Happy holidays, readers! I hope this holiday season finds you healthy, happy and warm with loved ones. Here we are, the last month in 2021, and what a year it has been. My favorite part of the year has been the continuous momentum of having real life humans back on campus and at events as well as well being creative in event planning and engagement. It has been wonderful connecting with alums all over the world via Zoom and social media. Although I am thankful we are getting back to a place of “normalcy” I do appreciate the fact that the last two years has taught us how to be resilient, creative and shown us that anything is possible, it might just look a little different than we initially envisioned. WOU has been at the forefront of Covid-19 testing in Polk county and has done a great job and managing any positive cases. Students have been attending in-person classes since the start of the term and it’s been great watching WOU sports and other performances in person.
This month is the special holiday edition of PawPrints. Some normal sections will be missing but to stay up to date on events and news, check the alumni website at wou.edu/alumni. This month, we will feature celebrations and stats from the year. The regular edition of PawPrints will return in January.
Before we turn the page to another new year, let’s recap November and take a look back on events and happenings.
November Virtual After Hours
For the first time in a few months, we held a virtual After Hours on Tuesday, November 9. It was great to see some familiar faces and check in on folks we have not seen in awhile. In January, we hope to return to in person After Hour events at local eateries and bars. These will be held on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. If you have an idea of a location for one of these events, let us know! Send an email to Emily at lafone@wou.edu.
Senior Kickoff
One of our main goals is student success and on November 16 we hosted an event aimed at doing just that. The Senior Kickoff event was a virtual seminar for our seniors. The event was hosted on Zoom and guest speakers from The Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid, SLCD, Jostens, Grad Programs and Alumni Engagement presented the importance of their departments and explained the services offered. The Seniors asked great questions and received the information they need to be successful for graduation in June.
What to look forward to in 2022-
As we begin planning for the New Year, here are some things you can look forward to:
- Regional “What’s new at WOU” events in Southern Oregon, Central Oregon and on the coast.
- A theater night on campus (date and show are TBD).
- Men’s and women’s basketball alumni nights (dates are TBD).
- Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend in October.
- And more to be planned!
We look forward to seeing you and being together again in the New Year. Happy New Year and happy Holidays! 
