President's Circle and Those That Inspire Awardees

Murphy Company has operated in the Pacific Northwest for over 100 years. They joined the Lane Community College Foundation President’s Circle in 2007. Their major gifts had a significant impact on the success of the Health and Wellness Building capital campaign. Since then, they have graciously provided funding for Shining Star Scholarships and have been a consistent major sponsor of the Foundation’s annual Harvest Dinner event. Since partnering with the Foundation, the Murphy Company and family have provided over $250,000 for Lane Community College scholarships and programs. We are delighted to honor their generosity, commitment to community, and good works with the President’s Circle Award for Philanthropy.

Meyer Memorial Trust has worked to address issues regarding systemic inequity in Oregon for almost four decades and has provided a number of high impact grants towards Lane Community College programs. Meyer Memorial Trust joined the President’s Circle Foundation in 2008. During their partnership with the Foundation, they have funded grants for the Health and Wellness Building capital campaign, the Center for Learning and Student Success capital campaign, and most recently, a three-year grant supporting Lane’s Rites of Passage Youth Programs, which aim to support and inspire high school and middle school students of color in Lane County and prepare them for success in post-secondary education.

Roger and Robin Best joined the President’s Circle in 2003 and they have been sponsoring scholarships for students at Lane Community College ever since. They have sponsored the Jeanne Anderson Scholarship and the Martha Radic Scholarship since 2003 and established the True North Scholarship and the Best Family Military Scholarship in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Over their 17-year relationship with the Lane Community College Foundation, Roger and Robin have provided scholarships for over 50 deserving students in our local community. We thank them for their enduring generosity and their commitment to student success with the President’s Circle Award for Philanthropy.

Johnson Crushers International (JCI) began donating to the college in 1996 and joined the President’s Circle in 2003. They regularly hire graduates from Lane’s programs and since 2005, they have generously sponsored the Johnson Crushers International Scholarship— with a focus on supporting students in manufacturing technology, fabrication and welding. JCI regularly donates in-kind materials and resources to Lane’s Advanced Technology programs and they have provided support for LCC’s Electric Apprenticeship Program.

The Ford Family Foundation has been a member of the President’s Circle since 2001 and has provided the Florence Leadership Training Grant, the Early Learning Child Care Alliance grant, and most recently a grant for the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network Rural Outreach Program.  Since partnering with the college, they have donated over $750,000 to college programs. We are honored to work with The Ford Family Foundation to promote student success, and we thank them for their enduring generosity.

Paul has lived in Eugene since 1958 and began supporting the college in 1994. In 1999 he became a member of the President’s Circle and has made gifts to the Shining Star Scholarship and Area of Greatest Need. as well as establishing the endowed Loepp Scholarship Fund, which supports students with diverse backgrounds. Since its inception, the Loepp scholarship has provided scholarships for more than 40 students. Paul’s generosity and passion for fostering equitable access to education in our community is greatly appreciated.

Julie and Jim both retired from Lane in 1995, but they continued their commitment to education and to Lane through organizational training in diversity. They also increased their financial support of the Foundation, each establishing scholarship endowments and setting up planned gifts to grow those endowments in the future. Jim’s scholarship supports diversity while Julie’s supports+ survivors of domestic violence.

Jim passed away in November 2016, but his devotion to Lane and to student success will live on each year through his scholarship and the lives that will be impacted by his support. When looking ahead to the future, Julie recognizes the importance of scholarships, knowing their contributions will continue to make a lasting difference for Lane students. “Scholarships provide stability and create a safety net for students. We want them to know that we are going to be here for them.”

For more than 15 years, PeaceHealth Oregon Region has generously provided faculty salary support for Lane’s Nursing Program. President’s Circle members since 2001, and donors to the Foundation since 1996, PeaceHealth has also made significant in-kind donations of medical equipment to help train students, and were major donors to the construction of the Health & Wellness Building.

PeaceHealth also offers clinical placements for students in Lane’s Nursing Program, which offers our students invaluable real-world experience in their relevant work field. Additionally, PeaceHealth is a critical sustainer of Lane’s Medical Office Assistant Program, which trains students to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The Medical Office Assistant Program has an 80% job placement rate in the last five years, and a 100% student satisfaction rate during the same period. PeaceHealth Oregon Region is an invaluable partner to Lane’s Nursing Program and the Health Professions Division which helps to train the medical professionals of tomorrow.

The Tykeson Family Charitable Trust has been a long-time supporter of Lane Community College for more than 30 years. Founded by Don and Willie Tykeson, the Trust has been a member of the President’s Circle since 1999. The Trust played a significant role in supporting the transformation of the college’s Center Building into a 21st-century learning commons at the heart of Lane’s main campus. Additionally, they were the lead donors towards the creation of the Health and Wellness Building. The Trust has also contributed to the LCC Art Gallery and Shining Star Scholarships, and has been a Harvest Dinner sponsor since 2005.

Niles and Mary Ann Hanson’s dedication to the arts, and commitment to alleviating students’ struggles, shines through in all they do. The Hanson’s have been members of the President’s Circle since 1998. They share their passion for music education with 10 students each year through Music Scholarships and a season pass to the Eugene Symphony for inspiration. Niles and Mary Ann view Lane, themselves, and their scholarship recipients as the three legs of a stool, all dependent upon each other for success, and we are thankful for their joyful generosity.

Since 1955, Bi-Mart has supported the communities it serves, with stores throughout the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Bi-Mart has been a member of the President’s Circle since 1999 and has donated over a quarter of million dollars to support deserving LCC Students. Bi-Mart has sponsored Business scholarships, Lane Athletics, Computer Information Sciences, and Diesel Technology. Bi-Mart invests in the education of the local workforce and offer partial tuition reimbursement for employees to continue their educational pursuits.

The Haugland Family focuses on education, healthcare, the arts, women and girls. The Haugland Family Foundation has been a member of the president’s circle since 2001, and since then has given almost $2.5 million to lane community college. They have provided generous scholarships to scores of lane students, and contributed to capital projects such as the Health and Wellness center and, most recently, the center for learning and student success. The Haugland family’s support and commitment to education has had a tremendous impact on student success at Lane.

Doug McKay's profound sense of civic responsibility and dedication to the Lane County community, as well as his commitment to removing barriers to education, are qualities that the College and Foundation truly value.

Doug is a member and manager of McKay Commercial Properties, developing and managing retail, industrial, and office property. He has served on many local boards and currently is a member of the LCC Foundation Board of Trustees.

Doug appreciates the importance of access to higher education and the impact it has on our community. He has been a member of the LCC President's Circle since 2009, and has generously donated to the LCC Foundation since 1987. He is a lead donor to our current campaign for the Center for Learning and Student Success, which will transform learning at the heart of Lane's campus. Doug was instrumental in the success of Lane's Opening Doors campaign with his transformative gift towards construction of our Health and Wellness Center. He is a regular sponsor of the Foundation's Harvest Dinner, and a supporter of the Foundation's Shining Star Scholarships.

Coeta and Donald Barker met right here in Eugene, She was a real estate broker working in Seattle and Eugene. He was an Oregonian and owned Barker Timber Company. They married in 1972 and established the Donald R. Barker Foundation in 1977. When Don passed away in 1980, Coeta continued to support organizations in Oregon through her foundation, renaming it The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation.

One of Coeta's primary causes was health care education, and through her Foundation she aimed to address the nursing shortage long before it became a national public health concern. Although Coeta passed away in 2005, the Barker Foundation continues to honor her commitment to nursing education, in 2010 they established a scholarship endowment for nursing students at LCC. In recent years, the Barker Foundation trustees have expressed interest in expanding their support to include veteran services. This winter, they awarded generous grant to assist in the creation of a veteran-specific student handbook and orientation at Lane Community College.

The Papé Group is a fourth generation family-owned and -operated capital equipment company committed to keeping its customers moving with outstanding equipment and unparalleled customer service. Since it was founded by E.C. Papé in 1938, The Papé Group has grown to meet customer needs in eight Western States, and is among the largest privately-held companies in Oregon.

In 1998, The Papé Group's President and CEO Randy Papé and his wife Susie, established The Papé Endowed Scholarship Fund at Lane Community College, providing scholarships to deserving students preparing for careers in diesel, construction, nursing, or Lane Aviation Academy. Since Randy's passing in 2008, Susie has continued to lead The Papé Group's generous commitment to giving back to the community as The Papé Scholarship Endowment Fund has grown to more than $164,000. In addition to providing scholarships, The Papé Group has enhanced LCC students classroom studies with valuable hands-on experience by providing LCC with equipment for students to study and work on during their time in the program.

Philanthropy is central to The Papé Group's mission. For The Papé Group, philanthropy is a core value, and a commitment to help improve the communities they are located in.

Through the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, Weyerhaeuser has made a significant impact in the communities, like Lane County, in which it has a significant presence. Gifts from the fund are directed by local employees serving on local advisory boards.

Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund's philanthropy is in line with the company's values of working safely, acting with integrity, being responsible stewards of the environment, and giving back to their operating communities. The Fund's focus is on affordable housing and shelter, education and youth development, environmental stewardship, human services, and civic and cultural growth.

Weyerhaeuser has been giving to the Lane Community College Foundation at the President's Circle level since 1975. They have funded business, diversity, and advanced technology scholarships for Lane students. Through these scholarships, Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund has invested in the education of more than ninety students at Lane Community College. They have also made significant contributions to Lane programs including the Theatre, Welding, Computer Information Technology and Culinary and Hospitality programs.

The Guard was first established in 1867 by J.B. Alexander. Alton F. Baker, purchased the paper in 1927, acquired the competing Register and merged the two into today's Register-Guard.

Early in his tenure as publisher, Baker adopted an editorial-page statement of purpose – "A Newspaper Is a Citizen of Its Community" – that remains in place to this day. Since then, The Register-Guard has endeavored to be a community leader, producing news that informs on issues of local interest and editorials that help shape public opinion and discussion of matters of community importance.

The leaders of The Register-Guard are active in the community, supporting worthy events and charitable causes. Through financial contributions and volunteerism, the Baker family has earnestly sought to set an example of good corporate citizenship.

The Register-Guard is a strong supporter of Lane Community College Foundation and has been a member of the Presidents' Circle since 1979. Aside from their multiple scholarships, they are sponsors of the annual Harvest Dinner, contributors to the Health and Wellness Building, and have given to the Culinary Arts Program. Lane is also a participant and beneficiary of the Community Leaders Together program, a group of local businesses and non-profits that have joined together with The Register-Guard and the United Way to encourage volunteerism and philanthropy across Lane County. The Register-Guard has truly been a "Partner in Building a Better Future."

Jane King grew up in the small town of Lithopolis, Ohio. Her childhood passion was reading. The public library was only two doors down from her home, and each week the librarian would put aside new books for Jane so she could read them first.

Jane met her husband, Don, while attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. They married in 1944 and began a family. When their children entered school, Jane decided to go back to college. Her early passion for reading led her to earn a master's degree in remedial and diagnostic education.

Jane and Don moved to Eugene in 1984. Jane's hunger for lifelong learning led her to Lane Community College. In 1990, she enrolled in an intensive, year-long, interdisciplinary program at Lane which blended philosophy, history, writing, and acting.

Jane has been a member of the President's Circle since 1992. In 1999 Jane made a significant contribution which led to the creation of Reading Together, an inclusive, culturally enriching, community building project for students, staff, faculty, and community members.

In 2004, Jane made a generous gift to establish the Jane Stevens King Endowment. Her vision is to promote a sense of community at Lane through innovative and unique educational opportunities for future generations.