Celebrate Your True Self | March 8, 2024 | 9 am – 2:30 pm

WOU Safe Zone, a campus group of staff, students, and faculty, started this program in 2019 as GSA Day – a one day event on the WOU campus with programming for high school students as well as high school teachers, advisors, and counselors to experience WOU’s inclusive campus and support networks. 

We will host high school groups for a full school day of activities: panels discussing the WOU college student experience, interviews with WOU LGBTQ2SIA+ faculty and staff, campus tours, a keynote address, a provided lunch for all participants, admissions programming, and social networking sessions for students and teachers/advisors/counselors separately to talk about expectations, fears, challenges, and opportunities.

High school students from around the state of Oregon will have time to connect with each other and learn about LGBTQ2SIA+ life from current college students. Visiting students will also gain information and resources on how to be successful as future leaders no matter what they end up doing after high school (even if they lead just by being their authentic selves)!

We invite prospective students at any point in their high school career to attend this visit day. LGBTQ2SIA+ students of all ages who struggle to find community or be affirmed by their families benefit from seeing that college may still be an option for them, and that WOU in particular can be a space where they can get a great education while exploring and being affirmed for exactly who they are. We have heard from high school advisors that after attending our event, students who previously did not apply themselves in school began working hard with the goal of eventually applying to WOU. Prospective students see WOU’s values in action, particularly those of diversity, respect, and empowerment. We have also heard from previous teachers, advisors, and counselors who attended with high school students, that they found this event rewarding and a wonderful resource.

WOU Presents: Celebrate Your True Self Visit Day details at a glance:

Date: Friday, March 08, 2024
Time: 9 am – 2:30 pm (Lunch is provided) 
Location: Western Oregon University, Werner University Center
Free Parking: Lot G (map)

Click Here to Register
Registration Closes: Monday, March 4, 2024

Questions: safezone@wou.edu