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New Year greetings from the OSU Alumni Association

No matter where you are, hang that Oregon State University flag high. Beavers UNITE! Thank you for your support and engagement in 2023, and happy New Year from your friends at the OSUAA. Watch Benny and Bernice spread OSU spirit with another adorable pair of celebrity beavers as we get ready for the ‘dam’ great year ahead!

Oregon State’s 2023 rewind

As we enter a new year, let’s look at how the discoveries we made and the records we set are shaping the future of Oregon State and the world.

» Read Oregon State's Top 10 Stories of 2023.

» Read OSU-Cascades' Top 10 Stories of 2023.

Your support has been unbelievable

Gifts of every size have made a profound impact on OSU and created countless opportunities to build a lifelong connection with our amazing university. If you made gifts totaling $1,000 or more to support OSU in the 2023 calendar year, you can expect your gift receipts for tax purposes to arrive via email in February.

EVENTS

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Annual university-wide Commemoration honors Dr. King | Jan. 13 - 31

Join Oregon State for the 42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration. A day of service starts the week, and Beavers will gather on the Corvallis campus once again for the annual Peace Breakfast and March. Then, attend a free keynote lecture in person or via livestream with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, a contributing writer to The New Yorker and author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist “Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership.”

One health degree, countless paths | Jan. 24

In the next Ask Alumni webcast, College of Health alumni share about the diverse career prospects made possible by their OSU health education. Learn how they are addressing the greatest challenges facing health and well-being.

Beaver Baseball tailgate in the desert | Feb. 17

Step up to the plate and cheer on Beaver Baseball during the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Arizona! The OSU Alumni Association is kicking off the ballgame against the Minnesota Golden Gophers with sun, smiles, freebies, special guests, and food and drinks. Registration opens on Friday, Jan. 5.

More events:

Ready to Respond: A Day of Service Training to Help Save Lives | Jan. 15
In person
Join the College of Health and OSU Extension's Family and Community Health program in Portland to learn skills that will help you remain ready to respond to help someone in crisis.

OSU-Cascades Science Pub: The Roller Coaster of Hemp in Oregon | Jan. 16
In person
OSU’s agronomist Gordon Jones shares about the wild ride of the state’s hemp industry since its legalization in 2018 and research being conducted by OSU’s Global Hemp Innovation Center.

Farm 2 Fork – Kombucha: A (mostly) happily-ever-after story of microbial cooperation | Jan. 19
Online
Join the Department of Food Science and Technology to learn about the microbiology of kombucha fermentation and why it creates challenges for kombucha brewers.

Difficult Conversations: The University’s Role in Restoring Civic Dialogue | Jan. 22
In person and online
Hosted by the Office of the Provost and the College of Business, Drs. Robert George and Cornel West will discuss the urgent need for universities to lead the way in reviving the art of civil discourse.

What can novel non-thermal technologies do for sustainable food processing? | Feb. 16
Online
The Food Science and Technology Department will discuss technologies for food treatment that are helping meet consumer demands for convenient, high-quality, sustainable and minimally processed food products.

ATHLETICS

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Check out photos from OSUAA Tailgate Town at the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Beaver Nation, thanks for joining us in El Paso or for watching the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl from home. Here are photos of OSUAA Tailgate Town, where Beavs enjoyed delicious refreshments, music, photo ops, the OSU Marching Band and Cheer and fun activities.

West Coast Conference agreement provides clarity for 10 sports

Oregon State University Athletics has entered into a two-year conference affiliation agreement, beginning in fall 2024, to have 10 Beaver Athletics programs participate in the West Coast Conference, an important step that ensures our student-athletes can continue to compete for conference and national championships.

Big legal win for preserving the 108-year legacy of the Pac-12

Beaver fans and Cougar fans everywhere have another reason to celebrate. As President Murthy says, the agreement reached by OSU, WSU and all 10 universities departing the Pac-12 Conference “ends litigation, achieves a fair resolution for each university, supports our student-athletes and promotes the continuing vitality of the Pac-12 Conference.” Together, we will continue to find a path forward through conference realignment.

Congratulate our unbelievable student-athletes

Kudos to our Beavs! Earning a spot at three bowl games in a row is no small feat. That’s perseverance and Beaver pride at work. Take two minutes to send a note to the Beaver Football team, and we’ll ensure they get your congratulatory message.

BEAVERS DOING THE UNBELIEVABLE

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» The founders of a Bend-based snowboard company, SnoPlanks, will gift the company to OSU-Cascades to provide students a hands-on opportunity to run an outdoor products business. Undergraduate students will engage in all aspects of the company in a novel program called SnoPlanks Academy.

» Artificial intelligence is trained on the internet, which can sometimes result in biased or problematic outputs. Ph.D. student Eric Slyman has built a tool to help AI auditors root out bias quickly, accurately and economically. Read more in the Office of Institutional Diversity’s Taking Action newsletter.

» Two OSU researchers, Heidi Schellman and Beverly Law, have been named to the 2023 list of the world’s best female scientists, compiled by research.com.

» Former Beaver and NFL defensive tackle, and an influential advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ athletes, Esera Tuaolo, ’91, will be honored with a 2024 NCAA Inspiration Award on Jan. 10.

» A new OPB documentary traces the development of the world’s first successful artificial heart valve — a breakthrough by a young, Oregon-based cardiac surgeon, Dr. Albert Starr, and M. Lowell Edwards, a retired engineer, prolific inventor and 1924 graduate of Oregon Agricultural College (now OSU).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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» Uncover industry insights from successful communication professionals. Catch the Ask Alumni webcast recording, "Things I Wish I Would Have Known.” Watch on demand.

» In the first-ever episode of the Our Health& webcast series, College of Health experts shared how our individual water usage impacts our life and future water retention. View the webcast recording.

FUN FOR MINI-BEAVS

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Paw-some training for kids with a tail-wagging sidekick

Oregon State’s “Do as I Do” dog training research program for children with developmental disabilities is currently enrolling for winter term. Enroll your 10- to 17-year-old and the family pup for an engaging experience that has the potential to foster a deeper bond between your child and their canine buddy.

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