Alumni

April showers brings May flowers, right? That’s the old saying at least and so far, it is ringing true. It was a wet April here in the Willamette valley but that’s good news for the mountains, which have record snowpack, the lakes and rivers which are full of water and of course, for nature. How is everyone doing out there? I hope you are all having a good spring so far and have some fun plans for Memorial Day weekend this summer. Speaking of plans, we have quite a few here at WOU and there are tons of fun and exciting events and activities coming up. It’s so good to be back together again and to be able to see each other. Take a peek at what’s coming up including an After Hours on the 10th featuring WOU’s new volleyball coach, the spring game on May 14, the Grand Re-Opening of the ITC building and the Wolves Auction. See the full calendar of events and make your plans to come back. 

April was a very busy month. We hosted a few events, had an alumni Board Meeting, planned for upcoming events and switched into “on” mode for the busy season. Check out the recaps of the month’s highlights. 

Queer Alumni & Ally Reception

On a gorgeous spring day on April 7 a group of folks came together on campus to enjoy drinks, appetizers and each other at the Queer Alumni & Ally Reception. WOU Alumni Relations, Triangle Alliance, Wolf Pride Network and Stonewall Center came together to host this inclusive and fun event for the LGBTQA+ community prior to the drag show. CM Hall ’00 made a few remarks and it was great having everyone together, including our interim president Dr. Jay Kenton in attendance. Thank you for supporting this event, we look forward to more in the future. 

WOU Board Meeting

 The WOU Alumni Board of Directors met for their spring meeting on Saturday, April 9. The meeting was a hybrid style where half of the members called in via Zoom and the others met in person. Discussions included voting on the Alumni Award of Excellence winner, planning for Commencement and summer events, volunteer recruitment and donor appreciation. There are board seats available and we are looking for interested people. If you are interested in becoming a WOU Alumni Board member, email alumni@wou.edu. 

World After WOU:Mentor Mixer 

What’s better than watching people make connections and developing relationships? Not much, especially when it’s students and alumni professionals creating these relationships through mentor opportunities. On April 21, Alumni Engagement and SLCD partnered to put on World After WOU:Mentor Mixer. This event was held at WOU:Salem and included more than 20 alumni/community professionals and 30+ students from WOU. Students were able to find the professionals working in  the careers they are interested in and enjoyed conversation and encouragement. It was a wonderful night of networking and connections. We look forward to the next collaboration event. 

Hello, readers! How is everyone in Wolf nation? I’ll tell you what, campus sure is gorgeous right now. The cherry trees are in full bloom and flowers are blossoming all over campus, painting a perfect spring picture on our beautiful campus.  The weather has definitely been a bit warmer and more inviting because there has been a ton of activity on campus and in the community. Students, faculty and staff members have been outside enjoying the sunshine, and I’ve even seen a few classes being taught outdoors when the weather is nice. Baseball, softball, and track and field are in full swing (pun intended) and its been fun spending some afternoons at the fields. Check out the schedules here.  

March was the official kickoff of the “busy season.” This spring and summer is chalked full of events and happenings both on and off campus. Check out the campus calendar for a full list of events and alumni calendar for alumni specific events. For a recap of March activities, keep on reading. 

Giving Day 2022

On March 1, the WOU Foundation hosted it’s annual Giving Day. Morgan Harris is the new Annual Fund Director and came to WOU in November of 2021. She lead the pack in a successful Giving Day and raised more than $220,000 in just one day! Giving Day is a community effort and takes many generous donors to reach goals. We are thrilled to have raised money for student scholarships and programs and can’t thank our donors enough. Thank you, WOU community, for making our Giving Day a success! We couldn’t do it without you. 

Alumni & Friends After Hours

 Tuesday, March 8 was the return of in person Alumni & Friends After Hours. We kicked off the monthly ritual by staying local and went to Chase Bar & Grill in Independence. A fun group of about 15 folks ate, drank and networked. New friends and contacts were made and it was an all around great time. The next After Hours event will be held on April 12 in Salem at “For Tomorrow we Die Brewing.” We hope to see you and a friend there, we’d love to connect with you! Come get some swag and you may have your beverage paid for as well. 

Hello, readers. I hope this month has started off well for you and you had a great February. March is a great month. There’s college basketball playoffs, the start of baseball season, the end of winter term, the beginning of spring and much more. It’s a month of new beginnings and celebrations, what’s not to like? 

Campus is starting to show signs of new life with buds on trees, daffodils blooming, the scent of springtime and people making their way to and from classes and meetings. It’s a wonderful time of year indeed. Winter term officially ends on March 18 and spring break is the week following. If you have travel and vacation plans for Spring Break, I wish you happy and safe travels and look forward to hearing about your adventures upon your return. 

February was a busy month full of planning, meetings, and prepping for Giving Day and spring happenings. Giving Day has been the main priority of the Foundation for the last few months as we gear up for tomorrow’s big day. Other planning happening includes making plans for regional events, planning the Wolves Athletic Auction, Commencement and other spring and summer happenings. There weren’t any alumni events in February, but we have some coming up in March and May. Be sure to check out the alumni home page for events and opportunities and wou.edu for a full list of events and university happenings.   

Hello, readers. Happy winter! How is everyone doing out there? We have been through pretty much all the winter weather possible here in the valley – ice, snow, rain, sun, so who knows what the rest of the season has in store. What’s your  favorite part of winter? Have you been sporting your WOU gear on the mountains while skiing, snowboarding or snow shoeing? If so, send us some pics! We’d love to see our Wolves in the Wild.

Campus has been busy with classes, athletics events, extracurriculars and community events. It has been wonderful seeing people and students on campus and feeling the robustness that all of that brings to the environment. Winter will end in the next month or so and spring will arise, bringing new life once again in the form of flowers, leaves, students and more. 

January was a month of planning, reflection and goal setting. The WOU Alumni Board of Directors met on January 8 for their winter meeting. At that meeting, three new board members were voted in: Bobby O’Donnell ’88, Corey Meisch ’99 and Shelia Lorance are the newest Alumni Board Members. There are still seats available, if you are interested in learning more, contact Emily at 503-838-8710 or lafone@wou.edu. 

The Foundation is busy gearing up for Giving Day, which is Tuesday, March 1. The new Annual Fund Officer, Morgan Harris, has been working hard to make the day successful and raise awareness. Giving Day is the 24 fundraiser for WOU. You can give to anything you want, or to the Fund for WOU, which covers multiple areas. To make your gift visit wou.edu/give. 

Watch the calendar for updates on events and campus happenings. Things change quickly and often so be sue to check the calendar and wou.edu before coming to campus or attending an event. We hope to see you soon and wish you well.  

Hello, readers, Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was joyous and filled with fun, food, family and friends. As we begin 2022, we have the opportunity to reflect back on the last year and set goals and priorities for the year in front of us. This year we look forward to seeing more of you in person at events and around the university and hopefully having more of you from around the globe tune into our virtual After Hour networking events. We plan on hosting more alumni events in regions outside of Salem, Monmouth and Portland and will be introducing the new president later this year as well. There is a lot brewing for WOU in 2022 and we can’t wait to see you. 

Regions we plan on visiting this year include: 

• Albany 
• Central Oregon 
• Eastern Oregon
• The Gorge 
• Idaho 
• Central coast 
• Texas (with the new move to the Lone Star Conference) 

Events to look forward this year include: 

• A campus musical or theater performance 
• The Wolves Athletic Auction 
• Wolves on the Green Golf Tournament 
• What’s new at WOU receptions in many regions 
• Monthly After Hours events in various regions 
• Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend 
• Giving Day 
• Much more to come! 

Cheers to starting a new year and to new adventures, we can’t wait to reconnect with you this year. 

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!  

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.  

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. 

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.