Mary Lane Stevens
I spent my career at Cascade teaching reading and writing to adults–mostly graduates of Portland high schools who were not yet ready for college work. Many of the students in Developmental Education are low-income and I had the pleasure of so many awakening to new possibilities at PCC. Those students appreciated the support systems, they persevered and I was unendingly impressed with the will to learn.
Many “graduated” to college-level courses. Some earned an associate’s degree. Some went on to PSU. They knew that each completed increment of education was improving their lives. My own life has fortunately been secure and I hope that my gift to the Foundation will help more students overcome the challenges of poverty to attain greater security of their own.