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.
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
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.
Spotlight on Creativity & Athletics: LAD Scholar Embraces Her First-Year at SOU
Natasha Perez Parra is our second featured LAD Scholar, a first-year SOU beach volleyball athlete who is studying Emerging Media and Digital Arts.
Cultivating Student Leadership at SOU: Tiana Gilliland’s Scholarly Achievement and Leadership Development
Tiana Gilliland is a first-generation student who grew up in Grant Pass, Oregon. Tiana’s journey to SOU is a brilliant testament to the profound impact of higher education on students who earnestly carve their own path toward academic excellence.
Building a Sustainable Future: Historic Gift from Alumnus Bryan DeBoer
Bryan DeBoer ’89, values the deep-rooted significance of a regional public university like SOU. He understands the out-sized role it can play in a geographic region, recognizes the importance of having a thriving school from which to draw future employees, and leans into “the possible” when organizations come together to solve larger issues.
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.
Inspiring Change Agents: Mentorship Propels Emerging Native Scholar’s Journey
Kayla Dumore wanted to stay close to home when she was thinking about college. Since she grew up in Central Point and graduated from Crater Renaissance Academy, place was an important factor in her decision making. She chose SOU as a way to stay close to family and also because of one of her influential mentors, Native American Studies faculty member Brent Florendo, guided her toward SOU as an exceptional educational choice.
Scholarships Propel Nikita Bazarsky Toward a Bright Future in Business & Computer Science
Learning never exhausts the mind, as Leonardo Da Vinci famously said, and for Nikita Bazarsky, current SOU Business student, this is a true statement that exemplifies the tremendous opportunity SOU has offered him to explore new pathways. Nikita’s experience at SOU showcases the phenomenal impact scholarships can have on students.