STATE Magazine, Fall 2014 by Oklahoma State

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Fall 2014, Vol. 10, No. 1 • statemagazine.okstate.edu

Welcome to the fall 2014 issue of STATE magazine, your source of information from the OSU Alumni Association, the OSU Foundation and University Marketing. On the cover, OSU student LeAnn Yadon poses with her bicycle before embarking on a cross-country ride. Yadon is just one of thousands living healthy at OSU. Read the story of her trek and all about OSU’s becoming America’s Healthiest Campus inside this special health and wellness edition of STATE. Cover photography by Phil Shockley

SPECIAL SECTION

Health and Wellness at OSU

OSU is America’s Healthiest Campus. STATE is offering 35 pages with plenty of photographs spotlighting a few of the things that make that lofty declaration a reality. •

First Cowgirl Ann Hargis writes about healthy times

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Pete’s Pet Posse knows “The Cowboy Way.”

at OSU.

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The Fender Blender becomes part of “The Fourth H.”

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Snapshot: Get a good workout on campus.

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Eat healthy with these tailgating recipes.

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LeAnn Yadon pedals across the U.S.

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Grandparent U. promotes health and wellness.

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Who is Chief Wellness Officer Suzy Harrington?

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How alumnus Art Bieri changed PE class.

Gubernatorial Showdown Two Cowboys are set for a duel for Oklahoma’s governorship. Will the political barbs and bullets start flying? That’s anybody’s guess. One thing is certain: Gov. Mary Fallin and challenger state Rep. Joe Dorman know they’ve become leaders because of the lessons they learned at OSU.

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The First, The Best

COWBOY COLLECTION

95 The Child Development Lab at OSU is celebrating its 90th anniversary by doing what it has always done — educating children, training future teachers, facilitating research and serving the community by offering quality child care on campus.

First Person

Most Loyal Donors

Forward Motion

Native Explorers

Building for the Future

Philanthropy Inspired

How the Butler Does It

Academic Barrier Breakthrough

Dimensional Transformation

Linked by Trust

Poetry professor Rose McLarney’s piece on her work with words and students is somewhere between prose poem and essay. The OSU Foundation enhances annual giving clubs to be more reflective of OSU. The OSU Museum of Art expands its teaching mission for university and community. OSU-CHS program links American Indian Culture with medicine and science. Donations fund new wing for College of Human Sciences. Women for OSU awards highlight annual symposium. Director of Football Operations Mack Butler spotlighted in this POSSE Replay. Grants provide for OSU-OKC Tutors in the Classroom program. 3-D printing and the future are now at OSUIT. Psychology professor’s mentorship of students earns respect of students.

104 When Parasites Attack

The National Center for Veterinary Parasitology responds with science.

106 A Series of Fortunate Events

A couple’s unlikely meeting sparked a lifetime of blessings.

110 Giving for a Cause

Alumna creates scholarship to help single parents at OSU-Tulsa.

112 Safe, Secure Sustenance

OSU is developing a food-safety program.

Touring Nuclear Disaster Professor Stephen McKeever gets a firsthand look at a meltdown in Japan and predicts the area, the people and the reputation of nuclear power will fully recover despite the devastation.

126 Winning with ‘Pappy’ Waldorf In 1929, the football coach began transforming the struggling Cowboys into winners.

D E PA R T M E N T S President’s Letter

Wellness with Ann Hargis

STATEment

Snapshot

The Cowboy Way

Legacy Link

Chapters

114

First Person

Class Notes

119

OSU Medicine

O-STATE Stories

125

POSSE Replay

History

126

Campus News

Oklahoma State University is a leader in many areas, and we believe that should include wellness. In fact, we have adopted and trademarked the title of “America’s Healthiest Campus” and that is our goal! OSU’s wellness initiative is not new. Bud Seretean, our late alumnus, provided the vision for wellness on our campus, and he funded the Seretean Wellness Center, which opened in January 1991. His vision and dream continue with our unwavering commitment to the wellness of our students and employees and, in keeping with our land-grant mission, our communities and state. You will enjoy essays by our lead champions for wellness, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and Chief Wellness Officer Suzy Harrington. From the cover story on student LeAnn Yadon biking across America to healthy tailgate recipes, Pete’s Pet Posse and other stories, this issue of STATE spotlights many of our wellness initiatives and demonstrates why OSU is becoming America’s Healthiest Campus. We are also pleased to share the work of Rose McLarney, an awardwinning OSU English professor. McLarney has published her second book after winning the National Poetry series. Her “First Person” essay offers insight into her teaching and writing philosophy. OSU knowledge and expertise can have an impact anywhere in the world. Stephen McKeever, physics professor and former head of OSU research, tells about his experience serving on a team of international scientists who were invited to tour Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant that melted down after an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The two main candidates for Oklahoma governor in the November election are both OSU graduates. Gov. Mary Fallin and challenger Joe Dorman discuss how OSU helped shape their leadership skills. We are off to what promises to be another exciting academic year. I hope you can return to campus this fall and visit with students who have started writing their own OSU stories. Go Pokes!

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Photo / Kevin Paul Designs

PerfectLocat ion

THEY DECLARE JOBS FINISHED only after they are proud of the result. Their personal standards are higher than most, which is why their successes are also greater. NEARLY 100,000 loyal and true Cowboys have combined to exceed $1 BILLION for Branding Success: The Campaign for OSU. But the state’s most successful higher-education campaign continues until Dec. 31, 2014. OUR JOB ISN’T COMPLETE. There is still so much to do over the next four months. FOR MORE INFORMATION about how you can be a part of this historic moment, visit OSUgiving.com/annualgiving, or contact Amanda Davis at 405.385.5172 or adavis@OSUgiving.com.

Dear OSU Alumni and Friends, Another school year has begun, and we are welcoming one of the largest freshman classes in OSU’s history. That’s in no small part thanks to you for getting the word out about the greatness of the university and of being a Cowboy. While this academic year has just begun, we are

great milestones. In June, our 100th regional group was

already taking applications for fall 2015. If you know

organized, achieving a goal we set several years ago.

someone who needs to be a Cowboy, direct them to

More than 80 percent of OSU’s 207,000 current alumni

admissions.okstate.edu.

live within 50 miles of an OSU alumni chapter or watch

A big part of what students can accomplish once they

club. Those groups hosted more than 25,000 Cowboys at one of 912 events in the past year.

get here is also because of you.

You can find an OSU event near you or information

Only four months remain in Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University. We are so

on the Alumni Association’s many programs on the

grateful for the nearly 100,000 donors who have united

newly enhanced orangeconnection.org website, which

to commit more than $1.1 billion toward the most

received a makeover this summer. Cowboys can now

successful higher-education campaign in the state’s

view and interact with the entire site seamlessly on a

history. Their generosity during the past seven years has

tablet or mobile device, and a new navigation system

provided unprecedented support for students, faculty,

makes it easier for everyone to locate services that relate

staff, facilities and programs across the OSU system.

most to them. Another digital effort began this summer when OSU

We welcome anyone who believes in OSU’s landgrant mission of improving lives in the state, nation and

partnered with Oklahoma’s leading online news source,

world to join us by making a gift before Jan. 1. Every

NewsOK.com, for the launching of BrandInsight. The

dollar makes a difference, and each donor plays an

digital site on NewsOK.com will feature content about

important role in this historic initiative. Together, we are

OSU on several Mondays throughout the year in yet

securing a brighter orange future for everyone.

another way for you to check out the good things

Connecting Cowboys remains a top priority at the Alumni Association, where we recently reached some

happening at OSU. It’s a great time to be a Cowboy!

Chris Batchelder

Kirk A. Jewell

Kyle Wray

President OSU Alumni Association

President OSU Foundation

Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing

B D

Historical Marker Details Tulsa History

OSU-Tulsa IT Director Receives Patriot Award

PHOTO / OSU TULSA

From left are OSU-Tulsa trustee Sean Kouplen, OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett, Oklahoma Sen. Jabar Shumate, Tulsa City Councilman Jack Henderson, OSU-Tulsa trustee and Standpipe Hill Historical Marker Committee Chair Glenda Love, Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation Executive Director Julius Pegues, Oklahoma State Regent for Higher Education Jay Helm and OSU-Tulsa Trustees Chair Henry Primeaux at the historical marker dedication ceremony. SU-Tulsa and the University Center at Tulsa Authority dedicated the Standpipe Hill Historical Marker in June. The marker is located south of John Hope Franklin Boulevard between Detroit Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on the OSU-Tulsa campus. “Standpipe Hill played a role in the tragic unfolding of the Tulsa Race Riot, which had a lasting impact on this area of our city,” says OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett. “The ceremony recognized the lasting impact of that event and other significant occurrences that happened at Standpipe Hill as well as the role it continues to play as part of OSU-Tulsa.”

The Standpipe Hill Historical Marker Committee worked with the Oklahoma Historical Society to research documents and legends. Tulsa’s first water tower was built atop Standpipe Hill in 1904, giving the location its name. According to local lore, the hill also served as a lookout point for the Dalton gang to check if the area was clear of lawmen. During urban renewal in the 1980s, it became part of land set aside for higher education. On Jan. 1, 1999, OSU-Tulsa was created and the university’s new Signature Gateway was recently constructed at the pinnacle of Standpipe Hill.

PHOTO / OSU TULSA

U.S. Department of Defense agency honored OSU-Tulsa Information Technology Director Randall Popp in April with the Patriot Award for his support of an Oklahoma National Guard member deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom. Air National Guard Maj. Ginger Turcotte presented the award in recognition of Popp’s support of Jon Russell, an OSU-Tulsa telecommunications technician. “Randall fully embraced his employee’s call to duty without hesitation and made certain Jon was aware of OSU’s military leave policies,” Turcotte says. “Jon walked away from his life for six months, and his service in Qatar would not have been possible without the help of his family, friends and his civilian family at OSU in Tulsa.” Russell, a staff sergeant and cyber transport craftsman with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, had worked at OSU-Tulsa for seven months when he was deployed in 2012 to Al Udeid Air Base to provide communications support to thousands of U.S. and coalition forces serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Jon Russell, left, and Maj. Ginger Turcotte present the Patriot Award to Randall Popp during a ceremony at OSU-Tulsa.

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OSU Announces Spring 2014 Graduates OSU awarded degrees to 3,230 students this spring, including 2,325 Oklahomans, according to the Office of the Registrar. OSU’s 129th undergraduate commencement was held in May at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

OSU Names Provost, Three Deans

SU named several campus leaders in May and April, including a new provost and three deans. Gary Sandefur was named provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. He comes from the University of Wisconsin where he has served as dean of letters and science and a sociology professor. “We welcome Gary Sandefur back to Oklahoma as our chief academic officer,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “He brings an outstanding record of achievement to OSU, and I know the university will benefit from Dr. Sandefur’s success in faculty recruiting, retention, research, diversity, fundraising and other areas. His skills as a leader and enthusiasm will guide OSU to further success and growth.” Pam Fry will continue as associate provost. She has been serving as interim provost since April 2013. Sandefur graduated from high school in Madill, Okla., and received his bachelor’s in sociology from the University of

G A RY SANDEFUR

KEN EASTMAN

Oklahoma in 1974 and his doctorate in sociology from Stanford University in 1978. He is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. “I am honored to be selected to lead the academic programs and work with the excellent academic team at Oklahoma State University,” Sandefur says. ”As a native of Oklahoma, I have great respect for OSU’s land-grant heritage and the outstanding work it does through its diverse academic offerings.

THOMAS COON

KEITH GARBUT T

My wife, Kathy, and I are excited about this opportunity and look forward to joining the OSU family.” Ken Eastman was named dean of the Spears School of Business. Eastman had been serving as interim dean since July 2013. “We are pleased to appoint Dr. Eastman as dean and appreciate the fine job he has done as interim,” Hargis says.

continues

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UNIVERSITY MARKETING Kyle Wray / Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing Michael Baker / Editor Mark Pennie, Ross Maute & Michael Orr / Design Phil Shockley & Gary Lawson / Photography Dorothy Pugh / Assistant Editor Beverly Bryant & Shelby Holcomb / Staff Writers

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

“Ken is an expert in leadership, performance management and organizational politics, and we believe he will guide our award-winning business school to new levels of success.” Eastman has been at the business school since 1989. “I am honored to lead one of the finest business schools in the country during an exciting time of growth in enrollment, programs, impact and facilities,” Eastman says. “I look forward to working with our outstanding faculty and staff, bright students, alumni and donors as the Spears School begins its second century.” Thomas Coon was appointed vice president, dean and director of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “Thomas Coon brings a 25-year track record of leadership in higher education and expertise in agriculture and natural resources, specifically in the areas of water ecology and management that are becoming increasingly important issues across the state, nation and world,” Hargis says. “We are pleased to have Dr. Coon join the OSU team.” Coon was director of extension and professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. Keith Garbutt became the inaugural dean of the OSU Honors College. He was dean of the Honors College and a full professor in biology at West Virginia University. “We are pleased to name Keith Garbutt as the dean of our nationally respected Honors College,” Hargis says. “Dr. Garbutt has an impressive record of building an honors program for students, and we look forward to him leading OSU to even greater levels of success.” Garbutt replaces Robert Spurrier as head of OSU’s Honor College, which has more than 1,200 active participants, including more than 530 freshmen. Spurrier is retiring after 42 years at OSU, including 26 years directing the honors program.

Tererai Trent speaks at OSU commencement about the power of education and justice.

Alumna Speaks at Commencement

lumna Tererai Trent offered an inspiring message about the power of education at OSU’s 129th undergraduate commencement in May “There are two kinds of hunger,” she says. “There is small hunger that wants immediate gratification. There is great hunger for a meaningful life, social justice and peace. Go into the world and make a difference. Let that great hunger drive you.” OSU recognized Trent’s many accomplishments with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Trent rose from a childhood of poverty in Africa to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OSU while raising a family. She became a symbol of hope for women in her home village and gained widespread attention when television host Oprah Winfrey designated Trent her “all-time favorite guest.” Trent says her time at Oklahoma State University showed her the “power of education, the power of justice and the potential of women. Without this university, I would be nothing. I found courage and friendship here. This university gave me my dignity and a chance for a better life.” Trent founded Tinogona Foundation to build, repair and renovate schools in rural Zimbabwe. Through strategic partnerships with the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Save the Children, nine schools are being built and education has been improved for nearly 4,000 children so far.

University Marketing Office / 121 Cordell, Stillwater, OK 74078-8031 / 405.744.6262 / universitymarketing.okstate.edu, statemagazine.okstate.edu / editor@okstate.edu OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Jennifer Grigsby / Chair Robert Walker / Vice Chair Ron Ward / Immediate Past Chairman Burns Hargis / OSU President, Non-voting Member Chris Batchelder / President, OSU Alumni Association, Non-voting Member Kirk Jewell / OSU Foundation President and CEO, Non-voting Member Gregg Bradshaw, Bill Dragoo, Russell Florence, Kent Gardner, Sharon Keating, Phil Kennedy, Jami Longacre, Tony LoPresto, Pam Martin, Travis Moss, H.J. Reed, David Rose & Nichole Trantham / Board of Directors Jace Dawson / Vice President and CPO Pattie Haga / Vice President and COO Chase Carter / Director of Communications OSU Alumni Association / 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 / 405.744.5368 / orangeconnection.org / info@orangeconnection.org OSU FOUNDATION Jerry Clack / Chairman of the Board Kirk A. Jewell / President and Chief Executive Officer Donna Koeppe / Vice President of Administration & Treasurer Brandon Meyer / Vice President & General Counsel Kenneth Sigmon / Vice President of Development Jim Berscheidt / Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications Blaire Atkinson / Director of Human Resources Deborah Adams, Mark Allen, Chris Batchelder, Jerry Clack, Bryan Close, Patrick Cobb, Michael Greenwood, Jennifer Grigsby, John Groendyke, Helen Hodges, David Holsted, David Houston, Kirk Jewell, Steven Jorns, David Kyle, John Linehan, Ross McKnight, Bill Patterson, Lyndon Taylor, Phil Terry, Dennis White, Jay Wiese, Jerry Winchester / Trustees Shelly Kelly, Kasi Kennedy, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Jacob Longan, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Michael Molholt, Chelsea Robinson, Benton Rudd / Communications OSU Foundation / 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 / 800.622.4678 / OSUgiving.com / info@OSUgiving.com

STATE magazine is published three times a year (Spring, Fall, Winter) by Oklahoma State University, 121 Cordell N, Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by University Marketing, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, and is mailed to current members of the OSU Alumni Association. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $45. Postage paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with the title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age religion, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Title IX of the Education Amendments and Oklahoma State University policy prohibit discrimination in the provision or services or beliefs offered by the University based on gender. Any person (student, faculty of staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss their concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of the Title IX with the OSU Title IX Coordinator, the Director of Affirmative Action, 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, (405) 744-5371 or (405) 744-5576 (fax). This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the vice president of enrollment management and marketing was printed by Royle Printing Co. at a cost of $1.08 per issue. 33,983/ August ’14/#5562. Copyright © 2014, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

OSU alumni, faculty and students have countless ideas worth spreading. The first two TEDxOStateU events were designed to IGNITE your passion and INNOVATE for modern solutions. They combined for 35 original talks, six musical performances and three updates from previous speakers. Visit TEDxOStateU.com to access nearly seven hours of video from those events and announcements about the next TEDxOStateU â&#x20AC;Ś coming soon.

Legacylink Pistol Pete needs your help to solve this cryptoquote! Fill in the letters that correspond to the numbers below the blanks to solve the phrase.

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8 12 21 5

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__ O __ __ O __ !

22 13 18 4

12 7 18

16 12 25 20 12 21

1 14

A B C D E

G H

L M N O P Q R S 9

V W X

13 7

Pass along your love of OSU to the next generation through the Alumni Association Legacy program. Your membership in the Alumni Association allows you to enroll your child or grandchild in the program for free as a benefit of membership. Registered Legacies ages 0-16 receive age-appropriate gifts and invitations to exclusive events. To register your Legacy, visit orangeconnection.org/legacy.

Answer Key: I am a loyal and true OSU Cowboy!

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride.

Poetry professor Rose McLarney recently published her second collection of poems, Its Day Being Gone, which won the National Poetry Series. The critically acclaimed collection examines the quality of memory as seen in centuries-old folktales and in how individuals form recollections of their lives. The second-year OSU professor received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. Her first poetry collection, The Always Broken Plates of Mountains, was published in 2012. She has won numerous awards and fellowships for her poetry. STATE asked McLarney to write something for our readers about her work. We were delighted to receive the following, which falls somewhere between prose poem and essay.

When you see a white horse, make a wish

are many iterations of an idea that suggests there must be some truth in it. Many people have had reason to retell it. and it will come true. Furthermore, the variations assure that even if your efforts to follow a method fail, If you see a white horse, make a wish, spit there is still some cause for belief. With so many possibilities, the mistake can always be explained away as your own; you chose the wrong version this time. And wouldn’t on your finger and say, “Polly, Polly, you rather see yourself shown wrong than the fallibility of that in which you had white horse.” faith proved? Maybe this doesn’t sound very Touch ten white horses, then make a wish and it will come true. comforting. Let me keep trying. Touch one hundred white horses, and a wish you make will — usually — come true. As a writer, revision is my power. As a teacher of writing, what I hope I can The meeting of a rider on a white horse is a certain sign of death. impart, even to those students who will never attempt another poem outside of I have heard of those who regard white horses as vehicles of death. class, is the virtue of redoing, and an appreciation of what is not absolute. Count gray horses to bring good luck. I suggest they make an image into an entirely different metaphor. Cut the beginll of these are variants of the same North Carolina folk wisdom. There are many ning. Move it to the end. Reverse chrosuch pieces of lore: similar, but with distinct details. Many discount folk wisdom nology. Turn back time. Tell it in the first because it is not definitive. Its prescriptions are unsure. And as I first began to collect person. Then look at the same thing with them, the variations were confusing to me. But then I found comfort in them. If there an omniscient eye. If a character falls flat,

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after the destruction of their country by war, “forged a literature that answered history’s menace in universal, not provincial ways.” Wright’s work goes beyond regionalism, or as she puts it, “I poetry. I write it, study it, read it, edit it, publish it, teach it … I also arkansas. Sometimes these verbs coalesce. Sometimes they trot off in opposite directions.” Both emphasize the roles of what they term doubt and contradiction inherent in poetry — the qualities explored in the process of revision, as the number of drafts mounts. Zagajewski calls for, not the tepid irony prevalent in some contemporary art, but, “Ardor: The earth’s fervent song, which we answer with our own imperfect song.” Wright, after repulsing assimilation, resisting identification, becoming a “tramp poet,” asserts, “I am left with: be critical and sing.” The values I begin with as a teacher are to be rigorous and give. I try to move students to give generous attention to the literature we read — the models around which my courses are built — and to peers’ writing in workshop. I also advocate generosity toward one’s own future readers — which means, somewhat contradictorily, as poetry often is — that the attitude students must take toward the examination of their own writing is one of rigor, continually asking that each draft work still harder. As I and reviewers such as The Los Angeles Review, which called my first book “A If you see a redbird and make a wish, it stubbornly-rooted first collection of impressive insight and craft,” see, I remain true to will come true. my Appalachian origins in many ways. Yet I am also committed to Oklahoma, or If you see a redbird, kiss your thumb, wherever I teach. And regionalism is most and make a wish, your wish will valuable, to my mind, not when it funccome true. tions as a limiting allegiance, but as a lens, the attentive, intimate focus of which can If you see a redbird, make a wish, and be applied in many ways. So admiring as I throw three kisses at it, your wish will am of the particulars of place, it is the end effect of poetry, in which all the unique, come true. unknown, and unfinished aspects come If you see a redbird on Friday and throw together to create something big and not, after all, bifurcated — a universal — that five kisses each containing six wishes I most emphasize in teaching. Zagajewski at it, they will come true. criticizes lesser poets who “develop a snail-like tendency to take refuge in a hut, Here is what a view that accepts many a shell, to escape contrary winds, contrary versions can take from it: There are ways in which a wish can happen. ideas, to create miniatures,” while Wright says she can’t restrict herself to just one May uncertainty be cause to throw ever more kisses into the air. And might the air be place because, “… My ear has been licked full of redbirds? by so many other tongues.” I try to tell students that creative writing can instruct them in broad values: the work ethic of revision, as well as empathy — the imagining of other readers’ and wrote this odd little semi-essay some time ago, when I was teaching in my native writers’ viewpoints that motivates the Western North Carolina mountains. But it has continued to serve me as I’ve moved, effort. Like Wright and Zagajewski asking explaining in poetry’s slant way why I continue to pursue writing and teaching. Now the writer to exceed the provincial, to that I am in Oklahoma, living in the Plains with their own folklore and traditions, the exhibit ardor, I ask that we speak to audiidea of revision helps me feel at home. Aren’t we all just retelling similar stories, wherences beyond limits such as Poland, the ever we are? I’ll keep chasing the thread. South, the Plains, or ourselves by pushing In the poem acclaimed poet C.D. Wright says she most wants to write, the “splendid our crafting of poems until we achieve catch” she can never quite net, it is “always Arkansas, summer, evening.” Meanwhile, something both broadly ambitious and for poet Adam Zagajewski, his childhood scenery of Eastern Europe’s “shattered buildbroadly accessible. ings overgrown with grass were as seductive as the ruins of a Gothic abbey had been for the first generation of Romantics” and continue to be present in many of his poems. As different as the backgrounds of these poets are, they speak in their essays to remarkably I L L U S T R AT I O N / VA L E R I E K I S L I N G , complementary ideas. Zagajewski says Polish poetry is far-reaching because its creators,

don’t think this says anything about the dimensionality of humans. Create her over. If your love story doesn’t ring true, try again; there is always another love story. I suggest students make immense Word documents with several dozen versions of every poem, every word or punctuation change preserved: cut and paste pentimento. I hope, in my way, I suggest: Count every horse you see. Note the rare craft, the special circumstance in which you get to reword and recast until you are closer to right. Be glad there are many versions. And if you come across more seemingly contradictory folk wisdom like this?

The values I begin wit h as a teacher are to be rigorous and give.

UNIVERSIT Y MARKETING

Edmon Low Library PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

O N JA N . 1 6 , 1 9 62 , the Oklahoma State University Development Foundation was only a year old when a dramatic act sparked an ongoing tradition for thanking the university’s most loyal supporters. Melvin D. Jones, one of the nonprofit organization’s founding governors, argued during a meeting of the board of trustees for the creation of a club to thank donors who gave at least $1,000 annually. To underscore his point, he wrote a $1,000 check, and the other 15 attendees followed suit. They were among the first 30 members of the Presidents Club, which was officially chartered in 1963. Now the OSU Foundation is enhancing its two annual giving societies — the Presidents Club and University Club — to make them more reflective of the impact today’s donors have on this modern land-grant institution. The groups, now named Loyal and True and Orange & Black, include more than 17,000 generous OSU alumni and friends. “We are excited to enhance this program in a way that speaks to the

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unique nature of the OSU family and draws upon our traditions,” says Burns Hargis, president of OSU. “As Cowgirls and Cowboys, we proudly wear our orange and black colors and join together to sing that we are loyal and true to our alma mater. Now these clubs will better reflect what makes this university and its supporters truly special.” The most visible change is to the iconic orange decals that donors proudly stick on their vehicle windows each year as a sign of their contributions to the university. The new decals feature five campus landmarks to signify the way donors benefit all aspects of OSU. Each club’s giving level is reflected by the height of its representative landmark.

O R A N G E & B L AC K More than 14,000 OSU alumni and friends qualify for this group. The name incorporates the nearly 125-year history since the establishment of Oklahoma A&M College. Whether we were known

as Tigers, Aggies or Cowboys, these two colors have always represented the OSU family. They are roots connecting generation after generation back to where it all began on Dec. 25, 1890. “Cowboys reveal their character by their support for each other,” says Jayme Ferrell of the OSU Foundation. “Orange & Black club members do that by supporting every college and unit throughout the OSU system.” They are recognized for their annual gifts between $100 and $999 designated to OSU’s academic and athletic programs. Along with a subscription to STATE magazine, they also receive a decal that features the beautiful fountain outside of historic Edmon Low Library. The logo also incorporates a more subtle reference to Pistol Pete’s mustachioed face.

LOYA L A N D TR U E More than 7,000 alumni and friends will make up the four levels of the Loyal and True Society. Along with receiving STATE magazine and decals, their

member opportunities include recognition in the online honor roll, invitations to annual Loyal and True events and biannual impact e-newsletters. These donors combined to contribute $55.6 million toward Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University. In just the last fiscal year, they have given more than $10.65 million to support students, faculty, staff, facilities and programs. “These are truly OSU’s most loyal supporters,” Ferrell says. “Their yearly contributions are vital to advancing OSU’s mission and propelling the institution to new heights.” Bronze members give between $1,000 and $2,499 annually. Their decal features the new brick pylons that serve as gateways welcoming everyone to campus. Silver membership is for those giving $2,500 to $4,999 per year. Their symbol is the Chi-O Clock, which has served as a popular meeting spot since 1970, when the Tau Beta chapter of Chi Omega presented it to the university. Donors who give between $5,000 and $9,999 are included in the Gold level. The decal features the spire of the campus fire station. Opened in 1939, the station is the symbol of OSU’s world-renowned program in fire protection and safety engineering. It also serves the community through the Stillwater Fire Department’s 100-year lease. OSU’s most generous annual givers join the Platinum level through

contributions of $10,000 or more. This new level is symbolized by the spire of the Student Union, which is the most comprehensive student union in the world. Since opening in 1950, it has continually fulfilled President Henry Bennett’s vision of a building enhancing all aspects of student life.

M O R E S P EC I A LI Z E D E N G AG E M E NT The improvements to these annual giving clubs don’t end with new decals that make it easier to quickly recognize someone’s support for OSU. The OSU Foundation is also increasing its focus on customizing engagement with each group. That includes new member opportunities, such as events, to better show donors the impact their generosity is having on current and future Cowboys and Cowgirls. “Each day, their gifts support research, teaching and outreach,” Ferrell says. “We really want to thank these donors in a way that is both appropriate and meaningful to them, whether they are giving $100 or $1 million. That drives everything we do with the giving societies.” JACOB LONGAN For more information about Orange & Black and Loyal and True, visit OSUgiving.com/givingsocieties.

A s Cowgirls and Cowb oys , we prou dly wear our orange and blac k color s an d join toge the r to sing that we are loyal and true to our alma ma te r. N ow the se clubs will b e t te r re f le c t wha t ma ke s this unive r sit y and it s supp or te r s truly sp e cial .” — OSU PRESIDENT BURNS HARGIS

PHOTO / CHRIS LEWIS

OSU Museum of Art staff install a piece for the Framing History exhibition.

The OSU Museum of Art is familiar with pioneering new ventures for the university. Transformed from a historic post office into a contemporary art gallery, the Museum’s Postal Plaza Gallery has been offering the Stillwater area a unique art experience since the first exhibitions were displayed in January. Now it’s mapping an avenue for student education and community outreach by expanding its teaching mission. The museum is hosting a new exhibition and recently welcomed an additional staff member who will focus on educational programming. As part of its growth, the museum has identified a remodeling of the gallery’s lower level as the next major fundraising priority.

State’s Past on Display The OSU Museum of Art is continuing its schedule of exhibitions with a show designed to appeal to students and the community. The Postal Plaza Gallery — located in downtown Stillwater — is currently hosting the exhibition Framing History: Highlights from the Oklahoma State Capitol Senate Collection. The exhibition will be on display until Oct. 18 before it becomes part of the state’s permanent collection. The exhibition is co-curated by former Oklahoma Sen. Charles Ford of Tulsa, Okla., and OSU Museum of Art Director Victoria Rowe Berry. This unique exhibition includes more than 50 paintings by 20 artists and depicts important moments in Oklahoma history. It celebrates the artists who tell the human story of Oklahoma through their different mediums and stylistic approaches. Framing History includes a curatorial look

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into how each physical frame shapes the experience of the painting it holds. Berry says the frames featured are works of art themselves, providing an opportunity to focus on each individual piece. Each frame was hand-picked by Ford or handcrafted at his request. He believes in the power of a frame and its ability to transform art. “Not just any frame will do,” Ford says. “A frame can either complement a painting or overpower it.” Ford says he acquires frames when he travels, purchasing them at a variety of venues ranging from flea markets to art auctions, even when he’s not sure which paintings they will hold.

In addition to acquiring pieces for the collection, Ford has served a key role in producing the exhibition catalogue and in soliciting support to provide a limited number of complimentary copies of the catalogue to visitors and teachers. New Museum Educator A long-awaited addition to the museum, Carrie Kim joined the OSU Museum of Art as the curator of education in June. She leads a peer-tour program for OSU students, develops educational programming for the museum’s exhibitions and oversees a volunteer docent program. Kim, who believes that art is for all ages and abilities, develops educational

“A frame can either complement a painting or overpower it.” — Charles Ford, former state senator

programs for the museum’s audiences. She is originally from Wisconsin, where she was active in the arts community as an exhibiting studio artist and an accomplished art educator. Her educational experience includes service as a pre-K through 12th grade art teacher, arts event coordinator and mentor teacher at the Kettle Moraine School District in Wales, Wis., and working as a teaching and visiting artist in the greater Milwaukee area. Gallery to Expand Mission Through Education Center Postal Plaza Gallery visitors enter the lobby through a glass doorway with immediate views of artwork and glimpses of the original 1930’s structure, but a whole section of the building awaits its renaissance as a center for transformative education programming. The future education center rests underneath the existing gallery with more than 15,000 square feet of space for expanding the OSU Museum of Art’s teaching mission. The center will house a media gallery and multipurpose classroom, both designed to encourage creativity and innovation. The media gallery will boast a 20-foot-by-8-foot media wall for students exploring new media art. Creating interactive and projection pieces, students will curate shows and explore the limits of

abstract art. Museum guests can interact with the displays during public showings and watch performances in the adjacent multipurpose classroom. The classroom will function as a performance venue seating up to 100 viewers. Equipped with a modular performance stage, theater lighting and facilities to support making art and hands-on activities, the classroom will foster a professional workshop space for students and guest artists. Completing the lower-level renovation will bring the education center to life and add the ability to engage in making art, large group gatherings and new media experiences that complement exhibitions on the main level. OSU students and faculty will have the opportunity to expand their repertoire and experiential learning through activities such as performances and delivering educational outreach with the K-12 community. The education center’s programs will be based on the museum’s teaching mission. They offer all ages a place to view, learn about and interact with art, in addition to a traditional exhibition. The education center will extend the traditional exhibition learning experience and have a far-reaching impact throughout the community. Public school educators can attend professional development courses in the lower level of the Postal Plaza Gallery, learning how to include

visual thinking in their teaching strategies. An independent entrance to the education center will allow young professionals and networking groups to hold meetings and social gatherings in the space. Additionally, the potential for renting the space is being considered, adding to the list of art-inspired venues in downtown Stillwater. The OSU Museum of Art’s Postal Plaza Gallery is already serving the university and community as a place of learning, but the new exhibition and growing staff will continue to enhance the university’s robust art culture. Support for the education center will bring a dynamic layer of visual arts both for degree-seeking students and art-loving visitors. CHELSEA ROBINSON

Ways to Support the Museum

RENDERING / ELLIOTT + ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

Education is the lifeblood of the museum. Through the exhibitions, it offers a unique form of human expression that transcends boundaries and fosters cultural understanding. The exhibitions planned for the next three years offer a welcoming destination for discovery and education. The OSU Museum of Art relies on generous annual donors to secure diverse exhibitions that will interest a varied audience, fulfill its teaching mission and assist OSU in achieving regional and national recognition. This support ensures that our community continues to benefit from all that a museum can provide. For more information, contact OSU Museum of Art Director Victoria Rowe Berry at 405-744-2780 or victoria.berry@okstate.edu or OSU Foundation Senior Consultant Debra Engle at 405-385-5600 or dengle@OSUgiving.com.

Postal Plaza Gallery prepares for renovation of lower level.

Native

explorers S T O R Y BY S E A N K E N N E DY

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OF JE FF HA RG RAVE

The OSU Center for Health Sciences program ties American Indian culture with medicine and science. Under the blazing New Mexico sun, Jake Duke spent American Indians to medicine and other STEM — short for science, technology, engineering and mathematics — professions the first part of summer doing something he had never through Native Explorers. done — digging for vertebrate fossils. “Growing up as a Native American, there was a paucity of “My favorite part was digging up actual prehistoric Native professors and research scientists who could serve as mentors for me,” says Smith, who is Comanche and Chickasaw. fossils,” says Duke, who is in the first year of a doctoral “Less than 1 percent of university faculty are of American Indian program in hospitality administration at OSU. “I got descent, and only 2.5 percent of those are in a STEM field.” the opportunity to learn about areas of science that I Smith co-founded the Native Explorers Foundation with knew very little about.” Reggie Whitten, one of two senior partners at Whitten Burrage law firm Duke was one of 10 American Native Explorers participants include, in Oklahoma City. Jeffrey Hargrave back row, from left, Chickasaw Indians who participated in a unique currently serves as the executive direceducator Darius Roebuck, Jake summer expedition for college tor of the Native Explorers Foundation, Duke, Dr. Darrin Pagnac, Nicholas students offered by the OSU Center which provides funding for the programs Czaplewski, Jared Wahkinney, Native initiatives. “I was immediately attracted for Health Sciences in Tulsa. The Explorers Foundation Executive to Native Explorers because of my ancesDirector Jeff Hargrave and mentor program, Native Explorers, combines try and desire to help those who don’t Brent Battles; second row, Chickasaw science and medicine with American have a lot of opportunities outside their educator Germain Fields, Alex Indian cultures to spark an interest in communities,” says Hargrave, who is Hardison, mentor Kayln Barnoski, Muscogee Creek and Choctaw. “Growing these career fields. mentor Brandie Macdonald, mentor

Dr. Kent Smith, interim associate dean in the Office for the Advancement of American Indians in Medicine and Science and associate professor of anatomy and cell biology at OSU-CHS, is hoping to attract

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Sara Hofferber, Christopher Nixon, Julia Conneywerdy, David Alexander, T’ata Roberts and Courtney Hull; and front row, Dr. Kent Smith.

up in Indian Country, I saw firsthand the lack of opportunities for our youth to learn and experience science.” Any American Indian 18 years and older may apply for the program.

Nevada, where students collected rock samples for radiometric dating and learned about the local geology of the rock units. “Since we started the program, our participants have made several scientific discoveries, which have resulted in peerreviewed publications” Smith says. “It is awesome to see their reactions when they find something new and experience the science involved in paleontology.” Native Explorers has partnerships with scientists and educators from various tribes; museums such as the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Nevada State Museum and the Sam Noble

The unique program offers hands-on activities in an outdoor setting to get these students excited about sciences. — Dr. Kent Smith

Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; universities such as OSU, University of New Mexico, University of Oklahoma and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; and government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. These scientists and educators serve as mentors for the students. Nicholas Czaplewski, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, is one of those mentors. His work with Native Explorers has enabled the program to access a variety of paleontological resources and internship opportunities for the students. “Our mentors help us cultivate connections with the participants after they head back home,” Hargrave says. “Several of our participants have come back to serve as mentors to other students.” Brandie Macdonald is one of those students. She first attended Native Explorers in 2011 and has returned twice to serve as a mentor. “I had an amazing experience my first year and made friendships and connections with people I never imagined; we became a big family. It transformed the way I view the sciences and let me work side-byside with some brilliant people who were willing to share their expertise with me,” says Macdonald, a museum educator at the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, S.D. “Going back the second year as a mentor was like going home again. Each year it gets a little bigger, and we are able to share this incredible experience with a new group of students.” PH OT O

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Applications are accepted each spring. Ten college students are selected to participate in the summer science and cultural expedition. They start at the OSU-CHS to learn more about medicine and OSU’s physician training programs. “The unique program offers hands-on activities in an outdoor setting to get these students excited about sciences,” Smith says. “We also show them how science blends with Native cultures and traditions and help them realize how science impacts their lives every day.” The blend of tradition with science is what attracts many applicants to the highly competitive program. “Mixing in the culture with the science really made Native Explorers multi-dimensional and added depth to the learning process,” says Duke, who earned his bachelor’s degree from in 2010 and Master of Business Administration in 2013 at OSU. “It made the entire program an exciting journey.” After time in Tulsa, participants move on to several paleontological and historical American Indian cultural sites across the southwestern U.S. In 2014, the group traveled to Albuquerque, where they met with Gary Morgan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. He provided a tour of the vertebrate collections for the students. The group also stopped in northern New Mexico, where they collected vertebrate fossils under the guidance of Morgan and Philip Gensler, regional paleontologists for Arizona, California and New Mexico at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Santa Fe. The group was honored as special guests at the Taos Pueblo. The final stop on the expedition was a trip to west-central

Dr. Kent Smith outlines an expedition site for Native Explorers participants.

continues

TOP: Brent Battles, Jared Wahkinney and T’ata Roberts collect fossils from a site in western Nevada.

SM ITH DR . KE NT PH OT OS /

FAR RIGHT: T’ata Roberts and Alex Hardison look at fossil mammals from Nevada. RIGHT: Brandie Macdonald collects fossils from a site in northern New Mexico.

A member of the Chickasaw Nation, Macdonald enjoyed the program so much that she implemented parts of it in her current position to encourage students to consider careers in science. Native Explorers participants receive three hours of upper-level undergraduate college credit through OSU, with all the tuition and fees paid for by the Chickasaw Nation, the Whitten Burrage law firm and the Whitten-Newman Native Explorers Scholarship Fund. The Native Explorers program is part of an expanded effort by OSU-CHS to attract American Indian students to careers as physicians and scientists. The new Office for the Advancement of American Indians in Medicine and Science serves as an outreach effort to Native American tribes in Oklahoma. “Our goal is to identify American Indians who have an interest in medicine and science and increase the number of Native American students in our medical and graduate programs,” Smith says. “We’ll be working with tribes on ways to combine culture and traditions with the health and wellness needs of their citizens to make a positive impact on our state.”

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The effort has been a top priority for OSU-CHS President Kayse M. Shrum, who says the outreach program fits well with the center’s mission to provide primary care physicians to underserved areas of Oklahoma. “Oklahoma is experiencing a shortage of physicians, primarily in rural areas of the state,” Shrum says. “We are working to establish relationships with tribal leaders to develop programs to attract American Indian students who will return to their communities to practice medicine.” Native Explorers is personal for Hargrave. He wants to see more American Indian students graduating from college

and coming back to serve as mentors for future generations. “Native Americans have the lowest graduation rates among all the minorities,” he says. “I see Native Explorers as a way to combat these terrible stats and improve our education system in Indian Country.” The program is already having an impact for students like Duke, who

Summer expedition 2015 Applications will open soon for the 2015 Native Explorers summer expedition. Visit NativeExplorers.org to find out how to apply.

PHOTO/OSU-CHS

want to expand their knowledge in science fields. “It makes me wish I had pursued a science degree when I was an undergraduate,” Duke says. “But it is great to know that there are programs out there now that will introduce students to these science fields at an early age.”

OSU, Mercy Finalize Medical Center Agreement

OSU-CHS Partner Named Among Most Influential Time named OSU Center for Health Sciences partner Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe to its list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2014. The OSU medical school has worked with Sister Rosemary for more than two years to support the women and children who have been affected by the wars in Uganda and South Sudan. “Sister Rosemary stands as an inspiration to our students and to millions of others around the world for her bravery in standing up to rebel leaders and her service to the people of Uganda,” says Dr. Kayse M. Shrum, OSU Center for Health Sciences president. “Everything Sister Rosemary does is in service of others, and that’s a value we instill in our students as they prepare to be physicians and community leaders in Oklahoma.” Sister Rosemary works with women and children torn away from their families and forced to serve as sex slaves in Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Saint Monica’s Girls Vocational School in Uganda is a refuge where the women and girls learn to make clothes, grow food and support themselves and their families. Through the university’s affiliation with Pros for Africa and its founder, Reggie Whitten, OSU-CHS developed close ties with Sister Rosemary. OSU-CHS adopted Saint Monica’s as an international education partner and began developing an international medical rotation in Uganda for students and faculty. For more information, visit Time’s list at time.com for a profile of Sister Rosemary written by actor Forest Whitaker, or go to statemagazine.okstate. edu for an OStateTV video featuring Sister Rosemary talking about the OSU-CHS partnership.

of Osteopathic Medicine in January 2011 and was named president of OSU-CHS in 2013, becoming the youngest and first female president and dean of an Oklahoma medical school, as well as the first OSU Center for Health Sciences graduate to become dean of the college.

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, left, speaks with Dr. Kayse M. Shrum and Reggie Whitten about her being named a most influential person by Time.

OSU-CHS President Awarded for Service The Oklahoma Osteopathic Association presented Dr. Kayse M. Shrum, president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences, with the Outstanding and Distinguished Service Award in April. The award is given to an osteopathic physician who is an outstanding asset to patients, physicians, hospitals, medical students and professional organizations. Shrum was recognized for her strong rural advocacy efforts in Oklahoma and her dedication to preserving the principles and philosophies of osteopathic medicine at the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. After earning her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, she began her career as a pediatrician in private practice and was named the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association Rookie Physician of the Year in 2001. She became provost of the OSU Center for Health Sciences and dean of OSU College

Mercy Health and the OSU Medical Authority have finalized an agreement for the health care network to manage the OSU Medical Center in downtown Tulsa. “OSU has built a solid foundation of quality medical care and compassionate healing in downtown Tulsa, and it will be a privilege to build on that success,” says Di Smalley, Mercy’s regional president for Oklahoma. “The Mercy mission of cultures will be an ideal fit in Tulsa. We are already working to make the transition seamless.” The OSU Medical Center has a dual role to care for the medically underserved in the region and to serve as the teaching hospital for the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Mercy shares our commitment to provide primary care physicians to Oklahoma through our medical school and teaching hospital. The OSU Medical Center is the nation’s largest osteopathic teaching hospital, and this agreement ensures that our medical students and residents will have an excellent facility, mentors and faculty to continue their medical education,” says Dr. Kayse Shrum, president and provost of the OSU Center for Health Sciences. “A strong pipeline of primary care doctors is essential to improving Oklahoma’s overall health picture. The management agreement is a major achievement and an important step in building a long-term relationship with Mercy.” The Tulsa economy depends on the OSU Medical Center for more than 900 high-paying jobs with more than $125 million in economic impact including tax collections. The agreement went into effect May 1.

BUILDING for the FUTURE Generous donations fund new wing for College of Human Sciences.

Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rendering of new Human Sciences wing

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ears of dreaming, planning and hard work will soon become a reality for the College of Human Sciences. On Oct. 4, representatives from the college and OSU leadership will break ground on a new wing on the north side of the Human Sciences building. The expansion will include a multipurpose hall, a public-private partners suite, classrooms, lab space and more. The expansion will also provide a main entrance for the landmark building that will act as a bookend to the new Heritage Walk, a major pedestrian thoroughfare on the Stillwater campus. On April 4, Dean Stephan Wilson announced plans for the addition to the college’s 63-year-old building. “As we are moving rapidly through the 21st century, we must continue building upon our heritage of donor investments to create the next generation of state-of-the-art laboratories and spaces to push the boundaries of discovery of today into the world of tomorrow,” Wilson says. “A variety of technology-enriched laboratories will be introduced with the new space,” he says. These include virtual and augmented reality labs to provide realistic experiences for

I attended classes in the building in the late ’60s and early ’70s, and the building was OK, but it was very old. … So I made my first donation.” — Micki Jeffery Human Sciences, Class of 1970

retail merchandising and interior design; industry-standard hospitality labs; and interactive spaces that will allow students to practice calmly and professionally solving problems with “virtual customers, virtual parents and virtual counseling.” “Frankly, the list of possibilities for this new, vital space is limited only by the imagination,” Wilson says. “Now is the time for the College of Human Sciences to build the future.” The college moved into its current building in 1951 with room for 600 students and 40 faculty members. It was lauded for its innovative labs and learning spaces. Today, nearly 2,000 students are enrolled in the college’s various degree programs, which are led by more than 100 faculty members. “Facilities in and of themselves don’t transform things; people transform things. But people need facilities to accomplish what they do,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “Our students need those facilities; our faculty and staff need those facilities. They have to have equipment and stay current and state of the art. continues COURTESY OF DLR GROUP / LWPB ARCHITECTURE

That’s what is going to happen here. It’s not just the new part of the building, either. The new wing will provide additional space for other areas to grow.” The new 76,706 -square-foot space will enhance engagement, improve experiential learning opportunities and increase the college’s presence on campus to better serve the community and reflect its significance at OSU, says Jeff Fenimore, principal with DLR Group, the architectural firm working on the expansion. Designs include extensive glass windows to provide portals into working labs, increasing the transparency within the college, which has diversified fields of study within hospitality, design, merchandising, nutrition and human development. Second-year master’s student Lauren Oseland has been part of the planning process since she hosted town-hall meetings to gather students’ input on the building while she was an undergraduate in human development and family science. “Watching the building come to fruition is a thrill to me,” she says. “The designs you see today are an integration of ideas proposed by students within our college. It truly is a building by the students, for the students.” To date $17.5 million has been committed for the $25 million project. DreamMaker and DreamBuilder donors, whose early gifts and commitments have led the way, attended the April announcement and are expected to participate in the October groundbreaking. Micki Jeffery, 1970 Human Sciences graduate, was one of the first donors to contribute to the building fund in 2008. “I was invited to an Associate’s meeting, and they told us about the project,” she says. “I just got fired up. I attended classes in the building in the late ’60s and early ’70s, and the building was OK, but it was very old. … So I made my first donation.”

Jeffery, who has been a teacher, a home economist for Kansas City Power and Light, a dietitian and a child psychologist, says she knows well that the college provides students with the education they need to succeed in the workforce. “It’s not cooking and sewing anymore,” Jeffery says of the college. “I love all the people involved in the building project, and I like working for a cause. It makes me feel a part of OSU.” Wilson says early investors such as Jeffery are leading by example. “We are ready for others to follow this dream,” he says, mentioning that the Human Sciences Partners Group recently pooled their resources to make a major pledge for the building. He’s hopeful others will follow. “Maybe they will team together from an era, a major, a location, a life experience. We hope they will think about their own individual gift as well as gifts that could bring communities together. We are excited to see this dream become a reality.” A M A N DA O ’ T O O L E M A S O N

For information on naming opportunities or to make a gift to the building project, contact: STEPHANIE VOGEL, Ed.D. Senior Director of Development Oklahoma State University Foundation 400 S. Monroe | Stillwater, OK 74074 phone: 405-385-5615 | cell: 405-564-4202 svogel@OSUgiving.com

COURTESY OF DLR GROUP / LWPB ARCHITECTURE

Artist’s rendering of the Great Hall 28

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The Ranch interviewed some of its future residents about their life and why the community is the best fit for them. Future residents shared their thoughts on retirement life and living at the 55-acre resort-style senior community coming to Stillwater.

Ron and Cara Beer

Glenna Williams

Ron Beer, chair of The Ranch board of directors, former vice president of OSU student services and past president of the OSU Emeriti Association.

What services and amenities do you enjoy and look forward to the most?

Why have you chosen The Ranch?

We’re healthy and active, and we hope that continues. It’s really been comforting for Cara and me to know that we can move into a place like this and be as independent as we want to be. You were instrumental in starting the Stillwater Habitat for Humanity as one of its founding members and donated a tremendous amount of time volunteering for the cause. Why?

I’m very committed to Habitat for Humanity. We spend a lot of hours building houses for families. It’s payback time; it’s time to add something back to the community.

Ron and Cara Beer

I really don’t like to clean the house. I can hardly wait to have someone else clean and vacuum every other week. Does that not sound like heaven to not worry about that? And not feeling guilty about it, especially for women. Taking care of children in the community is a passion of yours. What have you been doing to help children alleviate hunger?

I adopted and developed a program called Weekend Food Sacks for Children nearly 10 years ago. We put together kid-friendly food items in sacks for children and distribute them on Friday afternoons so they do not go hungry over the weekend. The sacks are delivered to 250 preschool and elementary school children at all six elementary schools in Stillwater. We need to take care of our children as much as possible.

Glenna Williams

Walter and Leann Voss

Althea Wright

What are you looking forward to the most at The Ranch?

What passions do you plan to pursue once you make a home for yourself at The Ranch?

Walter: I’m particularly enthused about the possibility of making new friends. In my job as a banker, I know lots and lots of people, but because of confidentiality and potential conflicts of interest, I haven’t been able to become close friends with any of them. I have to maintain a certain detachment, so personal feelings don’t cloud my judgment. The Ranch provides potential for 100 or 200 immediate peers with whom I can become friends. It offers me an opportunity to make friends on my own terms and have common goals and interests, so that when we do get together, we can have a great time. You got engaged and married within two days. Tell us about the proposal.

Leann: Walter and I had been dating a few months. He called me at 7:30 on a Saturday morning and asked if he could come over. I said, “Sure.” Five minutes later, he gave me a pearl necklace, and I burst out in happy tears. He then asked me if I want to get married on Monday. I was thrilled. He looked at his watch and said, “You want to take care of the details? I got a tee time at 8 o’clock.” We got married that Monday afternoon 11 years ago, and it’s been happily ever after.

I started late in life as a watercolor artist and didn’t pick up a brush until I was 61 years old. I always admired other people’s pictures and went to arts shows and craft shows. I started taking watercolor lessons with my friend, and I look forward to spending my free time painting. Thirty-three pieces of my art were displayed at the Postal Plaza Art Gallery in downtown Stillwater last summer. Why do you think The Ranch is worth the financial investment?

When you start thinking about cost of the home, and put pencil to paper, I came to the conclusion I can spend less living here than in my own home, from maintaining the yard and all that work. It will be a freeing experience.

The Ranch Marketing Office 1329 South Western Road Stillwater, OK 74074

PHOTOS / THE RANCH

For more information, visit TheRanchLiving.org or call 866-463-6726.

Walter and Leann Voss

Althea Wright

Event Inspires and Applauds Philanthropy Women for OSU awards highlight sixth annual symposium.

Philanthropist of the Year Ellis has a lifetime of philanthropic giving, leadership and service. She co-chaired Bringing Dreams to Life, OSU’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, and led the campaign to renovate Boone Pickens Stadium. She has served as a trustee for several organizations, including the OSU Foundation, Oklahoma City Community Foundation

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and the Presbyterian Health Foundation. She is also involved in numerous other civic organizations and has earned many honors, including 2005 induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Ellis calls her latest recognition humbling because of her respect for Women for OSU and the five previous Philanthropists of the Year: Marilynn Thoma, Lola Lehman, Linda Shackelford, Martha Burger and Sue Taylor. “The only thing that makes me feel a little bit worthy of this recognition is that my blood does run orange, and it’s a very bright orange,” Ellis says. She applauds Women for OSU for its scholarship program. “The one gift that will last a lifetime is education,” Ellis says. “Nothing can take that away from you.” She told attendees: “Tomorrow holds a bright new promise and offers an unlimited opportunity for us to learn, to grow and to serve. I want to congratulate these outstanding students that will be the scholarship recipients today, and I want to thank you for your generosity in making these scholarships possible.” Scholarship recipients One beneficiary of that generosity is Gibson, an economics sophomore from Ada, Okla. She has served in leadership positions with community service projects including Colors for a Cause, Dance Marathon, Phillips 66 Aviation Ball, Gravity Weekend and Polar Plunge. Gibson is a member of the Student Government Association, Student Alumni Board, International Women’s Fraternity, Student Foundation and Homecoming 2013 Steering Committee.

PHOTOS / BENTON RUDD

Inspirational speeches, emotional award presentations and the energy of a room packed with difference-makers are all hallmarks of the annual Women for Oklahoma State University Symposium. In April, the sixth symposium continued the event’s history of sellouts when 359 attendees filled the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center’s Click Hall. Women for OSU recognized Nancy Payne Ellis of Oklahoma City as its Philanthropist of the Year and presented $5,000 scholarships to student philanthropists Charlie Gibson, Nadir Nibras, Nicole Ralston, Chacey Schoeppel and Aubrey Scott. Trish Houston Prawl, a founding member and the current chair of Women for OSU, says hearing from the students is one reason the symposium is among her favorite events every year. She notes that the organization has now awarded $74,000 in scholarships to 22 students. “I’m so proud to be the chairman of a group of such awesome women,” Prawl says. “We mentor young men and women, helping them succeed in many ways. We especially remind them that philanthropy is a really important part of life. We’ve had an amazing run inspiring young people in philanthropy and rewarding them by helping them go to school.”

TOP: Women for OSU honored Nancy Payne Ellis as its Philanthropist of the Year during the sixth annual Women for OSU Symposium. BOTTOM: Jean Chatzky, an awardwinning personal finance journalist, delivered the keynote speech. “I make time for philanthropy in spite of my other activities because I can; because it’s possible,” Gibson says. “Opportunity implies obligation, and I have an opportunity to help, so I’m going to.” Nibras, a native of Bangladesh, is a mechanical engineering junior with a focus on biomedical engineering. His passion for equality led him to pursue a minor in gender and women’s studies. He

PHOTO / CHRIS LEWIS

is president of the OSU chapter of One in Four, an organization dedicated to the prevention of rape and sexual assault. He has also raised awareness of sweatshop conditions abroad and met with union leaders from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In addition, he is president of the OSU Cultural Exchange and a member of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council. “I feel like if I don’t give back I’m being selfish because I have been blessed to receive so much help from others in overcoming challenges,” Nibras says. “I feel it is now my responsibility to give back to the world.” Ralston is a marketing junior from Stillwater, Okla. She was family relations chair for Dance Marathon and fundraising coordinator for a Make-A-Wish Foundation event. She also volunteers with the Oklahoma Blood Institute, Kanakuk Kamps, Special Olympics, OU Children’s Hospital, Wings of Hope, Humane Society and K-Life Ministries. She is a Spears School of Business Scholar Leader and was a Mortar Board Top Ten Freshman Woman. “My motivation for being involved in so much is my dad,” Ralston says. “He never had schooling after high school, and now he is the general manager of a company. He’s motivation for me.” Schoeppel is an agribusiness and pre-law junior from Fairview, Okla. The Truman Scholar volunteers 20-30 hours weekly as stateside director for Ubuntu Youth, a South African after-school program. She also spends summers in South Africa, volunteering 40-60 hours per week. Schoeppel was a Top Ten Freshman, Top Three Sophomore Greek Woman, Top Three Freshman Greek Woman and the Student Alumni Board Campus Ambassador Member of the Year. “I enjoy being able to teach (South African) students small-scale agricultural operations,” Schoeppel says. “To be able to provide them a sense of stability and lay a foundation on which they can build and relieve the cost of food is really incredible.” Scott, an early childhood education junior, is from Owasso, Okla. Her passion for children has led her to teach 2-yearolds in OSU’s Child Development Lab and serve as an alternate caregiver for foster

Women for OSU presented $5,000 scholarships to, from left, Aubrey Scott, Nadir Nibras, Charlie Gibson, Nicole Ralston and Chacey Schoeppel.

children. She also volunteers with Early Head Start, Into the Streets, LifeKids, Read Across America, Make Promises Happen camp and numerous other organizations. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Upsilon Omicron honor society and Academic Integrity Panel. “Having the chance to work with children and give them something they can’t give themselves is so enriching,” says Scott. “That is what makes me so joyful.” Remembering Ramona Paul Just before lunch, the group paused to remember Ramona Paul, a founding member of the organization who was chair of the Awards Committee until she died last June. Kirk Jewell, president of the OSU Foundation, announced that Paul’s husband, Homer, was honoring her by donating $250,000 to establish the Ramona Ware Emmons Paul Endowed Professorship in the College of Human Sciences (More coverage of Paul’s legacy and this gift are on Page 95). Other speakers Sharon Trojan, current chair of the awards committee, introduced Ellis and the five scholarship recipients. Earlier in the day, Ann Hargis, OSU’s first lady and a founding member of Women for OSU, provided an update on the university. Jennifer Zeppelin, chief meteorologist of Tulsa’s KTUL-TV, served as master of ceremonies.

The keynote speaker was Jean Chatzky, financial editor for NBC’s Today Show, an award-winning personal finance journalist, AARP’s personal finance ambassador and the host of Money Matters with Jean Chatzky on RLTV. She shared insights on philanthropy and investing wisely. “Givers aren’t born. They’re grown,” Chatzky says. “We raise givers by modeling giving for our children and grandchildren. ... They have to understand why we make time for philanthropy in our very busy lives if we’re going to expect them to make time for it in theirs.” She adds, “If we lift each other up and cheer each other on and stand in each other’s corners, then we really can change the world and not just for ourselves but for our daughters and granddaughters to come.” Looking ahead Zeppelin announced that the 2015 Symposium will be April 16. The keynote speaker will be Marlee Matlin, an Academy Awardwinning actress and emissary for the Marlee Matlin deaf community. She is also a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross and was the chairwoman for National Volunteer Week in 1995. JAC O B L O N G A N

For more information about Women for OSU or to view photos and a video highlighting the symposium, visit OSUgiving.com/women.

Butler Does It HOW THE

Keeping the fun in dysfunctional

S T O R Y B Y K E V I N K L I N T W O RT H | P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y B RU C E WAT E R F I E L D

posse replay: This story first ran in the April issue of POSSE Magazine. To read other great OSU athletics stories, consider joining the POSSE. Annual donations to OSU athletics of $150 or more qualify for POSSE membership and include an annual subscription to POSSE Magazine. Go to okstateposse.com for details.

FALL 2014

hink of a major college football team as a small company — or maybe, more accurately, a very large, sometimes dysfunctional, family. Yeah. Let’s go with a large family of around 225 people or so. The day-to-day lives are frenetic — imagine an extended family get-together that never ends, ever. Each area of the football family has its special needs, demands and time constraints. There are typically more than 125 players on Oklahoma State’s football roster and another 90 who deal with Cowboy football on a daily basis. And there are only two people on campus who deal with each and every group, consistently, if not daily. They are head coach Mike Gundy

and Director of Football Operations Mack Butler. In some ways, Gundy is the brains and Butler the muscle. But that is selling Butler short because he is often busy solving problems most of us never hear about. He is the spoke; the rest of us are the wheel. There are no doubt hundreds, if not thousands, of football fanatics who would jump at the chance to join the ranks of the Mack Butlers of the college football world. But before you sign up for a career in college athletics, read a little further.

utler’s duties are too numerous to completely cover. His responsibilities touch every aspect of OSU’s football program. Think of every chore you can imagine associated with running a college football program, and rest assured there are 50 more that have never crossed your mind. Did you leave out the “Football 101 For Women” program? How about calculating the mileage and per diem that each player receives if they make the bowl trip on their own? What about those colorful continues

Mack Butler

photos on the wall of the coaches’ level? If two Cowboys have an issue as roommates, it’s time to call Butler. Does someone have their music playing too loud in the residence hall? If so, it falls on Butler’s desk.

id you know that Butler never sees the second half of the Cowboys’ road games? He leaves early for the local airport to check on the team charter, security and bus access to the tarmac. When the Cowboy team flight arrives at its road destination Friday afternoons, the first smiling face they see when stepping off the plane is Butler, usually in a sweater vest and orange tie, barking instructions for passengers as they load onto one of several team buses. He arrives at the game site a day before the team to “advance the game.” He works out details at the team hotel to avoid lines at the front desk. He works on team meals, best routes to the stadium on game day, police escorts; even the postgame team snack (a snack to players is a meal to the rest of us) falls under his jurisdiction. Butler’s to-do list is never conquered. The completion of one major task is no time for pause or celebration. It’s a cue to move on to the next chore, or rather, the most pressing chore. His daily, monthly and yearly calendars are legendary around the OSU complex. Every possible detail is imbedded in the fine print. Something Butler has probably said at some point in his administrative career, “Coach, that practice we have scheduled four months from now — we may want to move it up two hours — gonna be a solar eclipse that day.” When you strip it down to basics, Butler and his counterparts across the country have a simple task. Take care of absolutely everything. Sometimes that’s a perk; sometimes that’s an obstacle. Sometimes you are admired. Often times you are a target, but you are never in the shadows.

n college athletics, there are two camps — coaches and administrators. Directors of football operations spend 100 percent of their time administrating the details, but they are probably categorized as coaches by the rest of the administration. They run in both worlds

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Tulsa we beat Texas A&M after falling way behind. That was big.”

By taking care of everything, the his favorite win was directors of football operations B uttheperhaps stunning Bedlam upset in when the 3-7 Cowboys shocked are allowing coaches to coach. 2001 fourth-ranked Oklahoma in Norman They are taking care of the details, to conclude Miles’ first year as OSU’s coach. reading the fine print, anticipating head“The thing about that game was that the outcome was just so unexpected,” the speed bumps, gauging a Butler says. “OU was still trying to get to coach’s reaction before a coach the national championship game, and we had just gotten our first Big 12 win the has time to react or formulate a week before. We came back to Stillwater, and the were packed. It was just plan. To many folks on campus, a bigger streets rush because when you woke up and sometimes even within the Saturday morning it wasn’t the outcome expected.” athletic department, the director anyone Butler made the jump from the high school ranks to the college of operations is the face of the Oklahoma level via Northeastern Oklahoma A&M football program. Junior College in Miami. Among his fellow — quickly. They must find a middle ground that works for everyone when everyone has a different end game. And that challenge fits Butler perfectly. He has probably had white hair since before attendeding his first school dance. He has the folksy “aw shucks” approach that helps him deliver bad news in an acceptable way: imagine Andy Griffith in his Matlock years, only with much more energy and in Nikes. Butler is a high school coach turned college coach turned operations guy. He is in his second stint at Oklahoma State after originally taking on director duties in Stillwater under Les Miles. When Miles headed to Louisiana State University before the 2005 season, Butler made the move as well. He was in Baton Rouge for four years, long enough to collect a national championship ring. But when a position at Oklahoma State opened up, Butler slid back into his old job, well, one of his old jobs. During the course of his career, he has coached and taught at Oklahoma high schools in Stigler, McAlester and Wilburton. He’s also worked at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and the University of Tulsa. He’s taught classes

ranging from drivers’ education (where he once had a friendly state trooper pull over a student just to make an impression), human relations, accounting, marketing, typing and business. However, the thread that connects his career is football. Butler is a graduate of Fairfax High School, which he likes to say is a suburb of Little Chief and Grey Horse in Osage County, Okla. He caught the football bug from his older brother, David, who spent more than two decades coaching Oklahoma high schools before leaving for the energy field. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Central State (now the University of Central Oklahoma) and a master’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State, he followed his sibling into the prep wars. Even today, with two national championship rings in the vault, he considers a 1985 playoff win by his Wilburton team over Muskogee Hilldale to be one of his all-time favorite victories. “That high school game will always be special to me for a lot of reasons,” Butler says. “But there are a lot of games you think about. We won a national championship at NEO and at LSU. While I was at

coaches on the staff was Dale Patterson, who would later serve as assistant director of football operations at OSU. Patterson has since returned to NEO as head coach and then athletic director. “I taught 12 hours of class and coached the defensive backs,” Butler says of NEO. “We won the national championship my first year and for the next two years we had really good football teams and really good players — high level players. I think one year 32 of our 36 sophomores signed with Division I programs.” After three years at NEO, Butler moved to NCAA Division I for the first time, joining Dave Rader’s staff at Tulsa, where he coached tight ends, defensive ends and eventually the secondary. That stint ended when TU went through the painful process of dismissing Rader, a popular former Golden Hurricane player. To the average college football fan the dismissal of a coaching staff is considered routine, part of life, and sometimes celebrated. In actuality, the dismissal of a head coach causes massive collateral damage and casts uncertainty on many families associated with the program, most of whom have bank accounts that pale in the comparison to that of the newly deposed head coach. “I like to think the TU people liked me continues

and thought I worked hard and was loyal,” Butler says. “And I think, I guess I actually heard later that the athletic director told the new coach (Keith Burns) that he needed to find a way to keep me around.”

he way to keep him around was to name him the director of football operations, a position and title that was still new in college football and new to Tulsa. While Butler grew into his administrative role, Tulsa struggled under Burns. And an hour away in Stillwater, more change was afoot. Former assistant coach Les Miles was about to take over the head coaching duties at Oklahoma State. “I knew Les from when he was an assistant at OSU,” he says. “We recruited

than I did with coach Miles. I got along really well with Terry Don, and I think that was beneficial for Les.” The Cowboys’ fortunes improved under Miles, and after four years and three bowl appearances, he left for LSU. Butler was alongside Miles for four years in Baton Rouge and was in the Superdome in New Orleans when LSU beat Ohio State to claim the national title. A year later, word began to trickle out that Butler’s old position at OSU was vacant. It didn’t take a lot of persuasion for the “old Okie,” to use his term, to return to Oklahoma State, this time as the director of football operations under Gundy. “I’m from Oklahoma, and my family

Gundy once told the statewide media that he really didn’t know how OSU survived, much less competed, before the transformational gifts of Boone Pickens. Butler witnessed the evolution firsthand. “When I first got here in 2001 OSU had been to one bowl game in 10 years,” Butler says. “Think about that.” Former head coach Bob Simmons had led OSU to the 1997 Alamo Bowl. Butler returned to Stillwater after the 2008 season, where he found the Cowboys coming off a 9-4 campaign and a trip to the Holiday Bowl. The school’s first-ever preseason The Associated Press top 10 ranking was just months away, along with a season-opening rededication of the new Boone Pickens Stadium and its spiffy west end zone that now housed OSU football on a daily basis. A Big 12 South co-championship would come the second year after Butler’s return, and an outright Big 12 title would follow in 2011. “Even when we were at LSU, we knew what was going on here,” he says. “You knew that the facilities and budgets were different, and you now had a chance to win at a higher level. You had facilities that could rival anyone’s.” For Butler, the facility facelift was a repeat. At LSU, the Tigers had opened a new football operations center just months after the arrival of the new football staff. “I was lucky in that regard,” he says of his own personal facility boon. “You could easily go through your entire career and not get a chance to be a part of that one time, and I experienced it twice in four years.”

D The Butler family, from left, Mack, Jacque, Jesse and Shelby

against each other, and we had a relationship. OSU was going to let him hire the school’s first operations guy, and he decided on me. I had some chances to go coach, but I wanted to be in the Big 12 just like anybody would. “Another strong influence was (thenOSU athletic director) Terry Don Phillips. He really wanted Les to succeed. To be honest, I had a longer interview with him

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is from Oklahoma,” he says. “I was excited to come back, and I knew a lot had changed. Mike (Gundy) had already shown he could do some things and just the entire situation was different. The staffing was better. The expectations were higher. Boone Pickens had just changed the game for Oklahoma State in so many ways.”

uring a bowl trip, the entire football program, from offices to the equipment room, is relocated for a week. It is a massive undertaking with very little lead time. The logistics and travel have to be arranged during the heart of the holiday rush. The biggest challenge for a member of the football operations staff begins and ends with the bowl game. Remember that Butler is the man with the yearly calendar. He makes a trip, sometimes two trips, to OSU’s fall road venues during each summer to prepare for team travel in the fall.

“I’m from Oklahoma and my family is from Oklahoma. I was excited to come back and I knew a lot had changed. Mike (Gundy) had already shown he could do some things and just the entire situation was different. The staffing was better, the expectations were higher. Boone Pickens had just changed the game for Oklahoma State in so many ways.” Bowl week can be exhausting for Butler and the folks who help him the most when it comes to bowl game administration. That small group includes Danielle Clary, who serves as Gundy’s administrative assistant; Rod Johnson, assistant director of football operations; and Marty Sargent, associate athletic director. “There are numerous NCAA rules in play when it comes to travel and the student-athlete,” Butler says. “As soon as the bowl site is announced, we meet with the folks from the athletic department and decide if this is a team charter trip or do we meet each other at the site.” OSU took a team charter out of Stillwater to the Fiesta, Insight, Alamo and Holiday bowls. The Cotton Bowl appearances were of the “see you there” variety. Then there is mileage to calculate for those driving and flights to book for those whose homes are not in Oklahoma, Texas or Arkansas. Shuttles from the airport must be ready for the arrival of numerous Cowboys from their various flights. At the 2012 Heart of Dallas Bowl, a Cowboy offensive lineman hopped into his shuttle and asked for a ride to the Omni Hotel, which is in downtown Dallas. And the driver complied with a quick trip to the Omni — in Fort Worth. “For those who drive, we park their

PHOTO / CHRIS DEAL

“I would say it’s the worst (time) because you have no preparation. From that Sunday when your destination is announced until you leave you have four weeks if you are lucky. Sometimes it’s just three weeks. This year was a challenge with Bedlam being a week later.” The OSU football family completely stuffs two semis for its bowl trek. One is marked hotel, and one is for the football practice site and stadium on game day. “We pack up the entire football office and really the entire operation,” Butler says. “I have a checklist, and we order office supplies specific for bowl week. The athletic training staff relocates as well, along with the equipment room. Rob Glass and his crew set up a weight room at the team hotel. “It’s a regular game week when we get there,” Butler says. “We lift three times a week just like we do at home. “The hard part for me,” he adds, “is that you have to rely so much on other people during the bowl games. Good people but not necessarily people that you know.” During the course of the week, there are security and bed check issues to navigate, player shuttles to supervise, the wives and children of the football family to consider, numerous team meals that might not be part of official bowl activities, and it’s a normal game week.

cars and take their keys for the week,” Butler says. Then there’s the return trip. After the Cowboys’ 2014 Cotton Bowl game with Missouri ended, it was close to 1 a.m. when the team returned to its hotel — the Gaylord Texan. By 5:30 a.m., several players had loaded the shuttle back to the airport to squeeze in the last bit of down time before the beginning of the spring semester. After the bowl game, when the players have scattered and the coaches have hit the recruiting trail, it’s time for the bowl’s postmortem (sifting through and paying piles of invoices). Then it’s on to signing day, spring football, summer camps and deeper into that yearlong calendar. “This job has really evolved into two positions,” Butler says. “And Rod Johnson really plays a huge part. He has a background in academics and compliance that has really been helpful for us. The way everything has grown, one person couldn’t do it all anymore.” If, at the end of a game, or end of a road trip, a director of football operations

Mack Butler with Rod Johnson looks especially tired, there’s a reason. They had a doubleheader that day. “I get to win or lose twice on game days,” Butler says. “Once is during the game and the other is if everything goes well.” With a family of 225 to watch out for, what could possibly go wrong?

Game Day CO w BOY

OSU Alumni Association

Corral

The Cowboy Corral at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center is fun for the whole family! Join Pistol Pete, the OSU Spirit Squad and the OSU Cowboy Marching Band for a pep rally prior to the Spirit Walk. Weather permitting, Bullet will also be available for photos. Enjoy Hideaway Pizza and hamburgers, hotdogs and BBQ brisket from Freddie Paul’s. While dining, check out other great college matchups on our two 15-foot screens. Sept. 6 vs. Missouri State |Pistol Pete Presentation Join us for the Pistol Pete spurs presentation. Former Pistol Petes are encouraged to attend.

Sept. 13 vs. UTSA | Distinguished Alumni Day

Celebrate with the Alumni Association as we honor six Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

Oct. 4 vs. Iowa State

Discounted Tickets

Members of the OSU Alumni Association can take advantage of discounted football tickets to two OSU football games this season!

Oct. 25 vs. WVU | Homecoming 2014

Missouri State vs. OSU | Sept. 6 Ticket Price: $35 each (Regularly $50)

Nov. 15 vs. Texas

WVU vs. OSU (Homecoming)| Oct. 25 Ticket Price: $50 each (Regularly $90)

Doors open 3½ hours prior to kickoff. Learn more at orangeconnection.org/cowboycorral.

Purchase your discounted tickets while supplies last at orangeconnection.org/athleticdiscounts.

Come back for “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration” and one of OSU’s greatest traditions. Help us honor Jeraldine Brown as our 2014 American Indian Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride.

Guide

2014

The OSU Alumni Association is your connection to all things ORANGE on game day.

Game Day Parking

Affordable, on-campus parking on game days is available from your Alumni Association! Reserved spaces are available in the paved parking lot located at the southwest corner of University Avenue and Hester Street. The lot is within easy walking distance of game day favorites such as the Cowboy Corral, the OSU Student Union, Hideaway Pizza, Eskimo Joe’s and The Strip.

Discounts on Spirit Gear OSU Alumni Association members can save 10% at the University Store and shopokstate.com. Discounts are also offered at nearby stores including Chris’ University Spirit, DuPree Sports, Elizabeth’s, For Pete’s Sake, Hall of Fame Book Trader and The End Zone. Visit orangeconnection.org/save for a complete list of merchant discounts.

Nationwide Watch Parties Reserved parking (5 games) $400/space for members $500/space for nonmembers Per game reserved parking $80/space for members $100/space for nonmembers Group or Businesses: Five reserved parking spaces $1,750 for members $2,350 for nonmembers Three reserved parking spaces $1,150 for members $1,450 for nonmembers For more information, please contact Matt Morgan at 405.744.8015 or visit orangeconnection.org/cowboycorral.

Join fellow OSU fans at a watch party near you to cheer on the Cowboys and Cowgirls and celebrate your mutual love of ORANGE. 80% of all OSU alumni live within an alumni chapter area. Involvement in your local chapter is the perfect way to connect with Oklahoma State in your part of the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to join a watch party this season! To find or start a watch party location near you, visit orangeconnection.org/ watchparty.

Program Breaks Through Academic Barriers Bank of America grants provide Tutors in the Classroom.

“I didn’t like school until I met with a group of people at the center and really started studying a lot. If I hadn’t visited the lab, I wouldn’t have made the A’s and B’s that I ended up making.” — John Cain

John Cain, who is studying nurse science, stands in front of the OSU-OKC Learning Resource Center, which houses the Student Success and Opportunity Center. The center has helped Cain return to school after serving as a U.S. Marine. PHOTO / MICHELLE TALAMANTES

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When 32-year-old John Cain enrolled at OSU-Oklahoma City, he had reservations. The single father wasn’t looking forward to brushing up on his math and English skills after years of serving as a Marine and working at a small fire department. He enjoyed being outdoors and playing sports, and now he found himself in the classroom. Luckily, OSU-OKC’s Student Success and Opportunity Center offered many services to help with his studies, including Tutors in the Classroom. As part of the program, tutors are available to assist students in their classrooms while helping them transition into utilizing the more extensive tutoring in the SSOC. Tutors are also available for review or group-study sessions and proctoring exams. “I didn’t like school until I met with a group of people at the center and really started studying a lot,” Cain says. “I got into it. If I hadn’t visited the lab, I wouldn’t have made the A’s and B’s that I ended up making in my classes.” The Tutors in the Classroom program started in fall 2013 with $20,000 in grants from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. It continues to thrive, resulting in higher GPAs in developmental courses and a positive response from students. “The SSOC sees hundreds of students each semester,” says center director Kyle Cohlmia. “However, we know there are many more students who may need tutoring but shy away because of time constraints, insecurities about tutoring or lack of knowledge of what we offer. “What’s great about the Tutors in the Classroom project is that we meet the students while they are in class. It is a non-invasive way to provide supplemental instruction for students who may not otherwise receive tutoring, and it helps connect students not only with an SSOC tutor but also with each other.” The tutors attend classes, help instructors, set up group-study sessions and give individual assistance. OSU-OKC’s Division of Initial College Studies has even set up a hybrid class that combines pre-algebra and introduction to algebra for the Tutors in the Classroom program. “We wanted to find a way to involve the tutors directly in the classroom, and this course allows for that interaction,” says DeNara Hill, the division’s head. “It also helps take the pressure of reaching every student off our instructors because they know they have the assistance of a tutor familiar with the students and the material. In the end, students have more meaningful one-on-one guidance, which results in higher success rates,” she says. “Because of the success of the hybrid course we designed, we are planning on implementing this program into our developmental writing courses in the fall.” Students call the extra guidance from tutors “immensely” helpful. “I’ve been out of school for a long time, so I had to go

back and relearn a lot of math,” Cain says. “On lab day, the teacher would make sure you knew the process so you could go on to the next step. But if it became difficult, the teacher and the tutor could split the class and get to more students.” OSU-OKC faculty and staff created a program that provides an educational foundation for students. Tutors in the Classroom also required generous community support such as Bank of America’s contributions. “Supporting education is a cornerstone of how Bank of America is helping to strengthen communities and our local economy,” says Tony Shinn, the bank’s Oklahoma City market president. “We know that academic success is a critical connect point to an individual’s future prosperity. By improving course completion rates and student confidence, Tutors in the Classroom is removing two of the most significant barriers to achieving that success and helping launch brighter academic futures.” OSU-OKC faculty members are also thankful for assistance. “I am very grateful to have the tutors during lab days,” says Amy Monks, an adjunct professor teaching pre-algebra and introduction to algebra. “I know students sometimes feel more comfortable and are more receptive to help from someone who is not their instructor. I appreciate the tutor’s professionalism and knowledge of the material.” During the spring 2014 semester, more students in intermediate algebra who participated in Tutors in the Classroom passed (earning at least a C) than those not involved in the program. Tutors in the Classroom has also helped increase the number of students visiting the SSOC for math tutoring, which is the program’s main goal. There has been a 15.6 percent increase in students seeking math tutoring since spring 2013. Student success rates are expected to increase as the program evolves. Cohlmia enjoys seeing the progress made by students participating in Tutors in the Classroom. She expects to watch the students’ GPAs rise, and she will applaud as they receive their diplomas. “Because of the project, our math lab is booming each day with students bunched around tutors, writing on whiteboards, collaborating with each other, and most importantly, learning how to learn,” she says. For Cain, the top priority is providing for his 3-year-old son. He plans to get his bachelor’s after earning his associate degree. Because he got so much out of the Tutors in the Classroom program, he wants other students to know about the tutoring options available on campus. “It’s important that these tutoring programs are out there,” Cain says. “Everyone is different. I took one class at a time, and now I understand that if you work hard at it, you can do it. Working hard has been a huge success for me.” K A N DAC E TAY L O R

“Because of the project, our math lab is booming each day with students bunched around tutors, writing on whiteboards, collaborating with each other, and most importantly, learning how to learn.” — Kyle Cohlmia 43

Your connection to OSU is a priority for the Alumni Association. That’s why we’ve redesigned orangeconnection.org to make it accessible from any device and easier to navigate. Visit our new site on your computer, tablet or smart phone, and discover all the ways to get involved, stay informed, give back and show your pride in OSU. There’s never been a better time to be a Cowboy, and there have never been more reasons to engage with the OSU family. Visit the new orangeconnection.org today, and experience your enhanced connection to America’s Brightest Orange!

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride.

A Dimensional Transformation The future is now at OSUIT.

Story by Sara Plummer Photos by Janelle Azevedo

A digital image is loaded into the 3-D printer.

The soles of the boots begin to take shape after a few hours.

Halfway through printing, the boots begin to form.

A water-based, 150-degree solution melts dark support material created during printing.

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If you can imagine it, you can create it — in three dimensions in a matter of hours, in fact. In just a few short years, 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has revolutionized the manufacturing industry and is responsible for some of the latest advancements in medicine, engineering design and aerospace technology. It has also become a larger focus of the curriculum in OSU Institute of Technology’s manufacturing technologies program. OSUIT instructor Ken Milliman has been following the industry trend and says any design that can be scanned into a computer can be made into a 3-D object. “If you can draw it, we can make it,” Milliman says. A drawing or digital file of the object is scanned into the computer where the user can modify size or shape. The process adds layers of material two human hairs thick to create the object, usually in a hard plastic, while a dark metallic material is added as support. Once the printer finishes, which could take two hours to half a day depending on size, the object is placed in a hot water solution, and the support material melts away, leaving the completed object. “It runs unmanned so it doesn’t take a lot of my time,” Milliman says. “There’s not a lot of labor associated with it.” Students utilize the program’s 3-D printer for a number of projects and assignments each semester, including to design a project with multiple reproduced parts that must fit together. “At OSUIT, we use the printer quite a bit,” he says. Manufacturing technologies student Jason Guess and several of his classmates designed and built an object using pieces created in the 3-D printer. His team chose

After being painted America’s Brightest Orange, the boots are complete.

to make a Transformer-like action figure that started as a phone booth and could convert into a robot. “It was 45 parts we snapped together. We had to figure out how to utilize the space on the palette inside the printer so we could print as many pieces (at one time) as we could to save printing time,” Guess says. Garrett McAlister, another student at OSUIT in Okmulgee, Okla., will get his chance on the machine this semester. “This is pretty cool,” he says. “You’ll have companies that are staying on top of what’s out there. Knowing how

to use these machines makes us more marketable.” Technicians can build parts for industry and try them out before companies spend thousands on models, Milliman says. “My son works as an engineer at an aerospace company in Tulsa designing brackets for plane wings. He drew a prototype for a bracket, scanned the design and made the prototype using a 3-D printer,” he says. Dentures, medical implants, prosthetics and even artificial hips and joints can be personalized using a specific patient’s X-rays scanned into the computer. Objects can be printed out of aluminum or steel. Replacement parts that are no longer available or require an extended delivery time can be made in-house, trimming production delays and saving time and money. Milliman says a 3-D printer will soon come in handy in space exploration. “A few years ago, the International Space Station had a restroom malfunction. They had to wait for a space shuttle to come up and bring the part they needed.” NASA recently announced it will begin producing spacecraft and instrument parts that can be repaired and replaced with printers in space. “If they had one of these machines, they could have made the part overnight,” Milliman says. McAlister says as 3-D printers become more prevalent and cost-effective, he sees them replacing current technologies used in manufacturing. “It’s good to know where the industry is going and exciting to see what the future holds,” he says. This type of rapid prototyping extends well beyond the assembly line and has potential for mass market appeal. Milliman says eventually he sees two markets for 3-D printers — home use and industrial use. “They’re getting cheaper and faster and easier,” he says. “What I’ve seen in the 40 years I’ve been in the manufacturing industry: The technology has advanced so fast. I can’t imagine the next 40 years. This is Star Wars stuff.”

Alli Mullins

Linked by Trust Mullins wins first Outstanding A&S Mentor Award.

“He treats everybody with a real sense of respect. As an arry Mullins, a nationally renowned scholar in pediatric undergraduate student, it is very intimidating to go to a tenured psychology, is considered one of OSU’s best mentors. He professor and try to articulate your goals and dreams. He does credits much of his success to the relationship he developed with not make you feel that way at all. He’s very down-to-earth and his own mentor almost 40 years ago. treats you like you know what you’re talking about.” Long before Mullins became head of OSU’s Department of Psychology, director of clinical training and Vaughn O. iegel’s influence also shows in Larry Mullins’ research, Vennerberg II Professor of Psychology, he was a 1977 psychology which focuses on coping for families of children with alumnus entering graduate school at the University of Missouri. chronic illnesses or developmental disabilities. Mullins found his There he met Larry Siegel, a past president of the Society of calling while he was a graduate student performing field research Pediatric Psychology, who set Mullins on a unique path. under Siegel and Lizette Peterson, working with children underPediatric psychology was an emerging field — one that going medical and dental procedures. He juxtaposed his studies Mullins didn’t even know existed. He began working with Siegel, of more widely known adult mental disorders with specific challearning not just a new area of study, but also what makes a lenges faced by children. Whereas working with adults felt like teacher into a mentor. “working uphill,” he found he could often have a quicker effect “(Siegel) treated me like a junior colleague,” Mullins says. on younger subjects. “He let me know we were part of a team, and he was very “I was working in the clinic with college students with depresgracious with his time.” sion, anxiety and personality disorders, and I was struck by how Mullins carries that attitude with his students. His trust in challenging that was and how very slow progress was in some them has paid off with the quality of their work and is also a cases,” he says. “And then all of a sudden, in the field of pediatric big reason he won the inaugural College of Arts and Sciences psychology, you’re talking about working with families of kids Outstanding Mentor Award in April. who are attempting to cope with something that STORY BY In a letter of recommendation for the honor, can sometimes be tragic, but they come in with all BRI A N PE TRO T TA a student writes, “He allows his students to gain these resources, and so you can affect change relaexperience.” Another adds, “When I think of the tively quickly.” type of psychologist I want to become, I think of him.” After completing his doctorate in 1983, Mullins landed an Recent graduate Alli Mullins (no relation) elaborates on internship with the Children’s Hospital at the University of his mentorship. continues

FALL 2014

“I don’t (mentor) for the prizes. I do it because I love it.” —

L ARRY MULLINS

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and then returned to OSU in 1995. He has attracted millions of dollars in grants, including the professorship generously established by Vaughn Vennerberg. Mullins utilizes the endowment’s annual production to support his research and that of graduate students. “Among other things, we have been able to secure important hardware for our research on physical activity and cognitive recovery in pediatric cancer survivors, and we have also been able to travel to professional conferences to present our work,” Mullins says. “Vaughn’s graciousness will certainly allow us to move our research forward in a manner that we otherwise could not.” His research captured the imagination of many students who, like Mullins in his graduate-school days, are contemplating what they want to do with their academic careers.

lli Mullins graduated in May after earning the psychology department’s Outstanding Senior Award. It was not what she had envisioned as a freshman, when she planned to major in English and then attend law school to focus on family law. However, she so enjoyed her introductory psychology class that she quickly switched gears. While searching the psychology department’s website for ways to get more involved, she found Larry Mullins’ page. As she read through his background and accomplishments, she says, “It was like a switch flipped.” She interviewed for a position in the Pediatric and Health Psychology Research Laboratory, and Larry Mullins says she was an easy hire. “You would not have known when I met her that she was a freshman,” he says. “She was poised. She was thoughtful and at the same time had humility and indicated that she was really interested in working in a research lab, so really the first thing that struck me was her maturity.” The positive impression the freshman from Haworth, Okla., made on the department head began a process that led to her award-winning undergraduate success. She is returning to OSU this fall

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Cindy Reese Melancon, right, presents the psychology department’s Outstanding Senior Award to Alli Mullins during the College of Arts and Sciences banquet in April. to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology with a specialization in pediatric psychology. Every step of the way, her mentor was there to help. “He encouraged me to look at all of my options and pick what was best for me,” she says. That included applying to other respected programs, even though he did not want to lose her, because he felt she needed to go through the process. She also went through the rigorous application for OSU’s program, and though Larry Mullins says she “could have gone anywhere,” she didn’t want to leave Stillwater. Alli Mullins has worked with her mentor in the lab for two years, with increasing responsibilities along the way. She began, as every undergraduate does, sitting in meetings and learning the environment. Instead of stopping there, she learned quickly and asked for more. “She assumed great responsibility, was flawless in execution and cleaned up messes,” the professor says. He succeeded with Alli Mullins — as well as with many previous students — by showing the same trust Siegel had shown in him decades ago. The students work with the professors and researchers, not just for them. A chain of command

provides structure and encourages students to ask questions. As they mature, the projects become more important and involved. Larry Mullins makes it clear how important students are to the work’s success. For example, an important survey was about to be released when they discovered a “massive” problem with the entry of some data. Though not at fault for the mistake, Alli Mullins spent eight weekend hours fixing it so they could make the deadline. “It’s that kind of commitment that you see in return for your efforts,” Larry Mullins says of the rewards for mentorship. It wasn’t just her commitment to working odd, last-minute hours, however. She also excelled working in a group. “In our lab, being able to work in a community is essential,” the professor says. “Data collection is laborious. It’s very time consuming, and if you don’t work well with others and capitalize on each other’s strengths you just cannot achieve much. Alli was able to integrate herself to just about any context.”

lli Mullins was a first-generation college student who felt privileged to be at OSU. Meanwhile, her mentor felt privileged to work with a talented and appreciative undergraduate. They reap individual awards, but their humility shows when they speak most passionately of the greatest rewards — the work and the relationships. In fact, Larry Mullins nearly didn’t pursue the Outstanding Mentor Award. Not surprisingly, a student’s recommendation letter changed his mind. “At first I was just delighted they had created this kind of award, because I think many faculty, including myself, have looked at mentoring as one of the most important facets of our jobs and, I think, clearly one of the most rewarding aspects,” he says. Amy Martindale, the college’s director of student academic services says, “One of the last things he said was, ‘I don’t (mentor) for the prizes. I do it because I love it. Then I got one of the letters from the students, and I decided to go ahead.’”

How will you remember OSU? or living trust, you make a crowning gift to OSU. Such a plan declares that you believe in OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission and you want a portion of your assets invested in this worthy cause. It can provide a visible and enduring tribute for our students, faculty and programs. If you plan to share your legacy with the OSU Foundation through your estate, we invite you to join the Heritage Society. When we know about your generosity, we can ensure your wishes for its use are met. For more information about creating a bequest through your will or living trust, or to explore other charitable at 1-800-622-4678 or giftplanning@OSUgiving.com. You can also visit us online at OSUgiving.giftlegacy.com.

GUBERNATORIAL

SHOW DOWN OSU alumni Mary Fallin and Joe Dorman duel for the governorship of Oklahoma.

wo Cowboys set for a showdown.

Ten political paces.

One ... two ... The incumbent, swathed in the mantle of command, wields a virtual big gun. Mary Fallin already has knocked down some big targets and beaten the odds to become Oklahoma’s first female governor.

Three ... four ... Challenger Joe Dorman, a state representative, brings years of legislative experience to the fight. Like Fallin, he’s a crack shot, but only one of them can win.

Five ... six ... Both candidates are Oklahoma State graduates, and both are making a push to use the leadership skills learned in Stillwater to better Oklahoma.

Seven … S T O RY

FALL 2014

“I’m very proud that we have two Oklahoma State graduates that will be in the gubernatorial race this year,” Fallin says. “I think it speaks highly of the high quality education that is produced out of Oklahoma State, and I think it’s cool.”

Eight … “We’re going to have a spirited discussion,” Dorman says. “It’s not going to be completely negative. … The spirit of politics has gotten nastier, and that’s not good for the overall system.”

Nine … Some say the future of Oklahoma lies in the balance, and political barbs will escalate as Oklahoma creeps closer to the Nov. 4 election.

Ten. Turn. Will the bullets start flying? Which will strike home and which will ricochet

BY M ICH A EL BA K ER | PHOTOS

harmlessly away? And who will remain standing once the gun smoke clears? How contentious the race will become is anybody’s guess, but one thing is true, fellow Cowboys should be proud of the fact that Republican Fallin and Democrat Dorman credit their political success and leadership qualities to the education they received at OSU. In 2011, Fallin became the first woman to be elected governor of Oklahoma. Prior to that, she served two terms as a state representative before becoming Oklahoma’s first Republican and first woman lieutenant governor in 1995. From 2006 to 2010, she served as a U.S. congresswoman. “The best thing I got from OSU that got me interested in politics was just getting a high quality education,” Fallin says. “Being able to get a good quality education helped me with critical thinking skills.” continues

BY PHIL SHOCKLEY

Dorman has been a member of the state House of Representatives since 2003 and cannot run again for his seat because of term limits. He represents a southwestern Oklahoma district that includes parts of Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady and Stephens counties. Before being elected he worked in several state government positions. Dorman reaches a similar conclusion as Fallin about how OSU developed him as a leader. “I can point back to the administrators who had an impact on my life,” he says, mentioning by name Ronald Beer, former vice president of student affairs; Robin Lacy, then registrar; and political science professor James Davis. “Many of those people helped shape my focus on how to be a better student leader and then how to be a better public servant.” SIMILAR POLITICAL BEGINNINGS Fallin and Dorman say they got interested in politics while at OSU.

FALL 2014

Dorman, a 1994 political science graduate, was a member of the Student Government Association for three years and chair of the student Senate during the 1992-93 school year. “Getting involved in student campus politics really led me toward public service,” he says. “Several people involved in student government at the time have gone on to public service as well.” Among those Dorman remembers as contemporaries are outgoing Oklahoma Rep. John Trebilcock, a Republican and 1996 English graduate, and former state Rep. Clay Pope, a Democrat and 1992 agricultural communications graduate. “We all had different paths to take, but we were all still active in politics in some form or fashion,” Dorman says. Fallin’s beginnings in politics can also be traced back to her time at OSU, but are a bit more homespun than Dorman’s. “When I was at OSU, my dad ran for mayor of the small town I grew up in, Tecumseh,” says the 1977 graduate

of the College of Human Environmental Sciences. “So, I was actually a student at OSU, and I would come home and help him campaign. He was elected mayor finally in my late 20s, after I graduated. He lost his first election, then won the second.” Fallin transferred to OSU as a junior after attending Oklahoma Baptist University. Despite just two years on campus, Fallin says her engagement in campus activities — alumni relations chair for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, member of the ROTC support group Army Blades, participant in Spring Sing among a few — helped her become a leader. “I did all that, all the Homecoming floats and the Homecoming parade,” she says. “Being in the various organizations I belonged to taught me about how to work together with all kinds of people, being a team player, but also how to be the leader and get things done.”

SMALL TOWNS, BIG ASPIRATIONS Fallin and Dorman echo each other when describing how coming to OSU from a small Oklahoma town was a perfect fit. Fallin grew up in Tecumseh. Dorman was raised in Rush Springs. “One of the things I really enjoyed about Oklahoma State was that there were people there from all over the state of Oklahoma,” Fallin says. “I came from

a very small town, so there were people there from small towns, large towns, rural, urban, all walks of life, and so you got to know a lot of people and make new friends.” Says Dorman: “The years I spent in college were just amazing to expose me to different individuals from different walks of life. I was a small-town kid from Rush Springs, where I graduated with just over 50 people. When you’re at OSU, you meet people from all over the world, and you develop friendships that last a lifetime.” It’s those friendships that Fallin and Dorman agree continue well beyond college. “OSU’s had a long track record of producing great public servants, whether it’s been elected officials, whether it’s been community leaders or business leaders throughout our state,” Fallin says. “I run into people all the time who graduated from OSU that I still work with today.” Dorman says the Cowboy presence at the Oklahoma Capitol can be an

important element in political debates. “It’s a good network that you can call upon when you need someone, and the politics that go on at the Capitol aren’t always Democrat versus Republican,” he says. “Often times you’ll see rural versus urban, and sometimes you might even see OU versus OSU. That doesn’t happen very often, but when you look at the larger issue of higher education and the importance of funding higher ed at an adequate level, having that base of support of the friends that you have through a connection to a university, it’s important to try to get something accomplished.” ABOUT EDUCATION Speaking of higher education, both candidates tout their record, although obviously Fallin prefers to stay on the path she has set while Dorman sees the need for great reform. “I would say without question we are at the low point as far as funding for continues

“I got a high quality, good education from Oklahoma State. I learned about leadership s k i l l s , t e a mw o rk , p ub l i c service, and they serve me well today.”

higher education and funding for education overall,” Dorman says. “We’ve got to get out of the mindset of cutting resources coming into the budget, and instead use those funds to invest in areas that need the additional dollars. … We have to start by building up that belief in funding education because we’ve seen it continually decline, especially in the last four years.” Fallin says the investment in higher education has been strong under her

administration, which has been pushing hard for degree-completion programs. “OSU President (Burns) Hargis has been highly engaged in my top initiatives, and that is to have more degree completions, more students who get a college degree,” she says. “One of my top goals has also been to make sure that our students graduate from college and have a reason to stay in Oklahoma because they can find a good paying job,” Fallin says. “We used to, decades ago, talk about the brain drain in Oklahoma. I think we’ve stopped that in our state because we’ve been focusing on attracting good-paying jobs, creating the right business climate so that businesses would want to expand or locate in our state.” Fallin counts among her higher education successes funding for endowed chairs at universities and finding funds to help keep the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., open.

“We were able to allocate $141 million for the endowed chairs program during the 2012 session for all the different higher education institutions for endowed chairs,” she says. “We are very proud in the 2013 session to work on the OSU Medical Center, which we were afraid might close because they were having funding issues, and so I worked very hard with the Legislature to allocate around $9 million of new funding for the OSU Medical Center to keep it open,” Fallin says. “Then, of course, we’ve just allocated new funding sources to higher education in general, as the years have allowed, with revenue growth.” Dorman calls any successes too few and far between as higher education funding cuts have hurt the universities and the students. “From the mid-1980s, higher-ed funding has gone from 50 percent of the cost for students covered by the state to the teens,” he says. “The state has an

obligation to invest in the future and provide those resources to the students to help them receive that degree and go out into the workforce and provide back. Right now, we’re seeing students go into debt more than we’ve ever seen in the past because there have not been the resources provided to help with those costs.” DIFFERENCES ASIDE This is politics, and of course there are differences between the two candidates. One thing they agree on is the importance of OSU in their careers and lives. “I think it’s just gotten better over the years,” Dorman says. “The quality of the individuals we’re seeing enter public service who are the graduates from OSU are well-versed on the issues, they come from a very diverse background. … That connection you make while you’re in college, I’d definitely say it was the best time of my life.” Fallin says her education continues to serve her as well.

“I never thought when I was going to Oklahoma State University, it never dawned on me that I’d ever run for the state Legislature or be lieutenant governor or congresswoman or governor of the state of Oklahoma,” she says. “I got a high quality, good education from Oklahoma State. I learned about leadership skills, teamwork, public service, and they serve me well today.” Both candidates wield a Cowboy education that has helped them develop the skills to succeed in the sometimes rough-and-tumble political arena. The two Cowboys are ready for their next campaign gunfight, this one for the state’s highest seat of power. Who will be left standing after the bullets have flown will be up to Oklahoma voters.

ON THE NOV. 4 GUBERNATORIAL BALLOT Joe Dorman, 43, Democrat Mary Fallin, 59, Republican Richard Prawdzienski, 66, Independent Joe Sills, 34, Independent Kimberly Willis, 51, Independent

“ I c a n p o i nt b a c k t o t h e administrators who had an impact on my life ... helped shape my focus on how to be a better student leader and then how to be a better public servant.”

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and S EC T I O N

at OSU

S P EC I A L

So what does it mean to be

America’s Hea hiest Campus? It’s show-and-tell time.

At least that’s what STATE will attempt in the following section on health and wellness

at OSU. We will, of course, fall short because the huge effort that made OSU America’s Healthiest Campus simply can’t be contained in a special section of only 35 pages. In fact, readers will find quite a bit of health and wellness has leaked into other pockets of this magazine. That’s because it has become more than just a topic here; it’s become a way of life, of looking at the world and, certainly, of OSU’s land-grant mission. Just look at the stories of student LeAnn Yadon, who decided to get off the summer couch and ride a bicycle across America, and alumnus Art Bieri, who changed the way PE is taught; the programs such as OSU’s and 4-H Club’s Fender Blender, Grandparent University and the myriad offerings on campus for students and employees; and even the growing number of therapy dogs on campus. Two energetic women who have helped lead OSU’s effort to be America’s Healthiest Campus — First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and Chief Wellness Officer Suzy Harrington — are helping us with telling our wellness story. So get a little exercise for your fingers and start flipping the pages.

Dear Cowboy Family, The dream started with Bud Seretean, a successful entrepreneur, health champion and avid Oklahoma State University alumnus, who wanted the best for his alma mater. In 1991, the Seretean Wellness Center opened on the OSU Stillwater campus. The stand-alone wellness center was the first of its kind on a college campus. The seed was planted then, and now it is in full bloom. When we arrived at OSU, Burns and I were excited to learn of the university’s vision to become America’s Healthiest Campus. It was a perfect fit with our personal philosophy, and we were thrilled to know wellness was as much of a priority on campus as it was for us. We both embraced the wellness initiative and began to discover all of the innovative and creative wellness programs already in place. It seemed that no matter where we looked, we found pockets of excellence in wellness throughout the entire OSU system: workout facilities, healthy cooking demonstrations, peer-health education groups, healthy dining options and even extension programs that take our wellness message beyond the campus borders and into Oklahoma. Most recently, the ReBoot Center was created. Targeted specifically at students, it introduces technology as a way to teach students to control and manage stress. Pete’s Pet Posse, a one-of-a-kind pet therapy program,

FALL 2014

brings smiles to our campus population as part of our commitment to emotional wellness. ComPsych offers life-balance support to OSU employees. The Mothers’ Garden, just outside the Rancher’s Club, is an herb garden to grow edibles used in the campus restaurant and is also a part of the wellness vision. Cowboy Walking Trails have been added. Throughtout the entire university system, as well as in all Oklahoma extensions, wellness programs can be found. If you want to be well, OSU is providing tools to make it happen. The wellness vision is so vast and encompasses so many areas that the president believed we needed someone to oversee and coordinate the initiatives. Suzy Harrington, OSU’s first chief wellness officer, is taking the vision to new heights. OSU has been granted the America’s Healthiest Campus trademark. The dream is a reality. Together, as a system, we are leading the charge to become a wellness model for other institutions. America’s Brightest Orange. America’s Healthiest Campus. There has never been a better — or healthier — time to be a Cowboy. In health,

Ann Hargis

SNAPSHOT

Getting a

W kout OSU’s Colvin Recreation Center, named after longtime faculty member and physical education innovator Valerie Colvin, opened in 1969. In 2004, the center underwent a $20 million renovation. At 250,000 square feet, the center is one of the top in the nation in offering students, faculty and staff various options in sports, recreation and wellness. COMPILED BY SHELBY HOLCOMB

19,398

22,037

Students

2,263

Faculty and staff

Total number of active members

376

Community visitors PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

FOR THE SPORT Intramurals is the largest student program on campus with more than 7,400 participants last year in 7,600 scheduled games playing 54 different sports and activities. Here are some of them:

355 basketball teams 317 flag football teams 214 3-on-3 basketball teams 160 volleyball teams 117 indoor soccer teams 110 participants in co-recreational bowling

109 outdoor soccer teams 48 water battleship teams 42 inner-tube water polo teams

PUMPING IT UP The Colvin Recreation Center has 10 basketball courts, eight racquetball courts, an indoor track, two cardio theater rooms, a multipurpose gym, indoor pool, outdoor pool, two dance studios, three multipurpose fitness rooms, machine weights, free weights, a rock climbing wall, a putting green and two golf simulators.

GETTING IN SHAPE

by the Numbers

800,000 — Colvin visits 1,414 — Student health risk assessments 1,314 — Massages 1,037 — Employees and students working with personal trainers

800 — Rock wall climbers 500 — Student employees 475 — Hours of nutritional counseling 2 — Registered dieticians on staff

WE’RE IN THIS Together

The Department of Wellness offers more than 160 fitness classes each week free to students and benefiteligible employees. Classes are available at three campus locations: the Colvin Recreation Center, the Seretean Wellness Center and the Student Union. These classes include aikido, aqua zumba, ballet, ballroom, Brazilian jiu jitsu, core, core and more, country western, dance party, gridiron, hiit, hip-hop, insanity, jazz, judo, kickboxing, master swim, max interval, mixed martial arts, mobility, muay Thai, Pilates, pistol pump, piyo, racquetball, spin, tabata, tae kwon do, total body, turbokick, water aerobics, yoga, yoga on the wall, yogilates and zumba. 61

Pedaling CHANGE for a

OSU junior LeAnn Yadon reinvented her summer and herself with a cross-country biking adventure. St y by Katie Parish and Chase Carter P aiʦ by Phil Shockley

or many college students, summer is a relaxing time spent with friends and family and possibly accompanied by a job or internship. It’s a recovery period from the grueling exams, demanding professors and hectic schedules. And that is how LeAnn Yadon, a nutrition major, planned the summer between her sophomore and junior years at OSU. “I wanted one summer to just stay home and sleep in,” Yadon says. “The second week, I discovered that was not my personality at all. I am not that kind of a person.” She knew she needed something different for the next summer. So, she applied to join a group pedaling across the U.S. to raise money to help refugees in Thailand and Myanmar. “I called my parents after I had already been accepted and told them, and they didn’t believe me,” Yadon says. “My mom told me she wouldn’t believe me until I looked her in the eyes and told her myself.”

Yadon and the team completed their trek on July 31 when they reached New York City, but the trip wasn’t without incident. Yadon faced tremendous adversity two weeks from the trip’s end. “I biked more than 2,000 miles, and that’s a long way,” Yadon says of her journey. “Do I feel accomplished? Did I really do it? “I did do it; I just have this extra story to tell people.” That bonus story started in Ohio with Yadon clipping the tire of a fellow rider and taking a tumble that broke her collarbone. It heroically climaxed in the Big Apple as the injured OSU student reached the Atlantic Ocean, her parents and siblings cheering her on as she approached the beach.

A SUMMER REINVENTED Upon returning to OSU for her junior year, Yadon says she already had

a different plan in mind for the next summer. She just couldn’t return home for another uneventful break, so she did what most people do for research. “I Googled anything that came to mind,” Yadon says. “Fun things to do, mission trips, study abroad, anything.” That’s when a 21-year-old with no background in biking signed up to ride across America. “It sounds crazy when I tell people I have no experience in biking,” Yadon says. “But I took a leap of faith, and the rest in history.” Yadon had stumbled across Venture Expeditions, a nonprofit organization that creates adventure-driven campaigns for communities to benefit different parts of the world. Venture started in 2002 when founder Aaron Smith and two other students from North Central University in Minneapolis decided to bike across the nation, even though none of them had any biking experience. That first summer, they raised continues

FALL 2014

JUNE 6, 2014

Marked.

more than $17,000 to donate to a South American church in need of a building. The following summer, Venture led a journey across the European countryside and raised $23,000 to support Africans living with HIV and AIDS. Venture Expeditions has expanded and grown, and along with European excursions, participants have biked around the Baltic Sea, hiked mountains in Colorado and canoed the Mississippi River. Venture Expeditions uses adventure to raise funds and awareness for missions and humanitarian initiatives around the world. “LeAnn is going to have the best and hardest summer of her life,” says Venture tour coordinator Jessica Abt. “She will tangibly provide thousands of meals to people who are actually starving and have absolutely no other way to get food as refugees that are trapped in the internally displaced persons camps in Thailand and Burma (Myanmar),” Abt says. “It’s real life, and LeAnn has chosen to use what she can, her passion and her physical strength, to actively impact the lives of those suffering in the world for good.” Yadon says she immediately connected with Venture Expeditions’ goals. She applied online and was accepted for an interview. One week later, she was offered a spot on the team. With no experience in biking, Yadon worried about how she would train and keep up with the physical demands of pedaling coast to coast. She juggled her course load and training, biking and running at least three times a week. But like Yadon, almost all Venture Expeditions’ bikers are new to the sport. The group keeps a slow and steady pace on the cross-country trek. “It was very nice to know I was not the only novice on the trip,” Yadon says. “There are several others who were beginners just like me.” Yadon returned home to Woodward, Okla., to finish preparing for the journey after the spring semester. She spent a month training six days a week and adjusting to the physical demands of biking every day. continues

JUNE 22, 2014

Hey Billings!

JUNE 8, 2014

Banana number one of the trip. Expect more

JUNE 20, 2014

JUNE 14, 2014

Crossing state borders but letting everyone know there is only one state for me: OKLAHOMA STATE.

FALL 2014

JUNE 23, 2014

110 miles 5000 calories 48 mosquito bites 9 hours And 1 flat tire later we are in Forsyth, MT. #acrossamericatour

JUNE 19, 2014

We made it to the Continental Divide! The rest is downhill, right?

On the

Road

twitter.com/leannlizyadon facebook.com/leann.yadon

Today I learned to never yawn while biking. You will choke. On bugs. #acrossamericatour

JUNE 27, 2014

Here are some of my people.

JULY 7, 2014

JULY 17, 2014 JULY 16, 2014

Today we crossed (and swam) the Mississippi River.

Broken Collarbone

Even in Milwaukee, there is a road to Oklahoma.

JUNE 30, 2014

Just did 80 miles in 4 hours. Thank you tail wind. #acrossamericatour

JULY 17, 2014

Living your life for other people is the biggest adventure you can go on.

JULY 30, 2014

Tomorrow. We. Bike. To. NYC. Ok.

JULY 4, 2014

I. Love. This. Country.

JULY 20, 2014 JULY 15, 2014

State number… Oh dang, too many to count.

Found that awesome bike at one of our bike shop trips...I think it could get me the rest of the way!

JULY 1, 2014

I got to Minnesota and all of the sudden I’m super tall!

JULY 31, 2014

Berkley the Bike takes on Chicago!

*LOCATIONS AND ROUTE ARE APPROXIMATE.

JULY 15, 2014

JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME Yadon flew to Seattle on June 5 to meet up with other tour members for more training. The group, which had 14 riders, three guides and a support vehicle departed June 8 to travel an estimated 3,460 miles — about 75 miles a day. “The first week was 100 percent the hardest part,” Yadon says. “Realizing you have to bike 90 miles when you wake up is mentally hard.” The group first had to learn how to ride together and how to communicate with the riders behind them if they had to stop or if there was debris on the road. Yadon says they were put through a major test on only the second day of the trip when they had to climb 4,000 feet through a mountain pass. “No one in our group had ever done a trip like this before,” Yadon says. “You’d be surprised the places you get blisters and the places that get sore — like your kneecaps.” Their trek took them through wideopen countryside and lots of small towns in northern states. At times, the group would ride two or three across on pavement that stretched for miles with no cars. That’s when Yadon says riders would get in some great conversations and learn about each other. “The youngest rider is 18, and the oldest is in her 60s,” Yadon says. “Every day is like a new conversation. You find out something new about someone else.” There were a number of roadside attractions the group could pass on their journey across four time zones, but the one that stands out for Yadon happened somewhere in Idaho or Montana. “I looked down a gravel path, and there were these two building-size dinosaurs,” Yadon says. “They were like concrete art, but they were the size of houses in the middle of nowhere. We never figured out what they were for.” The small towns left impressions on Yadon and the cycling team. “It’s been so interesting to see the communities, how the towns thrive and how the people interact,” Yadon says. “Some towns are thriving and some aren’t.” Each week, the group rode for six days straight, stopping on the seventh day to rest. The group slept in churches, school

FALL 2014

gyms or host homes, she says. The shelter was welcome comfort from the elements. The group was rained on nearly half of their days on the road. The temperature even dropped to 30 degrees in one mountain pass, and the riders were ushered into a tailing support vehicle to keep from freezing. The group stopped about every 20 miles to eat during the day. The nutrition major calculated she would have to eat around 5,000 calories every day to maintain her weight. Most meals consisted of granola bars, fruit snacks and spoonfuls of peanut butter — and the occasional insect. “We swallowed a bug every other day,” Yadon jokes. “Mosquitoes are high in protein, and we needed the iron.” The group also had a knack for finding ice cream shops, and they loaded up on candy and Snickers bars whenever they passed a Wal-Mart. “Our excuse is we’ll never be able to eat like this again in our lives,” Yadon says. Venture Expeditions is headquartered in Minneapolis, and the group stopped for an extended stay there. The skyscrapers of the Twin Cities and those in Chicago were a big contrast to the high plains, but Yadon says their method of transportation has worked out well for sightseeing. “You’re going a lot faster than walking, but you’re not in a car,” Yadon says. “It’s just a really fun way to explore the city.” True to their mission, the riders have been fundraising for their cause nearly everywhere they stop. They stop in churches and share the stories of the struggling people of Thailand and Myanmar. For Yadon, the amazing part came when perfect strangers who only learned of their cause minutes ago offered donations. “We’ve seen a different side of America from the backs of our bikes,” Yadon says. “We’ve seen how generous a lot of the people really are.”

TRIUMPH THROUGH ADVERSITY On July 17, Yadon and the team made their way into Ohio — the ninth state on their journey. The bikers were in a paceline formation, one following closely behind the other. Yadon says she looked back for only a second when it happened.

BORN WITH

ange BLOOD

LeAnn Yadon was born and raised in Woodward, Okla., with orange running deep in her blood. She is the daughter of OSU graduate Krista Yadon, who has a 1986 degree in home economics and community service, and Trent Yadon. Although her parents insisted she had free rein to select a college, she knew OSU would be her home long before she would walk the campus. Before Yadon took her first OSU class, she was involved in campus life. She applied for the President’s Leadership Council, a freshman scholarship and academic leadership program. Yadon attended the group’s retreat the weekend before classes began, and says she made lifelong friendships before setting foot inside a classroom. “When people ask me what my favorite part of college is, I tell them walking to class,” Yadon says. “On my first day, I was stopping to say hi to so many people along the way that I was late to class. I just thought it was so cool that it was my first day, and I already felt so at home here.” Three years later, Yadon says she still has trouble getting to class on time. Most likely because the President’s Leadership Council was just the beginning of her involvement on campus. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity and active in Greek life. Yadon is also one of 12 members on the OSU Speakers Board and serves as president of the OSU Student Foundation.

“We started out obsessing over the “The guy in front of me slowed down mile count — 1 mile down, 2 miles down, a bit as I sped up, and my front tire hit his 10 miles down,” Yadon says. “It was back tire,” Yadon says. “That’s when we disheartening at first, but then you’d say, had a little bike wreck.” ‘I’ve already done 10. Let’s do another 10, Yadon tumbled from her bike and and another 10!’ landed hard on the pavement, breaking “That’s one of the biggest things I’ve her left collarbone. Her helmet saved her learned. The miles add up pretty quickly.” from further injury. Leaving her new cycling family was “Now, my cause is ‘wear your helmet,’” tough, but Yadon says the community they she says. formed on the road still doesn’t compare Yadon spent the next few days riding in to the one in Stillwater. the support van with a sling around her arm. “I tried to tell them how fun OSU is “It was hard to see everyone bike, and and how great the Stillwater community is, you just sit in the van,” Yadon says. “But and it’s just hard to explain,” Yadon says. thankfully, I was healed enough to bike “I’m just ready to be back and be in the into New York City.” routine again.” Back in Stillwater, Yadon is poised to A LESSON FOR EVERY MILE tackle her senior year at Oklahoma State. After riding through more than 50 Her Googling paid off, and her summer communities, Yadon rejoined her teamwas nothing like the boring one she had a mates as the group biked its way into New year ago. York City and all the way to the beach on As for her future, Yadon says she July 31. She was met by her parents and doesn’t know if she’d take the trip again. siblings along with a host of others greet“I think one might be enough, but you ing the bikers. might have to ask me in a year or two Covering more than 3,400 miles on after the glory has worn off,” Yadon jokes. a bicycle gave every rider a lot of time to “As for right now, this one was think, and Yadon says she learned a great just fine.” deal about herself and how her journey across America can apply to her future.

Living America’s

Hea hiest Campus

Suzy Harrington on her job and OSU’s effort to build a thriving wellness culture. Oklahoma State University is ahead of the curve. We have been striving to be America’s Healthiest Campus for years. Now, we own it! We have been leading the way in numerous areas: • A leader in systemwide tobacco cessation • The first stand-alone wellness center • One of a few universities to offer free employee fitness memberships • First to develop personal nutrition trainers to work alongside personal fitness trainers • Only university with a certified healthy departments program • The first comprehensive pet therapy program with Pete’s Pet Posse • One of the largest intramural sports programs These and the strong support of our leadership to actually become America’s Healthiest Campus led to the development of my job as the first dedicated chief wellness officer in the country. My position falls within President Burns Hargis’ office and demonstrates his and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis’ continued commitment to wellness. My role is to provide expert executive health advice and coordination for the OSU system. In other words, I strategically coordinate all things wellness — for students, faculty, staff and the communities where we live, learn, work and play. OSU is the only university aligning and streamlining these groups to support overarching health and well-being for its entire community. Like many, you might think “diet” and “exercise” when the topic of wellness is discussed. Those are things we “do” rather than things we “are.” They are chores, which we start and stop. While an active lifestyle and healthy eating are important, a true definition of wellness is much broader. It includes adequate rest and hydration, tobacco cessation, social engagement, a sense of peace and resilience, energy and purpose in life, the management of stress to include financial preparedness, and the pursuit of lifelong learning. It also includes preventive and clinical care, and safety efforts such as wearing seatbelts and avoiding distracted driving, either via texting or after drinking alcohol.

FALL 2014

Wellness is about who we are. It is about a lifestyle full of choices and moderation. It is the symmetry of our personal and professional lives and most importantly, is about fun and joy. Wellness is the harmony of our physical, emotional, spiritual, social and professional dimensions of health. I say it is a “harmony” and “art” rather than a struggling and juggling “balance.” It is who we are and how we live to allow us to be the most vibrant, resilient, successful and happy that we can be. We want to ensure OSU has a culture that sustains successful graduates, successful employees and successful family and community members. OSU is formalizing its culture of wellness across all its campuses and 77 county extension offices through partnerships and collaboration within those groups as well as between campuses, with cities and counties, and even with state and national entities. In addition to the continuation and development of programs and services, it is important to ensure healthy dining options are available and that activity and social engagement are encouraged with walking paths, walking meetings and free fitness memberships. It is important to have a true culture of wellness. We are, after all, America’s Healthiest Campus and America’s Brightest Orange. Orange is the happiest color, the brightest, smartest, most vibrant and full of light and vision — and the most well.

Suzy Harrington, DNP, RN, MCHES Chief Wellness Officer

Wellne Wheel

OSU Chief Wellness Officer Suzy Harrington is developing this wheel to show the how, the what and the who of being America’s Healthiest Campus. “It’s about being the best we can be and about being the most successful we can,” she says. “It’s about pulling together all the great things that we’re doing. … It’s about achieving the harmony of the inner ring.”

Education Learning

SYNERGIZE the personal, interpersonal, organizational and environmental factors of health and wellness.

Empowerment

Engagement

Discovery

PERSONAL

WHAT

Leadership development

Lifelong learning

IO N

Financial readiness Trigger management

E M P L OY E E

Leadership support

Energy for life Confidence/ self-affirmation

Engagement/ empowerment

IN T E R P E RS O N A L

Resilience

Connectivity & outreach

Peer support

Cultural competencies

Alcohol smart Leisure

Drug free

Creativity Culture of wellness

C O M M U NIT Y

LIVE America’s HEALTHIEST Campus

Values

Self worth

NAL OTIO EM

SPIRIT UAL

WHO

Risk management

Joy & gratitude

Mental health & wellbeing

PHYSICAL

S T U DE N T

Built environment

Injury free

Sense of purpose/hope/ belief Mindfulness

Preventative & clinical care

Adequate rest

Nutrition & hydration

Sustainability

Safety

Tobacco free

Active living

Easy healthy options

ENVIRONMENTAL

ls of Change

HARMONIZE the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual dimensions of health.

HOW

Wellness gy

ness Dimensions

EMPOWER our students, employees and communities.

Violence free

Career development

Policy & processes

Sexual health

ORGA NIZ ATIONAL

Collaboration

Services, programs & resources Best practices

Aligned incentives Outcomes focus

Fun

Marketing & communication

Being

Suzy Harrington

Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Suzy Harrington’s energy radiates beyond her office, which is crowded with her desk, an intern’s table and a few shelves. Still, signs of her exuberance abound inside her tiny second-floor Student Union digs. Pinned, taped and placed on bookcases and walls are a few photocopied sayings (“wag more, bark less”), cartoons and a rubber ducky head atop a framed poster. Family photos of her children, Michelle, 27, Tommy, 25, and Laura, 23, sit on her desk. A doctorate of nursing practice diploma from Rush University in Chicago and awards and artifacts from her previous job as director of the Department for Health, Safety and Wellness at the American Nurses Association help fill the walls and shelves. Harrington practices the wellness she preaches. Just before turning 50 this year, she ran her longest race, the half marathon at the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in April. She finished 50 out of 486 in her age division. Her schedule on the day of the office tour starts with a morning Run OSU training session and ends with an evening of her first country line-dancing lessons. “I feel like I’ve come back to college here,” she says. “I may be 50, but I feel like I’m 27.” It’s all part of being Suzy Harrington.

The stamps were a gift to Harrington, and she identifies with the “Caring from the Heart” message. “It goes back to my nursing basics. I was an RN first.”

Co-workers gave this to Harrington before she left the American Nurses Association. “They said it just epitomized my attitude.”

FALL 2014

When College of Education Dean Pamela “Sissi” Carroll visited Harrington’s office, she saw no windows. “So she brought us one. It’s our window to the world.”

On her first day at OSU she visited the bookstore and returned to her office with the sign. “It’s been hanging since day one. Moving to Stillwater was the best thing for me, both professionally and personally. This is truly my happy place.”

She bought the hat about 10 years ago on an all-cousin trip with other Wolcotts. The all-female group from her dad’s side of the family were passing through Wolcott, Colo., and stopped in the town that shared their name when they saw the hat shop. “We all walked out proudly wearing our Stetsons.”

Harrington’s mother, Musa Wolcott, 69, who lives near Portland, Ore., painted this image of a dancer. “The dancer is just a person enjoying life. She shows movement and an active lifestyle and joy. She’s just being, just living in the moment, and that’s what we all should be doing. … And she’s orange.”

These charms symbolize Harrington’s outlook on life. The Stillwater coordinates show that Harrington is home, she says. “I found my place. I found where I’m supposed to be.”

Harrington calls it “stream-of-consciousness thinking” as words, phrases and ideas flow during brainstorming sessions on what it means to be America’s Healthiest Campus.

St y by Michael Baker Photography by Phil Shockley 71

The rock climbing wall is a popular feature at the Colvin Recreation Center. Each year, more than 800 people climb the 25-foot high wall run by OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outdoor Adventure.

FALL 2014

Phot by Phil Shockley 73

Evie is a lucky dog. Rescued from life-threatening circumstances, the black-and-tan shepherd is now returning the love and affection she received at OSU by becoming part of Pete’s Pet Posse. After being adopted by OSU employee Lorinda Schrammel, Evie has become one of more than a dozen dogs being trained as a wellness benefit for university students, faculty, staff and even campus visitors. The OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, along with the OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University Counseling, Human Resources and the Employee Assistance Program created the program. First Cowgirl Ann Hargis spearheaded the 2-year-old collaboration. Animals in the program belong to people like Schrammel — faculty, staff and others affiliated with OSU. Among other criteria, the dogs are selected based on their temperament. Pet therapy programs are rare at universities. The goal is to incorporate Pete’s Pet Posse members into various departments across campus, raising the morale of faculty, staff and students. By offering a pat, a scratch, a lick or a hug, Evie and the other dogs add an emotional health component to America’s Healthiest Campus.

Training Hard

Evie is one of more than a dozen dogs being trained as pet therapy dogs. Each of the dogs wears an orange vest with a therapy-dog patch. The dogs first train for their Canine Good Citizen certification, then continue training for therapy-dog registration.

A Wag of the Tail

Pete’s Pet Posse members are trained to provide compassion and affection, and a wag of the tail or two. Petting Evie and her cohorts is encouraged and just kind of nice. Also, feel free to talk to and ask questions of their owners and handlers. But most of all, just give these pups a belly rub.

FALL 2014

Open Arms

Schrammel, who works in OSU’s Human Resources, adopted Evie July 5, 2013, from OSU’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Numerous attempts were made to find Evie’s owners, but no one claimed her.

Power of ange

Evie and many other animals hurt in the May 2013 tornadoes were treated at no charge by the Center for Veterinary Health Science’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Donors to the OSU Animal Relief Fund helped cover the costs.

S ong Surviv

Evie was found wandering the streets of Shawnee, Okla., after surviving the May 2013 tornado. Veterinarians believe she may have been abandoned before the tornado. Evie was covered with fleas and ticks and tested positive for heartworms. OSU’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital treated Evie. “She knows she owes the university,” Schrammel says.

Look at that Grin

Pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and loneliness in people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They can also provide a laugh, a giggle and a smile, as well as opportunities for exercise.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

The outdoor pool at the Colvin Recreation Center is a popular destination, especially on a hot summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. While leisure is a big draw at the pool, it also features three 25-yard lap lanes. A 25-yard indoor pool has six lap lanes and a 14-foot dive well.

Phot by Phil Shockley

The Colvin Recreation Center has several varieties of free weights for use in about 8,000 square feet of space. In addition, there is 1,500 square feet of the center set aside for machine weights.

Larahmy Blakely, 10, a Rogers County Circle G 4-H Club member, rides the Fender Blender at the Oklahoma Youth Expo this spring in Oklahoma City.

FALL 2014

The Fourth Part bike, part smoothie maker, the Fender Blender helps 4-Hâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ers combine physical activity and healthy eating.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

St y by Trisha Gedon Phot by Todd Johnson

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Healthâ&#x20AC;? may be the fourth H in 4-H (head, heart, hands and health), but it continues to play a prominent role in Oklahoma 4-H. The fourth H is the emphasis behind the Fender Blender, which mixes exercise and smoothie making, says Cathy Allen, OSU Cooperative Extension 4-H curriculum coordinator. The contraption is what it sounds like, a stationary bike fitted with a blender on the front fender. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the snazzy wheel cover with the 4-H logo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The bikes are part of the Wal-Mart Youth Voice: Youth Choice grant, and fall

right in line with the 4-H Get Fit 4 Life! curriculum,â&#x20AC;? Allen says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our goal with the bikes and the curriculum is to emphasize increased intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as increased physical activity. The Fender Blender bike fits the bill and helps the 4-H program meet one of its goals of helping people live healthier lives.â&#x20AC;? Allen says so far there are five bikes, one in each of OSU Cooperative Extension district offices in Ada, Duncan, Enid and Muskogee, and one at the state office in Stillwater. The bikes can be checked out for camps, county fairs, health fairs and other activities.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already featured the bike at several events this year, including the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Extensionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Whistle Stop centennial celebration and the Oklahoma Association of Extension 4-H Agents state meeting. Pistol Pete was at (the agentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) meeting, and he took one of the bikes for a spin,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also showcased the bike at the 93rd State 4-H Roundup, which is our largest statewide 4-H event. This was a great venue for us to feature the bike to nearly 1,000 club members, volunteer leaders and extension staff. continues

“The response to the bike has been phenomenal. People of all ages love it.” Blaine County, Okla., extension director Joy Rhodes, a family and consumer sciences 4-H youth development educator, says she used the bike for nutritional education during a summer school program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. “The bike is a great tool for nutrition and fitness programs,” Rhodes says. “We talked about healthy ingredients in smoothies, how exercise is important and to be sure and get 60 minutes of exercise each day.” She also says the children in the class were especially intrigued, and the younger children kept asking where the other tire was. “Everyone loves the Fender Blender bike, and with it being so colorful and having the 4-H emblem, it makes a bold statement where ever it’s being featured,” Rhodes says.

What is 4-H?

4-H is the youth development arm of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. With offices in all 77 counties, 4-H has more than 134,000 members. Oklahoma 4-H is dedicated to helping Oklahoma youth, families and communities reach their full potential by providing handson programming and a learn-bydoing philosophy. Club members learn the life skills they need to be leaders and make tangible, significant changes in their clubs, communities, state and world.

ABOVE: Koby Mingus, 12, an Okarche 4-H Club member, rides the Fender Blender while other 4-H’ers watch at the 4-H Kingfisher County Mini Roundup at the Chisholm Trail Museum. LEFT: Ruth Bullard, 18, an Indianola 4-H Club member, prepares a nutritious concoction that she will soon mix while riding the Fender Blender at the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

FALL 2014

Savannah Mingus, 11, a member of the Okarche 4-H Club, rides the Fender Blender at the 4-H Kingfisher County Mini Roundup.

Radonna Sawatzky, family and consumer sciences 4-H youth development educator in Custer County, says she used the bike at the local Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign, as well as at day camps. “We had our 4-H’ers riding the bike and giving out smoothies to customers,” Sawatzky says. “Everyone loved it, both youth and adults. Some of the customers commented they would like to have one of the bikes at home. It also is a great way to draw awareness to the 4-H program and demonstrate a fun and educational way to tie together fitness and healthy eating.”

There are several different smoothie recipes 4-H’ers use when showcasing the bike, but one of the favorites is the green smoothie. Allen says people sometimes are hesitant to try it because it contains spinach. “People typically say they don’t like spinach, but once they try this smoothie they’re asking for more,” she says. “I’ve had people contact me after an event to ask for this specific recipe. “And the bikes aren’t limited to making just smoothies. We have recipes for several kinds of nut butter, including almond, pecan and cashew. We also have made

sorbet, hummus, guacamole and salsa on the Fender Blender bikes. All of these are wonderfully tasty and healthy treats.” Kevin Allen, assistant director of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and state 4-H program leader, says the ultimate goal of the fourth H in 4-H is for family members to establish and maintain lifelong healthy living behaviors. “The Fender Blender bike is a fun way for youth and adults to increase physical activity while having a healthy snack they created,” he says.

Hea hy TAILGATING Tailgating is a staple of game days in Stillwater as fans prepare for Cowboy football. But just because you’re grilling on the weekend doesn’t mean your tailgate food has to be fattening or unhealthy. Check out these great-tasting and healthy recipes submitted by OSU alumni and friends for tailgating on America’s Healthiest Campus.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

COWBOYS AREN’T CHICKEN SALAD • 5 pounds chicken, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces

• 2 teaspoons celery seed

• 1½ pounds red onion, diced

• 2 tablespoons chili powder

• 2 cups jicama, julienned

• 2 tablespoons garlic, crushed

• 6 cucumbers, seeded and sliced

• 1 teaspoon dry mustard

• 2 cups parsley

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups cilantro

• 1 teaspoon white pepper

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes (preferably orange)

• 2 cups mayonnaise

• 4 pounds pasta of choice (bow tie or Fusilli pasta recommended), cooked

• ¼ cup lemon juice

DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups Greek yogurt, plain • 2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce • One 17-ounce can tomatillo and jalapeño mixture

Make the dressing by combining all dry ingredients first and adding mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, Tobasco and tomatillo and jalapeño mixture. In a separate bowl, mix the cooked chicken with onions, jicama, cucumber, parsley and cilantro. Add the tomatoes last. Lightly coat the cooked pasta with dressing to moisten. Then fold in the chicken mixture. Add the rest of the dressing to taste. Chill until ready to eat.

Recipe submitted by OSU FIRST COWGIRL ANN HARGIS, LIFE MEMBER “If you’re planning to have President Hargis come by your tailgate, this is the recipe for you. As with any recipe for a crowd, these are just suggested ingredients. I never make it the same way twice.”

FALL 2014

COWBOY CAVIAR

PISTOL PETE’S COWBOY POPPERS

BUFFALO PUPPIES

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 18 jalapeno peppers

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• 1 garlic clove, pressed

• ½ cup light or fat-free mayonnaise

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, softened

• ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled

• 2 cans Mexicorn, drained

• 4 ounces reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

• ¼ cup hot sauce (Texas Pete recommended)

• About 10 cherry tomatoes, quartered

• 1 scallion, sliced

• 24 Hawaiian sweet rolls

• ½ cup scallions, chopped

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano leaves

• ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped

• 2 avocados, chopped

• 2 egg whites

• Crushed blue corn chips

• 1 tablespoon skim milk

• Fat-free olive oil cooking spray

• 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

In a bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, vinegar and salt together to make the dressing. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together gently. Serve with celery sticks, wheat crackers or corn chips. Recipe submitted by KATHERINE REED EVANS, ’03, LIFE MEMBER WHITE CHICKEN CHILI • 2 tablespoons oil • 1 medium onion • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small pieces • Three 14½-ounce cans of chicken broth • Two 15-ounce cans northern white beans, drained • 4 ounces chopped green chilies • 1 teaspoon oregano • ½ teaspoon cumin • ¼ teaspoon dried cilantro • Seasoned salt and pepper to taste • ¼ cup Monterey Jack cheese for garnish In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onions, garlic and chicken. Cook until chicken is done. Stir in remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir often. Pour into bowls and garnish with cheese, either shredded or diced into chunks. Recipe submitted by SUZY HARRINGTON, OSU CHIEF WELLNESS OFFICER

• 2 cups cornflakes cereal, crushed • Salsa (optional) Heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil. Cut each pepper in half lengthwise; remove seeds and membranes. Press the garlic into a large bowl. Add the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, scallion and oregano and mix well. Stuff each pepper half with a tablespoon of the mixture. Lightly whisk egg whites and milk together. Finely crush cornflakes in a sealed plastic bag. Dip each pepper half into egg mixture, then into corn flake crumbs to coat. Place the pepper halves on the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until peppers are tender. Refrigerate until ready for tailgate, then serve with salsa if desired. Alternative method: If you wish to cook the peppers at the tailgate site, place the pepper halves on a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil and wrap securely. Place the packet on the grill and cook for about 20 minutes or until the peppers are tender.

• 48 turkey cocktail wieners

In a small saucepan, combine yogurt, mayo, feta and about half the hot sauce. Cook over low heat until smooth. Spray and heat a large skillet. Add wieners and cook until heated through. Stir in the remaining hot sauce and cook until the wieners are coated. Slice each roll about halfway through so it resembles a top-split hot dog bun. Place two buffalo wieners in each. Top with a dollop of sauce, a drizzle of hot sauce, red onions and crushed blue corn chips. Recipe submitted by KEVIN SLANE, ’07, LIFE MEMBER

FRENCH CUCUMBER DIP • 2 packages light cream cheese • Juice from ½ lemon • ½ cup Miracle Whip or salad dressing • 1 large cucumber, peeled and finely diced • 1 bunch scallions, chopped • 1 dash Tabasco or hot sauce In a bowl, mix ingredients and chill.

Recipe submitted by LORI KANDEL, ’85, LIFE MEMBER

Serve with carrots, celery or potato chips.

“After marrying an Air Force man, we moved to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va. While there, I introduced our friends to the ‘tastes’ of Oklahoma while we would watch Oklahoma State football games. This recipe has always been a favorite! Hope you enjoy it as much as the ‘Fly Boys’ do.”

Recipe submitted by DANA BESSINGER, ’10, LIFE MEMBER “I have taken this to many tailgates at OSU. My son’s fraternity brothers ask me to bring it. The flavor is so refreshing.”

Photo by Phil Shockley 82

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OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Wellness offers numerous group fitness classes, including this martial arts workout. More than 160 group classes are offered weekly at three locations: the Colvin Recreation Center, the Seretean Wellness Center and the Student Union.

FALL 2014

AcÂ&#x2030;ve Learning Grandparent University promotes health and wellness for alumni and legacies. St y by Katie Parish

A tailgate for Grandparent University participants offers a good bit of outdoor exercise PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Setting foot on America’s Hea hiest Campus doesn’t automatically make you healthy. That takes education and physical activity — two things taught every June at the Alumni Association’s Grandparent University program.

Grandparents and children participate in a videography course, a physical therapy class, gardening (above) and a healthy cooking class (right) as part of Grandparent University. Many of the majors offered with the program encourage physical activity and healthy living.

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The program welcomes more than 500 OSU legacies and their grandparents to two three-day summer camps on the OSU campus. Children and grandparents are immersed in the OSU experience studying real academic majors, living in residential halls and eating in university dining facilities. “GPU is a wonderful way to build the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren,” says Melisa Parkerson, Alumni Association director of student programs. “It also provides an avenue to promote active and healthy living. Our participants not only learn about it in several majors, but also live it through GPU’s physical activities.” Each GPU session includes activities such as a campus scavenger hunt, swimming at the Colvin Center and cheering at an OSU tailgate. While each major offers a varied amount of physical activity, several are also designed to educate their students on healthy living and staying active. Two majors specifically promote active lifestyles and encourage healthy diets and wellness. Kids cooking healthy is taught by Barbara Brown, an associate professor of nutritional sciences and food specialist for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. She teaches students how to prepare healthy breakfast foods that satisfy, build basic skills, increase meal confidence and open doors to affordable healthy choices. Participants learn skills such as measuring, mixing, reading recipes and correctly using tools. “Knowing how to cook healthy foods adds to a person’s arsenal of skills that can reduce their risk of chronic diseases and help them stay within a budget,” Brown says. “Learning while you’re young means you have a better chance to develop good habits and develop healthy food preferences.” The athletic training major introduces participants into the world of athletic health care and gives students a firsthand look at the multiple sides of the profession beyond athletics. Jennifer Volberding, assistant professor of athletic training education, says the program also gives students real-life skills they can utilize in emergency situations. “Athletic training is all about incorporating health care in activities,” Volberding says. “Beyond discussing injuries, we talk about the large responsibilities athletic trainers have in preventing injuries from occurring. Additionally, we have a section dealing specifically in rehabilitation exercises including stretching, balance and cardio.”

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Several more GPU majors encourage physical activity and healthy living. Entomology I and II are hands-on majors for young scientists that allow students to discover insects and their relatives up close with a visit to the OSU Botanic Gardens. Andrine Shufran, associate extension specialist and Insect Adventure coordinator, is better known as the “bug lady” to participants because of the fun insect hats she wears during the entomology classes she teaches. “Since entomology is the science of arthropod life, and arthropods are found mainly out-of-doors, each of the GPU entomology majors focus one session on a trip to the beautiful Botanic Garden,” Shufran says. “Alumni and legacies get some sunshine and exercise while we explore insect collecting and observation. Chasing butterflies and beetles is good for the mind and body, and seeing the beauty of nature alive and in action is good for the soul.” In the broadcasting major, associate professor Jack Hodgson gives students a look at how television reporters create their own news packages. Just like in real life, participants are equipped with cameras, tripods and microphones and sent out on campus to shoot their stories.

“The news doesn’t stop because it’s a hot summer day,” Hodgson says. “Our participants certainly get a workout as they shoot their packages, but it makes the finished pieces that much more special.” Two similar majors, animals in the garden and flowers in horticulture, provide hands-on experiences in learning about flora and fauna. Both programs taught by Shelley Mitchell, an extension associate in 4-H youth development, focus on staying active while enjoying nature and its many benefits. Animals in the garden teaches students the essential elements that make up an animal’s habitat while looking for evidence of animal visits at the OSU Botanic Garden. Flowers in horticulture teaches participants the purposes of flowers, their parts and more. “Participants who get interested in gardening-related programs are more likely to go home and stay active outdoors working in a garden,” Mitchell says. “Kids who grow their own food are more likely to try it and even like it.” GPU’s majors advocating health and wellness have helped the program grow in recent years. This June, GPU set a record with more than 520 participants.

Applications to attend next year’s GPU will be available in March 2015 to Alumni Association members and their registered legacies. For more information and to view highlights from this year’s camps, visit orangeconnection.org/gpu.

Federico Aime, a business professor at OSU, leads a Cowboy Cooking School class at the Seretean Wellness Center in April. The school is a series of cooking demonstration classes offered each semester with a focus on creating healthy and flavorful dishes using a variety of culinary skills.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

The Colvin Recreation Center offers 3,000 square feet of fitness equipment in a cardio- style theater with 12 high-definition televisions. Another 3,000 square feet of additional equipment is located throughout the building. PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

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The Cowboy Walking Trails opens in April with a large crowd and campus luminaries. The trails are marked with bronze medallions in the sidewalk and weave their way around campus â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the northern loop comes in at just more than a half-mile; the southern loop at just short of a mile. Indoor walking trails are at the Student Union.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Earlier this year, the Department of Wellness held Yoga in the Garden classes at OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Botanic Garden as a way to unwind at the end of a long day.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Ac ve BRAIN

St y by Beverly Bryant Photography by Phil Shockley

OSU alumnus Art Bieri changed PE class.

Physical Education pioneer Art Bieri has binders filled with clippings which tell the history of his work with schoolchildren. He created a curriculum that served as a model for PE courses.

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rt Bieri has stacks of binders jammed full of press clippings and photographs. For an interview with STATE, he has pulled out more than a few of the thick threering notebooks. The memorabilia of a life spent teaching children how to be fit covers the dining room table of his Stillwater home. As he flips through the binders, it becomes clear that Bieri’s influence on children could hardly be contained in a scrapbook or two. When Bieri started working in public schools, he says, physical education was often treated more like recess than a class. PE was sporadic in many schools and may have been taught in only a few grades. Bieri made fitness an important part of the curriculum in Stillwater public schools, where his program served as a model for Oklahoma and the nation.

A FIT BEGINNING Bieri was born in New York City and grew up in Long Branch, N.J. As a child living less than two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, he developed a lifelong passion for swimming. He says he taught himself to swim, then took a lifesaving class. He joined the Air Force in 1950 and was honorably discharged in 1955. After serving in Korea in 1953, he rotated back to the United States and served 13 months at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma before his discharge. Knowing he wanted to be involved in physical education, he chose to attend Oklahoma A&M. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1958 and a master’s degree in physical education in 1964. He received an Oklahoma principal’s certificate in 1971. continues

Art

BIERI 91

“After I graduated [with his bachelor’s degree], I did my student teaching in Cushing [Okla.] at the junior high,” Bieri says. He continued teaching there until 1959. Meanwhile, the Stillwater Public Schools were trying to develop a PE program and formed a PTA to support that effort. “The classroom teachers were doing physical education at that time,” Bieri says. “The PTA got in touch with Valerie Colvin at OSU, who was my adviser.” Colvin recommended Bieri for the position. He accepted the job and taught at all five of Stillwater’s elementary schools.

BUILDING A CURRICULUM In the 1960s, Bieri became supervisor of elementary physical education and an assistant principal, often working at several different school sites. PE teachers were hired for each school, and Stillwater became a demonstration

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site for physical education and fitness from 1960 to 1967. In 1965, Gov. Henry Bellmon appointed Bieri as the executive director of the Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness for Oklahoma. Over the years, Bieri was recognized with state, regional and national fitness awards. Bieri went to Washington, D.C., in 1965 when the U.S. Jaycees recognized him as one of America’s top 12 regional physical fitness leaders. Oklahoma was the only state to win the regional recognition three times, Bieri says. The other two Oklahoma winners were Jess Welch from Duncan, Okla., in 1964 and Monty Esslinger of Stillwater Jr. High School in 1967. Alph Stanphill, of Muskogee, Okla., was singled out for special recognition in 1963 as one of the three most outstanding physical fitness leaders nationally. Bieri says he created his model physical education program from scratch.

“I had the ability to do it. I just needed the freedom,” he says. “A lot of what I’ve done didn’t take money. It took a lot of effort and support.” Bieri says a heart for public service often means more than large financial donations. “So many people make a lot of money and give what they can, but that’s it. It doesn’t take a lot of wealth to do things for people,” he says. One of his specialties was working with developmentally disabled children and teaching them to swim. “People who are struggling can be helped,” he says. Bieri taught swimming for 30 years, first in Cushing and later in Stillwater. He taught at the Stillwater YMCA and coached the Stillwater Aquatic Club, from which the Stillwater High School Swimming Club developed. He also taught swimming at OSU while regular faculty members were on sabbatical.

His lifesaving skills have been put to good use over the years. He has rescued 22 endangered swimmers and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on one swimmer. He was honored with a merit award from the National American Red Cross for Life Saving in 1961. In 1971, he received the Bronze Medallion award for completing 500 hours of volunteer service in aquatics.

WHERE THE ACTION IS While he was working on his master’s degree, Bieri developed action games for children. He used several books on teaching games, but most did not include pictures. “They would tell you how the game was played, but didn’t show you,” he says. His mentor, Colvin, for whom the OSU Colvin Center is named, suggested he choose a field problem for his master’s degree. He wrote on tumbling, games and rhythms. He wanted to expand on the material available for teaching in these areas. To get started, he wrote to the publishers of the books from which he taught. The companies wanted to charge him $50 to $100 per game for the rights to use their written instructions, he says. Instead, he decided to create and write his own games. He did get permission from the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, a department of the National Education Association, to use games from How We Do It Game Book. He also got permission to use some games from the Army. “I watched children and started drawing pictures with X’s and O’s,” he says. “I sent them to a publisher in California who bought the manuscript for Action Games.” He says the book took five years to produce — three to write and two to illustrate how children moved through the games. The book was published in 1972 and sold 95,000 copies in 12 years. “Then the company burned down and the plates were lost,” Bieri says. He had the book copied and reprinted in Stillwater in 1999.

A LIBRARY OF LEARNING While Bieri spent most of his years in Stillwater schools teaching PE, he also showed great concern for academics.

Bieri’s collection of memorabilia includes newspaper clips and photographs of his time as a swimming instructor. Other binders include thanks from students and teachers for developing school libraries in Stillwater.

While serving as a principal and PE teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, he helped students by establishing an in-school library in a foyer outside the auditorium. “All the schools had classroom libraries,” he says. “I asked the teachers to look at that space as a school library. We got all the books they wanted in the library.” Bieri says he contacted people in the reading program at OSU who helped stock the library. Then he went to the American Library Association in Oklahoma City and loaded up a truck with books to have the first book fair at Lincoln. He continued the fair for five years, he says.

“The PTAs got wind of it, and all the lunchroom tables were decked out with all the children’s books. They were 25 cents, 10 cents or free,” he says. Eventually, other Stillwater schools picked up on the idea of holding book fairs. After he retired in 1986, Bieri opened a flower shop in Stillwater. He also took culinary arts courses at OSU and has worked as a chef. Bieri recently turned 83. He is working on three manuscripts for children’s books, on a turtle, a tree branch and birds. “I’m just getting started,” he says.

Printing press in Doel Reed Studio

Jim Daher and Hollye Goddard

Maggie Barrett

Bill Thompson

Linda and Jim Parker

THANK YOU! The Doel Reed Center for the Arts continues to grow because of significant donor support. At a July event, President Hargis dedicated the latest improvements to the multidisciplinary creative arts center near Taos, N.M. Thanks to a lead gift from Linda and Jim Parker, OSU renovated the historic studio where Doel Reed produced many of his legendary aquatints. Two other couples also generously contributed to fund the studio’s furnishings and equipment – Cat and Bill Thompson, and Hollye Goddard and Jim Daher. In addition, Maggie’s Garden is named for Maggie Barrett, who led the effort to fund this aesthetic enhancement. These are two major steps forward for this unique project that extends OSU’s reach into another state.

Thank you, Doel Reed Center for the Arts donors, for your dedication to a more artistic orange future. DISC OV ER YOU R OR A NGE PA SSION

OSU FOUNDATION | 400 South Monroe | Stillwater, OK 74074 | 800.622.4678 | info@OSUgiving.com

Child Development Lab celebrates its 90th anniversary.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

S T O R Y BY J AC O B L O N G A N

One of the First One of the Best

s thousands of freshmen wander around the Stillwater campus each fall, anxiously searching for their classes, most are unaware they have younger counterparts. In fact, the smallest students at OSU can’t even open the doors to the classrooms hosting freshman orientation.

Housed in the College of Human Sciences, the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory accepts 71 children from 12 months to 6 years of age. For 90 years, the program has nurtured children and their families, trained future teachers, facilitated research and served the community by offering quality child development programming. In late 1924, Oklahoma A&M College became the nation’s second land-grant institution to establish a nursery school. Today, the program is considered one of the best. “We renewed accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 2013,” says Jennifer HaysGrudo, head of the college’s Department of Human Development and Family Science. “An NAEYC-accredited school adheres to

the highest modern standards. The CDL scored 100 percent on almost all criteria, and in the mid-90s on the rest. That means it is rated among the top schools based on objective criteria established by a board of experts.” Marilyn Smith began studying home economics at OAMC in 1954. Her first exposure to the child development department sparked a passion that guided her career. After earning a degree in family relations and child development, she completed a master’s at Oregon State University and a doctorate at Vanderbilt University. She then served as NAEYC’s executive director from 1972-1999, so she knows the difficulty of earning accreditation. continues

“Even universities, which have resources unavailable to a lot of child care centers, have to work to get it,” Smith says. “We launched the criteria in 1985, and the requirements have increased twice since then. It’s quite significant.”

Educating and Developing Children Dianna Ross, director of the CDL, says the program offers many services by partnering with OSU departments. “The recreational management program in the College of Education helps children with disabilities in our warm-water pool,” Ross says. “Our speech and language services are provided by Arts and Sciences’ communication sciences and disorders department. We also contract for occupational, physical and music therapy.” Hays-Grudo, noting the CDL’s philosophy calls for it to meet “the developmental needs of all young children,” says quality early childhood educational programs emphasize development. “One of my favorite studies shows that if a teacher shows a room Dianna Ross of 3-year-olds one way to use a toy that can be used six ways, all the children will learn that one way, but none of them will learn all six,” Hays-Grudo says. “If you just walk in and leave the toy, most of them will discover all six uses on their own. If we want to be efficient and the children to be focused, we use education. But if we want children to develop to their fullest potential, we also have to provide opportunities for them to play, explore and discover the world.”

Growth and Giving Ramona Ware Emmons Paul began her formal education as a preschooler at the CDL, where her mother, Girdie Ware, was

one of the first teachers. Paul focused on family relations and child development while earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree at OSU and a doctorate at Purdue University. She then spent 20 years with the Oklahoma State Department of Education, retiring in 2011 as assistant state superintendent for professional services. Paul created and oversaw implementation of the state’s prekindergarten model, moving the program into public schools and requiring certified teachers. In 2009, Oklahoma Today honored Paul as Oklahoman of the Year, noting she was largely responsible for the state’s recognition as the nation’s best at early childhood education. “Ramona was a talented, strategic leader in Oklahoma,” Smith says. “She was instrumental in the state providing quality early childhood education. She played a huge role in convincing people to support policies and funding essential to achieve quality early childhood programs.” After Paul died in 2013, her husband, Homer, made a $250,000 gift to establish the Ramona Ware Emmons Paul Endowed Professorship in Early Childhood “to encourage excellence in teaching, research and scholarship in the area of early childhood.” It will support faculty, graduate students, the Ramona Ware Emmons Paul Speaker Series, research, curriculum development and other activities. In 2006, the Pauls made a generous gift during the CDL’s $1 million expansion, creating the Homer and Ramona Paul Model Teaching Classroom. Meanwhile, the entire facility was named for the renovation’s lead donors, Helen and C.L. Craig and the Craig Family Foundation. The Craigs recently made another gift to renovate the CDL’s playground and create an educational play area based in nature and discovery.

From its pre-Great Depression beginnings through today, the CDL has always offered children a place to play, learn and explore. PHOTO / HUMAN SCIENCES ARCHIVE

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PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

“We can’t maintain this level of success without consistently A True Laboratory upgrading our equipment and materials for research, education The program is also invaluable in other ways. The CDL and learning opportunities for children,” Ross says. “The Craigs’ provides hands-on experience for early childhood students and and Pauls’ longtime support has provided many of the pieces facilitates research by OSU’s departments of human development that keep us up and going in both research and philosophy.” and family science, psychology, and applied health and educaThe Return to Nature Project will encompass a tional psychology, and nursing students at Northern Oklahoma 13,750-square-foot, indoor and outdoor, nature-rich environCollege. Topics include child growth and development, curricument. Design concepts for the project are being developed lum development, assessment and screening, effective instrucwith Nature Explore, a collaborative program of the Arbor Day tional practices and literacy development. Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. Researchers can unobtrusively observe through “This will be an outdoor play and learning space, one-way mirrors and headphones. “If you’re going designed from evidence-based best practices,” Haysto study children, you need to have them close where Grudo says. “It creates learning of and appreciation you can observe and watch and train people to help for nature.” them develop,” Hays-Grudo says. “As people do The lab has undergone many changes since beginmore research, you have more information about ning in a remodeled laundry area with one classroom what’s most appropriate and beneficial for children.” each for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. By 1938, classes Smith says society has made a lot of progress for 4-year-olds and kindergarteners had been added. toward supporting what social and behavioral scienJennifer It grew throughout World War II, and before 1950 tists, health professionals and educators have long Hays-Grudo OSU had added three nurseries in Veterans’ Village. said — education should be based on the entire cycle There were 16 preschool groups on campus, with four offering of human development and seen as a result of people’s contexts all-day programs. and propelled across generations within families. “All of the The Child Development Laboratories were united in brain research really underscores the point that the early years Human Sciences West in 1983. After the 2006 renovation, a are extremely important,” Smith says. “Research keeps show2010 expansion included merging with the Rise School of ing it is earlier and earlier that we need to be providing a broad Stillwater. The Rural Infant Stimulation Environment program spectrum of great experiences for children. And when their home opened in Stillwater in 2005, with Jimmy and Mary Gonzales experiences are limited, high-quality early childhood programs leading the effort in support of their daughter, Mya, who has provide a most helpful supplement.” Down syndrome.

Meeting Diverse Needs

What’s Next?

As Ross and Hays-Grudo reflect on the past 90 years, they Toddlers and preschoolers with developmental disabilities also look forward and see history repeating itself. Serving the account for 20-30 percent of enrollees. Integrating children with needs of the local community remains one focus for the CDL. delays along with their typically developing peers has led to The program expanded during World War II when more women achievements surpassing expectations. started working while men were overseas, and now the program “Including children with disabilities destigmatizes differences is pursuing another expansion to accept more children, including and reduces fear of the unknown,” Hays-Grudo says. “It also infants. creates more compassionate empathy, which is a hallmark of Human Sciences helped Oklahoma become a leader in early living in a society. Research shows that people who help others childhood education. Now the college plans to further benefit live happier lives. It’s beneficial to start life surrounded by people the state by recruiting new faculty members in early childhood, from other cultures and coping with different problems than training more teachers, increasing research efforts, and integratyour own.” ing the department’s focus on early childhood with its research The CDL’s research indicates enrollees and their parents both and training in parent-child relationships and family systems. show less fear of and more acceptance toward all kinds of differ“We want to do everything we can to help children prepare ences after participating in the program. for school, graduate from school, go on to college and become Ross adds, “I work extensively with the parents, and the CDL successful human beings,” Hays-Grudo says. helps them understand different perspectives. They are inspired to consider long-term goals for their children and how to build a foundation for The CDL’s 90th anniversary year includes a celebration reception success. We find it helps them with their Oct. 24 during Homecoming and the inaugural Ramona Ware Emmons Paul goals in life and changes their perspective Lecture during the college’s annual Human Sciences Week, March 23-27, about life in general.” 2015. In preparation for the anniversary event, Ross is gathering stories from those touched by the program. To learn more or share your story, contact her at Dianna.Ross@okstate.edu or 405-744-5707.

High-capacity tanks, left, next to the Fukushima Dia-ichi nuclear power Unit 2 reactor building store contaminated water. Workers are constructing additional tanks to reach a storage capacity of 800,000 tons. PHOTO COURTESY STEPHEN MCKEEVER

Touring Nuclear Disaster OSU professor Stephen McKeever gets a firsthand look at a meltdown in Japan.

PORTRAIT BY PHIL SHOCKLEY

BY KELLY GREEN

ate last year, OSU’s Stephen McKeever stood before a nuclear meltdown in Japan, fascinated by what had happened and what was to come. “To build a nuclear reactor is an enormous engineering undertaking, but now they have an engineering challenge of a different sort and that’s to clean up this facility,” he says. “It just struck me what a big project this is.” In December, McKeever had joined a group of international scientists invited by Tokyo Electric Power Co. to tour the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. McKeever, a physics professor and director of OSU’s National Energy Solutions Institute whose doctorate is in materials science, holds several patents for radiation detection technologies.

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On March 11, 2011, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and the series of tsunamis it spawned killed more than 18,000 and displaced about 450,000 people. There was a direct hit to the Dai-ichi nuclear power station, triggering a meltdown. Winds carried a radioactive plume up to 31 miles inland. High radiation levels still keep people from returning home. Cleanup is projected to take 40 to 50 years. THE TOUR On Dec. 2, 2013, the scientists began a two-hour journey to the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex by boarding a bus north of Tokyo. The evacuation zone began about 12 miles from the plant.

SOMA CITY

“I found it difficult to realize that this in fact was DATE CITY part of the evacuation zone, since the fields were well tended, the gardens neat and tidy,” McKeever says. “The only clue to where we were was the fact that the MINAMISOMA CITY Iitate village bus was the only vehicle on the road.” KAWAMATA TOWN The region was one of the least affected. Workers had returned to the area, but residents hadn’t. Further north, the scientists saw unkempt fields and weeds growing in sidewalks and overtaking gardens. It is likely to be many years before residents can return. “Major structural damage to buildings was everyKATSURAO VILLAGE where, along with the wrecks of automobiles that had NAMIE TOWN become little more than flotsam during the tsunami,” FUTABA McKeever recalls. TOWN TAMURA CITY FUKUSHIMA The scientists were from all over the globe — the DAI-ICHI OKUMA TOWN U.S., Russia, Poland, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Nuclear Hungary, Belgium, Malaysia and elsewhere. Many had Power plant TOMIOKA their own dosimeters to measure radiation and careTOWN KAWAUCHI VILLAGE fully watched their devices as radiation levels began to increase during the trip. NARAHA The guide announced that they were about to drive TOWN through a hot zone at a crossroads. The microsieverts SAPPORO IWAKI CITY — a unit used to measure radiation absorption by living HIRONO TOWN tissue — began to rise. “The guide read out loud the readings from his AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2014 meter: ‘10 microsieverts an hour … 15 microsieverts an Areas where evacuation orders hour … 20 microsieverts an hour …’” McKeever says. “The peak are ready to be FUKUSHIMA was to reach 22 microsieverts an hour as we passed through the lifted crossroads on our way to the Japanese National Sports Stadium.” TOKYO KYOTO While higher than normal, those levels posed little threat YOKOHAMA HIROSHIMA Areas where people OSAKA are not permitted with temporary exposure. to live At the stadium, which serves as cleanup headquarters, Tokyo NAGASAKI Electric staff briefed the group on the sequence of events, damage Areas where and cleanup. it is expected residents will The scientists then boarded another bus — plastic and tape have difficulties Evacuation zones covered the seats, floors, handles and other surfaces — and returning for a long time and restricted areas headed to the Dai-ichi plant. after the Dai-ichi nuclear “The first building they took us to was brand new, constructed power station meltdown. for purposes of cleanup and decommissioning,” McKeever says. “We were equipped with shoe covers, gloves and a mask, but otherSOURCE: JAPANESE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND INDUSTRY wise no additional safety clothing was necessary. We were also DISASTER DAYS equipped with ID cards and personal dosimeters, which were to be Three Dai-ichi reactors were operating when the earthquake hit. read by (Tokyo Electric) staff at the end of our tour. Each of us had to pass through whole-body counters to assess if we were contami- The other three units were offline, their fuel rods in storage ponds. As the earth shook, the active units immediately shut down, nated before the tour, and we were again assessed at the end of the and control rods were automatically inserted into the reactors. tour.” With the loss of electricity, diesel generators kicked on to power Once that was completed, they boarded another bus, also covered in plastic on the inside. McKeever says the site tour was a the water pumps needed to cool the fuel rods. Emergency precautions worked as expected. fascinating experience. Until a tsunami, a 40-plus-foot wall of water, unexpectedly “As scientists, we were fascinated because of the radiation crashed over the 19-foot protective seawall. levels, although none of us were afraid of those because we knew Five of the six diesel generators failed. Two of the offline reacwe would not be exposed to dangerous levels,” McKeever says. tors maintained proper temperatures as their cooling pumps were “It was also fascinating from a purely engineering perspective.” undamaged, and the remaining generator provided enough power for both pumps. Those units reached safe, cold shutdown. A C I F I C O C E A N

continues

How it Happened MARCH 11, 2011 A magnitude-9.0 earthquake strikes off the northeast coast of Japan at 2:46 p.m. The epicenter is 112 miles from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. A transmission line tower collapses, and the plant’s electrical power goes out. The shutdown of reactors is automatic, and emergency diesel generators power cooling pumps. A series of tsunamis begins arriving about an hour after the earthquake. At least one of the waves reaches 46 to 49 feet, towering over the 19-foot seawall protecting the plant. The waves flood the diesel generators, cutting the emergency power source for four reactor units.

MARCH 12 A hydrogen explosion blows the roof off and collapses the walls of the Unit 1 reactor building. The blast injures five workers and discharges

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY WIKICOMMONS, SODACAN

radioactive contamination.

MARCH 14 A hydrogen explosion in Unit 3 injures 11 workers and damages the building’s upper structure. The reactor’s spent fuel pool is exposed and radioactive contamination discharges.

MARCH 15 A hydrogen explosion inside Unit 2 discharges radioactive contamination. The reactor building holds. A fire in Unit 4, possibly caused by the damage incurred in the previous explosions and the leaking hydrogen, releases large amounts of contamination into the air, and residents who are still within about 20 miles of the plant are asked to stay indoors.

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APRIL 6 Tokyo Electric pumps nitrogen gas into Units 1, 2 and 3 to prevent further explosions. Multiple trenches that are a probable source of contaminated water leakage are shored up.

APRIL 12 Japan rates the Fukushima crisis as a 7 on the International Atomic Agency’s severity scale. The radioactivity releases are estimated to be about 10-15 percent of those released during Chernobyl, the only other nuclear incident to receive the highest possible rating on the scale.

continues

Wearing gloves and masks and in a bus with plastic and tape covering the seats, floors, handles and other surfaces, the international team of scientists are driven to the Dai-ichi reactor site.

Measuring Radiation Dec. 2, 2013 8

DOSE (microsieverts)

THE CLEANUP For days, fire engines pumped seawater onto the reactors for emergency cooling until fresh-water cooling was re-established. The emergency procedures left highly contaminated water coolant. When McKeever visited, the site contained hundreds of high-capacity storage tanks with nearly 400,000 tons of contaminated water. Construction of new tanks was underway with an eventual planned capacity of 800,000 tons. Fresh groundwater drainage from the surrounding hills is also a problem. An estimated 400 tons of groundwater flows daily into the reactor buildings, according to a Tokyo Electric study. Some of the groundwater is pumped into the sea before it reaches the reactors, and groundwater that reaches the reactors is pumped into the storage tanks. Other efforts include building an underground â&#x20AC;&#x153;ice wallâ&#x20AC;? to divert the groundwater around the site. When the water reaches the site, workers can filter out contaminants in a new Advanced Liquid Processing Facility. The removed contaminants are set in resin and stored on site. Removing the melted fuel rods is a massive engineering project. The Unit 4 reactor building was too damaged by fire to secure lift equipment

PHOTO COURTESY STEPHEN MCKEEVER

But the three originally active reactors had no power. Fuel rods in those units melted inside the reactor vessels. The zirconium fuelrod cladding, a metal tube covering the fuel rods, reacted with the steam to produce hydrogen. Despite venting to reduce the gas pressure, hydrogen accumulated in the reactor buildings and caused explosions. One explosion and hydrogen leakage may have contributed to a fire that sparked in a fourth unit, where the fuel rods melted inside a storage pond. The explosions and fire released enough potentially deadly radioactive contaminants into the atmosphere that the Fukushima Dai-ichi incident would be classified among the most severe of all time. The prevailing winds pushed the radioactive plume 31 miles northwest. The amount of radioactive iodine-131 and cesium-137 released into the atmosphere were about 10 percent to 15 percent that of Chernobyl, the only other nuclear accident reaching the maximum level 7 classification on the International Nuclear Event Scale. (Chernobyl, where the reactor vessel itself exploded while operating in 1986, was a different type of accident than Fukushima.) The Three Mile Island, Pa., incident in 1979 registered as a level 5 accident.

TIMe (hour on trip)

Radiation dosages to humans is measured in units called microsieverts, which represent the amount of energy from penetrating radiation, like gamma rays, absorbed by human tissue. Background radiation varies by location and is affected by such things as local rock types, altitude and building materials. For comparison with the background radiation measured on his Japanese tour, Stephen McKeever measured the background radiation levels at his OSU desk at 2.3 microsieverts a day. The global average background radiation level is about 2,600 microsieverts a year. 101

directly to it. A cover around the building protects it from the weather, with a huge, cantilevered structure over that holding the lifting equipment. Cranes descend from the cantilevered structure into the reactor building and lift the fuel rods out for safe storage. Forty of 1,400 rods had been removed at the time of McKeever’s tour. In the other units that were active when the earthquake struck, the situation is more difficult. The reactor cores have melted. The extremely high radioactivity levels render it unsafe for humans to work on the reactors. Tokyo Electric officials say engineering and robotic technology has to be developed to handle the cleanup duties, and that isn’t expected until 2020 or 2021. Officials have not agreed upon a time for the full return of residents into the most highly contaminated residential areas. In those areas, cleanup efforts include removing and replacing 3 inches of top soil; washing all buildings and collecting the contaminated water; stripping tree bark or cutting down the trees; and storing and disposing of the removed, contaminated material. The contaminated material is being stored in large plastic bags in open fields inside the evacuation zone until a long-term solution is found.

PHOTOS COURTESY STEPHEN MCKEEVER

In addition to damaging a nuclear power plant and unleashing dangerous radiation, the March 11, 2011, earthquake off Japan’s northeast coast and the resulting tsunamis killed thousands, demolished buildings and overturned vehicles, such as at the Tomioka railway station, about 6 miles from Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station.

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THE NUCLEAR FUTURE McKeever’s tour of the Dai-ichi power plant lasted about 90 minutes. The radiation levels fluctuated considerably as the group moved around the site, with the highest level recorded being 160 microsieverts an hour, but the total doses were insignificant, McKeever says. “My personal dosimeter recorded a total exposure of 13.4 microsieverts, or about the same as five days of natural background radiation,” he says. “We also found that individual doses varied based on where we were sitting in the bus, with those on the back row receiving almost twice as much as others sitting near the front,” McKeever continues. “The highest dose anyone received was a little over 20 microsieverts.” As of the tour, no power plant workers, emergency responders, cleanup crews or surrounding residents had been reported as injured by radiation. Two workers were treated for high doses to their feet and legs after wading into contaminated water, but no adverse health effects have been observed for them. Of the 125,000 residents who were evacuated, the long-term health effects may take years to evaluate. “It will not be physical health from the radiation that is of concern, but rather it will be the anxiety, mental anguish, depression and stress caused by the loss of their homes, their jobs — and to the unrealistic but nevertheless understandable fear of invisible radiation,” McKeever says. Tokyo Electric estimates the direct financial cost to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars (more than $250 billion as of the tour). The long-term costs may never be known. Despite this, McKeever is confident that Fukushima, the surrounding areas and the residents will fully recover from the trauma. The reputation of nuclear power should recover too, McKeever says. “In my mind, it is the cleanest, and it’s the safest.”

k Y n a o h u T The OSU faculty and staff are the driving force behind the university’s success. They invest selflessly in the development of students and passionately give of their time and talents. Many also support the university financially. In April, more than 1,500 faculty and staff united to give nearly $1.46 million as part of the annual Cowboy Way campaign, including more than 250 participants making their first gift to OSU. This outpouring of support is inspiring because it shows so many active partners committed to propelling Oklahoma State forward through the Branding Success campaign. This loyalty, and the faculty and staff’s daily dedication, is integral to OSU’s success and what sets the Cowboy family apart.

Thank you, OSU faculty and staff, for your dedication to a brighter orange future.

Discover Your Orange Passion

OSU FOUNDATION | 400 South Monroe | Stillwater, OK 74074 | 800.622.4678 | info@OSUgiving.com

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n e h W asites Partack At The National Center for Veterinary Parasitology responds with science.

Parasites such as mosquitoes, ticks, and the organisms they transmit when they bite cause disease without discriminating between people and pets. All are fair game. And then there’s the threat to the food supply. The National Center for Veterinary Parasitology has been keeping people and pets safe, and ensuring farmers and ranchers can keep their products free of parasites and safe for consumption. It’s a unique collaborative project between the private sector and academia, existing within the halls of OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Launched in 2009 with financial commitments from key industry sponsors and a foundation grant, this year marks the center’s fifth anniversary.

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“The support of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Novartis Animal Health, Bayer Animal Health and Merial allowed us to establish the center and then nurture it in the early years,” says OSU Regents Professor Dr. Susan Little, the KrullEwing Chair in Veterinary Parasitology and co-director of the NCVP. “The concept was novel — to create a clearing house for all things related to veterinary parasitology, support clinical parasitology research and develop the next generation of veterinary parasitologists.” In 2014, animal-health companies Merck, Zoetis and Elanco joined the other sponsors to support the NCVP. For each sponsor’s annual donation of $100,000, a resident position is established in the company’s name. The NCVP also sponsors two additional residents. Several

The center at OSU has been protecting animals and people for five years and counting.

residents have received national awards for their research. The number of applicants from across the U.S. continues to grow, with top-notch veterinarians joining the NCVP team. “Before the NCVP, there was no pipeline for future talent specific to veterinary parasitology,” Little says. “The need for veterinary parasitologists has grown but with a limited supply. Both academia and the pharmaceutical industry need well-trained clinical researchers to effectively combat parasitic and vector-borne diseases.” Sound clinical parasitology training leads to better understanding of real-world application and needs. A perfect example of parasitology helping veterinarians practice better medicine is how NCVP research improved heartworm diagnoses.

“Because of research conducted at the NCVP, we now know that many infected dogs, and perhaps most infected cats, may not test positive even though they have worms,” Little says. “Fortunately, this research also identified a simple, in-clinic modification to how the test is run to address the problem.” On the center’s website, ncvetp.org, teachers can access a free database with hundreds of parasite images. Other teaching

resources include a “case of the month” and a Jeopardy!-style parasitology review game. The center’s diagnostic arm continues to become more active, says Dr. Eileen Johnson, an associate clinical professor and the NCVP’s diagnostic veterinary parasitologist. “The diagnostic lab processes hundreds of samples each month for veterinarians in practice and for other reference labs,” Johnson says. “Most of the samples are

from small animals, many from shelter animals. Some of the most common findings include hookworms, which can cause severe anemia in young animals, as well as coccidia, Giardia, roundworms and whipworms, which can cause diarrhea. Many of these parasites are zoonotic, and can cause disease in people that become infected, so identifying and treating the infections are particularly important.” The clinical parasitology lab also collects materials for courses at OSU and other veterinary colleges, and Johnson teaches best practices in diagnostic parasitology for residents and graduate students. “The NCVP provides information to veterinarians to help them recognize parasites in the animals they treat,” Little says. “An accurate, early diagnosis can cut down on the cost of treatment for the owner and hopefully bring the pet back to a healthy state faster.” The newest addition to the center is the small-grants program, which funds one-year projects to address specific problems in veterinary parasitology. “For the first time, the NCVP was able to award five grants totaling more than $40,000,” Little says. “Student involvement in the project is required, which gives us one more opportunity to get younger scientists involved in and excited about parasitology research.” D E R I N DA B L A K E N E Y

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

ABOVE: National Center for Veterinary Parasitology board member Mason Reichard, co-director and associate professor in OSU’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, and affiliate graduate resident Jennifer Thomas pose with a cat that benefited from research at the center. RIGHT: Yoko Nagamori, a veterinary parasitology resident, examines specimens under a microscope at the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology. FAR RIGHT: Dr. Susan Little

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

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ASERIESof FortunateEVENTS STORY BY Jacob Longan

PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

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t was not love at first sight. In fact, it was pretty far from love. “We didn’t like each other at all,” Linda Cline says about meeting the man who would become her husband of more than 50 years. Love did blossom. The marriage lasted from 1957 until Charlie Cline died in 2012. Along the way, the couple raised two children and had plenty of professional success. Linda Cline is memorializing that love, partnership and most of all her husband with a significant contribution toward a state-of-the-art, multimillion-dollar facility in the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Construction will soon begin on the Charlie Cline Memorial Equine Teaching Center. Its roots can be traced back through 60 years of unlikely events. A Blind Date Gone Wrong

In 1954, Linda was in high school and Charlie was a junior-college cadet at Claremore’s Oklahoma Military Academy, which is now Rogers State University. One of Linda’s best friends was dating a cadet who convinced her to go on a double date with them. “So the guy set me up with a date, but at the last minute, my date had to go on guard duty,” Linda says. “Rather than call me and tell me what happened, he paid Charles to go on the date.” With a laugh, she explains why she and her backup date didn’t like each other. “I wasn’t even quite 16 yet, so he was more interested in meeting a couple of my really cute little girlfriends,” Linda says. “Fooled him, huh?” After falling in love and getting married, they turned their relationship into a professional partnership. The Clines joined Charlie’s brother, Neil, to establish and run Cherokee Lines trucking company LEFT: Linda Cline interacts with Scarlett Jatta, one of more than 100 horses at Char-Lin Ranch.

from 1963 until 1990. The business thrived, peaking at more than 100 trucks and even more trailers, hauling across the 48 contiguous states. A City Girl in the Country The Clines moved from Oklahoma City to Cushing in 1967. In 1985, they purchased the country acreage on which they planned to retire. “Charles was interested in buying the ranch, so he and I came out and looked at it,” Linda says. “I had never lived in the country before. I said, ‘OK, but don’t expect me to spend all my time out here. We’ll keep the house in town.’ Then we moved out, and I think I spent two nights in town after that. You’d have to beat me to take me back to town now.” Their “ranch” came with no horses. In fact, the only horse either of them had ever owned belonged to Charlie’s family when he was a young man. But one Saturday in 1986, he convinced Linda to go with him to Dewey, Okla., to buy “a couple of geldings.” They came home with the 17 horses that established Char-Lin Ranch, now a renowned producer of registered quarter horses and Angus cattle. “I fell in love with them,” Linda says. “We didn’t have anything for them but a shed at the bottom of the hill. Then we hired a young man and his wife who had horse knowledge. They helped us build the barn and got us interested in the breeding of horses. It just went from there.” Investment Pays Off Char-Lin Ranch grew to more than 2,500 cattle and 300 horses, earning more than 200 world and reserve world championships before downsizing in recent years. Steven Cooper, animal-science equine professor, says it is one of the most successful ranches in Oklahoma, thanks in large part to the Clines’ enthusiasm and hard work. “This is what they chose to do instead of traveling the world or doing something else in retirement,” Cooper says. “They

invested heavily with their resources and their time commitment. They showed horses they raised instead of just buying great horses and then showing them.” The Clines competed against each other, alternating claims on the foals as they were born. They would each show their own, with the pairs often taking one or both of the world and reserve world championships. Those were win-win situations for Char-Lin Ranch, but the couple made no secret of how much they each wanted their claimed horse to come out on top. An Adopted Alma Mater Neither Cline attended OSU, but they credit much of their success to the faculty’s willingness to visit the ranch, working with and teaching them. “The large-animal hospital was also super helpful,” Linda says. “We had

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLINE FAMILY

Clines’ unlikely meeting sparked a lifetime of personal and professional blessings.

Char-Lin Ranch employee Steven Poe brings C.L. Buckley to the truck so Charlie Cline can greet the legendary buckskin. everything go wrong that could go wrong. Charles used to joke that we spent so much time at the hospital that they should put his name on one of the rooms. I had that in mind when I heard about the need for an equine center.” They also loved the institution where their daughter, Amy, earned a journalism degree. The Clines’ son, Cary, has two daughters who are current OSU students. Charlie and Linda supported the university in many ways, including donations to various areas, hiring students to work at the ranch, and inviting the equine and livestock judging teams to use their animals for practice, judging clinics and contests. continues

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Linda Cline stands inside the original barn on the acreage now known as CharLin Ranch. The barn is more than 100 years old.

An Ugly Duckling A crucial development in the ranch’s success was the 1989 birth of their first buckskin colt, C.L. Buckley. He became

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a legend in the halter-horse industry after a humble beginning as the offspring of a palomino stallion and a bay mare. The Clines, who had been successfully showing palominos, first thought Buckley was a palomino whose scores would suffer because the tips of his ears were black. He also only grew to 14.2 hands high, below average for a quarter horse, so some encouraged Charlie to geld him. It turned out he was not a flawed palomino but a world champion buckskin, according to both the International Buckskin Horse Association and the American Buckskin Registry Association. He also was a finalist at the American Quarter Horse Association Amateur World Show. He is even more successful as a stallion, siring more world champions in

the buckskin horse associations than any other stallion in the registry. “You seldom find people who haven’t heard of Buckley,” Linda says. “He is 25 this year, still breeding and a complete

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLINE FAMILY

Cooper met the Clines in 1995 because of their involvement at OSU. He remembers Charlie as a great breeder, businessman and showman who didn’t do anything halfway. “Charlie was all-in or all-out,” Cooper says. “If you look up ‘mover and shaker’ in the dictionary, it will say, ‘See Charlie Cline.’” Linda adds, “He was one of a kind: a very strong personality and a man of his word. He had some major contracts on a handshake. And everything he did, he did it his way.”

Charlie and Linda Cline hold their four grandchildren in this photo from about 12 years ago. From left are David, Linda, Clifton, Charlie, Caroline and Hanne Cline.

PHOTO / TODD JOHNSON

“Charles had such a STRONG LOVE FOR ANIMALS and he really VALUED EDUCATION. I think he would have really liked this.”

gentleman. I’ve never seen him nip a human. That is unusual for a stallion.” He is truly priceless to the ranch. In fact, more than once they turned down unsolicited offers of $100,000 for two of his offspring and an offer to syndicate him. Worthy of the Cline Name

professionals.” Cooper says Linda is playing a major role in planning the facility because her business experience has taught her what is necessary to make the center great. “She has lived it and built an extremely successful business from the ground up,” he says. “That takes time, passion, devotion and a lot of hard work. That’s just how they lived their lives.” Linda adds, “Charles had such a strong love for animals, and he really valued education. I think he would have really liked this.” To watch a video feature about the Clines, visit OSUgiving.com/Cline.

PHOTO / TODD JOHNSON

The Charlie Cline Memorial Equine Teaching Center will replace OSU’s current building, which was constructed in the 1980s and doesn’t lend itself to the current teaching encouraged by equineindustry leaders. The new facility will include a teaching barn with stalls for foaling mares, a

small indoor arena, classrooms, feed and tack rooms, a wash rack and treatment area. It will provide space for classes, clinics, 4-H programs and other outreach opportunities. “The Department of Animal Science is grateful and humbled by the generosity of Linda Cline and her family,” says Clint Rusk, head of the department. “Their support will allow us to build an exceptional facility for youth and adults, providing cutting-edge knowledge and career-building education in the field of equine studies. It will empower OSU to be at the forefront of equine teaching and fulfill the growing demand for equine education for students and industry

Legendary buckskin stallion C.L. Buckley has sired more world champions in the buckskin horse associations than any other stallion in the registry.

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GIVING

for a Cause

Alumna creates scholarship to help elementary education majors, single parents at OSU-Tulsa.

Diem Mai wants teachers to be passion- “The generosity of donors like Diem Mai ate about their work. That’s why she estabmakes it possible to offer scholarships to lished a scholarship to assist elementary our students to relieve some of the financial education students at OSU-Tulsa. concerns of pursing a bachelor’s degree.” “Teachers should be able to focus on A 2005 graduate, Mai knows how their students and not have to worry about challenging it can be to work and paying off college debt,” says Mai, the first attend classes. While she attended Tulsa OSU graduate who took all of her classes Community College and OSU-Tulsa, Mai on the Tulsa campus before creating a worked full time at West Corp. to pay for scholarship through the OSU Foundation. her education. “Starting salaries for teachers are not very high, so I worry about losing the best teachers to other professions because they cannot afford to be educators. This scholarship will help college students who have a passion for teaching earn their degree.” The scholarship funds can also go to single parents. “Several of my friends are single parents, and I have seen how difficult it can be to go to work, raise kids and go to school,” Mai says. “My hope is that my contribution can help single parents build a good future for their — DIEM MAI family and create a domino effect that will help their kids go to college.” Mai’s contribution will provide vital assistance to OSU-Tulsa students “I did not want to graduate and then who are working on degrees. have to pay off huge loans,” she says. “I “Many of the students that attend saw the impact of the scholarships as a OSU-Tulsa are so-called place-bound student and that really inspired me to students who must remain in Tulsa for create this scholarship.” work, family or other obligations,” says When she was 10, Mai’s family moved OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett. from Vietnam to Tulsa, where she has

“Teachers should be able to focus on their students and not have to worry about paying off college debt. ”

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spent most of her life. Throughout her childhood, Mai’s parents worked bluecollar jobs to support the family and strongly emphasized the importance of education to their daughter. “School was always a priority for me growing up; education always came first in my family,” Mai says. “Growing up in a working family, we always had enough, but we never had a lot of extra money.” Even though money was tight, Mai’s mother taught her to be generous with what they had. Mai still has family in Vietnam, including a brother and sister, to whom her parents provide assistance whenever possible. “When it came time for me to go to college, my parents would have taken out a loan for me. But I did not want them to go into debt, so I worked and they helped me with smaller things when I needed it,” Mai says. “My parents wanted me to live at home and go to school in Tulsa, so OSU-Tulsa was the perfect school for me.” After earning her associate degree at Tulsa Community College, Mai transferred to OSU-Tulsa to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science. “It was very difficult to balance work and class, but West Corp. was very flexible, and that enabled me to get all my classes on schedule,” Mai says. “School always came first and work came second.”

The computer science program included several courses in business and finance, which have served Mai, 31, well as she has moved into positions of increasing responsibility. She joined IBM after graduation, working there for several years, followed by a one-year stint at NORDAM Group. She is currently working for Phillips 66, providing support to the energy company’s financial-reporting group. When Phillips 66 announced a $500,000 donation to support university scholarships, faculty, programs and facilities, Mai was inspired to give back to her alma mater. The generous gift-matching program at Phillips 66 cemented Mai’s decision to create a scholarship. The program provides $1 from the company for every $1 donated by an employee. “The important thing for people to remember is to give what they can,” Mai says. “I was fortunate to have this program from my company to increase my gift, but the important thing is that you do your best to give back.” For Mai, it was always a given that she would give back to the university that helped her move forward in her career. She hopes others do the same to help future students earn OSU degrees in Tulsa. “A scholarship is a gift that will continue to give,” Mai says. “Hopefully the people I can help with this scholarship will be able to create their own scholarship in the future to assist others.” S E A N K E N N E DY

PHOTO / RYAN JENSEN

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SAFE, SECURE OSU is developing a food-safety program.

merica has the world’s safest food supply, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is working to keep it that way. An advisory board at the Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, recognizing the need to educate students in food safety, provided more than $1 million as a lead gift toward the fundraising goal of $3.4 million to create a faculty position in the Department of Animal Science. The donation has also

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jumpstarted the process of approving a food-safety option for food-science majors. “The potential for this academic program is exciting,” says Thomas G. Coon, vice president, dean and director of DASNR. “There has been very good leadership from the academic department in responding to this opportunity.” The food-safety program has the potential to provide scholarships, internships, undergraduate research opportunities and career development. “We strive to provide interesting and relevant educational opportunities

to students of the college,” says Cynda Clary, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ associate dean of academic programs. “We understand that career interests and options are everchanging, and we always want to make a place for our students.” John Griffin, president and CEO of Griffin Foods in Muskogee, Okla., and spokesman for the advisory board, says the committee has discussed such a program for four years. Their research indicates OSU will be the first university with an undergraduate food-safety option.

PHOTO / MANDY GROSS

Loretta Lawson, quality control technician for Griffin Foods, checks the seals on mustard bottles directly off the production line in Muskogee, Okla.

“This will allow students to get the education to qualify for jobs that food manufacturers desperately need,” Griffin says. “It will attract students not just in Oklahoma, but nationally and internationally. Oklahoma State University will set the standard that many universities will realize the need to follow.” Clint Rusk, head of the Department of Animal Science, says many animal-science students don’t start out that way because they don’t realize all of the options in the field. “We will have to recruit students to the proposed food-safety option to begin with, but once they learn about the jobs available, they will jump to this opportunity.” Griffin says food safety is the responsibility of the entire industry, beginning with farmers and continuing through manufacturers and distributors. There is especially great demand for these positions in the food-processing sector, he adds. “Food manufacturers can invest their money to hire a qualified food-safety specialist from OSU instead of investing their time and money to train someone.” Chuck Willoughby, FAPC manager of business and marketing relations, says globalization of the food industry has affected almost every Oklahoma food processor because of regulations and policies such as the Food Safety Modernization Act. “This is a win-win situation,” Willoughby says. “Graduating students with food-safety credentials not only provides the industry with a prepared workforce, but the industry also provides numerous opportunities for the graduates.” The advisory board previously helped FAPC implement a Global Food Safety Initiative. Jason Young, FAPC’s quality management specialist, serves as the GFSI specialist. The project supports the food industry through training, auditing, education, technical assistance and preparations for third-party audits. “What is the future; what is our vision?” Griffin asks. “It’s constantly evolving as OSU’s commitment moves forward in opportunities to be worldrenowned in food safety.”

PHOTO / MANDY GROSS

FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee met with Oklahoma Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, to thank him for his support of the food-safety program. From left in the front row are Virgil Jurgensmeyer, Nancy Addington, Allen Mills, John Williams, Ed Clements, David Howard and John Patrick Lopez. In the back row are Roy Escoubas, Justice, John Griffin, Rodger Kerr, Paul Schatte, Gary Crane and Scott Dvorak.

FAPC Industry Advisory Committee T

he Oklahoma Legislature established the Industry Advisory Committee to serve as an advisory board for FAPC. The governor, speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate each appoint four Oklahoma food-industry leaders for membership. The vice president, dean and director of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources serves as a non-voting member and appoints three members. “The Industry Advisory Committee offers counsel, makes recommendations and takes leadership action to ensure FAPC makes sound short– and long-term plans to accomplish its mission and objectives,” says Roy Escoubas, FAPC director. “I am extremely appreciative of the advisory board’s dedication and commitment to the food-safety campaign.”

MEMBERS Nancy Addington, Associated Wholesale Grocers of

Oklahoma City Luis Bogran, Curwood, a Bemis Co., Pauls Valley, Okla.

Rodger Kerr, Southwest Technology Center, Altus, Okla. Tommy Kramer, Durant Industrial Authority, Durant,

Okla.

Ed Clements, Clements Foods Co., Oklahoma City

John Patrick Lopez, Lopez Foods, Oklahoma City

Gary Crane, Ralph’s Packing Co., Perkins, Okla.

David McLaughlin, AdvancePierre Foods, Enid, Okla.

Scott Dvorak, Dvorak Farms, Perry, Okla.

Allen Mills, Reasor’s Inc., Tahlequah, Okla.

John Griffin, Griffin Foods, Muskogee, Okla.

Paul Schatte, Head Country Food Inc., Ponca City, Okla.

David Howard, Unitherm Food Systems, Bristow, Okla.

John Williams, Chef’s Requested Foods, Oklahoma City

Virgil Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms, Miami, Okla.

M A N DY G R O S S

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Awarding the Loyal and True

he OSU Alumni Association handed out its annual Chapter of the Year awards following a record-breaking year of events and activities. The reorganization of the Kay County (Okla.) Chapter brought the total number of OSU alumni groups to 100 — meeting a longtime goal set by Alumni Association staff. From July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, OSU alumni chapters and watch clubs hosted 912 events, attended by more than 26,380 loyal and true Cowboys. The Alumni Association’s chapters committee on its Leadership Council gave out five awards this year. For the largest districts with more than 2,000 alumni, awards went to the Tulsa Chapter and the North Texas Chapter. In the small district category, the Kansas City Chapter took the prize. This year’s newcomer award went to the Indianapolis Watch Club, founded in June 2013. And the most-improved award went to the Washington, D.C., Chapter.

D.C.: Cowboys and native Oklahomans took in a Washington Wizards game in February when the Oklahoma City Thunder came to play in the nation’s capital.

Connect with one of these or our other groups online at orangeconnection.org/chapters.

Indianapolis: A group of rowdy Cowboys pause for a picture during a watch party held for the OSU versus West Virginia football game in September 2013.

Tulsa: This year’s Tulsa Chapter Legacy Event was held at the Philbrook Museum in June and provided fun and educational experiences for future Cowboys and Cowgirls.

North Texas: Members of the 2014 Brighter Orange of North Texas committee pose with Pistol Pete in February. This year’s event raised more than $135,000 for student scholarships. Kansas City: The annual picnic in Kansas City brings out generations of Cowboys and Cowgirls every summer.

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Scrambling for Scholarships in Northwest Arkansas

Fowler and Bo Van Pelt. “We had a good turnout of golfers and sponsors including the group of OSU alumni who put the event together,” says membership Chair Luke Simmering. “Everyone seemed to have a good time and are likely to attend again next year.” With proceeds from its first golf scramble, the Northwest Arkansas Chapter was able to raise $2,700 for scholarships. A portion of those funds were used to award the chapter’s first scholarship to Taylor Rackley, a 2014 graduate of Van Buren High School. Rackley plans to study chemistry at OSU. Cowboys in Northwest Arkansas can also look forward to another season of exciting watch parties at Grub’s Bar and Grille in Rogers. Connect with the Northwest Arkansas Chapter at orangeconnection.org/nwarkansas for a list of upcoming events, and follow it on Facebook at

From left, Brian Ferguson, James Coffey, Devin Onyett, Cody Magnuson and Michael Murphy hit the greens in support of orange with the Northwest Arkansas Chapter.

owboys in the Northwest Arkansas may be in the heart of hog country, but that isn’t stopping them from shining a bright orange across Benton, Madison and Washington counties. The Northwest Arkansas OSU Alumni Chapter hosted its first scholarship golf scramble May 3. More than 30 people attended the event at The Creeks Golf Course, which supported the chapter’s scholarship fund. As of mid-June, 60 graduating high school seniors in the chapter’s three counties were preparing to become Cowboys at OSU. “Our golf scramble assists in providing a scholarship for a graduating high school senior from Northwest Arkansas,” says chapter President Scot Harlow. “Our intention is for this to become an annual event people keep on their calendars year after year. It’s a great way to have fun, enjoy some great food and walk away with some great giveaways.” The scramble had 35 attendees and 29 paid players, including former Cowboy basketball player Scott Pierce. Each golfer received a goody bag, and prizes were awarded for the longest drive, closest to the hole and to the top three teams. There were also various door prizes including a “Swinging Pete” hat signed by former OSU players and professional golfers Rickie

facebook.com/osuaanwark.

North Texas Shines Brightest Orange

he ninth annual Brighter Orange of North Texas continues to outshine the competition in the Lone Star State. Cowboys set records for their generosity in supporting scholarships for North Texas students bound for Stillwater. More than 275 OSU alumni and friends contributed $135,000 in celebration of America’s Brightest Orange and the next generation of Cowboys. This year’s event was held on Feb. 21 at the Dallas Country Club. Guests enjoyed cocktails, a buffet dinner and entertainment provided by the OSU Jazz Band. “We have received overwhelming feedback about how much the attendees enjoyed the event,” says Kathy Wilson, Alumni Association coordinator of alumni relations in North Texas. “The venue is so lovely, and the program was very fun and interesting.” The night also featured a live auction led by Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder and auctioneer Phillip Pierceall. Items included a trip to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with accommodations in a luxury apartment donated by OSU alumni Erich and Cheri Ehrlich, and a woodcarving donated by Walt Garrison. Many attendees donated during “Cash Call,” sponsoring college expenses from books for a semester at $1,000 to housing for a semester at $5,000. A new icebreaker titled Last Poke Standing also raised $3,000, and the winner received a trip to Cabo San Lucas given by Barbara and Terry Pope. More than half of the $135,000 raised came from event sponsors who donated at one of four levels. The chapter hosted a special orange celebration dinner a month before the event for the sponsors and committee members at the home of OSU Hall of Fame members, Amy and Malone Mitchell 3rd.

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“We greatly exceeded our financial goals for the evening and celebrated with a Champagne toast to our alma mater with all the guests,” Wilson says. OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis joined the excitement along with staff from the Alumni Association and OSU Foundation. As an added special treat, Pistol Pete made the trip to North Texas. With the money raised from the event, the North Texas Chapter awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to 60 North Texas-area high school seniors who will be attending OSU in fall 2014. The North Texas Chapter has already started planning the 10th annual Brighter Orange celebration, which will be held Feb. 20, 2015, at the Dallas Country Club. Connect with the North Texas Chapter at orangeconnection.org/northtexas, facebook.com/osuaanorthtexas and twitter.com/osuaanorthtexas.

Watch Parties Connect Cowboys

“Football and basketball watch parties are a great way for alumni and fans nationwide to build camaraderie and support for our athletic teams,” says Haley Brorsen, Alumni Association marketing director. “Providing a spot for locals to gather and watch the Cowboys brings a sense of comfort to our alumni. They can remember their times in Stillwater and create new friendships throughout the season. That’s what the Cowboy family is all about.” Watch parties are also frequented by Cowboys traveling throughout the U.S. If you’re in one of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., chances are very good there are friendly Cowboy fans ready to welcome you to watch a game. With the Alumni Association’s new website, it’s never been easier to find a watch party, either. Visit orangeconnection.org/watchparty to locate a gathering near you and view the schedule of upcoming televised games. Watch parties are open to all OSU alumni and fans — take up the Alumni Association’s invitation and visit one this season.

The Big ‘Orange’ Apple

owboy football hopes to break a record this season by playing in more than 80 cities across the country. They may not be physically playing in each city, but OSU alumni and fans will be tuning in from what could be a record number of watch parties. Earlier this year, the Alumni Association’s 100th group was organized in Kay County, Okla. There is now at least one chapter or watch club in 41 states, and more than 80 percent of OSU’s 207,300 current alumni reside within 50 miles of one. Each group represents OSU in its own unique way, but every one of them connects alumni back to their roots at Oklahoma State. Chapters host philanthropy events, university speakers and guests; cultivate relationships with local students; and sponsor game watch parties. Last season, Alumni Association chapters and clubs across the nation hosted 661 watch parties during football and basketball season with more than 10,650 guests in attendance.

Alumni and fans from the Los Angeles OSU Alumni Watch Club show their spirit during a watch party last season.

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From left are Ken Kinzer, Jared Whertvine, Ali Barbera, Toby Treadwell, Boone Pickens, Melanie Schilt and Emily Fuhrman in front of Stillwater Bar and Grill in New York City.

or graduates from a land-grant institution on the Plains, Cowboys sure do have a fascination with New York City. The Alumni Association’s New York City Chapter continues to be one of the most active alumni groups in the U.S., and it started the year off with a bang when Boone Pickens stopped by the chapter’s watch party location at the Stillwater Bar and Grill. “(Pickens) called our president, Toby Treadwell, and asked to stop by. And of course we agreed,” says Melanie Schilt, chapter vice president. “He asked everyone who walked in if they were an OSU Cowboy, and if so, he wanted to meet them.” The meet-and-greet with Pickens was the first of many events for the chapter this year. On May 3, chapter members hosted their own Kentucky Derby celebration. More than 40 people, the women outfitted in hats and dresses, attended the inaugural event at Stillwater

Bar and Grill. The event served as a fundraiser for the chapter’s five scholarships for OSU students. Two of the scholarships were awarded to OSU students originally from the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut while the other three went to OSU students participating in internships in the Big Apple. A group of students from the Spears School of Business also meets with the chapter on an annual basis. Finance professor Betty Simkins takes a group of OSU students to New York City every year to get a firsthand look at what it takes to make it in the big city from OSU graduates working on Wall Street. At the end of their weeklong visit, the chapter hosts a happy hour and networking event to help welcome them to the city. “The students tell me every year that coming to Stillwater Bar and Grill is one of the highlights of the trip. They always want to hear about life in New York, especially about how much rent costs,” Schilt says. ”But it’s one of the chapter’s favorite events as well. We love to see the students every year; it really brings the campus to NYC.” Several chapter members also made the trek northeast to Greenwich, Conn. for A Night with OSU hosted by the Alumni Association on June 8. The free event was held at the Greenwich Country Club and was made possible through the generosity of alumni Gerry and Dorothy Mayfield. The evening featured OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis, who also celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary at the event. “We have great camaraderie here,” Schilt says. “Every once in a while, you have to go spend some time with your ‘orange people.’” The Big Apple might be bright red, but the New York City OSU Alumni Chapter is painting the city that never sleeps orange. If you’re traveling to NYC, don’t miss the opportunity to stop by Stillwater Bar and Grill in the East Village to see the OSU flag flying high and orange décor on the walls inside. Connect with the chapter at

Upcoming Events Join an OSU alumni chapter near you to celebrate OSU and connect with Cowboys. For the most current events listing, visit orangeconnection.org/chapters or scan the QR code. AUG. 30

Cowboys Classic: OSU vs. Florida State (FB) — Arlington, Texas

SEPT. 4

Reception with First Cowgirl Ann Hargis — Cleveland County Chapter

SEPT. 6

Missouri State at OSU (FB)

SEPT. 9

A Night with OSU — Washington, D.C. Chapter

SEPT. 13

UTSA at OSU (FB)

SEPT. 20

Cowboys for a Cause Event — McCurtain County Chapter

SEPT. 20

Cowboy Crawl — Tulsa Chapter

SEPT. 21

Welcome BBQ — NYC Chapter

SEPT. 25

Texas Tech at OSU (FB)

SEPT. 27

Golf Tournament at Wildcat Golf Club — Houston Chapter

OCT. 4

Iowa State at OSU (FB)

OCT. 5

Pistol Pete’s Birthday at the Zoo — OKC Metro Chapter

OCT. 6

Golf Scramble at Oakwood Country Club — Cherokee Strip Chapter

OCT. 11

Fourth-Annual Mini Golf Tournament — Cleveland County Chapter

OCT. 11

OSU at Kansas (FB)

OCT. 18

OSU at TCU (FB)

OCT. 24

Black Alumni Society Golf Tournament & Trailblazer Reception honoring Julia T. Brown

OCT. 25

Homecoming: West Virginia at OSU (FB)

NOV. 1

OSU at K-State (FB)

NOV. 14

Army ROTC Alumni Reunion

NOV. 15

American Indian Distinguished Alumni Reception honoring Jeraldine “Jerry” Brown

NOV. 15

Chili Cook-Off and Watch Party — NYC Chapter

NOV. 15

Texas at OSU (FB)

NOV. 22

OSU at Baylor (FB)

DEC. 4

McAlester Main Street Christmas Parade — Pittsburg County Chapter

DEC. 6

OSU at OU (FB)

DEC. 14

Holiday Lights Harbor Cruise — Orange County Chapter

FEB. 20

Brighter Orange — North Texas Chapter

orangeconnection.org/nyc or on social media at facebook.com/nyccowboys and twitter.com/nyccowboys.

MARCH 28 Second-Annual 5K & Fun Run — Cleveland County Chapter

S T O R I E S BY K AT I E PA R I S H

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A special thank you to the network of more than 400 volunteers that have invested countless hours to OSU and the OSU Alumni Association.

The OSU Alumni Association celebrates

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chapters and clubs across the U.S. More than 80 percent of alumni and friends live within 50 miles of one of our groups.

We hope that you will get involved with your local alumni group today!

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride.

’30s Elinor Evans, ’38 art, celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 4. She is a former professor at OSU and lives in Houston, where she still drives through the Houston traffic.

’50s Richard C. Davis, ’50 agron, became a great-grandfather to Jackson R. Davis of Houston on Dec. 8, 2013. Charles Lupsha, ’50 ento, and his wife, Jo, are now living in Williamsburg Landing in Virginia, a continuous care retirement community located on 137 acres. Anna Stock, ’50 HEECS, is 85. She lives at Inverness Village in west Tulsa, Okla. Owen Armbruster, ’51 journ and broadcast, and his wife, Mary Lou, have six OSU graduates in the family — two brothers, one sister, one daughter, one son and one grandson. Michael Jones, ’51 zoo, and his wife, Ruth, celebrated the birth of their first great-grandson in May. They also moved into a senior living facility in Duluth, Ga. Robin Robertson, ’51 elem ed, M.S. ’58 elem ed, is proud her granddaughter, Cace Robertson, was a fourth-generation student to attend OSU. Cace is married to Chris Richardson, and they reside in Broken Arrow, Okla. Paul Seeley, ’51 ag, and his wife, Jackie, ’53 hist, spend their days ranching in the Flint Hills of Kansas and northwest Oklahoma. Robert Walton, ’52 dairy sci, M.S. ’56 an sci, received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Holstein Association USA in 2012. He was also featured in Hoard’s Dairyman in September 2013 in a story about his life and career. He is also writing his memoirs. Anthon Cummings, ’53 dairy sci, lost his wife, Gloria, from liver cancer on Dec. 24, 2013.

Ruby Moore, ’53 sec ed, M.S. ’78 cur/instr, and her husband, Wayne, ’52 an sci, have season tickets to OSU football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. Bob Smith, ’54, and wife, Emma, have two daughters — Lesley, an assistant Oklahoma attorney general, and Jennifer, a fourth-grade teacher at Oklahoma City’s Coolidge Elementary. They also have two sons — James, an OSU alumnus working at Shawnee Milling Co., and Timothy, a ranch manager. Kerry Havner, ’55 civil eng, M.S. ’56 civil eng, Ph.D. ’59 civil eng, a professor emeritus of civil engineering and materials science at North Carolina State University, was elected a fellow of the American Society of Engineers’ Engineering Mechanics Institute in July 2014. Corinne Gooch, ’57 music, continues to enjoy the weather, beautiful mountains, lakes, southern hospitality and spending time with her son and family in Hot Springs, Ark. Harvey Smith, ’58 AGED, and his wife, Beverly, live in Stillwater. Harvey retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He plays golf and attends OSU football and basketball games. Barbara Floyd, ’59 sec ed, is an interior designer in Dallas. Fred Gordon, ’59 geol, has been retired from Ciba Geigy since 1995. He is now in the cattle, oil and gas business while running a cow-calf operation.

’60s John Wesley Reynolds, ’60 mech eng, M.S. ’61 mech eng, and his wife, Charlene, ’59 bus ed, are retired and celebrated 15 years of marriage on Aug. 15. Their grandson, Brad Reynolds, ’12 sec ed, graduated from OSU, and their granddaughter, Kaitlyn Reynolds, is a senior at OSU. Bill Dunn, ’61 acctg, has three grandsons who have attended Grandparent University and Cowboy Golf Camp: Holt and Ben Calder, and J.J. Hodson. Bill is married to Jerry, ’61 elem ed.

James Kienholz, ’61 gen bus, was recognized at the Oklahoma Bankers Association’s annual meeting for working as a banker for 50 years. James is very happy his first grandchild, Nicholas Foster, is attending OSU. Janice Smith, ’62 pre-vet sci, DVM ’64, retired in 2003 after practicing large- and small-animal veterinary medicine for 39 years and ranching for 20 years. Janice moved to Canon City, Colo., in June 2003. Carol Taylor, ’62 speech, is a watercolor artist and grandmother to four grandchildren, ages 4-9. In the summer, Carol travels to Creede, Colo., for an annual family fishing trip. Carol has lived in Bishop, Calif., for 40 years with her husband, Steve. Nancy Breckenridge, ’63 FRCD, had a great time attending her first Grandparent University this summer with her only grandchild. Bobby Blair, ’64 chem eng, coauthored the book Victory at Peleliu published by the University of Oklahoma Press in 2011. John Cross, ’64 soc, and his wife, Kathie, are happy to announce the birth of their grandchild, Finn Sehoke Cross. Dorothy Clark-Larkin, ’64 sec ed, M.S. ’65 sec ed, is an adjunct instructor at Rogers State University. Carolyn Ames, ’65 HEECS, is a retired classroom teacher. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family, especially her 9-year-old grandson. They attended their first Grandparent University this summer. James Gist, ’65 mech eng, retired from OG&E in 1994 and currently lives in southwest Oklahoma City. Lynda Hillier, ’66 bus, is still with Doncaster. Her daughter, Susan Riehmier, lives in Garden City, Kan., with three children. Her son, Brian, works at First United in financial services and lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife and four children. Michael McCreight, ’66 pre-vet, ’68 DVM, sold his veterinary practice in August 2013. Michael and his wife Judith, ’67 elem ed, are keeping busy with seven grandchildren and the eighth on the way.

Ronald Cannefax, ’67 ind eng & mgmt, retired after 33 years with the civil services at Tinker Air Force Base. Gilbert Sanders, ’67 hi st, wa s selected the 2014 American Psychological Foundation’s Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. Gilbert is the first Oklahoman to receive this award. This will be the capstone of a 40-year career in psychology and public service. Alexander Esch, ’68 an sci livestock op, is currently a sales associate at Humana. His wife Judy Esch, ’70 elem ed, recently retired. Mary Sue Johnson, ’68 elem ed, has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. William Clarke, ’69 mgmt, has retired from Campbell Co. and now buys and sells used equipment. His wife, Joella Clarke, ’66 acctg, retired from Jemaso Inc. and is an antique dealer for J&J Antiques in Paris, Texas. Judith Helms, ’69 DHM, is the co-founder of Oklahoma Quilt Network. She is the 2014 president of the Green Country Quilt Guild in the Tulsa, Okla., area. John Schmidt, ’69 ag econ, has five grandchildren: Hunter Siddons, 19, J.R. Siddons, 16, Michael Siddons, 13, Symphony Schmidt, 9, and Giana Schmidt, 5.

’70s Hal Oswalt, ’70 mgmt, MBA ’72, was named to the board of directors for Citizens Business Bank in Ontario, Calif. Barrett Kays, ’71 hort/land arch, completed construction documents for the manufacturing of custom soils and drainage system for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial site in Washington, D.C., as a consultant for Frank Gehry Partners & AECOM Joint Venture. Neal Kilmer, M.S. ’71 chem, met his wife, Jody, square dancing in 1992. They now live in Las Cruces, N.M. Neal works part time as a software

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CHAPTER LEADER PROFILE:

Robert Williams

ago that introduced him to the Kansas City Chapter. Williams has served on the chapter’s board for five years. “It’s been fun watching the chapter grow from watch parties and little events to where it is now,” Williams says. “Being president opens you up to so many more experiences and opportunities to meet people, and I think that’s what I like most about it.” The OSU Department of Animal Science honored Williams with its Graduate of Distinction Award in April. He currently serves as the director of breed improvement and foreign marketing at the AmericanInternational Charolais Association. Williams says he hopes the Kansas City Chapter can serve as a starting point for

Kansas City is a major center for Oklahoma State alumni, so it was no surprise when the Kansas City OSU Alumni Chapter won Small District Chapter of the Year in 2013. The chapter’s recent successes can be attributed in no small part to its president, Robert Williams. Williams grew up on a farm in western Oklahoma before attending Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, where he was a member of the Livestock Judging Team. After two years in Alva, he decided he wanted to pursue a degree in agriculture and transferred to Oklahoma State. At OSU, Williams was on OSU’s Livestock Judging Team, Horse Judging Team and Block and Bridle. In 1981, Williams helped lead the Cowboys to a national title at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. He was named the high individual in beef and the second high individual — Robert Williams overall. “The atmosphere at OSU is new alumni moving into the area who don’t unlike any other place,” Williams says. “You know anyone, and he encourages all Cowboys meet so many people at all of the activities on to look up the chapter when they’re visiting campus, and many of those people are still my the area. friends today.” Williams graduated from OSU in 1982 K AT I E PA R I S H with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He went on to earn a master’s degree in 1996 Connect with Williams and the Kansas City and a doctorate in breeding and genetics at the Chapter at orangeconnection.org/kansascity University of Georgia in 2002. and facebook.com/kccowboys. Williams, his wife, Nancy, and their four children relocated to Kansas City, Mo., in 1998, but it was a postcard several years

“The atmosphere at OSU is unlike any other place. You meet so many people at all of the activities on campus, and many of those people are still my friends today.”

KANSAS CITY CHAPTER BY THE NUMBERS

2,293 alumni and friends 659 current OSU students from Kansas and Missouri 305 members 247 miles from Stillwater

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engineer. Jody is a retired after having a long career as a school teacher. Paul Kuznekoff, ’72 pol sci, and his wife, Connie, ’70 DHM, are going to be grandparents. Judith Powell, ’72 elem ed, retired in 2011 after spending 39 years in education. She and her husband, Lon, enjoy spending time with their sons, daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. Peggy Sasser, ’72 HEECS, is a retired social worker. Her husband, Will, ’71 livestock op, is a retired sanitarian. They now enjoy farming hay and equestrian trail riding. Phyllis Sams, ’73 HEECS, and her husband, Larry, ’55 poultry sci, M.S. ’69 adult ed, celebrated 60 years of marriage last summer. They lived in Stillwater for the first 20 years of their marriage before moving to Muskogee, Okla. They moved back to Stillwater six years ago after 33 years in Muskogee. Michael Lyle, ’75 chem eng, M.S. ’76 chem eng, and his wife, Elaina, moved back to Stillwater after living in Houston for 35 years. Charles Sims, ’75 mgmt, is the administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Southern Plains office of Native American Programs. He and his wife, Carolyn, have be together for nearly 21 years and have two sons and one daughter — all OSU alumni. They also have five grandchildren. Tamara Deever, ’76 HID, and her husband, Harold, ’75 AGED, have a daughter, Chelsea, ’10 psych, who completed her master’s in psychology in May. They are also proud grandparents of 1-year-old Quinn. They are enjoying living in Hawaii. Dee McAffrey, ’76 sec ed, retired from teaching at Warner Public Schools in Oklahoma after 32 years. She went to work in the oil field with her husband, Joe. They have two children and three grandchildren. Denise Pfeiff, ’76 sec ed, and her husband, Will, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on June 16. Denise is a math teacher and the math department chair at Broken Arrow North Intermediate High School in Oklahoma. She has taught high school mathematics for 38 years.

Keep Us Posted Alumni Association members may submit information to be published as a class note online and in STATE magazine based on availability of space. Announcements that are incomplete (such as marriage/union and birth announcements without spouse/partner information) or older than a Marvin Dement, ’77 fin; Shirley Scott, ’81 fin; and Judge Nick Leach, ’81 acctg, get together every year on May 9 to celebrate the anniversary of their graduation from OSU. Marvin and Shirley are officers with First Bank and Trust Co. of Perry, Okla., and Leach recently went on the bench as the associate district judge in Noble County, Okla., after practicing law in Perry for 28 years. Curt Goulding, ’77 ag econ, is a senior vice president for Global Sales with INTL FCStone. Curt is married to Nancy, ’77 sec admin. Nancy is a homemaker and travels with Curt whenever possible. They live in Kansas City, Mo. Valli Rallis, ’77 pol sci & public affairs, and her husband, Gus, are living the retired life in Santa Barbara, Calif. Their daughter, Maya Castille, ’12 Engl, is obtaining her master’s degree at Edinburg Napier University in Scotland. Elizabeth Jayne Burns, ’78 journ, M.S. ’86 cur/instr, has been an educator for 36 years and served as the principal of Childers Middle School in Broken Arrow, Okla., for the last 14 years.

year may not be considered for publication. Clearly print your information and mail to Class Notes, 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078. Information can also be emailed to info@orangeconnection.org or submitted online at orangeconnection.org/update. A L U M N U S /A L U M N A

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Michael Bass, ’79 arch, M.S. ’83 arch, has a daughter who married May 16. Kevin Corbett, ’79 acctg, certified public accountant and partner at Ernst & Young, was recently elected to the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates board of directors.

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Roger Gaddis, ’79 acctg, and Leigh Gaddis, of Gaddis & Gaddis Wealth Management, donated an electric low-speed vehicle to support fundraising efforts at Mercy Hospital and Mercy Clinics in Ada, Okla.

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Rebecca Greer, ’79 FRCD, was recognized by the National Head Start Association as the National Teacher

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of the Year. She has retired with her husband, Doug, in Springfield, Mo. Vincent G. Logan, ’79 pol sci, a member of the Osage Nation, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next special trustee for American Indians. Phil Trenary, ’79 aeronautical eng tech, was named the new president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. Before taking over as president and CEO, Trenary was the Pinnacle Airlines Corp. president and CEO for 13 years.

’80s Teresa Carter, ’80 acctg, welcomed grandson and future Cowboy, Logan James Carter, born March 4, 2014. Richard Muncrief, ’80 petro tech, has been named the new president and CEO of WPX Energy. Richard is a petroleum engineer with more than 30 years of upstream and midstream energy experience, most recently as senior vice president of operations and resource development at Continental Resources where he oversaw corporate engineering, reservoir development, drilling, production operations and supply chain management. Teresa Dillon, ’81 nutri sci, is working as a medical, chemical and biological analyst for the Department of Defense. Teresa lives in San Antonio but frequently travels to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Kari Baser, ’82 ag econ, and her husband, Ricky Baser, ’81 M.A. speech, Ed.D. ’92 higher ed, will be moving to San Antonio. Ric was selected by the Alamo College District to serve as pres ident of Nor thwest V i sta College. Billy Wall, ’82 trade ind mgmt, is enjoying retirement after 36 years with the Department of Defense and nine years as a defense contractor.

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Steven Gould, ’84 a n sci, lives in Southern California a nd wor ks a s a national account manager for Monsanto Co. in the industrial turf and ornamental business. He has been married 27 years to Melinda, and they have two sons at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in agricultural business. David Wayne Neal, ’84 ag econ, is the tire and lube express department manager at Wal-Mart in Pryor, Okla. Steven D. Law, ’85 hist, was recently promoted to small-group marketing representative at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma. Cindy Nolen, ’85 bus ed, and her husband, Michael, traveled to Chichen Itza, Mexico, this summer with their two boys, Max, 12, and Mickey, 11. Go Pokes! Lynda Owens, ’85 ind eng & mgmt., and her husband, Doug, have a nephew, Dylan Singleton, who is a sophomore at OSU. They are hopeful their son, Kevin, will join him after he graduates in 2015. Lynda and Doug are lifetime members of the OSU Alumni Association. Nagi Naganathan, Ph.D. ’86 mech eng, former professor and chairman of the department of mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering at the University of Toledo, has been appointed interim president. Paul Arnold, ’87 journ, and his wife, Leslie, ’88 elem ed, have two daughters. Their oldest daughter, Lindsay, sports media, graduated from OSU in December 2012. The youngest daughter, Rachel, will attend OSU starting fall 2014. Monte Wade Goucher, ’87 const mgmt tech, M.S. ’07 eng and tech mgmt, is executive director of Circuit Engineering District 7 Transportation Design and Management division for 11 western Oklahoma counties. Richard Holly, ’88 pol sci, was recently promoted to deputy executive director for finance and operations of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

’90s Robin O’Neill, ’90 an sci, DVM ’94, currently works at a small-animal clinic in Abersoon, S.D. She has two children, Kaitlin and Grady. Elizabeth Guy, ’91 mktg, is a special education teacher in Meeker, Okla. Her husband, Dean Guy, ’89 mech des tech, is the manager at Boeing in Oklahoma City. Their oldest child will be a junior at OSU in fall 2014, and their middle child will begin college at OSU-OKC this fall. Rhonda Heiser, ’91 HRAD, and her husband celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary in Montreal in June. Amber Teeman, ’91 sec ed, is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed Sept. 13, 2012. Brett Gladden, ’92 fin, recently changed jobs and is now a financial adviser for Edward Jones. Teresa Taylor, ’94 elem ed, and her husband, Bob, are expecting two grandchildren this summer. They will then have 24 grandchildren. Terry Sperle, ’94 ag ed, purchased the American Farmers and Ranchers agency in Cordell, Okla. Jennifer Douglas, ’95 music ed, recently celebrated five years with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Jennifer is active in Cub Scouts leadership and keeping up with her four children. Douglas McKinney, ’95 agri bus, received a promotion and will serve as the U.S. technical specialist for Maintain Oil Field. Mary Bandy, ’96 cur/instruct, retired from teaching and serving as the professional development coordinator at Stillwater Public Schools. Mary lives in Stillwater but travels to Alaska, the Rocky Mountains and Dallas. She has five grandchildren. Charles Nelson, M.S. ’96 bus admin, is a director at Hertz Corp. He also serves on the board of directors at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tulsa, Okla., and as chairman of the Tulsa Bowl for Kids Sake in 2013 and 2014. Amanda Johnston, ’97 chem eng, and her husband, Michael, welcomed a new OSU legacy to the family, Morgan Anne Johnston, born Dec. 7,

2013. Morgan joins big brother, Mason, in his fascination of OSU orange. Janna Kelley, M.S. ’98 FRCD, began her 27th year with Oklahoma Cooperative Extension in December as the family consumer science educator and county extension director in Pontotoc County.

’00s Brandon Clark, ’01 an sci, and his wife, Robin, have a daughter, Logan, 4, and a son, Gavin, 2. Chris Jakober, ’01 chem, is a chemical hygiene officer for University of California, Davis, and a graduate instructor in atmospheric chemistry for John Hopkins University. Steven M. Karr, Ph.D. ’01 hist, has been named president of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Zachary Phillips, ’01 an sci, DVM ’05, and his wife, Nicole, ’06 an sci, DVM ’10, welcomed their daughter, Annette Nicole Phillips, on April 14, 2014. Jesse Sproul, ’02 fin, and his wife Melissa had their first baby on Sept. 25, 2013. Ashlee Taylor, ’02 micro, MBA ’08, married Justin Rempel on April 26, 2014. Andrea Ahlerich, ’03 an sci, DVM ’06, and her husband, Nick, welcomed their son, Luke Warren Ahlerich, in June 2013. Krystle Cunningham, ’03 journ and broad, M.S. ’05 nat & app sci, and her husband, Matt, are expecting their first baby, Kennedy Paxton Cunningham, in Sept. 2014. Katie Shaw, ’03 elem ed, married Seymore Shaw, ’05 ed, in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 10, 2014. The couple proudly represents their Cowboys from their home in Fort Worth.

Robert Austin, ’04 aerosp std, is the assistant business unit manager for the energy solutions group of Dewberry. He will manage the group’s projects and performance in the western U.S. Erin Pekar, ’04 bio sci, and her husband, Douglas, moved back to Oklahoma from Ohio and are expecting their first Cowpoke in October 2014. Elizabeth Stidham, ’04 ag comm, and hus ba nd, S cot t, welcomed their first baby, Reed Warren Scott Stidham, on F e b. 19, 20 14. Grandparents are John Warren Kinney and Melinda Davis Kinney. Kimberely Durall, ’05 elem ed, completed a Master of Arts in English from Teachers College at Columbia University in 2014. Kelly Thomas, ’05 soc, recently bought a house in Checotah, Okla. Kacie Britten, ’08 HRAD, and her husband Joshua, ’08 mgmt, have a 3-year-old boy, Cole, and a 5-monthold girl, Kate. Barbara McDougal, ’08 associate applied sci nursing, is a certified gastroenterology registered nurse at Integris Health in Edmond, Okla. Cody Seth, ’08 mktg, and his wife, Patricia, ’08 acctg, had a future Cowboy, C.J. Seth, born on April 9, 2013. Shanna Skimbo, ’09 ed, received her provisional sales associate license from the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission.

Robert Lyle, ’10 pol sci, married Jessica Lyle, ’12 nutri sci, at Bennett Chapel on Oct. 18, 2013. Robert is currently on a tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Kate Arroyo, M.S. ’11 int’l bus, accepted a position as an international trade specialist at the University of North Florida Small Business Development Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Kate develops comprehensive export marketing plans for Florida businesses and conducts a variety of international trainings. Cody Cramer, ’11 agri bus, M.S. ’13 ag comm, married Anna Smith, ’13 DHM and mktg, on Oct. 26, 2013, in Edmond, Okla. John Long III, ’12 biochem, is a thirdyear medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Tracie Dickerson, ’13 mkgt, and Jared Lowmiller, ’12 sec ed, welcomed a baby boy, Jace Lowmiller, to the OSU family on May 22, 2014. Cameron Ross, ’13 geol, married Kathryn Ross, ’11 geol, in April 2013. Cynthia Watkins, ’13 nutri sci, bought a house in Tulsa, Okla., where she started a home-care business and works in the medical field part time.

Friends & Supporters Don Ledbetter was the president of Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and the Moore School Board. He is currently director at First National Bank in Moore. His granddaughter and son-in-law graduated from OSU, and their son is currently a student at OSU.

Totusek and Emil Totusek. While at Oklahoma A&M College he was actively involved in the A&M Meats and Livestock Judging Teams. He obtained a doctorate at Purdue University, before joining the Animal Husbandry faculty at Oklahoma A&M College in 1952. He married Nellie Lieu Maynard on Dec. 21, 1947, and they had three children, Don, Diane and Darla. While at OSU, Bob enjoyed teaching, research, coaching livestock judging teams, administration, and mentoring students and colleagues. He served as animal science department head from 1976 until retiring in 1990. David Poplin, ’52 hort/land arch, died March 21, 2014. He was 86. David was born on May 10, 1928, in Adair, Okla. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. On April 19, 1953, David married his wife, Barbara, and they moved to Ohio where David worked in the greenhouse business. In 1971, they returned to Oklahoma, where he retired as an assistant district attorney in 2002. Bob Burton Winborn, ’52 sec ed, M.S. ’57 sec ed, died June 10, 2014, at the age of 83. He received his doctorate from Indiana University and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity at Oklahoma A&M. Bob was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship in 1974. During his academic career, he taught at North Texas University, Indiana University and Michigan State University. Bob and his wife of 62 years, Nanci, have a son and daughter, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Josh Becnel, ’10 arch, and Morgan Jones, ’10 arch, Dewberry architectural interns from the firm’s Tulsa, Okla., office, tied for first place in a library-design competition hosted by the American Institute of Architects.

John Reeve, ’48 mech eng, died Dec. 26, 2013. He was 90. John was married to Katherine for 68 years. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Saralee Howell, ’53 bus & pub admin, died March 8, 2014. She was 83. Saralee was born on Dec. 10, 1930, in Stillwater, Okla. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity. In 1980, Saralee resumed her childhood love of horseback riding. For several years, she rode English in the Arapahoe Hunt in Denver. In 1986, she moved to Sanibel, Fla., where she lived until her death.

Andrew Brown, ’10 fin, is now the chief operating officer of the Resource Group and Capitas Financial of Oklahoma, working in business continuation and estate planning.

Robert “Bob” Totusek, ’49 an husb, died June 6, 2014, in Oklahoma City. He was 87. Born on a farm between Kingfisher and Garber, Okla., he was the son of Aloise Karbusicky

Janice Marks died Sept. 1, 2013, after a long struggle with cancer. She was 79. Janice was born on Nov. 15, 1933, in Oklahoma City. She attended Oklahoma A&M where she met and

’10s

In Memory

married the love of her life, Ferrell Marks, ’54 mil sci. After graduation, Ferrell joined the Army and was sent to Germany where Janice had their first child, Craig, in 1955. Janice had their second son, Gary, in Memphis, Tenn., in 1958. Janice completed her education at Memphis State University to earn her bachelor’s degree and eventually her master’s degree in education. Janice eventually worked as a teacher and opened Jan’s Estate Sales. George David, ’57 sec ed, died April 10, 2014. He was 79. While attending OSU, he was a member of the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. George began a 33-year teaching career in 1957. He enjoyed attending OSU athletic events with his wife, Sharon. His devotion in life was to his family. Betty Binyon Lewis, ’57 phys ed, died Dec. 21, 2012. Betty was president of the Women’s Athletic Association and played varsity softball and field hockey. S he tau g ht a nd c o a c h e d fo r 37 years in the Blanchard Public Schools in Oklahoma and was at the forefront of the creation of the school system’s alumni association. In 2012, the Betty Binyon Lewis Alumni Center was dedicated in her honor. She was also active in the OSU Alumni Association, OSU POSSE and the “O” Club. Zane Stites, ’60 mgmt, died May 4, 2014 at the age of 79 in Corsicana, Texas. Zane was married to Susan Anne Stites, ’56 FRCD. They have two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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“

Oklahoma State is all about family and teamwork,, and there has never been a better time to invest in the team by becoming an Alumni Association member.

”

Mike Gundy, B.S. ’90 – Life Member Cowboy Football Head Coach

THANK YOU

Your membership supports our efforts to connect all Cowboys and strengthen the OSU family. Membership is an affordable way for you to have a positive impact on the university every day. Take advantage of all the connections your membership offers to show you are loyal and true to OSU!

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride.

Listen to audio excerpts of OSU alumni sharing their compelling life stories and college memories or read their interview transcripts at w w w.librar y.okstate.edu/oralhistor y/ostate.

orn in 1911, Russell Pierson has achieved professional success and national recognition in his 100-plus years. He enrolled at Oklahoma A&M in 1929 and completed his degree in 1937. He was an active student, making the varsity track and cross-country teams and serving as vice president of the Aggie Society. He was also on the crops-judging team, which achieved National Reserve Champion honors in 1933, and a member of the Ruf-Nex pep squad. The highlight of his college days was meeting Bernice Strom, the “little blue-eyed blonde” and “Aggie princess” he would later marry. Before Pierson completed his course work, the crops-judging coach secured him a job in Hollis, Okla., as assistant county extension agent for Harmon County. From county extension agent to head of the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association to working in the commercial seed business, his work revolved around agriculture. From 1959 to 1970, Pierson was the farm broadcast anchor for WKY radio and television. Known for his folksy style and show-ending limericks, Pierson became one of the most recognizable media personalities in Oklahoma. It all started with a wagon ride he took with his father in 1929. During a 2010 interview, Pierson shared how he came to choose a major and a career: The year I graduated from high school, I’d been pretty active in athletics, especially in track, and I also was in the glee club and the quartet. I sang bass in the quartet in high school. Dad and I had been to town with a load of something … we were in a farm wagon. Coming home he said, “Son, I know you want to be an athletic coach. You’re going to go up to A&M here in a couple of weeks,

but if I had my choice I’d like to see you training to be what Mr. Georgia is.” Well, Mr. Georgia was our county agent. I said, “No, I want to be an athletic coach.” Well, I went up to A&M and enrolled in science and literature with physical education as a major, and I stayed with that about two weeks, but what my dad had told me just kept ringing in my ears: “Son, I’d like to see you be what Mr. Georgia is. You’d still be working with boys, but you’d do us farmers a lot of help.” So, two weeks after I enrolled up there, I switched majors and went over to agriculture. I’ve never been regretful of it. That was good advice my father gave me. The 102-year-old Pierson has received numerous broadcast awards, including induction into the National Radio and Television Farm Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Oklahoma State University has recognized him as a distinguished alumnus of the College of Agriculture and a member of the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame. Well after his century mark, Pierson was still driving his Ford truck daily to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds where he supervised feed and bedding services for agricultural events held on the fairgrounds, including the State Fair of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Youth Expo. Pierson created a rich and enduring legacy and made his father happy and proud.

PHOTO PROVIDED

O-STATE Stories, a project of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the Edmon Low Library, chronicles the rich history, heritage and traditions of Oklahoma State University. Interviews are available online at www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/ostate. For more information about O-STATE Stories, or for assistance with searching, contact the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at 405-744-7685.

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oach Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf knew he faced a tough challenge with the Oklahoma A&M football team, but in 1929 he arrived in Stillwater with a broad smile and a jovial temperament. During the previous season the football team had won its home opener and then dropped the next seven, being outscored 194-12 during the losing streak. The University of Oklahoma embarrassed the Aggies 46-0. Then-coach John Maulbetsch also served as basketball and baseball coach, the athletic department was in debt and resources were lacking to prepare athletes during the offseason. After Maulbetsch resigned, administrators hired separate coaches for football, baseball and basketball. The 26-year-old Waldorf became the football coach in June 1929. With his players away from campus, the coach didn’t meet his men until mid-September — two weeks before the opening game. The Way to Stillwater

Winning with Waldorf

Four years before arriving in Stillwater, the 250-pound Waldorf had been an All-American tackle at Syracuse University and the largest member of its varsity rowing crew. While at Syracuse, he met Louise McKay, whom he married in 1925. Their first daughter, Mary Louise, was

ABOVE: Lights were installed in 1929 for Friday night games at Lewis Field. Story by David C. Peters, OSU Library Photos Courtesy of OSU Special Collections

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LEFT: Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf in 1929, the year he took over the Oklahoma A&M football team.

born later that year. Their second daughter, Carolyn, was born during the 1931 football season. After graduating Syracuse, Waldorf was hired by Oklahoma City University. His father, a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, had contacted the Methodist university’s president hoping to find his son a faculty job. Instead, Waldorf became athletic director and head coach for the football, basketball and track teams. Waldorf’s three successful years at OCU led the University of Kansas to hire him as an assistant coach. He was there one year before Oklahoma A&M lured Waldorf away.

During the season, Waldorf and his coaching staff had become innovators. At the time, athletes normally played both offense and defense without substitutes. Exendine, with Waldorf’s approval, developed three to four backfield groups made up of four players (quarterback, fullback and two halfbacks). Waldorf and Exendine would work with these backfield groups on the sidelines while others were playing and rotate in the substitutes between plays depending on the situation. The strategy was a precursor to teams transitioning to separate offensive and defensive units.

Building a Program

When practices began for the 1930 season, 60 men showed up for the varsity and 150 for the freshman team. Baker, the quarterback and captain, returned for his senior year and was joined in the offensive backfield by halfback Gerald “Cowboy” Curtin. The team finished the season 7-2-1 with a share of the Missouri Valley Conference championship. About 17,000 fans

At the beginning of the 1929 season, Waldorf had few returning starters, but he did have incumbent team captain and quarterback Jack Baker, along with two-time NCAA wrestling heavyweight champion Earl “Moose” McCready on the line. Waldorf began recruiting from the student body. Before the season’s first game, he had 21 sophomores, juniors and seniors — some who had never played college football — on the varsity team. He had enough freshmen to form three squads, so one of them served as the scout team against the varsity. His practice sessions were efficient, focusing on the fundamentals of blocking, tackling and exploding off the line of scrimmage. He developed personal relationships with each player (knew their names after the first practice), taught a coaching course and shared encouragement and humor. In return, he expected commitment, hard work and discipline from his players. In July, Waldorf hired backfield coach Albert Exendine, an Oklahoman and member of the Delaware Nation. Exendine had played football at Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, where he was team captain and selected an All-American after the 1906 season (a year before Jim Thorpe joined the Carlisle Indians). After graduation, Exendine served as a Carlisle assistant coach under Glenn “Pop” Warner. Before joining Waldorf at OAMC, he was the head coach at Georgetown (completing a degree from Dickinson Law School at the same time) and Washington State among other schools. His name had surfaced as a candidate for the position accepted by Waldorf. Waldorf also hired Harold L. “Puny” James as the freshman football coach. James had been an all-around athlete at the University of Oklahoma after his service in France during World War I and had qualified for the 1920 U.S. Olympic team in track. Innovative Strategies During the summer, Waldorf proposed changing game day. While at OCU, he had started evening football games. At his urging and with the support of OAMC Athletic Director Ed Gallagher lights were installed at Lewis Field. Early season games were moved from Saturday afternoons to 8 p.m. Fridays. On Sept. 27, 1929, under Lewis Field lights for the first time, the Cowboys defeated Northwestern Oklahoma College 12-0. The team would finish the 1929 season with a record of 4-3-2, including a 7-7 tie versus the Sooners.

Continuing Excellence

TOP: The 1929 Aggies went 4-3-2 under first-year head coach Waldorf. BOTTOM: The 1929 coaching staff were innovators with Waldorf, standing far right in the back row, at the helm and assistant Albert Exendine, standing next to the head coach. Next to Exendine is Athletic Director Ed Gallagher, wearing a bow tie. attended the 7-0 home victory against OU. The stadium was designed to hold half that many, and thousands stood on the track and behind the end zones. Waldorf and his team continued winning in 1931, ending the season 8-2-1. They were undefeated at home, which included a double-header to start the season. The coach split his team into two separate squads. The first squad beat Bethany College of Kansas 34-0; the second squad defeated Northeastern Oklahoma College 25-0. The season finished with a 0-0 tie in Norman. The long shadow of the Depression continued to cast gloom over the college and Athletic Department in 1932. Seating continues

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capacity at the stadium had only reached 13,000, far shy of the original goal of 30,000 seats through a $500,000 stadium fundraising campaign begun a few years earlier. It was a hard time at the college. Employee salaries had been reduced and positions eliminated. Although his salary had remained flat except for a one-year reduction, Waldorf found some criticism as the highest paid faculty member. Gallagher agreed to step aside as athletic director with the understanding that Waldorf would be offered the position. The football coach was being recruited by other universities, and Gallagher wanted to keep him at the college for as long as possible. Gallagher remained wrestling coach and director of physical education. The move kept Waldorf in Stillwater a few more years and the additional responsibilities helped justify his salary. Finishing the Job The home opener for the 1932 season was another night double-header. The Cowboys first squad beat Phillips University from Enid, Okla., 13-0. The second squad played Central State College from Edmond, Okla., to a 0-0 tie. A few games later, the team beat OU 7-0 in Stillwater. It could have been an undefeated season, but Waldorf had scheduled a game with Jefferson University in Dallas for a $4,000 win-or-lose payout. Jefferson had no eligibility standards; many of the players weren’t even enrolled. In addition to the 6-12 loss, the man holding the promised check disappeared in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys returned to Stillwater unpaid. The team ended the season 9-1-2 and with another conference championship. The 1933 season would be Waldorf’s last as a Cowboy. Waldorf was recruited by several schools that offered him a significant salary increase.

The season started slowly with one win, two losses and a tie, but ended with five consecutive victories, a sweep of conference opponents, a third conference championship and a 13-0 victory in Norman over the Sooners. Dating back to 1929, the Cowboys had held OU scoreless for 19 quarters in a row. During Waldorf’s five years as coach, the Cowboys outscored the Sooners 34-7 in a series of defensive battles. Overall, Waldorf won 73.5 percent of his games at OAMC. In 1934, Waldorf accepted the head coaching position at Kansas State. He led the team to its first conference championship. The following year, Waldorf took over the program at Northwestern University in the Big Ten and won a conference championship in his second season. Waldorf was named the first national collegiate football coach of the year in 1935, and his face appeared on boxes of Wheaties cereal. In four years he had led three colleges to conference championships — OAMC in the Missouri Valley, Kansas State in the Big Six and Northwestern in the Big Ten. Waldorf would end his collegiate coachcoach ing career at the University of California with multiple Pac Eight conference champichampi onships and Rose Bowl appearances. Waldorf was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966. He died Aug. 15, 1981. During his years in the orange and black, he was undefeated (3-0-2) against rival OU.

LEFT: The 1931 Aggies football team went 8-2-1 during Waldorf’s third year as coach. RIGHT: Waldorf in 1930 was already establishing himself as a top college coach. BELOW: An OAMC night game at Lewis Field in 1929.

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