Mt. Hood Community College Adjunct Instructor, Inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Hall of Fame

Jason Hairston, an Mt. Hood Community College instructor for more than 20 years, was recently inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Hall of Fame for his significant achievements as a baseball player. Hairston’s induction was earned not only for his athletic performance and success but also for his dedication as a mentor and instructor. Hairston has inspired countless students through his former Monday Night Basketball class and his current Applied Cross-Training (ACT) class.

Hairston was a key figure in the PIL in the early '90s, attending both Grant and Jefferson high schools, where he excelled in both baseball and football. He was a three-year letterman in baseball and a two-year letterman in football. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles as a senior in high school but chose to attend Washington State University on a full-ride scholarship to pursue his degree.

After college, Hairston was drafted in 1997 by the Atlanta Braves in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. Additionally, Hairston was selected as an alternate for the 1995 Olympic baseball team. He humbly credits much of his success to his teammates, coaches, and family, who helped guide him toward reaching his full potential in athletics.

Jason and his family have a long and successful legacy in baseball, with his great-grandfather, Sam Hairston, playing for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1944, a Negro Leagues team. "Some people aspire to be like Michael Jordan or Barry Bonds, but I really aspired to be relevant and be someone who was really admired by my own family, because that's how much I looked up to them," Hairston said when asked about what motivated him.

His father, Johnny Hairston, an elementary school teacher and instructor at MHCC, introduced him to the world of sports, where he learned valuable lessons about work ethic, discipline, and teamwork. Johnny started teaching the Monday Night Basketball class in 1976, and Jason took over as the instructor in 2001. Hairston and his brother spent much of their childhood on the MHCC campus with Johnny, tagging along to watch and participate in class. "I developed a lot of skills in this particular gym," he recalled, attributing much of his early athletic development to his time in the MHCC gymnasium and baseball field.

In Hairston’s ACT class, he helps his students reach their personal fitness goals by creating customized workout plans and teaching them the proper techniques required to ensure the best physical results. When Hairston is not on campus teaching his students, he works for the Bonneville Power Administration, where he helps provide reliable energy to the Pacific Northwest.

Hairston’s fellow instructor and fellow PIL Hall of Famer, Gabe Sandy, said, "Congratulations to my man, Jason Hairston. Everybody who knows baseball, especially in NE Portland, knows how great Jason and his family are and the contributions they have made in sports and education. I am super honored to work with him and I couldn’t be happier to see him get his recognition."

Hairston’s induction into the PIL Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication and achievements, not only in baseball but also in his commitment to his community, family, and students at MHCC.

"Jason Hairston's induction into the PIL Hall of Fame is a well-deserved honor that reflects not only his incredible athletic achievements but also his unwavering commitment to inspiring and mentoring others," said Kim Hyatt, MHCC athletic director. "Jason exemplifies the values of hard work, leadership, and community, and we are so proud to have him as part of the MHCC family.

Through his athletic success from high school to the MLB, dedication to education, and strong family and community values, Hairston has become a role model for his students and fellow faculty members on and off the field.