STATE Magazine, Winter 2014 by Oklahoma State

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Winter 2014, Vol. 10, No. 2 • statemagazine.okstate.edu

Welcome to the Winter 2014 issue of STATE magazine, your source of information from the OSU Alumni Association, the OSU Foundation and University Marketing. On the cover, the new Performing Arts Center will be a wonderful new highlight for OSU’s Stillwater campus. Read more about it inside this edition of STATE. Cover

Oklahoma State University is continuing to expand with several projects including: 32 A new Performing Arts Center 36

A new building for the Spears School of Business

A new wing for the Human Sciences building

46 Even more construction

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“America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration” illustrated “The Experience” at OSU in October. Take a look at our roundup of the week’s events.

EXPANDING ART

HOMECOMING

BUILDING BOOM

rendering by Beck Design

The OSU Museum of Art has launched the New York Project, an ambitious series of exhibitions bringing the work of major New York artists to Oklahoma. First up is American pop artist James Rosenquist.

UNIVERSITY MARKETING Kyle Wray / Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing

COWBOY COLLECTION

Dorothy Pugh / Editor Mark Pennie, Ross Maute / Design

12 Going Pro for a Summer

Phil Shockley & Gary Lawson / Photography

Brittany Lee brought back a summer of professional experience to OSU’s production of Eurydice.

Beverly Bryant & Shelby Holcomb / Staff Writers University Marketing Office / 121 Cordell, Stillwater, OK 74078-8031 / 405.744.6262 / universitymarketing.okstate.edu, statemagazine.okstate. edu / editor@okstate.edu OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

54 A Haven for Pets

Jennifer Grigsby / Chair

The Cohn Pet Care Facility Continual Care Program provides a home for cherished pets after you’re gone.

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

66 Making a Difference With 25 years of service, the Friends of the OSU Library are celebrating the help they’ve provided the Edmon Low Library.

69 White Coat Society

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

The OSU Center for Health Sciences is giving donors the opportunity to be part of the white coat’s heritage by joining a new giving society at the Tulsabased medical school.

Pattie Haga / Vice President and COO Chase Carter / Director of Communications OSU Alumni Association / 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 / 405.744.5368 / orangeconnection.org / info@orangeconnection.org OSU FOUNDATION

72 A Life of Service

Jerry Clack / Chairman of the Board

Alumna Jeraldine “Jerry” Brown has proudly represented her country, her Native American heritage and her alma mater in both war and peace.

Kirk A. Jewell / President Donna Koeppe / Vice President of Administration & Treasurer Brandon Meyer / Vice President & General Counsel Jim Berscheidt / Senior Associate Vice President of Development Services

76 Southern with a French Twist OSUIT alumna graduate puts a Gallic touch on her Southern recipes in a new cookbook.

Chris Campbell / Senior Associate Vice President of Information Strategy Shane Crawford / Senior Associate Vice President of Leadership Gifts & OSU-OKC David Mays / Senior Associate Vice President of Central Development

80 Tracing the Blasts The Center for Improvised Explosives aids investigators with research, testing, training and education.

84 Magical Literary Moments The Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers is marking its 20th anniversary this year.

92 Piecing Together History The trek for answers about the ancient Helena mammoth continues for two Cowboys.

96 Breaking Through Depression OSU-CHS researchers are on the path to a new treatment to help those suffering from depression.

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

Chapters

STATEment

Oral History

101

Snapshot

Class Notes

103

Wellness with Ann Hargis

History

108

POSSE Replay

Paula Voyles / Senior Associate Vice President of Constituency Programs Blaire Atkinson / Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Deborah Adams, Mark Allen, Chris Batchelder, Jerry Clack, Bryan Close, Patrick Cobb, Michael Greenwood, Jennifer Grigsby, John Groendyke, Helen Hodges, David Holsted, David Houston, A.J. Jacques, Kirk Jewell, Steven Jorns, David Kyle, John Linehan, Ross McKnight, Bill Patterson, Lyndon Taylor, Phil Terry, Stephen Tuttle, Dennis White, Jay Wiese, Jerry Winchester / Trustees Shelly Kelly, Kasi Kennedy, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Jacob Longan, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Michael Molholt, Matthew J. Morgan, Benton Rudd / CommunicationsOSU Foundation / 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 740761749 / 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 $0.98 per issue. 35,645/Nov ’14/#5691. Copyright © 2014, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

OSU Honors College one of strongest OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honors College is â&#x20AC;&#x153;one of the strongest in the country,â&#x20AC;? says its first dean, Dr. Keith Garbutt. A record 1,338 students from six undergraduate colleges are enrolled in The Honors College,which grants the highest academic distinction awarded to undergraduates at OSU. They come from 149 Oklahoma cities, 31 other states and 12 other countries. For more information, call 405-744-6799 or visit honors.okstate.edu.

OSU is focused on bright minds, building brighter futures and the brightest world for all.

As a land-grant university, Oklahoma State was created to offer higher education to all, with a focus on practical agriculture and engineering, not to the exclusion of “classical studies.” The arts have been integral to OSU’s mission of improving lives through high-quality teaching, research and outreach. We have outgrown our facilities for our talented visual and performing arts students and faculty. We’ve begun to upgrade our facilities and programs with the addition of the OSU Museum of Art at the Postal Plaza Gallery and the Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Taos, N.M. With the help of alumnus Bill Goldston, we have launched an ambitious series of annual exhibitions at the Postal Plaza Gallery called the New York Project. On display now is work by acclaimed American pop artist James Rosenquist. This show really puts OSU’s museum “on the map.” To elevate OSU music and theatre, we announced the fundraising campaign for a new Performing Arts Center. The Theatre Department will become the main tenant of the Seretean Center. This issue of STATE offers much more on this transformational project for our campus and region. You also will find news on other significant building projects. We are close to breaking ground on the new Spears School of Business building and an expanded College of Human Sciences building. Each will bookend Legacy Walk that runs in front of the Edmon Low Library. Finally, this issue contains a festive recap of “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration.” It was as big and successful as ever and featured our No. 1 Cowboy, Boone Pickens, as grand marshal. The Homecoming theme was “The Experience” and Jeraldine “Jerry” Brown, this year’s American Indian Alumni Society Distinguished alumna, tells how her OSU experience fueled her success. As we complete the year and our record-breaking Branding Success campaign, we are thankful for you and your support. Ann and I wish you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season.

Go Pokes!

Only

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orange

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The new Orange Connection app from the OSU Alumni Association brings your connection to OSU right to your smart phone! • • • • • •

Athletic and campus news updates Calendar of events OSU social media and video streams Digital membership card Member benefits and discounts Join or renew an Alumni Association membership in two quick steps

Download at orangeconnection.org/app or search “Orange Connection” on the online stores below.

The app for you to stay Loyal and True!

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride. ORANGECONNECTION.org | F L/okstatealumni

Dear OSU Alumni and Friends: It’s hard to believe the end is near for the most transformative initiative in OSU’s history. Dec. 31 will mark the official end of Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University. Alumni and friends of the university have accomplished so much by working together to advance this great institution in ways we could not have imagined seven years ago. More than 101,000 generous donors have combined for $1.2 billion in support for students, faculty and staff, facilities and programs. You can’t walk 100 yards on any campus in the OSU system without seeing the impact of the campaign, but it’s not too late to make a difference in the lives of OSU students. A gift of any size helps secure a brighter orange future for the next generation of Cowboys, opening the door to the experiences we all share as part of the OSU family. That’s exactly what Homecoming 2014 celebrated in October. We were honored to have Boone Pickens serve as grand marshal, and the nation got to see what “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration” is all about, thanks to a great episode of ESPNU Road Trip. Don’t miss the

photo recap of Homecoming on Pages 16-30, where you can also learn how students and alumni are responding to Homecoming’s future needs. And now is a great time to download the new Orange Connection app from the Alumni Association. The app includes a mobile membership hub with a digital membership card plus news and events from campus and chapters nationwide. The app is available for Apple and Android devices at orangeconnection.org/app. Of course, before you can become an alumnus, you must first graduate from Oklahoma State University. If you know a young person who would be a terrific member of the next generation of Cowboys, let us know. Recommend a future Cowboy to us or — even better — encourage them to apply now. Visit admissions.okstate.edu for more information and to schedule a campus visit. After all, it’s a great time to be a Cowboy!

Chris Batchelder

Kirk A. Jewell

Kyle Wray

President OSU Alumni Association

President OSU Foundation

OSU Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing

OSU’S H.S. MENDENHALL OBSERVATORY is an instrument of hardcore research located southwest of Stillwater in an open field under clear skies. Its current layout allows stargazing and future development. Did You Know?

By the Calendar

• It houses the largest and most advanced telescope in Oklahoma.

1998 Initial donation of $20,000 made toward observatory construction

• Its initial smaller 14-inch telescope, which was inherited in 1980 through the efforts of OSU’s second astronomer and professor Leon W. Schroeder, was in service until spring 2006. • Its desktop planetarium program (sky simulator) is connected to the observatory to allow for easy viewing.

2001 Construction began 2002 Observatory dedicated to Dr. H.S. Mendenhall, who served as an OSU professor of mathematics and astronomy from 1927–1968 2005 Received a U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant for the current telescope in response to a proposal written by professor Peter Shull, the observatory director 2007–2009 Telescope installed 2010 Observatory featured in BBC film, Wonders of the Solar System, a five-part series presented by professor Brian Cox 2014 Fundraising continues for the control house, which will improve the research facility, bring in more undergraduate and graduate students, make way for an undergraduate astronomy program and allow for public viewing nights

The Telescope A Ritchey Chretien design, the 24-inch-diameter telescope is the largest modernized telescope in the state. It was built to monitor potentially threatening asteroids, to observe planets surrounding stars and to assess the brightness of other objects in the sky.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

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

GoinG PRo

— for a Summer Theater student wins paid internship in well-known California conservatory A paid internship is the college student’s white whale. Many doubt its existence, though they have heard tales. Oklahoma State University’s Brittany Lee spotted one — and captured it. Lee landed an opportunity to intern as a deck crew captain, stage carpenter and welder for the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) Theatrefest in Santa Maria, Calif., last summer. For a theater design and technology student from Stillwater, Okla., the internship offered an enormous opportunity. “The internship was very beneficial to my professional growth,” Lee says. “We are held to a pretty high standard amongst the company because PCPA is so well-known. People recognize even the backstage crew members everywhere we go!” A little stardom, mixed with a little cash and a bountiful amount of education from nationally respected experts would make for a dream vacation but for Lee, it was her summer job. OSU’s Department of Theatre head Andrew Kimbrough

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explains the significance of experiences such as Lee’s. “Brittany exemplifies what the Department of Theatre is all about,” he says. “We provide mentorship to every student and put them in positions where they will learn, grow and be competitive in the industry. Brittany is certainly not the only one — we send out students all the time! — but her ambition and desire have definitely helped her to excel, and we are very proud of her.” Lee took the internship after interviewing at the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology’s national conference. Her attendance speaks to Kimbrough’s goal of preparing students to work in the entertainment industry. Of course, that experience directly benefits OSU’s productions as the students bring their knowledge back to campus. Lee served as assistant technical director to professor Lee Brasuell for a production in the Vivia Locke Theatre of the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. While working on productions of Forever Plaid, Oklahoma!, The San Patricos and 36 Views for PCPA, Lee soaked up valuable lessons in technical theater art. “It was an opportunity to learn what questions need to be asked and to find out

exactly what is needed in constructing scenery within financial, time and human resources,” Lee explains. She helped create scenery that matched the concept art developed by the designer and technical director while learning the special structural needs of indoor and outdoor theatre scenery. All the while, this was to be accomplished with the audience demographic in mind. It was a difficult task to satisfy each need but that was part of the learning process, too. “What this taught me is that it takes full collaboration to make the play a solid piece of theater,” Lee says. While the internship served primarily as a business trip, Lee did find time to enjoy California’s uniqueness. “I experienced things I probably never would have tried had I not taken this internship, like clam chowder and volleyball,” she laughs. Armed with a fresh set of cultural experiences, industry knowledge and new friends, Lee is back at OSU, sharing her story. Perhaps over a bowl of clam chowder she will tell of the time she caught the white whale — a paid internship, in sunny California, and how it shaped her future. — B R I A N P E T R O T TA A N D H E I D I H O F F E R

Brittany Lee brought a summer of professional experience to OSU’s production of Eurydice.

“Brittany exemplifies what the Department of Theatre is all about. Brittany is certainly not the only one — we send out students all the time! — but her ambition and desire have definitely helped her to excel, and we are very proud of her.” — Andrew Kimbrough

PHOTO CREDIT: GARY LAWSON/UNIVERSITY MARKETING

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Dear Cowboy Family, Choose Orange. Choose OSU. Choose Wellness. At OSU, orange is more than a color. It’s a lifestyle. It’s being a Cowboy. It’s being a healthy Cowboy. Choose Orange is a unique University Dining Services program that helps you find healthy food options. A Choose Orange item not only tastes good, but also follows USDA Dietary Guidelines. The Choose Orange logo is displayed on menu boards throughout campus and on grab and go items. Our campus also offers fresh, local produce through a farmer’s market, which provides healthy options and supports local farmers. Cooking classes are available in residence halls, in the Student Union and through the Department of Wellness. We want you to have healthy options and know how to best prepare them. I’m also proud of our focus on sustainability. This year, University Dining Services has partnered with

40 Oklahoma companies and farms, purchasing more than $1.8 million on products grown, made or processed in Oklahoma. In fact, one-third of our dining services budget is spent on sustainable food products. Our efforts extend beyond Stillwater. Across all OSU campuses, we have unique programs that embrace wellness. OSU Extension offices in all 77 Oklahoma counties are educating the public about the importance of nutrition. Our efforts start at OSU, spread to the community and then benefit the state.

Choose Orange. Choose OSU. Choose America’s Healthiest Campus®. In health, Ann Hargis

Choose Orange is a unique University

Dining Services program that helps you find healthy food options. A Choose Orange item not only tastes good, but also follows USDA Dietary Guidelines.

There’s nothing like the experience of “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration,” and it’s estimated that more than 100,000 people enjoyed nine days of exciting events during Homecoming 2014. The OSU family always shows what it means to be loyal and true during Homecoming, and the Alumni Association thanks everyone who had a hand in this year’s celebration. Some of our favorite moments from Homecoming 2014 are captured in the images on the following pages. Visit orangeconnection.org/homecoming to see many more online, including highlight videos. PHOTOS: PHIL SHOCKLEY, GARY LAWSON AND THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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PHOTO / GENESEE PHOTO SYSTEMS

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2014 Homecoming Awards

Football Frenzy: Oct. 19

Legacy Coloring Contest

2nd: The Villages

2nd (tie): Kappa Kappa Gamma/ Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Omicron Pi/Pi Kappa Alpha

Female MVP: Kelsey Jones

3rd: Delta Delta Delta/Beta Theta Pi

Ages 3-5: Layton Henderson, Ponca City, Okla.

Male MVP: Eric Wickliffe

Ages 6-8: Julia Cooper, Honolulu, Hawaii

Sign Competition Student

Ages 9-11: Chloe Beam, Bixby, Okla.

Organizations:

Football Frenzy Greek Life: 1st: Pi Beta Phi/Sigma Nu 2nd: Zeta Tau Alpha/FarmHouse Female MVP: Rachel Lurvey Male MVP: Jake Miller

Open Bracket: 1st: The Independents

Greek Life: 1st: Kappa Alpha Theta/Kappa Sigma

Harvest Carnival Student Organizations: 1st: CASNR Ambassadors

1st: Mortar Board

2nd: Omega Phi Alpha/Alpha Sigma Phi

2nd: Alpha Xi Delta

3rd: Theta Chi/Sigma Phi Lambda

3rd: Alpha Phi Omega

Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice: Pre-Vet Club

Residential Life: 1st: Stout Hall

Harvest II Philanthropy Award: Omega Phi Alpha

2nd: Parker/Wentz

Residential Life:

3rd: Kamm/Peterson/Friend

1st: Kerr-Drummond 2nd: Bennett Hall 3rd: The Villages

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People’s Choice: Kerr-Drummond

Residential Life:

Small Band Competition:

Harvest II Philanthropy Award: Bennett Hall

1st (tie): Bennett Hall and CASNR Village

1st: Perkins-Tryon High School

Greek Life:

2nd: North Monroe

1st: Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta

3rd: Kamm/Peterson/Friend

2nd: Zeta Tau Alpha/FarmHouse

People’s Choice: The Villages

3rd: Kappa Kappa Gamma/Lambda Chi Alpha

Orange Reflection

People’s Choice: Zeta Tau Alpha/ FarmHouse Harvest II Philanthropy Award: Delta Delta Delta/Beta Theta Pi

Chili Cook-Off Student Organizations: 1st: Alpha Phi Omega 2nd: Alpha Zeta 3rd: Alpha Xi Delta People’s Choice: Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association

1st: The Villages 2nd: Kamm/Peterson/Friend 3rd: Bennett Hall

Sea of Orange Parade Large Band Competition: 1st: Stillwater High School 2nd: Noble High School 3rd: Ringwood High School

2nd: Ripley High School 3rd: Henryetta High School Community Entries: 1st: The Wondertorium 2nd: Stillwater’s Wild Pair — Eskimo Joe’s 3rd: Payne County Youth Services Student Organizations: 1st: Dairy Science Club 2nd: Sigma Phi Lambda/Theta Chi 3rd: Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen’s Association Residential Life: 1st: Bennett Hall 2nd: Parker/Wentz 3rd: Kerr-Drummond Grand Marshal’s Cup: Delta Delta Delta/Beta Theta Pi

Jerry Gill Spirit Awards

Engineering Excellence Award: Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta

Residential Life: The Villages

Safety Award: Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta

Greek Life: Gamma Phi Beta/ Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Most Spirited College College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Homecoming King & Queen Brandon Hubbard and Erin Scanlan

Sweepstakes Student Organizations:

House Decorations Alumni Association Chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup: Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta 2nd: Kappa Kappa Gamma/Lambda

1st: Omega Phi Alpha/Alpha Sigma Phi 2nd: Dairy Science Club 3rd: Theta Chi/Sigma Phi Lambda

Homecoming executive committee: Kyle Kertz (from left), Taylor Collins, MaryKate Miller, Emma Elkins, Jimmy Hutson, Kelsi Hildreth, Kara Laster, Blayne Horn and Kyndall Lewis

Residential Life: 1st: Bennett Hall 2nd: Parker/Wentz 3rd: Stout Hall Greek Life: 1st: Kappa Kappa Gamma/Lambda Chi Alpha 2nd: Pi Beta Phi/Sigma Nu 3rd: Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta

Chi Alpha 3rd: Pi Beta Phi/Sigma Nu 4th: Gamma Phi Beta/Sigma Alpha Epsilon 5th: Alpha Chi Omega/Sigma Chi

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Save the Dates! Homecoming 2015 featuring Kansas vs. OSU will be Oct. 18-24, 2015.

Securing Homecoming’s Future Students step up for event’s endowment

For nearly a century, the OSU Alumni Association has been setting the standard with “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration.” OSU alumni, students and friends remain committed to this great tradition — so much so that an endowment was created to help secure its future. This fall, the two bodies governing OSU’s fraternities and sororities pledged to help keep OSU’s Homecoming “America’s Greatest.” Leaders of the Interfraternity Council approached Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder about donating to the fund. A resolution increased IFC member dues from $15 to $20 with the $5 difference designated for the endowment. “I think the Interfraternity Council really embraced this cause,” IFC External Vice President Michael Barr says. “Hopefully, this will bring awareness of the Homecoming Endowment and will encourage other people to follow suit.” Soon after, the Panhellenic Council voted to follow IFC’s lead. Both groups will donate the additional $5 of each member’s dues for the next 10 years, which is expected to total more than $250,000. “Panhellenic’s vote to pledge financial support of current members and those for the next 10 years will, we hope, help ensure the Homecoming Endowment fund can grow and that OSU Homecoming can truly remain ‘America’s Greatest Homecoming’ in perpetuity,” says Emily Ramseyer, Panhellenic vice president of public relations. “We also hope OSU alumni of all ages will take note of current students’ support of this endowment fund and, as a result, consider pledging their own support to build an endowment

that will help fund OSU’s unique Homecoming for decades to come.” The Homecoming Endowment was created in conjunction with OSU’s Branding Success campaign. The endowment surpassed the $1 million mark this year, which allowed the Alumni Association to disperse the first interest payments to OSU living groups this year to help offset their Homecoming costs. “These actions taken by IFC and Panhellenic are both exciting and historic,” says Batchelder. “They show how committed our students are to the future of Homecoming at OSU.” “The need to support Homecoming is high,” Batchelder says. “Other schools have done away with events like Walkaround because of cost increases. We want to make sure future generations of Cowboys can experience the excitement and the feeling of unity we all enjoy every year at Homecoming, and we can do that with the Homecoming Endowment.” Homecoming is one of the largest annual events in Stillwater. This year, the Harvest Carnival brought in more than 19,000 pounds of food — more than 35 percent of annual donations — for the local Harvest II food drive. “Ultimately, there is not a price we can put on the feelings of unity created when 100,000 past, present

and future Cowboys come together for Homecoming,” Batchelder says. As more funds are raised toward the endowment’s $3 million goal, additional support will be provided to each living group during future Homecoming celebrations. For more information on making a donation to the endowment, visit orangeconnection.org/endow homecoming or contact Chris Batchelder at 405-744-5368.

IFC President Tim Krenz (left) presented the group’s first Homecoming Endowment donation to OSU Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder on Nov. 13.

STATE

of the

ARTS New performance facility will boost music and theatre

The new Performing Arts Center will host theatrical performances, concerts, lectures and other events.

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RENDERINGS COURTESY OF BECK DESIGN

OSU believes the arts are integral to its mission of improving lives through high-quality teaching, research and outreach. With that in mind, the university will soon build a nearly $60 million Performing Arts Center that will greatly enhance the study, creation, performance and appreciation of music and theatre. President Burns Hargis hosted an Oct. 30 news conference and evening events to announce the plans for a premier venue at the southwestern corner of University Avenue and Hester Street, across from

the 75-foot fly space, where elaborate scenery and props can be easily lowered onto the stage. The orchestra pit will accommodate up to 90 performers and provide additional house seating. There will also be club seating available in the balcony row. An outdoor amphitheater will create opportunities never before possible at Oklahoma State. “This facility will enrich the lives of everyone not just at OSU, but in Stillwater and the entire region,” Hargis says. “It will bring in many

STILLWATER STILLWATER WILLWILL BE ABE BETTER A BETTER PLACE, OSU PLACE, WILL OSU BEWILL A BETTER BE A BETTER PLACE, AND PLACE, AND OUR OUR REGION REGION WILLWILL BE A BE BETTER A BETTER PLACE WITH PLACETHIS WITH NEW THIS FACILITY.” NEW FACILITY.” — JOHN BARTLEY, MAYOR OF STILLWATER cultural events that add educational value for people.” Stillwater Mayor John Bartley notes that the connections between OSU and the community aren’t always obvious. For example, college students often teach music and drama lessons for local youth. Thus, a venue that improves the education

RENDERING COURTESY OF BECK DESIGN

the Atherton Hotel and Bennett Chapel. He also said OSU supporters Anne and Michael Greenwood, Frank and Carol Morsani, and Jim Vallion are some of the first major donors to the center. More than $16 million has been raised toward the project. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Hargis says. “There is a growing understanding of the importance of the arts and culture across campus and how vital they are to the education we aspire to provide at OSU.” Anne Greenwood adds, “The students are amazing, and the music is superb. They need and deserve better facilities to become the best they can be.” The new Performing Arts Center will house an 1,100-seat concert hall, a 222-seat recital hall, a 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and a 600-space parking garage, among other features. The main concert hall will host traveling theatrical performances, student-led concerts, guest lectures and other events. Performers will appreciate many features, such as the extensive wing space for stage entrances and exits and

for OSU students will also benefit younger performers. “Stillwater will be a better place, OSU will be a better place, and our region will be a better place with this new facility,” Bartley adds. The Performing Arts Center complex will also be an invaluable academic resource as the home of the Department of Music and its master-class curriculum. Teaching studios will provide space for one-on-one lessons, while ensemble rooms will have appropriate space and acoustics for practice and instruction. Barry Epperley, project consultant and founder of Tulsa Community College’s Signature Symphony, had a performing career spanning more than 40 years. He arranged and produced 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. He has conducted symphonies across the globe, including four appearances at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. He emphasizes the importance of technology for modern performers, who need a deep understanding of sound, video and lighting. continues

The 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater will feature a massive screen that can show events taking place inside the Performing Arts Center or telecast from around the world.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

“Technology is the center of the music world,” says the two-time music education alumnus. “Our students need to have that technology as part of their learning, and they will.” Examples of how technology might be used include instantaneous recordings of student practice sessions, robotic cameras to capture and broadcast stage performances and the ability to telecast Center events onto a screen outside the building for an audience gathered at the amphitheater and around the world. “Those are big dreams. It’s going to jump us ahead a lot — 35 to 40 years at least — and it’s going to be right here at Oklahoma State University,” says Epperley, whose academic career included a doctorate from the University of Southern California before becoming a professor at Oral Roberts University. Two of the Oct. 30 events were held at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts, the current home of the Departments of Music and Theatre. It was renovated in the 1970s after opening in 1912 as the Auditorium Building. Upon completion of the new building, the Department of Theatre will become the main tenant of the Seretean Center. “The Seretean Center has served us well for 90 years,” Hargis says. “We have all of our theater and music here.”

“A new music facility isn’t just a contriA capacity crowd filled the Seretean bution to future students; it’s also such a Center Concert Hall for the main celebratory event. “A Night of Orange and Black” contribution to past and current students,” Bates says. “As the institution and departwas broadcast on OState.TV, where it can ment continues to excel and build a still be viewed. It included performances reputation for excellence, the value of by the Departments of Theatre and Music my degree and all those who have come as well as two special guests: alumna and before me will only continue to increase. renowned opera singer Sarah Coburn; … A new Performing Arts Center will and Stockton Helbing, who plays with really make OSU shine as America’s Doc Severinsen’s Big Band. During a preBrightest Orange.” event gathering of OSU supporters, even Jonathan Villela, an instrumental Hargis entertained the crowd by singing music education senior, praises the faculty and playing piano. as “brilliant educators” and “internationLucy Bates, a piano performance ally acclaimed musicians.” senior, says OSU was the only school she “It is with so much joy and excitecould find to support her dream of studyment that I join you in this celebration, ing music before pursuing a career in knowing that our state-of-the-art faculty medicine. She also explains why she is so will soon be housed in a state-of-the-art excited about the Performing Arts Center, Performing Arts Center,” Villela adds. even though she will be in medical school “This building will absolutely transform when it is completed. the way music is created at Oklahoma State. Past music degrees and future music degrees will gain value. Most importantly, the building itself will house and nourish PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FEATURES future generations of students who, like me, will receive a life-changing experience • $59 million facility at Oklahoma State.” • 1,100-seat performance hall, including a balcony row Hargis says OSU strives to be the best for club seating at everything it does, and the facility will catapult the fine-arts program to a new • Orchestra pit to accommodate 90 performers and level. additional audience seating “There is a matter of pride and • Extensive wing space and fly space for elaborate entrances commitment,” Hargis says. “If you have and exits as well as quick scenery changes a true commitment to something, you are going to see that it has all that it needs to • A 222-seat recital hall to host performances by a 60-voice fulfill its promise. The new Performing chorus or 50-piece orchestra/band Arts Center will serve the entire region • Recording equipment in all practice rooms and the entire university. I think it shows our commitment to being the finest.” • Outdoor amphitheater with seating for 1,000

• A 600-space parking garage to serve OSU during the day and the Center at night

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JAC O B L O N G A N A N D A M A N DA O ’ T O O L E M A S O N

WELCOME

Jenifer Reynolds, Emcee

Fanfar e fo r the OSU Perfo r m i n g Art s Cen ter

Joseph Missal, conducting

Car m i na B ur ana

In Truitina Dulcissime Sarah Coburn, soprano Finale Combined Choirs & OSU Symphony Z. Randall Stroope, conducting

REMAR KS

Lucy Bates, OSU student Eric Stults, saxophone OSU Symphony Eric Garcia, conducting

OSU Jazz Ensemble, featuring Stockton Helbing, drums Ryan Gardner, conducting

Mad Scen e from Lucia Di Lamm er mo o r

Sarah Coburn

REMAR KS

Burns Hargis, OSU president Dr. Barry Epperley

Pi n es of Rom e, Fi na l Movem en t

OSU Symphony

PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

Tomasi Saxophon e Con certo

Po keapella Si n g, Si n g, Si n g

OSU Alma Mater

REMAR KS

Jonathan Villela, OSU student

leroy Anderson’s B ugler’s Ho li day

Trumpets: Cleon Chai, Nick Doutrich and Tyler Murray

The Impossib le Dr eam Bill Sheets

Musical and theatrical talent filled the stage at the Seretean Center Concert Hall during the celebratory event, “A Night of Orange and Black.” Performances included the combined choirs and OSU Symphony (above left) and renowned opera singer Sarah Coburn (right). The event was broadcast on OState.TV, where it can still be viewed.

Serious Business

Groundbreaking sets the stage for new building for Spears School

Ask Ken and Leitner Greiner where they were Dec. 9, 1964, and the two look puzzled while attempting to recall a half-century-old memory. But phrase the question differently: Do they remember the groundbreaking of the current OSU Business Building? Smiles spread across their faces. St o r y b y

TERRY TUSH

continues

South wing and courtyard view. Illustration by Eliott + Associates Architects

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Both Greiners were recent business school graduates on that day when what was then the College of Business broke ground for OSU’s first building devoted solely to business education. The longtime OSU supporters fondly recall that ceremony between Morrill Hall and the Student Affairs Building. The memory inspired them to travel from their Oklahoma City home to Stillwater on Sept. 5, 2014, for the groundbreaking of a new, state-of-the-art business building. The Greiners were among a packed crowd of nearly 400 people at the recent groundbreaking ceremony. The event concluded with a 40-foot-by-40-foot banner unfurling from the top of the current building to reveal the design for the future home of the Spears School of Business. Construction begins early next year, with completion expected in 2018.

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“It was wonderful to think back to what’s gone on since the last building was finished,” says Ken Greiner. “I feel like I’ve been part of it for more than half the life of the school. When I first went there it wasn’t even accredited and it’s just come a long, long way. It’s amazing how the school has grown up and is now one of the top business schools. “I think there will be more of an identity with the business school and camaraderie because everybody will be in one building, and not scattered all over the campus. I think it’s going to be really wonderful for the Spears School, and for future business students at OSU.” At the event, remarks were made by Burns Hargis, OSU president; Ken Eastman, dean of the Spears School; Rand Elliott, president of Elliott + Associates Architects; OSU business school alumni

and friends Donald Sample, Jennifer Grigsby and Monica Eastin; and current students Brett Humphrey, Rafael Rodriguez and Kedar Pai. “This new building is a major step in the process of transforming our campus,” Hargis says. “As a Spears School graduate myself, I look forward to seeing all that will be accomplished because of it. And this would not be possible without the many donors who recognized the need for this facility and stepped up to provide the necessary funding.” Eastman says this event is noteworthy as students, faculty and staff anticipate a new facility to replace the building that has been the school’s home since 1966. “We are very excited to be moving forward on the new home of the Spears School of Business,” he says. “This project was successful because of the support of

View looking east. Illustration by Elliott + Associates Architects

“As a Spears School graduate myself, I look forward to seeing all that will be accomplished because of it. And this would not be possible without the many donors who recognized the need for this facility and stepped up to provide the necessary funding.” — OSU PRESIDENT BURNS HARGIS so many alumni and donors, and we are deeply grateful for all of the donations we received. The building will provide a dynamic educational environment, allowing us to fully embrace the opportunities that our next 100 years will bring.” Approximately half of the $69 million committed to date for the building came

from donors, with the university and Spears School providing the rest. More than 400 individuals, corporations and foundations made this landmark project possible through their gifts. Fundraising continues with an ultimate goal of $76 million to fully fund the project.The facility will create an identity and unified

space for the Spears School, which has faculty and staff housed in four buildings across campus. It will include an inviting space to encourage students enrolled in OSU’s other colleges to take at least one business course. The Greiners weren’t the only alumni who came back to Stillwater for the groundbreaking. Sample, a 1987 business administration graduate, traveled from Indonesia to speak. “Growing up as a farm kid from Guymon may seem to limit your career opportunities, but gaining an education from the Spears School was the key that allowed me to consider endless career opportunities throughout the world,” Sample says. “All of that was possible due to the hard work and planning of people I never knew, who 50 to 60 years prior continues

thought about what my generation needed to be successful in the world. They established the building blocks they felt would allow graduates to complete and excel, and I am living proof that their planning paid off. “Thus, participating in the groundbreaking allowed me to pay it forward and help upcoming generations at the Spears School have the tools to achieve the same or better levels of success that I did,” he continues. “While the building is only one aspect of what is planned for the Spears School in the coming years, it is the cornerstone for every initiative to follow. And the building is a symbol of the commitment that Oklahoma, the university, the alumni, and the students have made to ensure continued growth and improvement for all who attend this school.” Spears School alumni Sara Brown and Matt Jeffery traveled to Stillwater from their home in Lafayette, Colo., for the groundbreaking.

PHOTOS: GARY LAWSON, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

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“We are very excited to be moving forward on the new home of the Spears School of Business. The building will provide a dynamic educational environment, allowing us to fully embrace the opportunities that our next 100 years will bring.” — SPEARS SCHOOL DEAN KEN EASTMAN “I was overwhelmed with pride when the design was presented, and a bit jealous,” says Brown, who earned both a marketing degree and a master’s in public administration from OSU. “I couldn’t believe that this innovative, interactive and revolutionary building was going to be a reality for Oklahoma State. It made it even more exciting knowing that the very the site you were standing on was going to change the face of business for future graduates. I have never been more proud

Top left: Pistol Pete welcomes the banner showing the planned business building at the end of the groundbreaking. Top right: OSU President Burns Hargis speaks at the groundbreaking. Bottom: The crowd at the groundbreaking gather under a tent to hear the speakers.

to be a Spears graduate and Oklahoma State Cowgirl.” Jeffery, an economics alumnus, is pleased with the design. “This milestone is a testament to the bright future of the business school and provides tangible evidence of OSU’s commitment to bringing the finest facilities to our campus,” he says. “Witnessing and sharing this transcendent event with family members representing three generations of Cowboy graduates made this day especially memorable. We reveled in past experiences at the current building and spoke of the opportunities that await future Cowboys when they receive a firstclass education at the new facility. “As demonstrated by other upgraded facilities on campus, infrastructure improvements matter in a competitive academic landscape. The new Spears building will undoubtedly attract top faculty and students who will propel Oklahoma State to even greater educational heights.”

Interactivity will be key for the building. Spaces will support interaction among all who use it. These include common areas such as the living room and the ConocoPhillips Student Lounge, as well as informal spaces. Interaction between students and alumni is another focus of the building, which will include space for alumni to spend entire days meeting with students in small groups or individually while still having workspace to stay connected to their offices. The classrooms will incorporate flexibility and interactivity. The movable furniture will facilitate various configurations and incorporate small-group exercises into class time. This reflects the curriculum’s hands-on, experiential-learning approach designed to prepare graduates for success in the modern workplace, which often requires collaboration in small groups. The building design features the modified Georgian architecture prevalent on campus and illustrates the elements of

classical architecture: symmetry, balance, proportion and a human scale. Familiar campus features such as dormers and gables will be included. The building will be the eastern bookend of the main quad. Hester Street will be updated to become as pedestrian-friendly as Monroe Street between University and Hall of Fame. Legacy Walk will end in front of the building. Elliott + Associates Architects of Oklahoma City, which designed the Postal Plaza project in downtown Stillwater for OSU, is the architect for the new building, and Manhattan Construction was selected by the Board of Regents as the construction firm. The event aired on OState.TV, where it can still be viewed.

View looking east from the south entrance, Edmon Low Library. Illustration by Elliott + Associates Architects

Housing Human Sciences College breaks ground on new wing

ore than 250 people didn’t let Oct. 4’s chilly autumn weather stop them from attending a Saturday-morning celebration outside the College of Human Sciences building. Human Sciences Dean Stephan Wilson led the ceremonial groundbreaking for the addition of a third wing to the facility, which opened in 1951. This 82,000-square-foot expansion will add 27,000 square feet of laboratory space, a 350-seat auditorium, a 5,000-square-foot great hall and a 1,300-square-foot professional partners’ suite. “Here we are almost 65 years after construction began on this building, embarking once again on creating spaces that will accommodate students so that they can learn and explore in ways suited to the 21st century,” Wilson says. “The donors and campaign committee members we honor today are visionaries who had the foresight to know the value of experiential learning. The technologies and space needed for this type of learning are the foundation for this addition to the current building.” This expansion fulfills the vision of Henry Bennett, OSU’s legendary president from 1928-1950. Bennett celebrated the 50th anniversary of what was then the Division of Home Economics in

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RENDERINGS / COURTESY OF DLR GROUP / LWPB ARCHITECTURE

Artist’s rendering of the new Human Sciences wing as seen from Monroe Street.

1950 by announcing plans for its new three-wing home. Wilson says that just as that building is being adapted for 21st-century learning, “It will also be adaptable 50 years from now to accommodate different ways of teaching and learning that we cannot yet imagine.” Burns Hargis, OSU’s current president, also stressed the importance of the expansion, which is estimated to finish by fall 2016. “The truth is that facilities don’t transform things — people transform things — but facilities provide the platform for people

PHOTOS / CHRIS LEWIS

Cowboy-style construction hats went to (from left) Bryan Close, major donor and Human Sciences Campaign Committee co-chair; Kirk Jewell, OSU Foundation president; Jim Anderson, committee member; Becky Steen, committee member; Gerald Roulet, committee co-chair; Stephan Wilson, Human Sciences dean; Gary Sandefur, OSU provost; Jack Betts, president, Human Sciences Partners Group; Jim Hopper, committee member and Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation representative; and Helen and C.L. Craig, committee members and C.L. Craig Family Foundation representatives.

“I can’t think of a better return on a donor’s time or treasure to transform the world,” Hargis says. “That’s why it is so importhan quality education,” Roulet says. “The geometric effect of tant that not only do we have the facilities where our faculty and a dollar spent can be as high students operate, but we also as 10-to-1, which is unparaldemonstrate to the nation and leled in most other opportunithe world that we are committies. Making a difference in ted to being one of the best in the quality of people’s lives the whole country.” has always been a core value Among the event’s • Br yan Close for me, and Human Sciences is honorees was Bryan Close • C.L. Craig Family Foundation uniquely positioned to develop of Tulsa, a 1966 hotel and students who will advance that restaurant alumnus who was • E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation value.” recognized as both a major • Human Sciences Par tners Group Jim Hopper, president of donor and co-chair of the • Steve Jorns the Oklahoma Restaurant Human Sciences Campaign Association, was honored as Committee. • Love’s Travel Stops and Countr y Stores a committee member and a “This new facility should • J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation representative of the Oklahoma provide the means for the Hospitality Foundation. The college to appropriately • Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation OHF has made a gift to react to anticipated greater • Rober t Glenn Rapp Foundation name the Center for Beverage demands and expectations,” • Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Education after a longtime Close says. “The Center for member of the foundation’s Beverage Education has to be board of directors, Wayne my favorite feature, if for no Hirst. Hopper says Hirst was other reason than its uniquea major force behind the increased appreciation for wine in ness to higher education in Oklahoma and its essential contribuOklahoma. tion to the hospitality programs.” “He has done so much for the industry, and we felt like Committee co-chair Gerald Roulet of Sand Springs, Okla., this was a really good way to honor his commitment and was also honored. He says he supports education because it is the only permanent path to social and economic advancement. continues

M AJOR DONORS

Artist’s renderings of the virtual behavior modeling lab (left) and the great hall (right), just two of the many features in the new wing of the College of Human Sciences building.

contributions,” Hopper says. “Similarly, this whole facility will be great for the state’s hospitality industry because it enhances an already outstanding program. It enhances OSU’s ability to bring in and educate great students who will be the future leaders for these companies.” DLR Group architect Nathan Miller says the building will display Human Sciences’ wide variety of projects and programs. It will also feature high-tech virtual and augmented-reality labs. Natalie Richardson, marriage and family therapy master’s student, and Ty McCall, hotel and restaurant administration junior, expressed students’ gratitude to the donors. Donors signed metal leaves that will become part of a permanent tree sculpture in the new wing. Human Sciences students also presented personalized cowboy-style construction hats to donors and committee members. “We are looking forward to the addition to our building as the college continues to expand and grow,” Wilson says. “With the students in mind, we have ensured the new addition will provide them with the best education possible. Frankly, the list of possibilities for this new, vital space is limited only by the imagination. Now is the time for the College of Human Sciences to build the future.” The ceremony aired on OState.TV, where it may still be viewed. More information is available at humansciences.okstate.edu/new-building.

HUMAN SCIENCES C A M PA I G N C OM M I T T E E • Br yan Close, co-chair • Gerald Roulet, co-chair • Jim Anderson • Jessica Begley • Sandy Bennett

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• Helen and C.L. Craig • Jim Hopper • Dave Johnson • Steve Jorns • Bob Slater • Becky Steen

Dean Stephan Wilson (above) thanked those who made this renovation possible. Among them was Bryan Close (below), a donor and co-chair of the campaign committee. Close signed one of the metal leaves that will become part of a permanent tree sculpture in the new wing.

Russia

Italy

Australia

Papua New Guinea

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Major construction projects are giving a new look to OSU’s landscape

A Bigger

BOOM T

S TO R Y BY B E V E R LY B R YA N T • P H OTO S BY G A R Y L AW S O N

hese projects, ranging from new buildings and expanding faculty offices and teaching spaces to new dormitories, have a combined preliminary cost of nearly $190 million, according to Mike Buchert, director of Long Range Facilities Planning. Mary Bryans, in the Budget and Asset Management Department, says the funds are coming from many sources, including donations to Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University, general revenue bonds and university funds.

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1 5

1 Veterinary Medicine Academic Center

2 Information Technology Building

3 Library Auxiliary Building 4 Spears School of Business

5 College of Human Sciences 6 University Commons 7 Bert Cooper Engineering Laboratory

The Veterinary Medicine Academic Center along Farm Road near Hall of Fame is giving faculty members new space for their offices, Buchert says. Dr. Jean Sander, dean of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, says the new office space has been a long time coming. When the current building was occupied in 1981, she says, a “cube farm” was created in the basement. “It was intended to be temporary,” Sander says, “but they are still using it today.” The offices in the new building will be a boon on several levels. Current faculty will enjoy the new spaces, Sander says, and the update will make the university more attractive to potential faculty hires. “Higher education is a buyer’s market,” she says. “Clinical specialists can earn a lot more money elsewhere. We need something more to help us recruit them. The new building is coming, and it is part of the discussion when candidates are coming here.” The truth, she says, is that “we’re stealing each other’s faculty and there’s only so many candidates available from the 28 veterinary schools in the country.” A second phase that will include an auditorium is pending funding. “The university agreed to pay for the office building, but I needed to fundraise for the auditorium,” Sander says with a laugh. Sander says the auditorium will offer many benefits for the veterinary school, particularly for a “2+2 program” with Arkansas. The 2+2 program is modeled after an agreement between Iowa and Nebraska. “Most vet schools are state funded, with preference given to state students,” she says. “We have 82 students, and only 24 of those can come from out of state. That leaves some students out in the cold if their states do not have veterinary schools.” States have been making agreements to solve that shortage, she says. “The states that do not have veterinary programs have been entering contracts with veterinary schools to save seats at their in-state tuition rate,” she says. “The sending states subsidize the difference between

in-state and out-of-state tuition for their students.” In the Iowa-Nebraska partnership, Nebraska students participated through distance learning the first two years, then attended Iowa State University for their third and fourth years. Likewise, Arkansas students would come to OSU, once there is a lab space for them to get hands-on experience. Sander says a task force has been formed to determine how the college’s

current spaces can best be utilized after the new office building is complete. “We have a great hospital,” Sander says. “It has pretty good space but a unique floor plan. We’ll be looking at a complete building analysis.” The office building’s foundation work began in fall 2014. Completion of the $5.4 million project is expected in summer 2015. continues

The Library Auxiliary Building, a high-density storage building designed to hold approximately 1.5 million books, is under construction on Hall of Fame Avenue east of the Physical Plant administration building. “The book storage part of the building will have no windows and will be kept at 50 degrees,” Buchert says. A portion of the building will be used as office space for a small staff. Bonnie Ann Cain-Wood, the OSU Library’s senior communications specialist, says the building will be filled with high-density shelving. “There will be a lot of materials in a very small footprint,” she says. The climate and light controls will provide an ideal archival environment. Part of what will make the facility more efficient is the way books and other materials will be stored. The material will be stored on 30-foot high shelves, and staff members can retrieve items using a cherry picker lift, she says. The items that may be moved to the LAB include duplicates of printed materials, print versions of materials available online, older non-research materials and materials that need special archival care, she says. “We have been struggling with

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space issues for years,” Cain-Wood says. “Edmon Low Library is far beyond its capacity. The result is a dramatic reduction in public seating.” Moving the selected material will increase the space available for public events, study groups and private study areas. “According to the door counts, we have a million visitors a year,” she says. “Ideally, a campus library our size would have far more seating. During our busiest times, we’ve seen students sitting on the floor.” This is not the first time the library has dealt with a large move of materials. “We have 250,000 items in the Library Annex on North Boomer Road, so we have experience in moving materials,” Cain-Wood says. The annex was completed in 2003. Although neither the annex nor the LAB will be open for browsing materials, library users can request materials stored there and access them quickly. “If we have a request by 11 a.m., we will have it available by 5 p.m.,” CainWood says. “We can make the materials available in one business day.” If someone needs a portion of the materials quicker, the work can be digitized within copyright regulations and sent to the user electronically.

“Our online discovery tools will help ensure relocated material remains accessible,” Cain-Wood says. “We call our catalog the Big Orange Search System. With a single search box, users can search hundreds of our library resources simultaneously. BOSS also helps you narrow or expand your results, so you can find the sources you need.” Another special feature of the OSU library is on-site access to any Oklahoma resident. “Since we are a land-grant college, our resources are available to any Oklahoman. You can visit us in person to search databases or check out materials,” she says. When moving day comes for the materials going to the LAB, the library is ready with a Jeep and a trailer. “The librarians will be very involved in hand-picking the materials to go over,” she says. “We have hired a LAB manager who will also have a part-time team. They will handle everything from relocating and archiving materials to retrieving and delivering requests.” The $7.5 million project should be finished by the end of 2014.

The Information Technology Building is an $8-million project constructed east of the Library Auxiliary Building. “This will consolidate 150 people who work in IT into one space, freeing up internal space in buildings throughout the campus,” Buchert says. Construction was completed in midOctober, but punch lists and furniture deliveries were expected to take several weeks as employees started moving into the building. Darlene Hightower with Information Technologies says IT employees are spread among Whitehurst Hall, the Math Science Building and Scott Hall. Hightower says IT has about 125 fulltime employees, along with part-time and student workers. She says Data Center employees will not move, keeping deskside support, executive support and walk-in support functions central to campus. Even with moving headaches, Hightower looks forward to the new building. “I think it’s great,” she says. “We’re going to enhance our collaboration efforts. It’s an open cubicle concept. You don’t have to go very far to call a meeting.” The IT building will have an unlikely feature in its parking lot. Joe Nelson in the Athletics Department says 34 pedestals have been installed to provide electric hookups for recreational vehicles. “We also use Lot 74 across from the Colvin Center for RV parking,” Nelson says. “There are 78 spaces for members of

the State Rangers RV Club and it is full, with a waiting list of about 30 people. “We just received these spaces in Lot 81 (at the IT building) this fall. We have been using it for POSSE members with Silver Star or above parking on a firstcome, first-served basis. The 78 units are reserved by space in Lot 74.”

Nelson says Athletics is monitoring usage this fall to determine how much traffic interest there will be in Lot 81 in order to form a plan for the future. “We will still need to make space for telecom and IT employees who have to work 24/7,” Nelson says. continues

PHOTOS / BRUCE RUSSELL

The Bert Cooper Engineering Laboratory is a high-tech building with some unusual features going up on Tyler Road, one block north of McElroy. “The 33,000-square-foot building will be used as a structural engineering and materials engineering testing laboratory,” says Buchert. The laboratory will have the capacity to test full-size bridges or multistory buildings, he says. The Cooper Lab’s strong floor will be 4 feet thick and supported by a 20-ton crane. The system will provide a consistent range of temperatures for testing with a geothermal system that will showcase technology developed in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Engineering. This project will cost about $7 million. The building construction used environmentally sustainable methods from concrete foundations to the heating and cooling systems, all developed by faculty and researchers at OSU. Concrete foundations used multi-graded concrete mixtures to reduce total cement content. Additionally, the Cooper Lab is one of the first major building projects in the state to use a blended cement that contains limestone cement and flyash. Together, that adds up to a more than 40 percent

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reduction in the carbon dioxide footprint on the 2,000 cubic yards of concrete. Additionally, 96 percent of the structural steel supplied by W&W Steel is made from recycled materials. This is all part of a larger strategy laid out by CEAT Dean Paul Tikalsky: “The Cooper Lab will be home to developing the next generation of structural materials and sensor technology, and we hope to showcase the world-leading geothermal technology developed within our college. The geothermal technology that was developed right here at OSU is now used around the world. We hope that the Cooper Lab will provide a working example for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.” The laboratory will also feature a testing bay dedicated to performing structural engineering and materials research for their responses to fires and other hazardous events. There remains much to be learned to ensure the life safety of building inhabitants and first responders. The laboratory’s namesake, Bert Cooper, was a longtime supporter of OSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Associate Professor Bruce Russell says Bert Cooper “was the reason I came to OSU.” Russell offers a little history on the generous OSU donor: “Bert started in

sales at a small metal fabricator, W&W Steel Co. in Oklahoma City. Eventually, he and his son Rick Cooper bought the company, and Bert became chief executive officer and executive chairman. Under Bert’s leadership and direction, W&W Steel became one of the

The topping-out ceremony featured the signing of a structural beam for the Cooper Lab. Rick Cooper signed it “For Dad” in the center.

has made many donations to help with new largest steel fabricators in the country. buildings around the campus. His son, Rick W&W performs projects all over North Cooper, is now the president and CEO of America and is involved in the most W&W Steel and remains a strong supporter complicated and the most highly visible of both academic and athletic programs projects nationwide. The AT&T Stadium at OSU. To help ensure the success of the in Arlington, Texas, where the Dallas Cooper Lab, W&W donated all the steel Cowboys play, is one of W&W’s recent materials and steel erection.” high-profile projects.” All of the architecture and engineering In 2006, Cooper created a $500,000 services were donated by Frankfurt Short endowed professorship to benefit the civil engineering department. He died on Feb. 28, Bruza of Oklahoma City, Russell says. “Jim Bruza was a graduate of the archi2012, but the plans for the laboratory had tecture program. They have donated 100 been in the works for more than a decade. percent of their work, with a value well “Now we’re getting it done,” Russell over $1 million,” Russell says. says. “When completed, the Cooper Lab “Cobb Engineering of Oklahoma City will be the largest and best equipped donated all the civil engineering. Jim structural engineering and structural Cobb was a graduate of A&M in 1950s. materials laboratory in the mid-contiJim was one of the charter members of nent and Rocky Mountain States. From the POSSE Club, starting in the 1960s,” the West Coast to the East Coast, and Russell says. between Urbana, Ill., and Austin, Texas, About 30 companies are partners in the Cooper Lab will be the premiere facilthe construction of the laboratory, he says. ity of its kind.” “This has been a real project for Bert,” Russell says. “Over the years, W&W Steel

University Commons

is made up of three buildings in the student residence project that will house 950 students on Hall of Fame Avenue. University Commons, built in the Neo-Georgian style, will replace KerrDrummond, which will be demolished after students move into the new dormitory in fall 2015. “Construction should be finished next summer, and the building will open next fall. You can really see the building coming together now,” Buchert says. The estimated project cost is $65 million. The project is going up on the former site of the track and field center just west of Cowboy Mall.

Donors support OSU in many ways, including outright cash gifts, donations of property and estate-planning tools such as wills and trusts. An opportunity that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as well known is the gift of mineral rights. If you donate oil and gas royalties to the OSU Foundation, we can manage those assets in-house and help you achieve your charitable goals. Whether the gift is an entire or undivided fractional interest, it can significantly impact many areas, including scholarships, faculty, facilities and programs. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turning something in your backyard into a gift that helps students an exciting thought?

Overcoming a Rivalry Daughter’s OSU experience opens businessman’s eyes to helping students here

klahoma City business leader Tony Say believes a college education is critical for those about to enter the workforce. So much so that he provides financial support to students attending his alma mater’s in-state rival. Say is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Let’s get that out of the way. He started and succeeded with several businesses in Oklahoma, including Clearwater Enterprises. He is president of the natural gas retail sales, marketing and investment company, which he began in 1999. Say has hired many OSU graduates, and his daughter Emily became a Cowgirl. She enjoyed her experience in Stillwater immensely, and her father took notice. “It was a great environment for her,” he says. “I was really impressed with the programs provided to help incoming freshmen.” As he sees it, OSU provides the type of bang-for-its-buck a successful businessman covets. Say now looks for ways to offer that value to students who may not otherwise have the means to attend college. He began by offering assistance to students attending his alma mater but in recent years has offered opportunities to those choosing OSU.

Tia Briggs receives Say’s scholarship. “I’ve always wanted to help kids who need financial help to get through school when they otherwise would not be able to,” Say explains. Serving as board chair with A Chance to Change Foundation, Say met a young man who couldn’t afford college. Say offered to fund his education at OSU. Upon graduation, the young man went to work for A Chance to Change Foundation. Then in August, he joined the Peace Corps, where he currently serves in Africa. Such a positive experience showed Say that he was on the right track. He is now providing tuition, room and board for Tia Briggs, a psychology sophomore, and wants to reach more students. While that

effort is in the planning stages, Say clearly enjoys getting to know interested students. When he reviews an application for the scholarship, he approaches the candidates differently than he might for job applicants at his companies. As an employer, Say looks first to see if potential hires have degrees and secondly how they performed in school. The scholarship process is focused less on results and more on drive. “Desire is key,” Say notes. “When we look at someone’s résumé, I will pick out those who have been involved and have some extracurricular activities in high school.” The applicant is asked to write an essay on a single question: “How will this money benefit you?” He ends the process with a face-to-face interview before making his final decision. “In today’s [job] environment, you have to have a college degree,” Say explains. “You really can’t even get in the door without a degree in the professional world. We’re trying to open that avenue to kids that otherwise would not be able to do it.” B R I A N P E T R O T TA

“You really can’t even get in the door without a degree in the professional world. We’re trying to open that avenue to kids that otherwise would not be able to do it.” — Tony Say, president, Clearwater Enterprises

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

Cats at the Cohn Pet Care Facility enjoy a spacious sunroom, complete with climbing trees, pet beds and vistas of the great outdoors through large windows.

for Pets in Life’s Storms “I didn’t have a plan for the care of my pets should anything happen to me and it caused me a great deal of consternation. After being introduced to the Cohn Pet Care Facility, I realized what the shelter had to offer was exactly what I was looking for in the way of medical care and a permanent home for my pets should the need arise. I promptly set up an endowment. It is so comforting to know my remaining pets will always be taken care of if I am unable to do so.” — Vicki Palmer, dog owner and benefactor of the Cohn Pet Care Facility In addition to endowments honoring her pets, Palmer has also made several other gifts to the Cohn Pet Care Facility including furniture, décor, a vacuum and a lawn mower. These additional donations make the facility more comfortable and more like home for the pets that are living there. If you are interested in providing gifts or cash to enhance the Cohn Facility, contact Heather Clay at 405-385-5607 or hclay@osugiving.com.

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f something happened to you, who would

as any medical procedures, routine veterinary visits and vaccines. OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital is staffed with board-certified experts in their fields, ensuring your pet receives quality and timely attention.

care for your four-legged family members?

Who would cover their veterinary medical

What happens to my endowment if my pet passes away before me?

expenses? Who would walk your dog or play

Your endowed gift ensures the health and happiness of whichever animal (at the same endowment level) that may be your companion at the time your pet arrives at the Cohn Pet Care Facility. If your pet passes away before admittance to the facility, your endowment will extend to any future pet you may acquire at the appropriate endowment level. After your pet is deceased, the endowed fund will benefit the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences as a whole. Your gift will support the education of future veterinarians and research into new and improved veterinary treatments.

with your cat? The answer is as simple as the

Cohn Pet Care Facility Continual Care Program at OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.

Established by a generous gift from Leah Cohn Arendt, the Cohn Pet Care Facility gives pets a haven when their owners cannot. Should you no longer be able to care for your cherished family members, the Cohn Facility provides a home for your beloved pets, excellent veterinary medical attention and an opportunity for them to interact with people.

Enrollment is simple. Just fill out a few forms including information about your pet’s daily routine and provide a photo of your pet. To guarantee a spot for your pet(s) and secure the current price, 5 percent

The Facility The Cohn Pet Care Facility covers eight acres north of the OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital on the Stillwater campus. Each animal enjoys a private kennel with plenty of room to run outside. Pets living at the facility also enjoy free grooming and access to a large playroom where they can interact with visitors and staff.

You create an endowment fund to cover the costs of your pet’s daily and long-term care. Your endowment can be customized to establish an adoption plan after your pet comes to live at the facility. You may choose to house your pet permanently at the Cohn Facility or work with staff to find your pet the perfect home that matches the requirements you establish when enrolling. Regardless of your decision, your pet will receive the highest standard of care from the center’s veterinarians and support staff. How do you decide who adopts my pet? As you establish your endowment, you will tell us all about your pet — what it likes, a typical day in its life, etc. You can also list specific requirements for potential adopters. For example, if your dog prefers mature people, you can specify that the new owner does not have small children. You can also name a friend or family member who will be responsible for adopting your pet while also ensuring all of its veterinary medical care will be provided by OSU through the endowment. And if appropriate adopters cannot be found, your pet will remain at the Cohn Facility, where your requests will be honored and your pet will be kept happy and healthy.

PHOTO / KACI KENNEDY

How does the program work?

of the total endowment amount is due at enrollment. For more information, contact Heather Clay, senior director of development at the OSU Foundation, at 405-385-5607 or hclay@osugiving.com. D E R I N DA B L A K E N E Y

Cohn Pet Care Facility Endowment Levels CAT OR SMALL BIRD: $50,000 endowment DOG OR LARGE BIRD: $75,000 endowment

How will my pet be cared for? While your pet is at the Cohn Pet Care Facility, your endowed fund covers all daily costs such as food, toys and bedding, as well

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TYLER VAN ARSDALE

Memorial scholarship gives lasting life to aerospace engineering student.

agle Scout. Letterman swimmer. Stout Hall RA. Kyle Bruggemeyer was not your typical aerospace engineering student. Even before highschool graduation, space was his passion, and he was set on chasing his dreams at Purdue University. Bruggemeyer and his parents had visited the campus, confirmed his decision and were ready to set off to West Lafayette, Indiana. Then a Slinky came in the mail. A school south of Bruggemeyer’s Kansas home had sent it. A few short months later, he was walking the OSU campus as a freshman. Lured by a fun recruiting ploy, he soon immersed himself in the Cowboy culture and was a seamless fit. Bruggemeyer’s mother, Patti, recalls his effortless acclimation to Stout Hall, which offers housing for those enrolled in the Honors College. She says he immediately made several friends and fell in love with everything about OSU, especially the X-Hab Challenge that was

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part of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program. At one point, Bruggemeyer and his friends had so much fun with their projects that they attracted the attention of law enforcement while driving a rocket out to a test field. Kyle’s father, Kurt, says the aerospace students had the device in Kyle’s small SUV, and an officer who pulled them over soon realized he was dealing with harmless engineers. Jamey Jacob, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, says Bruggemeyer was a passionate student who had immense consideration for others and spread his enthusiasm for airplanes and space shuttles. Bruggemeyer graduated in 2013 and accepted an engineering position with Goken America in Columbus, Ohio, where his focus was providing CATIA engineer design work in support of Honda of America Automobile Manufacturing. His fun-loving personality and excitement for the industry found him in the same situation as his early years at Oklahoma State.

Kyle Bruggemeyer (second from left) smiles with his peers from the Honors College. Bruggemeyer made many friends in Stout Hall. Although somewhat disappointed that his first job was not an aerospaceengineering position, Bruggemeyer, in typical fashion, attacked the job with the dedication and vigor that he displayed at OSU. Bruggemeyer’s talents did not go unnoticed as he was quickly identified by his superiors as one of the youngest engineers to be part of a Honda new-car design team. “He won over the crowd out there very quickly,” says his dad. “Kyle liked the idea of getting to start on the ground floor with a growing company and never lost sight of working toward aerospace.” Bruggemeyer had already mapped out his future within the company, planning on earning his master’s in propulsion and then moving on to become a team member at Honda Aero Inc., a jet-engine manufacturing company. In January 2014, Bruggemeyer’s dreams were tragically cut short when, while riding as a passenger in a car pool

eldest of Kyle’s two younger brothers got matching tattoos of a space shuttle that Kyle had drawn. She sent a picture of them to Kyle’s friend, who responded with a story of her own image of a space shuttle. Kyle’s friend relayed how she had just completed her move from Stillwater to Houston when she had unpacked a whiteboard she had used at OSU. A dry erase image of a space shuttle survived the move intact. Even the artist’s signature remained intact — Kyle Bruggemeyer. The gestures continue as Kurt and Patti occasionally receive texts and emails from Kyle’s friends. Next year, they will also get to see his name next to NASA’s X-Hab space habitat, which he helped create, when it is named after him. Wilson also remains special to the Bruggemeyers as her involvement with

PHOTO / CHRIS LEWIS

returning from work, he was killed at the age of 22 in a car crash in Ohio. Soon after the accident, his parents began to realize their son’s impact on his peers. Friend and classmate Amelia Wilson, a 2013 aerospace engineering and Spanish graduate, contacted the Bruggemeyers to ask about organizing an effort on behalf of Kyle. Wilson, 22 at the time, suggested a memorial fund to honor Kyle’s life. His parents were touched. “It honors Kyle and his drive to reach a goal,” says his father. “The scholarship will help future students do just that.” Wilson worked with the Bruggemeyers and the OSU Foundation to set up a fund and coordinate gifts to reach the endowment requirements. Between herself and Kyle’s family, they were able

Amelia Wilson

I WANT TH EM TO K N OW OSU C AR ES AN D H IS FRI EN DS C AR E ABO UT K Y LE. WE ’ R E G O I N G TO R E M E M B E R H I M FO R E VE R .” — AM ELIA WI LSO N to connect with friends, family and coworkers across the country who were all willing to pay tribute to Kyle by donating to his memorial fund. Patti Bruggemeyer says it is heartwarming to see the response to Kyle’s fund. “You always think your kid is a good kid,” she says. “You just never know what other people may think of your child, and you never know the impact your kids make on people. It was very reassuring.” The parents saw first-hand how special Kyle was through more than just the creation of the fund. His OSU and Goken family came from across the country to attend Kyle’s memorial and some maintain a relationship with the Bruggemeyers. Patti shares a story about a friend of Kyle’s who currently works for NASA in Houston. Patti, her husband and the

the fund continues. Her philanthropic efforts, along with the efforts of the entire Bruggemeyer family, send an inspiring message to all people and demonstrate the power of giving. “After the accident happened, I realized this was a great way to keep Kyle alive and to honor his family, specifically his parents,” says Wilson. “I can’t imagine what they went through and what they’re going through today, but I want them to know OSU cares and his friends care about Kyle. We’re going to remember him forever.” Kyle touched the lives of countless people at OSU and beyond. He will be remembered as a loving son, an enthusiastic student and the fun guy who left his dorm-room door open for anyone having a bad day to come in and play video games.

The Kyle Bruggemeyer Memorial Scholarship was awarded for the first time in fall 2014 and will continue to improve the lives and inspire the dreams of future aerospace students thanks to all who generously gave and continue to give. Kyle’s story will live on through the efforts of his peers, especially Wilson. Despite her amazing actions at such a young age, she keeps the focus on more than herself. “Maybe you only have $10 today to give to the organization that means the most to you, but philanthropy is about giving your time and your money to things that matter to you,” says Wilson. “OSU is where I met Kyle, and for me, this fund is an important thing to do because we’ll always have a little bit of OSU. I can say I helped make that, and other people are going to benefit from it.” To support the legacy of this young man, visit OSUgiving.com. CHELSEA ROBINSON

PHOTOS / OSU-OKC

TEAMING UP

OSU-OKC student Daniel Brown (left) received a dream of a lifetime to paint alongside former OSU All-American and NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion-turned-artist Desmond Mason.

OSU-OKC student collaborates with Desmond Mason on art project for scholarships

orn and raised in Oklahoma, Daniel Brown grew up a die-hard OSU fan. As he watched Cowboy sports over the years, he never thought that one day he would team up with one of his favorite athletes. This past fall, Brown was selected to work on a collaborative art piece with former OSU All-American and NBA Slam Dunk Contest championturned-artist Desmond Mason. As a huge fan, Brown admits he was nervous about meeting Mason and collaborating on a painting, but he had a gut feeling they would get along well and have a great time working together.

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“I really don’t think I could be more excited right now,” Brown says. “My jaw hit the floor when I first heard of this amazing opportunity and I am still having trouble picking it up. I am truly honored to be chosen to paint alongside Mason for such an important cause, and I’m ecstatic to represent OSU-OKC as a student.” Brown was nominated by his former OSU-OKC instructor Dennis Smith and chosen based on his accomplishments as a student, the attitude he brings to campus each day and his passion for the arts. “So much of being artistic comes from the ability to bring passion and

emotion that can be expressed through a medium,” Brown says. “This quality, I believe, is seen in my work with paint and photography.” Brown had a lot of questions for Mason about his time as an athlete as well as about his transition from sports to the arts. Most people are unaware of all the good things Mason has done through art, Brown says. Mason played basketball for OSU from 1996-97 to 1999-2000. He is part of the elite group of Cowboys to total 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, and he earned All-American recognition as a senior.

After OSU, Mason went on to play 10 seasons in the NBA. He was a first-round draft pick for the Seattle SuperSonics and became its only Slam Dunk Contest winner in 2001. Mason played for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2008-09 season. He retired after a decade in the NBA. Mason, who majored in studio art, has always had a passion for the arts and looked forward to being creative full-time. Mason and Brown began working on an art piece in October, which was then auctioned at OSU-OKC’s first scholarship fundraising event, Paint This Town Orange. The funds raised through the auction and sponsorships are critical to supporting scholarships for the more than 7,000 students OSU-OKC serves each year. Brown was thrilled to learn that proceeds from the event benefited OSU-OKC students. “I think it’s wonderful to be part of something that will help current and future OSU-OKC students,” Brown says. “Being a student myself who also works full-time, I know how hard it can be to balance school and work and take on the financial burden that can come with attending school. The scholarships that come from this fundraising event will be a blessing to the students who receive them, and I am excited to be part of that.” Furthering his donation efforts, Mason painted six original pieces that were also auctioned. Mason has become well-respected in the art industry and was appointed to the Oklahoma Arts Council by Gov. Mary Fallin. In 2004, he founded the Desmond Mason Art Show, which supports charitable organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, Allied Arts, and Youth Services of Oklahoma County. Mason says it’s important to give back to the community. “The opportunity to raise money for an extension of Oklahoma State, where I went to school, is extremely important

to me and I am very excited about this,” Mason says. “Collaborating is something I don’t do very often, but I’m excited about this one. It’s good to give back and engage with students because they are still on the technical side of creating, and I’ve kind of morphed into abstract expressionism. I’m excited to collaborate with an OSU-OKC student and help raise money for scholarships.” Brown received his associate degree in enterprise development from OSU-OKC in spring 2014. He chose to attend OSU-OKC primarily because it is part of the OSU family. “This means the credits I earn will transfer to Stillwater seamlessly, the education is excellent, and OSU-OKC offered classes I needed at the times that would fit my hectic schedule best,” Brown says. Already accepted to OSU-Stillwater, Brown

will continue his education this spring by pursuing a bachelor’s in dietetics in the College of Human Sciences. He intends to complement that by studying exercise science and physiology. After graduating, Brown plans to pursue his master’s in dietetics so he can become a dietitian with a focus on nutrition science education and sports nutrition. “I have a strong desire to help people, and through nutrition science and health, I want to provide people with the opportunity to better their own lives and achieve their goals,” Brown says. “I am also beyond excited and ready to pursue this degree in Cowboy country.” A N D I FAG A N

PHOTOS / OSU-OKC

UPPER RIGHT: Daniel Brown touches up on his painting skills before meeting with Desmond Mason. Brown says he likes abstract painting but his true talent lies in sculpture. CENTER: In his studio, Mason works on one of six paintings that were auctioned off at the scholarship fundraising event. BOTTOM: Mason shows off his dunking skills in Gallagher-Iba Arena during the traditional Orange and Black game.

Expanding Connections New York Project brings urban art experience to OSU Museum of Art

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James Rosenquist, source for The Geometry of Fire, 2011. Collage and mixed media, with adventitious marks, on cardboard, 13 x 29¼ in. (34.0 x 74.3 cm). Collection of the artist © James Rosenquist/Licensed by VAGA New York, N.Y. Image courtesy of the artist.

Less than a year since its grand opening, the OSU Museum of Art has launched the New York Project, an ambitious series of exhibitions bringing the work of major New York artists to Oklahoma. This annual project provides groundbreaking teaching and engagement opportunities for the OSU community and the region as a whole.

The series begins with “James Rosenquist: Illustrious Works on Paper, Illuminating Paintings,” which is on view at the OSU Museum of Art’s Postal Plaza Gallery until March 14, 2015. This exhibition highlights the career of internationally known American pop artist James Rosenquist, who became a public continues

James Rosenquist, Nails, 1973. Oil on canvas, 50 x 95½ inches (127.0 x 242.6 cm). Collection of the artist © James Rosenquist/ Licensed by VAGA New York, N.Y. Image courtesy of the artist.

figure in the 1960s alongside contemporaries Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg. The New York Project offers an experience often limited to major urban centers of art and seldom found in more rural locations such as Stillwater, says OSU Museum of Art Director Victoria Berry. Sarah C. Bancroft, curator of this exhibition and co-curator of Rosenquist’s full-career retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in 2003, describes it as the work of a quintessentially American artist from the Midwest who went on to have a national and international reputation. “The exhibition offers a great, focused overview of James Rosenquist’s career, from his earliest artistic explorations in the 1960s to recent, billboard-size works,” Bancroft says.

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“Ultimately, he’s always thinking and pushes us to think as well. But he does this in a very bright, colorful manner, which you may expect from someone who mastered painting advertisements all across New York City.” At the heart of the OSU Museum of Art’s mission is its commitment to being a teaching museum that provides opportunities for students to engage with artwork at OSU while connecting with a broader arts community. The New York Project represents that by displaying work from prominent New York artists of the past 50 years and offering public workshops, lectures and programs with each exhibition. It is the first-hand experiences with artists and curators that demonstrate a critical aspect of the museum’s successful programming during such an early phase of its life.

“James Rosenquist’s accessibility and willingness to engage students in a dialogue about his life’s work has been key to developing the exhibition, and this is a fundamental reason we chose him as our first artist,” Berry says. These pivotal exhibitions and programs wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of the OSU Friends of the Museum and one dedicated OSU alumnus in particular. Bill Goldston, 1966 bachelor of fine arts graduate, is director of Universal Limited Art Editions in New York and a partner of the New York Project. Originally from Lindsay, Okla., Goldston brings years of professional and personal association with New York artists and plays a vital role in making the project possible. “A museum director always hopes for someone like Bill Goldston,” Berry says. “What he has contributed and continues to give —in the form of donations and innumerable connections into the artist community —is invaluable. His influence and persuasive talents have provided a fundamentally solid academic institution with extraordinary resources.”

As a result of those connections, the New York Project presents high-profile exhibitions and programs that provide a link from OSU to a previously inaccessible art world. “Goldston’s passion for art combined with his connections to iconic artists who have changed the dimensions of American art will help the OSU Museum of Art gain a reputation for bringing big art to a rural setting,” Berry says. This will again be illustrated during the second exhibition of the series in spring 2016, when the Postal Plaza Gallery will feature American artist Kiki Smith, most known for her prints and sculptures. Smith’s work is in prominent collections around the world such as the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Following Smith, the third year of the New York Project will highlight Jasper Johns, a contemporary American artist who works primarily in painting and printmaking. He is known as continues

James Rosenquist, Source for U-Haul-It; U-Haul-It, One Way Anywhere; and For Bandini, 1968. Magazine clippings, color photograph and mixed media on paper, 9 x 23¼ in. (23.8 x 59.1 cm). Collection of the artist © James Rosenquist/Licensed by VAGA New York, N.Y. Image courtesy of the artist.

one of the most influential painters of the 20th century. His work has also appeared in the nation’s most significant museums. Through generous support from donors, the Postal Plaza Gallery offers free admission to all exhibitions and programs, making the museum experience accessible to as many as possible. “Art has the incredible power to reach beyond both the artist and the curator’s intent, and it is an experience, a physical engagement after all, to encounter artwork in the galleries,” says Bancroft.

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It is through this opportunity for up-close exposure with a variety of artwork that the OSU Museum of Art provides transformative cultural experiences in Stillwater. “We hope that art- and museum-lovers will visit the OSU Museum of Art several times a year, finding our programming engaging, stimulating and innovative,” Berry says. “Our success will ultimately be measured by our visitor’s response.” J O R DA N H AY S

James Rosenquist, The Stowaway Peers Out at the Speed of Light, 2001. Lithograph in 22 colors on Saunders Waterford HP surface 410 gsm paper, 46¼ x 105½ in. (117.5cm x 268.0cm). Courtesy of Universal Limited Art Editions.

MORE INFORMATION Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is free. More information about “James Rosenquist: Illustrious Words on Paper, Illuminating Paintings” can be found at museum.okstate.edu. The Postal Plaza Gallery is in downtown Stillwater at 720 S. Husband St.

In 2011, the Reading Room was dedicated in honor of board President Anne Greenwood as a surprise gift from her husband, Michael (center). The room features a portrait of Anne by noted artist Mike Wimmer (left).

Making a Difference

PHOTO / COURTESY OSU LIBRARY

Friends of the OSU Library donate millions to improve services

t’s hard to raise money for a library. At least that’s what everyone thought years ago. In 1989, then-Dean of Libraries Edward R. Johnson and a small group of ardent supporters set out to prove that wrong. Twenty-five years later, the Friends of the OSU Library is one of the most successful special-giving units on campus thanks to millions of dollars from thousands of donors. Anyone who makes a gift to the OSU Libraries is considered a member of the Friends organization. A core group of highly dedicated Friends is elected to the organization’s board of directors. “Our board is an invaluable resource,” says Sheila Grant Johnson, dean of libraries. “They are a sounding board as we develop new projects, they bring us wonderful ideas, and they are tireless advocates for the library.”

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Over the years, members of the board have supported their own favorite projects at the library. Many have funded construction and renovation projects, others sponsor events and programming, and several have established endowments to support special projects. “Every one of our board members has a passion for OSU and for serving our students,” Johnson says. “When you bring together a group like that, amazing things are accomplished.” The Friends of the OSU Library Board meets regularly to learn about library developments and needs, offer suggestions

and ideas for upcoming projects and decide how to allocate donations from the Friends of the OSU Library fund. Hundreds of donors make gifts to the Friends of the OSU Library fund. This continued private support allows the library to respond quickly to requests from students and launch new resource offerings. “When we look back on the library’s

“So many (accomplishments) were made possible thanks to the ongoing support of our Friends.” — Sheila Grant Johnson accomplishments from the last 25 years, so many were made possible thanks to the ongoing support of our Friends,” Johnson says. In 1997, led by Friends executive board members Peggy Helmerich and the late Ed

Friends of the OSU Library BOA R D O F D I R E C TO R S 2014 • Anne Greenwood, president, Stillwater* • Linda Anthony, vice president, Stillwater+ • L.E. “Dean” Stringer, past president, Oklahoma City*+ • Peggy Helmerich, honorary lifetime member, Tulsa*+ • Marcia Annan, Stillwater • Courtney Baugher, Ponca City, Okla. • Tracy Caine, Stillwater • Jane Clark, Stillwater • Patrick Cobb, Tulsa*+ • Suzie Crowder, Cushing, Okla. • Kay Dixon, Tulsa PHOTO / COURTESY OSU LIBRARY

Cobb, the library was the first of the six campaign priority areas to reach its fundraising goal in OSU’s “Bringing Dreams to Life” comprehensive campaign. That year and again in 2004, the OSU Library was honored with the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award, recognizing campaigns commissioned by the Friends board. A series of transformative renovations to the Edmon Low Library were possible only through the support of Friends: the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room in 1999, the Beverly Clerico Library Plaza in 2005, the Mark and Lisa Snell Gallery in 2006, the Steve and Susan Hayden Raybourn Service Center in 2008, and the Anne Morris Greenwood Reading Room in 2011 are just a few. In 2008, Tulsans John and Cheryl Clerico gave the library’s first $1 million gift to establish an endowed chair for the dean. Oklahoma A&M Regent Calvin Anthony and his wife, Linda, added almost $80,000. This combined gift was eligible for matching commitments from both Boone Pickens and the state. Many of the Friends’ expenditures focus directly on serving students. For example, in 2002, the Friends launched the wildly popular 24-hour finals week access to the library. In 2008, they expanded the laptopcheckout program with the purchase of an additional 25 computers. In 2011, the board began sponsoring pre-finals and finals-week snack giveaways to boost student morale. The Friends also sponsor employee awards to recognize and encourage outstanding service on behalf of the library. “The services and resources made possible through the generosity of our many donors and the time and creativity of our board are too extensive to list,” Johnson says. “Their contributions impact the academic experience of every student at OSU. As we continue to adapt to the changing needs of our students, gifts from our Friends are more important than ever.” For more information on the Friends of the OSU Library and the group’s board of directors, contact Tylerr Ropp at tropp@OSUgiving.com or 405-385-5664.

Carol and L.E. “Dean” Stringer at the 2006 dedication of their named group study room. He joined the Friends Board in 1994 and served as the group’s president for many years. TOP:

Patricia and Patrick Cobb continue their family’s legacy of library support with their continued backing of the annual H. Louise & H.E. “Ed” Cobb speaker Series, which hosts notable authors such as Nicholas Sparks (center). MIDDLE:

The Edmon Low Library is home to a variety of cultural programming including musical events, thanks to the 2007 donation of a Steinway grand piano by James and Elizabeth Wise. BOTTOM:

• Lisa Fain, Stillwater • Beverly Golden, Tulsa • Cheryl Hamilton, Oklahoma City* • Chad Haney, Oklahoma City • Ann Hargis, Stillwater • Carol Headrick, Stillwater+ • Biff Horrocks, Stillwater • Susan Jacques, Woodward • Marvin Keener, Stillwater • David Kniffin, Oklahoma City*+ • Julie Lambert, Stillwater • Paul Lambert, Oklahoma City • Teresa Miller, Stillwater • Sheila Parr, Tulsa • Helen Newman Roche, McLean, Va. • Toni Stone, Stillwater+ • Maribeth Subramaniam, Ponca City, Okla. • Cindy Waits, Orlando, Okla. • Kathryn Williams, Coyle, Okla.+ • Kathy Winslow, Tulsa • James B. Wise, Oklahoma City+

BONNIE ANN CAIN-WOOD

*Funded named spaces in the library +Established library endowments

Medical Cowboys raises awareness of OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in educating future healthcare professionals and provides unique opportunities for working professionals and students interested in this selfless career. Since 2007, more than 290 generous alumni have combined to give $2.9 million for Medical Cowboys funds. That has produced 67 annual scholarships for 31 future doctors, dentists, nurses and other healthcare providers. These $2,500 annual awards are renewable for up to four years as long as the recipient remains a pre-med major. The recent addition of the Pre-Health Shadowing Network creates a community of mentors and peers for donors and students. It provides observation experiences and training on shadowing protocol, etiquette, professionalism and patient privacy. If you would like to help blaze the trail for future Medical Cowboys by supporting scholarships or volunteering for the shadowing program, please contact one of the following OSU Foundation representatives:

Lauren Kidd 405.385.0724 lkidd@OSUgiving.com

True Wallace 405.945.6714 twallace@OSUgiving.com

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION 400 South Monroe | Stillwater, OK 74074 | Ph. 800.622.4678 Fax 405.385.5102 | info@OSUgiving.com

White Coat Society OSU Center for Health Sciences launches program to honor donors The physician’s white coat is an evocative symbol in the medical community. They are presented to students as they begin medical school to symbolize their entrance into the profession. “Physicians are commonly identified by the white coats they wear when visiting patients,” says Dr. Kayse Shrum, president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences. “It serves as a repository for information and a reminder of our commitment to the medical profession.” The OSU Center for Health Sciences is giving donors the opportunity to be part of the white coat’s heritage by joining a new giving society at the Tulsa-based medical school. The White Coat Society has been established to honor those who have contributed to scholarships, programs and initiatives at OSU-CHS. The university has received strong support for the new Rural Medical Track, which is training doctors to practice in rural Oklahoma by placing them in clinical rotations located outside the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas throughout their four years of medical training. Operation Orange, OSU-CHS’

summer recruiting camps for high school students, has also received strong support. OSU-CHS students and leadership team members travel across the state to offer participants the experience of a day in the life of a medical student. “We are thankful for the tremendous financial support we have received from our donors who have embraced our mission to recruit and train physicians for rural and underserved Oklahoma,” Shrum says. “Their contributions make it possible for us to reach every corner of the state through recruitment initiatives and medical partnerships. These efforts are helping us create a healthier future for all Oklahomans.” White Coat Society donors are recognized at three levels based on their giving — Leaders, Champions or Physicians. Inaugural members of the White Coat Society are Suzanne and William K. Warren Jr.; Christa and Gabriel Pitman, D.O.; Beverly and Rick Schafer, D.O.; Lisa and Mark Snell, D.O.; and Mallory Spoor-Baker, D.O., and Damon Baker, D.O. Those who join the White Coat Society are supporting OSU Center for Health Sciences’ efforts to improve the state’s health. Learn more by contacting the OSU Foundation in Tulsa at 918-5948500 or Support-CHS@osugiving.com.

ICONS FOR OSU IN TULSA

Bryan

Jack Allen (co-chair), Howard Barnett, Kayse Shrum, D.O., and Dave Kollmann (co-chair) will host A Stately Affair in Tulsa.

Peggy

HELMERICH

Bob E.

Bishop Edward J.

JONES

SLATTERY

STATELY AFFAIR IN TULSA Oklahoma State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supporters have helped train thousands of physicians for Oklahoma and enabled students to earn internationally recognized OSU degrees in Tulsa. On May 18, 2015, A Stately Affair in Tulsa will honor four icons who have supported the missions of OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences and greatly impacted the community and the state. Proceeds from the black-tie event will fund scholarships at OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences.

918-594-8500

StatelyAffair.COM

WWW.A

1999 Founders continuing legacy of OSU-Tulsa Founders New program honors donors for supporting the Tulsa campus

S E A N K E N N E DY

To learn more about the 1999 Founders and find out how to support OSU-Tulsa, contact the OSU Foundation in Tulsa at 918-594-8500 or Support-Tulsa@osugiving.com.

PHOTO / OSU-TULSA

OSU-Tulsa was established on Jan. 1, 1999, thanks to the vision and support of many people who knew the value of higher education in Tulsa. Earlier this year, five individuals were honored as OSU-Tulsa Founders for their part in creating the Tulsa campus. Former OSU President Jim Halligan, former state Sen. Penny Williams, former state Sen. Charles Ford, former Gov. Frank Keating and OSU-Tulsa’s founding President Gary Trennepohl saw the need for a comprehensive research university in Tulsa. Their efforts to bring OSU’s internationally recognized degrees to Tulsa have impacted the lives of more than 30,000 students. To continue the legacy of the OSU-Tulsa Founders and celebrate the institution’s 15th anniversary, current OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett established the 1999 Founders. This program honors those who embrace the vision of OSU-Tulsa Founders by investing in the institution’s continued success at making a world-class OSU education accessible and affordable for northeastern Oklahomans.

“Our Founders were visionary in their efforts to bring new public highereducation opportunities to Tulsa and have established a legacy that continues in our students, faculty, staff and, most importantly, donors,” Barnett says. “This giving program enables us to honor their vision and recognize alumni, friends and community partners who believe OSU-Tulsa is a catalyst for social betterment and an economic engine for Tulsa and Oklahoma.” The 1999 Founders demonstrate their commitment to OSU-Tulsa by giving $1,999 or more annually to the 1999 Founders Fund. “We appreciate our donors who have joined the 1999 Founders,” Barnett says. “Their financial contributions are helping us grow our circle of friends and supporting our students through scholarships, academic program support and other endeavors that are advancing our mission at OSU-Tulsa.”

1999 FOUNDERS (to date)

Margo and Warren Dunbar

Jodie L. Parker

Honorary Members

Robyn and Larry J. Ewing Sarah and John Graves

Jana Shoulders and Bob Soza

Pat and Sen. Charles Ford

Jack H. Allen Jr. Chris Benge

Lori and Vance Hunter

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Angela and Sean Kouplen

Donna and Jerry Clack

Dr. Jenny and Brett Lessley

Debbie and Bob Craine

Janet McGehee

Wendy and Gentner Drummond

Sandy and Larry Mocha

Sherman E. Smith Family Foundation David Stewart Mollie B. Williford

Anne and Sen. James Halligan Cathy and Gov. Frank Keating Sandra and Dr. Gary Trennepohl Sen. Penny Williams

LIFETIME

e c i v r e S

From the sidelines of Lewis Field to the Pentagon, ‘Jerry’ Brown has made the most out of her education from Oklahoma A&M

ost people attend college to immerse themselves in a learning environment tailored to their desired career path. Students can experience hardships and heartbreak, joys and endless laughter, challenges and breakthroughs throughout their years on campus. But the training Jeraldine “Jerry” Brown received at Oklahoma State changed her life forever. Brown was born in 1921 and spent a happy childhood in Oklahoma City. At the age of 17, she and her friends enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College. It was never a question where she would attend college; she and her friends all agreed A&M was the place for them. On campus, Brown was a member of the Aggie Pep Squad and an Aggiette cheerleader her senior year. She participated in Delta Kappa Gamma, archery club and played lacrosse and field hockey. She also worked as a proctor at Murray Hall, then a women’s dormitory. “One of my fondest memories of college is the tea parties that we had every Thursday afternoon in Murray Hall,” Brown says. “I don’t think any other university did anything like that, and that is part of what made Oklahoma A&M so special.”

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A mer ic a a t War During Brown’s freshman year at Oklahoma State, conflict consumed the world in what would become World War II. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, America entered the war. Brown’s adviser, a reserve officer in the U.S. Army, was called into duty as a recruitment officer for the university. Brown went to his office for enrollment advice but by the time she left, she had decided she would enter the Women’s Army Corps. “I think what really sealed my decision is that I had a young niece whose father had been drafted,” Brown says. “I couldn’t imagine her growing up without a father, so I decided to sign up.” Spring semester of her senior year, Brown needed two more hours to graduate, so she took a two credit-hour photography class. Two months after graduation, Brown enlisted in the WAC and reported for basic training in 1943. While at boot camp, she was selected to serve in a topsecret mission — and she believes to this day that it was because of that photography class. “I have no idea how I was selected for the mission,” Brown says. “The only thing I can figure out is that I had some experience, and I had completed basic training.”

After basic training, Brown and 25 other women were sent to a photography camp at Lowry Field on the outskirts of Denver, Colo., before going to work at the Pentagon. Brown believes part of the reason they were selected for the mission is because they were all very dependable and worked well together. “Basic training made me learn to be tolerant of other people,” Brown says. “I found out that people from every place all over the United States had similarities, and we had things that made us unique.” Working at the Pentagon is something Brown says she will never forget. Her job was to develop photos that were taken by officers during wartime. It was an exciting time, despite the circumstances, because she knew what she was doing was important for the United States. “The whole country’s attitude was different during World War II,” Brown says. “Everyone was so on top of things, and it felt good to be a part of it.”

F ir s t Glimp se a t De s t r uc t ion Brown’s work proved to be so important that she was selected to be one of the first people to see the damage the atomic bomb caused on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. continues

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

Brown and four other women were chosen to develop the first photos the United States government had of the damage after the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb. Where Brown once saw streets and buildings, there was nothing. The city of Hiroshima was flat, decimated by the blast. More than 80,000 were killed as a direct result of the blast. Another 60,000 people later died from the bomb’s effects. “To see the damage was both frightening and amazing,” Brown says. “The magnitude of that day in history is huge. I and the other girls had a feeling that if America could get through that day, we could get out of the war.” Brown understood the magnitude of the situation when an armed officer was there to assist them and stood in the developing room all day. They were there for almost 24 hours developing the photos.

says it was nice to be free of strict schedules and to be able to cook her own food. Wartime taught her to be thankful for the United States and specifically Oklahoma. “Being in the military made me far more aware of how lucky I was to be from Oklahoma,” Brown says. “When people would ask me where I was from, I was proud to say I was an Okie.” Brown and Syl married in 1946, and the couple had two children, Michael and Ginger. Brown loves children, something she says was evident from a very early age. “I knew from the age or 7 or 8 that I was born to teach,” Brown says. “In college, I was technically a business major first, but I enrolled only in education classes so my adviser made me switch.” Brown was a substitute teacher until Ginger entered the sixth grade. At that time, she began teaching full-time at Clegern Elementary School in Edmond,

She now sits at the volunteer desk three days a week, helping visitors, patients and doctors. She transfer tests and labs from the labs to the emergency room and helps direct patients to the ER. She was named president of the OU Medical Center Edmond Volunteer Auxiliary in 2010 and Volunteer of the Year in 2012. “I like volunteering at the hospital because you know what you are doing is worthwhile,” Brown says.

R ec en t R ec ogni t ion Brown, who is one-third Chickasaw, was honored in November with the 2014 OSU American Indian Alumni Society Distinguished Alumni Award. “Mrs. Brown’s service to her country and the state of Oklahoma is a outstanding example for our students to emulate,” says Chris Batchelder, OSU Alumni

“A couple of words to describe being home in Oklahoma are rewarding, rejoicing, relaxing and readjustment. It was wonderful to come home to the people that I love.” — JERALDINE “JERRY” BROWN Brown and the other women were not allowed to leave the building or talk to anyone else. The officer even walked them to the restroom and brought them food.

B ack t o t he He ar t l and After several years living in the nation’s capital, Brown was happier than ever to return to Oklahoma after she was discharged in 1945. She came back to her fiancé, Syl, and started preparing for a wedding. The couple began their life together in Oklahoma City, and Brown later obtained her master’s degree from Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma). “A couple of words to describe being home in Oklahoma are rewarding, rejoicing, relaxing and readjustment,” Brown says. “It was wonderful to come to home to the people that I love.” Brown found the biggest adjustment for her to be the differences between life in Oklahoma and life in the military. She

Okla., where she taught for 11 years. After her husband retired, Brown stopped teaching full time to spend time with him and enjoy retirement. But she couldn’t stay away from the classroom and continued to substitute until her 90th birthday in 2011. “I tried to teach my students the importance of doing the best you can,” Brown says. “If you do the best you can, then everything is OK.” Today, Brown is 93 and as active as ever. Although she no longer substitute teaches, she goes to the health club two days a week for water aerobics, participates in a reading club and is involved in a senior adult ministry at her church. But her favorite activity is volunteering at the OU Medical Center – Edmond. “A good friend of mine told me I should volunteer at the hospital since I had so much free time,” Brown says. “I didn’t think much of it, but the next day, I dropped off an application.”

Association president. “We are proud to be able to call her an OSU alumna, and I know she is just as proud to not only be Chickasaw, but also a Cowgirl.” Brown says her Native American heritage played a prominent role in her childhood, influencing her life in several ways. “When I was growing up, people would ask what nationality I was, and I would say Chickasaw,” Brown says. “I am very proud of my heritage, and the award means a great deal to me.” The award is a fitting tribute for an OSU alumna who has proudly represented her country, her heritage and her alma mater in both war and peace. “To be honored for anything by Oklahoma State is a huge honor for me,” Brown says. “I always knew that I wanted to go to school there. There isn’t a day in my life that I haven’t used something that I learned in Stillwater.” K AT I E PA R I S H PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

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original photo

Legacylink Pistol Pete needs your help to solve the picture activity! See if you can find the differences between these two photos. There are six changes for you to find in the bottom picture.

Encourage your young Cowboy or Cowgirl to complete the Legacy Link activity page in each issue of STATE magazine. Register your legacy in the OSU Alumni Association Legacy Program at orangeconnection.org/legacy to receive all the legacy benefits available with your membership.

Answer Key: (1) Player #10 to #11 (2) Video board (3) Drum behind #16 is gone (4) POKES taken of paddle (5) Pom girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pants now black (6) OSU off #91â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helmet

Get Involved. Stay Informed. Give Back. Show Your Pride. ORANGECONNECTION.org | F L/okstatealumni

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OSUIT alumna gives Southern food a French twist in new cookbook From a young age, Jennifer Hill Booker knew what she wanted to do when she grew up — she wanted to cook. “I’ve always loved food. I would watch Julia Child’s television show on Sunday nights and I watched my mom and grandmother cook,” Booker says. “On Mother’s Day, I always prepared something from the Joy of Cooking cookbook.” Now the OSU Institute of Technology alumna wants to inspire others to do what she loves and has written a cookbook of her own, Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern Recipes with a French Accent. Booker graduated from Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School, then attended the University of Tulsa at her parents’ urging, despite wanting to go straight to culinary school. “During that time I always wanted to be a chef,” she says, so after she earned her bachelor’s degree in communications, she enrolled at OSUIT and graduated from the School of Culinary Arts in 1995.

“It was such a great school. There were international instructors, it was a great environment to learn and was small enough that there was a lot of hands-on learning,” Booker says. She worked in Tulsa primarily as a pasty chef before moving to Germany with her husband, an Army officer. Booker says it was difficult to find work in restaurants in Germany. “I was American, I was a woman, and I was a woman of color,” she says. She started her own personal chef service, Your Resident Gourmet, for military families living on the base. Booker also took advantage of her European residence and attended the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Paris. “OSUIT really prepared me for that experience because it was so hard,” she says. “A lot of my classmates quit.” When she returned to the United States, her personal chef business continued to grow, and she became an instructor teaching at the Le Cordon Bleu campus in Atlanta as well as starting the culinary

program at Grayson Technical Education Program in Georgia. Even though Booker has spent time in Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and abroad in Germany and France, she really considers herself Southern. “My family is originally from the Delta of Mississippi, and I spent every summer there,” she says. Booker took all her experiences and the recipes she developed over the years and put them together in a cookbook combining the cooking styles she loves. “It’s my family recipes from the Mississippi Delta and incorporating some French techniques and flavors, lightening it up a bit,” she says, and the two styles aren’t that different. “They’re very connected. If you know the culinary history of the South, French and Spanish cooking styles were taught to slaves, who then incorporated their own style.” Chef Rene Jungo, School of Culinary Arts chair at OSUIT, says he is proud of his former student who is sharing her knowledge and experience through the cookbook. “I remember her vividly. She always had that outgoing drive to seek new horizons and an eagerness to learn,” Jungo says. “I am thrilled and happy for her success.” Booker says the hardest part about writing her cookbook was incorporating personal stories to accompany every recipe. “How do I express on paper the feelings I get when I cook and serve food? I found that I love writing, and I love cooking so this became natural for me,” Booker says. “There’s something for everyone, cocktails to canned goods. People will feel like they have me in the kitchen with them.” SAR A PLUMMER

Oklahoma State Univesity Institute of Technology, School of Culinary Arts alumna Jennifer Hill Booker has written her first cookbook. WHAT: Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern Recipes with a French Accent by Jennifer Hill Booker WHERE: Available in bookstores and online at amazon.com COST: $20 FOR MORE: Visit yourresidentgourmet.com

The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association honored six graduates with the Distinguished Alumni Award on Sept. 13. The award goes to OSU alumni who have distinguished themselves through personal and professional achievements and have been recognized for service to their communities. Visit orangeconnection.org/DAA to watch the award presentation on OStateTV and read more about each of this year’s honorees. Alumni award nomination forms for deserving graduates are also available online and are due on March 15, 2015. Debbie Adams of Houston graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1983. She is currently the senior vice president of health, safety and environment, projects and procurement for Phillips 66. Adams also serves as the college partner for engineering at Phillips 66, helping recruit OSU students to the company. When asked to give current OSU students advice as they enter their careers,

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Griff Jones of Cypress, Texas, graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1991. He is currently the president, CEO and co-founder of Twin Eagle Resources Management LLC. “I’m a firm believer that the diverse makeup of the student body is what makes Oklahoma State so fantastic,” Jones says. “We have students from large high schools, rural high schools and prestigious private schools. It makes you see the whole spectrum of personalities and backgrounds. Adams says, “Don’t be afraid to jump in Your ability to interact with people from and have confidence in yourself. Remember all walks of life is extremely important.” as Frosty Westering said, ‘make the big Jones has been inducted into the Spears time where you are,’ and the opportunities School of Business Hall of Fame and has will present themselves. There are times served as a trustee of the OSU Foundation. that will feel uncomfortable, but enjoy He is a life member of the OSU Alumni the ride because the end result will be Association. worth it.” Adams serves on the advisory board for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and the board of governors for the OSU Foundation. She is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

J. Doug Pruitt of Paradise Valley, Ariz., graduated from OSU-Oklahoma City with an associate degree in civil technology in 1965. He

The six 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award honorees were honored at the OSU football game on Sept. 13. From left: OSU Senior Vice President and General Counsel Gary Clark, Calvin Vogt, James (Jim) Vallion, Cynthia Ross, J. Doug Pruitt, Griff Jones, Debbie Adams, OSU Alumni Association Board Chair Jennifer Grigsby and OSU Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder. PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

currently serves as chairman of the board of the Sundt Cos. and chairman of Sundt Construction, Inc. Pruitt is the first OSU-OKC graduate to receive this award “That education gave me the foundation to start a career and continue my education later in life,” Pruitt says. “I hope this recognition can be somewhat of an inspiration for students who are enrolled in their programs.” Pruitt has been inducted into the OSU-Oklahoma City Hall of Fame, Clemson University Construction Science Hall of Fame, Arizona State University Del E. Webb School of Construction Hall of Fame and the Ernst & Young Hall of Fame. He is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association. Cynthia Ross of Oklahoma City graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in university studies in 1983, a master’s degree in higher education administration in 1986 and a doctorate in higher education administration in 1989. She recently retired as the president of Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. “From my perspective, being recognized by my alma mater is a reflection on

OSU, and specifically the high quality of education and the abundant collegiate experiences provided to all OSU students,” Ross says. “I attribute the many opportunities I have been fortunate to enjoy during my career as a direct reflection on the extraordinary educational experiences I had at OSU.” Ross is a member of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and OSU College of Education Hall of Fame. She is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association. James (Jim) Vallion of Oklahoma City graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1951 and a master’s degree in political science in 1954. He is currently the owner and CEO of Trochta’s Flowers and ValGene’s Food Service. “This is an incredible honor for me,” Vallion says. “I am very proud to be included with all of the other honorees, and it was truly a humbling experience.” Vallion has established two scholarships at OSU — the Smelser-Vallion Basketball Scholarship and the

Smelser-Vallion Doel Reed Center Art Scholarship. He is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association. Calvin Vogt of Tulsa, Okla., graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1953 and a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1960. He was the president of Southern Specialties Corp., Geophysical Research Corp. and Indel-Davis Inc. before his retirement. Throughout his career, Vogt says he faced numerous challenges and triumphs. “It’s hard to pick a particular thing I’m most proud of,” Vogt says. “My whole life has been a continual experience of things I had never dreamed of. From my smalltown upbringing, working in New York City and then traveling the world starting and managing businesses in so many countries, it was always very satisfying making friends and helping some come to the U.S.” Vogt is an active member of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Associates as well as the CEAT campaign committee. He is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

Jarrad Wagner goes through a training exercise with students in his lab at OSU-CHS.

ur job is to prepare the men and women who respond to these incidents with the best knowledge and training so they remain safe and can help find and convict those responsible.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; JARRAD WAGNER

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OSU Center for Improvised Explosives better prepares investigators for arson and bombing investigations

n the morning of April 19, 1995, an explosion tore through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring more than 680 others. In the years since, there have been many other cases of improvised explosives and incendiary devices being used to t errorize, destroy and kill. From the Boston Marathon

is to provide first responders and investigators working in the field with the knowledge to hinder the evolving threat of homemade explosives and keep the heroes who protect us safe from harm.” A former chemist for the FBI laboratory, Wagner had worked many crime scene investigations involving hazardous chemicals before joining the forensic sciences faculty

bombing to the war in Iraq, law enforcement and military personnel must utilize the latest forensic evidence-gathering techniques to investigate these attacks. “Unfortunately, we know situations like these are going to happen again,” says Jarrad Wagner, associate professor of forensic sciences at OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. “Our job is to prepare the men and women who respond to these incidents with the best knowledge and training so they remain safe and can help find and convict those responsible.” The Center for Improvised Explosives, or IMPEX, is part of the OSU School of Forensic Sciences at the OSU Center for Health Sciences. It was developed to aid investigators with research, testing, training and education. With John Frucci as director of training and Wagner as director of research and testing, IMPEX is working to make the world a safer place through these training endeavors. “We know that the threat of explosives is ever present,” says OSU Center for Health Sciences President Kayse Shrum. “Our goal

at OSU Center for Health Sciences. His expertise focused on forensic toxicology and trace chemistry, analyzing evidence left at crime scenes. While supervising a graduate student’s research project analyzing explosives, Wagner began to see a need for explosives technicians to receive advanced training. While there are several college programs that provide studies in criminal justice and training initiatives on working with explosive devices, none were combined with the forensic sciences approach that could be offered by OSU-CHS. That research project became the genesis for IMPEX. “What I found was that I could speak to bomb technicians on a scientific level, and they respected me for that,” says Wagner. “But what we really needed was the credibility of having a bomb tech representing OSU, and that is where John Frucci came in. He is able to take the science and translate it for their specific needs.” Frucci and Wagner met at a national training conference two years ago. Wagner continues

knew Frucci’s reputation — he had been the lead investigator of a Seton Hall University fire in 2000 that killed three and injured 58 and had recently been honored as the Investigator of the Year by the International Association of Arson Investigators. ‘The final piece’ “John really turned out to be the final piece we needed for the program,” says Wagner. “The blend of field experience and educational training he brought was a good match for the program we were trying to create.” Frucci was retiring as bomb squad commander of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office in Newark, N.J., and looking for an opportunity to use his 20 years of law enforcement experience in a new way. The

Building partnerships With Frucci on board, IMPEX worked on developing partnerships with local, state and national law enforcement agencies and military personnel. “Our goal is to become an information base and resource for investigators at every level,” says Frucci. “If they are conducting an investigation and come across a combination of chemicals, we want them to be able to call us for assistance as well as training.” The School of Forensic Sciences already had a close relationship with the Tulsa Police Department. The agency’s crime lab is located on the lower floors of the Forensic Sciences and Biomedical Research Center on the OSU-CHS campus and has partnered with forensic sciences students on several research projects.

“The program fills an important need for fire and explosives investigators on the scene working to keep others from being injured or working to unravel what happened at a crime scene,” says Robert Allen, chair of the OSU-CHS School of Forensic Sciences. “Students work directly with our highly experienced IMPEX directors and forensic sciences faculty on investigation techniques and recognizing potentially hazardous explosive materials.” Advancing investigations The Arson and Explosives Investigation option was created to offer advanced training for law enforcement and military officials working actively in the field of explosives and fire investigation. Courses focus on the chemistry of improvised explosives, pyrotechnics, fire

ur goal is to provide first responders and investigators working in the field with the knowledge to hinder the evolving threat of homemade explosives and keep the heroes who protect us safe from harm.” — DR. KAYSE SHRUM, OSU-CHS

John Frucci (right) tests a powder with research assistant Matthew Green. chance to help build IMPEX turned out to be exactly what he wanted. “When I was going through college, there were not a lot of scholar practitioners in arson and explosives investigations; there was no real academic degree for our field,” says Frucci. “IMPEX combined the field component with the forensic sciences needed for a successful investigation, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.” Frucci joined the forensic sciences faculty at OSU-CHS in 2013, just before the Boston Marathon bombing shocked the nation in April. With the country reeling from the deaths of three people and hundreds more injured, the need for IMPEX became even more certain.

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IMPEX has also begun working with other agencies across the country, especially the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. IMPEX has provided several training sessions for explosives technicians in Tulsa and at training sites across the country. “We do our best to be flexible with our training programs to meet the requirements of the agencies we work with,” says Frucci. “We also realized that there was a need for an advanced degree pertaining to arson and explosion investigations, so we began to discuss how we could establish a graduate option with our forensic sciences resources.” In April, the OSU A&M Board of Regents approved a new forensic sciences graduate degree option targeted toward arson and explosives investigators. For the IMPEX directors, offering a master’s degree in the field was the next logical evolution of the program.

dynamics, blast effects, evidence collection techniques, laboratory techniques and procedures, device and ordnance identification and other field related topics. The online program launched in summer 2014, and interest in the degree has been high. While instructors initially believed they would have a handful of students, more than 40 students have enrolled so far, and many are working on applying for full enrollment in the program. Wagner hopes the program will bring a level of prestige to the institution as it works to train those who protect others. “We want to be a leading authority on in arson and explosives investigations,” says Wagner. “We want to help the people who work to protect America and keep us safe so they are prepared to respond to the next event.”

Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers celebrates literary masters

A Rich Literary Heritage BY SEAN KENNEDY

MAYA ANGELOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S powerful voice filled the Brady Theater that evening almost 17 years ago. Teresa Miller remembers it vividly. The acclaimed poet and author had become ill prior to her keynote address at the 1997 Celebration of Books, and there were fears that she would be unable to take the stage.

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Miller knew her fate would always lie to the University Center at Tulsa. When with the written word. In addition to her the campus because OSU-Tulsa in 1999, hen she work with the center, Miller teaches writMiller felt she had found the perfect place walked on ing classes at OSU-Tulsa. for the center to call home. stage, people “Bringing writers together to share “OSU-Tulsa really embraced our were standing their stories has been very inspirational,” mission and let us grow and experiment and weeping says Miller. “It also gives our students a while we encouraged writing and readbecause they opportunity to study and interact with ing,” she says. “We really fit in with were so overcome by the historical these talented individuals directly.” the mission of OSU, and being in Tulsa significance of that moment,” recalls Over the years, Miller has developed enabled us to tap into the resources availMiller, the executive director of the several events to honor writers, includable in this great community to bring in Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers. ing the Celebration of Books. That event, some amazing talent.” “And when she began to speak, her voice which originally brought many authors The center has hosted a who’s who echoed loudly through the theater. You to Tulsa for one big event, has evolved of literary talent. S.E. Hinton (The would never have known she was ill. It into several smaller events focusing on Outsiders), Kathryn Stockett (The Help), was really a powerful evening.” one writer’s body of The evening with work at a time. Maya Angelou is The center one of many magical also maintains the moments for Miller Oklahoma Writers and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Center for Poets and which celebrates Writers, which is celethe achievements of brating its 20th anniOklahoma writers. versary this year. Poet Joy Harjo (The Another striking Woman Who Fell moments was seeing From the Sky) was Rita Dove, the first inducted this fall, black female U.S. joining a long list of poet laureate, meet honorees, including Carlotta Walls LaNier, Robert Conley (The one of the Little Rock Witch of Goingsnake Nine, at a 2010 event. and Other Stories), “They caught each Michael Wallis other’s eyes across (Route 66: The the auditorium, and it Pulitzer-winning poet Rita Dove meets Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest of Mother Road), came together,” says the Little Rock Nine, at the 2010 Celebration of Books. Anna Myers (Tulsa Miller. “It was an Burning), P.C. Cast amazing moment to (House of Night), N. Scott Momaday witness those two women, who played such Tracy Letts (August: Osage County), (House Made of Dawn), Billie Letts an important role in our history, show such Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club), Mitch (Where the Heart Is) and Rennard Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie), Edward mutual admiration for one another.” Strickland (Fire and the Spirits). Albee (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf) The center has brought many notable “The hall of fame honors Oklahoma and Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes) authors to Tulsa as it celebrates the signifiwriters who have made major contribuare among those who have shared their cant literary heritage of Oklahoma and the tions to American literature while living passion for writing with Miller. influence of writers from across the country. and writing in Oklahoma,” says Miller. “The Oklahoma Center for Poets and “The center has honored some of the “It is a privilege to be able to showcase Writers creates an opportunity for our great writers from Oklahoma and many their contributions to our literary heristudents and our citizens to interact with writers who have ties to our great state,” notable writers,” says OSU-Tulsa President tage and preserve their works for future says Miller. “When we are talking about generations.” Howard Barnett. “Being able to interact the wonderful contributions of writers, it Miller has also developed another and share their passions with these literary is important to remember the rich literary avenue for writers to share their personal figures is truly a unique experience.” legacy we have right here in Oklahoma.” stories with the public via the television Her love of all things written is why Miller founded the center in 1994 at show Writing Out Loud. Now in its Miller founded the Oklahoma Center Rogers State College in Claremore before for Poets and Writers. An author herself, moving it to Norman for a year and then continues PHOTO / COURTESY

“

17th season, the program shares Miller’s interviews with writers and other notable guests about their life experiences. The show is broadcast on OETA, and archives of more than 300 episodes are available at writetv.org. “Writing Out Loud is a way for us to share their stories with people who are unable to attend the events,” says Miller. “It gives us a different way of connecting with people and gives our authors an opportunity to share a part of their lives with the viewers.” As examples of memorable moments on the show, Miller cites the time Lynn Redgrave and her daughter Annabel Clark appeared without makeup to talk frankly about the actress’s cancer journey or the interview with Wilma Mankiller, the

Jim Lehrer, at the 2010 Celebration of Books, was the center’s first Homecoming Award winner.

Rick Eggers, Teresa Miller, Dan Rather and Gary Johns at a taping of Writing Out Loud.

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our thinking through their entire body of work,” says Miller. “It creates a richer experience and gets more people involved and reading.” As the center’s 20th year drew to a close, it welcomed author and historian Bill Bryson in November. It will cap the year with English author Neil Gaiman in March. And Miller promises more great events to come in the future. “As long as Oklahoma and our country keep producing talented writers, we will continue to celebrate their work,” she says.

PHOTOS / OSU-TULSA

former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, shortly before her death in 2010. The center has partnered with Tulsa Town Hall for the Tulsa Reads initiative. The partnership has enabled the center to sponsor big-name writers such as Pat Conroy (The Prince of Tides), Anna Quindlen (Living Out Loud), Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale), Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency) and Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner). “Tulsa Reads enables us to use the author’s books to reach out into the community for events that help us broaden

Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts hugs his mother, Oklahoma author Billie Letts, at the 2008 Celebration of Books.

Novelist Amy Tan at a reception for the 2004 Celebration of Books.

From watch parties to barbeques, your local OSU alumni chapter offers a variety of networking opportunities in your area for Cowboys and Cowgirls of all ages. Last year, our alumni groups hosted more than 900 events with nearly 26,000 attendees! Get involved with one of more than 100 chapters today by visiting orangeconnection.org/chapters.

ORANGECONNECTION.org | F L/okstatealumni

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88 FALL 2014

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posse REPLAY

This story first ran in the Fall 2014 issue of POSSE magazine. To read other great OSU althletic stories, consider joining the POSSE. Annual donations to OSU athletics of $150 or more qualify for POSSE membership and include an annual subscription to POSSE Magazine. Go to okstateposse.com for details.

CAITLIN WAY

STORY BY BLAKE ZIMMERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

FIVE

OKLAHOMA STATE’S CAITLIN WAY IS THE MODEL STUDENT-ATHLETE.

“I’ve always thought that as long as I work as hard as I can, even if things don’t turn out the way I want them to, I would be OK with that. I knew I was at OSU to be a student and then an athlete. I wanted to be as good at both of those things as I possibly could be.”

All-Big 12 honors combined in the weight and hammer throws, a two-time member of the Capital One Academic All-America Track & Field Team and four academic All-Big 12 honors while carrying a cumulative 4.0 GPA

Way, hailing from Mitchell, S.D., has always had her priorities in order. She knew why she was at Oklahoma State, and that the academics were probably more important to what she wanted to accomplish. “I would focus on track and getting myself better when I trained and competed, but I always knew I had to focus on my classwork,” Way said. “I ALWAYS TRIED AS HARD AS I COULD TO KEEP MY PRIORITIES STRAIGHT AND REMEMBER I WAS AT OSU TO DO A JOB, AND THAT WAS MY JOB.”

OSU throws coach John Baumann said he has never coached an athlete quite like Caitlin. In his mind, the things that made her so effective in the classroom were almost holding her back in the circle. “Caitlin is very systematic,” Baumann said. “That trait has really

helped her in the classroom. She is such a planner, which allowed her to balance her classwork and stay on top of everything. However, in the

circle, she had the expectation that if she did this and did that, she would get a certain result. That’s not always how it works. When that happened, her world would kind of begin to fall apart. Where she has improved the most is dealing with and shutting out the external stressors around her. Once she began to do that, it all started to fall into place.” In all fairness to Way, what became her signature event was something she had never thrown before arriving in Stillwater. “ I AC T UA LLY O N LY T H RE W T H E S H OT P U T A N D

DISCUS IN HIGH SCHOOL,” WAY SAID. “WE DIDN’T HAVE THE HAMMER IN HIG H SCHOOL IN SOUTH DAKOTA .

I loved throwing the discus. I thought that was my bread and butter, and what I would be throwing in college. When I got to Stillwater, I thought I would throw the shot, discus, hammer and weight, but coach Baumann thought I had maybe reached my potential in the discus. The Big 12 is so competitive in the throws. YOU HAVE TO BE GREAT AT WHAT YOU DO TO BE AN ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMER,

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so we decided to put all the eggs in one

basket and do the hammer in outdoors and the weight during indoors.” Way began to gain confidence in the hammer, and soon there was no worry, no preconceived notions. It was time to let it fly, and she did. SHE EARNED HER

FIRST ALL-BIG 12 HONOR IN THE 2012 OUTDOOR HAMMER, PLACING SIXTH and qualifying for the NCAA WEST preliminary round. She didn’t advance to the finals, BUT TOOK 28TH WITH A THROW OF 57.59M/188'-11", A PERSONAL BEST AT THE TIME.

It was just the beginning.

In the 2013 indoor season, she won the weight throw at the KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ALL-COMERS MEET

(17.30m/56'-9.25"), the ARKANSAS-OSU duel (16.60m/54'-5.5") and the SOONER INVITATIONAL , where she THREW AN INDOOR-BEST 18.65m/61'-2.25". At the BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS, she launched an 18.39m/60'-0.04" to finish SEVENTH, earning two team points for the Cowgirls. In the

of the sport and life in general, she began to show how incredible she really is. She realized stepping out of the box was OK. S HE HAS IM PROVE D S O MU CH IN REGARDS TO DE ALING WITH CHANGE, AND IT HAS HELPED HER IMPROVE AS AN ATHLETE AND A PERSON.”

Way’s hard work did not go unnoticed. Two of her most important accolades were still to come. In the fall of 2013, Way was named

one of 47 SENIORS OF SIGNIFICANCE

at OSU. From that pool, in the spring of 2014, OSU selected 15 seniors to be the university’s outstanding seniors for 2014.

Way was on that list. To put the honor in perspective, only the top one-half percent of OSU’s seniors were selected.

“It was really humbling and surprising,” Way said. “To me, I was always just doing my job and what was expected of me. I didn’t really think I was doing anything

winning and losing,” Way said. “Being the president for the past two years has given me the platform to communicate that and I am grateful.” That experience has led Way, a premed/physiology graduate, to take advantage of being the second Cowgirl track and field athlete to earn an NCA A post-graduate scholarship. She will be a track and field coach at the UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS, a Christian liberal arts university, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Way said she is excited to do what she has a passion for, and also be close to home. “I’ve known the former throws coach at the University of Sioux Falls for a long time,” Way said. “In February I competed in a meet at the University of Nebraska and saw him there. He said he was going to step down and they were looking for a replacement.

“I’VE LEARNED THAT LIFE IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ATHLETICS … ” outdoor season she yet again earned allconference honors after launching a then personal-best 60.02m/196'-11" to take FOURTH IN THE HAMMER. She once again qualified for the NCAA WEST preliminary in the hammer, and missed qualifying for the national meet by a meter.

In 2014, Way was a two-time AllBig 12 honoree. She was seventh in the

weight throw and sixth in the hammer. She also qualified for the OUTDOOR WEST preliminaries for a third time. Amidst the athletic success, she compiled FOUR CON-

SECUTIVE ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 HONORS, BECOMING ONLY THE SECOND COWGIRL TO DO SO. She was named to the Capital

One Academic All-America Track & Field Teams in 2013 and 2014.

Baumann said Way’s adaptation to change, in both athletics and in life, has helped her improve. “ SHE HAS JUST E VOLVED SO MUCH,” BAUMANN SAID. “Like I said, she is such a creature of habit. When she was able to evolve in her understanding

outstanding or extraordinary. However, the fact that the university recognized me and determined I had, was humbling and exciting. It was really cool.” Even with the success in the classroom and the circle, Way felt she had a higher calling, and that led her to the FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. “What I’ve done and enjoyed the most is visiting schools, speaking to kids and telling my story,” Way said. “I want to use the platform I’ve been given to influence other kids and serve them. I’ve really enjoyed that. Being a college athlete, I’ve learned that life is so much bigger than athletics, and I want to communicate that. SPORTS ARE GREAT, BUT THEY ARE ONLY PART OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER.”

Way had found a perfect fit, and eventually became the organization’s president. She continued to use the platform to do what she feels she was meant to do. “I’ve just wanted to stress to young athletes that there is so much more to life than

They were especially looking for a female. We talked about it and two weeks later I got the call from the head coach. We discovered I was the perfect fit for them and they were the perfect fit for me. It’s a great opportunity, being a Christian school, to share my faith with my athletes at my job.”

Way said even though her degree is supposed to be a stepping stone to medical school, she knows she is where she is supposed to be right now.

“I don’t really know what my end goal is right now,” Way said. “I know even with how much I loved everything about the science in my undergraduate courses, I don’t want to go to medical school — at least not yet. During my time at OSU, I got really involved with FCA and fell

in love with serving and mentoring young athletes. I don’t know how long

I will be doing this, but

I KNOW THIS

IS WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME REGARDING THE NEXT STEP IN MY LIFE.”

An Puzzle OSU experts work to piece together ancient mammoth — and its history

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

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“There’s more than just this mammoth,” says Carlos Cordova, an Oklahoma State University geographer. “It’s the mammoth that may exist in that area and all the other ones we are looking at.” The trek for answers continues for two Cowboys, Cordova and geography doctoral student Tom Cox, who are delving deeper into the history of paleo-mammoths and potentially starting a new chapter for OSU’s geography department. PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

The tale began in fall 2013 when natural gas company Access Midstream came across mammoth remains while drilling outside Enid, Okla. The company notified the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey before continuing with the pipeline installation, and that’s when Cox and Cordova came into the picture. After the survey gave the thumbsup, Cox and Cordova began excavating the bones with the help of OSU students, faculty and volunteers. This was OSU’s first opportunity to be involved in such an excavation. Cordova’s experience with fossil pollen and plant stones in the world of paleomammoths and Cox’s interests and skills were vital in the excavation. After uncovering a nearly complete mammoth, referred to as the Helena mammoth, the dig site landowner, an OSU alumnus, donated the bones to the university. Cox, Cordova and select volunteers preserved, analyzed and pieced the bones back together. Now, the bones await their debut as fundraising efforts and display plans continue. The collected specimens were sent to labs that had the proper technology and experience to try to find answers regarding the Helena mammoth. With evidence and hypotheses suggesting there is much more to be done with

Carlos Cordova (left) and Tom Cox work on the Helena mammoth.

the mammoth, Cordova and Cox are not about to sit back and wait. WORKING TOGETHER APART

This semester, Cordova is on sabbatical traveling the world, and Cox is spending time at other significant dig sites. Although countries apart, the duo is continuing to work toward expanding the OSU program and accomplishing things no one has before. Cordova, who specializes in geoarcheology and paleo-ecology, was everywhere but in Oklahoma this fall. One of his destinations included a conference in Mexico that centered on the early peoples in the Americas. Along with other archaeologists, Cordova will present his findings about the Helena mammoth, visit mammoth sites around Mexico City and learn more about others’ work with mammoths. Cordova’s interest lies in ecosystems that existed in North America, particularly in the Great Plains, from the Pleistocene to the Holocene periods, and how the climate, vegetation and animals either adapted or went extinct, as well as the role humans and global climate played. His upcoming publication, which centers on the comparison of elephants from southern Africa with mammoths from the Great Plains, mentions the data that were collected from the Helena mammoth. SOUTHWEST CORNER

Back home, Cox has continued digging. He took a strong interest in the Grandfield site after catching wind of it from Cordova. Through this endeavor, Cox has formed key connections with Cameron University and the Institute and Museum of the Great Plains, both located in Lawton, Okla. Just 38 miles southwest of Lawton, lies Grandfield, a small, picturesque town that not too long ago, welcomed the discovery of the mammoth bones. In 2006, a local resident and his grandson journeyed to Deep Red Creek to fish, when they came upon a set of bones nestled deep in the edge of a roadway drainage ditch. They contacted the nearest museum, which then contacted Mike Dunn, a biology professor specializing in paleo-botany at Cameron. Along with a team of students, Dunn visited the site. With erosion being an apparent issue, the team quickly excavated the bones, taking them back to the university for analysis, then covered up the site for future research. A few years later, Dunn piqued the interest of a museum acquaintance with word of the mammoth discovery, and a new effort was launched. At last, a formal excavation began, and after appearing to find everything, Dunn’s students created a class out of the site. In summer 2013, Cox came into the picture continues

PHOTO / CARLOS CORDOVA

In his research, Carlos Cordova compares elephants from southern Africa with mammoths from the Great Plains.

with an intense interest in stratigraphy, a branch of geology that studies rock layers and layering, and he began digging along the stream, uncovering mammoth tusks. With one tusk excavated and one remaining, it’s safe to say that more happened with this happenstance of a discovery than anyone expected. “This project really interests me,” says Randy Clark, Grandfield city manager. “It’s been an enjoyable experience — the most gratifying thing I’ve been involved in, working with all these people.” Clark, who has been involved with the discovery since the beginning, grew up playing along the creek where the bones were found.

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MOVING FORWARD

Cox is continuing to work with Cameron and the museum, as well as reaching out to other sources to find more information. His project will result in the first detailed map pinpointing Oklahoma dig sites where mammoth remains have been found. “Tom and Cordova will be placing these on a map,” says Debra Baker, a research archaeologist and the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act officer for the Institute and Museum of the Great Plains. “We’ll be able to see where they are on a map, and that’s something we’ve never had.”

The Grandfield mammoth will be displayed in the town’s library along with an educational component, much like OSU wants to do with the Helena mammoth. “Bones in a museum bring perspective to people,” Baker says. “They show people, especially kids, that they’re real. They bring reality to myths.” S H E L BY H O L C O M B

Randall Davis (from right) supervises the start of a project with research tech Daniel Buck and research assistant Kelly McCracken.

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PHOTO CREDIT: OSU CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES

DEPRESSION OSU-CHS researchers on path to new treatment andall Davis wants to find new treatments for one of the leading causes of disability in the nation. “Brain disorders represent a huge burden, both in terms of human suffering and economic costs, and major depressive disorder is one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S.,” says Davis, head of the biomedical sciences graduate program at OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. “Right here in Oklahoma, we rank in the top 10 states for the number of people with depression.” Davis is leading a team of researchers examining the effect of neuroinflammation on the development of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and major depressive disorder. Neuroinflammation, the inflammation of the nervous tissue, can be caused by a number of factors. “We have found that neuroinflammation is a symptom present in many different disorders that affect the brain and nervous system,” says Davis. “Our study could help determine if treating neuroinflammation will help provide relief for people with these disorders.” According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 16 million adults — 6.9 percent of the population — have had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. Effective treatments tend to vary greatly depending on the individual, and it can be challenging for physicians to find a treatment combination that works. “We recognize that it can be difficult to develop one single treatment that works well for the many people affected by these

depressive disorders,” says Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU Center for Health Sciences president. “The research by Dr. Davis and his team has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people who, in some extreme cases, find it difficult to even get out of bed.” With a biomedical research grant from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Davis and his research partners, Thomas Curtis and Craig Stevens, are specifically examining the therapeutic effect of the chemical beta-funaltrexamine that counteracts the effects of narcotics in the central nervous system. “There are few relatively few drugs on the market that effectively reduce neuroinflammation, so the results we have seen with this compound are promising.

patterns. The combination will enable the team to evaluate the chemical’s effects from a variety of perspectives. The team is also working with a postdoctoral fellow and biomedical sciences graduate students at OSU-CHS. During the three-year project, researchers hope to gain enough information about the chemical’s effects and how it works to provide direction for future studies on its use in treating depressive disorders. “The study is the first of many steps to potentially develop a new form of treatment,” says Davis. “We are the only group looking at the potential use of betafunaltrexamine as a treatment for neuroinflammation and depression, but our hope is that our findings open the doors to further research.”

“The study is the first of many steps to potentially develop a new form of treatment. We are the only group looking at the potential use of beta-funaltrexamine as a treatment for neuroinflammation and depression.” — Randall Davis While working with beta-funaltrexamine seven years ago on a different project, we observed that it had an anti-inflammatory effect,” says Davis. “That finding was unexpected and provided us with an opportunity to study how this effect could translate to potential treatments for depression.” The OSU-CHS researchers bring a variety of experience to the project. All three hold doctorates; Davis is a leader in neuroinflammation research, Stevens is an expert on opiates and drug combinations, and Curtis brings expertise on behavior

The team hopes that the drug can be used in combination with others currently on the market to more effectively treat depression and other neurological disorders. “With millions of people suffering daily from depression, we hope this research is a big step forward in developing new treatment protocols,” says Davis. “The impact that would have on the health of our state would be incredible.” S E A N K E N N E DY

Nights with OSU span the country

“The event went well beyond my expectations,” says Washington Chapter President David Brown. “It was nice to get to hang out with all of my friends in D.C. and with Ann and Burns Hargis, the president of OSU.” Reps. James Lankford and Frank Lucas, as well as Sen. Jim Inhofe, all representing Oklahoma in Washington, also attended the event. Of the three, only Lucas is an OSU alumnus. The evening was made possible by Beverly Bennett Groom, Leo Jardot, Helen Newman Roche and Leslie Woolley. As this issue was going to press, the year’s final event was taking place in San Francisco. Visit orangeconnection.org/osunight for highlights and postings about future Night with OSU events.

Washington, D.C. Chapter members Tony Subketkaew (from left), Adrienne Moudy and David Brown (right) with OSU President Burns Hargis at A Night with OSU in D.C. on Sept. 9. OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis are continuing their cross-country treks visiting Cowboys from coast to coast with the OSU Alumni Association. This year, six Night with OSU events have taken place, with the most recent ones in Phoenix; Greenwich, Conn.; Washington, D.C.; and San Francisco. A Night with OSU brings a little of Stillwater to alumni around the country who can’t make it back to campus. Many of the events have been free, and all provide a great opportunity to connect with OSU alumni, family and friends in their respective areas. “President Hargis and the First Cowgirl are always a draw at our Night with OSU events,” says Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder. “President Hargis’ energy and enthusiasm is evident every time he speaks with our alumni, and we couldn’t ask for a better ambassador for OSU than Ann Hargis. They even celebrated their wedding anniversary at one of our events.” A Night with OSU in Phoenix was held April 1 at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. The event was free to all who attended, made possible through the generosity of Gene Batchelder, John and Judy Lewis, and Bill and Debbie Manera. On June 8, the Alumni Association headed just north of the Big Apple for a Night with OSU in Greenwich, Conn., at the Greenwich Country Club. Many members of the New York City OSU Alumni took the train from Grand Central Station to Greenwich to attend the event. The evening was made possible through the generosity of Gerry and Dorothy Mayfield. On Sept. 9, the Washington, D.C., OSU Alumni Chapter helped host an event on Capitol Hill for OSU alumni, friends and distinguished OSU leaders. The event was held in the Longworth House Office Building.

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Brandon Wagoner (from left), Michelle Wagoner, Christine Hellan, Joe McElvaney and Emily Spleth Tossetti at A Night with OSU in Phoenix on April 1.

New York City Chapter members Michael Spexarth (left), Ali Hodel Barbera and Melanie Schilt (right) present an anniversary gift to Ann and Burns Hargis on June 8 at A Night with OSU in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Vintage O-State raises record $50,000 Cowboys in Oklahoma’s capital showed their dedication to Oklahoma State in record numbers this year with the OKC Metro OSU Alumni Chapter. The chapter’s annual Vintage O-State wine tasting and fundraiser took place Aug. 16 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. More than 250 attended the event, which collected a record $50,000 for the chapter’s scholarship fund. “We had a great turnout for the evening, and we succeeded in more than doubling the amount we raised for scholarships over previous years,” says former chapter President Steven Sturgeon. “I’ve been part of this board and event for seven years now, and this was the most entertaining and successful event we’ve had.” In addition to beer and wine tasting, attendees also sampled cuisine from several local restaurants as country singer Buck Goucher performed. The event featured numerous special guests including President Burns Hargis, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis, members of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents and staffers from the OSU Alumni Association and OSU Foundation. Throughout the evening, attendees were able to bid in silent and live auctions. Some of the items auctioned off included dinners and hotel stays, tours of athletic facilities, a basketball suite for up to 16 people and Cowboy football tickets. A $100 dash game also provided an entertaining way to raise money, and one lucky winner received club seats to an OSU football game. With $50,000 raised by both the dash and the auction, the chapter hopes to award even more scholarships to deserving local students attending OSU in the fall. Scholarship applications are available now at orangeconnection.org/scholarship and are due Feb. 1.

Evan and Abbey Davis, James and Amy Ferrell and Kevin and Katie Rathkey at Oklahoma City Vintage O-State.

The OKC Metro Chapter is planning an overhaul of Vintage O-State that will help continue its future success. The new event will debut in the spring of 2016 at the Aloft Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. For more information on Vintage O-State or the OKC Metro Chapter, visit orangeconnection.org/okcmetro.

OSU Black Alumni Society Honors Julia Brown The OSU Black Alumni Society hosted its 19th annual reunion and scholarship weekend Oct. 24-25. The events held during Homecoming 2014 included a golf tournament and reception highlighting the 2014 Black Alumni Society Trailblazer Award honoree Julia T. Brown. This year, the society’s board decided to emphasize efforts by female trailblazers who have made their marks in business and industry, education, government and community service. Julia T. Brown is a licensed attorney who graduated from OSU in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where she served as president of her law class before graduating in 1975. Brown has worked at all levels of government in Oklahoma, California, Washington, D.C., and in corporate law. A former assistant district attorney and assistant attorney general in Oklahoma, Brown also served both as an enlisted soldier and an Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer. She retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel and deputy commander of the 75th Legal Support Organization. “The legacy of a Trailblazer is to have done what no one has provided a model for and thus, to provide an example for others to follow,” says OSU Black Alumni Society President Sam Combs. “Ms. Brown has been such a person throughout her career, in so many ways, that she is without parallel. The OSU Black Alumni Society is very proud to honor her accomplishments and to have her as our 2014 Trailblazer.” Brown serves as the national vice president of the American Association of University Women and is a member of the OSU Alumni Association, NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She is now the Doña Ana County manager in Las Cruces, N.M. “I’m honored to have been selected as the 2014 Trailblazer Award recipient,” Brown says. “It’s pretty amazing to join the ranks of past honorees who have all accomplished so much in their lives and careers. It’s very humbling also to be selected for such a recognition, but especially so because it comes from my fellow alums, my peers.” For more information about the OSU Black Alumni Society or the Trailblazer Award, visit orangeconnection.org/blackalumni.

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Tulsa Chapter Welcomes Veterans Home The Tulsa OSU Alumni Chapter found a new way to support our military with its Cowboys for a Cause events. This year, the chapter teamed up with Oklahoma Honor Flights — a nonprofit organization that transports Oklahoma World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., for a daylong visit to the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifices. Upon their return to Tulsa, hundreds of supporters with clothing and signs celebrating red, white, blue and America’s Brightest Orange. More than 100 Tulsa-area OSU alumni were waiting at the Tulsa airport on April 30 to cheer on the veterans as they disembarked. The chapter made signs, waved flags, welcomed each veteran and helped fill the airport with patriotism. “The Honor Flight is a heartwarming event, and we have received wonderful feedback about our involvement,” says Tulsa Chapter Vice President Whitney Pancoast. “These events provide our alumni with an opportunity to get engaged in our community and give thanks to our veterans for their service and sacrifice.” The Tulsa chapter hosts two Honor Flights a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. For the spring Honor Flight, the Tulsa Chapter had more than 100 attendees, the largest turnout for a volunteer event the chapter has ever had. Tulsa Chapter President Mike Presnal says he believes the record turnout can be attributed to the unique experience each event offers. “My favorite part of the night is seeing each one of the veteran’s faces as they come off the plane,” Presnal says. “I think they know the celebration is coming, but it still surprises them. Most are in wheelchairs, but all want to shake hands, smile and give us thanks for coming out to support them.” For more information on the spring 2015 Honor Flight or how to get involved, visit orangeconnection.org/tulsa.

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

DEC. 4

McAlester Main Street Christmas Parade — Pittsburg County Chapter

DEC. 6

St. Jude Marathon Weekend — Memphis Chapter

DEC. 6

OSU vs. South Carolina (MBB) Road trip — SE Virginia Chapter

DEC. 6

Annual Auction — Kansas City Chapter

DEC. 14

Holiday Harbor Cruise — Orange County Chapter

DEC. 20

Holiday Bell Ringing — Pittsburg County Chapter

JAN. 7

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics Outing — NYC Chapter

JAN. 8

Happy Hour — North Texas Chapter

JAN. 30

Happy Hour — OKC Metro Chapter

FEB. 1

Chapter Scholarships Due — Alumni Association

FEB. 20

A Brighter Orange — North Texas Chapter

MAR. 5

Women of Dallas Spring Fashion Event — North Texas Chapter

MAR. 6–9

Big 12 Tournament (WBB) — Dallas

MAR. 7

Vintage O-State: Loyal and True — Tulsa Chapter

MAR. 7

Big 12 Wrestling Championship — Ames, Iowa

MAR. 11–14 Big 12 Tournament (MBB) — Kansas City MAR. 19–21 NCAA Wrestling Championship — St. Louis

Caitlin Funk and Bonnie Caldwell at the Tulsa Chapter’s volunteer event April 30 with Oklahoma Honor Flights.

MAR. 25

Second Annual 5K Fun Run — ClevelandMcClain Co. Chapter

APRIL

Cowboys for a Cause — Community Service Month

MAY 20–24 Big 12 Baseball Tournament — Tulsa

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

The Elephant’s Name was Mabel Since the 1930s, Hugo, Okla., has been known as the winter home of traveling tent circuses, and the town proclaims itself “Circus City USA.” As a young man, Oklahoma State University alumnus Mike Moore spent a good part of his summers traveling while working for the family business, Carson and Barnes Circus. Based in Hugo, Carson and Barnes was owned and operated by Mike’s parents, Jack and Angela Moore. Mike and his sisters, Wanda, Martha and Madelyn, grew up with the family’s circus. From performing to selling tickets, the Moore children were involved in helping the show succeed. One of Mike’s early tasks involved taking care of the family’s beloved elephant, Mabel. He would later perform with Mabel in the ring before tackling other jobs such as candy butcher, prop boss, water man, sideshow canvas boss and eventually management tasks. Life in the circus is just like on a farm, Mike says. You get up early, you do your chores, you take care of the animals. Everybody’s got multiple jobs to do. Everyone works very hard. And the parents, in particular, have a huge multitasking-type environment to go through. So there are, I think, a lot of similarities between the circus life and farming. During the school year, the Moore children stayed with

members of the Hugo community when the circus was on the road. Mike attended Hugo High School, graduating as valedictorian of his class. This honor led to a scholarship to Oklahoma State University, where he enrolled in 1960. He remembers: I essentially paid my way through college completely with the money I was able to earn during the summer. Luckily, I had some small scholarship from OSU because I was valedictorian in high school, and that was like $200 a year or something. Tuition wasn’t that much in the early ’60s, but it still cost several thousand dollars a year to go to OSU. So in those years I worked in the office, which consisted of selling main show tickets, checking up with the committee after the show, paying some local bills. I never did the payroll; Mother always did that. And I was in college by then. I was no longer working inside the tent. But I’d say ’65 was the last year I trouped. At Oklahoma State, Mike met and later married Kay Anderson. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1964. He and Kay both graduated from OSU in 1966, Kay with a bachelor’s degree in business and Mike with a master’s degree in mathematics. Mike’s career took him into computer software. After his father died of cancer in 1969, the show was sold to another Hugo family and still makes its rounds across the United States. TA N YA F I N C H U M

O-STATE Stories, a project of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the Edmon Low Library, chronicles the rich history, heritage and traditions of Oklahoma State University. Interviews are available online; for more on The “Big Top” Show Goes On: An Oral History of Occupations Inside and Outside the Canvas Circus Tent, visit www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/circus. For more information about O-STATE Stories, or for assistance with searching, contact the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at 405-744-7685.

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Radio for Pet Lovers OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences knows how important pets are in the lives of Oklahomans. “Vet Med Moment,” a public radio segment on KOSU (91.7 FM) presented by OSU clinical assistant professor Dr. Lesa Staubus is broadcast just for that reason — to help Oklahomans take care of their animal loved ones. The effort is part of OSU’s land-grant mission to share research and tips with the community. The program, in collaboration with the Kirkpatrick Foundation, can be heard at 1:20 p.m. Wednesdays and 6:40 a.m. Sundays.

OSU is focused on bright minds, building brighter futures and the brightest world for all.

’50s Paul Johnson, ’50 elec eng, was named a 2015 Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year.” He works at GableGotwals law firm. Belva Neal, ’50 exec sec adm, has a daughter and granddaughter who attended OSU. Homer Pickhardt, ’50 elec eng, is one of the few remaining engineers with experience interpreting oil field electric logs recorded in the 1940s and 50s. Pat Millington, ’51 elem ed, M.S. ’55 elem ed, has been living in Independent housing at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, Okla., for the past seven years. Lonnie Dunkin, ’52 an husb, and his wife, Doris, ’52 HEECS, were married Dec. 25, 1951. They have one son, two grandsons and six great-grandchildren. Irene Strevey, ’53 art, and her husband, Guy, ’53 sec ed, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Nov. 7, 2013. Irene is retired, and Guy works as a financial planner and board member of Energy Co. They have four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Union of Forest Research Organizations. He has been a faculty member in the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation since 1969. Marilyn Anthony, ’58 FRCD, and her husband, Bob Anthony, ’64 trade & indus ed, have two grandchildren attending OSU. Billy Jackson, ’58 sec ed, M.S. ’62 elem ed, and his wife, Beth, ’57 elem ed, M.S. ’62 elem ed, moved into Spanish Cove Retirement facility in Yukon, Okla. Ted Thorn, ’58 agron, M.S. ’59 agron, retired and is farming in the Central Valley of northern California. William Stor y, ’59 bus, has a daughter who is working in Munich, Germany, for a major marketing company. His wife, Christina, received her doctorate in physiological counseling.

’60s

William Long, ’57 ag ed, and his wife, Joan, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 6.

Thomas Luckinbill, ’65 hist, is retired from the U.S. Air Force and works as a secondary school principal and teacher. He lives in Blanchard, Okla., with his wife, Rhonda. John Stanberry, M.S. ’65 indus eng & mgmt, and his daughter, Stephanie, co-authored a published self-help, practical public speaking book titled Leave ’Em Speechless. The book is available on Amazon. Verle Brown, M.S. ’66 math, is retired. He and his wife spend their time doing volunteer work.

Sandra Skinner, ’60 FRCD, M.S. ’64 FRCD, and her husband, Richard, M.S. ’64 chem eng, Ph.D. ’67 chem eng, have a granddaughter, Natalie Davis, who started her freshman year at OSU. Natalie attended Grandparent University every year she was eligible. She comes from a family of OSU legacies. Gayle Ward, ’61 gen admin, and her husband, Stanley, ’61 pol sci, M.S. ’63 pol sci, have a son, Marshall, and daughter, Amy. Their granddaughter, Katie Seamans, is now a freshman at OSU. David Ihle, ’62 agron, retired from the National Weather Service and the U.S. Navy. He is in the process of moving to Russellville, Tenn.

Bill Jackson, ’55 physio, is shown in the picture with his OSU family at Homecoming. The picture includes seven graduates and three current students. With him is his wife, Georgine, ’57 HEECS, Laura Jackson Boyd, ’81 acctg, Chris Jackson, ’84 mech eng, Tim Jackson, ’90 organ adm, MBA ’94, Sarah Jackson, ’92 HRAD, and Carrie Jackson, ’91 elem ed. There are also three current OSU students, Kelly Jackson, Geena Jackson and George Boyd.

Marleen Harris, ’65 elem ed, M.S. ’70 elem ed, has a granddaughter, Jerika Herbert, who is a sophomore Kappa Delta at OSU. Their youngest grandchild, Donovan Harris, is a smiling and dancing 1-year-old.

Melvin Powell, ’63 civil eng, lost his wife, Barbara, in January 2013. He married Opal Adkinson on March 18, 2014. Gladeen Allred, ’64 sec ed, EDD ’85, and her husband, Ed Long, ’56 ag ed, recently completed a mission trip to the African Congo to help drill water wells with water4.org. Harold Burkhart, ’65 for, was named the recipient of the 2014 World Congress Host Country Scientific Achievement Award from the International

Paul Hollis, ’66 chem eng, and his wife, Gloria, have been married for 48 years. They have two daughters, Kathryn Griffith, ’95 mktg, and Susan Hollis.

John Bourdette, ’68 livestock op, and his wife, Marcia, moved to their 140-acre ranch outside of Watrous, N.M. They have been retired for a year.

’70s William Carter, ’70 gen ag, is proud of his OSU family. His uncle graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1938. His dad started at A&M in 1938, then enlisted the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. After serving in World War II, his dad went on to graduate at Cornell and Columbia and was part of the first class of veterinary medicine at A&M in 1951. One of his sons and his daughter-in-law graduated with DVM degrees in 2006. His other son graduated in 2007. John Hall, ’70 zoo, works as an ER physician at Tucson Medical Center in Arizona. Phillip Blackburn, ’71 pysch, retired from Atlas Air as a 747 captain in 2013. Pamela Cobb, ’71 music ed, retired from teaching music. She is still working part-time for Meals on Wheels and plays the violin in a community orchestra.

Greek system marks anniversaries Spring 2015 is the 100th anniversary of both the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils at Oklahoma State University. The Interfraternity Council is the governing body of the 24 men’s fraternities on campus, and the Panhellenic Council is the governing body of the 13 women’s sororities on campus. This spring also marks the 50-year anniversary of Spring Sing, a program consisting of fraternities and sororities singing and dancing. Past council presidents and Spring Sing show directors are invited to attend the celebrations marking these anniversaries. “Our Greek system is truly one of the best in the nation, and it is because of the leadership we have had in the past 100 years,” says Alison Limke, Panhellenic president. “It is an exciting opportunity to honor them and all of their hard work.” Past presidents and show directors can contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs for more information by calling 405-744-5490 or emailing gogreek@okstate.edu.

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Chapter Leader Profile:

Lynne McElroy

The Cleveland/McClain Counties Chapter of the OSU Alumni Association is painting Norman orange, and leading the charge is Lynne McElroy, one of OSU’s biggest supporters.

a list of Cowboys and Cowgirls she knew in the Norman area. As a result, she met with Richard Melot (’65 AGED) to discuss why there wasn’t an alumni chapter in their area. After several phone calls and meetings with the Alumni Association, the Cleveland County Chapter was established.

guests have included OSU President Burns Hargis, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis, Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder, Cowgirl basketball associate head coach Bill Annan, Dr. Debbie Early and Chief Wellness Officer Suzy Harrington. “My favorite thing is getting to be with other Cowboys and getting to work

“My favorite thing is getting to be with other Cowboys and getting to work with the fabulous staff at the university. Plus, I have met people from OSU and across the state that I never would have been connected to if it weren’t for the chapter.”

McElroy grew up in the small southwestern Oklahoma town of Walters. After a field trip to Stillwater, she decided that OSU would be her future home. McElroy graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in human sciences in 1971 and a master’s degree in human sciences in 1982. — Lynne McElroy “OSU taught me something new every day,” McElroy with the fabulous staff at the university,” Today, the chapter includes McClain says. “I can still remember certain profesMcElroy says. “Plus, I have met people County. It has a steady base of active sors and the various life lessons they from OSU and across the state that I never membership with room for growth — taught me.” would have been connected to if it weren’t more than 6,000 OSU alumni call the While at OSU, she was involved for the chapter.” two-county area home. McElroy says the in Food, Nutrition and Institutional In her spare time, McElroy is a team primary goal of the chapter is to raise Administration Club, Panhellenic Council leader with Mary Kay, a volunteer at and the Home Economics Student Council. awareness of OSU alumni in the area McFarlin Methodist Church and a volunMcElroy was also an Alpha Xi Delta char- and to support future OSU students with teer host at Grandparent University. She scholarships. ter member where she served as recruitworks out at the YMCA, loves to read and, The chapter hosts three annual events ment chairperson and Spring Sing director. most importantly, attend OSU athletic — a senior send-off picnic in June, a McElroy’s education paid off, and miniature golf tournament in October and events. McElroy has one son, Lincoln, she had a successful career working with a 5K run in March. Chapter members also and daughter-in-law, Jenny. She is also mothers and children. She started as a host monthly meetings that feature a guest the proud grandmother of Bennett, 5, and regional mothers and children health Caroline, 7 months. from OSU to keep up to date with campus nutritionist before working in public activities and developments. Special health administration. McElroy then K AT I E PA R I S H served as chief of Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a nutrition service before Cleveland/McClain Counties Chapter her last job as a state nutritionist for 8 ,272 alumni and friends SoonerStart Early Intervention program. 693 members When planning her retirement, 441 current students from Cleveland and McClain counties McElroy pondered what she would do 65 miles from Stillwater with all her free time. She started to make Robert Grissom, ’71 broad journ, retired in 2014 and relocated to Wilmington, N.C. Walter Wilson, 71 arch eng, was a member of Alpha Rho Chi. He serves on the Wisconsin State Capitol and Executive Residence Board and Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing Board. He is a member of the Glendale (Wisc.)

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Planning Commission and Community Development Commission. Larry Odom, ’72 zoo, retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Charles Joseph Hitt, ’73 bio sci, retired from chiropractic practice and is pursuing his avocation of art. His wife, Julia Hitt, ’74 sec ed, M.S. ’83 curr instruct, retired after 34 years

of teaching. Their daughter, Jessica, ’14 acctg, is working as a graduate assistant this year and will earn her master’s degree in accounting in May 2015. Roberta Mason, ’74 bus ed, and her husband, John Mason, ‘67 agron, M.S. ’79 agron, retired in the fall of 2013 and moved back to Stillwater

to attend sporting events and be near family. Christine Yasik, ’74 sec ed, retired as her grandson, Jacob Christopher, was born. She was a middle school English teacher for 36 years. Brenda Blohm, ’75 soc, M.S. ’77 psych, has a daughter who got married in August.

Larry Brinlee, ’76 mech eng, is the vice president of Chaparral Energy in Oklahoma City. James Isch, ’76 arch studies, and his wife, Julie, ’89 FRCD, are happy to say their daughter, Nancy, ’11 Engl, recently certified as an English teacher in Texas. She will be a full-time teacher in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Their daughter, Mary, will graduate in May. Kathleen Prough, ’77 phys ed, has worked at Chase Bank for 25 years. Her oldest stepson is a senior at OSU, and she has three grandchildren. Phil Rogers, ’77 broad journ, is a reporter for WMAQ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Chicago. He and his wife, Candace, love following the Cowboys. One of their daughters, Jessica, is married and lives in California. Their other daughter, Emily, is three years old. Michael Pisarik, ’79 civil eng, is the regional manager for Giles Engineering and Associates Inc.

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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Gary Reynolds, ’79 PR, is the program director for Westwood One Radio Networks in Dallas.

’80s Sam Combs, ’80 ind eng, was presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership Oklahoma. Sam is the president and CEO of ComStar Advisors in Tulsa. He is also a former chair of the OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and former president of the OSU Black Alumni Society. Todd Humphrey, ’80 organ admin, and his wife, Cynthia, ’79 pysch, have two grandsons, Cameron and Roman. James “Bo” Bollinger, ’82 ag econ, is happy to announce the birth of his grandson, Devin Edward Parker, born Sept. 22, 2014. Devin is the son of Kayla Parker, ’08 ind eng, and Daniel Parker, ’08 const mgmt tech. Mitchell Crook, ’83 fire prot & saf tech, has a son, Matthew, who has finished his freshman year at OSU. Kevin Grove, ’85 mktg, retired from the U.S. Air Force. He is currently employed by Lockheed Martin and United Airlines as a pilot.

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Neil Rowland, ’85 elec tech, has worked as the director of transmission and security at the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency for the past seven years. David Thompson, EDD ’85 ed admin, was recently named the Elvon G. Skeen Endowed Chair in Education at Kansas State University, where he serves as professor and department head of Educational Leadership. In 2013, he also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Education Finance Conference. In 2012, he was named Distinguished Fellow of Research and Practice by NEFC. Sammy Tucker, ’85 rel, became the wing chaplain at Tinker A ir Force Base in June. He is the senior chaplain, responsible for all religious operations

Jennifer Walsh-Davis, ’89 elem ed, opened a new business in 2014 called The Travel Fanatic. Her husband, David, was elected mayor of Odessa, Texas, and the couple welcomed their first grandchild, Myleigh Collins Golden.

’90s Linda Hale, ’90 elem ed, retired in May 2014 after spending 24 years teaching at Horace Mann Elementary School in Hominy, Okla. Linda plans to spend time with her children, Leah Mansfield, ’01 FRCD, and Kari Barr, ’02 bus, and her grandchildren, Claire and Kade.

annual international meeting in Montreal, Canada, on July 16. David is an association dean and professor of biological systems engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Russell Kohl, ’98 univ stud, has been named chief medical officer of TransforMED, which provides consultation, support, tools and resources to physicians and practice leaders looking to transform their practices to the patient-centered medical home model of care. Mark West, ’98 hort, was named a Distinguished Horticulture Alumnus on Aug. 23 by the OSU Department of Horticulture.

Amelia Fogleman, ’91 Engl, was named a 2015 Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year.” She works at the GableGotwals law firm. Craig Williams, ’92 acctg, created CALAK Properties Inc. in 2011.

on the base. Cathie Lavis, ’86 agron, was the 2104 co-recipient of the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) prestigious Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Arboricultural Education. The award honors ISA members for enhancing the quality and professionalism of arboriculture through education. She is an associate professor and extension landscape management specialist in Kansas State University’s Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources, and a university chair on the Faculty Exchange for Teaching Excellence. Chip Rodgers, ’88 journ, joined Retail Strategies in January 2014 as the vice president of business development. Lois Salmeron, EDD ’88 oc adult ed, was appointed dean of the Kramer School of Nursing at Oklahoma City University on Jan. 15, 2014. There is a scholarship named after her for the nursing program at OSU-OKC. She was one of the first three faculty members to establish the nursing program.

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Becky Meyer, ’93 elem ed, M.S. ’95 appl beh st, works as a pre-K teacher at Hayes Elementary in Enid. Her husband, Brian, ’86 ag econ, is a funeral director with Anderson Burris Funeral Home. Kevin Vann, ’93 acctg, was named senior vice president and chief financial officer of WPX Energy. Vann has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and risk management. He had been serving in both roles on an interim basis since March 2014. Kevin was with WPX during its spinoff, having served as the company’s controller since 2006 and as its chief accounting officer. Lesley Morgan, ’97 arch, works as a prototype architect at Le Duff America Inc. in the design and concept department. David Jones, Ph.D. ’98 ag eng, received the 2014 MasseyFerguson Educational Gold Medal Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development and delivery of biological systems engineering education in harmony with an evolving agricultural engineering curriculum. He was honored at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’

Jeremy Webb, ’99 mktg, and wife, Heather, ’00 micro, traveled to Europe this summer with their three children: Keegan, 8, Gunnar, 6, and Layken, 4. They proudly represented the Pokes throughout the U.K. and France.

’00s Marsha Cusack, ’00 ag econ, is the head softball coach at Enid High School. Her husband, Shawn, ’07 an sci, works as a biomedical teacher at NW Career Tech in Fairview. The couple has two sons attending OSU. Erin (Wooten) Madden, ’00 mgmt, and her husband, Joseph, live in Alexandria, Va., with their three daughters, Molly, 6, Megan, 3, and Marie, 1. Joe works for Quantitative Software Management, and Erin owns Madden Consulting, a change management consulting firm.

Sridhar was an associate professor of civil engineering at Boise State University, a research assistant professor in geosciences at the University of Nebraska, and a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Washington in Seattle. Sridhar was a Boise State Teaching Scholar in 2009-2010 at the school’s Center for Teaching and Learning and garnered more than $1.4 million in grant funding during his academic career there. Matt Teuscher, ’01 an sci, DVM ’04 vet med, purchased Island Animal Hospital after relocating from Illinois to Florida in August 2013. Michael Hightower, ’02 mass comm, authored the books Banking in Oklahoma: 1907-2000 and Banking in Oklahoma Before Statehood. He is an independent historian and principal researcher for the Oklahoma Bank and Commerce History Project of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Travis Miller, ’02 math and econ, M.S. ’04 quant econ, got married in November 2012. He and his wife had their first son, Nathan Stuart Miller, on Sept. 1, 2013. They have lived in Canada for 10 years. Patricia Vega, M.S. ’02 eng and tech mgmt, has been named the new president and CEO of GE Oil & Gas for Latin America. Katherine Evans, ’03 FRCD, and her husband, Jonathan, welcomed a future C ow b oy to t h e f a m i l y, E a s t o n Jackson Evans. Matthew Holland, ’03 an sci, got married April 26, 2014. All of the groomsmen were members of Kappa Sigma fraternity, and four of the six were OSU grads.

Jennifer Colby, M.S. ’01 acctg, and her husband, Curtis, had a baby boy, Luke Griffin Colby, on March 5. Luke joins big brother Jackson and big sister Hannah. Venkataramana Sridhar, Ph.D. ’01 biosystems eng, has been appointed assistant professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. Prior to Virginia Tech,

Yale Scott, ’03 mktg & mgmt, announces the launch of an invention he has been working on for the last few years, the Germ Free Bee Airplane Seat Cover & Blanket. Justin Lacy, ’04 mgmt, and his wife, Emily, had their first child, Jackson Andrew Lacy on Oct. 8, 2013. Justin

graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in May 2013 and now works as a human resources consultant for the university. Cambria Campbell, ’05 journ and broad, and her husband, Scott, welcomed their fourth child, Case Walker Campbell, born on Aug. 19, 2014. Brandon Boughen, ’06 ag ed, M.S. ’10 ag ed, and his wife, Casi, had a son, Liam Charles Boughen, on Aug. 20, 2014. Meredith Dooley, ’06 physio, DVM ’10 vet med, just wanted to say thank you to OSU for her eight years of education. Jessica Russell, ’06 ag econ, and her husband, Jordan, ’06 ag bus, welcomed Elise Kate born on Aug. 28, 2014. Amanda Crain, ’08 eng & tech mgmt, and her husband, Jake, ’05 mech eng, have two sons, J.R. Crain, 2, and Ty, born Sept. 26, 2014. Sarah Taylor, ’08 rec, made this Pistol Pete outfit for her 9-month-old son, Hudson.

Jessica Lemons, ’09 human sci, married Jeffrey Lemons on Aug. 2, 2013. Amy Smith, ’09 psych, will be starting her doctorate studies at the Institute of Education at the University of London in 2015.

’10s Allison Lyons, ’11 acctg, joined the Oklahoma City office of McAfee & Taf t, Oklahoma’s largest law firm.

Ryan Jenkinson, ’12 mech eng, has a new job as a liaison engineer with Trinity Industries in Oklahoma City. Alan Cox, ’13 sports media, works as a communications assistant at the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Sherry Jackson, ’13 nurse science, is working at Integris Baptist as a registered nurse in Neuro ICU.

Friends & Family Cathy Cowan is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Bartlesville, Okla., since January 2014. Aix Harrison is living with his daughter, Nancy, and son-in-law, Dennis. They exercise for 40 minutes at the recreation center every morning. Mary Jo Hutson and her husband, Herb, have a grandson who is a freshman at OSU. Carl Summitt has a daughter attending OSU-OKC. She will transfer to Stillwater in fall of 2015.

In Memoriam William Patrick Adams died June 2, 2014. Bill was born Jan. 30, 1940 in Chicago. He moved to Nicoma Park, Okla., at the age of 6 and graduated from Choctaw High School. While attending OSU, he was a member of Acacia fraternity, president of InterFraternity Council, OSU Student Senate Pro Tem and graduated in 1962 with a degree in industrial engineering and management. After six months of active duty in the Army Reserves, he began his career with IBM in Oklahoma City; Kansas City, Mo.; and Omaha, Neb. He returned to Oklahoma City to become president of a data-processing firm serving the banking industry. Bill joined AllTel Systematics as a district manager in Tacoma/Seattle, Wash., in 1989. He was named the company’s country manager for Russia after selling banking services to the Russian State Savings Bank. John Wesley Born died July 19, 2014, in Tulsa. He was 89. John was born July 2, 1925, in Enid, Okla. He graduated from Enid High School in 1942 shortly after the United States entered World War II. After a year at Phillips University, he enlisted in the Army Specialized Training Program. He was called into service in July 1943 and studied at Texas A&M before joining the 103rd Infantry Division at Camp Howze in Texas. He

fought in the European Theater and was awarded the Bronze Star before being discharged in January 1945. John returned to college and enrolled at Oklahoma A&M, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in engineering and began a long career as a design engineer with oilrig manufacturer Lee C. Moore Corp. in Tulsa. He retired in 1989 as chief engineer of production after 40 years. JoAnne Dunn died Oct. 15, 2014. She was 82. Joanne was born Aug. 2, 1932, in Ada, Okla., to Raymond and Josephine Bullock She H a m e r.

graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1954 with a degree in general business. Louis Hanson died June 24, 2012, in a plane accident. He was 60 years old. Louis was born in Jamestown, Kan., on March 18, 1952. He graduated from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in 1977 with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He worked as a doctor in Cumberland, Maine, for more than 30 years and had a great passion for music and flying.

Domestic Bliss The Women’s Building at OAMC

“In domestic science and arts: To prepare young women for the duties of home making in all its branches as specialists; to prepare teachers, matrons, etc., for the government service.” Story / David

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— OAMC Catalog 1908-09, page 17

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Photos / OSU

Special Collections

ust as the student population expanded in the early days of Oklahoma A&M College, so did course offerings. Domestic Science (later known as Domestic Arts, Domestic Economics or Home Economics and most recently as Human Sciences) had been specifically mentioned in the Morrill Act legislation of 1862, but the curriculum was not established at OAMC until the spring of 1900. Mary Maud Gardiner, a Kansas State graduate who had taught there and at Iowa State, was hired during the spring. Classes were offered in sewing, dressmaking, sanitation and hygiene, household economics, and cooking. By the fall of that year, 50 women were enrolled in the Domestic Science curriculum. During the first years these classes were held in the Assembly Building (Old Central), then in 1903, the department moved to the new library building.

Gardiner established a strong academic foundation in the Domestic Science Department before she left in 1904, and many excellent faculty would follow in her footsteps. By statehood in 1907, there were 70 young women in the program. Coursework included millinery, home nursing, textiles, food chemistry, social observances and the history of costume. There were also classes in free hand drawing, household design, household decoration and woodcarving. College President Angelo Scott appealed for funds for two dormitories and better facilities for the domestic sciences. The legislature appropriated $87,000; $62,000 was designated for a women’s dormitory and domestic science building and $25,000 was for a men’s dormitory. W.A. Etherton, recently named head of architectural engineering, created and developed the design for both facilities. W.A. Besecke and L.R. Waterman assisted him. Inset Mary Maud Gardiner. Left: The Domestic Science and Women’s Building was built before air conditioning; its residents would sleep outside on the upper floor porches during warm nights.

Architectural plans and specifications for both buildings were available in February 1909. The Domestic Science building was to be constructed east of Morrill Hall. The men’s residence hall, commonly referred to as the Boys’ Dormitory, was at the northwest corner of campus near the athletic fields. Cook Construction Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, won both contracts. The residence halls would be the first student housing at statesupported colleges in Oklahoma. Both buildings were designed to be fire resistant, using brick, concrete, and stone in all external walls and throughout the interiors as well. Both dormitories had two sets of internal stairways and external fire escapes that extended to the top floor. Wood doors leading to hallways from the interior stairs were lined with tin. Only the roof, ceilings and floors were made of wood. The large kitchen on the first floor was the source of much concern regarding the use of the kitchen by inexperienced cooks enrolled in domestic science courses, and every effort was made to limit the possibility of flames spreading from designated areas. It would take two years to complete construction. Crews first started on the Domestic Science and Women’s Building. The building was constructed with a continues

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center section and two wings. The ground floor of the east wing served as a gymnasium and locker room with a 20-by-20foot “swimming” pool next to it in the center section. The opposite wing contained a dining hall designed to serve meals for all campus student residents, easily feeding150 at a time. The dining hall also included an orchestra platform and stage. Next to the dining hall in the center section was a large kitchen to prepare meals and serve as a laboratory for some of the cooking classes. The kitchen contained a steel range that could burn both wood and coal, another range designed for natural gas with individual burners, and finally steam heat was used to cook vegetables in a large kettle steamer. Refrigerators were also installed. There was a specially designed carving table, cook’s table, and food preparation table that were part of an island in the center of the kitchen. A large coffee percolator was installed near the entrance to the dining hall by the cup and plate warmers. A separate section was designed for cleanup with several sinks and a dishwasher near the pantry. There was also a laundry room near the center of the ground floor and a service elevator in the northeast corner of the west wing. Though not designed for human transportation, this first freight elevator on the college campus frequently carried students as well. The first floor center section housed a reception room and parlor with a fireplace. The parlor was also used as a music room for small groups. The dean of women had an office east of the parlor and the Young Women’s Christian Association had an office to the west. The dormitory matron also had a suite on this floor. The west wing had a general classroom, a domestic science kitchen, pantry, and small dining room. There were large sewing rooms in the east wing with a fitting room. Each sewing room had six sewing machines, electric irons and heating units for pressing and for making hats. A locker room was located near the stairway leading down to the pool. The dormitory rooms were on the second and third floors. The third floor

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also had an infirmary with a nurse’s room. Most rooms housed two or three female students, with a total capacity around 80. The flat roofs above the verandas also served as gathering spots, and on warm nights some residents slept there. During cold weather, the building was heated with steam from the power plant. Demand for the dorm was high, and the Committee on Assignment of Rooms controlled access to the rooms. Preference was based on seniority, class standing and deportment. The first female students occupied their rooms in September 1911. The top floor was initially unfinished and used as a storage area. Occupancy increased with the completion of the fourth floor. Campus residents paid $3 per month for a shared room with two occupants. Food, heat, lights and water were billed at $2–$2.50 per week, paid in advance. Tuition was free. The Domestic Science and Women’s Building proved to be the perfect location for all women of the college to gather. Women had been admitted to OAMC since the first registration of students in November 1891, but they were not allowed to vote. In 1913, the residents of the Domestic Science Building formed a Woman’s Suffrage Club in efforts to gain the right to vote with the motto: “I know as much as any man.” The facility was almost a campus unto itself with classrooms, faculty offices, laboratories, dining hall, gymnasium, swimming pool, reception area, and dormitory rooms. It was teasingly said that a woman could enter the building as a freshman and graduate four years later without ever leaving the building. It provided a safe and secure home for many women until a fire broke out on the top floor on Oct. 16, 1914. It was Friday of the Harvest Carnival, a precursor to Homecoming, and few students were in the building. Eventually the facility would be known simply as the Women’s Building, later as the Extension Building, Gardiner Hall, and finally as the Bartlett Center for the Studio Arts. It survives as the third oldest building on the Oklahoma State University campus.

Clockwise from upper left: A parlor and a dormitory room inside the Domestic Science and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building. International Order of Odd Fellows state conventioneers pose in front of the building under construction in 1910. The building, known today as the Bartlett Center for the Studio Arts, opened for dormitory residents in 1911.

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hank You The OSU Alumni Association acknowledges the following Traditions Society members whose generous support helps the Alumni Association achieve excellence in programming and fulfill its mission of service to alumni and OSU.

Traditions Society Members 2013 - 2014 John & Nancy Allford

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ConocoPhillips Company

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