Rock Creek’s 40th birthday was a 10-month party for campus community

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PCC / News / July 17, 2017 /


Rock Creek’s 40th birthday was a 10-month party for campus community

Photos and Story by Janis Nichols |

The end of the 2016-17 year didn’t just mean the end to the academic season, but also meant an end to the 10-month celebration of Rock Creek Campus’ 40th birthday. Don’t worry, there is no mid-life crisis there.
“Thanks to all the students, faculty and staff who helped Rock Creek celebrate its 40th birthday: for showing up, for volunteering, for your generosity and for your support of PCC Rock Creek,” said Rock Creek President Sandra Fowler-Hill. “We look forward to celebrating our 50th in 2026.”
It’s an impressive four-decade run for the 265-acre campus. Starting as an idea by founding president Dr. Amo DeBernardis in 1969, college planners had to leap many hurdles to finally open Rock Creek in the middle of 1976, an effort labeled “The Battle for Rock Creek.” Since then, PCC’s rural campus has been transformed by voter-approved bond construction that has turned it into one of the cornerstone locations of the college district.
This year’s celebration started with fall In-Service when “Zippy the Drone” captured a 40th birthday photo of Rock Creek faculty and staff on the lawn outside Building 7. Campus organizers announced a 10-month long competition to secure donations for the Food Pantry that benefits students, and welcomed the first Oregon Promise students to campus.
The annual Harvest Festival in October brought more than 1,000 visitors to campus, who in turn gave 400 pumpkins new homes just in time for Halloween.
“It was a great collaboration involving ASPCC and the Learning Garden,” added Fowler-Hill.
In November, the Women’s Resource Center and ASPCC created 42 Thanksgiving baskets for Rock Creek students. With the goal of 40 baskets in honor of the 40th birthday, more than 250 campus faculty and staff donated food items for the annual event.
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