With a focus on inclusion, Renton Technical College kicked off the 2022-23 academic year with the first in-person celebration since 2019. The faculty-staff event featured RTC’s new president, Dr. Yoshiko Harden, a keynote by author Ijeoma Oluo, and the presentation of exceptional employee awards.
Fall Kickoff is an annual tradition at the college, but it was the event held virtually the last two years during the pandemic. More than 100 staff and faculty attended the breakfast, while others watched online.
Harden, who became president on July 1, told the crowd she is excited to join the RTC family.
“This is the warmest welcome I’ve ever received from a college community,” she said.
She is eager to meet more community members and present her plans for the college in the coming weeks and months.
Oluo, author of “So you Want to Talk About Race,” presented the keynote. College community members received copies of the book and held book clubs over the past year.
She told the audience that advances to provide for vulnerable communities during the pandemic show what is possible, but it should not take such tremendous loss to achieve. She encouraged people to address complex issues.
“When we shut ourselves off from painful realities, we also shut ourselves off from joy,” she said. “Rejoice in the fact that every day you have an opportunity to make meaningful change.”
The RTC Foundation presented its annual Exceptional Employee Awards. Recipients were Lance Arnold, Anesthesia Technologist Instructor; Sue DeWitt, administrative assistant, Continuing Education; Chef Robert Holland, Professional Baking; Doug Medbury, dean of Culinary Arts; Nancy Medbury, Human Resources Operations Manager; and Christina Solis, Budget Reporting Financial Services Director. Award winners receive cash gifts provided by sponsor First Financial Northwest Bank.
The event also included a premiere of the college’s new recruitment video, which highlights the college’s programs and diversity and encourages students to find their place at RTC.