Celebrating multigenerational Duck families

September 8, 2023

Celebrating multigenerational Ducks families

By April Miller, UO Alumni Association assistant director of marketing and communications; Sage Kiernan-Sherrow, MA ’21 (journalism), UOAA writer/editor; Anna Walters, BS ’23 (public relations), UOAA communications student associate; and Luke Domenick, class of 2025 (advertising), UOAA communications student associate

As we prepare to welcome the class of 2027 to the university, we’re honoring the multigenerational connections that strengthen the UO community and the everlasting bond between Ducks families. Hear from parents and students on what it means to share an alma mater.
 

When new students walk on campus, they’re walking in the webbed feet of the Ducks that came before them. All UO community members play an important role in this legacy, but it carries a different significance for those whose family members have walked through the same halls on the Eugene campus. Whether as a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or sibling, Oregon alumni are inspiring the next generation to join the flock and pursue a transformative educational experience. Though there may be new buildings and residence halls, new programs and initiatives, new resources, and new technology, Ducks spirit is always ever-present.

In this issue, we are celebrating the loyalty and legacy of multigenerational Ducks families as we welcome the class of 2027 to the university. Featuring interviews with current students and alumni parents, then-and-now photographs of residence halls, ways to get involved with the alumni association as a student, and more, we celebrate that little-rewarded achievement that is raising a child and sending them off to college, the everlasting bond between Ducks families, and the memories that current Ducks will go on to make in the echo of the relatives who came before them.

It’s stories passed down from alumni to their children who have made the UO what it is today. We thank all parents and family members who have trusted the university with their children’s education and well-being and all students who have made the decision to spread their wings at Oregon. Though your story starts as a student, it continues as a UO alum . . . hopefully for many generations to come!
 

A new generation of Ducks—welcoming the class of 2027 


During the UO’s Freshman IntroDUCKtion this summer, we talked with several incoming students and their proud alumni parents. Some parents were returning to campus for the first time in years, while others visit frequently or live nearby. No matter the distance or time since their last trip to Eugene, it was evident that these Ducks were enthusiastic to welcome their students to the university and share in the joy of repping the UO together.  

Flocking together as a family 


Deciding where to go to college can feel like a daunting task—for students and parents alike. There are so many factors to consider, applications to complete, deadlines to meet. For the families featured below, the decision was made a bit easier because of the firsthand UO experiences of parents and other family members who shared their memories, knowledge, and Ducks spirit.
 


 

The Calabrese-Kenny-Muraoka family: creating a legacy of Ducks

Kylie Calabrese-Kenny, class of 2026 (business administration and art), is a second-generation Duck and transfer student following in the footsteps of her mom Christy Calabrese, BS ’95 (journalism), and her aunt Kimberly Muraoka, BS ’92 (accounting). 

“The UO is an innovator, a trendsetter, a superior academic institution, and I’m proud to have been a part of it all! UO just has that cool factor that I love.” —Kimberly Muraoka 

“For what I was looking for in terms of academic challenges, geographic location, and student atmosphere, UO fit every aspect. What really is my favorite is the prospect of a student body that is proud of their athletics and I’m excited for that college-town feel.” —Kylie Calabrese-Kenny
 

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Diane Polscer and Maddy Carson: like mother, like daughter

The School of Law was the launching pad for Diane Polscer, JD ’84. Now a successful attorney, she wanted to show her daughter, Maddy Carson, class of 2026 (family and human services), her old stomping grounds. That visit to Eugene several years ago influenced Maddy to become a Duck herself. 

“When I first stepped onto the UO campus in eighth grade, I felt it was a special place . . . in addition to the natural beauty that is the UO campus, I was struck by the excitement each student had about being a Duck.” —Maddy Carson

“The fact that my daughter is a Duck and aspires to attend the UO law school is so special [and has] made me feel truly proud to be a Duck.” —Diane Polscer 

 

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The Student Alumni Association

Student alumni association
 

Connecting alumni and students

As the student arm of the UO Alumni Association, the Student Alumni Association facilitates interactions between students and alumni and enhances the student experience by providing opportunities that strengthen their lifelong loyalty to the UO.

The SAA provides opportunities for students to network with other students and alumni across the university, the country, and the globe. SAA members receive exclusive benefits all year long, such as discounts to special Nike and Columbia Sportswear employee stores, event invitations, and career development opportunities. Membership in the SAA also provides the chance to build leadership experience and academic credit as an intern.

If you’re a student or parent of a student, visit uoalumni.com/saa to learn more and get plugged in. If you’re an alum who is interested in sharing your experience, insight, and advice with current students and fellow alumni, complete this form.

Learn more about the SAA

Shared memories to last a lifetime


For many legacy families with whom we talked, the influence of a parent or family member was undeniably a factor in the student’s decision to attend the UO—or at least to come to the university for a tour. However, the student still had to form their own opinions and choose Oregon for themselves. Several students expressed an initial uncertainty that soon faded as they stepped foot on the Eugene campus, falling in love with the tall trees, Oregon’s smaller class sizes, and of course the chance to walk to Autzen for home football games. Parents acknowledged that while they’re excited to share the experience of being a Duck with their child, they’re also thrilled for their student to create their own memories.  
 


 

The Rubesh family: three generations of Ducks

Danna Rubesh, class of 2026 (pre-global studies), is a third-generation Duck. Her father, Kevin Rubesh, BA ’96 (computer and information science, linguistics), and uncle, Ken Rubesh, BS ’76 (computer and information science), graduated exactly twenty years apart.

“People may not have heard much about Oregon, but they’ve heard about the Ducks . . . and it’s a great entry point to conversations about the great Pacific Northwest.” —Kevin Rubesh

“I love being close to family and with my dad living overseas this felt like a really good way to stay connected to him despite being in different countries. My dad definitely inspired me . . . because when I was younger, we would visit the campus and watch Ducks games, so I’ve grown up knowing I wanted to go to UO.” —Danna Rubesh
 

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Matthew and Noah Bates: intersecting UO journeys

When Matthew Bates, BA ’96 (magazine journalism), told his son, Noah, to “find his school,” he never expected that Noah would choose his alma mater. But Noah fell in love with the Eugene campus and is now entering his first year at the UO studying planning, public policy and management.

“I never thought about the idea that he might come here . . . and the fact that he’s going to be going to the same school that I was going to, studying in the same buildings, it just feels like there’s a bond there I was pleasantly surprised and excited about that we’re going to get to have.” —Matthew Bates

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Then and now: UO residence halls


 

Student living and campus architecture has transformed in the past fifty years.

A lot has changed on the Eugene campus in the last few years. Two of the most nostalgic residence halls, Hamilton Hall and Walton Hall, are being replaced by three new buildings, a student recruitment and welcome center, and an expansive green space. Alumni coming back to the Eugene campus are often amazed at the quality of living new students get to experience, while also feeling nostalgic for the residence halls of days gone by.

From experiencing the first color televisions installed in common areas to Animal House being filmed on the Eugene campus, the UO’s residence halls are a source of incredible memories for many. As the new residence halls are completed and renovations continue, one thing that will always be true is that when you’re here, you’re home.  
 

Virtual tours of current residence halls

Unpack the Quack 

Unpack the quack

Help incoming students move in

Move-in for new and returning students living on the Eugene campus is just around the corner! Each year, the university community comes together to Unpack the Quack, a UO tradition during which faculty, staff, students, and other community members volunteer to welcome Ducks home to the Eugene campus.

Unpack the Quack takes place Thursday, September 21, and Friday, September 22, and volunteers are still needed. Sign up through Wednesday, September 20, to help students and their families move belongings out of vehicles and into rooms within residence halls.

All volunteers receive a free T-shirt and a meal voucher.

Get involved

Thank you to the alumni and their families who submitted stories for this issue of Shout! As we celebrate the incoming class of 2027 and the multigenerational families who make the UO great, we also hope to see alumni back on campus for Homecoming weekend and our alumni reunions. Go Ducks!