SOJC Honors Lifetime Achievement
Land dream job: Check. Produce groundbreaking work: Check. Win awards: Check. Our graduates often achieve illustrious careers as journalists, authors, filmmakers, communication strategists, and media researchers. In 1998, we established the Hall of Achievement to celebrate our century-long legacy and connect students with successful alumni. Meet the best of the best—they all got their start at the SOJC.
Meet the 2019 Inductees
Co-Founder of Ballmer Group, Partners for Our Children, and Blue Meridian Partners
Connie Ballmer’s passion is helping communities rise above poverty. She co-founded Ballmer Group to improve economic mobility for children and families, and her focus on children in foster care led to the creation of the University of Washington’s Partners for Our Children. She’s also a founding investor of Blue Meridian Partners, a funding collaborative to transform the lives of economically disadvantaged youth, as well as a board member of the LA Clippers Foundation. She was awarded the UO Pioneer Award in 2019.
SOJC Faculty 1974–1981 | The Oregonian Managing Editor 1998–2007 | Author, Editor, and Writing Coach
Jack Hart is a key part of the history of Oregon journalism. After spending nine years teaching in the SOJC, including a stint as acting dean, he served as managing editor of The Oregonian for 27 years, as well as a reporter, arts and leisure editor, Sunday magazine editor, and training editor. Today, he’s a writing coach and author of four books.
Corporate Vice President, Communications, Microsoft Corporation
Frank Shaw has spent more than 20 years in the communication industry and has topped the list of Business Insider’s 50 best PR people in tech. At Microsoft, he defines and manages communication strategies worldwide, company-wide storytelling, product public relations, consumer marketing, media and analyst relations, executive communications, employee communications, global agency management, and military affairs.
2019 Eric Allen Outstanding Young Alum
Features Editor, The Seattle Times
A native of Singapore, Stefanie impulsively picked the University of Oregon off a map and enrolled without ever having visited. Two degrees and several newspaper postings later, she is now features editor for The Seattle Times, where she continues to pursue her passions for women’s sports, LGBTQI+ issues, and compelling storytelling.
Hall of Achievement Scholarship Fund
We’re always on the lookout for future Hall of Achievement members. Each year, our generous donors support scholarships for 14 students who have the potential to make an impact in the field.