Dr. Dolores Christensen ’10 grew up in the foothills of the northern California Sierras in the community of Paradise. After graduation from Paradise HS, she decided to stay close to home and save financially by attending nearby Butte Community College in Oroville
Laurie Easter ’09 grew up in Palo Alto, CA but moved to Oregon in 1989. Once here with her husband Steve ’07 and MS ‘11, they moved to the quiet open space and country living of Williams, in the Applegate Valley.
There are certain extraordinary qualities that emanate from a leader: authenticity, respect, and self-awareness, and SOU alumnus, Gene Pelham ’83 and MiM ‘06, embodies those characteristics to the core.
If you want to find an alum who is highly motivated to work hard, engenders professional success and serves society at the same time, then look no further than Dr. Anson Sin ’19 MMC.
Growing up on the east coast, Erik Kabik ’97 didn’t have the opportunity to explore the west but it was after a year at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey
Originally from Hillsboro, Patty Morrison ’83 started her collegiate career at Portland State University. She found that she was not a city person after taking so much time to commute using the TriMet bus system. She stayed through two quarters but when her high school boyfriend told her all about Southern Oregon State College (SOSC) in Ashland, she was sold and made the move.
Meghann Erickson ’12 grew up in the rural northern California town of McKinleyville. Then, after graduation from McKinleyville High School, she attended Shasta Community College in Redding to work on her business administration degree.
Raina Hassan ’02 grew up locally in Grants Pass but decided to take an extended gap year in Portland between graduating high school and attending college. Like many SOU alums, she was the first in her entire family to attend college.
Born and raised in Bellingham, WA, Liam Kaas-Lentz ’02, was introduced to Ashland, SOU and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) when he was a student at Sehome HS. His theatre teacher took around 20 students to OSF annually and they stayed on campus for each trip. When it came time to apply for college, he already admired Ashland and the SOU community and for him, staying with SOU would keep his attachment to a small-town atmosphere like he was accustomed to, while being close to a theater like OSF.
Sha (Shay) Orton grew up in Bakersfield, CA, until the age of 13, then moved to southern Oregon. Amidst her high school years, she was forced to live in foster care. Her life was tough growing up and she didn’t get many opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the Rogue Valley. But when she finally did, they led to spiritual and healing experiences. She graduated from Crater High School in Central Point and shortly after, became pregnant, which shifted all of her life plans.