Empty Nest Newsletter - Spring 2022

Oregon Tech has a new service for our students, your child. It is the Community-Based Student Resources Coordinator. This is a service that is in place for your student to “Bridge the Gap” and to help ensure student success while attending Oregon Tech.  

The Community-Based Resources Coordinator is here to assist with the following:

• Food Insecurities – Apply for Oregon Food Stamps and/or get a Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank Card.
• Off-campus Housing Issues – Assist with finding resources for housing and navigating systems.
• Health Insurance – Apply for OHP.  If the student is already on OHP helping to determine if they would benefit from switching their current CCO to their school community (Klamath Falls or Portland-Metro).
• Obtain eye exams and eyeglasses if necessary.
• Other individual needs as they arise.

Contact: Catie Peterson | College Union, Student Involvement and Belonging Offices | catie.peterson@oit.edu | 541.885.0194
 

Student Involvement & Belonging and the Integrated Student Health Center promoted Mental Health Awareness Month through the Oregon Tech App. The app information included information on how to schedule a free appointment with a Mental Health Counselor, mental health tips, articles on living a healthy lifestyle, funny fiction book list, local places that are great for relaxation, and resources for financial support. 

Greetings from Housing and Residence Life! Our residential students are in the thick of midterms and choosing where they want to live for the upcoming academic year. And they have been marveling at our mercurial weather in the Basin with several days of snow falling throughout spring term. Even though it continues to snow, the daffodils are in bloom, and the plum tree at the front of the Residence Hall regaled us with its gorgeous pink blossoms.

The week of May 16-20 saw the return of Spring Fling! This is a week where the student governing body in Housing and the student staff host several activities to help our students enjoy the outdoors and each other’s company through food, and other games and festivities. 

All current residents who have completed their housing and meal plan applications for the 2022-2023 academic year are getting the chance to Choose My Room! The Village filled up quickly, but current students who had their housing and meal plan contracts completed in time can re-visit the housing portal until May 20 to change their room choice as many times as they would like. Our incoming students turn to choose a room will open in July! On-campus housing is a popular option for many Oregon Tech students at the Klamath Falls campus. More information will be coming soon to our incoming students inboxes with details about how they can choose where they want to call home for the 2022-2023 academic year. 

Finally, Spring term marks the end of our academic year in June and the time when we say “Aloha” to our residents who are graduating or heading to other places for the summer. Mark your calendars now for June 11, 2022 as this is the final day of the 2021-2022 housing contract. Only students who have a summer contract can stay in on-campus housing after 4 pm on June 11, 2022. Summer housing is an option for students who are taking summer classes or working on campus over the summer. Students can apply now to live on campus for summer 2022, just visit www.oit.edu/housing and click the blue APPLY button. If your student has a housing contract with us now, they don’t need to pay the deposit again, it is taken care of. It is never too early to make plans with your student for move out and summer term! If you have any questions about closing or any other activities going on in Housing Spring term, please call our office at 541-885-1094 or email us at housing@oit.edu.
 

This year, Oregon Tech plans to hold Commencement in-person, with two ceremonies on our Klamath Falls campus and one ceremony on our Portland-Metro Campus.

College of Health, Arts, & Sciences on Friday, June 10 at 2 pm.

• Departments include: Applied Mathematics, Communication Studies, Dental Hygiene, Humanities & Social Sciences, Medical Imaging Technology, Natural Sciences, Nursing, Respiratory Care

College of Engineering, Technology, & Management on Saturday, June 11 at 10 am.

• Departments include: Business, Civil Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering Technology,  Electrical & Renewable Engineering, Geomatics, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Technology

Portland-Metro Commencement will be on Sunday, June 12 at 2 pm.

Commencement is an important way for students to mark the completion of this part of their education. Faculty members look forward to sharing it with you, your student, your family, and your friends.

SPRING 2022

6/10/22	Final Payment Plan payment due (or ANY remaining balance)
6/10/22	Last day of Spring Term
6/13/22	Late fees assessed on accounts with past due balances greater than $99*
6/13/22	Interest assessed on balances over 30 days @ 1%/month
6/13/22	Final Spring Statements generated (available on Transact Payments June 14)
*Only one late fee per student per term will be charged.

Spring Term 2022

Date	Event
May 30	Memorial Day holiday
Jun 3	Last day to completely withdraw
Jun 6-9	Final Exams week
Jun 10	Spring Term ends
Jun 10-11	Klamath Falls Commencement
Jun 12	Portland-Metro Commencement
Jun 14	Seattle Commencement

 

Summer Term 2022

Date	Event
May 2	Registration for Summer Term
Jun 20	Classes begin
Jun 24	Last Day to use Web for Student for all registration changes
Jun 28	Last day to drop without a "W" must request by 5pm
Jul 4	Independence Day holiday observance
Jul 25	Last day to withdraw from an individual course
Aug 5	Last day to completely withdraw from university
Aug 12	Summer Term ends
First 4-week Session
Jun 20	Classes begin
Jun 22	Last day to drop without a "W" must request by 5pm
Jun 24	Last day to use Web for Student for all registration changes
Jul 6	Last day to withdraw from an individual course
Jul 15	First 4-week session ends
Second 4-week Session
July 18	Classes begin
Jun 24	Last day to use Web for Student for all registration changes
Jul 20	Last day to drop without a "W" must request by 5pm
Aug 2	Last day to withdraw from an individual course
Aug 12	Second 4-week session ends

As the year begins to wind down remember that classes are still chugging along with finals and the end of the year is approaching fast! 
Here are five tips to help YOU get your student to the end of the year:
1.    If your student mentions struggling with classes, there are resources at Oregon Tech to help them:  

• Peer Consulting Service (Tutoring)
• Learning Resource Center (Library)
•  Mention they should contact their professors or classmates to gain extra help

2.    Remind them that you care and are here for them
3.    Highlight the benefits of sleep and how important sleep is to function
4.    Encourage stress relief options (Taking frequent breaks while studying, eating plenty of meals and staying hydrated, and start studying weeks before the exam)
5.    Send an encouraging text message/phone call or care package to them

Finals and the end of the year can take a toll on a student’s self-confidence. When your student starts doubting their abilities, let them know you believe in them and are unfailingly proud of their hard work and dedication. You can also shift the focus from a grade earned in a particular class to the big picture: their long-term goals and all that they are accomplishing here at Oregon Tech.

We are so proud of our graduating seniors and we look forward to finishing the term strong!
 

Peer Consulting Services offers FREE academic support to all students of Oregon Tech. The mission of Peer Consulting Services is to champion academic success by providing services and resources that foster the development of personalized learning. Peer Consultants provide tutoring type services that help students develop effective learning strategies as well as guidance for understanding concepts and solving problems.

In-person Peer Consulting sessions are held downstairs in the Learning Resource Center and can be scheduled at the student's convenience utilizing the Consulting Scheduler in TECHweb.

Students can also access online support by utilizing TutorMe. TutorMe is a FREE service for Oregon Tech students that provides Live Lesson tutoring on 300+ subjects available 24/7. TutorMe also provides Writing Lab services that allow students to upload any paper and receive feedback within 12 hours guaranteed. 

To make an appointment for a Peer Consulting session or to access TutorMe services, please visit https://techweb.oit.edu/students/peer-consulting
Peer Consulting Services strives to strengthen skill building, enhance understanding, and achieve learning outcomes both in-person and online. For more information, please email peerconsulting@oit.edu or call (541)851-5226.  
 

 

Peer Consulting Portland-Metro hosted weekly drop-in study events to help students connect and utilize this fantastic free resource. 

Career Services hosted many in-person and virtual events this spring.

For the first time since 2020, Career Services hosted an in-person career fair for Engineering & Technology majors on the Portland-Metro campus on April 7th.  The event was attended by 24 employers and over 55 students! We were also able to host a virtual Business, Government, & Non-Profit fair for students for all campuses on April 13th.  Unfortunately, our Klamath Falls Engineering & Technology fair on April 14th was canceled due to poor weather conditions. However, several employers visited campus and met with students in Engineering majors. During Winter term and the first half of Spring term, Career Services hosted 18 employer events either virtually, on the Klamath Falls or Portland-Metro Campus!

Career Services also hosted the annual Professional Etiquette Dinner on May 4th.  This year, we were excited to host the event on-campus!  Students received a gourmet dinner and many tips and tricks on navigating the intricacies of formal business events. Students received guidance from guest speakers and table hosts, which was comprised of faculty and administrative staff. The evening was capped off with a presentation of professional padfolios to all students in attendance.

To help students prepare for the Spring Career Fairs, Career Services hosted two all-day resume review marathons, one at the Portland-Metro Campus, and one at the Klamath Falls campus. Students can book an appointment with Career Services for individualized support anytime using Handshake or emailing career@oit.edu.

Handshake is a unique tool for our students because all the jobs posted on the platform are received from employers hoping to specifically recruit Oregon Tech students. When students fill out their Handshake profile, Handshake will give personalized job recommendations that match their interests and skills. In addition, the Handshake platform is also used to apply for on campus student employment, register for virtual and in-person events, and schedule appointments with the Career Services Team.

Summer is a great time for students to focus on their resumés and other career planning. We highly encourage students to make appointments with our staff throughout the summer.  Students can also visit our online Canvas course called “Internship and Job Search Resources” where they will find extensive information on resumé building, writing cover letters, job and internship searching tips, building a LinkedIn profile, and much more!

Each month, the alumni newsletter and website feature an Alumni Spotlight story, highlighting alumni who are doing great things in their careers and for their communities. These exemplary models of Oregon Tech graduates bring us so much pride and are inspiring for current and future students. Recently we featured Jessica Kinman ‘17, a graduate from our Seattle Boeing program who is this year’s Recent Alumni Achievement recipient; Sean Gates ‘03, who attended the Portland-Metro campus and works for Rivian, creators of electric trucks; and Loriene Roy ’77, who graduated with two degrees from Oregon Tech in Medical Radiologic Technology but later went on to earn a master’s and doctorate in library sciences. Loriene is this year’s Distinguished Alumna award recipient. Read about these and more owl-mazing alumni at: https://alumni.oit.edu/connect/spotlight 

We received a total of 56 Student Award nominations this year.  After long deliberations, the Student Awards Commission members selected the following students for awards:

University Wide Awards

• Graduate Student Achievement – Justin Echternacht
• Most Dedicated Student – Daniel Craig
• Outstanding Non-Traditional Student – Pam Jackson
• Owens Citizenship – Elizabeth Wright
• Oregon Tech Pride – Rowan Parker
• Student Achievement – Baelie Werner
• Outstanding Student Veteran – Ronald Lee Collins
• Outstanding Community Service – GIS 432 consisting of; Jamie Blankenship, Jessie Crofutt, McKenna Hein, and Kayla Nystrom
• Hiram M. Hunt – Anxiety Adventure consisting of; Clint Rogers, Drew Bryant, and Jacy Wasoski

Portland-Metro Awards

• Outstanding Academic Achievement – Rebecca Anne Marszalek
• Outstanding Student Involvement – Pam Jackson
• Outstanding Community Service – Jack Zoucha 

 
Outstanding Scholars
Outstanding scholars are appointed by the department chair or program director who, in the opinion of the faculty, has demonstrated academic excellence in their major.  Only one student may be appointed for a given degree program at each of our campuses.

Klamath Falls Outstanding Scholars

Outstanding Scholars – College of Engineering, Technology and Management Aaron Hellman – Information Technology Ashley Zhu – Electrical Engineering Christine Stark – Geomatics – Option in GIS Hannah Keesey – Renewable Energy Engineering Jose Lepe – Business with Marketing Option Kela Leamy – Civil Engineering Kennedy Jantzi – Business with Management Option Mariano Adlai Segura – Mechanical Engineering Natalie Gardner – Dual Renewable Energy & Electrical Engineering Nicholas Strode – Dual Software Engineering & Applied Mathematics Preston Luckman – Operations Management Sandy Villa – Health Care Management – Administration Management Stephen Lankford – Dual Embedded Systems and Software Engineering Technology

Outstanding Scholars – College of Health, Arts and Sciences Addison Bryant – Applied Psychology Brennen Thacker – Communication Studies Charletta Danielle Gullatt – Accounting Chase Owen Tolonen – Radiologic Science Cheyenne Eglian – Dental Hygiene Eleanor Kenyon – Environmental Sciences Haley Werst – Professional Writing Jaymes Kodak – Biology – Health Sciences Micah Baltensperger – Vascular Technology Nevan Watanabe – Population Health Management Olivia Birkby – Respiratory Care Bella Woodworth – Echocardiography Phillip Morse – Nuclear Medicine Molecular Imaging Sarah Franklin – Diagnostic Medical Sonography

 

 

Portland-Metro Outstanding Scholars

College of Engineering, Technology and Management Alexander Casler – Electrical Engineering Bennett Irby – Operations Management Dakota Meeker – Electronics Engineering Technology Giselle Dockterburke – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology Ian N. Riley – Renewable Energy and Electrical Engineering James Menning – Cybersecurity Le Quynh Dao Nguyen – Information Technology Matthew Wei Jeng Lee – Mechanical Engineering Rebecca C Burfitt – Renewable Energy Engineering Simeon Florea – Software Engineering Technology

College of Health, Arts and Sciences Elisabeth Soohoo-Hui – Applied Psychology Kaylee Tracy – Medical Laboratory Science

 

Oregon Tech’s IdeaFest is an event intended to showcase the type of projects that students conduct during their studies at Oregon Tech.

The event is held annually at the end of Spring term at both the Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro campuses. It provides an opportunity for students from the different programs to share their work, as well as get to see other projects.

IdeaFest includes project posters and demonstrations. Students, faculty, family members, employers, educational and industrial partners, as well as other members of the public are invited to attend.

We started awarding for the 2022-2023 academic year in March. If your student filed a 22-23 FAFSA, and you have not heard from us, please have your student contact the Oregon Tech Financial Aid office at 541-885-1280 or dollars@oit.edu.

As always, if your income and economic situation has changed drastically, please contact our office at the beginning of July 2022, when the Professional Judgment Application opens for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Recently, we awarded 180 students Oregon Tech Foundation scholarships. These scholarships totaled close to $586,000 and will help Oregon Tech students with the cost of education in the upcoming year. The Oregon Tech Foundation Scholarship summer application will open up the first week of July. Visit the Oregon Tech Scholarship page for the application and links to other scholarship opportunities: www.oit.edu/college-costs/scholarships

The Oregon Tech Foundation and Alumni Association are here to show support for your students! Through initiatives that fund priorities such as academics, classroom upgrades, student projects, faculty development, capital projects, athletics, and scholarships, we work to further the goals of the university and enrich the educational experience for all students, supporting the greatest needs of the University. This year we are thrilled to have awarded over $900,000 in scholarships to very deserving students, helping each one get another step closer to achieving their degrees and their dreams.

Our job at the Foundation is to support the mission of Oregon Tech, especially students. One of the ways in which we strive to do so is through our scholarship program. What this means for students is that over 320 young people will have a brighter future, a boost in morale and a vote of confidence. This milestone is possible through the generosity of individuals, including faculty, staff, alumni, students, industry partners and community members, and foundations, organizations, and businesses who believe in our exceptional students.

The Foundation’s first scholarship award process for the 2022-2023 academic year of over $586,000 is complete, and 185 students have been notified of their awards for the upcoming year. Many more students will receive renewals of their existing scholarships, increasing their likelihood for retention and success.
Applications for the Oregon Tech Foundation scholarship program will open again for a second process this summer in July, and details will be available through the Financial Aid Office. We hope you will encourage your student to apply! For more information regarding the scholarship program or the Oregon Tech Foundation, please contact Mira Wonderwheel at 541.851.5679 or mira.wonderwheel@oit.edu.

Each term the Owls’ Worth program puts on financial literacy sessions, covering a variety of topics applicable to the real world. Scholarship drawings and food (when possible) are included with many sessions. Please check our website for more information on upcoming events for fall term: www.oit.edu/owls-worth.

Spring term has been nothing but exciting! Just a little recap of Women's History Month, Diversity & Belonging Celebrated with: 

• Hosting seven offerings/opportunities for students to engage in activities, conversations, and service as it related to women's history and women empowerment.
  
  Our first hit of the month was the Courageous Conversation discussion with our Executive Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Engagement where we talked about the history, challenges, and success women have overcome. Our second hit of the month was through community service as students built hygiene kits geared toward helping women and later donated to the Klamath Falls Advocacy Center and KBBH Phoenix Place. 
• As we finish out the term strong our Diversity & Belonging folks plan to have a variety of events such as: Identity-Based graduation celebrations (1st generation students & Gender, Sexual, Romantic “lgbtq students’), Movie night celebrating and acknowledging our Asian. American. Pacific Islander community, organizing seven students to attend the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, Men's Health Awareness Month, and MUCH MORE! 

Oregon Tech's Klamath Falls campus celebrated Spring by giving back. The week of May 9th through May 14th students, staff, and faculty were invited to participate in service projects around the campus. This week was a collaboration between the Student Involvement and Belonging office, Facilities, and our local student service organization, Circle K International. Activities ranged from campus beautification days to an Oregon Tech-hosted blood drive. 

Student Involvement & Belonging and many of our student organizations hosted a wide variety of events and activities in the last few months! Student engagement is always a great way to get connected with Oregon Tech and build relationships that create lasting connections!

 

Oregon Tech’s Hustlin’ Owls have been busy this term and extremely successful. Follow the links for full stories and most recent updates.

• 
  Lady Owls softball team claimed both the Cascade Conference regular-season and tournament championship and played host to the NAIA Softball National Tournament Opening Round in Klamath Falls, May 16-18, where they earned a spot in the NAIA World Series in Georgia. The team is ranked No. 4 in the NAIA and has a 46-10 overall record…Sarah Abramson was named CCC Pitcher of the Year; Abramson, McKenna Armantrout, Kennedy Jantzi, Jayce Seavert, Kaila Mick, Mckenzie Staub and Maggie Buckholz were named to the All-CCC Team; with Armantrout, Jantzi and Aubrie Businger named to the Gold Glove Team…Greg Stewart was named CCC Coach of the Year for the eight time.
   
• Owls baseball team finished the season with a 30-25 record – the most wins by an OIT baseball squad since 2009…Kaleb Keelean was named to the All-CCC team, while Keelean and Mitchel Swanson were Gold Glove Team recipients.
   
• Women’s Golf finished second and Men’s Golf finished fourth at the CCC Championships, hosted by Oregon Tech, at Eagle Point golf course. Mayson Tibbs, Payton Canon, and Ashley Zhu were all named All-CCC selections.
   
• Both the men's and women's track teams closed the season at the Cascade Conference Championships in Ashland, with a select group of athletes headed to the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. (Alex Conley, Aarika Brooks, Brittan Bratscher, Thomas Dodgen, Nick McMillen, Jonas Hartline, Jose Ignacio)
   

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