EUGENE–After 18-year-old McKenzie Wood graduated from Salem’s Sprague High School last spring, she wasn’t certain what she would study, but she did know that Oregon’s largest single private employer would be supporting her college studies.

Wood, a freshman this year at the University of Oregon, is one of 18 students from the Class of 2000 who received a college scholarship from the Oregon Statewide College of Engineering and Computer Science, sponsored by the Intel Corp. She is the daughter of Charles and Mary Cheek,
5897 Flairstone Court S.E., Salem.

All Intel scholars received $2,500 per year, renewable for four years, to major in engineering, computer science or computer-related technical fields. Wood aims for a computer animation career.

Although she still hasn’t declared an official major, she is definitely enjoying all that the university has to offer. She has been accepted into the Robert D. Clark Honors College, an honor that is not easy to achieve. Only 150 of the 600—700 applications received each year are selected for the small liberal arts college within the university.

In Eugene, Wood is living in the residence halls and taking classes in history, religion, literature and Italian to fulfill general graduation requirements. She even has found time to take a dance class and play intramural volleyball, just for fun.

"It is just my style," she says, referring to the university. "I like everything about it–the classroom techniques, the fact that it is not just a lot of busy work. Some of it has been challenging, but I’ve liked it a lot. I am learning a lot."

As part of the Intel grant, Wood and the other scholarship winners will have the opportunity to spend the summers between their freshman and sophomore years working with faculty as undergraduate research interns. They also will then be eligible for internships at Intel.

Wood hasn’t made any concrete decisions about this summer but she is planning to have some kind of internship or hands-on experience.

In addition to the Intel scholarship, Wood received several other awards college scholarships, including one of the University of Oregon’s Presidential Scholar awards.

While at Sprague, Wood was the Associated Student Body president, participated in peer mentoring and was involved with organizations such as Youth Legislature, the Oregon Association of Student Councils and STARS (Students Today Aren’t Ready for Sex). She also played volleyball and softball for the Olympians.

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