Chris Molinar reflects on finding his place at Ģ����ý — and helping the next generation find theirs

When I started at Ģ����ý, I was 18 years old and a first-generation college student. I came from Benson Polytechnic High School, where I studied building construction. I’d been interested in architecture since middle school, but college was a big unknown.

My mom and I had been through a difficult financial period, and there wasn’t much room for college in our budget. So when I heard about scholarships, I paid attention.

That’s where Future Connect came in. I met Tobias Sherwood, a Future Connect success coach, at a summer event at Ģ����ý. He thought I would be a great fit and mentioned that it included a scholarship. That definitely caught my attention. I applied nervously. And I got in.

The scholarship eased the financial pressure. But what I didn’t realize at the time was how much I would also gain from the people around me.

Finding my footing

Tobias became my coach and helped me understand parts of college I didn’t yet know how to navigate. We mapped out my classes and talked about the transition from high school to college. He showed me around campus and helped me discover resources I didn’t even know were available, from tutoring and financial aid to the Multicultural Center and therapeutic services.

I was a full-time student with a few part-time jobs, so some days I was on campus from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Having someone I could turn to made a difference.

I also asked Tobias about my class map. A lot. I probably asked him five times a week, “Am I still on the right track?” He always took the time to reassure me. That support helped me feel more confident in my choices.

I was pretty quiet when I started at Ģ����ý. Over time, I became more comfortable talking to people and speaking up. Future Connect encouraged me to take on leadership opportunities and join events and activities.

I started to realize that I had something to contribute. More importantly, I became more comfortable being myself. Tobias was a huge part of that. He was like a big brother to me. He believed in me and encouraged me to be a little bolder.

Finding a community

Some of my favorite memories of Future Connect weren’t about classes at all. I remember hanging out with other students in the Future Connect office after class. We’d study, talk about what we were experiencing, and figure things out together. There was always a cup of noodles nearby.

Those little moments mattered. They helped me meet people and gave me a sense of camaraderie. For someone who wasn’t always sure where he fit, having that kind of community at Ģ����ý meant a lot. It gave me a home.

Finding my path

My time at Ģ����ý eventually led me to Portland State University, where I transferred on a full-ride scholarship to study architecture. I had originally planned to study civil engineering, but after spending long nights working through engineering, physics, and calculus, I realized I wanted something more creative. I switched to architecture and graduated from PSU in 2022.

Today, I work with Oh planning+design, architecture, a firm focused on human-centered and sustainable design. One of the parts of my work that means the most to me happens outside the design studio. Through our Oh Academy program, I mentor high school students interested in architecture and design. We introduce them to the field, talk about college pathways, and give them hands-on experience with design projects and modeling software.

Sometimes I meet a student who reminds me of myself. They have an idea or a dream, but they’re not quite sure they belong in that space yet. And I get to tell them: Be patient. You can do this.

I know what it feels like to hear those words. I know what it meant to have someone believe in me before I completely knew how to believe in myself. Now I get to offer that to someone else.

Passing it on

Looking back, I can see how much Future Connect shaped me. The scholarship opened the door. The people in the program helped me find my way through it. Tobias and the other coaches gave me support, encouragement, and the confidence to take chances and discover strengths I didn’t know I had. Now I get to pass some of that support on.

Being a mentor carries a lot of responsibility. I think about what it means to be a supporter for someone who may not know what they need yet. I understand where those students are coming from because I’ve been there. I know how meaningful it can be to have someone reach back and offer a hand.

That’s what makes Future Connect so powerful. Its impact doesn’t end when a student leaves Ģ����ý. It continues in the careers we build, in the people we mentor, and in our families and our communities.

I’m one example of what can happen when a student has a dream and people in their corner.

Ģ����ý Veterinary Technology student and scholarship recipient Kianalia Towle shares how scholarships and community at Ģ����ý helped make her educational journey possible:

They say the smell of a barn isn’t for everyone, but for me, it has always smelled like home. 

Animals have been a constant in my life. They ground me and comfort me, and caring for them gives me purpose. That’s why becoming a veterinary technician means so much to me. I love this work.

But getting here hasn’t been easy. The past few years have tested my husband and me in ways we never expected. There were moments when it felt like every part of life was demanding more than I had to give.  And underneath it all was this constant fear that one unexpected setback could derail everything. 

Kai shared her story with attendees of the Ģ����ý Foundation’s ‘Together for Tomorrow’ event, 2026.

What made the difference was community. My time at Ģ����ý has taught me that resilience isn’t built alone. It grows when people show up for each other. When life felt difficult, there were so many people at Ģ����ý who helped me keep going. My classmates became a lifeline. They knew what it meant to struggle and keep moving forward. My instructors saw me as a whole person – not just a student sitting in a classroom. When I was overwhelmed, they didn’t make me feel ashamed. They reminded me that asking for help is not weakness, it’s part of being human and getting through. And when I needed support, they connected me with resources that kept food on our table, and helped my family stay afloat.

The scholarships I received gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: Relief. They meant I could stay in school. I could focus on learning, instead of constantly calculating what bill could wait another week.

But more than that, those scholarships told me something I desperately needed to hear: That my future was still possible. That someone believed in me. And that kind of belief can change a person.

When I graduate from Ģ����ý, I’ll finish my clinical rotations, prepare for my national exam, and continue building a career caring for animals and supporting the people who love them.

And while that means the world to me, the impact goes beyond just my own future. My sons are watching. They’ve seen me keep going when things were hard. They’ve seen people step in and help us through. And because of that, they’re learning something I hope they carry with them for the rest of their lives: That people matter. That community matters. And that dreams are possible.

Related:

The annual Ģ����ý Patron Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose sustained commitment to education transforms lives. This year’s honorees embody that spirit in powerful and lasting ways.

From left: Ģ����ý President, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; Ģ����ý Foundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; Ģ����ý Foundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; Jeff Rippey; Robin Holman, Melissa Rippey, Doug Holman

The James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation, represented at the event by Jeff Rippey, has invested in Oregon students for decades with a clear and steady purpose: to support youth services and education. A partner of Ģ����ý for more than 15 years, the Foundation has committed more than $1.2 million to the college since 2010, with a strong focus on Career Pathways and scholarships for students pursuing career technical education. Most recently, a $450,000 grant to Ģ����ý’s Pathways to Opportunity initiative is strengthening the combination of skills training and wraparound supports that help students not only enroll, but persist, complete, and thrive. Guided by integrity, long-term thinking, and a deep belief in opportunity, the Foundation’s investments create impact that extends far beyond any single student.

From left: Ģ����ý President, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; Ģ����ý Foundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; Ģ����ý Foundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; Evan Madden; Paul Madden; Caroline Madden; Jennifer Madden; Reece Scotch; Kelsey Scotch; (front) Ken Madden; Peyton Scotch; Cindy Madden

The Ģ����ý Foundation also honored Ken Madden, the Madden Family, and Madden Industrial Craftsmen, whose partnership with Ģ����ý reflects the powerful connection between education and industry. More than 30 years ago, Ken and his family built a company dedicated to quality and craftsmanship — and along the way, they recognized the strength and preparation of Ģ����ý students entering the trades. That belief turned into action. The Madden family established an endowed scholarship supporting students in the Building Construction Technology program, created an annual scholarship to provide immediate assistance, and has been a steadfast supporter of the Foundation’s signature event and past galas. Together, they have contributed more than $200,000 to Ģ����ý students. Ken’s service has also been extraordinary, including leadership on the Ģ����ý Foundation Board, the Ģ����ý Board of Directors, and as co-chair of The Campaign for Opportunity, which raised more than $46 million to support students and programs across the college.

Both honorees demonstrate what is possible when philanthropy, industry, and education work in partnership. Their investments help students gain real skills, earn family-wage careers, and build stronger futures — for themselves and for our entire community.

The Ģ����ý Foundation celebrates the 2026 Ģ����ý Patron Award recipients and extends its appreciation for their enduring belief in the power of Ģ����ý.

There was no guarantee that I would survive if I left. But, I didn’t see any other option. I was 16-years-old.

I left my family in Saigon and hopped onto the ship with 4,000 other people. They sailed on the ocean for five days with no food and little water. Then the ship started sinking. Luckily, I was rescued.

It was a nightmare for a lot of people. But I was young so for me it was like an adventure. One day I woke up in a hotel in Hong Kong on a clean mattress and soft pillows and thought, “Oh, my dream came true!”

Living under communist rule in war-torn Vietnam was difficult. My dad was a low-level public servant in the government, my mom was the proprietor of a small grocery business. We barely survived the day-to-day and I always dreamt of going to the U.S.

The war made it happen. After Hong Kong, I stayed in a refugee camp in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania before settling in Chicago with a foster family. Eventually, I landed in Portland.

Since arriving, I have worked with youth, families and the community. That’s been more than 30 years now. I survived for a reason. I’m here to make a difference.

Justice for all

At the time of my arrival in the U.S., anti-immigrant sentiment was high. It wasn’t uncommon to hear, “Go back where you came from.” I also saw how other immigrant families were working multiple jobs and still struggling to survive.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do in Portland, but I did know one thing. I had a few hundred dollars in my pocket, a few sets of clothes, no car, no family and no home. I knew at that time education, especially higher education, was the only way to get out and to get better. Ģ����ý provided that opportunity.

At the Sylvania campus, I took English, writing and social science classes. The latter gave me perspective on social justice issues and psychology specifically made me realize I liked working with people. To help pay for my education, I drove migrant workers in a school bus to and from strawberry fields.

I wanted to get a degree as soon as possible. From Ģ����ý, I transferred to George Fox University and got a bachelor’s in management and later a master’s in public administration at Portland State University. While getting a master’s, I raised two kids and worked as a juvenile probation officer at the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice.

I just loved the job. I had the opportunity to work with young people to make a difference in their lives and give them a second chance.

I eventually became a supervisor, helping implement numerous policies that addressed the racial disparity of how minority youth are treated in the criminal justice system. My guiding philosophy was, “If this was my kid, what would I do?” I have always believed that kids could turn their lives around.

Many of them did. When I was in charge, my department reduced the number of kids on probation from 3,000 to 600 at one point. A model site for juvenile justice reform, other programs from all over the country came to learn from them.

Still, I wanted to do more. Many of the kids in the juvenile justice system were also refugees, having a hard time adjusting to a new life and school.

So, I  joined the board of the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). Over a span of 25 years, I founded the Asian Family Center program and helped unite IRCO and other groups in Portland to create the Coalition of Communities of Color. By the time I left, IRCO was one of the top 20 organizations in Oregon.

Passing the torch

Throughout my career, I have been on a mission to debunk the “model minority myth”: the idea that the entire swath of the Asian community has achieved success. One of the problems with the myth is the invisibility that comes with it.

Any stereotype, negative or positive, hurts when you don’t fit into it. There are a lot of Asian students who aren’t doing well. In our community, the gaps are huge. We have the most educated and the most undereducated. The richest, and the poorest.

Twenty years ago, I co-founded APANO out of a desire to bring changemakers together to address these inequities. A grassroots organization with a focus on social justice, APANO organizes and mobilizes the community to create a new generation of leaders, specifically through political advocacy.

I am most proud of how APANO has been able to work with other communities of color―helping pass the minimum wage law in Oregon, for example―to ensure a just and fair community for everyone.

We don’t want to speak for the people. We want to mobilize the people to speak for themselves. We want to help them have a seat at the table.

Nowadays, I still have a seat on the APANO board but I have been enjoying retirement. When I’m not traveling―I visited Vietnam for the first time since leaving almost four decades ago―I spend time with my children and grandchildren doing things like picking strawberries, an irony that’s not lost on me.

Ģ����ý is still a part of my journey. My youngest daughter went to Ģ����ý to begin her journey as a teacher, and I was on the Ģ����ý Foundation Board. I continue to support now as a monthly Future Connect donor. It’s been full circle.

For more information on the Future Connect program visit .

Sylvester began using drugs in high school, which led to jail time and a 20-year pause on life, as he describes it. But once he started treatment, the supportive counselors helped him move forward. He found a nearby Ģ����ý campus and chose to explore a degree in cyber security since he’d always been good at computers.

“At Ģ����ý, I had a math teacher who made me feel like I could do this. An advisor who helped make a plan. More people who cared.”

And soon after, he received a Ģ����ý Foundation Second Chance scholarship. “I never thought I’d be here. Getting a Ģ����ý scholarship gave me more pep in my step and made me feel more powerful. I want to show my kids I can do this.”

This single dad is eager to show his sons, Sylvester and Silas, what is possible with some determination and a little help along the way.

Sylvester Luckett is proof that having someone believe in you can make all the difference.