Class of 2013 is OSU-Cascades’ First All OSU Class. Distinguished Service Award Will Be Presented to Oran Teater.

At its 12th Commencement on Sunday, June 16, Oregon State University – Cascades will draw a crowd of more than 1,500 family and friends of graduates to the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend and will grant Oregon State University degrees to 167 students planning to attend the ceremony. In total, Oregon State University degrees will be conferred to 241 graduates.

This marks the first year that each member of the graduating class at OSU-Cascades will receive an OSU degree. Degree programs formerly offered by other institutions at the campus transitioned to OSU this year, making the campus fully OSU. The diploma received by each graduate represents an Oregon State University degree and marks the same achievement and fulfillment of requirements, and carries the same rights, privileges and honors as degrees conferred at the main campus.

In total, OSU-Cascades will have awarded more than 2,100 degrees since it was established in 2001.

The commencement event begins at 12pm. Vice President Becky Johnson will preside over the ceremonies and OSU President Ed Ray will deliver a welcome address.

Cylvia Hayes, First Lady of the State of Oregon, will deliver the keynote address. A champion of sustainability, Hayes is the founder and chief executive of 3EStrategies, based in Bend. She was named a Top 40 under 40 by Cascades Business News in 2006.

In addition to Johnson and Hayes, members of the platform party include Farbodd Gajifard, a student at OSU in Corvallis representing the Oregon University System; Oran Teater, chair of the OSU-Cascades Board of Advisors; Marla Hacker, Dean of Academic Affairs at OSU-Cascades; OSU’s Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Becky Warner; and members of the OSU-Cascades faculty.

Distinguished Service Award

During the event, OSU-Cascades will present the campus’ third annual Distinguished Service Award, an award created to honor individuals, businesses or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, the State of Oregon, or the world.

The award will be presented to Oran Teater, a 42-year resident of Bend and longtime community leader. A former Mayor of the City of Bend and City Council member, Teater is known for his unwavering support of non-profit causes and for tackling complex community issues. In his four-years as chair of the OSU-Cascades advisory board, his service has furthered campus expansion efforts immeasurably. Teater is an investment advisor and branch manager with Raymond James Financial Services in Bend.

About the Class of 2013

Of the 241 graduates, bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to 185, and 55 graduates will receive master’s degrees. One student will receive a doctorate. In addition, 9 students will receive certificates towards continuing education in teaching.

More than 70 percent of the graduates are from Central Oregon. In addition, 19 of Oregon’s 36 counties are represented. Graduates represent 12 other states. The average age of the graduating class is 32; the oldest is 61 and the youngest is 20.

The commencement ceremony will include presentations by OSU-Cascades candidate for graduation, Freeman York, an energy systems engineering major from Prineville, and from student body president, Rachel Mayhill of Redmond.

To learn more visit http://www.osucascades.edu/commencement.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

WHAT: OSU-Cascades 12^th Commencement Ceremonies

WHO: Commencement speaker Cylvia Hayes, First Lady of the State of Oregon

WHEN: 12noon, Sunday, June 16, 2013

WHERE: Les Schwab Amphitheater

INFO: OSUcascades.edu/commencement

About OSU-Cascades: Located in Bend, Ore., Oregon State University’s branch campus features outstanding faculty in degree programs that reflect Central Oregon’s vibrant economy and abundant natural resources. Sixteen undergraduate majors and three graduate programs include Energy Systems Engineering, Exercise and Sport Science, Hospitality Management, and Tourism and Outdoor Leadership. The branch campus plans to expand to a four-year university beginning fall 2015.

Christine Coffin