Chemeketa Voices

A Tale of Two Students

It was the best of times it was the worst of times.

Bethany Schott "ruled the school." National Honors Society member, student body president, prom princess and academic All-Star are just a few of her bona fides.

"I was in everything. I went from school to work and then back to school," said Schott.

Cassondra Pittman wanted out. Despite her 4.0 grade point average, she wasn't feeling challenged by the course work in high school and yearned for bigger places.

"I wanted to graduate early, but (the powers that be) wouldn't let me," said Pittman.

Both attended Gervais High School, both found a new home at Chemeketa Community College. After her whirlwind high school career, Schott wasn’t certain where to go next.

"I got a lot of scholarship offers because of the academic All-Star status, but it was like $2,000 on a $20,000 tuition. Chemeketa offered me a full ride for as many courses as I wanted to take," she said.

Meanwhile, Pittman's efforts to graduate early finally paid off when high school administrators relented. She had to continue taking courses through Chemeketa as a condition of her release.

"But the day they told me was the last day to register," said Pittman.

Never one to be told she couldn't do something; Pittman hopped in her car and drove to the Salem campus where she met a counselor who got her enrolled in an online course and an evening course.

Schott said Chemeketa bought her time to decide what she wanted to do with the rest of her college career. "I got to take all the elective courses I wanted and work on all the basic courses that are pretty much the same no matter where you’re going to school," Schott said.

Chemeketa challenged Pittman and granted her the freedom she so sorely desired.

"My professors at Chemeketa finally got me interested in what was being taught," she said. "Even math. I was the kind of student who cried when she had to do math homework."

Free from the high school schedule, she jumped at the chance to study at the University of Southampton in England last summer. When she learned that her degree wouldn't transfer to the OSU dental program, she returned to Chemeketa.

"But even while I was there I missed Chemeketa. (Southampton) was so much less personal," said Pittman.

The personal touch and the people around the Chemeketa campus has been a defining characteristic of both their experiences.

"The first thing that I noticed was the diversity in the classes. I'd never had friends that were 45," said Pittman. "It was like coming into a family zone."

The same day Schott visited the campus to accept her scholarship she was hired as a student ambassador. "I've always felt the best way to be connected to your school is to have a job there or join a club. I've been able to meet a ton of people through my work as an ambassador and there isn't one I don't like," she said.

Schott also garnered instant fame as the cover model for one of Chemeketa's class schedules. She plans on transferring to Southeastern University of Florida upon completion of her transfer degree.

Pittman transferred to Oregon State University this fall, but she's kept her roots in the Chemeketa campus. She's taking an online course and working with the marketing and student recruitment to visit high schools and tell her story.

By Eric A. Howald (With apologies to Mr. Dickens.) Have a great Chemeketa story? Send us an e-mail.

Updated October 2, 2007 by Marketing and Student Recruitment.