The First Five
Each of the five had signed their name thousands of times before. But on the first Stamps Signing Day, the simple act had a whole new meaning: tuition, room, and board for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Oregon, plus access to enrichment funds for study abroad, unpaid internships, research, and other experiential opportunities. All told, up to $125,000 in scholarship money over the course of their college careers.
Their interests and accomplishments ranged from combating poverty in rural areas to writing novels to organizing music festivals. Alex Chang, Candace Joyner, Ruby O’Connor, Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, and Kaylee Tornay were trailblazers at the UO. The Stamps Scholarship, awarded by the Atlanta-based Stamps Family Charitable Foundation, was brand new to the University of Oregon in 2013.
The foundation partners with just 35 universities nationally, and the UO was the first West Coast school on the list. Recipients are chosen based on their academic achievements; demonstrated leadership, innovation, and perseverance; and volunteer experience. In 2018, the UO’s Stamps Scholarship program will expand to grant 10 awards annually, half to Oregonians and, for the first time, half to out-of-state students.
Four years after they signed their letters of intent to attend the University of Oregon, Chang, Joyner, O’Connor, Steinkopf-Frank, and Tornay are wrapping up their final terms. As they prepare to cross the commencement stage, they reflect on what being a Stamps Scholar has meant to them.
Meet the Inaugural 2013 UO Stamps Scholars
Clark Honors College
Hometown: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Major: Human Physiology
Minor: Chemistry
After Graduation: Plans to go to medical school and become a physician
Clark Honors College
Hometown: Dexter, Oregon
Major: Psychology
After Graduation: Plans to create a think tank
The Stamps Scholarship — the University of Oregon’s most prestigious and generous undergraduate scholarship — is awarded competitively to outstanding incoming freshmen. Stamps Scholars receive UO tuition, room, and board for four years of undergraduate study. Recipients will also benefit from up to $12,000 in enrichment funds to be used over four years to help them pursue study abroad, unpaid internships, or other experiences. The total award can add up to approximately $125,000 over four years.
Clark Honors College
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Major: International Studies
Minor: Arabic Studies
After Graduation: Plans to teach Arabic to high school students
Clark Honors College
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Double Major: Journalism and International Studies
Minor: African Studies
After Graduation: Plans to work as both a photographer and feature writer for international and arts journalism
The Stamps Scholarship is a pretty big deal — the UO is one of only 35 institutions nationwide that offers the exclusive scholarship. It's so big that the university only offers it to five high school seniors from Oregon each year. But thanks to the generosity of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation, the university will double down in fall 2018 and welcome 10 new Stamps Scholars. The five additional scholarships will be available to out-of-state students, helping the UO succeed in the competitive market to attract top high school graduates.
Clark Honors College
Hometown: Bend, Oregon
Major: Journalism
After Graduation: Plans to work as a writer for an online local news publication
Five of the best and brightest from Oregon’s high school Class of 2017 recently committed to the UO after being named recipients of the prestigious Stamps Scholarship, the most generous aid package offered at the university. Hayden Dentinger (pictured) will join Noa Cohen, Aysa Klocke, Zarina Rogers, and Nisha Sridhar as the UO’s newest Stamps Scholars.
