PCC Feature Stories and Profiles: 2006
Learn more about PCC, our students, faculty, and staff through stories and profiles.
Traylor listens and excels-
Gentè Traylor, a PCC Foundation scholarship recipient, is great at listening to people who are facing adversity and inspiring them to stay positive. She has overcome plenty herself. [December 18, 2006 - Archived home page]
BCT frames student success-
A three-year project is showing young high school students and their teachers how to build green housing. [December 18, 2006 - Archived home page]
Brandon's Story: The ultimate rebound -
Brandon Hoggans has bounced back from a stint in prison. He is now on the right track as he gets his degree and plays basketball at PCC. [December 11, 2006 - Archived home page]
Ophthalmic Medical Technology with a French twist-
France native Rachid Alilat says that enrolling in the Ophthalmic Medical Technology program was the best move he's ever made. [December 11, 2006 - Archived home page]
EMT Instructor Partain has a 'Good Year'-
Firefighter and EMT Louisa Partain was named 'Educator of the Year' for her teaching accomplishments at PCC. [December 4, 2006 - Archived home page]
Rinck is a 'Leader with Promise'-
Ann Rinck is awarded a 2006 Leaders of Promise Scholarship by Phi Theta Kappa, one of 30 students to be honored nationwide. [December 4, 2006 - Archived home page]
'Paralegal Eagles' help pioneer an Oregon first-
A diverse, and very proactive, crop of Paralegal program students helped to establish a new law library at the Cascade Campus – the first of its kind at any community college in the state. [November 27, 2006 - Archived home page]
Rock Creek students think big-
The Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician Program, ThinkBIG, is a partnership between PCC and the five Caterpillar dealers in the Pacific Northwest to train new technicians. [November 27, 2006 - Archived home page]
Math obsession results in a formula for success-
Angela-Marie Loo hangs around the Adult Basic Education office at Sylvania to work on math problems – an obsession that leads to her earning a $1,000 Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship. [November 20, 2006 - Archived home page]
Q & A: Jasmin Kahn says PCC is a great place to study-
Jasmin Kahn used PCC as a springboard to get into Reed College and eventually to Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she is starting her second year in the school's law program. [November 13, 2006 - Archived home page]
Giving thanks by simply giving-
Maleah Johnson is planning this year's Thanksgiving Basket Program at Cascade, just one of many charitable giving events happening this holiday season at the college. [November 13, 2006 - Archived home page]
International Week has Korean flavor-
Korean student Chang-Yu Hong is experiencing America and hopes that the community will in turn visit PCC to experience International Week Nov. 13-17. [November 06, 2006 - Archived home page]
Actor makes her mark in 'The Children's Hour'-
Juliet Marks plays the pivotal role of Mary in the fall production of this American classic. [November 06, 2006 - Archived home page]
Eight isn't enough for Roberts-
Tera Roberts, a mother of 8, came to PCC to get an education and pursue her dream of nursing. [October 30, 2006 - Archived home page]
Bryant hit the ground running-
Danielle Bryant never hesitated getting involved at PCC and soon became a fixture in student government activities. [October 30, 2006 - Archived home page]
Claudia Herrera leads by example-
Herrera may be a freshman but she's a veteran when it comes to PCC. The 18-year-old is already a key mentor for the Oregon Leadership Institute. [October 23, 2006 - Archived home page]
Students are electric over Electronics Engineering-
As it stays current with industry needs, the program is quickly attracting students eager to train for a career or gain new skills in the field of electronics engineering. [October 23, 2006 - Archived home page]
Knowledge without Borders-
International Education has been sending faculty and staff abroad to experience new cultures and discover new ways to approach teaching. [October 16, 2006 - Archived home page]
Harvest Festival scares up community spirit-
Heather Lindsay Carpenter says that people not only get free pumpkins at the Harvest Fest but realize the value of a PCC education. [October 16, 2006 - Archived home page]
Graduate scores big with MLT-
When it comes to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program, Trish Boling was the best in her class. [October 09, 2006 - Archived home page]
In this program, you need to have drive-
The Auto Service Technician program is on the cutting edge of classroom lectures and hands-on demonstrations that make students feel right at home in the shop. [October 09, 2006 - Archived home page]
Villanueva isn't lost in translation-
Juan Villanueva discovered the wonders of Japan while serving in the U.S. Navy and now is returning thanks to a study abroad opportunity. [October 02, 2006 - Archived home page]
To New Orleans with love-
A group of PCC students traveled to the Big Easy to help clean up neighborhoods affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. [October 02, 2006 - Archived home page]
Message from the District President: PCC reflects a diverse community-
Preston Pulliams highlights the importance of diversity and cultural competency at the college.[September 25, 2006 - Archived home page]
Instructor presents paper at famed Oxford University-
Warren Cook presented his thoughts on teaching at a criminal law roundtable this summer at the famed Oxford University. [September 25, 2006 - Archived home page]
A mission that had bite -
A group of dental hygiene students traveled to a remote Honduran village to administer dental care to children. [September 18, 2006 - Archived home page]
Quezada is starting off on the right foot-
The Sylvania Multicultural Center and the Office of Admissions are hosting an open house Sept. 16 for incoming students like Esmeralda Quezada. [September 11, 2006 - Archived home page]
Job fair is now her business-
Victoria Masengale's Oregon Transfer Company uses the Workforce Network Job Fair to fill key positions at her business. [September 11, 2006 - Archived home page]
Building support for construction technology -
The PCC Foundation is putting on a benefit golf tournament to provide general student scholarships and support for Building Construction Technology. [September 04, 2006 - Archived home page]
MyPCC makes your life easy-
With easy access from anywhere and a wide array of classes and services at a student's fingertips, registering for classes was never easier. [September 04, 2006 - Archived home page]
A push in the right direction-
Accepted to prestigious private institutions, Marneet Lewis chose PCC because she knew the college's diverse mix of students would push her to succeed. [August 21, 2006 - Archived home page]
Flock to Early Bird Special-
Community Education is currently running a fall term special. Students who sign up early can bring a friend to any non-credit class for half the price! [August 21, 2006 - Archived home page]
From plumber to MIT, Alvis is going places-
Alvis got the English classes he needed and is now studying at one of America's most prestigious universities with a fully paid fellowship. [August 07, 2006 - Archived home page]
Hatago's future comes into focus-
Kimberly Hatago found the right medical field for her skills, Ophthalmic Medical Technology, and today is a respected professional. [July 24, 2006 - Archived home page]
Orientation introduces new students to college life-
Starting school doesn't have to be disorienting. The college's orientation sessions — held at four locations across the district and online, will help you find your way. [July 24, 2006 - Archived home page]
Formula for success: hard work and college-
Levi howard rolled up his sleeves and worked hard in his studies to gain entry into the field of his dreams — computer technology. [July 10, 2006 - Archived home page]
Financial aid, scholarships are there for the taking-
One of the biggest misconceptions students have is that they may not qualify for financial aid, so they never apply. [July 10, 2006 - Archived home page]
Big Opportunities. Big Plans.-
Le did it the hard way, working full-time at Tek while going to PCC. "It was a heavy load," she says, "but it can be done!" [June 26, 2006 - Archived home page]
When getting started, seek out advice-
After the application and testing process, new students should sit down with an advisor and map out their future, whether they know what they want to do or not. [June 26, 2006 - Archived home page]
Zen Dragons centered and competitive-
Leader Fran Palk's drive and overwhelming interest from students and staff have made the PCC Dragon Boat Team a winner. [June 12, 2006 - Archived home page]
Admission to college – the quick and easy way-
When beginning the admissions process, a student must ask themselves a few questions in order to start their college education on the right foot. [June 12, 2006 - Archived home page]
Gibson is the ultimate turn-around story-
Leah Gibson went from being a drug-addicted youth to earning a transfer degree and being this year's graduation student speaker. [June 05, 2006 - Archived home page]
A second chance was all she needed-
Jennifer Parache used her experience to become a regional vice president at Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year honors society. [June 05, 2006 - Archived home page]
She's graphic by design-
Amy Wiltbank enjoyed working on a graphic design task for a world famous National Geographic photographer. [May 29, 2006 - Archived home page]
Habitat for PCC's humanity-
April Fong uses the natural surroundings of the Sylvania Campus to help guide students in biology and do something good for the environment. [May 29, 2006 - Archived home page]
Gwaltney-Beaumont loves to be grounded-
The green thumbs of Gwaltney-Beaumont and the talented grounds crew keep PCC beautiful. [May 22, 2006 - Archived home page]
It's all about location, location, location-
With the introduction of the latest GPS surveying equipment, Richard Dawes is helping position the Civil Engineering program on the leading edge. [May 2215, 2006 - Archived home page]
Rosalie Tucker's dance card full thanks to scholarship-
The second-year transfer student at the Cascade Campus was recently awarded a large national scholarship to pay for her dance studies at UCLA. [May 15, 2006 - Archived home page]
Intramurals no turkey, thanks to Traweek-
At Sylvania, the 25-year-veteran of the campus' intramurals gets students and staff active with such events as the Turkey Trot and volleyball tournaments. [May 15, 2006 - Archived home page]
The Art Beat goes on at PCC-
Get ready for another full week of Art Beat, May 8-12, offering access to local, regional and national artists, as well as visual art, dance, music, theater and literary events. [May 8, 2006 - Archived home page]
Building the right career-
Karl Lange started out as a student in the Building Construction Technology program. Now he is a part-time instructor and a construction superintendent with Renaissance Homes. [May 1, 2006 - Archived home page]
Linda Peterson cultivates a new career -
Peterson decided to change careers and pursue her love of garden design by enrolling in the Landscape Technology program at the Rock Creek Campus.[May 1, 2006 - Archived home page]
There will be plenty of luck at this play-
The Theater Arts Program presents, 'The Man Who Had All the Luck,' to commemorate the late novelist Arthur Miller. [April 24, 2006 - Archived home page]
Students put pedal to the metal for Diesel Day-
Robert Stafford joined his classmates in showcasing diesel skills to more than 400 area high school students attending the Fifth Annual Diesel Career Fair at the Rock Creek Campus. [April 24, 2006 - Archived home page]
Marilyn Ceaser's career was just a bump away-
By chance, this chemistry student bumped into a new opportunity at the Cascade Job Fair that is paying off. [April 24, 2006 - Archived home page]
Arnold makes education work for students-
Terry Arnold helps students in the Computer Technology programs find jobs as they work on degrees. [April 17, 2006 - Archived home page]
College enhances scholars' lives-
The 2006 Oregon Outstanding Community College Student Scholars have excelled since enrolling at the college. This is the second of two parts introducing six 2006 outstanding scholars. [April 17, 2006 - Archived home page]
Tringali guides students to a cultural renaissance-
Susanne Tringali, art history and studio art instructor, wants students to experience a cultural renaissance that will change their life. PCC's Study Abroad program is taking applicants for its fall term trip to Florence, Italy. [April 10, 2006 - Archived home page]
Scholars love to volunteer-
The 2006 Oregon Outstanding Community College Student Scholars enjoy serving the community through volunteer work. This is the first of two parts introducing six 2006 outstanding scholars. [April 10, 2006 - Archived home page]
For high school graduates, PCC is all about their future-
It is not only the time of year for seniors to start thinking about graduation, but time to think about turning to an affordable option like PCC. [April 3, 2006 - Archived home page]
Multimedia program graduates to the big time-
After recently getting state approval for its associate's degree, moving into a state-of-the-art facility and producing a film for '24,' PCC has shot to the forefront in multimedia instruction in Portland. [March. 27, 2006 - Archived home page]
This new program is always in fashion-
PCC has a Fashion Design program that will give local students an opportunity to get their foot into the door of the fashion world. [March. 20, 2006 - Archived home page]
Sustainability options a stable resource at PCC-
PCC's sustainability coordinator Noelle Studer is changing how PCC staff, faculty and students view recycling and energy use. [March. 20, 2006 - Archived home page]
Gear up to get around PCC this spring-
Finding parking spots or getting to one campus from another at PCC can be difficult in your car. But finding a solution to that challenge is very easy. [March. 20, 2006 - Archived home page]
Computer Education Program trains the next cyber sleuths-
PCC's IT forensics and security class helps IT professionals learn about analyzing hard drives and shows home computer users how to clean off sensitive information. [March. 13, 2006 - Archived home page]
PCC's Women's History Month attracts diverse presenters-
From timely authors to fairs and art work, March has been a month to celebrate and empower women. Campuses all over the district had events for students, staff and the public. [March. 13, 2006 - Archived home page]
On the road to recovery- Matt Phipps was left to die in a horrific incident, but has recovered to help lead PCC's Fit Fest 2006, which will educate the community on the benefits of heath and fitness. [March. 6, 2006 - Archived home page]
'Who is York?' Come find out- Ron Craig will speak at PCC-Cascade about the only African-American member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. [March. 6, 2006 - Archived home page]
Theater Arts production gives a lesson in bad company- PCC's Theater Arts Department debuts "Urinetown," which focuses on one company's corporate greed and the ecological disaster that follows. [Feb. 27, 2006 - Archived home page]
Audition of her lifetime- PCC theater arts student McKenna Twedt did what every actor dreams of by auditioning for a Broadway show in New York City. [Feb. 27, 2006 - Archived home page]
Nursing alumni takes expertise international- A new Oregon law, spearheaded by PCC's Maria Michalczyk and the college's Institute of Health Professionals, will offer certification opportunities this spring to fill a statewide need. [Feb. 20, 2006 - Archived home page]
Ex-chef cooks up new career in HVAC- Rob Mott has been out of work since Sept.11, 2001, but is now rejuvenated as he's working toward a certificate in the PCC Facilities Maintenance program. [Feb. 20, 2006 - Archived home page]
Nursing alumni takes expertise international- Ryan Taggart feels right at home in Cambodia where his mission is to aid rural villagers struck by disease. [Feb. 13, 2006 - Archived home page]
Their stories were within her grasp- Janet Salmonson made a difference in many students' lives as a volunteer tutor at the Sylvania Campus. Now, she is using those success stories to spread the word on the value of education at any age. [Feb. 13, 2006 - Archived home page]
Microelectronics instructor climbs to success- Eric Kirchner loves the great outdoors and guiding his students through rewarding coursework. He came to the college from LSI Logic in Gresham where he developed several processing patents for the company. [Feb. 06, 2006 - Archived home page]
Getting Jazzed about V-Day- As executive producer of this year's V-Day College Campaign, Jazz McGinnis is hoping to create awareness of domestic violence against women and help stop it. [Feb. 06, 2006 - Archived home page]
Afro-Mexican history highlights 16th annual African film festival- The festival explores the untapped area of African influence in Mexico and showcases a variety of collections from South Africa, Mali and Angola, to name a few. [Jan. 23, 2006 - Archived home page]
PCC remembers MLK- The college hosted several key events, including a reading of Langston Hughes poetry by Benjamin Hardy (pictured left), to celebrate the life and times of America's most influential Civil Rights leader. [Jan. 23, 2006 - Archived home page]
Hummel proof that Financial Aid Day works- For Lisa Hummel, Financial Aid Day gave her the confidence she needed to be successful at her studies.The third-year gerontology program student at Portland Community College participated in a scholarship workshop at last year's Financial Aid Day on the Cascade Campus. [Jan. 9, 2006 - Archived home page]
Powwow to make another grand entry- Volunteer Christina Urenia is a student leader with the Multicultural Center and the vendor coordinator for PCC's Seventh Annual Winter Powwow, which is set to entertain on Saturday, Jan. 21. [Jan. 9, 2006 - Archived home page]
Young German experiences PCC - For Markus Hangst, studying at PCC is a whole new experience. In fact, it's a whole new world. Hangst, a native of Schramberg, Germany, began the first part of his one-year cultural exchange this fall at PCC. [Jan. 02, 2006 - Archived home page]
Turn New Year's resolutions into realities- Does getting in shape top your list of New Year's resolutions? No matter what your goals, PCC Community Education can help you reach them with a new slate of winter classes. [Jan. 02, 2006 - Archived home page]