Each day members of our community quietly celebrate milestones, achievements and accomplishments—big and small. This department highlights these triumphs for the community.

If you’re sending a submission, include all details that apply: individuals’ names, details of the milestone and a contact name and phone number. If you have photos, send them. The submission deadline for July issue is Wednesday, June 15. For best results, e-mail editor@midcountymemo.com or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. Call 503-287-8904.

Sixth-graders from Parkrose Middle School, parents, teachers, school board members and the Parkrose Educational Foundation board were all smiles when this $10,500 check was presented last month. The money was raised during the appeal bid at the annual PEF dinner and auction in April and helped send 230 students to Outdoor School. COURTESY ANDREA STEVENSON

Sixth-graders from Parkrose Middle School, parents, teachers, school board members and the Parkrose Educational Foundation board were all smiles when this $10,500 check was presented last month. The money was raised during the appeal bid at the annual PEF dinner and auction in April and helped send 230 students to Outdoor School.
COURTESY ANDREA STEVENSON

PMS students benefit from community generosity
A handful of the 230 Parkrose sixth-graders were on hand when the Parkrose Educational Foundation presented parent organizers and middle school teachers with a check in the amount of $10,500 last month. The kids had just returned from a four-day, three-night adventure they will not soon forget.

Outdoor School provides an intensive, hands-on look into the natural sciences. Some Parkrose students went to Camp Angelos on the Sandy River, while others went to Camp Arrah Wanna in the foothills of Mt. Hood. All of them were able to participate because their parents took on innumerable fundraising activities and wrote grants to secure funding. A donation of $10,500 from the Parkrose Educational Foundation put them in reach of the $75,000 needed to send all PMS sixth-graders to camp. This money was raised at the annual PEF dinner and auction in April when attendees opened their hearts and their wallets during the appeal bid.

PHS alumni bested varsity basketball players 86–84 and in the process raised $700 in support of the boys program. Participating were Alexander Loul (PHS Class of 2009), left, Wilfried Likayi, Sabbona Ashenafi, Cody Rowley (2015), Jimmy Boland, Isaac Bonton, Scar Johnson, Michael Boyd (2010), Elijah Graham (2008), Chris Wilson, Michael Carter (2003), Deangelo Dunbar, Jordan Barber (2009), Justin Tran, Matt Andrews (1995), Ben Andrews (1992), Dominique DeWeese (staff) and Jason Leadley (PHS Class of 1992). Organizers hope to use this event as a springboard to revive the annual Parkrose Legends Tournament. COURTESY TRAVIS RICHARDSON

PHS alumni bested varsity basketball players 86–84 and in the process raised $700 in support of the boys program. Participating were Alexander Loul (PHS Class of 2009), left, Wilfried Likayi, Sabbona Ashenafi, Cody Rowley (2015), Jimmy Boland, Isaac Bonton, Scar Johnson, Michael Boyd (2010), Elijah Graham (2008), Chris Wilson, Michael Carter (2003), Deangelo Dunbar, Jordan Barber (2009), Justin Tran, Matt Andrews (1995), Ben Andrews (1992), Dominique DeWeese (staff) and Jason Leadley (PHS Class of 1992). Organizers hope to use this event as a springboard to revive the annual Parkrose Legends Tournament.
COURTESY TRAVIS RICHARDSON

Parkrose Legends relaunch planned
The success of the 2015–16 Parkrose High boys basketball team and a good turnout on the annual alumni game night inspired Elijah Graham and Travis Richardson to arrange a fundraiser pitting current players against grads. The hope is to take advantage of the momentum created by the varsity team to revive the Parkrose Legends Tournament, an annual weekend-long alumni competition.

The one-night event in May was intended to connect past, present and future Broncos while setting a trajectory for the tournament relaunch. It also raised just over $700 in support of the Parkrose boys basketball program.

The Bronco alumni squad eked out an 86–84 victory over the youngsters behind the scoring of Michael Boyd (19 points), Eli Graham (17), Alex Loul (12) and Michael Carter (11). High scorers among the varsity players were Wilfred Likayi (22), Isaac Bonton (18), Isaac Mbuyamba (17) and Sabbona Ashenafi (12).

Portland Christian visual arts instructor Sarah Whitley, left, and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer admire the work of Yimin (Tyler) Hu, a PCS student, whose work was selected to be displayed in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. for the next year. COURTESY SHEILA TRETTER

Portland Christian visual arts instructor Sarah Whitley, left, and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer admire the work of Yimin (Tyler) Hu, a PCS student, whose work was selected to be displayed in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. for the next year.
COURTESY SHEILA TRETTER

Student work to hang in U.S. Capitol building
Portland Christian High School senior Yimin (Tyler) Hu was awarded first place in the esteemed Congressional Art Awards. This national art competition is sponsored by the Congressional Institute and is open to all high school students who wish to submit an original visual arts piece. Hu’s work was chosen to represent Oregon’s 3rd U.S. House District. The seat is occupied by Representative Earl Blumenauer.

Five talented artists from PCS submitted work in this year’s competition: Beattrice Cao, Hanyu (Zed) Zhu, So Min (Susan) Eom, Jimin Oh and Hu. Hu’s award-winning piece is a self-portrait titled “The Silent Winter.” The piece is an intricate pen-and-ink drawing constructed of thousands of individual ink dots. As the Portland district winner, Hu’s artwork will be sent to Washington D.C., where it will hang in the Capitol building for an entire year. He has also been given two tickets to travel to D.C. to view his artwork on display.

Parkrose High Debonaires meet Governor Kate Brown at City Club of Portland Centennial celebration. COURTESY CHERYL JUETTEN

Parkrose High Debonaires meet Governor Kate Brown at City Club of Portland Centennial celebration.
COURTESY CHERYL JUETTEN

Debs sing for City Club, meet governor
The Debonaires, a select vocal ensemble out of Parkrose High, performed at the City Club of Portland Centennial celebration where nationally acclaimed editorial cartoonist Jack Ohman was the guest speaker and Oregon Governor Kate Brown made an appearance. The governor took time to meet and chat with each of the Debs.

Parkrose High AVID teacher Nerissa Ediza, left, helped guide PHS Senior Jamari Gilbert through AP courses and on to college. COURTESY NARDOUS BAHRU

Parkrose High AVID teacher Nerissa Ediza, left, helped guide PHS Senior Jamari Gilbert through AP courses and on to college.
COURTESY NARDOUS BAHRU

PHS AVID student to address annual meeting
Jamari Gilbert, a Parkrose High senior, has been selected by AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a nationally recognized nonprofit and college-readiness system, to speak at its San Diego Summer Institute training for educators later this month. More than 3,000 educators will be in attendance to hear the speech, which will be featured during a general session.

According to his AVID teacher, Nerissa Ediza, Gilbert’s transformation has been from a shy and humble student to a young man poised to capture his college dreams. She went on to say, “Jamari has the rare quality of compassion through adversity, and his peers count on him for unfailing support and optimism. He is undaunted by the challenges that he will face in college and beyond. He is determined to succeed.”

Through AVID, he has dedicated himself to community service, leadership and academics. Never one to complain, Gilbert eventually opened up to his AVID cohort about his personal struggles in life. His mother has faced health issues throughout his life, taking special medication so that the HIV virus would not pass through her and infect him before he was born. The family has struggled with stable housing, and they were evicted during his senior year of high school. Through these difficult circumstances, Gilbert has stayed dedicated to his Advanced Placement classes and college applications.

AVID works to close the achievement gap by providing educators with proven strategies that ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed in college, career and life. This fall, Gilbert will start his college studies at Western Oregon University. He has been awarded the Diversity Achievement Scholarship at Western Oregon University and a Pride Foundation scholarship.

Twin blankets and pillows needed
Human Solutions is seeking donations of twin blankets and pillows for the Human Solutions Family Center, which provides emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness.

The Family Center provides a safe place to sleep and other basic necessities, including nutritious meals. Families often arrive in shelter with little or no belongings, including bedding. Human Solutions relies on community donations to be able to provide blankets, pillows, new or gently used clothing and shoes and nutritious food for homeless children and parents. Families take blankets and pillows with them when they leave shelter, which makes it necessary to continually replenish the supply of those items. New or gently used twin blankets and pillows will be accepted.

Donations may be dropped off at the Family Center, 16015 S.E. Stark St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

For more information, contact Danielle Stirnaman, Human Solutions’ outreach coordinator, at 503-278-1637 or dstirnaman@humansolutions.org.