A Yakama Nation elder and language teacher who was the University of Oregon’s oldest-ever graduate will reach a major milestone next week.
“I never dreamed that I would live this long,” said Virginia Beavert, who turns 100 on Nov. 30. Beavert, who is also known as Tuxámshish, earned a doctorate in linguistics from the UO at age 90 and has remained active in teaching and mentorship at the UO’s Northwest Indian Language Institute and the Sapsikwala teacher education program.