From the graduation of our first five Stamps Scholars to Ducks spending their limited free time giving back to the community on alternative breaks, UO students strive for the best.

That’s reflected in the top student stories from 2017. Innovative, enthusiastic and dedicated, Ducks make it happen. Here are just a few of the numerous student accomplishments from the past year.

Stamps Scholars
The first UO recipients of the prestigious Stamps Scholarship all graduated this year, June 2017.

Training Grounds
Students find meaningful, on-campus jobs to gain new skills, build community and prepare for future careers.

Mission to Mars
Physics major and NASA intern Manju Bangalore shows incredible focus and determination as she works to become an astronaut before age 30.

Students work to Reset the Code in new campus campaign
In a student-led campus respect campaign, members of the UO community pledge to abide by mutual respect and reject complacency in the presence of fear and hate.

UO to become a member of the Common Application
This year, the UO became the first public institution on the West Coast to join the Common Application.

Breaks that make a difference
Students spend their breaks completing community service projects internationally and locally.

Student group gets city backing for new East 13th bikeway
The UO’s LiveMove student organization gets support for a new, two-way bike path on East 13th Avenue.

President Schill calls for protection of ‘Dreamers’ in op-ed
UO President Michael H. Schill speaks out in defense of Dreamers after President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Here’s what you need to know about commencement 2017
Last spring, more than 5,100 Ducks graduated with their degrees from the University of Oregon.

Latino Roots, Oregon Branches
In this two-term course, students learn about the history of racial identity in Oregon combined with documentary storytelling.

—By Morgan Robinson, UO Strategic Communications and Marketing