Second-year students Anthony Pedro and Joseph Gregoire won the OR AFS Student Scholarship Award for Associate Degree and the top student poster prize, respectively. 

Pedro plans to work at a state fish hatchery after graduating this June.

“This scholarship will help me achieve my career goals by taking some of the financial burden of college off my shoulders and allowing me to spend the next few months focused on my studies,” he said. “I think one of the toughest parts of going back to school is sacrificing your time and ability to earn money while you take classes.”

“I think my greatest accomplishment is taking a chance and returning to school as an adult,” added Pedro. “I now get to work with wildlife, which is something that I’ve always wanted to do.”

Gregoire, who won the top prize in the judged poster contest, competed against Oregon students from four-year and graduate programs. His poster provides an overview of what he learned in MHCC’s Fisheries Technology program and how this training will support his new career.

“Part of my goal was to create something effective, that read as a resume for prospective employers,” Gregoire said. “I took inspiration from the Fisheries Technology program brochure and collaborated with my fellow students and MHCC staff and faculty to gather data and design something informative and unique.”

Interested in a new career working with wildlife? Visit mhcc.edu/Fisheries to learn more.