Know anybody who's struggling to make ends meet as a student? Share with them what SOU is doing to help fill those gaps! More at SOU News: bit.ly/ScholarshipUniverseSOU

We'll waive the $60 application fee if you schedule a tour on Friday and apply on the spot! (Through September 27, 2019). sou.edu/visitus

Not to mention (which the author didn't!) this beautiful town boasts a top-flight, public liberal arts university!

Check out President Schott's thoughts about the presentation of the SOU President's Medal to Grandma Aggie, the 95-year-old elder of the Takelma tribe. It's accompanied by a wonderful video (by Maureen Battistella) of Grandma Aggie discussing her education at SOU. bit.ly/GrandmaAggieSOU

Hey Raider fam – it's time for us all to stuff the ballot box on behalf of SOU's Oregon Center for the Arts! The OCA received enough nominations to qualify as a finalist in the Mail Tribune's "Best of the Best" contest, in the live entertainment category. So let's show 'em some love – and a bit of Raider spirit! Sharing might help the cause, too! https://mailtribune.secondstreetapp.com/2019-Rosebud-Medias-Best-of-the-Best/gallery/?group=318804

Today we honor a beloved elder of the Rogue Valley: Agnes Baker “Grandma Aggie” Pilgrim, who has been recognized as a “living treasure” by the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz, will receive the Southern Oregon University President’s Medal in a presentation at 1 p.m. Wednesday at SOU’s Thalden Pavilion.

Grandma Aggie, who is 95, is the most senior elder of southern Oregon’s Takelma Tribe and has led a varied life. Her early careers included singer, nightclub bouncer, jail barber and logger, but she embraced a more spiritual path in the 1970s. She worked as a manager and social worker with the United Indian Lodge in Crescent City, California, and joined the Cultural Heritage and Sacred Lands Committee of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz.

She then enrolled at SOU – which was then Southern Oregon State College – and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Native American studies in 1985, at age 61. She is a co-founder of SOU’s Konoway Nika Tillicum Native American Youth Academy – an eight-day residential program for Native American middle school and high school students – and received the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002.

Grandma Aggie has continued to be engaged with the university, returning last year to bless and help dedicate SOU’s new Student Recreation Center.

The SOU President’s Award, established in 1984, is the university’s highest tribute and is awarded annually to a community member who is distinguished by her or his actions and contributions. The award was presented posthumously last year to Steve Nelson, who served almost 20 years as a volunteer leader of SOU’s Jefferson Public Radio and the JPR Foundation.

Wednesday’s presentation ceremony will be at SOU’s Thalden Pavilion on Walker Street – a venue intended to bring the community together. It features 28-foot-tall cedar “teaching poles” carved by Native American sculptor Russell Beebe, and is one of 13 homes around the globe of the World Peace Flame.

Grandma Aggie was a co-founder in 2004 of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, an alliance of female elders who promote protection of the earth and awareness of Native culture.

Communication majors at SOU join a close-knit learning community devoted to nurturing authenticity, creativity, intellectual growth and career success. Learn more: https://sou.edu/academics/communication/

#RaiderUp! -- SOU Raider Athletics

What are you doing today that could benefit from some creativity? This summer's Creativity Conference at SOU took innovation and imagination to new heights! The story's at SOU News: bit.ly/CreativityAtSOU
(All images by Michael D. Davis)

SOU's own Oregon Center for the Arts is nominated for Best Live Entertainment venue in the Mail Tribune's annual "Best of the Best" poll of readers. Not to suggest stuffing the ballot box, but ... vote early and often!

We made the list! Southern Oregon University has been ranked the #4 best college in Oregon for 2019! https://www.edsmart.org/best-colleges-oregon/

How does a university that was born to serve Hispanic students improve its engagement with those students and their families? SOU President Linda Schott gained some insights last week during her tour of the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus. See the president's blog: bit.ly/SOUinSanAntonio

Need a breath of fresh air? SOU has some to share! More at SOU News: bit.ly/SOUAirQuality

Seen SOU student Paul Kirby's documentary, "Lodestar?" It's short (less than 10 minutes), topical and has a busy film festival schedule! Learn more at SOU News: bit.ly/StudentDocumentarySOU

Did you know SOU's Campus Public Safety officers can issue citations away from campus? Some will be doing that in a training program with APD. bit.ly/CPStrainingSOU

Konaway Nika Tillicum, which means "All My Relations" in Chinook Trade Jargon, is an eight-day academic program exploring a broad range of classes, lectures, cultural experiences, and recreational activities for Native American students. We love these pics!

The Southern Oregon Higher Education Consortium is keeping the momentum going with two meetings – enrollment and academic – this month! More info at SOU News: bit.ly/SOHECpartnersSOU

The SOU Outdoor Program has an exciting pre-orientation opportunity for our newest Raiders: explore the wild beauty of Southern Oregon with the Raider Wilderness Experience, September 23-26! No experience necessary. Choose from an array of opportunities: backpacking, redwoods exploration, whitewater adventure, climbing adventure, and (NEW!) the Raider Service Experience.

For more information and to apply please visit https://inside.sou.edu/outdoorprogram/signups.html

Nailed it. Wonder if Rocky the Raider is up to the challenge?!

SOU criminology professor Alison Burke finished her first 100-mile race – and did it at Western States Endurance Run, the most prestigious ultramarathon in the U.S.! More at SOU News: bit.ly/WesternStatesSOU