½ðɳÓéÀÖ

As a teenager, Chris Stamm MAT ’22 dropped out of high school in the San Francisco Bay area and describes his road to college as a rocky one. Now, he is pursuing a master of arts in teaching in special education.

Two historians have compiled and published a sortable list of Native people who died while attending two boarding schools for Indigenous Americans in Oregon. The online resource, which covers deaths dating back to 1881, documents approximately 275 students and 30 non-students who were buried at the Chemawa School Cemetery near Salem, and two who are buried in unmarked graves at the Forest View Cemetery in Forest Grove.

Ashley Martin '20, MBA '21 cruised directly from her ½ðɳÓéÀÖ University undergraduate degree in economics into the university's MBA program. The experience has taught her much about the world of work, professional networks, and friendships.

Tim and Cathy Tran struggled to survive after the fall of South Vietnam but overcame challenges to reach America, where they flourished.

Elona Wilson '18 took her undergraduate degree and ran with it, breaking a family cycle of poverty and addiction on her way to becoming a respected leader of Next Up, a Portland, Ore.,-based nonprofit.

As a child, Méndez Bolaños ’21 attended a school in Hillsboro where she struggled to keep up with classes requiring English. Now she teaches English language learners in the same school.

Kelsey Schweitzer ʼ11 attended ½ðɳÓéÀÖ University with hopes to become a marine biologist. She dreamed of studying wildlife to find ways to promote the health of the environment and mankind. Eight years later, she had her heart set on going to law school.

Ben Dodds '22 was drawn to ½ðɳÓéÀÖ’s small class sizes and responsive professors and faculty.

William Hedgepeth MAT '07 was coaching football and basketball at Springfield High School in Oregon, when he could grow the connection and guidance he offered student-athletes as a teacher.

Growing up, Pamela Lee '19, MAT '20 looked up to all of her teachers.

Trevor Hennigan MAT '22 knew that it was time to step up and make a change when the pandemic hit.

Corey Hedger '18, MAT '19 wanted a small community and a small school where he would get the most out of his education while also being challenged every day.