The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, based at Columbia University in New York City, has awarded The Beacon eight Gold Circle Awards for Digital Media. This national competition covers content published by student-run college media organizations during the 2016- 2017 academic year. The Beacon placed in the following categories: spot news photograph, sports photograph, editorial writing, breaking news, news writing (planned), general or humor commentary, informational graphics and interactive graphics. The Beacon also won certificates of merit for news feature, sports feature, and personality profile.
For more information see the article at this link or contact Nancy Copic, student activities, at copic@up.edu.
Orientation for new students begins on Friday, January 12, at 9 a.m., in the Pilot House, according to Jeromy Koffler, student activities. For a complete schedule of events, go to 
All University community members who identify as Latinx (Latino/Latina/Chicano/a/Hispanic, etc.) and work at UP in any capacity, including adjunct, faculty, staff, and administration, are invited to contact Yuri Hernández Osorio, who serves as diversity & inclusion program coordinator in students activities. Hernández Osorio hopes to form an informal group for Latinx employees. She hopes to create an email list so the group can stay in contact, organize events, and share trainings and resources. The overall mission is to gather and provide informal support to each other. To join the group or for more information contact Hernández Osorio at 
Yuridia Hernandez-Osorio joined the Office of Student Activities on August 3, 2017, as the new coordinator for diversity and inclusion programs, according to Jeromy Koffler, student activities. She is a 2015 University of Portland graduate with a bachelor of arts in social work, and won the Joseph S. Gallegos Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership in Social Work that same year. Since her time at UP, Yuri completed her masters of social work at the University of Michigan, where she served as an intern at Wayne State University’s Latino/a and Latin American Studies Center.
The University of Portland’s student-run digital news publication, The Beacon, has won six First Place awards in the regional 
The planning process for fall 2017 new student Orientation programs and activities is underway, according to Jeromy Koffler, student activities. Any suggestions, recommendations, proposals, requests, or other all around “we should really do that!” items will be gratefully accepted by Koffler (
All community members are welcome to join University of Portland’s community peace vigil honoring the justice, compassion, and love of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, January 16, 2017, at 7:15 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. If you cannot attend, stop by the Commons to see the peace intentions that will be offered during the vigil. They will be on display throughout the week. The University will also have a display honoring Dr. King in the Clark Library throughout the week of Monday, January 16. For more information, please contact Bethany Sills in Student Activities at 
All faculty and staff are invited to take part in Riverboat, the annual student activities late-night campus tradition, immediately following the men’s soccer Ohio State game on Friday, September 2. The fun goes from 9 p.m. to midnight. Just follow the Villa Drum Squad to the River Campus for food carts, live music, carnival games, photo booths, henna tattoos, and a cash bar. Access to the River Campus will be from behind the President’s House; a shuttle will be available at the Beauchamp Center entrance.