The Clackamas print., May 01, 2019, Page 3, Image 3

Students earn academic honor
STORY BY JASON SISSON
NEWS EDITOR" @NEWSMANJAY
Two 'S tu d e n ts fro m C la c k a m a s
Community College were recently chosen
to join the 2019 All-Oregon Academic
Team. The students, Natalia Rodriguez
and Lizajane Gray, made their way to the
state Capitol on Friday to meet Governor
Kate Brown before transferring locations
for an award luncheon w ith winners
from other colleges.
The A ll-O reg on Academ ic Team is
selected annually, w ith each o f the
state’s 17 community colleges choosing
two students who demonstrate academic
excellence as w ell as service outside
the classroom that benefits society.
Students apply using a comprehensive
online application, and for CCG, the
winners are chosen by college president
Tim Cook.
“ We have a lo t o f stud ents at
Clackam as that are really sm art, but
what else have they done to be involved
and what kind of difference have they
made in the community?” Cook said. “ I
try to look not just at their academics
but the type of person they are and the
service they’re providing as well. Those
two out of all the ones that came through
really rose up..”
T he stu d en ts were honored at
the luncheon, receiving m edallions
w hile select stud ents were given
the opportunity to speak and share
their stories. Gray’ s hobbies include
volunteering for cleanup events, while
some of her honors are a John Snively
Scholarship Award and CCC Women in
Science Scholarship Award. Rodriguez
belongs to Canby Reading Mentors and
both her and Gray are Phi Theta Kappa
members in addition to being on the
CCC honor roll.
“ It’ s an am azing honor. I w asn’ t
expecting this level o f recognition or
the full event. I thought it would just be
a small gathering at the school/ Gray
said.
Both o f C C C ’ s w inners expressed
gratitude, and a bit o f surprise, at
receiving their awards.
“ It’s kind of surprising,” Rodriguez
said. “ I’ve never really won an award.
It’ s a validation o f the hard work I ?ve
been p uttin g into the college, my
com m unity and my school, and that
it’ s not for nothing.”
O regon is ju st one o f 39 states
that participates in the national a ll-
state com m unity college academ ic
team program . H ere, the award is a
collaboration between Phi Theta Kappa
Honor Society (PTK) and the Oregon
Com m unity College Association. The
program is intended to promote our
nation’s intuitiohs, quality of instruction
and outstanding students, according to
PTK’s website.
Of course, outstanding students aren’t
sim ply born, they’re made. Both of
C C C ’s winners spoke about their families
being one of the primary drivers o f their
successes.
>
“ Support from my family and friends.
My passion for wanting to do mote and
give back more g j to find out how far I
can go,” Gray said.
Rodriguez, especially, credits her
upbringing.
“ My m om is the best person ever.
S h e ’ s so en co uragin g and r e a l,”
Rodriguez said before elaborating more
on her childhood. “ Growing up, our
household was bicultural — so my dad is
from Mexico. That just taught me how to
work hard and how to be somebody from
nothing. It’s taught me work hard for
what you want and anything is possible. ”
In addition to being honored, both
students received a $1,000 scholarship
to put towards a four-year college or
university. Gray intends to pursue a
Bachelor of Science in earth science
from Portland State University, which
she’ll use to pursue a career in research
focusing on lessening the im pact of
humans on the environment. Rodriguez,
on the other hand, wants to attend
Concordia University with the aim of
attaining a m aster’ s in elem entary
education and in teaching. Naturally,
she intends to put those to use as an
elementary school teacher.
“This really reminds us of why we do
this work. You hear these stories about
students not just from Clackamas but
from all over the state that are doing
amazing things. Persevering with really
difficult lives and difficult challenges,
they’re able to come and rise above
and just be outstanding students and
exam ples o f th a t,” Cook1 said, “ i t ’ s
inspiring.”
From left, Board of Education member Irene Konev, Natalia Rodriguez, Lizajane Gray, and Tim Cook pose after the award luncheon in Salem on April 26.
■ /M
courtesy of Lóri Hall
Clackamas Print
thedackam asprint.com
Nay 1, 2019