By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

The anxiety Neva L. Sanders felt was all too real.

Sanders was starting classes at Eastern Oregon University as a non-traditional student, one who had last attended school 20 years ago.

"I came in fearing, like many other students, that I couldn't keep up with the academic demands, that I would disappoint the expectations of my family and that I would fail to make a better life for myself,'' she said.

Sanders soon realized that her concerns were unwarranted because of the openness of her

professors.

"The specter of fear vanishes in light of so many open office doors,'' Sanders said. "Professors graciously interrupt their work to help students.''

Sanders and Mindi McAllaster, Eastern's director of development, were the keynote speakers during the university's sixth annual Fall Academic Convocation. Sanders spoke as the recipient of the Phi Kappa Phi Student of Distinction award.

"This honor renders me breathless,'' said Sanders, a senior who has a 3.94 grade point average and is majoring in English, literature and film and minoring in Spanish.

On Tuesday she saluted not only the professors who have guided her but also her fellow students, many of whom reached out to make her feel welcome on campus. Sanders said she knew she was accepted when she was asked to attend a Halloween party at the Alikut residence hall. She came dressed as a fortune-teller.

"To be part of a dorm party is a sign of acceptance,'' Sanders said.

Sanders captured the spirit of the convocation with her closing statement.

"Let us all strive to uphold the Phi Kappa Phi motto: ‘Let the love of learning rule humanity,' '' she said.

McAllaster spoke at the convocation as the recipient of EOU's 2003 Distinguished

Administrative Faculty award. McAllaster works with the EOU Foundation, which solicits private contributions.

Donations to EOU's Foundation have increased significantly under McAllaster's direction, said John Miller, Eastern's provost and dean of academic affairs.

People rarely have their eye on the bottom line when they make donations to Eastern, McAllaster said.

"People give for a lot of reasons; a tax deduction is rarely one of them. It is much more involved and heartfelt than that,'' McAllaster said.

People make donations to memorialize a loved one, to achieve a level of immortality by endowing a scholarship and because "they believe in the cause of higher education,'' McAllaster said.

The primary reason people give, she said, is because of the faculty and how they helped them.

McAllaster then pointed to the faculty members seated in the front rows.

"They give largely because of you and how you connected with students,'' she said to the faculty.

McAllaster also had words of encouragement for the students. She told them not to worry.

"You have more safety nets built around you than you ever will have in your life,'' McAllaster said.

She explained that there are many people at Eastern ready to help them whenever they have problems with academics, financial aid, an illness and almost anything else.

"The faculty and staff are really looking out for students,'' McAllaster said.

Eastern theater professor April Curtis also was recognized Tuesday as the winner of the 2003 Distinguished Instruction Faculty Award. Curtis is on sabbatical leave and is teaching in Greece.

The convocation, conducted at McKenzie Theatre, concluded with a rendition of EOU's updated alma mater, "Hail, Eastern Oregon.'' It was sung by Eastern student Abram Stice.

Faculty member Marilyn Muller provided the accompaniment on the piano. The words and music were composed and written by Eastern music professor John McKinnon in 2001.

The fall convocation is the university's annual kickoff of the academic year. Fall-term classes began Monday.