Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Top Feature Stories of 2009

Photos and Story by James Hill

Best of 2009

Each week during the past year, we have featured the story of a student, faculty, staff member or location at Portland Community College. Many of these stories were viewed thousands of times.

To celebrate 2009, we now present the most popular stories:

1) Take the Blue Train

Published Monday, December 7th, 2009 | Viewed 5,231 times

In Washington County, there’s the Willow Creek Center, a one-stop shop for the unemployed and underemployed. And in the heart of downtown Portland there’s the historic building at the corner of Southwest Second and Yamhill, formerly known as the Willamette Building and the previous home of the University of Oregon’s “Duck Store.”

2) Seven PCC scholars to be honored by governor

Published Monday, April 13th, 2009 | Viewed 3,817 times

Oregon’s Outstanding Community College Student Scholars include seven students from Portland Community College. They will be recognized for academic and personal accomplishments. Each scholar is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship from public and private Oregon universities and colleges.

3) Pardon me, Stanford, but I’m going to Reed College

Published Monday, July 20th, 2009 | Viewed 3,556 times

Portland Community College’s Mary Emily O’Hara is one of 23 transfer students from around the world to be accepted to Stanford University this year. But O’Hara will not be going there this fall and instead she’ll be enrolling at Reed College. This spring O’Hara, 33, completed an improbable “pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps” 180-degree turn in her life.

4) Financial aid gives student hope, shelter

Published Monday, January 19th, 2009 | Viewed 3,491 times

Completing a 30-page scientific paper for Tom Robertson and Kevin Lien’s environmental studies class should be easy for Kimberley Dukes. The third-year PCC student has endured a lot in her 30 years. When she was 13 she watched her parents separate. In her twenties, her husband got hooked on methamphetamines.

5) PCC public safety officer honored for heroism

Published Monday, March 16th, 2009 | Viewed 3,284 times

For Portland Community College Public Safety Officer Jeff Grider, he was just doing what came naturally. In the end, he saved a person’s life and as a result the Lake Oswego Police Department honored him with its Citizen Recognition Award at its recent awards banquet.

6) Free health care leads students to fit academic careers

Published Monday, July 27th, 2009 | Viewed 2,850 times

When Debbie Stone talks about what Kaiser Permanente’s program has done for her students, it’s hard not to get choked up. “It has made a huge difference for students over the years,” said Stone, who runs the Women’s Resource Center at the Cascade Campus (705 N. Killingsworth St.).

7) Renowned ‘Namibia’ director coming to PCC

Published Monday, January 26th, 2009 | Viewed 2,827 times

The 19th annual Cascade Festival of African Films, held in honor of Black History Month at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, will run from Feb. 6 through March 7. Every year the college features more than 20 films from or about the African continent that are brought to Portland.

8) At 48, PCC starts new year busting at the seams

Published Thursday, September 17th, 2009 | Viewed 2,750 times

In its 48th year, preliminary data suggests PCC is headed for another huge uptick in enrollment this fall while news of new initiatives and goals comes fast and furious.

9) Economy pushes PCC to historic enrollment increases

Published Monday, May 25th, 2009 | Viewed 2,581 times

The enrollment growth at Portland Community College has accelerated dramatically from winter term. According to the college’s fourth-week spring enrollment report (the standard week for reporting enrollment figures), the college’s total headcount increased by 10.5 percent and 18.9 percent in full-time equivalent (FTE) year over year.

10) Powwow celebrates landmark year

Published Monday, January 12th, 2009 | Viewed 2,553 times

The biggest powwow in the Portland area is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The Portland Community College Traditional Winter Powwow (Wacipi) will feature Native American dancing, drumming, food and a multitude of festivities.