Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC's scholars to be honored by U.S. Rep. Wu

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND, Ore. – Hard work and academic success has paid off for a select group of community college students. Oregon’s Outstanding Community College Student Scholars will be honored by Congressman David Wu at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 18 at the Creekside Golf Club (6250 S.E. Club House Drive) in Salem to help shine the spotlight on community college excellence.

This is the 14th year of the event, which is sponsored by the Oregon Community College Association. Six scholars from Portland Community College will be recognized for academic and personal accomplishment. The PCC students include:

Cascade Campus

Shanta Anderson, southeast Portland, is a 30-year-old 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 and Southeast Center, working on the student advisory board for the Women’s Resource Center. 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, Cook Elementary School in McMinnville and is an intern at Lifeworks NW as a youth addictions counselor. She plans to go on and get her four-year degree at Concordia University.

Chris Churchill, southeast Portland, is a 26-year-old student in the engineering program and sports a 3.92 GPA. A member of Phi Theta Kappa and a regular on the President’s List, Churchill is a single-parent who balances work with school as well as volunteer work at Llewellyn Elementary School. He plans to move on and study civil engineering at Portland State University.

“It wasn’t until I started at PCC that I learned more about what my strengths are and set my goals in the field of engineering,” Churchill said. “College is a place for me to discover who I am and how I can contribute to the place where I was born and raised. After finishing my schooling, I want to take part in the progress of the city of Portland.”

Sylvania Campus

Jennifer Jones, southeast Portland, is a mechanical engineering student who possesses a 3.70 GPA. The 26-year-old is a regular volunteer, working for such events and organizations as the Providence Hospital’s Festival of Trees, Oregon Food Bank, PCC America Reads program and Free Geek, a computer recycling and education center. She is a regular on the President’s and Dean’s List and has been awarded a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship sponsored by the Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium and Caltech at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“As an independent student, it has been possible for me to work and also take classes at PCC,” said Jones, who works as an engineering technician. “My career goal is to do research, and work and teach in the field of mechanical engineering, specializing in renewable energy or aerospace.”

She plans to go to Portland State.

Nelli Teyse, northwest Portland, is a 22 year-old student from Germany who is a political science major with a 3.76 GPA. The Phi Theta Kappa member regularly volunteers at Russian Oregon Social Services and has made the President’s and Dean’s lists. She is a PCC Foundation and Lou Gandy Humanities scholarship recipient. Born in Kazakhstan, Teyse plans to go on and attend either Portland State or Lewis and Clark College. “My plan for the future is to be a lawyer,” Teyse said.

Rock Creek Campus

Justin Fritz, Tigard, is a history major with a 4.0 GPA. The 27-year-old is active with student government, Phi Theta Kappa and the Rock Creek Review literary magazine. A regular on the Dean’s List, Fritz plans to go on to Lewis and Clark College.

“My time at PCC has benefited my educational experience both by enhancing my leadership skills and by affording me an opportunity to excel in my classes by giving me the chance to lead,” Fritz said. “I know that the skills that I have gained here will benefit not only me, but I hope will benefit the four-year university where I plan to transfer.”

Marty Hearn, northwest Portland, is studying psychology and sports a 3.75 GPA. The 54-year-old is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, advocate for the Women’s Resource Center, AmeriCorps student scholar and is president of the Rock Creek Equine Club. She has also made the Dean’s List and is a PCC Foundation scholarship recipient. She plans to transfer on to Portland State.

“In my younger days, I lacked an educational support system,” Hearn said. “Consequently, I missed out on the opportunity to complete school. My husband died and I was left with six children to support and no education. Coming to PCC to earn my GED began a reawakening in my life I realized how much I loved learning.”