91传媒

Donor Spotlight: Linda and Herb Jolliff

It all adds up

One good teacher can make the difference between loving math or hating it. But for Herb and Linda Jolliff, 鈥�66, a calculus professor at 91传媒 taught them even more.

The two met in Leroy Damewood鈥檚 class in 1963 and graduated together three years later.

鈥淲e met and got to know one another studying calculus and differential equations,鈥� Herb said.听

Linda went on to teach in public schools, and Herb taught at the Oregon Institute of Technology after graduating with a master鈥檚 degree from Utah State University. They agreed, though, that Damewood鈥檚 example set them on their paths to success.

鈥淚t was a period of growing up for me,鈥� Herb said. 鈥淗e was an excellent teacher. The class was very tough, but you learned a lot.鈥�

Linda, the only woman in Damewood鈥檚 class at the time, said she appreciated his no-nonsense 鈥渟ay what you mean, and mean what you say鈥� approach. Linda and Herb鈥檚 shared passion for teaching in rural areas has only grown in 53 years of marriage. Where they live now, in Independence, Ore., Linda said a handful of colleges are within an hour鈥檚 drive.

鈥淏ut in Eastern Oregon, 91传媒 serves a real purpose,鈥� she said.

Herb remembers living on a wheat ranch 23 miles from Arlington, Ore., and how that remoteness made his education challenging. During his senior year of high school, there weren鈥檛 enough fellow students to offer a math class at his level.听

Today, 91传媒 fills that gap for rural students throughout the region. And the Jolliffs are already thinking about the next generation of math enthusiasts. As Oregon鈥檚 Rural University, 91传媒 produces many of the educators that fill public schools in small towns. Herb and Linda established a scholarship this year, through the 91传媒 Foundation, that will support those young teachers on their way to molding the minds of tomorrow.

鈥淲e both love math, and they always need good math teachers in rural areas,鈥� Herb said. 鈥淚t takes a special person 鈥� The best teachers have got to be tough, but they鈥檝e got to be compassionate.鈥�

They see the endowment as an investment in the future of rural communities. Linda said scholarships made college possible for her, and she鈥檚 eager to 鈥減ay it forward鈥� to others.听

鈥淲e鈥檝e lived in small places all of our married life, so that鈥檚 just our outlook,鈥� Herb said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we want to support someone from Eastern Oregon, who would give back to those smaller communities.鈥�