91传媒

A Legacy: Past, Present, and Future

Sunshine radiates through the massive windows into the new Health & Human Performance (HHP) offices overlooking the Track & Field Complex.  In the past, sharing only one lab between classes, research, and testing, coupled with program faculty spread between offices across campus, the thought of a state-of-the-art lab and teaching facility wasn鈥檛 even a concept.  

But, a generous bequest changed everything.  鈥淲e have faculty in three different buildings across campus,鈥� said Kyle Pfaffenbach, Associate Professor and Department of the Health & Human Performance Department, 鈥渘ow, we are doubling our labs for classes and research – plus the office synergy, collaboration, and camaraderie to be all together – this is such an opportunity.  Not just for our on-campus students, but the data and research our online students will now have access to is incredible.鈥�

Dr. Jean Neely coached and taught physical education at Eastern Oregon College in La Grande for 30 years before retiring and moving to live with her twin sister, Janice.  Upon Jean鈥檚 passing in 2009, Janice directed a portion of both their estates be gifted to the 91传媒 Foundation to support scholarships and programs in health and exercise. 鈥淭he Neely sisters had such a passion for and serving their communities.  That鈥檚 what the Neely sisters were known for,鈥� Pfaffenbach noted.  鈥淭he idea was to always be giving back and inspiring – when we read about them, they did so much.  Even posthumously, they鈥檙e still doing that.  They are helping our students learn and helping us carry on their legacy.鈥�

Pfaffenbach described the research he and his department conducted on the Neely family, upon learning of this gift.  鈥淲e didn鈥檛 know them personally, but as we learned about the positive impact they had across their lifespan 鈥� and continue to make in our community with this gift, we felt such a tremendous sense of gratitude and this incredible connection to them.鈥�

Resources from the Neely estate will be used to establish a significant student scholarship endowment, and to equip the 91传媒 Health and Human Performance labs in the new Fieldhouse.  鈥淲e have added world-class motion capture technology and spaces for physiology testing.  The new space and equipment will provide students with valuable experiential learning.  It will also allow for continued collaborations with community partners, and the opportunity to expand the programs we can offer.  We are always trying to make positive impacts on the community and this gift provides the infrastructure for us to be able to offer this,鈥� Pfaffenbach stated.  鈥淚t鈥檚 a game changer in so many ways; there鈥檚 no way to narrow down the impact.鈥�

鈥淢y focus with Health and Human Performance gives me a space where I feel continuously stimulated and fascinated,鈥� said Kendall Bonzani, a senior in the Health & Human Performance (HHP) program, with a concentration in Exercise Science and a goal of becoming a physical therapist.  鈥淲hen I heard one of my classes would require two terms of dissection, I was extremely intimidated.  Each week, I was building confidence – with another layer of musculoskeletal identification, came another layer of confidence.  It鈥檚 this experience, real-world in a classroom, that will help me excel after 91传媒.  Similar to the challenges in the lab, I鈥檒l be presented with challenges every day after graduation.  These might all feel daunting at the time; however, I have found the confidence to face these challenges head鈥搊n because of what I have learned and experienced at 91传媒.鈥�

The tenacity Bonzani embodies and continues growing from her time at Eastern is reflective of the same passion and enthusiasm twin sisters, Jan and Jean Neely, who bequeathed not only a gift, but a lifelong legacy to 91传媒, health, wellness, and a culture of giving.  鈥淭he Neely Sisters are an inspiration,鈥� said Pfaffenbach, 鈥渢heir story is so cool!  And, for two sisters to be that dedicated and trust 91传媒 and the Foundation with this.  We have a responsibility to use this gift in a way to benefit people through the medium of health, wellness, and education.  We get to embody and live that every day as we steward this gift.鈥�