The Path to Growth First Generation Student Beautiful Journey Read More

The Path to Growth: First Generation Student’s Beautiful Journey

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Nayeli Esqueda Alvarado remembers learning to love video games ever since she could move her thumbs. She recalls spending much of her childhood playing video games with her father, a happy memory that Nayeli carries with her as she reflects on her SOU college experience. Nayeli will be graduating as a double major in Computer Science and Emerging Media and Digital Arts in June with the hopes of entering the video game industry. It’s because of her education at SOU that Nayeli is poised for a promising future.

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Building Community & Resiliency for Underrepresented Students

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The writer and teacher bell hooks wrote that “…education as the practice of freedom affirms healthy self-esteem in students as it promotes their capacity to be aware and live consciously,” which relates beautifully to SOU’s mission of preparing students to become engaged citizens in our democracy. The SOU Bridge program does just this by providing resources to underrepresented students so they can learn how to create successful lives of purpose.  

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Lithia & GreenCars Pledge Historic Commitment

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Southern Oregon University and Medford-based Lithia Motors announced in September of 2022 a philanthropic partnership that will serve as the bedrock of future innovations at SOU. Lithia’s commitment exceeds $12 million and is the largest-ever single gift to the university. The contributions from Lithia Motors (NYSE: LAD) create the Lithia & GreenCars Momentum Fund, which will be used “to propel the university forward by investing in people and programs to implement the university’s and the company’s shared vision of sustainability and diversity.” The fund will also become a catalyst to invite other companies and individuals to participate in making a significant difference in both social and environmental change.

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Retired Surgeon Creates Endowment for Faculty-Student Chemistry Research

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Semi-retired surgeon Ron Worland, M.D., believes that supporting SOU is an investment in the entire southern Oregon region. “This is our university and our community. It is important to support the students because that will benefit every one of us,” said Worland. Ron and his wife Lou created an endowment for student-faculty research and enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment.

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Legendary Wrestling Coach Creates Legacy

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It was arguably no surprise to those who knew SOU wrestling coach Bob Riehm that he bequeathed a significant portion of his estate to the university’s men’s wrestling program. Riehm had a reputation for generosity. When a wrestler didn’t have money to go to his father’s funeral, Riehm gave the young man a credit card and the keys to his own car to allow him to attend the funeral. That was the kind of coach and person Riehm was to hundreds of student-athletes.

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Family Tradition Inspires ROTC Scholarship

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In a single act of giving, Todd Elworthy honored his mother, his grandmother, and his family’s long history of service by creating a financial path for motivated ROTC cadets at SOU to complete their degree. “I wanted to make a contribution to education and support students who may not have the means,” said Elworthy.

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Bridging the Gap: Donors Support SOU’s Bridge Program

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SOU’s Bridge Program makes going to college and earning adegree possible for many students who cannot see higher education in their future. The program, designed to help Oregon students successfully transition to college, is specifically geared for students who are traditionally under-represented in higher education.

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A Learning Legacy: Family Establishes Education Scholarship

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Before George “Keith” Bayne passed away last year, he endowed the Alice Bayne Scholarship in Education, ensuring that his late wife would be remembered and that their shared love of learning would continue to encourage and support future educators.

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Gift Provides a Helping Hand to SOU CARES Program

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The year 2020 changed a lot about the student experience, but one constant is SOU’s commitment to the well-being of its 6,000 students. The SOU Cares program, part of the university’s safety net, has been a lifesaver for students in distress.

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SOU Cares Program Helps Students When It’s Needed Most

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“SOU Cares largely focuses on financial need, but the program also addresses a range of issues including mental and physical health, food insecurity, and basically anything that could impact a student’s ability to learn and thrive,” said Taylor Burke, former SOU Dean of Students.

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