Meet Jose Preciado and Max Gadeberg, two members of WVC Omak’s Community Engaged Knights (CEK) student club. From organizing community events to sponsoring a youth baseball team in Omak, CEK has wasted no time in the last two years finding ways to fulfill its mission to increase student involvement and community connection in Okanogan County.  

The Community Engaged Knights have found several different ways to show up for the community. This spring, Jose, Max, and their fellow club CEK members raised funds to sponsor a youth baseball team in Omak and purchase a sign for WVC Omak at the ballpark. Not only did they collaborate on the fundraising efforts, they also attended practices, games, and volunteered at the concession stand. “One thing I would love for the community to know about CEK is that we CARE! We really do have a passion for our communities, and we want to try our best to make it better every time and every opportunity that we have,” Jose said. 

The Community Engaged Knights have another, uniquely regional victory to their name: they took first place at the Conconully Outhouse Races in the winter of 2025! This annual event challenges participants to build an outhouse on skis that is then pushed along a snowy downtown street in a wintry race. Last year, CEK worked as a team to design and build a castle-themed outhouse that they successfully pushed to first place.  

The club is co-advised by WVC Omak History professor Shannon Rodman and WVC librarian Tria Skirko. Tria said that CEK’s victory "highlights the club's commitment to engaging with the community as representatives of Wenatchee Valley College Omak. This event not only celebrated student creativity and teamwork but also exemplified the power of working together as a whole campus.” For Jose, winning first place at the Outhouse Race has been a highlight of his time as part of CEK. He emphasized that it’s not just the accolades but also “the journey of getting to build an outhouse itself and having fun with fellow classmates who participated in the event.”  

WVC Omak’s Community Engaged Knights covered a lot of ground this year. Max reflected that “My favorite memory is either the Malott Christmas parade, where we got to help set up, and ride on a fire truck in the parade, or our CEK trip to Port Townsend, where we got to learn about the history of the Triangle of Fire. We also went whale watching.”  

Several of this year's CEK members are graduating this month and will take part in WVC Omak’s Commencement Ceremony on June 20 at the Omak Performing Arts Center. After graduation, Max plans on transferring to WSU to obtain a degree in electrical engineering, and Jose is planning on pursuing a career in law enforcement.  

True to their focus on community, both Jose and Max were happy to leave advice for other students. Jose emphasized involvement: “Some advice that I have for other students is GET INVOLVED! College especially is a great place to get involved and meet new people, make new friends, and create new memories…I am truly grateful that I didn't let fear stop me from going out and creating a very unique WVC club, I am so grateful for it and it has made my college experience here at WVC so much better, so GET INVOLVED!”  

Max echoed this advice, recommending that students “Avoid procrastination, don't be afraid to reach out, and be involved!” 

Join us in congratulating all current and former members of WVC Omak’s Community Engaged Knights club, several of whom are preparing to graduate and embark on their exciting new life chapters! 

Jose Cabello-Preciado 
Gabe Cabello-Preciado 
Max Gadeberg 
Greg Johnson 
Angel Rendon-Garcia 
Fabian Campos  
Fisher Gadeberg 
Rolando Bobadilla 
Jazmon Anderson 
Savannah Davila 
Bianca Escatel 
Mac Nesbit