PAGE B6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 20, 2020
Spring
peeks
through
SIX: Perseverance is the
common thread
(Continued from Page B1)
The air might feel
heavy, but spring is
making an appearance
throughout the city.
Flowers are springing
up in yards and public
spaces at every turn.
KEIZERTIMES/Lauren Murphy
CENSUS,
continued from Page B1
sharing any personal informa-
tion.
On the federal level, Census
numbers to guide more than
$1.5 trillion annually from 316
federal spending programs for
education and health programs,
highways, roads and bridges,
water and sewage systems, and
other projects vital to commu-
nity health and well-being.
Census results determine
congressional representation,
the number of Electoral Col-
lege votes per state and is used
to draw boundaries for state
and local election districts.
In the last census, Oregon
was just shy of gaining one ad-
ditional seat in Congress, and
2020 is the year that could
happen.
Nonprofi ts and businesses
use Census data to help de-
termine where to build health
care facilities, child care and se-
nior centers, grocery stores and
new factories.
It can even have an impact
on local government, said Keiz-
er City Manager Chris Eppley.
“When grant funds are
available, a major part of de-
ciding who gets the money is
determined by demographics.
Having a comprehensive view
of who is living in the commu-
nity can increase our chances
of getting that type of funding,”
Eppley said.
The demographic informa-
tion also helps city staff decide
where to put their efforts when
it comes to applying for grants,
which is a time-consuming ef-
fort in almost every instance.
Some local projects that
have included state and feder-
al grants, and relied partly on
Census data, are the Chemawa
Road Northeast roundabout,
Keizer Rapids Park and Cher-
riots.
“In addition to that, it’s sim-
ply important for a local gov-
ernment to know who they’re
trying to serve. As demograph-
ics of our citizens change, we
have to change with it,” Eppley
said.
The demographic informa-
tion informs how the city en-
gages with the its residents at
nearly every level.
“The very simple form is
extremely important for us to
establish what the city’s rep-
resentation should be in state
and federal governance,” said
Mayor Cathy Clark. “We want
to make sure that our counts
are accurate so we get the por-
tions of the formula funds that
should be coming to support
projects in our area for roads
and other infrastructure.
“The number one reason
people should complete the
Census is because everyone
counts and we want to be sure
to count you.”
and make a positive impact on
the campus and in the com-
munity,” Morales said.
For many Act Six recipi-
ents, their scholarship is more
meaningful that just a way
to pay for school. For Val-
dez, it’s about developing her
skills and abilities to make the
world a better place.
“I believe in equity of voice
and I think that everyone de-
serves to be heard. My pur-
pose for this scholarship is to
develop my leadership skills to
help others when they can’t
be heard,” Valdez said.
Valdez is on the yearbook
committee at McNary and
volunteers her time work-
ing with children at her local
church.
Valdez’s love for kids made
her want to pursue a degree
in elementary education with
a minor in counseling.
“I really like helping young
kids out because they’re the
future generation,” Valdez said.
Valdez fell in love with
Corban when she went on her
campus visit and is thrilled to
be going to a Christian uni-
versity.
“I feel like this scholarship
was a window of opportunity
for me to further my educa-
tion. Being a private Christian
institution, I feel like it will
be the perfect school for me,”
Valdez said. “I’m just really
thankful because sometimes
you don’t have the resources
to go to college, but this just
extended the hand of help for
me.”
Act Six Scholarship win-
ners often times end up be-
ing fi rst-generation college
students, which is the case for
Cruz, who will also be attend-
ing Corban.
“To know that I don’t have
to worry about money, espe-
cially for me and my parents’
sake, is just a huge sigh of re-
lief,” Cruz said.
Since his sophomore year,
Cruz has worked more than
30 hours a week at the Mc-
Donald’s on Lancaster Street
in Salem. He also volunteers
is there to help them,” Medina
said.
When Medina was noti-
fi ed that she would have the
opportunity to study forensic
with AVID and with kids at psychology and receive fi re-
local elementary schools.
arms training at Corban Uni-
Whether he’s at work or versity on a full scholarship,
at school, Cruz takes pride in she immediately thought of
being selfl ess, which he credits her family.
to his Christian faith.
“I love that I can make
“When I see a person my parents and grandparents
struggling to fi nd change or if proud after everything they
they forget their wallet, I’ll just have done for me. It meant that
cover it. At the end of the day, I could walk home and tell my
it’s not about saving the world, parents that they wouldn’t have
it’s about just trying to make to worry about paying a penny
someone’s day
for me to go
better,” Cruz
to school. That
said. “Faith is
was the great-
very import-
est gift I’ve
ant in my life.
ever had in my
I don’t think
life,” Medina
I would have
said.
made it here
Although
without
my
she
went
faith.”
through some
While he’s
rough patch-
leaning towards
es earlier on
going
into
in her high
pre-dentistr y,
school life, her
Cruz isn’t 100
faith is what
— Carlos Cruz helped
percent sure of
her
what he wants
through some
to study. He’s
dark days.
just excited for the opportu-
“I had a lot a diffi culty with
nity to go to college.
mental health and self-harm,
“I’m really not passion- but when I decided to let God
ate about anything yet, but I back into my life, it was like
know I just want to further everything started to fall into
my education. Education is place,” Medina said.
a big way to have infl uence,”
The Act Six Scholarship has
Cruz said.
the ability to change people’s
Medina, on the other hand, lives, and Farris believes that
is incredibly passionate about these four students will use
law enforcement and has a what they have been given to
clear vision of how she wants change the lives of others.
to impact her community.
“This particular scholarship
“As a Latina, I really want is really special for a lot of rea-
to change the Latino commu- sons. What’s exciting about it
nity’s perspective on law en- is seeing kids that I know to
forcement. They feel like they be leaders and are already in-
need to defend themselves volved in their school commu-
against law enforcement rather nity, to take that from McNary
than see them as someone that to another campus,” Farris said.
“To know
that I don’t
have to worry
about money
... is just a
huge sigh of
relief.”
K E I Z E R
Our local team carries 125 years combined experience
and over 36 million dollars of real estate sold just last year alone.
We’re Keizer experts, working for you. Stop by our Keizer offi ce
anytime or call your favorite HomeSmart Broker today.
BOB SHACKELFORD
TROY RENSHAW
CATHY BRAMHALL
DANA SCHELL
BRIAN & APRIL McVAY
Broker
Broker
Principal Broker
Principal Broker
Broker, Principal Broker
503.983.4086
503.931.7266
503.871.3339
503.320.9261
503.510.6827
23 Years Experience
32 Years Experience
7 Years Experience
40 Years Experience
34 Years Combined Experience
BASKIN
ROBBINS
SUNSET AVE
RIVER RD
3975 River Rd N,
Suite 3
Keizer, OR 97303
BI-MART
Bob Shackelford, Troy Renshaw, Cathy Bramhall, Dana Schell, Brian McVay and April McVay are all licensed real estate Brokers in Oregon.