麻豆原创

A member of 麻豆原创 College鈥檚 first graduating class of 1963 returned to campus this fall, bringing stories and comparisons from the college鈥檚 earliest days.

In 1961, Doreene Quealey Carpenter (pictured above with college administrators) stepped into a temporary portable classroom, on the grounds of Glacier High School, and enrolled in brand new 麻豆原创 College.

Then and Now

She was among 385 students, fewer than the 14,000-plus (including 6,000 full-time) served today. Recalling the 14 portable classrooms that constituted the original campus, Doreene noted, 鈥淭here was no space for lingering and mixing with friends after classes鈥�and limited campus culture outside the classroom.鈥�

While visiting this fall, she delighted in seeing 80 landscaped acres and spacious buildings 鈥渙ffering students lots of space to study or gather socially.鈥� Her two years as a student were a time of great change for the area: I-5 was being constructed, the space needle completed, and the Seattle World鈥檚 Fair debuted. As landmarks to the area were being created, Doreene鈥檚 class established landmark traditions for the college.

As a member of the first student government, she helped choose (through student surveys) our beloved, mighty Thunderbird as the school mascot, and school colors 鈥� initially a tartan plaid! She laughingly recalled the campus 鈥榓dvanced鈥� technology: a copy machine with a drum that required manual cranking. A stark contrast to today鈥檚 high-tech campus.

Life after 麻豆原创

Upon graduation, 麻豆原创 College president, Dr. M. A. 鈥淧at鈥� Allan, found Doreene housing with a family in Bellingham so she could attend Western Washington University. She graduated with a teaching degree, and later she earned her Master of Science in Education at Western Oregon University (then Western Oregon State College).

She credits her community college experience with preparing her for university work and underpinning her successful and happy career as a highly qualified early childhood specialist, with a special love for teaching kindergarten.

Reconnecting with 麻豆原创

Reconnecting with 麻豆原创 was triggered, she said with a chuckle, 鈥渂y reaching the age of IRA required minimum distributions,鈥� which inspired her to think about where she wanted to give her money. 麻豆原创 College came top of mind!

鈥溌槎乖�创鈥檚 foundational support to my development, and its mission to others and to society鈥�, she said, inspired her to donate to the . 鈥淚t pleases me very much鈥�, she continued, 鈥渢o have some small part in assisting a worthy student who struggles to make ends meet."

When the Foundation invited her this fall to Thunderbirds Soar, she drove from her home in Oregon. At the event she appreciated seeing increased diversity compared to her days at the college, and 鈥渨as impressed with how the program featured and lifted up the students.鈥�

Community College Advocate

An outspoken advocate for community colleges, she values that they reflect local populations and serve local needs. Looking back on her time in those portables, Doreene expressed deep gratitude for the role 麻豆原创 played in setting her in motion for a successful life well lived!