Graduates of the Class of 2025
So many amazing graduates in OSU-Cascades’ Class of 2025! As their Commencement Ceremony nears, we reached out to get to know a little more about what they’re thinking and their plans, now that they’re about to receive those hard-earned degrees.
Isabelle Olinger
How are you feeling?
Super excited! As a first-generation college student, this moment means so much to me.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose it?
Human Development and Family Sciences. Having a brother who is 14 years younger than me gave me a front-row seat to the childhood developmental process. Watching him grow sparked my passion for working with children.
How have you changed since you started your college career?
I’ve grown, personally and academically. College has helped me better understand who I am and what kind of impact I want to make in the world.
What’s one word that summarizes your time at OSU-Cascades? Why?
Growth. I’ve learned so much about myself, found clarity in my career goals and gained the confidence to take on new challenges.
Who has made a difference for you?
Natalie Bowker and Brooke Martindale with the Student Wellness team encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and take initiative leading meaningful events such as Wags for Wellness, where we bring dogs to campus for students to interact with, the Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk and art therapy programs. The experiences deepened my passion for promoting wellness in my community.
What makes you feel good about your next step?
Great hands-on experiences. During my practicum, I worked at the Alyce Hatch Center with preschoolers who have special needs, which taught me a lot about supporting kids with different abilities. I also had the chance to shadow elementary school counselors and psychologists.
What is your next step?
I’ll being working as a preschool teacher in the fall, strengthening skills I’ll need as I prepare for a career as an elementary school counselor. I’m really excited for the future.
Alec Tu
How are you feeling?
A mix of emotions—proud, grateful, and a bit nervous. As a first-generation student from a different cultural background, this journey has not been easy. There were many challenges, but reaching this point feels incredibly meaningful.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose it?
Hospitality Management. I’m passionate about creating positive experiences for others. I want to be part of shaping welcoming, respectful environments—especially by applying the positive leadership styles I’ve experienced during my internship.
How have you changed since you started your college career?
I’ve grown tremendously, in my skills, mindset and confidence. In the beginning, I struggled with language barriers and self-doubt. Over time, I’ve pushed myself beyond those limits by taking on new roles, learning from mentors and facing challenges head-on. I’ve become more open, resilient and clearer about my goals.
What’s one word that summarizes your time at OSU-Cascades? Why?
Transformative. OSU-Cascades gave me not just an education, but opportunities to challenge myself, grow professionally, and connect with people who’ve truly inspired me. I’m not the same person I was when I started.
Who has made a difference for you?
So many people, but especially my career advisor, Jeremy Hansen. He has become a mentor and friend I can talk to about anything. He has supported me through important career decisions and life challenges, always offering thoughtful advice and encouragement. I’m truly grateful for his support—shout out to him!
What makes you feel good about your next step?
Knowing how much I’ve grown, not just academically, but personally. I’ve proven that I can overcome challenges, adapt and learn quickly. Now, I’m stepping forward with a clearer sense of who I am, what I care about and how I want to create value in the work I do.
What is your next step?
My next step is to continue learning and gaining experience, with the hope of stepping into a revenue management role. I’ve discovered a strong interest in working with data, developing pricing strategies, and using tools to support informed decision-making. I’m excited to find opportunities where I can keep growing.
Kai Nevers
How are you feeling?
Excited and ready to dive into the outdoor industry.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose it?
Outdoor Products. I chose it because of my passion for design and being outside.
How have you changed since you started your college career?
I’m much more confident in myself, thanks to the experience I gained in real world product creation and all of the steps and hurdles involved.
What’s one word that summarizes your time at OSU-Cascades? Why?
Connections. OSU-Cascades is a small school. The best part about that is connections with professors, the community and industry. The more you reach out, the better the connections. Bend is a community that loves to help students, if you are brave enough to ask.
Who has made a difference for you?
It’s a long list but at the top is Outdoor Products instructor, Naomi Morrison. She is the definition of support, kindness and passion. She is driving the program to new heights, and I am sad to leave OSU-Cascades and not be a part of that excitement.
What makes you feel good about your next step?
Before I graduated, I joined the 2025 Bend Outdoor Worx cohort to help me grow WanderHut, a company my classmate Kate Raber and I started as a students and that creates tents for car camping. Outdoor Worx members are outdoor industry leaders in Bend and support the Outdoor Products degree program, and outdoor entrepreneurs like me.
What is your next step?
I’m going to continue my freelance work with Arizona State University’s Space Analog for the Moon and Mars program. I’m working with the team on designing a pressure suit for crew members. Watch out for the launch of WanderHut, too. Our Instagram page is coming soon!
Maya Banard-Davidson
How are you feeling?
Extremely grateful and excited to be at the point where I am obtaining a degree that is in the hard sciences, as not only a woman, but as someone who has sustained a life-altering and traumatic brain injury, or TBI.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose it?
Biology with a chemistry minor. It’s the major that I have wanted since I fell in love with biology in the seventh grade. The minor is a bonus because of how much I enjoy chemistry as well.
How have you changed since you started your college career?
I began my college in 2013. I’m a completely different version of who I was then. On New Year's Eve 2014, I sustained a TBI, which put some kinks in my mindset and self-belief as I pursued my degree. I only had a few college credits under my belt before the injury. So, I’ve completed most of my studies as someone who has a disability. The dream of obtaining a degree came with learning the new version of myself and re-learning how to function, while growing as a young adult attending college.
What’s one word that summarizes your time at OSU-Cascades? Why?
Supportive. I learned about so many resources when I transferred to OSU-Cascades. Student clubs were helpful, too, and I helped start and joined several, especially the disabled student community club where I made new friends post-disability. The faculty at OSU-Cascades is beyond supportive. All it takes is communication with the faculty to understand this.
Who has made a difference for you?
Always my mom and dad. They have supported me unconditionally since my TBI. So many people at OSU-Cascades have made a positive difference: Steph Beamer, student engagement coordinator; April Witteveen, library director; the biology faculty including Patrick Ball, Christina Baxter, Evan Forsythe, Scott Geddes, Dustin Gienger, Irene Moore, Matthew Orr, Bruce Seal, Kristina Smith, Brian Tanis; and faculty and staff like Katie Mahoney, Roxy Wahlund, Meredith Arend, Ben McCraw and the campus safety team and many others as well!
What makes you feel good about your next step?
That I’m following my passions. They’ve expanded from mycology (the study of fungi) to now including the animal sciences, I may become a veterinary tech or even a veterinarian one day.
What is your next step?
Rest, take a break and help my father fix the family farm! I’ll be expanding my horizons in my field, too, and focusing on my candidacy for graduate school. The TBI set me back, and I want to be sure I take time to recoup my energy and learn who I truly am.
Nick Stacy
How are you feeling?
A range of emotions. Excitement, motivation, gratefulness and a dash of sadness. At some point I really committed to the journey to earn my degree and now feel an emotional connection to the OSU-Cascades community that I'm going to cherish for the rest of my years.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose it?
Business Administration. Growing up in Portland, I had learned that Bend has a strong and dynamic business community. I also noted OSU-Cascades’ plans for an innovation district. This told me how the campus supports the region’s economic development. I love how business is the foundation of the region’s success. It’s why I came here and want to stay.
How have you changed since you started your college career?
More than change, I've transformed. I'm a combat veteran with a range of work experience outside of the military. I came to OSU-Cascades thinking I had most things figured out. But being an older student had its challenges. I had to learn how to navigate an academic curriculum and a younger generation that spoke a language foreign to my own. Our OSU-Cascades family has humbled me, given me hope and bolstered my abilities in ways I would have never predicted.
What’s one word that summarizes your time at OSU-Cascades? Why?
Hope. Our world is challenging right now, but I believe OSU-Cascades nurtures a community of young, driven professionals who want to better our world. I see this in students in the generation behind me, who follow their hearts and passions for positive change. And now that they are ready alongside me for graduation and kitted with toolboxes full of professional skills and positive potential, I have even more hope.
Who has made a difference for you?
Associate Professor Bill Forster, student engagement manager Kim Vierra and instructor Todd Lawarence, all in the business department, are absolute rock-stars. They give students unparalleled access and exposure to the region’s business community. To me they were the bridge between our curriculum and the real world. Without Bill, Kim and Todd’s patience, guidance and passion, I would not be where I am today.
What makes you feel good about your next step?
How I feel ready to embed myself in the local business community and give back. I’m looking forward to helping foster the next generations of OSU-Cascades students transition from college to career.
What is your next step?
Soon I’ll be tackling Financial Industry Regulatory Authority exams that will prepare me for the wealth management field. I have served our country in the military and now I plan to serve our local community by helping in our regional economic success. I look forward to a bright future.
Levon Alldredge
How are you feeling?
Overwhelmed, grateful and honestly, a bit shocked at my success. Returning to post-secondary education in my 30s was not easy. Overcoming the challenges associated with that made it much more complex, but very rewarding.
What is your degree in? Why did you choose it?
Psychology. I chose this major because I wanted to work with other veterans.
How have you changed since you started your college career?
Before I came back to school, I felt adrift, lacking a clear purpose or goals to work toward. Now, I feel like I have a clear direction and a notable sense of how to use my skills to contribute to my community.
What’s one word that summarizes your time at OSU-Cascades? Why?
Meaningful.
Who has made a difference for you?
Dr. Deborah Becht-Buss (nee Coehlo), a senior instructor in psychology and Dr. Neil Browne (may he rest in peace), a professor of English.
What makes you feel good about your next step?
The distinction of not only being the first college graduate in my immediate family, but being recognized by faculty as a Distinguished Student. I don’t come from a family of academics, but to see that I was able to not just graduate, but do so with honors tells me that I am right where I belong.
What is your next step?
I have been accepted into a dramatherapy program within the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling at Lesley University. I start this July!