The Oregonian
September 25th, 2014
Dean Wright, a junior at Western Oregon University this fall, is an invaluable commodity in today's Oregon -- a bright, ambitious kid from decidedly modest means determined to transcend his hardscrabble background.
After two years at community college and a long, hot summer washing cars at a Volkswagen dealership on McLoughlin Boulevard, the 20-year Milwaukie native feels like his college career is finally beginning in earnest.
If all goes as planned, he'll become a middle-school history teacher, ascend into the middle class, pay his taxes and buy his share of stuff to make the economy hum.