LEGACIESCentral Oregon Community College Foundation Magazine Fall 2016 Dr. Shirley I. Metcalf Vision of 'Ohana Central Oregon Symphony Redmond Solar Array Foundation Scholarships 12 contents “I like that slight informality, where people are excited— features more like a sporting event than people sitting on their hands. 4 We Are 'Ohana ” Dr. Metcalf’s vision of ‘ohana and what that means for COCC, our students and the region we serve. By Angela Reid 8 Broken Crayons Dr. Amy Howell impacts children 4 and educators. No one gets left behind. By Emily Woodworth “ ” 12 Harmonic Convergence Central Oregon Symphony celebrates 50 years of music and community success. By Cathy Carroll departments ON THE COVER 2 Letter from the President Dr. Shirley I. Metcalf Four-year-olds are the COCC President “ 3 Luminary Scholarships Timothy Park smartest people on the planet.” ABOVE 7 Calendar of Events Michael Gemse Central Oregon Symphony Conductor 11 Redmond Solar Array Benjamin Edwards New solar array will provide 90% of Redmond campus's energy needs. 15 Student Success 16 Dreams Within Reach Foundation scholarship recipients 8 share their stories. 11 18 Donors Investing in Community LEGACIES Letter From the President Fall 2016 Vol. 27 | No. 2 Welcome to the new Legacies – a redesigned space for sharing stories WRITERS of COCC, COCC students and Mary Ann Asson-Batres, Zak Boone, the COCC Foundation. I am Luminary Scholarships Cathy Carroll, Angela Reid, excited by this new direction – Linda Williams, Emily Woodworth moving from a newsletter format to by Zak Boone a magazine – and hope you enjoy the PHOTOGRAPHERS content and the updated presentation. At Central Oregon Community College we recognize that our fund was launched, and currently exists as a collaboration Benjamin Edwards, Eugen Helmbrecht, With the support and encouragement esteemed students come from a variety of backgrounds, and between the COCC Foundation and additional private donors David Morris, Timothy Park of the COCC Foundation Board of Trustees, each has a unique life story. Sometimes our students’ lives take interested in helping students who are on a solid path to gradu- our Foundation staff worked with those in our an unexpected turn while they’re enrolled in classes. For many ation with clear educational and career goals.* Since inception, EDITORS College Relations department to conceive and then produce this new publication. students, even just one additional bill or unexpected financial Luminary funds have directly assisted 155 COCC students. Zak Boone, Aimee Metcalf, With it comes expanded articles highlighting the people and activities that make obligation is enough to put their educational dreams on hold. As in years past, successful Luminary fund recipients for Brittany Nichols, Ron Paradis the College and Foundation so valuable to our community. Two very generous donors, Judy and Gary Heck, decided to do the 2015-2016 year demonstrated an enormous amount of You will enjoy reading about our students and Foundation scholarship something for students facing these types of hurdles and started strength, thoughtfulness and dedication. Whether through DESIGN recipients. These students and their stories are the lifeblood of COCC and the the Luminary emergency fund back in 2005 to address them. volunteer activities, raising a family, or helping other students, Lora Szaraniec Foundation. They are the also the reason many of you have chosen to give so “Gary and I both grew up in humble circumstances, and un- Luminary fund recipients offer themselves selflessly to others generously in support of student scholarships. Their stories are inspiring – and derstand the struggle it takes to realize a future vision and stick while working diligently toward their educational goals. Most COCC FOUNDATION possible – because of your patronage. with it. After speaking with COCC Foundation staff about often, Luminary fund applicants request assistance from the BOARD OF TRUSTEES Additionally, in this issue of Legacies you will read about the Central Oregon sponsoring one single parent through their two-year program, Fund as their last resort. Students facing unexpected financial Patti Carlson Symphony and the great relationship between COCC and that outstanding per- we became convinced that we could do more by offering help challenges often feel isolated or embarrassed by their circum- Ron Federspiel formance group, now celebrating its 50th anniversary. We also have information to multiple students. While help was already available via stances, but the opportunity through the Luminary fund offers Pat Fulton about two projects, supported by grants to the Foundation, which are important traditional scholarships and grants, we wanted to help make students a sense of community and support. Terry Juhola to our region. sure that day to day financial obstacles wouldn’t cause a good, “A past recipient was a single father who was struggling Daisy Layman I want to thank the Foundation staff, especially Zak Boone and Brittany Nichols, responsible and committed student to drop out,” stated Judy simply to get to school because of an aging, breaking down Scott Lovejoy Heck. Thanks to their early vision and financial support, the truck,” added Heck. “He was working two jobs and still could Erin MacDonald for their leadership on this project. Also, a special thanks to Lora Szaraniec, graphic designer in the College Relations department, who transformed Legacies not afford to have the truck fixed in a timely fashion. After he Charlie Naffziger received the Luminary scholarship, we received a ‘thank you’ Andrea Phelps into this new format. note from not only the dad, but from his two young daughters Vicki Russell As part of this new direction, we worked with local writers to explore issues LUMINARY FUNDS DISBURSED in their own handwriting! They said their dad would have a Judy Smith in depth and provide you with a comprehensive look at the topics we felt were Jeffrey Stuermer important. I especially enjoyed getting to know one of the writers, Angela Reid, $30,000 happy Christmas because of our help. Students’ thank you Betsy Weedman who wrote the story about me, but I also want to thank Cathy Carroll and Emily notes often include the idea that they will help someone in need Rod Wimer Woodworth who brought great insight to the articles about the Symphony and the when they have the opportunity – it doesn’t get better than that!” Early Childhood Education program. $25,000 A recent Luminary recipient who earned her nursing degree COCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS echoed this sentiment: “By awarding me the Luminary fund Bruce Abernethy NEW BEGINNINGS AND CAMPUS CELEBRATIONS scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden, allowing me to focus on the most important aspect Laura Craska Cooper This time of year always feels like a new beginning on our campuses. In late $20,000 Anthony Dorsch September, we welcomed back thousands of students working toward degrees of school, learning. I hope one day I will be David Ford and certificates, and opened our doors to even more who are taking the first step able to help others as you have helped me, Joe Krenowicz toward their educational, career and personal goals. We look forward to sharing as a teacher, as a healer and hopefully, as a John Mundy $15,000 stories from these students in future editions of Legacies. financial supporter!” Vikki Ricks This fall we commemorate anniversaries in Madras and Prineville where we have been operating campuses now for five years. We celebrate these milestones with $10,000 the students who have been able to more easily access courses and offerings, and The Central Oregon Community with the communities which support the College and our students. *Luminary fund recipients must have a 3.0 GPA College Foundation Magazine is and be nearing graduation (preference is given to published twice a year during Fall $5,000 students who are within two terms of finishing and Spring terms. Contents may only their area of study). be reprinted with permission from Zak Boone is the executive director of the the Foundation. Central Oregon COCC Foundation. Community College is an affirmative Dr. Shirley I. Metcalf 0 action, equal opportunity employer. COCC President 2005-062006-072007-08 2008-09 2009-102010-11 2011-122012-13 2013-142014-152015-16 2 Central Oregon Community College Foundation Magazine Central Oregon Community College Foundation Magazine 3 We Are ‘Ohana Dr. Shirley Metcalf’s Approach to Leadership and Life by Angela Reid t doesn’t take us more than five statement, she also demonstrates it, as well. No man is an island, and in large serving bowl, made of wood or minutes to find common ground. drawing on the wisdom of others – from Hawaii, the island is why. a hollow gourd, around which family We have never met before, but Colin Powell and Malcolm Gladwell, “When you live in a small, isolated and friends gather for a shared meal. as we talk in her office in the to her family, friends and colleagues place,” Dr. Metcalf explains, “everyone is According to this definition, if you are Boyle Education Center, COCC in Hawaii and on the mainland. 'Dr. connected.” In this way, she says, Hawaii close enough to share a meal, you are president Dr. Shirley Metcalf and Shirley,' as she is known by her faculty is a lot like Central Oregon. We all cross family. “Many of my friends’ children I realize we share many connections – and staff, is a living, breathing, smiling paths eventually, and often in several will call me Auntie Shirley,” she adds, Imutual friends, cities we’ve called home, representation of ‘ohana. different ways – at the board meeting, matter-of-factly. a boast, but rather an books we're reading. ‘Ohana is the Hawaiian word for and then the school play, and then out on acknowledgment of account- This is her gift, really, or as she calls it, family, but its interpretation is more a the trails.