Meet Your SOAR Team Leaders

Elsie Alexander

Name: Elsie Alexander
Hometown: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Major: Music
Why I Chose MHCC: I chose Mt. Hood Community College because it was close to home and my family. It was a more affordable option while still having all the classes and community that I was looking for in a school. My mom also attended MHCC and only had wonderful things to say about the professors and quality of classes.
Why I Chose SOAR Team: I chose to join the SOAR team because I wanted to be able to help students from all backgrounds have the chance to get their continued education. I think that everyone should be able to have the opportunity to get an education, no matter where they came from. I did not have much help in applying to colleges and I felt alone with figuring out what I wanted to do with my education, and I don’t want others to feel that way.
Hobbies: I enjoy hiking, crocheting, listening to music, cooking, and playing my basses.

Samuel Barajas Alverez

Name: Samuel Barajas Alverez
Hometown: Gresham, Oregon
Major: General study
Why I Chose MHCC: I chose MHCC because it’s very close to me and it’s affordable
Why I Chose SOAR Team: I choose SOAR Team because it will help me develop my leadership skills and meet new people.
What additional languages you speak: Spanish and English.
Hobbies: I love doing photography and videography.

Le'ah Murphy

Name: Le'ah Murphy
Hometown: Marshall Islands
Major: Pre-Chiropractic
Why I chose MHCC: MHCC was highly recommended, is located nearby, and is affordable.
Why I chose SOAR Team: The opportunity to expand and hone leadership skills while networking and making connections with the community is a meaningful and fulfilling experience that I believe is essential to my learning and professional development.
What additional languages you speak: Chamorro and English
Hobbies:  I lift, swim, hike, and read.

Widenslo Jeune

Name: Widenslo Jeune
County of birth: Haïti
Major: Pre-Law
Why I chose Mhcc: I choose MHCC because my father was there, and when I first arrive to the United States when I asked him about school the first he said was Mount Hood Community College. I had no choice at this time, but I never expected that I was going to feel so comfortable in this school. With all the amazing and kind persons who works for the MHCC I didn’t take a long time to get familiar with the college, also I wanted to give my contribution to help this amazing community with my language skills and my experience working in collaboration with different kinds of people.
Why SOAR Team: I decided to work for the SOAR team because of this part of the campus can be connected with a big part of my personality. Because I’m someone who can easily socialize with people and I also speak different languages like {Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, and now English}. I wanted to be connected with people, to do something fun and interesting at MHCC and the SOAR was the first opened door to me.
Hobbies: I love to spend time reading books related to politics and governance I also love to watch the News, but my favorite hobby is playing soccer.

Paige Lindquist

Name: Paige Lindquist
Hometown: Sandy, Oregon
Major: I am studying business
Why I chose MHCC: because it's affordable and close with great options
Why I chose SOAR Team: because I thought it would be a good way to get to know the college and the people that work here
What additional languages do you speak: I speak a little bit of Spanish, not much but I can read Spanish better than speaking it
Hobbies: I like to bake goods, paint, draw, and spend my free time with friends!

Jack Twist

Name: Jack Twist
Hometown: Estacada, Oregon
Major: Computer Game Development
Why I Chose MHCC: I chose MHCC because of their selection of computer/tech classes, and because of their partnership with my high school - because of that partnership, I was able to complete my first year at MHCC for free as a high school senior.
Why I Chose SOAR: I chose to work for the SOAR team to expand my public speaking skills, help others, get some more experience around campus, and frankly, save some money on classes.
Languages: I speak fluent English and have some basic Spanish abilities – I am not fluent.
Hobbies: One of my greatest joys in life is music. I am almost always listening to music, and I play guitar frequently. I am also a bit of a computer nerd – I spend a lot of free time gaming or developing mods for some of the games I play.

Jasmin Reyes Rivera

Name: Jasmin Reyes Rivera
Hometown: Gresham, Oregon
Major: Pre-Veterinary Transfer
Why I Chose MHCC: MHCC is close to home and I can get my studies to transfer to a bigger university.
Why I Chose SOAR: I chose to work for the SOAR team to expand my public speaking skills, help others, get some more experience around campus, and frankly, save some money on classes.
Languages: English & Spanish
Hobbies: I love my farm animals, I enjoy music, and getting to go out and explore new places.

Stephani Ortiz

Name: Stephani Ortiz
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Major: Criminal Justice
Why I Chose MHCC: Since the start, the people here have been very helpful, kind, and inviting. It was a school where I could feel truly supported.
Why I Chose SOAR: I was recommended to join, and I have loved it here. The people around me are very kind and have created a safe space to work.
Languages: English & Spanish
Hobbies: My recent hobby has been creating ceramics.

Kalayha Johnson

Name: Kalayha Johnson
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Major: Criminal Justice
Why I Chose MHCC: MHCC was the closest to my house and is the most affordable for me. I also had a few friends who were enrolled here and mentioned great things about it.
Why I Chose SOAR Team: I chose to be part of the soar team to be a leader and to connect with other students with different experiences and backgrounds.
Languages: I do know a little bit of Spanish and can understand most of it.
Hobbies: I enjoy visiting nature, hanging out with friends and family, roller skating, and going on drives.

Kalayha Johnson

Name: Kobin Ingoglia
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Major: Engineering Transfer
Why I Chose MHCC: Attending MHCC is a great first step toward completing a college degree debt free and allows me to save money, while still being able to work outside of school.
Why I Chose SOAR Team: Being part of the SOAR team allows me meet a lot of great people and gain leadership experience
Languages: Spanish
Hobbies: Snowboarding, hiking, music

Melany Ingoglia

Name: Melany Ingoglia
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Major: Microbiology
Why I Chose MHCC: MHCC was close to my home, has a lot of great classes.
Why I Chose SOAR Team: The SOAR team was a way for me to meet new people, help other students, and be more involved with MHCC.
Languages: Spanish
Hobbies: Ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, crocheting, playing guitar, and reading.