyship:
Fostering Inclusion on Campus
by Treva Adkins
An ally is a person, group or entity that supports the well-being, rights and
interests of another individual or marginalized group. Allies work
hard to understand and address the challenges faced by
those they support. They use their privilege or influence
to help create a more inclusive and equitable
environment.
“I expect them [an ally] to be reliable.”
– anonymous
In various social justice movements,
such as those advocating
for LGBTQ+ rights, racial
equality, gender equality, or
disability rights, allies play
a crucial role in fostering
understanding, empathy
and positive change.
Being an ally takes
concrete actions to
contribute to the dismantling
of systemic
inequalities and discrimination.
“I advocate for
at-risk youth,
women, teen
moms, children
with disabilities,
single moms, displaced
children,
domestic violence
victims…myself.”
– A. Williams
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Who do you advocate for?
“I stand up for people who feel
silenced and unheard. Also, myself.
Those I care for and those who
stand up for me as well.”
– anonymous
“Listen to minorities. Listen to
problems they bring up. Amplify
minority voices. Be more inclusive
in your everyday life. Take action
to have more inclusivity such as
voting and support to causes.”
– S. Velasquez
“I don’t think I need an advocate
to defend or support my identity.
It’s always been me who ends up
standing up for my identity.”
– R. Flynn
“Support me openly, publicly.”
– anonymous
“Stand up for me when I’m not around.”
– Gabriela
“I wouldn’t [ask someone to be by ally]. It’s
up to them.” – anonymous
“I am my biggest advocate. I kick ass. I take
care of myself and my own needs. I
watch out for myself.” – J. Ross
“I speak out against bigotry.” – C. Fuller
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Ally Essentials / Top 5
1. Harness the power of social media. Like, follow and share marginalized content
creators and influencers. Support artists, writers and activists who speak out
against injustices.
2. Shop minority-owned small businesses in your area and online. Discover who’s
out there and who needs your support.
3. Wear a button with your pronouns even if you feel that it’s “obvious” to others.
Add your pronouns to your email signature. Practice introducing yourself with your
pronouns.
4. Show up for campus and city events that support marginalized individuals. Attend
demonstrations and protests.
5. Speak up when and where you see a lack of accessibility on campus.

harmony to be heard
by Jackson Park
W hether a person is in the audience or on the stage, months of hard work
being projected from the stage to the audience is something that can’t be
replicated through a screen. For the students in choir, it is an excellent way
to destress and find connections.
Kenneth Owen, director of the Choir says students feel like they belong. Being
in a room with people that share the same interest helps members become
comfortable and find friends easier.
As a group, they work on improving their sound and other technical aspects
for their performance at the end of the quarter. Owen states that choir “is
something everyone can be successful at.” Since there is no audition to join
the Choir, simply singing in the shower is enough to join this experience.
Though, if singing is not of interest, it is still a spectacle to see art in its
purest form. Not perfect, but a real performance that changes perspective
on what choir really is.
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About the Director
For the past 18 years at Pierce College, Kenneth Owen has been sharing his
love for choir by leading groups of passionate voices. Starting his journey in
high school, Owen would look for a place where he could play piano. Finaly
finding a spot, he would end up playing for the Choir. With little interest in
singing, Owen played piano for the Choir but never wanted to sing. As each
performance went by, he started to realize how much vibrance and emotion
the group expressed. Missing out on the fun, he was able to join the party and
added his voice to songs that didn’t need the piano. Eventually, he joined the
singers full time which started his newly discovered passion. Owen would go on
to study choir in college and would later become the Pierce College Choir Director
in 2006.
Interested in Joining
Choir?
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KOwen@pierce.ctc.edu
for more information
or visit the AAH building
on the
Puyallup campus

FORT STEILACOOM
FORT STEILACOOM
CAMPUS EVENTS-
January 2024
Winter Welcome Days 1/3-1/5
FS Club Fair 1/9
FS Winter Village Time 1/17
Student Gov. Meeting 1/29
February 2024
Black History Month Movie
“The Green Book” 2/2
FS Student Media Relaunch 2/14
Poetry Club-Poetry Slam & Jam 2/22
APCC New Years @ Tacoma Dome 2/24
Student Gov. Meeting 2/26
BSU Movie Night 2/28
March 2024
Women’s History Month Movie
“Hidden Figures” 3/8
Ice Skating @ Sprinker Rec. 3/16
Student Gov. Meeting 3/18
Winter Destress Event 3/18
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PUYALLUP
CAMPUS EVENTS-
January 2024
Winter Welcome Days 1/3-1/5
PY Club Fair 1/11
PY WinterVillage Time 1/17
Student Gov. Meeting 1/29
February 2024
PY Student Media Relaunch 2/7
Reel Romance Movie Night
“10 Things I Hate About You” 2/14
APCC New Years @ Tacoma Dome 2/24
Student Gov. Meeting 2/26
BSU: Movie Night 2/28 - 2/29
March 2024
Raider Review 3/6
Women’s History Month Movie
“Hidden Figures” 3/8
Ice Skating @ Sprinker Rec. 3/16
Student Gov. Meeting 3/18
SG Sunrise Breakfast 3/19
P U Y A L L U P
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