A few weeks ago, we reached out to the University of Oregon community and asked you to come together and nominate outstanding students. We looked for students who are rock stars in their department or have been producing amazing work in different projects and organizations. We asked you to find us the next 25 people who will change the world and you delivered.
This is the second year of 25 Ducks and last year’s group of students included many talented and outstanding Ducks including Lindy Mabuya, who moved from South Africa independently and established herself as a powerhouse in the ASUO and volunteering; Usha Davis, a mother and Ford Family scholar who helped people through life transitions; and Jessica Bloomfield, who earned not one but two master’s degrees from the UO.
We received over a hundred nominations for students in all areas from human physiology to cinema studies and everything in between. The 25 Ducks who were selected represent the very best of the University of Oregon. Every student featured as one of the 25 Ducks who will change the world were chosen because of their dedication to their work, diversity, achievements in their activities and their overall great attitudes about life and their work. These hard-working volunteers, scholars, athletes, leaders and friends have already started making a different in the world in their years as Ducks.
The 25 Ducks featured here have big plans. They dream of being comedians, traveling and help people around the world and helping veterans who are injured in combat. While not all of them are living out those dreams just yet, many have already started making waves in their time at the UO.
Whether they’ve been at the UO for four years and are graduating in a few weeks, or there only halfway through their college journey, they have all had significant experiences here that will help them on their way to changing the world.
From partnering with Nike N7 to start a movement with the Native American Youth and Family Center Field Day like Jesse Schwartz did to studying the brain and finding out more of the effects of concussions like Katherine Holste hopes to do, these Ducks are already making their mark.
Shannon Emerson is raising money to support the Jinja Children’s Hospital in Uganda.
Matthew Thill was nominated nine times for his enthusiastic outlook on life and his exceptional dedication to his role at Duck TV, where he writes and directs two shows.
Qian Wu, president of the Chinese Philanthropic Leadership Association encourages her group to treat each other like a family as they work hard to help the younger generation.
Jocelyn Otani is a proud member of the Oregon cheerleading team and Chi Omega sorority who believes that one small act can lead to a chain of good things.
No matter what they have done so far to achieve their dreams and make changes in the world, these 25 Ducks are well on their way to doing great things when they leave the UO. These Ducks will soon join the ranks of alumni such as Phil Knight, Ann Curry, Kurt Widmer and Ken Kesey.
Will any of these Ducks revolutionize the world of athletic wear? What about journalism? Maybe one of these folks will become king or queen of the microbrew scene or write the next great American novel.
The people within these pages are truly exceptional. Get to know them while they’re one of our 25 Ducks. Next thing you know, one of them may grace the cover of TIME’s list of 100 most influential people in the world.