Resourceful MHCC Graduates Complete Visitors Center for Bonneville Fish Hatchery

Creating life-size fiberglass models of fish for display purposes isn’t that difficult, but finding someone who can create the perfect fiberglass fish egg is more of a challenge. At least that’s what two Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Fisheries Technology graduates discovered while working on an ambitious senior project — a project they spent an additional two years of their own time to complete after graduating college.

Three years ago, Jessie Elmore and Jenni Remillard were in their senior year of the MHCC Fisheries Technology program. As part of the program, they received college credit while working as guides for the Bonneville Fish Hatchery. They wondered why there was no visitors center to better illustrate the purpose of the hatchery.

They learned there used to be a visitors center but it was dismantled years before due to the high cost of the upgrades needed to meet accessibility standards.

“Jessie and I decided that for our senior project we would design a center. We applied for grants, asked for donations and found sponsors,” Remillard said. “Once we started, everything fell into place. The wheelchair lift was the most expensive piece, but we raised enough money to cover it.”

Their vision for the center included a display of the life cycle of the salmon, from egg to adulthood. They found a university in Michigan to create the adult fish, a company in Missouri to create the young fish, but all attempts at replicating salmon eggs were failures.

Display of salmon created by two MHCC alumni for the Bonneville Fish Hatchery Visitors Center.

“Neither company could create a scale model that would retain its shape,” Elmore said. “We finally thought to contact a company in Japan that makes plastic sushi displays for restaurants. The eggs were perfect.”

Elmore did the research and wrote the narrative for the displays, including a 100-year history of the hatchery, an overview of the work done at the hatchery and many other educational pieces.

“We are especially proud of how the fiberglass salmon display turned out,” said Remillard. “Someone donated their time and expertise to add fiber-optic lights to the exhibit to light up each stage of the fish life cycle.”

Through donations, grants, volunteer labor and the determination of Elmore and Remillard, the Bonneville Fish Hatchery Visitors Center grand opening was celebrated on Sept. 7, 2009.

“It is phenomenal what they accomplished,” said Tom Worcester, Fisheries Technology instructor. “This is a perfect example of why the work experience component of the program is so valuable. Jennie and Jessie learned how to network with individuals in the industry, find funding sources and build a long-lasting educational experience for visitors to the hatchery.“

Both alumni are taking what they learned from the MHCC Fisheries Technology program and from this experience to continue their studies to pursue bachelor’s degrees. They both agree that sharing their knowledge will always play an important part in their future careers.

After graduating from the Fisheries Technology program, Remillard transferred to Portland State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and Elmore is about to graduate from Oregon State University with a degree in marine biology.

For information about the Fisheries Technology program contact Tom Worcester at
503-491-7330 or e-mail Tom.Worcester@mhcc.edu.

MHCC Fisheries Technology ‘06 graduates Jenni Remillard (left) and Jessie Elmore at the grand opening of the visitors center they built at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery.