Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2003)
April 30,2003 he Clackamas Print cGuire keeps constructive outlook Elisabeth Meyer Feature Editor ELISABETH MEYER Ken McGuire doesn’t wake up at 4:30 a.m. “I usually wake up a couple of minutes before—you know, 4:26, 4:27, 4:28—because I don’t like the sound of my alarm,” McGuire laughed. If you’ve come in the Beavercreek Road entrance of the campus, you’ve probably seen McGuire in the Baugh-Skanska booth. Since late summer he’s been directing construction vehicles to various sites and helping new work ers get oriented. McGuire’s wake-up-before-the- alarm sensibilities pervade his life. Before fall term began, McGuire took a tour of the campus, armed with a campus map. Aside from keeping on top of construction traf fic, he’s also'helped students and vis itors find their way around campus. On his biggest day, he estimates he gave 30 people directions. His positive outlook kicks in when he gets up in the morning. For a self-described former “night person,” this took some transition. Though he used to enjoy going out late, McGuire said he’s learned he has to budget his time and energy. He describes his, life outside work as quiet. “Sometimes I’ll get together with Clackamas Print Baugh-Skanska employee Kevin McGuire directs con struction traffic, as well as disoriented visitors, from his booth at the Beavercreek Road entrance to campus. a group of friends, and I go to church on Sunday, but mostly when I get home I just crash,” he said. His system works: “I start every day at a ten,” he said. “I might end the day at three, but every morning I start over at ten. If your body says ‘it’s time to go to bed’ at seven, and you want to watch ‘24,’ well, that’s what VCRs are for,” he said- McGuire said “a good job, a hot cup of coffee, and a sunrise to watch” are things that make his life enjoyable. “Once when we were working on “Baugh- Skanska is my savior. I’m still excited to come to work every day.” Ken McGuire Baugh-Skanska employee t a job at the airport, someone said to me, ‘Why are you so happy all the time?”’ he recalled. “I told them, ‘You don’t know how many blessr ings I have.’” The biggest blessing, the nearing 50 year-old McGuire said, is his job. After an on-the-job accident in 1985, doctors said he would never walk, stand upright or speak without stutter ing again. His sight and hearing were damaged as well. Three years later, he could walk unsupported. In 1991, when a teamster learned that he was living in a handicapped home on Social Security disability, the union got in touch with Baugh-Skanska. “I talked to Mr. Barber at Baugh- Skanska and 15 minutes later, I was on my way to a job and they were figuring out ways I could work,” he said. He started working split shifts. It took nine months before he could work a full day. McGuire can’t say enough to praise his employers. “Baugh- Skanska is my savior. I’m still excited to come to work every day,” he said. “Other companies I’ve worked for just squeeze everything they can from you. (Baugh-Skanska is) just incredible,” said McGuire. “I was turned down by literally hundreds of companies after (vocational) rehab. No one would touch me.” McGuire appreciates Baugh- Skanska’s policy of making workers “stretch and flex” in the morning, which reduces injuries, of paying attention to workers and letting workers know in advance when a job will end. “I’m probably the biggest walk ing advertisement for Baugh- Skanska,” McGuire said. “Maybe it sounds corny, but I’m grateful every morning. They gave me my life back.” Criminal justice instructor selected for Fulbright Award to teach at community college in Caribbean The Clackamas Print “It’ll be a very interesting experi ence,” said Ida Flippo, criminal jus tice instructor here at Clackamas Community College. Ida Flippo applied for a Fulbright Award on Aug. 1, 2002. The award would allow her to teach overseas for five months. The time that followed WORK AT HOME AS A PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST $42,000 MEDIAN ANNUAL INCOME. PARALEGAL to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 140 countries that par ticipate in the Fulbright program,” said the chairman of the Fulbright Scholarship Board, Caroline Matano Yang. Although Flippo has a Master’s in teaching and Bachelor’s in Criminology, she considers herself fortunate to have received the award since it is most often presented to someone with a PhD. was greeted with anxious anticipa tion as she waited for the reply that finally came April 9, 2003. She received a letter from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, congrat ulating and informing her that she had been selected to receive a Fulbright Award. The Fulbright program gives well-educated citizens an opportuni ty to contribute to the lives of other cultures around the around the world. “The Fulbright program attempts NEED A STABLE CAREER $64,500 AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME COURT REPORTING IN HIGH DEMAND! CHOICE? CORRECTIONAL OFFICER Look no further... CALL AND ENROLL TODAY! Or contact us for more information. ' Our courses can get you trained in 30 weeks! Financial aid available for those who qualify. C ollege O f L egal arts www.coHegeoffegalarts.com Flippo will have the opportunity to spend five months on the beautiful Caribbean island St. Lucia, while teaching at Sir Arthur Louis Community College, a beautiful 18th century British fort, and assisting in the design and development of a criminal justice degree. During the application process, Flippo was asked to submit a sample syllabus of the courses she proposed to teach and what contributions she hoped to bring to the island. “A better appreciation for the police officers,” said Flippo. The population, which averages 160,000, contains 750 police officers, most of whom have never set foot inside a college building. “Most of the officers are only required to finish secondary school, which would be high school,” said Flippo. Considering the lack of educa tion most of St. Lucia’s officers pos sess, they are understandably looked down upon by many of the islanders. Flippo hopes to raise the standard of die police officers and call the people to a greater respect and appreciation of those in the jus tice system. She plans to bring her husband, a Portland police officer, and her two teenage sons with her to St. Lucia, IDAFUPPO and looks forward to their August departure. St. Lucia, whose main industries are bananas and tourism, is filled with rain forests and surrounded by beautiful beaches. Although the temperature there averages 80 degrees, Flippo admits her time there will be during the rainy season. Just as well, considering much of her schedule will be filled working with students and the faculty of Sir Arthur Louis, as she brings her knowledge and expertise to the only community college on the island. The Fulbright program usually sends people overseas to study and to research. Flippo was pleased to hear she’d be able to teach and work one- on-one with the students. “This is a hands-on job,” said Flippo, “and I’m looking forward to it.” Why do people always have to fight? If we could all just learn to hug or read The Print, then we would all get along!
