Pacific Named Organization of Year by Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce

By 
Joe Lang

The Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce has named Pacific University its 2013 Organization of the Year.

The honor recognizes a not-for-profit organization that has provided leadership for the Hillsboro community by making a significant contribution of time, skills and resources toward the improvement of its populace.

President Lesley Hallick will receive the accolade on behalf of the university at the chamber's annual awards banquet on Thursday, May 23.

The award is a reflection of the tireless work by hundreds of Pacific University students, faculty members, staff, engaged alumni and university trustees, and underscores their commitment to a deep level of civic engagement.

  • Pacific's College of Health Professions has resided in downtown Hillsboro since 2006 with the opening of the first of two buildings in what is now the city's Health & Education District.
  • Additionally since 2006, one of several vision clinics operated by College of Optometry has provided services to the public from the Hillsboro campus. The college also operates a mobile eye clinic that provides complimentary vision screenings throughout the city and beyond. 
  • Schools within the College of Health Professions also operate outpatient clinics in the areas of dental hygiene, diabetes (jointly with Optometry), hearing, physical therapy and psychology. The clinics provide services in both English and Spanish, and offer reduced or no-fee services for underserved and low-income populations. 
  • The College of Education and Hillsboro School District collaborate on student-teaching opportunities that benefit future educators, current teachers and K-12 students.
  • Additionally, students, faculty and staff representing many schools and departments of Pacific University annually contribute thousands of hours of community service. 
  • All first-year health professions and speech-language pathology (College of Education) students spend a semester providing community service as part of required course. 
  • School of Dental Health Science students, faculty and staff annually provide complimentary dental hygiene services to low-income children and homeless people, respectively, through the Give Kids A Smile and Project Homeless Connect initiatives. 
  • They also provide dental hygiene services and education workshops to residents of the Cornell Estates retirement home. 
  • The Office of Diversity and School of Professional Psychology recently coordinated a community forum for Latino residents living in the Hillsboro area. 
  • The many hours of volunteer service in Hillsboro is reflected in the university annually being named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. 
  • Pacific University has developed strong partnerships with the City of Hillsboro, Tuality Healthcare and the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center and others within the city. 
  • Virginia Garcia operates a clinic and pharmacy at the College of Health Professions. 
  • Tuality provides Pacific students with clinical opportunities under the supervision of licensed professionals. 
  • The university joined Tuality and the City of Hillsboro in financing a state-of-the art Intermodal Transit Facility, which is largely powered by solar energy and features five stories of shared-use parking, electric vehicle charging stations and shower and locker facilities for bicycle commuters.
  • Pacific's mobile vision clinic, the I-VAN, and College of Health Professions staff annually provide services and education at the city's annual Celebrate Hillsboro festival.

Tickets to the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet may be obtained directly from the chamber. For more information, call 503-648-1102 or visit hillchamber.org.

Friday, May 3, 2013