Major: Chemistry & Sociology
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon

Longnight is vice president of events for the oSTEM Club, a nationwide organization meant to help increase queer visibility in science. After getting into solving Rubik’s cubes, she became co-president of UOs Rubik’s Cube Club. She is also a peer advisor with the Office of Academic Advising and a member of Darren Johnson’s chemistry research lab. She is involved with Best Buddies, Chemistry Club, and Ukulele Club. Following graduation, Longnight will be taking a year to find a job in youth advocacy and then attending the University of Michigan to pursue a PhD in chemistry.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Always to go to office hours! It might seem scary, but it will help you build connections with professors as well as other students.

“The people that I met made my undergraduate experience so special, ranging from friends, teachers, graduate students, to people you met in the elevator,” said Longnight. I came into college very nervous to meet so many new people but I have been welcomed with open arms in so many spaces and I have loved trying to be that for others.”

Major: Environmental Studies, minor in Native American Studies
Hometown: Somes Bar, California

Reed (Karuk/Hupa/Yurok) is involved in the Native community both on and off campus. He participated and led the Youth Movement, aimed at giving Native American middle school students an educational and motivational field day experience. He is currently codirector of the Native American Student Union and a fire practitioner intern for the Long Tom Watershed Council. What made his undergraduate experience special was having support, love, and opportunities from the Native community at UO, and back home. After graduation, he will be fighting fire and doing personal and cultural projects at home before going to graduate school.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Focus on learning and gaining knowledge, and then everything will follow.

“Stay true to yourself and where you come from and have fun.”

Major: Public Relations, minors in English and Food Studies
Hometown: Palo Alto, California

Cole works as a writing coach in the School of Journalism and Communication and is part of the SOJC honors program. Cole also worked for the SOJC Track Bureau, where she interviewed athletes at the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field. This led to her involvement in an NBC consulting project with Warsaw Sports Business Center, and her current internship with TrackTown USA. Cole serves as president of UO’s International English Honor Society and is a leadership member of the English Undergraduate Organization. Next year, Cole is staying at UO to pursueher master’s in advertising and brand responsibility from the SOJC.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Try something new!

“I think the most special part about my undergrad experience has been the people—specifically my professors,” said Cole. “I’ve been so fortunate to have professors who are always kind, encouraging and pushing me toward new goals and new ideas.”

Major: Art
Hometown: Tualatin, Oregon

Owens entered UO as part of the art and design academic residential community and was a student intern for the university’s Center for Art Research. She worked as a videographer for the Daily Emerald and was recently hired as a DJ at KWVA. As a senior in the BFA program, she spent this last year working in her photography studio on campus every day, exhibiting at art shows, and shooting for local bands. After graduation, Owens is moving to the Redwoods in northern California

Advice for incoming Ducks: Take care of yourself.

“I found an amazing family within my roommates and friends, have totally fallen in love with the city of Eugene, and blossomed into adulthood along the way.”

Major: Business Administration and Marketing, minor in Economics
Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Zhang is president of Out Leaders in Business, an LGBTQ+ club for business students, and was a member at the Oregon Consulting Group, a student-run consulting firm. He also works in the dean’s office at the Lundquist College of Business. Zhang said his friends, faculty members, and colleagues made his undergraduate experience special. Following graduation, he will be joining the advisory practice at Grant Thornton, focusing on corporate and consumer strategies in both the private and public sectors.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Develop a good work-life balance.

“My friends, the faculty, and my colleagues have made my undergraduate experience special.”

Major: Political Science and Global Studies, minors in Nonprofit Administration and Spanish
Hometown: Newport, Oregon

Beltran has been involved with Mecha, a Latinx student union, for three years, where she currently sits on the board of directors and serves as director. She has been a part of the Wayne Morse Scholars program for the last two years and became a UO Legislative Scholar this year, where she advocates for increases in state and federal student financial aid. Last summer, Beltran was in the first cohort of the UO’s Portland Internship Experience program. Following graduation, Beltran will seek full-time employment in either Eugene or Portland and begin her search for graduate school programs.

Advice for incoming Ducks: The next four years will go by faster than you think, and during that time you will experience a lot of growth that only you can reflect on.

“All the little moments that I spent with people who I care about made my undergraduate experience meaningful, especially in multicultural spaces,” said Beltran. “I’m really going to miss being greeted when walking into these spaces, the brief conversations that I have with my peers as I run into them, and all the smiles, head nods, and waves.”

Major: Family and Human Services and Sociology, minor in Anthropology
Hometown: Tualatin, Oregon

Since her first year at UO, Leonard has been a part of Mind the Gap, the gender-inclusive a cappella group, which provided her with opportunities to travel and perform. They also work for Sexual Violence Prevention Education in the Dean of Students’ office as an operations coordinator where they get to facilitate the sexual violence prevention programs and events. After graduation, Leonard will enroll in the Prevention Science master’s program at the UO and study how to restructure the health curriculum in K-12 schools to be more inclusive and comprehensive of mind and body.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Be true to your interests and passions and you will find your people.

“A big campus like UO may seem daunting but being true to your interests and passions will help you find your people. I truly can’t imagine my undergraduate experience without meeting the individuals I did.”

Major: Accounting, minors in Spanish and Economics
Hometown: Sheridan, Oregon

During his time at the UO, Olivera was a resident assistant and part of the Oregon Consulting Group at Lundquist College of Business. What made his undergraduate experience special was finding a career path, identifying with his culture, and making friendships that will last a lifetime. This summer, he will be an audit assurance intern at an accounting firm. In the fall, he will be returning to the UO for the Master of Accounting program.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Take time to smell the roses. While college is full of large events and new experiences, it’s the small moments that you will cherish most.

“It was here that I was able to identify deeply with my Mexican heritage and feel accepted by all the new friends that I made,” Olvera said. “Overall, I could not have asked for a better undergraduate experience and am happy that I spent it here at the UO.”

Major: Computer and Information Science, minor in Psychology
Hometown: Tillamook, Oregon

During his time at UO, Veek was part of the PathwayOregon program as well as a member of the iOS Development Club. Following graduation, he will be joining Amazon as a software development engineer on their AWS Elemental team.

Advice for incoming Ducks: Never forget that accomplishments go beyond grades and test scores.

“What made my undergraduate experience special were the many amazing people I got to meet and the lifelong connections and memories I was able to create with them.”