Neal Wayne Werner was an integral member of the Western Oregon State College community. He began his presence at WOSC in 1980, creating murals around campus. In 1982, he was promoted to Coffee Shop manager at the College Center. By 1984, he was promoted to Associate Director of Auxiliary Services, and in 1987, he became Director of the College Center. His constant dedication to make the College Center the "heart of the campus" won him the honor of 1987 Staff Member of the Year. "With Neal, the students always came first." Neal W. Werner was killed in a car accident in 1988 at age 35. The plaque is located on the south wall of the Werner University Center main entrance.
This mural was painted by Neal W. Werner, who, at the time, made murals around campus. Later, Werner became director of the College Center. The mural is located in a stairwell in Valsetz Dining Hall that is not open to the public, but many student workers and Valsetz staff still enjoy it. It depicts a forest of aspen trees along the walls and ceiling.
The photograph looks down a stairwell. The white tree trunks around the walls reach up so the tops of the trees continue up onto the ceiling in greens and yellows.