°ÅÀÖÊÓƵ

Tomorrow marks the 176th anniversary of °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ!

On Sept. 26, 1849, the Oregon Territorial Legislature’s first official act of governance was to establish the charter that would turn Tabitha Brown’s small orphan school into Tualatin Academy and later °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ.

Originally created to provide a home and education for children who would otherwise have neither, our mission from Day 1 has focused on providing opportunity that uplifts individuals and their communities.

°ÅÀÖÊÓƵ has been transforming lives for more than eight generations by focusing on that mission, even as the world around us shifted. We grew from the orphan school to a high school academy to a college. After World War II, we opened our first graduate program, and at the turn of this century, we expanded our graduate programs to offer even more opportunities for students to serve in their world.

We were the first in Oregon to offer high school teaching degrees. The first to prepare optometrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Today, we are the No. 1 private preparer of healthcare professionals in Oregon and the top private research university in the Pacific Northwest.

And we continue to evolve. We are constantly developing new and innovative ways to make higher education more accessible for you as students, and to ensure that your degree empowers you to thrive.

Because we believe in you, and we believe in your potential. We believe you belong here and that you will use your education to uplift a world desperately in need of your voice and ideas, your curiosity and critical thinking.

As Boxers, you are part of a legacy 176 years in the making. Our 34,000-plus living alumni are educators and caregivers, creators and entrepreneurs, public servants and community leaders — just like you will be.

As we celebrate our Charter Day this week, we celebrate not only our history, but the future that you represent.

Happy Charter Day, and Go Boxers!

Jenny Coyle ’90, OD ’93, MS ‘00
President