President’s Blog
SOU Soaring
June 03, 2008
May 21 and 22 were memorable days at SOU. Our first annual SOAR celebration took over the campus as students and faculty moved from building to building, participating in a grand array of presentations, posters, performances, discussions, and exhibits.
I did my best to visit as many sessions as possible. I learned about great grey owls, the Blue Ledge mine, English country dances, cumulative voting, child soldiers—and much more.
I heard moving words from Alena Ruggiero and Mada Morgan, as well as reflections on academic life from Bill Elliott, Echo Fields, Ken Kempner, Ellen Siem, and Mark Tveskov. I experienced the academic growth that takes place between students in University Seminar and students completing their capstones. I enjoyed speaking with faculty authors honored in the Rogue River Room reception. I spent time socializing with colleagues who were happy to have the academic work of this university celebrated and shared.
And I still missed so much! I wish I could have attended everything offered over those two remarkable days.
Next year, I hope every SOU student and faculty member will participate in SOAR II—as a presenter, speaker, or audience member. This event truly highlights the great work we do as a campus.
I am so proud of SOU. And I am so grateful to Geoff Mills, Deborah Hofer, Mark Bottorff, Dan DeNeui, Glenise McKenzie, Mada Morgan, Steve Schein, Dee Southard, Mark Tveskov, and everyone else who worked tremendously hard to make SOAR a success. It was a triumph.
Mary Cullinan
