Ducks give thanks
This holiday season, we asked UO alumni and friends what they are most thankful for from their time at the university, and we had a tremendous response. Some were thankful for friendships made, some for memories experienced participating in clubs and sports, while others will always remember that special professor or graduate teaching fellow from their favorite class. It doesn’t matter if someone graduated in 1962 or 2022, one thing is the same: Ducks near and far, young and old, love their alma mater and the university they hold so dear.
Josh Alder, BA ’05 (public relations, news editorial)
My favorite thing about UO was the four years I played trombone in the Oregon Band! Many of my very closest college friends were fellow bandmates. Some of the very best years of my life!! 🔥
Left: Rachel Barraza (left) at her first Ducks game versus Stanford in 2010, wearing her "Who needs luck when you're a duck" shirt; Right: Barraza's daughter, and future Duck, showing her Oregon spirit.
Rachel Barraza, BA ’14 (psychology)
I’m grateful for the lifelong love I have for Oregon!! My happy place. Born and raised in Orange County, CA. Went to the best school ever. Best four years of my life! My whole family are Ducks fans and my daughter is a future Duck. Love UO and Go Ducks!!!
Maggie Bidasolo, BS ’21 (business administration)
Grateful for my Warsaw family & the opportunities to gain industry experience outside of the classroom!!
Chris Bronson, BS ’15 (environmental studies)
Stepping outside my comfort zone and meeting so many amazing humans.
Brenna Burke, BS ’00 (environmental studies)
UO changed my entire life. New perspectives from peers & professors in so many different departments (shout out to bio, 3PM, and sociology for particular academic and life lessons), new experiences (why not play club lax? or advocate for the university to go paper-free?), lifelong friendships - oh yeah, and met my husband. 💛💚
Richard “Richie” Carpenter, BS ’05 (biochemistry)
Grateful for all the dedicated chemistry and biology professors (and TA’s!) who shared their passion and knowledge. 🧑🔬🧬📚
Left: Kailee Cuico as a student athlete at the Women's College World Series; Right: Cuico and Peg Reese at a ring ceremony at Autzen Stadium.
Kailee Cuico, BA ’14 (general social science)
Forever grateful to have been able to compete wearing OREGON across my chest. Grateful to have helped our team go to the first Women’s College World Series (WCWS) since 1988. Grateful to follow amazing women like Becky Sisley and Peg Reese for the opportunity to represent UO and women’s sports everywhere! GO DUCKS!
Danielle N. Dausman, BA ’05 (political science)
Meeting some amazing people and a degree that set the foundation for a very successful career!
Lori Eichelberger, BS ’80 (journalism), MS ’84 (human movement studies/sports medicine)
I’ve always considered UO home ever since I first took up residence as a student in 1976!!!!! I was also a hurdler and javelin thrower on the UO team. So, I love UO!
Joe Emmons, BS ’10 (sociology)
Grateful for the social development that UO gave me. The ability to relate to others and seek to understand our differences. Also, thankful for the alumni association and having a family to turn to when I lived elsewhere in the US.
Gabriel Flores, BS ’20 (biology)
I was grateful for the the Willamette River harboring great fishing spots a walk away from campus.
Jim Ford, BS ’80 (management)
Loved my business education, helped make my 41-year career possible. Also, loved my time on the Alumni Board!
Ashley Kirsininkas, BS ’11 (business administration)
My husband Cameron, BS ’11 (sociology), and I are grateful for meeting each other in Autzen at a Duck football game 10 years ago while both getting our bachelor's degrees. We are now happily married and living in Central Oregon. We had to include the best mascot in the world, The Duck at our wedding! We are grateful for our time spent in Eugene, making lifelong friends, and for my Sports Business Career that is 10 years strong and began in the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.
Wendy Krakauer, BA ’74 (political science)
So grateful for an eye opening education, professors who took the time to get to know their students, the best on campus job ever (set up crew), really fun to watch football, basketball and track, and an incredible sense of community.
Berit Lagaard, BA ’95 (electronic media)
I’m grateful for my host mom June Brooks, MS ’85 (special education), and her family. We’re still in touch 27 years after I graduated.
Susan Miller and her husband at a Mighty Oregon bowl tailgate.
Susan Miller, BA ’74 (romance languages)
I am thankful for all the opportunities I had to expand my knowledge of subjects far and wide with some amazing instructors. But the one that stands out? Being told my PE credits would be withheld until I was able to pass the swimming test (one had to pass it in order to graduate and you needed five PE credits). I took the swim class, passed the test and graduated. P.S. My husband and I love bowl games with the Alumni Association!
Victoria Nguyen, BA ’09 (magazine), JD ’21
I’m grateful for the SOJC professors who helped me find a post-grad job during the Great Recession!
Rø Olstedt (attended 1973-77, marketing)
I'm grateful for all of those who laid the yellow bricks along the way for our Oregon campus to be what it is today within the great Emerald City and the other locals we've landed in... We're standing Tall.
Gabriela D. Salazar Kitner BA ’15 (international studies)
Grateful I got to go to school with the prettiest campus and the best people. #onceaduckalwaysaduck 🦆
Left: Jess Settlemier and his late father, Kenneth, at a Ducks game; Right: Settlemier atop a goalpost after the Ducks 31-20 victory versus Washington.
Jess Settlemier, BS ’95 (leisure studies & services)
Proud [UOAA] Life Member. I am grateful for my time with my father Kenneth, BS ’66 (political science), PhD ’82 (Educational Policy & Management), and for memories like sitting on a goalpost in 1994 after beating UW. We lost Dad last year. He was the biggest Duck I ever met; class president in ’66, president of the Drake and Decoy men’s and ladies, and did the alumni board for many years as well. I was always a Duck because of him and our experiences on campus with him.
Left: The pregame with Whitney's oldest granddaughter was made special by the Oregon Cheer Team; Right: Whitney (left) with his wife at their granddaughter's first game at Autzen
Raynel Whitney
I started bringing my daughters to games around 2000 and I'm so grateful for the Autzen experiences we've shared. Rain (although it never rains at Autzen) or shine, win or lose, it's so nice to spend time with Duck family six or seven Saturdays a year. Greatest memory was the Oklahoma onside kick game. 🤣
Erin Watkinson, BA ’00 (Spanish)
Grateful for it all. The education. The friendships. The opportunity. The never-ending network of my fellow Ducks. And I mean, football . . . always grateful for some Duck football!! 💛💚
Commencement photo of the class of 2015 College of Education Special Education program
Teagan A. (Wade) Wynne, BS ’09 (education studies), MS ’15 (special education)
Grateful for lifelong teaching friends from the (Special Education) SPED grad program!
Eben Yemoh, BS ’19 (general science)
Grateful for an international community!
Mohammed N. Zaidan, BA ’22 (political science)
I'm grateful for my friendships I made and my political science courses that I took over the years to complete my major. I'm especially grateful for all the extracurricular activities I took part in from my student government involvement, advisory boards, cultural clubs, religious club, and many more. They helped enhance leadership, build connections and create great memories by organizing great events and advocating for students. I'm especially thankful for the journey which took 7 years total and had some ups and downs but had many great life lessons along the way.
- UO Alumni Association Communications