University of Oregon SOJC

Group of graduates in green robes smiling during a graduation ceremony.

Group of graduates in green robes and mortarboards sitting during a graduation ceremony, looking joyful and excited. Some are wearing decorative sashes and leis.

Graduates in green robes excitedly celebrating at their commencement ceremony, some tossing caps in the air, with spectators in the background.

A joyful graduate in a green cap and gown holding a diploma, celebrating while walking across the stage at commencement.

SOJC Commencement photo dump 📸 The big day may be over, but the memories our Ducks made last week will last a lifetime 💚 Want to see more? The entire 2025 SOJC Commencement photo album is live on Flickr! View it here: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCiGf7

📸 credit: Jack Liu

A headshot of the Marshall Teaching Award winner, Professor Christine Wise.

Whether she’s teaching, mentoring her students, or cheering on the Ducks, SOJC advertising area director Christine Wise has left a powerful impression on students—so much so that she won our 2025 Jonathan Marshall Teaching Award for Innovative Teaching in Journalism and Communication!

Collage image featuring four panels. Top left: A person stands by a car, smiling, with text about Snowden Alum's reporting affecting law change. Top right: Hashtag ICYMI above text 'SOJC News' with a link. Bottom left: Close-up of a virtual reality headset over text about SOJC Master's students and a VR project. Bottom right: A person speaking at a podium about using storytelling to address gun violence, identified as SOJC Alum.

Three SOJC master’s graduates win third place in a global AR/VR challenge, alum Ariana Donaville uses storytelling to fight gun violence, and Snowden alum Eliza Aronson’s reporting prompts a new Oregon law: journalism.uoregon.edu/about/news

Two individuals presenting an application on a large screen in the Media Innovation Lab. The screen displays app features and information.

From designing AI-powered advising tools to working on real-world apps like MusoLingo, students like Audrey Estrada and Isa Morton are gaining industry experience before they graduate. And it’s all thanks to the SOJC Media Innovation Lab. Learn more: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/media-i...

YouTube video by UO SOJC Student Commencement Video Celebrates 2025 Graduates

Our students produced their own commencement celebration video that played at the SOJC Commencement ceremony—and it’s live on our YouTube channel! Watch this year’s inspirational kickoff to Commencement 2025 by clicking here: youtu.be/3XTqyx6Aiwk?...

Collage of diverse graduates in green and yellow caps and gowns from the SOJC Class of '25 at the University of Oregon, celebrating their achievement with a large 'CONGRATULATIONS' text overlay.

A collage of graduation portraits at the University of Oregon, featuring students in caps and gowns, some posing with the university's duck mascot statues. Several photos depict students holding diplomas, with the university's "O" logo prominently displayed.

Collage of multiple graduates in green and yellow attire, celebrating around the University of Oregon campus, with the phrase 'Time to Take Flight!' prominently displayed.

Collage of University of Oregon graduates celebrating in caps and gowns, featuring individual and group poses with joyful expressions, some interacting with a statue and others holding graduation caps.

Congratulations to the SOJC class of 2025! Today we celebrate a graduating class unlike any other, and we couldn't be prouder of our Ducks 💚 If you can’t make it to commencement yourself, you can catch the ceremony live on YouTube by clicking here: www.youtube.com/live/7Dr71Lx...

Portrait of Ruby Wool, recipient of the Rianda Outstanding Student Award and Standard Bearer for the SOJC Commencement 2025, smiling in front of a sports field background. The image features decorative green and yellow elements with flying duck silhouettes.

From reporting from World Press Freedom Day in Chile to covering the Paris Olympics, journalism major Ruby Wool made the most of every opportunity during her time at the SOJC—which is why she’s the school’s 2025 Standard Bearer and Rianda Outstanding Student Award winner! Learn more: bit.ly/44g8iLt

Annie McVay holding an award at the 2025 UO Senate Graduate Programs Classified Staff Leadership Award ceremony, posing with another individual, both smiling in a conference room.

Congratulations to Annie Reiva for receiving the UO All-Campus Advising Assoc. Award for Outstanding Professional Advisor. Image features the award recipient standing outdoors with trees in the background, smiling, with hands on hips. They are wearing a multicolored sweater.

Congratulations Derek Brandow for being awarded the UO Residence Life Academic Res. & Research Init. (ARRI) Partner of the Year, smiling in a plaid shirt with a blurred green foliage background.

Three members of the SOJC community have recently won awards for their dedication to our school, student success, and the UO community at large. Congratulations to Annie McVay, Annie Reiva, and Derek Brandow for this recognition of all their hard work 🏆 You earned it!

Graduate in regalia on stage at a university commencement ceremony, with a backdrop of vibrant flowers.

Commencement is nearly here! We’re happy to announce that if you can't make it to Matthew Knight Arena for the big day, you can stream it live from the comfort of your home. Save this link to view SOJC Commencement 2025 when it begins at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 16: www.youtube.com/live/7Dr71Lx...

Portrait of Elizabeth Sgro, the student speaker and recipient of the Van Kimmel Bell Leadership Award at the SOJC Commencement 2025, smiling in front of green foliage with decorative yellow and green borders.

The SOJC is proud to announce this year’s student speaker and Van Kimmell Bell Leadership Award winner, Liz Sgro! Without a doubt, Liz has made the most of her time at the SOJC. She’s been the project manager, an art director, and much more. Learn about Liz: bit.ly/4jJ7enM

Keynote speaker Polly Trungu '17 smiles warmly, wearing a red coat, standing before a tree-lined street. Graphic includes text for SOJC Commencement 2025 and decorative yellow duck silhouettes.

We’re excited to announce this year’s SOJC Commencement keynote speaker, @pollyirungu.bsky.social! Irungu, our 2024 Eric Allen Outstanding Young Alumni, has already had an impressive career that includes editing photos for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Learn more: bit.ly/45NcLq9

Promotional graphic titled "3 Things You're Getting Wrong About Political Polarization" featuring a split background with red on the left and blue on the right, adorned with various icons symbolizing speech and questions. An expert is pictured on the right side.

Whitney Phillips, media studies associate professor and author of “The Shadow Gospel: How Anti-Liberal Demonology Possessed U.S. Religion, Media, and Politics,” discusses political polarization, what people get wrong about it, and why it matters. Learn more: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/whitney...

Person sitting in a broadcast studio with "Oregon News" on a screen in the background, surrounded by video production equipment.

Meet Akila Wickramaratna, an SOJC senior who is studying broadcast journalism and always working to expand his skillset. Throughout his years in the SOJC, he's learned about versatility, hard work, and confidence. Learn more about Akila here: bit.ly/4dSGr7h

Composite image of SOJC's first graduating class of 1916, featuring portraits of four individuals with a banner and date at the bottom. The four-person class included (clockwise): Merlin Batley, Grace H. Edgington (a Hall of Achievement honoree), Wallace C. Eakin, and Henry Heidenreich.

#TBT to the first graduating class of the SOJC! This inaugural J-school class from 1916 had just four students (clockwise): Merlin Batley, Grace H. Edgington (an SOJC Hall of Achievement honoree), Wallace C. Eakin, and Henry Heidenreich. 🎉

Six students from SOJC Team seated in a row reading books, who earned a top 12 placement in a National PR Student Competition.

Congrats to the SOJC public relations student team whose “Books & Beyond” campaign placed in the top 12 in the national PRSSA Bateman Case Study Competition! Learn about their project that took home honorable mention in our newest story: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/2025-ba...

Eight faculty members win Distinguished Teaching Awards Recipients receive a crystal or Myrtlewood apple in celebration of their achievement

Grateful and humbled to receive a 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award from @uoregon.bsky.social .

Huge thanks to my students and colleagues at @uosojc.bsky.social who make teaching so meaningful and rewarding.

Read about all 8 awardees (all more worthy than me!): news.uoregon.edu/content/eigh...

Image featuring Sydney Seymour, smiling, in a professional portrait. Text around the image introduces Sydney as the editor-in-chief of Align Mag, a writer, and podcast host for SOJC Comms, and an intern at Snowden this summer. It includes a quote about Sydney's approach to journalism and a link to read more about her. There are also icons and text indicating Sydney's interest in game studies.

With a passion for trauma-informed reporting, press freedom, and using storytelling to make a difference, graduating SOJC senior Sydney Seymour has built an impressive foundation for a career in community-centered #journalism. Learn more about Sydney here: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/sydney-...

Promotional image for 'One Cool Story' podcast Season Three, featuring four smiling guests in front of a green background with the text 'Listen to Season Three, All Episodes Out Now!'

From Allen Hall to organizations like DreamWorks and the Portland Timbers, Season 3 of our podcast "One Cool Story" featured four incredible journeys from the SOJC community! Check out our recap of the season by clicking here: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/one-coo...

Group photo of journalism students in front of the Seattle Times building, with a banner reading "SOJC Ducks Flock to the Seattle Times.

Group of professionals and students in a meeting room listening to a speaker, with a whiteboard in the background filled with handwritten notes.

A group of professionals, one seated at a computer laughing joyfully, surrounded by standing colleagues who are smiling and observing in an office environment.

Four SOJC Ducks traveled to Seattle for the Seattle Times #Journalism Symposium! From reporting real stories to networking with pros and fellow student journalists, they got a front-row seat to life in a newsroom. Learn more about our journalism program: journalism.uoregon.edu/journalism

Promotional graphic featuring Kyle LaMontagne, an award-winning documentary storyteller and street artist. The image shows Kyle seated on a stool, smiling, with text highlighting his achievements and inviting readers to explore a Q&A with him on the SOJC website.

Kyle LaMontagne entered the SOJC’s Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program with a clear goal: to become a highly skilled #documentary filmmaker while remaining in the Pacific Northwest. Now, he’s made it a reality. Learn more: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/kyle-la...

Promotional image for episode twelve of the 'One Cool Story' podcast, featuring Heather Davis, CEO of the Portland Timers, smiling in a green jacket against a lime green background.

In our final podcast episode of the spring term, #journalism major Sophie Fowler sits down with Heather Davis, CEO of the #Portland Timbers, to discuss her journey from the SOJC to leading a major league #sports organization! Listen here: journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast

Promotional image featuring a smiling individual named Nick Larkin, class of '09, with information about progressing from an SOJC Ad Major to leading major campaigns for global agencies.

Before leading multimillion-dollar ad campaigns, Nick Larkin ’09 was chasing ideas as an SOJC advertising student—and chasing new perspectives in Accra, Ghana 🇬🇭. Learn more about Larkin in this article: journalism.uoregon.edu/news/nick-la...

Image features a scuba diver photographing coral underwater on the left, and a close-up of vibrant coral on the right, with text overlay stating 'Telling Coral's Comeback Story with Immersive Media', highlighting SOJC Ph.D. student Beatriz Mira and Immersive Media Comm. Master's grad Sam Morrison.

Collage of three images showing various activities in Hawaii: people speeding in a motorboat, a person observing coral in a lab, and a nighttime scene of someone illuminating water from a dock. Text overlays indicate 7 days spent in Hawaii and 138 minutes of immersive footage captured.

Collage of three images showing various activities in Hawaii: people speeding in a motorboat, a person observing coral in a lab, and a nighttime scene of someone illuminating water from a dock. Text overlays indicate 7 days spent in Hawaii and 138 minutes of immersive footage captured.

At the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology’s Coral Resilience Lab, members of the SOJC’s Science & Memory team dove headfirst (literally) into a project to document the institute’s coral research through immersive video, augmented reality, and visual storytelling. Learn more: sojc.link/coral

Promotional graphic for 'One Cool Story, Tales from the SOJC podcast, featuring Episode Eleven with guest Brian Bull, a broadcast veteran and tribal storyteller. The episode title is displayed along with a smiling portrait of Brian Bull, set against a vibrant green background.

Earlier this term, SOJC #journalism major Julia Boboc sat down with former SOJC Professor Brian Bull to discuss his career in audio journalism just as he was returning to full-time reporting. Listen in and learn how he got to where he is today: journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast

Promotional image featuring Eva Camacho, an SOJC PR grad '23 and current Advertising and Brand Responsibility master's student, yoga instructor, and advocate for the importance of branding in business. Includes a quote about community responsibility and a link to a Q&A with Eva.

In our latest “5 Questions” feature, #Advertising and Brand Responsibility master’s student Eva Camacho reflects on her time in grad school, from leading a full-time career in nonprofit #communication to launching her own research project spotlighting women-owned brands. Learn more: bit.ly/44HhFEF

The work day is over, but Ducks Give is still going strong—30 more gifts, big or small, will unlock our final two challenge gifts worth a combined total of $23,000! Give our Ducks the gift of career success here: sojc.link/ducksgive2025

Listen in and learn from SOJC student Mandi Mayling about our Ducks Shadow Ducks program and how it gave her a better understanding of what a career in PR is like! Your donations on Ducks Give fund programs like Ducks Shadow Ducks and help our students succeed. Donate here: sojc.link/ducksgive2025

A graphic that reads "we're already halfway there"

We are halfway to unlocking all of our challenge goals! With your help, the SOJC has already raised over $27,000! And with three challenge gifts to go, we're not done yet—help us unlock even more funding to help our students take flight: sojc.link/ducksgive2025

A graphic that reads “JUST FOUR GIFTS LEFT UNTIL WE UNLOCK TONYA DRESSEL'S $5,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOJC!”

Big update! Since our last post, we’ve unlocked an additional $3,000 for our students and are only four gifts away from another $5,000! Help us unlock the Tonya Dressel challenge gift: ducksgive.uoregon.edu/giving-day/1...

A graphic that reads “NEXT CHALLENGE! JUST THREE MORE DONATIONS UNLOCKS THE $3,000GAYLE AND RON TIMMERMAN CHALLENGE GIFT!”

Donations big or small help unlock large challenge gifts on Ducks Give, and we're only two away from unlocking our first! Help us unlock the Gayle and Ron Timmerman Challenge Gift: sojc.link/ducksgive2025