Eugene, Ore. – (April 16, 2013) – A student from the first school district in the state of Oregon has achieved a first of her own as one of five recipients of the University of Oregon’s most generous and prestigious undergraduate scholarships for incoming students.
Today at Pleasant Hill High School, Candace Joyner was celebrated by high school and UO officials, friends, classmates, teachers, her parents and her grandmother at a “Signing Day” event for the first UO Stamps Scholarship recipient. Joyner signed enrollment documents to commit to the university in a process typically associated with student-athletes.
The Stamps Scholarship provides tuition, room and board, and access to an enrichment fund that will help students pursue study abroad, internships or other experiences. A total of 20 students—five per year for four years—will be awarded this merit-based scholarship by the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation in partnership with the University of Oregon.
In addition to financial support, students who receive a Stamps Scholarship are automatically granted admission to the University of Oregon's Robert D. Clark Honors College.
“Candace is a truly exceptional student who has distinguished herself — not only academically but also as a leader in her school and community,” said Scott Coltrane, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Stamps Scholarship selection committee. “She is the kind of extraordinary student that we are thrilled to welcome in increasing numbers to the University of Oregon.”
While attending Pleasant Hill High School, Joyner co-organized Operation: IMPACT, a campaign to combat generational poverty in rural Oregon. With the help of a student team, she and her teacher created the IMPACT Festival, a community-wide event that offered resources and outlets for students to join the fight against poverty.
She was also the Associated Student Body president, Social Justice Club president, and a board member of the Oregon Quarter Horse Youth Association. In addition, she volunteers with the HIV Alliance and is a camp counselor for the Eugene Police Department’s Safety Town program.
At today’s event, Joyner recognized her mentor, teachers, family and friends who have supported her in the past, and she thanked the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation and the UO for the opportunity to pursue higher education.
“Thank you for believing in my ability to soar and become a Duck,” said Joyner.
At the UO, Joyner plans to study general science on a path toward working in international public health.
“I hope to impact my community and the world someday,” she said.
To encourage all incoming freshmen who have received the UO’s Presidential Scholarship, Diversity Excellence Scholarship and the Stamps Scholarship, Twitter hashtag #uosigningday2013 was created and students have been invited to share videos about being a UO Duck. The videos and testimonials are featured on the UO Admissions website at http://admissions.uoregon.edu/signing-day.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.
MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Brown, UO communications, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu
Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with satellite uplink capacity, and a radio studio with an ISDN phone line for broadcast-quality radio interviews.
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