Scholarship recipients with Ariko Iso of OSU center.

Oregon State’s very own, Ariko Iso, Head Athletic Football Trainer was in Eastern Oregon for the annual Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) celebration honoring 10 local high school seniors.  The event was held at the Four Rivers Cultural Center in the heart of beautiful Ontario on May 1^st.  The Argus Observer newspaper reported this about the evening;

 The keynote speaker was Ariko Iso, the head football trainer at Oregon State University. She gave a very inspirational talk about her life and her journey from Tokyo to OSU, to San Jose State University, to Portland State University, to the Pittsburgh Steelers and back to OSU in 2011. She has been the ONLY female head athletic trainer in the NFL, but that was not her original goal. She wanted to be a trainer in the National Basketball Association (NBA), but she is grateful where her life’s work has taken her and she enjoys going to work every day. Ariko says she has been fortunate to have gone to 8 NFL playoff games and 3 Super Bowls. She was never intimidated by super star athletes, since she didn’t know who they were as she worked 6 days a week and didn’t spend Sundays watching NFL games. One of the coaches told her that everyone’s elbows and knees are still just elbows and knees, no matter who’s body they are on. She never thought that being Asian or female hindered her employment possibilities since she just wanted to be known as an athletic trainer. She reminded the graduates that you need to love what you are doing, that you take one day at a time, and her motto is, “work hard and play hard”. Several of the seniors spoke to Ariko at the end of the evening since many of them are athletes and want to go into health related or physical therapy occupations.

For more information about Oregon State Univesity’s Iso, click here and here to hear her story.

Thanks for reading…
CYN

Each participant enjoyed a feast prepared by the Polynesian Cultural Club that included Kalua pig, rice, haupia, stir fry and other authentic Hawaiian food.

Come back next year to join in the festivities and witness Hawaiian traditions on the Oregon State University campus!

Photo Credit: Eric Feigner

Oregon State University’s Hui O Hawaii

-AH

This past Saturday, May 26^th, Oregon State University’s Black Student Union hosted the 10^th Annual Divine Step Show. Attendees got to experience a live Jazz band, psychic palm reading, jambalaya and much more to feel like they were in New Orleans. With comedian Nate Jackson as the host, step teams from the Pacific Northwest competed for cash prizes in this fun filled evening, keeping true to its theme.

A Night in New Orleans…a Night You Won’t Forget.

OSU Step Show

Congrats to OSU, BSU and all those involved on a successful event celebrating the tradition of African stepping.

GO BEAVS.

-AG

APA Heritage Month

Happy Spring and Go Beavs!

-AG

The lu‘au is a popular tradition here at OSU. It is a family fun event and allows people to experience the Polynesian culture. I definitely recommend coming down and experiencing the lu‘au for yourself!

kg

Pride Week 2012: Dimensions of OSU

The Rainbow Continuum is proud to present the 2012 Pride Week, Dimensions of OSU.  They have scheduled almost 30 events happening this week, Sunday May 6th through Friday May 11th.  Some of this week’s events include a kick off dinner and vigil, a BBQ, sessions, movie screenings and a student ran drag show.  You can find complete details and descriptions about the activities below and on The Rainbow Continuum website.

Oregon State University prides itself on the fact it is rated 5/5 stars on the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index. For the second year in a row, OSU ranks high in being one of the nation’s most gay-friendly campuses. Out of 300 campuses reported by the Campus Pride LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index, OSU was amongst 33 American colleges and universities to get the highest score of 5/5.

Pride Week 2012: Dimensions of OSU – Event List

-Thanks for reading
CYN

11th Annual African American Youth Leadership Conference

The goals of this conference are to promote positive youth development in African/African American youth and multicultural youth of African descent by:

• Raising awareness on how to achieve personal goals
• Emphasizing the value of education
• Empowering future leadership (responsibility)
• Establishing a sense of community
•  Increasing personal self-esteem and affirm cultural awareness

Always a pleasure to participate and host such a program.

Go Beavs!

-AG

For updated information as it becomes available, phone 541-737-8000 or visit alert.oregonstate.edu, the university’s emergency information portal.

-cyn

On Monday, January 16^th, OSU will be closed to remember the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This week there will be a series of events, open to the community, to honor the life of Dr. King.

Some of the events featured include a Community Meal and Readers Theater, film festival, candlelight vigil, and various workshops and discussions.  The 30^th Annual Peace Breakfast will be held on the 16^th in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Tickets are currently on sale at the MU Business Office and will also be sold at the breakfast. The keynote speaker is Robert Thompson, an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies and African American Studies. There will also be an award presentation and music by OSU men’s a cappella group Outspoken.

You can view this week’s event calendar at http://oregonstate.edu/oei/sites/default/files/mlk_12_poster_85x11_2.pdf.

Go Beavs!

-kg