Yakima Reporter Honored By YVCC

The Yakima Valley Community College Alumni Association honors Dave Lester as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus. Mr. Lester is a reporter at the Yakima Herald-Republic. He has reported on a large variety of topics including local government, agriculture, business, and criminal justice.

Mr. Lester grew up in the Yakima Valley and graduated from Sunnyside High School. In 1965 he enrolled at YVCC. Commuting daily from Sunnyside, for the first year and later moving to Yakima he had been attending YVCC’s Yakima Campus for two years when he received his draft notice. Mr. Lester was inducted into the United States Army in February of 1968 and went through basic training at Fort Lewis. He spent nearly the next two years deployed in Germany during the Vietnam War. Returning to Yakima Mr. Lester again enrolled at YVCC, and earned an associate in arts degree in communication. He then transferred to Washington State University (WSU) and graduated in 1973 with a bachelor of arts degree in communications. “I simply would not be where I am without YVCC. Even in the late 1960s and early 1970s when tuition costs were much lower, I lacked the financial capability to attend a four-year institution,” stated David Lester. “YVCC provided me the foundation from which to continue my college career at WSU. My professors and advisors provided me the time and guidance to help me focus my career goals,” he continued.

After graduation Mr. Lester worked in Prosser, Washington in the radio industry. In September of 1976 he began working at the Yakima Herald-Republic’s Sunnyside office, and later transferred to Yakima. “David Lester is one of the finest reporters I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” stated Bob Crider, Yakima Herald-Republic Editor. “Elected and appointed officials rely on Dave for his straightforward and accurate reporting. Dave’s peers on the reporting staff turn to him often for his institutional knowledge of the Valley and Central Washington. Editors, meanwhile, will readily turn to Dave to handle some of the toughest stories, knowing he’ll do a thorough job and meet his deadlines. No story is too big for him, no story too small. Dave is a consummate professional whom our readers have trusted for more than 35 years,” he concluded.