±¬ÁĎÍř supporters gathered on Saturday, May 30 at the Sylvania Campus Performing Arts Center for an evening of connection, celebration, and fundraising at the annual “Together for Tomorrow” event hosted by the ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation and presented by Comcast. The event raised $340,420 to support student scholarships.

“It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many people who care deeply about creating opportunities for ±¬ÁĎÍřstudents,” said Foundation Executive Director Christina Kline. “The funds raised will help more students succeed by removing financial barriers and providing critical support when they need it most.”

Attendees arrived to find the Performing Arts Center courtyard transformed into a vibrant pavilion, where they mixed and mingled while enjoying delicious food, handcrafted beverages, and exuberant music from ±¬ÁĎÍřstudent before moving to the theater auditorium for an inspiring program of storytelling and collective support.

Kianalia Towle, a ±¬ÁĎÍřveterinary technology student and scholarship recipient, shared her story of overcoming numerous challenges to pursue her dream career through a and personal message to the audience.

“My time at ±¬ÁĎÍř has taught me that resilience isn’t built alone. It grows when people show up for each other. The scholarships I received gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: Relief,” explained Towle. “But more than that, those scholarships told me something I desperately needed to hear: That my future was still possible. That someone believed in me. And that kind of belief can change a person.”

A number of prominent ±¬ÁĎÍřsupporters and community leaders contributed additional remarks throughout the evening, including Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Senior Director of Government and Community Affairs for Comcast, Tim Goodman; ±¬ÁĎÍřActing President Dr. Katy Ho, Foundation Executive Director Christina Kline, and Foundation Board President Jans Dykhouse. Josh Laurie, dean of college success programs, served as emcee, and benefit auctioneer Kelly Russell led the special appeal.

The night ended with desserts, dancing, and a brighter future ahead for more ±¬ÁĎÍřstudents.

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Continue Creating Opportunity

The need for scholarship support continues long after the event ends. Every gift helps students access education, navigate challenges, and build the futures they envision for themselves and their families.

Together, we shape what comes next.

The annual ±¬ÁĎÍřPatron Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose sustained commitment to education transforms lives. This year’s honorees embody that spirit in powerful and lasting ways.

From left: ±¬ÁĎÍřPresident, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; Jeff Rippey; Robin Holman, Melissa Rippey, Doug Holman

The James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation, represented at the event by Jeff Rippey, has invested in Oregon students for decades with a clear and steady purpose: to support youth services and education. A partner of ±¬ÁĎÍřfor more than 15 years, the Foundation has committed more than $1.2 million to the college since 2010, with a strong focus on Career Pathways and scholarships for students pursuing career technical education. Most recently, a $450,000 grant to PCC’s Pathways to Opportunity initiative is strengthening the combination of skills training and wraparound supports that help students not only enroll, but persist, complete, and thrive. Guided by integrity, long-term thinking, and a deep belief in opportunity, the Foundation’s investments create impact that extends far beyond any single student.

From left: ±¬ÁĎÍřPresident, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; Evan Madden; Paul Madden; Caroline Madden; Jennifer Madden; Reece Scotch; Kelsey Scotch; (front) Ken Madden; Peyton Scotch; Cindy Madden

The ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation also honored Ken Madden, the Madden Family, and Madden Industrial Craftsmen, whose partnership with ±¬ÁĎÍřreflects the powerful connection between education and industry. More than 30 years ago, Ken and his family built a company dedicated to quality and craftsmanship — and along the way, they recognized the strength and preparation of ±¬ÁĎÍřstudents entering the trades. That belief turned into action. The Madden family established an endowed scholarship supporting students in the Building Construction Technology program, created an annual scholarship to provide immediate assistance, and has been a steadfast supporter of the Foundation’s signature event and past galas. Together, they have contributed more than $200,000 to ±¬ÁĎÍřstudents. Ken’s service has also been extraordinary, including leadership on the ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation Board, the ±¬ÁĎÍřBoard of Directors, and as co-chair of The Campaign for Opportunity, which raised more than $46 million to support students and programs across the college.

Both honorees demonstrate what is possible when philanthropy, industry, and education work in partnership. Their investments help students gain real skills, earn family-wage careers, and build stronger futures — for themselves and for our entire community.

The ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation celebrates the 2026 ±¬ÁĎÍřPatron Award recipients and extends its appreciation for their enduring belief in the power of ±¬ÁĎÍř.

Wendy Wright (foreground) with (from left) Foundation’s Christina Kline, ±¬ÁĎÍřDean Josh Coleman, Horizon Air’s Archie Vega and Aviation Maintenance Faculty Tom Laxson.

That’s a wrap! Literally.

±¬ÁĎÍř has taken to the skies in style with the debut of a brand-new livery on its Bombardier Q400 aircraft, just in time for the Oregon International Air Show. But this isn’t just any plane. This is the training aircraft for students in PCC’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program—gifted by Horizon Air and transformed by alumna and ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation senior graphic designer Wendy Wright.

What started as a commercial aircraft crisscrossing the Pacific Northwest skies is now a bold, branded beacon of hands-on education, strategic partnerships, and some serious graphic design magic.

A Plane, A Vision, A ±¬ÁĎÍřDream

When Horizon Air donated the retired Q400 to ±¬ÁĎÍřin 2022, it wasn’t just donating a plane—it was giving students a flying classroom. Stationed at the Hillsboro Airport, the Q400 will now serve as a real-world training ground for tomorrow’s aviation maintenance professionals. And thanks to Wright, it’s looking sharp while doing it.

Visitors to the Oregon International Air Show on May 17-18 will have the chance to tour the newly wrapped aircraft, hosted by both ±¬ÁĎÍřand Horizon Air. And while the gleaming blue tail and sleek fuselage design will no doubt steal the spotlight, it’s the story behind the wrap that truly soars.

Designer, Project Manager, Weather Watcher

Wendy Wright didn’t just design the wrap—she livedĚýľ±łŮ.

From her first sketches in June to the final vinyl installation in May, Wright juggled multiple hats: designer, project manager, partner liaison, and logistics wizard. Altogether, she clocked more than 150 hours on the project, often navigating a tricky blend of creative challenges, weather constraints (vinyl doesn’t do well with rain, hot, or cold), and scheduling puzzles.

“This wasn’t just an ordinary print job,” she said. “It was like solving a giant, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle—with wings.”

Wright’s design journey was no straight line. The Q400 still bore visible remnants of its Alaska/Horizon branding, and because ±¬ÁĎÍřchose a partial wrap to save costs, Wright needed to cleverly camouflage those marks without sacrificing visual impact. Add in the challenge of aligning PCC’s turquoise branding with the plane’s existing color striping, and suddenly, this wasn’t just a design job—it was an exercise in problem-solving on a massive scale.

Inspiration: Mechanical Meets Modern

Wright wanted the final livery to reflect both complexity and simplicity, echoing the hands-on precision of aviation maintenance without overwhelming the eye. Her final design featured a mechanical-inspired texture, clean lines, and a bold “Aviation Maintenance” headline alongside the ±¬ÁĎÍřlogo and iconic diamond.

“I knew I wanted the diamond on the tail from the beginning,” she said. “It gives us visibility, recognition, and pride.”

To integrate PCC’s signature turquoise in harmony with the existing striping, she created a gradient from navy (PCC’s darker brand color) at the base to turquoise at the top. The result is both subtle and striking—one that wraps seamlessly around the aircraft and avoids the dreaded “white mohawk” that sometimes mars unfinished top panels.

She even considered placing “pcc.edu/aviation” on the top of the plane for aerial visibility, but after examining the clutter of rooftop hardware and antennas, she opted to keep it sleek and streamlined.

Mission Accomplished

So, what does Wright think of the final product?

“LOVE IT!” she says, with a smile that needs no gradient.

She credits the installation team at Premier Press for their flawless execution, as well as the collaborative spirit of the project—from the ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation and Aviation Maintenance team to Horizon Air and everyone in between.

“This plane is more than just a tool for one program,” Wright said. “It’s a gift to the whole college. It keeps ±¬ÁĎÍřfront and center, both visually and symbolically.”

And for Wright, a graduate of PCC’s Graphic Design Program, this was a full-circle moment.

“To be able to give back to the college that gave me so much—that’s what this means to me. It’s my way of paying it forward.”

Together for Tomorrow 2025: A New Era of Community Support

On May 17, 2025, Together for Tomorrow raised $326,640 for student success!

±¬ÁĎÍř supporters came together in a powerful show of generosity on Saturday, May 17, raising $326,640 at Together for Tomorrow, a new celebration hosted by the ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation at the Sylvania Campus and presented by Comcast. The funds will directly support Bridges to the Future scholarships and other critical student needs.

This lively event marked a fresh chapter for PCC’s annual fundraiser, replacing the traditional gala with a vibrant, on-campus celebration designed to foster connection, expand access, and ground the experience in the heart of PCC’s community. Festive party tents transformed the Performing Arts Center courtyard into a full-scale celebration where attendees enjoyed an expansive spread of delicious fare, custom cocktails, and an endorphin-pumping soundtrack from , a ±¬ÁĎÍřstudent and DJ for several of Portland’s pro sports teams.

At the heart of the evening were powerful student stories that illustrated the real-world impact of scholarship support. Jonathan Bennett Watson, a ±¬ÁĎÍřalum now studying engineering at Oregon State University, spoke about his experience of how his scholarship helped him prioritize his studies:

“The Bridges to the Future scholarship allowed me to reduce my work hours and focus on my education. That time — that space — changed everything for me. No longer were assignments just tasks to complete. They were puzzles to solve. Challenges to embrace. This shift in mindset pushed me to reach my full potential.”

Additional moments of inspiration came through video storytelling. shared how she overcame a difficult childhood to thrive with the help of scholarship support. In another video, showed how the ±¬ÁĎÍřFoundation expands access to education, strengthens student supports, and ignites workforce opportunities across the region.

The evening opened with a rousing performance by the Rex Putnam High School Indoor Percussion, and featured remarks from ±¬ÁĎÍřPresident Dr. Adrien L. Bennings, Foundation Executive Director Christina Kline, Foundation Board President Kim Morgan, and Rebecca Brown, Senior Director of Community Impact at Comcast, the event’s presenting sponsor. Sama Shagaga, Foundation Trustee, served as emcee, and benefit auctioneer Kelly Russell led the special appeal.

“The funds raised will have a transformative impact for students,” said Christina Kline. “It’s truly inspiring to be in community with so many people who believe in the power of education to change lives — people who understand that the future we want is one we build together.”

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