News

OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook was named a recipient of the 2025 Howard Cherry Award by the Oregon Community College Association. The honor, presented annually, recognizes exceptional leadership and advocacy on behalf of Oregon’s community colleges and students. 

 

Cook, who has served as president of Clackamas Community College since 2018, was honored at the Howard Cherry Awards Banquet on Nov. 6 in Hood River. The award acknowledges his decades-long commitment to equity, student success and community impact throughout his 30-plus years in higher education. 

 

“I am deeply honored to receive the Howard Cherry Award,” Cook said. “At Clackamas Community College, our students come first. Every day our faculty, staff and partners work to create opportunities for those who may not have had them otherwise. I share this recognition with them, and with the community that supports our work.” 

 

This summer, Cook gained statewide and national attention for his Running for Oregon Community College Students campaign, during which he ran more than 1,400 miles over 53 days to all 17 of Oregon’s community colleges. The campaign raised over $177,000 for student basic needs and brought visibility to the daily struggles many students face while pursuing their education. 

 

“In a time when too many challenges feel too big, President Cook has shown us what it looks like to step up and act. He put in the miles, literally, to make a difference. And in doing so, he’s reminding all of us of what leadership really means,” U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden wrote in a letter of support. 

 

“President Cook is not just an advocate for student success — he is a champion for equity, wellness and community connection,” Lisa Steenson, executive director of Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine, wrote in a letter of recommendation. “His leadership helps break down the barriers that often stand between individuals and their potential.” 

 

The Howard Cherry Award is named for the late Dr. Howard Cherry, a lifelong advocate for education and community service. Presented annually by the Oregon Community College Association, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to the state’s community colleges in three categories: citizen, board member and administrator.