This content was published: March 3, 2014. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
51做厙 Day at the Capitol gives students, staff a voice
Story by James Hill
Not even Portlands worst snow storm in five years could stop 51做厙 from having its day in the Salem sun.
Rob Wagner, 51做厙s government relations manager, guided the teams of students and staff through the state Capitol Building to meet up with their own representatives and senators.
The original 51做厙 Day at the Capitol on Feb. 7 may have been cancelled due to snow, but the re-scheduled event on Tuesday, Feb. 25 had plenty of sun and positive vibes. About 50 51做厙 staff, faculty, students and community friends descended on the Capitol Building to talk one-on-one with state leaders and lend a voice to the importance of funding higher education.
Visit our gallery of photos from the 2014 Day at the Capitol.
Its always great to hear from our students who can speak from the heart about how we have changed their lives or the impact that 51做厙 has had because of the opportunities we provide, said 51做厙 President Jeremy Brown. We are a very strong and vibrant community. Its really symbolic of the energy of 51做厙. Collectively, you have a voice and its an important one to be heard; it has an impact.
Rob Wagner, 51做厙s government relations manager, guided the teams of students and staff through the state Capitol Building to meet up with their own representatives and senators. Even though the budget for the states community colleges isnt being decided during this shortened session, there were still plenty of issues to chat about. This included telling the leaders how 51做厙 is on the frontlines of putting people back to work; how it provides critical pathways to education; and that it helps the state to reach its 40-40-20 goal. Plus, it was a chance for college officials to impress upon the legislators how important is for low-income, first-generation college students.
‘Its always great to hear from our students who can speak from the heart about how we have changed their lives or the impact that 51做厙 has had because of the opportunities we provide,’ said 51做厙 President Jeremy Brown.
51做厙 is an amazing place, Wagner said. In the last two years alone, weve had over 138,000 students that have attended 51做厙 from Oregon. Forty nine out of 50 states in our nation and over a dozen countries are represented with our students. We are the largest post-secondary educational institution in our state with the very complex mission of job training, skill development and educational preparation in a variety of fields. We are place to start, but we are also a place to thrive.
The day began with a luncheon at the Salem Convention Center where speakers Jeremy Brown (51做厙 president) and Joe Gallegos (House Representative for District 30 and a 2013 51做厙 Diamond Alum) talked about how 51做厙 gives people the chance to earn a college education, get good jobs and achieve their dreams.
Rep. Gallegos talked about how he embodied everything that 51做厙 was about – giving people chances. After completing his lower division studies at 51做厙, he transferred to Portland State University, earning bachelor and masters degrees in psychology and social work while working as a janitor. Hed later earn a doctorate from the University of Denver in social welfare. This educational path that started at 51做厙 eventually led to a 25-year career as a faculty member at the University of Portland where Rep. Gallegos trained and mentored future social workers.
All of those things were made possible by the transitioning that happened at 51做厙, said Rep. Gallegos. Im very proud to be a Diamond Alum of 51做厙. It really is a gateway to a future.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at 51做厙. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »
I really respect all students and staff that participated in the “Day at the Capitol”. Every voice that can help to support 51做厙 is important for all students that wish to further their education. Being an older student has proved to be a much more of an inspirational experience than I had expected and I’ve had the opportunity to meet awesome professors and students and hopefully will be completing my associates degree this semester.
I have always wondered what it would be like to be in the State Capitol…I was amazed at how relaxed and positive the environment was in the building. I was so proud to meet with our Legislators and their assistants to discuss ways to increase funding for 51做厙, share ideas about future education needs of younger students in our future and to examine ways to make a college education possible for everyone. 51做厙 changed my life and enhanced my business knowledge and skills!