Bob's ID badge.

SOUTHWEST PORTLAND, Ore. – No matter the season, it's always the “dog days” at Portland Community College’s Sylvania Campus Veterans Resource Center (VRC).

Therapy dogs bring big benefits to mental health, and the Sylvania VRC is experiencing this firsthand. Matt Blankenship has served as the Sylvania VRC coordinator since 2019, and his fluffy partner named Bob—a 20-pound miniature Australian Labradoodle—has been a beloved presence on campus for nearly two years.

Bob is Blankenship’s emotional support animal that has been specifically trained to be a therapy dog. More than 20 years ago, Blankenship enlisted in the U.S. Army at a young age but his military career ended abruptly when he was injured and the Army ultimately medically separated him.

“My service experience was a bit non-traditional,” said Blankenship, who also opened the college’s first VRC at the Cascade Campus from 2011 to 2014. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to join the military, so I enlisted in the Army just before 9/11, at 17, and shipped-off right after graduation. I’ve always wanted to serve a purpose greater than myself and to be part of a team–and was certain I’d serve for 20 years.

“That process (the medical separation) was really difficult, but it inspired me to do the work I do now at PCC, helping veterans transition from the military to civilian life and support them through their journey,” he added.

Every Wednesday and Thursday, Bob accompanies Blankenship to the VRC, where his role is to interact with students to provide them with comfort, joy and stress relief. Unlike service dogs, who focus solely on their handler, therapy dogs like Bob engage openly with others, offering snuggles and emotional support. Currently, he is only available at the Sylvania Campus VRC.

For veterans like Blankenship or anyone needing comfort, the VRC provides an open, inclusive space, welcoming all students to stop by, enjoy the “Best free coffee on campus,” and connect. Also, Tuesday, Nov. 12, the VRC hosted refreshments and a “Staff Wall of Honor” in the CC Building's Upper Mall to celebrate Veterans Day.

The Veterans Resource Centers (VRCs) focus on providing veteran and military-affiliated students, their families, and the surrounding veteran community with advocacy, resources, programming and cultural engagement. The college has centers located on Cascade, Rock Creek, Southeast, and Sylvania campuses. Last year, PCC was named a Military Friendly School, a designation recognizing schools that invest in programs to recruit, retain and advance veterans as employees, entrepreneurs and students.

Blankenship and Bob share a special bond as do the students who utilize PCC's veteran resources.

“He’s the youngest of three I have from the same line of dogs,” said Blankenship. “Bob’s temperament has always been ideal for this role—he's not vocal or aggressive and is incredibly gentle with everyone, including children and people with disabilities. I noticed around six months old that Bob had the perfect temperament for this work, so I started training him for the therapy role at the VRC.”

He said Bob intuitively senses when someone needs extra attention, sitting close or curling up beside them. Many students now visit the VRC just to see Bob, who creates a welcoming environment for most. Blankenship shared a recent and moving experience involving a new student who was clearly distressed but not able to converse and near tears. After sitting with Bob for a while, her mood lifted, a testament to the dog’s comforting impact.

“Bob did what I couldn’t,”  said Blankenship.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

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Kuykendall working in the shop.

SOUTHWEST PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College Automotive Service Technology Program instructor Jay Kuykendall of Molalla has been named the 2024 Mitchell 1 Educator of the Year by the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT).

The Mitchell 1 Educator of the Year award recognizes excellence in automotive education and requires recipients to excel in ASE automotive tests A1-A8, which include categories like engine repair, brakes and engine performance. Recipients must also pass the L1 Advanced Engine Performance exam. Kuykendall received a one-year subscription to Mitchell 1’s ProDemand auto repair information software, an NACAT membership and an all-expenses-paid trip to the NACAT conference.

“I'm just starting my 10th year here at PCC," he said. "Being awarded educator of the year was a very humbling experience. I work with a great group of talented instructors and staff in the program, all of whom are just as deserving. My hope is that it results in additional exposure to our program, allowing us to help more students who want to be part of the automotive industry.”

Initially, Kuykendall thought the award was too good to be true.

“When I was first contacted, I thought it was a scam," he chuckled. "Why would they pick me when there are so many great automotive instructors out there? Now I feel like I need to work harder to live up to the award, not for myself but for the students here at PCC.”

In his role, Kuykendall oversees the auto shop lab and teaches engine performance classes, along with elective courses like Subaru U, electrified vehicles and light-duty diesel. Outside of teaching, he owns and operates Green Flag Auto Repair in Molalla and co-founded the Northwest Automotive Technicians Society. He is also a certified ASE Master Technician. He said teaching within a career technical education program is very rewarding. 

“We are lucky in CTE programs because we often get to spend much more time with our students than in a traditional academic program," he said. "It's nice to get to know a lot more about the individual students while they are here."

Kuykendall’s passion for the automotive industry should not be a surprise. As a kid, he was immersed in the world of racing and getting the most out of race cars and automobiles.

“I grew up with my family racing at the local short track," he said. "I helped my dad and brothers work on the race cars, and in high school my sport was drag racing." 

After attending trade school, he began working in the automotive field immediately after graduating from college and the rest is history.

His program is critical for the local automotive service industry. PCC-trained automotive service technicians are in high demand due to a national shortage of skilled workers. Graduates of the program find employment opportunities across dealerships, independent garages, service stations, and specialty shops, with jobs available in virtually any location. Having recognized and talented instructors in the program is key to its continued success.

"Jay teaches a full course load each year, while also taking on the responsibility of teaching all three of our elective courses, coordinating industry training for working technicians, and leading a group of industry professionals to address current challenges," said Russ Jones, automotive service instructor and program chair. "I am incredibly proud of Jay for earning this recognition—he truly deserves it. His dedication to both our students and the industry is remarkable."

For more information, visit pcc.edu/programs/auto-service/.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

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