Seven inducted into Pamplin Society

Members have wide diversity of talents, achievements, backgrounds and majors.

Posted November 30, 2003

(Portland, Ore.)—Seven sophomores at Lewis & Clark College have been selected to join the Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Society of Fellows.

“Pamplin Society members reflect and inspire the College community as a whole,” said Paul E. Bragdon, interim president of Lewis & Clark. “Each student brings to the Society and to the College high ideals and proven abilities as well as an exceptional blend of intellectual talent, personal integrity, pursuit of physical fitness and the willingness to assume leadership roles both now and in the future.”

Now in its tenth academic year, the Society’s membership includes 21 students and 70 alumni. Membership is extended to seven students each year as they begin their second year at the College. The students embody the characteristics outlined by Dr. Pamplin: an exceptional blend of intellectual talent, the habit of physical fitness, personal integrity, and the willingness to shoulder the burdens of leadership. The Society includes members with a wide diversity of talents, achievements, backgrounds and majors. Upon graduation from the College, fellows maintain their membership for life. Four endowed professors are also members of the Society: Stephen Dow Beckham, Pamplin Professor of History; Janis Lochner Pamplin Professor of Science; Curtis Johnson, Pamplin Professor of Government; and Arthur O’Sullivan, Pamplin Professor of Economics. As teaching scholars distinguished by sustained achievements in their disciplines and committed service to both academic and broader communities, they exercise leadership and use their talents to the fullest.

Shannon Brady, from Malta, Mont., graduated from high school in a class of 48 students. She is a psychology major, with a minor in English. Brady blends leadership and service, believing that “to lead is to serve.” She served as a volunteer with the SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program in a Portland elementary school and with Students Actively Changing Society. Brady is working to establish a Destination Imagination team to represent the College and Oregon in the world finals of that organization.

Brian Erickson, from Kirkwood, Mo., spent the summer researching the reproduction of green algae and the symbiotic relationship between an urchin and a species of shrimp. The biology major plans to pursue a scientific research career. Erickson is also a musician and composer and has written a score for “Romeo and Juliet.” He plays the saxophone in the College’s Wind Symphony and Jazz Band and is learning to play piano and flute. Erickson’s longstanding interest in global warming led him to be active in the Lewis & Clark Kyoto Compliance subcommittee.

Jessica Forrest Hopson, from Portland, Ore., is a dedicated community volunteer. She participated last spring in the SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program in a Portland elementary school and worked as a summer reading program assistant for the Multnomah County Library. Hopson hopes to pursue education as a career. She plans to combine her Hispanic studies major and love for mathematics “to teach young girls, especially Hispanic or Latino students, that math can truly be a useful and fun subject.” Hopson is committed to encouraging the acceptance of diversity on campus and in the wider community.

Yu Hou, from Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, hopes to teach physics or engineering at a college or university. He is preparing for that career by studying math and physics at Lewis & Clark. Hou is an active member of the Lewis & Clark Cappella Nova choir and shares his knowledge of Chinese music by singing Chinese folk songs at the College’s International Fair. Hou’s commitment to community service began in his elementary school in China. He serves as a volunteer communicator with prospective international students, a tutor for Chinese and math classes, and a New Student Orientation volunteer.

David Oppenheim hopes to educate college students about the importance of the American political process. The Denver, Colo., native is involved with bringing people of multiple political ideologies together to promote meaningful discourse. Oppenheim founded the nonpartisan group Students Allied for Informed Democracy at Lewis & Clark and hopes to build support for an informed democracy throughout the community by focusing on issues important to young voters. He also worked to increase participation in intramural sports and to establish a coed kickball league. Oppenheim plans to double-major in English and political science.

Beverley Rabbitts, from Cape Town, South Africa, has immersed herself in biology, chemistry and math classes as she works toward her goal of entering the medical profession. She is a student team member in the research lab of Greg Hermann, assistant professor of biology. She has lived in four countries and speaks five languages, which helps her interact with people from different cultures. She serves on several student boards and committees, assists in a physics lab, takes notes for students with special needs and tutors classmates.

For now, Linnaea Schuttner, from Fairbanks, Alaska, is a psychology major, but her ambition is to work in the medical field. Schuttner is active on campus as a member of the women’s lacrosse team and serves on the general allocations board for the Associated Students of Lewis & Clark. She is also dedicated to helping others through volunteer work. As a high school student, she developed and taught an after-school art program for elementary school students. For the past two summers, she has worked as an intern at a nonprofit housing organization in her home a program which also allowed her to pursue her interest in art, and has spent the past two summers as an intern for a non-profit housing organization in Fairbanks, helping low income residents find quality affordable housing.

Loring Veenstra, from Battle Ground, Wash., is a double major in economics and political science with a minor in computer science. An accomplished pianist and violinist, Veenstra is also interested in foreign languages. As a student athlete, he focuses on cardiovascular and weight training. He is also involved with Rotary International in Central America, where his area of interest is building and strengthening communities both locally and globally.

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For more information, please contact:
Tania Thompson
Senior Communications Officer
503-768-7961
taniat@lclark.edu