Why I Give: Teresa Squires Osborne
by Andrea Olson
June 11, 2026
“A scholarship for aspiring teachers felt like the right way to honor my dad and the work both my parents believed in.” –Teresa Squires Osborne
A Legacy of Giving
For Alum Teresa Squires Osborne, giving is not a single act. It is a way of life shaped across generations, grounded in education, and carried forward through a deeply personal commitment to future students.
“My parents and grandparents taught us the value of giving the gift of time, of volunteering to be engaged in the world, and helping where we could,” Teresa says. “Whether coaching kids, leading a Camp Fire group, donating blood, or volunteering for the local historical society, they all contributed to the value of time and energy.”
That lesson was paired with another. Teresa’s mother, Marie Squires, showed her what it means to give financially in a way that creates lasting opportunity.
Rooted in Education and Community
Her parents’ story is rooted in the University of Oregon. Her father, Skip Squires, graduated from the University of Oregon in 1958 and spent his career teaching social studies at Reynolds High School, in Gresham, Oregon. As a student, he served as the Duck mascot during during the 1957 and 1958 football seasons, traveling with the team to the Rose Bowl and marching in the Rose Parade. Her mother earned her degree in art education from the University of Oregon. The two first met on campus in the Spring of 1958. Their connection was immediate. They were pinned three weeks later and engaged the following week. Together, Teresa’s parents lived a life deeply committed to their community and to the power of education.
That shared commitment shaped Teresa’s own path. She followed in their footsteps, earning a BA in history and political science from the University of Oregon in 1983 before beginning her career as a social studies teacher, department head, coach, and advisor at Reynolds High School, in Gresham, Oregon, where she taught alongside her father for nearly a decade. After retiring in 2018, she continued supporting students as a learning specialist and adjunct instructor, extending her impact across both K-12 and higher education.
A Family of Ducks
Teresa’s connection to the University of Oregon runs deep. It spans generations, from her grandparents to her parents to her own family today. Her grandmother worked in Hendricks Hall for the Bureau of Governmental Research and Service under Herman Kehrli and Kappy Eaton and was the source of the family’s prized season tickets to Autzen Stadium.
“My daughter represents the third generation of UO graduates, so UO remains high on the list for our family,” she says. “I don’t remember a time when we weren’t visiting Eugene and the University of Oregon for some reason.”
Her extended family reflects that same legacy. Her parents, siblings, husband, and father-in-law all attended the university, and her niece and nephew are now carrying that tradition forward as current and incoming students. In total, there are at least thirteen Ducks in Teresa’s family.
Honoring a Meaningful Legacy
After the death of Skip Squires, Marie worked with the University of Oregon College of Education to establish a scholarship in his memory. She later strengthened that commitment through her estate, ensuring that the scholarship would continue in both of their names. Today, the Marie and Skip Squires Scholarship supports students in the College of Education, with preference for those entering K–12 classrooms.
For Teresa, the scholarship represents more than a gift. It reflects the life her parents built together and the values they lived every day. “My mom wanted to create a meaningful legacy,” Teresa says. “A scholarship for aspiring teachers felt like the right way to honor my dad and the work they both believed in.”
A Thoughtful Approach to Giving
Teresa brings a thoughtful, practical approach to her own philanthropy, supporting schools, community organizations, and nonprofits through both volunteer service and financial contributions, including local school foundations, the Gresham Historical Society, the Civics Learning Project, and organizations such as the Oregon Food Bank, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and the Trauma Intervention Program.
“With local community groups, I have found committing to monthly gifts is an easy way to make sure organizations receive predictable funding,” she says. That perspective reflects what defines her giving. It is intentional, consistent, and grounded in the belief that every contribution matters.
Through her service on the College of Education Dean’s Advisory Council and her ongoing support of the Marie and Skip Squires Scholarship, Teresa continues to invest in the next generation of educators. In doing so, she is not only honoring her parents’ legacy. She is extending it, ensuring that future teachers have the opportunity to learn, lead, and serve.
And for Teresa, that is what giving has always been about.