Alumni News

“My degree from Southern Oregon University taught me that theatre is, at its core, a collaborative art built through shared purpose. The program’s hands-on approach to every facet of production, from building props to painting sets, gave me practical skills and a deep respect for the work behind the scenes, both of which continue to shape how I lead as an executive artistic director today.”

Steve Stenkamp ’80 family homesteaded in the Bend area over 110 years ago where he was raised and graduated from Bend HS. For two years, he attended Central Oregon Community College with a forest products degree interest, which would entail a transfer to Oregon State University in Corvallis.

Born in Klamath Falls but raised in Medford, Sam Sabori ’09, graduated South Medford HS then started his collegiate career at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Sam enrolled in multiple history and music courses but found that his core classes were too big, often having more than 100-200 students in each class. So, Sam found his way back to the Rogue Valley and transferred his credits to SOU in Ashland.

Southern Oregon University (SOU) has hundreds of non-traditional students who work, go to school part or full time and take care of their families while trying to make ends meet. Karen Jeffery ’11 epitomizes the hard working,