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Homecoming happenings | Oct. 15–18

Oregon State Homecoming and Family Weekend is right around the corner. Be sure to save your spot at these popular Homecoming traditions! Make the most of your weekend on campus: The more events you participate in, the higher your chance to win prizes through the new activity passport.

Oct. 15 | Black and Orange Awards
Oct. 16 | Fall Parent and Family Social
Oct. 17 | 10th Annual Multicultural Alumni and Friends Tailgater
Oct. 17 | OSUAA Tailgate Town and Benny’s Birthday Celebration
Oct. 17 | OSU vs. Washington State Homecoming game (use code OSUALUM for discounted tickets)

The faces of OSU Homecoming: Student ambassadors announced

Six student leaders were selected as 2026-27 Homecoming Court Ambassadors — an OSU Alumni Association program where students bridge generations of Beavers and develop leadership skills through participation in fun fall traditions at the university. “I’m looking forward to attending Homecoming events, building relationships with alumni and sharing the spirit and experiences that make OSU feel like home,” said Maleah Trujillo-Herrera, ’27.

Celebrate the student ambassadors:

• Emily Dorn, ’27
• Elise Jenkins, ’27
• Mak Quirk, ’27
• Antonio Rodriguez Remigio, ’27
• Maleah Trujillo-Herrera, ’27
• Franklin Weeks, ’27

The Fall 2026 Oregon Stater is out now

Climb into the canopy of Oregon State’s accredited campus arboretum, follow an OSU-led team searching for clues to Earth’s climate history in ancient ice and get to know the new Pac-12. Also inside: How one alumna helped bring NASA’s newest images of the moon back to Earth, and much more!

Game day Portland takeover | Sept. 26

Beaver Nation, help us pack downtown Portland! When Beaver Football takes on UTEP, rally with your community at Pioneer Courthouse Square for a free afternoon of football on the big screen, complete with:

• OSU Marching Band performance.
• Live entertainment and a DJ.
• Giveaways and prizes.
• Games and activities for all ages.
• Connections with Portland community leaders.
• Beaver merchandise pop-ups and local food and beverage vendors.

EVENTS

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Beavs in brewing | Sept. 24

There’s still time to save your spot at a free, interactive virtual tasting experience! Jazzy Vick, ’14, brewery microbiologist, and brewer Bip Lauder, ’14, from Pelican Brewing Company, and brewing podcaster Cade Aaron Jobe, M.S. ’24, Ph.D. ’27 — a Certified Cicerone® and Certified Beer Judge — will guide you through the tasting and explore topics related to careers in the brewing industry.

How to build management skills | Sept. 30

As careers progress, management skills — communication, collaboration, decision-making and leadership — become increasingly important. But how do you develop those abilities before you’re asked to lead? Join a free virtual career panel with Beaver graduates from a variety of industries to learn how they developed management skills at every stage of their professional journeys.

The competition is smokin’ at Beavs, Brews and BBQs | Nov. 7

Texas may be famous for its barbecue, but the Pacific Northwest is taking it to a whole new level. Join the OSU Alumni Association and the College of Agricultural Sciences for the 4th annual Beavs, Brews and BBQs at OSUAA Tailgate Town. Before kickoff against the Texas State Bobcats, experience the “Beaver’s Choice” BBQ Competition with samplings from professional PNW pitmaster teams and vote for your favorite. Plus, enjoy live music, a free drink and Beaver Classic ice cream for dessert.

More events

OSUAA Member Shopping Pass: adidas Employee Store | Now - Sept. 30
In person
This exclusive invite provides OSU Alumni Association members, and up to four accompanying friends or family members, with access to save 50% off the retail price of most items in person at the adidas Employee Store. Not a member yet? Join for access.

We Believe in Portland | Sept. 25
In person
Sign up for the Oregon State Beavers team! This fun and inspiring citywide cleanup brings together volunteers from all across Portland to care for our shared public places, plus an afterparty to celebrate the impact we make together. No experience needed — just a willingness to help.

OSUAA Member Shopping Pass: Nike Company Store | Oct. 3-25
In person
One of the most popular OSU Alumni Association member perks returns! Get one-time access to the Nike Company Store in Beaverton during the shopping window and enjoy 40% off the retail price of most merchandise. Not a member yet? Join now.

Oregon Stater Awards | Oct. 8
In person
Registration ends tomorrow for the College of Engineering’s Oregon Stater Awards, an evening that celebrates achievements at the frontiers of engineering and honors exemplary alumni and industry partners. View names of the 2026 honorees.

College of Engineering’s Alumni Homecoming Tailgate | Oct. 17
In person
Enjoy refreshments while you reconnect with fellow Oregon State engineers, hear exciting updates and chat with college leadership before the OSU Homecoming game.

Ask Alumni: What It Takes to Launch Your Own Business Venture | Oct. 21
Online
Learn how fellow Beaver entrepreneurs launched and grew businesses across a variety of industries. Explore the lessons learned, tools gained and challenges overcome so you can prepare for your own entrepreneurial journey.

Industry Connect | Oct. 24 – Save the date
In person
Calling all alumni design professionals! Industry Connect is your chance to reconnect with the Beaver design community and meet emerging talent. Registration is coming soon: Plan to join us in Portland and have real conversations with students exploring careers in design, merchandising and innovation fields.

Celebrating Our Roots | Nov. 12
In person
This evening reception brings together Hispanic and Latine alumni, students, families and friends to honor the community’s rich cultural roots, celebrate achievements and build connections across Oregon State and the Portland metro community. 

Thomas Condon Lecture | Thinking in Mammoth Time: What Lost Ecosystems Can Teach Us About Our Living Planet | Nov. 12
In person and online
In this College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences lecture, paleoecologist Jacquelyn Gill reveals the bygone days of mammoths, giant beavers and massive ice sheets in North America, how we study these lost worlds and what the fossil record can teach us about our own changing planet.

Marston Lecture in Geography | Beyond Yellowstone: Working Lands, Wildlife and Conservation | Nov. 18
In person and online
Drew Bennett, Ph.D. ’15, joins a CEOAS lecture that takes you beyond the park boundaries of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, exploring the private working lands that represent both the greatest vulnerability and the greatest opportunity for lasting conservation in the region.

GEARING UP FOR GAME DAY

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Tailgate Town is the place to be

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first tailgate celebrations, at home and on the road! You’re helping us build Beaver Nation’s game day culture and energizing OSU’s incredible student-athletes. OSUAA Tailgate Town continues throughout the season — join us for a can’t-miss pregame atmosphere before these games.

Oct. 3 | Away vs. Colorado State Rams – Registration required
Oct. 10 | Home vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Oct. 17 | Home vs. Washington State Cougars (Homecoming!)
Nov. 7 | Home vs. Texas State Bobcats
Nov. 14 | Away vs. Boise State Broncos – Registration required
Nov. 21 | Home vs. Utah State Aggies

Beaver Game Watch Parties nationwide

You don’t have to live near Reser Stadium to feel a sense of community on game day. Join alumni- and fan-created game watches near you. Thanks to our committed Beaver Game Watch Captains: Greg Armstrong, ’84 (John Day); Don Brown, ’81 (Boise); Justin Clark (Lake Oswego); Michael Crennen, ’20 (Newport Beach); Sarah Fina (New York); Katie Glunt, ’06 (Lawrence, KS); Kevin Kasnick, ’86 (Sacramento); Riley Lacey, ’25 (San Diego); James Smith, ’26 (San Francisco); Nora Taylor, ’96 (Lakeview); and Evan Thomson, ’19 (Boise).

Wear Beaver pride on your sleeve

From yard signs to ball caps to comfy oversized sweaters perfect for fall days at Reser, OSU Alumni Association members get 20% off OSU gear from Fanatics, year-round. Plus, 10% of your purchase supports the OSUAA Scholarship Fund. Members, find your discount code in this month’s member-exclusive newsletter. Not a member yet? Join today for the savings!

Rent private tailgating space across from Reser Stadium

You can’t get a better view of the pregame action than this! The CH2M HILL Alumni Center, across the street from Reser, has multiple rooms available for private tailgate rentals. Check out the Board Room & Balcony Pregame Package, featuring catering and bar service, concierge support, a dedicated TV and a private balcony overlooking the stadium!

BEAVERS DOING THE UNBELIEVABLE

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» OSU spinout company, Nanomand, has advanced to Phase 2 of NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge, creating recycling solutions to help astronauts on long-duration lunar missions where trash can’t simply be thrown away. It is founded by professor Chihhung Chang, doctoral student Alvin Chang and postdoctoral researcher Venkata Vinay Doddapaneni.

» After 15 years of effort, OSU’s PacWave facility opened in August, giving wave energy developers a one-of-a-kind domestic test site on the Oregon Coast to accelerate the development of the wave energy industry and support research on ocean and marine ecosystem impacts. It is the first pre-permitted, grid-connected wave energy test site in the United States.

» NPR featured OSU robotics expert and professor Naomi Fitter to help listeners make sense of the recent surge in humanoid robots, advancements in the technology and how people could encounter it in the years ahead.

ATHLETICS

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» Introducing the TAV: Oregon State's new field sport complex is named for Tamara Anne Valley, president and chair of the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, in recognition of its $11 million lead gift to create this new facility that will support 150 student-athletes in softball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s cross country and women’s track and field.

» Oregon State Baseball has its second endowed position in program history. An anonymous donor has committed $1.25 million to create the endowed Wilfred Family Director of Baseball Operations position fund and provide support for Beaver Football through the Valley Challenge for Student-Athletes — an investment in both the immediate and long-term success of two of Oregon State’s flagship programs.

» What a game! On Sept. 13, three big league players with Oregon State roots delivered a rare moment inside one ballpark as each Steven Kwan, Travis Bazzana and Trevor Larnach homered in the Cleveland–Minnesota game.

FUN FOR MINI-BEAVS

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All Science. No Fiction. | Sept. 26

Experience a night of science, curiosity and whimsy with the creators of OPB’s original science series “All Science. No Fiction.” Live at Oregon State University, this family-friendly, interactive event — appropriate for ages 10 and up — spotlights some of the most innovative science happening in the Pacific Northwest. Get ready for playful demonstrations, opportunities to participate and prizes!

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