Top Ten Stories of 2023
Central Oregon, you helped make all of this possible. A new campus leader, a climate report launched from the White House, a celebration of Indigenous peoples, a cadre of energy professionals making a difference, a record class of first-year students and a growing university campus. Watch what we'll do in 2024, thanks to you.
#1
Sherm Bloomer steps in as Chancellor and Dean
With 30 years of increasing leadership at OSU, Sherm Bloomer stepped ably into the top leadership position at OSU-Cascades on May 1. His mission? “OSU is a very visible, very successful, very prominent national research and land-grant university, and we’re bringing that brand here but around the needs in the community,” he told Oregon Business magazine.
#2
Indigenous Peoples Day event attracts hundreds
A collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs produced a day-long community event that explored the culture and heritage of Central Oregon’s Native peoples. A traditional Salmon Bake and powwow featuring Grammy-nominated drum group the Black Lodge Singers capped off the day.
#3
$3.9M grant increases region's school counselors
K-12 students' mental and emotional health increasingly concerns teachers and parents. Assistant professors Lucy Purgason and Molly Moran launched a U.S. Department of Education funded initiative with the High Desert Education Service District and Central Oregon's school districts to provide full tuition for students entering OSU-Cascades' graduate school counseling program.
#4
Cascades Edge, innovative career development program launches
Starting in fall, undergraduate students embarked on Cascades Edge, a career program embedded in their academic experience and that received national attention. It provides resources and opportunities from year-one to graduation that give students confidence in their career paths, save tuition on costly changes in majors, and offer professional experiences that help students launch successful and meaningful careers.
#5
A groundbreaking for the Student Success Center
A great moment for students. OSU President Jayathi Murthy led the groundbreaking for OSU-Cascades' new Student Success Center. The building will be a hub for student services and student gathering. Remarkably, students committed $5 million in student fees for the building in a campus-wide demonstration of unity and support. It is slated to open for students in spring 2025.
#6
OSU-Cascades anthropologist goes to White House
Researcher Elizabeth Marino is a national leader in advancing understanding of the impacts of climate change and disasters on historically and socially vulnerable communities. She led a new chapter on Social Systems and Justice in the White House’s 5th National Climate Assessment, telling NPR, “There is quite a lot of wisdom in place to adapt to and even mitigate climate change." Marino helped launch the report in Washington, D.C.
#7
Fall enrollment report shows record first-year class for ninth consecutive year
The 225 new incoming students were record breakers. More than 10% arrived with enough college credit to enter as sophomores or juniors and 57% earned college credits in high school. More than 40% had a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Nearly three-quarters are from Oregon, 26% are students of color and 23% are first generation college students. Welcome, Bend Beavs!
#8
SnoPlanks Academy: a snowboard company in the classroom
What started as a guest lecture turned into a gift to OSU-Cascades. When SnoPlanks founders James Nicol and Ryan Holmes looked for the next step for their company, their visits to OSU-Cascades sparked a solution: SnoPlanks Academy. The program embeds SnoPlanks into teaching and learning, tasking students with challenges from financing to supply chain management.
#9
2023 graduates included 5,000th in its 22-year history
Among the more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students who received degrees in June was the 5,000th to graduate since OSU-Cascades was founded in 2001. “Reaching 5,000 graduates is a remarkable achievement for OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon and for each and every student who has received a degree,” said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean.
#10
More than 200 energy engineers have graduated from sought after degree program
OSU-Cascades energy systems engineering program is one of only six of its kind in the U.S. training students to contribute innovative and efficient solutions across the energy field. Launched a decade ago and boasting a 95% job placement rate, its more than 200 alumni are sought after by companies across Oregon and beyond.