For ORHC volunteer Jack Higgins, his passion for trains first started when he was gifted a wooden train at age two by his grandparents. And that passion has not ceased for this remarkable teenager! The zealous 18-year-old and recent Riverdale High School graduate just headed off to college at Penn State Altoona for their program in Rail Transportation Engineering and is planning on a career in the rail industry.

Jack grew up visiting the Oregon Rail Heritage Center with his family. But it was his experiences as a camper with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry’s summer camps hosted at ORHC that led him to volunteer. Jack has volunteered at ORHC for three years, from assisting with the OMSI camps at the Center and Holiday Express to working hands-on as a student engineer. He is also a volunteer with Operation Lifesaver and conducted programs on rail safety for OMSI’s campers this past summer.

Jack’s love of trains and the Oregon Rail Heritage Center shines through! He even had his high school senior portraits taken at the Center. As Jack said, “Trains are cool!” But it is actually the people at ORHC that keep bringing him back to volunteer. He is passionate about learning from the other volunteers, many of whom are veterans of the rail industry. In turn, he loves sharing what he has learned with others, especially those younger than him.

Jack proudly considers himself a first-generation railroader in his family. His parents, Mark and Katie Higgins, have supported Jack’s passion, giving him confidence to pursue his interests and encouraging him to do what makes him happy.

We wish Jack the best of luck as he starts college at Penn State Altoona and look forward to his continued dedication as a volunteer at ORHC next summer.