2024-2025 Grant Recipients

High Altitude Liquid Engine Project 2025

$10,000

The OSU High Altitude Liquid Engine (HALE) is an Engineering Capstone team at Oregon State University (OSU) with an ambitious goal: to launch and recover a single-stage liquid bipropellant rocket for the Base 11 Space Challenge. This dedicated team is designing and constructing both a subscale liquid engine launch vehicle and a Vertical Test Stand, which will be used for test fires and launches—making it the first of its kind in Oregon. Beyond typical coursework, HALE offers students an educational research project that provides a professional learning experience. The OSU Women’s Giving Circle is backing HALE for a second year in a row, directly impacting over 40 undergraduate team members by funding essential rocket components, enhancing students’ hands-on experience and contributing to the overall success of aerospace programs at OSU. Notably, the team includes 9 female members, and the Women’s Giving Circle’s support serves as a powerful statement encouraging more women to pursue engineering.

 

In Search of Sisterhood (The Society of Scholarly Sistas)

$5,750

The Society of Scholarly Sistas empowers students to persist, advance, and successfully complete their college education. This organization is on OSU’s campus for female-identifying students, serving as a vital platform for retaining and empowering future leaders. Through culturally-based extracurricular activities, In Search of Sisterhood enhances the undergraduate experience for marginalized and underserved populations, fostering a stronger connection to the OSU community. This commitment to diversity directly impacts the larger OSU community and prepares students for their future careers. Additionally, the academic and campus involvement requirements of the student organization contribute to improved retention among female students, fostering a strong sense of dedication to the university throughout their college careers.

 

Building Community With SPHA

$6,081

The Student Public Health Association (SPHA) is a vibrant club run by undergrads for undergrads. With 81 members, growing from 3 in 2019 to 2020, SPHA offers diverse opportunities in education, volunteering, networking, and skill-building in public health. With a Women’s Giving Circle grant, the SPHA aims to support National Public Health Week (NPHW) in April 2025. NPHW, organized by the American Public Health Association, is a week of educational events for students to build community and promote health!

 

Ment2Teach: Education Peer Mentoring Program

$10,000

The Ment2Teach program, launched in Fall 2023 with the support of a Women’s Giving Circle grant, is a student-led peer mentorship initiative for first-time students (freshmen or transfer students) in education programs. Its primary goal is to build meaningful networks and support systems during students’ initial years in their education journey. While the program initially expected 60 new student participants, it has already reached over 90 students. The impact of networking and relationship-building through Ment2Teach has been remarkable for both new students and mentors. Looking ahead, the program aims to continue providing high-level support to new and continuing students, especially as the undergraduate programs are expected to grow further. With an anticipated incoming class of 100 or more students in Fall 2024, the program has received a renewal of funding from the Women’s Giving Circle to sustain and expand its efforts. Notably, the majority of students in educator preparation programs at OSU identify as women, aligning well with the WGC’s goals. Additionally, the program offers valuable leadership experience to female mentors, contributing to their future careers.

 

College of Forestry Clothing Library

$6,008

The College of Forestry established a free clothing library, initially supported by a Women’s Giving Circle grant in 2023. Prior to this grant, the library relied solely on donations and volunteer efforts. Now, with an additional year of funding, the the clothing library aims to employ an undergraduate student worker for regular upkeep and inventory management. Additionally, they will purchase more field clothes, gear, and boots. Recent data indicates that 28% of College of Forestry students at OSU fall into the “high financial need” category, and 30% are classified as “under-represented minority”—a higher proportion than at most other institutions. The cost of forestry-specific gear is substantial, especially given the dynamic outdoor requirements of the field. By providing free clothing, gear, and shoes, the clothing library aims to reduce the financial barrier for students pursuing forestry-related careers. This initiative not only supports student retention but also validates the importance of equitable access to essential resources.

 

Bridging the Digital Divides for College of Agricultural Sciences Students

$9,791

The College of Agricultural Sciences aims to address the digital divide faced by Oregon State University students, focusing on technology access and efficient utilization. Specifically, they seek to provide students with access to software, hardware, and workshops for creating agricultural sciences and natural resources (ASNR) communications deliverables—such as videos, photography, and graphic design. By enhancing communication skills in ASNR contexts, this initiative promotes experiential learning and practical application. It directly benefits OSU students, particularly those interested in agricultural and natural resources communications.

Additionally, the recently approved student-led club, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, fosters relationships among agricultural communication professionals and students, contributing to professional and academic development. While women currently dominate the field, this program’s efforts aim to promote diversity through improved technology accessibility.

 

Course Based Undergraduate Research in Molecular Biology Laboratory

$4,715

OSU Cascades aims to develop a Course-Based Undergraduate Research (CURE) in Molecular Biology Lab. Authentic research is crucial preparation for STEM majors entering the workforce or pursuing post-graduate education. While the ideal scenario would involve all students conducting independent research with faculty mentors, this is unfeasible at Cascades due to limited tenure-track faculty. The Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology majors are popular among Cascades students, particularly those seeking well-paying careers in healthcare and biotech.

Most students come from Central Oregon, and many aspire to break the cycle of generational poverty. Notably, low-income and first-generation students are overrepresented in these majors, with more than 50% being women. Experiential learning, such as research, fosters a sense of belonging critical for retention and academic success. The proposed CURE course, mandatory for BMB majors and elective for BI majors, will maximize student access to authentic research experiences. By moving beyond volunteer-based opportunities, this initiative ensures that those who would benefit most have the chance to participate.

 

OSU Organic Growers Club Food Donation Program

$3,300

Fresh produce is one of the most sought-after items in the Basic Needs Center food pantry by students and community members, where unmet needs are high. To help fulfill these needs, the OSU Organic Growers Club donates two self-funded CSA shares, increasing produce availability. Women’s Giving Circle funding will increase donated CSA shares.

 

Disability and Mobility Do-It-Yourself Co-Operative

$7,000

This grant will transform the Social Mobility Lab into the Disability and Mobility Do-It-Yourself Co-Operative. Located in Women’s Building, this collaborative workspace will support experiential learning for undergraduates across several courses. Currently lacking the necessary technology and resources, the space will be equipped with a computer, monitor for teaching, student workstations, organizational materials, and supplies for experiential learning. The CoOp will offer opportunities for at least 100 Kinesiology and Honors College students annually, focusing on activities such as modifying ride-on toy cars for children with disabilities, creating zines, soldering soundboards, making music, and creative writing.

 

Empowering Underrepresented Futures at OSU-Cascades,

$10,000

The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Oregon State UniversityCascades provides essential support for first-generation, low-income, and disabled students. Their Peer Mentor Program pairs new TRIO SSS participants with upper-class students who share similar majors, experiences, or interests. These peer mentors play a vital role in helping students transition to university life by connecting them to campus resources and fostering a sense of community. Despite budget limitations that currently allow for only five mentors, Women’s Giving Circle funding would ensure peer support for all incoming students, addressing several challenges.

 

Fellowships for Undergraduate Research/Scholarship at OSU-Cascades,

$10,000

This program aims to increase student engagement by providing research and scholarship opportunities mentored by OSU-Cascades faculty. Modeled after the previous “Layman Fellowship,” which effectively prepared students for careers and graduate school, these fellowships enhance student experiences, improve graduation rates, and develop disciplinespecific skills. Students work directly with faculty mentors and present their research publicly. Beyond the 18 Fellows, attending fellows’ presentations at an annual Symposium benefits the entire campus and community, fostering campus-community relationships and inspiring more experiential learning opportunities. Direct funding ensures accessibility, especially for marginalized populations, first-generation students, and women in STEM, allowing them to focus on research/scholarship without financial constraints.

 

Get a Dam Passport: First-Year Beavers Connect with Experiences Abroad

$4,375

The 2023 pilot Get a Dam Passport project, funded by one-time grants from the U.S. Department of State and the OSU Internationalization Grant fund, proved the concept that a passport empowers access to education abroad, especially for underrepresented students. We prioritize Pell-eligible first-year and first-year transfer students with preference for students who represent minoritized racial/ethnic identities, LGBTQIA+ status, gender diversity, and firstgeneration status, among others. Our office directly supports passport grant recipients to study abroad through access to a self-paced Canvas course, coordination with OSU GO, and application help for scholarships.

The Women’s Giving Circle grant to sustain and expand the project, enabling us to offer scholarships beyond the initial 51 awarded. All grant funds go directly to students to maximize the impact of the grant.

 

International Women Concert Series

$10,000

The Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts proposes to bring two extraordinary musicians to PRAx for short residencies (2-3 days each) bookending the year: Priyanka Shetty in late October 2024 and GRAMMY-winning Dobet Gnahore (Cote d'Ivoire) in early May. In addition to public performances, the residencies would center engagements with students focusing on their experiences as women pushing the boundaries of musical and cultural expression

2023-2024 Grant Recipients

Caseload tracking system for mental health services

$9,000 awarded to the Student Health Services

This grant will fund a two-year agreement for access to a caseload tracking system to add to the electronic record system currently in use by staff participating in collaborative care. It will provide valuable information and service to providers and students, including setting reminders to follow up with students in the health care record, tracking patient outcomes and flagging students with worsening mental health symptoms for provider review. More information on the Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Caseload Tracker can be found at https://aims.uw.edu/registry-tools.

 

Center for Compassion and Contemplative Practice undergraduate scholarship fund

$7,800 awarded to the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Psychological Sciences and the Contemplative Studies Initiative

OSU's Contemplative Studies Initiative (CSI) has secured a brand-new physical location for contemplative practice and will continue to offer both free and fee-based programming to the campus and broader community there.  This grant assists the center in establishing a $7,800 scholarship fund to provide full and half scholarships for undergraduate students to attend weekly classes and fee-based workshops — yoga, meditation, qigong, contemplative dance, contemplative writing, centering practices and more — at no or reduced cost.

 

College of Education peer mentorship program

$6,425 awarded to the College of Education

This grant supports the development of a student-led mentorship program for undergraduate students pursuing educator preparation (teaching) programs in the College of Education. To launch the program, peer ambassadors will each focus on five to10 students to engage in regular one-on-one meetings, along with group events each term. This program is designed to assist students throughout the duration of the program — typically four to five years — which students will enter as mentees before serving as mentors. By having program-specific mentors, students will have support as they navigate the complicated application and licensure requirements to become a teacher and develop networks with fellow educators.  

 

College of Forestry Rootstock: Student food pantry

$5,000 awarded to the College of Forestry

Food insecurity remains a significant problem in the state of Oregon and among our students. Rootstock actively works to provide a variety of resources and educational experiences for faculty, staff and students to ensure that more people in our community have the food and resources they need. This grant supports Rootstock’s efforts as a community space providing food and resources to undergraduate and graduate students in need.   

 

InnovationX design maker space and materials library

$9,944 awarded to the College of Business

This grant catalyzes the creation of a design-specific maker space, tailored to the unique needs of students across all disciplines of design. The College of Business (in partnership with the College of Engineering) will be updating and expanding their maker space to provide a more accessible and innovative space for undergrads beyond their first year. Having modern tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers and textile printing will give projects much-needed physicality and open up new opportunities for a variety of entrepreneurial projects.

 

Educational Opportunities Program Advisory Council (EOPAC)

$5,000 awarded to the Educational Opportunities Program

The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) at OSU provides a variety of support services for students, including one student-led program: the EOP Advisory Council (EOPAC). This grant will continue to enhance the OSU undergraduate experience and improve student retention by providing a stronger sense of community and enhancing peer support among students in the EOP. Currently, students in the EOP are retained and graduate at 2%-18% higher rates compared to their counterparts, demonstrating that the support services provided by EOP, including the EOPAC contribute to the increased retention and graduation rates of underserved students populations at OSU.

 

English conversation partnerships for international students

$2,112 awarded to the Office of International Services

The Office of International Services (OIS), in collaboration with the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center (CMLC), are collaborating to expand the programs available to international students and scholars needing to practice English. With this grant, both organizations will host a mid-year event in order to expand outreach for their conversation partner programs that will bring international students, faculty, scholars and community members together to share cultures.  

 

High Altitude Liquid Engine (HALE)

$8,000 awarded to the College of Engineering

This grant matches funding for Oregon State University’s High Altitude Liquid Engine (HALE) team — a student-run Engineering Capstone team made up of 15 undergraduate engineering students with the goal of successfully launching and recovering a single stage liquid bi-propellant rocket to the Karman Line, or 100 km above ground level. HALE is competing in the Base 11 Space Challenge with more than 40 university teams. For 2022-23, HALE has the goal of successfully launching and recovering a subscale liquid engine rocket, which could result in an OSU team being one of the first few university teams in the United States to do so successfully.

 

OSU College of Forestry clothing library

$4.838 awarded to the College of Forestry, Forest Ecosystems and Society

To better serve students in the College of Forestry, a free clothing library for field gear and interview clothes has been established. Students may borrow and return any clothing they need at any time in Richardson Hall 152. Use of the library is not limited to College of Forestry students, but as the project is in its infancy, so far it has only directly impacted students in programs associated with the with the college. This grant provides additional funding to add to the library and to fund its associated upkeep costs and potentially expand the reach and participation to all of OSU.

 

The Adaptive Exercise Clinic: An OSU student-run program for the Corvallis community

$2,616 awarded to the Faculty Staff Fitness Program housed within the College of Public Health and Human Sciences

Oregon State’s Adaptive Exercise Clinic (AEC) is a student-led program that provides personalized workout routines for adults with neurodegenerative disease, such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease. This one-of-a-kind program serves the OSU community and the region; participants need not be affiliated with the university. The AEC facility is equipped with secondhand, discarded and scarce exercise equipment. This grant provides funding to supply the AEC with adequate and updated equipment to meet participants' specific needs and provide a scholarship fund for enrollment fees so the program is accessible to all.

 

The Food Trail: Re-establishing community at OSU through experiential food and nutrition

$5,500 awarded to the Nutrition and Dietetics Club, within the Nutrition Program, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences

The OSU Nutrition Program’s Nutrition and Dietetics Club (NDC) is proposing an innovative expansion of extracurricular community building and learning activities for any undergraduate student with interests in food and nutrition. Peer-elected student leadership, with faculty sponsor guidance, will curate a series of field trips exploring an array of food and nutrition organizations and businesses in the region. This grant supports a Shark Tank-type pitch competition where students suggest a viable organization or business they would like to work with and develop an experiential learning opportunity for other OSU students. Mini stipends would be awarded to the five pitchers receiving the most student votes, allowing them to implement their plans.

 

Tools and technology: Student learning and support

$9,960 awarded to OSU-Cascades, Student Affairs

Cascades Edge supports student retention and recruiting at OSU-Cascades by intersecting career and personal development throughout a student’s academic journey. The program will enable students to develop a variety of competencies which employers and colleges deem highly important for career readiness. This grant provides students with individual support and tutoring sessions as well as workshops and video resources to build a library of resources unique to OSU-Cascades students’ needs. Funding will be used to develop the OSU-Cascades Technology Support Program, within the larger initiative of Cascades Edge, that will facilitate technology-skill tutoring opportunities; develop technology readiness, web-based tutorials and workshops; and encourage student participation in developing critical technology skills need for college success and beyond.

 

Undergraduate bacteriology and molecular biology research at OSU-Cascades

$2,206 awarded to OSU-Cascades Biology program

This grant provides laboratory materials and supplies to enhance the undergraduate research experience in the Biology program at Oregon State University-Cascades. Faculty in the program share a focus on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activity opportunities for OSU-Cascades faculty and students.