Fall 2025 – Mountaineer Magazine

Choosing to Lead, Choosing to Serve

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:46:52 +0000

At 91��ý, student leadership is more than a résumé line—it is a voice that helps shape 91��ý’s future. Conner Fecht, a sophomore pre-nursing major who serves as 91��ý’s student representative on the Board of Trustees, understands that responsibility. His recent appointment by the Governor to the 91��ý Board of Trustees helps ensure that the experiences of students are present in decisions that affect every aspect of the university.

This responsibility and dedication to service is part of a much larger family story for Conner. His parents, Russell, ’99, and Jennifer, ’99, Fecht, met at 91��ý while studying education. His older brother, Tim, graduated in 2024 after serving in the student government and studying education. Conner, who grew up in Lovelock, Nevada (pop. 1,823), is now building his own legacy centered on community, service, and the belief that 91��ý changes lives.

“I like the small community,” Conner said. “You really get to know people here.”

Conner plans to apply to the OHSU–La Grande nursing program. “I find joy in caring for people,” he said. “It’s rewarding.”

For his parents, seeing Conner serve at the highest level of university governance is profoundly meaningful. “As 91��ý graduates and longtime supporters of the university, watching Conner continue the Mountaineer legacy is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” Russell said.

Jennifer remembers how 91��ý embraced her after arriving from a high school graduating class of seven. “91��ý was more than just a college. It was a community that made me feel at home and prepared me for success.”

That sense of connection shaped her sons’ choices as well. “Watching Conner feel confident to join clubs, participate in student government, and become a resident assistant makes me proud,” she said.

For Conner, rural healthcare is not an abstract issue—it’s personal. “There’s a big shortage of healthcare in rural areas. I want to go where I’m needed.”

That desire reflects a lifelong pattern his parents have witnessed in countless acts of kindness: the teammate he encouraged, the classmate he refused to be left out, the moments he chose compassion without seeking recognition.

“What stands out most,” Russell said, “is that this isn’t just a career choice for him; it’s a calling.”

Conner’s story is a reminder of why 91��ý matters. When students are empowered—supported by family, surrounded by community, and given a real voice at the table—they become the kind of leaders who return home, uplift their communities, and carry the Mountaineer spirit forward.

No Place for Hunger

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:43:35 +0000

Across Oregon, nearly 600,000 people face hunger. On college campuses, that need often hides in plain sight: behind backpacks, in late-night study sessions, in students quietly stretching groceries to make it through the week. At 91��ý, where many students are first-generation, rural, working part-time, or raising families, meeting basic needs isn’t occasional. It is a daily challenge.

That is why 91��ý is committed to ensuring no Mountaineer has to choose between their education and their next meal.

The 91��ý Food Pantry has become a steady source of comfort and dignity for students who need a bit of extra support. Stocked with food staples, hygiene items, and staffed by people who know students by name, it is more than shelves and supplies—it is a place where students feel seen.

Local partners have embraced that mission too. Community Connection of Northeast Oregon regularly provides fresh produce, essentials, and food staples, helping students cook nutritious meals on tight budgets. Their generosity reflects the heart of eastern Oregon: neighbors lifting neighbors.

Student-led programs like Swipe Out Hunger extend this spirit, allowing students with meal plans to donate unused “swipes” to peers. Added directly to a student’s ID card, these meals offer easy, barrier-free support.

Behind much of this work is 91��ý Benefits Navigator Pamela Frederick Williams ’20, who walks alongside students as they navigate resource assistance.

“Basic needs aren’t extras,” Williams says. “When students are hungry or unsure where they’re going to sleep, it affects everything: health, grades, mental well-being. When we meet those needs, students can finally breathe.”

For Pamela, this mission is personal. As a student, she skipped meals and stretched every dollar. She returned to 91��ý determined to make sure others wouldn’t face the same struggles alone.

That care was met recently with unexpected generosity. Spokane Teachers Credit Union provided 91��ý with a $7,500 gift to support campus food pantries—a lifeline at exactly the right moment.

“It was such a blessing,” Pamela said. “This gift will make a tremendous difference for our students.”

Faculty advocates, including Bill Grigsby, professor of sociology, and Jennifer Puentes, associate professor of sociology, help guide understanding of student hunger through teaching and research on inequality and food insecurity. Their work reinforces a simple truth: hunger is not a personal failure; it is a barrier we can remove.

From ‘55 to Forever – The Will to Shape Tomorrow

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:40:48 +0000

Bob Peshall

August is nationally recognized as Make a Will Month, a reminder that estate planning is one of the most meaningful ways we can care for the people and causes we love. For 91��ý, few examples embody that spirit more beautifully than the life and legacy of Robert R. “Bob” Peshall.

When Peshall graduated in 1955, he carried with him more than a diploma. He carried gratitude—for the encouragement he received, the professors who believed in him, and the scholarship that made his education possible. Nearly 70 years later, that gratitude has become a gift that will touch many lives.

Through a generous estate plan, Peshall donated his home and property in Chandler, Arizona, to the 91��ý Foundation. After the sale of the property, proceeds are designated for the General Music Support Fund, with the remainder creating the Robert R. Peshall Scholarship. These gifts will strengthen 91��ý’s Music Program and open doors for future Mountaineers for generations.

“I would not have been able to go to school without a scholarship,” Peshall said. “It was renewable as long as I kept my grades up.”

The General Music Support Fund provides essential scholarships, instructional support, and resources for students pursuing their passion for music. Peshall’s early investment in this fund ensures that future students will find the same encouragement he once did.

After leaving La Grande, Peshall always remembered the values he formed at 91��ý. His decision to establish a scholarship reflects a steadfast belief in giving back—helping young musicians, teachers, and artists find their own path forward.

When asked what he would say to future recipients or to alumni considering their own legacy plans, Peshall didn’t hesitate: “I believe very strongly in passing it on,” he said. “It’s just me feeling someone helped me, I should help someone else.”

With his trademark warmth, he adds, “Go Mountaineers!”

Building Leaders for the Nation

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:38:50 +0000

Veterans Day 2023 on the campus of 91��ý

91��ý has a long tradition of shaping leaders of all kinds, including the military. Since the 1940s, students have arrived with ambition and leave with purpose, strengthened by the discipline of military service and the support of dedicated staff and faculty.

Few represent that legacy more than Jack Johnson, ’72. Now 86, Johnson spent nearly 45 years in the military before beginning a second career in 91��ý’s Financial Aid Office. He retired in 2001 but remains one of the most influential figures in the university’s military science history.

“If you want to be a good leader, you learn things in the military you don’t learn anywhere else,” Johnson said.

91��ý’s connection to military training began in 1940, when the campus prepared pilots for World War II. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs followed and evolved as the nation’s needs changed.

In the early 1970s, amid a push to close ROTC programs, Johnson developed the curriculum for a new alternative: GOLD (Guard Officer Leadership Development). “It was the very, very first, at 91��ý,” he said. The program began in

La Grande and expanded nationally, serving as a platform for developing a new generation of National Guard leaders.

Johnson not only impacted military programs but also students as well. He remains most proud of those he helped. One of them, George Mendoza ’97, Oregon’s 2025 Superintendent of the Year, once sat across from him, ready to quit school. As a first-generation student, Mendoza didn’t know how to afford tuition. Johnson was able to secure financial aid for him, and Mendoza went on to earn a graduate degree and serve on the founding Board of Trustees at 91��ý.

The two remain close, and Mendoza now leads efforts to establish an ROTC program in Hermiston.

“I remember Jack as a mentor,” Mendoza recalls. “I remember him as a friend; he would take the time to get to know me, and encouraged my success.”

Today’s ROTC program continues that tradition of resilience and leadership. Connor Mayberry, ’24, joined the Oregon National Guard to fund college but discovered a passion for learning through ROTC. “I went from thinking I’d get an associate degree to thinking a master’s or doctorate wouldn’t be so bad,” he said.

Jessica McDonald, ’24, was drawn by ROTC scholarships during the pandemic. “It paid for housing and helped with meals,” she said. Now she encourages incoming students to explore ROTC without fearing enlistment.

For Mike Fisher ’22, now a police officer in Boardman, 91��ý’s current military advisors made all the difference. “Kerry Thompson was the biggest reason I understood the benefits 91��ý offered,” he said. “He genuinely cares.”

“This university has always served the country,” Johnson said. “Flight school. ROTC. GOLD. We led the way.”

And thanks to Johnson, today’s cadets, and the faculty and staff who support them, that legacy continues.

Where Are They Now?

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:37:19 +0000

Retired 91��ý Emeritus Faculty say time on campus shaped both their lives and the futures of the students they served. Their reflections: 91��ý’s strength comes from the people who create a supportive community of success.

Greg Monahan

Dr. Peggy Anderson

Professor Doyle Slater arrived at 91��ý in 1969 and remembers a tightly-woven campus network of colleagues and students and a time when faculty regularly met for munchies and conversations. “We did a lot of things together,” he recalled. Slater added that the university continues to feel like a welcoming environment. “91��ý has many of the qualities—friendly, a concern for others—that it always had,” he said. When asked what he misses most, Slater commented, “I miss the people. It was a family.” Although he retired in 2000, he remains in touch with former students to this day and values seeing the difference they make in their communities.

Greg Monahan taught history at 91��ý 1986 to 2012. He approached teaching with creativity and high expectations. “I’d like them to remember my classes were interesting. I was tough but fair,” Monahan said. Students remember the characters he portrayed in class, like a medieval peasant, a Roman senator, or even Christopher Columbus, where he answered questions in character. Monahan continues to support student success through a scholarship named after his late wife, Rita. The fund helps nursing students cover exam costs, strengthening the pathways open for graduates to move into the workforce.

George Venn

Poet, editor, linguist, and professor at 91��ý from 1970 to 2002, George Venn played a central role in shaping 91��ý’s literary identity. He advised Oregon East for 18 years and taught writing, American literature, and ESOL, earning 91��ý’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002. He smiles when recalling his students’ accomplishments and feeling proud when a student “would get published in anything off campus.” His work helped students find their voices and gain confidence in their abilities. He still meets former students in La Grande. “The students are welcoming,” he said. “Of course, they have every reason to be proud, and I am proud of them.”Peggy Anderson, who taught, coached, and led 91��ý Athletics during two periods between 1963 and 2001, helped build opportunities for female athletes. “We had some very talented women,” Anderson said. She encouraged student-athletes to see graduation as their goal. “I was so pleased when athletes walked across the stage at commencement,” she said. Anderson also remembers a swimming program that paired 91��ý students with participants who had disabilities. “Everyone could have some success,” she said. 91��ý’s softball field is named in her honor.

Music professor Matt Cooper, who taught from 1991 to 2019, found his most meaningful work in individual lessons. “You are the person in their life every week they can count on,” Cooper said. He guided students who later became teachers, principals, and superintendents. “Students surprise you,” he said. “I am so proud of my students.” Cooper also supported the development of the 45th Parallel Ensemble, and encouraged students to explore evolving musical styles. He believes private support is essential to sustaining the arts and credits the 91��ý Foundation with helping students continue their education in music.

Hope Has A Hometown

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:33:57 +0000

Every year in May—Mental Health Awareness Month—we are reminded that seeking help is an act of bravery, and supporting others is a calling. At a time when rural Oregon faces a profound shortage of mental health professionals, 91��ý is rising to meet the need with innovative programs that deliver compassion, resolve, and a deep commitment to the region and the students it serves.

For recent 91��ý graduate Kate Gekeler, ’22, ’25, the urgency of this work is personal. One of the first students to earn a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) at 91��ý, Gekeler stood with Governor Kotek, legislators and behavioral health leaders in August 2025 to take part in a bill signing that supported funding for developing the state’s behavioral healthcare workforce. But she wasn’t there for politics. She was there for the people at home.

“I’m excited to represent our community,” Gekeler said. “This is important to our community, where mental health services are not always available.”

91��ý launched the CMHC program in 2023 to expand the behavioral health workforce, particularly to serve rural areas where care is often hours away. Its design allows students to remain in their hometowns, learning where they plan to live, work, and give back. For many, scholarships make that path possible.

“I wouldn’t be a behavioral health provider without tuition support,” Gekeler said. Midway through her program, Gekeler’s daughter urgently needed a new wheelchair. Without scholarship support, she said she would have had to choose between continuing her education and buying essential medical equipment. “I’m incredibly grateful I didn’t have to make that choice,” said Gekeler.

Support from the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization and Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc., created much-needed scholarships for students committed to remaining in rural Oregon. Their investments ensure those who understand these communities best are the ones trained to serve them.

Today, Gekeler is a school-based mental health therapist in Union County—one of many 91��ý students hired before graduating because the need is so great.

“Hiring students who are eager to learn on the job is one way to meet community needs,” she said.

91��ý President Kelly Ryan sees the impact every day. “Our graduates are already making an impact right here at home.”

In eastern Oregon, where miles stretch long, and access stretches thin, 91��ý is answering the call. One counselor, one student, one life-changing conversation at a time.

“When we invest in people,” Gekeler said, “we invest in the communities they’ll serve.”

Celebrating Possibilities – $1.3 Million in Foundation Scholarships

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:31:37 +0000

The 91��ý Foundation’s annual Celebration of Scholarships was a highlight of Blue and Gold Weekend, bringing students and donors together in a show of gratitude, community, and academic achievement. The event also featured a major announcement: the Foundation would be offering more than $1.3 million in scholarships to 91��ý students in the 2025-26 academic year, a new record in support of student success.

When announcing the record number, James Gorham, ’95, Chair of the 91��ý Foundation Board of Directors, was all smiles. “This event is about more than numbers,” he said. “It’s about building bridges between generations, between dreams and opportunities, and between the students who show up with grit and determination and the donors who believe in their potential.”

The event allowed guests to hear directly from scholarship recipients and see the lasting impact of their support . Tyler Dubsky, ’03, Director of Development, shared: “Scholarships do far more than lessen financial pressure, they help students feel seen and supported. When a student meets the person who invested in their potential, it builds a real connection. It reminds us that education is not something we pursue alone, but something we’re uplifted into by the people who believe in us.”

The celebration also included the announcement of this year’s Teacher Excellence Award recipient: Doug Briney, associate professor of business. Briney was honored for his outstanding dedication to teaching and mentoring students in the College of Business.

The award was presented by Elaina Robison, 2025 President of the Associated Students of 91��ý (AS91��ý), who offered heartfelt remarks. “Professor Briney is the kind of educator who makes you feel seen and capable. He takes time with students and shows that learning is a journey, not just a grade. He pushes students to think critically, communicate clearly, and lead with purpose.”

Robison emphasized the importance of celebrating the impact of faculty alongside the support of donors. “As students, we are shaped by those who teach us and those who believe in us. Today, we celebrate both.”

91��ý President Kelly Ryan reflected on the day’s significance. “At 91��ý, we believe in access, affordability, and excellence. Scholarships and the faculty who guide our students are essential to that mission. The generosity and dedication we celebrate here today ensure that our students have the resources and mentorship to thrive, to persist, and to graduate ready to lead.”

Stepping Up to the Plate

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:28:37 +0000

March arrives with the rhythm of spring training—a season of sharpening skills, finding your footing, and stepping back onto the field. For former Mountaineer Steve Carter ’08, that spirit mirrors the way 91��ý shaped his life, defined his friendships, and inspired his desire to give back.

Carter first arrived in La Grande on July 4, 1969, in an old Ford station wagon, carrying little more than a baseball glove and a hope for direction. He was simply a young man searching for a place to learn, to belong, and to swing at his future. “It was a perfect fit,” Carter said. “A small town, good people, good players. It was where I needed to be.”

His early years at Eastern were marked by baseball achievements and deep friendships. Carter played for the Mountaineers in 1970, helping lead the team to an undefeated league season. The bonds he formed, both on and off the field, would endure across decades. “Average teams, I don’t remember much about,” he said. “But the great ones? You make friends for life.”

That promising start was interrupted when Carter was drafted and sent to Vietnam. Although frustration lingered at leaving the sport behind, he carried confidence in the work he performed while serving. “At the time, I was angry about being there, about missing the game,” he said. “But once I was in, I took pride in what I did. I did it well.”

Returning to Eastern in 1972, he refused to let the war take baseball

from him. The game once again offered him purpose and belonging. And the teammates who supported him on the field would later support him in a more significant way.

Carter left Eastern after the 1972–73 season, short of graduation.

He felt older than his peers after returning from military service, and stepping away felt like the right decision. A successful career in real estate followed, yet his degree remained unfinished.

That changed in 2006, when he returned to campus as an 91��ý Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee. He learned he was only three credits short of completing his degree.

His teammates escorted him to the Registrar’s Office, standing behind him so he could not leave, where he learned he could complete his degree by writing a paper about his life experiences and how his 91��ý education supported his success. He wrote the paper, and when he returned home from the induction ceremony, his diploma was waiting

in his mailbox. The moment became deeply personal.

Those same friendships and the sense of belonging that defined his time at Eastern shape Carter’s generosity today. “Every good player I ever played with has an ego, positively,” he said. “Part of the motivation for me doing this is that I don’t want to be forgotten; when I’m gone, I’d like to have given something back. And it’s perpetual. It never goes away.”

Carter hopes the university will someday have a new baseball field, a place where future Mountaineers can gather and where the spirit of the game can be felt across generations. “Imagine it’s a nice day in May,” he said. “You just say, ‘Hey, let’s go over and watch the game.’ That matters.”

“If they know who came before them, maybe they’ll feel part of something bigger,” he said. Carter hopes future players will feel the same sense of connection that shaped his life, that they will embrace the friendships the game brings. “If you’re good and you work together, you’ll make friendships that last your whole life,” he said. “That’s what this is really about.”

The Heart of Music

cimonj — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:21:21 +0000

For more than thirty years, Professor Peter Wordelman has brought heart to 91��ý’s Music Department. His gentle presence, expressive conducting, and unwavering belief in every student has shaped far more than musicians. In his rehearsal room, students have discovered courage they didn’t know they had, built friendships, and found a place where their voices—literal and figurative—mattered. His influence doesn’t end when a concert is over; it lives on in the confidence, compassion, and artistry his students carry into every chapter of their lives.

To honor this extraordinary legacy, 1961 91��ý alum Gary D. Pierson and Lynn W. Duncan established the Peter Wordelman Music Scholarship with a generous donation to the 91��ý Foundation. Their gift, born of deep gratitude for the way Wordelman has shaped countless lives, is an investment not only in students but also in the strength of communities and the ongoing vibrancy of 91��ý itself.
“Peter fosters an atmosphere where kids want to succeed,” Gary said. “He gets the most out of the kids; they want to do things for him.”

Beginning in the 2027–28 academic year, the scholarship will support full-time music majors who show dedication and passion for their craft. By easing the financial weight students often carry, it will allow them to devote more time to rehearsals, performances, and the demanding work of becoming artists.

“It was kind of embarrassing when they suggested using my name,” Peter smiled. “It’s very honoring; I think the right word is ‘humbling’.”

For many students, scholarships are not simply assistance; they are the difference between standing on stage or watching from the sidelines. Support like scholarships removes obstacles, opening space for students to create, to lead, and to share the power of music with communities across the region.

“The more Foundation Scholarships we have, the better,” Peter noted. “School is only getting more expensive.”

This gift ensures that Wordelman’s spirit—his humor, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to student growth—remains woven into 91��ý’s story. Even future students who may never have the privilege of meeting him will feel the impact of his legacy.

“Music changes people,” Peter often says. “When students feel connected, supported, and challenged, they become the best version of themselves.”

Through this gift, Pierson and Duncan help future Mountaineers rise to that best version—lifting their voices, shaping their lives, and carrying forward a legacy built on heart, hope, and harmony.