Empty Nest Newsletter - Spring 2024

 Spring 2024 has been flying by here in Housing and Residence Life. As we plan to wrap up this term, we are already making Fall 2024 preparations. Earlier this term, we finalized our Fall 2024 staff positions for the Resident Assistants, Programming Assistants, and Student Success Mentors. If your student applied for and/or was offered a position for Fall 2024, please join us in congratulating them. We are currently wrapping up interviews for our other student staff positions, such as Service Desk staff and Tech Assistants. Housing is fortunate to have so many budding leaders willing to step into the various roles we offer. We couldn’t function without our amazing student staff. 

Spring has also brought fun activities for residents, giving them opportunities for a brain break from their studies! We have hosted a plethora of events from a tie-dying event, roller skating night at a local venue, succulent planting, etc. As I write this article, our annual Spring Fling event is in progress. This is a week of events taking place from May 13th -18th. There has been tote bag painting, sunset hike, karaoke, paint-a-pot, dodge ball, Bingo, and a ping pong tournament, and that’s just the first two days of the week. Every day this week, there are 3-6 events hosted throughout the day. It is a wonderful celebration of spring! We hope your students have been participating in and enjoying some of these events this term!

As we prepare for the end of Spring Term, residents have been encouraged to plan for their 2024-2025 academic year housing needs. Current students who signed up for housing by May 1, 2024, were invited to participate in the Housing Room Selection Lottery that opened on Monday, May 13, 2024. Returners will be able to continue to access the Room Selection Lottery until, Friday, May 24, 2024. The application for housing is still live, but we have passed the May 1 deadline for guaranteed housing. We are working hard to find options to ensure that all who want to join our on-campus community can do so, but the number of housing applications we have received for Fall 2024 is large, and Housing already has a large waitlist. The last day to cancel a 2024-25 housing contract and receive the $100 refundable deposit back is August 15, 2024. If current students have found other housing since they completed the 2024-25 Housing Application, we encourage them to cancel their application as soon as possible to allow those on the waiting list a chance at housing. 

The other big project in Housing and Residence Life is this term, we broke ground for the new residential facility that is scheduled to open in Fall 2025. We are so excited to bring a new building online in a little over a year. This new building will enable us to house our growing residential community more comfortably and meet accommodation needs more effectively. You can watch the construction project by clicking on this link—Construction Updates.

Finally, Housing and Residence Life will close for the academic year on June 15, 2024, at 4 pm—please note this deadline if you or others are coming to Klamath Falls to help your student move out. If your student has a summer housing contract, they will be instructed to stay put and not check out, but anyone who is not staying in on-campus housing for Summer Term will need to connect with their RA and check out of their space by this deadline. Staff have started to disperse detailed information to students. At the end of this update are some highlights from the information given to students.

It has been a joy to connect with students living on campus this year. I never cease to be amazed by the drive and dedication of Oregon Tech Students. We are fortunate to be a small part of their college career. 

During this term, Basic Needs efforts focused on the Portland-Metro campus. The Bird Feeder has been moved from the second floor to the fourth-floor kitchen, where there is additional space to hold more groceries. Within a month of moving the Bird Feeder, feedback was received that students were using it more. A student worker typically puts in an order once a term, and we had to put in a second order for the spring term a couple of weeks ago.

Along with updating the Bird Feeder location, Oregon Tech was able to partner with a local Goodwill in Wilsonville. Students can reach out through email seeking interview clothing. The contact information is listed near the storage room on the second floor, where the clothes are stored at Portland-Metro.

Other activities this term included a demonstration on how to make homemade tortillas and the creation of meal bags for the students to take home.

In Klamath Falls, efforts were focused on the clothing closet. This term, fogged-over decals were applied on the windows facing into the closet, and curtains were hung to give students more privacy when looking at clothes. Since these privacy improvements and also cleaning out the clothes, there has been an increase in students asking about clothing options during the spring term. The hope moving forward is to research and plan a pop-up closet once a month and see if the advertisement brings more awareness to the free clothes service of the Feather Exchange. 

Spring Term 2024

Spring Term 2024

Summer Term 2024

We had an amazing number of our students nominated for awards this year, it is always a challenge for the Student Awards Commission to make their selections as all the students nominated are worthy recipients. After long deliberations, the results are in.

UNIVERSITY WIDE AWARDS

President’s Senior Cup – Health, Arts, and Sciences: Ryan Pearson 

President’s Senior Cup – Engineering, Technology, and Management: Jordan Spencer

Hiram M. Hunt Award: The Smart Stepper Group: Aidan Parshall, Cari Blaker, Ian Gaffney, Ismael Hernandez, Jae Miller & Zachary Elliot

Graduate Student Achievement Award: Anthony Valenzuela

Outstanding Community Service Award: Colton W. Hurst

Non-Traditional Student Award: Conner Wahl

Owens Citizenship Award: Luke Borja

Student Achievement Award: Cameron Robinson

Most Dedicated Student Award: Jordan Thomas Spencer

Oregon Tech Pride Award: Brooke Eldridge

Outstanding Student Veteran Award: Aaron J. Barkley

Klamath Falls Outstanding Scholars

College of Engineering, Technology, and Management (ETM)

• Abigail Dummer – Accounting
• Angela Taylor – Business, Marketing Option
• Alexander Johnson – Mechanical Engineering
• Brooke Cassidy – Health Care Management – Administrative Management
• Cameron Castillo – Electrical Engineering
• Cameron Viernes – Information Technology
• Christopher Krause – Civil Engineering
• Claire Lowry -Business, Management Option
• Cody Therault – Geomatics – Option in Surveying
• Domnick Stone – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology
• Jordan Spencer – Cybersecurity
• Luke Borja – Operations Management
• Mikayla Smith – Software Engineering Technology
• Ryan Broberg – Renewable Energy Engineering
• Ryan Poling – Mechanical Engineering Technology

Outstanding Scholars – College of Health Arts, and Sciences (HAS)

• Brynne Christie – Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Chloe Trigo – Nuclear Medicine Molecular Imaging
• Donna Markus – Communication Studies
• Erin Miller – Professional Writing
• Jessica Wolf – Dental Hygiene
• Kylee Cantu – Vascular Technology
• Natalie Jones – Radiologic Science
• Ryan Pearson – Biology-Health Sciences
• Sheila Dickens – Echocardiography
• Tanikwah Lang – Environmental Sciences

PORTLAND-METRO AWARDS

Portland-Metro Outstanding Academic Achievement Award: Ashlyn Funk-Tracy

Portland-Metro Outstanding Student Involvement Award: Kellsie Arthur

Portland-Metro Community Service: Adin De’Rosier

Outstanding Scholars - ETM

• Benjamin Edwards - Information Technology
• Ethan Wells – Technology and Management
• Jordan Harris-Toovy – Electrical Engineering
• Keegan Hauser – Software Engineering Technology
• Maha Ovais – Cybersecurity
• Muhammed Ahmed – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology
• Roan Campbell – Operations Management
• Ryan Broberg – Renewable Energy Engineering
• Taylor Rogers – Electronics Engineering Technology

Health, Arts and Sciences

• Jade Kast – Medical Laboratory Science

Career Services hosted our Etiquette Dinners across both campuses during our Winter term! We began on February 28, 2024, on our Klamath Falls campus. This event was held in College Union. 44 students were able to attend this free event along with several faculty, staff, and alumni speakers and hosts. We then held our Portland-Metro Etiquette Dinner on March 7, 2024, where we hosted 29 students along with several faculty members, staff, and alumni who served as speakers and table hosts.

For the Spring Term, Career Services hosted Spring Career fairs, which were complimented by programming called Prepare for the Fair. These are pre-career fair events designed to help students get ready for the career fairs. In addition to our traditional career fairs, we also collaborated with our business department to put on a Business Department Mixer on the Klamath Falls campus in the Center for Excellence in Engineering & Technology (CEET) building. We started our Spring Career Fairs on the Portland-Metro campus welcoming 23 companies that were eager to meet our students. Our first fair was our Portland-Metro Spring Health, Arts & Sciences Career Fair on Wednesday, April 17. For this career fair we had a total of 25 students who were able to attend this free event with some alumni and faculty. The very next day, April 18, Career Services hosted our Portland-Metro Engineering, Technology & Management Career Fair in which 15 employers had a chance to connect with 54 students who attended the fair. The following week, we hosted our Klamath Falls Career Fairs, starting with our Klamath Falls Health, Arts, & Sciences Career Fair on Wednesday, April 24th. For this fair, we welcomed 17 companies, which our 64 students who attended the fair had the chance to network with. This was followed the next day, April 25, by our Klamath Falls Engineering, Technology, & Management Career Fair.  At this fair, we welcomed 43 companies and 126 students who could attend the fair. Across these fairs, students met with employers from various industries interested in Oregon Tech students enrolled in a variety of majors.

As we close the 2023-24 academic year, Career Services continues to visit many classrooms and attend club meetings to present on career development topics, such as resume creation, cover letters, elevator pitches, and LinkedIn profiles.  Students graduating this spring are encouraged to complete our First Destination Survey to let us know where they are headed! Data from this survey provides insights into graduates' immediate career paths, helping Oregon Tech tailor academic programs and career services to better meet student needs and industry demands. We are looking forward to sharing this data in the fall. They are also encouraged to contact the Career Services team by making an appointment through Handshake. Students can also access our online Canvas course called “Internship and Job Search Resources.”  There they will find all our Career Services resources.

As a reminder to parents of our graduating students and returning students, the Career Services team is available throughout the summer and are a lifetime service, appointments are made through Handshake. Virtual and email appointment mediums are available! Summer break is an exciting time to work on creating or updating resumes, building a LinkedIn profile, or searching for upcoming internship opportunities.

Exciting news!  Read&Write literacy software is now available to support all Oregon Tech students achieve academic success. This program gives students the tools they need to stay organized and can be modified for individual needs.

What is Read&Write?

Read&Write is a literacy support toolbar, proven to improve students’ reading and writing. Read&Write has been designed with universal design for learning in mind. With features including text-to-speech, dictionary tools, text prediction and voice notes, it’s designed to support a diverse range of learners in class, at home, and during study.

This program is sponsored by Disability & Testing Services and is available for campus-wide use. 

It’s been a vibrant Spring Term here in Klamath Falls, and in the spirit of the growth and renewal taking place outside our walls, the Oregon Tech Library has been taking strides to enrich student life by improving the services and resources we offer.

In early April, we sponsored a scavenger hunt for attendees of Admitted Students Day, a pivotal event in welcoming new students to our campus community. Participants learned about the library's services, explored the Learning Resource Center, and earned swag bags replete with freebies, including our fabled bucket hats. Hootie even stopped in and won a hat of his own!

We are also thrilled to report that two areas within our library have evolved into more useful, appealing spaces. First, our lobby got a makeover featuring brand-new furniture thoughtfully designed, curated, and installed by Portland-based design studio Hyphn. The new furniture is modular, powered, and more comfortable than ever. So far, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and since the day of installation, our lobby has seen growing usage.

In addition to the lobby, the library also reclaimed part of our space that had previously been unavailable to students and turned it into a Quiet Study Area. This space minimizes external distractions and has provided a peaceful alternative to some of our more collaborative spaces, meaning that no matter the atmosphere that students desire, they can find it here in the library.

Finally, through the Spring Term our library continued to serve as a cornerstone of technological access by facilitating laptop loans, a program that has resonated with students as it has grown. So far this academic year, the library has loaned our student-use laptops an impressive 202 times. So please, remind your Owl that if they need a laptop—whether it’s for an hour or for the rest of the term—they can swing by the library anytime we’re open and grab one in a matter of minutes.

Memories Made in DC—TOP Students’ Historic Excursion 

 The Oregon Tech’s Tech Opportunities Program (TOP), a TRIO SSS organization serving students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or experiencing a disability, recently returned from a remarkable cultural and educational excursion to Washington DC over Spring Break. This extraordinary journey was specifically designed to offer students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the nation’s capital and its rich history. What was the best part of this experience? The entire event was free to students, making it accessible for the participants. 

Throughout the excursion, the TOP students emersed themselves in the vibrant tapestry of American history and culture. They visited iconic landmarks, moving monuments and memorials, historic estates, and cultural museums. Of the landmarks, the Capitol Building provided a particularly enlightening experience for students as they gained insights into the legislative processes and the significance of this powerful symbol of democracy. While exploring the monuments and memorials in DC, the students forged a tangible connection to the past and developed a profound sense of reverence for the sacrifices made by those who came before them. During the visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, the students saw a glimpse into the life of our nation’s first president, generating a new appreciation for the enduring legacy of those who shaped our nation. Finally, the visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture was a deeply moving experience for the students. They explored the rich landscape of African American history, from the struggles of slavery to the achievements of the civil rights movement in which they gained a deeper understanding of the complexities and developed an appreciation of the contributions of the African American community to our nation’s history and culture. 

Overall, the TOP students’ cultural and educational excursion to Washington DC was a transformative experience that enriched their understanding of our nations’ history and heritage. By exploring our nation’s capital, they gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the past and the resilience of the human spirit. This trip not only opened doors of opportunities but also fostered a sense of unity and camaraderie among TOP students, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) PM Club Attends AEE West Energy Conference and Expo. 

In May, the AEE Club of Portland-Metro traveled to Bellevue, WA, to attend the western regional conference of AEE to learn about the latest developments in the energy sector and network with industry and government professionals. Conference sessions included detailed case study discussions while exploring the newest technologies. Students felt inspired when hearing from industry-leading speakers discussing breakthroughs in energy efficiency. Their participation in multiple conference presentations also encouraged them to explore new ideas through their courses of study.

Spring Term is often a time of celebration and recognizing the yearlong efforts of Oregon Tech’s exceptional student clubs and leaders. Their co-curricular activities provide the campus community with opportunities to engage outside of the classroom with their peers while developing industry-ready professional skills. Student Involvement and Belonging (Portland-Metro) hosted the annual Student Club and Leadership Awards honoring students in multiple categories. With the backdrop of a disco theme, this family-friendly celebration also recognized multiple students who displayed individual acts of campus caring with the “Because You Give A Hoot – ROCKSTAR!” Award.

Twenty-six students from Oregon Tech’s Baja Racing team traveled to Lebec, Calif., April 25-28 to compete in Baja Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) California, where students test their self-built off-road vehicle for performance and endurance.

Baja SAE is a Collegiate Design Series competition run by SAE International. Oregon Tech finished No. 17 out of 61 teams from Canada, Mexico, India, and the United States in the three-day competition, which included static and dynamic events. The static events consisted of engineering design, safety and cost presentations. The dynamic events included an acceleration braking event, a maneuverability event, a hill climb, and a four-hour endurance race that pitted all the vehicles against each other on an extreme rough off-road course.

Oregon Tech Racing advisor Cliff Stover is also a Professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and Technology and believes that combining an engineering education with the hands-on aspect of building and testing a racing vehicle from the ground up enhances student education.

“These projects not only strengthen the students’ engineering design and analysis skills, but they are also a great way to work in a real-world team environment and to satisfy their senior design requirements,” Stover said. “Each team is competing to have its design accepted for manufacture by a fictitious company. The students function as a team to promote, design, build, test, and race these vehicles within the scope of the rules provided by SAE. The goal is to design and build a prototype four-wheel drive single-seat off-road vehicle intended for sale to the public.”

Each year, Oregon Tech Baja students build a new off-road vehicle from scratch, sometimes using the knowledge gained from students in the previous year but many times experimenting with their own mechanical engineering skills and fabrication techniques.

Oregon Tech Baja co-captain Owen Haugh said that the Baja team is one of the main reasons he chose to attend Oregon Tech.

“Baja SAE is an excellent way to enhance your engineering knowledge, offering real-world experience and problem-solving opportunities not found elsewhere at school,” Haugh said. “Through participating in and leading it over the past three years, I have acquired many skills I might never have encountered in a traditional classroom setting.”

The Kohler corporation donates a 10 horsepower off-highway vehicle engine to participating schools for the competition, and Stover says the engine cannot be modified. Students must focus their design skills on the chassis, suspension and all other aspects of vehicle design.

“These events challenge the textbook knowledge of engineering, along with engineering students’ imagination, teamwork and creativity,” Stover said.

The Oregon Tech Baja team began building its car in the fall, and it was ready for off-road testing in March. During this testing, they experienced parts breaking and practiced troubleshooting repairs, each time learning why pieces failed and how to avoid that in the real competition.

“Baja SAE at Oregon Tech is what brought me to Oregon Tech,” co-captain Matthew Haines said. “It has helped me grow as a student and has taught me skills that I would not have learned anywhere else.”

Award Notifications for 24-25
We know that the FAFSA process has been challenging this year and we congratulate your students on their persistence.  We have started awarding for the upcoming academic year.

Please have your students continue to monitor their Oregon Tech email as well as postal service mail for updates and or requests for additional information. Once they receive their award notification have them contact us with questions.

Oregon Tech Foundation Awards academic year and Summer
Due to the slow FAFSA roll out, academic year Oregon Tech Foundation awards have been delayed for the 24-25 academic year. We hope to have those out soon. Typically, the Oregon Tech Foundation summer application opens in July.  Please have your student watch for emails.

Summer Enrollment
If your student plans to attend Oregon Tech summer term and is not part of a cohort such as a MIT extern, RCP seniors, or senior dental hygiene student, they must contact the financial aid office. Full time enrollment is the same as it is for other academic terms, 12 credits for an undergraduate student.

Spotlight On America Reads/America Counts Tutors

Students who are eligible for Federal Work Study Funds (based on FAFSA results) are eligible to apply for a job as a math or reading tutor for elementary students. Tutors encourage students in the subject areas of Reading and Mathematics, and support children in their school development. Tutors work directly with kindergarten through sixth grade students to improve their reading and math proficiency skills. Tutors perform one-on-one work with individual students, group work, or class activities. It is a rewarding job with a competitive wage. The job application will be available for fall term 24-25. Interested students should contact the financial aid office. 

As we wrap up another exciting term at Oregon Tech, New Student programs thrilled to share some of the highlights from the past few months, showcasing our commitment to student success and community engagement.

Welcoming Students Back with a Bang!

New Student Programs kicked off the spring term with a warm welcome, treating students to TWO days of FREE breakfast across campus. This initiative aimed to foster a sense of community and provide a positive start to the term.

Comedy Night with Adam Grabowski

One of the standout events this spring was the performance by comedian Adam Grabowski. Adam, a 4-time National College Comic of the Year, entertained the audience with his unique brand of humor. Following his performance, students had the opportunity to meet and greet Adam, creating lasting memories.

Peer Mentor Program

We're excited to continue our Peer Mentor program, which is designed to help Fall 2024 Oregon Tech Owls transition into life on campus. Our selected mentors have been trained and certified as Peer Educators and will spend the summer and fall terms communicating and mentoring new students.

Spring into Summer Event

As we prepare to wrap up the spring term, Student Involvement and Belonging is hosting the "Spring into Summer" event. This event will bring together a multitude of departments in one central location, making it easy for students to wrap up the year. Join us on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 10 am - 1 pm on the first floor of the college union. Students can stop by, grab a refreshing bite, and get ready for the summer ahead.

As part of our Spring Term Week of Welcome (WOW) events, Student Involvement and Belonging (SIB) organized a cooking demo for students. We were honored to have a student jump into the role of special guest chef for the event. Inspired by his mom’s joy of cooking, the experienced chef shared his favorite memories of cooking alongside his mom and enjoying her delicious recipes. During the cooking demo, audience members shared their own stories of successes and failures in the kitchen. Students said they look forward to future SIB Cooking Club demos to gain more skills and expand their cooking repertoire.

In May, we celebrate the culture and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Using the art of storytelling, Student Involvement and Belonging (Portland-Metro) was honored to facilitate discussions between students and presenters from our faculty and staff who identify as Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Turkish, and Indian. Storytellers shared photographs from their childhood, country of origin, and their families today. Speakers were open about their educational journey and times of opportunity and challenges. Attendees mention that through these storytelling sessions, they have discovered that they often have more in common with individuals and can more easily open dialogue with others.

It has been a whirlwind Spring in Oregon Tech athletics, with marked success across the board and the opportunity to showcase the Klamath Basin to fans from across the Northwest and beyond.

Between a softball team earning a spot in the NAIA World Series, a baseball team that set a new school record for wins and a track team which who hosted the league championships for the first time in over a decade – it has been a great two months for the Owls and their fans.

The men’s and women’s golf teams had a stellar finish at the Cascade Conference Championships in Blaine, Wash., - the women’s team placing second to eventual national runners-up, British Columbia, with the men’s team finishing third. Three players – Quincy Beyrouty, Madie Hepner and Maiya Baker – were all selected to the All-CCC team.

The baseball team played a difficult preseason schedule – with six of their first eight games against eventual Top-10 teams – but the Owls played well when it mattered, finishing 18-6 in conference play, while finishing 34-18 on the year. The 34 wins by the club were the most in program history, with Tech, unfortunately, the first team left out of the NAIA Championships. Tyler Horner was named CCC Player of the Year after tying a school record with 16 home runs, while Bronson Chapple was named CCC Pitcher of the Year after tying a school record with nine wins.

It was a busy spring for the track and field teams, not only with competition, but with the completion of the renovated Moehl Stadium, the Owls held a pair of meets – including the CCC Championships for the first time since 2012. Tech welcomed 10 teams to the Basin, with over 300 athletes and 1,500 fans witnessing the 2-day meet. Four athletes – Ally Odell (heptathlon), Jose Ignacio-Garcia (javelin), Eli Stevens (pole vault) and Jonas Hartline (10,000-meters) – have qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in Marion, Ind.

The softball team continued recent dominance, winning their third-straight CCC regular-season title, earning the right to host both the CCC Tournament and the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championships. Behind the play of CCC Player of the Year, Kaila Mick, the Lady Owls won three elimination games – including the championship game vs. Vanguard – to secure their fifth-straight trip to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. OIT enters the World Series with 47 wins – the fourth-straight season with 47-or-more wins.

Golf coach Dave Myers was named CCC Women’s Coach of the Year and softball coach Greg Stewart was named CCC Softball Coach of the Year for the 10th time. 

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