Clackamas Comm. College
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News Releases
CCC announces winter honor roll - 04/11/24

A total of 464 students made the Clackamas Community College honor roll and 1,085 students made the president's list for winter term 2024.

To be named to the honor roll, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. To be named to the president's list, students must earn a 3.75 grade-point average or better.

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Note: Attached are the honor roll and president’s list and cities of residence.

Casey Parks
Casey Parks
Celebrate the written word at the Compose Creative Writing Conference (Photo) - 04/10/24

OREGON CITY - Writers and aspiring writers across the region gather each May at Clackamas Community College for a day of creativity and community. This year’s Compose Creative Writing Conference is May 18 and the keynote speaker is award-winning journalist Casey Parks. 

Parks' debut book, “Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery,” is the story of her life-changing journey to unravel the mystery of Roy Hudgins. When Parks came out as a lesbian in college in 2002, she faced rejection from her family and pastor and assumed her life in the South was over. But Parks' grandmother, a stern conservative who grew up picking cotton, pulled her aside and revealed a startling secret: "I grew up across the street from a woman who lived as a man," and implored Parks to find out what happened to him.

For 10 years, Parks traveled to her grandmother's hometown in rural Louisiana, knocking on strangers' doors, digging through nursing home records and studying microfiche in small-town libraries trying to uncover the mysteries of Roy Hudgins’ life.

After the welcome address from Parks at 10 a.m., conference attendees can participate in workshops with sessions on various writing topics, from cozy mysteries to graphic novels and speculative fiction.  

Sessions this year include:

Creating Compelling Characters for the Stage  — Sara Jean Accuardi 

At the heart of every interesting play is an interesting character  — but what makes a character interesting? Accuardi will guide participants through the process of forming a character and discovering their voice. 

Helling It Slant  — Eric Tran

In this generative workshop, writers will read, discuss and write poetry based on misheard bits of gossip, English as a Second Language, double entendres and other methods of transforming and transgressing language.

Making the Invisible Visible  — Lauren Kessler

Buried backstories, the wounds no one sees, the hidden worlds — as writers in all genres, this rich territory should be explored. Join this workshop, both generative and instructive, to jumpstart work.

Pitching Your Graphic Novel, Selling Your Story  — Terry Blas

Blas will guide participants through the process of creating a pitch for a graphic novel idea and share how knowing what a story is really about will help the idea be understood and make a pitch more powerful.

Avoiding Infodump in Speculative Fiction  — Joe Pitkin

Infodump is a major occupational hazard in fiction — especially for fantasy and science fiction writers. Pitkin will share tips dealing with this challenge — including examples from his most recent novel, “Exit Black.”

Crafting a Cozy Mystery  — Paula Charles

In this workshop, Charles will guide participants through creating characters and settings, as well as choosing a weapon and victim. Expect idea sparks and some writing time.

Writing the Magical, Writing the Real: On Making Magical Stories Believable  — Emme Lund

For thousands of years, humans have told stories about magical creatures and occurrences existing among the mundane. In this workshop, participants will discuss techniques for seeing the magic in the world, as well as the craft elements that make magical stories more believable.

Writing: Aggregating the Raw Material  — Emmett Wheatfall

To write skillfully, writers must have the essentials necessary to write. For the writer, raw material can come in the form of diction, dictum, metaphor, analogy, etc. Aggregating such raw material will contribute when drafting a written composition. This workshop is an opportunity for group learning.

The Things Themselves  — Daniela Molnar

This workshop will focus attention on the world of the senses and how poems can sharpen and heighten sensorium, offering a shared subjectivity beyond one’s perceptual confines, a way to, together, engage with a larger aliveness. Participants will use poems as a lens to consider the ways the current cultural moment is an invitation to widen wonder.

How Description Builds Story  — Lydia Kiesling

In this workshop, participants will look at examples of atmospheric, descriptive writing and identify the ways that description can be a propulsive force in a story, carrying many messages about the text. This talk will show how word choices can drive the plot in a work of fiction far more than the simple mechanics.

This year, the Compose conference will be held in a hybrid format, with some workshops in person and some online. Parks’ keynote will be in person and streamed live for those participating via Zoom. Clackamas Community College is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City. Parking is free. Tickets are $25 for the general public and $10 for CCC students.

To learn more and register for the conference, visit www.clackamas.edu/compose

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"Totems" by Kim Murton
Art exhibit 'Modern Artifacts: Ceramics and Other Obsessions' opens at CCC (Photo) - 03/28/24

OREGON CITY – The Alexander Gallery presents “Modern Artifacts: Ceramics and Other Obsessions,” a solo exhibition of work by Vancouver-based artist Kim Murton. This exhibition runs April 1-May 3. An artist reception will be held Wednesday, April 10, noon-1 p.m. and Murton will speak about her work at 1 p.m. 

In “Modern Artifacts: Ceramics and Other Obsessions,” Murton shares hand-built ceramic sculptures, animation and illustrations inspired by her interest in pre-Columbian art, contemporary illustration and comics. 

Murton studied ceramics and animation at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and printmaking and film at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City. Her work has been recognized nationally. 

The Alexander Gallery is located in the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon City campus, 19600 Molalla Ave., and is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with the exception of college holidays.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. For questions, contact Kate Simmons at 503-594-3032 or kates@clackamas.edu. For more information on Clackamas Community College’s art exhibits and performances, visit www.clackamas.edu/art.

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Attached Media Files: "Totems" by Kim Murton
Jo Crenshaw
Jo Crenshaw
Longtime CCC Foundation member becomes CCC board member (Photo) - 03/27/24

OREGON CITY - Longtime Clackamas Community College Foundation Board Member Jo Crenshaw was appointed to the CCC Board of Education, representing Zone 1, Oregon City, and took her oath of office during the March 20 Board of Education meeting. She is filling the position vacated by the resignation of Chris Groener. 

She has lived in Oregon City for more than 35 years and is a longtime local business owner. Prior to settling in Oregon City, she lived all over the United States working for United Airlines in Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Portland.

She has served on the Foundation Board since 2001. Along with her dedication to the CCC Foundation, she has served on the McDonalds Operators West Division Region board for three years as well as having served on the LaSalle High School Board and a division leader in Rotary.

“I believe I have a unique perspective that will assist the college in achieving its goals - knowledge, business experience, working with young people and the community,” Crenshaw said. “As a business owner, I am connected with the community. I enjoy people and have been working toward involving all.”

Crenshaw attended the historically black junior college Lemoyne Owen College in Memphis on scholarship and graduated with a bachelor of science in business management and international business from California State University, East Bay.

“Jo has a long-running dedication and passion for Clackamas Community College and the community. We are privileged to have her serve our college and our students,” CCC President Tim Cook said.

Crenshaw enjoys hiking and walking in her free time, including completing two marathons and hiking the Grand Canyon.

Crenshaw will hold office until June 30, 2025, and will be eligible to run to fill the remaining two years of the term in the May 2025 election.

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Attached Media Files: Jo Crenshaw
CCC hosts Accessible All-Stars, Nothing But Net(working) event - 03/27/24

OREGON CITY - Thanks to an Inclusive Career Advancement Program grant, Clackamas Community College is celebrating the diversity of the disability community at its inaugural Accessible All-Stars, Nothing But Net(working) event on April 5.

This free event will showcase the local professional adult wheelchair basketball team, the Portland Wheelblazers, where they will demonstrate their skills on the court and share the sport with the community. After the basketball scrimmage, there will be the Nothing But Net(working) resource fair to connect with disability-related affinity groups, support systems, clubs and businesses found across the area.  

The Inclusive Career Advancement Program grant includes funding to benefit the disability community, and CCC Grant Coordinator and Career Coach Shanna Schacher wanted to do something engaging for the community as a whole. She came up with the event after seeing the Wheelblazers play a scrimmage before a Trail Blazers game. 

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to connect over a really cool sport and introduce people to wheelchair basketball if they’ve never seen it before,” she said.

The networking resource fair idea came next as a way to connect students and community members with resources. Schacher said the college has heard students reporting feeling lonely, isolated and disconnected, and she wanted a way to introduce individuals to the various resources available in the Portland metro area.

“I thought, ‘What if we make the draw be the game, but also have a networking event and invite groups that have support services so community members can know what’s going on in the community’,” Schacher said.

Accessible All-Stars, Nothing But (Net)working will start with the Wheelblazers scrimmage at 6 p.m. in the Randall Hall gym and the resource fair will run from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Gregory Forum. ASL interpreters will be at the event.

 Participating organizations include:

  • Adaptive Sports NW
  • Autism Society of Oregon
  • Oregon Commission for the Blind
  • Ride Connection
  • Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation
  • Community Vision AT Lab
  • Hoop Camp
  • TOP Soccer
  • United Access
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Clackamas County Disability services
  • Relay Resources
  • CCC Multicultural Center
  • CCC Admissions
  • CCC Career Center
  • Club EMU
  • Office of WorkForce Investments Oregon Youth Works Dep
  • Higher Education Coordinating Commission
  • CCC Disability Resource Center

The college plans to make the Accessible All-Stars an annual event. “There is a need in our community and we are seeing lots of good response and excitement,” Schacher said. “I’m excited there’s been such a positive response from people in the community. They have been very grateful that Clackamas has been willing to host this event. It will highlight that Clackamas is an inclusive college and that we want students of all backgrounds to attend school here, and that Clackamas is really putting in an effort to reach out to a community that isn’t always thought of.”

The Clackamas Community College Oregon City campus is located at 19600 Molalla Ave. Parking is free, and no registration is required to attend the event. To learn more about the Portland Wheelblazers, visit https://wheelblazers.com. To learn more about Clackamas Community College, visit www.clackamas.edu

For questions, contact Schacher at shanna.schacher@clackamas.edu

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Clackamas Community College to hold Spring Craft Fair - 03/21/24

OREGON CITY - Clackamas Community College’s Associated Student Government is hosting a Spring Craft Fair on the Oregon City campus on Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The free event is open to the public and vendors are still being sought.

Visitors to the fair will discover unique products and handmade crafts while enjoying a day filled with fun events for the whole family. There will be activities such as face painting, crafts, ring toss and a bean bag toss.

To register to be a vendor, visit https://forms.gle/Hqzcsnd1qbwLzruM7.

The Clackamas Community College Oregon City campus is located at 19600 Molalla Ave. The fair will take place in the Gregory Forum, and parking is free. 

For more information about CCC’s Associated Student Government, visit www.clackamas.edu/ASG

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Learn about the field of medical billing and coding and other health sciences programs at Clackamas Community College's open house on April 25.
Learn about the field of medical billing and coding and other health sciences programs at Clackamas Community College's open house on April 25.
Clackamas Community College hosts Health Sciences Open House (Photo) - 03/21/24

OREGON CITY - Clackamas Community College is hosting an open house for its health sciences programs on Thursday, April 25, 6-8 p.m., on the Harmony campus. This free event is open to the public for those interested in learning more about how they can train at CCC for exciting careers through interactive classroom learning and hands-on clinical experiences.

Programs featured include medical assistant, emergency medical technology, dental assistant, medical billing and coding, phlebotomy and nursing assistant. At the open house, participants can learn about the growing health care job market and explore flexible training options.

The event will include:

  • Overview of six health science programs: Learn about the variety of certificate and short-term training options available.
  • Breakout sessions: Meet current students and faculty from all six programs and explore options.
  • Interactive activities: Watch demonstrations and discover what a health care career at CCC is all about.
  • Family-friendly environment: Bring your family and friends to learn together.
  • Advising and admissions support: Get all your questions answered by our friendly advisors and admissions representatives.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-sciences-open-house-clackamas-community-college-tickets-861077294367. For questions, contact Virginia Chambers at healthsciences@clackamas.edu Learn more about CCC’s Health Sciences programs at www.clackamas.edu/health-professions. The Clackamas Community College Harmony campus is located at 7738 SE Harmony Road, Milwaukie.

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Learn basic computer skills in English or Spanish through Clackamas Community College's Community Education program.
Learn basic computer skills in English or Spanish through Clackamas Community College's Community Education program.
Clackamas Community College offers free basic computer skills classes (Photo) - 03/21/24

OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College Community Education is once again offering free basic computer skills classes both in English and Spanish for the community. The course is designed to meet the needs of diverse learners and empower participants with foundational computer skills needed in today's digital age.

The basic computer skills class uses Northstar Digital Literacy, a nationally recognized technology training and assessment provider. The class is designed for people at all skill levels and aims to build confidence in navigating the digital world, whether for work, education or personal use.

"We believe that education is for everyone, and the ability to navigate the digital landscape is a fundamental skill in today's world," Sunny Olsen, CCC Community Education director, said. "This course is designed to be accessible, free and beneficial to a diverse community that reflects the values we uphold at CCC."

English basic computer skills class offerings

Wilsonville campus

Oregon City campus

Spanish basic computer skills class

Harmony campus

No laptop is required for the class, as computers will be provided on-site. For more information about Clackamas Community College Community Education and its range of educational programs, visit www.clackamas.edu/community-member

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