Going the extra mile (or 1,500) for students

Everyone is invited to help cheer on a running college president as he stops at the Oregon Coast Community College’s Lincoln City campus on Thursday, July 24.

Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook is attempting to complete a more-than-1,500-mile route connecting all 17 of Oregon’s community colleges to raise funds and awareness for student basic needs.

To send him off on the next leg of the journey, Lincoln City Mayor Susan Wahlke, State Representative David Gomberg and others will be gathered outside and donuts will be served.

With Cook averaging 32 miles per day, the effort will take him roughly 50 days to complete. His visit to Lincoln City marks a key stop along the coast, where he’ll be joined for the first leg of his run that day by Oregon Coast Community College President Dr. Marshall Mease Roache. The pair will head north toward Tillamook Bay Community College.

“Dr. Cook is running to raise awareness about the many challenges faced by Oregon’s community college students,” said Jeanette Campagna, director of advancement for the college foundation. “He’s also running to raise funds to help overcome those same challenges.”

Oregon’s community colleges serve more than 200,000 students statewide — more than half of all students enrolled in public or private higher education in Oregon. Many of these students face significant barriers to success, including housing and food insecurity, transportation limitations and lack of access to childcare.

Donations inspired by Cook’s run can be designated specifically to support students, and will be directed to programs that provide immediate, tangible support — including the Shark Shack student resource closet. Operated by students, the Shark Shack provides free groceries, toiletries, clothing and other essentials to students at both the Central County Campus in Newport and the North County Campus in Lincoln City.

The Thursday, July 24, celebration begins at 9 am at the college’s Lincoln City campus, located at 3788 SE High School Drive in Lincoln City. For more information and to donate, go to clackamas.edu.