Your Support Makes A Difference
At OSU-Cascades, 32% of our students Pell Grant eligible, indicating financial need. Thanks to scholarships, they are here, with ambitions to make the world better for future generations. You have the power to make a profound difference in a student’s future.
Isabella Crews '24
Kinesiology
Like many students of her generation, Isabella Crews started college under less-than-ideal circumstances — it was fall 2020 in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown. Looking for a way to connect and stay healthy, Isabella and other students formed a trail running club. It was a success —getting fresh air while running through the pines helped the club members cope with the isolation they were experiencing.
Helping people through movement began to resonate with Isabella. She started OSU-Cascades as a biology major, thinking about medical school. But the more she explored kinesiology, the more excited she became. A career helping others move in the way they wanted and needed to for a satisfying life. She was in.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at OSU-Cascades was now on her horizon. But it's competitive, and she knew she would need to excel in her undergraduate studies to gain admission.
Thanks to scholarships Isabella has received during her time at OSU-Cascades, she's been able to.
"I feel thankful that others' generosity has allowed me to pursue my academic goals and future career plans,” she said. “My GPA reflects that gratitude."
Isabella's hard work and dedication paid off when she received the news of her acceptance into the OSU-Cascades' Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This fall, she will embark on her next adventure with a clear vision of her end goal — helping people live better lives through movement.
Angel Ruvalcaba '25
Art, Media and Technology
A lifelong Central Oregonian, freshman Angel Ruvalbaca was born in Madras and grew up in Redmond. College wasn’t always in his plans, but as he excelled in school his parents set college as an expectation. An in-home health care worker originally from Mexico, his mother saw firsthand the difference a bachelor’s degree could make in someone’s life.
Today, Angel is participating in OSU-Cascades’ TRIO program as a first-generation college student and learning about opportunities and services available to him through OSU. He is also participating in OSU-Cascades’ Degree Partnership Program with Central Oregon Community College and has earned additional scholarships and grants that give his family much relief.
“My parents are proud, but they still have high expectations for me,” he said.
Angel is growing personally in courses that help him see his dream of owning his own company in the video gaming industry is in reach. He is about to confirm his major in art, media and technology.
“Video gaming brings together all of the things I love — story writing, art, graphic design, cinematography, music,” said Angel. “I’m excited about the future and learning more about all of these areas.”
More Stories
Getting Ahead from the Beginning
Joel Gochez '24
Joel is from Bend and feels lucky he can stay in his hometown and go to OSU-Cascades. Psychology is his passion, and he dreams of becoming an educational psychologist one day. Instead of worrying about work and loans during his freshman year, Joel can focus on academics. “Receiving a scholarship has allowed me to enjoy my classes and learn as much as I can,” he said.
Fueling A Dream
Taha Elwafati '23
Taha wants to reshape the country’s political landscape. At Summit High School in Bend, Taha served on student government. The experience ignited his passion for public policy and human rights reform. Now at OSU-Cascades and majoring in social science, Taha is developing political and leadership skills by serving in student government. A scholarship from the Bank of the Cascades Endowed Scholarship Fund has helped Taha prioritize his education.
Ready to Teach
Ashlyn Rojas '22
When Ashlyn was a high school student at Redmond Proficiency Academy, she made a plan. She was going to college, and to afford it she would live at home and earn as many scholarships as she could. She did it. In a few months, Ashlyn will graduate from OSU-Cascades with a bachelor’s degree in teaching and an Oregon preliminary teaching license. “College has meant everything to me, and it would not have been an option without scholarships,” she said. Read Ashlyn's story.
Climbing Mountains
Fletcher Allen '22
Fletcher wasn’t sure he'd ever come back from a serious car accident a few years ago. “I decided to challenge myself to see what I was capable of,” he said. First, he got strong enough to summit the Cascades’ South Sister. Now, he’s graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business and starting a career at Humm Kombucha. “I feel like I’ve summited another mountain,” he said. Read Fletcher's story.
Science and Connection
Ryan Schwartz '22
When Ryan was 17, his parents moved to Morocco to teach. They weren’t sure how long they would be there, so Ryan opted to stay in Bend and start college. He started taking business classes to earn a marketing degree to help environmental organizations. Then he realized two things – he was too much of a hippie to be in marketing – and he liked science much more than business. Read Ryan's story.
Strength through Scholarship
Jessica Hofherr '21
Scholarships helped lighten the load for kinesiology student and U.S. Air Force veteran Jessica Hofherr. The awards also boosted morale. “Just being noticed was enough to get me through another grueling — and enjoyable — term of scientific literature at OSU-Cascades,” she said. After graduating this year, Jessica is off to earn a doctor of physical therapy program in Colorado. She’s pumped — and feels set up for success.