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Justin Shirley Alumni
Alumni, Class of 2020
Program
Hometown
Medford, OR
Thank you so much! This is great news for me, I REALLY appreciate it!

What program are you in?

I am in the Geomatics program, with a focus on Land Surveying

When will you graduate?

I will graduate in June 2020.

Where is your hometown?

I was born in Spokane Washington, but moved to Medford Oregon in 2011.

What do you love about Oregon Tech or your program?

I love the Geomatics program at Oregon Tech because of the small class sizes and the one-on-one time I can get with my professors. My three professors from the program (Mason Marker, Jack Walker & John Ritter) have been some of my favorite teachers I have ever had while attending school. They have provided me with more than enough tools to succeed in my future career as a Professional Land Surveyor.  One of the reasons why I really enjoy Land Surveying is because of the nice balance of being outside and working in the office, which means I am not stuck behind a desk all day and get to explore outside in the woods. It's nice to be able to work alone in the field, but also collaborate with peers back in the office. 

What are you looking forward to upon graduation?

I am really excited to be moving to Bend, Oregon when I graduate and to start my new career with AKS Engineering. I hope to continue to grow as a professional and eventually move up the ladder to be a Project Manager someday.

How has COVID-19 (coronavirus) impacted you this term?

COVID-19 has made this term extremely difficult for me and my family. My dad has been laid-off from work and he was helping me out with some extra cash to get through this last term. My financial aid has been decreased significantly this term because I am only taking 9 credits in order to graduate. The COVID-19 quarantine circumstances has also made it difficult to try and find a part-time job. With this extra grant money I am receiving, it’s going to get me through these next couple of months. I can comfortably afford groceries and other bills now because of it. I cannot say enough about how much this means to me! It is truly a blessing!

What else should we know about you?

What else to know about me? My hobbies include pretty much anything outdoors; hiking, fishing, camping, but my true passions are skateboarding and snowboarding. I enjoy going to music festivals and reggae concerts, and I enjoy watching sports - Go Blazers and Seahawks! - and I would like to go to more live sporting events in the near future.