UO Visitors Program

Korrin B.

October 24, 2009 - 8:00 PM

As I mentioned before in an earlier post, I am helping initiate a new program this year within the after school program that I work in. I have unofficially named it the UO Visitors Program. This year, we are trying to have a different speaker from the UO come in each month and talk to our kids about what they do at the UO and why they love it. We are hoping to end the year with a field trip to the campus for a tour. It is a very important program because it gets kids thinking about college early. It is especially important for the kids in our after school program, who mostly come from disadvantaged backgrounds, because it shows them that they too have the opportunity to go to college.

On Thursday, we had our first speakers come in. Regan Middleton-Moreland, one of the queens of the blogging project with the UO Annual Giving Program and an advisor to the Student Alumni Association, came in with the president of the Student Alumni Association, Carissa Surace. We were so excited to have them! In true elementary school fashion, it was a little hectic trying to round up all the kids into the cafeteria to listen and hence, we were running a little late, but I think that overall, it went just as planned.

Regan talked all about the fundraising that the UO Annual Giving Program does for the University and why it's so important. I think that it was good for the kids to hear about all of the scholarships that the University offers to students through UO Annual Giving. There was excitement among the little ones when Regan compared the fundraising that she does to that that might be done by Greenhill Humane Society. Some of our kids last year made signs and talked to people about why they should donate more money to Greenhill. I think we have some future little philanthropists in training!

Carissa talked about how exciting the Student Alumni Association (SAA) is and how it is a great way to be involved in your university. The kids were very excited to hear about the big "O" that is painted on the side of Skinner's Butte and how there are plans this year for students to begin painting it again. Regan informed us that there is talk about making this "O' a historical landmark in Eugene.

I think one of my favorite questions asked during our brief Q&A session was from this little third grade boy. He's so small and has such an adorable voice (which he usually uses to ramble stuff, somewhat incoherently, about how he's going to get a girlfriend). He asked Regan how he could become a football player at the University of Oregon. Regan explained that it takes a lot of hard work in high school and that he could try out or be recruited when its time. He seemed pleased with the answer and I have a hunch that this little fella might just be playing Ducks football someday!

After Regan and Carissa left, we handed out the prizes that they had left for the kids. Each kid got a yellow bracelet with ducks on it. They were so excited and it was fun to see all of our kids wearing their bright yellow!

I want to thank both Regan Middleton-Moreland and Carissa for taking the time to come in and see us. They made a great first start to what I think will be an awesome addition to our program for the kids. Our next scheduled speaker is Jo Larson, a sign language teacher at the UO.