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.
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.
Exploring Possibilities in Research: SOU’s Summer Research Experience
Spanning various academic departments, from Chemistry and Biology to Computer Science and Mathematics, and under the guidance of faculty mentors, the SOU Summer Research Experience engages students in projects that push the boundaries of conventional knowledge.
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.
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.
Finding a Place to Belong at SOU: Leader & Basketball Athlete Theodore Reid
The small campus and tight-knit community at SOU is a draw for many new students who are interested in finding community, leadership, and belonging and Theodore Reid, Lithia & Driveway scholar, is no exception. Hailing from the tight-knit community of Douglas County, Nevada, Theodore’s upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of community and a drive for success, all of which he has brought with him to SOU to explore leadership and find connection.
Building Community & Resiliency for Underrepresented Students
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.
SOU Welcomes First Generation Scholarship Student Mayra Sanchez Contreras to Campus
Mayra, a first-generation college student, is dedicated to the pursuit of education and aspires to contribute to the field as an elementary or middle school teacher, a dream she’s had since she was very young.
From the Softball Diamond to the Lab: Kierstin Grotewiel’s Journey in Science and Softball
Kierstin isn’t your average first year SOU student. While scouting the field as a catcher for SOU’s softball team, she’s also a dedicated Biology major, eager to learn the intricacies of the scientific discipline. Kierstin came to SOU not just for the academics, but because of the vibrant campus community that SOU offers to students.
Lithia & Driveway Scholar Finds Belonging & Opportunity at SOU
The next student in our LAD Scholar Series is Fiasamoa Faasauvale who has come to SOU from the village of Malaeloa in American Samoa. As the youngest of seven children in her family, Fiasamoa worked hard to support her family financially, an ethos instilled by her parents who have worked tirelessly to provide for their children’s education.