WesternU Oregon participates in the 116th annual Lebanon Strawberry Festival 

Western University of Health Sciences joined in the fun at the 116th annual Lebanon Strawberry Festival, held June 5-8, 2025. The multi-day event celebrates Lebanon’s history, community tradition, and the start of summer. WesternU students, faculty, and staff laced up for the one mile and 5K run/walk, cheered along at the grand parade, and soaked up the festive atmosphere with delicious treats and lively music. 

As a proud diamond sponsor of the run/walk, WesternU helped support an event that united more than 700 participants of all ages. Among them were over 100 WesternU students, employees, and their families, coming together in an animated show of community pride. The race route went through the heart of Lebanon, following the Grand Parade course, where cheering crowds of friends and supporters lined the streets.  

“The Strawberry Festival is a cherished tradition that brings the Lebanon community together, and WesternU is proud to be part of that celebration,” said WesternU Assistant Vice President for Community Benefit and Governmental Affairs Martha Rivera. “Year after year, we support this event because it reflects our belief that community connection is essential to how we engage, how we learn, and how we partner with the community.”  

For the first time, WesternU’s Office of Community Benefit, the Public Affairs and Marketing team, and faculty and staff from WesternU Oregon sponsored race registrations and provided T-shirts, allowing WesternU students, faculty, staff, and their families to participate in the run/walk free of charge. 

First-year physical therapy student Danae Gardea from El Monte, California, was excited to take part in her first Strawberry Festival. Though she doesn’t consider herself a “runner,” Gardea enjoyed participating in the festivities with friends. 

“This was my first time participating in the Strawberry Festival and I chose to participate in the run, but it soon turned into a walk around the second mile. My run was great due to all the adrenaline and conversations I had with my fellow classmates to keep pushing through,” said Gardea. “I also went to the Strawberry Festival at Cheadle Lake on Friday night. Some of my cohort and I decided to see what it was all about because so many people recommended it. We ended up staying for the live music and ice cream. We were on the search, in particular, for strawberry flavored things and something refreshing for the hot summer night.”   

During the festival, WesternU hosted a booth at the Country Fair, offering opportunities to connect with the community, to share information about our programs, and to provide resources for healthy living.   

“We shared information about our programs available here in Oregon, DO and DPT, and about our community clinic like PALs, our free physical therapy clinic. We were also there just to bring awareness to people about our presence in the community,” said Director of Volunteer Engagement Leslee Mayers. “Supporting the Lebanon community and an event like the Strawberry Festival is important because it’s a way to invest in the community, people, and partnerships that make this community stronger. Our engagement with the community helps us connect and build trust, opens doors for collaborations, and helps us connect with the community that our institution and our students call home.”