The annual 小黄猫传媒 Patron Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose sustained commitment to education transforms lives. This year鈥檚 honorees embody that spirit in powerful and lasting ways.

From left: 小黄猫传媒 President, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; 小黄猫传媒 Foundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; 小黄猫传媒 Foundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; Jeff Rippey; Robin Holman, Melissa Rippey, Doug Holman

The James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation, represented at the event by Jeff Rippey, has invested in Oregon students for decades with a clear and steady purpose: to support youth services and education. A partner of 小黄猫传媒 for more than 15 years, the Foundation has committed more than $1.2 million to the college since 2010, with a strong focus on Career Pathways and scholarships for students pursuing career technical education. Most recently, a $450,000 grant to 小黄猫传媒鈥檚 Pathways to Opportunity initiative is strengthening the combination of skills training and wraparound supports that help students not only enroll, but persist, complete, and thrive. Guided by integrity, long-term thinking, and a deep belief in opportunity, the Foundation鈥檚 investments create impact that extends far beyond any single student.

From left: 小黄猫传媒 President, Dr. Adrien L. Bennings; 小黄猫传媒 Foundation Board of Trustees President, Jans Dykhouse; 小黄猫传媒 Foundation Executive Director, Christina Kline; Evan Madden; Paul Madden; Caroline Madden; Jennifer Madden; Reece Scotch; Kelsey Scotch; (front) Ken Madden; Peyton Scotch; Cindy Madden

The 小黄猫传媒 Foundation also honored Ken Madden, the Madden Family, and Madden Industrial Craftsmen, whose partnership with 小黄猫传媒 reflects the powerful connection between education and industry. More than 30 years ago, Ken and his family built a company dedicated to quality and craftsmanship 鈥� and along the way, they recognized the strength and preparation of 小黄猫传媒 students entering the trades. That belief turned into action. The Madden family established an endowed scholarship supporting students in the Building Construction Technology program, created an annual scholarship to provide immediate assistance, and has been a steadfast supporter of the Foundation鈥檚 signature event and past galas. Together, they have contributed more than $200,000 to 小黄猫传媒 students. Ken鈥檚 service has also been extraordinary, including leadership on the 小黄猫传媒 Foundation Board, the 小黄猫传媒 Board of Directors, and as co-chair of The Campaign for Opportunity, which raised more than $46 million to support students and programs across the college.

Both honorees demonstrate what is possible when philanthropy, industry, and education work in partnership. Their investments help students gain real skills, earn family-wage careers, and build stronger futures 鈥� for themselves and for our entire community.

The 小黄猫传媒 Foundation celebrates the 2026 小黄猫传媒 Patron Award recipients and extends its appreciation for their enduring belief in the power of 小黄猫传媒.

Wendy Wright (foreground) with (from left) Foundation鈥檚 Christina Kline, 小黄猫传媒 Dean Josh Coleman, Horizon Air鈥檚 Archie Vega and Aviation Maintenance Faculty Tom Laxson.

That鈥檚 a wrap! Literally.

小黄猫传媒 has taken to the skies in style with the debut of a brand-new livery on its Bombardier Q400 aircraft, just in time for the Oregon International Air Show. But this isn鈥檛 just any plane. This is聽the聽training aircraft for students in 小黄猫传媒鈥檚聽Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program鈥攇ifted by Horizon Air and transformed by alumna and聽小黄猫传媒 Foundation聽senior graphic designer Wendy Wright.

What started as a commercial aircraft crisscrossing the Pacific Northwest skies is now a bold, branded beacon of hands-on education, strategic partnerships, and some serious graphic design magic.

A Plane, A Vision, A 小黄猫传媒 Dream

When Horizon Air donated the retired Q400 to 小黄猫传媒 in 2022, it wasn鈥檛 just donating a plane鈥攊t was giving students a flying classroom. Stationed at the Hillsboro Airport, the Q400 will now serve as a real-world training ground for tomorrow鈥檚 aviation maintenance professionals. And thanks to Wright, it鈥檚 looking sharp while doing it.

Visitors to the Oregon International Air Show on May 17-18 will have the chance to tour the newly wrapped aircraft, hosted by both 小黄猫传媒 and Horizon Air. And while the gleaming blue tail and sleek fuselage design will no doubt steal the spotlight, it鈥檚 the story聽behind聽the wrap that truly soars.

Designer, Project Manager, Weather Watcher

Wendy Wright didn鈥檛 just design the wrap鈥攕he聽lived听颈迟.

From her first sketches in June to the final vinyl installation in May, Wright juggled multiple hats: designer, project manager, partner liaison, and logistics wizard. Altogether, she clocked more than 150 hours on the project, often navigating a tricky blend of creative challenges, weather constraints (vinyl doesn鈥檛 do well with rain, hot, or cold), and scheduling puzzles.

鈥淭his wasn鈥檛 just an ordinary print job,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was like solving a giant, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle鈥攚ith wings.鈥�

Wright鈥檚 design journey was no straight line. The Q400 still bore visible remnants of its Alaska/Horizon branding, and because 小黄猫传媒 chose a partial wrap to save costs, Wright needed to cleverly camouflage those marks without sacrificing visual impact. Add in the challenge of aligning 小黄猫传媒鈥檚 turquoise branding with the plane鈥檚 existing color striping, and suddenly, this wasn鈥檛 just a design job鈥攊t was an exercise in problem-solving on a massive scale.

Inspiration: Mechanical Meets Modern

Wright wanted the final livery to reflect both complexity and simplicity, echoing the hands-on precision of aviation maintenance without overwhelming the eye. Her final design featured a mechanical-inspired texture, clean lines, and a bold 鈥淎viation Maintenance鈥� headline alongside the 小黄猫传媒 logo and iconic diamond.

鈥淚 knew I wanted the diamond on the tail from the beginning,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t gives us visibility, recognition, and pride.鈥�

To integrate 小黄猫传媒鈥檚 signature turquoise in harmony with the existing striping, she created a gradient from navy (小黄猫传媒鈥檚 darker brand color) at the base to turquoise at the top. The result is both subtle and striking鈥攐ne that wraps seamlessly around the aircraft and avoids the dreaded 鈥渨hite mohawk鈥� that sometimes mars unfinished top panels.

She even considered placing 鈥減cc.edu/aviation鈥� on the top of the plane for aerial visibility, but after examining the clutter of rooftop hardware and antennas, she opted to keep it sleek and streamlined.

Mission Accomplished

So, what does Wright think of the final product?

鈥淟OVE IT!鈥� she says, with a smile that needs no gradient.

She credits the installation team at Premier Press for their flawless execution, as well as the collaborative spirit of the project鈥攆rom the 小黄猫传媒 Foundation and Aviation Maintenance team to Horizon Air and everyone in between.

鈥淭his plane is more than just a tool for one program,鈥� Wright said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a gift to the whole college. It keeps 小黄猫传媒 front and center, both visually and symbolically.鈥�

And for Wright, a graduate of 小黄猫传媒鈥檚 Graphic Design Program, this was a full-circle moment.

鈥淭o be able to give back to the college that gave me so much鈥攖hat鈥檚 what this means to me. It鈥檚 my way of paying it forward.鈥�