This year, more scholarship recipients attended the gala than in recent years, a shift many guests noted. It changed the energy. It wasn’t just about donors giving to students in theory; they were face-to-face, sharing stories and shaking hands.

As colleges across the country navigate budget shortfalls, funding uncertainty, program cuts and growing institutional pressures, students are being asked to adapt alongside them. Conversations about the future of education are happening everywhere — but too often, the people most affected by those decisions remain excluded from meaningfully shaping them. This is not a statement against MHCC in particular as MHCC has historically been ahead of the curve when it comes to creat

The Advocate walked away with 21 awards at this years Oregon News Paper Association Collegiate Day and Awards Luncheon: Eight first place awards, eight second place awards and five third place awards. First place winning categories are as follows: Best Section Advocate News Section Best Writing Morgan McCarraher Best Series Series - Bond and Infrastructure Best Editorial Morgan McCarraher Best Columnist Mary Nashed Best Graphic Cortlan Souders Best Cartooning Leo Deckl

I met with Dr. Jessica Wittman—who goes by Dr. Wittman or Jess, and uses they/them pronouns—in the science department conference room to discuss their roles on the MHCC campus and their approach to teaching chemistry. Having been curious about how science students perceive their educational experience and employment options, I started off with a sort of left-field question about math: What is the baseline or minimum math level a graduate should achieve? Wittman replied that t

The new East County Library officially opened Saturday with a large community celebration marking the launch of what Multnomah County Library officials describe as a major new regional hub for learning, technology, and public gathering. Built near the Gresham City Hall MAX station, the new 95,000-square-foot facility replaces the former Gresham Library branch and is designed to serve communities across East County. The grand opening included live performances, art activities,

Mt. Hood Community College’s annual AAPI Heritage Month event gives students a chance to honor those experiences. On May 14, the Multicultural Diversity and Resource Center (MDRC) held the annual celebration in the Vista Dining Hall.

Schools measure success in numbers — test scores, GPAs, rankings and percentages. These metrics are treated as evidence of learning, progress and readiness. But they raise a deeper question that is harder to quantify: Are schools actually preparing students for life, or are they primarily preparing them to take tests? Standardized testing was designed to create consistency, a way to evaluate large groups of students under the same conditions. In theory, it offers accountabil

Jeffery Erickson stepped into his role as ASMHCC’s student body president with ambitious goals and little experience. He had never been involved in any form of student government, let alone managing a team, before his election. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into. But after I started running and campaigning, I really found that it was my first opportunity to make a difference,” Erickson said. Erickson told The Advocate at the start of his campaign that his goals w

An Allen wrench — also called a hex wrench or dogging wrench (closed end hex) — can be two things: a key or a wrench. It’s not a doorstop. Too many crash bars on campus, once opened with a hex tool, are being left with the tool still sticking out of the mechanism, as if a normal door lock only works by leaving the key in the lock. It’s like leaving a hex wrench sticking out of every screw on a cheap particle board entertainment center or rolling cart. I have a bruise the si

The MHCC Saints softball team won its eighth all-time NWAC championship Monday in a nail-biter that closed the series over Lower Columbia. Not only were the final games of the series a back-and-forth affair, but the Saints clawed their way back to the top of the bracket after an early-round loss to the returning champions, Lower Columbia. After the 5-4 loss against LCC, MHCC rallied and defeated Clackamas 14-4, following that up with a pair of 11-3 and 6-5 wins against LCC to

Barney Bash Returns to MHCC Barney Bash has become one of Mt Hood Community College most beloved community traditions, drawing more than 1,200 people to campus each spring for a celebration designed to close out the academic year. On May 21, students and community members experienced Barney Bash in full swing. Music and vendors filled campus for this annual event as children enjoyed snow cones and cotton candy. Hundreds of people gathered in the sun—a feat achieved through mo

“Kodomo No Hi in general is about the strength and vitality for young children born out of a time where children often died young,” Shonk continued. “There’s a special time for kids at the age of 3, 5, and 7. Children’s Day is about strength, and there’s a story about koi climbing a waterfall and becoming a dragon—facing adversity and becoming stronger.

ASMHCC held a budget forum in the Student Union on April 9 to provide transparency regarding the spending of student activity fees. Leaders shared co-curricular and athletic department budgets for the 2026-27 academic year in comparison to last year’s spending.

While the group was seen tabling and participating in open discussions at the Main Mall through March, it had yet to register as an official club on campus. The club charter signifies the group has completed the first steps of securing a faculty advisor, at least five student members, and a written constitution that aligns with the MHCC Clubs and Organizations Manual.

McClure had the fastest time in the NWAC this season in the 400-meter hurdles at the Linfield Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational.

Clubs are for a handful of students who like frisbee golf. They are not for political organizations with eight-digit budgets that are overtly trying to influence the school's culture. Is there a hard, fast line in the sand that explicitly defines these parameters? No, but discerning students absolutely know it when they see it, and it's pedantic to imply otherwise.

Joining leadership gives students the opportunity to represent their community. Most decisions happen behind the scenes, yet they significantly influence students’ daily lives. Students may have noticed placards around campus that say “brought to you by ASMHCC.” The group’s actions range from providing recycling bins in each building to making executive decisions that protect student safety.

The Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County Public Health have confirmed a measles case with potential exposure at Mt. Hood Community College’s Gresham Campus. Individuals present in the Academic Center (Building 17, main level) on Monday, April 13, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. should review official public health guidance immediately.

Here is what you might have missed on campus regarding the budget crisis. Students joined staff in a joint effort to lobby the MHCC Board of Education by showing support for AVID and the Transitions program. During the most recent meeting, students and faculty provided testimonials to the board. Students shared personal stories highlighting the AVID center’s transformative impact on their academic and personal lives. Some described how AVID provided personal coaching, academi

The Mt. Hood Community College Fisheries Technology program is doing more than just teaching students about biology; it is serving as a front-line training ground for wildlife restoration across the Columbia River Basin.