Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Links Programs graduation attracts hundreds to Warner Pacific

Photos and story by James Hill

Every late spring and early summer season, PCC hosts program completion ceremonies across its vast district. One of the most popular is the Links Programs, which celebrates students who have completed studies in the YES to College and Gateway to College programs.

This year, the June ceremony at Warner Pacific College’s raucous McGuire Auditorium featured 148 total graduates between the programs. The celebratory atmosphere was warranted. The average Gateway student had earned 57 college credits with an average grade-point average of 3.04 while in YES they have a 2.4 GPA and are well on their way to a college degree.

YES to College and Gateway serve youths who have dropped out of high school, won’t be able to graduate with their class, or speak a different first language than English, to give them the skills and support needed to go on to postsecondary education. Students typically have struggled with school in the past or have dropped out of high school. Both programs pair students with a college success coach who teaches them about college, organization and time management, and connects them to community, career and college resources. Students typically have struggled with school in the past or have dropped out of high school.

PCC Links is a collection of programs designed to help students get the education they need through personalized support, educational innovation and academic excellence. Programs also include Project Degree and Future Connect.

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