Pokes am Pazifik: Support OSU German Students at the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik

The Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik (DSaP) at Portland State University is an intensive 5-week summer program in literature, theater, culture, and language for students with at least two years of college German (or the equivalent) who wish to advance their proficiency and knowledge of German-speaking Europe in an immersive setting. Collaboration with programs like the DSaP maximize OSU’s German offerings with a small faculty. In practice, student participation at destination immersion programs consistently expand enrollment at the home institution, meaning that sending OSU students to the DSaP in summer 2026 will increase the number of majors and minors in Stillwater.

Last year, three OSU German students developed the advanced skills needed for graduate school and professional opportunities in their fields through their participation in the DSaP. Mechanical Engineering and German major Hannelore Copland prepared for the B2 Goethe Certification exam, explored the life and writings of Thomas Mann, and performed in a full two-hour original production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. OSU History, Marketing, and German major Sylvie Steinhausler and Aerospace Engineering major and German minor Hunter Garrett remotely attended a hybrid seminar, where they not only developed translation skills, but also learned about the life and works of suppressed Austrian Jewish composer Herbert Zipper and co-produced the first English transcriptions and translations of two manuscripts from the Herbert & Trudl Zipper Archives Collection.

The theme of the 2026 DSaP will be Im Wald (in the forest) and will feature language courses, seminars, a scholarly guest lecture series, a theater workshop, a community choir, excursions across OR, all centered around the theme. Prof. Dr. Rebecca Stewart-Gray, head of the OSU German section, will serve as interim resident co-director and instructor of the theater workshop in summer 2026.We are seeking funds to help make this life-changing academic, personal, and professional development experience possible for a cohort of OSU German majors and minors in summer 2026. 

Room and board for one student includes a shared room in a student dormitory at Portland State University, all meals, and access to the Campus Recreation Center. The anticipated room and board costs for one student in summer 2026 are $3,692.00. We aim to raise $7,384.00 to (a) fully fund the cost of room and board for two OSU students or (b) fully fund the cost of room and board for one OSU student and provide 50% room and board support for an additional two OSU students.