Veterans and the SOU Community

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NEWS BRIEF
(Ashland, Ore.) — On Veterans Day, some pertinent notes about veterans and Southern Oregon University:

  • SOU’s Veterans Resource Office will host a Veterans Day Reception at noon today in the Rogue River Room of the Stevenson Union. Speakers will include SOU President Linda Schott.
  • A total of 247 of the 6,200 students at SOU this term are military-affiliated – primarily, either veterans or dependents who are eligible to receive veterans’ benefits. About 30 of them serve as cadets in SOU’s Army ROTC program. SOU also has a robust Military Science Program, which offers about 10 courses and serves in the neighborhood of 150 students per term.
  • Innovative Educators, a Colorado firm that supports academic and professional growth in higher education, honored four veteran students from around the U.S. in its online newsletter this week. Two of them – veteran U.S. Marine Corps infantryman Justin Jones and veteran U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chris Vorgang – are SOU students.

Here is what Innovative Educators said about Jones and Vorgang:
Justin Jones, Southern Oregon University 
Justin Jones is currently enrolled as a full time student at Southern Oregon University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to this venture, Justin served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Serving for a single enlistment, Justin received an honorable discharge after 4 years active duty. Currently, Justin is employed at the Veterans Resource Office at SOU where he assists fellow veterans in utilizing VA educational benefits. Future aspirations include attending graduate school at Portland State University with the desired goal of employment within the finance sector of the automotive industry. Justin also has a strong passion for flight and is hoping to earn his pilot’s license in the near future. In his free time, Justin enjoys long walks with his German Shepherd, Mattis.
Chris Vorgang, Southern Oregon University
Chris Vorgang was born in Anaheim, CA in 1983, but was raised in Medford, OR most of his life. After dropping out of college in 2004, Chris joined the Army and was trained as an Intelligence Analyst. He deployed twice to Iraq and implemented his training to triangulate cell phones. Chris spent the last three years of his eight-year enlistment in the Army at the Defense Intelligence Agency in D.C. as an Iraqi Security Forces Analyst contributing to the President’s Daily Brief. In 2011 he met his stunningly beautiful wife, Jill. After his military service, Jill followed him back to Medford where they began raising their daughter Scarlett, and three years later their son Ivan. Realizing he wanted to contribute to the Social Work field, he quit his job and returned to Southern Oregon University to finish his degree in Psychology and started working at the Veterans Resource Office (VRO) on campus. After his deployments he tended to avoid social situations and kept to himself. Fortunately, he started hanging out at the VRO more and more. It felt great to be around like-minded individuals that could understand how difficult the transition to civilian life can be. He now manages the VRO, and is able to certify student Veterans who want to pursue their educational goals. He realized that supporting Veterans was a passion of his. Chris is almost done with his Psychology degree, and is planning to attend Portland State University to pursue Social Work.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.

SOU Students to Harvest, Reuse OSF Bricks

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MEDIA ALERT
Who: Students from SOU’s Center for Sustainability
What: Harvesting bricks from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Green Show plaza
When: 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, and again on Saturday, Nov. 19
osf-courtyardWhere: Oregon Shakespeare Festival (brick plaza off Pioneer Street, between the Bowmer and Elizabethan theaters)
Why: The bricks will be reused, which is what the Center for Sustainability is all about (they’ll be used for pathways and other projects at The Farm at SOU, on Walker Street).
About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.

SOU Grants Include Work at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

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NEWS RELEASE
(Ashland, Ore.) — An emeritus professor of geology at Southern Oregon University has been awarded a pair of two-year grants for geologic work in Oregon – including one to help create special-purpose maps that show geologic features of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
jad_dallura_pilot_rock_csnm_img24114eb1bb9bc0fdccJad D’Allura, Ph.D., a retired faculty member from the former geology department at SOU, received the grants in his capacity as an “adopted” member of the university’s Department of Chemistry – where he teaches the course, “Metals and Civilization (Ch 330)” each winter term.
The first of the grants is a $15,500 award from the Bureau of Land Management, which is working through the non-profit group Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The purpose is to support geologic mapping of the 86,774-acre Monument, which sits at the intersection of the Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou mountain ranges and has an assortment of unique geologic features.
Work done under the 2016-17 grant will include placing data accumulated over the past 25 years into a usable Geographic Information System (GIS) format so that it can be used for planning and scientific purposes. The grant will also support the analysis of water samples for inorganic materials by a SOU chemistry student, who will be supervised by chemistry Professor Steven Petrovic.
The second, separate grant for $9,500 is from the Oregon Water Resources Department and will support geologic research on various geologic units. The work will help determine the effects of different geologic substrates on water flow and retention.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU’s Francie Bostwick honored by OCTM – Nov. 4

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NEWS BRIEF
(Ashland, Ore.) — Francie Bostwick, an associate professor of mathematics at SOU, has been awarded the Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics Area Recognition Award for her leadership and service in the mathematics education community.
bostwick_francie_optimizedBostwick teaches both lower-division and upper-division courses for SOU students who are studying to become mathematics teachers, and also supervises and assists middle and high school math teachers in Southern Oregon. She was nominated for the award by Medford math teacher Sarah Dalton and Grants Pass math teacher Elaine Rozell.
Bostwick received her masters of education degree from Grand Canyon University in 1994 and a double-major bachelor’s degree in mathematics and psychology from the University of Arizona in 1990. She was a public school math teacher for 15 years before joining the SOU faculty.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

Renowned Theoretical Physicist and Author to Speak at SOU on Nov. 9-10

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NEWS RELEASE
(Ashland, Ore.) — Lawrence Krauss, director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University and an internationally known physicist and author, will take participants on a pair of intellectual adventures when he offers public lectures next Wednesday and Thursday nights (Nov. 9 and 10) at Southern Oregon University.
side_image_bioWednesday’s talk, “Journey to the Beginning of Time,” will address what Krauss describes as once-inaccessible metaphysical questions about how the universe began, how it will end, whether we’re alone in the universe and whether other universes exist. Those questions have come nearer to the reach of scientists in the past couple decades – and even in the past few years, he says. The lecture will be at 7 p.m. in the Rogue River Room of the Stevenson Union, with overflow space in the Stevenson Union Arena.
Thursday’s lecture, “The Greatest Story Ever Told … So Far,” will cover the real story of our journey to understand the universe – from the work of Plato to the discovery of the Higgs Boson. Krauss calls it “a tale ripe with drama and surprise,” and he will discuss how the most recent scientific discoveries may affect our fundamental understanding and the future of our world. The talk will begin at 7 p.m. in Room 151 of the Science Building, with overflow space across campus at the Meese Auditorium in the Center for the Visual Arts.
Both lectures are free and open to the public. The presentations are part of the SOU campus theme for Fall Term, Shapes of Curiosity.
Krauss received a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Foundation Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the Physics Department at ASU, and has won several international awards for both his research and his efforts to improve the public understanding of science. He is the author of 10 books, including New York Times bestsellers “The Physics of Star Trek” and “A Universe from Nothing.” He also appears in the Werner Herzog films “Salt and Fire” and “Lo and Behold.”
NOTE: Krauss may be accessible for telephone interviews prior to his Ashland visit. Please contact SOU for information on his availability.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

Fundraiser for The Farm at SOU on Oct. 28

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(Ashland, Ore.) — An elegant dinner and silent auction will serve as a barn-raising on Oct. 28.  The “Feast for The Farm” will generate money for a new structure at The Farm, a student-led organic agricultural and learning center at Southern Oregon University.
The dinner will be held on Friday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m., at EdenVale Winery, 2310 Voorhies Road, in Medford. Tickets will be $60 per person or $100 per couple.
Jukka Moilanen, arainbow_over_farmn award-winning chef from Finland, will be joined by students in the Culinary Tourism class at SOU for the preparation of a three-course meal. The dinner will focus on locally sourced ingredients.
The local folk band “Savannah” will provide entertainment, and a silent auction will be held.
The goal of the event is to raise money for a barn that will be built by students next spring at The Farm. The 3 ½-acre property on Walker Street in Ashland serves as an organic farm for the production of healthy, sustainable food for the SOU community. The Farm is also a center for sustainability and a hub for education, student and faculty research, and community outreach to the Rogue Valley.
Tickets may be purchased online (https://bit.ly/2eybNT7).
For further information contact:
Joe Mosley, SOU Director of Community and Media Relations
Phone: (541) 552-6719 | mosleyj@sou.edu
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon – and one of the first in the nation – to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

SOU Campus Tested for Lead in Water

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Following news that lead has been found in the water supply of some schools and cities around the state and region, Southern Oregon University has begun testing buildings on its main Ashland campus for lead in the water.
Priority testing was conducted in the buildings on campus that house childcare centers, including the Schneider Children’s Center and Community Preschool at SOU, which is located in the University’s Education/Psychology Building. SOU will test water in every building on campus that was constructed prior to the year 2000. All tests are scheduled to be completed prior to the start of fall term.
While the majority of tests found no elevated lead levels in the water, there were elevated levels in a couple of places: 1. Two drinking fountains in the Education/Psychology Building tested beyond the EPA standard; and 2. Water from a sink in the preschool was found to have lead levels within the EPA standard, but still elevated. We have taken immediate and corrective actions. These fountains and sink have been closed and additional testing is being conducted.
Because the elevated results were localized, it is believed that the lead present in the water is coming from the fixtures, not the water supply. The fixtures for the water fountains and sink are being replaced. Testing will be conducted to ensure that no elevated lead levels are present in the water before the fountains and sink are used again.
As more comprehensive testing of campus buildings proceeds throughout the summer, any results indicating lead levels beyond the EPA standard will be immediately communicated to the campus community. Any lead fixtures or pipes that are found will be replaced and water will continue to be monitored to ensure the health and safety of the campus community.
Full results from the testing can be found at www.sou/edu/ehs. These results will be updated as testing continues.
Southern Oregon University gets its water from the City of Ashland, which recently conducted tests for lead and found no concerns.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.

SOU Archaeologists Investigate Battle Sites

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(Ashland, Ore) Southern Oregon University (SOU) and the SOU Laboratory of Anthropology (SOULA) are conducting an archaeological field school in July, 2016 on the Oregon coast as part of their long term research into the Rogue River Indian Wars of 1853-1856. This project is funded in part by the Oregon State Parks and Recreational Department (OPRD). The project includes geophysical survey, extensive documentary research, large scale excavation, and a public archaeology program at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site and at Miner’s Fort in Curry County.

SOU Archaeology student Daniel Meyers and historian Ben Truwe excavating at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site

SOU Archaeology student Daniel Meyers and historian Ben Truwe excavating at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site


In the winter of 1856, the Tututni Native American people of the southern Oregon coast joined the rebellion against the American settlement of southern Oregon that had begun in the interior Rogue River valley the previous fall. On February 22, the pioneer settlements between Port Orford and the California border were assaulted in a coordinated attack. Dozens were killed that night, including John Geisel and his two sons, who were murdered in their home in front of John’s wife, Christina, and their two daughters. The three women were taken captive and held for several weeks until ransomed by the surviving pioneers who, at that time, were besieged within the walls of Miner’s Fort at the mouth of Rogue River. A Native American woman named Betsey and her pioneer husband, Charles Brown, served as intermediaries and translators in the negotiations that secured the release of the Geisel women. Later that year, after war was over, the Geisel homestead saw additional violence: While being escorted by government agents to the newly established Coast Indian Reservation, nineteen Native American people were murdered near the burned down Geisel homestead, apparently as an act of revenge.
The Miner’s Fort site today lies on private property adjacent to Highway 101 north of Gold Beach and the Rogue River. The earthen walls of the fort are clearly visible in aerial photographs taken of the area in mid-twentieth century, and the site was often visited by local residents to commemorate the Rogue River War. The Geisel Homestead was preserved by Oregon State Parks as a memorial, and remains open to the public to this day. SOULA archaeologists and students will be conducting archaeological excavations at both sites to recover artifacts to compliment the rich historical record of the events of the 1850s.
Mark Tevskov at Miner's Fort videoing progress

Mark Tevskov at Miner’s Fort videoing progress


SOULA, working with the OPRD, the Bureau of Land Management, and western Oregon’s Native American Tribes have investigated a number of Rogue River War sites in recent years, including the 1852 wreck of the schooner Captain Lincoln on Coos Bay, the remains of the U.S. Army’s Fort Lane near Central Point, and the site of the Battle of Hungry Hill that took place in late October, 1855. This summer’s Curry County research will benefit from the partnerships developed during these earlier projects, as well as spectacular results of magnetometer, electrical resistivity, and ground penetrating radar surveys conducted this past March at the two sites: “The architectural remains of the walls and interior cabins at Miner’s Fort remain largely intact” said Dr. Mark Tveskov, director of SOULA. “The site’s integrity and the artifacts it contains, coupled with the documentary record of the Rogue River War, and the oral tradition of western Oregon Native people, will allow a more complete story to be told of events that led to the settlement of southern Oregon, and the daily lives of the people swept up in that conflict.”
SOU Student Daniel Meyers assisting with GPR.

SOU Student Daniel Meyers assisting with GPR.


OPRD archaeologist Nancy Nelson says of the project: “Oregon State Parks’ partnership with Southern Oregon University’s archaeological field school and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz is an excellent opportunity to provide our visitors with an outstanding educational experience this summer.  We are committed to the best research of our shared history and the archaeology at the Geisel Monument State Heritage Site will help improve our understanding of the Rogue River Indian War.”
OPEN SITE PUBLIC DAYS:
SOU would like to share their project with the community and interested public, and have created two “open site” public days and a free lecture series during their stay in Gold Beach:
The public is welcome to visit the field school excavations, get tours of the sites, learn about archaeology and local history, and see some of the latest finds from the project.  More information will be available at the Gold Beach Visitor’s Center.
What:                    Geisel Monument State Heritage Site “Open Site” Public Archaeology Day
Where:                                 Geisel Monument State Heritage Site, Highway 101, Curry County, Oregon
When:                  Sunday, July 10 AND Sunday July 24, 2016
Time:                     10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FREE PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES:
SOU will host a free public lecture series at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in July at the Curry County Fairgrounds:
July 6: Mark Tveskov, Southern Oregon University. “The Archaeology of the Rogue River War.”
July 13: Ben Truwe, Southern Oregon Historical Society. “Digging in the Archives: The documentary record of Oregon’s Early Years.”            
July 20: Robert Kentta, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Siletz Tribal History.
July 27: Patricia Whereat Phillips. Linguist and researcher for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. “Ethnobotany of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.”
About Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology
SOULA connects culture, history, and place in a meaningful way. We conduct grant- and contract- funded research that includes archaeological survey, excavation, and analysis; GIS mapping; and oral history and ethnohistoric research. We serve the interests of our university and community and we select projects in partnership with private, local, state, federal, and Tribal organizations in ways that meet our collaborators’ needs and such that the resultant data become a source for expanded research and public education. Students pursuing Sociology, Anthropology, and other majors benefit from hands-on experiences in fieldwork, laboratory analysis, conference presentation, writing, and career networking. SOULA regularly works with the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), The Bureau of Land Management, The National Park Service, The City of Jacksonville, The City of Bandon, and many other agencies and municipalities. Visit sou.edu/soula
 
About Southern Oregon University
As the public liberal arts University of the West, Southern Oregon University focuses on student learning, accessibility, and civic engagement that enriches both the community and bioregion. The university is recognized for fostering intellectual creativity, for quality and innovation in its connected learning programs, and for the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.
 
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Dr. Linda Schott Named Next President of Southern Oregon University

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Dr. Linda Schott, president of University of Maine at Presque Isle, has been named the next president of Southern Oregon University following a unanimous vote today of the SOU board of trustees. She will succeed Dr. Roy Saigo, who is retiring in July and has served as president of SOU since July 2014.

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Photo Credit: University of Maine Presque Isle


“We are extremely pleased to have a person and educator of Dr. Schott’s quality to be the next president of SOU,” said SOU board chair Bill Thorndike. “Following our nation-wide search, and out of a very deep pool of competitive applicants, her qualifications, experience, and interactions with the SOU community elevated her to the top.”
Schott holds a doctorate in history and humanities from Stanford University, a master’s degree in history, also from Stanford, and a bachelor’s degree in history and German from Baylor University.
Prior to her role as president of University of Maine at Presque Isle, Schott held various positions in higher education teaching and administration, including dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Fort Lewis College in Colorado; associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti; and numerous faculty appointments.
“We are certain that Dr. Schott’s leadership style, vision, and values are aligned with the SOU mission and that she is a great fit for the university and the greater Rogue Valley community,” Thorndike added.
“I’m thrilled to have been selected as the next president of Southern Oregon University. SOU has a strong history and a bright future, and I am privileged to be able to serve as its president,” said Schott. “My husband, Tom, and I fell in love with the campus and the community during our interview, and we look forward to doing great work and building new friendships in the years ahead.” Schott will assume the presidency July 29.
 SOU trustee Lyn Hennion, who chaired the university’s Presidential Search Committee, credited the success of the search to the hard work of the committee and the thoughtful participation of the entire SOU and Rogue Valley communities. “I want to thank the search committee, both voting and ex officio members, for their hard work over many months,” Hennion said. “Everyone involved was dedicated to a fair, inclusive process that required a significant commitment of time, dedication, and effort. Our focus from the very beginning was to find the best possible candidate to serve as the next president of Southern Oregon University, and I believe we accomplished that in Dr. Schott.”
The search committee included SOU trustees, faculty, students, and staff; another Oregon university president; and community members. Six ex officio, non-voting members were appointed to the committee to serve in a coordinating or advisory capacity.
Dr. Edwin Battistella was one of the SOU faculty representatives on the Presidential Search Committee. “The search process was a great opportunity to work with colleagues, students, and board and community members to help identify SOU’s next leader,” he said. “I was particularly impressed with Dr. Schott’s strategic knowledge and her record of presidential accomplishments at Presque Isle. In the on-campus interview, she gave very thoughtful answers and showed her commitment to public higher education and student success, and her human touch as well.”
Torii Uyehara is SOU’s student body president and was one of the students on the committee. “It was wonderful to see an open process for the choosing of the next University President for SOU. I believe the student engagement throughout the process will allow the incoming president to start with a strong connection to the student body and allow for a continuation of the relationship that students have come to love and expect from our president,” she said. “This is an exciting time for students and I think students will help guide the new president in the direction of how best to support the student body.”
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.
 
 

SOU to Host Inaugural Alumni Breakfast

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will initiate a new tradition this weekend, when the institutions inaugural Alumni Breakfast takes place prior to Commencement Saturday morning.
“This event provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of several outstanding SOU alumni on a day when we are also celebrating our current graduates,” said Janet Fratella, vice president of development and executive director of the SOU Foundation. “Our new alumni will join 40,000 other SOU graduates who live and work around the world, and we are proud of all that they do.”
Five alumni awards will be given out during the breakfast:
The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Gary Miller. Miller is an SOU business graduate from the class of 1968. He is recognized for his 32-year career as area manager for U.S. West and Qwest as well as his volunteer work around the Rogue Valley. He is former CEO of Access, Inc., which provides food, housing, and other services to low-income children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. He has served on various local boards and is a past president of the Medford Rotary Club and the Miles Field Renovation Soceity.
The Young Alumni Award will be presented to Brandi Jo Moles. Moles graduated from SOU in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and began a career as a child welfare caseworker for the State of Oregon. In 2015 she received statewide recognition as a recipient of the Tom Moan Memorial Award for Excellence in Child Welfare Casework Practice. Last weekend she received her Master of Science degree in social work from Portland State University.
The Alumni Excellence in Education Award will be presented to Patti Kinney. Kinney graduated from SOU in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education. She then earned a Master of Science degree in general studies with an emphasis in outdoor education in 1977. In 2007 she was awarded the Oregon Middle Level Association’s first Distinguished Service Award—an award that was named in her honor. She has earned various awards for her work as a school administrator, including the Met-Life/National Association of Secondary School Principals National Middle Level Principal of the Year Award.
The Stan Smith Alumni Service Award will be presented to Karen Amarotico. The Alumni Service Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the community and service to people. Amarotico earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from SOU in 1990 and a Master’s Degree in management in 2008. Since moving to Ashland in 1986, Amarotico has logged hundreds of hours volunteering for a range of non-profit organizations, including Rotary, SMART, Ashland Schools Foundation, and the Elks. In 2011, Karen began a year-long project in pie baking to express her gratitude. For 365 days, she chose a friend, neighbor, or stranger who she knew could use a pick-me-up and baked them a pie.
The Alvin Fellers Memorial Scholarship will also be awarded for the first time during the Alumni Breakfast. Dr. Alvin Fellers’ distinguished career in education spanned more than 40 years, nearly half of which were as dean of men and dean of students at SOU (then Southern Oregon State College). This new scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated the characteristics and qualities of Dr. Fellers: a warm, friendly demeanor; extraordinary professionalism and integrity; and a devotion to human values. The inaugural recipients of this scholarship are Kaylin Murdoch, Andria Rasmussen, and Myana Dhenin.
Also being recognized at the breakfast and Commencement ceremony are SOU alumni celebrating their golden anniversary. Fourteen members of the class of 1966 will be on hand for the breakfast and Commencement ceremony to follow.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.