Augustana understands the value and impact that historically marginalized people have on communities all over the world — recognizing that this university would not be the place it is without these students, faculty and staff. In the "At AU" series, the university aims to showcase these exceptional people so we can all hear their voices in an effort to foster positivity and create awareness of their experiences on campus.
For the month of May — Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month — Augustana is featuring Jacob Ornelles ‘26, an exercise science major from Kāneʻohe, Oahu, Hawaii. He’s an infielder for the Augustana Baseball Team and part of the Journey Scholars Program. In the future, Ornelles hopes to pursue a career in the field of strength and conditioning.
Q: Where or how did you hear about Augustana?
A: I reached out to the assistant baseball coach, Clay Collison (‘18), prior to a travel ball tournament that I played in as part of Team Hawaii. He came to see the first of two games that I played, and I remember striking out like three times. He left before the second game where I had a home run and played very well. It all worked out in the end though.
Q: What is/are the reason(s) you chose to come to Augustana?
A: My brother attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and had a tremendous experience. I, too, wanted to go away and experience things that I had never before experienced. He felt that I would really end up enjoying my time in the Midwest, and he was a big influence on me when I made my decision to travel this far from home.
Q: With which heritage do you identify?
A: I, like many people from Hawaii, am of many different ethnicities and have been influenced by many different cultures. Hawaii is what one might call a melting pot so to speak, and, considering the immense diversity that I experienced growing up, I can’t say that I identify with any one heritage. I think that my background and my family's background is a combination of many cultures including, but not limited to, Japanese, Chinese, Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, American and many more. This can be seen in the foods we eat, the way we speak and even the day-to-day nuances that are seemingly random, but all have roots in some culture.
Q: How does your heritage remain part of your identity?
A: My heritage remains part of my identity in more ways that I can probably think of, however, I think that one of the notable ways that someone may be able to see my heritage has to do with how I relate to new experiences. I try my very best to be open minded and take risks, and I think that because of the incredible diversity that I witnessed back home, I am less picky and able to, more often than not, embrace new experiences with open arms.
Q: What part(s) of your culture would you like to share with Augustana and what would that look like for you?
A: Something that I have been experimenting on with my closest friends relates to the many different types of food that I enjoy. My very generous auntie will send me these “care packages” (what she calls them) of all sorts of different snacks that I grew up eating. It really helps me feel more comfortable being away. Recently, I have been trying to convince my roommate and the friends I have on my floor to eat some of these snacks. They take to some, but not all, and it is fun to try and figure out what they will and will not enjoy.
Q: What is it like to be Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) at Augustana?
A: To be honest, prior to coming to Augustana, I never really thought about myself as an Asian American Pacific Islander. I merely thought of myself as a mix of a lot of different ethnicities. Now, I feel that maybe because of how I look, most people generally think that I am mostly Asian. That being said, I in no way feel like my experience has been at all bad. Everyone here at Augie is accepting of all of my differences and they all enjoy hearing me talk about ways in which we are dissimilar.
Q: Are you a part of any affinity groups on campus? If so, what does it mean to you to be a part of something such as this? What do you hope to achieve as part of the organization?
A: I am a part of the Journey Scholars Program. This group is important to me because they were the very first people that I met here at Augie. Not only do they really help me feel at home, as the group itself is very diverse in cultural heritage, but they are all also very good, caring and empathetic people that I know I could count on in a pinch. I simply hope to maintain the relationships I have made with the Journey Scholars as they are meaningful and real.
Q: Is there someone at Augustana who has been inspirational to you or helped guide you throughout your time at AU? If so, how?
A: I think that this past year I have learned a lot about who I want to be from the upperclassmen of the baseball team. This team that I am on is really unlike any other team that I have been on before. The culture that the upperclassmen have cultivated is one of getting the job done. There isn't any politics. There isn’t any bad blood. It really is just about baseball and being at our very best. I want to continue what the upperclassmen have created as I get older, and I want to work hard just as they did to be as good as they are both as ball players and as people.
To learn more about the "At AU Series," visit augie.edu/AtAU.