Celebrating the class of 2018

Commencement marks an important milestone for graduates as they transition to the next chapter of their lives. The College of Science honored our graduates and their family and guests at a special outdoor reception in their honor on June 15, 2018.

Science faculty, staff and advisors celebrated the occasion with our soon-to-be graduates.

The reception featured a globally inspired menu, festive cupcakes and refreshing beverages. Dean Roy Haggerty and OSU Alumni Association Executive Director Kathy Bickel offered a few remarks and wished the graduates well.

Graduates received a special graduation gift from the College of Science and posed for selfies at a photo booth with backdrops of different science scenes.

The College of Science graduated 655 students with baccalaureate degrees in 2017-18, which is about a five percent increase from last year. More than 71% of our graduates were in the life sciences.

Biohealth science majors lead the way with 181 graduates, followed closely by biology with 177 graduates. Next is mathematics with 59 graduates, microbiology with 55, zoology with 54, chemistry 49, physics 35 (33% more than last year), biochemistry and biophysics 22 (25% more graduates), the first graduates in biochemistry and molecular biology with seven, General Science 4 and other interdisciplinary science majors six.

The College is extremely proud of all of our graduates. It has truly been a privilege to see them shine at OSU. We look forward to their future accomplishments in science.

Biochemistry senior takes the reins and thinks big

Biochemistry and biophysics senior Mai Le arrived at Oregon State as a reluctant freshman but found her place through research and volunteer opportunities.

A senior's gut decision in high school to major in physics holds steady four years later

Looking back on his gut decision in high school to major in physics, graduating senior Abe Teklu remains somewhat mystified.

Sloths, toucans, kinkajous, hawks—this zoology senior has handled them all

Tonya Allison remembers never being encouraged to think about college. Now she is preparing for a career in wildlife conservation.

A global approach to pharmacy through BioHealth Sciences

Like so many students, senior biohealth sciences major Brett Gill’s intended path as a freshman at Oregon State veered off course — for the better.

The triple crown of science: Graduating with degrees in math, physics and nuclear engineering

Math, physics and nuclear engineering senior Jesse Rodriguez isn’t your average student by most measures. A transfer student, Rodriguez enjoyed an incredible and wide-ranging learning experience where his classes in the different subjects led him to many wonderful insights about the deeper connections among his majors, and ultimately to a more solid understanding of science itself. He was one of just 26 students in 2018 to earn a prestigious Department of Energy fellowship that will pay for his Ph.D. at Stanford University to study plasma physics.