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Let the grad celebrations begin

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 graduates who will become a part of our network of 200,000+ alumni this June. All of Beaver Nation is proud to support our newest grads in this unforgettable moment! Oregon State’s 155th commencement celebration will take place in Corvallis on Saturday, June 15. But before that, help grads make the most of this special chapter by sharing the Countdown to Commencement page, full of resources and events.

Grads won’t want to miss out on:

» A lively Grad Night June 6 with music, dancing, games, crafts and giveaways.
» Sweet Beginnings: Commencement Celebration June 15 with friends, family and fellow grads immediately after the ceremony.
» One free year of OSU Alumni Association membership.
» Inspirational alumni messages full of congratulations and advice for 2024 grads.

Introducing the long-awaited OSU Beaver license plate

A much-requested new OSU Beaver license plate is close to being a reality! The plate (pictured above) fuses unmistakable Beaver spirit with tree rings that give a nod to the standard Oregon license plate and Oregon’s official state tree, the Douglas fir — emphasizing that OSU is, unquestionably, Oregon’s university.

Want to get your voucher for the new plate? Here’s how it works.

• Purchase your voucher today and help spread the word. This will help OSU quickly achieve our goal of 3,000 vouchers sold.
• Vouchers are $40 and will be applied to the total cost of your new plate (which will vary depending on your vehicle registration details).
• We expect plates to be available four to six months after OSU sells 3,000 vouchers, at which point you can redeem your voucher.
• For each $40 OSU license plate the Department of Motor Vehicles sells, plus subsequent renewals, approximately $35 of the proceeds will go to supporting OSU Athletics and university strategic initiatives.
• That’s it! Now you’re supporting OSU and bringing your Beaver spirit with you everywhere you go.

As of this publication date, only a few hundred vouchers remain unsold, so act quickly before these sell out.

EVENTS

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Save 10% on OSUAA membership, get access to awesome perks | Now – June 30

Does your Beaver pride run deep? Take advantage of Join in June savings today for 10% off any OSUAA membership purchase with code JJ24 and you’ll:

• Receive access to exclusive rewards, events and savings (travel, entertainment, OSU gear, tech and much more).
• Support important leadership training and networking opportunities for students, alumni, members and friends.
• Create a crucial link between you and the university you love, and between the students of yesterday and today.

Enter to win a VIP Beaver fan package | Now – July 31

Take your game day experience up a notch! Enter the 2024 All-Star Tailgate Sweepstakes for a chance to win two premium Club-level tickets, parking at Reser Stadium, and CH2M HILL Alumni Center access and meals for one of Oregon State’s regular season home games. No purchase is necessary to enter or win. Seven total prize packages are available. Read the official sweepstakes rules.

Connect with Idaho Beavs on the green | Aug. 16  

Tee up for a beautiful morning on the links! The Treasure Valley Golf Tournament returns to Purple Sage Golf Course for its 15th year. This fun scramble-format tournament generates support for OSU student-athletes — helping them excel on the field and in the classroom. Non-golfers are invited to join their fellow Beavers at lunch (a delicious full buffet from Sinatra’s Catering) to hear updates from OSU Athletics, meet special guests and be entered to win raffle prizes.

More events:

OSUAA Member Shopping: Columbia Employee Stores | Now – June 9
In person
Last chance! There are just a few days left to shop top brands at up to 50% off retail prices with exclusive access to Columbia Sportswear Employee Stores. Want in? Become a member today — use code JJ24 to save 10% off!

2024 Bray Health Leadership Lecture - Public Health After the Pandemic: How Can We Do Better? | June 4
In person
The College of Health presents an insightful lecture about the future of public health with a specialist in crisis and emergency management, Joshua M. Sharfstein, director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative.

Engineering Expo | June 7
In person and online
The College of Engineering’s annual expo will feature interactive design project displays created and hosted by more than 1,200 senior engineering students.

Orange and Black in Sisters Rodeo Float | June 8
In person
Join OSU friends in Central Oregon for a fun-filled day at the Sisters Rodeo parade. Jim Hallstrom, ’74, will be featuring his Western-themed float with vintage coin-operated kiddie rides, and he invites you to hop on board for the ride!

My People’s Market | June 8-9
In person
Oregon State is a returning sponsor for My People’s Market, which brings together 100+ BIPOC-owned businesses in Portland, including several vendors receiving entrepreneurial support from OSU’s Food Innovation Center. Join for music and performances, food, shopping, crafts and more fun for the whole family.

Ready to Respond: A Training to Help Save Lives - QPR Training, sponsored by the College of Health | June 10
Online
Want to be prepared to help someone in crisis? Join the College of Health and OSU Extension's Family & Community Health program for a crisis-response training. Learn valuable skills to confidently respond to those in need.

Science Pub: Insights from the Southern Ocean Ice | June 20
In person
Join OSU’s Kim Bernard — who leads the Zooplankton Ecology Lab at OSU — for an enlightening talk at OSU-Cascades about her research into Antarctic krill and their pivotal role in the Southern Ocean marine ecosystem.

Summer of the Shark | July 5
Gather the whole family for a free event at McMenamins Gearhart Hotel hosted by the OSU Big Fish Lab. Meet Oregon’s shark scientists and learn about how they conduct work on local species and beyond, featuring a Q&A, food, drinks, trivia and more!

Thank you for rising to the occasion, Beaver volunteers!

Your time is a gift. Thank you for sharing it to make the world a better place! We had over 20 official volunteer project sites from California to Arizona - and many more individual volunteers in their communities - during the month of May for the OSU Days of Service 2024, presented by Your Local Toyota Dealers, Aztec Embroidery & Screenprinting and OCCU.

Do you still have unrecorded volunteer hours? Now’s your chance to give Beaver Nation’s impact a final boost! Log the hours you spent making a difference as a volunteer in May by June 7, for a chance to win our last $50 Amazon gift card.

CAREER CONNECTIONS

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Mastering the art of interviewing

Maneuvering job interviews with confidence can make a major impact on your career trajectory. Lori Rush, ’78, past OSUAA Board Chair, president and consultant at Rush Recruiting, offers OSU alumni her seasoned advice on interview preparation and practice, a critical skill for career advancement.

Is AI part of your interview practice toolbox?

When it comes to interviewing, preparation and practice are everything — and artificial intelligence-powered tools are shaking up how you can remain competitive in your job search. Learn how AI interview practice tools can prepare you with simulated real-world scenarios and instant feedback.

BEAVERS DOING THE UNBELIEVABLE

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» Chemical engineering alumnus Don Pettit, ’78, is set for his fourth mission to the International Space Station in September 2024. According to NASA, the flight engineer has made “integral advancements in technology and demonstrations for human exploration” during his time logged in space (370 days).

»  Watch OSU-Cascades undergraduate students share about their innovative research projects, ranging from drama therapy for combat veterans to the use of 3D motion capture in sports to probiotics that can be used to treat domestic dogs.

» Dr. Kris Otteman, ’82, DVM ’86, featured in the spring Oregon Stater, is a leader in veterinary forensics and animal welfare. The practical guidebook she co-wrote following a transformative 15-year career with the Oregon Humane Society trains veterinarians in investigating and addressing animal cruelty.

» Exercise and sport science alumna Ellen Yin, ’16, was crowned Mrs. Oregon America, making history as a Chinese American winner. A successful entrepreneur and podcast host, Yin has mentored over 14,000 small businesses through her social media marketing agency and Cubicle to CEO podcast.

» Tim Leatherman, ’70, revolutionized tools with his invention of the Leatherman "pocket survival tool" in 1975, turning a simple idea into a thriving Portland-based company producing 10,000 multi tools a day. Watch a four-minute CBS video featuring Leatherman himself and CEO Ben Rivera, ’90, both OSU mechanical engineering alumni, to learn more about the innovative spirit that created the iconic and widely used tool.

» From film and TV to environmental science degree! Congrats to Beau Mirchoff, ’24. The Hallmark star (also known for recurring roles on Awkward., Desperate Housewives and Good Trouble) is celebrating completing his degree via OSU Ecampus, which enabled him to study while traveling for acting roles.

ATHLETICS

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“The Man for the Moment”

Trent Bray, ’08, the new head football coach of the Beavers, brings continuity and passion for the program during a time of considerable transition. In the spring Oregon Stater, renowned sports writer Kerry Eggers, ’75, digs into how Bray’s deep OSU ties and unsinkable commitment are set to guide the Beavers through a challenging yet promising future.

Travis Bazzana earns Pac-12 Player of the Year

Junior infielder Travis Bazzana, one of OSU’s most record-toppling players, was awarded the Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. Gavin Turley, Aiden May, Jacob Kmatz and Bridger Holmes joined Bazzana on the all-Pac-12 First Team.

FUN FOR MINI-BEAVS

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Beavers are bluetiful!

Did you know that Crayola has a crayon inspired by the blue pigment discovered in 2009 by OSU scientists? It goes by many names: YInMn Blue, Mas Blue, Oregon Blue — and according to Crayola, Bluetiful! Download free Bluetiful coloring pages from Crayola and get to know this OSU-connected color.

Brought to you by OCCU

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