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The DeterminDr. Amo DeBernardis, the founding presidentof Portland Community College, passedaway February 19, 2010. He was 96.DeBernardis pioneered concepts thattoday are integral to PCC’s mission,such as fostering a robust open campus,cultivating business partnerships anddesigning curriculum aimed at givingstudents and employers what they want,not meeting some academic agenda.DeBernardis, or “Dr. De” as he was knownat the college, served as PCC’s presidentfrom 1961 until his retirement in 1979.His strong vision helped establish PCC’sfootprint that the communit y knows “When we started Portland Communitytoday. He spearheaded development of College in 1961 the name of the gamethe comprehensive campuses (Sylvania, was ‘students come first and everythingRock Creek and Cascade) and devised else about the college is supportive andsecondary,’ ” wrote DeBernardis in “Theyits mission.Just Did It,” a book about PCC’s history.“He cared zero about the accoutrements “This perception of what a college shouldof the office, but cared everything about be should never change.”the mission,” said former PCC PresidentDan Moriarty. “His legacy lives on. I am In 19 61, D e B e r na rdis was na m e dhonored to have worked at PCC and to administrator of the newly founded Portlandhave used his desk for 15 years. For Amo Community College while remainingthe presidency was not just a job. He assistant superintendent of Portland Publicbelieved passionately in the mission and Schools (PPS). PCC had been the Vocationalmore specifically in the idea of educational and Adult Education Division of PPS inopportunity for all the citizens of the the 1950s. In the early 1960s, the Statecommunity. Everything and everyone Legislature approved a bill authorizing theelse came second.”formation of community colleges in Oregon.6PCC CommunitiesSummer 2010It wasn’t easy establishing PCC. Detractorskept advising him that a communitycollege would never make it in Portland.The colorful DeBernardis was known for hispassion for education and his ability to beblunt and forceful.PCC would soon have space in the22-classroom building in the old FailingElementary School, which would laterbe renamed the Ross Island Center. In abold move that would come to symbolizehis management style during his tenure,DeBernardis pulled up stakes from hisown office at Portland Public Schoolsand moved to a room at the building. Hehad been warned it was a poor careermove and that he was tying his future to ahopeless cause.It was far from it. Today, PCC is the largestinstitution of higher learning in Oregon,serving approximately 87,200 full- and parttime students, and serves a geographicarea the size of Rhode Island. It has threecomprehensive campuses, five workforce

ned Dr. Detraining and education centers, and 200community locations. The college nowis experiencing one of its most dramaticgrowth spurts in enrollment with 10 termsof increases.Planning Commission, Department ofEnvironmental Quality, Columbia RegionAssociation of Governments, PortlandArea Metropolitan Boundary Commission,conservation groups, State Legislator VeraKatz, college faculty and even his ownboard member – Earl Blumenauer, who waselected to the PCC Board on the platformof stopping a Rock Creek Campus.Amo DeBernardis,PCC’s founding president,leaves behind anamazing legacyByJames G. Hillwere doing and looking ahead to what weshould be doing. He always asked, ‘Whatis in it for the students?’ There was not amatter that came up or proposals madewhere that question wasn’t asked.”“For the most part and with few exceptions,After his retirement, the College CenterAmo ‘bulled’ ahead on so many of hisBuilding at the Sylvania Campus wasinitiatives with little or no support fromrenamed in his honor in 1995.the established political system of anypersuasion,” added Moriarty. “Indeed This war of wills featured PCC pouring fresh “He grew PCC from a division of Portlandin several instances the system worked concrete for a Rock Creek building one day Public Schools to the largest institutionexplicitly against him. Amo was a believer before the use permit expired in 1974 and of post-secondar y education in thein the community college mission, and many subsequent battles in the Legislature, state of Oregon,” said PCC Presidentthat sustained and motivated him. And he punctuated by DeBernardis storming out of Preston Pulliams. “Upon retiring, hebelieved in the people, the citizens of the a Ways and Means Committee hearing when remained a sage council for myself andcommunity and they supported him. He Katz threatened to block funding, yelling, the other college presidents who followedgot the job done.”“We’re going to build Rock Creek anyway!”in his footsteps.” The famous story of “The Battle for RockCreek” is probably the most publicexample of how determined DeBernardiscould be. Starting in 1968 when he andhis administrators began planning for acampus on the Westside, DeBernardissparred with the Washington County“People always ask me about him and I’vealways said Dr. DeBernardis had moreideas in five minutes than most men had ina lifetime,” said Roy Lindsay, who worked asDeBernardis’ assistant and vice presidentduring his tenure. “I mean that in a positiveway. His mind never stopped with what weTo contribute to the AmoDeBernardis Scholarship Fund,visit www.pcc.edu/foundation.To leave a legacy at PCC, visitwww.pccgiftplan.org and becomea member of the Amo DeBernardisLegacy Society.Summer 2010PCC Communities7

We Metthe MillerFoundationScholarshipChallenge!Thanks to gifts from our donors, thePCC Foundation will receive 320,000in matching scholarship funds from theJames F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation,to support hundreds of PCC students forthe 2010-11 academic year. These giftswill go to people like radiography studentWendy Sullivan, a single mother who usedher 2009-10 Miller Scholarship to cover thecost of tuition, books and fees. Thanks toall who donated! For more information about thePCC Foundation, visitwww.pcc.edu/foundation8PCC CommunitiesSummer 2010““This scholarship means a great dealto me. It allows me to take out smallerstudent loans and devote more time tomy studies while enjoying life with mythree-year-old son.””-Wendy Sullivan

He’s on the CASEPCC President wins regional leadership award.ByJames G. HillPortland Community College PresidentPreston Pulliams has been given the RegionalLeadership Award by the Council for theAdvancement and Support of Education.The region covers the Pacific Northwestand Western Canada and includes not onlycommunity colleges and smaller colleges,but also large four-year universities.“There could be no more deserving recipientof a regional CASE leadership award thanhe,” said Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski. “Dr.Pulliams has a vision of access to highereducation for anyone who wants in. Hispassion for this philosophy is one of thereasons I named him to the Oregon Boardof Higher Education, where he has provenhis leadership time and time again.”He also took the lead in making PCCtobacco-free last fall. The college is thelargest educational institution in Oregon totake this step and he helped accomplishthis difficult task by meeting with andgaining support of the students, staff andfaculty. In addition, he was instrumental insecuring a 1 million grant from the federalAmerican Recovery and ReinvestmentAct of 2009. The grant will help retrofitthe college’s oldest campus – Sylvania –reduce its carbon footprint and allow it tobecome energy neutral.In addition, Pulliams – the fifth president ofPCC – launched a capacity-building planfor the PCC Foundation and helped securelocal grants and college funds to supportthat plan. Annual contributions to theFoundation have more than quadrupled inthe five years he has led PCC.The award comes at a time when Pulliamsis enjoying the success of passing the 374 million capital bond measure in 2008– the largest educational bond measure in “He is the Portland leader who I recognizedthe history of Oregon. Passing the bond as the champion of providing access tomeasure was the president’s top priority education after high school for all Portlandand he made presentations at dozens area students,” said Jim Francesconi,of events where he shared his vision for vice chair of the State Board of Higheraccess. In the face of economic downturn Education and former Portland Cityand growing unemployment, the measure Commissioner. “He has doubled thepassed in November 2008, which will scholarships at Portland Communityexpand facilities to serve 20,000 additional College for low-income students so thatall Portland students can access thesefull-time students.facilities. He has created partnerships withK-12 to expand credit and middle collegemodels so that high school students canlearn the advanced skills they need tosucceed in college and the workplace.”The Council for Advancement and Supportof Education is a professional associationserving educational institutions and theadvancement professionals who work ontheir behalf in alumni relations,communications,development and marketing. For more information about CASE,visit www.case.orgCalendar of Events: A Look at What’s AheadJuneThe 2010 graduation ceremony is set for7 p.m. on Friday, June 11 at the MemorialColiseum, 1401 N. Wheeler Ave. Watchgraduates walk to the stage and receivetheir diplomas and certificates in front ofthousands of family and friends.Summer term classes begin onMonday, June 21. For informationabout registration, call (503) 977-4933or visit www.pcc.edu.64PCC CommunitiesSummer 2010Looking to continue your arts educationthis summer? If so, the Summer ArtsInstitute at the Sylvania Campus is readyand waiting for you. Welcoming artenthusiasts of all kinds, young and old,amateur and professional, the SummerArts Institute begins in late June andcontinues through August. Taught byPCC instructors, the program offersa broad selection of credit courses.For more information, e-wide In-Service will be heldMonday, September 13. Most collegeservices this day will be closed until1 p.m. Campus-specific In-Service willtake place on Tuesday, September 14.Fall term classes begin on Monday,September 20. For information aboutregistration, call (503) 977-4933or visit www.pcc.edu.

FROM LOUISIANATO LEADERSHIPHurricane Katrina blew David Kinginto a leadership position at theCascade CampusDavid King,Cascade studentbody presidentByAbraham ProctorDavid King survived Hurricane Katrina andits aftermath, and now is flourishing as astudent leader at the Cascade Campus.“I never saw myself living in Portland,” saidthe campus student body president. “ButI’m really glad I’m here.”And thus began the chain of events that ledKing’s mother and sister — and, eventually,himself — to Portland. King’s sister, KathrynKing, said that she and her mother were at aloss as to what to do. A woman from CatholicCharities in San Antonio remarked that therewere resources in Portland earmarked tohelp people displaced by Katrina, but thatthey were untapped.But when I saw how well my sister was doingat PCC, I thought I’d get involved, too.”Both decisions — moving to Portland andenrolling at PCC — turned out to be theright ones. King has flourished in college,becoming involved in student governmentand excelling in the classroom. He gothis start in student government in early2009 and became Cascade student bodypresident later that fall. Just recently, hewon the chairmanship of the PCC DistrictStudent Council.Working for a low-voltage wiring company,King was caught when Hurricane Katrinamade landfall on the Gulf Coast in August “We thought, ‘Portland?’” said Kathryn. “At the2005. He and his family were living about time it seemed like someplace at the top of the80 miles north of New Orleans.world. (Hurricane) Katrina was an experiencethat tested my“The storm came on a Monday and I heard strength as a woman,“Cascade Campus“Cascade Campus is like my secondabout it on Saturday,” he said. “I had just a mother and ais like my secondhome. Once I got started in college, Iover a day to prepare myself and help my daughter. We were justhome,” King said.family as best I could.”so relieved to have“OnceI got started insurprised even myself.”someplace to go.”college, I surprisedKing used the time to stock upeven myself.”o n emergency supplies — food, water, Kathryn King took the woman’s advice andbatteries, gasoline and a gas-powered drove to Portland along with her mother After his time at PCC is over, King intends togenerator. As the wind and rain picked and children. In January of 2006, once they continue his studies toward a bachelor’s degreeup, he and his stepbrother discovered his were somewhat settled in their new city, in business. Oregon has grown on him, evenfather — who has epilepsy — went into Kathryn enrolled in PCC. In phone calls and though he misses the South sometimes.what they believed was a seizure, but was e-mails to her brother back in Louisiana,later diagnosed as a heart attack. Once she relayed how welcoming Portland was, “I’ve kind of found my way since I camethe storm passed, they braved 20 miles of how beautiful the countryside was and how to Por tland,” he added. “There areravaged roadways — using a chainsaw to much she appreciated the education she opportunities for me here that I never had inclear the way at some points — to get their was getting at the college.my hometown. And I won’t complain aboutfather to the hospital.Katrina or any of the things that happened.David King was convinced. He packed I’m one of the lucky ones; there are a lot“My dad had triple bypass surgery the next his things and joined his family in Portland, of people worse off than me. It was one ofweek,” King said.enrolling in the GED program at Cascade those turning points in life.” Campus in the winter of 2008, and then inWhile King decided to stay, many opted to regular PCC classes in the spring.leave — including his mother, his sister andher children. They made their way to stay “I had a little culture shock when I first gotFor more information aboutCascade Campus, visitwith relatives near Beaumont, Texas, where here,” said King, who said he had neverwww.pcc.edu/cascadethey received another shock: that home seen a mountain before he arrived inwas leveled by Hurricane Rita.Oregon. “I went through a little depression.“”Summer 2010PCC Communities65

Photo courtesy of Kate HulpkeLuke Sitts, PCCChemistry studentand UCORE fellowAt the Core ofScience EducationTw o - a n d f o u r - y e a r s c h o o l s t e a m u p top r ove scie n ce is n ’ t a s ca r y s u bj e ctByKate ChesterCalling all community college students:t hin k m aj o ring in s cie n c e is s c a r y ?Or that summer school is drudgery?Think again.encouraged the Rock Creek Campusto join in 2008. This summer marks afirst-time presence for Cascade.Lane, Mount Hood and Umpquacommunit y colleges round out therest of the pack.Luke Sitts, 18, will complete his chemistrystudies at PCC Sylvania this June. A UCOREfellow last summer, he participated ingeochemistry research at UO, helping “toanalyze oxygen isotopic levels of volcanicfallout, to determine how active magma fromthe Yellowstone super volcano is,” he said.Sitts’ UCORE experience led to an opportunityto work in Sylvania’s chemistry and physicslab last fall — in addition to his “ambassador”work as a peer tutor in the tutoring centerand as a classroom assistant, where heworked one-on-one with students fieldingtheir chemistry questions. He’s now in theprocess of determining whether to pursue hisbachelor’s at Oregon State University or UOwhile waiting to hear the outcome of a potentialNSF scholarship.Thanks to the University of Oregon anda five-year, 2 million grant from the “The UCORE program encourages our scienceNational Science Foundation, community students to break out of their shells and to seecollege students interested in pursuing the possibilities,” said Jill Betts, a part-timecareers in the physical sciences can get geology instructor at the Sylvania Campus anda jump start through UCORE — short for the campus liaisonMiranda Bradley, 32,“Undergraduate Catalytic Outreach and for UCORE. “Theyis studying physicsThey gain confidence, their research and and mathematicsResearch Experiences.”gain confidence,their research andat Portland Statecommunication skills improve and inThe UCORE fellowship program — a 10- communication skillsUniversit y anddoing this, they inspire other students.week summer session at UO — launched improve and in doinghopes to continuein 2007. Approximately 25 fellows from t his, t h ey inspireon to graduatesix community college campuses are other students.”school, focusingaccepted annually, each receiving aon applied physics disciplines like wave 3,500 stipend and on-campus housing. The program doesn’t attempt to lure energy or renewable energy systems. AlsoDuring the summer session, UCORE students out of community colleges before a UCORE fellow in summer 2009, Bradleyf e l l o w s c o n d u c t r e s e a r c h w i t h they complete their two-year enrollment; completed her work at Rock Creek last spring.U O physicists, chemists and geologists, rather, UCORE strives to foster theirthen prepare reports that they present interest in obtaining degrees in science, Laughing, Bradley explained that the firstto their colleagues. They complete their technology, engineering and mathematics week of orientation at UCORE was sort of likefellowship by returning to their community (also known as STEM) by feeding them “speed dating” about research opportunities.college in the fall, where they serve as into universities.“It just clicked for me,” Bradley added.“recruitment ambassadors” to spread the“Biophysics sounds scary, but it’s interestingword that no, science isn’t scary — in fact, It’s been a huge success. Since UCORE’s and really accessible.” it’s pretty cool.launch, more than 90 percent of itsparticipants have transferred from theirThe Sylvania Campus has been a UCORE community colleges to an Oregon universityFor more information aboutp a r t i c i p a n t s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g . to pursue bachelor’s degrees in one or morethe UCORE program, visitwww.uoregon.edu/ msiuo/Its success and enthusiasm for the project of the STEM disciplines.“”undergrad/ucore/ucore.html66PCC CommunitiesSummer 2010

Under 4Oand on theFast TrackTwo hardworkingPCC administratorsare selected for thePortland BusinessJournal’s prestigious40 Under 40 listByJames G. Hill & Christina HolmesTeresa Alonso, director of theCollege Assistance Migrant ProgramBrooke Gondara, dean of theSylvania Social Sciences DivisonFor the second time in as many years, the Portland Business Journal has turned to PortlandCommunity College administrators to round out its closely watched “40 Under 40” list.Brooke Gondara was named to the 2010 list and Teresa Alonso made it in 2009. The selectgroup of local leaders under the age of 40 is chosen based on their stellar professionalachievements and community involvement.Brooke’s StoryGondara, 38, dean of the Social SciencesDivision at the Sylvania Campus since2004, dropped out of high school andbecame a single mom but she knew therewas a better life for her and her daughter.It all started when she earned her GEDfrom the state of Montana in 1990. “Thekey turni

Portland Community College, 12000 SW 49th Ave., Portland, OR, 97219 Periodicals postage paid at Portland, Oregon. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "PCC Communities" at P.O. Box 19000, Portland, OR 97280-0990. Visit the Portland Community College Web site at www.pcc.edu 4 PCC CommunitiesSummer 2010