Portland State Magazine Spring 2016

SPRING 2016 pORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 25 WHEN ROSLYN FARRINGTON died in 2014, more than 500 people attended her memorial services. She was 50, a professor in the University’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program and an artist, mentor and community activist. “Roslyn Farrington taught me about self-love, love for community, feminism and gave me opportunities that have moved me toward a better life,” wrote former student Anna Beaty on Roslyn’s Facebook page. “I learned from her more than I can say.” Farrington’s influence still changes lives today. Following her death, her family created a PSU scholarship that students, colleagues and former students helped fund. It provides support for PSU students who intend to use their education in the service of social justice. The Roslyn Farrington Scholarship was awarded for the first time in fall 2015 to Jean-Luc Toku. A native of Togo, West Africa, Toku and his family moved to Portland more than 10 years ago. He graduated from Central Catholic High School and now studies finance and international business at PSU. He hopes to use the skills he learns at PSU to create educational and career opportunities for young people in Togo. “Roslyn would love Jean-Luc,” says Evette Bowens, Farrington’s sister. “He is just the sort of person the scholarship was intended to serve. He’s had some tough times, but kept his thirst for knowledge alive.” TOKU JOINED Farrington’s family, including her mother Anitra Farrington, at PSU’s Annual Scholarship Reception on March 1. The event brought PSU scholarship donors together with the students they support, providing donors with first-hand reports on the impact of their gifts. The Farrington scholarship has given Toku the support he needs to concentrate on his classes and the track team, for which he competes in the long jump and the triple jump. “Receiving this scholarship took a lot of stress off my back and allowed me to focus more on school,” says Toku. “I’m very thankful for that and the relationship I have with the Farrington family. Evie and I text each other and we’ve been talking about getting our families together in the summer.” To find out more about the Roslyn Farrington Scholarship, please visit psuf.org/farrington .  Written by Jyoti Roy, PSU Foundation marketing manager. A lasting legacy Jean-Luc Toku (back row, left) joins four generations of Roslyn Farrington’s family, including her mother, Anitra Farrington (front, third from left), sister Evette Bowens (front, right), eldest niece LaRhonda Farrington (back, right) as well as great-nieces and a great-nephew at PSU’s 2016 Annual Scholarship Reception. Athletics Giving