Chemeketa Community College Foundation

10/22/2026

This is truly a success story...

From learning English to launching a career in healthcare, Xiaofeng's journey at Chemeketa is a story of determination, perseverance, and the power of a little help along the way!

Just one year ago, Xiaofeng was taking English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes at Chemeketa, uncertain about what her future might hold. Today, she's celebrating an incredible achievement: passing both her Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy final exams and becoming a certified Medical Assistant!

"I never imagined that by August of this year, I would have passed both my Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy final exams and become a certified Medical Assistant," Xiaofeng shared.

Getting there was anything but easy. As a mother of three, Xiaofeng faced the challenges of balancing childcare, household responsibilities, and a demanding eight-month Medical Assistant program at Chemeketa's Yamhill Valley Campus in McMinnville. Her daily commute took nearly two hours round-trip, and with English as her second language, she often needed extra time to master the material.

"Between school, taking care of three children, housework, homework, and studying, there was very little free time," she explained. "I often studied until 1 or 2 in the morning."

One of her biggest obstacles was the cost of childcare. Fortunately, Chemeketa's Student Emergency Fund provided assistance that allowed her to remain in school and continue pursuing her dream.

"The support from the Student Emergency Fund helped me solve this major problem and made it possible for me to continue going to school," Xiaofeng said.

Throughout the program, Xiaofeng developed hands-on clinical skills, from drawing blood and administering injections to performing EKGs and other medical procedures. She also gained valuable experience working directly with patients during her clinical externship.

Looking back, Xiaofeng knows every late night, every mile driven, and every sacrifice was worth it.

"I have never worked so hard for something in my life, but all of that hard work paid off. I did it! Becoming a Medical Assistant is an important turning point in my life."

Xiaofeng's story is a wonderful reminder that sometimes the difference between giving up and achieving a dream is having the right support at the right time.

Thanks to the generosity of those who support Chemeketa students, programs like the Student Emergency Fund help remove financial barriers and make life-changing accomplishments possible.

Learn more about the Chemeketa Foundation and how you can support students at go.chemeketa.edu/foundation.

09/28/2026

Bolt & Stormy got to welcome students to the first day of fall, passing out scholarship information and visiting a few of the hottest spots on the Salem campus: Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Information Desk, College Access Programs, Bookstore, New Quad, and more!

Bolt gave Stormy a tour of campus and helped point students in the right direction. Stormy was welcomed with loads of high fives, a dance party for two, and got to say hi to a few of their cousins romping around campus.

Welcome to Fall 2026 at Chemeketa, and don’t forget to apply for foundation scholarships by visiting chemeketa.academicworks.com now through October 9!

09/09/2026

For Jessica, returning to college is about more than completing a degree. It’s about building a new future for herself and her four children.

Years ago, Jessica began pursuing an education in communication disorders, but life took her in another direction as she devoted her time to raising her family. Now, she’s back in college and working toward completing her Speech and Language Pathology Assistant degree at Chemeketa.

“After taking time to raise my four children, I am finally finishing my education,” Jessica said.

As a single mother rebuilding her life after divorce, Jessica knows what earning her degree will mean for her family. A scholarship through the Chemeketa Foundation is helping ease the financial pressure and giving her the stability to focus on completing her education and beginning a strong, independent career.

“This scholarship is much more than just financial assistance,” she said. “It is an affirmation of my commitment to building a new and secure future for my children and I.”

Jessica’s goals extend beyond her own family. As a future Speech and Language Pathology Assistant, she hopes to support children who need early intervention services, helping them develop the communication skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

“I am passionate about serving the students and their families in my community,” Jessica said. “I am genuinely excited for my future and the opportunity this scholarship provides to complete my education and move forward with a strong, independent career.”

Thanks to the generosity of Chemeketa Foundation donors, students like Jessica have the opportunity to keep moving forward, even when the path to a degree takes a few unexpected turns.

Learn more about the Chemeketa Foundation and how you can support students at go.chemeketa.edu/foundation.

09/01/2026

For Nemwar, becoming a teacher isn’t simply a career goal. It’s a dream she has carried with her since she was young.

Nemwar is nearing completion of her AAS in Early Childhood Education at Chemeketa, all while working full-time to pay her bills and cover the cost of college. Balancing work, school and finances hasn’t always been easy, but a scholarship through the Chemeketa Foundation is helping ease that burden and giving her more time and energy to focus on reaching her goals.

“My dream is to become a teacher for children aged 2 to 5 years old,” Nemwar said. “I aim to create an environment where children can feel safe and thrive in their learning experiences.”

Her passion for early childhood education has only grown stronger as she has seen the need for caring, dedicated teachers. After completing her associate degree, Nemwar plans to continue her education at a university, majoring in Early Childhood Education and preparing for a career serving children and families.

“With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to focus more on my studies rather than worrying about the cost,” she said. “I am one step closer to achieving my goals with less financial burden to carry throughout the terms.”

For Nemwar, the scholarship represents more than financial assistance. It represents opportunity and the knowledge that someone believes in what she can accomplish.

“Thank you to those who contributed to this scholarship and for believing that people like me deserve a chance to continue our education.”

We are grateful to the donors who make stories like Nemwar’s possible. Your generosity helps Chemeketa students stay focused on their education, pursue their dreams and prepare to make a difference in our communities.

Learn more about the Chemeketa Foundation and how you can support students at go.chemeketa.edu/foundation.

08/25/2026

Another round of scholarship offers will be going out this week for students attending Chemeketa for the 2026-2027 academic year.

With more than $565,000 offered and 200 scholarships awarded - keep checking your My Chemeketa email weekly for an award notification and a link to accept through the chemeketa.academicworks.com scholarship portal.

07/06/2026

Maps Credit Union is such a great supporter of Chemeketa students! Thank you!

04/14/2026

Tomorrow is your last day to submit your Chemeketa Foundation Scholarship Application for the 2026-2027 academic year!

The application will close at 11:59pm on April 15.

It’s not too late to apply! If you started the application but haven’t hit submit, now is the time to log back in and finish your application.

Are you stuck on the essay questions?
Do you have questions about the application?
No question is too big or too small!

Please know you can drop by our office at Building 5, Room 264 to ask for assistance or make an appointment with our Scholarship Coordinator at [email protected].

Remember:
-Scholarships are funds that do not need to be repaid.
-Foundation scholarships are open to all students, including international students and those without a social security number.
-You don't have to be a 4.0 student to qualify.
-Most scholarships are based on financial need.
-Scholarship funds may cover tuition, fees, textbooks, and other educational expenses.

How to Apply: Complete one simple online application by logging into the Foundation Scholarship Application with your Chemeketa login information at chemeketa.academicworks.com to be considered for hundreds of available scholarships (no need to apply to specific funds).

The Foundation awards about 350 scholarships each year ranging from $300-$6,000 per year.

This is a great opportunity for you to secure funding for the upcoming year!

Wishing you success always,

Chemeketa Community College Foundation Team

03/23/2026

At Chemeketa Community College, we know that every student’s journey is unique, and sometimes, the path isn’t a straight line. But with support, encouragement, and opportunity, dreams have a way of finding their way back.

Cassandra began her journey at Chemeketa with big goals: to earn a degree, be the first in her family to graduate, and give back to her community. Life brought unexpected challenges, and her path took longer than planned, but she never let go of her dream.

Today, Cassandra is a Special Education Teacher in New Mexico, holding a bachelor’s degree and working toward her master’s, making a difference in students’ lives every single day.

In her words:
“My dreams of achieving academic success in higher education never left my heart.”
“Thank you for planting a seed in my heart that would never leave me.”
“My journey…exists because it began with Chemeketa Community College.”

We are so proud to have been part of Cassandra’s story—and grateful to the donors and supporters who help make journeys like hers possible.

Chemeketa Community College – Building Careers, Strengthening Communities.

01/09/2026

The Chemeketa Foundation was saddened to hear of the recent passing of a beloved community member, and long time advocate of students here at Chemeketa, Robert 'Bob' Corey. Many in our community knew Bob as the Founder and entrepreneur behind Bob's 19 Cent Hamburgers, a wildly successful regional chain of Hamburger shops first established in 1955. Our staff at the Foundation knew him as a man with a committed interest in supporting the rising talent within our community through a long running scholarship in his name. We've had the pleasure of sharing time with Bob at our annual STARS reception many times over the years, and his support has always reminded us of the importance of locals leading the charge forward into greatness. Even past his one hundredth birthday, he found the time to celebrate the hard work of his scholarship recipients. We wanted to take this time to share the heartfelt story of one of the students Bob's scholarship recently helped support, and to extend our warm wishes to the Coreys as they mourn the loss of such a timeless figurehead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aokdYeBUKco

If you would like to give toward his scholarship in memory of his lasting legacy within the Pacific Northwest, you can do so on our website at go.chemeketa.edu/donate

Scholarship recipient, Angela tells how a Foundation Scholarship changed her life.

12/17/2025

We’re getting close, but we’re not there yet. This is where you come in!

We’re working to meet our $20,000 goal for this year’s Clint Match Challenge. Right now, we’ve raised $13,385, which means there's only $6,615 left. When we hit the goal, those dollars double into $40,000 in scholarships for Chemeketa students who are working hard to build their futures.

There’s also a little extra motivation this year: if we make the match, Chemeketa President Jessica Howard has agreed to build and race a robot alongside our electronics students.

Most importantly, your gift supports students like Madeleine, a volunteer Sergeant with the Linn County Sheriff Search and Rescue team. For nearly three years, she’s helped lead life-saving rescue missions in the wilderness. Being part of Search and Rescue inspired her to pursue a career in Emergency Medical Services, and scholarships like this one help her stay enrolled full-time and push through the most challenging parts of school.

Help us move the needle, unlock the full match by contributing to our Clint Foundation Scholarship, and support students who are making a difference in our community. Every gift counts.

Give here:

This year, we are seeking to raise $20,000 toward Clint Foundation Scholarships to support our final year of the Clint Match. Double your impact when you make a contribution toward our Giving Tuesday match opportunity now through December. $11,485 raised to far! Make a Gift