One student’s journey from Hawai‘i to the dance hall 

When Caleb Correa, BA ’26 (dance), arrived at the University of Oregon from O’ahu, Hawai‘i, he was looking for more than a degree. He wanted the opportunity to experience life somewhere new, pursue his passion for dance, and prepare for a career in the performing arts. Thanks to donor-funded scholarships, the School of Music and Dance (SOMD) graduate was able to do exactly that.

“Scholarships helped me be able to attend the UO,” he said. “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own.”

Caleb initially applied to the UO after high school but realized he would need additional scholarship support before attending as an out-of-state student. He spent a year at home completing general education requirements, maintaining strong grades, and applying for scholarships before enrolling. Coming from a family with a single mother and four younger siblings, scholarships helped make his education possible while giving him greater flexibility to manage everyday living expenses and occasional travel home to Hawai‘i. They also allowed him to focus on making the most of his college experience.

“I still wanted the typical student experience while also getting my degree in dance,” he remarked.

Pursuing a passion for dance

Dance had already become a defining part of Caleb’s life before arriving in Eugene. Inspired by his high school dance teacher, he realized his interest in other subjects stemmed from wanting a practical backup plan, while dance was the career he truly wanted to pursue.

At the UO, that passion grew through opportunities like the Student Spotlight Dance Concert, where he collaborated on a screen dance project with a fellow student and presented his own original choreographic work. His piece, “Re(Wind),” evolved from a simple exploration of wind into a reflection on resilience after a series of personal challenges, including heartbreak and loss.

“My piece was about all these hard things building up in my life and finally learning how to just let go and be present,” he said. But he also wanted the dancers in his piece to be able to embody the work in their own ways. “I didn’t want it to be like, ‘I want you to showcase my story.’ No, I wanted to showcase our interpretation of these common themes.”

Faculty mentors encouraged him to trust the creative process while developing the performance.

“My faculty advisor would say, ‘Just create something, let it sit, and that’s how you’ll know if you hate it or if you like it.’”

The experience also gave him a new perspective on professional opportunities in film, music videos, and commercial work.

Gaining leadership skills and real-world experience

Outside the studio, Caleb found another home in Hawai‘i Club. Beginning as a lūʻau choreographer before serving as an executive officer, he helped coordinate rehearsals, oversee event logistics, and work alongside fellow student leaders to organize the club’s annual lūʻau.

“We had about 80 dancers and performers that we had to manage,” he said. “It taught me a lot about leadership and a lot of behind-the-scenes work.”

The experience strengthened his skills in leadership, communication, and event planning, which he’ll carry into his professional career.

As one of the club’s few Native Hawaiian leaders, he also helped preserve authentic Hawaiian cultural traditions while encouraging members to better understand the language, values, and practices behind them. His coursework in SOMD supported this. It broadened his perspectives on cultural dance, teaching him that respecting another tradition means understanding the principles behind it rather than simply replicating movements.

Scholarships make it possible

As he begins his next chapter, Caleb hopes to continue dancing while exploring community outreach and coordination roles, eventually pursuing opportunities abroad and one day teaching dance himself. Looking back, he’s most grateful for the opportunities and the people that shaped his UO experience. From late nights in the dance studio with friends to the mentors who encouraged his artistic growth, Caleb embraced every opportunity he could. He thanks donors for the chance he had to fully immerse himself in it.

“I’m so grateful for them,” he said. “All of the students that they help support—I don’t know a single student that doesn’t take full advantage of it.”

For Caleb, scholarships did far more than help pay for college; they made it possible to pursue a passion, build lifelong friendships, and take meaningful steps toward the career he’s always envisioned.

Learn how your estate plan can support students like Caleb or donate to the School of Music and Dance today.