Benson Polytechnic High School Alumni Association

“The Best Technical High School……..”

2010-06-13T11:47:09-08:00

In 1957 Sputnik 1 was launched into space and the ‘space race’ was on. As a young boy I will never forget how exciting it was to see an orbiting satellite. My career path was set .... electronics and communication technology was the field I wanted to pursue.

While in the 8th grade, I was to make a high school choice. Would I attend an average neighborhood high school or Benson? For me the choice was clear ... Benson was the only school that offered fantastic technical classes that could help set my career choice direction ... communications technology.

In 1960 I entered BPS in ‘pre-engineering’ and followed the radio/communications route. My instuctors, not only in my major, but throughout the school were some of the finest teachers I have ever experienced. Mr. Grant stands out as a major instructor that influenced me to pursue my dreams .... electronics and all that it could bring me. I will never forget how Grant not only influenced his current students, but many students who graduated and returned to be inspired by this man. Mr. Grant was one of those teachers you never forgot. He truly was inspirational.

Benson instilled in me a desire for more education after high school. I was successful at the undergraduate and graduate levels of college and received both a B.S. and M.S. Benson was the foundation and the inspiration of my academic achievement. The ‘well rounded’ education plus the technical programs offered while at Benson allowed me to enter the aerospace program as an engineer and work for such giants as Lockheed and Hughes Aircraft.

Along the way I realized that Benson taught me more than just technical subjects. The student and teacher relationships, the social clubs(Optimist)and the dress and grooming standards all added up to a character building experience for life. This ‘structure’ gave me the courage and backbone to fulfill a 35 year career in the U.S. Army ... beginning with a tour in Viet Nam and ending in 2005 as a chaplain holding the rank of Colonel. Benson was the foundation for my life’s success. To this I will always be grateful.

Larry(class of 64)

Benson Tech. - a fortunate experience

2009-12-21T09:56:36-08:00

As a average student .. at best ... Benson Tech. played a key role in my development as a person and more importantly my vocation. With the exception of my parents .. without a doubt my four years at Benson (in the then “pre-engineering” curriculum) guided and inspired me towards my professional engineering college degree. After Benson I went on to get my Civil PE degree, practicing in 5 states and ultimately retiring in the environmental engineering field.
Aside from the ability to “make a living” issue Benson Tech imparted to my life, there is, I firmly believe a far more important issue learned at Benson, the ability / knack call it what you want, and that is the confidence and knowledge to tackle most any “fix-it build-it” problem from car, home, work or wherever and fix yourself. If not able to fix it, know what needs to be fixed and the knowledge (from Benson) to ask the hard and “right” questions of the mechanic or repair person so one gets what they pay for.
Upon graduation from college I moved to the mid west. As my children approached high school age I seriously considered moving back to Portland so they would have the opportunity to attend Benson Tech. I believe ALL high schools should have a required vocational component to the curriculum.
Signed,
A lucky to attend, 1961 Benson graduate.

Iron Man of 1922

2009-10-21T15:31:25-08:00

Dad graduated from Benson June 15, 1923. He was the “Iron Man” of the 1922 football team. I have a photo of the team, though it isn’t in very good shape. I was disappointed to not find photos or rosters, etc. of Benson’s teams over the years, or lists of Alumni, on the school’s website.

He intended to attend OSU after high school, but had promised his father to stay in Portland and watch over his mother following his father’s death. He never did go to college, but his Benson training got him a life-long job with Pacific Power as an electrician, the profession his respected eldest brother back in Nebraska had taken up in its infancy. Using the knowledge acquired at Benson, Dad helped install the control panels at Merwin Dam’s power house when it was built at Ariel, Washington. He was a highly respected station wireman for Pacific Power after that, and worked at the company’s shops and the Albina plant (now replaced by the Waterfront parks) and other facilities until his retirement in 1968.

Dad’s son-in-law, Robert “Bob” McGlone also attended Benson in the mid to late 1940’s, and Dad’s great grandson, Doug Whitmore, went there in the late 1980’s. Bob became an auto mechanic and eventually was Dstrict Service Representative in the Northwest for General Motors Corp., Oldsmobile Division, thereafter becoming a private consultant for GM dealers. He was the best auto mechanic I ever knew, probably thanks to his intelligence, natural mechanical intuition, and Benson training. His grandson Doug graduated from OSU in oceanography, but now works for Apple Computer in California, no doubt inspired by his technical instruction from Benson.

1971 Was the Year…

2009-03-25T19:57:28-08:00

I was not the best student that Benson ever saw, but in spite of myself, I absorbed a tremendous amount of knowledge in the four years I attended.

With so much emphasis on pre-engineering courses, as well as all the shops I was exposed to, including my Aviation major, I have been extremely well rounded, and self sufficient, my whole life. Went to college for a year, still majoring in Aviation Technology, when the draft came along, and changed my life. Spent three years in Army Aviation, but I was not able to pursue my aviation career when I left the Army. I did rely on my vast experiences and education, as I applied for a Pipefitter/Plumber apprenticeship. I am now a Journeyman Pipefitter, and Industrial Fire Chief.

Benson, in the years I attended, played a huge role in guiding young men to their careers. To this day, I’m proud to say I graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School.

Wayne DeVore
Class of 1971

Who’s Who: Niall Hannan

2008-10-13T21:04:59-08:00

My name is Niall Hannan, I went to Benson for two years, 1980-1982. I am a General Contractor and Stonemason. I directly atribute my intrest in the trades due to my experiences at Benson. My time at Benson gave me hands on experience in many different trades. Such as welding, machine, foundry, electrical, and technical drawing. When I shifted schools to Salem I maintained my interest in Architecture and continued my education in that direction. I ended up with a fine arts degree from the Pacific Northwest College of Art. As I was finishing school I fell into the fine trades and have stayed. Now after many years I might be considered a Journeyman in the Fine Trades. Being in the trades should be an informed choice. Learning, in it’s many forms, practical and theoretical should be available to all. But especially to those that feel out of place when they are young in a more acedemic environment.

Going to Benson helped me gain confidence in myself and encouraged me to try new things. I learned to love to take things apart and figure out how to make them work again. To the point where I have taken a 1907 house apart and put it back better than it was before.

My Uncles and many friends are alums and I will be contacting all of them, but especially those that are in the trades.

Portland Public Schools have done nothing other than try to undermine the special aspects of our amazing school. From ending the Benson sponsored Drag races to allowing various trades to end at Benson due to lack of external promotion and no one doing industry promotion for upgrading facilities. Everything in the name of making Benson just like everyone else.

The big industries in Portland, FLIR, Precision Cast Parts, Intel, HP, Techtronics, Columbia Steel, Gunderson, Scnitzer, Zidell, Oregon Wire and many many more all continually upgrade equipment, often selling old equipment overseas for lack of options here in the US. We need a public/private partnership with our local industries and need to have it be a Benson centric system that allows Benson to reborn as a National model of Highschool/Assoc. Degree program. Most of the surviving big highschools in Portland have very specific feeder programs that help their survival. Bensons have been continually taken away in the name of parity. In doing so we have dumbed down the enire system. When I went to Benson we were the best technical trade school west of the Mississippi, I had friends that became robotics engineers at MIT and Carnegie Mellon. Yes, we had many guys that went on to careers far outside of what they learned at Benson and others that used what they learned to gain entry positions throughout thetrades. We need a strong training center for people that have an apptitude for working with their hands. There is nothing dishonarable in making a living with your hands and your mind, teaching young people that both aspects are honorable persuits is paramount to our continuing to be a strong industrial production country. Feel free to contact me at 66 dot niall at gmail dot com

Benson was the beginning of my career in dentistry

2009-01-10T19:42:19-08:00

I can remember the feeling of pride as a freshmen at Benson Highschool. My older brother John Pham was a role model for me, he was an exceptional student and it was tough at times because I can remember teachers saying “ your brother was an excellent student and we expect nothing less from you.” (John, now is a practicing physician in portland, and oregon city. ) I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be educated by great teachers at Benson. Being a part of Health Occupations made a tremendous impact in my life and career, and it all started at Benson. My greatest memories of Benson, were the friendships, the teachers, and the lifelearning experiences that our school provided. Being a part of Health Occupations Students of America, I was able to compete in local, state, and national competitions. Having excellent teachers like June Conway, Jan Landis, Mr. Pittman, made learning enjoyable....and has lead me to a career in dentistry.

After graduating from benson 92’, I went on to obtain my Bachelors of Science degree at Oregon State University 96’,
and completed my doctorate in dentistry at New York University College of dentistry class of 2000.

I love my career as a dentist because it has allowed me to give back to my community. I am in practice in Albany, Oregon full time...but do volunteer dentistry for united way, I am a part of Northwest Medical teams traveling to underserved areas to provide free dentistry, and have traveled to dominic republic on relief missions to provide dental care to villages…

So I thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the wonderful staff and faculty at benson highschool for giving me the backbone....the foundation to pursue my dreams of becoming a dentist. Go Techmen.

sincerely,

Dr. Joseph Pham DDS

Forging a future

2008-10-29T17:02:43-08:00

I graduated from Benson in 1981. While I was there I learned everything from reading a tape measure to personal finance to how to weld and a love for learning. I even got to play drums in a few rock and roll bands. I learned about ironwork from Mr. Vinje and Mr. Flannagan while at Benson. They showed us that iron work was more than just sheet metal. I also set my sights on college while I was there and took advanced college prep work. I earned a degree at PCC and a bachelors in Anthropology at the University of Oregon. Spent 15 years as a Federal Archaeologist in Idaho and all of eastern Oregon. Always kept up with ironwork and changed my careers in 2000. Now I run an ornamental iron work and traditional blacksmith shop here in Portland. I deal in historical restoration and teach traditional iron work. I have met many people who if they were competing for a job and the boss found out they went to Benson, then they got the job over the other person. With that in your resume an employer knew that you had learned more than most Portland high school students and would be able to handle the job. Glad to be here and would like to help out. I would like to see Benson back to it’s place as a Polytechnic school again and help train those young folk with a quality education they can use anywhere in the world. I can be reached via my web site at http://www.whitehartforge.com

Who’s Who: Heath Brandenburg c/o 97

2008-10-23T23:17:55-08:00

Like a typical high school student, I advanced my writing and math skills while at Benson Tech. My knowledge of historical events grew. A broad range of scientific information was given to me. But the school offered me more than that. There was basic construction, metalwork, electronics, automotive, computer skills, and media communications. That was just the first two years. Junior year was spent with the intention of a double major: Architectural and Engineering Drafting. Due to scheduling conflicts I had to choose between the two. I graduated in 1997 with my major in Engineering.

Still, Benson was more than that. I chose to go there. I applied for admission as did everyone else. It was a place we wanted to be; a place where we did our best and were not afraid to shine. We were eager to learn the skills that Benson Tech had to offer. I’d assume the drive of my schoolmates and I played a part in encouraging the teachers to do their best. And, their best completed the cycle by encouraging us.

I didn’t learn writing and arithmetic in order to get a diploma or do better on college placement tests. It was not solely about working a single math problem. It was not about where to put the comma. It was about taking those basic skills that every other school teaches and applying them to real life applications: how that math problem was used to build a house and how to place that comma to communicate effectively in a professional environment. It wasn’t just memorizing facts, it was a true education. I learned how to think.

Still, Benson was more than that. I was once told that we were the most diverse school on the west coast, maybe even the nation. While I’m not sure how accurate that statement was, it sure felt completely true. I may have learned just as much in the hallways and cafeteria as I did in the classroom. I had the opportunity to associate and connect with people from many different cultures, religions, and economic backgrounds. I suppose I’d call it diversity immersion.

Those four years, from ’93 to ’97, played a pivotal role in my life.

How and why?

Well, I suppose I’ll start off with the financial side of things since that’s how a lot of folks measure success. No, Benson didn’t make me a millionaire. I landed a pretty good job shortly after graduation though and have been on a decent track since.

A cable industry contractor hired me on for a drafting position (it was that year of Architecture that helped me here) at a starting wage of $14 an hour. What was to be an entry level position, shortly turned into something more. I was training others how to operate their CAD programs. A lot of these others were twice my age, some held degrees, some of those degrees were even CAD based. While I never received a ‘trainer’ title, I did get promoted to a design position. The dot-com bust in 2000/2001 forced cut backs and I was the last employee standing in my department when the pink slip finally arrived. Shortly after I was scooped up by AT&T Broadband (now Comcast) and that’s where you’ll find me today: still drafting, still designing, and still training.

Along with that, I’m living debt free with the exception of my house. I’m able to support the material needs (and some wants) of mine along with those of my wife while she is out of work. I’m also able to put myself through college. There’s still a bit in a retirement account and some in savings.

All of this because of one high school drafting class? Sure. That and the support of the Benson staff and students who helped me aspire to bigger things, to think outside of the textbook, to communicate effectively, and to make responsible decisions in life. I didn’t have an impressive resume to back me up. I didn’t have workplace experience. I didn’t have a college degree. I had Benson.

On the social front, I’ve mentioned how diverse Benson was. I can’t begin to place a value on this aspect of my high school experience. It exposed my eyes, my mind, and my heart to the world, years earlier than most. I’ve since been through corporate sponsored ‘diversity training’ and I’ll tell you, there’s not much they teach in those classes that I didn’t learn in the halls of Benson.

I also have to mention the mandatory vocational skills I picked up during those first two years. While I haven’t screen printed anything or had a use for a pinhole camera since then, I have put the rest of the skills to use in my daily life: minor work on my vehicles, reframing a window, wiring up a garage, building computers, putting together web pages, and even doing a bit of hobby metalworking. Not only has the knowledge of these things helped my personally, I’ve been able to put it to use for others on a regular basis.

Benson Tech is more than just a public high school. It’s a life changing experience.

Special thanks to: Mr. Wong, Ms. Mangin, Mr. Beck, Mr. Haynes, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Andersen, Mr. Mechling, Ms. Nelson, Mr. Owens, Ms. Eames, and of course the rest of the teachers that made Benson a great place for me (even though I may not have fully appreciated it the time).

Who’s Who: Bao Vuong

2008-10-18T02:51:55-08:00

I remember the days when I first went to Benson from getting ready to have my photo taken for the year book, to registering for classes. It was nerve wrecking for a timid and sheltered boy as myself. My classmate then would describe me as a humble and reserved kind of person.

I was the kid that sat in the back of the room chewing on my t-shirt collar.

I never would have imagined then the kinds of leadership position I would take, the places I would go, and the differences I would make in the world. In contrast to my 180 degrees persona, I have grown out of my exterior into an independent man with positive goals and ambitions to tackle. I credit this positive change within me to the teachers, staffs, and the infrastructure at Benson. I truly believe it was through Benson that I was able to attain a better self-esteem in an inviting and welcoming community.

I know teachers at Benson pour their hearts into the programs to make sure students have a chance at a good, solid education. I remember a quote from one of my teacher in response to a student’s complaint, “If you’re going to do it, do the best that you can. Make something out of it so that your time is not wasted, because in the end you’ll go through the tunnel either way.” It was a pivotal moment for me to click from something so mundane and simple, yet profound. This was because the way it was presented by our teacher, it showed me that she cared not only about the program that she teaches at Benson, but also about the students, and not because she had to, but because she believes in our potentials.

Portland Public School (PPS) teachers are underpaid, but they continue to provide tireless service to PPS students. Benson teachers are top-notch educators within PPS (based on the four years that I was present at Benson). They are still there to guide the way for the next generation, to make sure the torch remain lit. They are the ones who build the “men” in Techmen. I can attest to this because I have witnessed the sincere effort and strength that teachers at Benson Polytechnic invest in to keep it running at the top of its kind in our nation.

My classmates and I are the fruits of success. Benson graduates have branched out in all direction, but no matter how high we reach, we still bond under the same name at the root, and that is Benson. My story is no more special than the average Joe in town, but like the rest of my peers who graduated from Benson, we are the proof that the rate of successful students who graduated from Benson is unprecedented.

In the fall of 2006 I traveled to Barcelona, Spain to pursue my study of Spanish / Latin American language and culture. It was not easy being the only Asian-American kid on the program, but I persevere through the high and low tides of the program because Benson taught me to be a persistent individual regardless of where I am in the world. I learned this skill through my involvement with the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) program at Benson. On my return from the program in 2007, I continued my interest in Latin American study and merged it with my health interest by actively participating with the Global Medical Brigade of Portland State University (PSU). I traveled south to Honduras where I act as one of the translators for the program as well as supporting member of the program for that year. There in Honduras, I remembered the reason why I applied to Benson: to get an early start on my medical career aspiration via HOSA. I was reminded of this passion when I was working with the children from Honduras who taught me to not forsake what I have in my life and not to take it in vain.

Today, I am finishing up my Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology at PSU as well as a minor in Chemistry and Spanish. I continue to work as an advocate for underprivileged students and students of ethnic minority, as I come from the same background. Benson gave me a chance at success. I remain hopeful that future Benson graduates will get to experience the same great opportunity that I once received in the four great years I had at Benson.

Sincerely,

Bao N. Vuong, Benson Polytechnic High School Alumnus 2005
Vietnamese Student Association President 2008-2009
Portland State University

Who’s Who: Cecilia Doan

2008-10-11T03:08:46-08:00

The staff at Benson Polytechnic High School really put their foot on the line for their students. Never once did I doubt that their hearts were devoted to the well-being and success of their students. I was granted thousands of dollars in scholarship money before I left Benson for college. I go to a technical art and design college, and with the help of my coaches and teachers in high school who believed in me, who advocated for me every step of the way, I not only received several academic scholarships, I received athletic scholarships and other merit awards. I am 19-years-old and taking 400-level design classes, graduating in a year and a half, and working with real clients and dealing with real work scenarios. My point is, Benson isn’t an art school and it didn’t prepare me with a paintbrush in hand, but my experiences there gave me the confidence and the skills to handle the cut-throat environment I’m in now. I left high school prepared in all dynamic aspects: mentally, physically (skill-wise), and emotionally. It isn’t without the technical programs and the emphasis on skill-building that I am where I am today. When I was in Health Sciences, I learned how to write a 15-page thesis paper, learned interpersonal skills through clinical services at hospitals, nursing homes, as well as competing at state-wide and national HOSA conferences; I learned how to write top-notch resumes and cover letters, and learned to create portfolios, which I use extensively now at my college. I graduated a Communications major, and the design programs I learned there gave me an advantage to some of my classmates in college. On top of that, I was a three-sport athlete and I can’t even begin to tell you all the things I gained through athletics at Benson, especially as a young lady. Lets just say I was Sportswoman of the Year in 2007 and received a scholarship through the PIL Hall of Fame. How did I get that award?

My coaches and teachers made something out of me.