Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC unveils 50 diamonds that sparkle

Photos and story by James Hill

Fifty Portland Community College alumni are being honored as PCC Diamond Alums in tribute to the college’s 50th anniversary.

The list of alumni is long and diverse. From recent graduates to older retirees, they were selected because they all have overcome adversities, achieved success that made a difference in the community, and have opened the doors to opportunities for others.

Visit the 50th Anniversary website for a complete list of the winners.

“They all each have their own great story to tell and how the college positively impacted their lives,” said PCC District President Preston Pulliams. “The award is a symbol of those opportunities they received at PCC.”

Some of the winners include former Portland Mayor and Police Chief Tom Potter; Oregon State Representative Julie Parrish; former state senator and current Deputy Director at Oregon Department of Human Services Margaret Carter; best-selling authors Heidi Durrow and Rebecca Skloot; Executive Director of Brooks Staffing Samuel Brooks; Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard; and English Channel swimmer Karen Gaffney.

The college sought public nominations for outstanding alums with the goal of honoring 50 people who exemplify the values of PCC. A panel of judges from both inside and outside the college reviewed the nominations and selected the final 50 alums in February.

At the awards ceremony on March 21 at The Oregon Historical Society (which PCC has an exhibit through June 17), PCC staff, local leaders and past employees celebrated the alumni, who will be honored throughout the spring.

Ken Berry is one of the 50 Diamond Alums and served as keynote speaker. Berry worked at KGW radio as a disc jockey in the 1960s while taking classes at PCC’s then new Sylvania Campus. He graduated from University of Oregon’s Teacher Corps Program and spent the majority of his 40-year educational career serving as a reading specialist, teacher or principal for such Portland Public Schools as Adams, Benson, Cleveland, Jefferson and Franklin high schools, in addition to Clinton Street, Whitaker Elementary, Meek, Irvington and Ockley Green schools.

Even though Berry was being thanked by PCC, Berry was much more thankful to the college.

“I’m grateful to PCC,” he said. “Thank you, PCC, for helping me and thousands of students to acquire the educational skills necessary to become productive citizens in this world and impacting my life forever.”