Spring 2026
REV Newsletter
Vol. 3, No. 3
Honoring the Contributions of REV’s Student Interns
As the academic year comes to a close, the Rural Engagement & Vitality (REV) Center is celebrating a talented group of student interns whose work has supported youth programming, community-based research, communications, and regional partnerships across Eastern Oregon.
A standout moment this year came when the duo of REV intern Nerita Juda and Eastern Oregon University faculty member Dr. Daniel Costie was selected to deliver the keynote presentation at EOU's annual symposium on May 20, sharing findings from REV's Child Care in Union County study with students, faculty, and community members.
REV also extends congratulations to GO-ASAP intern Megan Harris on graduating from Eastern Oregon University. We also congratulate Nerita Juda on her continued academic success as she completes her graduate studies in public administration. We wish both students—and all of this year's interns—the very best as they continue their education and careers.
This year's interns included Dale Cratty of Bend, an OHSU School of Nursing-La Grande student; Rachel Gaskell of Elgin, an OHSU School of Nursing-La Grande student; Indy Gauthier of Keizer, an EOU communications and public relations student; Megan Harris of Yacolt, WA, an EOU psychology student; Jessica "JJ" Johnson of Bend, an OHSU School of Nursing-La Grande student; Nerita Juda, an EOU graduate student in public administration; and Jocelyn Palmer of Elgin, an OHSU School of Nursing-La Grande student.
Were you a REV Intern?
One way we can track the effectiveness of REV’s model of using the talents of Eastern Oregon University’s students and faculty to address community issues is to know where our interns are now. We want to hear from you! Please tell us what you are doing now - work, more education, etc - and how your work with REV impacted you.
GRACE NOTE
Spring term on a college campus is a busy season and our team at REV is not immune to the uptick in activity as we all balance project deadlines, new opportunities, preparation for graduation, and gear up for our annual summer institutes at Cottonwood Canyon State Park. This year in particular has brought us an opportunity that is both exciting, tender, and complex: helping the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) program find a new home.
Many of you know that the RARE Program has been a vital pipeline of talent and capacity for communities across rural Oregon, including the communities REV serves. REV is committed to doing everything in our power to preserve this resource for Eastern Oregon and we are leaning in fully. We are asking our partners, our board, our funders, and our community champions to do the same. If RARE is going to have a future here, it will take all of us leaning in together to hold the door open and I want to thank the Ford Family Foundation for their support as we hold these important conversations. I will keep our network updated as this situation develops, but please know that this is a priority for us.
Terri and I had the opportunity to attend the Regards2Rural Conference, which brought together nonprofit leaders from across Oregon doing meaningful, mission-driven work in their communities. It was energizing, encouraging, and grounding. Our team forged new connections, reconnected with peers across the state, and celebrated how nonprofits are making Oregon a better place.
Carter and I attended the second annual Business Oregon Innovation Showcase, where we had the chance to connect with regional partners, celebrate Eastern Oregon entrepreneurs, and work to strengthen the network of support surrounding our regional innovation ecosystem. The connections made in that room matter, not just for the entrepreneurs we represent, but for the broader goal of advancing the talent and entrepreneurial spirit in Eastern Oregon.
At the League of Oregon Cities Conference in late April as part of the panel on Growing and Inspiring the Next Generation in Local Government, Dr. Daniel Costie and I had the opportunity to present on our Morrow County Rural Transportation Equity work and share what has happened since that project wrapped in 2023. The results have been remarkable! Ridership increased over 1,000% between January and July of 2025 and is growing, and we are especially proud that the student interns who rolled up their sleeves on that project get to see in real numbers what their work helped set in motion. That kind of tangible, lasting impact represents REV’s mission in action.
In late May, I had the privilege of traveling to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility capstone presentation at the National Association of Counties headquarters. Commissioner Anderes and I presented our collaborative work to expand access to child care in Union County to an audience of national organizations and funders, which I’m proud to say was well received and appreciated. Being a part of this cohort of commissioners and community leaders over the past two years has been genuinely inspiring, opening my eyes to new best practices and the very real power rural communities have to drive meaningful change for the people who call these places home.
I’m proud of our team, our partners, and our students for showing up at a national, state, and regional level.
Grace Donovan
REV Executive Director
CURRENT EVENTS
We have three exciting highlights to share about our outdoor education programs at Cottonwood Canyon State Park this June:
REV received a $9,000 grant from the Wildhorse Foundation to support instructor costs and program operations for this year’s institutes. This funding is deeply appreciated and helps ensure a high-quality experience for all participants.
There are a 16 students enrolled in the Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute.
There is also a record-setting 11 K-12 educators set to participate in the Cottonwood Canyon Teacher Institute.
Together, these milestones reflect growing enthusiasm for place-based outdoor education and experiential learning opportunities in rural Oregon.
RECENT EVENTS
REV and EOU presented, “Growing & Inspiring the Next Generation in Local Government” at the League of Oregon Cities Local Government Spring Conference April 23-24 at the Pendleton Convention Center. The room was packed with elected officials from across the state who were eager to have younger generations involved in public service and government. The EOU students who attended and participated in the presentation also met EOU alum and current mayor of Gold Beach, Tamie Kaufman. A heartfelt thank you to Pattie Mulvihill for facilitating the conversation and speaking with EOU’s State and Local Government class about why local government is exciting and the difference each of them can make if they pursue this path.
Grace presented at the Focal Point Annual Conference in San Diego April 28-30 to speak on her experiences with executive coaching and the importance of mentorship.
In late May, the National Association of Counties hosted the Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility Capstone Presentations in Washington, D.C. Grace and Union County Commissioner Paul Anderes presented the project accomplishments and learnings to an audience of national funders and grant making organizations.
Our Get Outside After School Activity Program (GO-ASAP) wrapped up its 10th year. With Eric Carlson at the helm, over the 12 weeks of GO-ASAP, 18 La Grande Middle School students experienced 20 learning opportunities (and consumed countless snacks) with support from EOU and OHSU student mentors. From hiking trails to rock climbing to mountain biking, the students explored, challenged themselves, and discovered being active does not require a gym or competition. A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible: EOU’s Outdoor Adventure Program,
Grande Ronde Model Watershed, La Grande School District, and La Grande Parks & Recreation Department.
This year, Urban-Rural Ambassadors brought together seven students from two universities (EOU and Portland State University) to explore food systems through visits to 10 farms, businesses, and organizations across one urban and two rural communities. Guided by two faculty members, students built relationships, examined regional challenges and opportunities, and gained a deeper understanding of the connections between Oregon's urban and rural places.
Bringing Eastern Oregon Entrepreneurs Into the Spotlight
This spring, the Oregon Frontier Innovation Hub (OFIH) hosted and participated in events in La Grande, Pendleton, and John Day, while also building connections with key partners in Bend and Portland. From a pub talk in John Day to presenting at the Oregon Innovation Showcase, OFIH's Carter Gudell and Entrepreneur-in-Residence Zach Denney were on the ground - and covering the miles - supporting entrepreneurship and innovation throughout Eastern Oregon.
At the showcase, two Eastern Oregon startups were featured: Elkhorn Products and Hindsight.VIP, highlighting the region's growing entrepreneurial talent and the innovative businesses.
Winners of Innovation Jam at EOU
Teams led by an Eastern Oregon University student and an alumnus won the Eastern Oregon Innovation Jam on April 4 for their innovative business ideas. EOU students Indy Gauthier and Jacob Sanchez won first place for their concept of a digestive supplement. Second place went to a team consisting of EOU alum Kellen Grant, and current EOU students Adam Smith and Addison Wickliffe for their idea of using an unmanned aircraft system to monitor livestock. Learn more >
OPPORTUNITIES
Whether it’s helping with our social media platforms or working with youth and helping them explore the benefits of living in the eastern Oregon landscape, we have paid internships available for EOU students.
for EOU students
If you are or know of any EOU students looking for experiential learning opportunities, have them check our Student Internships.
for EOU faculty
EOU faculty members looking for opportunities to collaborate and give students a real-world experience in their chosen field, see the model REV uses and projects we’ve done.
for area community leaders
If you are a community leader seeking support for an initiative or challenge in your community, see how REV works with partners and connect with us to determine if REV is the right partner for you.
Follow REV on social media to stay informed on its events and projects.
HOW TO SUPPORT REV
The Rural Engagement & Vitality Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which creates partnerships between Eastern Oregon University and entities in eastern Oregon to enhance the vitality of the region and develop tomorrow’s rural workforce and leaders. Please consider making a donation. Your financial support enables all the programming we offer to continue and grow.
About the REV Newsletter
Spring 2026
Volume 3, Number 3
The newsletter of the Rural Engagement & Vitality (REV) Center is a quarterly publication designed to inform its audience about activities of the center. For more information about this newsletter, contact Terri Kaiser, Editor, PO Box 31, La Grande, OR 97850.
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