OREGON CITY - Oregon car enthusiasts lost a treasure last spring when the World of Speed motorsport museum in Wilsonville closed its doors. Though sadly another victim of COVID-19, the World of Speed is leaving a lasting legacy by giving departing gifts to schools and nonprofits across the state.
With the dissolution of the organization, their board of directors agreed that the museum's assets would be distributed to 501(c)(3) museums and schools allowing World of Speed’s collection to live on for future generations. A total of 51 entities received donations from World of Speed, with Clackamas and Clatsop community colleges splitting the cash funds. Each college received a $375,000 donation through their colleges’ foundations to benefit ongoing education of automotive technology.
In addition to being a world-class motorsport museum, World of Speed’s mission supported education and hosted local high school students in conjunction with Clackamas Community College. Students were taught accredited automotive classes, providing the opportunity to learn skills needed in the automotive industry.
Both Clackamas Community College, located in the Portland metro area, and Clatsop Community College, located in Astoria, will use their portions of the donation for student scholarships in the colleges’ automotive programs. These scholarships will help pay for tuition, tools for employment, and internships for students seeking career development and technical training.
“This is an amazing gift, and I look forward to awarding many students scholarships in our automotive programs,” John Chang, Clackamas Community College Foundation executive director, said. “Often is it the expense of the tools and supplies that students need that prevent them from completing a program. Removing those barriers for students will help them cross the finish line to graduation and into a living-wage job.”
Clatsop Community College Automotive Instructor Thad Nolan knows how important this is for the automotive program, industry and the community in general. “This will open up more opportunities for students who want to get into an industry that not only is hurting for skilled workers but is an essential part of everyday life, especially in the midst of our current situation. One hears about the frontline workers, the medical professionals, law enforcement, fire and rescue departments, etc., but few realize that without automotive repair professionals, those people wouldn't be driving to work, they wouldn't be coming to help or save you. Without someone maintaining and or fixing their service and personal vehicles, they are just not going to be able to do their jobs,” he stated.
The colleges also received some physical donations from World of Speed. Clackamas Community College received equipment including four vehicles, laptops, personal protection equipment, as well as automotive equipment and tools. Clatsop Community College received automotive equipment and tool donations.
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CHANGE OF DATE: The artist talk has been rescheduled to Jan. 27 at 1 p.m.
OREGON CITY – The Clackamas Community College Alexander Gallery is hosting a virtual exhibition of the work of Robbie McClaran through Feb. 5.
“The Great River of the West” is a photographic survey of the 1,250-mile-long Columbia River, from its source in the Canadian Rockies to the confluence with the Pacific. The collection of photographs is a sampling of McClaran’s documentation from over the past seven years and explores the current cultural and economic landscape of the river with an eye toward its significance in the history of the Pacific Northwest and North America.
McClaran is an awarding winning photographer, whose work focuses on the American people and landscape. His work has appeared in publications, including The New York Times Magazine, Time, Smithsonian, Rolling Stone and Sports Illustrated, and has been collected by institutions, including the Portland Art Museum, Ogden Museum of Southern Art and Walker Art Center.
McClaran will speak about his work and process at an informal artist talk via Zoom on Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. The link to the artist talk is https://clackamas.zoom.us/s/94952478690.
To view the exhibit, visit http://bit.ly/34A4WUv. For questions, contact Kate Simmons at 503-594-3032 or kates@clackamas.edu.
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OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook will hold a virtual State of the College address Jan. 29 at 8 a.m. The community is invited to this free and informative event.
President Cook will discuss the current state of the college along with upcoming challenges and opportunities, including enrollment, funding and new initiatives.
“The year 2020 presented many challenges and hardships on our students, on the community and for the college,” Cook said. “However, those challenges allowed us to be innovative and create new ways to serve the community. Please join me to learn how the college adapted last year and what we may look like post-COVID-19.”
The State of the College will include an update on CCC’s bond projects, which are funded through a $90-million bond passed by the community in 2014; highlights from 2020; the college’s impact on the local workforce and economy; and how the college is planning for the future and changing workforce needs.
To get the Zoom link or for more information, contact Public Information Officer Lori Hall at lori.hall@clackamas.edu.
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OREGON CITY – A total of 471 students made the Clackamas Community College honor roll and 934 students made the president’s list for fall term 2020.
To be named to the honor roll, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. To be named to the president’s list, students must earn a 3.75 grade-point average or better.
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Editor’s note: Please see attached file for the list of honor roll and president’s list names and city of residency.