Sarah + Ethan Alton

What years were you a student at OSU?

Sarah: 2010 - 2014

Ethan: 2010-2014

What year(s) were you a member/participant of the Newman center at OSU?

Sarah: 2010-2014

Ethan: 2012-2014

What did you major in at OSU?

Sarah: Civil Engineering

Ethan: Civil Engineering

Where do you work now? What is your current job title/role?

Sarah: Tualatin Valley Water District - Engineering Associate

Ethan: Structural Engineer

What have you done since graduating and leaving the Newman center? What's going on in your life now?

Sarah: After graduating OSU, Ethan and I got married and moved to Tigard, OR. We both started our careers in engineering. We later bought a house and moved to Beaverton. We have been keeping busy with our son, Benjamin, who was born in 2018. And, with our pets, Gus & Barley.

What were the most memorable retreats/experiences/events from your time at the Newman Center and why?

Sarah: My favorite experience at the Newman Center was the Thursday student mass. It was a great time to quiet the week and refocus on God.

Ethan: Participating in Fragua, both as a participant and a leader. These courses and the retreats facilitated major steps in my spiritual growth and helped me participate in a ministry for the first time.

Has anything you gained or learned from the Newman center helped or benefited you in life now? If so, how has it helped?

Sarah: Learning to worship and study faith in a small group. We have been able to continue this on in our life and it's been such a great blessing.

Ethan: It gave me the first solid foundation of faith. I was relatively apathetic in my faith right up the the end of high school. Newman hit my life at the right time to help me establish a strong and lasting love of God. 

Do you have an important memory, special spiritual moment, or funny story from your time at OSU Newman center to share?

Sarah: A funny memory for me was when Fr. Teo was a seminarian and he told us in one of his talks to get a bazooka to shoot the pagans with. I think it was in respect to the New Evangelization... But it was still memorable.

Another great memory was when Fr. Ivan came to visit (before he came back to Corvallis), and had an impromptu discussion about creating Christendom. 

Ethan: One time Teo had us watch the Key and Peele sketch "Intercity Substitute Teacher" at the Newman Center. We got part way through and Teo left. Shortly after Fr. Ignacio walks in right as some adult language is used in the video. We had assumed the video was safe because Teo told us to watch it. He set us up!

What is one piece of advice would you give current OSU Newman college students?

Sarah: Don't be afraid to love your faith out loud. The friendships you form at the Newman Center are strong and you have a great support system here.

Ethan: Have a plan to maintain a faith community after college. Newman provides such great support that it can be a shock stepping out of that environment. Know what other people from Newman are in your area, and get involved with your churches ministries right away. If you try to wait until you feel settled in, you'll never do it.