In 1970, Mary Slayter was already a role model for young women. She spent a decade earning two college degrees while raising three children, eventually securing a full-time teaching job at Grants Pass High School. Mary believed in the power of education. Which is why, when Rogue Community College opened its doors, Mary wanted in. “I enjoyed teaching at Grants Pass High School, but the... Read more
Rogue Community College (RCC) has been the path to affordable job training and college education for thousands of Southern Oregon residents. As many as 40 percent of them are the first in their families to attend college. The path for these pioneers often starts with earning a high school certification by passing the General Education Development (GED) test. When her three daughters were older, Millie... Read more
The Wiseman Center, home to the Redwood Campus library, is named in honor of Lillian Alicia Wiseman, who lived from 1895 to 1983. In 1973, the retired seamstress gave an anonymous gift of $10,000 to Rogue Community College. She’d never even stepped on campus. She just wanted to help future students. This Jan. 12, 1977 article from the Grants Pass Daily Courier tells her inspiring... Read more
In 1969, three people sat around a table with an idea—to transform the old Fort Vannoy Job Corps campus into a bustling center of higher education. Community leaders Bill Ford, Marjorie Holzgang and newcomer Phil Nelson—a local attorney, the youngest of the group—are credited today for founding Rogue Community College, a staple of Rogue Valley culture and opportunity. But imagine fifty years ago, when Jackson... Read more
By John Miles, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator Good day, everyone! While COVID-19 has affected everyone’s life in some way, some things are still moving forward. The good and exciting news is that the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program at RCC is working to make the campuses safer for students and employees, as well as more environmentally friendly. Since there is much confusion on what IPM... Read more
On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, 2020, TP Trucking unveiled a new truck design created by Rogue Community College student Wrenn Arbouin. Arbouin’s winning design was chosen from dozens of other designs submitted by students in RCC’s Design & Digital Media program. TP Trucking, a short and long haul trucking company based in Central Point, created the design contest as part of its campaign to honor and support... Read more
The $21.25 million Health Professions Center on the RCC Table Rock Campus will provide a pathway for local students to get into high-paying career jobs and fill a great need for health care workers in the Rogue Valley. This 35,648-square-foot teaching facility features the newest in health care training technology, and is home to all RCC clinical health care programs including nursing, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy and medical and dental assisting. Due to the Covid-19... Read more
Does every vote really count? Phil Nelson, from his personal experience, gives an emphatic, “Yes!” It was 1968 when Nelson, a Grants Pass local, heard Marjorie Holzgang give a talk at North’s Chuck Wagon. The topic: create a community college. He was sold. Soon after, Bill Ford—who would later be a county commissioner—joined the effort. These three “founders” worked tirelessly to createRogue Community College. “We... Read more
Rogue Community College is proud to announce Lynn Eccleston as the 2020 recipient of the RCC Outstanding Citizen Award for distinguished service to the college and community. Eccleston was recognized during the RCC Commencement on June 13. Eccleston is principal of New Bridge High School in Grants Pass. This unique school is a partnership between the Three Rivers School District and Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility, run... Read more
Ted Wise is a skilled Intensive Care nurse at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. With an associate degree in nursing from RCC, he not only got a job offer before graduation but is also on track to continue working toward his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. He has big plans for his career. But those plans weren’t always so clear. More than a decade... Read more