WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Music. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Music. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:14.000 Good evening, my name is Tommy Love and I am executive director of development and the Western Oregon University Foundation. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:19.000 I am thrilled to be able to welcome everyone this evening to our 2015 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.000 annual scholarship dinner. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.000 Tonight we are here to give a giving of thanks. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:32.000 It is a time for faculty, staff, and students to thank donors for their giving. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.000 At this time I would also like to acknowledge and thank all the important groups with us this evening. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:43.000 We have members of the board for the WOU Foundation with us this evening, our trustees. 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:50.000 Also joining us this evening we have a number of university professors, administrators, staff, and retirees joining us this evening. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:58.000 And a special thank you to members of the WOU Foundation staff for all the behind the scenes and making this evening possible. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:62.000 And it is really great to see all of the students scholarship recipients here this evening. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.000 Thank you all for being here and joining us, thank you. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:11.000 Applause. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:17.000 We also have two very special companies joining us this evening to help make tonight special. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:25.000 I'd like to give a thank you to Maggie and Dwight Triplet and their daughter Martha from Petal and Vines for the amazing centerpieces. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.000 And also yes thank you. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:31.000 Applause. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:39.000 And also a Western alumn, Miriam of Halligans Gallery Portrait Studio has very graciously donated her time 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.000 and expertise to tonights event. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:45.000 A special thank you to her for taking tonight's photos. Thank you Miriam. 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:50.000 Applause. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:58.000 I'd also like to point out since I'm the first one before dinner please go ahead and start eating your salads, don't let me hold you up on that. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:62.000 I hear an okay over here so closely following directions. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:07.000 During dinner tonight, I hope you take the time to get to know each other 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.000 and talk about your thanks givings traditions. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:16.000 To help get the conversation started, you will find two activities on your table. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.000 First, in the brown bag 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:24.000 find blank slips and markers and write down what you are thankful for this evening. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Don't tell anyone and drop the slips into the bag. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Once everyone is done, pass around the bag of slips for each to pull one to read. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.000 We have pre-filled the bags 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:41.000 with some additional notes of thanks from those students and scholarship recipients who cannot join us this evening. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:45.000 And secondly, as a tradition we started last year 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:55.000 is an opportunity to get to know each other better and the second activity is in the white bag that you also have on your desk, excuse me on your table. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:64.000 And for my props here you'll see the one bag for the slips and the white bag as well. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.000 However, I've been told here do not peak. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Don't peak, just reach in and pull out a card with a question at the table and again just as last year have fun with this activity. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 I would also like to thank the wonderful piano playing that we've had this evening provided by 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:26.000 none other than Western Oregon University's own Ashlee Brouillette this evening. Please give Ashlee a round of applause. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:32.000 Applause. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:42.000 Western Oregon University is indeed special because of our diverse student population, great programs, beautiful landscape, and so much more. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:49.000 Scholarships allow us to attract and retain an amazing group of students, many of those who were able to join us this evening. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:57.000 During our formal presentation this evening, we will hear from a group of donors as well as a group of students. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:66.000 This portion of the program will begin in approximately 30 minutes so please sit back, relax, enjoy your salad, and get to know those at your table. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:10.000 Again, if you have not done so already, please begin eating. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:17.000 Thank you all and again we appreciate you being here this evening and all that you do for Western Oregon. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:21.000 Applause. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:28.000 Welcome everybody, I'm Mark Weiss, president of Western Oregon University. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:36.000 And I want you to keep on eating please feel free to keep on eating as dinner is still being served to some of you. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.000 I have a few short remarks. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:44.000 I want to thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate and give thanks. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:52.000 Scholarships have been a passion of mine during my ten years at Western Oregon University. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.000 They are critical to our core mission 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:60.000 of affordability and accessibility. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:06.000 As the state disinvestment of higher education 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:12.000 as the state disinvested in higher education, you our donors have stood by Western 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:17.000 and her students and for that I give thanks. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:22.000 Scholarships continue to be critical to our collective success. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.000 At this time of positive change 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:29.000 in our university I am glad we are taking a moment to celebrate 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:34.000 the nearly 400 students and 200 donors 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:42.000 and contacts that are part of the WOU Foundation Scholarship Program. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:46.000 Of course, 400 students are not here tonight. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.000 Because many of those have sent their regrets 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.000 they're either at class 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.000 or needing to work or study this evening. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:68.000 So for them that reaffirms a commitment to you our donors about how important your commitment is for scholarships. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:13.000 Each year we add new scholarships and this year is no different. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:22.000 I would like to acknowledge the new scholarships that have been established and they are listed on the back of your program. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:31.000 I feel confident and hopeful as the university begins the transition to a new president. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:43.000 As a university we are a leader in outcomes, moving our students from teenagers just out of high school through to graduation. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:50.000 We provide the type of quality academic experience that changes families. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.000 Many times I have heard that a student scholarship 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:64.000 is the difference between attending Western Oregon University or trying to head directly into the workforce. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:10.000 Please know that we are grateful to each of you and the impact that you make on our students. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:15.000 My hope is that during your dinner you are able to share stories, 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:24.000 and to hear first hand about what it means to both give and receive a Western scholarship. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.000 For one final time as your president 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:34.000 it is my sincere pleasure to thank you for making an impact for our students. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:40.000 Now I would like to introduce our moderator for tonight's panel Erin McDonough. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:48.000 Erin, amongst other duties coordinates the WOU Foundation Scholarship Program. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.000 Applause. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:56.000 Applause. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:61.000 As Ashlee leaves the stage wasn't she wonderful? I hope you could hear her piano playing. 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:04.000 Applause. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:10.000 She's also a scholarship recipient. She receives the Ramshill Clifton Currents Johnson Scholarship. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.000 Like many of you here in the audience. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:20.000 So I'm very excited and I want to personally and kind of group wise thank Mark for his kind of 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.000 true focus on scholarships during his time here. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:34.000 It's been a passion of his like he mentioned and he's really put a big emphasis on it for the entire university and you can see that tonight from the donors and the students. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.000 So thank you Mark for your continued passion around scholarships. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.000 Applause. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:44.000 Applause. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.000 And I'm really excited because I get to facilitate these two panels 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 and these are two groups I get to work with pretty regularly: students and donors. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.000 So to bring this conversation together is really kind of exciting for me. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:60.000 So without further ado we're going to get to our first panel which is a group of donors. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:08.000 And our first one I'm going to bring up Chestor Anonson and Chestor walk while I talk about you. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:12.000 Chestor's a WOU Alumni and a former scholarship recipient himself. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:18.000 He participates in our largest fundraising event each year for student athletes scholarships: The Wolves Athletic Audition. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:24.000 He also is now a commercial banking relationship manager at US Bank. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:29.000 And US Bank has been donating to the WOU Foundation Scholarship Program since 1988. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:34.000 And is one of our kind of base scholarships that's really important to us each year. So welcome Chester. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.000 Thank you. Applause. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.000 Applause. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.000 I'd like to next invite Cathi Rooth to come on up. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.000 I'm going to talk about Cathi as well. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:52.000 Cathi and her husband Guy established a scholarship endowment in their names in 2004. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.000 Guy was a faculty member here at Western for 32 years. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:66.000 And Cathi received her Master's degree here. So she covers both Alumni and former faculty which also covers many of the folks in this room. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.000 And now Mark Fancey. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:14.000 Mark Fancey is not only Monmouth's community development director he's also a committed scholarship donor. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:22.000 Just a few years ago he began investing in the next generation of city planners by sponsoring the Leo Fancey Geography Scholarship. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:25.000 He also played a role in the establishment 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.000 of the Monmouth Business Association Scholarship. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:32.000 Which was given out for the first time this year. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.000 And our fourth person, please welcome Michele Haberlach. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.000 Michele is a parent of a WOU grad. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:43.000 And she is passionate about the type of education that Western provides. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:48.000 Michele established two scholarships. One, in memory of her husband. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.000 And one for the small community in which she's a high school math teacher. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.000 So please welcome Michele. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:59.000 Applause. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:10:64.000 So just a little background for everybody in the group, we asked the students 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.000 to RSVP for this event online and they fill out an online survey. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:14.000 One of the questions we asked them this year was what question would you most like to ask a scholarship donor. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:19.000 And pretty amazingly they fell into just some very similar buckets. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.000 So we're going to ask you those questions. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:28.000 And we're going to see how this goes. If you all answer all four if we spread it around a little bit. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.000 But I want you all to answer this first one. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:42.000 So, there was a number of questions that asked you could invest in a lot of things and especially give to a lot of things when it comes to donations. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:51.000 You could you know the homeless or puppies or whatever. Why are you giving to college students? 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:59.000 Well US Bank is a whole in my self for the most part have chosen to give to college students because college students are our future. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:03.000 Especially here in the Willamette Valley and across Oregon 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:12.000 many of the students that receive these scholarship dollars will benefit our communities and be future leaders across the state and frankly even across the United States. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:19.000 So this investment hopefully will pay dividends in both the students lives and in our communities. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.000 Cathi I'll pass to you. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.000 I guess the basic reason is gratitude. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:34.000 Both my husband and myself would not have had university educations had it not been for a great deal of scholarship dollars. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.000 Like many students here, 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.000 we were first generation college. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:42.000 Our families couldn't give us any support. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:47.000 So through the generosity of others, people I will never know who they are, 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:54.000 I was able to attend Chicago and my husband was able to attend the University of New Hampshire. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.000 And come out with no debt. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:62.000 And so this is a debt that I feel graditude that I will always feel. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:09.000 The other reason is we were both educators and for all of our years working here we were able to 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:15.000 begin to see the impact of what we did and when we retired, we just could not think of anything better than 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:23.000 to use the discretionary funds that we had than to help other students get help. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:25.000 Applause. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:39.000 I've always thought about giving to the future because this is the future of our world and our country or as I like to describe it as people who are going to be deciding my Social Security someday. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:45.000 And so I picture that. I think also, for me I reached a certain point in life, a certain point in your career where you want to give back. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:49.000 I was like you once I was young I was starting out. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:57.000 And it's just an opportunity with the discretionary funds that I have to be able to give back and give to that future. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:62.000 Applause. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:04.000 They all stole my answer. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:15.000 So I'll just go with a short one and that I'm an optimist and I look out into the audience tonight and I see the future and it's very bright and it makes me happy. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:20.000 Applause. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.000 These guys appreciate your applause, I do too but I want to ask them lots of questions 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:30.000 so I'm going to ask them to not applaud but I will allow you to give a huge round of applause at the end. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.000 So we went to ask them lots of questions. Second question. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:40.000 So you're now giving to college students, why are you giving to Western Oregon University college students. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.000 Well the first reason is because WOU is such a great university 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.000 But besides that fact is that 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.000 you know supporting the university system as a whole 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:60.000 through the college students that obviously go here is going to echo again through our community and not only that though 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.000 is going to echo 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:05.000 is that it's going to build a fantastic foundation for future generations 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:12.000 will hopefully attend university and hopefully enrich students lives who receive these funds. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:17.000 I'm going to throw you a curve ball. What did you love about coming here? 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.000 My number one thing I love most is the people. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:25.000 I know obviously many of you in this room and still hold you all dear to my heart. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:29.000 And honestly that's epitude to the small class sizes 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:35.000 and the people that I've met here some of my best friends 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:38.000 and people that are basically family to me I met here. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.000 Including my wife so. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.000 Cathi you're up. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:48.000 Well I counted up my husband and I have associated with nine other universities during the course of our lives. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:54.000 But there was never any question that we were going to establish scholarship for Western Oregon. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:59.000 We came to Monmouth in 1966 when my husband first started teaching here. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:64.000 And he had a 32 year career here in earth sciences. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:11.000 I came up here for Education, I got my master's degree here. Both our children went to Western. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:16.000 But, in addition to all of those associations 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.000 this is the kind of school that we would want to support in any case. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:25.000 The number of first generation students that come here. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.000 The number of scholarships that are given out. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:36.000 My husband loved his job here and he often said the reason he loved it so much was it was a teaching institution. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.000 And that he got to talk to colleagues across campus 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.000 art would talk to science and science would talk to education. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:49.000 That doesn't happen everywhere and it's to the benefit of students that it does happen. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:62.000 But most of all he loved the students for their enthusiasm and he just thought it was the greatest privilege in the world to work with these people. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:07.000 I guess for me it's because this is the hometown school here. I live here and I work here. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:13.000 I'm in contact and work with a lot of folks here at WOU and I really have come to love this university. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:16.000 And I should also mention that three or four years ago 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.000 I was invited as a guest to the president's dinner. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:25.000 And I had always thought that scholarships were the type of thing that rich people gave out that I could never do something like that. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:32.000 And after seeing what some of the scholarships were there and talking with Tommy Love whose a friend of mine and Erin McDonough whose also a friend of mine 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:37.000 they were able to show me we were able to come up with a plan so that I can fund a scholarship. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:43.000 And so that's a result I guess of the connectedness I feel to this university. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:50.000 I went to a small school myself, Southern Oregon University, but this is where I choose right now to give. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:57.000 Similarly, I graduated from West Point and I'm a first generation college student. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:66.000 And I don't think I would have ever been successful unless I had a supportive intimate learning community. And I never went to classes with more than 12 people in them. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:15.000 And so this was an opportunity for me to support an institution that like the other speaks have said is invested in quality teaching. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:20.000 It provides an intimate learning community for all of its students. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:23.000 And most importantly for my family, there's a family connection. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:28.000 My husband's eldest and youngest went to Western. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:32.000 They're very very different people but Western had enough room for both of them. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:41.000 And could accommodate both of their needs and help them take a very successful path to the future. And for that I'm very grateful. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:46.000 So they also wanted to take a very sincere interest in you when they were asking these questions. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:57.000 So these next two questions are a little bit about you from the donors perspective and a little bit more personal. So how did you get to where you are now? 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:60.000 Well that's kind of a tough question. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:06.000 But there's obviously a lot of things that have to happen for you to get to where you currently at in life. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:11.000 You know I attribute quite a bit of things to your friends and family. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:20.000 But you know kind of the spirit of this event you know I wouldn't have been able to attend Western Oregon University if it wasn't for the 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000 scholarships that I received from this very fundraiser. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.000 And some others from athletics. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:32.000 You know that coupled with commitment to both 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:38.000 my education and integrity and lots of sacrifice. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:44.000 A lot of people in this room, you got to give up a lot of things to try to get where you want in life 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:52.000 and I would echo that to everybody. I think that really has a lot to do with where I'm at today. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:60.000 Well my husband had a very straight path. Always knew it was geology, always knew he wanted to teach, and he always knew he wanted to do it at the university level. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.000 Mine was a little bit more zig zag than that. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.000 I started out as an english literature major. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.000 And was intended to be a high school english teacher. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:14.000 But, got certified as an elementary teacher for a very practical reason. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:21.000 My husband was going for his Ph.D and I was going to need to be the support and there are more jobs in elementary education. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:28.000 And you will find that true of your life I'm sure that sometimes the practicalities are very important. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:30.000 Thankfully, I fell in love with that level. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:36.000 I was home for a while until my kids went to grade school. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:42.000 And went back for my Master's. Found the field I loved in educational media and technology. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:48.000 Worked at the elementary level and around 1980 I fell in love again with computers. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:55.000 Did a lot of work in educating teachers on the use of computers and computer applications. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:63.000 I taught at Western on and off for twenty years as a in the evening 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:11.000 Eventually I decided I wanted to go into educational administration with a hope in being a elementary principle. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:17.000 But instead got a job with the district 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:21.000 And that was a job from which I retired. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:26.000 Taught a little bit at Western after that so I was a college teacher before I retired. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:33.000 So whichever path you take, straight and narrow or zig zag, be open to it. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:36.000 Yeah I'm a zig zag also. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:40.000 I went to one year of junior college 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.000 in the San Francisco Bay area and then left to go have adventures 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:49.000 during the time when most the age when all my fellow high school students were in college. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.000 So I was off having adventures during that time. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:60.000 I remember telling my dad at the time with my 19 year old wisdom that I've been a student for 13 years and that's longer than some people have a career and I want to change careers. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:06.000 So I went and did some other things and that's a whole other story. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.000 When I came back to college I was 30 years old 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:14.000 and much more able to focus on it in retrospect. It was a good decision ultimately that I made. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:19.000 And went through four years at Southern Oregon University, got a degree in Geography. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:26.000 Started out trying to be a high school math teacher until I got to second term calculus and realized that wasn't going to happen. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.000 Laughter. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:37.000 And I became like one of those students I used to help that I couldn't understand why their eyes looked glazed over because they couldn't understand math, it was so easy to me when we were taking Algebra 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.000 When I got to calculus I understood how they felt. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:47.000 And then went on to the University of Oregon because it was kind of like I was 34 years old, I had a family, I had to get a job, I needed to do something. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:54.000 And one of the fields you can go into with a degree in Geography is Urban Planning. So I got a master's degree at the University of Oregon in Urban Planning. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:61.000 So I got a late start in my career but I've been doing that ever since for the last 20 something odd years. 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.000 I'm very zig zagged as well. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:11.000 No straight line. I would have never predicted that I am where I am right now when I was sitting in your seats. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:17.000 I woke up in a cold sweat as a senior at West Pointe and realized I had to be in the Army for five years. 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:20.000 And I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with that. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.000 Because I went to West Pointe pretty much for school and because they let me play sports everyday at three. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:32.000 Well I ended up becoming a helicopter pilot because if I was to give you any advise I would say say yes more than you say no. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:36.000 Because the opportunities open up and 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:40.000 you get the ability to do things you never even dreamed of. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:47.000 So I was a helicopter pilot for about 15 years and then I transitioned into doing international development for the military. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:55.000 I'm currently working on agriculture and water projects and public health for the military which is very interesting and different. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:61.000 Simultaneously, since I am an Army reservist and 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:04.000 for the kid who woke up in a cold sweat wondering what she was going to do 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:08.000 in the Army for five years it's almost 30 years later and I'm still there. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:16.000 A couple continents, a few wars in between, and lots of support from my loving family. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:20.000 But I also, I was terrible in math 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.000 I really didn't like math at all and I was always the kid you helped. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:28.000 Until I got to West Pointe and they let me play with math. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:33.000 And I got to go in wind tunnels and fly helicopters and then it made sense to me because 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:36.000 it wasn't math anymore it was a tool for solving problems. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:44.000 And so I got the opportunity later in life to hopefully reach back and be the math teacher that I needed 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:50.000 when I needed when I was a kid. The one who let you play with math and learn a little bit more about how it was used in the real world. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:56.000 And I am very blessed and thankful to have had those opportunities. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:60.000 So this is a pretty cool group. So I've heard it's okay to zig zag, hard work 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.000 integrity, and say yes more than you say no. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.000 So I think that's a good place for us to give these guys a huge round of applause. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:12.000 Applause. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:18.000 We're going to call up some students and I'm going to call them up quickly and then tell you who they are. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:22.000 Christie, Tim, Jake, and Maria. Come on up. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:26.000 So I've got Jacob Marsh directly to my left. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:32.000 Jacob also has the Ramshill Clifton Currents Johnson Music Scholarship. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:37.000 Then I've got Christiana I think, yes. I've scooted you all up so I can't see very well. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:42.000 Christiana Colasurdo. Colasurdo jeez I practiced even. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:51.000 Recieves funding from the Wolves Athletic Audition as also has the Ruth Lautenbach Athletic Scholarship. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.000 And then Tim DeMichele 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:59.000 is a recipient of the alumni association scholarship. So all the alumni in the room. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:66.000 And then Maria Vargas, she is a recipient of the David S. Brody Memorial Scholarship. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:18.000 We similarly to with you guys and asking you to give us questions, I went out and I asked donors to provide me with questions they wanted to learn from you. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:25.000 And the first one I really had such an impression on me and I asked this donor 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:29.000 I said what would you like to hear from a student about, that's a scholarship recipient. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:32.000 And she paused for a long time, really giving this a lot of thought. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.000 And then she looked at me and she said, "Does it matter?" 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:41.000 And so I want to ask you, does your scholarship matter? 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:43.000 So I guess I'll start. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:47.000 Yeah scholarships matter. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:53.000 College as you know has gotten a lot more expensive and is almost prohibitive in some areas. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:60.000 And from someone who, like many of you guys doesn't have the strongest economic background, scholarships made the difference between me 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:07.000 just going to work in Eugene and just trying to save up from there till I can go to UOO or somewhere. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:14.000 Or coming here and getting the same degree and not being as appressed by the threat of financial ruin really. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:20.000 So of course it matters and it's really really nice. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.000 I'm definitely going to agree with him. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.000 Scholarships really do make a huge difference 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:29.000 Whether it's I don't have to worry about pulling money out of my pocket right now to pay for school 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:38.000 and I don't feel stressed out about my focus for the future. It's just and also someone who wanted to help me and help further my education, that's an awesome feeling to have. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:45.000 So just overall thank you for your scholarship, it really does matter. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:48.000 Yeah as I was thinking about answering this question 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:55.000 I found it easy to gloss over the fact that there's thousands of dollars being transferred around the university to pay for our education. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:59.000 And that that turns into real money when you graduate and you're supposed to pay it off. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:70.000 And so I'm thankful for another thousand dollars that I don't have to pay back and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to still go here with a great education. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:17.000 Yes definitely scholarships matter. For me they've allowed me to really get the most out of Western Oregon University. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:22.000 The biggest thing that I like about this school is the diversity and the fact that you can be so well rounded. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:26.000 Because it's not just about the grades it's about every other experience you get here. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:33.000 And having my school all paid for allows me to you know be involved in clubs, be involved in the community, and do so much more. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:36.000 But one of the biggest things is it allows us to give back. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:42.000 And so for my scholarship I am able to give another scholarship to high school students from the Upward Bound Program. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.000 And I wouldn't be able to do that if I didn't have that extra money. 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:50.000 I think that this is a really important and great cross section of our students. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:58.000 So we're going to do a little fast rapid fire questioning for them so you can get to know them a little bit 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:67.000 and kind of think of them as the students that are at your table as well. So we'll start here and go down and then come back. So, major? 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:10.000 I'm a music major here. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:12.000 Community health education. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:14.000 Public policy and administration. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.000 Social science and Spanish. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:23.000 Okay Maria coming back. Year in school? Senior. Junior. Junior. Freshman. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:25.000 Laughter. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:30.000 Hometown? I'm from Cottage Grove, Oregon, which is just south of Eugene. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:36.000 Olympia, Washington. Albany, Oregon .Silverton. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:40.000 Goal Career? 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.000 Laughter. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:50.000 Ideally, I'd like to make a lot of money playing music but realistically I really want to be a high school music teacher. I think that would be a lot of fun. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:53.000 I would like to be a Dietitian. 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:56.000 I'd like to be mayor. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:59.000 Run my own non-profit. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:63.000 Awesome. We'll start with Maria and come back. Number of brothers and sisters? 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:11.000 Five. Two younger brothers. Three. I have one of each, I have a younger brother and a younger sister. 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:15.000 Awesome. Did your parents go to college? 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:22.000 Yes, my dad went to U of O in the 80's and my mom just graduated two years ago. Good for her. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:29.000 My mom graduated from U-Dub a couple of years ago and my dad graduated from La Salle in the 80's. 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:34.000 My dad graduated from Arizona State, my mom graduated from Drake. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:39.000 Nope. I'm the first one. Yes, good. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:43.000 Club or activity you participate in campus. Maria coming this way. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:51.000 All or just one? We're going to allow you to do all, because it's pretty impressive. Or all you can remember right now. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:58.000 I'm the president for Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, I'm the activities director for the Multicultural Student Union, 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:65.000 I've been a service leader to Honduras, Panama, Portland, San Fransisco, and Nevada. And I'm going on my second Honduras one. 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:14.000 I'm part of the student conduct board, let me see, I'm part of the multicultural representative program, mentoring students who are coming in to college 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:20.000 and I'm a tutor for the Upward Bound Program here at Western. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:21.000 Tim to you. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:27.000 Laughter. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:30.000 I've been to one philosophy club meeting. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:36.000 Laughter and applause. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:44.000 However, I do over twenty hours a week volunteering as a high school mentor in my church in Corvallis. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:48.000 And so that's where the bulk of my time goes. Maybe I should invest more in the University. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.000 Laughter. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:59.000 I play volleyball here on campus, I'm really involved with that. I've been involved since I was a freshman. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:68.000 I did a year of German Club and I did a year of coaching last year for Capital City Elite up in Salem. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:18.000 Right now so far the only club I'm involved in is the Jazz rep combo here on campus. And I've been in a variety of student lead groups but that's pretty much it. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:29.000 Okay. All your donors are here. So this is an important one. Your favorite place to study on campus? 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:36.000 Mine's probably in the practice rooms in the music building. It's really quiet because it's like insulated so no one, supposedly no one can hear you from the hallway. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:42.000 And it's really nice, it's really solitary so you can focus in that room. 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:50.000 Third floor of the library, the quiet floor. Same here, when it is quiet. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:54.000 Second floor, alcove area of the library. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:56.000 Well that's great thank you guys. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:60.000 So we're going to go onto our next question. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:11.000 Describe a potential obstacle or something you had to overcome or something that's unique about your story in getting you here to Western? 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:23.000 Okay, one of the obstacles I think was just general apathy. Kind of like one of our donor panel speakers. I didn't want to go to college really. 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:27.000 It was just kind of like I spent enough time in school and I really didn't like high school. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:30.000 The thought of going to college really was kind of not appealing. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:35.000 But the thought of a better future was appealing. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:45.000 So I decided to take the leap to get over myself and to kind of really make a sacrifice to come to school and I'm really happy I did. I think it's been very good for me. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:51.000 So I've been playing competitive volleyball since I was about nine years old. 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:55.000 If you're not familiar with sports and recruiting, you're junior year of high school is really important year for that. 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:60.000 And I was absent my junior year of club, my teem fell apart halfway through the season. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:06.000 So, my dream of becoming a collegiate athlete was I thought it was done. I'd never have another opportunity. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:17.000 So through that I sent out to the coaches, emailed aggressively, really like conversed with a lot of people saying, "Hey I'm not on club team right now but I will be I'm going to get there, I really want this." 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:28.000 And so through my hard work I was able to join club teams, just random teams, and just showcase myself and eventually I got scouted to come here which was my first pick. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:33.000 And yeah, my goal came true. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:41.000 I spent all four years of high school heavily invested in the GROTC program and so I had an aim for the state colleges, I had an aim for the academies. 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:50.000 And when I came to Oregon I was initially at Oregon State University with the Navy program. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:54.000 And I decided after a semester that I didn't want to do the military. 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:60.000 And I just decided that it would be better economically to go to Western 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.000 and I'm grateful I can still be a part of government which is my passion. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:09.000 And it's cheaper. 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:12.000 Something that I've had to deal with was 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.000 when I was in 8th grade I realized I was undocumented. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:21.000 So coming to college, I've always wanted to go to college ever since I could remember even if none of my parents went. 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:24.000 And that was very difficult but 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:29.000 I told my mom, "Mom you need to go visit a lawyer." I made an appointment for her. She went. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:38.000 But I didn't know that I got my documentation until you know the summer before I came to college and you know you have to make connections, you have to make connections and meet people. 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:44.000 And I got my residency and I got the David Brody which is a full ride to Western and it all just kind of happened. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:50.000 And that's why I'm really really motivated to just give back to other people as well. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:60.000 So that was a good kind of answer to our next question. So, how are you going to pay this gift forward? We'll start with you Maria and then come down. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:06.000 Well first thing, I already started my scholarship this year. It's called Every Dream Begins with a Dreamer Scholarship. 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:13.000 And I gave 500 dollars to a high school senior from Upward Bound. And I hope to continue doing that if I have money. 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:23.000 And I'm also going to give back by having my own non-profit that serves as a resource center for Latino families. 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:29.000 I hope initially to volunteer with the alumni association whenever possible if they have needs. 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:36.000 And in the future I think I could see myself giving a scholarship to Western. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:42.000 I plan to pay forward this scholarship by just working really hard in school, making most of the money given to me. 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:49.000 And I really want with my current goal of being a Dietitian that I really want to work with people and better their lives and their quality of life. 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:53.000 Hopefully, I'm able to do that with the money. 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:61.000 I plan on paying this forward by eventually being an educator and encouraging other students who were in my position of not wanting to go to college to really 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:07.000 at least try it and make the effort because you never know what you're going to like. I wish someone had given me a bigger push. 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:14.000 So I didn't have to do much pushing to get these guys up here but it takes huge guts 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:18.000 to stand up here in front of 200 people. Can we give them a huge huge round of applause? 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:28.000 Applause. Thank you. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.000 So I just want to thank you all again for allowing me 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:36.000 to facilitate this wonderful relationship between donor and student. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:41.000 It really is truly an honor and that's what tonight's all about. I hope you got to do that a lot at your tables. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:56.000 And my next privilege is to introduce our last speaker of the night, our ASWOU president Corbin Garner and he's going to say a few closing remarks. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:58.000 Alright thank you Erin. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:64.000 First off, that is an incredible program. The opportunity we get to see donors as students is huge. 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:09.000 A lot of times you're faceless individuals so it's a really really great opportunity to get to know your stories 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:12.000 and why you choose to give to this great institution. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:18.000 And also to see the students, as Erin put it, a really great selection of students that identifies 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:21.000 a pretty good cross section of who we have here at school. 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:28.000 So with that, being in my position as student body president, I really get a unique opportunity to get to know our students. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:32.000 And as was stated here, we have a very diverse group. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:39.000 Diverse doesn't even begin to touch the surface of every aspect of students that we get here be they first generation 00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:43.000 students with disabilities, students of different racial backgrounds. 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:44.000 The list is never ending. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:46.000 And they really come here and find a home. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:52.000 I think that's the most important thing about our students is that wherever they come from, whatever their background, 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:56.000 they really make a home here at Western. I think that's really big. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:59.000 Also in my role, I get to sit on the WOU Foundation board. 00:38:59.000 --> 00:38:63.000 Which has been a really eye opening experience to me to get to see how important 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:06.000 these donor scholarships are. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:12.000 Obviously there's 200 people in this room and that's only a portion of the people that benefit from those scholarships. 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:19.000 So as tuition continues to be a barrier for our students, like they mentioned tuition is constantly raising, 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:23.000 state funding is questionable at best. 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:28.000 Your donations really make it possible for students to overcome that barrier and become educated 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:32.000 and get degrees and move on with their lives so they can give back to our communities. 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:41.000 So, on behalf of all students at Western and myself, I really want to say thank you for all that you do. 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:46.000 So in September, sorry, in September, more than a hundred students 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:54.000 who received scholarships gathered together in appreciation. They as part of the event, made a piece of art. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:58.000 The painting which is right over here. 00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:67.000 The painting symbolizes the long lasting and far reaching imprint impact scholarships have beyond graduation. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:14.000 Just as donors have made an imprint on our recipients here before and coming up 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:20.000 this piece of art was actually made by the thumbprints of the individuals who are showing their appreciation. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:27.000 And tonight, one of you gets to take it home. It's pretty exciting. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:32.000 Got names in a jar. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:43.000 Now if I can get it open. Alright so, mix them up a little bit. 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:48.000 Our winner of this beautiful piece of art is Betty Welty. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:54.000 This is presented by Nichole Larson who is recipient of the Ameritist Society Scholarship. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:58.000 So if you can raise your hand please so we can bring this to you Betty. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:68.000 Applause. 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:10.000 Congratulations and thank you for your donation. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:14.000 Fortunately, that is not the only thing that gets to be taken home tonight. 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:19.000 If you notice there are these beautiful centerpieces as Tommy had mentioned earlier provided to us 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:21.000 by the hard working people at Petals and Vines. 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:30.000 If you look at the back of your programs some of you have a little nifty Petals and Vines sticker. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:35.000 If you have it you'll know. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:45.000 So if you have the sticker it'll be located right here. It'll look like this. 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:48.000 If you happen to be the individual with that sticker 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:52.000 please take home the center piece at the end of the evening. 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:57.000 Also, when we turn the lights back up we ask you to please stay, enjoy dessert 00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:61.000 enjoy your conversation, this is a really unique opportunity to get to know one another. 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:04.000 So again thank you all for your donations 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:08.000 and for students being present here and we look forward to seeing you all again next year. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:12.000 Applause. 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:19.000 Music.