{"id":2458,"date":"2024-11-07T17:54:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T17:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/?p=2458"},"modified":"2024-11-08T20:29:01","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T20:29:01","slug":"successful-sisters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/2024\/11\/07\/successful-sisters\/","title":{"rendered":"Successful Sisters\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Eastern Oregon University students Naomi and Savannah Potter perform for the EOU Board of Trustees and guests on May 18. (EOU photograph \/ Michael K. Dakota)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Building Lifelong Connections<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Savannah Potter makes ice cream with the Chemistry Club for students, faculty, staff and visitors in the Quad in anticipation of 2023 Homecoming. (EOU photograph \/ Michael K. Dakota)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Success can be measured in the many  meaningful connections made during your college experience. Savannah and Naomi Potter found far more than academic success at Eastern Oregon University, where they built lifelong relationships that will extend well beyond graduation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI took full advantage of connecting and meeting people here, and I’m going to build on those relationships for the rest of my life,\u201d Savannah shared. \u201cThose are what are going to outlast my experience here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Echoing her older sister\u2019s sentiment, Naomi appreciates the meaningful and close-knit relationships with faculty at EOU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe small campus allows you to get close with the faculty, in a way you just can\u2019t at a larger campus,\u201d Naomi said. \u201cIt’s incredible the friendships you make with your professors.    They will change your life, and that’s so different from a big campus.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savannah agreed, adding that the faculty have made her experience phenomenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Journey of Discovery and Growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Savannah\u2019s early experience was shaped by the pandemic and online classes at a community college. Her decision to transfer was influenced by convenience and EOU\u2019s  reputation. Raised in Baker City, she found the intimate environment provided a sense of community that was invaluable. Inspired by the science faculty, Savannah shifted her focus to chemistry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom a very young age, I was always intrigued by science,\u201d she said. \u201cI was planning to become an ophthalmologist, but the encouragement from my chemistry professor changed my path.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially hesitant about attending college, Naomi found EOU\u2019s unique charm irresistible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn’t initially want to go to college, and I certainly didn\u2019t want to go to EOU because it was so close to home. But it turned out to be the best decision of my life,\u201d Naomi admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Naomi Potter performs in the 2024 production of the ‘H2O Show’<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A Shared Passion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coming from a musical family, the sisters often perform together both on and off campus, balancing their academic commitments with their love for music. When Professor of Music Peter Wordelman asked them to perform at a Board of Trustees meeting, they felt deeply honored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur music faculty are exceptional. I changed my major to be more music-focused because of Peter,\u201d Naomi said. \u201cHe has been such an inspiration, just like  Savannah’s chemistry professors.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savannah added, \u201cMusic keeps me grounded when science gets crazy. My sister and I are almost always up for any gig or performance, and we love it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Naomi reflected more on the importance of savoring the college experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese were the most amazing years of my life, and they go by so fast. I try to slow down and enjoy them,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savannah encourages freshmen to explore various experiences. \u201cI had no plans to pursue chemistry initially, but by participating in the chemistry club during my first year, I discovered a genuine passion for it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Building Lifelong Connections Success can be measured in the many  meaningful connections made during your college experience. Savannah and Naomi Potter found far more than academic success at Eastern Oregon University, where they built lifelong relationships that will extend well beyond graduation.  \u201cI took full advantage of connecting and meeting people here, and I’m going […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":491,"featured_media":2462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/491"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2467,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions\/2467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}