News Releases
News for release May 7, 2008
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE NAMES 2008 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Eugene, Ore. - The Lane Community College Foundation has named Molly Bedortha of Eugene, Sherry Duerst-Higgins of Cottage Grove, Lorraine Kerwood of Eugene, and Juan Carlos Valle of Eugene its Distinguished Alumni for 2008. The awards go to alumni who completed at least 30 credit hours or earned an associate's degree at Lane, and have demonstrated achievement in their chosen profession, provided service to the community, and made an outstanding contribution to the college.
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Molly Bedortha |
Bedortha worked her way through two nursing degrees at Lane - first receiving her LPN (licensed practical nurse) in 1970 and then her RN (registered nurse) in 1982. During the 12 years she was employed at PeaceHealth Medical Clinic (formerly the Eugene Clinic) she was one of the voices at the other end of the phone for the Ask-A-Nurse program. Currently, Bedortha is the head of the Triage Team at the University of Oregon's Student Health Center, where her practice includes up to 24,000 UO enrollees. Her volunteer activities include fundraising for the United Way, the March of Dimes, and Companion Center Care Dogs.
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Sherry Duerst-Higgins |
Duerst-Higgins has received both dental assisting and Real Estate training from Lane, and her 16 years as a leading broker in Cottage Grove has earned her a variety of honors. But Duerst-Higgins is perhaps best-known for her longstanding commitment to education. She served 22 years on the South Lane School Board, worked her way up the ranks to the presidency of the Oregon School Boards Association, and continues as a board member of the Lane Educational Service District. A well-known community booster, Sherry takes pride in having helped Cottage Grove build a new high school. She is currently working to ensure that Cottage Grove succeeds in its plans to build a $7 million community swimming pool.
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Lorraine Kerwood |
Kerwood, the founder of NextStep Recycling, left a career in family and community services to begin repairing MacIntosh computers and providing them to the underprivileged. After enrolling in the Lane Center for Business Development's Nonprofit Management Program, she expanded her recycling business to include all types of computers, electronic equipment, and even Styrofoam. As of last year, NextStep had recycled more than 800 tons of electronic waste and placed 11,000 computers in disadvantaged and disabled communities locally and abroad. Kerwood serves on Lane's Computer Information Technology Advisory Board and provides a variety of internship opportunities to Lane students.
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Juan Carlos Valle |
Valle was a homeless immigrant when he arrived in Eugene, barely speaking English and lacking a high-school diploma. Eugene's Centro LatinoAmericano gave him shelter and access to education. Valle went on to earn an Associate's degree in Hospitality Management at Lane, and a Bachelor's degree in Spanish and Business Administration at the University of Oregon. Then, having found himself working in a series of public-sector jobs, Valle refocused and sought a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration, which he will completed in 2008. Valle works for the Social Security Administration in Eugene. He also sits on the Boards of Directors for Centro LatinoAmericano Birth to Three, and serves as a commissioner for the Eugene police commission.
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Contacts:
Michele Erickson, Lane Community College Foundation, (541) 463-5804 ericksonm@lanecc.edu
Monica Shovlin, The Ulum Group, (541) 434-7028, mshovlin@ulum.com
