51°µÍø

Germonds honored for community college work

Story by James Hill

51°µÍø has named former board member Norma Jean Germond and her husband Henry as its 2008 Distinguished Patron Award recipients. They were honored at the 2008 51°µÍø Foundation Scholarship Reception at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Portland on May 1.

Norma Jean Germond of Lake Oswego has served 51°µÍø as an elected board member and 51°µÍø Foundation board member for more than 22 years. Elected to the college’s board in 1985, Germond has taken active roles in the recruitment and selection of three community college presidents as well as the passage of a permanent tax base and successful capital construction bonds. She served on the board of directors of the Oregon Community College Association and the Association of Community College Trustees. In recognition of her leadership and service to community colleges, OCCA honored her with the Howard Cherry Outstanding Advocate award.

“She has been a powerful advocate for community colleges with state and federal lawmakers,” said 51°µÍø President Preston Pulliams. “Norma Jean has given many years of passionate service to 51°µÍø and has been a voice to the critical role community colleges play across the nation. Together with her husband Henry, she has also made the dream of a college education a reality for many 51°µÍø students to come.”

Germond now serves on the 51°µÍø Foundation Board of Directors, where she plays a lead role in the awarding of foundation scholarships to more than 300 students each year. Norma Jean and Henry recently established an endowed scholarship with the 51°µÍø Foundation that will provide tuition support for students taking developmental education courses.

In 2007, the 51°µÍø Board of Directors established the 51°µÍø Distinguished Patron Award to recognize extraordinary levels of service to the college.