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November 2021

Hello, readers. How is fall treating you so far? I hope everyone is healthy, safe and thriving. Campus has been full of life with students, faculty and staff members, and people from the community heading to and from class, attending sporting events and utilizing campus resources. In early October, the food pantry was reopened in its new an improved location in the Welcome Center in a much larger, more inviting space than before. Admissions has been busy giving tours daily to prospective students and their families and the dining hall has been bustling with activity all month. School is back and in full force and it is so great to see people in person while also taking the proper precautions against Covid-19.

October was a very busy month in alumni engagement. We hosted three home football games, Homecoming, had a board meeting and started a new tradition at home games. For a recap of October’s events, keep reading below.

First Home Football Game and Alumni Board Meeting

On a sunny day on Saturday, October 2 the WOU Alumni Board of Directors met during a hybrid meeting under the leadership of the new president, Doug Ladd ’88. Half of the attendees joined via Zoom while the other half were on campus together. At the meeting, goals for the year were set and updates from Foundation Executive Director, Erin McDonough were presented. We also enjoyed meeting new potential board members! Following the meeting, we enjoyed a tailgate in the McArthur Stadium Parking lot and the football game against a Texas team, which we won!

Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend

After missing last year due to the pandemic, Homecoming returned to campus on October 8 and 9. Part of Homecoming this year was the return of the WOU Athletics Hall of Fame, which had been on a four year hiatus. This year, we honored three inductees – Duke Iverson (coaching), Kurt Davis ’71 (wrestling and football) and Katie Torland-Hein ’11 (women’s BxB). Duke passed earlier this year so long time family friend Shane Hendrick accepted the award on Duke’s behalf. The ceremony was held on Saturday morning in the Pacific Room at the Werner Center. Prior to the induction ceremony, guests enjoyed a plated meal from Forks and Corks Catering, coffee and mimosas. Congratulations to our inductees!

Other Homecoming activities included a class of 1970 and 1971 reunion at the Welcome Center, campus tours, an all athlete alumni reception under the stadium, tailgating and the football game. The weather was amazing- brisk but sunny and warm in the afternoon. People were happy to be on campus and come home to Western Oregon University. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet people who haven’t been on campus since graduation. Thank you all, for helping to make Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend special and memorable!

Final home football game

The final of four home football games for WOU is on Saturday, November 13. WOU will play Lincoln University for the first time. Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate and we will be ready to welcome alumni and families at the alumni tents in the parking lot starting at 11 a.m. Come by the tents to grab a beverage, a snack and check out our giveaways. We will be honoring another WOU alum veteran at the break between the first and second quarter and we look forward to an afternoon of fun.

October 2021

Happy October, readers! It’s the month of Homecoming, Halloween, celebrations, the official kick off of fall. Students have moved back into their residence halls and campus is once again vibrant and full of life. Classes started on September 27 — both online and in person. It’s been so nice having life back on campus and seeing people moving around. The first home football game was last Saturday, on the 2nd and this coming weekend is Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend when we play Central Washington University. Get all the information and register today online for Homecoming here.

September was great month, full of activities and getting reacquainted with in person events, seeing more people on and around campus and gearing up for the fall. There is lots to look forward to this month, but let’s take a look back at September’s recap.

President’s Dinner Club

Annually, the Foundation hosts a celebration for donors in the “President’s Club,” who are people who have given $1,000 or more to the university over the past year. This year, due to Covid-19 we changed from a large, in person gathering, to a series of smaller, more intimate dinners and we named them “President’s Dinner Club.” Our first dinner was held on September 14 at Redhawk Winery. It was a gorgeous evening and 30 guests enjoyed a three course meal provided by Wild Pear Catering. It was delightful to see many people we have not seen in awhile due to the pandemic and we look forward to the rest of the dinners.

Fullers Retirement Open House

Rex and Susan Fuller spent five years in Monmouth and Independence as university president and the first lady. Rex retired in June and he and Susan moved to California to be with their children and grandchildren. On Sunday, September 19 they returned to campus for a retirement celebration. Many members of the community and campus came to wish the Fullers well and give their final goodbyes. It was a pleasure working with Rex and Susan and they are missed. We wish them well and hope to see their friendly faces in the near future at events. Thank you for your years of service and dedication, Rex and Susan!

September 2021

Hello, readers. Another month has passed and here we are in September. I know all of you fall and cooler weather lovers out there are celebrating the return of all things pumpkin and flannel. September is the month of beginnings. It’s the start of a new school year, the start of a new season and the start of college football season (my personal favorite). Here on campus we are seeing more and more students, faculty and staff members returning to campus for class and work. Coffee shops are getting busier, parking lots are getting fuller, and the sidewalks are bustling with people. The trees are starting to turn radiant colors of red, yellow, orange, green, and brown, indeed, signs of fall are in the air and it feels so good.

August was spent prepping for fall events and the return of students to campus. There is a ton coming up, check out the WOU calendar of events to see what is happening this month and beyond. For alumni specific events, check out the alumni homepage.

Thirsty Thursday After Hours

A group of about 30 people gathered (socially distanced) at McArthur Stadium on the evening of August 19th for beverages, appetizers and conversation with WOU’s AD, Randi Lydum and some of her staff. WOU hosted this monthly Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce After Hours event and shared information on the upcoming athletics season, plans for attendees, and answered questions from guests. It was a beautiful evening, and so great to see so many friendly faces. We look forward to hosting another event with the MICC in the near future.

August 2021

Hello, readers. How is your summer going so far? I hope everyone remains healthy, happy and you’re able to see your loved ones. Here on campus we are seeing more activity by the week. Small groups are coming onsite for tours through Admissions, athletic teams are practicing and employees are beginning to make their way back to the office. It is wonderful seeing people on campus and catching up with friends and colleagues.

July was quite a month and was the first month we felt things were starting to get back to normal. We were able to host a few events, in person, and the energy was vibrant and alive. It feels so good to come back together and see familiar faces. As things continue to open up and people get out more, we are able to plan more events and bring people together. Check out the website and calendar to stay up to date on happenings, events and networking opportunities. For July events recap, read below and get the scoop.

Wolves Auction Celebration

The annual Wolves auction was successful again this year thanks to donors, sponsors, attendees and the hard working coaching staff at WOU. We are looking forward to coming back together again this spring for the in person version. To celebrate the success of the auction, on July 8 we gathered coaches, sponsors, donors and others together on the rooftop of the Independence Hotel for an afternoon of celebration, thank you’s and coming together. Thank you for helping make this event happen and for your continued support for Wolves Athletics.

Foundation Appreciation Dinner

On the evening of July 15, Foundation staff, current, past and new Foundation board members plus university administration enjoyed a celebration meal at the beautiful St. Josef’s Winery in Canby, OR. This dinner was to introduce new Interim President Dr. Jay Kenton to our foundation champions, and to celebrate and say thank you to the board members who have served on the Foundation board for many years and who’s terms have now ended. It was a gorgeous evening and everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, fantastic wine and great company.

April 2021

Hello readers, I hope you are well and enjoying this lovely spring weather and staying healthy and happy. I love seeing spring pop up and feeling it in the air. The buds on trees, the cherry trees blooming, the vibrant colors surrounding us from bushes, flowers, trees and other flora. It’s a great time of year and always brings hope of new life and new beginnings.

Campus has been getting busier as the year goes on and we get further into spring. WOU is the host site for Salem Health and their vaccination clinic in the Pacific Room at the Werner University Center so many people have been arriving on campus weekly to get their vaccination. Student-athletes have been returning to campus to practice and play. Both softball and baseball have had home games, track and field have hosted a number of events, and volleyball has been playing on the road as well. Football is also practicing and prepping for their spring game and fall season. Spectators are not allowed at games and matches just yet but it is great having our student-athletes back and playing.

March was a whirlwind of a month as we prepped for spring and the return of small, in person events later this year. March’s big news was Giving Day. We are blown away by your continued support and generosity. Through your support and donations we raised more than $200,000 for students and programs on Giving Day! We cannot thank you enough for your donations and helping us surpass our goal by double. THANK YOU, from everyone at the Foundation and on behalf of WOU students. If you’d still like to donate, you may do so though the giving page.

Upcoming events-

On April 23rd we will celebrate the completion of the Dean Jack Morton Memorial Lobby at the WOU Welcome Center. This is an invite only event for people who donated to the lobby project. Small groups will gather to tour the space and all CDC and OHA regulations will be followed to follow Covid-19 protocols.
The annual Wolves Athletic Auction will be held online from May 29 to June 5. Items are available to bid on for a week. You must register online at wouwolves.com to view and bid on items. Help our student-athletes by supporting scholarships and more.
Do you like to golf? Want to support WOU women’s athletics? Save the date for the annual “Wolves on the Green” golf tournament on July 29. This year’s tournament will be held at McNary Golf Club. Get your group of four together and watch for more details to come out soon.

We look forward to seeing you this spring and summer! Be sure to check wou.edu/alumni for updates and events and more. Soon the 2021 Alumni Award of Excellence winner will be announced as well. Stay tuned for great things to come. Take care, Wolves.

March 2021

Happy spring, friends. A lot has happened since last month’s edition. I hope everyone is safe and now has power from the winter storm we experienced in February. What a wild start to 2021! Campus was closed on Friday, February 12 due to ice and snow and then over the weekend freezing rain came in and caused a lot of ice damage. Unfortunately, many trees were damaged and broken in the ice storm. Fortunately we have a dedicated and talented staff of facilities workers here on campus who have been busy clearing and cutting and fixing everything. Thank you to the WOU Facilities Services staff! You are heroes and we love you!

In other news, it’s lovely to see flowers coming up and buds on trees. The smell of spring is in the air and you can catch glimpses of new life budding all over. The track and field teams have been practicing at the track, the choirs have gotten creative and are also utilizing the outdoor space at McArthur Stadium to practice their songs and the sports teams are working out regularly. Campus feels busy and that is a wonderful thing.

Tomorrow, March 2nd is Giving Day. In this special edition of PawPrints you can find information on how to give, matches and challenges happening and more. If you know what you want to give to just click here and make your gift. Thank you for helping us help WOU students and for your donations, we appreciate you!

February 2021

Hello alumni and friends. How is everyone doing with their New Years resolutions? It’s hard to believe we are in the second month of 2021, yet here we are. I hope your year has started off well and you have been able to enjoy the great outdoors and/or do whatever makes your heart happy. Here in the Willamette Valley we are starting to see some signs of spring popping up like daffodils and buds on trees. It’s the promise of new life coming soon and changes on the horizon, my favorite things of all.

January was a month full of planning and prepping for the new year. We enjoyed a great After Hours event on the 12th that featured alumni board member Griffin Bates ’00 sharing tips and tricks to make and keep New Year’s resolutions and goal setting. It’s been great having people from all over the US and beyond join us for our After Hours events. We hope you will join us this month on the 9th.

On the 16th the WOU Alumni Board of Directors met virtually via Zoom for their winter meeting. They enjoyed hearing updates and having a conversation with WOU Foundation Executive Director, Erin McDonough. The next board meeting will be on April 10. If you are interested in learning more about the WOU Alumni Board, contact Emily at 503-838-8710.

There are two great virtual events coming up this month. We have a new Wolves Teaching Wolves class and a fun After Hours event that will include sharing your WOU love stories. Check them out in the newsletter and I hope you tune in.

January 2021

Happy New Year alumni and friends! I hope this year treats you well and has started off on a good note for you. Here on campus winter term started yesterday on January 4. 95% of instruction will be done online for winter term, just like we did in the fall. A decision for spring term instruction will be made later this term.

What plans do you have for the new year? Here in alumni relations we are planning for virtual and hybrid events and look forward to seeing some familiar faces in the very near future. We are continuing with our monthly Alumni & Friends After Hours events on the second Tuesday of the month and we are have introduced a new monthly series- “Wolves Teaching Wolves” which features alumni volunteers showing off their skills and teaching virtual classes for fellow alums. There is a lot to look forward to indeed, but before we get to far into 2021 let’s take a look back at December.

Holiday Tree Lighting

We hope you were able to watch the Holiday Tree Lighting in November but if you missed it, you can watch it here. Special thanks to the Monmouth-Independence Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center for their sponsorship of this very important annual community event.

Wolves Teaching Wolves- How to Make your own Holiday Centerpiece

On December 14 WOU Alumni Board member Betty Crawford ’80 hosted a group of alums via Zoom from her home in Cairo, Egypt. Betty’s class was teaching people how to make centerpieces for the holidays and the results were great! Everyone had a great time and each centerpiece turned out beautifully. Thank you to those who participated and we look forward to seeing you all again at future events.

Alumni & Friends After Hours: Holiday Cheer

The December edition of Alumni & Friends After Hours featured a how to on making one of my favorite holiday cocktails, the cranberry margarita. A group of alumni and friends logged into Zoom on December 15th to watch the cocktail tutorial and share their favorite holiday traditions. It was a pleasure seeing some familiar faces and meeting new people as well. if you want the margarita recipe contact Emily at lafone@wou.edu.

December 2020

Hello alumni and readers. Happy holidays! I hope this holiday season finds you happy, healthy and warm. As we round the corner into a new year I like to reflect on the last year, like many of us do. In the e-newsletter I share some highlights from the year and the success we have had during our virtual events in 2020, be sure to check that section out for some cool information. As crazy as 2020 has been, there has been a lot of good to come out of it as well. I hope your year ahead is full of happiness, prosperity and health.

Hard to believe November is already behind us. It was a busy month but full of fun events and seeing friendly faces on the screen. Get the recap of the month’s happenings below.

Senior Kickoff

On Nov. 10 a group of about 40 eager WOU seniors logged into Zoom to get the scoop on their upcoming graduation. Campus partners such as Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, SLCD and others presented to the group to share what needs to be done within their departments to graduate. The students were engaged and asked poignant, direct questions to make sure they understood what steps to take to graduate. A special thank you goes out to our campus partners who helped make this event happen and to Jostens for logging in and helping us help our students!

Education Career Connect

Alumni Relations and SLCD partnered up to present the latest in the Career Connect series on Nov. 18. A fantastic panel of alumni in the education field joined WOU students to answer their questions and share their professional experiences. The students enjoyed hearing from alumni and how their got into their current careers while receiving advice and getting valuable information from alumni. Thank you to SLDC for your collaboration, we look forward to the next Career Connect event.

November 2020

Hello readers, I hope you are doing well and staying warm and healthy. We have officially entered the holiday season, now that November is upon us. I, for one, am looking forward to time in front of the fireplace sipping a warm beverage, wearing cozy sweaters and scarves, and enjoying all the season has to offer. Do you have a favorite fall tradition when this time of year rolls around? Let us know at alumni@wou.edu, we’d love to hear from you.

As we enter the final two months of 2020 we have lots planned as we say goodbye to what has been a strange year with many twists and turns. November has a few fun events such as an emergency preparedness presentation for the November Alumni & Friends After Hours and the 53rd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting! Both of these events will be virtual and/or live streamed through WOU TV. Make sure to mark your calendars and check them out.

October was a busy month as well. We hosted a few virtual events and enjoyed seeing some new and familiar faces on Zoom. Get the full recap below.

Alumni & Friends After Hours

During the October After Hours event, guests played virtual trivia with WOU Alumni President, Victoria Scholerman. The guest who got the most questions right received a WOU themed gift basket! After Hour events are the second Tuesday of each month and all are welcome to attend. They are currently happening virtually through Zoom but we hope to gather at local bars and restaurants again in the near future. Starting in November, the format for these networking events is changing to lecture style where we will have a guest speaker each month to share expertise and opinions on activities, safety, education, and more. Join us for networking, great conversation and special guest speakers.

Happy Hour with Interim Athletic Director Randi Lydum ’90

On Friday, October 16 a group of about 30 alumni, donors, and friends gathered via Zoom to hear from WOU’s new Interim Athletic Director Randi Lydum. Randi has been part of the WOU family for many years. Randi is a former track and field star who is also in the WOU Hall of Fame, and has been on staff in WOU Athletics for many years as the Compliance Officer and other roles. She was promoted to the Interim position after former Athletics Director, Curtis Campbell took a job in Alabama after being at WOU for several years. During the event on the 16th Randi talked about the future of WOU Athletics, how donors can support the program and asked each coach to talk about their current recruitment efforts and more. It was a fun event, and we look forward to the next event featuring Randi.

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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