Chemeketa Community College Foundation

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

12/12/2025

It's YOUR Turn (Sharing the stories of Life-Experienced Learners)

Fourteen years after graduating high school, Madalena returned to college—this time with clarity, purpose, and a deep commitment to finishing strong.

“I find myself in college 14 years after graduating high school thus classifying me as a non-traditional student,” she says. An earlier attempt in her 20s didn’t stick. “My chaotic lifestyle and no grounding or coping techniques made it easy for me to drop out when a loved one had an unexpected medical emergency.”

Life experience changed everything.

“I took a lot of time to grow up, get my priorities in alignment and develop healthy habits and coping skills. I had to have a tough conversation with myself about my future.” This time, she was ready to fully commit—showing up, doing the work, and making school the priority.

Before returning, Madalena describes herself as “at risk,” more focused on socializing and art than academics. “I couldn’t afford to make these same choices years later. When the suggestion came to come back to Chemeketa in 2025, I was ready.”

She enrolled in Chemeketa’s Behavioral Health track, working toward an Associate of Applied Science and CADC-1 certificate, with a goal of becoming a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Three terms in, she’s thriving.

“I stay up on my FAFSA and apply for scholarships. I have been able to raise my cumulative GPA and get myself on the honors list!” Madalena was invited to Phi Theta Kappa, awarded a Chemeketa Foundation scholarship, built friendships beyond the classroom, and makes a point to attend campus events.

“I have done a complete 180 and have learned that the sky’s the limit.”

Her journey doesn’t stop here. Madalena plans to continue at Chemeketa for the Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership and Management, then pursue a master’s degree in social work.

“I’m glad I took the time to figure these things out and that Chemeketa was here when I was ready.”

Whether you’re returning after years away or starting fresh with new purpose, Chemeketa is here when you’re ready.

12/10/2025

We're moving the needle to make our match for this year's Clint Match Challenge. So far we've raised $11,485 of our $20,000 goal. And if we hit that mark, Chemeketa's President, Jessica Howard is on the hook for completing her own challenge. This year, she'll need to build a robot alongside Chemeketa's electronics students, and then successfully race it against other robots on a course (without deviating from her lane). If you want to see this happen, help us make our fundraising goal Visit:

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

12/02/2025

This GivingTuesday, give the gift of education!

Our communities thrive when you help students achieve their dreams. You can double your impact and help us raise $20,000 toward our Clint Scholarship Match to unlock $40,000 in scholarships for next year in support of working students!

Your contribution helps students making a difference in our community — students like Joanna. Joanna currently works at Salem Public Hospital, as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The support she has received from the Foundation has been instrumental in her ability to continue her education.

“As a first-generation Mexican-American, my family means everything to me. In order to prepare for the financial strain that higher education would put on them and me, I started working to fund my education as soon as I could. Whether it be staying up long nights writing essays for scholarships, or working long nights at restaurants and hospitals. Because of this, I was able to pay for two years of pre-requisites at Chemeketa as well as a year of nursing school. Unfortunately, due to the long school lectures, clinical hours, lab hours, and study time that nursing school requires, I have been unable to work more than part-time during the school year. It is only through generous donors like you that I have been able to fund my education and focus on my studies.”

—Joanna, 2025 Clint Foundation Scholarship recipient

So far, we have raised $8,905 toward our $20,000 goal. You can join the cause and help support our hardworking students. We're just $11,095 away!
go.chemeketa.edu/donate

11/25/2025

Remember last November when President Jessica Howard made that bold promise to climb into our CDL training big rig if the community helped us hit our fundraising match?

Well… you did it.
And she kept her word.

Watch President Jessica Howard (https://youtu.be/YR0XQYNA3ZY) channel her inner trucker as she navigates a full-sized commercial rig around campus — complete with laughter, a few nervous squeals, and one very patient instructor. It’s a moment you do not want to miss.

And guess what?
For November 2025, we’ve cooked up a brand-new, top-secret Challenge for President Howard — but it only happens if we hit our goal again.

Want to see what we have planned?
Join the fun and support our students today: go.chemeketa.edu/donate

Send a message to learn more

11/17/2025

Student Spotlight: Deborah

Deborah is pursuing her dream of becoming a diesel technician — and thanks to donor support, she’s able to focus fully on her training and future.

Here’s what she shared:
“This scholarship lets me focus entirely on my studies and hands-on training. Knowing that people believe in my potential inspires me to work harder and strive for excellence.”

Deborah is excited about the fast-evolving field of diesel technology and is committed to using her skills to make a real impact.

Help more students like Deborah follow their passions and build brighter futures.
go.chemeketa.edu/donate

11/12/2025

Student Spotlight: Following Her Heart — Sara’s Journey to Nursing

When Sara’s daughter asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, the question stopped her in her tracks.

“I told her that when I was really young, I wanted to be a singer and work at McDonald’s,” Sara said with a smile. “But I can’t sing—and I’m not a fan of burgers. The other thing I wanted to be was a nurse.”

Born with a heart defect, Sara spent a lot of time around caring nurses who inspired her as a child. Their compassion left a lasting impression. Now, as a mother of three, she’s finally pursuing that lifelong dream.

In winter 2024, Sara enrolled at Chemeketa Community College to begin her path toward becoming a registered nurse. Balancing school and parenting hasn’t been easy, but with support from the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Scholarship, she’s been able to take a big step forward.

“Before receiving this scholarship, I could only take one class each term,” Sara said. “Now I can take three. Your support is helping me reach my goal so much faster.”

Sara hopes to be accepted into Chemeketa’s Nursing program in spring 2026. She says the scholarship has provided more than financial help—it’s given her peace of mind.

“Your generosity allows me to focus on my studies, knowing my children are cared for and safe,” she said. “You’re not just supporting my education; you’re helping me show my kids that dreams are worth chasing.”

For Sara, this journey is about more than earning a degree—it’s about setting an example of perseverance and hope for her children and the community she hopes to serve.

Be the Spark That Changes a Life

Sara’s story is a reminder that education doesn’t just open doors—it transforms generations. When you give to Chemeketa, you help students like Sara rise above barriers, pursue their purpose, and create a brighter future for themselves and their families.

If you believe in the power of dreams, visit go.chemeketa.edu/donate
to make a gift today.
Your generosity can turn someone’s someday into right now.

10/29/2025

No one in our Chemeketa community should go hungry.

Many of our students and neighbors are being impacted by the ongoing government shutdown and recent loss of SNAP benefits. When basic needs go unmet, learning and thriving become even harder — but together, we can help.

If you’re able, consider supporting Chemeketa’s food pantries or Student Relief Fund through the Chemeketa Foundation. Every gift, no matter the size, helps ensure students across our district have access to food, housing, and other essentials.
👉 Donate online at go.chemeketa.edu/donate

You can also make a difference by donating much-needed items directly to one of our Chemeketa food pantries in Salem, Yamhill Valley, or Woodburn.

Most-needed food items:

Canned chicken

Microwaveable meals

Individual drinks

Cereal cups

Snack bars

Tortillas (flour)

Chips (individual packs)

Instant noodles (cup or packet)

Rice (small bags)

Mashed potatoes (small boxes)

Non-food items (travel sizes appreciated):

Shampoo

Body wash

Deodorant

Toothpaste

Mouthwash

🕒 Donations can be dropped off at:

Salem Campus: Building 2, Student Center

Yamhill Valley Campus: Building 1, Information Desk

Woodburn Campus: Campus Office

Thank you for helping us care for one another. Together, we can keep our Chemeketa community strong and supported. 💙