OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College is the recipient of two grants that will enhance student support services and transportation assistance. These new resources will help ensure that students have access to the guidance and support they need to succeed, both in and out of the classroom.
AmeriCorps Connect2Complete Equitable Pathways Program
The first award is through the Connect2Complete (C2C) AmeriCorps program, managed by the Coalition for Racial & Educational Justice (formerly Campus Compact of Oregon). As part of this program, CCC will be assigned an AmeriCorps member through August 2025. The C2C AmeriCorps member will focus on supporting students in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses and related foundational Spanish courses.
The AmeriCorps volunteer will engage students through near-peer support and help them navigate placement processes, course requirements and access to course technology. Additionally, they will connect students with broader campus support services and assist in strengthening CCC’s guided pathways initiatives. The goal of this partnership is to increase student retention and success by fostering a greater sense of belonging and engagement, especially for Spanish-speaking and LatinX students.
“This partnership will help identify and address existing gaps in our college services, create short- and long-term solutions, and support the social and cultural shifts needed to sustain and grow our Spanish language programs,” CCC President Tim Cook said.
Short-term solutions may include meeting individual needs, advocating for specific resources and providing in-class support. Long-term solutions will focus on creating Spanish-language orientation and onboarding materials, and translating key documents.
TriMet Fare Relief Program
In addition to the Connect2Complete award, CCC was granted $35,000 through the TriMet Fare Relief Program to provide fare assistance for students and staff. The grant will cover fare costs through June 30, 2025, allowing CCC to distribute reduced or free TriMet passes to students and employees who qualify.
“We understand that transportation can be a barrier for many of our students, and this grant will provide much-needed relief to help them stay on track and access the resources they need to succeed,” said Sara Ford-Oades, CCC’s transportation assessment coordinator. “We’ll continue to maximize the impact of this funding by offering monthly fare passes and day passes on a case-by-case basis.”
By combining academic and transportation support, these grants reflect CCC’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers and creating an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.
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About Clackamas Community College
As our community’s college, Clackamas Community College cultivates equitable, innovative and responsive education. We offer career technical, college transfer, literacy/basic skills, community education and business training to a diverse student body at our campuses in Oregon City, Milwaukie and Wilsonville. With a focus on student success, we are dedicated to providing educational opportunities that meet the needs of our community.
OREGON CITY - As fall approaches, Clackamas Community College’s Horticulture Department invites gardening and outdoor enthusiasts to dive into a series of engaging workshops designed to nurture a passion for plants and outdoor well-being.
Foundations of Irrigation Design
Nov. 1 and 2
8 a.m.-4:50 p.m.
Fee: $160
Developed by Irrigation Association instructors with years of teaching experience, this beginner course focuses on designing a simple residential or small commercial system. Participants complete two designs from start to finish during this fast-paced, two-day class. Topics include gathering site information, calculating system capacity, soil-water-plant relationships, pipe sizing, hydraulics, head layout, uniformity, zoning and plan presentation. Qualifies for 16 Irrigation Association continuing education units (CEU) and 16 continuing education hours (CEH) for the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB).
Instalación y Mantenimiento del Sistema de Riego Paisajístico en Español
1 y 2 de noviembre
Costar: $80
Esta sesión de aprendizaje de dos días , el viernes 1 de noviembre de 1 pm a 5 pm y el sábado 2 de noviembre de 8 am a 5 pm, cubre una descripción general de los componentes del sistema de riego y cómo funcionan. Aprende los conceptos básicos de la instalación y el mantenimiento de hidráulicos y sistemas de riego. Obtenga información sobre la soldadura y reparación de tuberías de PVC con disolventes, la instalación de boquillas y el ajuste de cabezas, la configuración y reparación de válvulas eléctricas, y las técnicas de cableado de campo y controlador. Combinada con la experiencia de la industria, esta clase sirve como una repaso para aquellos que planean tomar el examen de Técnico de Riego Certificado de la Asociación de Riego (IA). Este taller incluye apoyo matemático suplementario para los conceptos y ecuaciones que se tratan en clase. Aprobado para 8 CEH con la Junta de Contratistas de Paisajismo (LCB).
Deciduous Tree and Shrub Identification
Saturday, Nov. 2
9 a.m.-noon
Fee: $20
In this plant awareness workshop, participants will start in the classroom and discuss features of plant families and locally grown genera and species of plants. Then, enjoy a stroll around the Oregon City campus looking at deciduous shrubs and trees and how they’re used in our landscape. A link to the walk, showing the location and names of plants that were discussed, will be provided. Approved for 3 LCB CEH.
Fall Mason Bee Care
Saturday, Nov. 2
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fee: $45
In this hands-on workshop participants will learn how to harvest, inspect and clean mason bee cocoons. Participants will look for and learn about pests and diseases that commonly attack mason bees and explore tips for prevention. Those who have mason bee housing of their own are welcome to bring their own nesting devices and will be shown how to open and clean the cocoons. Participants who do not have mason bees will get to practice. At the end of the workshop, every participant will take home about 20 cocoons.
Aprendizaje Licencia Recertificación, Español
Viernes 22 de noviembre
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Costar: $80
Clase cumple con los requisitos de capacitatción de Oregon Department of Argriculture para la recertificación de licencia de aprendiz aplicador. También califica para 8 CEH con la Junta de Contratistas de Paisajismo (LCB).
Pesticide CORE training
Friday, Nov. 22
8 a.m.-noon
Fee: $40
This training qualifies for 4 CORE recertification credits as required by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The fall and winter courses are different, and both will count toward recertification in the same year. This course also qualifies for 4 CEH with the Landscape Contractors Board.
Orchard Care Seminar
Saturday, Dec. 7
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fee: $35
Join the Home Orchard Education Center and the CCC Horticulture Department for a half-day orchard care seminar featuring local horticultural and orcharding educators and experts.
All workshops are on the Oregon City campus, 19600 Molalla Ave. To register, visit CCC Horticulture's EventBrite page at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/horticulture-at-clackamas-community-college-33282414399. To learn more about horticulture at CCC, visit www.clackamas.edu/horticulture-department. For questions, contact Loretta Mills at lorettam@clackamas.edu.
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To the editor,
As chairs of our local community college boards, we write today to underscore the vital importance of supporting the upcoming community college bond measures that will be on the ballot this November and next spring. These bond measures are more than just financial investments; they are commitments to the future of our communities, our students and our local economies.
Community colleges in Oregon, including Clackamas, Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood and Rogue, have long been cornerstones of education and workforce development. Our colleges exist today because of the initial and continued investments from our communities. These bonds are critical to ensuring we can continue providing high-quality education and training that directly benefits our districts.
A recent analysis by Lightcast, commissioned by the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) and our state’s 17 community colleges, highlighted the significant impact we collectively make in our communities and state. In the 2021-22 academic year, Oregon’s community colleges generated a staggering $9.6 billion in annual economic impact and support one out of every 22 jobs in the state. This is not just an abstract number; it represents the thousands of individuals who rely on our colleges for education, training, and career opportunities.
For every dollar invested in our community colleges, students see a $5.20 return in lifetime earnings. Taxpayers gain $1.30 in added tax revenue and public sector savings, while society reaps $7 in added income and social savings. These are real, tangible benefits that resonate throughout our communities.
We train welders, nurses, teachers, wildland firefighters, cybersecurity specialists and other essential workers who drive our local communities. We do this at an accessible cost and close to home, where we help keep families together and thriving locally. Just imagine what our communities would look like without these community-based educational institutions.
At Clackamas Community College, the bond would help expand student opportunities by constructing a center of excellence for horticulture, updating aging buildings, modernizing classrooms and strengthening workforce and STEM opportunities. At Rogue Community College, bond funds would expand workforce training in high-demand fields like automotive, nursing and welding, while also updating and upgrading facilities across all three campuses. Columbia Gorge Community College’s bond would enhance safety, update facilities for energy efficiency and modernize learning spaces to meet the needs of today’s students. Mt. Hood Community College would use bond funds to restore facilities that have not been updated in more than 50 years, create a new center for health professions to meet critical-demand jobs, and modernize online and hybrid learning across a vast rural and urban community footprint.
These projects share a common goal: To ensure our colleges remain safe, modern and capable of providing the education and training that our students and communities need to thrive.
We urge you to support these bond measures in your community. By doing so, you are investing not just in buildings and facilities but in the people who will become the backbone of our local workforce, driving our economies and enriching our communities for generations to come.
Community is, quite literally, our middle name. Let’s continue to build a stronger, more vibrant future together.
Gary Plano, Chair, Rogue Community College Board of Education
Kim Morgan, Chair, Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education
Diane McKeel, Chair, Mt. Hood Community College Board of Education
Jane Reid, Chair, Clackamas Community College Board of Education
Austin Folnagy, President, Oregon Community College Association Board
OREGON CITY – The Alexander Gallery presents “The Faculty Show,” a group exhibition of works by Clackamas Community College faculty. This exhibition runs Sept. 23-Dec. 6. An artist’s reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, noon-1 p.m.
“The Faculty Show” features artwork by CCC instructors including, David Raphael Andersen, Nora Brodnicki, Mark Devendorf, Smith Eliot, Junko Iijima, Rachel Kalman, Donald Olsen, Mandee Schroer, Charles Siegfried, Kate Simmons, Brenden Thwing, Natalie Warrens and Thomas Wasson. The exhibit includes mediums in painting, printmaking, ceramics, installation, video, graphic design and more.
The Alexander Gallery is located in the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon City campus, 19600 Molalla Ave., and is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with the exception of college holidays.
This exhibition is free and open to the public. For questions, contact Kate Simmons at 503-594-3032 or kates@clackamas.edu. For more information on Clackamas Community College’s art exhibits and performances, visit www.clackamas.edu/art.
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OREGON CITY — Clackamas Community College invites the community to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on Sunday, Oct. 13. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the college’s Environmental Learning Center, located at 19600 Molalla Ave. in Oregon City. This free event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the rich histories, present-day contributions and cultures of Indigenous communities in Oregon and across the country. The event will feature a variety of activities and entertainment, including:
- Building community and connection within and outside of Indigenous communities.
- Learning about the Indigenous communities in our area through storytelling, music and cultural performances.
- Shopping for unique, locally-made Indigenous artisan products.
- Eating delicious food provided by Tachi Killer Tacos and Baba’s Fry Bread.
“We are excited to bring our community together to celebrate the vibrant Indigenous cultures that have shaped our region,” Casey Layton, the college’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, said. “This event creates the opportunity to engage in validation of Indigenous experiences and community healing.”
Event sponsors include Clackamas County, The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the City of Gladstone, Unite Oregon, the Clackamas Community College Foundation, the City of Oregon City, Red Lodge Transition Services, Native Wellness Institute, Native American Youth and Family Center, End of the Oregon Trail and TriMet.
For questions regarding accommodations for college-sponsored events, please contact CCC’s Disability Resource Center at 503-594-6357 or drc@clackamas.edu.
For more information about the event, visit www.clackamas.edu/ipd or email diversity@clackamas.edu.
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OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College invites students and their families to attend the CCC Financial Aid and Scholarship Application Night on Oct. 10, 5-7 p.m. This in-person event will be held at the CCC Oregon City campus in the Wacheno Welcome Center and is designed to help students navigate the financial aid process, including the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application) and scholarship applications.
Attendees will receive guidance from CCC’s financial aid team, ensuring students have the support they need to complete these important applications. As a bonus, there will be a drawing for three 4-credit tuition waivers, allowing participants to earn a free class at CCC.
What are FAFSA and ORSAA?
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which determines students' eligibility for federal grants, loans and work-study programs. Completing the FAFSA is essential for students who want to access financial aid to help cover college expenses.
The ORSAA is the Oregon Student Aid Application, designed for Oregon students who are not eligible for federal financial aid through the FAFSA, including undocumented and DACA students. ORSAA provides access to state-based financial aid and scholarships.
Why attend?
- Expert assistance: Financial aid staff will be available to provide personalized support.
- Scholarship opportunities: Learn more about applying for CCC Foundation scholarships. The average scholarship is more than $2,000, and one in three applicants receives a scholarship. The deadline to apply is Oct. 17.
- Tuition waivers: Participants will be entered into a drawing for three 4-credit tuition class waivers, a value of $504.
What to expect:
- Assistance with FAFSA and ORSAA applications.
- Guidance on how to apply for CCC scholarships.
- Information about financial aid options, deadlines and requirements.
To attend, register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ccc-financial-aid-and-scholarship-night-tickets-980369891737.
If you need accommodations, such as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, contact the CCC Disability Resource Center at drc@clackamas.edu or call 503-594-6357 in advance of the event.
For questions, contact email finaid@clackamas.edu or call 503-594-6082.
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OREGON CITY — Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, is once again continuing its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Clackamas Community College was invited to return for year six and will continue to receive Metallica Scholars funding to enhance career and technical education programs.
Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, the Metallica Scholars Initiative began with 10 colleges (including Clackamas Community College) and primarily manufacturing programs. The initiative offers diverse workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers, including CCC’s heavy metals programs like welding, industrial technology and automotive technology. Additional curricula will include construction, health care and engineering, contributing to more than 25 fields of study offered within the initiative. To date, All Within My Hands has invested over $10.5 million in the American workforce, reaffirming a commitment to career and technical education at the local level.
“When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me. A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and what’s even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills,” Meticalla’s James Hetfield said. “I am so proud - we all are - to see how this program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and it’s great that we’re able to make our biggest grant yet to support these students and the future workforce. We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states! All thanks to your support.”
“Clackamas Community College is honored to once again be part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. Through this partnership, we are providing essential skills and training to our students, preparing them for meaningful careers,” CCC President Tim Cook said. “The Metallica Scholars program exemplifies the power of collaboration between education and industry, and we remain committed to ensuring the success of our students and the growth of our community.”
Metallica Scholars are often considered nontraditional students, as many have families they support or are the first in their families to pursue a college education. All Within My Hands and the American Association of Community Colleges aim to connect students to skill-building opportunities and bridge the talent needs of the American workforce, all while using the community college system, which is the most affordable, flexible and industry-relevant applied-learning training provider in the country.
“Metallica, through their foundation, is changing how people view and engage with the trades in this country, and it is working,” Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands, said. “Metallica Scholars are diverse, motivated and ambitious, and we are here to help them reach their goals. I am so proud and honored to be able to announce entrance into all 50 states as this is a significant milestone for not only our foundation but the incredible community we have helped foster and connect.”
To learn more about Clackamas Community College’s Metallica Scholars program, contact Britany Ellerbrook at Britany.ellerbrook@clackamas.edu or visit, www.clackamas.edu/heavy-metals.
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About All Within My Hands
All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a nonprofit, philanthropic organization conceived by the members and management of Metallica and dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. 100% of donations go directly to local organizations that the Foundation supports. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have raised over $15M— providing $8.2M in grants to career and technical education programs, over $3.6M to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.5M to disaster relief efforts. To learn more about All Within My Hands, Visit AllWithinMyHands.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About AACC
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. For more information, visit https://www.aacc.nche.edu/.