Empty Nest Newsletter - Spring 2026

Spring term is in full swing, and students are busy everywhere—on campus, in labs, in the library, and now enjoying a little sunshine outside on the Klamath Falls campus. Spring weather in the Basin can change quickly, but it is always nice to see students taking advantage of the warmer moments. The Portland Metro campus is experiencing the same seasonal shifts, and students there remain engaged and focused as the term progresses. 

Spring always brings a special energy to campus. As I write this, we have enjoyed the annual luau, softball is competing in the opening round of the NAIA tournament, and the Baja team has returned from competition in Washougal, Washington. At the same time, students are wrapping up midterm exams and projects, preparing for finals, and thinking ahead to summer or life after graduation. If you are reading this before Memorial Day weekend on May 25, 2026, I hope your student can use the long weekend to rest, recharge, and catch their breath before the final stretch of the term. Then, on May 30, 2026, we will gather again for the annual Music Garden on the Klamath Falls campus. We would love to see students, faculty, staff, families, and community members come together for music, food, and time outdoors. 

The final weeks of the spring term are exciting, but they can also bring change and a mix of emotions. As students look ahead to summer, they are navigating important transitions. As a supporter of an Oregon Tech student, please know your encouragement matters. Your student may reach out more or grow quieter as they focus on finishing the term on a positive note. Either way, your steady support makes a difference. As you are talking with your student, keep reading for a few more updates to talk about with your student: 

• June 1-5 is Dead Week on both campuses, the final week of regular classes. During this time, students are finishing projects, completing lab finals, and getting ready for final exams. It is often a full and demanding week, and a little encouragement from home can go a long way. 

• On June 2, the Portland Metro campus will host the Student Awards Ceremony, followed by IDEA Fest. Families and supporters are warmly invited to attend and celebrate the many ways students have grown, contributed, and excelled this year. 

• On June 5, IDEA Fest on the Klamath Falls campus will give students the opportunity to share the projects they have been working on in class. It is a wonderful chance for families, supporters, and the campus community to see students' creativity, hard work, and real-world learning in action. 

• June 8-12 is Finals Week on both campuses. Students will close out the spring term with their last exams and projects, and for many, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year. A quick text, call, or email to let your student know you are thinking of them can make a real difference. 

• On June 12, we will celebrate graduates at the Klamath Falls Student Awards Ceremony. It is a special time for the campus community to come together and recognize students for their achievements just ahead of commencement. 

If your student is living on campus on the Klamath Falls campus, please talk about move-out plans unless your student is remaining in on-campus housing for the summer term. Housing closes on June 14th at 10 AM. 

The Klamath Falls commencement ceremony will take place on June 13. No tickets are required. Because the ceremony is held outdoors on the track, we encourage guests to bring sunscreen and arrive early to find seats in the stadium. The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m., and we look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our graduates and their loved ones. 

The Portland Metro commencement ceremony will be held on June 14 at 11:00 a.m. No tickets are required, and we look forward to celebrating alongside our graduates and the family members and supporters who have helped them reach this moment.

I look forward to seeing many of you as the term comes to a close, whether you are helping your student move for the summer or joining us to celebrate graduation. These moments matter, and it is always a joy to share them with the people who support our students so well. 

I hope you enjoyed the Empty Nest and that it brought a little joy to your inbox. It has been a pleasure to connect with your students, and I look forward to welcoming back those who will continue their degree journey in the fall. Fall-term enrollment is now open, so this is a great time to check in with your student about how registration went. If you are celebrating a graduate, congratulations! Your student has worked hard to earn this accomplishment, and it is also a moment to recognize the family members and supporters who encouraged them along the way. Thank you for all you do for Oregon Tech students. Every day, I see the meaningful difference that family support makes in helping students persist, grow, and reach their goals. 

As always, if you have a question or would like to connect, please email me at mandi.clark@oit.edu. We are here to support your student, and we are always glad to be a resource for you as well. 

-Mandi 

Another Academic Year has flown by, and as always, it has been a joy to have students live on campus and watch them grow as individuals and connect in Housing and elsewhere on campus. It is also the time of year when we face sad good-byes to our students who are graduating while we already start making plans for welcoming the next group of Hustlin’ Owls to campus in just a few short months!  

Housing Student Employment: 
This Term we are finalizing all our Fall 2026  Student Staff Team Members. Housing truly could not function without the students that work as Resident Assistants, Programming Assistants, Student Success Mentors, Service Desk Staff, Custodians and Maintenance Techs. We are thankful for them!  

Housing is still hiring for Summer Student Custodians. Students who work 20-40 hours per week during the summer have housing comped for the summer + paid hourly wage. Students who work 10-19 hours per week get ½ of Housing comped + paid hourly wage. This is a great opportunity for students who are taking summer classes or have other commitments in the area. Students do NOT have to live on campus to work for Housing during the summer nor do they have to take classes in the summer.  

Fall 2026 Housing and New Housing Building Update: 
The Housing Application for Fall 2026 is open. Students who applied for Housing by May 1st, are eligible to participate in the housing lottery. Returner student Housing Lottery will take place May 18th – 22nd. The deadline to cancel a 2025–2026 housing contract and receive the $100 refundable deposit is August 15th.  

The new Residential Facility will be doing a “soft opening” with some summer guests/conferences and will be fully open to students for Fall 2026. We are very excited to have ample space for students for Fall 2026 with the new facility, current Residence Hall and the Village. 

End-Of-Term Check Out Information: 
Finally, Housing and Residence Life will close for the academic year on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 10am—please note this deadline if you or others are coming to Klamath Falls to help your student move out. If your student has a summer housing contract, they will be instructed to stay in their current spot and not check out, but anyone who is not staying in on-campus housing for Summer Term will need to connect with their RA and check out of their space by this deadline. Information with details about check-out is given to students via their OIT email. Their RA is the first person they reach out to with questions. At the end of this update are some highlights of the information given to students. 
 

Student Veterans of Oregon Tech: A Season of Momentum 

The spring term got off to an electrifying start with the Student Veterans Program Spring Term Kick Off, which drew nearly 400 students to the Falls Tap House just off campus. The energy at the Tap House was a powerful reminder of just how central veteran student life has become to the Oregon Tech campus experience. Events of this scale don't happen by accident — they reflect the dedication of our student leaders and a campus community that genuinely shows up for its veterans. 

But the momentum didn't stop there. 

Give a Hoot Day proved to be a landmark moment for the Student Veterans Program, with the community rallying together to raise more than $10,000 in a single fundraising push. That number represents far more than dollars — it reflects the belief so many people hold in the mission of supporting student veterans as they transition from service to the classroom and beyond. 

To every family member who opened their heart and their wallet during Give a Hoot Day: thank you. Your generosity is not taken for granted. Whether you gave in honor of a spouse, a child, a sibling, or a parent who wore the uniform, your support has a direct and lasting impact on the veterans studying here at Oregon Tech today. This program and the students it serves are stronger because of you. 

As spring term continues, the Student Veterans of Oregon Tech carry this momentum forward — energized, funded, and reminded once again that their community has their back. 

Go Owls — and thank you to all who serve, have served, and support those who do. 

You are invited to attend IDEAfest 2026!   

If you have not had the opportunity to attend this event, IDEAfest is a great opportunity for students and faculty to showcase their work, share their ideas with the Oregon Tech community, and celebrate their collective creativity and innovation. There are two separate events for students and faculty.  Watch this short video where our students and faculty will entice you to attend this year’s events!   

Outstanding Scholars 

Klamath Falls 

Engineering, Technology and Management 

• Adam Cornie - Manufacturing Engineering Technology 

• Alejandro Escovedo – Information Technology  

• Amina Norris - Business with Marketing Option 

• Brandon Moehlmann – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology 

• Charles Maplethorpe – Health Informatics 

• Conner Berg – Civil Engineering 

• Grace Taylor – Business with Management Option 

• Hailey Hanford-Scott – Software Engineering Technology 

• Isaac Young - Computer Engineering Technology 

• Jordan Thielke – Electrical Engineering 

• Keith Klaty – Mechanical Engineering 

• Luciana Andalon-Peña – Cybersecurity 

• Mackenzie Dutcher – Health Care Management, Administration Management 

Health, Arts and Sciences 

• Addison Kachnik – Communication Studies 

• Cassidy Vogt – Respiratory Care 

• Cedric Romero – Applied Mathematics 

• Eryk Mayes – Echocardiography 

• Hannah Badker – Dental Hygiene 

• Isreal Ornelas – Environmental Sciences 

• Ivy Chiem – Vascular Technology 

• Logan North – Radiologic Science 

• Madison Davis – Diagnostic Medical Sonography 

• Ronny Ryno – Nuclear Medicine Molecular Imaging 

• Samantha Miller – Professional Writing 

• Sarah Walls – Population Health Management 

• Willow Jacobson – Applied Psychology 

• Zach Kuenzi – Biology-Health Sciences 

Portland-Metro 

Engineering, Technology and Management 

• Aaron Hill – Software Engineering Technology 

• Andre Fraslin - Renewable Energy Engineering 

• Ava Sciulli – Business - Management Option 

• Brevin Tatom – Information Technology 

• Cari Blaker – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology 

• Ian Hunt – Cybersecurity 

• Jacob Wilson – Electrical Engineering 

• Krystin Ali – Operations Management 

• Mitchell Stoneberg – Mechanical Engineering 

Health, Arts and Sciences 

• Renee Bruning– Medical Laboratory Science 

Online Learning 

• Ash Benza – Applied Psychology 

• Eric Armah – Operations Management 

• Jared Alexander – Technology and Management 

• Jean Marie Herrera – Health Care Management, Administration Management 

• Rosel Gomez – Information Technology 

Spring Term Career Fair Highlights 

Career Services welcomed 46 employers to our Klamath Falls and Portland‑Metro Engineering, Technology, and Management (ETM) Career Fairs, providing valuable job and internship opportunities for our students. 

Employers emphasized the importance of arriving prepared with printed resumes, wearing professional attire, and engaging in hands-on experiences such as projects or internships. Taking these steps helps students maximize their success at career fairs and other networking events. 
 

How to Get Career Ready This Summer 

If your student has additional time this summer, it’s a great chance to prepare for career success before the next academic year begins. 

Career Services offers 1:1 advising appointments throughout the summer, including: 

• Resume reviews 

• Interview preparation and mock interviews 

• Career exploration 

• Internship and job search support 

Check out the graphic below to see how your student can take actionable steps to prepare for life after graduation while still in school. 

How Do I Know if My Student is Prepared to Job Search? 

Career Services recommends that students begin preparing for the job search early. Please encourage your junior and senior students to take proactive steps by updating and gathering their application materials. 

Here are a few ways they can get started: 

• Use summer jobs or volunteerism to gain work or leadership experience 

• Translate experiences into professional skills for their resume 

• Create or update their resume and cover letter 

• Update online professional profiles such as LinkedIn and Handshake 

• Research potential industries, employers, and career paths for fall applications 

• Schedule a 1:1 career advising appointment 

Upgrades to the Klamath Falls Campus Library   

Students saw some exciting changes to the Klamath Falls campus library as they came back from Spring Break. Between Winter and Spring term, the library closed for a bit of a face-lift; new blue carpet in the main study area. Gone with the old, in with the new, students can experience a more comfortable environment when studying.   

The new carpet installed covers the entire floor of the open study space and cubicle rooms. Dark blue with light blue accents, the flooring helps make the library a cozier experience. A bit of spring to the floor welcomes students who step onto it to take a load off their feet and stay a while. Feedback from the students has been all positive as they note how much more comfortable it is to study and how up-to-date the change makes the library look.   

Years previously, the library held stacks of books where now whiteboard tables are located. When the bookstacks were moved, bare spots of floor were covered with mismatched carpet samples that, in more recent years, started to come unglued from the floor. This new carpet helps eliminate tripping hazards and eyesores.   

The library is constantly working to make the space more enjoyable to students and patrons. Constantly soliciting feedback to make the environment better, the library staff work hard to listen and improve the space as much as possible. During the summer, the Klamath Falls campus library will work to further incorporate student feedback to best improve the library.   

Connecting the Oregon Tech Community: The Tech Nest Store 

The Tech Nest Store is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for our students, staff, and the wider community. We take pride in offering high-quality, affordable Oregon Tech gear and campus essentials. 

Now Available Nationwide: The Tech Nest on eBay 

We are excited to announce the launch of our new eBay Store, www.ebay.com/str/techneststoreatoregontech) making it easier than ever for families and alumni to support Oregon Tech from anywhere. Nearly everything available in-store can now be found online, including: 

• Official Graduation Regalia: Order caps, gowns, and tassels for the upcoming commencement. 

• Cufflinks and Earrings: Elevate your style with our new jewelry collection, featuring elegant cufflinks and earrings designed to show your Owl pride. 

• Custom Hydro Flasks: Featuring unique Oregon Tech branding and color combinations.  

Spring Term @ TOP 

Building on the success and momentum from our first training, Josie Hudspeth led out on the importance of leading out with hope.  Students learned that experiencing hope helps our brain function more effectively as it dampens the anxiety circuits in the brain.  The opposite of hope is fear.  Fear can be disempowering and may leave us feeling paralyzed or frozen.  Hope encourages us to act. 

This springboarded us into the next segment of our training; identifying our leadership styles through a series of activities and discussions.  We welcomed Jackie Holodak, APA from the Library, to share how to work with student employees in creating SMART goals which reinforced the pattern that developing goals and documenting progress is part of succeeding professionally. 

In the final training of the series, the goal was to help students weave the skills and principles from all three sessions.  Students shared the shifts, improvements, strengths and successes they observed in our community this school year. 

 

Anwen Jones (Academic Advisor) and Thomas Cooper (Information Technology Consultant) talked to our students about how to leverage their student experiences in their job searches.  Learning to manage rejection in a tough job market results in resiliency. 

The purpose of this student leadership training series was to lift student perceptions from routine tasks to professional contributions in support of the university mission. We finished the day with Erin Martin from Career Services helping students draft leadership power statements, gained from the Leadership Training Series and their on-campus roles, that could be added to their resumes.  Students had the opportunity to practice sharing these statements in a small group setting. The next step was having Josie and Debbie model how these statements could be used in answering job interview questions .  This mock interview gave students an opportunity to self-evaluate, adjust, and strengthen their resume statements. 

One of our students, Khadijah Wright, reflected on the training series, “The student leadership training series left a great positive impact on me. The many workshops that Student Services offered were relevant, engaging, and informational to my current role in life as a student who is looking for internships. The training series created a safe space for student workers, like me, to gain professional skills, collaborate with others who were in different departments, and stay well informed on the resources students have available on campus.” 

When Music Meant Something: 

What Happened to Music That Had Heart? 

By Maddy Gunn 

Other music artists such as Stephen Wilson Jr. (my favorite country artist), Lukas Nelson (Willie Nelson's son), or John Denver stand apart from music today. Their work emphasizes the importance of good writing, meaningful lyrics, instrument authenticity, and emotional sincerity.  

Stephen Wilson Jr. (for example)'s songwriting blends both classic country and alternative rock, even grunge. His songs explore real human emotions and storytelling with aspects of grief, identity, resilience, and raw emotion. Most of today's music industry is focused on views, clicks, trends, and algorithms, purely because of social media. 

Social media encourages quick dopamine fixes and shorter attention spans. Listeners move on from one viral clip to another, rarely staying long enough to emotionally resonate with music. This is why deeply personal songwriting, such as the artists mentioned above have produced, can struggle to compete with today's trends, such as instant gratification.  

Ultimately, in a world that is overflowing with sound, media, and consumption, what listeners really need today is sincerity and music that touches your soul, resonates with you, and, in many people's cases, helps them feel. Maybe rejecting modern music altogether isn't the answer, but instead, seek and support the artists that still put out music that is honest to them. Why?  

Because, as Eric Clapton said, "Music became a healer for me. And I learned to listen with all my being…" We should treat music as a form of healing, joy, and exploration of ourselves, genres, or artists we like, especially during a time when the world around us is having many problems of its own. Choose music that helps you feel, resonates, pulls on your heartstrings, music that makes you feel good, not an influencer or celebrity. 

 

 

A Review 

2560 CAMPUS DR 

KLAMATH FALLS, OR 97601 

Walking into the restaurant, the smells are robust and full of those essential spices in most Mexican food, little fry oil smell, but makes you hungry. Entering the dining area, it is nice and open, and the music naturally fits the theme of the restaurant and food, classic Mexican music playing.  

The food I decided to get was something I have never had at Jalapenos, granted I have had Jalapenos before, so I’m coming to this review with some experience eating here, but I’m hoping to try something new that I haven’t had, to erase as much bias as possible. I ordered the Fish Burrito and got a Horchata. 

Atmosphere, overall, the atmosphere is very authentic to the Mexican cultural and food, I enjoyed it a lot, as well as the workers are very friendly. When ordering the food, the servers/cooks are very cordial and once the food is done, they bring it out to the table for you, which I think is a small gesture with huge impact on each person who walks in. Maybe not everyone but most people who are emotional and socially aware. 

Food Aesthetic, it looks very good, it’s made with intention and not sloppy, not super greasy either, depending on what you order , some things are naturally greasy. The cooking style and the look of the food is more authentic than your average fast-food place; personally, I wouldn’t classify whether it has a fast-food restaurant even though it is part of a chain. 

Flavor, the fish burrito was surprisingly very good, plenty of fish in the burrito with some nice coleslaw paired with it, gives a good fish and chips flavor, if that makes sense. The horchata was a decent blast of flavor, good vanilla cinnamon flavor. I’m not too exactly sure what horchata is, but it’s a great flavor and pairs very well with the burrito. 

Customer Service, the workers are very friendly and take to each guest very well. It reminds of In and Out, order your food, then they come and bring you the food. It such a small touch, but it makes a difference, and makes you want to come back. You feel seen, and respected in a minor way but enough to come back and support the restaurant. 

Overall, the experience at Jalapenos Taco Shop here on Campus Drive was flavorful and culturally enriching experience, through the authentic and familiar foods you can order. Is it like going to Mexico? NO, of course not! But you can almost taste it! 

 

The Value of Social Science Majors at a Polytechnical University: Bridging the Gap Between Technical Students and Social Science Students at Oregon Institute of Technology. 

By Timothy Fincher 

3/18/26 

Negative stereotypes by labeling social science majors as “easy” at Oregon Tech dismiss the fact that both technical skills and soft skills are inseparable. Communication courses are essential to provide students with the necessary skills to be competent in their communication, boosting their critical thinking and writing skills that are applicable in their personal and professional lives.  

Social Science programs at the Oregon Institute of Technology are sometimes underappreciated because technical students who are in engineering or medical programs do not view social science courses, such as Communication and Psychology, as beneficial classes preparing them for the real-world workforce.  

Every student at Oregon Tech must take communication credits, a requirement for all majors. However, many students believe this is a complete waste of their time and do not value the education they receive from these courses. Students I have interacted with outside the Communication major have said that these communication classes are not useful and should not be a requirement because they have nothing to do with their major, and it's not worth their time. 

At Oregon Tech, students have been made fun of for majoring in Communication because other majors see this program as a joke. Students outside the Communication program have told me, “Your major has no value.” As a current Communication student, I find this very insulting because the work I do here means nothing to some people and has created an environment where I feel isolated on campus. 

The negative stereotype that social science programs at Oregon Tech face includes labeling the Communication degree as an “easy major” or “athlete major,” which belittles the major that students have chosen and even implies that social science students and faculty are not competent. Also, calling it an “athlete major” is an insult to the student-athletes at Oregon Tech. 

I argue that these social science programs are vital to the university in preparing students to learn how to communicate effectively and be able to work in a team. Oftentimes, we may think we are good communicators, but this is not the case, and poor communication can lead to multiple issues, such as project delays and conflict in interpersonal relationships. 

Communication encompasses multiple disciplines, ranging from how humans work in an organizational setting to how people interact with different cultures. The skills you obtain from the communication courses include public speaking, professional writing, and critical thinking, which are all valuable skills that employers look for. 

Regardless of the job you apply for, employers are going to potentially ask if you are a good communicator and can work in a team. These communication skills are not something that people are naturally gifted at, but with practice, these skills can make you a more marketable candidate and a better person overall.  

Charlotte Willson, in her blog post on November 12th, 2025, from the Knowledge Academy, a UK-based global training company, writes that “communication is important because it strengthens every relationship by building clarity, connection, and collaboration.” Communication isn’t just about sending and receiving messages, but involves a lot of human interaction. 

All roles in the workforce, customers, and the public require strong communication to function effectively within an organization. Even engineers must learn to communicate effectively with other engineers and supervisors on projects. For example, when engineers design and build bridges, this large project demands not only technical skills like blueprinting and mathematical calculations but also the human interaction needed to communicate with one another to prevent catastrophic mistakes.  
 

Saying that Communication is an easy program that does not provide useful skills overlooks the advantages of how these soft skills can prepare you in the professional setting. The communication courses here at Oregon Institute of Technology are not just here to make students suffer through taking gen-ed classes, but to equip students with the knowledge of how to apply communication and human interaction skills to their personal lives and whatever job they get after graduating from the university. 

Students and faculty who are in the social science programs, such as Communication, Psychology, and Professional Writing, are valued members of the Oregon Tech community. The stereotype that has followed the Communication program at Oregon Tech has negatively impacted students who are part of this program in feeling like their education is worthless. However, students who go through this program have the advantage of sharpening their communication skills through in-depth practice inside and outside of the classroom. 

For those who think that taking a communication course is a waste of time, I encourage you to reflect on this, because these gen-ed classes are part of the curriculum for a reason. After all, the Communication and Professional Writing Faculty is trying to give you basic communication skills that will set you up for success in the workforce, because poor communication can be detrimental to your career and potentially cost you your job. 

Students majoring in these social science programs here at Oregon Tech develop crucial skills through communication courses that equip them to work effectively in teams and see the world through multiple lenses, given how diverse our environment is. Instead of comparing majors and calling a specific program easier, we can look at how knowledge and skills in communication and human interaction can promote student success regardless of their major.  

As a current college student writing this piece, I want to encourage other students to support each other's majors rather than put them down or treat them as useless, because we have all worked hard to get to where we are. 

 

Momiji Is More than Sushi... It’s an Experience  

By: Michael O’Daniel 

Walking into Momiji feels like you’re stepping into a relaxing and calm little spot in the middle of Klamath Falls. This is a place where you see a great atmosphere, a good presentation, and a culture that wants to provide a great experience and even better food. As this was my first time ever visiting Momiji, what really stood out to me wasn’t just the sushi, it was how they tried to create a full experience for you and overall, it was great.  

Compared to other similar dining experiences, I feel like this had more of a modern feel to it. It was very neat surrounding a lot of soft lights; the tables were arranged nicely. It had a very calm feeling overall in the restaurant. The calming sense really stuck out, even when more people started to sit at tables. That calmness really showed in the servers in the service. Specifically, my server was very kind and attentive, but they weren’t too much always hovering over and seeing if I needed something. But they offered a sense of calmness and support, offering recommendations and checking in at the right times. When I asked about the most popular rules in their favorites at the restaurant, they said. “Everything is amazing here; you really can’t go wrong. But here are some of my favorite hand roles…”  

The food itself was amazing. The hand roles were beautiful and very visually appealing, but I felt that they were very large and overwhelming just a bit. The fish tasted very fresh and all the ingredients really came together to have an amazing taste of the Japanese cuisine, even for someone who isn’t very knowledgeable about sushi, I feel they would get a sense of calmness like I did enjoy when eating this delicious food. The appetizers were great, nothing overly flashy or giving too much, but everything very thoughtful and prepared it out. You can tell how the kitchen really prioritizes the quality of the cuisine.  
 

Something great about Momiji is that it’s in a small town, and in small towns like Klamath Falls, where there’s not a lot of dining options, having a place like Momiji is incredible. It’s going to deliver solid food consistently and give you a great dining experience. It’s giving you a different culture in surrounding food, but also with the environment in service that they’re offering as well.  

Momiji isn’t perfect though. For some the prices can seem good, but for college students, it might be something slightly higher than what you would expect in this area, especially for more specialty items. All the quality does justify the prices; it may be more of an occasional dining spot for some.  

Even with some of these drawbacks, Momiji is still a great dining experience and gives a strong impression. It’s a place that’s going to deliver time and time again, whether it’s with the food, the servers, the experience, etc. You’re always going to have a great dining experience at Momiji.  

Momiji is more than just a sushi restaurant; it’s a common environment with a great dining experience that stands out in Klamath Falls. On my first visit, there was consistency through the food, the great service, with passion in every step of the dining experience. Even though the prices run a bit high, the quality is amazing and really worth the cost. Momiji is great, because they’re not trying to be something they are. They focus on giving quality dining experience in doing things the right way.

The Oregon Tech Foundation and Alumni Association are proud to partner with you in helping your student grow into a confident leader and positive force for their community. 

This spring, we held our annual Give A Hoot Day, the biggest, collective fundraising moment of the year at Oregon Tech. 625 people came together to support the people, programs, and projects at Oregon Tech and gave over half a million dollars across over 115 initiatives. These funds directly help students like yours access scholarships, emergency aid, best-in-class lab equipment, and support for athletic and academic programs.  

This year, we partnered with students, faculty, and staff across campus to crowdfund for initiatives ranging from a new golf simulator to end‑of‑year banquets for student clubs. These experiences help students grow—whether that’s gaining the extra training to become a top athlete, the confidence to lead, or the hands‑on learning that launches a career. 

We also saw inspiring generosity from alumni. Brevada Brewhouse, a local alumni-owned cafe, partnered with Oregon Tech to donate $1 per drink back on Give A Hoot Day. The owners, Seth Gretz '18 and David Murphy '18, turned their time at Oregon Tech into something lasting, launching Brevada as a space for Oregon Tech students, faculty, staff, and community members to gather and connect. Learn more about David and Seth through a series of 20 questions. 

Thank you for your continued support of your student and the transformative experiences they gain at Oregon Tech and carry forward as alum. 

Unlocking Connection: How Escape Rooms Bring Students Together 

Bringing students back into community together after a stressful Finals Week and time away during Spring Break can be a challenge. To foster renewed student connections, Student Involvement and Belonging at the Portland-Metro campus coordinated an outing to a local escape room. Students organized themselves into teams to race against the clock to solve puzzles in “Who Stole Mona” and “Mansion Murder” themed escape rooms. A shared goal ignited the puzzle solving strengths of each team member. Students from different majors and classes had an opportunity to work together in an engaging environment fostering connections that carried back to campus. The evening was capped off with dinner at the popular BG Foot Cartel in Beaverton where students enjoyed cuisine of their choice from locally owned food vendors. 

Building Career Readiness Through Student Engagement 
It’s often said that clubs are a great way to meet friends and build your support network. What is often overlooked are the professional skills students develop by being a leader or member of a student organization. Students are mentored to approach their club as a professional organization. Through their involvement, they develop skills in project management, budgeting, marketing, team dynamics, problem-solving, public speaking and data analysis. These competencies closely align with employer’s top priorities for new graduates - particularly communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.  

Oregon Tech has numerous club options whether a student leans toward an academic based group or one of our many social/recreational clubs. Identity-based, fraternity and sorority-based clubs round out the offering. With so many choices, students can explore and find a club that sparks their interest. Have an idea to start a new club? Student Involvement and Belonging is ready to walk students through the steps to get started, build membership, and secure funding. Beyond finding community, students leave their club experience with practical, career-ready skills that translate beyond campus. In many ways, involvement in student organizations serves as a hands-on training ground for their future careers. 

Portland-Metro Campus Gym 
On April 8, 2026, the Portland-Metro campus hosted a ribbon cutting for the new on-campus gym.  Over 50 attendees showed their support to open this space, which addressed a barrier students faced connecting to health resources on campus.  University leadership listened to the needs of students and expedited the creation of this dedicated space.  Bryce Wilson, Portland-Metro ASOIT President, thanked the university President, Nagi Naganathan for making this happen so quickly and pledged, “This is our space, we’ll use it well and take care of it.” President Naganathan was joined by the Board of Trustees at the ribbon cutting; whose focus is advocating for student success and strategically using available resources in meeting campus needs.  In addressing the crowd, President Naganathan addressed those in attendance referencing student sentiments, “Students told us, ‘We didn’t think this would happen while we were still here.’ Today is about keeping that promise.”  He also thanked the leadership team who made this dedicated space possible (Dr. Pracht, Dr. Clark, Josie Hudspeth and their teams).