PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, AUGUST 27, 2021
of the Week
McNary students to benefi t
from $1.5 mil. Chemeketa grant
presented by
ERIKA MARTINEZ
Where and how
do you volunteer?
"I volunteer at the Keizer Chamber
of Commerce, Capital FC Timbers
and West Salem Athletic Booster
Club. I do numerous community
and fundraising events with Keizer
Chamber and Capital FC Timbers
and I serve on the board at West
Salem Athletic Booster Club."
Why do you
volunteer?
"I volunteer because I feel it is
very important to give back to the
community we live in. There is
so much to be done and if we all
do a little to give back it makes a
huge diff erence. It's how change
happens."
What does
volunteering
do for you?
"I volunteer because it fi lls my
cup. There is no greater feeling
Rochelle Farris, former College and Career Advisor at McNary High School.
JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Of the Keizertimes
McNary students will directly benefi t
from a $1.54 million grant Chemeketa
Community College received earlier
this month to increase dual enrollment
accessibility for underrepresented stu-
dent groups.
“Chemeketa’s dual enrollment pro-
gram opens the world of college-going
to hundreds of high school students each
year,” said Jessica Howard, Chemeketa’s
president, in a written statement. “With
this grant, we will be able to extend that
opportunity to more students, particu-
larly those in rural areas and those who
have faced barriers due to historic mar-
ginalization. The grant funds courses,
teacher training, technology and college
advising to increase the number of stu-
dents completing college."
Chemeketa’s College Credit Now
department allows high school students
to begin earning college credit before
graduation and for a fraction of the cost.
For $30 a year, students can take classes
at their high school, taught by certifi ed
teachers, and earn both high school and
college credit.
“Many of our students graduate with
almost enough credits to complete
their fi rst year of college because of the
classes they take,” said Rochelle Farris,
who served as McNary’s college and
career advisor for fi ve years. “It reduces
the amount that they are going to have
FILE PHOTO, Keizertimes
to pay for an associate or bachelor’s
degree by a signifi cant amount.”
A total of 163 students from McNary
participated in Chemeketa’s dual enroll-
ment program last year, taking a com-
bined 1,812 dual enrollment credits and
saving $169,877 compared to what the
class would cost at Chemeketa.
In total, Chemeketa’s College Credit
Now department saved 1,682 Oregon
high school students a combined $1.27
million last year.
Sara Hastings, Chemeketa’s dean of
high school partnerships, said that with
the grant, the college hopes “to focus on
identifying gaps at the schools that we
serve where certain students aren’t par-
ticipating in dual enrollment programs.”
than knowing that I am making a
diff erence in my community and
helping others in need."
How would you get
others to volunteer
in their community?
"Find something you are
passionate about and fi nd a way
to help build that passion in your
community."
BRIAN & APRIL McVAY
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