Krista Koehl Scholarship

Krista Irene Koehl was an accomplished attorney, advocate for balancing the environment and the economy, the arts, and most of all her family and friends. She was taken away from us all too soon on Friday, September 6, 2013. Krista spent her last days in a place that she loved, doing what she loved, with the love of her life, husband Ray Hendricks.

Krista was born on August 23, 1973, and prided herself on being down-to-earth, hard-working, organized, fun-loving, and passionate about life. She graduated Valedictorian in 1991 from Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Ohio. She graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Environmental Policy from Ohio University in 1995.

She came to Oregon in 1996 to attend the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College where she earned her Juris Doctorate with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law magna cum laude in 1999. Krista served as an associate attorney at Stoel Rives before joining the Port of Portland in 2004 as assistant general counsel. There, she led the Port’s critical Portland Harbor Superfund efforts, becoming the first general manager of Portland Harbor Environmental issues, before being promoted to general counsel in December 2012.

Krista was widely recognized as a rising star and leader in both the Portland and larger legal communities. She was a mentor to many, cultivating the best in her employees, colleagues, and friends. Krista took her leadership duties seriously, and was relentless in her promotion of increasing professional opportunities for women.

She was one of the rare ones who could seemingly do it all – balance her professional, community, and family life. Krista met Ray in 2006 and instantly fell in love with him and his family, especially his son Cortland. Krista also cherished her relationships with her mother Mary, sister Megan, brother James Matthew, and extended family, whether spending time with them in Ohio or in Oregon.

Please click here to give a gift in her memory.