Graduation profile: Peter Ewbank (with video)
Peter Ewbank, 21, will receive his bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in political science when he graduates June 14 from the University of Oregon Clark Honors College. He is from Phoenix, Ariz. “While it will be difficult to leave Eugene, I value the experiences and learning that I've gained at the UO, and my degree will be symbolic of that,” he said.
Academic accomplishments:
Graduating Cum Laude from the UO’s Clark Honors College, where he just defended his senior thesis. Member for the past year of the Mortar Board society, an organization with a national history of honoring senior college students.
Extracurricular/leadership activity:
Director of the Clark Honors Introductory Program (CHIP), as well as a CHIP Leader. Served as the campus campaign coordinator for Teach For America. Additionally, I was a member of the Student Recreation Center Advisory Board and a co-coordinator with the club sports snowboard team.
Attending and graduating college is significant to my family (or because of my background) because … it represents intellectual development and academic achievement. My parents were extremely generous in promoting learning throughout my youth, and continue to provide that support by allowing me to attend the University of Oregon. The UO has put me in a great position to succeed and flourish in my professional life.
The reason I chose the University of Oregon for my education is … Eugene felt right from the moment I set foot on campus six years ago to visit. The combination of the Clark Honors College, campus atmosphere, laid-back culture and outdoor opportunities made this the place I wanted to be. The opportunities offered by the UO have surpassed expectations, and I'm sorry I have to leave.
The most rewarding experience/challenge I’ve had while earning my degree was … taking the Clark Honors College Inside-Out class. The class was taught at the Oregon State Penitentiary, and was made up of 12 Honors College students and 12 inmates. Together we read Cervantes' “Don Quixote,” Dostoevsky's “The Idiot,” and Emmanuel Levinas' “God, Death, and Time.” It was challenging on so many levels, from difficult readings to stepping outside our comfort zones to become close friends with inmates by surpassing barriers, both physical and mental. By the same token, it was the most rewarding of college experiences because I made close friends, learned about the penal system and read great literature. In addition, it inspired my thesis project, and is always on my mind because it was an extremely transformative experience.
My proudest accomplishment while at the UO is … finishing my senior thesis entitled “Better Talk: Analysis and Approaches to Improving Dialogue in Dialogue-Centered Classes at the University of Oregon.” It took months of research, writing, and thinking, and it is by far the most time- and intellectually-intensive project I've ever worked on. I learned a lot about research, education, dialogue and myself through the project.
While pursuing my degree I was most inspired by… my professors in the English Department and the Clark Honors College. I was fortunate to take some incredible classes from some great teachers, and they inspired me in many ways — from becoming a better writer to living more sustainably. They are all role models in one way or another, and the intellectually active environment they cultivate and are a part of is something I will continue to seek out the rest of my life.
My UO degree is valuable because … it is both enabling for the future and a reminder of the best three years of my life. My UO degree is the culmination of three years of hard work and incredible memories and knowledge gained both inside and outside the classroom.
After graduation, I plan to use my degree from the UO to … Teach For America in Tulsa, Okla. I will teach high school math for the next two years for Teach For America, and after that I plan to continue to work for education reform in the U.S. and my community, either as a teacher, administrator or policy maker.
