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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2012)
glorila nò (Dbseruer Page 8 June 6, 2012 Haitian Roots c o n t i n u e d f r o m front ♦ and during that time discovered his family was alive and safe. "Not only knowing, but being able to see that my family was okay; that was all that m attered to me at that time," Estanis said. "I spent the rest of the time working in hospitals and under tents with the team, translating and helping in any possible way I could. Being on the ground with a group of devoted people who can assist my com m unity with their medical needs, and being there to facili tate that, was a big accom plish ment for me; it's always good to give back to the com m unity." Today, Estanis is giving som e thing back at Portland Commu- nity College, too. He is the stu dent speaker for PCC's 50th gradu ation cerem ony at 7 p.m., Friday, June 15, at M em orial Coliseum . As the college caps its dia mond anniversary celebrations, a total o f 4,200 degrees, certificates and awards will be handed out and about 700 students are plan ning to walk in front of thousands of friends, family and com m unity members. "It will be a great honor for me to have the opportunity to share my story with so many others who at one point or another in their lives have struggled to accomplish their dreams," Estanis said. "My story might be different from students who are graduating this year, but I know for a fact that we al 1 have gone THE LAW OFFICES OF Patrick John Sweeney, P.C. Patrick John Sweeney Attorney at Law 1549 SE Ladd Portland, Oregon • Portland: Hillsoboro: Facsimile: Email: (503) 244-2080 (503) 244-2081 (503) 244-2084 Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com Ewald Estanis, with his flag of Haiti, marched with fellow Portland Community College students in the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade. Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC Zchon R. Jones, DC 333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212 (503) 284-7838 Truly making a difference in the lives of Auto Accident victims and Injured Workers for nearly 20 years. If you or someone you know has been in an accident, call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838 We are located on the com er o f MLK and Russell Street, on the second floor above the coffee shop. Parking .Area JUNE Russell #200 Russell St S through so many barriers and diffi culties in our journeys in order to be part of the PCC class of 2012." The native o f Les Cayes, Haiti said he will tell his story o f assist ing international aid organizations in his country which led to him meeting Gail Buck and Angelina Sams o f Healing Hands for Haiti. From there, on their encourage m ent and his desire to study abroad, he traveled to Portland in 2009 to attend PCC as a business major. "In spite of m any, many ob stacles, Ewald has persevered and succeeded," said Ju lie K opet, dean o f instruction at the South east Center and Estanis' nom ina tor for graduation speaker. "I know that students, faculty and fam i lies will be moved by his struggles a n d h is o v e rc o m in g th o se struggles to become a leader and stellar member of the PCC alumni." Kopet is right. Estanis, whose father passed away when he was 17 and was raised by his mother, has cultivated a 3.5 grade-point average while at PCC. The bumps in adapting to a new country were sm oothed from the support he got at the college from instructors and staff, from D istrict P resid en t Preston Pulliam s and Southeast President Craig Kolins, and from many others. As a result, he has risen through the ranks of the student govern ment Leadership Program to be come the student body president o f the Southeast Center. As part o f his service, he got to meet with U.S. Senator Jeff M erkley and other elected officials recently in W ashington, D.C. Once he leaves PCC, Estanis plans to earn a bachelor degree in business with a m inor in political science to allow him to set up businesses in Haiti and the United States. He is currently working on his first book, and even has plans to run for elected office in Haiti. "I want to see what I can do for my com m unity," he added. "To me giving back to the com m unity doesn't necessarily mean you have to be president, but you have to be a responsible citizen. I want to run for my town's elected office, because I believe we have enough resources to satisfy the needs of my people. All we need now is to have ju st the right people in the right places. And my experience in Am erica gives me a bigger vi sion of how prosperous my w on derful Haiti can be if all citizens contribute."
