They come from around the globe, but the natural beauty of Oregon has found a place in the hearts of students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program at Linn-Benton Community College's Benton Center.

Students who come from nearly a dozen countries joined other community members Friday in celebrating Oregon's 150th birthday. The students recited poems they had written about themselves and their adopted land.

Rafael Lopez talked about the vivid beauty of Oregon's rivers and mountains, saying they course through his veins. Maribel Barraza said her soul has "grown deep like Crater Lake." Misun Kim marvels at the sound of birds, the fierce power of wind and rain storms and the beauty of Oregon wildlife.

The birthday celebration included recognition of former Washington Elementary School students. The school was built in 1924 at an estimated cost of $43,000 and operated until 1975. LBCC bought the building for $168,000 in 1977 and renovated it by using military surplus items and work crews funded by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.

In 2000, Linn and Benton county voters approved a $19.1 million bond to support college projects, including $4.7 million for the addition of seven classrooms and other remodeling at the Benton Center, which now serves more than 5,000 students per year.

In the late 1950s, Barbara Sether, formerly Barbara Arnsbarger, was a student at Washington Elementary. She is the Benton Center coordinator and has worked there for 20 years.

She brought memorabilia from the period, including grade cards, that were included in a display of artworks by students from Mountain View Elementary School. Sether was a good student, according to her report card, and missed only one day of school in the fifth grade.

"It's great, really nice to connect the Benton Center with Washington School," Sether said.

Drawings by the Mountain View students depicted each of the state's special symbols. Alyssa Mackenzie knows that the state bird is the Western Meadowlark and Benjamin Littrell knows the state fish is the Chinook salmon. Emily Bodi's drawing depicts the state nut - the hazelnut, of course.

Musicians Tom and Ellen Demarest brought their acoustic folk music to the center, including one song about the western journey of Oregon settlers in the mid-1800s.

The event concluded with entertainment by the Marys Peak Poets and refreshments.