Inside Oregon News for and About the People Supporting the University of Oregon Spring
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INSIDE OREGON NEWS FOR AND ABOUT THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON SPRING On Your Marks, Get Set A pursuit of excellence made possible by philanthropy See story, page 16. E10353_Inside Oregon Magazine.indd 1 5/18/2018 3:18:02 PM “ PathwayOregon is going to be a part of me for the rest of my life. So is the INSIDE OREGON university. I hope in a few years I’ll be able to give back to both.” —Cosme Velazquez, BA ’18 Major: Journalism Minor: Latin American studies PathwayOregon scholar GOAL KEEPER For Cosme Velazquez, the ultimate career would be giving play-by-play commentary for soccer matches. But the journalism major is also considering graduate school. Thanks to PathwayOregon, either goal is possible. Or maybe both. A first-generation college student, the recent UO graduate from Creswell, Oregon, doubts he would have attended the university without the PathwayOregon promise—a guarantee to qualified Pell Grant-eligible Oregonians that tuition and fees will be covered for four years. The scholarship program also offers academic and career support, as well as peer assistance programs. As a mentor, Cosme helped fellow students navigate college life. “It’s just a small thing to give back to the program that’s given so much to me and other people,” he says. Dream Granted As a senior at Creswell High School, Cosme was student body president, captain of the soccer team, and cosalutatorian. But, as he puts it, “Going to college was just like a dream.” Cosme’s best friend—the other salutatorian—also received a PathwayOregon scholarship. Neither of them, however, understood the magnitude of what that letter from the UO meant until their teacher explained, “You guys got a full ride.” “We didn’t believe it,” recalls Cosme. “We didn’t think it was true.” The dream of a college degree is also coming true for Cosme’s sister, Elvia, currently a PathwayOregon junior. PHOTO BY CHRIS LARSEN CHRIS BY PHOTO E10353_Inside Oregon Magazine.indd 2 5/18/2018 3:18:11 PM INSIDE OREGON PHILANTHROPY FILES News about donors, gift announcements, and stories about the diff erence donors make. BUSINESS CLASS As if being a full-time business student weren’t enough, Giustina Foundation Presidential Scholar Alyssa Smith crisscrosses the country for her job START IT UP with Future Farmers of America. To Paul Anthony Troiano started date, the Giustina Foundation has Rumblefi sh—a venture that would Fundraising Factoid supported 193 UO scholarship students. become the world’s largest independent For the UO’s inaugural music publisher—from his dorm #DucksGive event in 2016, INSPIRING MINDS room. UO faculty members gave 1,350 alumni, friends, faculty Invest in people, says journalism him crucial support. Now Troiano and staff members answered entrepreneur and UO benefactor is paying it forward through the the call to make a difference, Lorry I. Lokey. Thanks to philanthropic RainMaker Fund, the endowment he unlocking 16 challenge gifts investments from Lokey and other UO set up to help UO entrepreneurs. in the process. In 2017, the donors, the university is recruiting and number of donors increased by retaining top talent on the road to CONSTANT PURSUIT more than 50 percent, helping faculty excellence. OF EXCELLENCE to unlock 40 challenge gifts. Slated to open in 2020, Hayward The tradition continued this Field will set a new standard for year on May 17. To learn more, sports venues, create world-class visit ducksgive.uoregon.edu. training and competition facilities for student athletes, and incorporate new laboratories and research Cover: The new, totally reconceived Hayward Field facilities to better understand the will be funded entirely by potential of human performance. private donations, and is slated for completion in TEN WAYS TO GIVE 2020. See story, page 16. Highlighting opportunities for donors to help the UO and transform lives. INSIDE OREGON Editor Inside Oregon is published by Mailing Address University Communications News for and about Ed Dorsch, BA ’94, MA ’99 1720 E. 13th Ave. Telephone: 541-346-3016 people supporting Writers Suite 312 Ed Dorsch Fax: 541-346-2574 the University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon George Evano Email: [email protected] 97403-2253 giving.uoregon.edu Melody Ward Leslie, BA ’79 twitter: UOGiving Jim Murez E10353_Inside Oregon Magazine.indd 3 5/18/2018 3:18:27 PM CAMPAIGN UPDATE Raised to date as of April 30, 2018 $1.8 Billion $2 Billion • Student support: $334 million • Capital construction and improvements: $298 million • Faculty and program support: $1.17 billion Everyday Impact ow is a great time to be part of the University of Oregon. Thanks to our donors, the future will be even better. As everyone recognizes, our N university is on a steep upward trajectory. In the next few years, our campus will be transformed as we open beautiful new buildings and facilities to serve students and the scores of new faculty members we expect to hire to teach them—all made possible by the generous gifts of loyal and devoted Ducks. One of the most recent acts of generosity will fund the completely reimagined Hayward Field, which you can read about in this edition. You will also read about how donors have stepped up to increase support for faculty members across campus. For example, Lorry Lokey has continued his philanthropy with $10 million earmarked for new faculty chairs in the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientifi c Impact; the Inman, Foo, and Robert families each have taken advantage of a unique challenge gift to establish the fi rst three of as many as 10 Faculty Excellence Chairs. In addition to these headliners, there is another story: how tens of thousands of Ducks like you—nearly 90,000 at this point in our campaign—have done their part, by making gifts of all sizes, creating an impact that is felt every day on our campus: support for scholarships, internships, student employment in the library, and studying around the world; scholarly materials for classrooms and collections for our museums; facilities for athletics; and clinical services through the College of Education. Virtually every nook and corner of campus has benefi ted from the generosity of donors like you. And while your gift serves an immediate purpose, know that it is also an investment in a better future—for our students, and for our world. Thank you for the impact you have made upon the UO, and for your steadfast belief in our university. Michael H. Schill President and Professor of Law [email protected] 2 ACCESS EXCELLENCE EXPERIENCE E10353_Inside Oregon Magazine.indd 4 5/18/2018 3:18:29 PM OREGON LEADERS Outstanding alumni bene t outstanding students The UO honored three accomplished Ducks on Portland’s waterfront, including the tram with the prestigious Pioneer Award, but the linking its new and existing sites. He also real winners are students who benefi t from established connections with clinics around scholarships. the state to improve patient care at local hospitals. This year’s Pioneer awardees included Dr. Joseph E. Robertson Jr., MBA ’97 (general Prior to her retirement, Amy Kari was an business), Amy Kari, BA ’82 (art history), expert at teaching math to students in Amy and Ross Kari and Ross Kari, BS ’80 (mathematics), MBA schools with high percentages of children ’83 (fi nance), who were recognized during from low-income families. The art history the gala and scholarship fundraising event major and graduate of the Robert Donald at the Portland Art Museum on May 17. Clark Honors College has now dedicated her life to service with her community and While honoring the trio, those in the university. She sits on the boards of the attendance also contributed to the Clark Honors College and the College of Pioneer Award Presidential Scholarship Education, mentors student athletes, and Endowment, which has grown to more served on the UO Foundation Board of than $2 million. The highly competitive Trustees. scholarships go to incoming freshman students from Oregon with the goal of Ross Kari, who earned his bachelor’s degree keeping high-achieving students in-state in mathematics and his master’s degree in as Ducks. fi nance from the UO, spent nearly 20 years at Wells Fargo, advancing to executive vice The UO established the Pioneer Award in president and chief fi nancial offi cer. He has 1979 to recognize those who have had a Joseph E. Robertson also served in leadership roles at several positive impact in business, philanthropy, other fi nancial institutions, including the communication, politics, and the arts. This Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation year’s winners certainly fi t the bill. (Freddie Mac), Federal Home Loan Bank Robertson, who graduated from the UO’s of San Francisco, and Fifth Third Bank in executive MBA program as covaledictorian, Cincinnati. He currently serves on the began his residency at Oregon Health and board of Summit Bank and the UO Board Science University in 1979. In addition to of Trustees. being named president in 2006, he oversaw —Jim Murez construction of OHSU’s campus extension 3 E10353_Inside Oregon Magazine.indd 5 5/18/2018 3:18:38 PM Philanthropy Files DONORS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE #DUCKSGIVE AGAIN As a close friend of the UO, you’ve probably already heard about our third annual #DucksGive fundraising challenge on May 17. If you didn’t—or if you haven’t yet seen our video featuring the Duck and UO students—please visit ducksgive.uoregon.edu. In what has become an annual tradition, a large fl ock of Ducks showed their Oregon pride during the university’s third annual giving day. Coinciding with University Day each year, the 24-hour event rallies Ducks via social media to unlock numerous challenge gifts by making pledges.