2016 Impact Report | Occidental College

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

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mercury Mailing Systems, Inc. Office of Donor Relations 1600 Campus Road M-46 Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314 Return Service Requested

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