Sparks honored with OSU’s top award for excellence

Kelly Sparks was recognized Tuesday with Oregon State University’s Beaver Champion Award for her leadership in building OSU-Cascades’ campus in Bend.

The Beaver Champion Award is Oregon State’s President’s award, which recognizes an individual or individuals who continually demonstrate outstanding effort and achievement of excellence, extra effort beyond that requested, and performance of the highest quality.

Sparks, associate vice president for finance and strategic planning at OSU-Cascades, has focused on the university’s long-range strategic planning, physical infrastructure and financial health.

“Kelly’s dedication, vision and leadership have been critical to building a four-year campus in Bend, and we are all grateful for her contribution to Central Oregon,” said OSU-Cascades Vice President Becky Johnson.

Sparks established a process for creating the campus’ long-range development plan, gathering input and feedback from the community, students, faculty and staff. Over 30 meetings and workshops were held, involving 1,500 attendees.

Feedback from the process shaped the final plan, including goals for the percentage of students living on or adjacent to campus, types of community amenities and ideas for student and community engagement.

The master plan ultimately gained approval from the Bend City Council without objection.

Sparks was one of three recipients of the Beaver Champion Award and the only one from OSU-Cascades. Marianne Vydra, OSU’s deputy athletic director of administration, and Bruce Mate, endowed professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and director of OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, were also recognized.