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History Corner: In 2012, college celebrates Southeast becoming a campus
Photos and Story by James Hill
Young Chinese martial arts and dance performers from the Portland Art & Cultural Center entertain the large crowd at PCC’s Southeast Campus groundbreaking in 2012.
This October will mark nine years since PCC broke ground on the bond construction to expand the Southeast Center and better serve Portland’s diverse southeast region. In 2012, the college celebrated the center’s official beginning of its transformation into the comprehensive campus it is today. Almost 300 community guests and local leaders from the surrounding neighbor- hoods were there to witness the historic moment.
Thanks to the 2008 voter-approved bond measure, the Southeast Campus has more than doubled its size from 94,000 to 200,000 square feet and expanded its class offerings to allow students to complete an associate or transfer degree without having to travel to another PCC campus. The campus continues to serve a rich mix of cultures, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Latinx, Russian and Ukrainian students.
Dignitaries breaking ground included (left to right) Jim Harper (PCC Board), Alissa Keny-Guyer (state representative), Michael Dembrow (state representative), Diane Rosenbaum (state senator), Jeremy Selinger (student leader), Jeff Merkley (U.S. Senator), Jessica Howard (Southeast president), and David Squire (PCC Board).
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »