OSU Presidential Scholar: Luke Donaldson '25
Natural Resources
Specialized Option: GIS Applications in Ecosystem Management
Growing up in the small town of Coquille on Oregon's southern coast, senior Luke Donaldson developed a love for the natural world from a young age. He remembers looking up at the patches of clear-cut forests on the hills surrounding his town and wondering if there was a better way to manage the forests so they would be preserved for future generations.
Luke's mother introduced him to science education early on by enrolling him in Tide of the Toddlers, a science camp at the South Slough Reserve on the Coos estuary in Charleston.
At the camp, he had the opportunity to explore and investigate the outside world, participating for many years as a student and later returning as a high school volunteer and intern.
After high school, he chose to enroll in the natural resources program at OSU-Cascades, attracted by the small school size and the campus's location in a natural laboratory. Plus: Sun. "I grew up where it rains 57 inches a year," he said. "I'm enjoying the sun."
When applying to OSU-Cascades, Luke was awarded OSU's Presidential Scholarship due to his exceptional grades and accomplishments. It’s the university's most prestigious and competitive award. "I grew up in a lower-income, single-parent family," he said. "Making sure college was paid for was a big deal to me. The scholarship has made my dreams of a college education come true."
At OSU-Cascades, Luke received research funding for monitoring the health of floodplains using data collected through satellite imagery. The real-world application of his studies resonated with him, leading him to specialize in ecological applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Last year, Luke was hired as an environmental resources technician at the City of Bend Water Services Department. He's using data to create a publicly available tool that displays the history of water quantity and quality in the city's watershed. Luke also enforces code for erosion control and assists with regulatory reporting for stormwater management.
Luke is set to graduate this term and will continue working at the City of Bend. Regardless of where his career leads him, he remains committed to the dreams he had in his youth: to protect vital ecosystems for future generations. "I've always wanted to make an impact in my community," he said. "Working at the local level is the best way I can do that."