Alumni News

Alumni News

The Heritage alumni network is over 9,000 strong, living in places all over the world – each doing incredible and inspiring things in their lives and communities! We want to share their stories with you and keep you up-to-date on what’s new with the Heritage community.

University News Publications

• Wings
Wings is our semi-annual magazine mailed to Heritage friends and alumni. It features stories on alumni, donors, students, and more! We also feature the Alumni Class Nots submissions in this publication.

HUNow
HUNow is our monthly e-newsletter that highlights the most recent Heritage student and faculty achievements, upcoming campus and community events, alumni updates, and other latest developments of your alma mater.

To subscribe to either of these communications, make sure you update your contact information.

Distinguished Alumni

• 2018 Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumnus Award Winner – Pastor Colleen Sheahan

Participating in one of the first collaborative cohorts between Heritage, Yakima Valley College, and Central Washington University, Pastor Colleen Sheahan graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She later went on to receive her Master’s in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008.

Colleen was motivated to offer educational opportunities to students in the Yakima Valley that would excel in small class sizes with individualized attention. Inspired by the Heritage University mission to promote social justice and transformational student-centered education, Colleen opened a private, Christian elementary school in Yakima, the West Chestnut Academy, formerly known as Westpark Christian Academy.

West Chestnut Academy students come from multiple faith traditions, present varying degrees of special needs, and represent a variety of cultural diversity. This past year, West Chestnut welcomed an international student from Thailand, and with Colleen’s leadership, the school continues to collaborate with international partners as a commitment to diversity. Colleen embodies the Heritage mission by modelling acceptance of difference, committing to excellence, and seeking justice in our community. Today, West Chestnut Academy serves an average of 80 students per year and has graduated a total of 58 seniors. Colleen’s mission is to continually strive to offer outstanding services to children and families of the Yakima Valley.

• Legacy Families
Heritage University recognizes our alumni who have made a Heritage education a part of their family tradition. We celebrate the generations of Heritage graduates that continue this legacy among their family members. If you are an alumni or a current student that had a grandparent, parent, sibling, or other close relative graduate from Heritage, let us know so we can recognize you! Email alumni@heritage.edu.