Donna Trask: Indian School Teacher to College Instructor

Photo Credit: Instructor Website

With a basket of candies and chocolates by her side, Writing 121 and Writing 122 teacher, Donna Trask offers her students words of wisdom on a recent paper they wrote. Sitting each student down for a one on one conversation. Each word of advice is said with a upbeat attitude and smile from her that leaves your wanting to improve your paper.

Donna Trask, high school English teacher, a mom, and now a college writing instructor.

Trask has been teaching at LBCC since 2008. Teaching Writing 121, Writing 122, and occasionally Writing 115.

She began her teaching career began in 1972 where she taught at Roseburg High. Mrs. Trask, or as she tells her students to call her; Mrs. T, also taught at Chemawa Indian School in Salem for seven years where she was the senior English teacher.

“I found, that Native American students were a lot brighter than people gave them credit for. They told me for example that I shouldn't try to teach Shakespeare to them, they wouldn't understand Hamlet and Macbeth. [I found] they understood Hamlet just fine, they had a challenge with Macbeth, because they didn't understand his disloyalty,” said Trask.

“It was the first time in my life I'd been a minority, [and] it was a real growing experience,” said Trask.

Trask grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, where she attended Oregon State University and earned her B.A. in English, and her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Education, English and Psychology) from Western Oregon.

When asked about her favorite part of teaching, Trask said, “Watching the light go on in people's eyes when suddenly understand something. For me that is the other half of the paycheck.”

In her spare time Trask enjoys playing with her grandchildren; Brennan,who is three and Vivian Grace, who is four months old.

First-year student Chasmin Bradford said, “I really like [Mrs. T], I feel like she actually takes the time out to teach us, and that's her priority.”

Second-year student Traver Danielson said, “I [have] rather enjoyed [Mrs. T], she is entertaining. She is passionate about her students and about the subject she is teaching.”

“Regarding Teaching, I don't see myself ever stopping. Because, when you get paid to do what you love, you don't have a job, you have a joy; and I definitely have a joy here,” said Trask.

At a Glance:

Donna Trask
Job: Writing 121, and Writing 122 Instructor

Years at LBCC: Seven

Education: Oregon State University and Western Oregon University
Hobbies/Interests: Playing with her grandchildren

Hometown: Corvallis, Oregon

LBCC College Transfer Days

College Transfer Days offered a ton of information, yet students walked right by...

The sound of footsteps walking by filled Takena Hall last Wednesday where over 20 college representatives from around the state came to Linn-Benton Community College to offer students information about transferring to a four-year college or university.

College Transfer Days allowed current students to ask colleges from around Oregon about their transfer programs and what to do to start the transferring process.

Colleges such as Pacific University, University of Oregon, National American University, Pacific Northwest College of Art, University of Phoenix, Marylhurst University, Western Oregon University, Portland State University, University of Portland, Southern Oregon University, Oregon State University-Cascades, Oregon State University, Northwest Christian University, Linfield College, The Art Institute of Portland, The international Culinary School, Corban University, The College of Idaho, Concordia University Portland, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Eastern Oregon University, University of Western States, Oregon Tech, attended the free event for students.

Transferring to a four-year university is,“Very easy, especially if you use an Oregon Transfer Degree. It [makes for an] easy flow,” said Eastern Oregon University representative Terry Walters.

Transfer students make up well over half of Eastern Oregon University's student population according to Walters.

"[I] recommended community college cause it such a good way to prepare students. Also with the Oregon Transfer degree, the general education is a third of your degree, [its a great way] to start on your degree before you transfer," said Walters.

“If a student already has a major in mind that they are interested in, start looking at different schools that offer that major, and see what their requirements are to get in their school so you can properly prepare a year of community college,”said Kai Bautista, Oregon Tech representative about students looking to transfer to a four-year university.

“I always recommend transfer students to look at the curriculum maps from different schools, that way you can see that the classes you're taking at your community college will transfer easily into the program, rather than taking a bunch of classes that don't really count toward the major you’re going into,” said Bautista.

Walters agrees saying “Connect with an Advisor, and [if] you don't know what you want to do, clarify your educational and professional goals. That way you are not taking any classes you don't need and not paying money you don’t need to pay.”

LBCC freshman Melissa Meyhoff said about Transfer Days,”There's a lot of colleges to pick from.”

Meyhoff was one of the only students seen talking to college representatives. Takena hall was rather busy but students just walked right past the booths, full of information.

-At A Glance-
College Transfer Days
Takena Hall
Wednesday Feb. 5th 10am-1pm