Every year between 8 and 30 students are beneficiaries of our scholarship and mentorship programs.

Meet this year’s

Sammaki COHORT

Sammaki means “to unite, support, and come together as one” in the Khmer language. With this name, we hope students can come together as a supportive community for each other, as well as build new connections with the people they meet on their journeys to Thailand and Cambodia. Rooted in solidarity and shared purpose, sammaki reflects the spirit of unity that will guide their experiences along the way.

Be sure to hover on each image to read each student’s profile!

Hey y’all, I’m Aspyn, a Portland Native. I was raised primarily by my grandmother after coming out of foster care at 5. I’ve always had a curiosity for life with an open mind and a passion to travel. I don’t think school ever came easily to me, but I loved being in community and networking with people. I obtained my passport at 17 and have since traveled to 14 different countries in my 26 years on this earth. I recently spent 6 months living in Spain as an Aupair (nanny) for a Spanish family. I returned home at Christmas time and decided it was time to go back to college after an 8-year break. Needless to say, I have a craving to get bitten by that travel bug again.  Right now, life is about deepening my educational studies and finding awareness of my potential for growth.

ASPYN

Growing up, my family and I lived in a very culturally diverse apartment complex. There were constant interactions with one another, and there was always someone to play with. Every day before school, my brother would walk me to our neighbor’s house so his wife could braid my hair. She’d brush through my curls and always rub my face in vaseline. We were pretty close to their family, even though my mom couldn't even speak English. Food was their language; my mom always brought them a plate of food. Every time I cruised through our complex, it was normal for people to leave their doors open,

leaving it up to me to take a peek inside. I noticed different patterns and ethnic decorations that were a part of people’s culture. Everybody was so different, yet so connected. The complex was always loud and vibrant; there was always music being played way too loudly. My mom constantly played reggaeton as she cleaned the house, leaving the windows open for all to hear. Living in this environment really taught me how united a community can be. I am now 18 years old and not so different from what I was as a kid. I now love to thrift and hang out with my friends. I always cook for my family, and I'm always looking to get my nieces and nephews to dance. I am forever proud of my culture, and I hope to learn about other cultures as well.

EMMELY

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. I was brought up by my mom until she passed away in 2020. I now live with my older brother, who is immunocompromised, so I highly value mine and, in turn, his health. My brother and my friends are all extremely important to me. I am the sole provider of my household, so work ethic and time management are essential to me.

My name, Faith, was given to me by my mom to show her unconditional belief in me and my life. I want to help people and show them I have that same belief in them. Connecting with others is something I find extremely important, although I struggle with it. Simply listening to a person, laughing hard with a friend, or serving a drink to someone and seeing a genuine, unfiltered smile on their face. All of these connections are as human as it gets. They remind me that the world can be warm and kind.

I love doing stewardship, specifically, outdoors-related is my forte—doing park clean-ups, helping with annual surveys, clearing out ivy and invasive plants. When I’m out there helping nature, it makes me feel part of something bigger than myself, giving back for what I have taken, an act of reciprocity.

These are some of my experiences and interests that make me who I am.

FAITH

I'm Hadjeachta, a high school senior. My family and I arrived in the US as refugees in 2016, and we've lived here for six years, four in Portland and two in Salem. I'm from the Central African Republic, identifying as African and Muslim. I have overcome a lot of challenges living in America, but the most important one is learning English and getting used to the diverse cultures here.

Among my interests are watching anime, with One Piece being my favorite, reading webtoons, and East Asian comics. Recently, I've developed a fondness for Korean dramas. I'm passionate about traveling and look forward to exploring more during college. My academic interests lie in business, and I'm also keen on learning Arabic.

My goals in life are to do something I am passionate about and make it into a business. I want to study Islam after college to gain a deeper understanding of it and memorize the Quran. And my last goal is to go on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

HADJEACHTA

My name is Julia Rue, I’m 22 years old, and I’m a proud Oregon native currently living in Portland. Although I’m not following the traditional college path due to my age, I’m excited for this next chapter of my life and am fully committed to giving college my all. I’m also proud to be financially independent and have a solid plan to graduate college debt-free. 

Over the past few years, I’ve spent time working and traveling across the country. I’ve held roles such as a supervisor at a restaurant, front desk lead at a hotel on Catalina Island, and in guest services in Alaska. These seasonal jobs challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, pushing me to grow both professionally and personally. My confidence has increased, my resilience has strengthened, and I’ve gained valuable leadership skills.

These experiences also led me to take two solo trips abroad, where I deepened my love for traveling. Trying new foods, visiting unique places, and immersing myself in different cultures are just a few reasons I’m passionate about exploring the world. I also enjoy visiting art exhibits, and some of my favorite pieces, found during my travels, continue to inspire my own art. Although solo travel can be challenging, as I learned when my passport was stolen, these experiences have only pushed me to explore my potential and adapt to any situation.

Whether it’s making friends with strangers, changing my itinerary, or simply enjoying a good book, I always try to make the most of the moment.

JULIA

My name is Maritza, and I was born in Portland, Oregon, on September 7th, 2005. I'd been living in the Portland area for about 16 years until it was time for my family and me to move homes. Growing up, I've always looked forward to traveling and getting to know new places. From time to time, we would make plans to go on hikes, visit out-of-state family members, and much more. I have always been passionate about spending time in nature. I enjoy the nice breezy wind, the sun shining on my face, the white snow trickling from the sky, and the smell of rain. I find nature to keep me distracted and free from stress.

Right now I am in my first year of college, for my associate to transfer to PSU. At PSU, I hope to major in business with a minor in psychology. School may get a little stressful, but I manage to get through by listening to music, reading, going on walks, and distracting myself from schoolwork. Overall, I enjoy spending time alone, but having company is also nice.

I come from a relatively “small” but tight knit lower-class family. Addiction and mental health issues run rampant in my family, and it’s greatly shaped how I view the world around me. Because of my family’s finances, I accepted the fact that I would likely never travel, just as I once thought I’d never attend college. Despite these beliefs I once held, I set out and proved myself wrong time and time again. Experiencing the pandemic taught me that education in a classroom can only go so far. I want to learn by interacting with the world around me, and hopefully grow as a person along the way!

MARITZA

I started at PCC in the Vet Tech program, but decided that I wanted to pursue another program. Through my classes, I have found my passion for art. From painting classes to drawing classes, all the way into animation classes. I have decided that the multimedia certificate would help me figure out what's best for me. I always liked drawing and playing video games, and it would be so much fun to turn my art into something that everyone can enjoy. I plan to complete my goal by working with Laika and taking my art to the next level. Art is a way that I can heal and express myself.

I would really like a career that makes me happy, and I'm so happy that pcc has given me the chance to find that passion. I will get my degree this summer, and I will be finding a career with multimedia.

Ever since I was little, I loved the movie Coraline. I was obsessed with it, really. I can still recite the whole movie word-for-word. I always felt a connection with the movie, which is why I decided to pursue animation as a career. It would be a dream come true if I worked with Laika studios to produce another film or help animate a movie.

I thought I was very passionate about animals before I started working with them. I consider one of my biggest strengths to be creativity, especially in art. Ever since I can remember, I have loved drawing, painting, and making digital art. The passion helps me in thinking out of the box. It helps in changing the way I view things uniquely. It's not just about making it look good; it's using art to bring in emotion, ideas, and a story that words alone simply cannot give. This strength will make me successful in many ways, especially in the field I pursue. Creativity in academics lets me view things from a different perspective and tackle complex topics more easily than my peers, as well as be able to bring new insights. In the career that awaits, creativity will make it easy to adapt to ever-changing environments, devise solutions no one else would think of, and enhance such a work culture that encourages novelty. Whether it’s collaborating with others or tackling individual projects, creativity gives me the flexibility to thrive and stay motivated. I continue to be creative every day.

STAR

My name is Zahjahne Mcgee Wallace, formerly known as Zahjahne Sanchez, Miss Oregon Volunteer 2025, or as my students call me, Ms. Z. I was born in Seattle, Washington, and have been living in Oregon since middle school. I often say my story is different from most, because... well, it is. I come from a broken family of five siblings, shaped by the realities of foster care and parents struggling with addiction. As the second oldest, I've often carried the weight and responsibility of being the "oldest," especially in caring for my sister, who is nonverbal and autistic.

In October, I made a choice that changed everything: I stopped saying no to opportunities that scared me and stepped into the world of pageantry. It was completely new, expensive, and out of my comfort zone, but I said yes. And because of that, I now have the privilege of taking my sister's story, our story, to the national stage. I'm still growing, still healing, and still learning who I am, but what I know for sure is that my voice matters, and I'm determined to use it to uplift others who don't always get heard. I love everything outdoors. I love to yap and connect with all walks of life.

ZAHJAHNÉ

I’m a first-generation Mexican American student navigating the exciting yet uncertain waters of higher education. While I’m still exploring my academic path—considering fields such as psychology, communication, and radiology— for too long. Whether it’s exploring new places or meeting new people, I crave adventure and connection, although I admit that I could use some practice when it comes to building social relationships. 

Right now, I'm at a point in my life where I want to challenge myself and start fresh. I’ve gotten a bit too comfortable being on my own, and I want to find my community. I enjoy working with children, thrive in hands-on environments, and take pride in my patience, creativity, and open-mindedness. As I take on this new chapter—one where I leave behind the comforting familiarity of my past—I’m excited to embrace new experiences, learn, and grow into the person I aspire to be.

GEORGINA

ALANAH