CORVALLIS, Ore. - Six distinguished graduates, including a Broadway performer who will give a free afternoon performance on campus, will gather at Oregon State University Oct. 19-20 to be honored by the OSU Alumni Association.

The honorees - five alumni fellows and one notable young alumna - will meet with OSU students, staff and faculty, will be feted at a reception and dinner, and will appear Oct. 20 at the Beavers' Homecoming football game against Utah.

This year's OSUAA Alumni Fellows are:

·     Celia Austin of Newberg, Ore.: She is a businesswoman, arts patron and member of the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees, with a 1976 degree in home economics communications from OSU. She and her husband, G. Kenneth Austin III, a 1977 OSU graduate, share many philanthropic and business successes and are also award-winning llama ranchers.

·     Ellen Bishop of Touchet, Wash.: She is a geologist, professor and author with a 1979 master's degree and 1983 doctorate from OSU, both in geology. She is widely recognized for using her writing and photography skills, coupled with her training and experience in geology, to advance public understanding of geology and its role in considering how humans use the land.

·     Roosevelt Credit of New York City: He is a Broadway singer and music teacher with a 1990 degree in music education from OSU. He most recently completed a run portraying a fisherman in the Tony Award-winning revival of "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess." Credit will showcase his talents in a free "Broadway in the MU" performance from 3:15 until 4 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the Memorial Union Lounge.

·     Gayle Fitzpatrick of Morristown, N.J.: She is an executive with Oracle Corp., with a 1978 degree in business administration from OSU. She is Oracle's group vice president for North America commercial engineered systems.

·     Shelton Louie of Vancouver, Wash.: He is a pharmacist with a 1978 degree in pharmacy from OSU. He spent 30 years working for Fred Meyer Corp., and is founder of GSL Solutions, which provides sophisticated automated systems for handling prescriptions in large pharmacies.

This year's recipient of the association's Young Alumni Award is Bridget Burns of Portland. She is chief of staff in the Oregon University System, with a 2004 degree in political science and a 2011 master's in public policy from OSU.

Joth Ricci, president of the board of directors of the OSUAA and a 1991 OSU graduate, said the association welcomes this opportunity to shine a spotlight on an accomplished group of graduates. "All Beavers are honored when we honor these great members of the OSU family," Ricci said.

The OSUAA created the Alumni Fellows program in 1988 to bring distinguished alumni back to campus to be honored and to share their experiences. The Young Alumni Award was added in 2006.

The public is invited to help honor the recipients at a gala dinner Friday, Oct. 19, at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner and the awards at 7 p.m. Prices are $50 per person, $45 for OSUAA members, $20 for OSU students and $360 for a table of eight. Reservations are required. Business attire is suggested. For more information, visit www.osualum.com/fellows

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Source: 

Michelle Davis, 541-737-8883

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