STATE Magazine, Spring 2014 by Oklahoma State

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Spring 2014, Vol. 9, No. 3 • statemagazine.okstate.edu

Welcome to the spring 2014 issue of STATE magazine, your source of information from the OSU Alumni Association, the OSU Foundation and University Marketing. Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship students make a big impact at OSU and after graduation. On the cover are three such students — Shelbi Barrett, Ridge Howell and Arnesha Threatt. Read their stories inside this edition of STATE. Cover photography by Phil Shockley

COVER STORY

The Promise

Shelbi Barrett, Josh Midgley, Ridge Howell, Annie Jo Gilbert and Arnesha Threatt are exceptional OSU students, given an opportunity to succeed through Oklahoma’s Promise scholarships. These five students — and many more past, present and future — could not attend college without the scholarship. In STATE’s cover story, read about how such students thrive and truly offer great promise to the state, nation and world.

Artists in Transition OSUIT-educated commercial artists are making a colorful splash in the fine art world. While they may have begun working a day job, their degrees have helped them move from one realm to another, never missing a beat — including those by Ringo Starr and Elton John. 2

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Healing the Afflicted

COWBOY COLLECTION 26 A Brighter Future

Donation creates library internship opportunities.

Seniors of Significance

Alumni Association recognizes students for scholarship, leadership and service.

28 Teaching Need

OSUTeach will address science and math teacher shortage.

Leading from the Heart

Alumni Association’s chair shares her vision.

A Gateway to Orange

OSU Not Finished Branding Success

Priorities remain as campaign approaches end.

OSU medical students, faculty and staff are helping those in pain, whether they are U.S. combat veterans suffering traumatic brain injuries or young women suffering the aftereffects of kidnapping and abuse at the hands of a Ugandan warlord.

OSU Hall of Fame

OSU-Tulsa creates a distinctive campus entrance.

Two men receive OSU’s highest honor.

Farm to Fork

Alumni offer fresh and local gourmet experiences.

60 Certified Organic

Market helps FAPC launch certification program.

84 Creativity & Innovation Through Technology

TECH Playground offers the latest in teaching technology

86 Making a Concrete Impact

B U SI N ESS S

E SS

Celebrate Spears School’s 100th anniversary with a man who began a family legacy.

88 Hitching a Ride

B UI L D I

A $70 million donation spurs engineering boom.

92 Help for Hard Workers

Scholarship honors alumnus with productive “free time.”

94 A Final Thanks

A Beautiful Education

Through the campus beautification efforts of Steve Dobbs and his crew, OSU shines a bright orange for future, current and past students. Dobbs returned to his alma mater and has helped OSU “be known not only as a great university but also as a beautiful campus.”

Couple leave an estate gift to Vet Med Hospital.

96 Feeding the World

A big goal is envisioned with rancher’s gift.

98 Of Promise and Pencils

OSU senior uses a semester at sea to aid developing nations.

102 Outstanding Seniors

Alumni Association selects the best of the best.

D E PA R T M E N T S Legacy Link

STATEment 7

OSU Medicine

Wellness with Ann Hargis

Life Members

105

The Cowboy Way: Lahoma Schultz

President’s Letter

Snapshot: Postal Plaza Gallery 12 Campus News

Uniquely Oklahoma

Chapters 110 O-STATE Stories

115

Class Notes

117

History: Walter Bentley & Extension

124

Since its birth in 1890, Oklahoma State University has opened its doors to any Oklahoma student willing and able to pursue a higher education degree. Today, many students at OSU are fulfilling their college dreams thanks to the citizens of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program. This issue of STATE looks at the innovative Oklahoma’s Promise program through five students with big plans for their OSU degrees: Shelbi Barrett, Josh Midgley, Ridge Howell, Annie Jo Gilbert and Arnesha Threatt. OSU’s history is full of graduates who used their OSU education to make an impact around the world and right here at home. The most recent inductees into the OSU Hall of Fame — Olympic gold medal winner and real estate developer J.W. Mashburn and nationally recognized corporate leader Dennis Reilley — are sterling examples. Alumni in north central Oklahoma are part of the growing local food movement. Chef Jeff Denton uses the freshest meats and produce at his upscale destination restaurant in Tonkawa, while Mary Steichen is expanding her offerings at Silvertop Farm and Vineyards near Ponca City. Read about both in this issue. For its 100th anniversary, the Spears School of Business is celebrating such graduates as Robert Karlovich. You will enjoy his story of determination and achievement. OSU prepares students for success through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach. Many of these students’ experiences are life-changing. For example, medical students at the OSU Center for Health Sciences are doing rotations in Uganda at a school for young women suffering the aftereffects of kidnapping and abuse. Of course, we are forever grateful for the many donors who help our students achieve success. We highlight the vision and support of several examples, including the Dolese Bros. Co., Walter Sitlington, Whole Foods Market, Nancy and Mike Fenton, John and Brenda Richardson, Linda Cline, Dr. James and Elizabeth Wise and Jeanie Muzik Crone. Thanks for YOUR support of OSU! Go Pokes!

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OSU President Burns Hargis

THE OSU STUDENT FOUNDATION RAISED MORE THAN $28,700 THROUGH COWBOY SPIRIT 2014, A BENEFIT CONCERT ON MARCH 7 TO FUND NEED-BASED OSU SCHOLARSHIPS. WE W E R E S O FO RTU NATE TO B R I N G TWO GREAT ACTS TO STILLWATER THIS Y EAR WITH CHAP P O AN D ROYA L TE ETH . TH I S EVE NT WO U LD NOT HAVE BEEN P OSSIBLE WITHOUT ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED TH E C O NC E RT A ND O U R C O MMU N ITY SP ONSORS: MICHAEL AND ANNE GREENWOOD, OSU OFFICE O F STU D E NT A FFA I R S , TH E O S U FO U N DATION, KOSU, CAROLINE DIEDRICH, WOMEN FOR OSU, KY LE & AB BY FOX , B I LL J . H O R NE TR U ST, KEN & ALISON SIGMON, SUDDENLINK AND KICKER.

Earn it The Official OSU Class Ring Wear it Anatomy of the Ring EDMON LOW LIBRARY Repository of Knowledge

PISTOL PETE America’s best mascot

WHEAT

THE RING

Each ring symbolically captures the essence of OSU with the prominent “O” having “OSU” running within a diagonal stripe representing the incursion of the Land Run of 1889.

UNIVERSITY SEAL

The triangle represents the three parts of OSU’s mission–instruction, research and extension, which surround the lamp of learning.

Symbolizing OSU’s land-grant history.

FORMAL NAME

The university’s formal name is spelled out around the crown, with the year of founding at base.

TRADITIONAL

SIGNET The Official OSU Class Ring is available to all OSU alumni and current students with 60 or more credit hours. It was designed by a group of OSU students, alumni and administrators and is the only official ring recognized by the university.

CONNECTED FOR LIFE

Emphasizing that all graduates of OSU are connected with one another and the university for life. The inside of the ring can be engraved with the recipeint’s initials, degree and class year.

The ring captures the essence of OSU and gives graduates the chance to take the heart of campus with them wherever they go. This symbol of pride allows alumni to recognize each other as fellow graduates “loyal and true” to OSU. Visit orangeconnection.org/ring or call 405.744.8716 for order information. 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 tel 405.744.5368 • fax 405.744.6722 orangeconnection.org

Dear OSU Alumni and Friends, A new class of Cowboys will soon graduate and leave to become leaders in the state, nation and world. It’s a time to reflect on the past, and more importantly to look toward the future for those graduates, current alumni and the university as a whole. At the same time of commencement, the opportunity arises for high school students to select a college. OSU has programs to make that decision easier. If you know high school students who are looking to become innovators and leaders while making a positive, meaningful and enduring difference, direct them to admissions.okstate.edu. Applications are still being accepted for fall 2014. Scholarship dollars and other financial aid remain available, so high school seniors should apply now. And it’s never too early for high school juniors to investigate what America’s Brightest Orange has to offer and plan a campus tour or an in-depth visit during Junior Day. The OSU family is ever changing, and never is that more apparent than in the spring. The Alumni Association will welcome thousands of new Cowboys into the alumni family at commencement May 9-10. This year’s class includes 15 Outstanding Seniors who you can read about on Page 102. A month later, the Alumni Association will host its award-winning Grandparent University, which offers a unique, intergenerational learning experience on campus for grandparents and future OSU students

Chris Batchelder President OSU Alumni Association

Kirk A. Jewell President OSU Foundation

ages 7-13. At the same time, we’ll be welcoming the Class of 2018 during new student orientation and promoting a lifetime connection to OSU beginning with the Student Alumni Association. You can learn more about the Alumni Association’s programming for future and current students at orangeconnection.org. Since Oklahoma A&M’s establishment in 1890, the institution’s countless accomplishments can all be traced back to a select list of truly historic moments. Those of us who proudly bleed orange and black fondly recognize turning points such as President Henry Bennett’s 25-year master plan; the transformation into Oklahoma State University in 1957; and becoming a statewide system with the addition of campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee, to name just a few. We are nearing the end of another historic moment as Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University races toward its conclusion on Dec. 31. Now is the time to be a part of the largest highereducation campaign in state history. We hope you will help us strongly finish this initiative to provide the resources OSU needs to join the top modern land-grant institutions. Every dollar helps to secure a Brighter Orange future for the coming generations.

It’s a great time to be a part of America’s Brightest Orange.

Kyle Wray Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing

Being Well with the First Cowgirl

Ann Hargis describes OSU’s emotional health programs.

Dear Cowboy family,

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Wellness is a broad term and can be defined in many ways. At Oklahoma State University, we have a lot of pride in the robust programs we have developed in physical activity and nutrition. With the addition of our chief wellness officer, we have turned our attention to another important part of our journey to be America’s Healthiest Campus — emotional health and life balance. The human resources office has contracted with ComPsych, a national

company that provides 24-hour employeeassistance services. Employees have access to a wide variety of life-balance services. In addition to an on-site licensed clinical psychologist, services include confidential counseling, work-life solutions, legal support, financial information and wellness and lifestyle changes. Available to employees seven days a week, these services are just a phone call or mouseclick away. The Office of University Counseling Services is just one office providing a

OSU’s Reboot Center is a free service that helps students develop stress management skills with an inviting space to relax, re-charge and re-focus.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Evie, top, and Charlie, two members of Pete’s Pet Posse, offer pet therapy to boost the morale of faculty, staff and students.

variety of emotional support to our students. In addition to counselors and psychiatric staff to help during a crisis, it has taken a proactive approach in reaching the student population. Outreach programs focus on a variety of topics such as sleep, hygiene, relaxation, relationship issues, stress management, suicide prevention and anxiety. Counselors present programs in residence halls, classrooms and other areas as requested. In addition, free grief counseling is provided to any student experiencing a loved one’s death. Other emotional health programs such as the Reboot Center and the new pet therapy program are also growing and making an impact at OSU. Wellness is moving forward on our campus, and it is such an exciting time to wear orange. I believe we are the brightest AND the healthiest, and I look forward to the rest of our wellness journey together. In health,

FOR MORE INFORMATION • On ComPsych visit hr.okstate.edu/benefits/heEAP. • On University Counseling Services visit ucs.okstate.edu. • “Human Health, Wellness” topic at OState.TV.

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Ann Hargis

B D

Sharing OKLAHOMA’S VOICES

Thanks to the support of the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and the Kirkpatrick Foundation, KOSU recently moved into a new 4,000-square-foot studio and office space in Oklahoma City’s historic Film Row. The facility’s state-of-the-art technology allows the public radio station to further amplify Oklahoma’s heart and soul to nearly 100,000 weekly listeners. Since 1955, KOSU has created unique experiences, taken listeners beyond the headlines and provided original entertainment that celebrates independent music. The Film Row studios double the station’s capacity to give voice to issues and artistry often ignored by other media.

Additional donor support will help KOSU further connect people and build community through radio that’s distinctly global and uniquely local. Giving opportunities remain at all levels, including naming rights for both a large music performance studio and the entire Film Row facility. For more information about how you can help, please contact KOSU Director Kelly Burley at (800) 228-4678 or Kelly@KOSU.org.

Tribal Pride A Muscogee (Creek) Nation pin reflects Schultz’s Native American heritage. She also provides services for the Ponca tribe at White Eagle near Ponca City.

Her Story Schultz’s Native American bracelet symbolizes a storyteller. It is a reminder of her days as a teacher on the Navajo reservation in Arizona.

Loyal and True Schultz’s OSU necklace displays her loyalty to OSU, where she earned a doctorate in counseling psychology in 2005. True to her alma mater, she mentors OSU students looking to join her profession.

For Country An American flag pin displays Schultz’s patriotic pride. She trained in cognitiveprocessing therapy at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Muskogee, Okla., and developed private-video therapy techniques.

OSU Bonds The inscription “Connected for Life” on the inside of Schultz’s Official OSU Class Ring is something she takes very seriously. She often gives presentations to OSU classes and recruits students to study with her.

Clinical psychologist Lahoma Schultz is paying back the help she received at Oklahoma State University by mentoring students who want to gain counseling experience. Several groups have lauded the 2005 OSU doctoral graduate for her work. She specializes in telemental health services, a group-therapy technique where participants located in different places are connected through private video. Schultz’s work has been featured in several publications. The Muscogee (Creek) tribe member provides services for the Ponca tribe at White Eagle Health Center south of Ponca City, Okla. In 2011, Schultz began supervising four graduate students, including a doctoral student from OSU doing work in counseling psychology. Together they provide services for young children and older women. Schultz also holds degrees from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah and attended the University of Georgia and Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. Schultz’s curriculum vitae is filled with honors and accomplishments, both professional and personal. Despite her hard work, she says she never misses a Thunder game.

Military Recognition Schultz was the first therapist certified to use telemental health services on a national level with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She was recognized for her work with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Certificate of Appreciation.

B E V E R LY B R YA N T PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

SNAPSHOT

A Journey through Space and Time The OSU Museum of Art’s Postal Plaza Gallery opened in January with its inaugural exhibit, “Sharing a Journey: Building the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art Collection,” which introduces OSU’s art collection. The building, located in downtown Stillwater, was built in 1933 and renovated during the last few years to accommodate OSU’s permanent collection. The gallery also serves as a teaching museum for students and an opportunity to connect with the community.

Postal Plaza Gallery Vitals • Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 8 p.m. Thursday • Admission is free • 720 S. Husband St. in downtown Stillwater

Works of Art

3,000

— Total number of objects in the OSU collection.

3-D objects Ethnographic objects

(sculptures, ceramics, etc.)

Paintings

Currency/ ancient coins

Textiles

Paper objects (photography, prints, etc.)

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Note: These are estimates, as many objects can be classified in more than one category.

This Kolam mask of the serpent demon (1970) represents a fierce character whose power is metaphorically drawn from deadly snake venom. Such masks are part of colorful, dramatic dance theater performances in Sri Lanka.

Noteworthy Artists There are too many to name them all, but here are a few recognizable names: Jacques Callot, Imogen Cunningham, Salvador Dali, Honoré Daumier, Ernst de Jong, Ron duBois, Yatika Starr Fields, Benjamin Harjo Jr., Ella Jack, Dale McKinney, J. Jay McVicker, Pablo Picasso and Doel Reed.

Connecting Roads from Past to Present (2013) by Yatika Starr Fields was a mural specially commissioned for the OSU Museum of Art. Fields is a Cherokee, Creek and Osage painter who was the museum’s first visiting artist when he completed this piece.

A FEW NUMBERS

1930s — When then-head of the art department, Doel Reed, began collecting artworks for the campus collection. 310 — Number of objects added in 2013. 300 — Percentage the art collection has grown since 2010.

This Qing-dynasty-style ceramic bowl (20th century) is a recent creation for the commerical export market. PHOTOS / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Exhibitions THROUGH MAY 24:

JULY 7-OCT. 25:

“Sharing a Journey: Building the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art Collection”

“Framing History: Highlights from the Oklahoma State Capitol Senate Collection”

Memorial (1990) is a modern art piece of acrylic on bovine bone, fiberglass, redwood and cedar wood by Kark Umlauf. It is 96 inches long. Umlauf is an internationally recognized teacher and artist whose work appears in more than 40 museums and public collections.

Untitled (kinetic sculpture) (circa 1970) by Dale McKinney is made of spring, balls, wood, metal and an electric motor. McKinney, a former OSU art professor, once said of his kinetic sculptures: “If people are trying to become machines, I think we ought to give machines a chance to become people. I’m trying to make machines less feared by making them less efficient.”

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conservation devices on vending machines, timers on drinking fountains for nighttime energy savings, replacement of obsolete steam traps and insulated pipe valves and fittings, improved monitoring and handling of air and air quality, and installation of energy efficient lighting.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

overall maintenance and operational budget. The efforts have also resulted in 11 residential halls earning the Energy Star label. In addition to changing energy consumption behaviors, the university took a number of steps to improve energy efficiency, including energy

Cowboy Wind Farm near Blackwell, Okla. PHOTO / OSU-TULSA

OSU Surpasses $30M in Energy Savings

klahoma State University has saved more than $30 million through its energy conservation efforts since July 2007. “OSU is proud to be a leader in the area of energy conservation and savings,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “As a publically funded land-grant institution, it is important that Oklahoma State University do all it can to save money in order to focus more dollars on academics and the educational experience of our students.” Since initiating its energy conservation program, the OSU system has saved more than $30.7 million. The Stillwater campus has seen a total savings of $25.4 million. OSU-Oklahoma City, OSU-Tulsa and the OSU Center for Health Sciences have realized nearly $1.5 million each in savings. OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee has saved nearly $1 million. The energy savings allowed five new or renovated buildings on the Stillwater campus to open without increasing the

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From left are OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett; founders Gary Trennepohl, Sen. Jim Halligan, Penny Williams, Charles Ford and Frank Keating; and OSU President Burns Hargis at OSU-Tulsa’s 15th anniversary celebration.

OSU-Tulsa Honors Founders at 15th Anniversary

n celebration of OSU-Tulsa’s 15th anniversary in January, the university honored five people for their contributions to transforming higher education in Tulsa. OSU-Tulsa honored former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, former Oklahoma Sen. Charles Ford, former Oklahoma Sen. Penny Williams, former OSU President Jim Halligan and founding OSU-Tulsa President Gary Trennepohl. “Their efforts have afforded thousands of citizens in northeastern Oklahoma the opportunity to pursue a college degree,” OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett says.

Ford and Williams authored the bill that established the campus on the site of the former University Center at Tulsa. Keating signed the bill, and OSU-Tulsa officially opened on Jan. 1, 1999. As OSU’s 16th president, Halligan pushed for the establishment of OSU-Tulsa. Trennepohl was OSU-Tulsa’s first president and helped build the Helmerich Research Center. “Tulsa is invested as a community, and OSU has invested as an institution. The state has invested in OSU-Tulsa the past 15 years,” Keating says. “Going forward, OSU-Tulsa is going to be and has been a wonderful victory and a brighter future for everyone in Oklahoma.”

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Varsity Review Shines

More than 250 OSU fraternity and sorority members performed at Varsity Revue, Feb. 27 through March 1, to raise money for United Way. This was the 86th year for the annual performance sponsored by the Oklahoma State University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.

Mathematics Learning Success Center Leads to Student Success

ince opening its doors in April 2013, student use of OSU’s Mathematics Learning Success Center has added up to big success. In the 2013 fall semester, the center helped math students reach record success rates. Students enrolled in lower-level math courses succeeded at a rate of 75 percent or higher. The amount of calculus tutoring has more than doubled. Business calculus students set a record with a success rate of more than 85 percent; and calculus I students succeeded at a rate of 70 percent, surpassing the national average by 10 to 20 percent. “The statistics illustrate the serious commitment the university has made to instruction in mathematics and its dedication to ensure students get through entry-level math courses,” says Chris Francisco, associate head for

lower-division instruction with the OSU department of mathematics. Students visited the center an average of 1,600 times every week during the fall semester — more than 23,000 student visits during the semester.

OSU Earns Healthy Campus, Business Honors

he Oklahoma State Department of Health recognized OSU as both a Certified Healthy Campus and a Certified Healthy Business. “Earning both of these awards at the highest levels is just one more indication that we truly are America’s healthiest campus, leading in promoting health and well-being for our employees, students and community,” says Suzy Harrington, OSU’s chief wellness officer. While this is the third straight year OSU has been awarded the campus award, it is the first year the university has won both awards. The Certified Healthy Campus award recognizes efforts aimed at all members

of the OSU campus community. The Certified Healthy Business award recognizes OSU’s efforts in creating a better work environment for its employees. In July 2008, OSU became the first university in the Big 12 to become a tobacco-free campus. Both the Colvin Recreation Center and the Seretean Wellness Center, including all of their resources, are available to students and benefits-eligible employees. There are more than 160 group fitness classes scheduled each week. Personal training and fitness services are available to students and employees, and the Reboot Center in the Student Union offers those at OSU the opportunity to rejuvenate their minds. The campus offers numerous nutrition programs and healthy dining options. Human Resources offers employees resources to develop the mental areas of wellness. The Employee Assistance Program helps employees and their families manage personal issues. It also addresses employee and organizational challenges to create a more harmonious working environment.

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PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Tererai Trent chats with OSU President Burns Hargis before giving a Leadership Development Speakers Series address at the university in 2012.

Regents Approve Honorary Degree for Alumna

he OSU Regents voted to award an honorary doctorate to humanitarian and activist Tererai Trent in May, when she is scheduled to serve as speaker at OSU’s undergraduate commencement ceremonies. As a youngster, Trent secretly educated herself, rising 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 TV host Oprah Winfrey designated Trent her “all-time favorite guest.” “Tererai’s story of hope, determination and hard-fought achievement is deeply inspiring for all of us,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “We would be very pleased to recognize her with one of the university’s highest honors, the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters.” Trent earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from OSU in 2001, followed by a master’s degree in 2003 and a doctorate from Western Michigan University in 2009. When Trent joined Winfrey as a guest

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on the Oprah Show in 2011, Winfrey announced that she had donated $1.5 million to help Trent build a school for the children in her hometown in Zimbabwe.

Noted Explorer

Speaks at OSU

lexandra Cousteau, a National Geographic “emerging explorer,” filmmaker and globally recognized advocate on water issues, was the keynote speaker for OSU Research Week. She presented “This Blue Planet: Preserving & Sustaining a Healthy Earth” on Feb. 19. Continuing the work of her renowned grandfather, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and her father, Philippe Cousteau Sr., Alexandra Cousteau urged attendees to view global water issues not as

a disparate collection of unrelated problems, but rather through a systemsbased approach that recognizes the fundamental interconnectivity of these issues and places renewed emphasis on protecting our planet’s most vital resource. Cousteau advocates for an approach that recognizes how crucial it is to preserve natural water systems while taking into account the numerous demands, threats and developments within a watershed. From managing resources and addressing pollution to planning appropriately for the placement of cities, factories and farms, she insists we must focus on careful economic planning and ecosystem-based management to preserve and sustain a healthy Earth for generations to come.

New Radio Series Focuses on Animal Health

o help keep pets healthy, KOSU, the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and the Kirkpatrick Foundation have joined forces to produce Vet Med Moment, airing at 1:20 p.m. Wednesdays and 6:40 a.m. Sundays on KOSU — FM 91.7 in Oklahoma City and Stillwater, 107.5 in Tulsa and at KOSU.org. “Public radio listeners love their pets, and they love to be informed,” KOSU Director Kelly Burley says. “This program will be a great way for Uniquely Oklahoma KOSU to bring these two things together.” The launch of the program comes as pet ownership continues to climb. The American Pet Products Association’s 2013-14 annual survey indicates 68 percent of households own a pet, up from 56 percent in 1988. “Our goal is to engage the audience around the powerful bond between animals and humans,” says Dr. Lesa Staubus, clinical assistant professor in the center’s Veterinary Medical Hospital and host of the program. “Each week, we’ll touch on a subject that is important to animal health and hope to give listeners information that will promote excellent animal care.”

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Specialized care The Center

for Veterinary Health Sciences provides more than

a top-notch education. Veterinarians across Oklahoma and the region know they can refer patients to our hospital where board-certified specialists can provide the latest technology and knowledge. Does your pet need to see a specialist? Ask your veterinarian to call us at 866-654-7007 for a referral.

The documentary is part of a series of local and statewide events celebrating extension’s centennial anniversary. The Smith-Lever Act formally established the national Cooperative Extension Service May 8, 1914. In Oklahoma, OSU and Langston University engage in extension activities.

PHOTO / FAPC

Gilliland Family Donates Milk Bottle Collection

he family of the late Stanley E. Gilliland, former OSU food microbiologist, donated his extensive milk bottle collection to OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center. The collection is displayed in the front lobby of the FAPC building in a case sponsored by Braum’s. Throughout Gilliland’s life, he collected milk bottles of various types and was always looking for dairy-processing memorabilia wherever he traveled. “Dad loved Oklahoma history and the dairy industry,” Steve Gilliland says. “Milk bottles from Oklahoma dairies were the focus of his collection, a mixture of two things he loved. We hope that this display will promote Oklahoma food history in others that view it. We are thankful to OSU and Braum’s for recognizing Dad with this display and proud that so many thought highly enough of Dad to remember him in this way.”

Extension Takes Centennial Celebration to the Screen

n hourlong documentary will chronicle Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service’s remarkable century of service to the state. The show is scheduled to premiere at 7 p.m. May 8 on OETA-TV. “The documentary will certainly offer insight into extension’s proud roots, as well as showcase all the ways modern extension continues to fulfill its original mission of helping all Oklahomans live the best lives possible, even if they never step one foot inside a county office,” says James Trapp, associate director of Oklahoma Extension.

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The Science Guy at OSU

ore than 6,000 people gathered at Gallagher-Iba Arena to listen to a man who has interested countless numbers of children in science. “Bill Nye the Science Guy” spoke on Feb. 20 and urged those in attendance to “change the world.” About two weeks after a highly publicized debate with creationist Ken

Ham, Nye spoke about several topics, including wind power, environmental awareness, Oklahoma politicians and asteroids. Among other things, Nye urged college students to become politically active and vote. The OSU Speaker’s Board officially presented Nye’s address and Q&A session. The board is a sector of the Student Government Association that works to bring top-notch speakers to the Oklahoma State University campus.

Pistol Pete is proud of OSU apparel design students who created red dresses for National Wear Red Day to focus attention on women’s heart health.

OSU Students Design Red Dresses for Heart Health

ight Oklahoma State University students in the design, housing and merchandising department of the College of Human Sciences designed a collection of red dresses to raise awareness of the importance of women’s heart health and celebrate heart disease survivors. The red evening gowns were displayed on National Wear Red Day, Feb.

7, in Oklahoma City’s Paseo Arts District. Designers Anastasia Duncan, Lauren Page, Ashley Hatchel, Rachel Horvath, Meghan Hope, Hannah Keepers, Bonnie Nabors and Moriah Slavens researched women’s heart health and met with survivors to create the red dresses.

Miss America Reunites With Teacher

iss America Nina Davuluri was just finishing a presentation to a group of visiting third-graders at OSU when her own third-grade teacher, Mary Hatcher, paid her a surprise visit. Hatcher, who teaches at Homer Elementary School in Byng, Okla., jumped at the opportunity to drive to Stillwater to reunite with her former student. “I have fond memories of teaching both Nina and her sister and I was really honored to finally get to congratulate her in person,” Hatcher says. “I love seeing my students and keeping up with what they are doing in their lives, so getting a chance to see Nina present to a group of third-graders was a real thrill for me.” OSU’s College of Education organized the surprise reunion. The college hosted Miss America’s presentation at the Wes Watkins Center during OSU Research Week. Davuluri was discussing the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and taking questions from Stillwater-area third graders. Davuluri was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and moved to Oklahoma at age 4 and attended Homer Elementary School until moving to Miss America Nina Davuluri, right, hugs her third-grade teacher, Michigan at age 10.

Mary Hatcher. The two were reunited at a Research Week event at OSU. PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Regents Approve Block Tuition Program

egents approved OSU’s request to introduce a block tuition plan for the fall 2014 semester during its regular meeting in March. The new plan, called “Finish in Four,” offers a flat rate for tuition and universitywide fees for full-time undergraduate students taking 12 to 18 hours in a semester. “We are pleased to introduce this block tuition model for our students,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “It is designed to help students graduate quicker, while potentially reducing the total cost of an OSU degree.” Hargis says with the block tuition plan, OSU hopes to keep tuition and universitywide fees flat for the 2014-15

school year. Rates for the next academic year will be announced when the 2014-15 budget is approved in June. Hargis thanked the OSU Student Government Association and students for their feedback as the university developed its plans. “OSU already is recognized nationally as one of the best values in higher education, and that value only increases if our students graduate faster,” Hargis says. “This plan offers even greater value to students and makes an OSU degree more accessible and affordable.” More information about OSU’s “Finish in Four” plan is available at bursar.okstate.edu/block-rate-information.

Alumnus Nominated for Oscar

SU art department graduate K.K. Barrett received his first Academy Award nomination as the production designer of the best picture nominee Her. Barrett competed in the best production design category, losing to The Great Gatsby. Other films in the category included American Hustle, Gravity and 12 Years a Slave. Barrett has worked with Her director Spike Jonze as production designer on all of his films beginning with 1999’s Being John Malkovich. He has also worked on I Heart Huckabees, Lost in Translation and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. He graduated from OSU in 1976.

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PHOTO / OSU COMMUNICATIONS

Scholarship recipients, from left, Christine Corbin, Bonnie Nabors and Moriah Slavens

OSU Apparel Design Students Receive National Scholarships

Bedlam Rivals Collaborate on Research Publishing

o make the published results of research available to the public, the libraries at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma have established the SHAREOK.org website. Content will ultimately include dissertations, faculty publications and research, special collections, open-access publications, educational resources and more.

UNIVERSITY MARKETING Kyle Wray / Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing Michael Baker / Editor Mark Pennie, Ross Maute, Valerie Kisling, Paul V. Fleming & Michael Orr / Design Phil Shockley & Gary Lawson / Photography Dorothy Pugh / Assistant Editor Beverly Bryant / Staff Writer University Marketing Office / 121 Cordell, Stillwater, OK 740788031 / 405.744.6262 / www.okstate.edu, statemagazine.org / editor@okstate.edu, osu.advertising@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 Pam Davis, Melissa Mourer & Melisa Parkerson / Communications Committee OSU Alumni Association / 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 / 405.744.5368 / orangeconnection.org / info@orangeconnection.org

OSU’s Danielle Lee Selected for White House Honor

OSU FOUNDATION Jerry Clack / Chairman of the Board Kirk A. Jewell / President and Chief Executive Officer

he White House honored Danielle N. Lee, a postdoctoral associate in zoology, Feb. 26 as one of 10 Champions of Change for her innovation in creating diversity and access in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Lee’s work in the OSU Ophir Lab involves examining the behavior of the African giant pouched rat. Lee blogs about her research and evolutionary biology, as well as diversity and inclusion in the sciences, in “The Urban Scientist” hosted by the Scientific American blog network. She also is a founder of the National Science and Technology News Service, a media advocacy group to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and science news coverage within the African-American community. The Champions of Change program began in 2011 when President Barack Obama called for recognition of citizens doing extraordinary things at a local level.

Donna Koeppe / Vice President of Administration & Treasurer Brandon Meyer / Vice President & General Counsel Kenneth Sigmon / Vice President of Development PHOTO / ALECIA HOYT

hree College of Human Sciences’ design, housing and merchandising students received $5,000 scholarships through the Young Menswear Association Foundation Scholarship Fund. Apparel design students Christine Corbin, a junior from Jenks, Okla.; Bonnie Nabors, a Tulsa, Okla., senior; and Moriah Slavens, a senior from Clover, S.C., were honored at the Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner in January in New York City. Students are selected by some of the top names in fashion to receive the scholarship and fashion mentorship. “I now realize how interconnected and dynamic the industry really is,” Nabors says. “I can really see what I have learned here at OSU take shape in possible career opportunities.”

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has asked researchers to develop plans to make the published results of federally funded research freely available to the public within one year of publication. Researchers are also called on to better account for and manage the digital research resulting from federally funded scientific research. “As research libraries, it is our mission to preserve knowledge and make it available,” says Sheila Johnson, dean of OSU Libraries. “Providing SHAREOK is a natural progression of the service we already provide. The new White House directive created a need in higher education that libraries are perfectly positioned to meet.” SHAREOK is looking to potentially expand to other Oklahoma higher education institutions.

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, Kent Dunbar, Michael Greenwood, Jennifer Grigsby, John Groendyke, Helen Hodges, David Holsted, David Houston, Cathy Jameson, Kirk Jewell, Steven Jorns, David Kyle, John Linehan, Ross McKnight, Bill Patterson, Barry Pollard, Scott Sewell, Lyndon Taylor, Phil Terry, Dennis White, Jay Wiese, Jerry Winchester / Trustees Elizabeth Hahn, Parker Jones, Shelly Kelly, Kasi Kennedy, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Jacob Longan, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Betty Thompson Richey, Chelsea Twietmeyer / 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 $1.06 per issue. 33,562/ March ’14/#5221. Copyright © 2014, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

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From left are NMSI Executive Director Ronda Brandon, College of Education Dean Sissi Carroll, OSU President Burns Hargis, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, UTeach Institute Director Kimberly Hughes and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bret Danilowicz.

Creating the Best Teachers in Oklahoma Math and science students can earn a teaching certificate through OSUTeach, a new $1.45 million program created to produce more highly qualified K-12 teachers in science, technology, engineering and math. Oklahoma State is the only university in the state with this program and is dedicated to prepare teachers to educate the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workforce for the 21st century economy. OSU is focused on bright minds, building brighter futures and the brightest world for all.

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Make sure your legacy is registered in the OSU Alumni Association Legacy Program at orangeconnection.org/legacy to receive all of the legacy benefits available with your membership.

201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 TEL 405.744.5368 â&#x20AC;˘ FAX 405.744.6722 orangeconnection.org

James and Elizabeth Wise of Oklahoma City have supported student recognitions and scholarships, library materials and cultural programming through their ongoing generosity to OSU Libraries.

Donation creates internship opportunities.

Recent changes and donations are making it possible for the library internship program to expand, offering even more of an opportunity to jump-start a career. Part-time student jobs have long been a part of the OSU Library’s history. These positions help students financially and support the daily services and operations of the library. The internships combine hands-on work experience with learning opportunities in a student’s academic area. Retired eye surgeon, agribusinessman and Friends of the OSU Library board member James Wise recently created the James and Elizabeth Wise Library Internship Fund to support annual paid internships for two students. “The fact that our internships are paid and on-campus puts us at a great advantage from a recruiting standpoint,” says Bonnie Cain-Wood, OSU Libraries senior communications specialist. “Students are doing professional work that is valuable to our organization while also getting to apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world context.”

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Cain-Wood hired the first intern in the library’s Communications and Public Programming Office in 2005. Since then, she has had 15 interns pass through. “I have had more than one of my interns tell me they hadn’t thought an internship would be possible for them because so many are unpaid,” she says. “We’re providing financial assistance to those students who need to work while they complete their degree.” While finances are important, the wide range of internships available may also surprise many prospects. “We offer library internships for students in art, strategic communications, history and botany. So, the work they do is very diverse,” says Cain-Wood. This is not the first time Wise has made a donation to the library. The former library student assistant and 1957 alumnus established an annual Outstanding Student Assistant Award, as well as a library graduate fellowship and an endowment to purchase horticulturerelated books. To bring attention to cultural events, Wise purchased a sevenfoot Steinway grand piano in support

Interns such as Brooke Ramsey, a strategic communications senior, work to develop social media promotions such as Halloween’s Ghosts in the Library photo contest. of the Noon Concert Series and other performances in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room. Wise is not a stranger to success. Building further on his library legacy, his latest gift to the OSU Library promises to provide a brighter future for what CainWood calls some of OSU’s “smartest, most creative and innovative students.” K I A R A E A LY

Giving opportunities exist at a variety of levels for the OSU Library, including naming opportunities. To learn more, contact Brandy Cox at bcox@osugiving.com or 405-385-0715.

PHOTOS / OSU LIBRARY

Funding a Brighter Future

SENIORS SENIORS OF SIGNIFICANCE

THE SENIORS OF SIGNIFICANCE AWARD recognizes students for excellence in scholarship, leadership and community service, and for bringing distinction to Oklahoma State University. The 47 Seniors of Significance for the 2013-2014 school year hail from six

OSU colleges and eight states, and they represent about 1 percent of the graduating class. The OSU Alumni Association honored the seniors at a banquet on Nov. 18 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.

KATY ALLEN, Edmond, Okla., human resource management

MARTY JONES, Owasso, Okla., agricultural education

BROOKE RAMSEY, Checotah, Okla., strategic communications

JACY ALSUP, Gravette, Ark., agribusiness

ASHLEE KEENUM, Edmond, Okla.,

NATALIE RICHARDSON, Arapaho, Okla., human development and family science

LUCY BATES, Edmond, Okla., music

AUSTIN BOWLES, Duncan, Okla., strategic communications / advertising

ALLISON BURCKHARTT, Houston, nutritional sciences

BAYLEE BUTLER, Ringling, Okla.,

chemical engineering

KATHERINE KEIL, Little Rock, Ark.,

KAREN ROBERTS, Douglas, Ga.,

environmental science

animal science pre-vet

KRISTEN KELLEY, Tulsa, Okla., accounting

SHANNYN RUDAWSKY, St. Louis, hotel and restaurant administration

HALEY KINCANNON, Duncan, Okla., fire protection and safety tech

psychology, political science and liberal studies

ANNELIESE KRULL, Stilwell, Kan., sports media

SHAYLA CLIFT, Amarillo, Texas,

KIRSTEN KRULL, Stilwell, Kan.,

sociology and psychology

pre-professional athletic training

KELSY COLLINS, Celina, Texas,

LANA LAUGHLIN, Tulsa, Okla., nutritional sciences

mechanical engineering

MICHELLE DANSER, Edmond, Okla., communication sciences and disorders

LYNLEY FOX, Tulsa, Okla., accounting JANA GREGORY, Edmond, Okla., accounting DAK HALL, Booker, Texas, accounting and finance HOPE HEADRICK, Guymon, Okla., communication sciences and disorders

CALLIE LYNN HEERWAGEN, Edmond, Okla., finance

EMILY JONES, Overland Park, Kan., nutritional sciences

KODY JONES, Mustang, Okla., mechanical engineering

MARGARET LEES, Midwest City, Okla.,

JOYA RUTLAND, Tulsa, Okla., strategic communications

LOGAN MICHAEL SCOTT, Jones, Okla., chemical engineering

LEYLA SIMMONS, Laguna Niguel, Calif., hotel and restaurant administration

chemical engineering

SAMANTHA SMITH, Burlington, Okla., agricultural communications

WHITNEY LISENBEE, Jenks, Okla.,

KRISTI TRIPLETT, Tulsa, Okla., psychology

biosystems engineering

ANDREW TIMOTHY MARTIN, Omaha, Neb., mechanical engineering

ASHTON MESE, Kingfisher, Okla., agricultural economics and agricultural communications

KALEY UPTERGROVE, Pilot Point, Texas, marketing and management

ALY VILLALON, Tulsa, Okla., nutritional sciences HAYDAN VOSBURGH, Topeka, Kan., history

MORGAN NEILSON, Meeker, Colo.,

McKENZIE WALTA, Kingfisher, Okla.,

animal science and agricultural communications

animal science

TYLER PRICE, Laverne, Okla.,

CAITLIN WAY, Mitchell, S.D., physiology

agricultural education and agricultural communications

REBECCA PURVIS, Houston, biosystems engineering

LAUREN WELLS, Bonfield, Ill., animal science DONNIE JOE WORTH, Tahlequah, Okla., chemical engineering

PHOTO / GENESEE PHOTO SYSTEMS

OSU Launches Oklahoma’s First UTeach Program OSUTeach will generate highly qualified mathematics and science teachers. The greatest elementary and secondary math and science educators of the future may not yet know they’re interested in teaching. But OSUTeach, a new program at Oklahoma State, plans to ask the brightest and best science, technology, engineering and mathematics college students whether they could ever see themselves at the front of a classroom. “Even those who answer with a tentative ‘yes,’ we’ll hook,” says College of Education Dean Pamela “Sissi” Carroll. As a lifelong educator she knows the power of children’s interests coming alive with a drive to ask questions, explore and redefine “fun” with intellectual curiosity.

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The hook will be in the form of two free one-hour classes that allow students to explore the idea of teaching. If they’re interested, they will be encouraged to enroll in OSUTeach. Master teachers will mentor the students, who will also train in local public schools (as early as their first semester in the program) and be able to graduate in four years with their degree related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) as well as their teaching certification. OSUTeach is a collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. The program will offer degrees in biological science,

chemistry, geology, mathematics and physics beginning this fall. On March 10, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, OSU leaders and representatives from the National Math and Science Initiative and the UTeach Institute announced OSUTeach’s launch. The National Math and Science Initiative awarded a $1.4 million grant to establish the program. “The education of our children must be our top priority,” Fallin says. “In order to build a stronger and better workforce in the state, it is imperative we emphasize STEM subjects in both our elementary and secondary schools. OSUTeach will go

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, an OSU alumna, speaks about the importance of increasing the number of quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers in Oklahoma.

a long way in accomplishing this by focusing on training teachers who are engaged in STEM, and they in turn will, pass on that passion and enthusiasm for these subjects to their students.” Creating a pipeline of qualified teachers is critical in Oklahoma where key industries include oil and gas, energy, aerospace and engineering, says OSU President Burns Hargis. “The program will nurture STEM college students to become inspirational, effective teachers with an emphasis on middle-school education, which has been identified as a crucial time in capturing the attention of bright students,” he says. OSUTeach, the only program of its kind in the state, is modeled after the UTeach program, developed in 1997 at the University of Texas and since implemented at 35 universities across the country. By the fall of 2015, UTeach is expected to be in 45 universities. The program is expected to account for nearly 10 percent of the

Science and Math Teacher Shortage

36 $17,000

SOURCE: NATIONAL MATH AND SCIENCE INITIATIVE

$7.3 billion $266,000

Percentage of public middle school math teachers in 2007 who either did not major in the subject in college or are not certified to teach it. The average cost of one teacher turnover in 2007.

also recognized the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation in Tulsa for its $600,000 gift to support the OSUTeach program. “We are especially thankful to the Schusterman Family Foundation for its gift to support OSUTeach,” Hargis says. “This program is going to have a significant impact on our students in both the colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences and on common education across Oklahoma. “OSU is proud to be the only university in the state to be chosen for this nationally recognized program and grateful we have supporters like the Schusterman Family Foundation willing to step forward and enhance what it will offer our students and faculty,” he says. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bret Danilowicz says educating future teachers is the responsibility of the entire university. “We should be asking students, ‘What would you like to do, and can we align this with an option in teaching?’” he says.

The amount all teacher turnovers cost America annually.

The amount of increased earnings per classroom involved if a poor teacher is replaced by an average one.

PHOTO / CHRIS LEWIS

For more information, visit OSUTeach.okstate.edu

OSU President Burns Hargis announces the OSUTeach program March 10 from the Willard Hall terrace.

100,000 new science, technology, engineering and math teachers by 2021 that President Barack Obama called for in his 2011 State of the Union address. The UTeach Institute and the National Math and Science Initiative target top research institutions to permanently establish programs to produce the highest quality teachers beyond the initial grant period. OSU will have five years to establish OSUTeach into the culture of the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. Oklahoma State and the OSU Foundation will partner with corporations, private donors and family foundations to raise funds and establish endowments to provide perpetual financial stability for the program and to fulfill match requirements stipulated by the grant. In addition to the official program announcement in March, the university

“It doesn’t hurt the students to add teaching as a career option, and it can provide the teachers our state desperately needs.” OSUTeach represents an investment in Oklahoma State’s future and illustrates how, as a land-grant institution, OSU and its colleges should collaborate with each other and community partners, he says. “We will now graduate more teachers specifically trained for increasing engagement with science and mathematics in our schools. The schoolchildren that they motivate will be OSU’s future science, technology, engineering and mathematics students,” he says. “Imagine with me the innovation and creativity that can be built upon this next generation of school students, on the shoulders of our next generation of STEM teachers.” A M A N DA O ’ T O O L E M A S O N

Leading from the Heart Alumni Association chair shares her vision for organization’s future.

hen Jennifer Grigsby was named chair of the OSU Alumni Association’s board of directors in 2013, it was yet another achievement in her impressive career. The 1991 accounting graduate serves as senior vice president for corporate and strategic planning at Chesapeake Energy Corp. She is already a member of OSU’s Spears School of Business Hall of Fame and has been named to at least three distinguished lists of Oklahoma business leaders under 40. Grigsby is an excellent example of a service-oriented OSU graduate, serving numerous organizations throughout the state including the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Heritage Association. But the one organization that may be closest to her heart is the one serving every OSU graduate — the OSU Alumni Association. Entering her second year as board chair, Grigsby shared with STATE some insight into her involvement with the Alumni Association and her vision for the organization.

How did you first get involved with the Alumni Association’s board and leadership council? I joined the leadership council of the Alumni Association in 2007 as an at-large member and then joined the Alumni Association board of directors in 2010. My dear friend, Cindy Batt, began her involvement with the Alumni Association through the Oklahoma City Metro Chapter and then eventually the Leadership Council and board of directors. During her service on the board of directors, she encouraged me to become involved as well. I’m glad she did.

More of her interview with STATE can be found at orangeconnection.org/grigsby.

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What are some challenges facing the Alumni Association? Many membership-based organizations these days struggle to grow membership because many of the benefits of membership, most specifically the sharing of information about the organization, can be obtained for free online and through social media. So the greatest challenge of the Alumni Association today is to provide services that are relevant to our members and that attract our alumni and friends to membership. We are so fortunate to have tremendously talented staff who are devoted to keeping our alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends connected to OSU through the Alumni Association, and they are constantly listening to the membership and reshaping the organization and its services to ensure our members remain connected for life to OSU.

What are some things you hope to accomplish as board chair? I am very fortunate to chair the board of directors of the Alumni Association at a time when there is tremendous momentum and collaboration across the OSU system focused on the advancement of the university in all facets. This momentum is unprecedented at OSU, and the spirit of cooperation and collaboration begins with President Hargis, first lady Ann Hargis and the Board of Regents and continues through all of the OSU campuses, the OSU Foundation and the Alumni Association. As board chair, I hope to maintain the focus of the leadership council, board of directors and staff of the Alumni Association on efforts that further this collaboration toward the achievement of the collective priorities of the university and keep our alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends engaged and connected to these priorities as well. When the entire OSU family is aligned and pulling together in the same direction, OSU will continue to achieve great things. What’s your favorite part about being an OSU Cowboy? My favorite thing about being an OSU Cowboy is the tremendous pride we as alumni, friends and fans of the university collectively share. It’s very special and unique to OSU, and it is noticeable to others outside the OSU family. We take great pride in all of OSU’s successes, and we all want the university to continue to be a place where students, faculty and staff want to work, live, achieve and succeed. This collective desire to make OSU the best it can be is what inspires us all to remain connected to the university in various ways and is further evidenced by the overwhelming success of the Branding Success campaign for OSU. I’m so proud the Alumni Association exists to foster these connections for life.

PHOTO PROVIDED

When the entire OSU family is aligned and pulling together in the same direction, OSU will continue to achieve Jennifer Grigsby, great things.” — chair of the Alumni Association board of directors

Construction of the OSU-Tulsa Signature Gateway is part of an “oranging-up” effort and increases the campus’s connectivity with downtown Tulsa.

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

OSU-Tulsa’s newest ‘oranging-up’ project will create a distinctive entrance to campus. Tulsa’s downtown skyline now includes a bright orange Oklahoma State University presence. “This project will clearly display OSU’s presence downtown and unequivocally establish our position in Tulsa,” OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett says of the university’s new Signature Gateway. The 70-foot-tall structure, emblazoned on all sides with illuminated OSU logos, is part of OSU-Tulsa’s “oranging-up” efforts in the city. “With the incredible rejuvenation of downtown by the city in the past decade, we wanted to increase our connectivity with downtown continues

This rendering shows the overall plan surrounding the Signature Gateway on the west side of OSU-Tulsa’s campus. As part of the project, OSU-Tulsa is working with the city on street improvements. There will also be streetscape improvements and lighting additions along the entrance to campus.

RENDERING / ALABACK DESIGN ASSOCIATES

PHOTO / RYAN JENSEN

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OSU-Tulsa’s Signature Gateway on Standpipe Hill overlooks downtown Tulsa and proudly shines its orange.

PHOTO / RYAN JENSEN

while making it clear that when you are here, you’re in OSU country,” Barnett says. “From any vantage point downtown, you’ll know this is OSU-Tulsa.” Located on Tulsa’s historic Standpipe Hill on the west side of campus, the gateway tower overlooks Interstate 244 and the 64 51 Brady75Arts District. 75 the city of Tulsa, “Part of this project, in conjunction with 444 will include new sidewalks to make pedestrian traffic between campus and downtown easier,” Barnett says. “We have participated in similar projects on Elgin Avenue to make it easier for pedestrians to walk between OSU-Tulsa and ONEOK Field.” The University Center at Tulsa Trust, which owns the 180 acres OSU-Tulsa partially occupies, is providing funding for the project. Alaback Design Associates designed the Signature Gateway, and contractor Flintco is undertaking construction and landscaping efforts. The “ o r a n g i n g u p” project is an effort to transform campus from the University Center at Tulsa color scheme to a look more reflective of Oklahoma State. Efforts include updating painting and carpeting, adding OSU branding and signage,

and highlighting OSU-Tulsa’s connection to the main campus in Stillwater. “As our campus continues to grow, I think it’s important for OSU-Tulsa to more closely reflect the OSU brand,” Barnett says. “The ‘oranging-up’ efforts are another way of strengthening our ties with Stillwater and defining a place for OSU in the city.” As part of the project, OSU-Tulsa is working with Tulsa on street improvements along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Detroit Avenue and John Hope Franklin Boulevard. The second phase of the project calls for streetscape improvements and lighting additions along the entrance to campus. Plans call for construction and landscape work on the Signature Gateway area to end this spring. The streetscape improvements should be finished in 2015. Standpipe Hill is a historic location in Tulsa. The hilltop overlooks the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, which destroyed much of the Greenwood District. It is also where one of Tulsa’s first water towers once stood, giving the location its name. Legend has it that Dalton Gang members used the hill as a lookout to make sure they could safely attend church nearby. “We are conducting a lot of research on the history of Standpipe Hill with the help of the Oklahoma Historical Society,” Barnett says. “Our plan is to include much of that history on an informational marker once the project is complete.” OSU-Tulsa will also be working with the University Center at Tulsa Trust Authority on land improvements and possible expansion west of campus. The authority owns most of the undeveloped land around the OSU-Tulsa campus.

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OKLAHO

ears in Tulsa 15 Y E S T. 1999

15 years in Tulsa, for Tulsa This year, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa celebrates 15 years of providing quality higher education in downtown Tulsa. Since 1999, our outstanding faculty and staff have helped thousands of students earn an internationally recognized OSU degree while remaining close to home, work and friends. Whether your goal is increased earning power, a stronger network or a more secure future, OSU-Tulsa can help you get there from here.

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The boldest higher-education campaign in Oklahoma’s history is built upon a simple yet audacious concept: OSU strives to be the nation’s premier modern land-grant institution. OSU is not only progressing but also accelerating toward that goal thanks to generous Branding Success donors significantly increasing support for students, faculty, facilities and programs. This influx of resources is propelling OSU to new heights. The effects are visible in many ways, both on and off campus. As just one example, OSU is greatly enhancing its focus on the arts and culture. President Burns Hargis and his wife, Ann, have consistently and publicly led the effort to increase the profile of both visual and performing arts at OSU. “I think an understanding and appreciation of art is an important part of being an educated person,” President Hargis says. “Our job is not just to teach a discipline to our students. Our job is to develop our students in ways that will make them ethical leaders who have broad experiences.” He adds, “You can’t get that just in one narrow discipline. You have to be exposed to a lot of disciplines, a lot of

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ideas and a lot of people. We think that’s all part of the development of an educated human being.” Z. Randall Stroope, director of choral and vocal studies, says he really appreciates the Hargises.

establishment of two off-campus facilities related to the visual arts: the Postal Plaza Gallery and the Doel Reed Center for the Arts. One result of this focus is the OSU Museum of Art, including the recently

Their heart seems to be on promoting not just arts, athletics or even academics as a whole, but anything that helps students become really well-rounded so that they can adapt their careers in ways that are most beneficial. As the economy and the world continue to change, our students will do really well because of the leadership of the Hargises.” “Their heart seems to be on promoting not just arts, athletics or even academics as a whole, but anything that helps students become really well-rounded so that they can adapt their careers in ways that are most beneficial,” Stroope says. “As the economy and the world continue to change, our students will do really well because of the leadership of the Hargises.” That leadership has guided the

— Z. Randall Stroope opened Postal Plaza Gallery in downtown Stillwater. Donors helped OSU acquire and renovate this historic 1930s WPA-era building, which had long sat vacant and outdated. It has been transformed into spaces for student learning, faculty research and community outreach for Stillwater and the surrounding areas. Museum Director Victoria Berry says one of the Postal Plaza Gallery’s many

benefits is that it allows OSU to utilize its art collection as a primary opportunity to teach. “We need to take art experiences to the students where they are,” Berry says. “That’s the founding principle of our museum concept.” More than 450 miles away, OSU has established a presence in the art mecca of Taos, N.M. The Doel Reed Center for the Arts offers programs characterized by synergistic, multidisciplinary approaches to teaching, research and outreach focusing on the Southwest.

Ed Walkiewicz, professor and director of the Doel Reed Center, says donors have helped OSU utilize an inspiring setting to host visiting artists and scholars, teach seminars and collaborate with creative minds of any age or academic discipline. “We are fulfilling the land-grant mission through community partnership, developing innovative educational opportunities available to all, and significantly advancing the arts and humanities,” Walkiewicz says.

OSU Postal Plaza Gallery PHOTOS / ELIZABETH HAHN

A ‘Gem of the Plains’

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Z. Randall Stroope

The next major priority of Hargis’ focus on the arts is securing the funding for a premier Performing Arts Center. It will extend the Stillwater campus’ southern reach by crossing University Avenue, creating a highly functional performance hall that will serve the campus, local and regional communities. A finely tuned instrument in its own right, the center will create opportunities for OSU that will propel performing arts to new levels of success. The university will strengthen its connections with the community, improve the quality of life for its employees and students and elevate its music and performing arts programs to be more extensive, competitive and effective at fine arts education. Everything within the building will be precision-crafted to ensure the best listening, learning and teaching

environments. Soundproofing and acoustics will be customized by leading sound experts for specific instruments and instruction while recording technology will be prevalent throughout the building. Teaching studios will provide space for one-on-one lessons; ensemble rooms will provide appropriate space and acoustics for practice and instruction; and the performance and recital halls will host a gamut of musical concerts, making the Performing Arts Center a premier destination on campus. Barry Epperley, a consultant spearheading the effort to design and raise funds for the Performing Arts Center, has unique insight into the facility’s potential. And he’s not shy about saying it will be a “gem of the plains.” continues

OSU Performing Arts Center Rendering

“That lobby will just knock your socks off,” says the two-time music education alumnus. “When you drive by it and you see this, wow! People around here will now get to go to that level of performance hall. Students will see it and say, ‘I want to go there.’ ” Having followed his OSU degrees with a doctorate at the University of Southern California before becoming a professor at Oral Roberts University, Epperley understands the facility’s countless academic benefits. “Our vision is to include all of the technical capabilities and the possibilities to cover the next 75 years of technological development, because it is changing on a day-to-day basis,” Epperley says. “It’s not just the performance hall, but the rehearsal halls, the teaching studios, even the additional recital halls. For our people to have the kind of break that will make their careers as performers, we need to put everything in place so that they can learn in a great facility every day.” Epperley, whose performance career has spanned more than 40 years, is retiring in July as artistic director and conductor of Tulsa Community College’s Signature Symphony, which he founded in 1978. He has arranged and produced

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When someone walks into the Performing Arts Center or Boone Pickens Stadium or any other really high-quality facility on campus, they will have a

Barry Epperley

strong impression of OSU being

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

on the cutting edge. Public perception is really important for a university on all levels. This will be a real pearl on campus and highlight all of the faculty’s accomplishments.” — Z. Randall Stroope music for Disney Corp., working with such legends as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett. The Stillwater native has also conducted the U.S. Army Chamber Orchestra for White House events, including inaugurations, and worked with renowned artists Isaac Stern, Leonard Bernstein and Gelsey Kirkland. Epperley has conducted symphonies across the globe, including four

appearances at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. He says OSU is building its own incredible home for local groups such as the Concert Chorale, the Wind Ensemble and a first-rate symphony orchestra, as well as students who will join the line of Steinway artists who perform there now. “With this level of commitment, this will be an arts bloom that will match about any place,” Epperley says. “This will be a facility that will further

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FEATURES:

legitimize the performing arts at OSU. I envision us being able to bring in things like Broadway shows, Houston Grand Opera tours, Houston Ballet tours and Kansas City Ballet tours.” OSU will keep the Seretean Center, which was renovated in the 1970s after opening in 1912 as the Auditorium

— 1,400-seat concert hall

— Rehearsal spaces

— 222-seat recital hall

— Practice rooms

— 75-seat recital salon

— Multipurpose atrium

Building. This new facility will provide room for growth. “The Seretean Center did exactly what it should have done,” Stroope says. “Now the program has expanded, and we find ourselves 45 years later, ready to step up both qualitatively and quantitatively. The timing is just perfect.” Stroope describes the Performing Arts Center as a premier, forward-thinking building that will position OSU to strongly serve students and the community for decades. It will also be one more visual sign of the university’s priorities and commitment to success.

“When someone walks into the Performing Arts Center or Boone Pickens Stadium or any other really high-quality facility on campus, they will have a strong impression of OSU being on the cutting edge,” Stroope says. “Public perception is really important for a university on all levels. This will be a real pearl on campus and highlight all of the faculty’s accomplishments.” Epperley adds, “Music is addictive. With this facility, we’ll be reminding even people with no ties to OSU that music touches your soul.”

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Top Five in the World

Stroope, director of OSU choral and vocal studies, conducts an OSU choir performance.

Branding Success is also strengthening OSU through a focus on faculty support. “The endowment of faculty positions is essential to being a premier land-grant institution,” Hargis says. “Chairs and professorships empower us to attract and retain the researchers and educators who are vital to the success of our students and our university.” Great professors utilizing state-of-theart equipment in stellar facilities create an efficient learning environment for students and an atmosphere conducive to innovative and important discoveries. One of the best examples will be when Stroope, holder of the Doug and Nickie Burns Endowed Professorship for Choral Music, works in the Performing continues

Arts Center. He is a world-renowned composer and conductor who has directed at Carnegie Hall every year since 2000. He also performs for a Vatican Mass each May, and within the past year has also performed at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago Symphony Hall. “He is in the top five in the world, and he is in Stillwater,” Epperley says. “I’ve watched his career for 25 years, and I can tell you he is at the top.” Stroope, who has a doctorate in choral conducting, is the artistic director of an international music festival in Rome each June and Barcelona each December. As a composer, he has published 125 works with Oxford, Alliance Music Publishers, Walton Music and others. He adds credibility to OSU’s reputation internationally and also teaches OSU students valuable lessons he learned through so much success. He conducts the Concert Chorale, Chamber Choir and Women’s Chorus. He is able to teach them even more because of the resources provided by the Burns Professorship. In just the past year, Stroope says the funding has benefited his work at OSU and beyond in four specific ways. First, it allowed OSU to bring in Barbara Dever, Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano, to conduct a master class with vocal students between her appearances at the Met in New York. Funding has purchased video and media equipment that conducting students use to better evaluate their work. The endowment has also provided startup funding for a new computer-assisted program Stroope is developing for conducting students. He says it has strong potential to become a program used in music classrooms across the nation. Finally, the funding supported Stroope’s attendance at educational conferences in San Antonio and South Korea. “Endowed positions provide a lot of benefits that greatly enhance what you’re doing with your students, your own professional growth and the reputation of the institution,” he says. “Generous supporters such as Doug and Nickie Burns really create a win-win situation for everyone.”

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PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

From left, Mike Woods, interim vice president and dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Linda Cline; Steven Cooper, associate professor of equine studies; and Clint Rusk, head of the Department of Animal Science.

A B E AUTIFU L FACILIT Y THAT LE AVES A L ASTING IM PRESSION While music is Stroope’s passion, he describes Branding Success as the proverbial tide that raises all boats at OSU. “With a universitywide campaign, everyone benefits,” Stroope says. “The stature of OSU is enhanced by such efforts, and every entity under that umbrella is affected.” So while Stroope won’t utilize the new Charlie Cline Memorial Equine Teaching Center, he is thrilled that the Department of Animal Science will soon begin building the facility. The process has begun thanks to Linda Cline’s passion for equine students and desire to honor her late husband through a significant contribution toward construction of a multimillion-dollar state-of-the-art equine teaching center. It will replace the current building, which was constructed in the 1980s and does not lend itself to the applicable teaching encouraged by equine industry leaders. “Now, we’re going to have a true teaching center, classrooms, offices and an indoor arena,” says Steven Cooper, an equine professor in animal science. “We will be able to teach in classrooms and then step right outside to work with the horses in our labs.”

The Cline Equine Center 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. Clint Rusk, head of the Department of Animal Science, says this modern facility will enable OSU to fulfill the growing demand for equine education for students and industry professionals. Animal science is one of the largest departments on campus. As many as 50 percent of animal science freshmen choose horses as their primary interest. Approximately 7,000 Oklahoma youth are involved in equine programs through Cooperative Extension programs, shows and judging competitions. “The Charlie Cline Memorial Equine Teaching Center will have a far-reaching and meaningful impact on the lives of young people who desire to make a difference in the farming and ranching businesses across Oklahoma and the country,” Rusk says. This facility is just one more way Branding Success is transforming OSU.

The endowment of faculty positions is essential to being a premier landgrant institution. Chairs and professorships empower us to attract and retain the researchers and educators who are vital to the success of our students and our university.”

— OSU President Burns Hargis

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

This is Our Time President Hargis says the effects of Branding Success are already apparent in countless ways, including the work of faculty such as Stroope and the addition of facilities such as the Doel Reed Center for the Arts and the Postal Plaza Gallery. However, he adds that OSU will only fulfill its potential for generations to come when it has addressed some of

the most significant remaining priorities of the campaign, such as building the Performing Arts Center, adding a new home for the Spears School of Business and expanding the College of Human Sciences building. Only months remain before this historic fundraising initiative ends Dec. 31.

“This is our time to redefine the future of OSU, raise expectations, seize opportunities and do something truly purposeful and exceptional,” Hargis says. For more information on how you can be part of OSU’s transformation, visit OSUgiving.com.

JAC O B L O N G A N A N D B E T T Y T H O M P S O N R I C H E Y

This is our time to redefine the future of OSU, raise expectations, seize opportunities and do something truly purposeful and exceptional.” — OSU President Burns Hargis

Dr. David Russell, right, met Medical Cowboys Scholars at a reception on Feb. 15. Representing the scholarship recipients are, from left, Michael Cieminski, Victoria Thomas and Forrest Rogers.

T H A N K YO U Dr. David Russell says OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-medical education is as good as any universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and the friendly culture is unmatched. The 1965 alumnus spent more than four decades practicing medicine, including 13 years with the Air Force, another 20 in the Air Force Reserves, and 30 practicing radiology in his hometown of Enid, Okla. He has generously supported and worked with the OSU Medical Cowboys program that provides scholarships for future health care professionals. He recently established a charitable gift annuity, thereby securing a lifetime income and charitable tax deduction. The eventual remaining funds from his gift annuity will add to his endowment to perpetually support future doctors, dentists, nurses and other health care providers.

THANK YOU, DR. RUSSELL, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO A BRIGHTER, HEALTHIER ORANGE FUTURE.

Discover your orange passion at

OSUgiving .com *Scan the QR code with your smartphone or call 800.622.4678 to learn more

The OSU Alumni Association inducted J.W. Mashburn and Dennis H. Reilley into the OSU Hall of Fame at a Feb. 14 ceremony at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. “J.W. and Dennis are truly two giants in American industry,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “They have been leaders in every conceivable way for our country, and we are honored to call them members of the OSU family.” Induction into the OSU Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by Oklahoma State University. It recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement in society and professional life.

From left are OSU Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder, Alumni Association Board Chair Jennifer Grigsby, J.W. Mashburn, Dennis H. Reilley, master of ceremonies Larry Reece and OSU Vice President and General Counsel Gary Clark. The OSU Alumni Association would like to thank the following sponsors of the 2014 OSU Hall of Fame:

Proud & Immortal Sponsors: J.W. and Connie Mashburn, OSU Spears School of Business

Presenting Sponsors: OSU Foundation, Jameson Marketing, Phillips 66

Scan this QR code or go to gopok.es/osuhof14 to watch OStateTV induction videos of this year’s honorees.

Loyal & True Sponsors: Dennis and Cindy Reilley

Mashburn was named Oklahoma 400 Meter Runner of the Century in 1999 and Oklahoma Track Athlete of the Century. He was inducted into the OSU Athletic Hall of Honor in 2000 and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into the Oklahoma City Public School Wall of Fame in 2000, and the Oklahoma Journal Record named him Most Admired CEO in 2013. He is a member of the Iba-Fenimore Society and the OSU Alumni Association. Why did you decided to attend OSU as a student? I decided to attend OSU primarily because of the coaching at the time, and I liked the atmosphere of the campus, the school and the students.

What are some of the memories that come to mind when reflecting on your time at OSU? The environment at Oklahoma State just felt so comfortable. I loved everything at OSU from the student body to the athletic department, Mr. Iba and Ralph Higgins.

What’s one accomplishment you’re most proud of since graduating from OSU?

J.W. Mashburn, of Oklahoma City, graduated from Oklahoma A&M College in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He is an Olympic medalist and honored businessman and real estate broker. He organizes, owns and operates numerous real estate and restaurant ventures plus J.W. Mashburn Homes, RIF Apartments and J.W. Mashburn Development, of which he is the founder and president. At Oklahoma A&M, Mashburn was the NCAA 400-meter champion in 1955 and 1956 and was a fourtime All-American between 1952 and 1956. After graduation, he began selling real estate while he trained for the 1960 Olympic trials. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1952 and 1956. He won a gold medal in the 4x400-meter relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Mashburn serves on the board of directors for the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, the National Home Builders Association and the Southwest Oklahoma Home Builders Association. In addition, he is an Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Public Schools trustee, serves on the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame selection committee and served as a member of the U.S. Olympic Festival Committee.

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I have been in business for 54 years. It’s been an incredible ride, and I have been fortunate enough to get my family involved. My wife is a decorator, and my son and daughter work in the construction management side. Personally, I am most proud of my gold medal. When you are standing on the victory stand and the national anthem starts to play and the flag is being raised, it gets emotional.

Looking back, what’s been the most difficult part of your career, and how did that change you? I would say the most difficult thing is the up and downs in the economy. Especially going through the ’80s when the banks starting failing and so forth. Of course, we survived but the impact on my thinking really changed during that time. I am much more conservative in business. I have probably passed up on deals that I should have taken advantage of.

What does it mean to you to be inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame? I was totally shocked when I got the call. I love Oklahoma State and the people. The Hall of Fame is one of greatest honors I have ever received.

What’s your favorite part about being an OSU Cowboy? The loyalty that Oklahoma State alumni have; it’s truly something special. It’s amazing to see what’s happened since I graduated in 1957.

Chemical Industry Medal for lifelong distinguished service. He was also awarded Significant Sig by his fraternity, Sigma Chi. Reilley is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association. Why did you decide to attend OSU as a student? I only had the money to go in state so the decision was between OU and OSU. It was an easy choice.

What are some of the memories that come to mind when reflecting on your time at OSU? Cold winter nights sitting in Gallagher-Iba Arena watching basketball and wrestling, spending long hours in the library and having a ton of fun in the Sigma Chi fraternity house.

What’s one accomplishment you’re most proud of since graduating from OSU? Marrying my wife, Cindy, and having my two children, Jason and Michael.

Looking back, what’s been the most difficult part of your career, and how did that change you?

Dennis H. Reilley, of Oklahoma City, graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors at Marathon Oil Co. At OSU, Reilley was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and met his wife, Cindy. He went on to graduate from Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development. From 1975 to 1989, Reilley held several positions with Conoco including being named vice president in 1984. After several years of service, he moved to DuPont, where he served in numerous roles including executive vice president and chief operating officer. Reilley concluded his career at Praxair Inc., where he served as chairman, president and chief executive officer for almost eight years. Reilley is a member of the boards of Marathon Oil Co., Dow Chemical Co. and Covidien Ltd. He was named best CEO in America in Basic Materials and Specialty Chemical Sector of the Fortune 500 companies from 2003 to 2007 by Institutional Investor magazine. Forbes magazine named Praxair one of the best managed companies in America and named Reilley one of the best performing bosses and one of the best CEOs of the decade. In 2008, the Society of Chemical Industry awarded him the

All of the global travel involved and trying to balance that with my home life. I wanted to be a good husband and good father; it taught me to be very efficient with my time.

What does it mean to you to be inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame? It is a great honor and means so much to me. I started at OSU more than 40 years ago as a student not knowing what to expect or where I was going. To see it come full circle and be recognized is truly a great honor.

What’s your favorite part about being an OSU Cowboy? The people, it’s all about the people. I have lived and worked all around the world, and you can’t beat the people at Oklahoma State.

I N T E R V I E W S BY K AT I E PA R I S H

From left, American Legion Post 259 Commander Randy Teeters, Post 259 Adjutant Rusty Partee and Post 259 Past Commander Marv Sandbek explore the hyperbaric chamber at the OSU Center for Aerospace and Hyperbaric Medicine.

PHOTO / OSU-CHS

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OSU Medicine is about healing those in pain, whether they are U.S. combat veterans suffering traumatic brain injuries or young women suffering the aftereffects of kidnapping and abuse at the hands of a warlord in Uganda. OSU medical students, faculty and staff are acting to alleviate the agony of such experiences.

OSU-CHS research examines how hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps heal combat veterans with traumatic brain injuries. S T O R Y BY S E A N K E N N E DY

Dr. Paul Rock has seen the difference hyperbaric oxygen therapy can make for combat veterans with mild to moderate brain injuries. “The damage from brain injuries can be far more devastating than physical pain, affecting a person’s ability to think and concentrate, the amount of sleep they get and even the way they interact with family and friends,” Rock says. “We have seen clinical evidence through our research that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve cognitive functions and assist with healing in There are more than individuals with these types of injuries.”

“

17,000 diagnosed cases of veterans with TBI in the state of Oklahoma alone.” RITA ARAGON, OKL AHOMA SECRETARY OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

A former flight surgeon and internist in the Army, Rock has spent more than 30 years researching the benefits of oxygen pressure changes on the human body. He recently led a research study on how hyperbaric oxygen therapy might help veterans with persistent symptoms from mild to moderate traumatic brain

PHOTO / OSU-CHS

Helping Those Who Served

From left, American Legion Post 259 Commander Randy Teeters, OSU-CHS President Kayse Shrum, Post 259 Adjutant Rusty Partee, Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Rita Aragon and Post 259 Past Commander Marv Sandbek pose with a donation presented to the OSU Center for Aerospace and Hyperbaric Medicine.

injuries (MTBI) at the OSU Center for Aerospace and Hyperbaric Medicine, part of the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. “Our goal is to provide solid scientific research on the use of this type of therapy so that we know if it’s an effective way of treating traumatic brain injuries,” OSU-CHS President Kayse Shrum says. “There are limited proven treatments for veterans coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI, and we feel it is part of our duty to Oklahoma to find options for those who have served our country.” continues

“

The research at OSU-CHS has attracted national attention as more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan with brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder sustained in combat and from improvised explosive devices. Oklahoma’s Secretary of Veteran Affairs Rita Aragon, a retired U.S. Air Force major general, sees the value of the OSU study. She has pushed in Oklahoma

City and Washington, D.C., for additional funding to find treatment options for veterans who currently have none. “There are more than 17,000 diagnosed cases of veterans with TBI in the state of Oklahoma alone,” Aragon says. “That’s a huge number. We want very much to begin, as aggressively as possible, to find treatment options for our veterans.” Her message hit close to home for the members of the American Legion Post 259 in Braman, Okla. After learning about the OSU study from Aragon, members of the

It is very impressive. … For some, it’s like a fog has been lifted from their head.”

post decided to donate funds collected during their annual memorial poppy sales to the OSU Center for Aerospace and Hyperbaric Medicine. “We are dedicated to supporting the community and specifically our veterans and their families,” says Marv Sandbek, past commander of Post 259. “We wanted to keep our donation from the poppy sales in the state. The research going on at OSU-CHS caught our attention, and we are honored to contribute to the effort that will benefit our fellow veterans.” The poppies are small crepe paper flowers typically sold on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Post members raised

DR. JOHNNY STEPHENS, OSU-CHS ASSISTANT DEAN OF RESEARCH

INJURY POSSIBILITIES Brain injuries can be as complex as the brain itself. A blow to one part of the head can cause damage to the opposite side of the brain or throughout. Generally an injury to a specific part of the brain can affect specific functions. Listed below are some examples.

3 5 BR IN JU A IN RI ES

Past and future OSU-CHS studies focus on veterans with mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries. Many members of the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained brain injuries from attacks with weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, roadside bombs and land mines. Others have been involved in motor vehicle crashes or other trauma that resulted in brain injuries.

Frontal lobe injury: Emotions, impulse control, language, memory, social and sexual behavior

Parietal lobe injury: Ability to locate or recognize parts of your body

Occipital lobe injury: Distortion of the visual field; perceptions of size, color or shape

Cerebellum injury: Movement, muscle tone, gait

Temporal lobe injury: Hearing, language, the ability to recognize a person’s face, processing sensory information

Brainstem: Heart rate, breathing, swallowing

SOURCES: MILITARY.COM, BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATiON OF AMERICA and DEFENSE AND VETERANS BRAIN INJURY CENTER

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Inside the Chamber

Technicians Alex Barros, left, and Ryan Creek test equipment in the hyperbaric chamber.

SYMPTOMS OF TBI The terms to describe TBIs are usually in reference to the severity of the initial physical trauma that caused the injury. The do not always indicate the severity of the consequences of the injury. Mild TBI, otherwise known as concussion, is the most difficult to diagnose. Patients’ recovery can be within minutes to hours. A small percentage has symptoms that may persist months or years. Symptoms of mild TBI include headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, trouble concentrating, memory problems and irritability. Moderate TBI patients have the most clinical variability. There is usually loss of consciousness, from an hour to a day; there can be confusion for days to weeks; and mental or physical deficits can last months or be permanent. Severe TBI could affect speech and cause, sensory, vision and cognitive deficits including difficulties with attention, memory, concentration and impulsiveness.

PHOTO / OSU-CHS

Experimental hyperbaric oxygen therapy at OSU for mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries requires patients to breathe 100 percent oxygen in a dive chamber, which is pressurized to the equivalent of being 16½ feet under water. Patients “dive” for one hour a day for 40 to 80 days. The increased pressure causes about seven times more oxygen to be dissolved into the patient’s blood than would normally occur at sea level.

more than $1,200, which they donated in December to support the MTBI study. They also asked other veterans organizations across the state to support the OSU study and efforts to find a treatment. The experimental hyperbaric oxygen therapy for MTBI requires patients to breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The increased pressure causes more oxygen to be dissolved into a person’s blood than would normally occur. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and many healthinsurance plans have approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat 13 diseases and conditions such as gangrene, decompression sickness and thermal-burn injuries. While the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved the therapy for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, researchers are hopeful that continued studies will provide results needed to support its use for MTBI. “It is very impressive to see the changes in the participants,” says Dr. Johnny Stephens, assistant dean of research at OSU-CHS. “For some, it’s like a fog has been lifted from their head.” OSU-CHS has just finished participation in a national study on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries. More than 50 participants were included in the study at OSU.

A physician evaluated participants before starting and throughout the study to ensure their safety. During the treatments, technicians both inside and outside the hyperbaric chamber continually monitored participants. Early results from the study suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may have a positive effect on persistent symptoms of MTBI, PTSD, post-concussive syndrome, sleeplessness, cognitive malaise, depression and emotional control. Rock and the Center for Aerospace and Hyperbaric Medicine at OSU-CHS are in the process of finalizing the procedures for another study that will provide more convincing evidence of the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of MTBI. The center already has a waiting list of volunteers willing to participate in the study. The new study will launch later this year.

OSU medical student Luanne Vo poses with Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe at Saint Monica’s Girls Vocational School during a medical mission trip in 2013.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY OSU-CHS

Training Physicians, Healing Uganda

OSU Medicine partnership helps girls recover from abuse by militants.

After a week treating children and young women in war-torn Uganda last year, Luanne Vo returned to the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa with a renewed passion for medicine. “My time in Uganda solidified my desire to be a physician,” the secondyear medical student says. “In just a week, my skills were put to the test. I quickly became comfortable working with patients and met many fascinating people who are full of joy, despite their awful past.” As the college’s chapter president of Pros for Africa, Vo organizes summer medical trips for students to support the efforts of the Oklahoma City-based international aid nonprofit that connects professionals from all fields with ways to help children in Africa.

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Through a partnership with Saint Monica’s Girls Vocational School, OSU medical students, residents and faculty will have more opportunities to work in Uganda by taking part in international medical rotations. The rotations were announced during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery joining the OSU system. Saint Monica’s founder, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, was the featured guest for the commemoration. “Research has shown that when a medical student completes an international clinical experience, it increases the probability they will pursue a career in a primary care area,” says OSU Center for Health Sciences President Kayse Shrum. “The experience also helps students improve diagnostic skills and become

more empathetic and culturally sensitive physicians. Those attributes will benefit them as they begin careers in rural and underserved Oklahoma.” The collaboration is an extension of the partnership that began with Pros for Africa co-founders Reggie and Rachelle Whitten, Nyirumbe and OSU-CHS. “Our partnership with OSU Center for Health Sciences is strong,” Nyirumbe says. “Everyone at OSU has jumped on board to support the mission of Saint Monica’s.” Nyirumbe works with girls abducted from their families and forced to serve as sex slaves for officers in Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. The LRA was forced out of Uganda in 2005 and since then has wreaked havoc in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

OSU-CHS presents Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe with a plaque in honor of her humanitarian work in Uganda.

OSU-CHS President Kayse Shrum and Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe join Pros for Africa founder Reggie Whitten for a photograph at the 25th anniversary celebration.

OSU medical student Max Cieminski sits with several children during a medical mission trip to Uganda in 2013.

Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. The LRA became notorious for kidnapping children. Boys were forced to fight as soldiers. The rebels especially prized girls, as they could fight and be sex slaves. Saint Monica’s is a refuge where these young women learn to sew clothes, grow food and learn a trade to support themselves and their families. Nyirumbe’s humanitarian efforts have garnered international praise and in 2007 the prestigious CNN Hero award. “Sister Rosemary is a trained midwife and has delivered many babies,” says Shrum, who is also the faculty adviser for the Pros for Africa student chapter. “She knows better than most the importance of primary care and how critical quality health care is to life expectancy. Our students and faculty will benefit from working with her in Uganda.” Vo is delighted that OSU has partnered with Saint Monica’s and that more OSU medical students will have the opportunity to complete international rotations in Uganda. “Sister Rosemary is an amazing woman, full of energy and spirit,” Vo says. “After we returned from our previous trip to Uganda, we were able to share our experiences of working with the people at Saint Monica’s. Many of our classmates were discouraged about their lack of

ability to experience Uganda. This partnership opens the door for more students to learn from her example and help the underserved people she loves.” Once the specifics of the program are in place, Vo plans to return to Uganda on a rotation. Second-year medical student Anish Bhakta, who also went on the medical mission trip to Uganda last year, will complete a rotation there as well. “I left Africa thinking that would be the last time I would be able to visit for a long time,” says Bhakta, treasurer of Pros for Africa. “That has since changed with the addition of the international rotation, and I’m excited our school is offering this opportunity. It will positively impact our education and also help the women and children at Saint Monica’s.” OSU-CHS has also adopted Saint Monica’s as an international education partner, ensuring continued collaboration between OSU students, faculty and staff and the students in Uganda. The partnership also will enable international educational opportunities between Saint Monica’s students and children at Tulsa’s Eugene Field Elementary School, the university’s Partner in Education. “Everyone at OSU-CHS is excited to launch this global partnership with Sister Rosemary and offering our students and faculty an international clinical experience in Uganda,” says Dr. Robin Dyer,

president of the OSU-CHS Faculty Senate. “By adopting Saint Monica’s, we also will be opening the doors to further collaborative endeavors down the road.” Plans are to begin offering the international rotations in Uganda later this year. In the meantime, a group of OSU-CHS students and faculty, through Pros for Africa, will complete another medical mission trip to Uganda in May. “During our 25th anniversary celebration, more students were able to meet Sister Rosemary, and interest in supporting her work grew quickly,” Vo says. “They met a woman who is passionate about her work and desire to serve others but who also needs more help for Uganda. Many students have responded and want to add a rotation in Uganda to their training.” LORI SANTINE

‘Sewing Hope’ Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and Reggie Whitten have written Sewing Hope. The book recounts Nyirumbe’s work in Uganda and with Saint Monica’s. Sewing Hope is available through sewinghope.com, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble Nook and Amazon.

Barnett Named OSUMA CEO, Shrum Appointed OSU-CHS President

Howard Barnett The OSU Center for Health Sciences recently underwent a leadership change, with Howard Barnett assuming the role of CEO of the OSU Medical Authority and Dr. Kayse Shrum succeeding Barnett as president of the medical school. The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved the changes at the end of 2013. The leadership roles of the two Tulsa campuses were consolidated under Barnett in 2010. Barnett, a longtime Tulsa attorney and businessman, was the chief negotiator for the OSU Medical Center Trust in its acquisition of the OSU Medical Center in 2008. Barnett remains president of OSU-Tulsa. Shrum, a professor of pediatrics and an alumna of the OSU College

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Kayse Shrum of Osteopathic Medicine, was named OSU-CHS provost and dean at the college in 2011. During her tenure, Shrum has focused on expanding the physician pipeline by increasing the number of students from rural Oklahoma who are interested in attending medical school. She has also overseen an overhaul of curriculum requirements for medical students, including the addition of a rural-medical track. Shrum is also the first female to lead a medical school in Oklahoma. As president of OSU-CHS, she oversees the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Forensic Sciences and the School of Health Care Administration.

PHOTO / OSU MEDICAL CENTER

OSUMC Transferred to State Trust

The OSU Medical Center was transferred from a Tulsa trust to an Oklahoma trust in December. The transfer was part of an agreement made with state lawmakers during the 2013 legislative session to provide $13 million for the medical center. “OSU Medical Center has a statewide mission to train physicians for our state and provides vital medical services to people in rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma,” says Howard Barnett, OSU Medical Authority chief executive officer. “The change was necessitated by our need to further that mission and continue to provide training for medical students and graduates of the OSU Center for Health Sciences.” Ownership of the OSU Medical Center building transferred from the OSU Medical Center Trust to the OSU Medical Authority, a state agency that is affiliated with the OSU Medical Trust. The Tulsa City Council voted to relinquish the city’s beneficiary interest in the medical center in October. The transaction was approved by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and state Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Members of the OSU Medical Authority board are appointed by the governor, Senate president pro tempore and speaker of the House of Representatives or hold positions at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority or OSU Medical Center.

T H A N K YO U OSU has a long and productive partnership with the agricultural community. The partnership recently grew even stronger thanks to generous support from the Farm Credit System, including CoBank and the Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma. Their combined $500,000 contribution endowed the Oklahoma Farm Credit Chair in Agricultural Economics. The chairholder will teach agricultural finance courses, mentor students, conduct applied research and develop educational programs benefitting decision-makers within financial institutions. The endowment will fund graduate assistantships, trips to professional conferences and enhancement of undergraduate activities.

THANK YOU, COBANK AND FARM CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS OF OKLAHOMA FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO A BRIGHTER, MORE PROSPEROUS ORANGE FUTURE.

Discover your orange passion at

OSUgiving .com *Scan the QR code with your smartphone or call 800.622.4678 to learn more

Northern Oklahoma farm and restaurant run by OSU alumni focus on fresh and local gourmet experiences.

Two OSU alumni have found a niche in north central Oklahoma, where they grew up. Their roots connect in the Oklahoma soil where high-quality food is grown. Mary Steichen is a fourth-generation farmer and first-generation vineyard owner. Her family’s farming roots trace back to the 1500s. Jeff Denton is a chef who delights foodies with surprising gourmet meals from ingredients directly from area farms. Steichen and Denton strongly support the local-food movement, which strives to give consumers the freshest produce and meat possible. Both play individual parts in the “farm-to-fork” efforts, and collaborated last year to launch Denton’s restaurant and develop a business plan for expanding Steichen’s farms. Both have customers lined up at the door.

Stories by Beverly Bryant Photography by Phil Shockley

SU alumni are leaders in providing Oklahomans fresher, more naturally produced local foods. Mary Steichen oversees the daily operations of Silvertop Farm and Vineyards, southwest of Ponca City, Okla. A 1983 graduate of OSU’s Collge of Business, Steichen is co-owner of the farm and ranch with her mother, Ruth, and her brother, Tom, a 1971 OSU agriculture economics graduate. Her father, Joe, who earned an OSU animal science degree in 1943 and OSU agricultural economics master’s degree in 1959, founded the 4,000-acre farm in 1945. While Silvertop’s signature product is sheep, the farm operation is diversified with 150 head of cattle and small-grain operations, including wheat, soybeans, sesame and milo.

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Steichen added a vineyard five years ago after attending an OSU grapemanagement course. She is also building a winery on the property. She and her partners recently purchased Stone Bluff Cellars, including its chardonel vineyard, and are transplanting 800 mature vines to Silvertop to increase the variety of grapes. Once the transplant is completed, Silvertop will have 7 acres of vines including vignoles, cynthiana, triaminette and chardonel. The OSU Extension Service advised Steichen on the site selection and establishment of the vineyards. As the chardonel vines adjust to the new location, Steichen will be completing work on a wedding venue in the middle of the vineyard. She plans special events throughout the year, including tours. She is also renovating a nearby landmark building into Salt Fork Market & Sample House. The business will offer products from Silvertop and a farmers market for locally produced goods — honey, produce, cheese, milk, butter and whey. A successful local coffee house owner will join with Steichen. Silvertop also produces pecans, and its pecan crackers will be offered at the farmers market.

Tasting room and market employees will arrange tours of the Salt Fork River Valley, including Silvertop, to visitors interested in agri-tourism. “This will help us cater to people traveling on Interstate 35 and keep locals interested,” Steichen says. After Steichen graduated with a degree in finance, she worked in banking for 12 years before returning to school at the University of Houston, where she earned a juris doctorate in 1998. She recently left her law firm to dedicate herself to furthering the legacy started by her father. Steichen participates in the Oklahoma Ag Leadership program, sponsored by OSU Extension. The group toured agriculture facilities in Spain and Morocco. “In one of our sessions, we were discussing the important relationship food has to all aspects of life, including culture,” Steichen says. “Our guide simply stated, ‘You can’t have culture without agriculture.’”

Mary Steichen feeds the sheep at Silvertop Farm and Vineyards near Ponca City, Okla. While the farm is venturing into the winemaking business, sheep remain Silvertop’s signature product.

“You can’t have culture without agriculture.”

Chef Jeff Denton owns TS Fork in Tonkawa, Okla. The restaurant specializes in local food made fresh from the farm.

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owntown Tonkawa, Okla., seems an unlikely place to find an upscale, reservationonly, fixed-menu restaurant that serves only one seating Fridays and another Saturday nights. TS Fork has sold out nearly every weekend since opening in September 2013. It occupies what was a gasoline station from the town’s early days and could be described as downhome swanky. The décor is elegant. A crystal chandelier lights the upper floor. A bar offers a variety of wines, including some from Oklahoma. A singer belts out Big Band-era standards while diners enjoy gourmet meals and a view of local art hanging on the walls. The down-home part is in the service. “We have a concept of a common platter and the common table,” chef Jeff Denton says. Groups fill a table, or guests may find themselves making friends with strangers. Denton changes the menu every two weeks to take advantage of what is fresh and locally available. For Valentine’s Day, his menu included lobster ravioli, his signature deviled eggs, wedding soup and a house salad. The main course was pepper steak Madagascar, made with the Vegas Strip Steak cut developed in part by Oklahoma State University. Dessert was chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate truffles. As a 1982 graduate of OSU’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, Denton is proud that OSU helped develop the Vegas Strip Steak. “I serve the fire out of the Vegas Strip,” he says. “I do something different with it each time.” His commercial kitchen is in an adjacent building with a connecting door off the first-floor dining area. It was built with a rural-community grant

to provide a commercial kitchen for local producers of homemade products such as salsa and bread, Denton says. Several partners are involved with the restaurant and kitchen. The Tonkawa Development Authority uses it as an incubator for businesses to grow and to teach their owners how to get a business off the ground. The authority built the restaurant, which Denton leases. Denton taught a class at Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City, Okla., to help aspiring restaurant owners. It met one night a week for a month, and students interned at TS Fork. “You can’t have a restaurant of this quality if you don’t have people who know how to cook,” Denton says. “I want them to know what they are getting into.”

Denton knew early in life that preparing food was his calling. At age 7, a housing development was being built near his home. While his parents were at work, he made ham sandwiches for the construction workers and delivered them in his wagon. His enterprise lasted until his mother realized her groceries were missing. While a student at OSU, Denton says, he worked at “virtually every food establishment on campus.” “I even cook at church on Sunday,” he says. TS Fork is Denton’s side job. During the day, he is the director of Child Nutrition Services for Ponca City schools, a job he has held since 1990. Students know him as “Chef Jeff.” “The restaurant is so different from what we do for the children,” he

“We don’t even have a can opener.” The final partner in the operation is Denton’s company, Salt Fork Restaurant Group. Denton cooks every item. One noticeable thing about the kitchen is the lack of stored food. One small shelf holds oil and a handful of staples. No canned items come into the operation. “We don’t even have a can opener,” Denton says. Instead, serving dishes fill the tall, wire shelves. Food is purchased as close to preparation time as possible, Denton says. He focuses on local producers, but if an item is not available, he will expand his search to a small regional area. The guidelines for planning his menus are simple. They include local ingredients that fit the kitchen equipment, something he can cook, a good pairing and uniqueness. His recipes are original. “There’s a lot of thought in pairing foods,” he says. “I try to represent a lot of proteins, including lamb, chicken and beef.”

says. “Here, a meal can cost you $30, compared to a school lunch, which is $2.” He starts most days at 5:30 a.m., checking on breakfast preparations at the schools. Denton was recently recognized as the Innovator of the Year by Food Management magazine. He has testified at the state Capitol on child nutrition efforts, and is planning to travel to Washington, D.C., this spring to lobby lawmakers on the federal food program. In addition, he has published four books, including Don’t Let the Idiots Win, Please Don’t Throw Me Under the Bus and There’s No Crying in Flag Football; starred in televisions shows such as The Okie Chef and Kidchen Expedition; writes music; and has been the keynote speaker for many state and national organizations talking on school nutrition or motivational topics.

Whatever the language, the worldwide trend of producing organic foods is showing no signs of slowing down. OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center is staying on the forefront and is now certified through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry to process organic foods.

Whole Foods Market helps FAPC launch certification program. PHOTO COURTESY OF WHOLE FOODS MARKET

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Earning Certification

Certifying its pilot processing facility allows the center to serve producers developing organic foods, and the center has a great track record helping existing and startup companies develop new food products, says Chuck Willoughby, FAPC business and marketing relations manager. “Because the center maintains a food-manufacturing license from the Oklahoma Department of Health, any new food products developed in the pilot plant are permitted to be sold in

commerce,” Willoughby says. “This opportunity to test market newly developed products gives company decision-makers valuable information to determine refinement for products before undertaking a larger-scale market launch.” However, without the proper certification, test-market products developed at FAPC could not be labeled organic. “We have worked with several organically certified producers and food companies since we opened our doors in 1997,” Willoughby says. “It became apparent while helping a client develop a pet treat made from organically certified ingredients that FAPC should gain certification as well.”

The ‘Whole’ Story

Producing organic-certified food products requires good record-keeping and the ability to prevent co-mingling of organically certified and non-certified ingredients. Special care in the handling of packaging and final products, cleaning of equipment and pest-management practices are also required, which leads to additional expenses.

Impact on Oklahoma

With organic certification, FAPC can assist more Oklahoma companies and help companies to supply stores such as Whole Foods with quality products. Sales data from Whole Foods has shown a significant economic impact. Whole Foods’ annual sales of fresh produce and packaged foods for Oklahoma-based companies totaled $2.3 million from 2011 to 2013, including $985,000 in 2013.

Palgunan Kalyanaraman, FAPC wheat research specialist, works in the pilot plant to produce a test run of organic dog treats for John’s Farm.

“Several of the Made in Oklahoma companies that supply Whole Foods are clients of the center,” Willoughby says. “Many times, FAPC has helped these clients meet Whole Foods’ food-safety and traceability program requirements or in some cases helped with reformulation to comply with Whole Foods’ ingredient restrictions.”

Coming Full Circle

John’s Farm of Fairview, Okla., became the first client to process a product that could be labeled and sold as organic since the launch of FAPC’s organic certification program. “The received organic certification further illustrates the staff’s dedication to their clients as it opens doors of opportunity for organic-product development,” John’s Farm owner Kris Gosney says. “We are pleased to be the first client to produce a certified-organic product in FAPC’s pilot plant. Our hope is that other producers will move into the organic market with ease due to FAPC’s certification.” M A N DY G R O S S

PHOTOS / REBECCA BAILEY

Certifying a facility costs $500 annually, and there is a $5 fee for submitting each product profile. FAPC knew these expenses meant launching the certification program quickly would require a partner. Willoughby says the first idea was to partner with Whole Foods Market, the world’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods with stores in North America and the U.K. “The costs of being certified organic is a small price to pay for assurance of product integrity,” Willoughby says. “However, it was not something planned in the current operating budget. We asked our good friends at Whole Foods if they could help seed this program so that it could be launched this budget year and eventually become a selfsustaining program.” Whole Foods Market provided a portion of its sales during the grand opening of its second store in Tulsa, Okla., to help fund FAPC’s organiccertification program. In addition to that donation to cover certification costs, the market also provided the center with display space during the opening. “We appreciate Whole Foods’ generosity in funding FAPC’s efforts to gain organic certification,” Willoughby says. “It was really great to have this opportunity to visit with Whole Foods’ customers and tell them about the center’s efforts to assist organic producers and food businesses in Oklahoma.”

What is organic? For much of its history, agriculture could be described as organic, or grown or made without using artificial chemicals. It wasn’t until the 20th century that a large supply of new chemicals was introduced to the food supply. At that time, the organic farming movement started in response to the industrialization of agriculture. Organic foods have continued to expand during the last few years, and industry experts are forecasting steady growth in coming years. According to “United States Organic Food Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018,” the U.S. organic food market will increase at a compound annual rate of about 14 percent during 2014-18.

OSU Foundation President Kirk Jewell, far right, and Carol Johnson, associate dean of the Spears School of Business, thank BancFirst executives for the organization’s support of OSU. Representing BancFirst, from left, are Ken Starks, executive vice president and regional executive; Gordon Greer, director and vice chairman; Jerry Franklin, president of BancFirst Stillwater; and Bob List, Tulsa market president.

T H A N K YO U The roots of BancFirst and OSU were planted just a few miles apart following the 1889 Oklahoma Land Run. While pioneers came to Stillwater to learn at Oklahoma A&M, they were transacting business with First National Bank of Stillwater. First National Bank of Stillwater later joined BancFirst, now Oklahoma’s largest state-chartered bank, while OSU has grown into a premier modern land-grant university. These iconic Oklahoma institutions have developed an ongoing partnership based on their shared belief in the value of a good education. The latest highlight is BancFirst’s $500,000 donation toward building a new home for the Spears School of Business, supporting a richer educational experience for our state’s future business leaders. It is just one more example of this collaboration strengthening Oklahoma’s economy.

THANK YOU, BANCFIRST, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO A BRIGHTER, STRONGER ORANGE FUTURE.

Discover your orange passion at

OSUgiving .com *Scan the QR code with your smartphone or call 800.622.4678 to learn more

The

State program offers opportunity for success at OSU and beyond.

PROMISE STORIE S BY BEVERLY BRYANT

klahoma’s Promise scholarships are about helping deserving students achieve the college dream. STATE is featuring five OSU students on the following pages. There are several common threads in their stories: Each is high achieving; each is extremely motivated; each has great plans to serve the state, nation and world; and none of them would have been able to attend OSU without Oklahoma’s Promise and the university’s help. Eighth-, ninth- or 10th-grade Oklahoma students may apply for Oklahoma’s Promise if their parents make $50,000 a year or less. Certain preparatory classes must be taken in high school. Oklahoma’s Promise has been around since 1992, and in 2007 lawmakers strengthened the funding for the program. About 19,000 students are expected to receive the award this year, says Bryce Fair, associate vice chancellor for scholarships for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The amounts of the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship is based on tuition rates and may be for as much as $5,000 a year at OSU, Fair says. The program pays for tuition, but not fees or books. Students who

maintain their eligibility can renew the scholarship until they earn a bachelor’s degree, up to five years. Oklahoma’s Promise students can also apply for a Cowboy Covenant scholarship for an additional $1,000 a year, renewable for four years, for items not included with Oklahoma’s Promise. Students may also be eligible for other waivers and scholarships. “We are declining in numbers for the first time in the history of the program,” Fair says. “The limitation on the family income has not been adjusted. The percentage of families making less than $50,000 has decreased from 61 percent when the program started to 45 percent.” While the number of recipients is declining, Oklahoma’s Promise remains on “sound footing now and in the future,” he says. “There are no provisions for it to go away. There are no sunset provisions that would cause it not to be there,” Fair says. “When it was created, it depended on annual appropriations from the Legislature. We have been paying scholarships since 1996, and there has never been a time when the scholarships were not paid.”

SPECIAL PROFILE SECTION O K L A H O M A’ S PR O MI S E STUD E NTS W ITH D R E A M S O F TH E FUTUR E

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P R O M I S E

Shelbi BARRETT FRESHMAN SHELBI BARRETT, OF DURANT, OKLA., ALWAYS WANTED TO ATTEND OSU. But it would have been a financial squeeze for her parents, who have five children. Barrett is majoring in nutrition and plans to go to nursing school. “Without Oklahoma’s Promise, that would not be possible,” she says. While in high school, Barrett earned 18 hours of college credit through concurrent enrollment at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. “That allows kids to get ahead. I don’t have to load up on hours now,” she says. Her first semester at OSU included a typical class load of 15 hours. For her second semester, she was able to reduce that to 14 hours to concentrate on her sciences. Barrett is a member of the Chi Omega sorority. “This has changed my experience,” she says. “I have the opportunity to be involved on campus in many different ways.” She understands the importance of choosing a school that can help her achieve her goals.

“Because college degrees are becoming increasingly important and prevalent, where a person receives their education is also becoming increasingly important,” she says. “When I go to nursing school, the science classes from here will pay off.” Besides assisting with the cost of education, she says, Oklahoma’s Promise helps her academically by holding her to a high standard. Barrett also received three scholarships from OSU, and she works during the summer. OSU has been an adjustment from high school. “My education is the reason I am here,” she says. “You have to learn how to study to be successful.” Barrett’s sister is a junior at West Point Military Academy, one of 200 young women in a class of 1,200 cadets. Her younger brother is a junior in high school, and her oldest brother lives in Arizona. Another older brother is a senior at OSU.

PHOTO / P H I L S H O C K L E Y

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P R O M I S E

Josh MIDGLEY AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR IN POTEAU, OKLA., JOSH MIDGLEY WAS READY FOR THE CHALLENGES OF COLLEGE. He was at the top of his class and felt he was not getting the academic stimulation he needed. Although his parents work hard to provide for the family, financial worries are a constant as their income remains below the Oklahoma’s Promise threshold. The scholarship assured his chance at an education at the type of major university he wanted. He chose OSU because he felt wanted here. “There are so many resources here,” he says. “You have to find them and choose them, but they are here.” Midgley could have attended a number of smaller schools closer to home, but with the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship he was able to take a step up. “It carried me over the top,” the freshman says. “I get paid for coming to OSU.” Once on campus, Midgley found the academic rigor he desired. “I didn’t have good study habits,” he admits. His first semester was a challenge, he says, with classes harder than he was used to and with a lot of loneliness. He knows he was not the only student with those problems.

Midgley’s family didn’t have a lot of money and had “a lot of other struggles, too,” he says. “Those of us with high aspirations have high hopes to rise above those struggles.” Midgley plans to major in psychology and later study occupational therapy for a master’s degree. “In my family, I am the first to go to college,” he says. “I thought about being a doctor, but I would not enjoy it.” In his first semester, Midgley took chemistry, general education courses and an honors college seminar. He also took a philosophy class, which was an eye-opener, he says. “There are a lot of views here,” he says. “A lot of my views were challenged. But I was also able to cultivate my views here.” This semester, he is taking psychology, biology and physics. Now that he has experienced college life, Midgley says he realizes why people enjoy education. Outside the classroom Midgley is a professional improvisational guitarist and practices the martial art of Muay Thai.

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Ridge HOWELL

A FRESHMAN MAJORING IN ENGLISH AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, RIDGE HOWELL PLANS TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATING FROM OSU. He aspires to go into communications law. Howell grew up on a cattle farm near Checotah, Okla. He says he was “super active” in FFA and had a number of experiences with the organization that broadened his life. That’s led him to become involved with younger FFA members as a mentor, sharing those opportunities. With an early interest in politics and government, Howell was a high school junior when he was selected as one of 10 Native American FFA members to lobby for inclusion of FFA in classrooms across the nation. He is a member of the Creek tribe. Howell was involved in several high school clubs, including Student Council. He created a community service project for elementary school children and senior citizens. “It was one of my favorite things,” he says. “I started a community garden to benefit the elementary school and senior citizens. It helped bridge the gap of the generations.” Howell traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive a White House Champion of Change award for the project and met several influential people. Last February, he became a finalist for a Coca-Cola scholarship. He went to Atlanta in April and was chosen as one of the top 50 of 250 students there.

P R O M I S E

“It’s crazy,” he says. “I have a friend from every state and a lot of colleges across the U.S.” One of Howell’s favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Since coming to OSU, Howell has been involved in Junior Greek Life, an organization of exceptional freshmen that travels with Undergraduate Admissions to promote fraternity and sorority life at OSU. He is also involved with Pencils of Promise, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to build schools in developing countries. “There’s not a more worthy cause,” he says. Howell received several scholarships, including awards from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the AXA Achievement Academy, the Elks Club, Oklahoma Youth Expo and the Tulsa State Fair. Other scholarships were the Faye Fortney Scholarship, the OSU President’s Distinguished Scholarship, and several local scholarships. As an Oklahoma’s Promise student, he also received the Cowboy Covenant Scholarship. “This is one of the biggest reasons I will be leaving college debt-free,” Howell says. “I am blessed beyond measure.”

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P R O M I S E

Annie Jo GILBERT ANNIE JO GILBERT KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO AS A CAREER BECAUSE SHE’S BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. The sophomore from Choctaw, Okla., is studying animal science and livestock merchandising, which fit right in with growing up on a cattle ranch. Gilbert showed cattle for 12 years, starting at age 6, and served as a state officer with the Oklahoma FFA in her senior year of high school. Her father owns Gilbert Cattle Co., with 100 head of cattle. Annie Jo says 35 are registered to her. She says she has a successful herd built from former show cattle. Gilbert says her experiences with the daily work of a cattle operation give her an advantage. “Students who haven’t had the opportunity don’t know that work ethic,” she says. “I’ve had to break ice, feed calves and put out hay every day. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” While she is at OSU, she works at Stillwater Milling. “Going home is a little break. I take a deep breath and get away from everything,” she says. Her favorite part of the business is the merchandising side, she says.

“If I could trade cattle, I could help someone build a herd for what they want,” she says. “Some people look for moderate-frame cattle and some want those with big bones. In a nutshell, you want a cow that can throw a calf on the ground, and it gets up to nurse.” In order to prepare for her career, her father looked into the Oklahoma’s Promise program and they applied. “I knew I was going to get scholarships, but they would not last forever,” she says. Oklahoma’s Promise was the piece that made her education possible. Her other scholarships are from American Farmers and Ranchers, Oklahoma Youth Expo and the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation. She was an Oklahoma FFA proficiency winner at the state and national levels and won a trip to Costa Rica, which she will take this summer. She is a member of Phi Mu sorority and belongs to the Block and Bridle livestock club. Her class load has mostly included animal-science courses, genetics, agricultural marketing and sales, plant and soil science and agricultural leadership.

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T H E

Arnesha THREATT

ARNESHA THREATT, A SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR, WAS AN EARLY APPLICANT FOR OKLAHOMA’S PROMISE. She applied in the eighth grade. “We learned about OHLAP (Oklahoma’s Higher Learning Access Program) at school, and I saw lots of TV commercials,” she says. “It was really easy.” Threatt attended Northeast Academy in Oklahoma City. “I was really into sports. This was my backup plan,” she says. In high school, she played basketball, softball, golf and volleyball and threw the shot put. At OSU she plays intermural sports. College was something her parents expected for their children. “I really liked art and math,” she says. “I wanted to be an architect. My cousin went to OSU and told me how busy the architecture students were.” While in high school, Threatt attended a few engineering camps. “I was sold. I went to one at OU where they have petroleum engineering. Here at OSU they had mechanical engineering, which hooked me,” she says. She is preparing to graduate in December. Threatt is working on an engineering project to adapt an all-terrain vehicle for firefighting. “I think people will build on the work we are doing this semester,” she says. Another design project involves experimental fluid dynamics to learn to predict tornadoes, another long-term project that may be worked on by several classes over time.

P R O M I S E

Threatt also is a residential adviser and the treasurer of Collegiate Outreach, a Bible studies and service organization. She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. Threatt has three brothers and three sisters — she is the second youngest. “My three older sisters are either in college or have graduated,” she says. “My older brother is in college, and another went to trade school. The youngest brother is in grade school.” She says her father is very big on having his children earn scholarships. All of Threatt’s sisters received Oklahoma’s Promise scholarships. “Nearly all of us had scholarships. Some had loans. He always says, ‘You all better apply for scholarships.’ ” Threatt says her classes are tough “but you work hard.” Last summer, she worked with an oil and gas company. “It was a lot of fun, but I would like to branch out,” she says. She has applied to work at NASA and some big-name corporations as an intern this summer. “I want to have something tangible that I can see,” she says. “I kind of want to stay in Oklahoma.” Her other scholarships were from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Lockheed-Martin, the Black Alumni Association and OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. “I don’t have to worry about money, so I am free to focus on studying,” she says.

PHOTO / P H I L S H O C K L E Y

For more information on eligibility and requirements for Oklahoma’s Promise, Cowboy Covenant and other scholarship opportunities, visit admissions.okstate.edu/paying-college.

ARTISTS IN TRANSITION OSUIT-educated commercial artists make a colorful splash in the fine art world.

S TO R Y BY S A R A PLU M M E R

PHOTO / SARA PLUMMER

The studio is bright, clean and organized — paints lined up and arranged by color, finished pieces hung symmetrically on the walls. Nothing like the cluttered and scattered studio space artists can be reputed to have.

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Perhaps the habits Hammer picked up during years of working as a graphic designer and in an office most days have followed him in his new profession. Or it could just be because Hammer hasn’t had time to get messy. He recently moved into his studio space at AHHA, Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa’s Hardesty Arts Center, where he is an artist in residence. Hammer, who graduated from OSU Institute of Technology in 1985, says he grew up drawing and excelled at art in high school.

“I had every intention of being an artist until my high school art teacher told me I wouldn’t make it,” he says. So he looked for another career where he could still express his artistic side and found a hometown opportunity, he says. “I grew up in Okmulgee so OSUIT was the option for me.” He studied technical illustration and then moved to commercial art, what would later become graphic design, in the Visual Communications Division. After graduation, he worked as a graphic designer for nearly three decades.

“I paint with color and fun. I paint them how I see them, how they should be. I think this is who I am. This is who I’ll be.” — Artist John Hammer, OSUIT Class of 1985

Then three years ago, the company he was working for moved to Canada. Hammer says he did freelance graphic design for a while before deciding two years ago to seriously pursue his lifelong dream of being an artist. “I had never painted before, I didn’t know the techniques. It was a struggle at first,” he says. He kept trying to force himself to paint in a photo-realism style. Once he loosened up and added more abstract color, he found himself enjoying the process and finding success. The first

John Hammer sits in front of several of his paintings in his studio at the AHHA Center in downtown Tulsa.

continues PHOTO / KELLY KERR

such painting he entered into a show sold on the first night of the exhibition. His pieces now have a distinctive look and feel that are clearly John Hammer works. “My wife calls it pop impressionism. I paint with color and fun. I paint them how I see them, how they should be,” Hammer says. “I think this is who I am. This is who I’ll be.” Visual Communications Division Chair James McCullough looks at one of Hammer’s pieces every day — a longhorn steer grazing in a green field flecked with orange and purple — that hangs on the wall in his office, along with other works by OSUIT alums. “A lot of people come to OSUIT because they have an artistic drive, but no one showed them how to parlay that into a career,” McCullough says. “There’s a wealth of talent here people just are not aware of.” Hammer and a number of other alumni from the university’s Visual Communications Division offered several of their own paintings to be part of an exhibition and silent auction at Tulsa’s AHHA gallery to raise scholarship funds for visual communications students, as well as an awareness of the vast artistic talents of the program’s graduates.

John Hammer’s paintings were on display last year in the Conoco Gallery in the Student Union at his alma mater OSU Institute of Technology. Several are on display in the ONG Lounge at OSUIT’s Student Union.

and that time made me who I am today. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” McCullough says Hammer is one of several alumni including Christopher Westfall, Bryan Cooper and Gil Adams who have been able to use their talents to be a success in the commercial art field as well as the fine art world.

“You have to treat art like a job. You have to paint every day.” day. — John Hammer

Hammer says he wouldn’t be the artist he is without the training and skills he learned at OSUIT. “Had I pursued art after high school, this isn’t how I would have painted. I look at my work and I see a heavy influence of graphic design,” he says. “That education

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“There’s still a design element you’ll see in all these people’s work,” he says. “They’re pulling that into the work they do, simply because it’s who they are now.” Commercial art and fine art aren’t that different, Hammer says. “You have to treat art like a job. You

have to paint every day,” he says. “Putting a painting together is no different than putting an ad together. It has to feel right and look right.” That’s not the only time his experience and skills as a graphic designer have helped him in his career as a painter. “The painting is easy; the hard part is selling and marketing yourself. Being a graphic designer, I can do some of that for myself,” he says. In the short time Hammer has been painting, he’s done about 80 paintings with no plans to slow down. “There are so many things to do. I’d like to travel around the state, to small towns, maybe find some unique sites to paint,” he says now that he can paint full time with the studio space at AHHA. “It’s forced me to do something that was in my control. It’s a wonderful, freeing feeling, not answering to anyone.” Just because you are a commercial graphic designer, photographer or animator doesn’t mean your artistic talents are somehow stifled, Hammer says. “Bottom line, we’re all artists. Anybody going into that visual communications program and coming out of that program in the last 35 years is an artist in my opinion.”

PHOTO / ANNA SCHROEDER

Q A

STATE magazine interviewed three other artists about their time at OSUIT and how it prepared them for making a living and making fine art.

Gil Adams,

Class of 1971, studied commercial art and recently retired after more than 40 years working as a graphic designer and illustrator. He’s working as a painter and instructor. Have you always been interested in art? Ever since I was in seventh grade I’ve wanted to be an artist. I didn’t want to be a fine artist; I wanted to be a commercial artist. Why did you choose to attend OSUIT’s Visual Communications Division? My wife and I were on our honeymoon, driving through Okmulgee. I just stopped and walked into the office. I was looking for a place to go back to school. How have the skills and training you learned at OSUIT affected your paintings? That training I got from OSUIT, the basics I learned, it’s the best thing I could have done. There’s no other school that has that kind of curriculum. It was a gold mine for me.

Bryan Cooper, Class

of 1995, studied graphic design and is now associate creative director at AcrobatAnt in Tulsa. Have you always had an interest in art? Yes, my parents have trash bags full of drawings and art that I created while growing up. Why did you choose to attend OSUIT’s Visual Communications Division? My dad was a veteran in the advertising business, and he said OSUIT was the best school in the state for graphic design, so I went. How have the education and skills you learned at OSUIT been beneficial in terms of fine art pursuits? I got all my basics out of the way before I went to OSUIT, so I was able to explore the visual communications curriculum once I got there. I learned photography, advanced illustration and 3-D animation on top of my graphic design, which directly influenced the style of fine art I practice today.

Christopher Westfall,

Class of 1981, studied commercial art. He works full time as a painter.

Why did you decide to enroll in OSUIT’s visual communications program? I was more interested in fine arts as a teenager, but for practical purposes, to make a living, I went into commercial art. OSUIT had the best program in the state. That’s the reason I took graphic arts. How did you transition to making fine art full time? I was a graphic designer until 1989; I worked in the field and for advertising agencies and then just got burned out. I always did fine art on the side. In 2005, my wife convinced me to start entering pieces in galleries and shows. That’s when I became a full-time artist. Did the education and training you received at OSUIT have an effect on your art? There’s definitely a crossover between being a commercial illustrator and a fine artist. Even as a graphic designer, you have to develop your own style, your own image. Being a fine arts painter, you have to self-motivate, you have to get up in the morning and do the work. Working at an agency, I understood what it took to be self-motivated and to do the work every day.

A Beautiful Education Through the campus beautification efforts of Steve Dobbs and his crew, OSU shines a bright orange for future, current and past students. Story by Katie Parish

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photo / phil shockley

or more than 200,000 people, the campus of Oklahoma State University has been a home away from home. While going off to college can be an exciting and sometimes terrifying rite of passage, nothing can help soothe such fears quite like an inviting and beautiful campus. In the nearly 125 years since its founding in Stillwater, OSU’s campus has blossomed into just such a welcoming place. The dusty prairie has given way to a lush campus with august brick buildings, revered traditions and one bright instantly recognizable color. For the past three years, Steve Dobbs has been in charge of campus beautification and not only maintaining the brilliance but also allowing it to flourish. Before attending OSU, Dobbs stood in awe of the campus and its grandeur. The

Sallisaw, Okla., native is the son of two farmers and the grandchild of avid gardeners. He got involved with 4-H at an early age, and year after year he would visit the Stillwater campus for the Oklahoma 4-H Roundup conference. Every visit solidified his choice. There was never a question where he would go to college. “I had such a good time at Oklahoma State,” Dobbs says. “When you come here, it just feels right. You become part of the family and learn to be an independent adult.” While at OSU, Dobbs was a member of the FarmHouse fraternity and the horticulture club. He was also an active participant in community service projects. He graduated with a bachelor’s of science in horticulture in 1981 and received his first job offer from OSU right out of college. He started as an extension agriculture horticulturist with the OSU Cooperative Extension in status) Muskogee County.

“It (Tree Campus USA shows our dedication to tree planting and care at the university as part of our sustainable goals.” — Steve Dobbs

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After three years in eastern Oklahoma, Dobbs realized he would need more education to pursue further career options. He went to the University of Arkansas and earned a master’s degree in horticulture. HOME AGAIN ... AND AGAIN

Dobbs then spent four years working for the extension service in Florida, but the draw of Cowboy Country eventually pulled him back. Dobbs returned to Stillwater in 1990 and worked as a consumer horticulture specialist with the extension service for another five years. When Dobbs’ father died in 1992, he says he felt the need return home and help his mother with the family’s farm in Sallisaw. Dobbs met and married his wife, Jo Alice, shortly after the move. He also opened his own greenhouse business on the farm, growing plants and doing residential and commercial landscaping projects. After seven years in Sallisaw, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith recruited Dobbs to work as its grounds director. He would hold the position for nearly a decade.

photo / gary lawson

photo / alumni association

Steve Dobbs, manager of OSU grounds and landscaping, has been in charge of campus beautification for the past three years. photo / phil shockley

In early 2010, Dobbs heard about an open position at OSU. He applied, was hired as the grounds and landscape manager and eagerly returned. “Once you get the orange in your blood, there really is no turning back,” Dobbs says. IT’S THE DETAILS

Dobbs says one of the biggest changes in OSU’s campus beautification is planning. Instead of just focusing on the maintenance of campus, now Physical Plant Grounds and Landscape Services focuses on three aspects: design, installation and maintenance. Landscaping designs are created in-house, with assistance from outside landscape architects on larger projects. An installation crew ensures proper attention is given to the planting of many flora varieties. Even landscaping maintenance is being approached from a different perspective. “The difference is we are not a botanical garden. We’re a college campus, and we have to design with different things in

photo / phil shockley

mind,” Dobbs says. “Once you are here maintaining it and know the specific environments, you know how to match the right plant material to the right location.” As manager of grounds and landscaping, Dobbs says every day can be different, and that makes it exciting. Teams focus on small, everyday projects and longrange plans that often accompany campus construction. “Some folks think our job is seasonal,” Dobbs says. “But we are responsible for litter and trash pickup, snow and ice removal, cleanup after tailgating and more.” To keep up more than 800 acres of OSU’s Stillwater campus, Dobbs needs a large crew — 55 employees with eight equipment operators and a couple of mechanics to keep the fleet and equipment running. Forty-seven employees work full time in the design, installation and maintenance parts of campus beautification. Students are an additional critical part of Dobbs’ crew. Dobbs hires about

20 students and interns in the summer to assist with mowing. The department also works closely with campus student groups on programs such as Tree Campus USA, which is coordinated through the Arbor Day Foundation. OSU received Tree Campus USA status in 2011. There are several requirements and campuses must apply for the program. Once selected, schools must maintain the yearly requirements and reapply to keep the status. “It shows our dedication to tree planting and care at the university as part of our sustainable goals,” Dobbs says. ECO-OSU, a student group dedicated to campus sustainability efforts, helped purchase GPS equipment through a grant. GPS is being used to identify and catalog the trees on campus. In addition to the tree type, it can record a tree’s height, width and maintenance needs. As of the end of February, the group had inventoried 2,167 trees on approximately 560 acres using the GPS system. continues

“A lot of people don’t know how to explain it. But because the landscaping looks clean and well taken care of, it conveys a message of feeling safe to people.”— Steve Dobbs A BEAUTIFUL EDUCATION

Dobbs hopes his vision will help steer campus beautification for decades to come. After all, he sees the work he and his team do as serving an educational purpose. “When people come on campus, whether they’re students, parents or visitors, we want them to be able to learn about the plant material, designs and sustainable projects we’re working on,” Dobbs says. “We want to be known as the place people come to learn about different trees or plants in Oklahoma.” Signage across campus highlights unique trees and plants. Many signs include a small code that can be scanned with a smartphone, launching a web page with more about the greenery. Landscape Services also created an Instagram account to share photos of their projects.

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Alumni, students and visitors are noticing campus beautification changes. Dobbs says a study shows that the appearance of a campus can drastically influence the decision of a prospective student. Sometimes, a student decides whether to attend a university within the first 15 minutes of stepping on campus. “A lot of people don’t know how to explain it,” Dobbs says. “But because the landscaping looks clean and well taken care of, it conveys a message of feeling safe to people. It shows we take pride in our campus and pride in our students.” Dobbs’ work has complemented efforts by Undergraduate Admissions and helped OSU welcome the largest freshman class at a public university in state history in 2012. During the past three years, the university has seen a nearly 10 percent increase in student enrollment on the Stillwater campus.

photo / gary lawson Whether it’s creating planting areas or connecting with students, Dobbs and the Physical Plants Grounds and Landscape Services crew have the OSU campus growing in the right direction. “We are here for the students and visitors,” Dobbs says. “Even small tasks like picking up a piece of trash are just as important as creating a beautiful landscape. People see the changes, and we want our institution to be known not only as a great university but also as a beautiful campus.” Scan this QR code or visit statemagazine.okstate.edu to watch an Inside OSU with Dobbs, OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis, plus a look at the construction of the Garth Brooks’ cowboy hat topiary. Follow Physical Plant Landscaping Services on Instagram at Instagram.com/okstategardens.

photo / gary lawson

photo / gary lawson Steve Dobbs and landscape technology specialist William Hilson designed the cowboy boot topiary at the corner of University Avenue and Hester Street. The 8-foot-tall topiary weighs 2,300 pounds and is a focal point of the redesigned landscape near Theta Pond. It is made up of eight ornamental annuals including dwarf mondo grass, creeping fig, and bronze-colored hens and chicks, which gives the block â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oâ&#x20AC;? its orange hue. photos / physical plant

photo / gary lawson

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY PHOTOS / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Education students and faculty look for transformative ideas in TECH Playground.

anning the controls of a Cessna 172, Toby Brown sharpens his descent over Boomer Lake and continues west, lowering the wheels, fighting to steady the wings and go in for a smooth landing at Stillwater Regional Airport. Brown is playing a flight simulator in the College of Education’s TECH Playground, a space dedicated to the latest in teaching technology and innovation. As Brown, the coordinator of the TECH Playground and a doctoral student in education technology, safely lands the plane, secondary social studies education faculty Shanedra Nowell watches over his shoulder. “I could use the flight simulator to teach land forms and geography,” she thinks aloud. The TECH Playground, located on the third floor of Willard Hall, is enticing students and faculty to think about teaching and learning in new ways and sparking connections across disciplines.

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TECH stands for Transforming Education through Creative Habits. The flight simulator was shared with the TECH Playground by the aviation education program, yet as Nowell suggests, it can provide a new approach to help future educators teach geography. The TECH Playground is also home to a 3-D printer, a feature that draws attention from all visitors; and a Smart table, with a 360-degree surface, designed to engage young students. There is a 3-D television, a Smart board and various tablet devices. Smaller gadgets such as a LiveScribe pen, which records voices while the user writes and instantly converts written text into searchable computer texts, are also housed there. Visitors are welcome to bring their own devices and experiment with applications. “Our goal is to have tools in the TECH Playground that won’t be widespread in classrooms for five more years,” Brown says. “It’s a revolving door of technology,

and every year new tools will be added.” Professor Susan Stansberry had long dreamed about a place where College of Education faculty and students could play with the newest and best technology tools and research the best applications to improve teaching and learning. Thanks to the leadership of College of Education Dean Pamela “Sissi” Carroll and the support of a gift from education alumna Jeanie Muzik Crone, the dream became a reality earlier this year when the TECH Playground opened. “It’s about the ideas and bringing creativity and innovation to teaching in the classroom,” says Stansberry, who coordinates the education technology program. “Learners want to be engaged, and technology is a vector.” Educational technology is much more than hardware. The TECH Playground is meant to provide activities, tools and

opportunities that are not available elsewhere on campus. It’s a non-threatening, fun environment designed to build confidence and inspire its visitors. “ITLE (Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence) serves our faculty so well with resources for specific software and teaching strategies. Our goal is to add the dimensions of creativity, innovation and opportunities for research,” Stansberry says. Writeable glass panels cover the room’s walls. Faculty and students are encouraged to list their curiosities, challenges and ideas about innovative teaching and learning. The starter question is, “What challenges do you see in teaching and learning?” Everyone who comes through the door is encouraged to share creative solutions and collaborate with others in the room, on a blog or through Twitter.

“I am energized whenever I go into the room because the scene is always changing. The walls are covered with visitors’ real questions about the learning process, and how technologies might help us explore it more deeply,” Carroll says. One message on the glass walls reads: “Great learners are curious, persistent, questioning, not afraid to fail.” “The TECH Playground encourages us all to be great learners,” Carroll says. The playground is open daily during the week for visitors to walk in and spend time “playing.” Nine sections of an undergraduate teaching with technology course regularly visit. “They haven’t been afraid to write their ideas on the walls. We love seeing their ideas interacting with faculty ideas,” Stansberry says. Many possible research projects that cross disciplines can cover the walls.

us. We hope it can be used by schools for professional development.” The TECH Playground has received a strong show of support from Crone, a 1973 elementary education graduate. She serves as vice president for the Education Development Corp. in Tulsa. “I understand the continued and growing importance of technology in school classrooms,” Crone says. “(The TECH Playground) is a great resource in preparing teachers not only to use technology, but also to understand its impact on learning.” Crone’s endowment gift will help the college regularly purchase new technology tools for the TECH Playground. “When we spoke with Jeanie (Crone) and learned about her background in business and travel, including her current position in publishing books, we were convinced that she was one of those who is able to march two steps ahead of the

“THE TECH PLAYGROUND ENCOURAGES US ALL TO BE — DEAN PAMELA GREAT LEARNERS.”“SISSI” CARROLL

LEFT: Emily Ray practices with a Smart game designed to help teach a mathematics lesson. ABOVE: Education students Matt Mullins and Ainsley Bruton experiment with the TECH Playground’s Smart table.

“It has been encouraging to see how different disciplines are talking,” Stansberry says. “These are conversations that might not happen, but we’re finding out there are more commonalities than we realize. We are excited about the frequency of collaboration and hope it makes everyone better.” One example of keeping up with the latest technology is the e-book used for the class, “Applications of Educational Technology.” Books were expensive and the information was quickly outdated due to the constant introduction of new technology tools. “We created our own free e-book that is updated frequently,” Stansberry says. “It’s a living resource that follows (teacher education graduates) into the classroom. They continue to have access and share feedback from their experiences with

band,” Carroll says. “She is a visionary. Her commitment to education for Oklahomans is strong, and her gift will allow us to continually have cutting-edge technologies for faculty, students and staff to experiment with, learn to use and ask questions around. We appreciate her vision and her support in a very big and real way.” The innovative space is certain to benefit creative teaching, learning and research habits of both students and faculty in the College of Education, and by extension, the thousands of future K-12 and university students they will teach. “We are excited about a paradigm shift from past ways of teaching and learning to new creative and innovative practices,” Stansberry says. “We aren’t kidding about transforming.” CHRIST Y L ANG

Making a Concrete Impact A $70 million donation spurs engineering boom. The largest gift ever made to an OSU academic unit has increased support for engineering students, grown the rolls of aspiring engineers and fostered innovation in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. Dolese Bros. Co. split a stock gift worth approximately $210 million among OSU, Kansas State University and the University of Oklahoma. In addition to gaining shares worth about $70 million, each school became a nonvoting majority shareholder in Oklahoma’s largest supplier of ready-mix concrete, crushed stone, gravel and sand. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, it is the 25th-largest private gift for higher education since 1967. Dolese Bros. officials say the commitment was Roger Dolese’s vision. To keep the company private and increase engineers coming from nearby universities, he finalized the charitable partnership before his death in 2002. “Roger Dolese’s forward-thinking approach to benefiting engineering programs for decades to come will make a profound impact at Oklahoma State,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “Being able to provide scholarships for our students and recruit outstanding young people to engineering will allow us to increase the number of highly trained graduates in this competitive field.” Each year, Dolese Bros. intends to buy back at least $500,000 worth of stock from the foundations so the universities can use the money to increase engineering enrollment. Company officials say the gift is a type of long-term annuity that will eventually allow the company to be 100 percent employee owned. “At Dolese, we value our employees and the communities that we impact,” says Mark Helm, president of Dolese Bros.

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“Every day Dolese delivers products that make everything from the roads you drive on to the offices you work in, the schools you learn in and the foundation of the home where you live,” he says. “This gift is a true testament of how Dolese delivers on our commitment to our employees, the communities we serve and planning for the future.”

This 1989 painting of Roger Dolese hangs outside a conference room at Dolese Bros. Co. in Oklahoma City. The gift was rolled out privately at OSU in 2010 and has since contributed to a 30 percent enrollment spike in engineering disciplines. It has also led to a commitment to hiring more faculty. CEAT Dean Paul Tikalsky says Dolese’s generosity will help OSU meet the needs of the state, region and nation. “These graduates are the intellectual capital for growing companies throughout the nation and building a strong economy,” Tikalsky says. “Young engineers are leading the next generation in building a more sustainable world, creating new entrepreneurial

business, improving medicine, securing our nation, advancing new energy resources and efficiencies and developing systems that deliver goods and services to every nation,” he says. “This gift will benefit these future engineers for generations to come by funding new scholarships each year to help students succeed.” The donation supports scholarships, tutors and peer-to-peer mentors. “This gift adds hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for scholarships,” Tikalsky says. “That helps us further encourage engineering students to complete their degrees in a timely manner with little or no debt.” Tikalsky says the effect of the gift is magnified because of collaborations involving OSU, OU and KSU. “We work together in research and education programs at a very large scale,” he says. “We work with KSU and other Big 12 schools on nuclear- and petroleumengineering courses, and we were recently awarded a $2.7 million annual grant along with OU for a transportation-research center.” Tikalsky says CEAT is challenging other donors to help build the spaces and labs necessary to accommodate the increased enrollment. “The college has a bold, strategic plan to engage all of our faculty and students in the challenges of the 21st century,” he says. “Beyond this gift, we also plan to add 50 new faculty members over the next five years, double our research efforts and have 40 percent of our graduates participating in a global educational experience.” JAC O B L O N G A N

For more information about how you can help the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, contact Sandi Bliss, senior director of development, at sbliss@OSUgiving.com or 405-564-4378.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an example of engineering innovation in OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. The competition teams professionals with aspiring engineers to solve design problems.

“Roger Dolese’s forward-thinking approach to benefiting engineering programs for decades to come will make a profound impact at Oklahoma State.” — OSU President Burns Hargis

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

On its 100th anniversary, OSU’s Spears School of Business will celebrate many who thrived after receiving their degree from the school. Meet one such man who …

Hitched and a Began a

Ride Legacy HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS STANDOUT MADE THE TREK TO STILLWATER AND OTHERS FOLLOWED.

S T O R Y BY TERRY TUSH

PHOTOGR APHY BY P H I L S H O C K L E Y

Robert Karlovich sits silently for several seconds as everyone in the room anxiously awaits his answer. A smile slowly forms across his 95-yearold face as he begins formulating a response to an interviewer’s question. By the look on his face, his thoughts are no longer about the library of the Tulsa retirement community in which he sits, but instead he’s reliving that day from nearly 80 years ago. It’s the day that changed the course of the Oklahoma City teenager’s life and ultimately led him to Oklahoma A&M University, where he was responsible for creating a legacy that his family continues to follow to this day. HITCHING A RIDE

The 1937 Classen High School graduate knew his chances of going to college were slim to none, unless he could persuade someone to offer him a scholarship. That’s why he and George Counts, his good friend and Classen tennis teammate with whom he had won a state championship, took matters into their own hands. They walked to the State Capitol in Oklahoma City, intending to catch a ride to the University of Oklahoma in Norman. “Hitchhiking was common in those days,” Karlovich says. “You started right in front of the State Capitol building on the highway, with quite a few people hitchhiking. Probably all of them got rides.” Their attempt to secure an OU tennis scholarship didn’t work out. They next caught a ride to Stillwater and hoped to get a chance to meet with Henry P. Iba, the legendary basketball coach who also was Oklahoma A&M’s athletic director. continues

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Robert Karlovich 89

10 0TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBR ATION SEPT. 5 1-3 p.m.

Tours

of OSU Athletic facilities and OSU Student Union

3-4 p.m.

Open house

in Business Building lobby

AUG. 8 100th Anniversary Golf Classic

at Karsten Creek

4-5 p.m.

Groundbreaking

of the new Business Building

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Reception

at Wes Watkins Exhibit Hall TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE SPEARS SCHOOL’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE: spears100.okstate.edu

“We knew we had to see Mr. Iba since he was the athletic director, and we’d never met him before,” Karlovich says. “We didn’t even know if he was there on that day. But we went to his office, knocked on his door and introduced ourselves.” Iba invited them into his “He’s always office. been proud of his “Mr. Iba said, ‘I’m very glad you boys came up because education from this is the first year that we’re Oklahoma A&M giving scholarships for tennis and for golf. I’m giving two and it gave him a scholarships to tennis, and foothold into his I’m giving two to golf. You two boys, because of your future.” outstanding work in high — Rick Karlovich school, can have these two

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tennis scholarships.’ That was the surprise of my life,” Karlovich says. The scholarship was worth $25 a month and paid nearly all of his expenses. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone to college,” Karlovich says. He enrolled in the School of Commerce, now the Spears School of Business, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and became a certified public accountant. He graduated in 1942, but not before meeting Rose Frances Antonietti on the tennis court. He was giving lessons to students when he spotted the pretty coed from Henryetta, Okla., and soon the pair was inseparable. On Dec. 7, 1941, he was listening to the radio in the recently completed Cordell Hall when news broke that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor. After four years in ROTC, Karlovich wanted to serve his country with the U.S. Army Infantry during World War II. He received two Bronze Stars before returning to Oklahoma

SEPT. 6 Spears School Tailgate Party

will begin three hours prior to kickoff of OSU vs. Missouri State

football game

NOV. 7 Dinner and Program to honor “Spears School Tributes: 100 For 100,”

recognizing 100 graduates who exemplify the Oklahoma State and Spears School spirit.

when the war ended. He married Rose Frances in 1945, just weeks after returning home from the war, and immediately found employment as an accountant with Haskins and Sales in Oklahoma City. Soon thereafter he joined Midwestern Engine and Equipment Co. with Oklahoma A&M alumnus Armon Bost. The two worked side by side — Bost as president and Karlovich as executive vice president — for the next 30-plus years. A FAMILY LEGACY

Karlovich’s decision to travel to Stillwater in hopes of persuading coach Iba to give him a scholarship paved the way for many others to follow in his footsteps. “I think he would not be where he is, period, without OSU,” his daughter Mary Martin says. All four of Robert and Rose Frances Karlovich’s children — Robert Jr., Debbie, Rick and Mary — attended Oklahoma State University,

and three of them graduated from the business school. Robert Karlovich Jr. earned his bachelor’s in business administration in 1973. Debbie Miller earned degrees in political science and sociology in 1974 and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance in 1976. Mary Martin received her executive secretarial administration degree in 1977. Rick Karlovich earned a business administration degree in 1977. In addition, Mary Martin’s husband, Mac Martin, earned his bachelor’s in business administration in 1971. Not only did Karlovich’s children follow him to Stillwater, but so did his

grandchildren, and two of them are OSU business school graduates. Robert “Trey” Karlovich III earned his accounting degree in 1999, and Nick Karlovich graduated with management science and information systems and management degrees in 2002. Chris Karlovich, another grandchild, is currently enrolled in the Spears School. “He’s always been proud of his education from Oklahoma A&M and it gave him a foothold into his future,” Rick Karlovich says. “His legacy is really something at this point.” Trey Karlovich, 37, chief financial officer for Atlas Pipeline Partners in Tulsa,

Okla., followed his grandfather in earning his CPA and admires “Papa Bob” for the standard he set many years ago. “When you’re growing up as a kid, you don’t appreciate what he did. But when my grandparents came up for my graduation, and he walked across campus talking about going to class in Old Central, you started to appreciate it more. Our whole family went to Oklahoma State, even on my mother’s side, and you realize he’s the one that set the bar in motion,” he says. “Oklahoma State is a special place to our family and it always will be because

of him,” he says. “It means more and more to us as we grow older and my grandparents grow older, and we realize and appreciate all that Papa Bob, that’s what we call him, did and how he set the tone for our family.”

Robert and Rose Karlovich sit with family during an interview for STATE magazine. Standing behind the couple are, from left, their son-in-law Mac Martin; daughter Mary Martin; grandsons Nick Karlovich and Robert “Trey” Karlovich III; and sons Robert Karlovich Jr. and Rick Karlovich.

Robert Karlovich and family 91

Help for Hard-Working Students Scholarship honors alumnus who filled ‘free time’ with productivity.

George Connor knew the meaning of hard work and the benefits that came from it. Throughout his life, he kept himself busy by dedicating his time and energy to making a difference. Now, a scholarship will reward a College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources student who exhibits a similarly strong work ethic. Connor was born Oct. 22, 1903, in Fletcher, Okla. At age 3, he moved to Sapulpa, Okla., where his single mother worked while raising him. She passed on her diligence to her son. Connor knew he would have to pay for his own college education. Shortly after he arrived at Oklahoma A&M College in 1922, he began working nights sweeping the floors at downtown stores on Main Street.

While studying commerce in the 1920s, Connor earned All-Southwest Conference honors in three sports. He was a two-time selection at guard in basketball, along with end in football and shortstop in baseball. He was also captain of the baseball and basketball teams in 1924. At OAMC, Connor received nine athletic letters — four in basketball, three in football and two in baseball — tying Dick Soergel for the most in school history. The star athlete was revered in the 1924 Oklahoma A&M yearbook, which pointed out his knack for dribbling and scoring prowess in basketball and his gamesmanship on the gridiron. His son, George Connor II, remembered his father as a man whose favorite sport was whichever one was in season — after college, the older Connor played in a semi-pro football game against Red Grange’s traveling team. During his busy college years of studying, working and competing, he still found time to be a leader in campus organizations. He was the 1926 president of the Student Senate and a member of the Athletic Council, O-Club, Aglites and the university pep squad, the Wildcats. Connor’s involvement with OAMC athletics continued into the 1950s, when he and his son made several long drives to bring football recruits to Stillwater. “While the recruits were with the football coaches, Dad and I would walk around the floor in Gallagher Hall with (coach) Mr. (Henry) Iba while he pointed out the new basketball recruits to Dad,” George Conner II says. In the fall of 1926, George Connor made a fateful trip to Haskell, Okla., where Jane Brady was teaching in her hometown — the two had not met

despite being in the same 1926 graduating class at OAMC, where she studied home economics. Brady was the sponsor of the Haskell High School pep squad when the former star athlete caught her eye at a football game. “Daddy was the handsome young referee who came to officiate the high school game,” says Nancy Fenton, Connor’s daughter.

George and Jane Connor SOURCE: OKLAHOMA A&M YEARBOOK, 1925

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SOURCE: OKLAHOMA A&M YEARBOOK, 1924

Connor and Brady married in 1927 and remained together until he died July 5, 1989. Jane Conner died July 7, 1995. Fenton says her parents’ instant connection was fitting, considering Connor’s ability to connect with people everywhere he went. “One day, we were driving, and my mother saw a dogwood tree that she really loved,” says Fenton, adding that it was her mother’s favorite so Connor often brought her large limbs in the spring. “So, Father pulled into their driveway and Mother said, ‘George, we don’t know these people,’ and he said, ‘I will in a minute.’” Connor secured a limb from the tree, which the family took back to their Tulsa, Okla., home. They had lived there since early in their marriage, when Connor began performing farm inspections for the Tulsa County Health Department.

In 1929, he transitioned to working for Meadow Gold Dairy Inc., from which he retired in 1963. For the majority of his career, Connor’s focus as a field representative was the development of dairy operations in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas, where he helped farmers build structures and herds to produce for Meadow Gold. For the final 10 years of his career, he scheduled and operated the pickup and delivery of raw milk for the Pryor, Okla., plant. Never one to sit idle, Connor also owned and managed four farms for 20 years, raising dairy and beef cattle. He shared the farm responsibilities with his two children as they grew up. “One year, my brother and I pumped water all summer in an Oklahoma drought,” Fenton says. “We just did what needed to be done.”

Connor used farm work to teach his children the importance of hard work. He also taught them the value of an education. “Dad was always stressing grades, and Mom was stressing becoming a wellrounded person,” Fenton says. Both children followed in their parents’ footsteps by attending OSU, where George Conner II played basketball for a year and graduated in 1961 with a business degree. Nancy Fenton graduated in 1961 with a degree in elementary education. Fenton and her husband, Mike, a 1964 civil engineering OSU graduate, honored Connor’s drive to succeed with a $55,000 gift establishing the George Connor Endowed Scholarship. The award is for College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students who are working to pay for their education. It also includes a preference for students with a dairy background. With many land-grant institutions in the Southwest dropping their dairy programs, the Fentons hope the scholarship will attract dairy students with a work ethic similar to Connor’s. “This scholarship exemplifies what he stood for,” Fenton says. “He was a hardworking guy who never met a stranger.” BET T Y THOMPSON RICHEY

For more information on the scholarship or ways to help future OSU graduates, visit OSUgiving.com or contact Kathy McNally, senior director of development, at 405-3855606 or kmcnally@osugiving.com.

A Final Thanks Couple leave estate gift to OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital.

John and Brenda Richardson lived in Wichita, Kan., with their “four-legged children” for more than 30 years. “They were not only a couple but a team,” says Ron Wilkinson, a longtime neighbor and friend who is also the attorney handling the estate. “The choice of beneficiaries was a 100 percent joint and unanimous action. Between them they had many interests and it was difficult for them to narrow their eventual choices down to a manageable few.” Thanks to the veterinary medical care the Richardsons’ animals received at Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, the veterinary center is now one of those beneficiaries and the recipient of a nearly $750,000 estate gift.

Brenda Gray was born in Omaha, Neb., and later moved with her family to El Dorado, Kan. She became a registered nurse and completed her nursing degree at Wichita State University before working at Wesley Medical Center for 29 years. She married John Richardson in 1973. John Richardson was born in Wichita. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wichita State University. He taught middle school social studies for the Wichita Public Schools before retiring in 2001. “The Richardsons were a delightful couple, wonderful people whether it was for their animals, other peoples’ children or their neighbors,” says Jodi Bordin, another longtime neighbor. “Brenda was a nurse,

Buddy, Brenda and Oreo in the yard in 2009.

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and she was very caring for animals. I even babysat a little bird with a broken wing for Brenda one day.”

The services OSU’s veterinary medical hospital provided to the Richardsons resulted in more visits over the years as the couple cared for their cat and seven dogs. “They always had small dogs and faithfully walked them as soon as day broke,” Wilkinson says. “One was treated at OSU’s Veterinary Hospital in Stillwater. When I asked John why they went there, he explained that the ailment was rare and that the local veterinary community and Kansas State University Veterinary College had all declined to attempt treatment. “John and Brenda were both grateful for the care and attention they received at OSU’s small-animal clinic and were impressed with the professional attitude and respect they received.” Brenda Richardson, 63, died in June 2011, and John Richardson, 71, died in December 2012. Brenda Richardson enjoyed singing, playing the piano and traveling. Retirement allowed John Richardson to pursue his interest in local history by becoming a docent for

the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, the Allen-Lambe House Museum and the Historic Trolley Tours. A fellow of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, he was one of five people trained to maintain the tower clock at the Sedgwick County Museum, which he did from 1985 to 2010. “We are extremely grateful and honored that the Richardsons entrusted the care of their pets to our hospital,” says Dr. Mark Neer, director of OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. “The greatest compliment a veterinarian or a veterinary hospital can receive is when a client totally trusts them for the care of their special pet. The Richardsons were those types of clients. “Their gift will allow our hospital to enhance many aspects of our patient-care and critical-care services, which we would be unable to do otherwise. We were very fortunate to have them as our clients and their support of our hospital mission will always be remembered.” D E R I N DA B L A K E N E Y

Gift Addresses Greatest Needs

The Richardsons’ estate gift was directed to the OSU Veterinary Medical Hospital’s small-animal clinic but otherwise was unrestricted. “The way the gift was designated was so important to our veterinary medical hospital,” says Dr. Jean Sander, dean of the veterinary center. “We were told the money needed to be used to support the small-animal clinic but it didn’t specifically say what we needed to use it for. This allowed us to address some critical needs that would otherwise have gone undone — needs donors generally don’t find attractive enough to provide funding for.” The money will be used for a new roof to replace the leaky one at the small-animal clinic, and some of the funds have already been used to replace an emergency generator vital to ensuring continuity of animal care in the event of a power outage. “If there are any funds left over, our intent is to repair the service elevator that continues to hold folks hostage as it breaks down with some regularity,” Sander says. “All of these John Richardson holds Buddy items are important to keeping in 2008. the hospital in good running order, and thanks to John and Brenda Richardson’s generosity, it will be possible to make them a reality. We are forever grateful.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RICHARDSON ESTATE

For information on estate planning or contributing to the education of tomorrow’s veterinarians, contact Heather Clay, OSU Foundation senior director of development, at hclay@osugiving.com or 405-385-5607.

Feeding the World

Rancher’s gift supports ag, vet medicine.

Walter Sitlington wanted to feed the world. As a farmer and rancher, he understood the importance of agriculture and veterinary medicine in addressing world hunger. It led the Oklahoma City man who never attended college to give OSU the largest donation it had received from an individual up to that point. When he died in 1995, Sitlington left $9 million to OSU. The donation established seven endowed chairs for research in agriculture and veterinary medicine, along with creating multiple scholarship funds. Those scholarships are more beneficial every year, including awarding nearly $105,000 to students during the 2012-13 academic year. Sitlington was quiet and frugal. People often saw the bachelor wearing overalls and driving an old pickup truck. He slept on a mattress on the floor and braved Oklahoma summers without air conditioning. He was also known for his passion for people. He farmed land in Oklahoma and Kansas and would help friends and farmers overcome common agricultural problems. Sitlington was the grandson of Oklahoma pioneers Rufus M. and Elizabeth (McKeage) Bailey, and Walter L. and Charlotte (Belt) Sitlington. The younger Walter Sitlington wanted to help future generations continue the tradition of contributing to the food supply, especially as population increased. He bequeathed his estate, including 2,085 acres, to OSU. He placed a special emphasis on feeding the world and preventing

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farm-animal diseases. Nearly 20 years later, the faculty members holding Sitlington chairs are dedicated to doing just that. Increasing Crop Yields in Developing Countries Bill Raun, who has been at OSU 23 years, has held the Walter Sitlington Chair in Agriculture since September 2010. With Randy Taylor, a biosystems and agricultural engineering professor and extension machinery specialist, Raun has spent 12 years creating a hand planter for developing countries to increase crop yields and reduce farmers’ exposure to chemicals. The planter could be especially important in the developing world where virtually all crops are consumed in-country.

“It will not only provide more food for that country, the farmers will make a profit,” Raun says. “That profit may be enough to put shoes on their children’s feet.” The idea came to him during the six years he spent working in Central America, where many farmers rely on manual labor. They use metal-tipped persimmon sticks to dig a small hole and place multiple seeds in the depression before covering it. Raun says the practice decreases yields because of interplant competition. When multiple plants emerge at the same location, they compete for moisture and nutrients but fail to produce grain. Another downside is the farmers’ exposure to seeds treated with chemicals linked to cancer. PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

OSU professors Bill Raun, left, and Randy Taylor designed and built a hand planter for use in developing nations. Compared with the traditional method of using a stick, this planter increases speed and crop yields while decreasing farmers’ exposure to chemicals.

“This planter gets the seed out of the farmer’s hand and keeps the seeds from competing with each other,” Raun says. The planter mimics the traditional farming method. It can be used for any type of seed and doubles as a midseason fertilizer applicator. The Sitlington funds allow Raun to recruit students from developing countries to work on the planter. Doctoral students Sulochana Dhital, of Nepal, and Natasha Macnack, of Suriname, completed master’s degrees in plant and soil sciences at OSU and have been working with Raun on the project. “Coming from a developing country, I can see the benefits of using this hand planter,” Macnack says. “We are taking technology, making it applicable and increasing yields for a growing world population.” Raun says Sitlington would be thrilled to know the advances his contributions made toward feeding the world. “It is a gift to be working on this project,” Raun says. “This is what drives me to get out of bed each day.” Disease Reduction in Farm Animals Katherine Kocan, who has been at OSU 40 years, has held the Walter R. Sitlington Endowed Chair in Food Animal Research since its establishment in 1995. Her research on ticks and tickborne pathogens has earned numerous honors and recognitions such as being a dedicatee of the Ninth Biennial Conference of the Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine and recipient of the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence in 1986, 1996 and 2010. With funding from the Sitlington chair, Kocan and her team described the development of Anaplasma marginale, the bacteria that infects red blood cells and causes bovine anaplasmosis. Cattle with anaplasmosis develop severe anemia, which results in large production losses. Kocan’s team also developed a cell-culture system for the pathogen that has advanced basic research without the use of cattle. The cell-culture system, used worldwide, has been adapted for research on several other tick-transmitted pathogens.

PHOTO PROVIDED

especially important concern in Oklahoma, where beef cattle is a major industry. Confer’s research was made possible by Sitlington funds, which support salaries for technical and research staff. “I am fortunate to hold this position,” Confer says. “If I could talk to Mr. Sitlington today, I would give him a hearty thank you for his generosity.” Other Notable Research

Carey Pope, who has held the Sitlington Chair in Toxicology since its inception in 2000, investigates the effects of pyridostigmine, a drug used to protect Katherine Kocan, the Walter R. Sitlington soldiers against nerve agents. He is also Endowed Chair in Food Animal Research, researching the effect of pesticides on chiland D.L. Step, an OSU Cooperative Extension veterinarian, stand in the Willard dren’s health. “I’m very grateful for Mr. Sitlington’s Sparks Beef Research Center with a cow in contributions and this honor,” Pope says. a chute utilized when vaccinating animals. “It has had a substantial impact on my Kocan and Step collaborated on one of the career and research in toxicology.” first bovine tick vaccines. William Barrow, the Sitlington Chair in Infectious Diseases, has received continuous federal funding and grants from the Kocan utilizes the endowment to fund National Institutes of Health and National her research team, buy equipment and Institute of Allergy and Infectious subsidize the research. Diseases for his research on anthrax “Mr. Sitlington had amazing foremade possible by Sitlington funds. He has sight,” Kocan says. “He really understood received several multimillion-dollar grants the needs of the future and what we could in the past 12 years. Those grants in turn contribute to agriculture for the good of all.” provide monetary benefits for the entire Kocan’s team has made good progress university. Anthrax research by Barrow’s toward developing a vaccine to control team has led to a new antibiotic that is tick infestations and reduce tick transmiscurrently being studied. sion of diseases in cattle. José de la Fuente, “Thanks to the vision of Mr. Sitlington who had been part of the OSU research and his generous and altruistic contributeam since 2000, developed one of the first tions to OSU, my team has remained a tick vaccines for cattle. It is used in many viable part of the Emerging Infectious areas of the world. Disease and Biodefense Program,” Barrow “I wish Mr. Sitlington was alive today says. “Subsequent activities from this so I could thank him for his foresight and chair have resulted in tangible benefits to his contribution,” Kocan says. OSU, the state and our nation.” Sitlington’s gift led to another breakSitlington’s large gifts are dwarfed by the through for cattle research in 2012. impact they have had over the past 20 years. Anthony Confer, who has held the “As a land-grant institution with a rich Walter Sitlington Endowed Chair in tradition in agriculture and veterinary mediFood and Fiber Research since 1995, led cine, OSU has spent more than a century the team that discovered that the major working to feed the world,” says Kirk Jewell, cause of severe pneumonia in cattle, president of the OSU Foundation. “Thanks Mannheimia haemolytica, produces an to Mr. Sitlington’s incredible vision and outer membrane vesicle. That meant a generosity, we are making great advancevaccine could be produced inexpensively. ments in that area.” Bovine respiratory diseases cost producBET T Y THOMPSON RICHEY ers nearly $1 billion annually. This is an

“Where you are born should not dictate where you go. … A generation empowered will empower the world.” -Andrew Gray, OSU senior

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A Voyage of Promise and Pencils An OSU senior spends a semester at sea and works to aid developing nations.

S TO R Y B Y B E V E R LY B R YA N T

A semester aboard a ship traveling to 15 countries helped OSU senior Andrew Gray cement his passion for global education.

Gray’s determined decision to embark on the Semester at Sea program has given him experiences that will serve him well after he gets his diploma. “I worked for two years and raised $25,000 through scholarships, donations from friends and family and a small loan,” Gray says. “My parents had said no to the trip, and paid nothing before or during my time at sea.” Since his return, his parents had a change of heart and are helping repay a portion of his loan for the trip.

P O R T R A I T B Y GA R Y L AW S O N

Speaking to the U.N. As his class voyaged to points around the world, a group was selected to visit the United Nations in Geneva. Gray was chosen to speak at a side panel of youth at the 24th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. “This was only the second time they had allowed youth into the session,” he says. His subject was global education in developing countries, something for which Gray already had a passion.

Promising Pencils But for Gray’s passion for educating those in developing countries, he may never have known about the Semester at Sea program, much less worked so hard to participate in it. The spark was ignited while he attended Putnam City High School. He was a friend of OSU student Chelsea Canada, who had heard about a program

called Pencils of Promise. She had attended a meeting with the program’s founder, Adam Braun, and some of his friends. The nonprofit program seeks to build schools in developing countries. Canada’s enthusiasm encouraged Gray to make it the subject of a student council district conference service project. Gray contacted Braun and spent 30 minutes on the phone with him, he says. “You could hear the passion behind his voice. You don’t get it very often.” Gray and Canada started an OSU group, which now has 200 supporters. Rather than going in to developing communities and doing all of the work to build a school, Pencils of Promise involves the entire community, Gray says. “Twenty percent of the cost is funded by the village or community,” he says. “We also use volunteer labor from the community to build the schools.” continues

Several fundamentals form the core of Pencils of Promise, Gray says. “First, where you are born should not dictate where you go. We do know it is hard for billions of people out there,” he says. “Second, a generation empowered will empower the world,” Gray says. “Give young people something to dedicate their lives to. Pencils of Promise definitely has empowered me. I am part of that, but one small part.” Third, he says, supporters believe education is a basic human right. “We believe that should be true worldwide. Education eradicates poverty. That’s where change comes into play,” he says. The OSU group’s first meeting in April 2011 attracted 10 people. It was the only meeting held until the next school year. By the next meeting, the few people in the organization had formed an officer team, which was eager to get started.

Reaching a Goal Gray and other members presented their concept to more than 70 student organizations in an effort to build membership. “We were looking for people to fall in love with the idea,” Gray says. Membership remained at 10 people, but 50 others were on the group’s email list. Gray spoke about the effort as part of TedxOStateU in November 2012. He then set a goal to raise $25,000 before he graduates in December. He first wanted to raise $750 at a benefit concert, and he raised $1,000.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Founded on Principle

Andrew Gray stands atop Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town, South Africa. “The next year we made a name for ourselves,” Gray says. “I asked to speak at the new student convocation.” The fundraising continued and each time a goal was set, the group exceeded it. “We decided to set a goal of $2,500 for a jazz night. We had 300 people and raised $4,300,” Gray says. Another recent concert raised $1,010 — enough to educate 40 children for a year, Gray says.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Gray returned from the semester at sea with a Ghana flag.

Pencils to Sea Through his connection with Braun, he learned about the Semester at Sea program and signed up. Braun had participated in the program, and it was during his semester that he came up with the idea of Pencils of Promise. While on his world voyage, Gray visited Ghana, where he worked with a

group replacing a dilapidated school with a new building. He also visited Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, and as part of the ship’s group, got an education on apartheid from Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Rev. Peter Storey, a chaplain at Robben Island when Nelson Mandela was

The Semester at Sea program, through the University of Virginia, offers college credit to students while they travel. OSU senior Andrew Gray participated in the 50th anniversary voyage during the fall 2013 semester. He embarked Aug. 24 in London and traveled to 13 countries before debarking in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in mid-December. Along the way he visited Saint Petersburg, Russia; Hamburg, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Le Havre, France; Dublin, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; Cadiz, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Takoradi, Ghana; Tema (Accra), Ghana; Cape Town, South Africa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Brazil; and Havana, Cuba. For more on the Semester at Sea program, visit semesteratsea.org. 100

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PHOTO PROVIDED

Gray passes pencils to students at a school in Ghana.

PHOTO PROVIDED

imprisoned there. Storey led the group on a tour of Cape Town’s District 6, where more than 60,000 residents were forcibly removed during the 1970s by the apartheid regime.

His Own Path

Gray carries concrete mix while helping build a school in Ghana during his Semester at Sea in fall 2013.

Gray’s drive to support global education led him to create a special major for himself through University Studies. “I wanted to do a nonprofit major, but we don’t have that,” Gray says. He put together a plan to include entrepreneurship and international education with a minor in ethical leadership. He hopes to work full time in development for Pencils of Promise after graduation. The program is building schools in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ghana and Laos. It has broken ground on more than 200 schools in five years, and 150 schools have been completed, Gray says. The OSU senior’s goal of raising $25,000 by December has a purpose, he says. “That’s what it takes to build a school.”

See Andrew Gray’s TedxOStateU talk at statemagazine.okstate.edu.

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2 0 1 4 OUTSTANDING T he Outstanding Senior Award recognizes students who distinguish themselves through academic achievement; campus

and community activities; academic, athletic or

extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships; and work ethic.

SENIORS

After reviewing the students’ applications, the OSU Alumni Association Student Awards and Selection Committee met with 45 of the Seniors of Significance who were honored in fall 2013 and selected 15 to receive this prestigious honor. The 2014 Outstanding Seniors will be honored at a banquet April 21 at the

Scan the QR code or visit

statemagazine.okstate.edu to view interviews with the Outstanding Seniors.

ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Jacy Alsup

Lucy Bates

Austin Bowles

Gravette, Ark. agribusiness

Edmond, Okla. music

Alsup has served as president, vice president of student affairs, student spokeswoman and Senate chair for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. She also served as vice president of Chi Omega fraternity, chair of the National Junior Angus Association board of directors, Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter Class X and a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society. Throughout the community, Alsup has served as a Wish Week coach for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a 4-H Volunteer Adult Resource leader, a CASNR student academic mentor, an OSU campus tour guide and a Big Event volunteer. Alsup’s awards include being named a Top 10 Freshmen Woman, the OSU P.E. Harrill Outstanding Freshman Award and part of the Top 15 Homecoming Royalty. Alsup plans to move to Tulsa and pursue a career in sales with PepsiCo.

Bates has served as an awards and activities executive with the Arts and Sciences Student Council, secretary of Music Student Council, president of Chi Omega fraternity, a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and a violinist in the OSU Symphony Orchestra. Her community involvement includes serving as a summer volunteer for a medical clinic in Somotillo, Nicaragua, a Wish Week coach for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a volunteer at Henderson Hills Baptist Church’s high school camp and an Into the Streets volunteer. Bates’ awards include being named the 2013 OSU Homecoming Queen, an Oklahoma State Regents of High Education Academic Scholar, the Betty J. Forster Endowed Piano Scholarship winner and a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Bates plans to take the Medical College Admission Test and attend medical school.

Duncan, Okla. strategic communications/ advertising

Jana Gregory

Callie Lynn Heerwagen

Marty Jones

Edmond, Okla. accounting

Edmond, Okla. finance

Owasso, Okla. agricultural education

Gregory has served as the Mortar Board honor society president, Top Ten Freshmen coordinator and initiation chair, Business Student Council banquet chair and secretary, Beta Alpha Psi candidate chair, Student Alumni Board President’s Partner and the Vegetarian Club founder and president. Her community involvement includes Beta Alpha Psi tutoring, Camp Cowboy counselor, and volunteering with Mobile Meals of Stillwater, Salvation Army and Payne County Youth Shelter. Gregory’s awards include being named a Spears School of Business Outstanding Senior, a Delta Sigma Pi Gold Key recipient, part of the Top 15 Homecoming Royalty, a Top 10 Freshmen Woman and a Spears School of Business Scholar Leader. Gregory plans to move to New York City to begin working in public accounting as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Heerwagen has been the Pi Beta Phi fraternity vice president of finance and new member coordinator, a Student Alumni Board President’s Partner, the Business Student Council vice president, a Student Government Association Freshman Representative Council co-coordinator and the Order of Omega vice president of membership. In the community, she volunteered with the Big Event, Reading Buddies, the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Relay for Life and the Hope Center in Edmond, Okla. Heerwagen’s awards include being named a Top Ten Freshmen Woman, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a Conoco SPIRIT Scholar, a Koch Scholar and to the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Heerwagen plans to work as an investment analyst at the OSU Foundation.

Jones has served as Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity vice president, chaplain and philanthropy chair, Student Alumni Board leadership executive, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Student Council vice president of student affairs and executive treasurer, OSU Homecoming Steering Walkaround and House Decoration Committee chair and Collegiate FFA and Dairy Science Club member. His community involvement includes with the Heart of a Champion livestock show to benefit special needs children, 2 Steps at a Time philanthropy, Brothers Leading Bible Study, Hunger U and at the Back to School Packs Washington Leadership Conference. His honors and awards include being named 2013 OSU Homecoming King, President’s Partners, a life member of the OSU Alumni Association, Top 10 Freshmen Man and the Department of Agricultural Education Outstanding Freshman. Jones plans to teach agricultural education to Oklahoma high school students. He also plans to attend law school.

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Bowles has served as Pistol Pete for two years, a volunteer for OSU Athletics marketing, a social media intern for Edmon Low Library, an ambassador for the OSU School of Media and Strategic Communications and a guest speaker at OSU Camp Cowboy. His community involvement includes serving as a core group leader at Eagle Heights Baptist Church, a pastoral intern at First Baptist Church in Kingfisher, a volunteer at Salvation Army, a counselor at Kids Across America and a hospital volunteer with OSU Athletics. His awards include the OSU Student Athlete Academic Achievement Award, NCA All-American Mascot, OSU Valedictorian Scholarship and being named to the OSU President and Dean’s honor rolls. Bowles has accepted a position to serve as coordinator of membership at the OSU Alumni Association.

Ashlee Keenum

Haley Kincannon

Andrew Timothy Martin

Edmond, Okla. chemical engineering

Duncan, Okla. fire protection & safety technology

Omaha, Neb. mechanical engineering

Keenum has served with the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, CEAT Ambassadors, CEAT Freshmen Council and OSU President’s Leadership Council. Her community involvement includes volunteering with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ ChemKidz K-12 Outreach Program, Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s Operation Blue, Salvation Army’s Moore Tornado Relief, Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., and as an OSU Student Learning Volunteer Center ambassador. Keenum is a two-time Lew Wentz Research Scholar, a CEAT Scholar, an AIChE Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship Award winner, an OSU Journal of Undergraduate Research article author, and a winner of general and CEAT honor awards. Keenum plans to move to San Antonio and work as a field engineer in the Eagle Ford Shale for Chesapeake Energy before returning to Oklahoma City to pursue a career as a production engineer.

Kincannon has served as treasurer of Alpha Epsilon Delta and the American Society of Safety Engineers, vice president of development for the Pi Beta Phi fraternity, a member of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council and a member of the Fire Protection Society. In the community, she volunteered at the Payne County Health Department’s Free Clinic, served as a reading buddy at Highland Park Elementary School, participated in Relay for Life, and volunteered with the Humane Society and St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Her accolades include the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, OSU ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Scholar, OSU Boots & Coots Scholar, one published paper and several internships. Kincannon plans to attend the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn.

Martin has served as president, vice president of committees and secretary of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council, president of the Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society, director and vice director of the Student Government Association Athletic Alliance, a CEAT Academic Success Coach and a residence hall floor president. Martin has also been an assistant high school wrestling coach, college-readiness speaker at high schools and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Toys for Cowboys. He was named a CEAT Scholar, Phillips 66 Shield Scholar, Chesapeake Scholar, Top 20 Freshmen Man and Sports Illustrated Superfan. Martin will join ExxonMobil’s development division in Houston as a mechanical engineer on an offshore oilrig installation.

Ashton Mese

Rebecca Purvis

Natalie Richardson

Kingfisher, Okla. agricultural economics and agricultural communications

Houston biosystems engineering

Arapaho, Okla. human development & family science

Mese has served as president, extension chair and interim vice president of judicial affairs on the Panhellenic Council; career liaison and communications chair for College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Student Success Leaders; vice president of communications, Panhellenic delegate and standards board for Pi Beta Phi fraternity, and a collegiate/young graduate member of the Greek Life Task Force. She was an intern for the House Committee on Agriculture in Washington, D.C., a food security fellowship researcher in Kampala, Uganda, and a policy research assistant and policy intern for Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin. Mese’s honors include Truman Foundation National Finalist, OSU Cambridge International Scholar, OSU Regents Distinguished Scholar, National FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking Champion and American FFA Degree Recipient. Mese is currently a policy and legislative adviser for Fallin and plans to attend law school and continue working in public policy with a focus on agriculture and rural issues.

Purvis has been the president, social chair and College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council representative for the Society of Women Engineers; vice president of Cowboy Waterworks; a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Mortar Board honor society; and a Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Ambassador. She participated in SWE’s Junior Girl Scout Day, SWE’s High School Outreach Event, Sangre Ridge Elementary School’s Outdoor Classroom Cleanup with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Into the Streets and Big Event. Purvis’ awards include first place in the Undergraduate Poster Competition at the 2013 ASABE annual international meeting, Outstanding Undergraduate Oral Presentation in the 2013 OSU Student Water Conference, Outstanding Undergraduate Poster Presentation in the 2012 OSU Student Water Conference, OSU General and Departmental Honors Awards and OSU Wentz Research Scholar. Purvis plans to pursue a master’s degree in biosystems engineering at OSU.

Richardson has been president of Human Sciences Ambassadors and Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society, a new-student orientation leader and a participant in Global Learning: Kenya. She completed more than 600 volunteer service hours including an internship with Family Life Chaplain Training Center, an internship with Stillwater’s Center for Family Services, a host for Life Church Life Group and a volunteer for Wings of Hope, Payne County Youth Services and Relay for Life. Richardson’s accolades include Wentz Research Scholar, Human Sciences Outstanding Student Representative, Human Development and Family Sciences Top 10 Senior and OSU Cord Recipient. Richardson plans to pursue a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy at OSU.

Logan Michael Scott

Caitlin Way

Donnie Joe Worth

Jones, Okla. chemical engineering

Mitchell, S.D. physiology

Tahlequah, Okla. chemical engineering

Scott has been the public outreach executive for the OSU Homecoming executive team; president of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Ambassadors; 2014 National Association of Engineering Student Councils National Conference executive director, vice president of membership development and chaplain for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and chairman of the Student Government Association Speakers Board. His community involvement includes volunteering with the Jimmy Everest Children’s Cancer Center, Rebuilding Together, Children’s Miracle Network, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Stillwater Public Schools. Scott was named to the OSU Jim Halligan Hall of Scholars, awarded a WISE Fellowship, named Sigma Phi Epsilon J. Edward Zollinger Outstanding Senior, and honored as a Top Ten Freshmen Man and Wentz Research Scholar. Scott plans on continuing his education either domestically or abroad through graduate work in nuclear engineering.

Way has been a hammer and weight thrower for OSU women’s track and field, president of the OSU Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a volunteer on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a member of the Pre-Optometry Student Association. She has served as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes speaker, team-building instructor and volunteer; Make-a-Wish Foundation volunteer; Celebration Stillwater volunteer; Stillwater YMCA youth sports coach and camp instructor; and The Seventeen Foundation volunteer. Way’s honors include nine consecutive semesters on the President’s Honor Roll, four-time First Team All-Big 12 Track and Field, Co-SIDA Academic All-American, Dr. Gerald Lage Award winner and eight-time First Team Academic All-Big 12. Way is working to attain a track and field coaching position at the collegiate level.

Worth has been chairman of the Student Government Association Senate, the National Association of Engineering Student Councils’ 2014 National Conference executive director, President’s Leadership Council facilitator, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council member and Society of Petroleum Engineers founding member and club representative. He also served as a CEAT Ambassador, and a volunteer with the Big Event, OSU Fanfare of Lights, Oklahoma City Regional Food Bank and Filling the Void-Tulsa. Worth’s accolades include being named a W.W. Allen Scholar, Lew Wentz Foundation Research Project Award winner and George & Donna Nigh Leadership Scholar. Worth plans to attend the University of Cambridge and pursue a master of philosophy in energy technologies degree.

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Through the Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Taos, N.M., OSU is offering unique academic opportunities to alumni and friends of any age this summer, June 9-13 and July 7-11. Expert faculty will teach two leisure-learning courses. One class focuses on the dichotomy between New Mexico’s history as the birthplace of the nuclear bomb and the conception of it as a “Land of Enchantment.” The second class teaches the art of creating unique jewelry. Adult learners wishing to take non-credit versions of the Center’s regular offerings will have four options. Budding artists can practice plein air drawing, while gardeners can learn about designing plots in harmony with the local ecology. Another course examines Taos through art, literature and film. The fourth explores place and identity in Native American literature, art and film. Enrollment in these courses is now open. For more information, visit drca.okstate.edu or contact Shane O’Mealey with Arts & Sciences Outreach at shane.omealey@okstate.edu.

The Doel Reed Center for the Arts is named for the renowned artist who directed OSU’s Department of Art from 1924 until retiring to the family estate in northern New Mexico in 1959. Thanks to the generosity of his daughter, Martha, the picturesque property and three historic adobe structures now serve as an inspiring setting for teaching, research and outreach related to the Southwest. Please visit drca.okstate.edu or facebook.com/doelreed to read more about our exciting course offerings.

New Life Members

A lifetime connection to America’s Brightest Orange The OSU Alumni Association would like to recognize the following people who are now connected for life to Oklahoma State University through their new life memberships purchased in 2013. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a life member at orangeconnection.org/life or call 405-744-5368. Charley Abbott, ’93 Jason Abbott, ’08 Jenelle Abbott, ’93 Anthony Ables Pamela Acre, ’85 Tom Acre, ’83, ’89 Julia Adams, ’11 Jessica Agnew, ’11 Nick Ahrens, ’07, ’09 Duane Ailey, ’88 Jeff Akin, ’90 Tiffany Akin, ’91 Bob Alcorn Jackson Alexander, ’13 Kendra Alexander, ’09 Kevin Allen, ’84, ’89, ’91 Patterson Allen, ’13 A.J. Aluri, ’07, ’10, ’12 Robert Alwell, ’73, ’76 Joyce Ambros, ’07 Austin Ambrose, ’08 Jeff Amos, ’06 Cam Anderson, ’00, ’02 Debbie Anderson, ’80 Gina Anderson, ’02, ’04 Heather Anderson, ’93 Mikala Anderson, ’13 Seth Anderson, ’97 Todd Anderson, ’85, ’86 Tony Anderson, ’83 Kimberly Andrews, ’87 Mark Angel, ’87 E.J. Arguson, ’04 Trip Armour III, ’06 Mica Arnett, ’07 Mike Arnett, ’76 Misty Arnett Dennis Ashton, ’77 Carrie Askew-Walker, ’96

Omobayode Atandeyi, ’11 Cheryl Aten, ’76 Gina Atherton Justin Atherton, ’90 Andrea Atkinson, ’94 Billie Atkinson, ’81 Brendon Atkinson, ’99, ’02 Michael Atkinson, ’79 Asmita Atre, ’12 Rodney Auffet, ’92, ’95 Sonya Auffet, ’93 Mina Azhar Jaime Baetz Carrie Bailey Joshua Bailey, ’11 Nathan Bailey Jesse Bain, ’04, ’09 Lisa Baker, ’90 Robbin Baker, ’87 Laurel Bammerlin, ’12 Calvin Banning, ’77 Collin Banning, ’09 Ryan Banning, ’07

Brent Barbour, ’85 D’neen Barbour, ’94 Matthew Barnes, ’98, ’00 David Barnet III, ’11, ’12 Craig Barr, ’96 Hayden Bartley, ’13 Rachel Baskin-Moore, ’05, ’07 Mark Bassel, ’72 Danny Bates, ’69 Judith Bates, ’69 Kenda Bates, ’84, ’05 Joseph Battiato, ’08 Kevin Baum, ’02 Haley Baumgardner, ’12 Bonita Baxter, ’89 George Baxter, ’89 Cathy Beam, ’72 Alisa Beck, ’02 Chris Beck, ’02 Dawn Behrens, ’06 Alex Belitz, ’10 Heath Bellmon, ’11 Julia Benbrook Robert Benge, ’10 Gregory Bennett, ’10 Lindsay Benson, ’02, ’06 Matt Benson, ’04 Heather Bentley, ’08, ’11 Kyle Bethel, ’83 Melody Beuchaw, ’90 Christopher Bilby, ’09 Rebecca Bilby, ’09

Sidney Billingsley III, ’69 William Billman, ’77 Sue Bird, ’77, ’79 Jena Bjornson, ’95 Jessica Blair, ’06, ’07 Thomas Blakemore, ’83 Brett Blasdel, ’71, ’73 Michael Blasdel, ’85 Colton Blehm, ’11 Rodney Blevins, ’91 Sarah Blevins David Blohm Ann Boeckman, ’91, ’97 Stephen Boeckman, ’92 Charles Bogle, ’64 J.T. Bohannan, ’97 Meg Bond, ’10 Patricia Botchlet Richard Botchlet, ’75 Melany Boughman, ’98 Robert Boughman, ’94 Laura Bowen, ’90, ’07 Stephanie Bowen, ’11 Mike Bowers, ’97 Thomas Box II Eric Boyce, ’80 Jana Bradley Kevin Bradley, ’09, ’10 Kristi Bradley, ’06 Sara Bradley, ’09 Michael Branson, ’91 Krista Braud, ’00 Alvaro Bravo Rosas, ’10 Ginger Bray Joey Bray David Brazil, ’09 Addison Brewer, ’11 Vanessa Brewer, ’13 Dustin Bringham John Bristol, ’13 Kelly Brock, ’92 Mark Brock, ’93 Edana Brook, ’93 Kent Brook, ’87, ’88 Bill Brown, ’79, ’82 Cynthia Brown, ’05 David Brown, ’07 James Brown, ’98 John Brown, ’00 Julie Brown, ’02 Kaitlan Brown, ’12 Marcus Brown, ’03 Michael Brown, ’93 Tracie Brown, ’98, ’02 Tristan Brown, ’07 Jeremy Bruce Trindle Brueggen, ’13 Elmer Bruehl, ’72 Krysta Bruehl Brad Bruner, ’96 Dylan Bruntzel, ’06 Lance Bryan, ’00, ’03 Carrie Bryant, ’06 Cheryl Bryant, ’92 Junior Bryant, ’69

Megan Bryant, ’11, ’13 Allan Burlison, ’57 David Buttle, ’72 Christie Byrd, ’04 Devon Byrd, ’04, ’06 Ann Caine, ’79, ’81, ’98 Lynn Calder Michael Calder, ’73, ’97 Linda Caldwell, ’92, ’98 Steve Caldwell, ’92, ’03 Robert Calhoun, ’11 Gregory Cameron, ’06 Celeste Campbell, ’79, ’87, ’06 Chris Campbell, ’02 David Campbell, ’78, ’03 Debbie Campbell, ’78 Kelly Campbell, ’07 Jenny Capener, ’08 Jessica Caraway, ’05 Brent Carder, ’95 Christopher Carlton, ’09 Donna Carlton Leslyn Carr, ’01, ’04 Amanda Carruth, ’04 Douglas Cartmell, ’96, ’99 Nicole Cartmell Christie Cash, ’98 Robert Cassidy, ’08 Tara Cassidy Connor Castle Eric Castner, ’86, ’88 Lori Castner, ’86 Ryan Cates, ’08 Amy Cavett, ’99 Joe Cavett, ’00 Joshua Chambers, ’12 Sharon Champlin, ’73 Jill Chancellor, ’12 Jennifer Chaney, ’06 John Chaney Jr. Grant Chapman II, ’89, ’92, ’93 Kara Chapman, ’89, ’97 Dustin Charter, ’03 Virginia Charter, ’05 Davette Cheney, ’05 Rockland Cherry, ’00, ’02 Jonathan Chisholm, ’05 Nancy Churchill, ’76 Rick Churchill, ’74 Guy Clark, ’62 Janet Clark, ’68 Lynda Clark, ’63 Sheila Clark, ’89, ’92 Dee Ann Clark-Davis, ’80, ’83 Mary Clarke Stephen Clarke Brooke Clifton, ’05 Elizabeth Clifton, ’01 Matthew Clifton, ’99 Amy Cline, ’88 Chad Cline, ’10 Mandy Clinton, ’96, ’01, ’11 Kevin Cody

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Lance Cogburn, ’02, ’04 Lee Cohen, ’96, ’99 Michelle Cohen, ’98 Brian Coker, ’01 Lindsay Coker, ’01 Dan Colbert Melinda Colbert, ’77, ’79 Kevin Cole, ’06, ’10 David Coleman, ’12 Greg Collier, ’90 Chris Collins, ’92 Jason Collins, ’09 Paige Collins, ’92 Loren Colston, ’11 Sheryl Colton, ’75 Mike Colvin, ’86, ’94 Valerie Colvin, ’86 John Conley, ’05 Robert Conn, ’60, ’63, ’86 Jeff Conner, ’11 Lindsay Cooper, ’04 Sandy Cooper, ’92, ’01, ’08 William Cooper, ’04 John Cope Jr., ’96 Rebecca Cope, ’96 Anita Cothran, ’84, ’87 Michael Cothran, ’73 Tom Cothran, ’83 John Cox Jr., ’93 John Cox, ’97, ’01 Rhonda Cox Darvis Craig, ’49 Wanda Craig, ’45 Amanda Crain, ’05, ’08 James Crain, ’05 Blair Crandell, ’11 Dwight Creveling David Cripps, ’03, ’05 Jennifer Cripps, ’04, ’05 Bob Crume, ’04 Sheryl Crumm Jennifer Cubbage, ’01, ’05 William Cubbage, ’01, ’05 Courtney Cullison, ’00, ’08 Holly Cunningham, ’05 Lewis Cunningham III, ’02, ’04 Megan Cunningham, ’04, ’06 Misty Cunningham, ’02, ’06 Amanda Curtis, ’07 Andrea Curtis, ’03 Trey Curtis III, ’05, ’10 Dedra Dahl, ’90, ’97 Christi D’Amelio, ’91 Joe Daniel, ’72 Charles Danley, ’91 Kregg Danuser, ’01 Rebecca Danuser, ’00, ’05 Beth Darbe, ’01, ’03 Robert Darbe, ’02, ’04 Kayla Davidson, ’06 Lauren Davied, ’06, ’09 Anna Davis, ’11, ’12 Ben Davis, ’09 Brian Davis, ’89

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Cory Davis, ’04 Courtney Davis, ’10 Denise Davis, ’06 J. T. Davis, ’99 Paul Davis Priscilla Decker, ’61, ’74 David DeFrange, ’65 B. J. DeHart, ’74 Cary DeHart, ’74 Crystal Deken, ’04, ’06 Dave Deken, ’99, ’05 Darren Delozier, ’93 Robin DeLozier, ’91 Courtney Deming, ’02 James Deming, ’01 Frank Denney, ’76 Lee Denney, ’76, ’78 Glenda Dennis Robert Dennis, ’11 Jennie Dexter, ’11 Roger Dickerson, ’79, ’88 Pete DiClementi, ’82 Trisha DiClementi, ’82 Brian Diedrich, ’82, ’83 Dana Diedrich, ’82, ’83 Douglas Dixon, ’67, ’77 Grant Dixon, ’13 Sallee Dixson, ’95, ’98, ’03 Michael Dombrowski Gwyn Dominick, ’80 Max Dominick, ’80, ’82 Jesse Donaldson, ’00 Lisa Donaldson, ’98 Dustin Downing, ’05 Leigh Downing, ’07 Arnold Droke, ’68, ’77 Shauna Duffy Hartman, ’85 Christopher Duncan, ’12 Sarah Duvall, ’11 Mike Dvorak, ’76 Pam Dvorak, ’74, ’78 Corbin Dyson, ’13 Raylon Earls, ’87, ’89 Pamela Edwards, ’96 Rikki Egbert, ’97 Scott Eisenhart, ’04 Edward El Rassi, ’08 Melissa El Rassi, ’07 Justin Elder, ’04, ’06 Austin Elledge, ’13 Julia Ellena, ’06 Ian Ellington, ’02, ’06 David Ellis, ’02 Sheila Ellis, ’01 M.G Elwell, ’68, ’72 William Endorf, ’65, ’70 Melody Engel, ’02 Todd Epperley, ’90 Merideth Erickson, ’00 April Estep, ’04, ’13 Christopher Estep Scott Ethell, ’03 Fred Ettner, ’81 Grant Evans, ’08 Andrew Ewbank, ’02, ’05

Ashley Ewbank, ’03 Marti Ewing-Cloninger, ’77 Heather Fahlenkamp, ’97, ’00, ’03 Jake Fahlenkamp, ’99 Courtney Fairbanks, ’04 Frank Fairbanks, ’05 Shelley Faught, ’94 Andrea FaulkenberryPearce, ’05 Keeff Felty, ’87, ’89, ’91 Jeff Ferguson, ’72, ’78, ’88 Michael Ferguson, ’11 Beverley Ferrell, ’78, ’80 Gary Ferrell, ’78, ’80, ’84 Damon Fesmire Darcey Fesmire, ’01 Eddie Fetkovich, ’87 Kelly Fetkovich, ’87 Sara Fevurly, ’13 Katie Fielding, ’12 Ross Fielding, ’09, ’10 Joy Fieldsend Brian Fife, ’02 James Fife, ’07 Sara Fife, ’06 Teresa Fife, ’88 Cassandra Fixico, ’03 Daryl Flaming, ’81, ’82 Chandra Flanagan, ’98 Michael Flanagan, ’76 Sean Flanagan, ’98, ’05 Beth Fletcher, ’81 Russ Florence, ’86 Billie Fobes, ’84, ’87 Robert Fobes, ’87 Sarah Fogleman, ’97 Bruce Force, ’88, ’07 Christina Ford, ’11 Darlene Ford David Ford, ’93 Ladonna Ford, ’93 Richard Ford, ’13 Julie Forrest Peter Forrest, ’00 Dawney Forrest-Davis, ’90 Pamela Fortney, ’05, ’11 Rhonda Fouts, ’08 Abby Fox, ’08 Caressa Fox, ’12 Travis Fox, ’99 Peter Francis, ’67 Cody Francisco, ’02 Sarah Francisco, ’03, ’05 Charles Frey, ’13 Frank Friedl, ’09 Benjamin Frits, ’81 Suzanne Frits, ’78, ’82, ’95 Mike Fritz, ’82 Katie Fuchs, ’11, ’12 Larry Fuchs, ’71 Ashlyn Fuerte, ’06 Luis Fuerte Jr., ’04 Stephanie Fullbright, ’96 Chuck Fuller, ’85 Jeanie Fuller, ’80, ’84

Leigh Fuller, ’84 Deanna Fury, ’11 Peggy Gaffney John Gallagher Jr., ’74 Curtis Gambill, ’10 Christina Gangl, ’05 Andrea Garmyn, ’09 Amy Garrett, ’12 Anna Geary, ’13 Diana Geen James Geilfuss, ’05 Eric Gengenbach, ’05 Victoria Gengenbach, ’05 Terra George, ’06, ’08 Gilbert Gerler, ’86 Ticey Geyer, ’00 C.W. Gibbs II, ’01 Chere Gibbs, ’77 Markie Gibson, ’11 Seth Gibson, ’06, ’10 Crystal Gilbreath, ’05 Laura Gilley, ’84, ’86, ’90 Lonnie Gilley, ’86 Andrea Gilliland, ’11 Jaree Gillock, ’88 Andrew Gilmore, ’11 Jamie Glover, ’02, ’05 Kelsey Goddard, ’13 Barbara Golden, ’84 Darryl Golden, ’84 Carlos Gonzalez, ’96 Lori Gooding Dudley Goolsby Jr., ’65 Nadine Goolsby Bailey Gordon, ’08 Dixie Gordon, ’74 L. C. Gordon, ’61, ’69, ’76 Denise Gore, ’74 Jamie Gore, ’00, ’04 Richard Gorman, ’72, ’77 Adam Gossen, ’07 Alee Gossen, ’08 Gary Goudelock Jr., ’02 Jack Gray II, ’62, ’65 Steven Gray, ’98 Lindsey Greenwood, ’00 Mark Gregory, ’73, ’75 Montie Gregory David Griffin, ’73 Kathryn Griffith, ’95 Chad Grinsteiner, ’96, ’97 Michelle Grinsteiner, ’97 Amanda Grove, ’10 Judith Grove, ’59 Levi Grove, ’06 Dustin Groves, ’10, ’12 David Guest Pamela Guest Leslie Guffee, ’07 Lucas Guffee, ’08 Allison Guinn, ’10 Patricia Guinn, ’11 Melisa Gungoll, ’97 Todd Gungoll, ’06 Alex Haar

Bob Haiges, ’64 Mary Haiges Jill Hairston, ’80 Michael Hairston, ’80 Brandon Halcomb, ’97 Starla Halcomb, ’92, ’97, ’07 Jim Halford, ’94 Junni Halford, ’99 David Hall, ’78, ’91 Elizabeth Halley, ’75 Rick Halley, ’79, ’89 Jeffery Hallock, ’96, ’01 Ginger Halsrud, ’01 Sarah Hammer, ’13 Nathan Hammond, ’13 Craig Hammons, ’84, ’90 Sarah Hampton, ’09 Charley Handy Sr., ’79 Charles Hanes, ’75, ’78 Rickey Haney, ’91 Katie Haning, ’13 Trudy Hankins, ’13 Tara Hannaford, ’03 Michelle Hanson, ’03 Austin Hardesty, ’11 Jawauna Harding Michael Harding, ’00 Richard Harmon, ’70 Susie Harmon Kimberly Harper, ’90, ’94 Ryan Harper Kay Harris, ’76, ’79, ’95 Robin Harris, ’88, ’99 Scott Harris, ’87 Kris Hart, ’04 Jimmy Hartley, ’03, ’08 Steve Hartman Kelsey Hassler, ’09 Karen Hawkins, ’62 Christopher Hawthorn, ’02 Tammy Hawthorn, ’02 George Hazlett, ’64, ’67 Stephen Head Corbin Heard, ’07 James Heath, ’00 Angela Heaton, ’98 Daniel Heaton, ’97, ’00 Donny Hector, ’90 Barry Hedgcoth, ’09 Sara Hedgcoth, ’08 Macey Hedges, ’05, ’07 Christi Helmer Mark Helmer, ’87 Kendal Henderson, ’07 Ruth Henderson, ’91 Thomas Henderson Jr., ’91 Kent Hendon Jr., ’79 Lanette Hendon, ’79 Andie Hendricks, ’06 Keith Hendrickson, ’76, ’86 Amanda Hendrix, ’05, ’11 Maria Hendrix, ’75, ’80 Jennifer Hennigh, ’03 Kaleb Hennigh, ’00, ’05 Jeffrey Henning, ’95, ’97

Susie Henning, ’95 Carolyn Henry, ’76, ’77, ’84 B. J. Hensley, ’87 Susan Hensley, ’88 Danielle Hentges, ’12 Gabe Herald, ’00 Ben Herrmann, ’09 Sabrina Herrmann Donald Hertzler, ’65, ’69 Glenna Hertzler, ’62, ’63 Julie Herzog, ’90, ’91, ’94 Lesley Hess, ’06 Gabriel Hicks, ’98 Laura Hicks, ’00 Matthew Hicks, ’11 Brandon Highfill, ’12 William Higinbotham, ’85 Bonnie Hilburn, ’86 Adam Hildebrandt, ’12 James Hill, ’99 Jennifer Hill, ’09 Brent Hillery, ’87 Lynda Hillery, ’87 Shelley Hills, ’86 Carey Hinchey, ’82, ’92 Michael Hinchey, ’86 Jeff Hinkle Sherrie Hinkle, ’64, ’71 Kyle Hinrichs, ’08 Megan Hinrichs Samantha Hoag, ’07, ’10 Dustin Hodges, ’11 Jennifer Hodges Scott Hodges Garrett Hohmann, ’06 Stacie Hohmann, ’06 Melissa Holden, ’92 Joan Holland, ’68 Matt Holland, ’08 Zachary Holland, ’04 Tracy Holt, ’96 Kristi Holum, ’05 Allen Hood, ’92 Susannah Hooper, ’00 Christine Hopper, ’02 David Hopper, ’01 Brenda Horn, ’63, ’68 Chaney Horn, ’97

Martha Horter, ’86 Robert Horter, ’86 Amy Hotwagner, ’95 Jerry Hotwagner, ’95 Howard House Jr., ’78 Kelli Howard, ’05 Terrell Howard, ’04 Cynthia Howrey, ’81 Mark Howrey, ’01 Terry Hoyt, ’88 Haley Huddleston Nathan Huddleston, ’07 Shane Hudson, ’94, ’95 Steven Hudson, ’82 Janelle Hufnagel, ’79 John Hufnagel, ’79 Amy Huhnke, ’01 Matt Huhnke, ’01, ’04 Katherine Hunt, ’02 Stephen Hunt, ’01 Danny Hurst, ’80, ’86 Rodney Huss, ’96, ’06 Tiffany Huss, ’96 Jonathan Hynson, ’93, ’96 Chad Ihrig, ’98, ’02 Laura Ihrig, ’97 David Ingraham, ’80 Ashley Inselman, ’04 Michael Inselman, ’93 Bobby Irvin, ’97 Lara Irvin, ’92 Jami Jack, ’99, ’06 Peter Jack, ’11 Donna Jackson, ’78, ’83, ’88 J.J. Jackson, ’80 Scott Jackson, ’08 Dena Jaeger, ’85 Cara James, ’86 Cody James, ’02 Lanie James, ’98 Scott James, ’85 Cindy Jantz, ’85 Ronald Jantz, ’88 Mark Jarrell, ’08 Denise Jeter, ’82 Kevin Jeter, ’80, ’82, ’06 Ryan Jewell, ’01 Shane Jewell, ’02 Chris John, ’13 Amy Johnson, ’11 Bryanna Johnson, ’12 Cristina Johnson, ’08 J. D. Johnson Jr., ’07 Jan Johnson, ’84 Jeffrey Johnson, ’05 Jon Johnson, ’86 Katie Johnson, ’06 Kristin Johnson, ’88 Laurie Johnson, ’86 Michael Johnson, ’86 Mike Johnson, ’97, ’99 Nola Johnson, ’04 Rhonda L. Johnson, ’78, ’01 Whitney Johnson, ’05 Karen Johnston, ’65

Beth Jones, ’80 Cameron Jones, ’11, ’13 Erin Jones Hank Jones, ’81, ’84 Jay Jones, ’00 Kelsi Jones, ’11 Mark Jones, ’08 Mikel Jones Jr., ’03 Ryan Jones, ’02 Shelly Jones, ’94, ’99, ’05 Ray Jordan, ’71, ’80 Sue Jordan Emily Jordan-Robertson, ’97 Debra Josefy Thomas Josefy, ’71 Christopher Kana, ’06 Lori Kandel, ’85 Steven Karr, ’01 Elizabeth Kastl, ’72, ’74, ’98 Mike Kastl, ’70, ’72 Courtney Kastler, ’10 Brian Katterhenry, ’00 Phoebe Katterhenry, ’01 Robert Keating, ’72, ’78 Sharon Keating, ’72 Donald Keel, ’70 Lacey Kelly, ’07 Daniel Kemp, ’84 Karen Kemp, ’85 Emily Kern, ’10, ’11 Riley Kern, ’09 David Kerr, ’80 Shawn Ketcher Cody Key, ’09 Emily Key, ’10 Alan Kindt, ’03 Cathy Kindt, ’03 Kelli King, ’98, ’02 Mark King, ’80 Violet King Kacy Kinsey, ’94 Clifford Kinsler, ’12 Randy Kitchens, ’05, ’08 Jim Kittrell, ’62 Ruth Kittrell, ’63 Travis Knapp, ’12 Russ Knopp, ’07 Lindsey Koelsch, ’10 Jamie Kohlmeyer, ’11 Emily Kolar, ’09 Glennette Koon, ’96 Jason Koon, ’95 Jennifer Koziol, ’09, ’12 Tommy Kramer, ’70, ’72, ’76 Kerri LaFollette, ’91 Danielle LaGrange Michael Laidley, ’90 Danny Lamar, ’82 Nancy Lamar, ’88 Mark Lambert, ’86 David Lamerton, ’80 Jacquelyn Lamerton, ’80 Jeri Lamerton, ’91 Justin Landers, ’97 Ashley Lankford, ’05, ’10

Glen Lanphear Victoria Larsen, ’12 Robin Lassiter, ’96 Rex Lawrence, ’78 Corey Lawyer, ’00 Elizabeth Lawyer, ’00 Therman Lee, ’11 Brian Leedy, ’04 Sarah Leedy, ’03 Keith Lehman Synovia Lemmings, ’67 Kris Lemoins, ’05 Joni Lemon, ’92 Randy Lemon, ’87, ’05 Donna Lemons, ’89 Andy Lester, ’77, ’81 Susan Lester, ’13 Mark Lewellen, ’74, ’91 Patricia Lewellen, ’74 Austin Lewis, ’13 Brenda Lewis, ’82 Brian Lewis, ’97, ’02 Rose Mary Lewis, ’83, ’87 Scott Lewis, ’81 Robert Lilljedahl, ’08 Jana Lipscomb, ’81 Kevin Liptak, ’12 Lance Lively, ’04, ’10 Maren Lively, ’01, ’04 Brian Livesay, ’13 Kaely Loftis, ’08 Spencer Loftis, ’09 Adam Logan, ’06 Allison Logan, ’07 Cody Lopez, ’12 Frank Lucas, ’82 Lynda Lucas, ’78 Katie Lundquist, ’13 Tina Lundry Traci Lundy, ’90, ’93 Bobby Luttrell, ’05, ’13 Justin Lynch, ’95 Paula Mack, ’10 Carla Mackey, ’88 Doug Mackey, ’86, ’90 David Mackie, ’96 Brooke Maclaskey, ’12 Sean Maclaskey, ’09, ’11 Glen Mangels, ’75 Andrea Mann, ’00 Joseph Mann, ’99 Kyle Mann, ’03 Shannon Mann, ’02, ’04 Heather Mannering, ’03 Will Mannering, ’01 Tomas Manske, ’86, ’90, ’00 Arlene Manthey, ’78, ’81 Amy Marazas, ’01 Chad Marazas, ’01 Lindsay Marquez Nathan Marquez, ’11 Trent Marr, ’96 Jane MarshallDombrowski, ’73 Betsy Martin, ’91

Cheryl Martin, ’87 Clay Martin Dana Martin John Martin Sr., ’10, ’12 Luke Martin, ’05, ’12 Rusty Martin, ’69 Steve Martin, ’87 Tessa Martin, ’97 Belinda Martinelli, ’95 Linda Mash, ’69 Lorna Mason, ’83 Stephen Mason, ’84, ’87 James Mattox, ’95 Shanon Mattox, ’95 Alan Mauldin, ’82 Craig Mauldin, ’96, ’03 Michelle Mauldin, ’84 Jeffrey Maxwell, ’93 B.J. McBride, ’09 Samuel McBride, ’12 Bob McCaffree, ’65, ’69 Donna McClain, ’82, ’84 Mark McClure, ’11 Beth McCoy, ’91, ’98 Mark McCoy, ’00 Richard McCullough, ’74, ’78 Andrew McCurdy, ’05 Katy McDowell, ’03 Mike McDowell, ’61 Lynne McElroy, ’71, ’72, ’82 Jay McFarland, ’79, ’80 Jennifer McFarland, ’80 Darrel McGehee, ’71, ’76, ’78 Karol McGehee, ’73 Angela McGowan-Smith, ’98 Andrew McIlvain, ’04 Aaron McKinney, ’11 Brian McNeal, ’92 Karen McNeal Scott McNeill, ’96 Valarie McNeill, ’95 J. D. McNutt, ’71 Conrad McWatters, ’09 Lydia Meador, ’11 Marshall Means, ’10 Mary Means, ’06, ’09 Justin Mecklenburg, ’94 Lyndy Mecklenburg, ’94 Austin Meek Holly Meek, ’03 Maria Mendoza, ’04 Dave Menkoff, ’97 Daniel Merkey Sr., ’66, ’68 Mary Merkey, ’68 Laura Merriman, ’11 Stephanie Meston, ’05 Charles Metzger Jr., ’93 Jill Metzger, ’90, ’99 Deana Meyer, ’86 Marc Meyer, ’91, ’94 Rhonda Meyer, ’91, ’93 Travis Milacek, ’08 Bavette Miller, ’07

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Carrie Miller, ’05 Diane Miller, ’96 Kevin Miller, ’93 Kristen Miller, ’04 Larissa Miller, ’94, ’96 Rhonda Miller, ’13 Ryan Miller, ’00 Chester Millstead Shirley Millstead Michael Milner, ’63 Vanessa Miloshevski, ’05 Justin Minges, ’07 Lissette Minges, ’06 Chasady Mirkes Curtis Mirkes, ’98, ’02 David Mitchell, ’08 James Mitchell Jr., ’82 Scott Mitchell, ’96 Jim Monsour, ’79 Ted Montemayor, ’95 G. T. Moody, ’84, ’91 Megan Moody, ’81, ’97 Aaron Moore, ’10 Auston Moore, ’08 Brandi Moore, ’03 Cyle Moore, ’08 Lacey Moore, ’11 Matthew Moore, ’03 Richard Moore Jr., ’86 Roger Moore, ’06 Stephanie Moore, ’05 Barbara Moore-Johnson, ’97 Ray Morales, ’95 Amber Morgan, ’89 Marianne Morgan, ’68 Matt Morgan, ’09 Gary Mornhinweg, ’08 Jennifer Mornhinweg, ’07 Amy Morris, ’00 Breanna Morris, ’13 Donna Morris, ’76 Kevin Morris, ’99 Robert Morris, ’73 Sara Morris, ’13 Jennifer Morrow Patrick Morrow Phil Morrow, ’77 Sarah Moser, ’11 Stephanie Mowat, ’76 Vernon Mudd, ’58 Chad Muncrief, ’09 Carey Murphy, ’88 Darren Murphy, ’89 Perri Mustain Jill Myers, ’07 Patrick Myers Dylan Nall, ’13 Michael Neely, ’72 Dennis Neill, ’74, ’77 Jeffrey Nesheim, ’91, ’95 Patty Neuwirth, ’70 Heather Nichol, ’02 Carl Nicholas David Nicholas, ’85, ’01 Diane Nicholas, ’86

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Marjorie Nicholas Kristen Nichols, ’12 Kyndell Nichols, ’82 Kristie Nickell, ’99, ’10 Michael Nickell, ’09 Anthony Nimal, ’12 Tiffany Nixon, ’94 Deena Norris, ’08 Eric Norris, ’11 Jordan Northcutt, ’12 Philip Norwood, ’11, ’12, ’13 Jennifer Nowlin, ’00 Kit Nowlin, ’01 Jeff Noyes Lashun Oakley, ’13 Michael Oberuch, ’10 Tara O’Connell, ’10 Thomas O’Connell John O’Connor, ’77, ’80 Lucia O’Connor, ’76, ’79 Katy Oldacre, ’08 Matt Oldacre, ’08 Oluyemisi Olukoya, ’08 David Orrick, ’77 Jackie Orrick Leslie Osborn, ’86 Mika Osborne, ’11 Bernie Osburn, ’79 Roger Osburn, ’80 Terry Osburn, ’76, ’79 Cathy Otey, ’85 George Otey, ’88 Laura Packard, ’02, ’05 Terry Padgett, ’88, ’95 Donna Palms, ’83 Matthew Panach, ’05 Jeong-Soon Park, ’05 Jacob Parker, ’05 Rob Parker, ’88 Bryan Parrott, ’03, ’05 Judy Parrott, ’84 Jerry Parsons, ’80 Sheila Parsons, ’84 Bruce Partain Linda Partain Ryan Patten, ’01, ’10 Donna Patterson, ’99, ’01 Mary Patterson, ’70 Paul Patterson, ’97, ’12 Susan Patton, ’74 Wade Patton, ’74 Elizabeth Payne Jessica Payne, ’07 Mark Pearce, ’07 Stephen Pearson, ’98, ’06 Josh Peck, ’99 Kristi Pedelty, ’86 Michael Pedelty, ’86 Tanner Pendleton, ’11 Sean Penn, ’93, ’97 Chad Perceful, ’00, ’06 Lesli Perceful, ’01 Gena Perry, ’93 David Peters, ’81 Sara Peters, ’79

Brianna Peterson, ’13 David Peterson, ’83 Lisa Peterson, ’04, ’06 Randall Peterson, ’83 Brian Pfeiff, ’09 Heather Pfeiff, ’10 A.J. Phillips Brian Phillips, ’95 Cyndy Phillips, ’87, ’90 Jana Phillips, ’95 Jeree Phillips, ’77 John Phillips, ’90, ’91 John Phillips Nick Phillips, ’02 Michael Phipps, ’92, ’95 Brent Pickens, ’82 Sharyl Pickens Virginia Picotte, ’80 Brandy Pietz-Jones, ’96 Carri Pike, ’10 Terence Pike Jr. Jessica Pilkington, ’05 Anne Pinc Gaylon Pinc, ’73, ’85 Brock Pittman, ’13 David Pitts, ’82 Brian Plank, ’08 Allan Poe, ’05 Zachry Pogue, ’06, ’07 Laura Poland, ’11 Zach Poland, ’11 James Poling, ’13 Betsie Polk, ’01, ’06 Kyle Polk, ’02, ’08 Holly Pollack, ’01, ’03 Anna Polson, ’95, ’98 Barbara Ponder, ’86, ’91 Kimberly Pondrom, ’06, ’10 Michael Pondrom, ’01 Zachary Pool, ’12, ’13 Charles Poole Jr., ’78 Sara Poole, ’79 Alisa Pope, ’07 Joe Porter, ’64, ’72 Kathleen Porter Jennifer Pottorf, ’07, ’09 John Pottorf, ’06 Tyler Powell, ’10 Sarah Powers, ’13 Greg Presley, ’98, ’06 Paula Presley Vera Preston-Jaeger, ’62 Melanie Prewett, ’03 Michael Prewett, ’97, ’01 Clare Prickett, ’06 Robert Prickett, ’07, ’08 Raymond Priddy, ’11 Granville Prince, ’67 Sharon Prince, ’68 Valerie Pritchard, ’11 Dawn Pruitt Doug Pruitt, ’65, ’87 William Pruitt, ’99 Lea Pry, ’10 Bradley Pugh, ’82, ’84

Dorothy Pugh, ’83 Charles Qualls Jr., ’71, ’73, ’80 Cheryl Qualls, ’71, ’85 Michael Quesenberry, ’91 Ashley Quillin, ’07 Joshua Quillin, ’03, ’09 Jason Quinn, ’07, ’12 Maeleen Rakestraw, ’07 Marvin Rakestraw Melissa Raleigh, ’78 Rusty Raleigh, ’80 Pete Ramos Jr., ’13 Fred Rayfield Jr., ’95 Pat Razook, ’64, ’65 Paula Read, ’87 Charley Redmond, ’75 Debbie Redmond, ’73 Larry Reece II, ’97 Brandon Reed, ’10 Eric Reed, ’13 Kelly Reed, ’89 Kyle Reedy, ’10 Lauren Reeves, ’04, ’07 Scott Reeves, ’03, ’08 Matthew Register Amy Reiber, ’85, ’87 Mark Reiber, ’85, ’87 Cory Reid, ’00 Kara Reid, ’00 Christopher Reilly, ’05 Megan Reilly, ’06, ’10 Christopher Renfrow, ’97 Elaine Renfrow, ’00 Eric Renfrow, ’98 Jeff Renfrow, ’00 Rebecca Renfrow, ’99 Larry Renne, ’68 David Reynolds Blair Rhea, ’05 Joshua Rhea, ’04 Allison Richey, ’09 Brittany Richey, ’08 Tyler Richey, ’09 Ross Riddle, ’10 Sasha Riddle, ’10 Jack Ridings, ’94 Stacy Ridings, ’91 Stacy Riley, ’95 Mary Rineer, ’87 Blake Rippetoe, ’11 Jason Risley, ’99, ’04 Liliana Risley, ’98, ’03 Tom Ritchie, ’87 Larry Roach, ’86 Ed Robben, ’83 Joanna Robben Gregory Robbins, ’07 Jun Robbins, ’07, ’08 Craig Roberts, ’83, ’90 Jeff Roberts, ’83 Sara Roberts, ’13 Shawn Roberts, ’89 Sherri Roberts, ’10 Tracy Roberts, ’85 Sterett Robertson, ’72, ’74

Kelsey Robin, ’08 Scott Robin, ’09, ’11 Joe Robinson Judy Robinson Donna Robison, ’06 Eric Robison, ’13 Mike Robison, ’76 Matthew Roche, ’12 Dale Roden, ’91 Sherry Roden, ’92, ’98 Heidi Rogers, ’85, ’86, ’90 Gary Roller, ’76 Virginia Roller, ’78, ’80 Richard Romero, ’13 Aaron Roper, ’99, ’03 Kylie Roper, ’13 Shea Roper, ’99 Cory Rose, ’04 Trista Rose, ’03, ’05 Bradley Ross, ’05 John Ross Sr., ’63 Judy Ross, ’72 Marcy Ross, ’05, ’07 Kevin Rouk, ’94 Amanda Rountree, ’08 Jared Rountree, ’09 Alexander Rowland, ’11 Cezanne Rowland, ’11 Chris Roy, ’07, ’09 Jackie Roy, ’06, ’07 Jamie Ruble, ’91 Spencer Ruble, ’85 Layne Runnels, ’08 Brandy Rutledge-Ryal, ’97, ’01 Cecilia Sainato Ed Sainato, ’86, ’91 Jennifer Saldana, ’08, ’10 Shawn Salmon, ’91 Joel Sander, ’91, ’04, ’12 Timothy Sanford, ’98 Tracy Sanford, ’97 Tracy Schanbacher, ’83 Brad Schaufele, ’97 Julie Schaufele, ’95 Darcy Schein Matthew Schein, ’94, ’98 Stanley Schell, ’07 Dane Schimmel, ’96 Lori Schimmel, ’07 Bradley Schmitt, ’02 Jennifer Schmitt Melinda Schmitz, ’74, ’90 Amanda Schneringer, ’99, ’00 Bonnie Schomp, ’74, ’77 Jennifer Schoonover, ’97, ’00 Mike Schoonover, ’00, ’04 Sarah Schou, ’10 Kent Schreiner, ’88, ’90 Boyd Schultheiss Gary Schultz, ’85 Gregory Schultz, ’71, ’76 Jamelyn Schultz, ’92, ’93 Josh Schultz, ’09

Ruth Schultz, ’75 Julie Schurman, ’80, ’90 Thomas Schwake, ’99 Richard Schwarz, ’06 Ana Scott, ’11 Brittney Scott, ’07 Jennifer Scott, ’92 Justin Seago, ’12 Debra Sedersten Wayne Sedersten, ’78 Christi Seehafer, ’89 Mark Seehafer, ’90 Joe Semtner, ’76 Sharon Semtner, ’76 Rob Shaff, ’79 Diane Sharber, ’99, ’02 John Sharber, ’99 Keith Sharp, ’84 Jackie Shawnee, ’03 Mark Shawnee, ’03 Jayme Shelton, ’03 Jim Shelton, ’72, ’85 Amy Shenold, ’99 David Sherry, ’05 Michelle Shinn, ’78, ’80, ’83 Debra Shipman, ’08, ’13 Wendi Shipp, ’02 Chris Shoup, ’10 Ashley Sicairos, ’02, ’06 Jesus Sicairos, ’03 Joseph Siegfried Jr., ’86 Luke Simmering, ’07 Morgan Simmering, ’07 Joe Simmons Jr., ’78 Lisa Simmons, ’12 Julie Simon, ’07 Missy Simons, ’95 Jeff Simpson, ’10 Matthew Simpson, ’04, ’12 Megan Simpson, ’10 Andrew Sims, ’08 Matthew Sites, ’11, ’13 Nikki Slagell, ’10 Kevin Slane, ’07 Carl Slater Jr., ’94 Myria Slater, ’95 William Sledge, ’09 Marilyn Sloan, ’83 Norman Sloan Bob Slovacek, ’71, ’72 Sean Smales, ’12 Stephen Smallwood, ’70 Anna Smith, ’13 Daniel Smith, ’13 Debra Smith Henry Smith, ’69, ’81, ’87 Hubert Smith, ’01, ’07 Linda Smith, ’70, ’74 Megan Smith, ’12 Nancy Smith, ’80, ’06 Olivia Smith, ’11 Rica Smith, ’98 Ryan Smith, ’11 Shane Smithton, ’88, ’91 Eric Smothers, ’00

Luke Snider, ’05 Rebecca Snider, ’05 Jamie Soderstrom, ’06 John Soderstrom, ’05, ’06 Diane Solomon, ’81 Larry Solomon, ’83 Christy Soutter Stacy Soutter, ’00 Debra Sowards, ’90 Amanda Sowder, ’10, ’12 Shawn Sparks, ’91, ’92 Andrew Speakes, ’03 Kristen Speakes, ’03, ’11 Denise Speer Rock Spencer, ’82, ’84, ’87 Sydnee Spencer, ’08 Benjamin Spitzer, ’04, ’05 John Stacy, ’78 Branndi Staehle, ’09 Kristin Stahlman, ’05 Christi Standridge, ’00, ’06 Jared Starks, ’09, ’11 Ladawn Starr, ’08 Kassey Steele, ’11 Chuck Steiger Jr., ’11 Shalena Stelzig, ’98 Jessi Stender, ’05 Andy Stewart, ’02, ’08 Kimberly Stewart, ’10 Kristin Stewart, ’09 Stacey Stewart, ’03, ’05, ’10 Steven Stewart, ’12 William Stewart, ’03 Lyall Storandt, ’08 Amanda Storck, ’99, ’08 Craig Storck, ’95 Mark Stow, ’92 Kristi Stricklin, ’78 Wayne Stricklin, ’77 Edith Stritzke Jerry Stritzke, ’82 Daniel Stults, ’11 Baloo Subramaniam, ’85 John Suddock, ’99 Rebecca Suddock, ’98 John Summers, ’74, ’77 Christine Sumner-Davis, ’94, ’95, ’00 Jennifer Sutherland, ’94 Courtney Sutton, ’13 David Swain, ’72 Jana Swain, ’72 Kayla Swanson, ’11 Joshua Swarer, ’11 Karen Swarer, ’11 Melanie Swope, ’04, ’08 Katherine Szirmay Ryan Szirmay, ’06 Mark Talkington, ’80, ’82 Marty Tamasese, ’85, ’89 Philip Tamasese, ’09 Kathie Tanner, ’86 Carrie Tate, ’01 Stuart Tate, ’05 Don Tatro

Rachel Tatro, ’06 Daniel Taulman, ’11 Becky Taylor, ’09 Clay Taylor Jr., ’09 Gardner Taylor Jerre Taylor, ’80 Rocky Taylor, ’81 Jamie Teal, ’09 Michelle Tedder, ’12 Kurt Templeton, ’00, ’01 Kyla Templeton, ’04, ’07 Clara Terranova, ’79 Anne Terry, ’85 Robert Terry Jr., ’84, ’88, ’90 Joseph Testa, ’88, ’96 Binaya Thapa, ’01 Rebecca Thapa, ’97 Chris Tharnish, ’10 Karen Thill, ’80, ’82 Angela Thomas, ’85 Jerry Thomas, ’84 Lorri Thomas John Thomason, ’73, ’74 Amanda Thompson, ’00 Willie Thompson III, ’94 Ken Thomson, ’79 Bob Thrasher Marilyn Thrasher, ’69 Ann Tickel, ’70 Sally Tietje, ’66, ’68 Jesse Tilley Amy Tollison, ’08, ’13 Lisa Tompkins Rick Tompkins, ’78 David Tosetto, ’11 Don Treadway Jr., ’74 Ethan Treadwell, ’05 Lindsey Treadwell, ’05 Micah Treadwell, ’79 Michael A. Treat, ’82 Jason Trent, ’98 Teri Trent Lacie Trojan, ’07 James Troxel, ’68, ’93 Elizabeth Tucker, ’13 Leslie Tucker, ’01 Charla Tully, ’02, ’07 Tyler Tully Renae Turnbaugh, ’91 Bruce Turner, ’73, ’75 Crystal Turner, ’06 Kathy Turner, ’72 Jeffrey Ungerer, ’77 Thai Ursin, ’11 Edward Van Matre, ’10 Ami Van Nostrand, ’13 Melissa Van Pool, ’07 Amy Van Wagner Michael Van Wagner, ’00 April VanAusdall, ’96 Ericka VanCleave, ’11, ’13 Christopher Vanderlip, ’02 Rosemary VanOrden, ’77 Lauren Vaughn, ’13 Jeffrey Vause, ’94, ’97

Renee Vause, ’94 Suzanne Wade, ’77 Brenda Wadsworth Darwin Wadsworth Jr. Beverly Walker, ’73 Bob Walker, ’71 Emily Walker, ’99 Kent Walker Kristi Walker, ’92 Matthew Walker, ’98 Michael Walkup, ’11 Scottie Wallis, ’12 Larry Walther, ’81 Laurie Walther, ’80 Steven Walton, ’03, ’06 Trey Warren, ’05, ’07 Paula Waters, ’80, ’82 Randal Waters, ’79 Jonathan Watson, ’97 Michael Watters Nikki Watters, ’04, ’08 Dana Weaver, ’09 Denise Weaver, ’93 Kimberly Weaver Christopher Webb, ’12 Rick Webb, ’77, ’79, ’84 Brandon Weeden, ’11 Melanie Weeden Zachary Weigel, ’99 Spencer Weldon, ’10 Troy Wells, ’81, ’82, ’01 Jennifer Wells-Cox, ’92, ’94 Lesley Wempe, ’05 Brandi Wessel, ’06 Brandon Wessel, ’06 Julie West, ’02 Erick Westfahl, ’99 Kasi Westfahl, ’02 Joshua Westmoreland, ’06 Jill Whitbeck, ’89 Todd Whitbeck, ’89 BJ White, ’70 Cammy White Dava White, ’00 Erin White, ’11, ’12 Glenn White, ’84, ’87 James White, ’79 James White, ’94 Mary White, ’82 Ralph White Jr., ’72 Richard White, ’71, ’73 Ronnie White, ’80 Tressa White, ’04 Jim Whitt, ’77 Sondra Whitt, ’94 Clinton Wieden, ’06, ’10 Charlie Wieland, ’76 Michael Wiese, ’12 Paige Wiese, ’09 Andrea Wilks, ’97 Earl Will, ’52 Angel Willey, ’98 Ashley Williams, ’06 Beth Williams, ’93 Dustin Williams, ’00

Emily Williams Jennifer Williams, ’11 Leigh Williams, ’02, ’04 Lilly Williams, ’64, ’86 Matthew Williams, ’12 Mitchell Williams, ’13 Nancy Williams, ’83 Steven Williams, ’93 Tara Williams, ’12 Chris Willis, ’11 Don Wilson, ’68, ’72 Lindsey Wilson, ’10 Megan Wilson, ’11 Randy Wilson, ’80 Arvin Wingfield Leslie Winslow Michael Wiseman, ’72 Christine Withrow, ’02 Paul Wittke, ’93 Alison Wolfe, ’04 Bryan Womack, ’04 Thao Wong, ’99 Patricia Wood, ’80 Steven Wood, ’71 Meredith Woodruff, ’70, ’75 Mike Woods, ’75, ’78, ’81 Linda Worley, ’05 Jodeen Worth Tamie Worthington, ’85 Brent Wright, ’89 Bruce Wright, ’02 Damon Wright, ’98, ’02 Gary Wright, ’79, ’80 Jennifer Wright, ’01 Krista Wright, ’99 William Wright, ’70 Bobby Wyett, ’65 JoAnn Wyett, ’65 Bill Wylie, ’73, ’03 Sue Wylie, ’72 Ashlea Yager, ’08, ’10 Nehemiah Yager, ’06 Heather Yates, ’98, ’02, ’06 Scott Yates, ’99 Kristena Yeager, ’12 Asa Yoakam, ’13 Julie York, ’86 Stephen York, ’90 Jason Young, ’04 Melissa Young, ’97 Lauren Yuhas, ’08 Ryan Zaloudek, ’08 Ashley Zamudio, ’12 Glenn Zannotti, ’87 Jared Zellers, ’06 Shannon Zellers, ’06

This list does not contain individuals making payments on a life membership.

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Corporate Chapters Form For the first time in the organization’s 117 years, the OSU Alumni Association has begun forming corporate chapters for OSU alumni and friends. Chesapeake Energy Corp. in Oklahoma City formed the first corporate alumni chapter to serve Cowboys and Cowgirls working at Chesapeake. The chapter is an extension of the Oklahoma City Metro OSU Alumni Chapter, hosting regular happy hours, watch parties, fundraisers and family events. “Corporate chapters are providing the Alumni Association a new and innovative way to take OSU on the road to connect with large groups of graduates,” Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder says. “We expect these chapters to have a positive impact on helping us engage with alumni in their communities and providing new opportunities for alumni to network with each other.” The Chesapeake Chapter was first proposed in fall 2011 and chartered in February 2013 when Alumni Association board Chair and Chesapeake Senior Vice President Jennifer Grigsby encouraged a core group of people to form a chapter. It has grown into a thriving chapter serving more than 500 employees.

The chapter stays busy year-round by hosting watch parties and happy hours. In 2013, a quarterly speaker series for employees was developed. Speakers have included Grigsby, OSU baseball coach Josh Holliday and Paul Tikalsky, dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. The chapter also contributes to the Oklahoma City Metro Chapter’s annual Vintage O-State event, which raises funds for two $2,000 scholarships to Oklahoma City area high school students. The success of the Chesapeake Chapter has inspired Oklahoma Citybased Devon Energy Corp. to form a corporate chapter. “I sincerely hope we’ll be able to start collaborating with them,” Chesapeake Chapter President Greg Hakman says. “We want to share what we’ve found in this process and help them get off on the right foot.” For more information about the Alumni Association’s corporate chapters or on how to start a chapter, visit orangeconnection.org/chapters.

The Chesapeake Energy Corporate OSU Alumni Chapter hosted Cowboy baseball coach Josh Holliday for its quarterly speaker series on Nov. 14. From left are Mary Bruce, Crystal Fisher, Jennifer Grigsby, Jon Nobles, Josh Holliday, Greg Hakman, Chris Branch, Everett Bates, Kara Williams and Cara Mashmeier.

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Women’s Night Out

Stephanie Kendrick of Stillwater puts the finishing touches on her Theta Pond painting at the Alumni Association’s Women’s Night Out event Jan. 23 at the Tipsy Artist in Guthrie, Okla. Even Cowgirls need a ladies’ night, and that’s what about 70 women got during the Alumni Association’s first OSU Women’s Night Out event on Jan. 23. The event was at the Tipsy Artist Paint Palace in Guthrie, Okla., and featured artist Tiffany Bora, wine, food and a palette full of fun. Bora provided the Cowgirls stepby-step instructions on how to paint OSU’s campus landmark Theta Pond. The Tipsy Artist provided canvases and paint supplies. Bora hosted her first wine and painting exhibit at the Oklahoma Creativity Launch in 2008 and has since opened her own studio in Guthrie. Some of her work has been showcased on the television show MTV Cribs; shows on the E!, PBS and Oprah Winfrey networks; and in many Oklahoma magazines. “It was such an honor to be commissioned to do a custom painting of Theta Pond for the OSU Alumni Association and host their special event at the Tipsy Artist Paint Palace,” Bora says. “We packed the palace with women, wine and whole lot of orange paint — a winning combination for an OSU Women’s Night Out.” Guests brought their own beverages, and the Alumni Association provided orange sugar cookies and punch. Stillwater’s Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory donated chocolate for the event.

Miranda Johnson Dickinson, owner of the Stillwater’s Rhinestone Cowgirl, took her employees to the event for their holiday party. Krissi Morton, ’08, attended with her Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters. “OSU Women’s Night Out at the Tipsy Artist was a lot of fun,” Morton says. “The atmosphere was very exciting, and it was great getting together with OSU fans. It was also fun to see familiar faces you didn’t know would be there.” The Alumni Association is surveying Cowgirls about the event in preparation for the next Women’s Night Out. “We definitely have an interest for more of these events,” chapters coordinator Haley Brorsen says. “We are working on planning several more in the future.”

More than 70 Cowgirls enjoyed the Alumni Association’s first Women’s Night Out event Jan. 23 at the Tipsy Artist in Guthrie, Okla. Cowgirls interested in the next OSU Women’s Night Out can take the survey at orangeconnection.org/wnosurvey.

Alumni Association Experiences Record Chapter Growth Over the past three years, the OSU Alumni Association has experienced record growth within its chapters program. Cowboys and Cowgirls are forming chapters across the nation. In 2013, the Alumni Association welcomed groups in Birmingham, Ala.; Destin, Fla.; Indianapolis; Lansing, Mich.; and Raleigh, N.C. More are planned for 2014.

The Indianapolis OSU Alumni Watch Club was founded by Adam Nagele, ’07, who contacted the Alumni Association to see if there were any watch parties in the area after he moved there from Oklahoma City. The watch club has expanded to more than 40 members since the beginning of the 2013 football season. “Even though almost all of the people were complete strangers, we have a common bond helping us build

friendships,” Nagele says. “We had a great inaugural season of watch parties and hope to continue our success.” Alumni Association members in Michigan formed the state’s first chapter last fall in Lansing. Elly Drain, ’09, and Meghan Bartow, ’12, independently contacted the Alumni Association about starting a chapter in Michigan. Drain and Bartow have since learned several hundred OSU alumni reside in Michigan. “It’s easy to find a fellow Poke in Oklahoma and the surrounding states, but up north, it’s a bit more difficult,” Drain says. “When we get together to watch football or basketball games, we have so much fun reminiscing about our time in Stillwater, and the younger alumni get some great stories and institutional knowledge from the older alumni.” The Alumni Association requires at least 150 graduates and friends living within 50 miles of a location to start a chapter, but there is no minimum requirement to start a watch club. Visit orangeconnection.org/newlocation to learn more about starting an OSU alumni group.

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Hard Rockin’ Vintage O-State

Tulsa, Okla., Cowboys know how to paint their town orange, and they did it in record numbers at this year’s Vintage O-State: Loyal & True fundraiser. The Tulsa Chapter’s 14th annual event welcomed a sold-out crowd of more than 250 to the Hard Rock Hotel on Feb. 1. Guests mingled with OSU dignitaries including Cowgirl golf coach Courtney Jones and Pistol Pete. Route 66 Photobooth, owned by John O’Meilia, ’79, provided commemorative photos from the evening, and attendees enjoyed a fully stocked candy buffet from Candy Castle, owned by Rachel Simons, ’09. Local musician Barrett Lewis provided live entertainment for the evening, and additional funds were raised thanks to the sales of T-shirts and a wine pull courtesy of B&B Liquors.

Vintage O-State’s signature event, a live auction, was held at the end of the evening under the direction of OSU alumnus and professional auctioneer Tyler Ambrose, ’09. “Tyler does an amazing job getting everyone involved in the process,” says social chair Whitney Pancoast, ’09. “It is so exciting to see our guests cheering on the bidders and the looks on their faces when they win.” Vintage O-State benefits the scholarship fund for Tulsa-area students attending OSU. This year’s event raised more than $40,000, which will fund at least 17 scholarships. Vintage O-State is run entirely by volunteers. “We all have such fond memories from our time at Oklahoma State, and

Zack McCarty, Karissa McCarty, Tia Corbin and Max Corbin at the Tulsa Vintage O-State: Loyal & True Feb. 1 at the Hard Rock Hotel. this event allows us to give local students the opportunity to share in those experiences,” Pancoast says. The Tulsa Chapter would like to thank presenting sponsors, the OSU Alumni Association and the Hard Rock Hotel in Tulsa; Orange and Black sponsors, Bama Cos., Ernst & Young, Leaders Life Insurance Co., Mid-Continent Group, Osage Casino and Williams Construction; and all Pistol Pete- and Cowboy-level sponsors. If you are interested in donating to the Tulsa Chapter’s scholarship fund, visit orangeconnection.org/tulsa.

Pikes Peak

Hay Maze

Pikes Peak (Colo.) OSU Alumni Chapter officers are, from left, Jodi Snawder, Nikki Richardson, Wayne Bland, Julie Wiese, Jonathan Berry, Dixie Gordon and Alan Tenzythoff in front of the chapter’s watch party location, Wyatt’s Pub and Grill, on Oct. 26.

The 3B Brown Ranch in Ardmore, Okla., opened the state’s largest hay maze to Cowboys and Cowgirls on Nov. 3. The maze, containing the OSU brand, spanned more than 140 feet in length.

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Orange County

From left are Orange County Chapter volunteers Jessica Nicholson, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis, OSU President Burns Hargis, Trisha Bergen and Pam Myers at A Night with OSU Feb. 12 at the Santa Ana Country Club in California.

From left are Lisa Bliss, Linda Brown, Vineet Thanki, Hargis and Amit Thanki at A Night with OSU.

Upcoming Events Join an OSU alumni chapter near you to celebrate OSU and connect with Cowboys. For the most current event listings, visit orangeconnection.org/chapters or scan the QR Code. APRIL 12

Cowboys for a Cause — Mission Norman Cleveland Co. Chapter

APRIL 12

Cowboys for a Cause — Feed the Children Project OKC Metro Chapter

APRIL 12

Cowboys for a Cause — Food Bank Project Houston Chapter

APRIL 17

Board Meeting & Cultural Dinner NYC Chapter

APRIL 17

Legacy & Scholarship Event Stephens Co. Chapter

APRIL 17

Networking Dinner North Texas Chapter

APRIL 24

Women’s Council of Dallas Spring Fashion Event North Texas Chapter

APRIL 26

Purcell 5K Fun Run Cleveland Co. Chapter

APRIL 30

Cowboys for a Cause — Oklahoma Honor Flights Tulsa Chapter

MAY 1

Cowboy Caravan Season Kicks Off Various Locations

MAY 3

Golf Tournament NW Arkansas Chapter

MAY 8

Happy Hour NYC Chapter

MAY 9

Trailblazer Nominations Close Black Alumni Society

MAY 15

OSU Business School Visits New York NYC Chapter

MAY 16

Chapter Leader Training OSU Alumni Association

MAY 16–17 Bedlam Baseball Tailgate Tulsa Chapter

From left are Orange County Chapter President Hallie Nicholson, Hargis and Brian Tran at A Night with OSU.

Garrett Thomas, Hargis and Tara Thomas at A Night with OSU. S T O R I E S BY K AT I E PA R I S H

MAY 29

OSU Speaker Series Featuring Coach Chris Young Chesapeake Energy Chapter

JUNE 5

Evening With First Cowgirl Ann Hargis Fort Worth Women’s Council

JUNE 5

Women’s Council of Fort Worth/Women for OSU Event North Texas Chapter

JUNE 6

OSU Night at Dynamo Soccer Houston Chapter

JUNE 14

Summer Family Picnic & Senior Sendoff Cleveland Co. Chapter

JUNE 19

Chapter Meeting & Elections NYC Chapter

JUNE 21

OSU Legacy Event Tulsa Chapter

JUNE 21

Summer Family Picnic NW Arkansas Chapter

JULY 14

Senior Sendoff & Ice Cream Social Pottawatomie Co. Chapter

JULY 20/27 Cowboy Kickoffs North Texas Chapter JULY 26

Bedlam Run Tulsa Chapter

AUG. 16

Vintage O-State OKC Metro Chapter

AUG. 29

Golf Tournament North Texas Chapter

AUG. TBA

Annual Family Picnic Kansas City Chapter

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Members Give Pete a Voice Frank Eaton never had a problem getting folks’ attention. With his words and his pistol, OSU’s living mascot got his point across as an advocate of Oklahoma A&M for more than 30 years. Today, Pistol Pete can still stir a crowd of 60,000 with one shot, but it’s members of the OSU Alumni Association who are giving him a voice across Oklahoma and around the world. Loyal and true is the tenet they live by. Your engagement through OSU programs, services and benefits like these listed below give Pete a voice!

Magazine in the Southwest (2013 CASE IV Accolades Gold Award Winner)

M E M B E R

$200,000 Chapter Scholarships

awarded to freshmen last year

697,000

social media interactions with

cowboys

$325

average annual member savings

eighty

4,681 Registered Legacies

50 mi

29,104 current alumni and student members in the OSU Alumni Association

Chapters and Groups

more than eighty percent of all alumni live within 50 miles of an Alumni Association chapter or club

201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 tel 405.744.5368 | fax 405.744.6722 orangeconnection.org

205,476 LIVING ALUMNI

worldwide

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

BATTER BATTER OSU softball teams have had many successes, including seven appearances in the Women’s College World Series and nine conference titles. In 1982, it did something few teams have done. Because of governing association shake-ups, the Cowgirls played in two national championships, just 10 days apart. The Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern and support college-level women’s sports and to sponsor championships. In 1981, the National Collegiate Athletic Association began hosting championships for women as well as men. While the AIAW sued the NCAA to retain its sponsorship rights, the battle was largely over by 1982, and most collegiate women’s teams were transitioning to the NCAA. That year, the Cowgirls had the opportunity to play as one of the final eight teams in the championship series of both the AIAW and the NCAA. Former coach Sandy Fischer tells the story of upheaval and change: “Women were feeling very good and independent over here with the AIAW, and they felt like they got swallowed up by the old boys’ club. So, there was a little bit of angst, anyway, when the NCAA took us over in 1982. It was transitional for a couple of years, and there was some

UP, UP

angst. … The NCAA said, ‘You have to make a decision. You’re coming with us, and it starts in 1982, OK? Or you’re not, and you stay with AIAW.’ Well, there were so few left that decided to stay with AIAW that the association collapsed. It could no longer fund itself. “This administration at Oklahoma State decided we were going to NCAA, so we had a transition year, which was 1982, in championships and everything else. We were one of two teams, I think, only, that qualified for both national championships. … They were back-to-back, and we were in the (AIAW) national championship against Texas A&M. ... In fact, (we were leading) going into the seventh inning with two outs and lost. (Laughs) Painful. Come home, wash our uniforms and get on the bus and go to Omaha for the very first NCAA Women’s College World Series. In a 10-day span. It was wild.” While the Cowgirls would lose twice in the NCAA playoffs, they were close games to the eventual champion UCLA and runner-up Fresno State.

The Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the Edmon Low Library documents the culture and history of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Interviews are available online at www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory. For more information about the program, or for assistance with searching, contact the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at 405-744-7685.

To read Sandy Fischer’s entire interview, scan the QR code or go to http://goo.gl/JkT7CJ. PHOTO / OSU SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

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We’re feeling the love!

hank you to everyone who shared their OSU love stories with us and the rest of the Cowboy family. We loved reading how each of you met, fell in love with OSU, got engaged and made many lasting memories. The bonds created at Oklahoma State University are strong, and we value the time each one of you spent with us in Stillwater. With more than 200,000 graduates and more than 18,000 Cowboy couples, it’s clear that your love for OSU extends well beyond the time spent on campus.

Please continue to share love!

CONNECT

APPLY

GIVE

For more information about the contest and this year’s winners, visit contests.okstate.edu. Judges Choice | Sara and John Reding

First Place | Matt Church Second Place | Matt Fletcher

’60s ’40s Willis McCabe, ’40 mktg, retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in January 2008 and now works as an auctioneer. William Nailon, ’42 ento, and his wife, Bonnie, have a granddaughter, Mallor y, who completed her freshman year at OSU. Mallory was selected for the exchange-student program to Australia and studied there from July to November 2013. Ebba Johnson, ’47 HEECS, is 88 years old, has seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, and still lives on the farm. Morris Neighbors, ’49 sec ed, recently returned home from a 16-day trip with The Singing Men of Oklahoma. They traveled to Moscow and Sochi, performed in five concerts and attended the Olympics. Morris has been retired since 1988.

’50s

Nina Fishman, ’50 home econ, and her husband, Herman, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Jerrel Powell, ’53 ag, M.S. ’58 agron, and his wife Aldena Powell, ’58 elem ed, have retired to Florida. Merna Jo Robinson, ’53 elem ed, and her husband, David, ’52 forestry, are moving to Methodist Manor in Tulsa as of April 1. William Terry, ’53 an sci, DVM ’60, and his wife, Drew, celebrated 60 years of marriage May 16, 2013. They were married in the Pi Beta Phi house the day before graduation. Robert Ramsey, ’54 an sci, and his wife, Loretta, ’55 bio sci, are proud that 10 members of their family

have bricks in the Alumni Walk outside the Alumni Center. They have several generations of Cowpoke fans in their family. Ned Blass, ’55 acctg, M.S. ’79 sec ed, and his wife, Sue, M.S. ’77 HEECS, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Ned is still working with the high school wrestling team, and Sue is a successful watercolor artist. They would like to hear from OSU wrestlers from 1951-55 and 1958-59. Carl Shafer, ’55 ag econ, M.S. ’58 ag econ, retired in 1998 after 37 years on the Texas A&M faculty. After retiring he taught in Guatemala. His wife, Peggy, ’56 HEECS, directed Head Start for several years before retiring in 1995. Bob Joe Bunch, ’56 agron, M.S. ’57 agron, and his wife, Betty, ’56 elem ed, retired from BWI Cos. Inc., a wholesale lawn, garden and turf sales company that is now owned by their two sons. They have three children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild, born Dec. 5, 2013. Bill Schneider, ’56 arch, serves on the food advisory board of the Tulsa City-County Health Department. John Penick, ’57 Engl, and his wife, Edith, have four children. Three of them live within an hour of John and Edith. The fourth child lives in Southern California with two children, so they travel there whenever they can. Max Anderson, ’58 elec eng, M.S. ’59 elec ed, is a professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering. Max volunteers for AARP and Taxaide and plays baritone in Rolla Bands. Eugene Andrew, ’59 gen bus, and his wife, Lou Ellen, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Charles Heller, ’59 civil eng, wrote Prague: My Long Journey Home, which has received three national awards. He published his second book, Name Dropping: Close Encounters with the Famous and Near-Famous, in October 2013. He dedicated the book to one of the people in it, Henry P. Iba.

David Hildebrandt, ’60 gen bus, and his wife, Linda, ’79 mech power tech, have retired and moved from Morrison, Okla., to Broken Arrow, Okla. Charles Cline, ’61 arch, retired this year. He and his wife, Betty, have four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Academy of Forensic Engineers and American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. He is a licensed professional engineer and professional surveyor in Illinois, Missouri and Colorado. Joseph Fassler, ’63 HRAD, finished 50 years of service with the company that hired him his senior year at Oklahoma State in 1963.

Joseph George, ’61 sec ed, owns and operates SawGrass Equipment. He has three grandchildren in Boulder, Colo., and two grandchildren in Stillwater.

Csaba Finta, ’63 mech eng, and his wife, Karla, are enjoying their time traveling, fishing, cruising and visiting all five grandkids.

Charles Posl, ’61 gen bus, retired in 2004.

John McIlhaney, ’63 mech eng, is retired.

Paul Akin, ’62 mech eng, retired from an engineering career in 2003. For the past 10 years he has taught CAD at colleges and high schools.

David Chapman, ’64 trade ind mgmt, M.S. ’65 trade ind mgmt, retired from Southwestern Bell. He and his wife, Carolyn, live in Salt Lake City and serve a mission at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

John Bogard, ’62 agron, married Avon in Victorville, Calif., on March 21, 1964. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. They have two sons, Vince, ’90 HRAD, M.S. ’92 occup & adult ed, and Alan, and three grandchildren. Sam Lloyd, ’62 gen bus, MBA ’67, taught marketing, management and insurance courses in 1966-67 before moving to St. Louis to pursue a doctorate at Washington University. Sam is married to Christine, ’71 sec ed. R. Henry Migliore, ’62, mgmt, is president of Managing Success, an international consulting company. Henry was a professor of strategic planning and management at Northeastern State University and OSUTulsa from 1987-2002. Patricia Waters, ’62 elem ed, retired in 1999 from Oklahoma City Public Schools after 42 years of teaching fifth through eighth grades. Patricia is a member of the Oklahoma Education Association, National Education Association, Oklahoma City Retired Teachers Association and Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators. Philip Corlew, ’63 civil eng, M.S. ’65 civil eng, is a semi-retired forensic engineering consultant. Philip is a member of the Illinois Board of Professional Engineers, National Council of

William North, ’64 sec ed, retired from teaching science in 2007 after 42 years. He has two daughters, Jolene North, ’02 an sci, DVM ’05, and Jennifer North, ’97 an sci, M.S. ’02 ag ed. Gerald Wright, ’64 mil sci, is retired. He is a former fighter pilot, former commander in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, former state senator for 16 years and attorney. He is serving as president of the Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation. Gerald attended a roast of former Gov. Brad Henry in February sponsored by the Thunderbird Youth Academy to raise money for the group’s new dormitories in Pryor, Okla. Charlotte Girk, ’66 bus ed, retired from Unified School District No. 300 in Coldwater, Kan., in 2012. She is now enjoying time with her grandchildren. Carlos Johnson, M.S. ’66 bus ed, Ed.D. ’77 bus ed, was named chair for the National Assoc i ation of S tate Boards of Accountancy. Previously, he served as vice chair, director at large and southwest regional d i r e c to r o f t h e NASBA board. Dale Durham, ’67 fin, and his wife, Nancy, ’69 music ed, recently returned to Stillwater after retiring.

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Chapter Leader Profile: Jennifer Glenn Being president of one of the OSU Alumni Association’s 95 chapters is not a task for everyone. In Denver, it’s a task for Jennifer Glenn, a 2004 OSU graduate with a hotel and restaurant administration degree. Born in Fowler, Kan., Glenn grew up in Tulsa, Okla., and graduated from Memorial High School before attending Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colo. She soon realized she wanted to be closer to home and transferred to OSU before her sophomore year. Glenn spent most of her time in OSU’s College of Human Sciences building, the site of many of her favorite memories. She was involved in all of the chef dinners and events and a member of the Club Managers Association of America.

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David Harned, ’67 elec eng, retired a f t e r 20 y e a r s working at Elero USA Inc., having served the last eight y e a r s a s C O O. During his career, he worked for Ingersoll-Rand Co., United Conveyer Corp., InfraPak Dallas and Elero USA. He lives in Carrollton, Texas, and is looking forward to some time to get organized and enjoy some photography. Chester Palmer, ’67 ag ed, is still working as a fieldman for Joplin Regional Stockyards and puts on four-state draft horse and mule sales twice a year. Marvin Thornton, ’67 agron, retired and is working as a consultant for Callicrate Inc. in St. Francis, Kan.

“My favorite thing … is giving ’70s people a little piece of home right here in Denver. We can’t travel to Stillwater all the time, but it’s nice to cheer on the Cowboys with fellow alumni.”— Jennifer Glenn

She loved cheering on the Cowboys, whether it was football games at Lewis Field or then the rechristened Boone Pickens Stadium, or basketball games inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. She even followed the basketball team to road games around the country. After graduation, Glenn moved to Denver for a restaurant job, but the establishment didn’t do well. “We closed two months after I moved to Denver,” Glenn says. “I decided to stay in the Denver area after that, but I needed to find a job.” Then the Denver Chapter came into Glenn’s life. With no connections and no family in Denver, she attended chapter watch parties to meet friendly faces in the big city. “After attending a few watch parties, I met the president at the time,” Glenn says. “He automatically made me the social chair, and it went from there. I’ve been with the chapter for nine years now.”

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Shortly after joining the chapter, she became the food and beverage director at Glenmoor Country Club. She is now an event planner for A Perfect Bite Catering Co. The Denver Chapter hosts watch parties at Stoney’s Full Steam Tavern in downtown. Stoney’s offers OSU menu items and Eskimo Joe’s cups to ensure everyone attending feels at home. Even though being a chapter president is rewarding, it’s not always easy, Glenn says. “The chapter leaders all work really hard. It’s basically like a second job for us,” she says. “We work so hard for all of the alumni to enjoy everything we do because we love OSU.” Because of Glenn’s hard work, the chapter is bigger than ever. At every event or watch party, several new faces show up — from alumni who move to Denver right after graduation to residents who have lived in Denver

for years but are just now connecting with the chapter. “My favorite thing about being president is giving people a little piece of home right here in Denver,” Glenn says. “We can’t travel to Stillwater all the time, but it’s nice to cheer on the Cowboys with fellow alumni.” K AT I E PA R I S H

Connect with Glenn and the Denver Chapter at orangeconnection.org/denver and facebook.com/osuaadenver.

Denver Chapter by the Numbers

1 ,949 number of alumni and friends 499.5 miles from Stillwater 202 number of members 145 number of current OSU students from Colorado

Nearby Colorado chapters: Durango

Pikes Peak,

Cathryn Franks, ’70 sec ed, was n o m i n a te d a n d recently sworn in as the newest member of the Oklahoma Board of Education by Gov. Mary Fallin.

Charles Chitwood, ’71 ag ed, is retired. He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, building a new home and watching OSU athletics.

JoAnne Davis, ’72 spec ed, M.S. ’76 cur/instr, Ph.D. ’87 ed admin, is retired and volunteers her time by working with special needs children. Bill Spielberger, ’72 mktg, and his wife, Mary, had their first grandchild, Leo Downing, in March 1, 2013. Leo is the son of Leigh Ann Downing, ’07 HDFS, and Dustin Downing, ’05 mktg. Lynn Bowles, ’73 ag econ, and his wife, Carol, have a son, Austin Bowles, who will graduate from OSU in May 2014 with a degree in strategic communications. He was selected as an Outstanding Senior and served as Pistol Pete from 2012-14. Thomas Dixon, ’73 an sci, M.S. ’99 occup and adult ed, and his wife, Sammie Dixon, M.S. ’98 occup and adult ed, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Dec. 9. In February 2013, their business marked the 45th anniversary of its opening.

John McGinnis, ’73 sec ed, M.S. ’79 HPER, was inducted to the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the national convention in Fargo, N.D. Leslie Easley, ’74 soc, has eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He and his wife, Rhoda, are enjoying the Florida sun and avoiding sinkholes. John Severe, ’74 pre-law, and his wife, Karen, ’74 spec ed, welcomed their new granddaughter, Maci Diane, born Feb. 21, 2014. Maci is the daughter of J.T. Severe, ’06 civil eng, and Alicia Severe, ’06 journ and broadcast. Edward Vomacka, ’74 mech power tech, retired and is serving as the director of Charis Bible College in Tampa Bay, Fla. Bruce Hysmith, M.S. ’75 zoo, serves as a fisheries biologist in charge of public waters in eight North Texas counties. Bruce, a 40-year veteran of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, was installed as president of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society on Feb. 15 at the Texas and Oklahoma bi-state conference. This organization represents more than 250 biologists in Texas. Rhonda LeGrand, ’75 exec sec admin, is a partner at Beacon Promotions Inc. Rhonda moved to San Antonio in December 2012. Cheryl Sevier, ’75 elem ed, retired from the Fort Worth Independent School District. Lois Kobel, ’76 nursing, retired from nursing in 2013. She has a new granddaughter, born Dec. 10, 2013. William Woods, ’77 zoo, M.S. ’79 physio, and his wife, Sue Woods, ’76 micro, M.S. ’79 micro, Ph.D. ’82 micro, have three sons who are OSU graduates: Chris Woods, ’07 biochem & molec bio & micro; William Woods, ’09 biochem & molec bio & micro; and Clifton Woods,’12 chem eng. Franklin Williams, ’78 civil eng, is a civil engineer with Bernalillo County Public Works in New Mexico. His wife, Deborah, ’78 CTM, is a secondgrade teacher with Albuquerque Public Schools.

Keep Us Posted Alumni Association members may submit information to be published as a classnote 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 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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OSU Certified Healthy The Oklahoma State Department of Health has named OSU a Certified Healthy Campus for the third year in a row. This year, OSU adds to the recognition with its first Certified Healthy Business title. Few universities attain both certifications, which applaud OSU as a leader in promoting healthy choices and lifestyles for students, employees and the community. OSU is focused on bright minds, building brighter futures and the brightest world for all.

Daryl Bunyard, ’79 gen ad bus, started his 28th year at Nordam repair in Tulsa. He has two sons and one grandchild. Mary Etta Campbell, ’79 for lang, and her husband, Dean, have three sons who all graduated from OSU and all married OSU grads: Kurt, ’98 ag econ, DVM ’01, Kyle, ’91 ag ed, and Troy, ’95 ag econ. Mary and Dean have 13 grandchildren, all OSU supporters.

’80s Harold Hayes, M.S. ’80 ed admin, Ed.D. ’89 cur/instr, is the superintendent of schools at Eldorado Public Schools in Oklahoma. Harold has been in public education for 40 years as a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent. Michael Peters, ’80 hort/land arch, works as a landscape architect at Alaback Design in Tulsa, Okla. He and his wife, Lisa, ’85 mktg, have three children including Micah, a junior at OSU. Richard Antle, ’81 bus admin, retired from public education. Richard’s family is full of OSU grads and future Pokes. Kelli Tarantino, ’83 mktg, has been living in Cincinnati for more than 20 years with her husband, Mike, and her three children, Kylee, 22, Shelby, 19, and Clayton, 16. Kelli is the owner and president of Cincinnati Marketing Solutions, a marketing and branding company. On weekends, she enjoys watching her children play sports, reading, working out, snow and water skiing, and yoga. Brent Bowen, ’84 pol sci, and his wife, Erin, have relocated to Prescott, Ariz. Brent is dean of the College of Aviation at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Erin is department chair of safety science at the university. Laurie Cowell, ’85 elem ed, M.S. ’91 FRCD, and her husband, Curtis Cowell, ’85 ag econ, have three children. Their oldest, Cody, is a mechanical engineering major at OSU and their daughter-in-law, Hannah, is a biochemistry and molecular biology major. Roger Fischer, ’85 ag econ, and his wife, Marilyn, ’89 sec ed, have six daughters and four sons. Marilyn

home-schools the children, and Roger works on the family farm with help from all the family members.

professional certification in 2012. He is married to Andrea Eden, ’91 mgmt sci.

Connie Gover, ’85 spec ed, is the director of special education for Holbrook Unified School District in Arizona.

Brenda May, ’92 FRCD, is married to Bob May, who started the Bob May Golf Academy in Las Vegas last year. He is enjoying teaching the game that has given him so much.

Luan Sparks, ’85 spec ed, is elementary principal with Chapman Unified School District 473 in Kansas. Gregory Allen, ’87 ag ed, is a district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Yvette Gonzalez, M.S. ’87 cur/ instr, and her husband, Jose, M.S. ’83 HPER, are proud grandparents of Christian Jordan Gonzalez, born July 2012. He should be enrolling at OSU in 2030. Gregory Dlabach, ’88 math, owns a 5-year-old online consulting practice called Cameo Performance Systems, which guides organizations to excellence in the higher education and training sector. Jackie Sanders, ’88 hort/land arch, M.S. ’12 ag, works at Sanders Wholesale Nursery LTC and is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Martha Barlow, ’89 biomed, has a son, Davis, who is a freshman at OSU.

’90s Ronda Rogers, ’90 acctg, is the accounting manager at Nextep in Norman, Okla. Michele Smith, ’90 hlth, received the 2013 Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award. She was presented with the award, given annually to an outstanding sportscaster with Oklahoma ties, on Jan. 28 at the Warren Spahn Award Gala in Oklahoma City. Michele is a two-time gold medal winning pitcher for the U.S. Olympic softball team and has served as ESPN’s lead analyst for women’s softball since 1998. David Eden, ’91 mktg, is a technical project manager with Leader Communications in Oklahoma City. David earned his project manager

Aaron Thesman, ’94 pol sci, is the vice president of land and legal for Legend National Gas LLC of Fort Worth, Texas. Kari Granier, ’96 an sci, DVM ’02, and her husband, Bryan, M.S. ‘98 acctg, live in Malaysia. Ryan Matlack, ’96 sec ed, opened Ten Star Pizza Kitchen, a pizza and Italian restaurant, in 2010 in Ardmore, Okla. All OSU games on television can be seen there.

Presidental Award for collaboration, advocacy and leadership. Cherisse Miller, ’03 mktg, recently joined Automatic Data Processing Inc. as a TotalSource Professional Employer Organization Implementation Consultant. Jennifer Ramsey, ’03 gen bus, started as a purchasing agent in 2011 at Tulsa Tube Bending. Theresa Stekly, ’04 nat & app sci, is the registered nurse intake coordinator at Hospice of Missoula in Montana. Theresa is anticipating the arrival of her first grandchild. Talhia Haynes, ’05 HDFS, and her husband, Frank, have four children Jade, 12, Alhtoba, 11, J a s my n, 7, a n d Spring, 4.

’00s Penelope Haynes, Ed.D. ’00 ed admin, retired from Allen-Bowden Public Schools in Tulsa. LeeAnn Burgess, ’02 journ & broadcast, and her husband, Justin, have two children: Shelby JoAnna Burgess, 5, and Raylee Justine Burgess, 2. LeeAnn and Justin both work in the oil and gas industry. David E llis, ’02 fin, and his wife, Sheila, ’01 fin, are happy to announce their son, Sutton Charles Ellis, was born on Feb. 13, 2014. Sutton joins one older brother, Kinsler Bowen Ellis, born in 2012. Michael Hightower, M.S. ’02 mass comm, is the author of Banking in Oklahoma Before Statehood. Michael is an independent historian and principal researcher for the Oklahoma Bank and Commerce History Project of the Oklahoma Historical Society. He is also the author of Inventing Tradition: Cowboy Sports in a Postmodern Age. Candis Hogan, Ph.D. ’02 ed psych, is an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University in applied behavioral studies. Candis is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified school psychologist and a certified trauma professional. She owns Child-Teen College Testing & Counseling in Edmond, Okla. On Feb. 21, she received the National Association of School Psychologists 2014

Dustin Conner, ’06 agri bus, and his wife, Brittany, welcomed their first child, Averly Renee Conner, on June 15, 2013. Jolie Britt, ’09 biochem, graduated from Baylor College of Medicine with honors in May 2013. Jolie is a pediatrics resident at Texas Children’s Hospital. Tanya Dvorak, Ph.D. ’09 ag ed, and her husband, Joseph Dvorak, ’05 biosystems eng, M.S. ’07 biosystems eng, are excited to announce their son, Karsten Henry Dvorak, was born at 10:04 p.m. Sept. 29, 2013. He weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces. Kayla Meyer, ’09 elem ed., welcomed her son, Kruz Allen Meyer, born Jan. 28, 2013. Kruz is the grandson of Jerry and Tenia Spalvieri. Kayla teaches the fourth grade in Okemah.

’10s Laurie Marshall, M.S. ’10 teach learn & lead, and her husband, Justin Marshall, ’07 land cont, are happy to announce their son, Justin Burke Marshall Jr., was born on Dec. 20, 2012.

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Dana Pentecost, ’11 nutri sci, is engaged to Joshua Barber, ’12 av mgmt. Dana is in her second year at OSU-CHS in Tulsa in the osteopathic medicine program. Joshua is employed by Big Jet in Tulsa. The wedding is planned for June 28 in Tulsa.

Corps during World War II as a bomber pilot. After the war, he moved to southeastern Washington, where he built a large custom combining operation. He invented several designs and methods to improve equipment performance and enhance the comfort and productivity of the equipment operators. He held seven U.S. and Matthew Hutchins, M.S. ’12 int’l seven Canadian patents for his bus, and his wife, Dayna, moved to designs. Ben and Alma were strong South Korea to teach English through advocates of the power and value of the English Program in Korea. education in the lives of all people, but particularly farmers and memMegan Lowden, ’12 HRAD, is bers of the agricultural community. the sales manager at the Marriott They demonstrated their commitHotel in the New York City borough ment with hands on teaching and mentoring activities in Washington of Manhattan. and at OSU, where the Grants estabKevin Rose, ’12 lished and supported several scholeng tech, and his arships. In a 2013 interview with the wife, Rachel, moved OSU Foundation, Ben said, “I asked to Tulsa, Okla., in the good Lord to make me the best 2013. Kevin designs pilot so I could serve my country and and engineers com- return home. I asked him to give me mercial fire alarm the opportunity to devote the rest of systems and com- my life to helping other people. Alma mercial security systems for Pende- felt the same way, and the good Lord graph Systems Inc. brought me back to her. It makes me so happy to know that I am still helping people.”

Friends & Supporters Mindi Ratzlaff retired from the U.S. Postal Service in October 2013. She returned to Oklahoma from Boulder, Colo. Robert Whetsell writes for “Cowboys Ride for Free” online at SB Nation. His parents, Robert Whetsell, ’41 agron, and Deanna Whetsell, ’41 HEECS, both graduated from Oklahoma A&M, and two of his siblings graduated from OSU. Phyllis Doyle Williamson remarried after her husband, Lonnie Doyle, ’74 micro, died in 2008.

In Memoriam Benjamin M. Grant, ’40 an sci, died Jan. 19, 2014. He was 95. Ben was born in Grandfield, Okla., on Sept. 13, 1918. While at Oklahoma A&M, he met his future wife, Alma. They were together more than 70 years before she died in 2011. Ben served in the Army Air

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Howard Francis, ’41 bus, died Oct. 4, 2013. He was 95. Howard, known as “ B o n e s ,” w a s a member of the Oklahoma A&M basketball team that played during the inaugural season of Gallagher Hall. Howard was born Nov. 29, 1917, in Mangum, Okla. After graduating Altus High School, he attended Oklahoma A&M, where he played basketball for coach Henr y Iba. Howard played in the first game held in Gallagher Hall on Dec. 9, 1938, defeating Kansas 21-15. Upon graduating Oklahoma A&M in 1941, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, rising to the rank of captain, and became a B-17 pilot in the Army Air Corps by the end of World War II. After the war, Howard taught school and coached basketball and baseball in Blair, Okla. John Carmichael, ’43, died on Sept. 3, 2013. He was 91. John was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Henryetta, Okla. He attended Oklahoma A&M before receiving his dental degree in 1946 at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He married Betty Jo Temple, and they have three daughters. He

served as a captain in the Army Dental Corps, serving in Japan from 194649. Dr. Carmichael and his wife moved to Woodward, Okla., in 1949 where he practiced dentistry until his retirement in 1991. He was a member of the Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry, Oklahoma State Board of Health, American College of Dentistry and the International College of Dentistry. He was named a distinguished alumni by Oklahoma State University in 1993 and from the University of Missouri at Kansas City’s School of Dentistry in 2003. Mary Elizabeth Clark, ’46, died Aug. 12, 2013. She was 90. Born on Feb. 3, 1923, in Drumright, Okla., Mary was one of six children. She attended Drumright High School and graduated in 1941 with honors. She then enrolled in Oklahoma A&M College. Later she worked in the office of Deep Rock Oil Camp, where her family lived. In August 1946, she married her high school sweetheart Billy Clay Clark, ’48 mech eng. They returned to Oklahoma A&M, where she worked part-time to assist in his getting a college degree. In 1948, they moved to Texas and other parts of Oklahoma to support their occupation requirements. In 1950, the couple had twin sons, Mark Clay and Michael Wayne. Her sons and husband were the top priority of her life. After her sons left for college, she worked part time in the Tulsa area. She enjoyed bowling and golfing and at Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla., where she was a member for 24 years. She loved to play in the WGA tournaments and weekly play. She was an excellent cook who loved to prepare dinner for her extended. She liked to feed hummingbirds in the summer, and she has received many hummingbird pins and figurines. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Tulsa, Okla., since May 1971 and loved the Double King Sunday School Class and all the other members she knew. She was always concerned about sick members, and she tried to send a get-well card to each one. She loved to participate in the day care center meals program and all the meals required for the church. She also assisted in the Meals on Wheels program in Broken Arrow. One of the most important parts of her life was her grandchildren. She tried to spend as much time as possible with them.

Joseph Brandstetter, ’49 econ, died June 28, 2013, in San Antonio, exactly one month before his 88th birthday. Joe served as a naval pilot during World War II. He received his law degree and was a special agent for the U.S. Treasury Department. He was an avid bicyclist and marathoner. Kenneth Schuermann, ’49 mech eng, died Aug. 16, 2012. He was 88. He was a 1942 graduate of Jefferson High School in Oklahoma. After graduation from high school, Ken served in the Army Air Corps as a flight instructor from 1943-45. After graduating from Oklahoma A&M in 1949, he received his professional engineer certification. He also enjoyed playing the trombone as a member of his high school band and the Cowboy Marching Band. On Sept. 11, 1948, Ken married his college sweetheart, Alice Allen, ’48 home life. Ken retired in 1991 after 29 years of service with Charles Machine Works. Ken was a member of the Toastmasters Club, Lions Club, the Noble County Republican Party, Ducks Unlimited and president of the North 40 Hunting Club. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Perry, Okla., teaching Sunday school and serving on various boards and committees. Roy Fisher, ’52 an sci, died Dec. 17, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. Roy graduated from Edmond High School in 1948. Af ter graduating from Oklahoma A&M, he served in the U.S. Army then bought 4,000 acres near Eufaula, Okla. For more than 60 years, he worked closely with OSU and built Fisher Ranch into a 15,000-acre operation with 1,500 mother cows and 100 brood mares. Eighteen of Roy’s family members have graduated from OSU since 1975. Roy was married to Elizabeth Rixleben of Holdenville, Okla. for 35 years. The couple had five children. On Sept. 4, 1994, Roy married Glenna Janet Hoyst in Oklahoma City. They were happily married for more than 19 years. Roy was active with Eufaula’s Chamber of Commerce and a Lions Club leader. Roy captained the construction of the buildings, booths, rides and operation of the annual Eufaula Fair. He was instrumental in the Corp of Engineers’ approval of the Eufaula Cove marina site. He also helped establish the city’s Little League programs, built baseball fields and coached for 18 years. He served on the Eufaula Ironhead Chain

Gang for 53 years, retiring only this past season due to the accident that brought about his death. As the oldest active member of the Eufaula United Methodist Church, Roy was a lay leader and member of numerous boards for more than 60 years. He received the Methodist Man of the Year Award for 2013. In 2012, Roy was named Mr. Heritage during the annual Eufaula Heritage Days celebration. Fisher Ranch participated in the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Range Roundup Rodeo for 14 years. The ranch’s annual quarter horse production sale has continued for the past 18 years. Roy has served as president of the McIntosh County Cattleman’s Association and second vice president of the Oklahoma’s Cattlemen’s Association. He was a charter member of the National Cattlemen’s Association and a 60-year member of the American Quarter Horse Association, which honored him with a Legacy Award as a pioneer foundation quar ter horse breeder. As a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association, Roy was awarded Hall of Fame status in 2012.

Blue Key National Faculty Adviser of the Year. Bob served as a consultant to NASA, PepsiCo and Reynolds Aluminum. He also published numerous academic and trade articles. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and the Capitol Hill High School Hall of Fame. James Ludwick, ’58 ag eng, died June 10, 2013, in Norman, Okla. He was 82. James was born in Okmulgee, Okla., on Oct. 31, 1930, and graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1948. He was a member of the 1947-1948 state championship football team. James attended Oklahoma A&M for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and serving as a radar specialist in the Korean War. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1958. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more than 30 years and retired in 1990. James married Jimmie Wilson in September 1953, and they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in September 2013. The couple have two daughters, Julie, ’82 music, and Jill, and lived in Chickasha, Okla., for 40 years.

B. Curtis Hamm, ’55 mktg, MBA ’62, professor emeritus at OSU’s Spears School of Business and consultant to the Oklahoma State University Foundation, died Feb. 5, 2014, from kidney failure. He grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from Capitol Hill High School. Between earning his undergraduate degree and MBA, Bob was in the military and in the executive development program at IBM. He earned a doctorate from the University of Texas in 1966. Bob was a fellow at the American Graduate School of Business, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Missouri and Oklahoma State University. He served as a Fulbright professor in China and a USAID professor at the University of Jordan, where he helped begin MBA programs. He also consulted for universities in Argentina and the Czech Republic and taught at Oklahoma City University. For more than 50 years, Bob was a professor with OSU’s business college and worked with the OSU Foundation. He took an active role in mentoring and was recognized in a variety of ways, including being selected for the National International Student Association Award, as a Distinguished OSU Alumni, the Redskin Yearbook Faculty Member of the Year and the

William R. “Bill” Pogue, M.S. ’60 math, the pilot on the f ina l S k y la b space station mission, died March 3 at his home in Cocoa Beach, Fla. He was 84. Bill and two other astronauts spent 84 consecutive days in space from 1973 to 1974 aboard Skylab, the first American space station. They conducted dozens of experiments during their 1,214 orbits of Earth, including extensive observations of the home planet as well as the sun’s solar processes. Bill logged 13 hours and 31 minutes in two spacewalks outside the orbital workshop. He was born Jan. 23, 1930, in Okemah, Okla., and grew up in Sand Springs, Okla. He graduated from Sand Springs High School in 1947 and from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1951. He enlisted in the Air Force and flew combat missions in Korea. From 1955 to 1957, he was a member of the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s elite flying team. He logged more than 7,200 hours of flying time in more than 50 types of aircraft, including more than 2,000 hours in space flight. After earning his master’s at OSU, Bill served in the mathematics department as an assistant professor at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1960 to 1963. In 1965, after a two-year tour

as test pilot with the British Ministry of Aviation, he became an instructor at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. He was one of 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966 and served as a member of the astronaut support crews for the Apollo 7, 11 and 14 missions before being assigned to his Skylab flight. He was awarded NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal in 1974, and won many other awards in his career, including the Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Robert J. Collier Trophy (1974) and Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy (1975). He retired from the Air Force in 1975 and left NASA in 1977. He later worked as an independent technical contractor for several aerospace and energy firms. From 1984 to 1998, he provided contract technical support to Boeing Co. for the Space Station Freedom program, which later evolved into the International Space Station project. In October 1997, he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Fla. Bill is survived by his wife, three children and five step-children. Terry Joe Shaw, ’68 biochem, Ed.D. ’77 higher ed, died Dec. 21, 2013. He was 66. He grew up on the family’s wheat farm in Cherokee, Okla., and attended Burlington school, where he was valedictorian, active in FFA and was named a State Star Farmer. At OSU, he was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity. He married Karen Taggart of Stillwater in 1969. He earned his master’s degree in molecular biology from University of California, San Diego, while doing cancer research at the Salk Institute. Terry then taught middle school science in Arizona. After his wife, Karen, was killed in an auto accident, he returned to OSU to earn his doctorate in science education. In 1975, he married Thelia Sewell, of Perry, Okla., and they had two children, Tarren John and Tana Elaine. He taught at Stillwater Middle School, Kansas State University, OSU and Irving Middle School in Norman, Okla. Terry developed hands-on science curriculum for the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He continued to develop course curriculum and provide professional development for science educators until his death. Terry received numerous awards for teaching, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the National Environmental Education Teacher of the Year, the Outstanding Middle School Science Teacher of the Year for Oklahoma, the Outstanding Instructor in

the College of Education at OSU and was inducted into OSU’s College of Education Hall of Fame in 2013. Jenetta Grantham, ’78 acctg, died Dec. 12, 2013. She was 56. Jenetta was born on Jan. 19, 1956, in Hobart, Okla. She attended Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City before obtaining her OSU degree. She then obtained her CPA, receiving the Gold Award. Jenetta started her career with Arthur Young & Co. in both Oklahoma City and Dallas and was working for a local family upon her death. Tim Streller, ’90 mktg, died Jan. 11, 2014, after a twoyear bat tle with head and neck cancer. He was 45. Tim was born in Perry, Okla., on April 3, 1968. He spent his youth on the family’s farm and participated in FFA at Perry High School. He attended St. Gregory’s in Shawnee, Okla., before completing college at Oklahoma State University. An avid hunter and fisherman, Tim loved the outdoors. He spent more than 20 years in the material handling industry as both a salesman and manager. His employer for the past 11 years was Johnson Equipment Co., headquartered in Dallas.

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Bentley, Boll Weevils, and the Birth of Oklahoma Extension S T O R Y BY DAV I D C. P E T E R S , OSU LIBR ARY P H O T O S C O U R T E SY O F OSU SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Walter D. Bentley understood the challenges confronted by rural American families. He had survived many of them as a child and then as a young man toiling on his parents’ Midwestern farm. As a married man he would oversee the growth of his own land and the expansion of agricultural extension work in Oklahoma. It wasn’t always easy. He often faced opposition — be it the boll weevil, his own peers, parents of the younger farmers he was educating in new farming methods, a fire that destroyed his files and gutted his office or even the powerful political machine led by the legendary William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray. In the end, Bentley’s experience working the land and his dedication to instruction would win and lead him to become known as the father of Oklahoma extension work. A Beginning on the Land Born in Pike County, Ill., in 1856, Bentley grew up attending school five months and working seven months a year on his parents’ rented farm. When he turned 21, Bentley attended Illinois State Normal College for a year and began teaching in rural schools. From 1877 to 1883, he was a school principal and continued working part time on nearby farms when school was not in session.

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Walter D. Bentley sits in his extension office in Morrill Hall at Oklahoma A&M on Jan. 5, 1916. Bentley made a name for himself as an extension agent tasked with battling the invasive boll weevil (inset).

Teaching Young Farmers and securing the cooperation of farmers He married Julia A. Rhodes in 1882, along the railroad to practice diversified and a year later they began renting a In 1907, Bentley was assigned northfarming and reduce the ravages of the boll 172-acre farm in Griggsville, Ill. After west Texas and Oklahoma Territory. weevil.” Bentley was assigned to a delegaeight years of renting, the couple saved The territory’s population had boomed tion working near the Fort Worth and enough money to purchase 160 acres because of land runs between 1889 and Denver Railroad tracks passing through of undeveloped land near Wichita Falls, 1895. In the Indian Territory to the east, Wichita Falls. Texas. Walter and Julia Bentley, their Native American allotments and homethree children, his parents steading continued through and other extended family 1901. By statehood in members moved with a colony November 1907, Oklahoma of Illinois farmers to Texas. extension efforts had Walter Bentley broke the dramatically increased. prairie sod, planted grain Bentley was put in charge crops and fruit trees, and of Oklahoma in the fall of raised livestock. He was active 1908. in organizing the local school Bentley often showed district and assisted with the his demonstration methods building of the community’s to young farmers, who were one-room schoolhouse. The more receptive to the new Bentleys were members of the ways than their parents were. Methodist Episcopal Church His supervisors initially where Walter Bentley taught reprimanded him but eventuSunday school and served as ABOVE: T. M. Jeffords addresses girls and women on Canning Club ally encouraged the outreach a trustee. to the next generation of work in Boley, Okla., Feb. 13, 1913. Bentley joined the farmers. BELOW: A boys’ pig contest, Chickasha, Okla., Sept. 16, 1913. Farmers’ Cooperative Union Bentley shared his expewhen a local chapter was rience with USDA Secretary formed in the Wichita Falls James Wilson during a trip area in the early 1900s. with Knapp to Washington, During the summers, Bentley D.C., in the fall of 1908. traveled to Texas A&M in Wilson told Bentley’s story College Station to attend the to President Theodore annual Farmers’ Congress. Roosevelt, who had earlier A Costly Pest The boll weevil is one of the most destructive insects in U.S. history. Moving north out of Mexico in the late 19th century, the first boll weevil infestations occurred in Texas and Louisiana but eventually spread to all cotton-producing areas including southern Oklahoma. Experts estimate boll weevil damage at more than $13 billion since 1892. The costs would be much higher without extension efforts. The USDA appointed Seaman A. Knapp to discover ways to fight boll weevil infestations. Knapp proposed establishing demonstration farms and extension agents throughout the south. On Feb. 18, 1904, Knapp appointed Bentley as a special extension agent “for the purpose of arousing public interest

Disappointed in the initial responses to his efforts, Bentley traveled to Houston and visited with Knapp at his headquarters. Knapp inspired Bentley to focus more on establishing demonstration plots on farms and less on lecturing about improved techniques. Knapp and his agents persuaded more than 7,000 cotton farmers to establish demonstration plots of several acres on their farms, expanding the adoption of improved boll weevil pest-control techniques throughout the South.

admonished the USDA for not doing enough to help farm families. Bentley supported the development of agricultural clubs for boys. In 1909, he signed up 50 young men to raise corn on demonstration plots in Johnston County, Okla. Boys in other parts of the state joined cotton clubs, and eventually participants would grow into the thousands and form the foundation for 4-H Clubs in the state. Extension Spreads In 1909, Bentley sought cooperation in extension efforts between the USDA and Oklahoma A&M. He wanted his office to coordinate with the land-grant college to sponsor the youth corn and cotton clubs emerging across the state. College continues

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railroads, some commercial President John H. Connell, groups and other agencies had who was appointed a year programs. Bentley and the earlier, supported the creation USDA had the best statewide of youth clubs, and Bentley reputation, and there were hoped they could work together efforts at the national level to so the clubs could compete for bring the divergent outreach federal prizes. groups together. However, Connell and In May 1914, two things Bentley couldn’t come to terms. helped Bentley’s consolidaConnell was part of a politition efforts: Connell was cal patronage system led by removed from his presidency “Alfalfa Bill” Murray, then at Oklahoma A&M, and the Oklahoma’s first speaker of Smith Lever Act became law. the House of Representatives President Woodrow Wilson and a couple of decades later ABOVE: Attendees of a Farmers’ Congress and Agents’ meeting in signed the act into law on the state’s ninth governor. 1918 pose in front of Morrill Hall. May 8, 1914. It created finanCooperation meant doing things how Connell and Murray BELOW: A tomato-pruning lesson, Ardmore, Okla., May 27, 1912. cial support for land-grant colleges’ extension efforts. It wanted them done. Bentley also brought the USDA and the fought hard against such politiland-grant systems’ extension cal entanglements. activities under one umbrella. The USDA had developed Bentley began that summer to competitions for agricultural merge his extension office with club members with prizes for Oklahoma A&M’s operation. state winners in several categoOn July 25, 1914, the state ries. Connell wanted to alter the board appointed Bentley as the rules and make contests open first director of the Extension only to white people. Bentley, Division. Half of his salary with Knapp’s support, insisted would be paid by Oklahoma they remain open to everybody. A&M and half by the USDA. In Connell unleashed his polita week, Bentley’s office files had ical compatriots, who tried to been moved from Oklahoma remove Bentley from his USDA City to the college’s main position in Oklahoma. Their and cotton with youth and adults. Bentley administration building, Morrill Hall. complaints reached Washington, and a and his team began working with local A week later, on Aug. 6, 1914, a fire delegation traveled to the new state to teachers. White and black teachers were destroyed all but the exterior walls of investigate Bentley. recruited. Within a decade, Oklahoma Morrill Hall. The records of the college’s Rather than condemn Bentley, the would have more than 60 home-demonfirst two decades and Bentley’s records delegates found him innocent of all allegastration agents, including five black agents tions and praised him for his exemplary serving predominantly black communities. were lost. Bentley restored some of the files from copies kept at his Stillwater service. Bringing It Together home and through documents kept by his Cooperation between Oklahoma Oklahoma extension agents. A&M and Oklahoma’s USDA office had By spring 1914, there were several Bentley continued to work in his stalled, but in the meantime Bentley went competing and overlapping extencampus extension office in Stillwater long to work on other reforms. sion efforts in Oklahoma. The USDA, after he officially retired until his death Bentley realized the earliest extenthe Oklahoma State Department of July 5, 1930. sion efforts had neglected half of the rural Agriculture, Oklahoma A&M, the state population, and in 1912 he appointed the first female home-demonstration agents. In a Feb. 19, 1912, report, he recorded 42 agents working with Farmers’ Cooperative In honor of the centennial of the Smith Lever Act on May 8, 2014, the Demonstration and 10 women involved Special Collections and University Archives Department in the OSU Library with Girls’ Canning Demonstration. has created an online series of exhibits featuring the growth of the extension Bentley also described how the demonservices at info.library.okstate.edu/stateisourcampus. stration work was expanding in both corn

Extension’s 100th Anniversary

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ABOVE: A canning demonstration on A.S. Perry’s farm near Yukon, Okla., June 6, 1912, at the state’s first meeting of women agents. BELOW: Three Corn Club boys and their father in Ryan, Okla., Aug. 12, 1912.

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