5th Annual Governor Victor Atiyeh Leadership in Education Awards

Portland, February 2nd, 2016. Concordia University hosted the 5th Annual Governor Victor Atiyeh Leadership in Education Awards and Carl Talton was honored as a community leader who has made significant contributions to improving education in the Pacific Northwest and his S.T.E.A.M advocacy. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)

Those who value his contributions took time to sing Carl Talton’s praises in this tribute video.

Charton received a standing ovation from the hundreds of attendees.

Carl Talton received a standing ovation from the hundreds of attendees.

Talton has dedicated his life to enriching and improving the lives of Portland residents. He has a 40-year record of community service, initiating and serving on the boards of numerous organizations focused on economic growth, housing development, health issues and education.

He is a founding member of the STEAM Coalition of Northeast Portland, which works to prepare students of color for STEAM jobs – those in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Technology. He is also a founding member of the Northeast Community Development Corporation, an affordable housing developer whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the culturally diverse population of inner north/northeast Portland.

The award, given each year in early spring, is designed to honor leaders for their unique and important contributions to significantly improving education in the Pacific Northwest or beyond. Named after Oregon’s esteemed former Governor Victor Atiyeh for his life-long passion and leadership for education.

Design Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, John Maeda, was this year’s keynote speaker.

Artist, graphic designer, computer scientist, educator and technical advisor to startups, John Maeda is leading a national conversation about the role artists and designers play in a new creative economy and the business impact of design. In recognition of his work bridging design, computer science and business, “Esquire” magazine named Maeda one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century.

The proceeds from this event will benefit Concordia student scholarships and the 3 to PhD initiative, a public-private partnership between Concordia University, Faubion School, and Portland Public Schools as we develop a new national model to create safer, healthier, more educated communities.

Concordia University is a private nonprofit, liberal arts university in Portland, Oregon. The school of approximately 5,400 undergraduate and graduate students is affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Concordia University System. Located in Northeast Portland, the school also has branch campuses across Oregon and operates the Concordia University School of Law in Boise, Idaho. The university has four colleges and eighteen majors. Athletic teams, known as the Cavaliers, are members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference and compete at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.