Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Eight students named as Oregon Governor’s Scholars

Photos and story by James Hill

Eight Portland Community College students have been recognized as Oregon’s Outstanding Community College Student Scholars. The students will be honored by Gov. Ted Kulongoski on Thursday, April 8 at the State Capitol Building with the other state scholars, who are all being recognized for academic and personal accomplishments. Each scholar is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship from public and private Oregon universities and colleges. This is the 18th year of the event, which is sponsored by the Oregon Community College Association.

Sylvania Campus

Elizabeth McPhee

McPhee was selected as a 2010 Coca-Cola Silver Scholar in addition to being named a Governor’s Scholar. Selection as a Coca-Cola Scholar was based on scores earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition, a program sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. As a Silver Scholar, McPhee will be awarded $1,250 and her award will be mentioned in the April 19 edition of USA Today.

Quote: “My background is a non-medical one. For the last 13 years, I’ve been a real estate broker for my family’s business but I’ve always considered nursing to be the career that would define my future. Serving as the PCC Student Nursing Association President during nursing school has taught me the importance of and critical need for public health education, and the impact the role of the nurse can have on the community.  As President I have had the honor of leading my team in public service, which has aided us in the development of leadership skills that are crucial in the field of nursing.”

• Hometown: Portland
• Age: 35
• GPA: 3.87
• Major: Nursing
• Transferring to: OHSU or Linfield College School of Nursing

Activities

• OMSI Volunteer for DHS
• Leader, Tuality Health Fair – Hearth Health Education
• Memory Walk 2009

Honors

• Dean’s List
• President’s List
• President of Student Nursing Association
• Recipient, Zelma Gordon Scholarship
• Nominee, PCC Sylvania Campus All/USA Scholarship

Phuc Ngo

Quote: “I really want to be a pharmacist because that is not only my dream, but that dream also helps to develop people’s health. PCC is a great impetus for me to fulfill my dream. I have gained a lot of experiences at PCC from developing my English skills/knowledge to leadership skills. In my opinion, anything can change but experiences will stay with me forever, and that is how I value the experiences I have gained at PCC.”

• Country: Vietnam
• Age: 19
• GPA: 3.71
• Major: Chemistry
• Transferring to: University of Portland

Activities

• Volunteer, Hands On Greater Portland (Gospel Union Mission)
• President, PCC Vietnamese Student Association
• Member, American Red Cross
• Volunteer, OHSU Cancer Screening

Honors

• Phi Theta Kappa
• Certificate of Leadership
• Phi Theta Kappa
• Certificate of Mastering Tutor PCC

Cascade Campus

Traci Parker

Quote: “Before returning to school I traveled overseas where I observed firsthand the interdependence of our communities throughout the world. As a result a seed was planted: the desire to help as an environmental engineer to produce economically viable solutions to the problems of fuels, waste, energy and climate. I enjoy problem solving and have a strong interest in creating a better world for my children to live in.”

• Hometown: Hatboro, Pa.
• Age: 34
• GPA: 3.94
• Major: Environmental Engineering
• Transferring to: Portland State University

Activities

• Environmental Sustainability Coordinator – Student Government
• Vice President of Service – Phi Theta Kappa
• Volunteer – Take Back the Tap campaign, Books to Prisoners, Earth Day

Honors

• President’s List
• Dean’s List
• Phi Theta Kappa
• Recipient, PCC Foundation Scholarship

Adrian Thompson

Quote: “Everyone has experienced some kind of difficulty in life; it is universal. I want to dedicate my life to overcoming the difficulty, and helping others do so as well. I plan to become a dentist; work in the poor and low-income communities, serve as a dental professional abroad, and ultimately manage my own dental office.”

• Hometown: Seattle, Wash.
• Age: 19
• GPA: 3.62
• Major: Pre-Dentistry
• Transferring to: Portland State University

Activities

• Vice President of Scholarship – Phi Theta Kappa
• Volunteer, Big Brother
• Member, Black Student Union

Honors

• President’s List
• Dean’s List
• Recipient, PCC Foundation Scholarship
• Phi Theta Kappa

Extended Learning Campus

Ai Nguyen

Quote: “Nothing in the entire world is comparable to discovering the new culture, science and technology of the United States. The purpose of my life it to discover a greater understanding of the universe and its people, to build up my own enterprise and volunteer to go around Vietnam with the mission of helping the poor. After studying here, my options would include working for a nonprofit organization or entering the corporate world. In the end, I envision for myself a career straddling the higher levels of international relations, politics and business.”

• Country: Vietnam
• Age: 24
• GPA: 3.40
• Major: Business
• Transferring to: Portland State University

Activities

• Tennis
• Fund-raising Drives for Various Charities

Honors

• President’s List
• Dean’s List
• Honor’s List
• Food Service Scholarship
• Rotary Youth Leadership Award

Levi Winkler

Quote: “As a child, I lived in many different environments with various combinations of people. I am grateful that I always had a roof over my head and usually had food to eat. However, one of the environments in which I lived for six years was littered with pain and despair. I realize today that many of the difficulties I experienced as a child have helped to shape me into the person I am today – a person I am grateful to be.  Even though I am able to see the bright side of things I know that many people do not adjust to circumstances the same way I have. I am currently working toward my goal of becoming a developmental psychologist so that I can help children cultivate the skills and qualities within themselves to become assets to our community and to the world.”

• Hometown: Oregon City
• Age: 30
• GPA: 4.0
• Major: Psychology
• Transferring to: Portland State University

Activities

• Volunteer, West Linn Life Support Community Center
• Treasurer, Men’s Fireside Step Study & Spiritual Retreat

Honors

• Phi Theta Kappa – Beta Phi Rho Chapter
• Treasurer, Beta Phi Rho Chapter
• President’s List
• Recipient, PCC Foundation Scholarship
• Recipient, Miller Foundation Scholarship

Rock Creek Campus

Junjun Lu

Quote: “I grew up in a small village in the south of China, and the village’s education didn’t provide me with many opportunities to go to a college. I have been in the United States for four years now. As a non-native English speaker, I have to work a lot harder than other native speakers to overcome the barriers that the second language brought to me. However, being a non-native English speaker should not be an excuse for not being an excellent student. My dream is to become an electronic engineer.  Without going to college and acquiring enough education, I would never have the chance to make my dream come true.”

• Hometown: Guiping, China
• Age: 20
• GPA: 3.88
• Major: Microelectronics Technology
• Transferring to: Oregon Institute of Technology

Activities

• Tutor, Micro Electronics Program
• Financial Aid Work Study Program
• Working at Epson Inc.

Honors

• Phi Theta Kappa
• President’s List
• Dean’s List
• Recipient, Platt Electric Scholarship

Suzanne Najafdari

Quote: “I was literally a lost person when I came to the PCC Rock Creek Campus. I was afraid of failing and committing myself to a long-term plan and my self-esteem had taken a nosedive. There have been many traumatic events – but with each trauma, I held on tighter to my studies. At times I barely held on but because of the encouraging words of my professors and mentors at PCC who believed in me, I stuck it out.  Attending PCC has been one of the most life rewarding decisions I have ever made.”

• Hometown: St. Helens
• Age: 44
• GPA: 3.52
• Major: Child & Family Studies and a minor in Native American Studies/Women’s Studies
• Transferring to: Portland State University

Activities

• Volunteer, Oregon Food Bank Learning Garden
• Advocate, RC Women’s Center
• Volunteer, Domestic Violence Outreach
• Volunteer, RC Canteen – On Campus Food Pantry
• Office Assistant, Multicultural Center
• Founder, RC Hoy Nomas Salsa Club

Honors

• President’s List
• Dean’s List
• Recipient, PCC Foundation Scholarship