Thank You

Thank you for making Giving Tuesday 2025 such a powerful day for Eastern Oregon University. Your generosity strengthens every part of the Mountaineer experience and ensures students have the support, opportunities, and encouragement they need to thrive. While this celebration highlights one extraordinary day of giving, the spirit of support that fuels EOU continues all year long.

As you explore the reflections shared by members of the EOU Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, and Alumni Association Board of Directors, we hope you’re inspired by the many reasons they choose to invest in this university. Their voices echo a truth we see every day—EOU changes lives. And with your continued partnership, that impact only grows.

Learn more about Giving Tuesday! Contact us at foundation@eou.edu or 541-962-3740 for additional information.

“I support EOU because I’m one of the people whose life it changed. Leaving an urban area to attend a rural university opened opportunities I never expected. My vision for 2027 is an EOU that continues opening those same doors—strong, growing, and recognized statewide as the place where rural opportunity begins.”

~ Emily Folkestad, ’08, ’11, Treasurer, EOU Foundation Board of Directors

“As an EOU alumnus, I support Eastern Oregon University because it gave me a truly personal, high-value education. Unlike larger universities where students can feel like just a number, EOU offered small classes, genuine relationships with faculty, and opportunities to lead and serve: from student government to the University Board. EOU’s unique community and exceptional value shaped my experience, and I want future generations to have the same opportunity.”

~ Cedric Riel, ’22, Board of Trustees

“I believe deeply in the opportunities Eastern Oregon University provides to students from all backgrounds, especially those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education, like myself. EOU offers a level of one-on-one education that many larger universities simply can’t match. Our professors are truly hands-on, deeply invested in their students, and committed to supporting their success every step of the way.”

~ Alma Crow, ’13, Alumni Association Board of Directors

EOU has had a profoundly positive effect on my life. Now and into the future, I am a huge supporter of EOU and seek to support its long-standing offering of a high-caliber, rural, higher education.”

~ Skye Fitzgerald, ’93, Alumni Association Board of Directors