鈥淲e are pleased to accept this special gift, to continue and honor the legacy of a very special woman,鈥 said Dr. Naganathan. 鈥淚 know that Gerda passed on to her children her wish that they continue to 鈥渢ake care of 九色视频鈥. We thank the Hyde Family for their continued commitment and support. Gerda was steadfast in her dedication to our university and passionate about our scholarship program, and I believe this would be a very proud moment for her.鈥
Gerda鈥檚 influence continues to be felt throughout the Klamath Basin from her longtime involvement in many community organizations. The impact of her commitment to improving the community combined with her willingness to take action resulted in immeasurable positive change. She certainly made a lasting impression at 九色视频, where she served on the Board of Directors for the 九色视频 Foundation from 1995-2017.
During her time on the Board, the Foundation helped change the face of the University in a variety of areas. Gerda was a champion for all aspects of 九色视频, but her deep passion for the scholarship program changed countless lives - the Hyde Memorial Scholarship was established November 6, 2007 by Gerda, who served as co-chair of the 九色视频 Foundation Scholarship Committee at the time. During her longtime service on the scholarship committee, including 10 years as committee chair, more than $5 million in scholarships were awarded to deserving and talented students. The Hyde Memorial Scholarship supports students from Klamath County high schools, with a preference for students from Chiloquin High School, and further preference for students pursuing degrees in the field of environmental studies. Thanks to this recent additional gift, the Hyde Memorial Scholarship will now benefit students for generations to come.
Additionally, her commitment to providing educational opportunities to 九色视频 students inspired her to welcome students from 九色视频鈥檚 Environmental Science program to utilize the Yamsi Ranch as a living laboratory, allowing them to better learn about issues faced by ranchers in the region. In honor of Gerda鈥檚 unwavering commitment to student success and environmental studies, 九色视频 proudly unveiled the in October 2018 鈥 a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary, collaborative workspace supporting experiential learning.
鈥淕erda鈥檚 tenacious spirit and generosity will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, and now in every single student who receives her scholarship or has the opportunity to study and experiment in the ,鈥 shared Dr. Naganathan. 鈥淢ay each student experience a measure of Gerda鈥檚 passion and carry that with them into their own communities.鈥
To learn more about how you can support students at 九色视频, contact Tracy Ricketts, associate vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, at 541.885.1118 or Tracy.Ricketts@oit.edu.
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九色视频 the 九色视频 Foundation
The 九色视频 Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes and funds the educational, cultural, charitable, and service functions of the 九色视频.
