Linfield University

Four members of The Linfield Review's editorial team won five awards in the 2025 Collegiate News Contest held by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Congratulations to: - Jake Downing '25, photography editor, who earned first and third place in the Best Sports Photo category for OSAA 5A basketball championships and Linfield football v. Lewis and Clark. - Amelia Solt '26, sports editor, who earned first place in the Best Sports Writing category for "NBA veteran CJ McCollum made his Linfield debut." - Mariah Johnston '25, managing editor, who earned third place in the Best Feature Writing category for "Nail Check: Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Connection." - Kenny McMillen '26, staff writer, who earned third place in the Best Columnist category for "Leaf Blowers Harming Students."

Five Linfield University students competed on a national stage at the National Forensic Association's National Championship Tournament in Detroit, Michigan, April 17-21. They entered the speech and debate tournament against hundreds of other university competitors, after qualifying for the competition by ranking at the top of regional tournaments in their respective speech events.

Sixteen student members of the Linfield University Latinx Adelante (LULA), a student organization that seeks to educate and share awareness about cultural diversity in South and Central America, attended the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) Feb. 16-19, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. This national event seeks to promote education and leadership development and empower Latinos and others through civic engagement and research. The USHLI is a member of the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda. "This conference is a reminder that representation matters. It's an invaluable opportunity for Latinx students to learn from policy makers, community organizers, industry leaders, activists, educators and changemakers who look like them, who speak the language and who know the struggle," said Abby Thomas, director of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Linfield. "Students get to see themselves in positions of power and learn how they use this to empower others. The USHLI is a reminder of the incredible impact higher education can have on your family, your community and beyond." During the conference, students attended various workshops and forums on topics that included leadership development, career opportunities, power and influence, and upward mobility. Featured speakers and panelists were Melody Gonzales, executive director for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics; Sol A. Ortega, senior advisor for public engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement; Celeste Carrasco, director of public affairs from AT&T, Inc.; Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, the consul general of Mexico in Chicago; and Robert Santos, director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Leading up to the USHLI, students participated in professional development workshops organized by Linfield's Office of Career Development and hosted fundraising events to pay for the cost of the trip. More information on LULA is online at https://www.linfield.edu/life-at-linfield/inclusion/campus-engagement/lula.html.