Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC student chosen as New Century Scholar

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND, Ore. – PortlandCommunity College student Shanta Anderson is making a difference in her community. Now, she can make a difference on a much grander scale.

Anderson has been selected as a New Century Scholar. The New Century Scholars program is an extension of the ALL USA Academic Team, which selects outstanding students from each community college campus. The highest-scoring student in each state in the ALL USA Academic Team competition is named the New Century Scholar and receives a $2,000 stipend from the Coca-Cola Foundation. Anderson, a single mother of two children, will represent the state of Oregon at the AACC Convention in April.

Anderson (southeast Portland), 30, is a student in the Alcohol and Drug Counseling program and has earned a 3.8 grade-point average. She is heavily involved at the Cascade Campus (705 N. Killingsworth Street) and SoutheastCenter (2305 S.E. 82nd and Division), working on the student advisory board for the Women’s ResourceCenter. Anderson, who is on the President’s List, founded the Women’s Resource Center at the Southeast Center and is a campus alert network organizer for the National Organization for Women.

“I am the first in my family to attend college,” said Anderson. “I grew up with separated parents who were both addicts and alcoholics. I have refused to follow their footsteps and have been honored with people throughout each stage of my life to positively guide and mentor me. I am setting an example not only for my children, but inspiring those who have known me and those whom I meet along the way.”

Anderson is also involved in the community. She is a volunteer at the Yamhill County Prevention Program and CookElementary School in McMinnville and is an intern at LifeworksNW as a youth addictions counselor.