Run Raises Awareness and Funds for Students in Need

While Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook’s 1,500-mile trek around the state to run to all 17 Oregon community colleges concluded on Aug. 4, the message of his mission didn’t lose ground after he crossed the finish line. 

Cook took off on this summer-long endeavor not just for the exercise but to spread awareness about the unfavorable conditions affecting many community college students. Many students in the state find themselves having to juggle their academic responsibilities with concerns about housing and food insecurity and maintaining adequate childcare, as well as access to transportation. 

On Aug. 4, Cook and a group of community college presidents gathered at Mt. Hood Community College before he set out on the last leg of the Run for Oregon Community College Students, which would end at Columbia Gorge Community College. 

MHCC President Lisa Skari — as well as MHCC Director of Student Basic Needs Initiatives Bhaktirose Dawdy, MHCC student and Basic Needs Navigator Alejandro Guzman Leon, and MHCC Board of Education Chair Andrew Speer — offered remarks at the congratulatory breakfast hosted that morning. 

“Too many of our students face significant obstacles like food and housing insecurity, lack of childcare, and transportation issues,” Skari said. “Here at MHCC we’re in a particularly striking landscape. Our district communities have the highest concentration of poverty in the state and 65% of students in our K-12 system are in the free and reduced lunch program,” the statement highlighted. 

According to a statement from MHCC, “Two out of three MHCC students struggle to meet basic needs; four in five rely on public assistance to pursue their education; three in five face housing insecurity; three in five lack reliable access to essential technology; two in five experience food insecurity; and one in five have experienced homelessness.”

“This is day 50 of this run across the state of Oregon for community college students. As of this morning, I’ve run more than 1,350 miles,” Cook said, mentioning that many people along his journey have asked him what he did to remain motivated, and “How do you get up every day thinking you’re going to have to run another 30 miles?” 

“I would tell people this is exactly the reason: when you think about our students – think about those 200,000 students across the state that are really struggling, that are trying to do what they can to come and learn and achieve their dreams, and the struggles that they have with housing and food insecurity. It kept me going.” 

Besides raising awareness, the run was also raising funds to combat the growing need for support experienced by Oregon community college students. As of his visit to MHCC, Cook and the other community college presidents had raised $116,000. 

“My hope after all of this is done here is that we continue this conversation,” Cook added. “And find some permanent solutions.”