One in three Oregon State students now learns exclusively online through Ecampus. Spread across all 50 states and 60 countries, they’re drawn to OSU for many of the same reasons on-campus students are: to receive a high-quality education, learn from the university’s expert faculty and gain the skills they need to thrive professionally or pursue a passion. And of course there’s the benefit that’s inherent to online education: the flexibility that allows students to earn a degree or credential while managing work and life obligations.As it turns out, that flexibility also comes in handy when students’ work takes them to unusual places — from Hollywood backlots to Major League Baseball fields. The four alumni showcased here hail from a variety of places, and their successful careers have taken them to wide-ranging points on the map. But now that they’ve graduated, they all call OSU home. — — THE ACTOR As a teen actor, studying for school while on a film or TV set came with the territory for Beau Mircho .There are laws, after all, that help ensure young actors spend the necessary time on education.As an adult in show business, Mircho ,’24, still loves to learn. But while he was pursuing his OSU bachelor’s degree online, the motivation to study had to come entirely from within. Even when the glaciers came calling. Mircho was filming a movie in Iceland during his final quarter online with OSU when he was faced with a decision: Go on a weekend adventure with the rest of the film’s cast to explore glaciers and see wildlife. Or stay behind to complete a physics lab as part of his environmental sciences major coursework. He chose the responsible route and turned an Icelandic inn into his makeshift classroom. “I constructed a series of pendulums in the hotel hallways and watched other hotel guests sneak by my labyrinth with confused faces,” Mircho said via email. But he was quick to point out that this wasn’t a chore. Far from it. Earning a science-based degree online enabled him to indulge his love of the environment, even when it meant sacrificing downtime and excursions. “I genuinely enjoyed what I was learning, so spending my lunch reading or studying instead of napping in between scenes was fine,” he said.“I also had a strong mindset and knew I was going to finish, so I just did what I had to do.” Mircho booked his first role in 2003 when he was 14. Now he has nearly 50 acting credits to his name, including on Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, MTV’s Awkward, ABC’s Desperate Housewives and numerous major theatrical releases. The movie he filmed in Iceland, The Finnish Line, premiered last December on the Hallmark Channel. That type of busy schedule — the travel, the odd hours on set — doesn’t easily lend itself to the rigors of being a college student. Mircho , however, shined in the role, as do many working professionals who enroll with Ecampus. More than two decades into his career, he shows no signs of slowing down. Nonetheless, the Canadian actor wants to be prepared as the entertainment industry begins wrestling with technological advancements. “Acting is great, but I enjoy other things as well. A backup plan sounded smart because who knows if acting will be a sustainable income source when the AI overlords take over,” he said, half-jokingly. “I would also like to help the planet in some way, so attaining knowledge and not being a fool sounded appropriate.” — — THE GLOBE-TROTTING ECOLOGIST Jane Vinesky’s cell phone was buzzing. She looked at the screen. “OMG.” It was a message from a friend and colleague. Hours earlier, Vinesky, ’22 — a marine ecologist and conservationist — was teaching dozens of young children about giant manta rays, the majestic sea creatures with wingspans that can stretch more than 20 feet. “We went to the aquarium after lunch,” said the message from her friend, the youth coor- ↗ Jane Vinesky, a marine ecologist and convervationist, earned her degree while working on ocean projects across the globe. ← Long days on film and TV sets didn’t stop Beau Mirchoff, an actor since the age of 14, from earning his bachelor’s degree online. 46 Beau Mircho .jpg OREGONSTATER.ORG
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