I, too, am "just" a JUCO guy, Mt. San Antonio, AA (journalism) 1966. (Followed by other degrees from three universities). My third career, which I retired from, was at Portland Community College, where I taught and coordinated student services programs. Which included working with many "just community college students" who graduated and transferred--to Reed, Lewis and Clark, UO, OSU, Linfield, Pacific, U of Portland, YALE, and others--and graduated from. Often going on to graduate degrees. One of my jobs at PCC was helping them get scholarships, because they couldn't afford those schools without them. Excellent students, older, lower income, ate up their opportunities and succeeded. Best job I ever had.
I moved to Oregon after a less than distinguished 2 years at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. I worked in a lumber mill while attending Central Oregon Community College. It was tough but necessary as I had to bring my grades up. I should have probably started at a community college but arrogance got in the way. I transferred to the University of Oregon and graduated from there. My appreciation for the community college experience has stayed with me for my life. Thanks again JC for another good column. This one hit me personally.
After I got out of the Navy in 1971, I grabbed my GI Bill and enrolled at the University of Oregon. Later that day while exploring Eugene I discovered another beautiful campus, Lane Community College. Witin a week I decided LCC might be better for a kid who was four years removed from high school. That decision rates among the best I've made. I'm a proud graduate of both LCC and the UofO and rate them equally in what became a wonderful career.
I too am a JC guy. When I got out of the NAVY I was raising a family and cost was critical to me. Transferred 113 hours (max you could transfer) to the University of Oregon. My degree says BS from University of Oregon. I have gone on to be a Postmaster (thanks to my degree) and a Superintendent of a private school (thanks to my degree). I encouraged my daughter who was a straight A student to go the JC route. Financially, fortunately she did. She went to Lane Community on to get her degree from U of O and has been at NIKE over 10 years in management. JC works well for many and is a whole lot cheaper, but just as good. Thanks for sharing this.
John, if you are not The Best, I don't know who is.
Regarding JUCO schools vs the "four years", recent events have vividly demonstrated that numerous" students" at some of our country's most prestigious colleges and universities have absolutely no clue about the real world.
Dana is the salt of the earth, and we are blessed to have him as our men's basketball coach at Oregon. Have loved every minute of the ride he has taken us on all the time he's been at Oregon. He has succeeded at bringing the best out of all the young men who have chosen to play for him. One terrific human being. Thanks Dana, and all of Oregon men's basketball.
Thanks to you too, John, for this terrific insight.
Beautiful story and true—and it’s not just about athletics as Altman described. Bootstrapper kids. Always favored them as employees and coworkers. They made their own way. They run toward fires.
John, another gem of an article. I relate I was born and raised in a poverty-stricken, coal mining community in West Virgina where going to any college was a pipedream. By invitation from a buddy who served with me in Vietnam I came to visit his home in Medford, Oregon in 1968. I never left because something told me there was opportunity here. I struggled trying to find meaningful work for a couple of years before walking onto the campus of Rogue Community College nit knowing if I belonged on a college campus. During my two years at Rogue I was mentored, encouraged challenged to go further. I went on to achieve a graduate degree and had a successful career thanks to the encourages of many instructors at Rogue Community. I am grateful for their help and I am also proud and grateful to Oregon for being a state that values the success of it's citizens and provides the opportunity to succeed.
Going to a JuCo POSITIVELY changed my life. After three half-hearted semesters at my hometown university -- CU Boulder -- I left for what was then Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction. Under the guidance of a fantastic teacher and adviser I got great grades, edited the school paper, graduated and moved on similar success at Northern Arizona University. I went on to become a sports reporter for the Daily Camera in Boulder and then a journalism prof at Trinidad State (Colo.) Junior College and Southern Oregon University. I'm very proud to say I'm a Juco graduate and that one of my grandsons is as well (Lane CC in Eugene).
Your comments on JUCOs are music to my ears. My dad spent most of his career teaching journalism and advising student newspapers at Foothill and De Anza community colleges. He loved working with young aspiring journalists who couldn’t afford university tuition but were eager to hone their reporting and writing skills at the local JC. Did La Voz cover your athletic exploits at De Anza?
Success in life need not be predicated by pedigree, lineage or the QS Ranking of the college you attend - be it Harvard, Oregon, PCC or OIT. Success is determined by drive, determination, hard work and humility. IMO.
Having been raised in Northern California before moving to Oregon, don’t sell yourself short John on your post high school learning. California has excellent jc’s and Chico State is a great state college.
Both my wife and I graduated from state schools, OSU and PSU. We budgeted and encouraged our children to look at state schools as options. I am a big believer in public education and support our kids being exposed to other students from all walks of life. One daughter graduated from U of O with a professional degree in Architecture. Our 2nd daughter has learning disabilities, bigger schools with large classes seem too much, so she attended PCC for two years, finding her way in the classroom and in her field of study, it was the right choice and saved money for the next school. She attended Marylhurst University (graduated just before it closed) and obtained a degree in Interior Design. So, community college was perfect for her, and we are so proud of both daughters.
Great interview on the BFT with Coach Altman. I believe that Oregon has been very fortunate to have him as the Coach of the Ducks the last 15 years and hopefully for a few more years in Eugene.
I, too, am "just" a JUCO guy, Mt. San Antonio, AA (journalism) 1966. (Followed by other degrees from three universities). My third career, which I retired from, was at Portland Community College, where I taught and coordinated student services programs. Which included working with many "just community college students" who graduated and transferred--to Reed, Lewis and Clark, UO, OSU, Linfield, Pacific, U of Portland, YALE, and others--and graduated from. Often going on to graduate degrees. One of my jobs at PCC was helping them get scholarships, because they couldn't afford those schools without them. Excellent students, older, lower income, ate up their opportunities and succeeded. Best job I ever had.
My admiration for your contributions, Michael. Well played, Charlie
GREAT Post!!!!
I moved to Oregon after a less than distinguished 2 years at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. I worked in a lumber mill while attending Central Oregon Community College. It was tough but necessary as I had to bring my grades up. I should have probably started at a community college but arrogance got in the way. I transferred to the University of Oregon and graduated from there. My appreciation for the community college experience has stayed with me for my life. Thanks again JC for another good column. This one hit me personally.
After I got out of the Navy in 1971, I grabbed my GI Bill and enrolled at the University of Oregon. Later that day while exploring Eugene I discovered another beautiful campus, Lane Community College. Witin a week I decided LCC might be better for a kid who was four years removed from high school. That decision rates among the best I've made. I'm a proud graduate of both LCC and the UofO and rate them equally in what became a wonderful career.
I too am a JC guy. When I got out of the NAVY I was raising a family and cost was critical to me. Transferred 113 hours (max you could transfer) to the University of Oregon. My degree says BS from University of Oregon. I have gone on to be a Postmaster (thanks to my degree) and a Superintendent of a private school (thanks to my degree). I encouraged my daughter who was a straight A student to go the JC route. Financially, fortunately she did. She went to Lane Community on to get her degree from U of O and has been at NIKE over 10 years in management. JC works well for many and is a whole lot cheaper, but just as good. Thanks for sharing this.
Well played, Ken; and thanks for sharing. Charlie
John, if you are not The Best, I don't know who is.
Regarding JUCO schools vs the "four years", recent events have vividly demonstrated that numerous" students" at some of our country's most prestigious colleges and universities have absolutely no clue about the real world.
It goes back decades! The government Ivy-ies looked down on & ignored the non-Ivy ambassador in Berlin for too many years.
(I recently Retired debt free with a AS degree.)
Thanks, amigo, I too retired debt free but not recently.
Great article, thank you.
It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
Well played, Jon, Charlie
Dana is the salt of the earth, and we are blessed to have him as our men's basketball coach at Oregon. Have loved every minute of the ride he has taken us on all the time he's been at Oregon. He has succeeded at bringing the best out of all the young men who have chosen to play for him. One terrific human being. Thanks Dana, and all of Oregon men's basketball.
Thanks to you too, John, for this terrific insight.
Beautiful story and true—and it’s not just about athletics as Altman described. Bootstrapper kids. Always favored them as employees and coworkers. They made their own way. They run toward fires.
John, another gem of an article. I relate I was born and raised in a poverty-stricken, coal mining community in West Virgina where going to any college was a pipedream. By invitation from a buddy who served with me in Vietnam I came to visit his home in Medford, Oregon in 1968. I never left because something told me there was opportunity here. I struggled trying to find meaningful work for a couple of years before walking onto the campus of Rogue Community College nit knowing if I belonged on a college campus. During my two years at Rogue I was mentored, encouraged challenged to go further. I went on to achieve a graduate degree and had a successful career thanks to the encourages of many instructors at Rogue Community. I am grateful for their help and I am also proud and grateful to Oregon for being a state that values the success of it's citizens and provides the opportunity to succeed.
Well played, Ray; thanks for sharing, Charlie
Thanks Charlie.
Thank you for your service Ray & I agree with your assessment of Oregon, it is a beautiful place to call home.
Going to a JuCo POSITIVELY changed my life. After three half-hearted semesters at my hometown university -- CU Boulder -- I left for what was then Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction. Under the guidance of a fantastic teacher and adviser I got great grades, edited the school paper, graduated and moved on similar success at Northern Arizona University. I went on to become a sports reporter for the Daily Camera in Boulder and then a journalism prof at Trinidad State (Colo.) Junior College and Southern Oregon University. I'm very proud to say I'm a Juco graduate and that one of my grandsons is as well (Lane CC in Eugene).
Your comments on JUCOs are music to my ears. My dad spent most of his career teaching journalism and advising student newspapers at Foothill and De Anza community colleges. He loved working with young aspiring journalists who couldn’t afford university tuition but were eager to hone their reporting and writing skills at the local JC. Did La Voz cover your athletic exploits at De Anza?
I love this. And I remember that student paper. Small world!
Success in life need not be predicated by pedigree, lineage or the QS Ranking of the college you attend - be it Harvard, Oregon, PCC or OIT. Success is determined by drive, determination, hard work and humility. IMO.
Amen
Having been raised in Northern California before moving to Oregon, don’t sell yourself short John on your post high school learning. California has excellent jc’s and Chico State is a great state college.
Well played, JD, Charlie
Both my wife and I graduated from state schools, OSU and PSU. We budgeted and encouraged our children to look at state schools as options. I am a big believer in public education and support our kids being exposed to other students from all walks of life. One daughter graduated from U of O with a professional degree in Architecture. Our 2nd daughter has learning disabilities, bigger schools with large classes seem too much, so she attended PCC for two years, finding her way in the classroom and in her field of study, it was the right choice and saved money for the next school. She attended Marylhurst University (graduated just before it closed) and obtained a degree in Interior Design. So, community college was perfect for her, and we are so proud of both daughters.
Well done!
Never choke up..grip down on the bat or club. Words mean things. Just a JC guy...love the trampoline . I'm going to use that.
Great interview on the BFT with Coach Altman. I believe that Oregon has been very fortunate to have him as the Coach of the Ducks the last 15 years and hopefully for a few more years in Eugene.