Our students’ work

A plant that has had prison time attached to its name for decades has the potential to treat cancer and Parkinson’s disease. It could be used to build and insulate houses. It could replace hops to flavor beer. Many believe newly legalized hemp could be revolutionary, and Oregon scientists want to be at the forefront.

Four million empty cans tower over Dave Takush. Easy Squeezy, Pacific Pineapple, Made Marion: the fruits of his labor from the past nine years. 2 Towns Ciderhouse entered the cider industry at just the right time, launching in a two-car garage in 2010 and growing into Oregon’s largest producer of craft cider. The Corvallis cidery’s ascension

Tricia Salcido had a confession to make on a recent afternoon: She brought a single-use coffee cup to work. Salcido owns Softstar Shoes, a handmade leather shoemaker that is one of Oregon’s greenest footwear businesses. She said her 32 employees would never carry in a single-use cup. “No way,” she said. Softstar, located in Philomath,

Sydelle Harrison visits the Pendleton Woolen Mills almost every time she goes home. As a clothing designer, she is constantly looking for new blankets and patterns to make her sought-after jackets, cowls and bags. For Harrison, who is Yakama and grew up on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the mill isn’t just

On a Wednesday morning after an early shift at Starbucks, Connor Laurion spotted his bus pulling into the downtown Corvallis transit center. He walked aboard — and continued right past the fare box, which is covered with a black bag. Corvallis stopped collecting fares on buses in 2011, joining a small number of U.S. cities

Briley Knight‘s senior class donned caps and gowns at the Crescent Valley High School gym for graduation day in early June. Meanwhile, Knight wore a different kind of cap and uniform more than 300 miles away in Walla Walla, Washington, taking the field for the Corvallis Knights baseball team. Knight, 19, went on a five-game

Five men trekked through the forest on Marys Peak. They slipped on moist dirt and loose sticks. Dappled sunlight reflected off leaves on the ground, giving everything a green hue. When they heard water, they sought the source. They found their waterfall. They want to name the creek that feeds the waterfall after a tribe

A resurrected elf journeys through an ancient land with one mission in mind: helping Kira Nesser pay her way through school. He explores dungeons. He unearths lost treasures. He tames wild horses. His name is Link. His quest is steered by Nesser, an Oregon State University junior who controls him as she plays “The Legend

Jakob Eisenbeiss could see the roaring flames from four blocks away. He heard the cries of concerned neighbors as the flames consumed the house beside theirs, wondering if their home would be next. But Eisenbeiss could not afford to get distracted. He had a job to do. With his lieutenant at his side, he got

Hiring managers at Burger King refused to take a risk on Holly King. She realized her history of drug use overshadowed her qualifications and sobriety, she said. “What is the point?” King, 35, said. “I’m trying to be successful, and nobody wants to give me a chance.” That was, until JC’s Cafe did. The cafe

Dr. Jean Hall knows animal nutrition inside and out. She hears many misconceptions from pet owners about what their dog or cat should be eating. Sometimes the comments come from strangers on airplanes who catch a glimpse of her work. “They’re telling me their opinions,” she said, “so it’s difficult for me to convince them

A huge steel vat of churning curds and whey sits in the center of a stark white room. Tall cooling tanks hum quietly. Nearby, factory workers in long, white lab coats and hair nets slosh across the wet floor in tall boots. Elsewhere in the factory, another worker stands over a red strainer crumbling soft