The Maria Swanson Award
Maria Swanson came to Portland, Oregon from Sweden to be a part of the church her daughter & son-in-law, Dick & Edie Iverson, had started. Coming to the United States from another Nation has many financial, cultural, and political challenges.
At Portland Bible College, it is our great privilege to work with students who come to us from many nations. These students often experience numerous challenges to be able to study at PBC. What motivates them through all of this, is the desire to be trained in the Word of God so that they can return to their home countries and better serve His Kingdom purposes. 
We realize that God has a great destiny for each of these students. We acknowledge, however, that some of these students will be used in ways to more significantly advance the purposes of God in their countries. Because of the gifts and character that they exhibit at PBC, it is apparent that the Lord is going to use them greatly in the future.
The Maria Swanson Award is our way, as a faculty, of saying that we see them making such a spiritual impact back home. We are thankful for the privilege we have had to share in the work of God in their life.
This years recipient is Mitsuru Miyahira. Congratulations Mitsuru!