The annual PCC 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: PCC President, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; PCC Foundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; PCC 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 PCC 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 PCC’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: PCC President, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; PCC Foundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; PCC 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 PCC Foundation also honored Ken Madden, the Madden Family, and Madden Industrial Craftsmen, whose partnership with PCC 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 PCC 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 PCC students. Ken’s service has also been extraordinary, including leadership on the PCC Foundation Board, the PCC 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 PCC Foundation celebrates the 2026 PCC Patron Award recipients and extends its appreciation for their enduring belief in the power of ˿����Ƶ.

Wendy Wright (foreground) with (from left) Foundation’s Christina Kline, PCC Dean Josh Coleman, Horizon Air’s Archie Vega and Aviation Maintenance Faculty Tom Laxson.

That’s a wrap! Literally.

˿����Ƶ has taken to the skies in style with the debut of a brand-new livery on its Bombardier Q400 aircraft, just in time for the Oregon International Air Show. But this isn’t just any plane. This is the training aircraft for students in PCC’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program—gifted by Horizon Air and transformed by alumna and PCC Foundation senior graphic designer Wendy Wright.

What started as a commercial aircraft crisscrossing the Pacific Northwest skies is now a bold, branded beacon of hands-on education, strategic partnerships, and some serious graphic design magic.

A Plane, A Vision, A PCC Dream

When Horizon Air donated the retired Q400 to PCC in 2022, it wasn’t just donating a plane—it was giving students a flying classroom. Stationed at the Hillsboro Airport, the Q400 will now serve as a real-world training ground for tomorrow’s aviation maintenance professionals. And thanks to Wright, it’s looking sharp while doing it.

Visitors to the Oregon International Air Show on May 17-18 will have the chance to tour the newly wrapped aircraft, hosted by both PCC and Horizon Air. And while the gleaming blue tail and sleek fuselage design will no doubt steal the spotlight, it’s the story behind the wrap that truly soars.

Designer, Project Manager, Weather Watcher

Wendy Wright didn’t just design the wrap—she lived������.

From her first sketches in June to the final vinyl installation in May, Wright juggled multiple hats: designer, project manager, partner liaison, and logistics wizard. Altogether, she clocked more than 150 hours on the project, often navigating a tricky blend of creative challenges, weather constraints (vinyl doesn’t do well with rain, hot, or cold), and scheduling puzzles.

“This wasn’t just an ordinary print job,” she said. “It was like solving a giant, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle—with wings.”

Wright’s design journey was no straight line. The Q400 still bore visible remnants of its Alaska/Horizon branding, and because PCC chose a partial wrap to save costs, Wright needed to cleverly camouflage those marks without sacrificing visual impact. Add in the challenge of aligning PCC’s turquoise branding with the plane’s existing color striping, and suddenly, this wasn’t just a design job—it was an exercise in problem-solving on a massive scale.

Inspiration: Mechanical Meets Modern

Wright wanted the final livery to reflect both complexity and simplicity, echoing the hands-on precision of aviation maintenance without overwhelming the eye. Her final design featured a mechanical-inspired texture, clean lines, and a bold “Aviation Maintenance” headline alongside the PCC logo and iconic diamond.

“I knew I wanted the diamond on the tail from the beginning,” she said. “It gives us visibility, recognition, and pride.”

To integrate PCC’s signature turquoise in harmony with the existing striping, she created a gradient from navy (PCC’s darker brand color) at the base to turquoise at the top. The result is both subtle and striking—one that wraps seamlessly around the aircraft and avoids the dreaded “white mohawk” that sometimes mars unfinished top panels.

She even considered placing “pcc.edu/aviation” on the top of the plane for aerial visibility, but after examining the clutter of rooftop hardware and antennas, she opted to keep it sleek and streamlined.

Mission Accomplished

So, what does Wright think of the final product?

“LOVE IT!” she says, with a smile that needs no gradient.

She credits the installation team at Premier Press for their flawless execution, as well as the collaborative spirit of the project—from the PCC Foundation and Aviation Maintenance team to Horizon Air and everyone in between.

“This plane is more than just a tool for one program,” Wright said. “It’s a gift to the whole college. It keeps PCC front and center, both visually and symbolically.”

And for Wright, a graduate of PCC’s Graphic Design Program, this was a full-circle moment.

“To be able to give back to the college that gave me so much—that’s what this means to me. It’s my way of paying it forward.”