"I am very aware of how the Knight's Kupboard food pantry has been such a big help to students as they get to the end of their month and their resources are completely depleted. I feel like I have firsthand experience in this because I interact with a lot work study students and this is one less thing they have to worry about so they can focus on their studies." 

- Lisa De Vera, WVC Service Center Manager

How long have you worked at WVC and what is your role here?

“My name is Lisa DeVera and I have been employed at WVC for just over 6 years and I manage the service center here at the college. We take care of all campus printing right here in Batjer Hall. We do everything from very basic copying to large format poster printing on very nice glossy paper, and everything in between. If I can’t do the project in house, I sub contract it out. I get to interact with almost every department regularly here in the service center - if you are an instructor and you get physical copies here at the college, I get to see you and talk with you every day, which I consider to be very fun!”

 Why is higher education important here in the Wenatchee Valley?

“That is such a big question! I feel it is so great in a city of our size, to have the opportunity to attend a community college. You can get an AA degree or even a bachelor’s degree in certain programs. I think the cultural experiences available here at WVC are so valuable too. So many of our instructors here are from different areas in the country, not to mention the world and they get to share all of their perspective and knowledge with our students, which is just amazing. Our Industrial programs like machining, refrigeration, welding, and auto tech open up such great opportunities for folks wanting a more hands-on career. Someone can get their education and training right here, in some cases in only a couple of years and be able to make a decent family wage right here in the valley.”

 What is your favorite part of working here at WVC?

“The best part of working here is that it is such a positive environment here at the college. Students are here to better themselves. The instructors have chosen to be here to educate students and it is a great atmosphere of positive change. Also, the employees here at WVC are close and it’s very much a family environment.”

 How has the foundation impacted you or a student that you know?

“The service center is located in Batjer Hall and the Knight’s Kupboard is also located here so I get to help direct students to the Knight’s Kupboard food pantry.  I am very aware of how the food pantry has been such a big help to students as they get to the end of their month and their resources are completely depleted. I feel like I have firsthand experience in this because I interact with a lot work study students and this is one less thing they have to worry about so they can focus on their studies. I had a work study student who had lost or broken her eye glasses and she was not able to function, but the Knight’s Care Fund was able to help her out and give her funds to get new glasses. It made such a difference for her! It is just one small example of one student receiving assistance, but it was really lovely! I am so glad the foundation is there to help our students get through their education process. It is comforting to know the foundation is there for them and the more that students utilize areas of the foundation, the more the word gets out that there is support for them. It’s really good!”