News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.
Biology professor Jacquie Van Hoomissen has been selected as the Oregon Academy of Sciences (OAS) Outstanding Educator in Higher Education for 2018. She was cited for her “considerable contributions to life science education at the University of Portland.” She will be presented with the award on Saturday, March 3, at a ceremony at George Fox University.
For more information contact Ami Ahern-Rindell, biology, at ahernrin@up.edu.
All UP faculty, staff and students are invited to discuss this year’s ReadUP selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, at one or both of the remaining discussion groups facilitated by Fr. Charlie Gordon, CSC. Each will have a slightly different focus, so you might consider participating in more than one session. On Tuesday, February 13, Dr. David Wynne brings insights from cellular biology; and on Thursday, February 22, Dr. Thompson Faller, beloved retired member of our UP community, adds his knowledge of medical ethics to the conversation. All discussion groups will take place from noon-1pm in the Library Conference Room. Light refreshments will be served; participants are encouraged to bring their lunch if desired. For a complete schedule of events related to ReadUP and author Rebecca Skloot’s visit to campus, please visit up.edu/readup. Questions about the book discussion can be directed to Fr. Charlie (gordon@up.edu) or Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu) in the Garaventa Center.
Come out this Saturday to cheer on the women in their match-up versus Saint Mary’s! The game is set to begin at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information, go online to PortlandPilots.com/Tickets, visit the Pilots Box Office, or call (503) 943-GoUP. Go Pilots!
Pilot fans, join us this Thursday to cheer on the Pilots as they take on Gonzaga! The game is set to begin at 8 p.m. For the first time, friends and family of employees can purchase a discounted ticket to the big game at $10 off. Simply enter the promo code “PILOTPRIDE” at checkout. For tickets and more information, go online to PortlandPilots.com/Tickets, visit the Pilots Box Office, or call (503) 943-GoUP. We hope to see you there!
The Portland Shamrock Run is fast approaching, and the University of Portland team needs your help. Participants can sign up for any distance. To sign up, go to www.motivrunning.com/shamrock-run-portland/. Under the REGISTER tab, make sure to select TEAM EVENT (vs. individual). After filling in your information, go to the payment page to list your team name as: University of Portland.
As a UP team member, you will receive $4 off the registration fee through January 2018.
For more information contact Kaitlin Bourne, recreational services, at bourne@up.edu.
Six students and three faculty members have been selected to help determine the recipients of the 2018 Opus Prize, a $1.2 million annual award that recognizes individuals or organizations who address persisting social problems within their communities. The student and faculty ambassadors will accompany members of the Opus Prize foundation board on site visits next spring to the communities of three Opus Prize finalists. While the destinations of these site visits remain confidential, the ambassadors will travel in teams of three to the specific locations where the Opus Prize finalists carry out their work.
UP student ambassadors include:
UP faculty ambassadors include:
The Opus Prize Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sponsors the Opus Prize, an annual, faith-based humanitarian award recognizing individuals internationally and domestically who are addressing persistent and pressing social problems within their communities. Each year, the Opus Prize Foundation chooses a Catholic university to serve as its partner in selecting the Opus Prize laureates and finalists. The award is one of the world’s largest faith-based awards for social entrepreneurship, composed of one $1 million award and two $100,000 prizes.
The University of Portland will host a week-long celebration in Portland from November 11-15, 2018, during which all three finalists will be on campus to visit classrooms and engage in conversation with the University community and the greater Portland community. This week will culminate in the Opus Prize Awards Ceremony on November 15, when the $1 million award and two $100,000 prizes will be announced.
For more information about the Opus Prize, please visit www.opusprize.org. For additional information about the University of Portland’s partnership with the Opus Prize Foundation, please contact Dan McGinty, Dundon-Berchtold Institute for Moral Formation & Applied Ethics, at x7596 or at mcgintyd@up.edu.
Last Tuesday, the Office of Development launched the University’s second Giving Tuesday campaign. 405 gifts were given in just 24 hours and $115,095 was raised to support a variety of scholarships, programs, and areas of campus. This tremendous show of support marks the largest number of gifts made in one day in University history.
In honor of Giving Tuesday, three families challenged the UP community to secure 350 gifts. By meeting and exceeding that goal, the University’s supporters unlocked $40,000 in scholarship support from the families. Giving Tuesday attracted 188 first-time donors, and a special challenge by Regent Jack Block secured an additional 201 young alumni gifts through student calling in the Telephone Outreach Program. This special challenge brings the total number of Giving Tuesday gifts to 606.
More than 500 students took part in learning “UP Philanthropy Facts” at stations led by the Senior Class Campaign Committee and getting a free hot chocolate with a Wally coffee sleeve. The Office of Marketing created a fun social media contest resulting in 33 entries and student directed $250 contributions to Women’s Ultimate Frisbee and the Moreau Center.
Along with the impressive results, the collective giving of 173 parents, 387 alumni, 24 students and friends, and 53 faculty and staff is a testament to the heart of our community – a community that is eager to come together and make a difference in the lives of University of Portland students.
In its sixth year, Giving Tuesday is a global day of philanthropy following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. To see the UP Giving Tuesday Results Infographic, visit giving.up.edu.
Have any extra, unused items in your pantry after Thanksgiving? The Clark Library is collecting food donations for the Oregon Food Bank from now until December 20. All faculty and staff are asked to help us reach our 2017 goal of 300 pounds. Any food donation you can make will help the families of Oregon and Southwest Washington. Collection barrels will be in the library lobby so you can easily contribute to this effort. Suggested items include canned meat, canned and boxed meals, nut butters, canned or dried beans and lentils, pasta and rice, canned fruits and vegetables, juice, and cooking oil.
The annual Silent Auction fundraiser to benefit the Nicaragua Immersion service trip is coming up, from Monday, December 4 to Friday, December 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons.
Please stop by to meet the students who will be participating in this immersion and bid on some amazing gift items in a wide range of prices. There are handcrafted items from Matagalpa, Nicaragua, homemade tasty treats prepared by UP Staff, vintage items, certificates for services including babysitting, gift baskets and a 4 hour boat ride for 8-10 people!
We look forward to seeing you! For more information, contact Theresa McCreary, Moreau Center, at x7131 or mccreary@up.edu.