Rachel Flynn

Welcome to the Writing and Academic Skills Center (WASC). I am the director of the WASC and I also teach freshman composition, pre-college composition, and our university 101 seminar. I received my undergraduate degree in English at Whitworth University in 2007 and my Master’s degree in English at Eastern Washington University in 2014. Since then, Heritage University has become my home and has given me amazing opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. I’m excited to lead the amazing team of tutors we have here at Heritage and to continue to maintain and build up our unique tutoring services to meet the needs of students, faculty, and the rest of the campus community. At the WASC we strive to provide support, build confidence, and empower students as they pursue their academic goals.

Amy Vaniotis

I am excited to call Yakima Valley my new home after almost ten years in Portland, Oregon, and I’m especially thrilled to be the Assistant Director of the WASC. The path that led me here has been a bit unconventional: I began by editing for a national animal nonprofit, detoured to work at a doggie daycare, and most recently helped LGBTQ people and people experiencing infertility have babies in my role as a manager at a surrogacy agency. One constant along this path has been my passion for writing, and for helping others to learn and communicate better. Heritage University is the perfect place for me to use that passion to serve others. I am honored to support the student tutors at a university whose mission 

Hometown:  Processor, WA
Activities:  Dreamer's Youth Society - Secretary.  Student Government Association - Director of Social Media
Achievements:  Dean's List
Academic Generation:  1st Generation
Major:  Elementary Education
Concentration:  Bilingual Education
Academic Classification:  Junior
Tutoring Subjects:  English and American Sign Language

Please feel free to reach out for assistance.  I'm more than happy to help.  VillalbaE@heritage.edu

Hometown:  Toppenish, WA
Academic Generation:  First Generation
Major:  Medical Laboratory Science
Concentration:  Medical Health Care
Academic Classification:  Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects:  Writing, Chemistry 101, and 105

If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.

 “Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: The future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so”

Activities:  Active Hearts and Minds Club member
Achievements:  Soar Scholar, Dean's List award
Academic Generation:  2nd Generation
Major:  Biology
Concentration:   N/A
Academic Classification:  Senior
Tutoring Subjects:  General Chemistry, General Biology

Please feel free to reach out to me for assistance! I am happy to help with any questions you may have.  Bryantal1@heritage.edu

Emiliano Orozco

Activities:  Secretary of Computer Science Club
Achievements:  Dean's List
Academic Generation:  1st Generation
Major:  Computer Science
Academic Classification:  Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects: Math 140-212 and Computer Science

Email:  CabreaJ1@heritage.edu

Omar Moreno

Hometown:  Yakima, WA
Achievements:  Associates of Arts Degree from YVCC, Member of Honors program, Act Six Scholar
Academic Generation:  1st Generation
Major:  Engineering
Concentration:  Mechanical Engineering
Academic Classification:  Junior
Tutor Subjects:  Math up to Calculus 1 and General Chemistry

Feel free to reach me if you have any question at Morenoo1@heritage.edu

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Joanna Torres

Activities:  Computer Science Club and member of TRiO

Major:  Computer Science
Academic Classification:  Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects:  Math 140, Math 150, Java 1, and Java 1

Please feel free to reach out for my assistance.  I am more than happy to help.  Torresj9@heritage.edu

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Aaron Etherington

Activities:  Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA) heavy armored combat, Reading, and playing computer games

Major:  Science in Biology - currently enrolled in the Master's of Arts Degree Program in Medical Sciences
Academic Classification:  Graduate Student
Tutoring Subjects:  Math 95, Calculus, Math 221, Sociology 220, Biology, Chemistry 101 through Chemistry 111

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Brandon Berk

Hometown:  Sunnyside
Activities: TRiO, Inspire Club 
Achievements: Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Leadership Alliance, Act Six Scholar, Honors Program, Dean’s List
Academic Generation: First Generation 
Major: Mathematics  
Academic Classification: Junior
Tutoring Subjects: All Math and Basic Computer Sciences (including JAVA and C++)
Email:  BerkB@heritage.edu

Alexis Oxley

Hometown: Grandview, WA
Activities: EnvironMentors, INSPIRE, Ethics Club, SGA Senator
Achievements: ActSix Scholar
Academic Generation: Frst Generation
Major: Environmental Sciences B.S.
Academic Classification: Junior
Tutoring Subjects: Statistics, Philosophy, Environmental Science
Email: OxleyA@heritage.edu

Esmeralda Garcia

Hometown: Wapat
Acivities: International volunteers HQ, Medical Science Club, Pre-SOMA
Achievements: Act Six Scholar, Dean’s list
Academic Generation: First Generation
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Concentration: Biology
Academic Classification: Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects: Biology 101,110,111
Email: Garciae19@heritage.edu

Irene Jimenez

Name:  Irene Jimenez
Hometown:   Toppenish
Activities:   ActSix, SGA , MSA, GAO IG, DJ Club, TRiO
Achievements:   ActSix Scholar, Dean's list award 2x 
Academic Generation:  First Generation 
Major: Mathematics  
Concentration:   N/A 
Academic Classification:   Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects:  Math (140 - 213)
Email:  JimenezI2@heritage.edu

"I enjoy tutoring. I just really enjoy the experience of teaching" - William Hung

Jose Figueroa

Hometown: Grandview, WA
Achievements: Dean’s List
Academic Generation: First
Major: Environmental Science
Concentration: Natural Sciences
Academic Classification: Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects: Math 96/140/150
Email: FigueroaJ1@Heritage.edu

Feel free to contact me through my school email if you need help with anything!

Michelle Barba

Hometown:  Yakima, WA
Activities:  IVHQ Vice President
Achievements: Act Six, Dean's List
Academic Generation: 1st Generation
Major: Biomedical Science
Academic Classification:  Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects:  BIOL 101, 110, 111
Email:  BarbaM@heritage.edu

“Take it one step at a time! You'll get there."

Wendy Huylar

Hometown: Toppenish, WA
Achievements: B.S. in Mathematics with minors in biology and physical science 
Activities: Pursuing a masters in mathematics at Montana State University
Tutoring Subjects: Statistics, Philosophy, Environmental Science
Position: Adjunct Professor
Email: Huylar_W@heritage.edu

Jose Ortiz-Garcia

Hometown: Yakima, WA
Activities: SGA President, Omega Delta Phi Standards   
Achievements: Act Six Scholar and Deans List    
Academic Generation: 1st Generation
Major: Chemistry     
Academic Classification: Senior   
Tutoring Subjects: General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Instrumental Chemistry, Calculus I, Calculus II, and Biology 110
Email: Ortiz-GarJ@heritage.edu

I am here to help!

Tony Mendez

Hometown:   Sunnyside
Activities: biography books, music, motorcycles, hiking  
Achievements: N/A  
Academic Generation:  3rd generation
Major: Engineering
Concentration: Mechanical
Academic Classification: Sophomore   
Tutoring Subjects: Physics, Math
Email: mendeza6@heritage.edu

Alfonso Gonzalez-Colin

Hometown:  Yakima, Wa 
Activities:  Act Six, IVHQ, Ethics, ALPFA    
Achievements:   Act Six Scholar, Dean’s lists Award 
Academic Generation:  First Generation 
Major:   Business Administration 
Concentration:   Entrepreneurship 
Academic Classification:  Sophomore 
Tutoring Subjects: ENG 101, 102, UNIV 101, BADM 101, 350, 380, ECON 101, ACCT 230, 231, MATH 135, 221, 221L
Email: Gonzalez-A2@Heritage.edu

Feel free to contact me through my school email if you need help with anything!

Elena Maltos

Hometown:  Yakima, WA
Activities:  SGA Projects and Events Coordinator, IVHQ Secretary
Achievements:   Dean’s List, Act Six Scholar, WWIN Grantee
Academic Generation:  First Generation
Major:  History Major, Literature Minor
Academic Classification: Sophomore
Tutoring Subjects: Writing, English
Email:  maltose1@heritage.edu

Maria Itzel Soto

Hometown: Yakima 
Activities: Student Government Association, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated
Achievements: Dean’s List Award, Honors Program member 
Academic Generation:  First Generation 
Major: History 
Academic Classification: Sophomore   
Tutoring Subjects: general social work, general history 
Email: SotoM7@heritage.edu

Jesus Rodriguez

Hometown:   Granger, WA
Activities:   Sigma Lambda Beta Interest Group Standards & Community Service Chair
Achievements:   First male admitted into the Heritage University BSN Nursing Program (Cohort 2)
Academic Generation:  1st generation
Major:   BSN Nursing
Concentration:   Undecided between Pediatrics and Anesthesiology
Academic Classification:   Junior
Tutoring Subjects: English/Writing
Email: RodriguezJ23@heritage.edu

Keegan Livermore

Stop by for Coffee!

WASC Hours:

Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tutoring Hours

Academic Skills Center
Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Writing Center
Monday - Thursday
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Rachel Flynn
Director, WASC
Instructor, English and Humanities
(509) 865-0424
Flynn_R@heritage.edu