Umpqua Community College

From uncertain to unstoppable – this is how Sydney Miele built her legal career with UCC . . . When Sydney Miele entered the Paralegal program at UCC, she didn’t know which direction she wanted to take. “Going into the program, I wasn't completely set on what I wanted to do exactly in the legal field. I was leaning toward being a paralegal or maybe even like a law clerk… maybe doing a couple years of law school.”

When you’re a patient in the hospital, there are days when your strength fades and it feels easier to give up. Often, it’s a nurse who helps you find hope again. The Newell and Robbins family knows this experience well. All four siblings spent extended time in hospitals and saw firsthand the difference a compassionate nurse can make. “We had a front-row seat to the impact of good nursing.

When Gabriella Spencer moved to Roseburg, she never dreamed she would have her GED, let alone be in a two-year welding program. “I left a bad situation in Ohio, and I came here with nothing. I was in a homeless shelter with my son, who was just entering first grade. He was still in that place where he didn’t want to go to school. He wanted to stay at home with mommy all day and play, and I'm trying to explain the importance of education. While I'm doing this, I'm thinking, I've never even gotten my GED.”

From earning her GED to thriving in a healthcare career, Michala Fennel’s journey shows what’s possible with support and determination. Michala Fennel is in love with her job, and her experience at UCC helped pave the way. She is working as the Vaccine & Employee Health Coordinator for Aviva Health and is also a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.

As the first person in her family to graduate from college, Mykenzie didn’t really know what to expect when she started her journey at UCC. “Originally, I didn’t even know that I wanted to be a teacher, so the first few years I was at UCC really gave me that support to get those first steps done. I was able to get my core curriculum, but I also explored some other classes that eventually led to teaching.”

If you ask an artist what the most challenging part of their process is, often they will say it’s when they put their work on display for others to view and critique. It’s great to get public exposure, but you also feel exposed. KK Miele felt that way when two of her pieces were included in the UCC’s 2025 Student Art show, but was rewarded when UCC President, Dr. Rachel Pokrandt, purchased one of them.