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ROCCS! comes to KCC

Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook, center, chats with Klamath Community College students Johan Murillo and Caitlyn Lawrence, while his wife, Paddy, films it for a social media post on Monday, July 7. Dr. Cook is running 1,500 miles across Oregon, visiting 17 community colleges as a fundraiser for students in need.
KCC staff
Jul 09, 2025
  • Academic
  • Community
  • Student Success Story

1,500 miles, 17 colleges, 50 days, 1 goal

Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook found a new way to spend his summer vacation —  visit each community college campus on foot … running to each of them, that is.

As a seasoned marathon runner, Dr. Cook plans to run to all 17 community college campuses in the state of Oregon.

Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook, center, chats with Klamath Community College students Johan Murillo and Caitlyn Lawrence, while his wife, Paddy, films it for a social media post on Monday, July 7. Dr. Cook is running 1,500 miles across Oregon, visiting 17 community colleges as a fundraiser for students in need.
Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook, center, chats with Klamath Community College students Johan Murillo and Caitlyn Lawrence, while his wife, Paddy, films it for a social media post on Monday, July 7.Dr. Cook is running 1,500 miles across Oregon, visiting 17 community collegesas a fundraiser for students in need.
 

 

He arrived at Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls this past weekend —  his fourth stop and Day 22 on the road — after running along Highway 97 from Bend’s Central Oregon Community College. This week, he’s off to Rogue Community College in Grants Pass and then heads out to the coast.

He hopes to complete the journey in early August with a well-deserved dip in the Columbia River near The Gorge. He hopes to cover 1,500 miles in more than 50 days, averaging 32 miles a day.

President Cook is trying to raise awareness about the challenges faced by college students today, such as housing, food insecurity, transportation needs. He’s also advocating for increased state funding to support their basic needs and encourages the public to contact their local legislators to support the effort.

Klamath Community College staff sign the banner for Running for Community College Students or ROCCS! Campaign, Monday at KCC.

He is seeking the public’s support for the cause as well. The goal is to raise money for students in need at each of the colleges. He’s closing in on $70k as of this week.

“President Cook is a longtime colleague,” KCC President Dr. Roberto Gutierrez said. “He always puts students first. This is a tremendous effort on his part to help our college-going students.”

A Sprinter Van donated for the cause is home to the Cook family as they travel the state seeking to raise money for community college students.

“Crazy as it sounds, I thought I would do something for students who are struggling to make ends meet,” Dr. Cook said Monday before departing KCC. “With approximately 200,000 students, community colleges make up 52% of all public and private higher education enrollment in the state. Many of these students face serious obstacles, including food and housing insecurity, lack of child care, and transportation barriers.”

All of the money raised will go directly back to students.

His wife, Paddy, a retired teacher, and family members are accompanying him along the way, guiding his route, warning drivers there is a runner up ahead, and keeping him hydrated and motivated.

He is writing a blog and may produce a book of his journey that he hopes will benefit the students, too.

“You have a lot of time to think out on the road. Especially during the run between Ontario and Pendleton, where there were no trees and plenty of wind,” he joked.

One can follow his progress on Instagram at @run4orccstudents or #Run4OrCCStudents.

To donate online, go to run4orccstudents.org.