Scholarship Applications
Application for the Wayne Morse Legacy Scholarship is made through the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC). The Legacy Scholarship was created to recognize and help support an Oregon student who seeks access to higher education and may be inspired by Senator Morse’s legacies of public service, integrity, fierce independence, and commitment to principle. It takes into consideration an applicant’s academics, community service, and individual achievements.
In addition to the submissions requested by OSAC, the Wayne Morse Legacy Scholarship requires applicants to provide a personal essay, not to exceed 500 words, examining ways in which principles espoused by Senator Morse are reflected in the applicant’s past actions and/or plans for the future.
Watch a short video of Senator Morse’s passionate defense of his core belief, his faith in the role of the people in the democratic process and decision making, via the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics website (coming soon). This particular video clip shows Morse questioning the constitutionality of the Vietnam War.
Read excerpts from some of Wayne Morse’s speeches by clicking on this PDF link (4 pages/135k).
Read excerpts from some of Wayne Morse’s memorial tributes by clicking on this PDF link (4 pages/79k).
Read a brief biography of Senator Morse by clicking on this PDF link (22 pages/325k).
Visit our links page to find additional resources about Wayne Morse.
MORSE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Wayne Morse Legacy Scholarship Recipients
Legacy Scholarship recipients have attended Portland State, Oregon State, the University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, and Lane and Portland Community Colleges. Among them are those who were first in their families to attend college as well as nontraditional and marginalized students who overcame a variety of challenges before entering college. They were active in their communities and on campus, often taking leadership roles, while maintaining outstanding academic records. They have pursued studies in sociology, social work, nursing, education, psychology, environmental science and soil science, cultural anthropology, special education behavior management, as well as fisheries and wildlife science.
Each fall, WMHPC honors the Legacy Scholarship recipients and their families along with past recipients at a Board Meeting. We have been inspired by their determination to seek higher education, their leadership and public service skills and their commitment to integrity and principle. They carry forward Wayne Morse’s charge to “open the widest door of education to all who have the… capacity to step over that threshold.”
Alex and Zidane, 2023 Wayne Morse Legacy Scholarship recipients
Alex Clarke and Zidane Indarta – 2023
Alex Clarke of Tigard, Oregon, has started classes at Portland Community College, with interests in environmental studies, plant science and forestry.
Zidane Indarta of Portland, Oregon, has started classes at Lewis & Clark College with interests in international affairs and law.
Alex and Zidane each received a $2,000 scholarship to help launch their college careers. In separate thank you notes, each similarly expressed their gratitude for our belief in them and the inspiration gained from the Senator’s example. The Board hosted a scholarship reception on Sunday, October 8, at The Family Farm.
Alex Clarke: Profile of Success
Alex graduated from Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon in 2023 with a 3.97 GPA. Along with her academic achievements, Alex’s school activities included Model United Nations Club, Sustainability Club, lacrosse and ice hockey. Alex’s passion for hockey began at about seven years old when she realized racing on the ice more than figure skating. In high school she was the travel team captain of her ice hockey team, an Ambassador for Oregon Girls Hockey and selected by USA Hockey to represent Oregon. Covid cut seasons short and moved learning to virtual classrooms but Alex made it all work. Her whole family is very musical and Alex began playing the piano in the ninth grade. Piano didn’t come easily but she now plays daily for enjoyment. Her fraternal twin Amber is also starting college and hopes to be a music teacher. Alex decided to begin her post-secondary learning at Portland Community College to explore different pathways related to the environment and sustainability. She’ll transfer to a university in a couple years with a focus on earning a forestry degree. In her essay Alex argued that trees are a necessary resource for society and we need to replant trees with conservation and sustainability as moral imperatives.
Zidane Indarta: Profile of Success
Zidane (Zee) graduated from Cleveland High School in Portland, Oregon with a 3.47 GPA. Throughout high school he was a multisport athlete and a leader in several school organizations. He was the outreach coordinator for the Asian American Pacific Islander Club and a nature hike leader for BIPOC youth through the NAACP Environmental Justice Program. When Zidane was in third grade, his family moved to the US from Indonesia. From his struggles to read and write in English and being Asian and Muslim in a mostly White school, Zee said he’s learned to be resilient, adaptable and compassionate. He has started his freshman year at Lewis & Clark College with interests in international affairs and pre-law. He played JV and varsity soccer in high school and was recruited to play on the men’s soccer team at Lewis & Clark. Playing college-level soccer was one of his long-term goals and he’s delighted both academic and athletic goals came together in one place. It was also important to find a college where he could build a sense of community, continue volunteer activities, and maintain what Zee called Senator Morse’s “learning mentality.”
Cassandra Wilson and Evelyn Peter – 2022
Cassandra, from Boring, Oregon, earned an Associate degree from Mt. Hood Community College and currently is a junior focusing on liberal studies at Portland State University. She aims to become a climate and social justice advocate, representing her “community and the myriad of other unrepresented marginalized folks.” She seeks to follow Senator Morse’s example of staying true to one’s values and doing what’s best regardless of how it impacts a potential public service or political career.
Cassandra has a strong commitment to public service, serving on numerous advisory committees in Clackamas County which address accessibility, climate, traffic, diversity and emergency preparedness. “I am often the youngest or only disabled person in a room and I take seriously the influence my perspective has on the future of my community.”
Evelyn Peter – 2022
Evelyn, from Beaverton, Oregon, is a freshman at the University of Oregon pursuing a degree in business administration with a minor in public health. She aims to “attend law school, and further represent and protect women, youth and people of color.”
Evelyn is a strong advocate for safe sexual healthcare for youth and women. Within her community, she has served as a volunteer resource and peer teacher for accurate information about sexual and reproductive healthcare which she considers “a means of achieving equity and justice.” She sees herself as “continually advocating and educating” as Senator Morse did.
Carolina Regalado Murillo – 2021
Carolina is in a 26-month Master’s Program for Physician Assistant Certification at OHSU. She grew up in White City, Oregon and attended Eagle Point High School. She has experience with traveling clinics for the farm workers’ community in which a bus travels to farms to provide dental, primary care, vision exams and free glasses. She plans to return to White City, Phoenix, Medford, and Harry and David’s to provide medical services to farm workers. She’s also in a special program to be certified to provide ultrasounds for these clinics.
Kiturah Cloud – 2021
Kiturah is a 3-year Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at Pacific University in Forest Grove. She grew up in Madras, Oregon and attended Culver High School. During college, she volunteered at a horse barn. She plans to work at a HIPPO, Horse and OT facility, helping people to prepare for an occupation or independent living. Kitruah hopes to work at a HIPPO in Bend, a new facility in Redmond, or open her own practice.
Marianne Mahoney – 2020
Marianne Mahoney graduated from Beaverton High School, attended Lane Community College and is pursuing an Environmental Science/Soil Science degree. She hopes to move on to Oregon State University, add a minor in Ethnic Studies, and continue to learn about bioremediation and environmental racism. Her ultimate goal is to work in Oregon State Soil and Water Conservation Departments as an Environmental Conservation Scientist. “Helping others has been my North Star as I navigate my life. I am trying hard to lift myself up out of poverty, so I can continue lifting up those around me as well.”
Jennifer Hasbrouck and Jamie Allen – 2019
Jennifer Hasbrouck is working on a Master’s degree in Special Education Behavior Management at Western Oregon University. In addition to her studies, she is a mother and activist. Jennifer worked on development of Oregon House Bill 3067 which provides safe child care and family support when families must attend court affiliated appointments, public service appointments, an or are in need of respite care during times of crisis.
Jamie Allen attends Oregon State University, working on a BS in Cultural Anthropology. She is a mother, an activist and a member of the Cherokee tribe. In addition to her coursework, she has been studying Tsalagi, her native language.
Jazmin Tinsley – 2018
Jazmin graduated from Portland State University with a Masters of Social Work, with a Clinical, Youth and Family focus. Shortly thereafter, she was hired as a developing therapist and is now working towards her Clinical Social Worker Licensure. Jazmin grew up near the Morse farm and graduated from South Eugene High School. She earlier attended Portland and Lane Community Colleges and graduated from the University of Oregon, with majors in Family and Human Services and Planning, Public Policy and Management. She continues to serve as Board President for the Casa Xalteva which helps youth in Nicaragua.
Sunshine Navarro – 2017
Sunshine was raised in rural Junction City with her parents and grandparents. Growing up in poverty and sometimes being homeless influenced her to work hard and succeed. She established the Green Club at Sheldon High School. She earned an Associate Degree from Lane Community College and attended the University of Oregon, studying Psychology. Sunshine hopes to become an Occupational Therapist. She volunteers for Friends of Trees and is thinking of starting a nonprofit for cooperative living in Eugene.
Shianne Walker – 2016
Raised in Eastern Oregon and a member of the Klamath Tribe, Shianne attended Lane Community College before transferring to University of Oregon. At the UO, she majored in Ethic Studies with a Native American Studies minor and graduated with honors. Currently she is continuing studies at the UO, working on a PhD in Critical Sociocultural Studies in Education and focusing on issues of equity in our educational system. In addition to her studies, Shianne serves as Assistant Longhouse Steward at Lane Community College.
Tony Vezina – 2015
When Tony received his scholarship, he was finishing his term as Student Body President at Portland Community College. While at PCC, he worked to place an Ex Officio Student on the PCC Board of Directors and received a Diversity Award for student advocacy. He is a Certified Recovery Mentor and Peer Recovery Counselor and pursued a Bachelors of Social Work at Concordia University. Tony was a co-founder of 4D Recovery (4th Dimension Recovery) and currently serves as its Executive Director. Under Tony’s leadership, 4D has established recovery centers, helping hundreds of young people recover from addiction. He serves on the Boards of Directors for the Oregon Recovery High School Initiative and for Oregon Recovers. He is a member of the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission.
Merriam Weatherhead – 2014
A Sociology major at University of Oregon, Merriam held leadership roles in student government at Churchill High School and Lane Community College. In 2016, she helped lead the Oregon Students Association voter registration campaign that registered over 45,000 students including an unprecedented 6,500 at LCC. Currently Merriam was last working on a real estate license, while volunteering with local animal rescue groups.
Dylan McDowell – 2013
A Yachats native, Dylan’s civic involvement began on the local Youth Council. He graduated summa cum laude from Oregon State University with Honors degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Education. Following graduation, Dylan worked in Washington, D.C., where he was Program Director at the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. Now residing in Oregon, he works remotely from Salem as Deputy Director of the NCEL.
Dylan chairs the City of Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and serves on Salem’s Climate Action Task force. In 2020, he was chosen as one of 25 fellows to take part in the Blue Pioneers Program Accelerator, a non-degree program through UC Santa Cruz for leaders working on ocean conservation issues. He serves on the Advisory Council for the Emerging Leaders Program at the Center for Jackson Hole’s SHIFT Conference.
Mary Gross – 2012
Mary grew up in Pleasant Hill and studied nursing at Lane Community College. When her original plan to become a doctor was thwarted by a medical condition, her strong commitment to education caused her to find a different path to a career in health care: earning an associate degree in nursing, completing a BS in Nursing from OHSU, and becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
Julie Mertes – 2011
Julie, our inaugural scholarship recipient, was a second year graduate student in social work at Portland State University when she was awarded the scholarship. A high school dropout who earned her secondary education diploma nearly a decade later, she graduated magna cum laude from PSU and finished her Masters of Social Work in 2012. Later she interned with Volunteers in America Oregon and worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Portland Men’s Residential Center.
Currently a counselor/social worker in Salem, Julie continues to use her education and hard won knowledge of personal behavioral transformation to help others overcome the kinds of problems and barriers she herself faced. She supervises students who never cease to make her proud and have gone on to do amazing work in our communities.
