Interpreter Spotlight
Katy Becker
- Interpreting Since: 2012
- Fun Fact: Once had 19 animals, including sheep and goats!
Katy Becker has been part of the RISE family since 2016. Her journey into the world of interpreting was inspired early on, her mother once babysat a young boy with Deaf parents, and Katy recalls how they would all communicate by writing. Though her high school only offered SEE (Signed Exact English), the spark for sign language never left her.
At her 10-year high school reunion, Katy wrote in the class book that she wished she had become an interpreter. Years later, when her daughter enrolled at Riverside Community College, Katy decided to pursue that dream and took her first ASL class. She went on to graduate from the interpreting training program in 2012 and has since passed the E.S.S.E., with her sights now set on the E.I.P.A.
When she’s not interpreting, Katy enjoys international travel, past trips include Scotland, London, and Italy, with Switzerland next on her list. She’s a proud wife of 40 years, mother of two daughters, and grandma to two grandsons. She’s also (semi-)retired from her days of running a full farm, currently downsizing from 19 animals to just 1 donkey, 3 horses, 3 dogs, and 2 cats!
Signing Aide Spotlight
Maria Lopez
- With RISE Since: 2023
- Fun Fact: Played on a first-place women’s soccer team with her mom and sister!
Maria Lopez has been a RISE Signing Aide since September 2023. Her passion for the Deaf community began as a teenager, when she joined a co-ed soccer team and became close friends with a Deaf teammate. The two often walked home together after games, and Maria began learning basic signs with help from his mom to communicate better on and off the field.
Years later, while attending college, Maria enrolled in ASL courses to reconnect more deeply with her childhood friend, who remains a close friend to this day. Inspired by her growing love for the language and culture, Maria knew she wanted to pursue a career where she could use ASL to build meaningful connections and support others.
Her current goal is to earn her EIPA certification so she can continue making a difference in students’ lives both academically and personally.
Outside of work, Maria enjoys reading, going to the gym, cruising around with her dog, and experimenting with new recipes she finds online. One of her proudest moments was playing on an all-women’s soccer team alongside her mom and sister, and taking home the championship. “It was an amazing and memorable experience for me to be able to celebrate a victory alongside my mother.”
Critter Corner
Bella
Meet Bella, the true head of the household. Forget titles like “Queen” or “Boss”—she runs the place with a paw of authority. Her favorite pastime? Stretching out in the shade like she’s on permanent vacation. Of course, part of being in charge means keeping Frida (my poor dog) in line. Bella has perfected the art of bossing her around without lifting a whisker. But her real obsession? Milk. She’s a certified dairy diva. Even after polishing off a bowl, she’ll put on her sweetest “I’m starving” act to manipulate us into pouring just a little more. Don’t be fooled—Bella could probably open her own milk bar at this point. – Kristeena Thaten (Office Staff)
Office News
In Loving Memory: David Knight
March 29, 1958 – September 1, 2025
We honor the life of David Knight, husband of our HR Coordinator Patti Knight, and uncle to our CEO and CFO. David was part of the RISE family in more ways than one. Lending a hand around the office with cleaning and repairs, and sharing a kind smile.
Outside the office, David was a talented guitarist and a proud member of The Psycohbillies, a local rockabilly band. Music was a lifelong passion, and those who knew him will remember not only his craftsmanship and work ethic, but also the rhythm he brought to life, both on stage and off.
David’s legacy is one of kindness, creativity, and service. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Welcome, Chelsea Logan – Our New Scheduling Supervisor!
We’re excited to announce that Chelsea Logan has officially stepped into the role of Scheduling Supervisor! Many of you already know Chelsea from her incredible work as a Signing Aide Coordinator, where she brought organization, care, and consistent communication to her team.
“I’m so happy to be stepping into this new role. I look forward to getting to know each of our interpreters! My goal is to provide support and good communication between our coordinating team and interpreters. Ready to dive in!” – Chelsea Logan
Come celebrate with us and say hello at our upcoming Happy Hour on Tuesday, October 22 at 4 PM!
Events
Workshop Update: Miranda Rights Postponed
The Miranda Rights Workshop, originally scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2025, has been postponed. We understand many of you had this marked on your calendars, but due to overlapping workshops on the same day, we’ve decided to reschedule to allow for greater participation.
We encourage you to explore other professional development opportunities happening that day through Mt. SAC.
View the October 18 Workshop Calendar »
RISE Employee Happy Hour – October 22, 2025
Please join us for our upcoming RISE Employees-Only Happy Hour on Tuesday, October 22, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Hangar 24 in Riverside.
This casual get-together is a great opportunity to relax, connect with fellow staff, and meet Chelsea Logan, our new Scheduling Supervisor. Many of you already know Chelsea from her time as a Signing Aide Coordinator. She now brings her skills and leadership to the Scheduling team and looks forward to strengthening collaboration with interpreters.
Please RSVP via email to TerpManager@riseinterpreting.com
Sports Interpreter Workshop!
A big thank you to everyone who attended the RISE Interpreting Workshop: Sports Terminology on Saturday, September 27 in Riverside! The day was filled with engaging sessions led by Deaf coaches and teachers from CSDR, covering terminology from football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and track.
We hope you walked away with new tools, insights, and confidence to tackle sports-related assignments. Your participation helped make it a success!
Thank You for Joining Us at the Ballpark!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the RISE night at the 66ers vs. Lake Elsinore Storm game on September 5th! It was a fun-filled evening full of laughter, snacks, and team spirit. We loved seeing so many of you come out to relax, connect, and enjoy America’s pastime together.
Check out some snapshots from the night!
View Facebook post
Congratulations to
Rosalie Bradley & Marlene Gaines
for passing their EIPA exams!
Congratulations to
Amber Cunning
for passing the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam
Community News
DeafFestival – September 20, 2025
It was wonderful to see so many of you at this year’s DeafFestival! The day was filled with community connection, smiles, and celebration.
A huge thank you to our incredible interpreters and volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly. Including Liam Stephenson, who jumped in to help and was a CHAMP all day long!
We’d also like to congratulate our very own, Sarah LeClair, recipient of the Ruth Usher Community Interpreter Award, for her continued contributions to the field and community. Well-deserved!
View Instagram post
Interpreter Advocacy at the State Level
Tracy L’Angelle Presents at the CA Advisory Commission on Special Education
RISE Interpreter Tracy L’Angelle, CI & NIC, recently presented to the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) at the California Department of Education in Sacramento.
In an effort to better understand the current issues impacting the education of D/HH students, the Commission sought specific input on the field of educational interpreting. Tracy delivered an insightful overview of the roles, responsibilities, and legal foundations that define interpreters in K–12 education—highlighting the interpreter’s role as a Related Service Provider and noting the lack of standardized qualifications compared to other RSPs.
Her presentation included recommendations for creating statewide systems of accountability and professional support, ensuring that LEAs and SELPAs meet federal and state compliance obligations. Tracy also emphasized the urgent need to address language deprivation and to hire highly qualified interpreters who can support D/HH students’ educational success.
Get Involved in Educational Policy
The ACSE meets five times per year. Members of the public are welcome to attend, participate, or provide comment either in person or by phone. All meetings are live-streamed and recorded for accessibility.
September Birthday Club!
Rose Quezada
Hevani Feao
Danielle Demott
Brian Munoz
Frank Lester
Kim Stille
Christina Calder
Mary Myers
Janelle Gonzalez
Jolene Greaney
Frances Aguila
Kim Wilson
Destani Long
Phillip Carmona
Wendy Shernicoff
Tracy L’Angelle
Jessica Gibbons
Shayna Crowell
Austin Frankel
Erica Auerbach
Stosha Coley
August Statistics
1376
Deaf Consumers Served
23
Professional Development Meetings
5
RID & EIPA
Tests Proctored
Vocabulary Builder
Pedantic
Adjective
Giving too much attention to formal rules or small detail
“They were being unnecessarily pedantic by insisting that Berry himself, and not his wife, should have made the announcement.”
Monthly Tidbits:
Labor Day (September 1st):
Observed annually on the first Monday in September, Labor Day honors the contributions and achievements of American workers. First celebrated in the late 1800s, the holiday became a federal recognition of the labor movement’s push for fair wages, safe conditions, and dignity in the workplace. Today, it’s both a celebration of hard work and an unofficial send-off to summer, marked by barbecues, parades, and time spent with loved ones.
PEPPERONI PIZZA DAY (September 20th):
According to legend, Raffaele Esposito created the first pizza in June of 1889. The Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, inspired the pizza maker so much, he created the pie-shaped delicacy. In the queen’s honor, he named it Pizza Margherita and topped the pizza with tomatoes, basil, and mozzzarella. The colors represent the italian flag.
Why did the bicycle collapse?
It was too tired
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