CORVALLIS, Ore – Oregon State University has unveiled a new song that commemorates the university’s 150th anniversary and portrays the power of learning and the contributions OSU has made to Oregonians and the state since its founding in 1868.

The song, “A Special Place,” was written by Jan Looking Wolf Reibach, an award-winning Native American musician and an instructor in the OSU College of Liberal Arts.

“I really tried to capture what a beautiful place Oregon State is,” Reibach said. “I was inspired by the journey students take to get here and the dedication of faculty.”

Reibach, an enrolled Kalapuya Native American who teaches Native American flute at Oregon State, spent more than 200 hours working on the piece. He spent more time on the song compared to any other on his 22 commercial albums. Reibach’s great-great grandfather was Chief Joseph Sangretta of the Santiam Kalapuya People, who lived in the mid-Willamette Valley for more than 14,000 years.

He premiered the song, joined by the Oregon State Choralaires at Oregon State President Edward J. Ray’s State of the University Address on Feb. 1 in Portland, which included 800 attendees at the annual event.

Steve Clark, Oregon State’s vice president of university relations and marketing, said the university commissioned the song to help commemorate OSU150 – the university’s 150th anniversary, a 15-month celebration that includes a series of events and activities through October.

“The song poignantly captures what we are about here at Oregon State,” Clark said. “We provide the chance for learning, economic opportunity and prosperity for all Oregonians and our state’s communities. We hope to hear this song through the next 150 years of the university.”

The lyrics to the song follow:

Sunrise over the mountain, bringing light to this land.

150 years of knowledge, with hope and our dreams...let it shine.

 

Oregon State University, generations, hand-in-hand.

Wisdom comes like the rain down to the rivers into the ocean...let it flow.

 

To a higher place of connection, where dreams become reality.

To a special place of transformation, Oregon State University!

 

The winds of change arrive, singing softly through the trees.

Together we spread our wings to soar, floating on the wind...we rise above.

 

To a higher place of connection, where dreams become reality.

To a special place of transformation, Oregon State University!

 

To a higher place of connection, where dreams become reality.

To a special place of transformation, Oregon State University!

General OSU

About Oregon State University: As one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the nation, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today’s most pressing issues. Our more than 36,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the state’s comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport, OSU Portland Center and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.

Story By: 

Sean Nealon, 541-737-0787, [email protected]

Source: 

Jan Looking Wolf Reibach, 541-737-4061, [email protected]; Steve Clark, 541-737-3808, [email protected]

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