Greg Garcia, an alum of Western Oregon University and teacher at Franklin High School with Portland Public Schools, was named the 2021 Oregon History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in July. To honor this inspiring achievement, we want to share the highlights from our interview with him. When [more…]
As part of our ongoing alumni feature series, we spoke with 2014 graduate, Jordawn Jones, who majored in Exercise Science with a minor in Human Biology. Jones is now working as the Head Athletic Trainer and adjunct faculty at Sierra Nevada University. Why did you choose WOU? I planned to attend WOU to play basketball [more…]
Sitting at a table, Western Oregon University alumnus Albany Police Lt. Curtis Hyde ’93 is reviewing paperwork when a colleague walks up to him and then uses a Clorox wipe to clean his bald head. Hyde gives his colleague a quizzical glance while another colleague stifles his laughter. Hyde and his two colleagues joined others [more…]
As part of a new feature series, we are catching up with WOU alumni to see where life has led them after graduation. Next up is Casey Brown ’20, from Independence, Oregon. Since graduation, Casey has been working as a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual, and as a supervisor at Little Caesars on the weekends. [more…]
Curtis Holbert graduated from WOU in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Writing. Holbert is from Burns, Oregon, but currently works as a Title Examiner in Redmond, Oregon. What is your current position? Title Examiner. I research deed records, as well as other public record items to issue reports [more…]
As part of our ongoing alumni profile series, we spoke with Karen Edwards, ‘16, an Interdisciplinary Studies grad who specialized in Early Childhood Studies and Communication Studies. At WOU, Edwards participated in multiple extracurriculars, including student government, on-campus jobs, and leadership activities. She mentioned that when she was not in class, she would attend various [more…]
Kelsee Coito graduated from WOU in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Business. Coito is originally from Mililani, Hawaii, but currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, working as a Marketing Ambassador for Topgolf. Why did you choose WOU? I originally chose WOU for the cheerleading program. What advice do you have for future [more…]
As a continuation of our alumni profile series, we are featuring Tiffany Hendrix Blackmon, ’10, a psychology graduate from Portland, Oregon. We spoke with Hendrix Blackmon about her experiences at WOU, her journey through law school and into her law career, and what advice she has for her fellow Wolves. Check out her answers below. [more…]
Two Western Oregon University alumni business owners have found there’s a solution to every problem, even one that seems like it is taking them on a wild, stop-and-go roller coaster ride. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how Dawson Officer ’06 of 4 Spirits Distillery in Corvallis and Angela Anderson ‘99 of Syndicate Wine Bar in [more…]
Dr. Micheal Morgan ’70 has a simple explanation for why he goes above and beyond in everything he does. “It’s innate,” he said. “I was raised to work hard, do a good job, help others and do what’s right.” The recipient of the 2020 Alumni Award of Excellence, Morgan has been a staunch supporter of [more…]
Western Oregon University alumnus Michael Fort ’96 has delivered pizza, driven trucks, waited tables, worked on a farm, served in the Marine Corps and dazzled the airwaves as a DJ. A 1981 graduate of Texas’ Shiner High School, Fort realized odd jobs without a college degree severely limited his potential for success. He knew he [more…]
Western Oregon University alumna Colleen Thayer’s new high-profile assignments have placed her in a spotlight that’s slightly outside of her comfort zone. Even so, she gladly accepts the challenge, because she believes it’s important to provide accurate information to the deaf community during this unprecedented moment in history. A Certified Deaf Interpreter, Thayer has been [more…]
Picking up logs with his bare hands, carrying a grand piano on his back, lifting a 40,000-pound monster truck and starring in “The Strongest Man in History” are a few of Robert Oberst’s accomplishments. A Western Oregon University alum, Oberst ’11 is a professional American strongman who has competed in the World’s Strongest Man competitions, [more…]
After earning his bachelor’s in Business Administration, Western Oregon alum Jay Bates ’93 took a job with a finance company, where he quickly learned he didn’t enjoy the corporate world. As a former WOU baseball player and high school athlete, Bates found himself missing the team atmosphere. He also remembered the advice of a WOU [more…]
By Anthony Rimel Kaitlin Lucas graduated from WOU’s Information Technology M.S.Ed. program in December 2019. And just a few months later she would be on the frontlines of one of the biggest moments in the history of educational technology: the unprecedented shift to online learning following the global outbreak of COVID-19. Lucas, who also earned a certificate [more…]
Western Oregon University alum Kacey McCallister ’12 knows how quickly a person’s life can unexpectedly change, leaving no discernable path forward. When he was 6 years old, McCallister attempted to run across a divided highway and was struck by a semi-truck. He believes he was incredibly lucky to survive; the accident severed his left leg, [more…]
When he was eight years old, Blake Davis ’23 knew he wanted to follow in his great grandfather’s, great uncles’, grandfather’s and father’s footsteps to play football at Western Oregon University. Erik Davis ’99 remembers the day Blake received his offer to play at his alma mater. “I told him although he’s a Davis, he [more…]
Congratulations to WOU alum Gustavo Balderas ’90 was just named the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year! This significant recognition speaks to his dedication to Oregon’s youth. Balderas is the son of a migrant family from Mexico who settled in Oregon. Balderas works for the Eugene School District and he’s the second WOU alum to [more…]
Erin Worley
Posted on December 18, 2019 1190 views
“Leadership isn’t something you go into lightly. It’s a choice. We make a choice to be leaders.” Felicia Dickinson is a WOU alum who exemplifies student leadership. A native Oregonian and a transfer student from Lane Community College, she attended WOU for three years, with a major in Political Science and a minor in Communication [more…]
1970s Linda Johnston ‘70 just completed 12 years of service on the Woodburn School Board. She has recently been appointed as garden coordinator for the First Presbyterian Church Community Garden. She works with students from Head Start through high school growing food for the local food bank. Sheila Daniels ’75, ’93, retired in 2017 after [more…]
Coach, teacher, businesswoman, and thrives on obstacles Jeanne (Zumwalt) Carver and her family moved around a lot, following the timber industry’s demand for new access roads to logging sites. “My father was a road contractor,” she explained. “He started his own company. It was a startup way back in the ’50s.” Carver’s mother was a [more…]
Instead of hanging up her track spikes after college graduation, high jumper Alison Wood ’95 is carving out a successful career as a masters track athlete. Last spring at the World Championships in Poland, Wood set the women’s 45-49 age group indoor world record of 1.67 meters; earlier in the season, Wood broke the American [more…]
While pursuing a degree in health education with a minor in business, Bec Williams ’98 spent all four years at Western Oregon University working at Campus Recreation. Many years later, as owner of Eugene’s Playground Sports, which offers recreational sports leagues for adults, this experience has served her well. “I had a lot of skills [more…]
Amy Watkins, a 2017 Community Health Education graduate, is currently serving with the Peace Corps in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland. In Eswatini, she is participating in the Community HIV/AIDS Mitigation Project (CHAMP), where she works to support individuals living with HIV, as well as implement projects in order to prevent the spread of the [more…]
A 17-year-old gravedigger and three futuristic teens can trace their stories’ beginnings to their authors’ experiences at Western Oregon University. The gravedigger protagonist belongs to the imagination of Emily Lloyd-Jones ’10, and the space-age tech and steampunk-style clockwork teens to Rosiee Thor ’14. Both authors released young adult novels this fall. Lloyd-Jones’ fourth novel, The [more…]
By Brad Fuqua; published in the Philomath Express Patrolling Philomath’s streets and responding to calls overnight on graveyard shifts, 23-year-old rookie police officer Lucas Sinclair has a high degree of familiarity with the lay of the land. A little more than five years earlier, Sinclair had received his Philomath High School diploma to embark on [more…]
Roster turnover happens often in any nonmajor professional sport. One week a player could be the best for a franchise and by the following week, they can find a new opportunity in a different league. It’s “the nature of the business” as Sugar Skulls coach Marcus Coleman puts it. When the Sugar Skulls (3-2) host [more…]
Matt Hurst has always gone beyond the call of duty to help the teachers and students with whom he works. And back in February, it was clear that his dedication didn’t go unnoticed. Hurst, who is an instructional mentor at Whiteaker Middle School, was honored with the 2019 Outstanding Technology Educator of the Year award, [more…]
In the fifth grade, Erica Epperley decided she wanted to play the flute. The next year, she joined the choir. “I knew right away that I wanted to do music in some aspect,” said Epperley, who took over as Philomath High School’s performing arts director this academic year. “I got my bachelor’s and master’s in [more…]
What could be worse than finding out that you have cancer? For Anne Williams, it was being told that she would not be able to teach this year at Lebanon High School. For Williams, 42, the diagnosis of colon cancer came as a relief after she had started to not feel well last July. “It [more…]
In one sense, Janna Vander Meulen is an accidental hurdler. Throughout high school in Puyallup, Washington, and into college at Western Oregon, soccer was her passion and focus. Racing over hurdles was fun, but just something that helped her stay in shape and hang out with friends. A decade later, Vander Meulen is an American [more…]
An opportunity to meet and greet the remaining candidates for Gervais School District superintendent drew dozens to the district’s elementary school Thursday, Feb. 28. Attendees with an appetite enjoyed a modest dinner, and seconds if they liked, prior to being entertained by successive performances from each of a trio of educators vying to lead the [more…]
Hagatna, Guam- Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB) is proud to announce and welcome Dwight P. Heine as the Bank’s Vice President. In that capacity, Mr. Heine will be assisting the President & CEO in leading the overall management and operation of the bank. Specific duties and responsibilities include strategic planning and budgeting, lending, staff management [more…]
ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed unrestricted free agent WR Tyrell Williams, the club announced Wednesday. Originally an undrafted free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft, Williams signed with the San Diego Chargers and spent the first four seasons (2015-18) of his career with the club. Over his four-year career, Williams has appeared [more…]
Jessica Zamarron was inspired by her first-grade teacher at Swegle Elementary. Seeing Karina Rodriguez, another bilingual Latina, in front of the classroom, Zamarron knew her teacher had similar life experiences. If she had a problem at home or needed advice, Rodriguez was the teacher she went to. “I related to her,” Zamarron said. She remembered [more…]
Tae Abate has been named care experience practice leader of the Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, overseeing development, planning and oversight of patient care experience. Abate, who has made a career as a program coordinator and consultant for gender equality, violence against women issues and LGBTQ and human rights, is responsible for patient satisfaction. [more…]
PALMER— Al Strawn stepped down from his position as CEO of the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union in October. He is still figuring out what his retirement is going to look like in the coming years but he does know one thing — he enjoys having more time on his hands. “I’m discovering that I [more…]
Oregon College of Education (OCE) alum Dwight Triplett ’66 is the embodiment of what can happen when you take life’s opportunities as they come. Even today, Triplett embraces the idea that taking chances and saying “yes” can lead you to places you never imagined. For him, that place was Asia, which was a long way [more…]
If the idea of attending grad school classes at home while wearing pajamas is appealing, read on. Western Oregon University offers several online master’s degree programs that can completed on students’ own timeline and in the comfort of their own home. The dress code is up to them. One of WOU’s most popular online grad [more…]
Larry Peterson ’05 doesn’t seem like a celebrity from the outset. The Western Oregon University alum is in his mid-40s, works in Independence and has a wife and four sons. But if you ask anyone who’s a fan of longboards—skateboards with extra length and interesting shapes—“Longboard Larry” is a well-known figure. He’s not convinced, though. [more…]
When your last name is Gentle and you live on a farm at the edge of campus, there’s little question which college you will attend. And in 1939, that was just fine with Margaret Gentle. “I knew I was going to go there,” she said with a laugh. “It couldn’t be anything else, in this [more…]
After saying for years he wanted to invent a board game, Marc Neidlinger finally decided it was time to roll the dice. “I said to myself, if I don’t do it now, I never will,” the Vancouver resident said. “If I don’t do it today, when? If you can’t answer that, it means it’s never [more…]
Tyrell Williams’ journey to the NFL is a feel-good story from the Mid-Valley. The former standout at Cascade High School and Western Oregon University went undrafted in 2015, but the San Diego Chargers signed him and gave him a shot, and he made the most of it. Williams led the Chargers with 1,059 receiving yards [more…]
At first glance, it might not seem as though Erubiel Valladares ’05 is working in the industry he went to college to study. While at Western Oregon University, Valladares majored in The Arts with a focus on theatre, music and dance. Today he is community liaison for the City of Independence, working toward better engagement [more…]
Lisa Catto ’10 has been a fixture on the Western Oregon University campus for 12 years, though her title and office location have changed multiple times. Since the creation of Strategic Communications and Marketing in September, Catto has been the manager of media relations and social media, a title she describes as the most accurate [more…]
Western Oregon University alumnus Matt Utterback ’89 has won the National Superintendent of the Year Award from the American Association of School Administrators. The award was announced March 2 in New Orleans. Utterback has been superintendent at North Clackamas School District since 2012, and during that time the district has made major gains in graduation [more…]
Millard Bates arrives a half-hour before tipoff, setting his duffel bag at the end of the bench. He chats with the coaches, league officials, scorekeepers and his partner, even a couple of fans sitting across the court in the bleachers. He’s a local celebrity, as far as basketball referees go. After making the rounds, he [more…]
Sarah Ratto
Posted on February 22, 2017 1319 views
When Glenna Hughes talks about her new job as the Linn County Public Health Program manager, she cannot help but smile. It is, she said, a perfect combination of her key interests: sociology and health care. Hughes, 58, takes over the role held for many years by Pat Crozier, who retired at the end of [more…]
Ryan Kingsella ’16 started as the executive director of the Monmouth and Independence Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at the beginning of the year. The Western Oregon University alumnus is ready to build a stronger connection between the two towns and the university. A bond already exists, the 28-year-old early childhood education major said. WOU [more…]
Most of what people need to know about 2010 grad Laura Gage’s world view can be found in the title of her YouTube channel: “Laura the Explorer.” She’s a world traveler, and she attributes her adaptability to her time at Western Oregon University. Gage has taken the knowledge gained during courses for her anthropology major [more…]
John Andrew Buchanan was a teacher, attorney, poet, state representative and municipal judge, but he’s best known as the lyricist behind the state song, “Oregon, My Oregon.” His granddaughter, Carol Lambert, 85, is the proud keeper of his legacy. She’s raising money to erect a two-sided, granite memorial at his grave in Warrenton’s Ocean View [more…]
Western Oregon University alumni Eli Cox has come full circle. Not so long ago, he was a sophomore struggling to gain a foothold on a career path. With the help of patient and supportive WOU instructors, he finally navigated his way to a degree in a field he’s passionate about: public health. Now, six years [more…]
When it comes to NFL bargains, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who provides more bang for the buck than San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams. The second-year pro from Western Oregon University is a finalist for the 10th annual VIZIO Top Value Performer trophy, an award given to the the NFL player [more…]
The Sherwood School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Eryn Latt as associate director of special programs. Latt comes to Sherwood from the Greater Albany Public School District, where she served in various roles since 2008. Among them, are serving as a special education teacher at North Albany Middle School (2008-2012) and West [more…]
Sarah Ratto
Posted on November 28, 2016 1289 views
As a crime prevention student at an Oregon college, Robin Nave researched local crime concerns with a door-to-door survey. Nearly two decades later, Nave, now a 12-year veteran of the Anchorage Police Department, is bringing back her college research technique to help Anchorage residents feel safer. Earlier this year, Nave created a crime survey for [more…]
Sarah Ratto
Posted on November 23, 2016 1355 views
Science teachers Terry Evers and Toni Hanson have quite a bit in common. Both have spent their entire careers in the Newberg School District, at Ewing Young elementary and Mountain View middle school, respectively, and split their time between the classroom and serving as instructional facilitators. Each is also known for designing hands-on learning activities [more…]
Sarah Ratto
Posted on November 21, 2016 1354 views
KEIZER — Jeanne Bridges likes to keep things the same. “In my whole life, I’m that way, I like things to be just the way they are,” Bridges said. So it should be no surprise that she has stayed at Cummings Elementary School for more than 50 years. “I never wanted to go anywhere else,” [more…]
Homecoming week is a great time to celebrate what it means to be a Wolf, for students and alumni alike. Here is a run down of what you can find around campus the week of October 17! Student Schedule: Monday October 17 Fifth Annual Fundie Run – Starts at 5: 30pm the Stadium and ends at the [more…]
Lisa Catto
Posted on September 16, 2016 1401 views
Rick Bartow walked onto his spirit journey on April 2, 2016 due to congestive heart disease. He had suffered two strokes, the last in August 2013. According to the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, this life-changing event affected his work and we see it in the collection as “exciting examples of Bartow’s production since [more…]
Lisa Catto
Posted on September 15, 2016 1378 views
A football floated toward Tyrell Williams in the back-right corner of the end zone Sunday, the type of ball made for a man of his measure. The 6-foot-4 Chargers wide receiver had a good 4 inches on Ron Parker in coverage. Not only that but Parker’s back was to the ball, the Chiefs safety not tracking its [more…]
On July 8, 2016, Western Oregon University’s most dedicated financial supporters were honored at the annual President’s Club Dinner. The event was held at Illahe Hills Country Club and featured toasts by Paul Kyllo, WOU Foundation Board chair, recent alumna Dominique Figueroa, President Rex Fuller, and Jim Baumgartner, chair of WOU’s Board of Trustees. Music [more…]
Dennis Tichenor has dedicated his life to serving others. This year’s recipient of the Alumni Award of Excellence, Tichenor has made a lasting impression on the lives of countless children and young adults. He learned that lesson from his parents, who told him, “If you’re going to do anything, give some things back.” He found [more…]
Application. Waitlist. Overqualified. Underqualified. Wait in line. These words and phrases were repeated over and over again as students at Western Oregon University took on the personas of the homeless Thursday evening. The university’s Education Club organized the homeless simulation, modeled after a Habitat for Humanity program. The group said they wanted to spread awareness and help those [more…]
Despite battling post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism spawned by serving as a soldier during the Vietnam War, Rick Bartow was not afraid to use his artistic talents to address painful aspects of life. It’s a sentiment art enthusiasts may see as they view the Native American man’s art, which is on display through July 13 [more…]
ONTARIO — Nyssa School District Superintendent Janine Weeks is set to retire at the start of July after 39 years in education. Weeks’ story is one of a lifetime of service to education, one that started when she was in elementary school. “I found myself doing some type of teaching, either through interactions with my [more…]
Uniting communities across the globe, Relay for Life celebrates those who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost to the disease and fights back by raising money to support research and help those afflicted by the illness. The signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the event is often an overnight activity — signifying that [more…]
WINSTON — To every stop along the way, Kipp Archambault brings a similar approach to basketball. Star players mean less than the sum of the entire team. Archambault has coached all over western Oregon in a career spanning more than 25 years. Stops in Gilchrist, Klamath Falls and Salem go along with stints in Glide, [more…]
“Where Soldiers Come From” will be shown 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Historic Grand Theatre as part of the Salem Progressive Film Series. This documentary follows childhood friends on a four-year journey from a small town in Northern Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back. Beginning as a carefree group, enticed by [more…]
Published by: Statesman Journal by: Noor Ishmael It is a great feeling when I wake up every morning with a big number of positive thoughts, plans and goals in my mind for the future. My past, before moving to the United States, did not give me any chance to think about my future. Before moving [more…]
Published by: Statesman Journal by: Natalie Pate It was always a dream of Eriqa Hermen’s to backpack across eastern Europe. When her friend wanted to go, too, they planned for the month-long adventure. Hermen was ready and raring to go. But instead of simply crossing an item off her bucket list, the recent college graduate and former Western [more…]
Emily Swart
Posted on September 10, 2015 1395 views
Western Oregon University is thrilled to welcome its incoming student class. This year is particularly special as the class includes a “new face” for Waldo “Wolfie” Wolfe, the beloved WOU mascot. The old costume officially graduated with the class of 2015. You have five opportunities this fall to check-out Wolfie’s new look. First is at [more…]
Emily Swart
Posted on September 10, 2015 1261 views
Published by: Polk County Itemizer-Observer By: Emily Mentzer Kim Seidel is thrilled to return to Monmouth to work as the principal at Monmouth Elementary School. “I went to Western Oregon University,” she said. “My husband and I met here. We both said if we ever have the opportunity to live back in Monmouth, we’d do [more…]
Emily Swart
Posted on September 1, 2015 1520 views
Published by: Albany Democrat-Herald By: Jennifer Moody SWEET HOME — The toughest part about being new teachers won’t be managing classrooms of teens only a few years younger than themselves — some of whom they used to know as fellow students. The real challenge, say Drew Emmert and Ryan Graville, will be learning to call their colleagues [more…]
Story published on WillametteLive.com What if the industrial revolution never really caught on? Imagine a world where devices and technology were powered mainly by steam. Imagine fashions based on Victorian clothing, but without the weight of strict Victorian social and gender roles. Imagine a world which might include a bit of magic, where there are [more…]
Story published in The Dalles Chronicle By Derek Wiley As principal, Sandy Harris led Obsidian Middle School in Redmond to the highest rating (Level 5) a school can get for academic growth for three consecutive years. Now the new principal of The Dalles Middle School is ready to do the same thing here. “It’s always [more…]
Story published in the Corvallis Gazette-Times By Jesse Sowa Kevin Boss felt burned out as he reached the end of his freshman football season at Philomath High. He was battling injuries and decided to skip basketball. In his newly found downtime he got introduced to the weight room by PHS coaches Troy Muir and Chris [more…]
Story published in the Oregonian By Jeff Smith Hillsboro High School athletic director Steve Drake arrived at the school as a coach in 1984 and was promoted to his current position in 1997. Drake, 57, said the success of his athletic programs over the past couple of years has rejuvenated him and he can’t wait [more…]
Published in the Statesman Journal By Tom Mayhall Rastrelli Tickets go on sale Monday, July 20, for Salem Concert Band’s upcoming special-event concerts “Thomas Lauderdale Plays Gershwin” and “Pinots of the Caribbean.” ‘Thomas Lauderdale Plays Gershwin’ Lauderdale is the founder of the internationally renown band Pink Martini. He’ll join conductor John Skelton and the Salem Concert [more…]
Story published in The Umpqua Post The city of Reedsport added another new police officer in July, the third in the last two months. Jon Rausch was raised in Elkton and graduated from high school there. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from Western Oregon University. He lives in Elkton with his wife [more…]
Story published in the Clackamas Review By John Denny Hess, 45, had assisted Thomas in coaching Gladstone’s girls soccer team since 2003, and he’s been the head boys track coach at Gladstone High School since 2010. “This program is in good shape,” Hess said. “Steve did a tremendous job of building the program up over [more…]
Story published in the Statesman Journal Redhawk Vineyard & Winery celebrating 10 years with Pataccolis Redhawk Vineyard & Winery will celebrate its 10th anniversary with owners John and Betty Pataccoli. The celebration, which is open to the public, will be 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 24, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25. [more…]
Story published in The Bulletin Most of the world remembers Quarterflash for their ’80s-era hit “Harden My Heart,” with its aching saxophone leads, and their ’80s style (particularly hairstyles — check out some recent TV interviews with the group). In this part of the country, the group — centered around husband-and-wife songwriter and singer team [more…]
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