A Planned Gift Will Support Future Generations of Raiders 

Steve Bouck ’82 MBA ‘84, an alumnus of SOU embodies the true spirit of philanthropy. To honor the transformative impact SOU had on his professional and personal life, Steve decided to make a significant planned gift ($500,000) to support the university.

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Love for Theatre and Community Lead to New Scholarship

Shared passion is often one value that holds a couple together—and Linda Hammer-Brown and David Brown are no exception to this truism. Their collective passion for the arts and a strong devotion to service have translated into a philanthropic commitment to SOU’s theatre program. The couple established a scholarship to support students from historically underrepresented communities or those students who face significant challenges in attending college.

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New Fund Supports Summer STEM Research Experience

Gary Conner was known for his curiosity and his ability to fix or create anything on the spot. In fact, his wife, Cassie, describes a time when they traveled to Ecuador and he fixed a local man’s prosthetic arm in just a few hours—without any prior knowledge of its workings. That’s the kind of mind Gary had, and he loved to share his knowledge with young science lovers.

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DeArmond Foundation Supports Working Students

Bob DeArmond was a philanthropist at heart—his passion was to give back to his community and champion initiatives that uplifted others. Along with Leona, his wife of 65 years, the DeArmonds were a driving force for good in the Rogue Valley. Their belief in the power of education was profound, and they dedicated themselves to creating opportunities for young people to succeed.

Gift to Music Honors Donor’s Agricultural Heritage

Kristy Henshaw Denman’s journey from a Willamette Valley farm to a passionate supporter of Southern Oregon University exemplifies the power of family and its influence on one’s aspirations. Growing up on the family farm near Brownsville, Kristy found inspiration in music, a passion ignited by her father. It was a love for music and children that led her to SOU, where she pursued a degree in education with a music specialist concentration.

Thomas Eldridge Painting SOU ALUM

A Legacy for the Arts: Artist & SOU Alum Leaves Bequest to Schneider Museum of Art

It’s not an uncommon experience for alumni of SOU to name the community as one of the most enduring and impactful reasons they loved SOU. There’s just something special about the small campus in Ashland that draws people to this beautiful location where art, connection, community, and purpose all converge.

Sustaining the Arts and Beyond Donor Gives Charitable Gift Annuity to SOU Read More

Sustaining the Arts and Beyond: Donor Gives Charitable Gift Annuity to SOU

Julia Sommer is no stranger to the influential power of music. From briefly playing cello with the Rogue Valley Symphony to singing with Southern Oregon Repertory Singers since 2006, Julia has found significant joy in music and the performing arts. She performed with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for many years.  

SOU Nurturing Minds and Expanding Knowledge Dale Vidmar Establishes Library Scholarship Read More

Nurturing Minds and Expanding Knowledge: Dale Vidmar Establishes Library Scholarship

Dale Vidmar’s engagement with SOU spans forty years—first as a student and then as a long-time faculty member in Hannon Library. His early experiences at SOU were pivotal in shaping his worldview and played an important role during his career.

Embracing the Aloha Spirit and Finding the Best in Others SOU Read More

Embracing the Aloha Spirit and Finding the Best in Others

A two-degree alum of SOU, Bernie believed in the powerful opportunity that education offers, especially as he experienced it in SOU’s closely knit and nurturing community.