Ducks Give 2024

The Impact Fund plays an instrumental role in advancing the mission of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS), The fund advances the core mission of ensuring equitable access to the full benefits and transformative opportunities of a liberal arts and sciences research university with a priority for supporting: 

• Distinguished Scholarships finalists’ travel to national interviews 

• undergraduate research and creative work fellowships 

• academic conference travel 

• access to Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the United States.

Undergraduate students from all schools, colleges, and majors at the University of Oregon are eligible to benefit from the URDS Impact Fund. The fund addresses the significant equity gaps in access, experience, and outcomes that persist in higher education for traditionally underserved students including: 

• students with high financial need 

• students who are the first in their families to attend college 

• transfer students 

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students

How you can help:

The URDS Impact Fund was established in 2023 through gifts by donors like 1984 Lundquist College of Business alumni Todd and Sue Ringoen, who made a $10,000 matching gift to successfully meet our initial goal. With these funds, we were able to help seven students with research funds, honor society fees, and travel costs for interviews. But, we need continual assistance from donors like you to continue to help remove financial barriers from our students so they can focus on bettering themselves and their communities.

“Continued donor support of the Impact Fund is critical to our core mission of advancing equitable access to the full benefits and opportunities of a liberal arts and sciences research university for traditionally underserved students.”  –Kevin Hatfield

For Ducks Give 2024, Sue '84 and Todd Ringoen '84 have generously offered a $5,000 challenge that will unlock with 10 gifts. Every donation, of any and every size, helps us achieve our goals and help more students. 

Testimonials:  

“When I found out that I was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist, I was thrilled beyond words but immediately worried and anxious about hotel and travel arrangements. We were notified of our finalist status in the middle of midterms, and it felt overwhelming to have to shop around for affordable accommodation and transportation amidst exams and interview preparation. The URDS Impact Fund and the hard work of ODS Program Coordinator Jacy Bartlett greatly alleviated this burden and allowed me to be relaxed about the logistical aspect of preparation leading up to an interview. It felt like a godsend. I feel confident that because my logistics were taken care of, I was in a great mindset going into the Rhodes Scholarship interview, and that directly contributes to my selection as a Rhodes Scholar.”

–Nayantara Arora, 2024 Rhodes Scholar, 2023 Phi Beta Kappa Key Scholar

“The Impact Fund gave me the opportunity to be able to travel to Seattle and fully focus only on the pressure of the [Rhodes Scholar] interviews and not on the finances of the trip. Without the funds, I wouldn’t have been able to travel or to pay for food during the trip. I am very grateful for everything donors have contributed to help all of us.”

–Colleen Uzoekwe, 2024 Rhodes Scholar Finalist, National All American, Diversity Excellence Scholar