Choosing to Lead, Choosing to Serve

At EOU, student leadership is more than a résumé line—it is a voice that helps shape EOU’s future. Conner Fecht, a sophomore pre-nursing major who serves as EOU’s student representative on the Board of Trustees, understands that responsibility. His recent appointment by the Governor to the EOU Board of Trustees helps ensure that the experiences of students are present in decisions that affect every aspect of the university. 

This responsibility and dedication to service is part of a much larger family story for Conner.  His parents, Russell, ’99, and Jennifer, ’99, Fecht, met at EOU while studying education. His older brother, Tim, graduated in 2024 after serving in the student government and studying education. Conner, who grew up in Lovelock, Nevada (pop. 1,823), is now building his own legacy centered on community, service, and the belief that EOU changes lives.

“I like the small community,” Conner said. “You really get to know people here.”

Conner plans to apply to the OHSU–La Grande nursing program. “I find joy in caring for people,” he said. “It’s rewarding.”

For his parents, seeing Conner serve at the highest level of university governance is profoundly meaningful. “As EOU graduates and longtime supporters of the university, watching Conner continue the Mountaineer legacy is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” Russell said.

Jennifer remembers how EOU embraced her after arriving from a high school graduating class of seven. “EOU was more than just a college. It was a community that made me feel at home and prepared me for success.”

That sense of connection shaped her sons’ choices as well. “Watching Conner feel confident to join clubs, participate in student government, and become a resident assistant makes me proud,” she said.

For Conner, rural healthcare is not an abstract issue—it’s personal. “There’s a big shortage of healthcare in rural areas. I want to go where I’m needed.”

That desire reflects a lifelong pattern his parents have witnessed in countless acts of kindness: the teammate he encouraged, the classmate he refused to be left out, the moments he chose compassion without seeking recognition.

 “What stands out most,” Russell said, “is that this isn’t just a career choice for him; it’s a calling.”

Conner’s story is a reminder of why EOU matters. When students are empowered—supported by family, surrounded by community, and given a real voice at the table—they become the kind of leaders who return home, uplift their communities, and carry the Mountaineer spirit forward.