Chemeketa And AHIVOY Partnership Earns National Recognition From Campus Compact - 02/12/26

Award Highlights Commitment to Vineyard Stewards and Expanding Educational Opportunity in Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley

Salem, Ore., February 12, 2026 — Chemeketa Community College and AHIVOY (Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad) have been recognized nationally with the 2026 Excellence in Community-Engaged Partnerships Award from Campus Compact. The award honors collaborative partnerships between colleges and community organizations that demonstrate meaningful, measurable impact.

The Chemeketa–AHIVOY partnership focuses on expanding access to education and leadership development opportunities for vineyard stewards who are essential to Oregon’s thriving wine industry. Through culturally responsive programming, bilingual outreach, and shared leadership, the partnership works to remove barriers to education and create new pathways for economic mobility in the Mid-Willamette Valley.

“This recognition affirms the power of authentic partnership,” said Dr. Jessica Howard, President and CEO of Chemeketa Community College. “The work Chemeketa and AHIVOY are doing together is rooted in respect, shared leadership, and a commitment to expanding opportunity for vineyard stewards who are essential to our region’s economy. I am incredibly proud of this team and grateful to our community partners for showing what meaningful collaboration can achieve.”

AHIVOY, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering vineyard stewards and their families, has been instrumental in connecting community members with educational resources, workforce training, and leadership opportunities. Together, Chemeketa and AHIVOY have created programs that support skill development, strengthen workforce pipelines, and uplift the voices of those who work in Oregon’s vineyards.

The award from Campus Compact places Chemeketa among a select group of institutions nationwide recognized for excellence in community engagement. It underscores the college’s commitment to serving the diverse communities of Oregon through education that builds careers and strengthens communities.

Chemeketa Community College offers more than 90 career and technical education programs, transfer degrees, and community education opportunities designed to meet regional workforce needs. Partnerships like the one with AHIVOY exemplify the college’s mission to create equitable pathways to opportunity while supporting industries that are vital to the local economy.

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For more than 55 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves more than 18,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities that supports, engages, and challenges higher education to realize its public purpose. Campus Compact empowers colleges and universities to advance their academic and civic missions by partnering with communities to address complex social issues and further equity, justice, and prosperity for all. Founded in 1985, Campus Compact is the nation's largest and oldest national association solely dedicated to advancing the civic and community engagement mission of higher education. Our members make up a force of thousands of presidents, faculty, researchers, students, and civic and community engagement experts.

Campus Compact envisions colleges and universities as vital agents and architects of a diverse democracy, committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their education and improve the quality of community life. We challenge all of higher education to make civic and community engagement an institutional priority. Learn more at compact.org.