Jillian Chamberlain-Seitz, a Lithia & Driveway first generation scholar in her first year at SOU, is deeply passionate about costume design and eager to explore the many creative avenues SOU has to offer.
For college students, the pursuit of higher education is often accompanied by a myriad of challenges. Beyond academic coursework, students grapple with financial constraints, housing insecurities, and the ever-present pressure to balance their studies with work and personal lives.
Annabell Delgado, a first-year student and Lithia & Driveway Scholar at SOU, is making a name for herself as a first-generation college student while juggling work, school, and her passion for criminal justice.
Sierra Sam Fong, first-year SOU student, athlete, and Lithia & Driveway Scholar, arrived at SOU in the fall of 2024 to a campus that felt like a long way from her home in Oahu, Hawaii. Yet, despite the distance, Sierra has found community and belonging at SOU.
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.
Southern Oregon University’s Innovation and Leadership (INL) program has made a significant impact on the local community since its inception in 2015. Designed to cater to working professionals, the program offers a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum that equips students with the skills necessary to excel in leadership roles.
Felipe’s decision to attend SOU was influenced by a family friend who resides in Ashland and spoke highly of the university. Intrigued by the affordability, the beautiful natural surroundings, and the small class sizes, Felipe decided to visit the campus. The visit solidified his choice—SOU was the perfect fit for his academic and personal growth.
Layla Gross, a first-year student from Medford, Oregon, is carving a unique path for herself at SOU. As a first-generation scholar with a passion for business and an ambition for leadership, Layla is incredibly grateful for the Lithia & Driveway scholarship that has made her academic dreams a reality.
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.
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.