Cameron Bundy
Associate in Arts DTA
Cameron Bundy was born and raised in Everett, WA and graduated from Arlington High School in 2011. After struggling with addiction he relocated to the Yakima Valley in 2012 and with the support of his family began treatment at Sundown M Ranch. Finding success, he completed his treatment and began working in the local restaurant industry as a server. Wanting more, and with the encouragement of his aunt, Bundy began attending Yakima Valley College in 2018.
“I choose to attend YVC because I realized I didn’t want to wait tables forever,” stated Bundy. “My aunt had attended the school and always had nice things to say. I felt that it would be a good place to ease back into school and also felt that it included people from all different walks of life,” he continued.
Initially unsure what to study, Bundy’s passion for mathematics and teaching was ignited by Instructor Martin Meister’s love of the subject. “I hated math in high school, but starting at the bottom and seeing how passionate some of my instructors were about numbers made me want to challenge myself and explore the subject. They also helped push me and if it weren’t for them I don’t think I would’ve made the decision to major in mathematics,” he continued.
A familiar face on campus, Bundy works in the Tutoring Center. In addition to his coursework, he was selected last spring to participate in YVC’s undergraduate research. His project titled, “Does Homework Matter?” under the direction of Dr. Panyada Sullivan compared student success using different assessment methods. These projects are made possible by a science, technology, engineering, and math grant through the US Department of Education. YVC works in partnership with Heritage University to offer this opportunity to students. Though his results were anticlimactic, Bundy values the knowledge he learned of conducting a research project and hopes to explore of research opportunities in the future. He also has been active in the STEM, MESA and Phi Theta Kappa student clubs.
Off campus, he is a volunteer with Yakima Humane Society as a front desk and animal walker. He also, volunteers at the Season’s Performance Hall and helps tutor high school students in math. He maintains a part-time job as a server at the 2nd Street Grill.
To help pursue his studies he has received funding from the Finish Strong program, NEST program, and the YVC Foundation. He graduates this spring with an associate in arts transfer degree. He plans to transfer to a 4-year university and study applied mathematics. He hopes to one-day become a high school or college math instructor. In addition, he would love the opportunity to teach abroad and continue to conduct research projects.
