RPA Hosts Southern Oregon University
Left to right across the top: Standing: Seniors Aaron Affeldt, Liam Windhamsmith, Ryder Byrnes, Benjamin Barrie, Shayla Jayne, Fay Short, Sierra Confer and Kayden Holt, Lower level: Seniors Raegan Merritt, Abigail Busch, Isabella Ogborn, Lily Buchheit, Gabriela Hernandez-Cruz. SOU Staff/RPA Staff standing from left to right: Zac Olson – Director of Admission, Dr. Rick Bailey – University President, RPA Executive Director Dr. Jon Bullock. SOU staff second row: Miranda Stiles – Assistant Director of Admission Communications
On Friday, Oct. 28, Redmond Proficiency Academy (RPA) hosted Southern Oregon University (SOU) for an engaging day of informational sessions, demonstrations, workshops, tours and much more.
Called SOU Day at RPA, the two schools are working together with the goal of promoting college attendance and providing timely enrollment guidance for the Class of 2023 and beyond. Twenty SOU staff were on campus all day participating in special events and offered on-the-spot acceptance to RPA students who applied and met the qualifications – known as “Raider on the Spot.”
Students learning from SOU faculty.
Some highlights from the day include:
- 13 seniors participated in the “Raider on the Spot” admission workshop where SOU staff helped students complete applications, review transcripts, and were able to admit all 13 students.
- RPA Theatre students were able to learn from Assistant Professor of Theatre Performance-Movement Brendan McMahon during one of his theatre movement workshops. RPA Theatre Director Kate Torcom called McMahon’s workshop “wildly captivating,” and explained how the verbiage he used made concepts accessible for all students involved.
- SOU staff took in the opening night performance of RPA’s production of James and the Giant Peach.
- RPA music students performed a tiny elevator concerting during lunch to welcome the SOU guests. The concert featured a mix of originals and covers from all grade levels. Students from Songwriting and Production promoted, organized, ran sound and performed the entire concert. They also took in a presentation on the music industry and production with SOU’s Dr. Keller.
- SOU’s Dr. Rhett Bender worked with RPA’s “Herd of Funk” students on instrumental improvisation and music theory during the second presentation slot, also leading a jam session with students.
“I was amazed that 20 professors and chairs of various departments took the time to come to RPA for the day,” said Sandy Cloud, RPA’s Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator. “The sessions they taught were outstanding – they really spoke from a student perspective and gave them hands-on opportunities to engage with ideas. It was like RPA but at a college level.”
Students learning from SOU faculty.
