Dam Proud Day 2023, Oregon State University’s fourth annual day of giving, set new records for the Honors College in both total giving and number of donors. One hundred thirty-seven donors gave in support of student scholarships, well beyond the college’s goal of 80 gifts and last year’s number of 89. Overall, donors gave $57,579, the 13th highest total among the 50 participating units at the university. In addition, the Honors College had the highest faculty and staff giving rate among academic units.
“I am amazed once again, but no longer surprised, by the support the Honors College community has shown us,” says Dean Toni Doolen. “Not only did our supporters help us reach our goal, they set an entirely new bar for our sense of what is possible.”
All donations supported Honors College differential tuition and experiential learning scholarships. Differential tuition funds the unique Honors College classes and programming, which currently costs each student $1,500 every year. Over 35% of Honors College students have financial need.
By meeting this year’s total donation goal, the Honors College unlocked over $36,000 in challenge gifts from a range of honors community members:
- Honors Program Alumni Challenge, created by Karen Bolin, ’82, and Duane, ’77, and Rebecca Coen.
- Honors College Alumni Challenge, created by Eric, ’00, and Heather MacKender; Tari Tan, ’08, and Ian McLachlan; and Grant, ’04, and Danielle Cyrus, ’03.
- Honors College Faculty Challenge, created by Joe Hendricks and Hazel Reeves; Dan and Wanda Arp; Kerry Ahearn; Kevin Ahern, ’86, and Indira Rajagopal; and Jim and Bonnie Krueger.
- Honors College Parent Challenge, created by Susan Lair and Douglas Trobough; Dan, ’81, and Margaret Porth; Jill and Randy Thomas; Rahul and Samantha Shah; Meena and Kevin Baker; Amy and Stefan Groetsch; and Kevin and Anne Spencer.
“I am so proud of how honors alumni, faculty, staff, families and students came together this year to make this the biggest Dam Proud Day yet for the Honors College,” says Doolen. “This commitment demonstrates why the Honors College has such a strong future ahead of it, and I cannot wait to see what we can do together next year.”
By Kate McHugh, Public Information Representative
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