This month, the energy across Clark College’s campus will feel a little different, a little louder, a little prouder, and a lot more connected. What began as a single day of generosity has grown into Penguin Nation Month, a full month of celebration, engagement, and impact, culminating in PenguinsGive on April 30.
Penguin Nation Month is about coming together, alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors, and community partners, to celebrate the powerful role Clark College Foundation and Clark College play in Southwest Washington. From social opportunities at the April 9 Penguin Huddle to student-alumni connections at Pop-Up Mentoring on April 15, from campus-wide celebrations like Sakura Festival and Día del Niño to student-led involvement fairs and art talks, April showcases the vibrancy of the Penguin community.
Penguin Huddles
April 9 – Clark College Foundation event
This special evening brings together alumni, industry partners, and supporters for a warm and relaxed networking experience, an opportunity to say thank you to our industry partners for their continued support and collaboration.
We’re excited to host this gathering at La Fiesta on Main, a beloved local restaurant known for its vibrant atmosphere and authentic flavors.
- Who: Industry Partners, Alumni, Community Members, Supporters, and Students!
- When: Thursday, April 9
- Time: 5:00-7:00pm
- Where: La Fiesta on Main – 800 Main St. Vancouver, WA 98660
Complimentary beverages and appetizers will be provided. This event is free to attend, but registration is required.
ASCC Student Involvement Fair
April 14 – Clark College event
Come learn more about Clark’s student groups, on-campus jobs and college resources. Meet people, have fun, enjoy free giveaways.
Join us for the Spring Student Involvement Fair from 11am – 1pm in Gaiser Student Center!
- When: Tuesday, April 14
- Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
- Where: Gaiser Student Center, Clark College Campus
Clark Art Talk: Nan Curtis
April 14 – Clark College event
Nan Curtis received her MFA from the University of Cincinnati & BA from the College of Wooster. Curtis’s practice is interdisciplinary, mining site, home and personal narrative to reframe what can be considered mundane. Major exhibitions include Mira Costa College, San Diego; DiverseWorks, Houston; Tacoma Art Museum; ConsolidatedWorks, Seattle; Linfield College, OR; Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), Elizabeth Leach, Williamson/Knight, 1430Contemporary, NINE & The Art Gym in Portland.
- When: Tuesday, April 14
- Time: 1:00-2:00pm
- Where: Penguin Union Building 161 – Student Lounge, Clark College Campus
Pop-Up Mentoring
April 15 – Clark College Foundation event
You’ll start by learning practical, actionable networking strategies. Then, you’ll participate in engaging roundtable discussions where you can practice conversation skills, share experiences, and make meaningful connections with peers and alumni from diverse fields of study.
- Who: Current Students and Alumni
- When: Wednesday, April 15
- Time: 1:00-2:30pm
- Where: PUB 258A/B, Clark College Campus
This session offers a supportive, low-pressure environment to:
- Build confidence in networking
- Meet professionals and peers
- Grow your professional community
Sakura Festival
April 16 – Clark College event
1:00 p.m. Ceremony in the Japanese Garden*
2:00 p.m. Activities and Displays in Gaiser Student Center with performances by: Portland Shishimai Kai and Takohachi Q Ensemble
Hosted by Clark College with the Vancouver Rotarians, and the City of Vancouver
*If weather prohibits the opening ceremony from taking place outdoors, it will be held in the Gaiser Student Center.
Dia del Niño
April 24 – Clark College event
Celebrate children, families, reading, arts & crafts, dancing and singing. Yummy snacks provided.
Performances by: Angel Ocasio, Ballet Folklorico, & Mariachi Tradición.
- When: Friday, April 24
- Time: 6:00-9:00pm
- Where: Gaiser Student Center, Clark College Campus
PenguinsGive
April 30
On April 30, PenguinsGive kicks off! It’s our annual day of giving, a 36-hour rally of generosity that fuels scholarships, student success programs, innovation in the classroom, and essential resources like emergency grants and the Basic Needs Hub.
Thanks to our generous donors, a $10,000 match is available throughout Penguin Nation Month and continues during PenguinsGive. Every gift of up to $500 will be matched dollar-for-dollar until funds are fully used, doubling the impact of your support.
Every gift, no matter the size, creates a tangible impact. A scholarship can help keep a student enrolled. An emergency grant can prevent someone from dropping out due to an unexpected bill. Funding for hands-on programs and workforce training ensures Clark continues to power the regional economy.
When alumni give, they honor the education that shaped them. When faculty and staff give, they demonstrate belief in their students beyond the classroom. When community members give, they strengthen the workforce and vitality of Southwest Washington. PenguinsGive is more than fundraising. It’s a statement that access to education matters, that opportunity should be within reach, and that when we give together, we go further.
As we get closer, we invite you to join us. Make a gift. Share the message. Encourage a friend. Post your Penguin pride. Be part of the momentum.
Even though PenguinsGive officially kicks off on April 30th, you can give starting today!
Interested in doing more to support PenguinsGive? Want to use your voice to support the Penguin Nation? Checkout this PenguinsGive toolkit including how to be an advocate, social media imagery, and more!