Finding Purpose at SOU: Student-Athlete & Native Scholarship Recipient Isabella Amoth 

Isabella Amoth, a sophomore at SOU, embodies a true SOU student-athlete committed to success. On the field, she helps win the ball for the SOU soccer team. In the classroom, she is pursuing a degree in Biomedical Science. Isabella’s success is rooted in her strong connection to her family, her rich cultural heritage, and the supportive environment at SOU. 

Native Identity & Deep Roots 

Having grown up in Corvallis, Oregon, Isabella is the middle child in her family, with an older sister in nursing school and a younger brother just starting high school. Choosing SOU was a deliberate step toward independence.

“I chose SOU because it is close to home but still provides distance to learn to be independent.”

Her sense of identity is shaped by her Native heritage, introduced to her by her grandparents. Her grandparents, who are part of the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, are very connected to their heritage and well educated on the culture. 

The Native family connection became stronger for Isabella when, this past summer, she visited a cabin her family owns on significant ancestral land. Visiting this spot was a memorable experience. This coupling of family history and ancestral land directly connects her present life back to her roots, reinforcing her cultural identity. 

When she isn’t studying or playing soccer, Isabella loves nature, reading, and baking and cooking. She notes a subtle connection between her scientific interests and her hobbies: “Baking involves exact measurements, which aligns with my interest in science.” 

Academics and Ambition 

Isabella’s passion for helping people drives her academic pursuits. As a Biomedical Science major, she’s focused on a career in the medical field. Her goal is to work with patients by helping others get efficient and effective care that makes them feel better inside and out.

Her academic success comes from dedicated effort. She says, “I find pride in receiving good test scores after putting in hard work and the satisfaction of being able to connect what I learn in class to my real life.” Her current favorite class is Genetics, taught by Dr. Nicholas Stewart. She also appreciated her composition class for exposing her to books she normally wouldn’t read, such as those about the environment. 

Isabella values SOU’s small size, which translates to small class sizes and closer bonds with faculty. She reflects that “teachers at SOU really value the one-on-one relationship with students.” 

The Student-Athlete Experience 

Isabella’s soccer journey began around age five. Today, she praises the SOU soccer program for the team’s outstanding kindness and chemistry, which has contributed to their recent success. 

The life of an SOU student-athlete demands resilience. Her first year was a challenging balance of early mornings for soccer and late nights in the library studying. Last year brought a significant physical challenge: a long recovery from an ACL injury. This year, she showed her tenacity by overcoming the persistent side effects of a concussion after repeated sicknesses.

Support, Wisdom, and Future Focus 

Isabella is a recipient of the Native American Student Union scholarship. For Isabella, the support she receives is foundational to her success. She reflects,

“The scholarships have been really helpful because they allow me to fully focus on my studies and learning instead of worrying about how to pay for classes, groceries, rent, and housing.” 

She credits her grandmother for teaching her the importance of working hard and being smart about money, and her older sister’s diligence as a student constantly pushes her to succeed. 

For incoming freshmen, Isabella offers clear-cut advice: “Definitely do things early, listen in class (the best way to do well), and don’t hesitate to ask teachers for help—even for seemingly silly questions.” 

Looking ahead, Isabella is enthusiastic about maximizing her college experience. She is passionate about making the best of every situation and trying to find a good in everything so she can be happy and live in the moment. 

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Your generosity helps students like Isabella focus on their education and on achieving their full potential in the classroom and on the field. To learn more about how you can support Southern Oregon University student-athletes, please visit our Scholarship page.