MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University hosted Polk County’s youth conference earlier this month for the second year in a row. The conference invited all rural Polk County high school juniors to Picture their Future. 

Polk County Family & Community Outreach Department (FCO) Prevention Program’s goal for this conference was to open the students’ minds on what opportunities are available to them after high school. This included hearing from industry professionals about their careers, including Western’s President Jesse Peters.

“It was great to have President Peters speak and for bringing energy to the conference early on. It was really exciting because, for many students, when they can hear from someone in Western’s administration, they feel so welcomed at the conference and on campus,” shared Annie Buse, prevention coordinator at FCO. “We love hosting this conference at Western because students have shared that this is their dream school and for others, until they are on Western’s campus, they don’t know it’s an option for them.”

Western hosts a variety of conferences throughout the year. This conference echoes Western’s commitment to supporting students in their career goals. 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.