J. Carmen Gamez, horticulture manager for Orchard View Farms, was sworn in to serve on the Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education last Tuesday. He will replace M.D. Van Valkenbergh, who retired from the board in June.
Gamez, 52, first came to The Dalles from California in 1972 when he was a boy. He attended the migrant education program for two years, and began working as a picker for Omeg Orchard as a teenager.
In 1984, Gamez took a year-round, full time job as foreman at the orchard, married Carmen A. Gamez, and now has three children ages 19 to 30. All three attend or plan to attend college, Gamez said.
He is now the horticulture manager for Orchard View Farms in The Dalles.
He was one of several considered to fill a vacancy on the board of education, was chosen in June and sworn in as a director on July 12.
“My goal is to bring more students, especially Hispanic students, to value high school and college,” and find better careers, he said. “I accepted the invitation (to serve on the board) because there are a lot of opportunities not being taken by students.”
The Hispanic culture doesn’t always see the benefits of getting an education, Gamez added. “I’m hoping in time that will change,” he said.
Charlotte Arnold, who was voted to serve a second term as board chairman at the same meeting, said Gamez was “a role model for the type of students we want to attract.” She noted that, despite having only a few months of formal education, Gamez is a professional orchardist and a “much sought after expert in his field.”
“I’m excited about having perspective on the board,” she added.
Gamez will serve out the term of Valkenburgh, which ends June 30, 2017.
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