MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University Foundation, in partnership with the art and design department, successfully hosted its second annual Art and Wine fundraiser on Saturday, August 2, raising $25,782, with $11,100 directly benefiting Art and Design scholarships. The endowed Rosa Mendez Memorial Art scholarship will provide annual scholarships for art and design students in perpetuity.
The Art and Wine fundraiser began in 2024 when Cristian Mendez Garcia ’08, currently Western’s Assistant Director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives, approached the art and design department and the WOU Foundation with the desire to donate art. His goals were to highlight the art and design program’s student, alumni, and faculty artwork and raise funds for scholarships.
Mendez Garcia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art, with an emphasis on graphic design and photography, and with a minor in art history. Rosa Mendez Garcia, his mother, worked at Western until she tragically passed away in 2012 from cancer. His siblings, Cinthya Rodriguez Mendez ‘10 and Ignacio Mendez ‘16, also graduated from Western. Mendez Garcia credits his mom for believing in and pushing him and his siblings to pursue higher education as a means for a better future.
“Seeing the incredible artwork created by Western students, alumni, and faculty in one place was amazing, and knowing it was all in support of expanding access to higher education was both humbling and deeply moving,” shared Mendez Garcia. “I’m so grateful to those who helped bring this event to life and to those who took home these beautiful pieces. Each contribution carries forward a cause that was incredibly close to my late mother’s heart. She believed so strongly in the power of education to transform lives, and she made sure I understood the importance of making that opportunity available to others. This event was a tribute to her legacy and to the belief that education should be within reach for everyone.”
The annual Art and Wine fundraiser offers an opportunity for supporters to engage with and bid on art from Western students, alumni, and local community artists. All featured artwork is graciously donated, with 100 percent of the proceeds dedicated to funding art scholarships. This fundraiser ensures future generations of artists at Western receive the financial assistance they need to pursue their passions.
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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. Where YOU belong.
