Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

50th celebration inspires crowd with tales of opportunity

Photos and story by James Hill

Not even the weather could keep people away from Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday, Oct. 7 for Portland Community College’s kickoff celebration of its 50th anniversary. Under an overcast sky, a large crowd gathered for the kickoff, which featured speakers U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, special diamond alumni, District President Preston Pulliams and lots of academic programs and treats.

“PCC is an absolute gem,” said Sen. Merkley. “Because its philosophy of opportunity then, opportunity now, opportunity to come, is what we need in our society and PCC is providing that opportunity and doing it with affordable, accessible, quality education. So my hat is off for 50 years of a tremendous job.”

Showcasing that opportunity were three PCC students and alumni that were inspired by PCC to go on and be a success. Kheoshi Taylor-Mayes, a 2003 graduate of PCC, was the first to speak among the collection of diamond alumni speakers. She said she grew up in a single-parent home, her mother stuck in an abusive relationship, rats in the house and she and her sister had to stay warm with blankets.

A high school dropout, Taylor-Mayes had no support structure to guide her to college, but was able to find her way to the Middle College Program at the Cascade Campus and Jefferson High School. But her boyfriend was murdered and she dropped out. Thanks to encouragement by her aunt, Taylor-Mayes rededicated herself to school and went on to earn an associate’s degree from PCC with an emphasis on general accounting, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Portland State University.

“But what PCC did for me, with all their support and wonderful teachers, is they rejuvenated my love of learning,” said Taylor-Mayes.”I’m the first one in my family to even have a master’s or a bachelor’s, or associate’s degree. PCC opened that door for me.”

Hung Nguyen came to the United States in 1992 from Vietnam and barely spoke English. Thanks to a reference from his brother, and inspiration from his sister and wife (also PCC grads), he earned an associate’ degree in automotive science in 1995 and found work at local dealerships. But Nguyen said he dreamed about owning a repair shop and becoming his own boss.

“The dream came true in 1999 as I bought my first repair shop and last year I purchased another building and opened a second,” he said. “Now, I have 12 employees and life is so wonderful. Without PCC, I don’t know what my life in Vietnam would have been like. It changed my life.”

Almost a decade ago, Tera Roberts had eight kids and a husband living in the rural Washington County city of Vernonia. When her husband left her, she had to deal with no access to education and no transportation. To provide for her family, she didn’t want a dead end job and so she walked onto the Rock Creek Campus and was shown all of the opportunities that were there for her. She earned scholarships from the PCC Foundation that helped her finish her associate’s degree in nursing.

Roberts transferred to Oregon Health & Science University and earned not only a bachelor’s degree but a master’s degree in nursing. She is now in OHSU’s graduate program and works as a public health nurse, changing lives of women.

“I’m eight months from my doctorate,” Roberts said to a big cheer from the crowd. “When opportunity knocks open that door because it’s PCC on the other side of that door. The proudest thing I can say is that I’m a PCC alumna.”

In 50 years, Portland Community College has educated more than 1.3 million people and this year is giving back to the community in a big way to say “Thank you” for its half century of support.

All year long, in honor of PCC’s 50th anniversary, the college has pledged to donate 50,000 hours of service to the community. PCC will partner with local community service efforts throughout the year to achieve its 50,000-hour goal, which means PCC will double or triple the number of projects and hours it usually organizes in one year.

“That is no small thing, the 50,000 hours,” added Sen. Merkley. “That is 50,000 moments of inspiration. PCC is inspiring us all.”

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