7th Annual Alumni Newsletter - School Web sites hosted by Eugene ...

ALUMNI NOTES
Danielle Hanson is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in
biological anthropology at Indiana University. Previously
she worked at the University of Oregon as a Lab Technician
working with Zebrafish husbandry and as an Archaeology
Lab Assistant working with isotope and radiocarbon dating
sample preparation and analysis.
College: BS Anthropology, 2010 University of Oregon
Katherine Parker is currently studying racial perceptions
in the eighteenth century as an Arts and Sciences Graduate
Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, where she is working
toward a Ph.D. in History.
College: Honors Bachelors History and Honors Bachelors
International Studies, 2010 Oregon State University,
University Honors College
International Experiences: Studied at the Pontifica
Universidad Catolica and the Universidad de Chile in
Santiago, Chile for a semester.
Reflections: “IHS more than prepared me for college and
the rigors of graduate school. IB was a huge part of that,
as it earned me over a year’s worth of college credits in
college and allowed me to make time to study abroad. I
miss the lively debates, the creative projects, and the crazy
camaraderie of our classes, not to mention the staff and
faculty who made it such a special learning community.”
CLASS OF 2009
Kathryn Adair is currently attending California Baptist
University in Riverside, CA pursuing a degree in psychology.
She previously worked at Build-A-Bear Workshop
as an Associate-Bear Builder.
International Experiences: Student ambassador to
Australia. Mission trip to South Africa.
Reflections: “My best memories from Eugene IHS were
with teachers or friends. The teachers were always there to
be a friend and to have fun. It was interesting and fun to get
to know about other countries and different people around
the world. IHS has really opened my eyes and helped me
to be more ‘culturally sound.’”
Olivia Girod is currently attending Oregon State University
in Corvallis, OR as an Honors Scholar, pursuing a degree in
pre-industrial engineering and a minor in Spanish.
Reflections: “IHS helped to prepare me in all aspects so much
for college. I hear my roommates and friends complaining
about having to write a two-page double spaced paper and
laugh because I know it would be so easy for me because of
what I learned in IHS. I was a full IB diploma recipient and am
so glad I went through with it. Although I did not receive as
much college credit as I had hoped to receive from taking the
tests, it prepared me in so many other ways. Taking the exams
is exactly like finals are here. Therefore I know how to begin
to prepare in advance by reviewing my notes and studying
with others.”
Tanner Harris is currently attending the University of Oregon
in Eugene, OR. He is currently a track and field athlete for the
University of Oregon.
Reflections: “Eugene IHS was all around the best high school
educational experience I have ever had. I miss my IHS teachers
and all of the classmates and students that were in IHS. It was
basically a second family. IHS opened my eyes to the world and
removed my cultural bias. The mock conferences, such as the
Eurasian conference, were a fun way to learn about countries
around the world that you couldn’t learn in a classroom setting.
IHS’ curriculum is so much more current and useful than regular
high school curriculum. Now that I am in college many of my
classmates are shocked by some of the information they are
learning, but thanks to IHS I already know about most of the
things they are teaching. Some classes were a review for me.
I felt so prepared for college, and the different cultures that
students are introduced to in college. IHS made me realize that
as human beings we need to all work together, no matter your
culture or ethnicity, to make the world a better place. I hope
someday I will be able to give back to the IHS program.”
Heather Bridgham is pursuing degrees in sociocultural
Courtney LaFranchi is currently attending the University of
Idaho in Moscow, ID.
International Experiences: She will be going to Spain
this fall.
Reflections: “As an International Studies/Spanish/Piano Per-
anthropology and communications at the University of formance major, I have found the IHS experience extremely
Washington in Seattle, WA.
beneficial. It helped me see situations objectively, especially
International Experiences: Study abroad program when dealing with international dilemmas, and while I’ve
through the University of Washington to Serbia, Bosnia, always prided myself of being a good problem solver, I think
and Croatia.
IHS helped me hone my skills at delivering solutions to my
Reflections: “I keep learning things that are review from peers. While in IHS I also earned the IB diploma, and I think
IHS. International High School exposed me to subject more than anything, the benefit there was proving to myself
matter most people don’t see until college. Most high that I could. Now most things seem extremely easy. I have no
school students don’t get to study things like anthropol- trouble in most of the areas my peers are struggling. IHS also
ogy, philosophy, religious studies, or political science. I taught me how to lead and organize in group settings, making
hear from students who hated high school and were totally most projects simple and efficient where they’re often discom-
unprepared for the style of learning in college; I am happy bobulated. Altogether, IHS was the best preparation one could
to say that neither of those experiences applies to me.”
28
ask for before college.”