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UO Ties to Family Past, Family Future
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The Nickersons
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It was in 1941 when the first Nickerson, or soon-to-be Nickerson, appeared in Eugene and began work at the University Press. Four years later, Nadine Petersen met a sailor on campus named Lewis Nickerson (Political Science ’50).
Nadine and Lewis married and had five children, all of whom would graduate from the University of Oregon over the next forty years: Carl Nickerson ’76; Lissa Nickerson-Cooley ’76; Peter Nickerson ’79; Dane Nickerson ’81; and, the last of Nick and Nadine’s children, Dena Nickerson, graduated in the class of 1990 with a sociology degree. But the story does not end there.
In 2002, Nicole Nickerson became the first grandchild to graduate from the University of Oregon, with degrees in International Studies and French—and waiting in the wings are nine other grandchildren who might well be Ducks.
Together the Nickerson’s span sixty plus years worth of University of Oregon history. “Each of us has stories and experiences we can share about our time at Oregon,” says Dane Nickerson, “and there are more yet to come.”
At the 2003 commencement ceremony, student body president Rachel Pilliod spoke about the quiet influence of her grandmother Flora Hill (English, ’45):
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Flora Hill and Rachel Pilliod
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In her life she has traveled to nearly every continent, raised seven children, helped to raise eighteen grandchildren, volunteered at countless organizations, earned her masters in education, healed the ailments of numerous bruises, broken bones and broken hearts, learned Hawaiian and Tahitian dances, joined the choir of nearly every church in which she has been a member, provided food for enough to create an army, never turned away a hand in need…
Pilliod herself won’t graduate until 2004, after which time she plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health, but she is already dedicating her knowledge, talent and time with a sense of “the responsibility owed to society for the gifts and opportunities received.”
Pilliod has represented Oregon students as a spokesperson at the State Board of Higher Education meetings, helped increase voter registration among students, and worked with the UO administration to develop a planned response to Measure 28.
Off campus, Pilliod is corporate secretary of the United States Student Association (USSA), based in Washington, D.C. and a volunteer with the Oregon Bus Project and Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene.
Flora Hill set an example of following one’s passion; now, her granddaughter passes along that message.
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1245 University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • 97403-1245
(541) 346.3950 • FAX (541) 346.3282 • alumnidev@cas.uoregon.edu
Copyright © 2003 University of Oregon
Updated October 3, 2003
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