2016 ANNUAL FUND IMPACT REPORT
THANK YOU
A WORD FROM ANNE WILSON CANNON ’74 National Chair, Occidental College Annual Fund Member, Board of Trustees
58
%
OF THE CLASS OF 2016 ATTENDED CAREER SERVICES PROGRAMS
QUESTION: What do a budding glacial geologist, an impassioned community organizer, an aspiring physician’s assistant and a football MVP-turned-socially-conscious-financial analyst all have in common? ANSWER: Occidental and YOU.
Dear Tiger, In the following pages, you’ll meet four Oxy graduates who already know you. Although they may not know you by name, they know of your generosity. They’re aware of your willingness to help. They understand your financial and emotional investment in them as students. And they are aware of your love for Occidental. Most importantly, these, and hundreds of other Oxy students, are keenly aware of your belief in them and their future contributions to society – and they want to thank you. When we interviewed Donovan, Somer, Emiko and Kwame, they had many wonderful things to say. They spoke of Oxy’s inspiring faculty members, lifechanging classes, remarkable campus community, meaningful co-curricular experiences and more. But the one thing they all had in common was their appreciation of you and your support of the Oxy Annual Fund. On behalf of all Oxy students, thank you for your continued support of the College and the community it serves. Though you may not know each student you helped by name, we hope you enjoy getting to know these four remarkable graduates. They certainly know and are grateful for you—and so is Occidental College.
Sincerely,
100
%
OF OXY STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THE ANNUAL FUND
$4.3 M WAS GIVEN BY THOUSANDS OF DONORS TO THE OXY ANNUAL FUND
70
%
OF OXY STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID
8 FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS IN THE CLASS OF 2016
WHAT IS THE OXY ANNUAL FUND? The Oxy Annual Fund is critical to providing a high-quality Oxy experience. Each year the Annual Fund provides access for talented students via: • Scholarships • Excellent faculty and academic programs • Preservation of our stunning campus • Innovative residential life offerings • An exciting intercollegiate athletic program • Rich co-curricular experiences Thousands of Annual Fund supporters—alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends, through gifts large and small—help continue the Oxy mission of preparing our students for leadership in an increasingly complex world.
54 PHI BETA KAPPAS
Most of my education–93% by my calculations–was funded by the generosity of Oxy’s donors.” —DONOVAN DENNIS ’16
HELPED HIM DISCOVER THE SCIENCES. DONOVAN DENNIS ’16 MAJOR: Geology HOMETOWN: Great Falls, Montana
You majored in geology. What was that like?
glaciers for my research. I was also
career—possibly in law or finance.
on the staff of the Oxy Weekly and
Taking Professor Brandon Browne’s
I’ve worked in admissions, sharing
Earth: Our Environment changed
my excitement for Oxy with potential
everything. I switched my major to
new students and families.
geology to pursue a subject that would make me happy instead of
How did you pay for your education? My parents work hard, but I needed
Geology taught me to problem
assistance to afford college. When
solve both broadly and
I got my Oxy acceptance letter, we
microscopically about cause and
were thrilled that leaving Montana
effect—it is critical thinking of a
and having a private school
different kind. Applying what we
education was an affordable option.
learned in class to hands-on field
I’ve participated in work-study and
work was intellectually rewarding.
received some government loans, but most of my education—93% by
When you weren’t scaling glaciers, what kept you busy at Oxy?
my calculations—was funded by the
I was on the men’s swimming and diving team. Swimming and NCAA
How did Oxy change you for the better?
athletics helped develop the mental
When I started at Oxy, I was
and physical toughness I bring to the
focused on preparing for a lucrative
generosity of Oxy’s donors.
something I thought would make me wealthy. I was accepted to the Juneau Icefield Research Program, traversing the icefield there for two months; I later applied for a Young Fund grant and traveled to Chile to study deglaciation on the Northern Patagonian Icefield. Oxy allowed me to do those things, becoming truly happy in the process.
What are your post-graduation plans? I am excited to start my Ph.D. in earth
Donovan exploring the Gilkey Trench in the Juneau Icefield during his summer research in 2015.
science at Boston University this fall. I’ll have the opportunity to conduct glacial research in Antarctica for several months.
Donovan with professor Chris Craney, whom he credits with guiding him since his first year at Oxy.
HELPED HER BECOME A COMMUNIT Y LE ADER. SOMER GREENE ’16 MAJOR: Community development and media communications HOMETOWN: Memphis, Tennessee
What made Oxy special for you?
learning courses with scholarly
picture" with my school work. They
reflection. I worked alongside
were a motivating force.
passionate students, faculty and community leaders. Volunteerism is a form of civic engagement that encouraged me to apply my education and participate in my
What would you say to Oxy’s supporters? It is not only your financial support
learning. I was a facilitator in Oxy’s
that makes an impact – it is the
Center for Community Based
love and intentionality behind that
Learning, and I was a campus and community organizer in the Office
Creating my self-designed major—
of Community Engagement, among
community development and media
many other activities.
communications—was exciting! My
support. By giving, you extend an invitation to Oxy students to better understand themselves. Thank you.
further enriched by relevant work-
Who inspired you at Oxy?
What are your post-graduation plans?
study opportunities that fed my
My supervisors in the Office of
I will continue working for the
passions as a student organizer and
Community Engagement, the Center
public advocate.
for Community Based Learning
unique educational experience was
and the Office of Religious and
What did you do outside of the classroom to enrich your Oxy experience?
Spiritual life. Also, my professors. They allowed me to connect
nonprofit Community Partners over the summer and will attend graduate school in the fall at the University of Cambridge in pursuit of an M.Phil. in sociology of the media and culture.
my professional experience to my academic exercises. They
I combined community-based
encouraged me to think "bigger
Somer’s work in the Office of Community Engagement allowed her to motivate other students to get involved.
Somer recruiting fellow students on campus at the Involvement Fair.
By giving, you extend an invitation to Oxy students to better understand themselves. Thank you.” —SOMER GREENE ’16
I was able to attend Oxy through the combined support of my family and scholarships at Occidental.” —EMIKO SCHWAB ’16
HELPED HER PURSUE MEDICINE AS A CAREER PATH. EMIKO SCHWAB ’16 MAJOR: Biology with cell and molecular emphasis
Project, which endeavors to make
HOMETOWN: Garden Grove, California
how they diverged into different
a complete phylogeny of all the jays in the New World while examining species over time. I also explored the business world through the Career Center’s InternLA program.
What was interesting about majoring in biology? Field work is a prominent component of the biology major experience. I gained a deeper understanding of Los Angeles’ rich biodiversity.
Who or what inspired you at Oxy? The beauty of an Oxy liberal arts education lies in how students are encouraged to make interdisciplinary connections. Though I majored in
What else did you do while at Oxy? I was part of the Biology Club Executive Committee that helped plan the fall break trip, which was enticing for both science and
biology, I was inspired by Dr. Eric Frank in the art history department. His classes changed how I connect to the world. He fueled my interest in bridging a connection between the arts and sciences.
non-science majors. I also curated speakers for TedxOccidental College 2016. This was a great way to do something impactful for the Oxy community and gave me a new perspective on different areas of my life.
What would you say to Oxy supporters?
Emiko figure-skated for 17 years and had the opportunity to be part of Team USA from 2011 to 2013.
Thank you for your support and your belief in a liberal arts education for the 21st century. You are empowering students to change the world in a positive way.
How did you fund your education? I funded my education through the combined support of my family and opportunity- and merit-based scholarships at Occidental.
What are your post-graduation plans? I plan to attend physician assistant school and I hope to go on at least one medical mission in my lifetime.
What did you do at Oxy that you might not have done at another college? I worked in Oxy’s Moore Laboratory of Zoology on the New World Jay
Emiko was a part of the team of students who curated the lineup for TEDx at Oxy.
INTRODUCED HIM TO THE FIELD OF FINANCE . KWAME DO ’16
the Charles R. Blyth Fund, a student-
Who inspired you at Oxy?
MAJOR: Economics (mathematics minor)
managed stock portfolio that invests
My economics adviser, Woody
HOMETOWN: Arcadia, California
I’m also working on a policy for the
part of Oxy’s endowment.
Los Angeles Unified School District that would start children’s savings accounts in the hope of providing
You were an economics major. What was a key skill you learned?
questions we had never seen before, enabling us to develop our criticalthinking and problem-solving skills.
education is more than just a grade, and he encouraged me to take full advantage of the opportunities Oxy provides.
young Angelenos with early exposure to personal finance and the notion that college is a possibility.
Professors taught us fundamental models that we had to apply to
Studenmund. He taught me that
What would you say to Oxy supporters? Donor support allowed me to attend
How did you fund your education? Primarily through financial aid.
programs that developed essential workplace competencies. Because of grants, I was even able to pursue internships in other states. I don’t know how my life would have panned
When you weren’t studying economics or math, what kept you busy at Oxy? I served as captain of the football team and I’m the SCIAC all-time career rushing leader. I was offensive player of the year in 2015, most valuable player in 2014, and Oxy’s football rookie of the year in 2013. Off the field, I was vice president of
Kwame set the SCIAC rushing record, gaining 4,133 yards during his career at Oxy.
What was unique about Oxy that might not be true at other colleges? I have met people here who are so unique, I am certain that I will not encounter anyone like them again. The professors hope to see you succeed and are fulfilled when they see you doing well. They truly care about your education.
out without this support.
What are your post-graduation plans? I recently accepted an offer to work for Goldman Sachs in its finance division in Salt Lake City. I hope to continue working on behalf of children to close the opportunity gap within education.
Kwame, a first-generation college student, celebrates with his father and uncle at Commencement.
Without financial aid, I wouldn’t have been able to attend such a prestigious school. I don’t know how my life would have panned out without your support.” —KWAME DO ’16
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52
%
OF THE CLASS OF 2016 PARTICIPATED IN AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
6-0
64
SENIOR SCOTT ERICKSEN’S PITCHING RECORD IN 2016 FOR THE SCIAC CO-CHAMPION TIGERS BASEBALL TEAM
MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2016 PARTICIPATED IN DANCE PRODUCTION, OXY’S LARGEST STUDENT ORGANIZATION
100 MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2016 PARTICIPATED IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
oxy.edu/giving
THANK YOU! For more information: donorrelations@oxy.edu (323) 259-2626