Hello alumni and friends!  Happy September. September is one of my favorite months. I love the temperature, I love the leaves starting to turn, I love the back to school hoopla and just everything that comes with this season. Especially here in Oregon, we have special falls and there is just something in the air. 

I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. There have been campus updates available to read here. Fall term will now be 95% online and all fall sports have been suspended until November 30. Read more about athletics here.  We will do our best to keep you informed and engaged as more details are released. 

If you have questions about the plans for fall, university happenings or general questions about WOU and what’s going on, on campus, be sure to tune into the Q & A with President Fuller on Wednesday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m. He will address your questions via Zoom and have a candid conversation about plans, WOU, our students and more. Register for this event by September 8 to get the event link emailed to you. 

Thank you for your continued support and love for WOU. We can’t thank you enough for everything you do and we look forward to the days when we can come together again as a wolf family in person. Until then, stay safe and stay healthy. 

Happy summer readers! We have made it to August! The big news from the West Coast was the comet Neowise that was spotted throughout the month of July. If you were one of the lucky ones to spot the bright comet, did you get any photos? I’ve seen some amazing images taken and that has been a nice distraction from all that is COVID. 

July kind of flew by between celebrations on the Fourth, camping trips and family activities. We spent the month planning for the rest of summer (the best we can given the circumstances) and into the fall. We are hopeful some fall events will be in person, in small groups but we will know more soon and will keep you all posted the best we can. For now, there’s plenty to look forward to in August, like the After Hours that will take place on August 11. 

Alumni & Friends After Hours (Virtual)

One event that took place in July was the monthly After Hours event, which are now virtual so people from all over the world can join!  July’s topic of conversation was favorite summer activities. Attendees shared their favorite summertime hobbies and activities in a lively conversation via Zoom. Alums from all over Oregon and other states joined the conversation from the comfort of their own homes! It was so fun to connect with our alumni from their homes, we look forward to many more virtual After Hours. 

Hello loyal readers and friends. I hope this blog finds you well and thriving. What a whirlwind the last few months have been! Most of WOU has been working remotely from their homes with the exception of several departments like our mail room, facilities services, president’s office (half days on campus), and our housing and dining folks.To those workers who have been on campus daily and caring for our essential activities and students, THANK YOU! We all look forward to returning to campus and seeing everyone in person, versus through a computer screen. How are you all doing? We’d love to hear from you, send us an email anytime at alumni@wou.edu.

We look forward to returning to campus and seeing everyone in person, rather than on a computer screen. How are you all doing? Any good news to share? We’d love to hear from you. Please send us a note at alumni@wou.edu.

Living in a virtual world hasn’t prevented us from hosting a couple of great events in May. I believe this moment in history has taught us that we are resilient, and if there is a will, there is definitely a way! In June, the WOU Foundation is hosting a virtual wine tasting event for a fundraiser for our Howl from Home initiative to raise money for Emergency Student Aid. Learn more about our fundraising initiatives here. Celebrate the success of WOU graduates by attending the virtual Commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13.

What’s new at WOU- Virtual Events

WOU Alumni Relations and the WOU Alumni Board hosted two virtual interactive events in May. President Rex Fuller was the guest of honor and talked about the current construction projects happening on campus and took questions from people via Zoom. The questions were insightful, interesting and great conversation topics. Most of them were in relation to what WOU is doing with the COVID-19 pandemic and what campus, athletics, classes and more will be like in the fall. Other questions asked about budget, caring for our students, faculty and staff and how everyone is doing. We had alumni join the conversation from Texas, Egypt, California, Alaska and other locations! It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and have great discussions with our alumni, friends and supporters. We will host more of these events in the future. If you missed the May events, you will have another chance this summer. Thank you to those who tuned in and for your great questions. We enjoyed speaking with you. 

Career Connect Event 

On May 13, Alumni Relations and Service Learning and Career Development teamed up to host “Finding a Job During an Economic Downturn” virtual event. Three alumni who graduated in 2007 and 2009 during the last recession were guest panelists and shared their experience in finding a job during a recession. WOU students tuned in and submitted their questions to the panelists regarding what they wanted to know and to receive some advice. The conversations were great, and the participants left feeling encouraged and excited for their future. Thank you to our fantastic panelists and thank you to the students for your insightful and fun questions. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future. 

Hello readers and happy spring! How is everyone fairing in the new normal? Have you found unique and fun ways to stay connected with others and continue to be occupied while staying home amid the pandemic?

Personally, I am enjoying learning new technology skills on various virtual platforms to connect with colleagues, friends, board members and others. Let us know what creative ways you are connecting with people or using your time. We love knowing what our alums are doing.

March events update- 

Thank you to everyone who attended the alumni choral reception and the Art and Wine Walk in March. Both events allowed us to show our support for our amazing students.

Alumni and choir fans gathered on March 10 at Crush Wine Bar for food, drinks and conversation with Dr. James Reddan, as an assistant music professor and director of choral activities, prior to attending the spring concert, “We Shall Overcome.”

WOU’s choral ensembles–Concert Choir and Chamber Singers– were nothing short of fantastic. WOU’s music program is truly incredible and not to be missed. Reddan is looking forward to his three choral ensembles attending the World Choir Games in Europe this summer – pending quarantines have been lifted due to COVID-19.

More than 300 people attended the Art and Wine Walk, hosted and sponsored by the WOU Foundation on March 11. The weather was amazingly perfect for March – sunny with blue skies. Guests enjoyed walking to the six venues to view the artwork by the late Alfred Maurice, a WOU benefactor and honorary faculty member. The proceeds from the event go to the J. Dolores and Alfred P. Maurice Endowed Challenge Prize, a contest for undergraduates who complete a year-long project in quest for a $5,000 prize. For more information on the event and Maurice Challenge, click here. 

Supporting our students and friends- 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the university has kept students, faculty, staff members, visitors and alumni informed with what’s happening, including the plans for spring term and Commencement, Learn more by visiting this website. 

This is a challenging time for everyone as we learn together how to navigate the normalcy of our lives. What truly helps is when we provide one another encouragement. At a time when everyone is searching for ways to make a difference, we have a suggestion. Send us your bits of wisdom or positive stories that we can share on WOU’s social media platforms. If you have something small or big that will bring smiles to people’s faces, send us an email at alumni@wou.edu. Follow WOU’s social media accounts including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Happy spring, alumni and friends. Not to be too cliché but spring has definitely sprung on campus. The cherry trees are dazzling pinks and whites, the daffodils are brilliant yellows and the aroma of all the flowers means spring is definitely in the air! I encourage everyone to visit campus and see how beautiful it is here.

We’ve been blessed with some amazing early spring weather and sunshine. It’s fun to see students, faculty, staff and visitors soaking up the rays on the patios, plazas and lawns. There’s definitely a spring in everyone’s step as winter term winds down. In March, student have final exams, spring break plans and the start of spring term.

Although February was a short month, (Happy Leap year!) there was a lot packed in it. We enjoyed meeting new alumni and seeing familiar faces at events and had some great evenings together. Read below for recaps of February events and happenings. Be sure to check out March and April events and register early to save your spot! 

Alumni & Friends After Hours 

On Feb. 11, a group of alumni and friends took over the Westside Taphouse in West Salem for our monthly gathering of networking with friends. More than 20 people enjoyed great conversation and pizza, courtesy of WOU Alumni Board members, and beverages. This was the largest group we’ve had at an After Hours event since its inception in 2019. Thank you for helping to make these monthly gatherings successful and fun! We look forward to seeing you at the next one Tuesday, March 10! 

**We are looking for alumni to host After Hours events! If you are interested in hosting, contact Emily at 503-838-8710 or send an email to alumni@wou.edu.

What’s new at WOU- Portland & Alumni Night at the Winterhawks

On Feb. 21, we enjoyed two great events in Portland! The first event was a “What’s new at WOU” reception at the Doubletree Hotel. At this reception, guests enjoyed an open bar and great food. There was a drawing for fun prizes, and WOU President Rex Fuller shared with guests “What’s new at WOU.” He answered questions and visited with alumni who had not been to other events. It was a fun event, and we enjoyed visiting with all the guests. The second event that evening was an alumni adventure to the Winterhawks game! A group of 35 alumni and friends sat center ice at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and watched a super fun hockey game between the Portland Winterhawks and Seattle Thunderbirds. The Winterhawks won the game, but it was a hard fought battle until the end. There was plenty of checking and even a fist fight among two players! We were welcomed to the game with Winterhawks rally towels for each guest and an announcement on the big screen. We will definitely do this event again! 

Thank you for attending alumni events and supporting WOU! 

Greetings alumni and friends. Here we are a month into the year 2020. Did you have a good January and follow through with some of your goals and/or resolutions? I know for me personally it took a few weeks to write ’20 on my dates instead of ’19. Campus was quiet for the first week while the students and some faculty and staff were away for break. When classes started on January 6 it felt busy, full and boisterous- it was great having everyone back and things back to normal. January was a busy month aside from welcoming students, faculty and staff back to campus. We hosted a few events and held the first alumni board meeting of the year. Check out the event recaps below and be sure to check out what’s coming up this month and beyond. 

WOU Alumni Board of Directors Winter Meeting 

On Saturday, January 4 the WOU Alumni Board of Directors met on campus for their first meeting of 2020. Topics of discussion included upcoming events, past events, committee reports, goals and outreach strategies. We also welcomed a new member to the board, CM Hall ’00! This year we will continue to host the monthly After Hours events on the second Tuesday of each month in various locations and we will also focus on outreach and engagement with alumni in and beyond our communities. It’s going to be a great year, be sure to check out a local After Hours in your neighborhood! 

**Interested in hosting an After Hours event? Reach out to Emily at lafone@wou.edu and we’d love to share the process with you! We’re always looking for new locations and new, fun hosts. We will hook you up with swag and instructions. 

Alumni Appreciation Night at WOU Basketball

It was a rainy and wet evening in Monmouth on January 23, as many January days are. Starting at 4:45 p.m. fans gathered in New PE for the women’s game which tipped off at 5:15 p.m. and the crowd grew as the men’s game drew near for a 7:30 tip-off. WOU Alumni Relations was onsite handing out free tickets, t-shirts, swag and connecting with alums who attended the games for “Alumni Appreciation Night at WOU Basketball.” Overall there were 36 alumni who attended either the men’s, women’s or both team’s games that evening and it was fun seeing new and familiar faces. Both teams unfortunately lost that evening but both games were played hard and came down to the last few minutes of the game. 

Family Weekend

WOU hosted it’s annual Family weekend on January 24 – 26. More than 180 families registered for the weekend’s activities and it was fun seeing all of the families around campus and in the community. On The evening of January 24 WOU Alumni Relations hosted a dessert bar at the Family Weekend trivia show in the Pacific Room. We had a table and offered free swag items to both family members and students and had a chance to talk with parents. It was a fun evening and great seeing the smiles, laughs and hearing stories from families. 

Men’s Basketball Alumni Night 

On Saturday, January 25, WOU Alum and former Alumni Award of Excellence winner Dr. Lance Marr ’90 worked with WOU athletics to host the 9th annual Men’s Basketball Alumni Night. Lance has worked on this evening for many years and does w wonderful job getting alumni to come back and contribute to the Bradshaw basketball Scholarship. We are thankful for Lance and all of his hard work. This year the event raised just over $91,000 which will all be used for men’s basketball scholarships and operations. Thank you to those who contribute and for your continuous support to WOU athletics. 

Happy New Year to you! We are grateful for the support of WOU alumni and friends. Thanks to you, we accomplished a great deal in 2019, and we are eager to do even more to celebrate the university’s achievements and its alumni in 2020. I am amazed how the time has flown as we say goodbye to 2019 and welcome 2020. I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. If you would like to share your family or pet photos from the holidays, we would love to see them and add them to our Wolves in the Wild album on Facebook. Just send your photos to me. 

As we start a new decade, I wonder if people still make New Year’s resolutions? If so, what are your resolutions and how do you plan on keeping them? My resolutions are to be more engaging and inclusive while also connecting with more alumni through various events and activities in 2020. If you have an idea for an alumni event, please contact me at lafone@wou.edu. 

December was a bit of a blur with so much happening at work and on campus. Students completed their fall term finals in mid-December, and then they were off to celebrate winter break. Many university faculty and staff vacated campus following finals to enjoy a long vacation until winter term started on Jan. 6. 

2020 is already shaping into an exciting year as more and more events and activities are confirmed and planned. The first three months will be busy including:

• Alumni Appreciation Night at WOU Basketball on Jan. 23
• WOU Night at the Winterhawks and What’s New at WOU: Portland on Feb. 21
• WOU Choral Alumni Gathering on March 10. 
• Alumni and Friends After Hours events will continue to be held on the second Tuesday of the month in various locations. 

I am excited to announce a new event in 2020 – WOU Learning Labs! I look forward to seeing you at WOU alumni events. It’s going to be an exciting 2020.

As we wrap-up 2019, let’s take a look at what happened in December.

Holiday Tree Lighting

The holiday spirit was shining bright as hundreds of people gathered on Dec. 6 to celebrate WOU’s longest beloved tradition, the annual lighting of the giant sequoia in front of Campbell Hall on Monmouth Avenue. The ceremonial lighting of the sequoia was preceded by a parade. There were more parade entries than ever before and the floats were fabulous! There were lots of lights, sirens, cheers and waves from the crowd, especially when Santa Claus was spied riding on a fire truck. WOU Alumni Relations staff members provided hot cocoa and cider to families, and collected donations for WOU’s Food Pantry. Thank you to the volunteers from the WOU Board of Directors for staffing the beverage tents and filling cups of hot cider and cocoa for the crowd! We couldn’t do it without your help! Following the tree lighting, the crowd flocked to the Werner Center to enjoy performances of the local choirs, decorate cookies, and visit Santa Claus. Gentle House hosted its annual “Wine, Music and Warmth” event where people enjoyed live music, wine tasting featuring Chateau Bianca, cookie decorating and food. It was truly heartwarming to visit with so many cheerful people celebrating WOU’s holiday traditions.

Hello and happy December, alumni and friends! I hope your Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful and you enjoyed time with family and friends. I hope the holiday season brings health, happiness and joy to you. The first deep freeze has happened at WOU, so I guess that means winter has officially arrived. 

Our students, faculty and staff are preparing for the end of an amazing fall term. This week is prep week and next week is finals week, which will lead into winter break. Students and faculty members will return to campus for the start of winter term on Jan. 6. The winter athletic teams are off to a great start. The men’s basketball team is currently undefeated with a 5-0 record. 

The men play at home against Corban University at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and the women play at home at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16. For additional information on WOU athletics and upcoming events, visit GO WOLVES. In January, there will be musical and theater performances happening on campus. Be sure to visit WOU to get the latest on performances, happenings and athletic events. 

There are many traditions at WOU and one that I look forward to every December is the Holiday Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. I will be serving hot chocolate near The Cottage so please stop by and say hello. Here’s a recap of the events that took place in November. 

Alumni & Friends After Hours 

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, more than a dozen alumni  gathered at Gilgamesh Brewing-The Woods for great conversation, delicious food and drinks and trivia. It was the monthly After Hours, hosted by WOU Alumni Board members. These events are hosted at various locations every second Tuesday of the month and all are welcome. Guests enjoyed connecting with one another and meeting new friends, as well as spending time with old friends. Thank you to Gilgamesh for hosting our group and for their wonderful service. December’s After Hours will be held at f/Stop Fitzgerald’s in Salem. After Hours is 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 and are free to attend. Food and beverage purchases are on your own but each attendee gets entered into a drawing for a fabulous door prize and there are always giveaways for all to take home. Hope you can join us in December!

Senior Kickoff

As the newest batch of soon to be WOU grads navigates their final year at WOU, there is much to learn and know about the steps to take to graduate. On Thursday, Nov. 14, WOU Alumni Relations hosted the annual Senior Kickoff, which included dinner, giveaways and a brief presentation from campus departments about the essential steps students must complete for graduation. Financial aid shared tips and tricks to get debts paid off, The Registrar’s office shared the top 10 things seniors must do in order to graduate and SLCD shared resources available to current students and alumni. Jostens was onsite to share the dates of the grad fair in the spring and to show off some of the trinkets graduates can buy to commemorate their time at WOU. All of the information was shared with students anticipating graduation sometime this academic year and helped them prepare for commencement. **We will host another event like this in the spring, so those who missed the fall session will have another chance to participate. 

November 2019 

Greetings alumni and friends. Happy holiday season! Have you had any snow where you’re at yet? We have not had any here yet but it’s been darn cold at night, we’ll see what the next few months bring. All of our trees have basically shed their leaves so our grounds department has been busy blowing leaves, picking up limbs and keeping our campus pristine. They work hard to keep WOU beautiful, shout out to our Facilities team! October was a super busy and super fun month. Read below to get recaps on events and happenings from October.

Hood River/The Gorge Alumni Gathering

It’s always a joy to return to The Gorge to host a WOU alumni event. On Oct. 1, alumni and friends gathered at the Hood River Best Western, where we enjoyed beautiful views of the unusually calm Columbia River, and visited while having great food and tasty drinks. Many of the folks were former or current educators and it just so happens that I am an alum from the Hood River County School District so it was so fun seeing former teachers and coaches. President Rex Fuller and Susan Fuller welcomed guests and President Fuller shared “What’s new at WOU” and answered questions from the audience. All attendees were engaged and energized and ranged in age from 2016 grads to 50 year+ grads. It was truly a fun evening, we can’t wait to come back! Thanks for coming, Gorge folks, we look forward to seeing you again in the future. 

“What’s new at WOU- Eastern Oregon” 

Following the Hood River/Gorge alumni gathering, we headed up the road to Hermiston where we hosted another “What’s new at WOU” event with our alumni. The event was held at Maxwell Event Center on Oct. 3, where more than 20 guests enjoyed an evening of great food, open bar, wonderful discussion, networking, and hearing from President Fuller. The room echoed with conversations from guests and the service we received from the event staff was excellent. This was the second event we’ve held in Hermiston in the last four years and it was so great seeing some familiar faces and meeting new friends. Thank you for coming out on a Thursday night, we enjoyed our time with you and look forward to seeing you again in  the near future.   

Homecoming and Wolves Reunion Weekend 

What a weekend it was! More than 100 people attended Homecoming weekend events and enjoyed laughs, sharing memories, walking down the hallways of their former residence halls and classrooms and so much more. Our Golden Wolves- the class of 1969- had a great time wearing their Golden Wolves gear and looking at pictures of themselves and former classmates. President Fuller spoke at the luncheon and and answered questions from the audience. He also attended the Athletics reunion and the breakfast on Saturday, where he and Athletic Director Curtis Campbell said a few words on the state of our athletics and university. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped make this weekend fun and a huge success and for all of the alumni who returned to campus to celebrate with us. It was truly a treat to spend time with you and see your smiling faces at the Homecoming events. Be sure to check out the videos in the e-news for recaps and more.