College, continued from page 1
mean that it’s because they don’t cover
everything. That is also false,” said one of
the instructors.
Some facts about community college
here in Lincoln County are: Oregon has
16 community colleges of the more than
1,000 community colleges (independent
and American Indian) across the country.
Additionally, OCCC has one of just two
Aquarium Science Programs in the coun-
try, where only 20 applicants are accepted
annually nationwide.
Health services programs include
nursing, medical assistant, emergency
medical technician (EMT) and occasion-
ally Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) classes. You can get some
degrees by having only attended commu-
nity colleges.
Casey shares his experience
Tribal member Terrell Casey is begin-
ning his second year at Portland Com-
munity College (PCC) through the Early
College High School program (ECHS)
offered by the Beaverton School District.
He’s starting the program this year with
44 credits, taking an additional 15 credits
this term.
Terrell is set to graduate high school
this winter and continue pursuing his
degree in architecture, offered through
PCC, until transferring to a larger university.
Terrell goes to college full time, mean-
ing he doesn’t even see his high school as
a result of how the district set up the pro-
gram. To him this is a benefit. He loves it,
saying “staying in high school would have
been a waste of my time. I wasn’t gaining
the experience or education that I wanted
from it. I knew I was ready to move on, it
was just a matter of taking that next step.
Now at this point, starting my second
year in the ECHS program, I can’t even
see myself going back to the high school.”
I asked Terrell to share some of his
experiences.
“PCC professors are great. It seems
like they’re more than willing to help you
or explain something to you. They actually
teach, unlike high school teachers who
teach from a book where you are less likely
to receive any sort of education. They don’t
think that they’re better than you because
they are the teacher. They’re on the same
personal level as you are, like more of a
friend versus a teacher.”
Terrell explained that when he is
finished with high school this winter, the
school district will continue to pay his
tuition until the end of the school year,
claiming “you’re being set up to succeed!”
In this program, one of the classes
required in your first term is designed to
help you decide what track you’re going
to take, helping you map out your path to
make sure the degree you’re there for is
one you really want.
“It sort of double checks that this is
what you really want to do. So I did a whole
bunch of research on what architects do.
I discovered new aspects about the job I
hadn’t already known. I also interviewed
three architects, learning more about the
job and its demands,” said Terrell.
If you’re in high school and are ner-
vous about going to college, please speak
with your guidance counselor about what
is offered in your school district and get
started on some of those entry classes
before you graduate! Completing the
work now while you’re already in school is
worth all the time and money saved later.
Have you already graduated high
school? Talk to one of the Tribal education
specialists; you can find them in Siletz,
Salem, Portland and Eugene. Educational
resources like these are far and few, they
have the experience and resources you
need to apply for colleges and other grants
Mission Statement
We will utilize resources to prevent
the use of alcohol and other drugs,
delinquency and violence; we
will seek to reduce the barriers to
treatment and support those who
choose abstinance.
541-444-8286
Oct. 4 • Noon
Siletz Community Health Clinic
200 Gwee-Shut Road, Siletz
For information on Alcoholics
Anonymous: aa-oregon.org
•
Keionni Goodell (left) talks with an instructor in the Aquarium Science building
during a visit to Oregon Coast Community College.
File Photo
Terrell Casey with his artwork created at A. Susana Santos’ Journeys in Creativity
Art Camp at the Oregon School of Art and Craft this summer
Eugene: 541-484-4234
Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free
Help Line – 877-233-4287
Siletz News
Photo by Andrea Taylor
Siletz: 800-600-5599 or
Portland: 503-238-1512
•
If you or someone you know is doing
something commendable and want to
share it, contact Andy Taylor at andreas@
ctsi.nsn.us; or 800-922-1399, ext. 1293, or
541-444-8293.
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment,
and Women’s and Men’s
Transitional
Salem: 503-390-9494
6
area education specialist; OCCC staff;
and SVECA staff for all of your help! You
made so much available for me to gather
all of this fantastic information. I am truly
grateful for everything.
Siletz Tribal
Behavioral Health
Programs
CEDARR
Community Efforts
Demonstrating the Ability to
Rebuild and Restore
to ease the financial weight of getting your
degree. These folks want to help you get
all your applications in.
I hope with this piece parents and
students will take advantage of what they
can accomplish, utilizing anything and
everything they can to reach as high as
they want and get the job of their dreams.
Thank you to all of the students I
spoke with; to Katy Holland, Portland
October 2017
Most Often Requested Numbers
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians –
800-922-1399
Siletz Community Health Clinic –
800-648-0449
Salem Area Office – 503-390-9494
Siletz Behavioral Health – 800-600-5599
Salem Finance Office – 888-870-9051
Chinook Winds Casino Resort –
888-244-6665
Portland Area Office – 503-238-1512
Eugene Area Office – 541-484-4234
Contract Health Services (CHS) –
800-628-5720
Chemawa Health Clinic – 800-452-7823
Bureau of Indian Affairs – 800-323-8517
Website – ctsi.nsn.us