Photo by Kelsey Richmond/The Siskiyou
SOU President Mary Cullinan speaks at the first annual SOAR celebration Wednesday in the Music Recital Hall.

Many have asked senior Manny Pacheco what he dreams of doing, but he says he is already doing what he loves.

"I’m living my dream, and I don’t think many people get to say that," said Pacheco, who received the Outstanding Graduating Senior in Human Services award at the First Annual Southern Oregon Arts and Research event.

The two-day event began with a balloon launch Wednesday morning and showcased student and faculty research, art and musical presentations culminating in an awards ceremony and reception in the Rogue River room Thursday evening.

Students and faculty were celebrated for both individual and collaborative works ranging from research to musical performances to authoring books, where students like Pacheco were awarded for academic achievement.

Now an instructor and mentor for the Oregon Leadership Institute, a Hispanic leadership program at Rogue Community College, Pacheco was surprised at his recognition.

More than 10 years ago, Pacheco was working odd jobs to make ends meet and did not find passion or purpose in his work.

"Work wasn’t satisfying until I decided I wanted to go back to school," Pacheco said. "There’s gotta be more than this." Pacheco will be the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree when he graduates in June.

"I owe the award to all the support and encouragement from my professors," said Pacheco, who with his newfound love for learning, aims to teach youth and adults the importance of education. Pacheco recruits high school teens and instructs them in leadership theory as well as group dynamics, but he ultimately aims to move the kids outside their comfort zones to impact the world around them.

"Our goal [at OLI] is getting our kids to see the benefits of going to school," said Pacheco, whose own daughter is now inspired to attend college as well, now that her father has achieved a degree. "What more do you need than that?" Pacheco said, beaming with pride.

Some university seminar students and those choosing to present capstone projects were required to attend SOAR as a part of class curriculum. Among them was SOU alum Idalie Beyer, who graduated with a degree in psychology last term. Beyer attended SOAR to give a presentation as part of her capstone project and enjoyed the reception Thursday with sons Justin, 4, and Isaac, 6, in tow.

"We got to answer questions and tell people about our study," Beyer said, who presented a poster on the "Effects of Habitual and Voluntary Emotion Regulation Strategies for Emotional Stimuli."

Several faculty members spearheaded the inaugural SOAR event, including Geoff Mills, professor of education, and Dan Deneui, professor of psychology, who met to plan events held on campus. Deneui thought the turnout was better than expected and praised President Mary Cullinan and the administrative support for the event.

"We were trying to showcase all the good work that faculty does independently and together," Deneui said. "[SOAR] ties into the university’s mission of creating a sense of academic culture, a sense of community."

For information about SOAR, call 552-6920 or visit the Web site at www.sou.edu/soar/ .