Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC announces All-USA Academic Team

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College has selected its 2004 All-USA Community and Junior College Academic Team. The six Oregon students will represent PCC in the national competition where the winners are announced in April, community college month, through the sponsor USA Today newspaper.This process is open to associate degree-seeking community and junior college students in the USA and its territories. Each college or campus nominates up to two students. The program is administered by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.Here are PCC’s student scholars for 2004:Cascade CampusTricia Rojas (Dallas, Texas), who majors in psychology, has a 4.0 GPA and plans to transfer to Portland State University to study social work. Rojas is currently the Associated Students of Portland Community College president at the Cascade Campus and is a member of the Latino Student Union. Although she has two children and plays the violin in a local band, she has made the President’s List (4.0 GPA) all five terms. She lives in northeast Portland."I have seen the struggles that many Latin American immigrants face in assimilating into a new culture,"Rojas said. "I would like to give back to my community by providing support for Latino families and individuals that need to develop tools to overcome the many barriers."Rajni Lata (Suva, Fiji), who is studying English, is a current resident of north Portland. With a 3.7 GPA, Lata has made the Honor’s, Dean’s, President’s and the National Dean’s lists, as well as honors through Phi Theta Kappa and the Red Cross Volunteers award. She works as a peer advisor and is vice chair of the Women’s Resource Center’s student advisory board and president of the Fiji and India student union. "College has helped enhance my leadership skills and it has inspired me to become a resourceful individual,"Lata said. She lives in north Portland.Sylvania CampusAdrienne Donovan-Boyd (New York, N.Y.), sports a 3.85 GPA and is studying English and German, with plans to eventually work at the grassroots level in the non-profit sector. Donovan-Boyd serves as student president of the Sylvania Campus. "I’m ecstatic to receive financial help as I head toward a four-year school,"Donovan-Boyd said. "I was shocked I received this honor. There were a lot of talented people who were going for these scholarships."She lives in northeast Portland.Puifai Santisakultarm (Bangkok, Thailand), is seeking a science transfer degree and wants to become a neurosurgeon. She also plans to minor in political science at a university. Santisakultarm, who has a 4.0 GPA, has goals that include achieving a doctorate and becoming a better pianist. "I feel honored being named a scholar because I’m not from the U.S.,"said the native of Thailand. "As an international student and a non-native English speaker, this award is huge for someone like me."She lives in southeast Portland.Rock Creek CampusRylee Keys (Banks, Ore.), has a 3.68 GPA and is focused on international studies and plans to transfer to a university to study political science and economics. As president of the Rock Creek Campus student body, she is heavily involved in student government affairs, working to help students and the community. Eventually Keys would like to work in an international outreach organization. "I’m very active, especially with the migrant workers clothing drive here at the campus,"said Keys. "I also help students on issues that affect everyone on campus like the Register to Vote initiative. I’m grateful and honored to have received this recognition."Keys was also awarded a PCC Foundation scholarship. She is currently living in Beaverton.Jessica Densem Espinoza (Sherwood, Ore.), who is fluent in Spanish, has a GPA of 3.65 and is working toward an arts transfer degree. Eventually Espinoza wants to study international relations and would like to work in diplomacy at a U.S. Embassy. Espinoza is currently active in PCC student government as the director of programming and enjoys community service work through her involvement. "People have a lot of faith in what I’m trying to accomplish,"Espinoza said. "This brings me closer to my future goals."Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon, serving students at three comprehensive campuses, five workforce training and education centers and more than 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area.