Pictured LTR: Dawson Officer, Gianni Villanueva, and Director of WOU’s Veterans Resource Center Logan Doerfler
Written by Maureen Brakke
MONMOUTH, Ore. –Western Oregon University has received a new scholarship from 4 Spirits Distillery and 4 Spirits Foundation. The 4 Spirits Veteran Endowed Scholarship will support combat veteran students.
4 Spirits Distillery is based in Corvallis, Oregon, and is owned by Western alumnus Dawson Officer ‘06, who was a business major. His wife, Kelly, is also an alumna and was a math major. This scholarship and distillery honors the memory of four brave combat soldiers with whom Officer served in the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Brigade: Lt. Erik McCrae, Sgt. Justin Linden, Sgt. Justin Eyerly and Sgt. David Roustum. Tragically, they lost their lives while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, between 2004 and 2005. The distillery stands as a tribute to their sacrifice and dedication.
“The 4 Spirits Veteran Endowed Scholarship represents the long-term mission behind 4 Spirits Distillery, which is to support U.S. combat veterans with reintegration after they return home from services, and to educate our communities to support the needs of service members and veterans,” said Officer. “In honor of and dedication to the memories of these four fallen soldiers, this scholarship will provide financial assistance to help current combat veteran students pursue their education, become involved in their communities, and advance their lives.”
First scholarship recipient Gianni Villanueva expresses gratitude for receiving this scholarship. “Life has always been about storytelling, and I’ve never understood the sense of crafting a story that wasn’t my own. Growing up, just being a student wasn’t that impressive anymore, and I felt pressure to be more, and thought, ‘what better way to do that than to enlist’. I did this for me and my loved ones, and as a first-generation student, I get to break the stereotypical cycles that my family had. My goal is to flip that way of thinking and show them and everyone that had a fixed perception of me that greatness can be achieved if you work hard for it.”
Villanueva adds that if you have a goal, present it to the world, and places such as 4 Spirits Distillery will believe in you. He expresses how proud he is of the opportunity to represent the veteran community at Western Oregon University and looks forward to achieving more. “I am honored to be the first recipient of this scholarship and cannot wait to make the 4 Spirits Distillery family proud, my family, my peers, and especially myself, and one day, those after me.”
The scholarship will provide up to $1,500 in funding to a student and may be awarded for successive years upon completion of the application. The scholarship is also part of Western’s Wolves Rising Campaign, which supports the $10 million scholarship fundraising goal.
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About the Veterans Resource Center at Western Oregon University
The Veterans Resource Center at Western Oregon University supports approximately 145 military-affiliated students, including 75 student veterans, by providing a welcoming environment where they can access benefits guidance, academic support, and a strong sense of community. The VRC connects students with essential services, advocates on their behalf, and offers a dedicated space to study, recharge, and engage with others who share similar experiences, all to help them succeed both in and out of the classroom.
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. Where YOU belong.
