18 OregonStater.org BARBIE: MATTEL; SNOW DAY: DARRYL LAI; BASEBALL: JERRY ESPINOZA; MIGHTY BEAVS: KARL MAASDAM,’93 BEAVER BRAGS N EWS FOUR YEARS, ZERO DEBT NEW PROGRAM AIMS TO REMOVE LAST FINANCIAL BARRIERS FOR HIGHEST-NEED OREGON STUDENTS. By Cathleen Hockman-Wert Gerardo Vargas Miranda arrived at OSU this fall with a dream. “I’m excited to be the first engineer in my family — I think that’s really cool,” he said. “A lot of creativity goes into that job. I can see myself going to work and being happy about it every day.” He’s the first person in his family to go to college. He’s also breaking ground another way: Miranda was chosen for OSU’s first cohort of Finish in Four students. Finish in Four is a new program supporting the university’s aspirational goal of all students graduating in four years, without debt and with a job. It recognizes that Oregon’s college-going rate is far below the national average, and companies have a critical need for the kind of graduates OSU is known for: collaborative, innovative problem-solvers who hit the ground running. Increasing graduation rates is a multifaceted university-wide effort, and Finish in Four tops the list of ways alumni and friends can help. For many students, the biggest barrier to completing their degrees is financial, and sometimes the lack of what may seem like a small amount of money — $500 or $1,000 — can lead students to drop out. Finish in Four provides four-year “last dollar” scholarships for Oregon resident students with high financial need. This means the scholarships cover the gap between the full cost of attendance (including living expenses) after other forms of financial aid have been exhausted. “The 11 students in this year’s pilot cohort receive scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $15,000 — because what each of them needs to cover the full cost of attendance is different,” said Dorian Smith, ’09, MAIS ’17, who directs the program. “The Finish in Four program will be life-changing for these promising students, and I am grateful to our donor community for helping them thrive at OSU.” Beyond financial support, the Finish in Four program is working to help students develop a sense of connection at Oregon State and includes academic counseling, financial education and career guidance. Participants are expected to complete an experiential learning project during their college career and to earn $2,000 annually toward the cost of attendance. Miranda quickly found friends in a university program that supports migrant and seasonal farm workers and their children. “My parents weren’t able to go to college. I’m happy I’m making them proud right now,” he said. “The scholarship lifted a huge burden off their shoulders, and I’m going to make great use of it.” “I’M EXCITED TO BE THE FIRST ENGINEER IN MY FAMILY — I THINK THAT’S REALLY COOL.” 4 Oregon license plates now support university initiatives: the gray whale plate, bee plate, recently released Beaver plate and newly announced shark plate. Learn more at beav.es/OSU-plates. 41 PERCENT of all OSU classes in the 2023-24 academic year used low-cost or no-cost textbooks and course materials, saving students roughly $8 million. $11.9 MILLION was awarded to Oregon State by the U.S. Department of Defense to invent nanotechnology delivery methods for protecting troops from chemical and biological threats. No. 1 in the nation in NCAA Gymnastics both for All-Around and Balance Beam, Jade Carey is also, as of this March, the first Beaver to become a Barbie doll! o. 1
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