Chemeketa Community College

09/10/2026

We love sharing success stories about our alumni:

HERMISTON — There are very few, if any, new structures built in Hermiston during the past 18 months that Heaven Doherty doesn’t know about. As building inspector for the city […]

09/10/2026

The ribbon is cut and the doors are open!

What a great day at Chemeketa as elected officials, community advocates, students and employees came together to celebrate the grand opening of our new Student Resource Hub!

More than a new space, the Hub brings essential student resources together in one welcoming, convenient location, including Chemeketa’s food pantry, clothing closet, access to community resources through a dedicated Benefits Navigator and the Student Emergency Relief Fund.

The goal is simple: make it easier for students to get the support they need so they can focus on what brought them to Chemeketa in the first place: their education and their future.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this important new resource and to all of the community partners, advocates and employees whose work helps our students succeed every day.

09/09/2026

We're cheering for you, Jessica.

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.

09/09/2026

The Adventures of Bolt and Stormy

When we last left Bolt, our hero had stumbled upon a tiny creature in big trouble: a baby squirrel who had taken an unexpected tumble from a nearby tree!

Luckily, this little squirrel couldn’t have landed in better hands. Bolt was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and he knew exactly what to do. The best place for a baby squirrel was back home with its family, so Bolt searched the nearby trees, looking high and low for a nest.

But there was just one problem.

No nest.

With no safe way to reunite the little squirrel with its family, Bolt sprang into action. He brought the baby inside, tucked it somewhere warm and cozy, and made sure it had food, comfort, and all the care a tiny squirrel could possibly need.

For now, the little squirrel was safe. Keep checking back for what happens next!

Interested in how this cartoon pane was created?
First, we started with a photo of our New Quad, opened it in Adobe Photoshop, and applied various filter gallery filters, smart filters, and effects to give it a cartoony look.

Next, we created a black line drawing of Bolt and used photoshop to add flat colors, shadows, and highlights. We gave him a transparent background since he would be placed in the quad later and added our Storm logo to his chest using the warp tool to ensure it followed the contours of his chest.

For Stormy, we started with a student wearing the stormy costume and photographed him on a green screen. We converted the photo to a line drawing in photoshop and fine tuned the lines to make it easy to color. Next we added flat colors, then shadows, highlights, and hairs.

Now that we had all the elements, we added Bolt on a new photoshop layer above the quad photo and sized him appropriately. From there, we made another new layer and added and resized our Stormy image. Using a mask, we non-destructively "erased" the part of Stormy that needed to look as though it was behind Bolt's glove. And just like that, a new cartoon panel in the Bolt and Stormy adventure was finished.

09/05/2026

As it turns out, our truck driving program is at the end of the rainbow 😀

09/04/2026

Are you interested in taking an English class that explores the richness of American literature? English 253 will take you on a journey that begins before the United States was a nation and progresses through the start of the Civil War. Join us to encounter a wide range of literature, including indigenous oral traditions, histories, biographies, travel narratives, slave narratives, poetry, protest literature, tall-tales and short tales, banned and silenced literature, the beginnings of its early novels and theater. No knowledge of the nation’s literary history is necessary; we will explore that together!

Survey of American Literature through 1865, CRN 31025, MW 9:30-11:20

Course materials under $50!

Sign up today for Fall 2026!

09/01/2026

A wonderful post from our Foundation...

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.

08/27/2026

In this episode of Chatting with Chemeketa, President Jessica Howard and co-host Les Wielgos help students get ready for what comes next. First, James McNicholas, Director of Student Success and Belonging, shares tips, resources, and reminders to help students start fall term prepared and ready to succeed. Then, Elizabeth Bay, Dean of Recruitment, Enrollment and Graduation Services, answers frequently asked questions from prospective students about enrolling at Chemeketa before turning to the other end of the college journey: what students need to know and do as they prepare for graduation. Whether you're just getting started, gearing up for fall, or getting ready to cross the finish line, this episode helps make the next step a little easier.
Listen at https://chattingwithchemeketa.podbean.com/e/from-first-steps-to-finish-line-getting-ready-at-chemeketa

08/26/2026

Want to review and brush up your math and writing skills before the start of fall term?

Sign up for Math Refresh and Writing Refresh on the Salem campus, September 8 - 11.

Morning Options (9:00 - 12:00 pm):

Math Refresh: CRN 44167

Writing Refresh: CRN 45227

Afternoon Option (12:30 - 3:30 pm):

Math Refresh: CRN 46505

Writing Refresh: CRN 45228

Both Math and Writing Refresh are also offered at other Chemeketa locations at other times. See here for more details: https://sites.google.com/chemeketa.edu/salemcampusrefreshprograms/home

Free lunch is provided for students enrolled in both a morning and afternoon Refresh session.

08/26/2026

Thinking about studying wine? Now is a great time to start! 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!

The Chemeketa Foundation Scholarship application will be open 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭-𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. One application puts you in consideration for hundreds of scholarships, with awards ranging from $300-$6,000 per year.

✨ No repayment required
✨ You don’t need a 4.0 GPA
✨ Scholarships are open to all students
✨ Funds can help cover tuition, books and other educational expenses

➤ Apply with your Chemeketa login: chemeketa.academicworks.com
➤ Need help with admission to Chemeketa? Email [email protected] and we will help you get started.

Don’t miss your opportunity to help fund your education!