蓝莓视频

Sophomore Conner Fecht carries a family legacy forward at EOU

Sophomore Conner Fecht carries a family legacy forward at EOU

Sophomore pre-nursing major Conner Fecht is the newest student voice on 蓝莓视频鈥檚 (EOU) Board of Trustees. From his seat at the table, he brings his own perspective as a rural student preparing for a career in health care, along with the story of a family deeply rooted in EOU鈥檚 traditions of service and community.

Conner鈥檚 parents, Russell 鈥�99 and Jennifer 鈥�99 Fecht, both studied education at EOU. His older brother, Tim, graduated in 2024 after serving in the student government. Now, the Lovelock, Nevada native, is writing the next chapter of that Mountaineer story.

鈥淚 like the small community,鈥� Conner said. 鈥淵ou really get to know people here.鈥�

Conner is aiming for the OHSU-La Grande Bachelor of Science in Nursing program based on EOU鈥檚 campus. He plans to apply this winter.

鈥淚 find joy in caring for people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding.鈥�

A family of Mountaineers

For his parents, watching their youngest son step into leadership at their alma mater is powerful.

鈥淎s EOU graduates and longtime supporters of the university, watching Conner continue the Mountaineer legacy is both humbling and deeply meaningful,鈥� Russell Fecht said. 鈥淗is service on the Board of Trustees is something we never could have imagined when we first set foot on campus years ago.鈥�

Conner鈥檚 mom, Jennifer Fecht, remembers arriving at Eastern from Long Creek, Oregon, where her high school graduating class had just seven students.

鈥淭ransitioning to 蓝莓视频 was a smooth experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he professors recognized me by name, and I could easily reach out to any of them for help when needed. EOU was more than just a college. It was a community that made me feel at home and prepared me for success.鈥�

That sense of connection has lasted. When the Fechts return to campus to support their sons, they still run into professors who remember them.

鈥淭hat says everything about the kind of institution EOU was and continues to be,鈥� Russell said.

When it came time for Tim and Connor to choose a college, Jennifer tried not to steer them.

鈥淚 made a conscious effort not to pressure them into attending EOU and let them make their own decisions,鈥� she said. 鈥淥f course, I was delighted when they both chose EOU because I knew they could thrive and participate in as many activities as they wanted. Watching Conner feel confident to join clubs, participate in student government, and become an RA makes me proud that he is living his college life to the fullest.鈥�

A student voice at the table

On campus, Conner鈥檚 involvement runs deep. He serves as a student representative on EOU鈥檚 Board of Trustees, a significant commitment for a second-year student, and as a justice with the ASEOU student government. He applied for the trustee position as soon as he heard about the opportunity.

鈥淚 was interested in the inner workings of the university,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 get it, but I wanted to help, offer a student perspective.鈥�

That perspective felt urgent at his first board meeting.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very complicated, every component of it,鈥� he said, reflecting on the challenges facing higher education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sad to see the numbers going down,鈥� he said of national enrollment trends. 鈥淚 just want to help.鈥�

His parents see this as a natural extension of what he has seen at home.

鈥淐onner鈥檚 service on the Board of Trustees has shown me that he is interested in staying informed about educational issues,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淗aving grown up observing his parents and brother, who are educators, he is very aware of various education issues. He pays close attention to details and considers both sides before making decisions. These traits will certainly benefit his career in rural health and emphasize the importance of community service.鈥�

Shaped by rural roots

Conner grew up in Lovelock, Nevada, a town of about 1,600 people, roughly 75 minutes from Reno. On his mom鈥檚 side, his family is from near Long Creek, Oregon, and their ranch is just over an hour from La Grande, another tie that makes EOU feel like home.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a big shortage of health care in rural areas,鈥� Conner said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also the community. Everyone looks after each other. I want to be a primary care provider in rural areas, go where I鈥檓 needed.鈥�

His parents say that the desire to 鈥済o where he鈥檚 needed鈥� has been there all along.

鈥淲e鈥檝e always seen in Conner a strong sense of purpose and empathy,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淭he fact that he wants to return to rural communities, places that often struggle to attract and retain health care professionals, speaks volumes about who he is.鈥�

Growing up in a small town, Jennifer said, taught him that giving back is essential.

鈥淗e learned that when everyone works together toward a common goal, the result is often positive,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith this mindset, Conner recognized that volunteering would be an important part of his life. He has dedicated his time to the local recycling center, participated in his church鈥檚 events, and assisted the local Lions Club whenever needed. With his kind heart and willingness to help, Conner would fit in perfectly within a rural community. A community would benefit just as much from him as he would from the connections he would form there.鈥�

Russell sees Conner鈥檚 career path as more than a job.

鈥淲hat stands out most is that this isn鈥檛 just a career choice for him; it鈥檚 a calling,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e wants to be the kind of person who shows up where he can make the most difference.鈥�

Quiet, steady leadership

Day to day, EOU鈥檚 small-school advantages are already shaping Conner鈥檚 education.

鈥淭he class sizes make a difference,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 really get to know my professors.鈥�

Even the largest courses feel manageable. Anatomy started with more than 100 students and 鈥渄windled down,鈥� while most of his classes now hover around 20. The relationships, he said, help him learn and keep him moving toward his goals.

His parents see the same quiet leadership they watched grow during his high school years.

One defining moment came when Conner was recognized as a Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Top Ten Student Athlete for the entire state of Nevada.

鈥淭hat award wasn鈥檛 just about grades or athletic ability; it reflected his leadership, character and sportsmanship across three different sports,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淐onner has always led by example. He worked hard, treated others with respect and inspired his teammates simply by the way he carried himself.鈥�

They still remember a comment from a parent who is also a teacher in their school district. That parent told them that Conner exemplified what he wished every Mustang would strive to become, and that his own son looked up to Connor.

鈥淗earing that as parents was incredibly meaningful,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淚t showed us that Conner鈥檚 influence went far beyond his own achievements; he was making the people around him better.鈥�

Jennifer points to another story that captures who her son is.

鈥淐onner is the kindest person I know,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e has always been incredibly aware of others and their feelings.鈥�

During his early high school years, a classmate invited the entire class to a party. When Conner realized very few people planned to attend, he quietly gathered his closest friends. He convinced them to go, bought a gift card, candy, and a card for everyone to sign, and showed up.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 find out about it until afterward, when we learned that they were the only ones who attended,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淭his story perfectly captures who Conner is. He consistently includes those around him, goes out of his way to make others feel welcome, and befriends everyone.鈥�

鈥淭hat quiet, steady leadership,鈥� Russell added, 鈥渋s the same quality we see now at EOU, whether he鈥檚 serving fellow students as an RA, pursuing nursing, or representing the entire student body on the Board of Trustees. It reflects who he genuinely is at his core.鈥�

Looking ahead: 鈥楪et yourself out there.鈥�

Conner is realistic about the competitiveness of nursing. If he鈥檚 accepted to the OHSU-La Grande program next fall, he鈥檒l transition to OHSU enrollment while taking classes on EOU鈥檚 campus and finish a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After that, he hopes to earn a master鈥檚 degree and become a family nurse practitioner serving rural communities.

Would he recommend EOU to other students, whether they鈥檙e into nursing, English or theater?

鈥淵eah,鈥� he said confidently, noting he鈥檚 already recruiting friends from home. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good fit for people who don鈥檛 want a huge campus.鈥�

His advice to classmates is equally direct:

鈥淕et yourself out there. Be involved as much as you can while you鈥檙e here.鈥�

For the Fecht family, that mindset feels like the perfect expression of what it means to be a Mountaineer: show up, serve others, and make the most of every opportunity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the kind of leadership that runs in the family,鈥� Russell said.

For Conner Fecht, carrying on a legacy isn鈥檛 about following a script. It鈥檚 about going where he鈥檚 needed and making sure the communities that shaped his family continue to have the opportunities and the care they deserve.