Photo by Aung Pyae Lin MHCC’S NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SPECIALIST In this feature, The Advocate interviews Taeya Hillman-Johnson, who in August became Mt. Hood Community College’s new International Student Recruitment and Engagement Specialist. With a background in event planning, community building, and student support, Hillman-Johnson brings creativity, warmth, and a deep commitment to helping international students thrive. Advocate : Tell us about yourself, please. Hillma

A STAFF FAVORITE YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE ALL SEASON LONG Russian Tea Cakes, also known as Snowballs, are a delightfully buttery, nutty, melt-in-your-mouth cookie that has been a holiday staple in our family for at least six generations. We do a lot of baking around the holidays, but these are hands down my favorite. I grew up making them with my mom and my great-grandmother. I made them with my children when they were growing up (the ones who were interested, anyway), and now we

A STAFF FAVORITE YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE ALL SEASON LONG Holiday traditions often start in the kitchen. Whether you’re keeping old traditions or creating new ones, nothing brings people together like good food. So, we’ve pulled two of our staff’s favorite traditional recipes – one sweet, one savory – to help you bring a little extra flavor and festivity to your holiday season. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Wait Time: 30 minutes Ready In: 1 hour 30 minutes Serv

At Mt. Hood Community College, a small room filled with shelves of food and care helps students meet one of life’s most basic needs. Known as Barney’s Pantry, it’s a place where no student is turned away, and no one has to face hunger alone. Making sure every visitor feels welcome, Pantry clerk Solana Sonnier helps to keep the space running with empathy and dedication. “When a student comes to the Pantry for the first time, all they need to bring is a physical copy of their s

Last May, Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) voters approved a $131 million facilities bond measure, the college’s first successful bond effort in more than 50 years. The measure funds necessary campus upgrades, including $23.3 million for repairing old infrastructure and $28.5 million for accessibility and community improvements. With bond-funded projects now beginning to take shape – including repaving of several parking lots, a new surface for Mt. Hood’s running track, and

I am Christian Ilechukwu, a Staff Editor at The Advocate, originally from Nigeria. Writing has been a part of my life since high school, where I first discovered my passion for crafting stories. My debut published work, “Politics of Deceit,” a drama, marked the start of my journey as a writer. I enjoy engaging in thoughtful discussions with others, exchanging ideas on a wide range of topics, and I am always open to trying new things, whether it’s a fresh perspective or a new

Photo by College Housing Northwest of Abigail Court - chnw.org/properties/abigail-court Three years ago, my husband and I were living in a Walmart parking lot. We were grateful for the simple ability to wash our hands and use a restroom. Two years ago, we lived in an RV with no working toilet. We survived on simple meals because we did not have a kitchen. A year ago, we packed everything we owned into a car after selling the RV and moved to Portland. And today, we are full-ti

Ever since the New York Times sued OpenAI in late December 2023 over copyright infringement claims the future of its chatbot Chat-GPT has been uncertain.  The events of this past summer have brought more bad news for companies developing generative AI models and could bring changes to the internet that could soon prevent chatbots from accessing websites or require LLM chatbots like OpenAI’s Chat-GPT to pay for using copyrighted works. For publishers and media companies, howev

A computer monitor in the AVID Center. Photo by Leo Fontneau All MHCC student Microsoft email accounts now require two-factor authentication.  The change went into effect on Sept. 1, according to emails sent to students over the summer. Students can add or change methods of multi-factor verification in the “Security Info” tab of their school Microsoft account and officials recommend that students set up the Microsoft Authenticator app as the preferred method  of multi factor

President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal includes the complete elimination of all federal TRIO programs, which have supported low-income, first-generation, and disabled students for over 60 years.

A few words shared from a 3x SUP World Champion, Wing Foil Champion, Waterwoman, Student, Coach, Wylde Wind & Water Founder, and Type 1 Diabetic Surely each of us has experienced feeling adrift and lost in the sea of life, moments when it seems the last drops of our motivation are drained, making room for weariness and a gnawing sense of frustration. What do you do? Do you allow yourself to rest by letting go of everything and surrendering to the waves of worries and anxietie