Discovering ‘Nan’s Way’

Camas School District to dedicate road named after former Camas mayor Nan Henriksen on Jan. 24

By Kelly Moyer
January 17, 2019 5:30 am
News

The Camas School District will host a dedication ceremony for the new Northwest Nan Henriksen Way -- a road leading to the former Sharp Electronics campus and current home of Camas' two project-based learning schools, Odyssey Middle School and Discovery High School -- at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24. At top, Nan Henriksen attends a November 2018 "get out the vote" event for Democratic congressional candidate Carolyn Long.

The Camas School District will host dedication ceremonies for its newest high school and a street named after one of Camas’ most beloved leaders.

The district is inviting the public to help celebrate Discovery High School and Northwest Nan Henriksen Way, the road leading to the new high school, at dedication ceremonies on Thursday, Jan. 24.

In May 2018, the district announced it was changing the name of the road leading to its project-based learning schools — Odyssey Middle and Discovery High — from Sharp Drive to Northwest Nan Henriksen Way.

“The name has a double meaning,” district leaders said in May. “It’s not only a special street, it references ‘Nan’s Way’ – how she gets things done.”

In a press release issued in May, district leaders said naming the road after Henriksen, a Camas School District alumna and former Camas mayor, was a no-brainer.

“Nan Henriksen is almost singularly responsible for transforming Camas into a thriving, technology-based community. In fact, Sharp likely would have never located here without her involvement,” district leaders said in May, referring to the Sharp Electronics campus that used to occupy the building now used by the Odyssey Middle School.

The district also will celebrate Discovery High, Camas’ third high school, on Jan. 24.

Built using money from the $119.7 million bond voters passed in February 2016 to help Camas accommodate its growing student population, the new high school is one of two “project-based learning” schools in the district, which offer a more personalized learning atmosphere and emphasize collaborative, group learning skills.

The new high school opened its doors to 115 freshmen in the fall of 2018, and will grow over the next three years, eventually housing 600 students in grades 9-12.

The dedication ceremony for Northwest Nan Henriksen Way — located off Northwest Pacific Rim Boulevard near Southeast Payne Road — will take place at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 24, followed by a dedication and open house at Discovery High School from 6 to 8 p.m., at 5125 N.W. Nan Henriksen Way.

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