Your 2023 was one for the books and we’re here to rewind and look at all the stories you enjoyed the most. Out of over 200 programs offered between Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community Colleges, you had four that really stuck out to you.
Your top programs were Orthotics and Prosthetic Technology, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Automation, Graphic Design and Transfer programs.
Let’s look at which stories you couldn’t get enough of in 2023.
Angela Boncz
You watched Angela Boncz give 100% of her care to animals in need.
Orthotics and Prosthetics Technology student turned CEO, Angela Boncz showed us how beginning her journey at SFCC has led her to be fulfilled personally and professionally. This year, we met with Boncz to spill the beans on her journey from Squatch to CEO.
“I always wanted to work in the animal industry, but I didn't want to commit to be a vet because there's so much schooling involved,” she said. “I wanted to get hands-on in there, so Spokane Falls Community College offered that.”
Coming out of the OPT program, Boncz was looking for a way to combine her love for animals and her technical skills as a newly certified (title). After working in the human orthotics industry for a while, Boncz came across an opportunity to use her skills to heal a puppy that’d tore a ligament. She created a brace for that puppy and never looked back.
For Boncz, no animal is too big or small. She is now lead fabricator and CEO of Specialized Pet Solutions where she helps animals in need every day.
Watch Boncz give 100% of her care to her patients now.
Rick Clark
You witnessed Rick Clark re-write his story and change over 7,000 lives.
You knew him as an SCC student, you knew him as a Zag and now you know Rick Clark as the CEO of Giving Back Packs.
Clark showed us that one chance can lead to a lot of change. From studying in his van in the SCC parking lot to beginning his own non-profit, Clark has grown what began as a tinge of hope into so much more.
Clark enrolled at SCC at 44 years old to turn his life around and that’s exactly what he did. After graduating from SCC’s transfer programs, he attended Gonzaga University and graduated two years later with his Bachelor of Art Communication Studies. From there he went on to begin his own non-profit, Giving Back Packs, that has since donated over 7,000 back packs to people who are experiencing homelessness.
Watch Clark’s story now.
Joel Barbour
You met one graphic design alum.
Maybe you had a class with him, saw him in the graphic design lab or know him better for his clothing brand — The Great PNW. SFCC Graphic Design alumni Joel Barbour turned two years of time in Building 19 into a career, and a fun one at that.
“Doing the design program was awesome. I truly loved every day I was there. I was truly excited on my first day of school to learn a skill set that I didn't have, but I wanted really badly,” he said. “Over the course of two years, I got to do all types of design stuff from T-shirts to brochures. I learned motion graphics, which really carried me through my professional career and really what I do today.”
When he walked onto campus, Joel had no idea where his skills in graphic design would lead him. Now he runs a company that is one of the only brands designing original gear for the NFL’s very own Seattle Seahawks.
Barbour’s steppingstone at SFCC has taken him and his designs further than he first imagined.
Watch Barbour’s story now.
Serenity Haines
Your top story was “Above Water” with 553 views on YouTube.
All Squatches are dedicated to expanding opportunities and this year it showed. Your top video of 2023 was “Above Water” with 553 views on YouTube.
You followed SCC alumni Serenity Haines as she navigated her way through SCC’s Hydraulic and Pneumatic Automation program and into the workforce. Stepping out of this program was a step towards a future with unlimited possibility.
“The faculty here care about you,” she said. “Here at SCC, I really found the opportunity to get the experience that I needed without having to pay so much and work my life away and not really be able to experience my kid growing up.”
Being a single parent, Haines was looking for ways to create stability for her son and her career. Since joining the HPA program, Haines has had the opportunity to attend networking events, spoken at the Association of Washington Business and secured a job in the HPA industry after graduating in the spring.
That's a Wrap!
Your 2023 wrapped shows that you know what it means to be a Squatch. Through it all, Community Colleges of Spokane are proud of the students, faculty and staff that push each other to unlock their potential every day on campus and in our communities.
That’s a wrap on 2023. We’ll see you next year, Squatches!