STATE Magazine, Winter 2015 by Oklahoma State

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Winter 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 • statemagazine.okstate.edu

Welcome to the Winter 2015 issue of STATE, the official magazine of Oklahoma State University, and your source of information from the OSU Alumni Association, the OSU Foundation and University Marketing. On the cover, from left, T. J. Cunningham Chair and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Andrew S. Arena Jr.; students Leah Jackson and Britt Oglesby; and Jamey Jacob, the Ray and Linda Booker Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, prepare to test unmanned aircraft at OSU’s flight station. Read more about OSU’s unmanned aircraft systems programs inside this edition of STATE. Cover photography by Phil Shockley PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

UAV PROGRAM SOARING

Ready for Takeoff

With hands-on field testing, the unmanned aircraft systems program in OSU’s College of Engineering,

Architecture and Technology earned top rankings in the nation. A dedicated flight facility and the introduction of Speedfest, a competition for high school and college students, have helped develop the program. A National Science Foundation grant is leading to more research, along with several other grants and projects, spurring OSU to establish the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Institute to be led by MAE Professor Jamey Jacob.

New York Project Returns to Stillwater The second installment of the New York Project is made possible through the Friends of the Museum and one particular OSU alumnus — Bill Goldston, director of Universal Limited Art Editions. The exhibition explores printmaking — a technique that involves creating an original work of art by transferring a design onto a surface through the use of a plate, block, stone or screen.

WINTER 2015

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

OSU MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS RICHARD TUTTLE: A PRINT RETROSPECTIVE

Building a Better Peanut

COWBOY COLLECTION

33 Sweeten the Holidays

Candy maker shares her Oklahoma Pecan Pralines recipe.

PHOTO / KELLY CHAMBERLIN

44 Answer the Call

Cowboy Callers raise funds for individual orange passions.

46 Travel into Deep Space Virtual Reality-style

Students develop astronaut habitat plans for NASA exploration missions.

60 Ferguson Family Contributes to Dairy Program

A match made in a barn produces life success.

66 A Man for Others

A USDA plant breeder partners with OSU researchers to develop a healthier peanut that is good for your heart and has a longer shelf life.

Mentors at OSU influence a relevant life.

72 Global Food Safety Initiative

OSU joins international farm to fork studies.

74 Undergraduate Researcher

SPECIAL SECTION:

Seeks Answers

Backyard garden spurs quest for solutions.

94 Writing Center Expands Services

Tutors assist students with written expression.

106 Grateful Pet Owner Encourages Donations to Vet Med Hospital Students and veterinarians take care of precious family members.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

79 OSU was founded on Christmas Day in 1890. The OSU Alumni Association has launched the Tradition Keepers program to introduce new students to their Cowboy heritage. Read more about the Cowboy Legend book on Page 88 in the 125th anniversary section.

DEPARTMENTS Letters to the Editor

O-STATE Stories

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter

KOSU Uniquely Oklahoma

STATEment

First Person

The Cowboy Way

OSU-Oklahoma City

101

Wellness with Ann Hargis

OSU-Tulsa

102

POSSE Replay

OSUIT

104

Campus News

Alumni Chapters

112

OSU Medicine

Chapter Leader Profile

114

Events

Class Notes

115

Legacy Link

Passages

127

Snapshot

Book Corner

127

History

Essay

128

UNIVERSITY

MARKETING

Kyle Wray / Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing Mark Pennie / Assistant Director Marketing Services Elizabeth Keys / Editor Paul V. Fleming, Valerie Kisling, Dave Malec & Mark Pennie / Design Phil Shockley & Gary Lawson / Photography Karolyn Bolay, Shelby Holcomb & Dorothy Pugh / Editorial Jim Mitchell / OSU Communications Faith Kelley, Chad Waters & Wilma Van der Laan / OSU Student Interns Brandee Cazzelle, April Cunningham, Pam Longan & Leslie McClurg / Marketing University Marketing Office / 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024 / 405-744-6262 / www.okstate.edu / statemagazine.org / editor@okstate.edu, osu.advertising@okstate.edu

OSU

ALUMNI

ASSOCIATION

Phil Kennedy / Chair Kent Gardner / Vice Chair

WINNING RESEARCH

I enjoy reading STATE very much. The magazine is very well done, and I always look forward to each issue. It really allows me to keep up with what is going on both with Oklahoma State University’s current research and historical stories through the years. Learning about Dr. Basu’s cranberry studies in the last issue is an added benefit to my family to help us beat diabetes. I sent copies of the article about cranberry research to my sons, too. I like to follow Cowboy and Cowgirl athletic teams. Keep up the good work ... and Go Cowboys! Connie Mack McIlvoy ’59 Accounting Houston

Jennifer Grigsby / Immediate Past Chair Chris Batchelder / President and CEO Jace Dawson / Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Pam Davis / Vice President and Chief Programs Officer Pattie Haga / Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Treca Baetz, Chris Batchelder, James Boggs, Gregg Bradshaw, Larry Briggs, Bill Dragoo, Burns Hargis, Kirk Jewell, Angela Kouplen, Jami Longacre, Tony LoPresto, Mel Martin, Travis Moss, H.J. Reed, Tom Ritchie & Tina Walker / Board of Directors Holly Bergbower, Alexis Birdsong, Lacy Branson, Chase Carter, Christina Miller / Communications and Marketing OSU Alumni Association / 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 / 405-744-5368 / orangeconnection.org / info@orangeconnection.org

OSU

Editor’s Note: Connie Mack McIlvoy (first row, far left) earned a spot on the 1959 College World Series All-Tournament Baseball Team after the OSU Cowboys claimed the national championship.

FOUNDATION

Jennifer Grigsby / Chair Kirk Jewell / President Donna Koeppe / Vice President of Administration & Treasurer Chris Campbell / Senior Associate Vice President of Information Strategy Shane Crawford / Senior Associate Vice President of Leadership Gifts David Mays / Senior Associate Vice President of Central Development Paula Voyles / Senior Associate Vice President of Constituency Programs Blaire Atkinson / Senior Associate Vice President of Development Services Deborah Adams, Mark Allen, Chris Batchelder, Bryan Begley, Jerry Clack, Jan Cloyde, Patrick Cobb, Michael Greenwood, Jennifer Grigsby, John Groendyke, Helen Hodges, David Houston, Gary Huneryager, A.J. Jacques, Kirk Jewell, Steven Jorns, David Kyle, John Linehan, Joe Martin, Ross McKnight, Bill Patterson, Becky Steen, Lyndon Taylor, Phil Terry, Stephen Tuttle, Jay Wiese, Jerry Winchester / Trustees Shelly Cameron, Kasi Kennedy, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Jacob Longan, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Michael Molholt, Matthew J. Morgan, Benton Rudd / Communications OSU 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, 305 Whitehurst, 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. Postage is paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $45. Call 405-744-5368 or mail a check to 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater OK 74078-7043. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies. Contact the Director of Equal Opportunity at 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; telephone 405-744-5371; or email eeo@okstate.edu. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator at 405-744-9154. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the vice president of enrollment management and marketing, was printed by Royle Printing Co. at a cost of $1.08 per issue. 36,440/November 2015/#6233.

Dear Readers, Do you ever get the urge to strike a pose? The OSU spirit struck siblings Madison and Elijah, left, and their friend, Sara, the daughter of Katie Roberts ’09. Madison and Elijah’s parents are Whitney Presley Scoles ’04 and Nathan Scoles ’03 and ’15. Send your OSU spirit poses to STATE SNAPS at editor@okstate.edu. Explain what’s happening and identify who is in the photograph. Include your full name, graduation year, major and daytime telephone number. We won’t publish your phone number, but we may give you a call to verify the information. Continue to mail letters to: STATE Magazine, 305 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK 74078. Sincerely, Elizabeth Keys STATE Editor

As we give thanks this holiday season, we are especially grateful for the incredible outpouring of love and support the Oklahoma State University family and Stillwater community received following the Homecoming parade tragedy. Starting with the Cowboy family and extending across the nation and around the world, the response began the healing and strengthened an entireÂ community. We also saw the Oklahoma Standard on full display. Professionals, ordinary citizens, strangers and others performed countless acts of bravery, selflessness and compassion. These heroes sprang to action and saved lives. The road ahead remains difficult for many. First Cowgirl Ann and I ask that you continue to keep those grieving and those healing in your thoughts andÂ prayers. Oklahoma State has faced tragedy before. And as we have done in the past, the OSU family and the Stillwater community will find the comfort, the strength and the courage to move forward. Thanks for your support and well wishes. Ann and I wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Burns Hargis OSU President

WINTER 2015

OSU President Burns Hargis

Dear OSU Alumni and Friends,

When the OSU Alumni Association, OSU Foundation and University Marketing came together to create STATE magazine in 2004, our goal was to produce a publication featuring the best of what our alma mater has to offer. OSU has many notable traditions that have graced these pages, but there is none more loved by our Cowboy family than Homecoming. It’s more than an event, more than tissue paper and walking shoulder to shoulder, more than floats, football and marching bands. It’s about family, reconnecting with our roots and celebrating what it means to be a Cowboy. Those are just a few of the reasons why we call it “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration,” and those reasons were what brought Cowboys young and old to this year’s Sea of Orange Parade. For some spectators, it was their first time to witness the milelong spectacle. And for four individuals, it would sadly be their last. We dedicate this issue of STATE magazine to Nash Lucas, Nikita Nakal, Bonnie and Martin Stone, and all the others who were injured and impacted by the Homecoming parade tragedy. They all came from different backgrounds, but on Saturday, October 24, we all came together to celebrate the city all Cowboys

call home and the tradition that brings us back every year. In the weeks following Homecoming, our organizations wrestled with how to honor the victims in this magazine while also recognizing the importance of Homecoming to our alumni and fans. As President Hargis said, we will find the comfort, strength and courage to move forward. We believe we can do that by remembering a few of the great moments Homecoming brought this year. Because Homecoming will return again. We will pack the Greek neighborhood around campus for Walkaround, and we will line Main Street in downtown Stillwater for the parade that showcases what it means to be Stillwater Strong. Together, we will honor the lives lost, be thankful for the lives saved and celebrate the tradition that now more than ever defines what it means to be a part of the Cowboy family. We owe it to the victims, their families and our community. We owe it to the alumni who started this great tradition and the future students who will carry it on. We are Cowboys, and Stillwater is forever our home — Still Loyal, Still True.

Chris Batchelder

Kirk Jewell

Kyle Wray

President, OSU Alumni Association

President, OSU Foundation

OSU Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing

WINTER 2015

STAR STUDENT

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE RODEO COMPETITOR Straight-A student and rodeo star Thompson Berryhill is an established member of the Oklahoma State University rodeo team who qualified for the 2015 “Best of the Best” College National Rodeo Finals in Casper, Wyoming. The OSU Rodeo Arena and the strong programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources originally drew him to Stillwater. “If anyone is looking to come to Oklahoma State for rodeo, it’s a great place with a very enjoyable atmosphere,” Berryhill says. “You get to go to a Big 12 school with a Big 12 education and pursue your rodeo dreams.” A bonus for Berryhill and area rodeo fans is CASNR hosting the Cowboy Stampede at the Payne County Expo Center in 2014 and 2015 with plans to continue the annual event.

A native of Talala, Oklahoma, Berryhill came to OSU after graduating from high school in 2011. “I love OSU, there’s just something about this place,” Berryhill says. His hard work in school has paid off, landing Berryhill spots on both the Dean’s Honor Roll and President’s Honor Roll for his perfect 4.0 grade point average in the spring 2015 semester. At the OSU Rodeo Legacy Banquet, Berryhill was awarded the Fleming Memorial Scholarship in honor of his academic achievements.

REGIONAL CHAMPION In the 2014-15 rodeo season, Berryhill finished as the Central Plains Region Champion Team Roping Header. He was also given the Super Star Award in this region in recognition of earning the most points in a single event. A 10-year-old mare named Drama Queen has been Berryhill’s partner throughout his college career. The horse is a key contributor in all team-roping competitions. Drama Queen has helped him earn several team-roping titles.

TEAM ROPER Growing up, Berryhill and his family spent much of their time around horses. He always loved playing with a rope. After enrolling in college, he started entering more rodeo competitions and his teamroping career began to take off. Team roping, the only true team event in rodeo, requires great timing and cooperation between two highly skilled ropers — a header and a heeler — and their horses. A header ropes the head of the cattle and the heeler ropes the heels or legs. The sport developed from ranch chores where cowboys used team-roping techniques to capture and restrain full-grown animals too large for a single man to handle.

HANDS IN THE BOOKS Berryhill is a senior studying agricultural economics. He plans to graduate from OSU in December 2015. While he’s taking some time off from rodeo to focus on his studies, he plans to participate in the American Cowboys Rodeo Association Finals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in December. “It should be my next event,” Berryhill says. “I’m taking a little time off right now to finish with school and trying to complete that before I move on.” After he completes his degree, he hopes to continue team roping. The rodeo Cowboy isn’t quite sure where he’ll end up after school, but Oklahoma will always be his home.

BOOTS IN THE SADDLE All of his success is the result of many years of hard work. Berryhill usually practices roping most days of the week. When he isn’t practicing his roping skills, he acts as a cheerleader for his teammates. He loves to hang out with his friends and enjoys golfing in his free time.

WINTER 2015

PHOTO: PHIL SHOCKLEY

“I hope to stay close to Stillwater, but wherever the wind takes me is where I’m going to go,” Berryhill says.

Dear Cowboy Family, There is nothing quite like the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and I love getting lost in the spirit of giving. It’s also a special time for our family, as we are able to spend more time together. We have a long-standing family tradition of making gingerbread houses, and some of our most memorable times have been created during this activity. While I do love the holidays, I believe it’s fair to say we all experience a certain amount of stress in one form or another. I’m proud of OSU for the creative and innovative ways with which we have addressed the importance of wellness on campus — from a student perspective and also a faculty/staff perspective. Personally, exercise has always been an important way for me to relieve stress. A variety of options are available — personal trainers, group exercise and even team sports in the form of intramurals. The addition of the Cowboy Walking Trails is an outside option for a quick stroll across our beautiful campus. The newly dedicated Orange Grove outdoor active art area is one of my favorite places right now. It’s a great place to unwind, relax and still take in the energy that flows through the center of campus. The ReBoot Center uses video gaming technology to teach breathing

RIGHT: Grandchildren, from left, Oliver Haas, Preston Hargis and Peighton Hargis enjoy creating gingerbread houses during the holidays with their grandmother Ann Hargis.

WINTER 2015

exercises to calm the body and mind. One of the most recent stress reducing trends I have been reading about involves coloring books for adults. How cool! Staying active and feeling young are two of my favorite things! Of course, fueling your body with the right foods and getting adequate sleep can help combat stress. Make sure to “Choose Orange” when eating at University Dining Services, and give your body what it needs to function at the optimal level. My wish for each of you is that we continue to find ways to enhance our lives so that we all function at our optimal level — not only during the holidays and throughout the year but also throughout the rest of our lifetime.

From me to you, may you have the Healthiest and Happiest of Holidays.

Ann Hargis

The 2015 Women for OSU scholarship recipients, from left: Julia Benbrook, Mayra Castanon, Kourtney Brooks, Roxanne Cobb, Allison Meinders, Amanda Sandoval and Macy Hula

Several members of the Women for OSU Council

2015 Women for OSU Symposium keynote speaker, Marlee Matlin

Women for OSU has awarded 29 scholarships totaling $105,250 over the past seven years. Those numbers will go up again on April 14, when the group hosts its eighth Symposium. Like all seven previous iterations of this annual fundraiser, every ticket was sold well in advance. This diverse group of visionary women share an orange passion for inspiring leadership and financial support to Oklahoma State University. They bring big-name speakers to campus, honor impressive Philanthropists of the Year and choose inspirational scholarship recipients.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T W O M E N F O R O S U , V I S I T

OSUgiving.com/Women

Swede Life THE

S T I L LWAT E R

DESPITE BEING SMALL IN SIZE AND LONG ON WINTERS, SWEDEN HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT GOLF NATIONS IN THE WORLD IN LARGE PART TO POSITIONING ITS PLAYERS FOR SUCCESS WHILE UTILIZING VESSELS SUCH AS OSU.

“It was our goal in Sweden to give our players the absolute best possible conditions that existed regarding sport and studies. We knew that OSU was one of the very best and leading universities. THEY HAD THE BEST PLAYERS, THE BEST COACHES, PLAYED THE BEST COMPETITIONS, HAD THE BEST PRACTICE CONDITIONS AND THE COMPETITION WAS FIERCE.

That made the choice easy for our best players,” says PETER SVALLIN , who FORMERLY SERVED AS THE SWEDISH MEN’S NATIONAL COACH.

WITH APPROXIMATELY 4,885 MILES SEPARATING STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA, AND STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, IT MIGHT SEEM FARFETCHED TO THINK A PATH HAS BEEN WORN BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES. TO THE CONTRARY, THE NATION WITH LESS THAN 10 MILLION RESIDENTS HAS BECOME A FRUITFUL HOTBED OF TALENT FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE GOLF PROGRAMS.

WINTER 2015

Svallin was responsible for feeding the Cowboy roster with All-American talent such as LEIF WESTERBERG , ANDERS HULTMAN , ALEX NORÉN and a Swede who would eventually make his way to the women’s side in PÄR NILSSON , the Cowgirls’ current assistant coach. “I had very good contact with Coach (Mike) Holder. He was a very skilled coach and has done a lot for our Swedish players over the years. For my own part, Stillwater has always been a place I loved to come back to. I’ve made about 15 visits over the years and each time I have felt at home and so have our players,” Svallin says. Of the 39 All-American honors earned in the history of the Cowgirl program, 17 HAVE COME COURTESY OF SWEDISH PLAYERS.

The program’s lone NCAA medalist and the most decorated player in program history, CAROLINE HEDWALL , hails from Löddeköpinge, Sweden. In addition to Hedwall, Swedish Cowgirls PERNILLA LINDBERG and KARIN SJÖDIN were both first-team All-Americans before going on to LPGA success, while MARIA BODÉN was a three-time Big 12 Player of the Year.

“We knew that OSU was a very genuine and very respected university academically and in sports.” — PETER SVALLIN, FORMER SWEDEN NATIONAL GOLF COACH

Additionally, two of the top teams in the program’s history had a strong Swedish presence. The Cowgirls’ 2004 squad, which was bolstered by Sjödin’s second-place individual finish at the event, finished as the NCAA runner-up. OSU’s 2009 squad posted a fourth-place showing at the NCAA Championship with a lineup anchored by three Swedes. EVA DAHLLOF, a first-team All-American in 1988, and KATRIN MÖLLERSTEDT became the FIRST

“Getting from Sweden to a completely different culture in the United States was a major adjustment for many and to feel at home and welcomed in Stillwater was very important and crucial. We knew that OSU was a very genuine and very respected university academically and in sports.” With the majority of the Swedes heading stateside arriving from smalltown environments, STILLWATER HAS

SWEDES TO CROSS THE POND IN 1986

THE TRANSITION TO LIFE HALF A

AND 15 COUNTRYWOMEN HAVE SINCE

WORLD AWAY FROM HOME.

The key to maintaining such a strong pipeline has been the experience provided by OSU, the opportunity to sharpen golf skills and an environment to excel academically. “It means a lot for Swedish golf that our players have the opportunity to go to college in the United States and play for a team. We are a small country with winter six months a year, and it is very important for us that our players get the opportunity and access to good practice, good practice facilities and the possibility to compete during winter, combined with studies,” says KATARINA VANGDAL , the CURRENT SWEDISH

“I think the place itself maybe reminds a little bit of Sweden, not in nature, but in size. The intimacy and of course the facilities are absolutely fantastic,” Vangdal says. “It is simply a nice place and they feel home being there.” With Swede after Swede enjoying their experiences in Stillwater, word spread quickly and the best recruiters for OSU have become the program’s distinguished and growing alumni base of Swedish players. “It has a KARIN SJÖDIN good reputation. It started with a couple of people and then it kept going because people enjoyed it and had a good time. Sweden is not a big country, so when they come back they talk about it and how good it is and spread the word about the place and how good it is,” current Cowgirl Linnea Johansson says.

FOLLOWED.

NATIONAL HEAD COACH.

While it may seem like an unconventional pairing initially, scratching below the surface reveals a mutually beneficial relationship. Not only has the Cowgirl program thrived in part due to its heavy Swedish influence, the community, in turn, embraced the golfers and eased the adjustment to life in the U.S. “STILLWATER IS A SMALL, QUIET, SAFE AND VERY PLEASANT TOWN WITH MANY FRIENDLY AND

You feel safe when you are out and everything you need is in the city. To feel at home off the golf course was and is important,” Svallin says. HELPFUL, WARM PEOPLE.

PROVEN TO BE IDEAL IN MINIMIZING

“Caroline, Pernilla and I are from pretty small towns. COMING HERE AND GE T TING THIS OPP ORTUNIT Y IS A GRE AT THING.”

For Hedwall, the long line of Swedes was one of just several determining factors that attracted her to Stillwater. “Knowing that a lot of Swedes had been here, they talked so much about it and had only GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE. The practice facilities at Karsten Creek are the greatest you can find. The school and continues

PERNILLA LINDBERG

U.S. school. At that point, when I hadn’t experienced anything on my own, it was important to be able to trust people who had been here,” Sjödin says. Like Sjödin, Lindberg knew the opinions of those who had come before her should weigh heavily into such a significant decision. “So many Swedes talked so highly about the school and it gave me no doubts that I would like it, too. It was a big determining factor because it is a big decision when you are 18 or 19 years old to move halfway across the world to a different country. Knowing that many Swedes had liked it sure helped my decision,” Lindberg says. LINDBERG, A NATIVE OF BOLLNÄS, SWEDEN, FEELS THAT THE EMPHASIS

everything is set up for success and for you to be able to focus on golf and school,” Hedwall says. As the 2010 NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR, Hedwall’s collegiate career has served as an integral piece in her success as a pro and her continued pursuit to become the TOP-RANKED PLAYER IN THE WORLD. “Practicing at Karsten Creek, those are the quickest greens I have ever putted on. Also, I thought the weather was great here for practice because you get everything. You get wind, you get rain and you get everything basically. It is just a great experience. Coming here, you play all over the U.S., which is great. When I came out on tour, I had played in California, I had played in Florida, in Ohio. It felt like I had been everywhere, so it prepared me for life on tour,” Hedwall says.

PLACED ON THE SPORT BY OSU GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE DESIRE OF A SWEDE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

“A Swedish player who decides to go to college is very determined. Otherwise, you wouldn’t move halfway across the world if it wasn’t for proper determination. I THINK THAT KIND OF DE TERMINATION, COMBINED WITH THE FACILITIES, THAT ARE AT OKL AHOMA STATE ARE THE

“ OBVIOUSLY, I WANT TO BECOME AS GOOD AS I CAN BE AND I BELIE VE I CAN BECOME WORLD NO. 1 ONE DAY. THAT IS MY VISION.”

The message was resounding enough to convince Sjödin to sign with the school sight unseen. “I think it was more of a safety thing for me and especially for my mom, knowing a lot of Swedes had been here and everyone was happy with what they had experienced in Oklahoma. I wasn’t able to take my recruiting visits because of 9/11. I had scheduled everything that fall. I actually signed having not seen any

WINTER 2015

CAROLINE HEDWALL , left, and PERNILLA LINDBERG visit in Sweden.

PERFECT MATCH, AND I THINK THAT IS WHY WE HAVE HAD SUCH GOOD

she explains. Sjödin found Stillwater enough to her liking to reside in north central Oklahoma a decade after joining the professional ranks. Access to Karsten Creek and its topnotch practice facility has translated to LPGA success for the Gothenburg, Sweden, native. “At first, I stayed because this was the only place in the U.S. I knew anyone and of course the practice facilities. You can’t get anything like this anywhere else. Even if you were able to find this kind of practice facility, there would be a bunch of other players using them,” Sjödin says. “Here I have everything I need. In the mornings, I can do the work on my own and in the afternoons, there are plenty of people to practice with if I want matches or competition. I feel like it gives you the best of both worlds.” Once again, the relationship is a twoway street with Sjödin having the proper tools she needs to prepare for life on tour, while being able to play the big sister role for those who have followed the Swedish path to Stillwater. “The kids have a different perspective on golf and some of them are like sponges and SUCCESS,”

“A Swedish player who decides to go to college is very determined. Otherwise, you wouldn’t move halfway across the world if it wasn’t for proper determination.” — CAROLINE HEDWALL, 2010 NCAA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CAROLINE HEDWALL

ask questions, and it is definitely rewarding to be able to help them,” Sjödin says. While she has not chosen Stillwater as her home base, the impact the OSU community made on Lindberg is equally significant and has played a key role in her success as a professional. “I WOULDN’T BE ANYWHERE NEAR

“When I got older and started looking at college is when he told me that I needed to come visit and this was the best place to be.” While the small-town environment has provided many a comforting resemblance of home, it has served as a calming influence for Deilert for different reasons. “I came from a big city and there is a lot of stress and things going on. I wanted to go away somewhere I could have a stress reliever and I feel like this is the absolute best place to be. No traffic, not too many people around me and not too many distractions, and I can focus on golf and school and close friends around me,” Deilert explains. Johansson’s route to Stillwater had an additional layover. THE ÄLMHULT, SWEDEN, NATIVE PLAYED A SEASON AT NOVA SOUTHEASTERN, A DIVISION II SCHOOL IN FLORIDA, BEFORE ARRIV-

WHERE I AM NOW IF IT WASN’T FOR

ING AT OSU FOR HER SOPHOMORE

MY FOUR YEARS AT OKLAHOMA

CAMPAIGN. Even with the path she chose, Johansson was well aware of the Cowgirl program before getting the opportunity to don the orange and black. “I knew about it before I even came to college. I was not really good enough to start here from the beginning, so I went to another school. I played really well there, and I developed a lot,” Johansson says.

I always had the goal of playing on the LPGA TOUR , so to be in the United States and learn to live in the U.S. and to play college golf at such a high level was very important,” Lindberg says. STATE.

“ IT WAS A PRICELESS E XPERIENCE .”

In addition to Johansson, fellow Swede

ISABELLA DEILERT has also been a

mainstay in the current Cowgirl lineup. For Deilert, a native of Stockholm, it was a former Swedish men’s standout who brought OSU to her attention. “I was around 12-years-old and it was through ALEX NORÉN , because we are club mates and grew up together. When he was here, I was still little and I looked up to him and saw him wearing the orange,” Deilert says.

“I really wanted to go somewhere where I knew it was going to be good. I didn’t want to take a lot of risks and I knew things couldn’t go wrong here because there are plenty of Swedes who did great here and really liked it, so why wouldn’t I like it and why would I be different?,” Johansson says. “It is a nice atmosphere from the team to the reputation of everything, Karsten Creek, the practice facility. The coaches know what they are doing and everything is in the system. If you come here, you really want to focus on your golf and if you want to focus on your studies it is a good place to be.” While it has remained healthy throughout the years, the Sweden-toStillwater connection looks to be one Vangdal would like to continue for the foreseeable future. “ IT IS IMP ORTANT FOR US THAT OUR PL AYERS BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF DURING THEIR YE ARS AT COLLEGE . THE REL ATIONSHIP WITH THE PROGR AM (AT OSU) AND COACHES IS A KE Y FACTOR FOR THAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT,” VANGDAL SAYS.

THAT DEVELOPMENT RESULTED IN A FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN THAT SAW HER EARN FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN HONORS, CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS AND A NO. 2 NATIONAL RANKING TO END THE YEAR.

However, Johansson felt she needed a change of scenery to take her game to another level, thus turning her attention to the Cowgirl program.

This story first published in the Fall 2015 issue of POSSE Magazine. To read other great OSU athletic 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. Visit okstateposse.com for details.

Enrollment reaches record highs

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

The 2015 fall semester started with the second largest OSU freshman class ever. Nearly 4,200 new students were welcomed. The group represents the most diverse freshman class in OSU history with 30 percent minority students. The OSU-Stillwater campus hit an alltime high enrollment of 24,551. For the first time, undergraduate enrollment topped 21,000 for the OSU-Stillwater/Tulsa campuses. The all-time high undergraduate enrollment includes 21,046 students. From 2010-14, OSU has grown by 2,300 students, the largest increase of any public university in Oklahoma.

Residential Life adds the University Commons as the newest housing facility for students.

OSU opens new residential life facilities University Commons is the newest OSU housing area. The residential site is off Hall of Fame Avenue, northeast of the Colvin Recreation Center on the former Droke Track. Designed by KSQ Architects of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and constructed by Flintco Construction Solutions, also from Tulsa, the three buildings house more than 900 residents. Each building features architectural elements reflective of the Stillwater landscape, while maintaining the modified Georgian design of the OSU campus. The $65 million housing facility was designed in a modified traditional layout, which incorporates the best elements of traditional halls and suite style living. University Commons offers double bedrooms in small groupings (6-8 rooms)

that share one community bathroom. Each floor has a comfortable lounge for floor activities with small study lounges and nooks for both individual and group study. Each building is equipped with a kitchen and community laundry facility. State-of-the-art systems create a model for energy efficiency, while not sacrificing the technology that is necessary to the success of today’s college students. The 290,000-square foot, three-building community is built around a quad for outdoor activities and student interaction. “This fantastic facility is a perfect example of the emphasis Oklahoma State places on student success and the student experience,” says OSU President Burns Hargis.

Priority scholarship deadline February 1st

In the past year, OSU conferred nearly 5,800 degrees, the most in one year in university history. Since the university was established on Christmas Day 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students over those 125 years.

Various national publications recognize the value of an OSU education. Affordability is always a concern for students and their families. Scholarships are one way to help finance a college education. Students entering college for the 2016 fall semester should submit all application materials by February 1, 2016, to guarantee consideration for all OSU scholarships.

Every year, OSU awards more than $320 million in scholarships and financial aid. Prospective students who apply to OSU before February 1, 2016, receive priority consideration for scholarships. Learn more at admissions.okstate.edu/apply.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

OSU staff and guests celebrated the launch of the Center for Sovereign Nations including, from left, John Chaney, director of the OSU Center for American Indian Studies; Stacy Shepherd, Choctaw Nation senior executive officer; Danny Wells, Chickasaw Nation executive officer of education; Elizabeth Payne, OSU Center for Sovereign Nations director; Gary Sandefur, OSU provost; Pamela Fry, OSU associate provost; and Burns Hargis, OSU president.

Center for Sovereign Nations opens American Indian students at Oklahoma State University have a new place to call home. The Center for Sovereign Nations grew quickly from the vision and support of both academic and tribal leaders, says Elizabeth Payne, director of the new center. It’s a place where Native students can hold meetings, seek services and visit with friends. “We heard from the Nations that they really valued having a single point of contact ... where their students will be connected to the broader university,” Payne says. “We want them to feel at home on our campus.” The center’s mission is threefold: to increase the number of American Indian graduates from OSU; to build partnerships between OSU and tribal nations; and to promote understanding and respect of the sovereignty of American Indian Nations. Funding for the center was a gift from the Chickasaw Nation. Neil McCaleb, a Chickasaw Nation ambassador “mentored and inspired our vision for the Center for Sovereign Nations over a multiple-year period,” Payne says. “Making the center a reality took a group effort from many Sovereign Nations and university faculty, staff and students.”

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The center will seek to promote understanding of the unique cultures of all 39 tribes in Oklahoma, Payne says. Through OSU’s campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa, Okmulgee and Oklahoma City, there is an opportunity to interact with every tribe — and more because students from other Sovereign Nations come to school from other states, she says. “Oklahoma State University has an important role to play in creating initiatives to increase engagement and educational opportunities with members of all Sovereign Nations,” says OSU Provost Gary Sandefur.

Army as a field artillery officer. In 1969 and 1970, he served in Vietnam where he received numerous awards for valor. He left the Army in 1972 to attend Dartmouth College and received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1980. He completed an internship and residency in family practice at the University of New Mexico hospitals in 1983. Chappabitty was commissioned in the U.S. Public Health Service and assigned to the Lawton Indian Hospital in 1983. For 25 years, he served as a family practice physician at Anadarko and Lawton hospitals while also serving as department chairman at Lawton three times. He served as chief of staff three times and clinical director for three years at Lawton. Chappabitty was on the executive committee of the National Council of Clinical Directors. He retired from Indian Health Service in 2008 and went on to pursue a career as the first medical director to the Comanche Nation in Lawton. OSU recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002. In 2015, Chappabitty was inducted into the OSU College of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

American Indian Alumni Society recognizes graduate The Oklahoma State University American Indian Alumni Society leadership team selected Dr. Edwin Chappabitty Jr. of Lawton, Oklahoma, as the 2015 distinguished graduate. The award recognizes a member of the OSU family who exhibits outstanding career success, lifetime achievement in society and significant service to the university and the OSU Alumni Association. Chappabitty, a citizen of the Comanche Nation, graduated from OSU in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in zoology. He spent the next five years in the

Logan Welge, an OSU Native American Student Association officer, presented an orange Pendleton blanket shawl to Dr. Edwin Chappabitty Jr., left, in honor of his selection as the OSU 2015 American Indian Alumni Society’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Founding members of the OSU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. joined area members in celebrating at the Diversity Hall of Fame banquet.

OSU inducts inaugural Diversity Hall of Fame The inaugural event of the Oklahoma State University Diversity Hall of Fame honored the late Nancy Randolph Davis, founding members of the campus chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and Howard Shipp Jr., the first African-American counselor at OSU. The inductions were part of the annual African-American Student Association Homecoming Gala on October 22, 2015. Davis was the first African-American student to enroll at OSU in 1949, earning her master’s degree in 1953. She is recognized as a pioneer and trailblazer in the

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

For the fourth year in a row, Oklahoma State University is being recognized nationally for its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the 2015 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “Oklahoma State University works hard to cultivate a campus community that respects and values every member, and this fourth national award is an indicator that we’re on track in making inclusion part of our everyday culture,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “I’m proud and excited about our progress, which supports OSU’s land grant mission to make higher education accessible to all.” More than 90 schools are recognized each year by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, which is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. “The strong and visionary leadership of President Hargis has positioned OSU to continue emerging as a national leader in our commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion,” says Jason F. Kirksey, vice president for Institutional Diversity at OSU. “As a four-time recipient of the HEED Award, and the only institution in the state recognized with this nationally prestigious honor, OSU has established a standard that recognizes diversity as the expectation rather than the exception. Our goal is to continue creating opportunities and broadening our spectrum of excellence at OSU.” OSU’s current freshman class is 30 percent minority students, a new high. The university supports programs at the high school level that help students prepare to transition to the college environment. Nearly 70 diversity-related student organizations at OSU allow students to promote their heritage and become leaders.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

OSU earns 2015 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award

Vice President for Institutional Diversity Jason Kirksey, right, recognizes Howard Shipp Jr.

field of education, and OSU has named several scholarships as well as one of the university’s newest residence halls in her honor. The first historically black fraternity to colonize at OSU in 1958, the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., paved the way for other organizations at OSU and broadened campus opportunities for AfricanAmerican students. Shipp’s counseling work at OSU began in 1971, improving the racial climate at the university and led to the creation of the Office of Minority Programs and Services in 1985. His leadership also expanded the Office of Multicultural Affairs in 1992 as well as its mission to focus on minority retention, recruitment and outreach. Shipp retired in 2005 after 34 years of service to OSU. “The sold-out event highlights the transformative legacy of these individuals and offers a grateful institutional acknowledgment of their services to the OSU community,” says Jason F. Kirksey, vice president and chief diversity officer for the OSU Division of Institutional Diversity. “The inaugural class of the OSU Diversity Hall of Fame will expand to five members with the induction of two additional OSU alumni in spring 2016. The inaugural class, as well as subsequent classes of inductees, will reflect the breadth of diversity at OSU.”

Facilitating Greatness OSU builds, renovates and expands

Oklahoma through research, education and awareness, and by supporting charitable organizations and philanthropies. CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMIC CENTER

BY JACOB LONGAN

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

klahoma State University’s commitment to premier spaces for teaching, research and outreach quickly came into focus when three very different examples of progress were celebrated during a 16-day period in September.

ORANGE GROVE

The university dedicated the Orange Grove, a unique outdoor gathering place for students, faculty, staff and visitors, PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Pistol Pete joins Will Merrick and his father, Frank Merrick, and OSU President Burns Hargis, standing, along with First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and Sarah Dixon, sitting in the accelerometer swing north of the Classroom Building. Dixon initiated the project idea.

northwest of the Classroom Building, on September 9. The Orange Grove features a group hammock, posts for individual hammocks and slacklines, a two-person accelerometer swing and stands to display student artwork. “This is a signature piece of America’s Healthiest Campus®, and we are extremely grateful to the Merrick Foundation for making it possible,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “Their continued support advances the improvement of the health and well-being of our students, employees and community.” The Merrick Foundation funded the project with a $50,000 grant, which pushed the organization beyond $1 million in gifts and commitments to the OSU Foundation since 1967. Established in 1948 by Ward S. Merrick Sr., the Merrick Foundation strives to promote a healthier

The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences Academic Center provides faculty members with more office spaces. Along with the commitment to wellness, OSU is also dedicated to addressing the growing national shortage of veterinarians. The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, one of only 30 American colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, officially opened the new Academic Center to house faculty offices on September 12. “When the Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital opened in the late 1970s, the only space for veterinary clinical sciences PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Students relax in the Orange Grove hammock.

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The Doel Reed Center for the Arts is located in Taos, New Mexico.

faculty was in the basement,” says Jean Sander, dean of CVHS. “The cubicles did not provide privacy for the counseling of students and clients. Those conditions made it difficult to recruit and retain the best faculty. Once this Academic Center started becoming a reality, we brought on many bright young faculty members who are enhancing our teaching and research, and expanding our clinical services.” The new building connects to the Boren Hospital, better equipping OSU to

support progressive clinical education, accommodate additional growth and meet the challenges and advancements in 21st-century veterinary medicine. DOEL REED CENTER FOR THE ARTS

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

At the Veterinary Health Sciences Academic Center grand opening, OSU President Burns Hargis assists Dr. Joao Brandao in releasing a juvenile barn owl treated by OSU veterinarians.

Nearly 500 miles away, the commitment to premier facilities is evident in Taos, New Mexico. On September 25, the Doel Reed Center for the Arts hosted a dedication event to celebrate completion of major facilities work. Casa Cooper was named to honor Lerri and Rick Cooper’s generous support. A sculpture, Magpie Totem, and a terrace overlooking Artists’ Ridge are dedicated to the memory of Jeannette Sias, an Oklahoma philanthropist and arts advocate. Also celebrated was the new property entryway funded by Dick and Malinda Berry Fischer. “Completing the renovations is huge,” says Carol Moder, DRCA director. “We can now house three people at a time at the center as opposed to having to pay for lodging elsewhere. It makes it much easier to offer multiple courses in the same session without dramatically increasing expenses. With visiting artists and scholars able to stay at the property, it creates more spontaneous interactions that will greatly benefit the students.”

Rick, Lerri and Terri Cooper celebrate with Ann and Burns Hargis at the dedication of Casa Cooper, which provides housing in one of the three historic buildings at the Doel Reed Center for the Arts. “We are so grateful for all of the donor support we have received,” she adds. “Through enormously generous contributions, we have realized Martha Reed’s vision of creating this amazing place. Now our focus shifts to funding the enhancement and expansion of programs, which will add even more value to this unique project.”

Bringing Art Outside of the Gallery Public displays add new dimension to campus

PHOTO / SALLIE MCCORKLE

rtist and Oklahoma State University professor Sallie McCorkle and art students are painting a new view on campus with public outdoor displays. McCorkle serves as the project leader for the Orange Grove active art space north of the OSU Classroom Building. The space includes several permanent additions, such as an oversized group hammock, an array of student sculptures, and a unicycle installment by McCorkle titled On-Site Circus. Public art attracts a different audience than the traditional art gallery due to placement and interaction. McCorkle explains how a piece of art she might produce for a gallery installation would be quite different than a public art display. “When you get out in public, the work speaks differently,” McCorkle says. “It has a different voice, and you don’t know who your audience is going to be outside.” In creating a display for public art, it’s important to be either site-sensitive or

Shelby Hinton’s jellyfish sculpture is on display in the Orange Grove active art space north of the OSU Classroom Building.

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site-specific, McCorkle says. With sitespecific, an art piece is purposely placed within that site to encourage interaction. However, being site-sensitive means respecting the public space around the art installation. The panels used in the Orange Grove active art space are large, averaging around 8 to 10 feet tall. Inside the space, the pieces appear to be overwhelmingly big. The art is large scale to create a welcoming environment. “Outdoors, they fill the space in a way that makes much more sense,” McCorkle says. “It requires many other kinds of thought to make it work.” With the active art space, in addition to other public art, there are many safety considerations. Placing a work of art outdoors always comes with risk. Among other restrictions, there are possibilities of theft, vandalism and environmental conditions. This is a problem often confronted by McCorkle and her students. They want PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Sallie McCorkle, professor of art, critiques a whirligig designed by OSU student Christelle Compaore during the spring 2015 semester.

BY FA I T H K E L L E Y

PHOTO / SALLIE MCCORKLE

people to interact with the piece, yet they must use restraint to ensure the safety of both the piece and the audience. When a work of art is not in a gallery, no one is consistently monitoring it. “Some people find the safety considerations limiting. I find it to be a good challenge,” McCorkle says. “There’s also a difference between temporary and permanent artwork. We’re able to utilize materials that have to weather OK outside, but not necessarily outlive you.” McCorkle’s goal is to add more contemporary artwork to campus so people will gain a better understanding of art outside the traditional gallery experience. In the past, art pieces from McCorkle’s students were displayed on the lawn of the Willham House, also known as the President’s House in Stillwater, Oklahoma. First Cowgirl Ann Hargis is passionate about the Orange Grove active art space adding a new dimension to the OSU campus.

“The active art space is just another example of the creativity of our Cowboy family,” Hargis says. “It is the perfect blend of public art and wellness, and I couldn’t be more pleased to have this dedicated play area on our campus. To make it even more special, I love that the concept for the area began with an idea from OSU freshman Sarah Dixon.” The Orange Grove active art space developed after Dixon sent an email about hammocking on campus to OSU President Burns Hargis. “I love to hammock, and I never thought I would receive a response, let alone seeing the space up in a year and speaking at its dedication,” Dixon says. “I met with OSU’s landscape coordinator Dave Brown, and we discussed different ideas. Funding from the Merrick Foundation made it a reality. OSU is filled with extremely artistic and talented people, so I am happy to see their work on display in a very public place on campus, too.”

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Demi Franklin, an OSU student studying public art and sculpture, views the temporary installation of his project in The Botanic Garden at OSU.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Whimsical whirligigs take root in The Botanic Garden at OSU as the final assignment in one of Sallie McCorkle’s public art courses.

Student Analise Stukenborg believes public art is an important aspect in the world of modern art. “It allows people to interact with art in a different way,” Stukenborg says. “It’s not just in a gallery, it’s more approachable and it broadens the idea of what art can be.” Another favorite public art project for students and Stillwater locals is the whirligigs. The wooden folk art designs are original creations of McCorkle’s 3-Dimensional Design class at OSU. Creative and colorful, the whirligigs are essentially fun windmill toys that are commonly placed outdoors. McCorkle was inspired to create the whirligig assignment after spending much of her life in the Eastern United States where the folk art traditions are popular. The whirligigs will be on display at The Botanic Garden at OSU until December 11.

Master of Public Health program addressing state’s workforce needs

Daniel Lin, assistant professor in nutritional sciences, is studying wolfberries.

Nutritional Sciences researcher predicts ancient berry’s rich future Little red and orange wolfberries have been used in China for centuries to ensure longevity and treat age-related conditions of the liver and the eye. But those qualities and many more have only recently been confirmed due to researchers using modern high performance analytic methods. College of Human Sciences assistant professor in nutritional sciences Daniel Lin and colleagues are among those researchers who are providing evidence of the little red berry’s effectiveness in delaying or preventing retinal degeneration. Wolfberries, or Goji berries, are the fruits of two closely related perennial plants, Lycium barbarum and Lycium Chinense, which are native to Asia and southeast Europe. Commercial production mainly comes from plantations in the Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uyghur regions of China. The bioactive components in wolfberries include but are not limited to polysaccharides and carotenoids. The fruits

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contain large amounts of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are believed to have significant importance for eye health. Lin and his colleagues are seeking to determine the nature of the preventative effects of dietary wolfberry on diabetic retinopathy. Retinal damage caused by complications of diabetes is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in working age adults. With the burgeoning costs associated with pharmaceutical treatments, researchbased evidence of the lasting effects of nutraceuticals such as wolfberries will have tremendous impact on the health and well-being of the world’s population. Lin says the western world is taking notice of the tiny fruit’s potential as wolfberry production is being found in Arizona, California and Nevada. “Shipping the fresh fruit is difficult so most of the fruit from China is dried,” he says. “The dried fruit is still highly effective, but as with all fruits, fresh wolfberry is best.”

Oklahoma is one of the unhealthiest states in the nation, and while health care practitioners are needed to treat disease, a public health workforce, emphasizing primary prevention through programs and policies, is also needed to prevent disease. Oklahoma State University’s new Master of Public Health program, founded in 2014, trains public health professionals to improve health and well-being and, true to OSU’s land grant mission, the degree program focuses on promoting health in rural communities and with underserved populations in order to improve health and quality of life in Oklahoma. Julie Croff, an assistant professor in the College of Education’s health education and promotion program, serves as director of OSU’s MPH. “This kind of program doesn’t really exist elsewhere,” Croff says. “We are interested in training students to reach people where they are and helping them to be as healthy as can be.” OSU’s program is unique because it is interdisciplinary. Nearly every college on campus is involved, and it builds on the strengths and overlaps in health programs in the Colleges of Education, Arts and Sciences, Human Sciences, Business, Veterinary Medicine and Medicine. “It doesn’t address a single discipline, which is its greatest strength,” Croff says. For MPH student Becky Taylor, the diversity of students and their experiences is one of the best parts of the degree. “Classes are discussion-based. Some students are coming directly from an undergraduate program, and others are professionals who are coming back to pursue a master’s degree,” Taylor says. Croff looks forward to the future. “We have amazing students,” Croff says. “I’m excited to see their trajectory and the ways they will make communities healthier and better.”

ATHLETIC TRAINING Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is offering a new allied health graduate program in athletic training. The OSU-CHS Master of Athletic Training program is the first in the nation affiliated with an osteopathic medical school. By connecting the program with the College of Osteopathic Medicine, OSU-CHS is ensuring athletic trainers and physicians collaborate to offer the best treatment options for patients. To watch a video about the OSU-CHS Athletic Training program, visit www.healthsciences.okstate.edu.

速

Tulsa, Oklahoma

918-582-1972

www.healthsciences.okstate.edu

PHOTO / NINA THORNTON

Library Student Ambassador Leanna Elkins, a management information systems junior from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, helped collect suggestions for the OSU Edmon Low Library.

Library Friends turn feedback into reality

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Sciences and Natural Resources; and Gary Sandefur, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “The rodeo program is a great opportunity for students to showcase their skills while being in an academic setting,” Coon says. “We are fortunate to have such great support from the university’s administration during this event. We enjoyed having Dr. Sandefur join us during the Grand Entry.” Twenty-one schools from across Oklahoma and Kansas traveled to OSU’s Stillwater campus to compete in nine different events, including barrel racing, bull riding and team roping. The top 10 competitors from each event were invited to compete in the final championship performance. The winners of each event received custom Pistol Pete belt buckles and a pair of cowboy boots. The Cowboy Stampede is made possible by numerous donations from the Stillwater community including the Stillwater Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cavender’s and more.

OSU Rodeo Team hosts second annual Cowboy Stampede The Oklahoma State University Rodeo Team and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources hosted the second annual Cowboy Stampede on October 8-10, 2015, at the Payne County Fairgrounds. The event had more than 400 competitors and over 1,500 in attendance. “We were excited to be able to have the Cowboy Stampede again this year,” says Cody Hollingsworth, OSU Rodeo Program coordinator and coach. “We had a great turnout from the community and OSU students.” The nightly performances included special guest appearances by Pistol Pete; Tom Coon, vice president, dean and director of the OSU Division of Agricultural

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

What if the library had Google Glass for checkout? What if the library had drones to deliver books? What if the library had nap pods? These are just a few of the nearly 600 suggestions the OSU Edmon Low Library recently received when it spent two weeks asking students to complete the sentence, “What if the library …” “We’re always open to feedback from students,” says Sheila Grant Johnson, dean of libraries. “We were eager to hear what students might suggest if we invited them to give us their most creative ideas.” The methods used for the feedback campaign were purposefully low-tech. A dedicated wall on the first floor of the OSU Edmon Low Library was stocked with sticky notes, and signs invited students to be a partner in positive change by leaving suggestions on the wall. To complement the written feedback provided in the building, the library’s team of Student Ambassadors conducted “man-on-the-street” interviews. They visited with students across campus asking them the simple question, “Can you complete the sentence, ‘What if the library …’?” “The responses were quite impressive,” says Johnson. “We are always working on new ways to better serve our students, and we received a number of suggestions that we will be able to put in place quickly.” Examples of feedback that will be implemented in the upcoming year

include free late-night coffee during finals week, phone charging stations and additional mobile white boards throughout the building. Student suggestions like these are one reason contributing to the Friends of the OSU Library is such an important and impactful way to give. The Friends of the OSU Library is dedicated to supporting student services at the library, and it enables the library administration to quickly respond to feedback from students. The Friends of the OSU Library have a history of supporting projects requested by students. In the past, the Friends have made it possible to extend hours of operation during finals week and expand popular services such as laptop checkout. “Anyone can make a gift to the Friends, and donations of all sizes are combined to have major impact at the library,” she says. “Because the library is here as a resource and service to every student regardless of classification or major, I really believe no other gift has greater potential to impact every single student at OSU.” What if the library had you as a friend? You can learn more about the Friends of the OSU Library or make a gift by visiting www.library.okstate.edu/friends or calling Jill Johnson, director of development, at 405-385-0733.

OSU student Madeline McClaran races around the barrels at the 2015 Cowboy Stampede.

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American Airlines flies donation to Stillwater airport BY C H E L S E A R O B I N S O N

Jetliner passenger plane expanding hands-on learning

As a land grant institution, Oklahoma State University prides itself on offering a quality education to all students, and as of mid-September, education in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) got a boost in hands-on learning opportunities. American Airlines donated a retired MD-80 passenger aircraft to CEAT’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) school. The plane will serve as a learning laboratory for undergraduate and graduate students as well as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) opportunity for kindergarten through 12th-grade groups. The plane took off from Tulsa on September 23 and landed at the Stillwater Regional Airport around 9:30 a.m., where a group of American Airlines representatives, government officials, OSU leadership and other supporters were gathered to watch MD-80 N491’s final landing. OSU President Burns Hargis said American Airlines has given OSU a pinnacle in aerospace research that will continue to elevate the already outstanding aerospace program. Ranked nationally, the program will now have more opportunity to develop students from textbook learners to hands-on innovators. Pistol Pete was present to wave the plane onto the tarmac, and decals of him were proudly displayed on the sides of the aircraft. As a spinoff of aviation tradition, the Stillwater Fire Department and OSU’s Fire Service Training unit sprayed water over the aircraft as it approached the tarmac in front of the crowd, signaling its final flight and official retirement. The plane will no longer fly but will be kept operational to demonstrate functions and processes for learning purposes. MAE senior Shawn Parsons spoke at the event, where she thanked all those involved in making an impactful investment in the college and future graduates. “We come here for a degree because we have dreams — we want to be leaders in the aerospace and aeronautics communities,” Parsons says. “... we have the opportunity to tell our future employers that we were a part of a program allowing us to go beyond the classroom and be hands-on.” American Airlines’ donation of the plane is a transformational step toward practical application outside of the classroom. While most mechanical and aerospace students look for internships or industry experience to move them into their careers of choice, the MD-80 will provide an environment for applied education, giving graduates skills they can directly apply to jobs after graduation. The reach of the aircraft will not stop with OSU students. STEM educators will be able to take kindergarten through

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12th-grade groups on board to learn first-hand how an aircraft operates. They will get to interact with different parts of the aircraft, a highlight that will hopefully inspire future generations to explore mechanical and aerospace engineering. MD-80 N491 was open for walk-through tours after the speaking portion of the event, but those who went through in September will not see the same thing if they come back in the following months. The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has plans to turn the aircraft into a lab space with a variety of modules throughout to demonstrate how the plane works and the science that goes into its functions. The transformation will require investments from alumni and supporters. If you’re interested in donating to the MD-80 aircraft lab, contact Senior Director of Development Tylerr Ropp at tropp@osugiving.com.

“We come here for a degree because we have dreams — we want to be leaders in the aerospace and aeronautics communities … we have the opportunity to tell our future employers that we were a part of a program allowing us to go beyond the classroom and be hands-on.”

PHOTOS/KASI KENNEDY

— Shawn Parsons Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student

Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb spoke about the impact a donation like the MD-80 aircraft has on STEM education for all ages in Oklahoma.

Representatives from American Airlines met Pistol Pete at the MD-80 event celebrating the donation of a retired passenger jetliner to the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering school.

Stillwater Fire Department and OSU Fire Service Training trucks sprayed water over the aircraft in aviation tradition with retiring pilots and planes.

OSU announces launching for School of Visual and Performing Arts At a private reception in September, Oklahoma State University announced the launch of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, encompassing the OSU Departments of Music, Theatre, and Art, Art History and Graphic Design. Rebecca Brienen, head of the art, art history and graphic design department, is serving as inaugural director. “Enthusiasm for the arts is at an alltime high at OSU,” Brienen says. “The SVPA will draw upon the combined strengths of OSU’s music, theatre and art departments while promoting and supporting their outstanding students and programs.”

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learning, faculty research, community On October 30, 2014, OSU outreach and cultural awareness through announced a campaign to raise nearly the visual arts. $60 million to build a new Performing The SVPA and its expansion will Arts Center. The complex will include a increase the synergy and reputation 1,100-seat performance hall, a 222-seat of allied arts at OSU, while allowing recital hall and an outdoor amphitheater students, faculty and patrons of the with seating for 1,000. arts to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities The OSU Department of Music will be housed in the new Performing Arts Center, and resources. “Establishing the School of Visual with plans to renovate the Seretean Center and Performing Arts shows OSU’s latest for the Performing Arts for the OSU commitment to the arts,” says College of Department of Theatre. Arts & Sciences Dean Bret Danilowicz. The OSU Department of Art, Art “The three departments under the SVPA History and Graphic Design has also have individually built esteemed programs. enjoyed the recent addition of the OSU I can only imagine what their combined Museum of Art in downtown Stillwater, efforts will produce.” which serves as a space for student

Oklahoma Pecan Pralines Yield: Approximately 18 pralines Ingredients: 1 cup Oklahoma pecan halves 1 cup Oklahoma pecan pieces 1 cup heavy whipping cream ¼ cup unsalted butter 1 ½ cup packed light brown sugar 1 ½ cup packed dark brown sugar ¼ cup whiskey 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Kitchen tools needed: Baking sheet Heavy nonstick, 5-quart or larger stockpot Candy thermometer 2 tablespoon cookie scoop

Candy brings sweet holiday memories The holidays would not be as sweet without candy. For Melissa Wedman’s family, candy always brings back memories of her father, Frank Allen, who died four years ago. “He had a sweet tooth and loved eating candy from homemade marshmallow crème fudge to store-bought Bit-O-Honey and Brach’s caramels,” Wedman says. The Christmas after her dad died, Wedman decided to make candy to give to family and friends as a remembrance. Her father was a short-order cook in high school and skillful in the kitchen. Although Wedman had started selling Pampered Chef cookware as a sophomore student at Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City, she had never attempted to make candy. Wedman initially sold the

cookware so she could buy more pieces to use in her own kitchen. When she graduated in 2006, she had built her business to a level that it became her career while raising two children, Madilynn, 5, and Jack, 3, with her husband, Justin, in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. After a few years of exploring recipes for candy, Wedman developed several on her own, always using fresh Oklahoma products such as Griffin’s corn syrup, Hiland Dairy heavy whipping cream, local farmers’ pecans and honey from a Fort Gibson beekeeper. She is sharing her special Oklahoma pecan pralines with the Cowboy family to stir up memories of their own during the holiday season. More recipes are available at www.pamperedchef.biz/MelissaWedman.

Silicone scraper/spatula Wax paper or silicone baking mats Directions: Preheat oven to 350º F. Bake pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool completely for about 20 minutes. In a large stockpot, combine next six ingredients. Mix well with silicone scraper. Heat over medium heat, stirring continuously. Insert candy thermometer and bring to a boil. Continue boiling until candy thermometer reaches 236º F and the mixture is in a soft ball stage. Remove from heat and stir for 1-2 minutes to prevent the mixture from continuing to cook. Let mixture stand until thermometer reaches 170º F. Mix vanilla extract well into the mixture, then add pecans, stirring until the sugar mixture loses its gloss. Using the cookie scoop, quickly scoop and drop mixture onto the wax paper or silicone baking mats. Allow to cool completely for 20-30 minutes. Once cooled, wrap individually in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Breaking Ground for a Healthier Oklahoma

BY S E A N K E N N E DY

The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Medical Academic Building at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa will provide advanced learning facilities for OSU medical students. A new planned state-of-the-art training facility at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa will help OSU transform medical education in Oklahoma. “The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Medical Academic Building will provide our medical students a significant advantage through an educational experience that closely mimics a real hospital or patient-care setting,” says Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU-CHS president and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The facility will also serve as a continuingeducation center offering training to the many physicians and health care professionals caring for our state’s citizens.” OSU-CHS broke ground for the 84,000-square-foot facility in October. The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation donated $8 million, the largest private gift ever received by OSU-CHS, to support construction of the building. In recognition of the contribution, OSU-CHS has named the medical building for the late Tulsa businessman Bill Tandy and his wife, Marylouise. “The Tandy Foundation’s transformative gift was instrumental in making this concept a reality,” Shrum says. “We greatly appreciate the Tandy Foundation’s support in helping us fulfill our mission to train physicians to serve rural and

underserved Oklahoma.” Paul Giehm, senior vice president of Trust Company of Oklahoma and Tandy Foundation adviser, notes Bill and Marylouise would be thrilled to know their love for the Tulsa community and the state of Oklahoma is being demonstrated through the Tandy Foundation’s partnership with OSU. “We are excited to support the OSU Center for Health Sciences in its efforts to train physicians who want to live and work here,” Giehm says. “OSU has taken a lead role addressing our state’s health care needs, and the Tandy Medical Academic Building will transform the quality of physician and patient-care training offered to students, residents, physicians and other health care workers.” The crown jewel of the Tandy Medical Academic Building is a four-unit hospital simulation center with an emergency room, operating room, intensive care unit, birthing suite and ambulance bay. The simulation center will enable students to practice procedures and skills commonly utilized in hospitals across the country. “If you are working in a small hospital, you have to be prepared to walk a patient through every step from unloading them from the ambulance to operating in the emergency room,” says Dr. Robin

Dyer, associate dean for academic affairs. “Students and our medical residents will be able to use this simulation center to learn and polish these skills.” Dyer headed the committee of administrators, faculty and students who worked on designing the building with Dewberry Architects. Their goal was to create a facility that would enhance the medical education offered on campus and generate pride for alumni of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The architects are phenomenal and did a great job working with us on the design of the building to meet our needs,” Dyer says. “They have created a bright and friendly facility for us.” OSU-COM students are excited for the training opportunities they will receive in the new facility. “The earlier we have the opportunity to enter a clinical setting, the more comfortable we are when we start clinical and hospital rotations in our third year,” says fourth-year student Heather Hensley, who helped design the Tandy building. “The simulation center will make the transition to interacting with patients much smoother for us because we will be more confident in our clinical skills.” The Tandy Medical Academic Building’s simulation center will include

From left, OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis celebrate at the groundbreaking for the Tandy Medical Academic Building with OSU supporters, U.S. District Court Judge Terry Kern, Jeanette Kern, Carol Tandy, Paul Giehm with the Tandy Foundation, Judy Kishner with the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Rick Kelly with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and OSU Center for Health Sciences President Kayse Shrum.

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advanced medical technology to provide students with the best hospital training in the state. “Students will be able to use programmable mannequins that bleed, breathe, blink and talk to test their skills in managing virtually any kind of medical situation, from heart attacks to obstetric complications,” Shrum says. “Scenarios designed specifically for simulation learning will also give students the chance to work in a health care team and practice how to respond to life-threatening situations.” The Tandy Medical Academic Building will include an expanded clinical skills lab, a new osteopathic manipulative medicine lab, classrooms, two lecture halls, conference facilities, more than 20 small breakout rooms, 55 student-study carrels, a student kitchen and additional faculty and staff office space to accommodate increased enrollment in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The project will also include an adjoining parking garage to replace parking lots that were removed for construction. “This facility maximizes the usable space available on our campus to provide the best possible education for our students,” Dyer says. “By providing us more space, we will be able to maintain our low student-faculty ratio and continue providing the personal interaction necessary to develop the best quality physicians.” The clinical skills and osteopathic manipulative medicine laboratories will be nearly double the size of the present

facilities. The labs will also include broadcast technology that will project professors demonstrating clinical techniques, such as casting or suturing, at the front of the classroom to giant monitors around the room. Because medical school requires students to absorb a vast amount of knowledge, having a quiet place to study is also critical for success. The building will facilitate training, educational programs and camps for thousands of medical residents, nurses, emergency services personnel and other health care professionals from across the state, as well as students from public, private and charter schools. Through partnerships with area institutions that provide training for medical assistants, surgical technologists and phlebotomists, OSU medical students will have opportunities to learn how to build relationships and interact with other health care providers as part of a hospital team. “We will be able to utilize that area for continuing medical education events,” Dyer says. “It will also offer an opportunity to showcase our new facilities to alumni and others in the health care community.” The four-story facility will cost approximately $45 million to construct, with more than $33 million generated to date from private gifts and Center for Health Sciences funds, and has an anticipated completion date in 2017. Flintco is construction manager on the project. Several naming opportunities are still available. For more information, contact Anhna Vuong, senior director of development, at avuong@osugiving.com or at 918-594-8014.

The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation The Tandys’ legacy of philanthropy can be seen in nearly every corner of Tulsa. The Tandy family founded Tandy Corp. in 1919, eventually becoming the owners of RadioShack and developing the consumer electronics chain into the largest in the world. The TRS-80 personal computer revolutionized consumer electronics and became a must-have for students around the world. In addition to his work as a director for Tandy Corp., Bill Tandy also developed Tandy Industries, a property development company, and Great Yellowstone Corp., an oil and gas producer. The couple married in 1944 and had two children, Alfred Randolph Tandy Jr. and Carol Tandy. Marylouise devoted her life to community volunteerism, working with organizations like the Tulsa Education Fund, Gilcrease Museum, Junior League of Tulsa, Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Arts Council. While Bill passed away in 1971 and Marylouise in 2009, the couple’s legacy for philanthropy continues through the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation.

ow more than ever, it is important to commemorate our tradition of “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration.” It’s essential to recognize the intangible connection all Cowboys have with Stillwater, our home away from home. This year’s theme, “Stillwater: Still Loyal, Still True,” resonated deeply with more than 84,000 alumni and friends who traveled home — because Stillwater and Oklahoma State University cannot be separated. They are intertwined and make an indelible mark on every student’s formative years. Here’s a look at the week’s events and the rich tradition that continues to touch the lives of our students and alumni.

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PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Homecoming Royalty Court member Kaci Kennedy enjoys spirit painting with young fans on Hester Street.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

The Homecoming Executive Team wades into the orange water at the Edmon Low Library fountain dyeing.

PHOTO / GENESEE PHOTO SYSTEMS

The men of Beta Theta Pi and the women of Alpha Xi Deltaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sign, far right, captures first place in the Greek Life category of the Library Lawn Sign Competition.

Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder joins the Homecoming Executive Team and Grand Marshal, Gina Noble, from left, Batchelder, Emma Schemmer, Josie Blosser, Rob Confer, Jimmy Hutson, Stillwater Mayor and OSU Clinical Associate Professor Noble, Allison Christian, Amy Hocker, Amanda Jones, Josh Jackson and Hammons Hepner.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Student organizations and residential life groups serve their chili creations during the Harvest Carnival Chili Cook-Off.

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

OSU wrestling team members, from left, Jordan Rogers, Andrew Marsden, Donald Cannon, Tyler Mann, Nolan Boyd and Joe Schumacher pep up the crowd at Homecoming and Hoops the night before the football game.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Crowds pass by FarmHouse fraternity members who joined with the women of Kappa Delta to create a house decoration.

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PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

Cheerleaders perform at the Homecoming and Hoops Pep Rally.

The 2014 Homecoming King Brandon Hubbard, right, and Queen Erin Scanlan, left, congratulate the newly crowned 2015 Homecoming Queen Carlie Goekeler and King Jason Wetzler, center.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

The OSU Cowboys won the 2015 Homecoming football game against the Kansas Jayhawks.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

The Harvest Carnival continues as one of the oldest Homecoming traditions.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

The crowd ignites as the Cowboys storm the field at Boone Pickens Stadium.

PHOTO / OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

“Orange Runs Deep” was the theme of the Chi Omega and Sigma Chi house decoration.

The OSU Rodeo Club celebrates after winning the open bracket of the student Football Frenzy championship.

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PHOTO / GENESEE PHOTO SYSTEMS PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

The 2015 Homecoming judges include, from left, Ann Ogelsby, Steve Grigsby, Pam Davis, Christie Hawkins, Heather Ford and Mick Zaloudek.

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

A Stillwater family plays “whack-a-Jayhawk” at the Harvest Carnival.

Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Gamma Rho won the Alumni Association House Decoration Chairman’s Cup.

Cowpokes cheer “Orange Power” at the Hester Street spirit painting event.

PHOTO / KT KING

2015 Homecoming Awards Legacy Coloring Contest

Sign Competition October 18

Ages 3-5: Madison Greer, 5 Stillwater, Oklahoma Ages 6-8: Conner Quintero, 8 Fairmont, Oklahoma Ages 9-11: Mitchell Vause, 10 Tulsa, Oklahoma

Student Organizations 1st: Graphic Design Club 2nd: Alpha Phi Omega and Alpha Sigma Phi 3rd: Sigma Tau Gamma and Sigma Phi Lambda

Football Frenzy October 18

Residential Life 1st: Iba and Drummond 2nd: Stout 3rd: Kamm/Peterson/Friend

Greek Life 1st: Kappa Delta/FarmHouse 2nd: Alpha Chi Omega/Pi Kappa Alpha 3rd: Alpha Xi Delta/Beta Theta Pi Female MVP: Kenadey Grellner Male MVP: Luke Davis

Residential Life 1st: Iba and Drummond 2nd: University Commons 3rd: North Monroe People’s Choice: Iba and Drummond

Greek Life 1st: Alpha Xi Delta/Beta Theta Pi 2nd: Zeta Tau Alpha/Sigma Phi Epsilon 3rd: Kappa Alpha Theta/Sigma Nu

Football Frenzy October 18

Harvest Carnival October 20

Open Bracket 1st: OSU Rodeo Club 2nd: Alpha Sigma Phi/Alpha Phi Omega 3rd: Patchin/Jones Female MVP: Kappie “Big Daddy” Bryant Male MVP: Justin Becker

Student Organizations 1st: Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and Cattlemen 2nd: Theta Chi and Omega Phi Alpha 3rd: Swine Club People’s Choice: Sigma Tau Gamma and Sigma Phi Lambda

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Greek Life 1st: Pi Beta Phi/Alpha Gamma Rho 2nd: Delta Delta Delta/Kappa Sigma 3rd (Tie): Chi Omega/Sigma Chi and Phi Mu/Phi Kappa Tau People’s Choice: Kappa Alpha Theta/ Sigma Nu

Chili Cook-Off October 20 Student Organizations 1st: OSU Rodeo Club 2nd: CASNR Student Success 3rd: Sigma Lambda Beta People’s Choice: Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and Cattlemen Residential Life 1st: Patchin/Jones 2nd: North Monroe 3rd: Stout People’s Choice: Stout

Orange Reflection October 22 1st: University Commons 2nd: Stout 3rd: Villages

Jerry Gill Spirit Awards Residential Life: Stout Greek Life: Delta Delta Delta/Kappa Sigma

Most Spirited College College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Community Parade Entry 1st: Canyons Puppies 2nd: OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences 3rd: MPower Student Organizations 1st: Omega Phi Alpha and Theta Chi 2nd: Sigma Phi Lambda and Sigma Tau Gamma 3rd: Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and Cattlemen Residential Life 1st: University Commons 2nd: Stout 3rd: Bennett

Sea of Orange Parade - October 24

Grand Marshal’s Cup Omega Phi Alpha and Theta Chi

Large Band Competition 1st: Stillwater High School 2nd: Oolagah High School

House Decorations October 23

Small Band Competition 1st: Perkins-Tryon High School 2nd: Ripley High School 3rd: Henryetta High School

Alumni Association Chairman’s Cup: Pi Beta Phi/Alpha Gamma Rho 2nd: Kappa Kappa Gamma/Sigma Alpha Epsilon 3rd: Kappa Delta/FarmHouse 4th: Delta Delta Delta/Kappa Sigma 5th: Chi Omega/Sigma Chi

Engineering Excellence Award: Pi Beta Phi/Alpha Gamma Rho Safety Award: Kappa Delta/FarmHouse

Homecoming King & Queen Jason Wetzler and Carlie Geckler

Sweepstakes Student Organizations 1st: Omega Phi Alpha/Theta Chi 2nd: Sigma Phi Lambda and Sigma Tau Gamma 3rd: Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and Cattlemen Residential Life 1st: University Commons 2nd: Stout 3rd: North Monroe Greek Life 1st: Pi Beta Phi/Alpha Gamma Rho 2nd: Kappa Delta/FarmHouse 3rd: Delta Delta Delta/Kappa Sigma

OSU Homecoming 2015 Yearbook Order a commemorative OSU Homecoming 2015 Yearbook for $20 from the O’Colly at loyalandtrue.org. Proceeds support the Stillwater Strong Fund.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Make a Cowboy’s Day...

BY C H A D WAT E R S

ANSWER the CALL Students seek funds for Homecoming and individual orange passions

If you’re an Oklahoma State University alumni or friend, more than likely a Cowboy Caller has contacted you. The Cowboy Calling program has a long history at OSU. Once housed in the top floor of the Student Union, students have been calling alumni, parents and friends since 1979 to update records and ask for annual support for OSU. No longer are the days of dialing a phone by hand and writing down pledges on pieces of paper. Today, the call center’s home is at the OSU Foundation, with modern-day computer and software systems allowing each student caller to focus on building a relationship with the OSU family on the other end of the phone line.

The Cowboy Callers serve as Oklahoma State’s public voice, playing a vital role in establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with members of the orange-and-black family. They are often the only contact potential donors have with the university. Student callers work 10 months a year, six days a week to seek funding for OSU’s greatest needs. “The Cowboys Callers are an essential part of the OSU Foundation,” says Beth Farrow, program center manager. “They reach more alumni and friends, which are people who gave toward the university but didn’t attend the university, then any other entity within the Foundation. They ultimately make sure that we are gathering funds by asking for donations.”

Cowboy Callers are calling to raise funds to ensure future generations of Cowboys are able to experience “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration” as it is known today.

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Cowboy Callers work in a modern call center housed in the OSU Foundation offices.

Comprised of around 70 student be like and how the campus has changed fundraisers, this enthusiastic group over the years, is always interesting,” focuses efforts on academic and financial Tomlinson says. student support. Six part-time student The program is donor-focused with supervisors manage the part-time student Cowboy Callers trying to help people callers who can make up to 5,000 phone find ways to support their orange passion calls in one night. at OSU. Although the callers focus on Melissa Duncan and Zach Tomlinson specific programs from time to time, a big are two of those supervisors who have effort is seeking out what individuals care made a huge impact on OSU and on future about and how their contributions can be students they will never know. Together matched with their own interests. they have raised more than $260,000. “In the fall, we were emphasizing With the help of Duncan and Homecoming,” Farrow says. “We will be Tomlinson, the Cowboy Callers exceeded doing a push for KOSU, too. It’ll end up last year’s goals and are already more than being a week or two calling for them.” $100,000 over for this year’s goals. In 2010, the OSU Alumni Association “I’d be lost without the two of them,” began fundraising for the $3 million Farrow says. “They have been absolutely Homecoming and Student Programs essential.” Endowment Fund. Once completely Duncan, a mechanical engineering funded, the endowment will ensure future major from Oklahoma City, began workgenerations of Cowboys are able to expeing as a Cowboy Caller in the fall of 2012 rience “America’s Greatest Homecoming and is responsible for raising more than Celebration” as it is known today. $120,000. Today, OSU has the nation’s only “People don’t realize how much the remaining “walkaround” component tied university depends on the Cowboy Callers,” to its homecoming. Alumni say they want Duncan says. “They just think that tuition Walkaround to continue, and Cowboy pays for OSU’s expenses, but it takes a Callers are a voice on the line to preserve lot more so that future generations can traditions for the next generation. continue to see their campus grow.” Homecoming costs more than Tomlinson, a marketing major from $250,000 per year to celebrate. Gifts to Allen, Texas, has been working as a the Homecoming and Student Programs Cowboy Caller since the fall of 2013 Endowment Fund ensure rising costs and is responsible for raising more than do not reduce annual events. As more $140,000 in total. funds are raised toward the endowment’s “Getting the opportunity to talk with $3 million goal, additional support will so many different alumni of all ages, and be provided to each living group during listening to what Oklahoma State used to future Homecoming celebrations.

“If a Cowboy Caller reaches out to you, we hope you will answer,” says Amanda Davis, the OSU Foundation’s associate vice president of annual giving. “You will have a great conversation with a hardworking student and an opportunity to support your orange passion.” For more information, visit OSUgiving.com.

PHOTOS / KASI KENNEDY

Zach Tomlinson is responsible for raising more than $140,000 as a Cowboy Caller.

Since 2012, Melissa Duncan has raised more than $120,000 talking to alumni and friends of OSU.

TRAVELING to

Engineering students contribute to futuristic exploration habitat

Virtual Reality-style

Industrial engineering graduate student Yajun Lu works on the digital models in a lab.

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in outer space? Many have. And for a handful of Oklahoma State University engineering students, experiencing life in deep space has become a virtual reality.

uring a semester-long class called Virtual Engineering for Space Systems, 18 seniors and graduate students designed a deep space habitat for four astronauts during a 500-day mission following NASA’s guidelines.

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BY S H E L BY H O L C O M B

Led by J. Cecil, OSU professor of industrial engineering, the class studies theory and learns to use the virtual reality tools required to design digital models. Using the School of Industrial Engineering’s Virtual Reality Lab,

students master digital mockup techniques and technologies. Virtual reality tools allow teams to propose ideas and modify and compare design ideas at a far lower cost than actually building the design. “As engineering students, they learn a great deal of theory, so the idea was: ‘Why don’t we give them a very practical context to use what they’ve learned and propose a design for the astronauts to actually live in?’” Cecil says. The intricate design challenge centered on exercise, hygiene, eating/storage and sleeping areas. Each area posed various design and cost challenges, but all are crucial for a successful mission as well as maintaining crew health and functionality. Students created elements ranging from toilets and showers to exercise equipment from scratch and tested them using virtual reality. “We addressed many design aspects, and it increased our communication and teamwork skills,” says Yajun Lu, an industrial engineering graduate student who worked on the storage systems. In addition, students wanted to provide astronauts with a feeling of home. To do this, they implemented several virtual reality environments and received feedback from professionals. Every two weeks, NASA engineers checked the project’s status by analyzing

Students, from left, Bharathi Raikumar, Yajun Lu and Jo Sands view digital models with virtual reality eyewear.

the design evolution and providing feedback through video conferences, which became more critical during the students’ midterm. “Being part of this project gave me free reign to use my creativity to come up with ideas that could benefit a big organization,” says Tom Thomas, a senior industrial engineering and management major who primarily focused on the habitat’s exercise module. “Being able to be part of a team of very smart and capable students and an open-minded professor also helped fuel progress in our work.” The team traveled to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the course final and presented the complete design. The trip was funded by the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium.

Industrial engineering seniors Tom Thomas, left, and Rohit Mishra discuss the digital models.

“The experience of working with real-life NASA engineers and seeing their enthusiasm for my designs gave me a great feeling that I can’t express with words,” says Kevin Gasperino, a senior industrial engineering and management major who led the exercise module team. “I received an educational experience in working with virtual reality technologies and their prototyping possibilities, making me more skillful with designing and gaining a strong understanding of a technology’s behavior, without consuming money or materials to build it.” This was OSU’s third year to partner with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, which called the group’s design concepts highly innovative. In spring 2015, NASA human factors engineer David Reynolds coordinated Marshall’s interaction with OSU students. “All the interfaces that require people are our focus,” Reynolds says. “This can be on a large scale with the assembly of the rocket to basic environmental concerns such as the assessment of work spaces for a deep space habitat.” Reynolds says they enjoy working with enthusiastic college students. “Oklahoma State’s students provided animation for their models,” he says. “It’s always good to see students looking at all perspectives and putting their ideas in 3-D

designs to show their products through visuals.” Cecil’s course is one of a handful of opportunities where students can enjoy such close interaction with NASA. And, because OSU is a leader in digital mockups and space systems design, it’s a mutually beneficial experience. “Working with students is a cost-effective resource for NASA. Many times we take the conceptual work that they have done and explore it further,” Reynolds says. “Our intent is to come up with viable concepts worth pursuing.” With so many unanswered questions regarding life in space, OSU students, along with many others, are part of a bigger picture. Their contributions will help increase human presence in deep space. “When we have finally built the vessel that will take us to Mars, I may be able to point to an aspect of the design and know that was my idea,” Gasperino says. The partnerships will continue through the NASA Advanced Exploration Systems Program. Within the next 20 years, astronauts are expected to be living in deep space habitats developed through exploration programs conducted by NASA today — with America’s Brightest Orange® joining the journey.

Bill Goldston, director of Universal Limited Art Editions, is instrumental in bringing the New York Project to the OSU Museum of Art.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

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New York Project BY

OSU Museum of Art presents Richard Tuttle: A Print Retrospective

J O R DA N

H AY S

r e t u r n s

n February, the OSU Museum of Art is unveiling Richard Tuttle: A Print Retrospective, bringing one of the nation’s most significant working artists to Oklahoma. The exhibition is the second in the museum’s New York Project, an ambitious series presenting the work of high-profile New York artists of the past half-century at OSU. “The New York Project is designed to provide an extraordinary opportunity for our audience to interact with world-renowned artists and view exhibitions usually exclusive to metropolitan museums,” says Victoria Berry, OSU Museum of Art director. Richard Tuttle, whose work can be found in major collections such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is perhaps best known for his printmaking – a technique that involves creating an original work of art by transferring a design onto a surface through the use of a plate, block, stone or screen. A Print Retrospective will reveal the artist’s profound interest in the ambiguous and transitional nature of this art form. continues

Richard Tuttle’s prints, often with both subtle and complex surfaces, lure viewers into careful, attentive study.

Label 11 and Label 12 from the series Cloth, 2002–2005. Series of 16, conceived in groups of 4. Etchings with aquatint, spitbite, sugarlift, softground, drypoint on fabric collé. 16 inches X 16 inches. © Richard Tuttle/Brooke Alexander Inc., New York.

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Access to such insightful experiences as is offered through this exhibition wouldn’t be possible without support from the Friends of the Museum — and one particular OSU alumnus who is making the New York Project possible. Bill Goldston, 1966 bachelor of fine arts graduate, is the director of Universal Limited Art Editions in New York and a partner of the New York Project. Goldston, originally from Lindsay, Oklahoma, brings years of professional and personal associations in the New York art scene and plays a vital role in making the New York Project successful. In doing so, students across Oklahoma are offered first-hand exposure to this art world. “When I was a young art student at OSU, there was no place for a student to see what was happening in the New York art scene,” Goldston says. “Of course, that interested many of us, and I promised myself when I graduated if I made anything of my life, I would share my good fortune with OSU students. The New York Project is one way I can share some of the New York art scene with the students of OSU.” The New York Project was launched in November 2014 with an exhibition featuring the work of James Rosenquist,

an internationally known Pop artist who became a public figure in the 1960s alongside Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg. The series will continue in 2017 with American artist Kiki Smith. One thing that made Richard Tuttle a particularly exciting candidate for the New York Project 2016 is his eagerness to visit Stillwater, discuss his work with students and reach new audiences. “He never tires of discussing with students the need to learn to look carefully, developing a sensitivity to detail as well as understanding the obvious and subtleties of the object,” Berry says. “He is very passionate about the print as a form of expression and will share a portfolio of prints with our audience in addition to the works in the exhibition.” As a post-minimalist artist often known for his subtle, intimate works that make use of scale and line, Tuttle has created poetic pieces addressing issues of material and illusion, of what we see and what we understand. Through their subtle and complex surfaces, Tuttle’s prints lure viewers into careful looking and contemplation of the relationship between the material and the illusion. Prints have an unusual ability to offer hidden information and render visible

As the first comprehensive survey of Richard Tuttle’s prints, this exhibition reveals the artist’s profound interest in the ambiguous and transitional nature of this art form.

When Pressure Exceeds Weight X, 2012. From a series of 11 mixed-media works. Colored pulp with inked snapline. 8¾ inches X 29 inches. © Richard Tuttle/ Universal Limited Art Editions.

insight into the artist’s process of creating. This invitation for the viewer to look more closely and be more attentive is a key aspect of Tuttle’s works, says Christina von Rotenhan, the exhibition curator who has worked closely with the artist for three years on the concept of this exhibition. “Tuttle’s art is not about knowing, but about wondering and learning, subjects that have special resonance in the setting of a university museum,” von Rotenhan says. “Tuttle’s prints stimulate intellectual and creative insights that are a great inspiration for students and Oklahoma’s art community.” Goldston agrees that printmaking offers qualities that are unique to other mediums and provides valuable insights for university students to consider. “Printmaking is the ultimate creative medium,” Goldston says. “Artists can

make a mark in printmaking that captures them at a moment in time they will never be again, sort of a snapshot of their creative thought at that moment.” Goldston also describes Tuttle as one of the most creative artists working today. “Having just closed his exhibition at the Tate Modern in London, England, it is a privilege for the OSU Museum of Art to have an exhibit of Richard’s art, and I hope the community will acknowledge new art horizons as a result of this exhibition,” Goldston says. Richard Tuttle: A Print Retrospective will be on view at the OSU Museum of Art, 720 South Husband Street in Stillwater, from February 8 to May 7, 2016. An opening reception, which will be attended by the artist, is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, February 8. More information can be found at museum.okstate.edu.

“Richard Tuttle: A Print Retrospective” is presented by the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art in collaboration with the Bowdoin College Museum of Art in Maine.

When Pressure Exceeds Weight III, 2012. From a series of 11 mixed-media works. Drypoint. 7¼ inches X 14 inches. © Richard Tuttle/Universal Limited Art Editions

continues

Richard Tuttle’s work can be found in major collections such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Label 9 and 10 from the series Cloth, 2002–2005. Series of 16, conceived in groups of 4. Etchings with aquatint, spitbite, sugarlift, softground, drypoint on fabric collé. 16 inches x 16 inches. ©Richard Tuttle/Brooke Alexander Inc., New York.

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Universal Limited Art Editions Director Bill Goldston visits with OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis at “An Ode to Hands: Selections from the Permanent Collection” exhibition in the OSU Museum of Art.

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Ready for Takeoff OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unmanned aircraft vehicle program flying to greater heights BY J E F F J O I N E R

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HANDS-ON LEARNING What began as an aircraft design class at OSU 20 years ago has grown into a multidisciplinary program focusing on building, testing and researching technologically advanced UAVs for a variety of uses including emergency preparedness, weather research, environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, border security and military operations. Jacob’s class is an example of the hands-on training that makes OSU’s aerospace program so strong and unique. For decades, long before there was a focus on unmanned aerial systems, OSU MAE students designed projects on paper. Andy Arena, considered by many as the founder of OSU’s unmanned aircraft program, joined the MAE faculty in 1993 to teach the capstone aircraft design class for seniors. Arena knew traditional design

was important, but he wanted this class to have a different experience. “If a student is going to appreciate design, they really have to build something,” Arena says. “You don’t see problems on paper because everything works on paper. They need to understand the consequences of their decisions and crash things.” In 1995, Arena introduced building and flying small remote-controlled airplanes to test student design concepts. continues PHOTOS / PHIL SHOCKLEY

rofessor Jamey Jacob walks into his classroom and begins talking to the room of Oklahoma State University mechanical and aerospace engineering students. Jacob, a member of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering faculty in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, checks on the students’ progress with a project. Student teams are testing unmanned aerial vehicles to “deliver” a small package, or payload in industry jargon, and drop it on a target in a flight test. “We haven’t specified what kind of delivery,” Jacob says. “It could be medical supplies or emergency equipment or tacos.” Though they’re not delivering tacos yet, UAVs have become almost common. Relatively affordable radio-controlled aircraft are used to shoot spectacular videos of everything from migrating whales to natural disasters to extreme athletes risking all for YouTube. Yet the real UAV revolution underway is not on YouTube but in research labs and classrooms like those at OSU.

OSU’s unmanned aircraft systems facilities include a dedicated flight test facility with two runways, a control room and a hangar where more than 200 custom unmanned aircraft have been tested.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

MAE staff engineer Collin Boettcher, left, assists professor Andy Arena in experimenting with unmanned aircraft. He also introduced competition, dividing the class into the Orange and Black teams to compete in flight tests. “I like to say we were into drones before drones were cool,” says Arena, OSU’s T.J. Cunningham Chair in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

WINNING COMPETITIONS

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In the early 2000s, interest in unmanned aircraft grew with the military’s use of UAVs in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Images of military drones (a term MAE faculty try to avoid) became common on news programs and the notion of remotely-controlled, unmanned airplanes entered the public’s consciousness. As awareness grew and inexpensive UAVs became popular, interest in commercial UAV applications created research opportunities at universities with strengths in the budding field, including OSU. OSU began improving its testing and research facilities, including building the Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station in 2010, the first university airfield dedicated to UAV testing. To feed the growing demand for UAS engineers, OSU introduced another first in 2011 — master’s degree and doctorate options in UAS, allowing graduate students to focus on research. Alyssa Avery has spent her entire academic career at OSU, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Now she has started work on her doctorate degree. Avery says her love of airplanes, fueled by both parents who are aerospace engineers, motivated her. “Airplanes have always been my true love,” the Edmond native says. “I had a poster of an SR-71 (a Cold War supersonic

GROWING RESEARCH OSU conducts both military and commercial research, with projects pushing the envelope of UAV capabilities. One of the most important research areas is autonomous operation, a relatively young field that brought Girish Chowdhary to OSU in 2013. Chowdhary, an MAE assistant professor, studies unmanned systems that complete missions independently from human intervention. That requires aircraft to “learn” by recognizing changes in its environment and reacting.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

In 1998, the design class entered the largest university aircraft “design, build and fly” competition in the world organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. For over a decade, Orange and Black teams competed against each other and teams from around the nation and the world, winning more awards than any other program. OSU teams crashed at times — and could rebuild planes on the spot to continue to compete, all helping to establish the university’s reputation for building the best small-unmanned aircraft in the country. In 2010, Arena decided his students had outgrown the AIAA competition and launched Speedfest at OSU, a contest so challenging that students couldn’t hope to compete without state-of-the-art materials and advanced design and analysis. In 2016, Speedfest will introduce turbojet engines, which Arena says will be the first collegiate UAV competition to feature turbojet propulsion.

E X PA N D I N G PROGRAM

spy jet) on my wall when I was 5.” Avery says working with UAVs has allowed her to learn each piece of an aircraft’s system and do hands-on work with aircraft design, fabrication and testing. As a senior in 2013, she was the structures group leader for Team Black, responsible for structural analysis and fabricating a plane to compete in Speedfest. That aircraft reached speeds of 220 mph, winning the competition. “There’s something really cool about actually getting in there and doing the composite work and using your hands to actually create the physical aircraft,” Avery says. “I love mathematics and always wanted to do something with it and engineering allows me to use math to build things.”

Graduate students such as Seabrook Whyte, left, conduct unmanned aircraft systems experiments in Jamey Jacob’s UAS Design and Analysis course.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Girish Chowdhary, assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at OSU, says an Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant enables him to conduct leading-edge research on autonomous operation of UAV’s in changing environments.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

“I like to say we put the brains in the planes,” Chowdhary says. He calls autonomous control the Achilles’ heel of UAV systems. In order to operate UAVs beyond the line of sight, aircraft must have enhanced situational awareness and the ability to autonomously make decisions. In other words, UAVs must learn how to take care of themselves. This year, Chowdhary received a grant from the Air Force to develop programming for adaptive learning and decision-making by unmanned aircraft in conflict zones. “Currently, all those decisions are made on the ground by the operator,” he says. “What you want is autonomous aircraft that are told what the mission is and why it should be done, but not how to do the mission. The aircraft figures that out on its own.” Allan Axelrod, a doctoral student working in Chowdhary’s Distributed Autonomous Systems Laboratory, is studying how machines learn. “This includes any UAS that operates autonomously, so we’re looking at how it performs such that it optimizes what it learns in a changing environment,” he says. One of Axelrod’s projects is UAVs equipped with sensors to survey carbon dioxide and methane levels in the Anadarko Basin in Texas. The project is part of a Department of Energy plan to capture and store carbon underground. In the future, UAVs could be used to monitor storage sites for leaking gas, but scientists must first know the background levels of CO2 and CH4 and are using unmanned aircraft to survey the region. OSU graduate Ben Loh developed a spherical unmanned aerial vehicle called ATLAS™ or All Terrain Land and Air Sphere system for his doctoral dissertation. The UAV is designed to fly, hover, roll on the ground and take to the air again, making it ideal for search and rescue efforts by emergency responders in disasters, especially inside buildings. ATLAS™ is also being recommended for facility inspection and security work by the military and private companies, including those in the energy sector. Loh has teamed continues

With hands-on field testing, the unmanned aircraft systems program at Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has been ranked No. 2 in the nation among 15 top programs by Successful Student website.

“I like to say we were into drones before d ron e s we re cool .” — ANDREW S. ARENA, O S U T. J. C U N N I N G H A M C H A I R , M E C H A N I CA L A N D A E R O S PAC E ENGINEERING

An unmanned aerial vehicle designed to study atmospheric conditions and weather could look like this illustration. The National Science Foundation awarded a $6 million grant to OSU and three partner universities to develop unmanned systems to improve weather forecasting.

OSU also utilizes small high-powered rockets as a part of the UAS program.

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PHOTO/PHIL SHOCKLEY

up with faculty and business partners to launch a startup company, Unmanned Cowboys LLC, to market the technology. One of the most promising areas of research is in meteorology and weather forecasting, where using small, unmanned aircraft could improve the accuracy and speed of forecasts. OSU and the universities of Oklahoma, Kentucky and Nebraska will collaborate on a $6 million National Science Foundation grant to develop unmanned systems to collect atmospheric data. The grant is the largest to-date awarded to an UAS project at OSU. “In the not-too-distant future, UAVs will be ubiquitous across all scientific fields with a weather component,” says Jacob, the study’s principal investigator. Other research areas include the study of aircraft sound or aeroacoustics led by MAE adjunct associate professor Richard Gaeta. The Department of Defense, among others, is interested in making UAVs quieter and less detectable. The Department of Homeland Security has awarded several projects to OSU, including selecting OSU’s University Multispectral Laboratories facilities to test unmanned aircraft for use by emergency responders and the DHS. The university also won a student competition, sponsored by DHS, to develop a prototype aircraft system for border surveillance.

P R E PA R I N G STUDENTS At the heart of OSU’s program is teaching and research that prepares students for aerospace careers. A tradition of hands-on training in aircraft design, fabrication and testing is combined with students taking leadership roles in worldclass research projects to give OSU graduates an advantage in the marketplace for skilled engineers. “Our students are literally ready to go right in and work for these companies because they have experience that a lot of schools don’t offer,” Arena says. “You really need to get your hands on things to be a complete engineer, and that’s the culture here.” According to Jacob, the program’s success laid the groundwork for the December 4th announcement that OSU is establishing the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Institute that he will lead. Such a center will recognize the multidisciplinary nature of the field, which reaches beyond mechanical and aerospace engineering into other university programs such as fire services training, geography, computer sciences, chemical engineering, aviation education and biosystems and ag engineering. “The strong research program that we have and the amount of funding that we’re bringing in makes it possible for the program to reach a critical mass of talented faculty and students capable of doing big things,” Jacob says.

MAE doctoral graduate Ben Loh, right, and several partners have launched a startup business, Unmanned Cowboys, to market his invention and other unmanned system products. Loh studied with MAE professor Jamey Jacob, left.

Speedfest encourages students in exploring unmanned aircraft systems. The Alpha (Advanced) Class is open to collegiate teams, and India (Invitational) class is open to high school teams. In May 2015, 15 teams with more than 200 students and teachers competed in Speedfest V. The official attendance gate count was over 600 people.

BY JAC O B L O N G A N

The Ferguson Family celebrates the announcement of the new Ferguson Family Dairy Center at an event on November 6, 2015.

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PHOTO / TODD JOHNSON

betterment of future generations. Nothing comes free. You have klahoma State University will to work hard, but you have to pass it on as well. It’s not yours to soon build a world-class dairy center thanks in large keep. It’s not yours to hold onto. It’s yours to pass on.” part to an uncommonly generous couple who had an unlikely meeting followed by an unexpected career path. The Ferguson Family Dairy Center began with a $2 million Unlikely couple, unexpected career lead gift from Larry and Kayleen Ferguson through their family foundation. The Fergusons have committed up to $4 million They met February 15, 1975, in OSU’s Dairy Cattle Center. more if OSU can secure an additional $6 million toward the ultiKayleen Helms was an English education major who had found mate goal of a $12 million facility. a job testing milk for butterfat. She would shyly keep her head “We are so grateful to the Fergusons for their generous down as she quickly entered and exited the time-clock room, support,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “Our dairy program where Larry and his friends ate lunch. He noticed her, learned attracts students from 41 states and three foreign countries her name from the timecard and called that evening to ask her because of the affordable tuition and hands-on learning experiout. Before the end of the year, they were married and living ences with high-quality animals on a variety of modern farms. nearly 1,000 miles from home. This gift empowers the program to do even more to bring in the Between when they met and married, Larry interviewed with brightest students and most highly skilled personnel so that we Schreiber Foods as a favor to can further support the fasthis academic adviser, who was growing dairy industry.” worried the recruiter might Thomas Coon, vice presistop coming to OSU if students dent, dean and director of weren’t interested. Larry wore the Division of Agricultural jeans to the interview and Sciences and Natural Resources, spoke of his plans to enroll in says dairy production is one OSU’s veterinary school. The of the most visible and attracrecruiter kindly said to call if tive facets of animal production that didn’t work out. because of the way it connects “I applied to vet school, but with consumers. we didn’t see eye to eye on my “Many people associate milk qualifications,” Larry says. “I and dairy products with wholethought my grades were better someness, and find the image than they thought. So after of cows on pasture to be an crying in my towel for a week icon of the pastoral life,” Coon or so, I called Schreiber, and says. “In DASNR, we strive to they said to come meet them promote and showcase responin Carthage, Missouri. They sible management of animals didn’t have any openings there, and environmental resources. but they had one in Logan, In addition, our students Utah. I needed the job.” — Kayleen Ferguson need exposure to and handsLarry was a production on experience with modern, supervisor at the Schreiber research-based production methods. The improvements we plant while Kayleen finished her degree at Utah State. Over the have envisioned for the dairy facility will help us sustain good next 15 years, she taught language arts off and on while the husbandry of the cows and calves in our herd, while also couple had three sons – Bryant, Kyle and Stephen. During that strengthening our ability to foster both sound environmental time, the family followed Larry’s career to Monett, Missouri; stewardship and safe food-handling practices.” Carthage, Missouri; and finally the corporate headquarters in Larry Ferguson is the retired president and CEO of Schreiber Green Bay, Wisconsin. Foods, the world’s largest employee-owned dairy company. He is Larry was promoted to CEO in 1999 and officially retired in passionate about the dairy industry as well as his alma mater. 2007, though he remains chairman of the board. He says show“I would never have become CEO without coming to ing employees that he cared about them was key to his success. Oklahoma State and going through the program here,” says the “One thing was to learn someone’s name,” Kayleen says. “He 1975 animal science alumnus. “Plus, we want to give back. Kay spent so many evenings studying pictures of employees at whatand I believe education is the way to solve the economic problems ever plant he was visiting and learned their names, their spouses’ of our country. We love the dairy industry, and we want to see names and their children’s names. He learned there is nothing more kids educated in the dairy industry. We think more than sweeter than hearing your own name, and that’s just a simple just education, this is a way of helping feed the world.” way to express that you care.” Kayleen adds, “We have a responsibility to share what continues we have learned. We want to share that responsibly for the

Continuing the legacy The Fergusons care deeply about OSU, where Kayleen’s parents met in a similar fashion to the Fergusons. Kenneth Helms lived in the dairy dorm and milked cows while earning a dairy-science degree. He met his future wife, Kathleen, because she was the daughter of the dorm’s cook. After Kenneth graduated, he and Kathleen both earned master’s degrees in education from OSU while teaching and raising two daughters and a son. The dairy center’s improved student housing is being renamed Helms Hall in their honor. “My parents are why I am who I am today,” Kayleen says. “They loved the dairy industry and teaching, and they taught me about the importance of education, ethics and hard work. It’s wonderful to be able to honor them this way. My father has passed away, but my mom is very touched.” Larry’s parents, who did not attend college, taught their son about the value of hard work while raising him on a dairy farm. “I was born into the dairy business,” Larry says. “It was chosen for me. My mom and dad would rather milk cows than go on vacation. So this facility really symbolizes the passion Kay and I have both for dairy and education. It also highlights OSU’s emphasis on dairy, which will show students that they can come here and pursue their future.” Kayleen adds, “Everyone needs a route to pursue their dreams. Pursue what you love to do. Take it, and go with it.” Updating the facility The dairy center dates back to 1920. It encompasses approximately 300 acres of pasture, 80 acres of tillable land, and facilities such as the milking parlor, historic barn and outlying buildings. The infrastructure enhancement begins with the addition of a free-stall barn that will include space for the new Insentec individual cattle-feeding equipment, which will record daily feed and water intake on cows included in a research protocol. Once updated, the Ferguson Family Dairy Center will attract students from across the nation and empower them to

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Larry and Kayleen Ferguson are donating millions to build a world-class dairy center. It will be named the Ferguson Family Dairy Center in their honor, and the improved student housing will be named Helms Hall after her parents. conduct research products, improve teaching and Extension programs, and increase the number of skilled personnel to manage the dairy industry. For more information, contact the OSU Foundation’s Heidi Griswold (hgriswold@OSUgiving.com or 405-385-5656) or Kathy McNally (kmcnally@OSUgiving.com or 405-385-5606).

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Breakthrough produces better nut USDA researchers partner with OSU to develop a Spanish peanut thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for heart health.

BY FA I T H K E L L E Y

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PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

USDA peanut breeder Kelly Chamberlin and OSU researcher John Damicone work together producing better peanuts. The development of a new peanut plant by USDA researchers in partnership with OSU is cracking interest from farmers and food industry giants. USDA peanut breeder Kelly Chamberlin and plant pathologist Rebecca Bennett, along with OSU plant pathologist John Damicone, have developed OLé, a Spanish peanut variety with high oleic acid content. “We always have a bit of a struggle trying to name our peanut varieties,” Chamberlin says. “You want something catchy, something the farmers will remember. Since it’s a Spanish peanut, we went with OLé with a capital O and L, to designate high oleic acid content. Also, OLé means joyous and terrific.” OLé peanuts were developed using traditional hybrid breeding. OLé is resistant to several fungal diseases, which reduces pesticide use and offers farmers

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peanut breeding lines by cross-pollinating extensive savings on chemical treatments. flowers from two different peanuts. For Eliminating harmful pesticides and fungiexample, taking pollen from the high oleic cides allows natural pollinators, such as bees, to live longer and return to the crops. plant and fertilizing it with the low oleic flower incorporates the high oleic trait The oleic acid found in OLé peanuts into the progeny seed, while retaining is a beneficial fatty acid associated with desired traits from the low oleic parent. good health and provides a longer shelf “Say we’ve got a peanut that’s high life. Oleic acid is a helpful monounsatuoleic, we’ve got one that’s not, and the rated fatty acid that can improve blood high oleic peanut doesn’t really have other pressure, better heart rate and lessen attributes we like,” Chamberlin says. diabetes symptoms. Linoleic acid, natu“We want the one that we do like to be rally occurring in peanuts, spoils the nuts high oleic. Along with the high oleic acid much faster than those with high oleic amounts, the hybrid peanut will yield well content. Normally peanuts have close to and produce a quality product.” equal amounts of these two fats, but high Growers like the new variety because oleic peanuts have 10 to 20 times more of its disease resistance and potential for oleic acid than linoleic acid. High oleic high yield and grade. peanuts such as OLé have up to 10 times The partnership between OSU and the shelf life of traditional peanuts. the USDA is intricate. The USDA facilPeanuts typically self-pollinate, ity is located on OSU land, as most meaning they fertilize themselves. In USDA Agricultural Research Services Chamberlin’s research, they produce new

During a station tour, researchers, from left, Rebecca Bennett, Kelly Chamberlin and John Damicone stop at the OLé peanut fields. facilities are tied to land grant universities. Chamberlin and Bennett worked with OSU’s Damicone and other OSU professionals to develop and release OLé. “The reason for our partnership is we have resources the university doesn’t, and they have resources that we don’t,” Chamberlin says. “For example, I’m a peanut breeder and the only one in the state working for the producers in Oklahoma. My program also serves producers in Texas and New Mexico.” A majority of Chamberlin’s fieldwork is done on OSU land at the Oklahoma Agricultural Extension Service Experiment Station in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. The station’s personnel help plant her plots, take care of her plants while she’s away and later harvest them. “It’s a very close partnership — I couldn’t do anything I do without them,

and they wouldn’t have any peanut varieties released without me,” she says. “We work hand in hand.” Commercial production for OLé is scheduled for 2016. Last year, the USDA and Chamberlin produced foundation seed through OSU’s Oklahoma Foundation Seed Services. All USDA peanut varieties are exclusively licensed to sell through OSU. “To produce the seed, they sell the seeds to buying points around the state,” she says. “Then, those people sell it to the farmer. So this year, we’re just at the stage where the buying points are producing the seed. Next year they’ll be selling it to the farmers for production.” There are several criteria to meet before releasing a peanut variety to a farmer. For instance, the attributes of the peanut, such as disease resistance, must be

established before release. This is where plant pathologists Bennett and Damicone come into play to determine the disease resistance among the varieties. In addition to the high oleic trait, OLé peanuts have genetic resistance to Sclerotinia blight and pod rot, two fungal diseases that cause profit loss in Oklahoma and other peanut growing regions. Once the varieties are approved and farmers start production, they sell the peanuts back to the buying points. “The buying points will keep some of that peanut seed, and then they’ll put the rest into the market,” Chamberlin says. “They sell it in the United States and export markets.” While OLé peanuts are gaining popularity due to their long shelf life and healthy oil content, the snack and candy industry are interested as well. With a richer and nuttier flavor than the average peanut, OLé has a bright future in the food industry. “Hershey has shown a huge interest in OLé and has tested seed that I sent them for use in their candy products,” Chamberlin says. “All results were extremely favorable regarding taste, size, uniformity, nutritional content and oleic acid content. USDA and OSU are not partnering with them, but they plan on acquiring as much OLé as they can to use in their products.”

Peanut varieties are tested in fields at the Caddo Research Station in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, where Dwayne Stevens, Oklahoma Peanut Commission member and peanut farmer from Anadarko, and David L. Nowlin, OSU Extension educator for Caddo County, pick through pods.

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Mentors at OSU were important to Scott Gilpin in his formative years.

K EN YAN MALL MASSACRE WITNESS LIVING A RELE VANT LIFE By Holly Bergbower

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SCOTT GILPIN

From raising funds for worthy causes to assisting victims during a terrorist attack, Scott Gilpin’s life experiences have put him in unlikely situations, always equipped to lend a helping hand. His journey is not one that he could have foreseen, but the former OSU student reflects on how each event has fallen into place, steppingstone by steppingstone as though it was carefully woven together to prepare him for the next task.

Westgate Mall is in Nairobi, Kenya.

rowing up as the son of a Methodist minister, Scott Gilpin witnessed a life of service to others. He speaks often of his father and reflects on how his upbringing equipped him for each new challenge. He says his early experiences prepared him for some of the most difficult times. Gilpin credits Oklahoma State University and the connections he made during his two years on campus as one of the most formative times in his youth. He met mentors such as Ron Beer, Tom Keys and J. Paul Bischoff. Gilpin served

Crowds flee as shots are heard at the mall in Africa. as both the president of his fraternity and the Interfraternity Council, and surprised himself by taking a class on Islam, all of which groomed him in various ways for his life’s journey. “OSU gave me far, far more than just the classroom. My time here affected how I see the world, how I see service to others,” Gilpin says. “Because of the people who took me under their wings, I left OSU with the firmest grounding one could have of what it means to be a man for others.”

Discipleship Ministries, a division of the United Methodist Church, is Gilpin’s employer. His focus is on fundraising and providing resources to lay and clergy leaders around the world. In the United States, he works with Native American groups. Abroad, Gilpin travels to Africa, the Philippines, Korea and Japan. On a 1999 trip to Kenya, he made a connection that would lead him to a life altering incident. While visiting a ministry he’d help create 15 years earlier, Gilpin noticed college students playing soccer, continues

many of them without shoes. He and an Anglican priest, who had partnered in developing the ministry he was visiting, also shared another common interest — fly fishing. “I thought to myself, ‘these students will probably graduate from college and not be able to find jobs because jobs are hard to come by there,’” Gilpin says. “As I visited with my priest friend, we realized that we could teach them how to tie flies and sell them.” From that idea, Shascon Flies was born. Combining Gilpin’s first name of Scott with the priest’s name of Sharon created the company name. Based in Kikuyu, Kenya, Shascon Flies is still in business today and sells products over the Internet. Yearly visits are required to

Many joined together to help during and after the siege. provide computer supplies and to check on how the company is doing. Gilpin traveled to the company’s Nairobi office in 2013 and spoke to a group of United Methodist college presidents about fundraising and other topics. Upon completing his speaking engagement, Gilpin planned to meet his Shascon representative for lunch and deliver some much-needed computer equipment. On the way to their designated meeting spot at the Art Café in Westgate Mall, Gilpin’s contact called to let him know he was not going to make the meeting. Gilpin knew the equipment was still required so

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he made his way to the mall, where he could eat lunch and purchase the needed supplies. Traffic was congested, and his driver was having difficulty reaching their destination. Knowing the area well and realizing there was a shortcut through the Oshwal Indian campus, Gilpin decided to get out and walk. “This guarded and gated campus that houses an elementary school empties out into the mall parking lot,” Gilpin says. “I was headed to the entrance of the Westgate Mall when I saw a white car pull up. A man with a walkie-talkie was standing on the sidewalk. I could tell he was a security guard, although he was unarmed. A gun emerged from the window of the white car and the guard was shot in the chest right in front of me and fell into a gutter.”

“I knew immediately this wasn’t a car-jacking or a drug deal gone bad or a robbery,” Gilpin says. “This was terrorism.” As he processed the situation unfolding around him, Gilpin noticed a woman with an infant and small child running right at him and away from the terrorists. The toddler was having trouble keeping up so Gilpin grabbed the child, and the four headed for the shelter of some parked cars. He told the mother he’d come from a campus guarded by Hindu militia. “I told her that if we could get there we would be safe,” Gilpin says. “As we made our way toward the campus, we bumped into some Hindu men. One had a phone in his hand and a shocked look on his face.” As it turns out, the man had just tried to contact his daughter and niece who were in the mall. His phone had rung, but it was not his daughter or niece calling. It was a man trapped inside the mall who had picked up the phone and hit redial in a plea for help. Gilpin relayed the escape route plan to the man who gathered friends and they were on their way. The group was able to make it to the safety of the Oshwal Indian campus where they prayed together for those trapped inside the mall and the families of the victims. A shocked Gilpin found his way back to his driver. Gilpin would later find out that the same café where he was supposed to meet his contact suffered the most carnage as the terrorists threw what he describes as “indiscriminate grenades” into the restaurant. As the numbness wore off, it was replaced by anger and a need to do something to help. Gilpin gave blood at the Aga Khan University Hospital and that is where he found what he calls his “saving grace.” “I asked if there was anything I could They proceeded to shoot and kill a do to help, and they said sure. I canceled parking attendant, and shoot and throw grenades at women and children who were my flights,” Gilpin says. “I didn’t want to be another American running at the participating in a cooking demonstrafirst sign of trouble. I was angry at the tion. As Gilpin hid among some plants, terrorists and frustrated with myself as to he witnessed people being shot who were what I could have done different to save lying on the ground attempting to hide. As a graduate of a military high school, more lives.” Gilpin stayed on for four days — Gilpin was well aware of what AK-47s and the length of the Westgate Mall siege hand grenades sounded like. He recognized immediately what the situation was. continues

That shooting was the beginning of what was a horrific nightmare, known to the world as the Westgate Mall massacre. Gilpin witnessed the shooting of another innocent bystander, followed by the emergence of two more armed men who passed him a mere 40 yards away.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SCOTT GILPIN

ABOVE: Hostages being released from Westgate mall go through a security checkpoint. LEFT: An injured boy is carried out of the mall. BELOW: Police enter the mall cautiously in search of survivors.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SCOTT GILPIN

ABOVE: The Red Cross set up in Uhuru Park, a mile from the mall in Nairobi, Kenya. RIGHT: Scott Gilpin, center, says his volunteer work at Uhuru Park near downtown Nairobi helped him leave Kenya with memories of Christian, Muslim and Hindu volunteers working together for their fellow human beings instead of the pictures of blood and suffering he witnessed at the Westgate Mall siege.. BELOW: Thousands of Kenyans lined up to give the only thing they had to give â&#x20AC;&#x201D; their blood.

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— working for the Kenyan Red Cross. He was assigned to Uhuru Park, about a mile from the mall where the attack left 69 dead with more than 200 wounded. Gilpin likens the Kenyans’ response to the massacre to the way Americans responded to 9/11. They wanted to do something, contribute in some way to the cause. They missed much needed work and gave of what they had — mainly blood. Gilpin worked as a laborer moving supplies where they were needed. As one of the only few American men, he stood out. Most were surprised to find he wasn’t an administrator — but a guy just doing what he could.

“Here we all were, Muslim, Hindu and Christian, all together working for the commonality of man,” Gilpin says. “No one was worried about who was what religion. We were all just thinking, ‘What can we do to help?’” Lifelong bonds were forged in that Kenyan park, another steppingstone in Gilpin’s path. He has stronger remembrances of the good work that was done in the park opposed to memories of the tragedy that occurred at Westgate Mall. The takeaway of the entire experience for Gilpin brought to his mind Matthew 25:40: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” “We often don’t know how to impact others’ lives, and these opportunities are put right in front of us. The question is — do we have the courage to respond?” Gilpin says. “I don’t know what caused me to grab that child, run like I was going to get a bullet between my shoulders or

cancel my flight home, but I can say it made me more passionate and fervent for what I do.” Gilpin has found that when he travels to Africa now, his reputation precedes him. He garnered respect there by putting his life on the line and sticking around when he could have fled. The added credibility helped him take the next step with a new project.

he E-Reader Project, piloted with the Gbarnga School of Theology in Liberia, provides electronic reading tablets, loaded with study materials, to clergy and laymen who often lack needed resources. Students and faculty reported the readily accessible information improved both teaching and learning. Soon after the project started, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health contacted Discipleship Ministries to help

Whatever this challenge brings, Gilpin says he wakes up with the same prayer every morning, based on an accumulation of life experiences. It is a prayer that he believes will lead him to the next step and the next. “I start out by asking God, ‘Are you kidding?’ As inadequate as I am, I get asked to do what I get asked to do?” Gilpin says. “Thank you, because it makes my life seem so relevant. Thank you for

African seminary students are benefiting from Scott Gilpin’s efforts to provide electronic reader tablets with a complete Bible and study books. distribute health information on both e-readers and in print, starting with an Ebola prevention resource booklet. Roman Catholic Charities and the Liberian Baptist Convention joined in distributing the booklet. “We attended a conference with three Ebola survivors from Nigeria and had a key moment to recognize the good that cooperation between higher education and the church can accomplish in front of experts from all around the world,” Gilpin says. The next step for Gilpin and his agency is continuing to work with Vanderbilt in the monumental task of eradicating illiteracy around the world. A donor has already pledged to help supply sturdy e-readers for the effort.

the opportunity to serve others in this way, and help me make today impactful for someone’s life.”

from

SAFE farm fork to

BY M A N DY G R O S S

Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center joins global effort to improve safe food handling

oughly one out of six Americans — 48 million people — gets sick each year because of foodborne illness. In addition, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases annually. Oklahoma State University is tackling global issues faced by the food industry in reducing these statistics. Jason Young, quality management specialist for OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, joined more than 100 food-safety experts from around the world in Düsseldorf, Germany, in support of the Global Food Safety Initiative in September. “It was an honor to be able to work with food-safety experts worldwide and discuss how we can make our food even safer than it already is,” Young says. “Each and every person who attended this conference is dedicated to improving food safety on a global scale.”

Jason Young reviews Global Food Safety Initiative standards with Blair Switzer, left, and Dale Beerwinkle, right, of Triple S Farms in Hydro, Oklahoma.

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Unitherm Food Systems of Bristow, Oklahoma, provided the sponsorship for Young to participate in the international meeting.

Driving advancement in food safety The Global Food Safety Initiative, which strives for continuous improvement of food-safety management systems to ensure safe food and consumer confidence, drives specialized advancement through its Technical Working Groups. These groups are composed of experts from retailers, manufacturers, food-service operators, service providers, standard owners, certification bodies, accreditation bodies and industry associations. They provide technical expertise and advice to the GFSI board, work independently on a range of food-safety topics, and come together three times a year to share knowledge and discuss their work. “The work of GFSI would not have moved forward in the way that it has over the years without the dedication of GFSI Technical Working Group experts and the support of the companies they represent,” says Véronique Discours-Buhot, director of the Global Food Safety Initiative and the Consumer Goods Forum. Young, the only attendee from Oklahoma, is a member of the GFSI Technical Working Group for Regional Outreach. This group provides advice to the GFSI board to develop a strategy,

action plans and shared tools to support global expansion during the next five years. Young says this was the first of many meetings and conference calls during the next two years. “In this first session, we learned how the current local groups operate,” he says. “Part of our objective is to help GFSI establish an application process to form new regional groups. Additionally, we want to construct a method for the groups to be sustainable and directed by a local team with support from GFSI.” Discours-Buhot calls food safety a shared responsibility. Since the creation of the Technical Working Groups, more than 100 companies, consultancies and organizations have collaborated in 25 teams, covering all areas of food safety.

PHOTOS / MANDY GROSS

Jason Young, quality management specialist for OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, tackles global food safety initiatives. “With the food supply chain growing more and more complex, no one can do it alone,” she says. “We are thrilled to bring together the entire industry spectrum – manufacturers, retailers and service providers and also international organizations, academia and government representatives – to collaborate on key food-safety issues. Above all, the Technical Working Groups are a fantastic example of collaboration.” Young says what makes GFSI unique is its dialogue with the food industry. Challenges are brought to the GFSI board, which mandates working groups to collaborate on global issues and find solutions to address industry concerns. Solutions and best practices are shared and publicized to drive continuous improvement.

ILLUSTRATION / DAVE MALEC

The next Technical Working Group is scheduled in Berlin, Germany, during GFSI’s Global Food Safety Conference in March 2016. There, Young will join a network of more than 1,000 food-safety leaders to support the GFSI vision of safe food everywhere.

Serving Oklahoma’s food industry With a growing demand for safe quality food products, the need for foodsafety programs is more important than ever. Professionals within FAPC, a part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, recognized this need and embraced the opportunity. Oklahoma’s food-industry leaders and

FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee, center faculty and staff implemented a Global Food Safety System program to assist Oklahoma food companies in meeting GFSI requirements. This program focuses on food-industry assistance in training, auditing, pre-third-party audit preparations, education, and in-plant technical assistance for food safety and quality programs. Young helps food companies by conducting internal audits. “Globalization of the food industry has significantly affected almost every Oklahoma food processor directly and indirectly with mandated food-safety and security regulations and policies that cut across all food-processing sectors,” says Chuck Willoughby, FAPC manager of business and marketing relations. “Our FAPC Global Food Safety System program provides services to meet the foodsafety and security needs of Oklahoma’s food industry.” Since establishing the program in 2011, Young has assisted 12 companies and provided more than 600 hours of GFSI services. With Young’s help, nine companies have passed their GFSI audits. “There are several audit schemes such as Safe Quality Food and BRC Global, which are designed to meet GFSI,” Young says. “I am able to meet with the company and conduct an internal audit. We work to identify any gaps within the company’s food-safety and quality system, and these gaps are further discussed to identify ways to meet the criteria.” FAPC’s program is continually growing, leading to fewer food-safety incidents with the implementation of these systems.

A Quest for More Undergraduate plant researcher seeks solutions from backyard garden to global food insecurity BY S H E L BY H O L C O M B

Brett Johnson observes a commercial potato harvest in the Peruvian Andean region.

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journey that started as a simple backyard sustainability garden has evolved into an interest in plant disease resistance and an ongoing quest to solve global food insecurity for Brett Johnson, a senior in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

An Honors College student and 2014-15 Niblack Research Scholar, Johnson spent his summer in Lima, Peru, at the International Potato Center. Even with his academic success, his educational path wasn’t clear-cut. In the summer of 2010, the thought of attending college was the last thing on his mind. Instead, he was establishing a 900-square-foot garden in his backyard and reading a book that his wife, Sarah, bought him called The Backyard Homestead. The book offered a crash course on self-sufficiency through backyard gardening — and it was all he could do to not spend every spare moment outside. The next summer, he found a job as a lab technician under Gail Wilson, a professor in OSU’s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, which piqued his interest in research. After working with his garden and in related jobs, Johnson found himself wanting to know more about plant production. In the fall of 2011, he enrolled at Northern Oklahoma College on a mission to answer his questions. “Really, I can thank my field of interest for pushing me to pursue an education,” he says. Johnson attributes much of his educational success as an undergraduate to the Honors College, which he joined after transferring to OSU for the spring 2013 semester. The Honors College offered opportunities to meet different professors and take part in various research projects. Johnson wanted to obtain additional support for a research venture that he had started while working under his mentor, Gabriela Orquera-Tornakian, a current doctoral student, in the lab of Stephen Marek, an associate professor in OSU’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.

For nearly a year, Johnson conducted germination studies on different species of native grasses to determine his next research goal to apply for an undergraduate Niblack Research Scholarship. He submitted a two-page essay outlining his preparation process, project goals, hypothesis and reflections. After receiving the scholarship, Johnson’s work continued, focusing on Puccinia emaculata, a pathogenic plant fungus that attacks Switchgrass by depleting and eventually destroying its leaf tissue. This research is vital because Switchgrass leaf tissue is used in ethanol production. “During his research project, Brett demonstrated one of the most important attributes of a good researcher — perseverance,” Marek says. For months, Johnson grew different species of native grasses. He infected them with P. emaculata, determined which species showed symptoms of infection and conducted a genetic analysis of the infected leaf tissue, which he then compared to the fungus’ DNA code. The process determined which alternative hosts exist. “Some techniques in the lab were new for Brett,” Orquera-Tornakian says. “However, he put all his effort into learning, and after some time working together with me, he dominated most of the molecular techniques, and he applied them correctly in his research.” Johnson’s next step gave him a bigger footprint on his quest for answers. “I decided that if I was going to work on one vegetable that I felt would have continues

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

Stephen Marek, from left, Brett Johnson and Gabriela Orquera-Tornakian visit in the OSU Noble Research Center.

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

more impact on global food security and the food systems of developing countries, it was more than likely the potato,” Johnson says. “Since then, I’ve come to find out that it’s the fourth-largest crop produced worldwide, which really tells you how important it is.”

Brett Johnson analyzes rust-infected leaf tissue.

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Through more OSU connections, Johnson began planning his researchrich adventure to the International Potato Center, which would contribute to his senior thesis. Emeritus plant and soil sciences professor Arthur Klatt and plant pathology associate professor Carla Garzón have well-established connections with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, a global organization focusing on a food-secure future. While both professors shared their thoughts about agriculture and world food security with Johnson, Garzón ultimately helped him establish connections within the Centro Internacional de la Papa in Peru, referred to as the International Potato Center in English and CIP in general.

However, to spend 14 weeks in Peru, Johnson had to find funding. OSU Master’s of International Agricultural Program Director Shida Henneberry, who is also a Regents Professor of Agricultural Economics and a Humphreys Chair in International Studies, offered him the funding after she and the Humphreys Chair committee reviewed his proposal. “Brett’s application stood out because he had proposed an outstanding project with the International Potato Center,” Henneberry says. “The focus of my Humphreys Chair is improving food security, and what Brett has proposed fits well within my focus area.” CIP, a global nonprofit organization that is part of the CGIAR Consortium, houses the world’s largest gene bank, which stores and protects potato

“During his research project, Brett demonstrated one of the most important attributes of a good researcher — perseverance.” — S T E P H E N M A R E K , A S S O C I AT E P R O F E S S O R , E N T O M O L O GY A N D P L A N T PAT H O L O GY

and sweet potato live cultures. CIP’s mission is to conserve the potato’s genetic diversity to combat future large-scale famine in food production. From his humble backyard garden, Johnson’s interests grew to align with CIP’s goals. “I knew that for my career I want to work on disease resistance in vegetables,” he says. In Peru, he focused on Phytophthora infestans, which causes late blight, a serious tissue-destroying potato disease. Because P. infestans reproduces quickly and is an airborne disease, it poses a significant threat to potatoes. P. infestans caused the Irish potato famine in the mid-1800s, which led to a 2 million drop in Ireland’s population from starvation, disease or emigration to North America and England. From attending seminars to working within the breeding program of plant breeder Manuel Gastelo, Johnson

Brett Johnson observes the harvest of a biofortification trial in Peru.

studied potatoes and reproducing methods. He gained hands-on experience in labs and greenhouses and observed CIP’s work on small Andean highland farms, where he learned about historical farming methods. He returned to the United States with insight into the realities of subsistence farming and clarification into CIP’s strategies and objectives to support these farmers. In Huancayo, Johnson participated in the harvest of a biofortification trial, a method of breeding crops conducted to improve the presence of iron and zinc, one way that CIP is working to increase the nutritional value of plants grown in the Andean region. Johnson’s main focus was to learn how to develop potato-breeding material that has long-term resistance to P. infestans, maximizes tuber yield and withstands high temperatures. In San Ramón, potatoes were evaluated for heat tolerance and in Oxapampa, for resistance

Brett Johnson prepares to analyze infected detached leaf tissue in the CIP plant pathology lab of Wilmer Perez.

to P. infestans. Yet, Johnson learned a breeder’s perspectives must be in line with the farmer’s for wide-scale adoption of an improved potato variety. With so many radically different environmental factors at play, it’s crucial to account for as many as possible and be realistic when selecting varieties, he says. “It all comes back to developing sound solutions to prevent crop failures while protecting our environment,” he says. “That’s why I’m doing the research that I’m doing.” After he earns his bachelor’s degree in December, Johnson plans to continue his plant-breeding research in graduate school. “I’m more of an educated individual because I found something that I love and want to pursue, and I had to learn all these other things to pursue it,” Johnson says.

Legacylink HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Help Pistol Pete and his snowman color this holiday scene!

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 to receive all the legacy beneďŹ ts available with your membership.

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Formal Gardens Commemorate 125th Anniversary

Nearly a year of planning by Steve Dobbs and the Landscape Services Department created the Formal Gardens Commemoration of Oklahoma State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 125th Anniversary. Ten designs including balloons and a birthday cake are in the special garden. These different designs are brought to life with various leaf shapes and flowers. As the seasons changed, colorful plants such as petunias were exchanged for chrysanthemums with trimming and cropping each week to keep a tidy arrangement.

PHOTO / PAUL WEST

Golden Jubilee:

Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College celebrated 50th Anniversary with extravaganza BY DAV I D C. P E T E R S O S U E D M O N LO W L I B R A RY

onths of planning led to Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College’s threeday Golden Jubilee celebrated December 13-15, 1941. Fifty years had passed since the first day of enrollment for OAMC on December 13, 1891, with classes commencing the following day. The 50th anniversary commemoration included many activities. Twenty-five years earlier, the silver anniversary had been recognized in passing, but few proceedings were conducted. In 1941, OAMC President Henry G. Bennett was determined to make the Golden Jubilee a much more recognized and prestigious affair. The college had survived many challenges, including limited state funding, political shenanigans, and the Great Depression and Dust Bowl eras. OAMC hoped to celebrate its endurance and present a framework for growth into the future. Surviving members of the first graduating classes and founding members of the faculty were invited to attend the

Golden Jubilee. Noted alumni plus educational, governmental and business leaders from across the country were encouraged to participate. The selection of the celebration dates coincided with the start of the first classes at the college, but December 14th also happened to be Bennett’s birthday. By 1941, Bennett was the longest-serving president during the college’s existence, having held the office for almost 14 years. His vision would be a driving force for more than two decades, and the jubilee was symbolic of his efforts to extoll the virtues of the land grant mission across the nation and world. In the months and weeks before the celebrations, the student newspaper, The Daily O’Collegian, published articles describing the festivities, providing information about invited speakers and featuring stories of historical interests from some of the earliest students, faculty and

administrative staff at the college. The series culminated in a special edition published December 13, 1941. The newspaper typically produced four to six pages in each issue, but this expanded edition reached 22 pages. A history class under the direction of Berlin B. Chapman had begun a project that fall to collect records from the first 50 years that were meticulously entered into a series of “record books.” Copies of this series, along with a variety of historical items, were to be placed in a time capsule for 50 years and opened during the college’s centennial celebrations. By the first week of December in 1941, anticipation, expectations and excitement had grown to levels unknown on campus for more than a decade. But, the planners and celebrants were confronted with one of the most dramatic events in United States history.

Berlin B. Chapman, far left, and his history class displayed the record books they created for the time capsule to OAMC President Henry Bennett, center.

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OSU LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

OAMC President Henry Bennett led the Commemoration and Rededication Services.

Day of Infamy At 7:48 a.m. Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It was 11:48 a.m. in Stillwater and less than six days before the Golden Jubilee was scheduled to begin. On December 8, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed a joint session of the United States Congress with a speech that included the message: “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” The first edition of The Daily O’Collegian to be published after the attack appeared on December 9, 1941. Front-page coverage included first accounts coming from Hawaii and the South Pacific, fear that San Francisco would be the site for a Japanese invasion, an article about the impending 50th anniversary celebrations, and a story about Bennett. There were unconfirmed rumors regarding the possibility that Bennett, who was in Washington D.C., would be leaving the college to work for the federal government. Bennett had left for the capitol after the attack on Sunday under the escort of two Army officers. The college had arranged for an official leave of absence for Bennett if he was selected for federal service during the national emergency. The new war also brought changes in priorities and new perspectives on campus related to the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Lewis Browne was originally scheduled to provide a sermon on Sunday in the 4-H Club and Student Activity Building (Gallagher Hall). Browne was known nationwide as a writer and lecturer.

Hall of Fame inductee Ray C. Newton greeted alumni and friends during a social hour.

Recognized for writing popular biography and history books, he was also featured in many magazines including The New Republic and The Nation. His book, This Believing World, a general survey of world religions, was the most popular book on the subject in American libraries. Browne was also an admired speaker who toured across the nation with author Sinclair Lewis. Working with an agency out of New York City, Browne had appeared in Tulsa 10 months earlier where he was alleged to have said, “Patriotism to a nation no longer is moral,” along with other statements considered indefensible after the Pearl Harbor attack. In an attempt to quiet potential protests, which would have deflected attention away from the celebrations, Bennett canceled Browne’s appearance. Although banned locally, Browne was considered one of the most popular lecturers in America that year. Bennett sent two Western Union wires on December 9th and 10th voiding Browne’s contract. Due to the late notice, Browne was paid a reduced sum of $200 after being asked not to participate. continues

Special interest groups gathered during the Golden Jubilee including the Dean of Home Economics Nora Talbot and the OSU president’s wife, Vera Bennett.

Alonzo Pearce was the first of many from the college to give their lives for their country.

Celebration continues Six days after the attack and five days after the declaration of war initiating the entrance of the United States of America into World War II, most of the 50th anniversary activities at OAMC took place as scheduled with only minor changes. The clouds of war hung low over the celebrations. While celebrating the past, the college administration and many of the jubilee speakers addressed the challenging conditions they would be facing in the immediate future. The impact of the events in the Pacific from the week before were reflected throughout the presentations and discussions. Bennett presided at the symposium held Saturday morning and afternoon in the College Auditorium. During the morning session, speakers included Mills College President Aurelia Henry Reinhardt from Oakland, California; United States Department of Agriculture Extension Director M. L. Wilson; and David C. Coyle, an author, lecturer and engineer. They discussed the roles of higher education, land grant colleges, public works, service and extension in preserving democracy. Those attending divided into special interest groups for conversations during

lunch and then returned to the College Auditorium for three more speakers in the afternoon: former OAMC Dean of Agriculture Henry G. Knight, who worked at the USDA at the time; J.H. Belknap with Westinghouse Electrical; and Edward H. Griggs, a lecturer and author from New York. The afternoon sessions focused on future farm markets, applied science and technology contributions from higher education, and leadership training occurring in colleges. On Sunday afternoon, the anniversary celebrations moved to the largest indoor

The clouds of war hung low over the celebrations. public facility on campus beginning at 2:30 p.m. The 4-H Club and Activity Building, only two years old, was the site of the Commemoration and Rededication Services. Bennett led the program and provided introductory comments including the statement, “We are sustained in this hour by a profound conviction that the energy of the movement toward freedom for all men is in no way diminished

OSU LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

A birthday cake was served in honor of the college and President Henry Bennett’s special day.

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and that the end of the conflict in which we are now engaged will find democratic institutions strong and unimpaired.” The service included remarks from local clergy and a variety of college faculty members representing each of the academic schools on campus. These presentations were substituted for the part of the program originally set aside for Lewis Browne’s sermon. Interspersed between formal remarks were musical selections from the Symphonic Band under conductor Boh Makovsky, the Symphonic Choir under director Paul T. Kleingstedt,

and the Choral Club. Organ music was presented by Carl Amt. At 4 p.m., an informal social hour followed the program and served as a transition time before the evening meal. The festivities moved to the Murray Hall dormitory for the banquet that began at 6:30 p.m. Completed five years earlier, it had the largest kitchen and cafeteria facilities on campus. The Founder’s Day Banquet celebrated the earliest days of the college and an 1898 graduate, T. N. Gilbert, served as the master of ceremonies. Following the dinner, the crowd moved to the College Auditorium for the final event of the evening. Knight returned to the podium as the main speaker. He described the events surrounding the founding of the college and reminisced about his time in Stillwater as the dean of agriculture and director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. At the conclusion of his remarks, Dean of Arts and Sciences Schiller Scroggs emerged from the side of the auditorium stage with a mountainous birthday cake. Five layers high, covered with icing and surrounded by candles, the cake was rolled out on a table to commemorate the births of the college and OAMC President Bennett. Everyone in the audience shared in the cake’s distribution. The remainder of the evening was celebrated with music.

President Bennett, center, introduced the 1941 Hall of Fame honorees.

Ed Gallagher, legendary athlete and wrestling coach, was posthumously inducted into the 1941 Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame On Monday, the final day of the jubilee, events started at 9 a.m. in the stadium surrounding Lewis Field. This site had been selected for the military review of local ROTC units affiliated with the college. From here, an academic procession to the 4-H Club Building began at 10 a.m. for the Honors Convocation. The arena had been decorated with American flags and patriotic bunting for the occasion. Dean of Education Herbert Patterson presided and introduced the speakers. The headliner was Clarence A. Dykstra, president of the University of Wisconsin, with a message examining the future with his topic, “The Next Fifty Years.” It was a call to action for colleges and universities to take leading roles in meeting the needs and challenges of the world’s citizens through expanded teaching, applied research and extension efforts. Isolation and appeasement were no longer options with the country already at war. Dykstra emphasized the importance of engagement at all levels around the world to bring about justice and peace. At the conclusion of Dykstra’s speech, Bennett stood and presented the names of three individuals to be inducted in the OAMC Hall of Fame. R.R. Shively and Ray C. Newton received their honors with polite applause from the audience. Both

men had excelled in scientific and business endeavors over an extended period, but the announcement of the third honoree brought a moment of silence. The audience was polite but very quiet as Bennett presented the award to the widow of Edward Gallagher, the beloved wresting coach who had died the year before. However, within a few moments after the announcement, the arena quickly filled with spontaneous applause and cheers in recognition of the honored and admired champion. The final event for the Golden Jubilee began at 2 p.m. Monday in the College Auditorium. A historic packet filled with items was sealed to be opened 50 years later during the centennial celebrations. The college records collected by Chapman’s students were placed in a metal container with a wide variety of additional memorabilia. The packet included college publications covering different time periods, class schedules, payroll documents, military regulations, lists of personnel, yearbooks, along with correspondence and essays. Several editions of Time magazine, a book about fighting aircraft, and Boy Scout Handbooks represented just a few items from the larger community. There were also assorted items that exemplified student life and activities including exam “blue” books from multiple courses. continues

A plaque is still in the spot where the 1941 time capsule was kept in the library until it was opened during the 100th anniversary.

OSU LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Secret messages Throughout the proceedings, participants had been encouraged to write messages to friends, family and others. These notes were gathered together and placed in a small metal box inscribed “Secrets of the Century.” They would be added to the historic packet and also opened 50 years later. The messages were from many of the dignitaries who had attended or presented at the celebrations, but also included thoughts, memories, and best wishes from hundreds of students, college employees and citizens. When opened five decades later, they would reveal personal notes of whimsy, concern, humor, hope, fear and patriotism. With the Golden Jubilee celebrations completed, the many invited guests returned to their homes, and the college

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resumed the traditional pace of the academic year. But dramatic transitions were beginning to take place as the nation prepared for war. Within months, hundreds of alumni, students and college staff headed for training to prepare for entering the war zones, joining others from the college who were already there. OAMC and many of those associated with the college would undergo significant transformations during the next decade. Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. It would take five months before receiving word that one former student and a member of the college marching band, Alonzo Pearce, had died during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7th while serving on the USS Arizona. He would be the first of many from the college to give their lives for their country.

Celebrants who kept the Golden Jubilee ticket could use it as a coupon for all events at the Centennial Celebrations in 1991.

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.

Cowboys in Every County Project Hits the Road Interviewing Alumni To truly understand what it means to be an Oklahoma State University Cowboy, you have to go to the source: the alumni. The Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the OSU Edmon Low Library is on a mission to record oral history interviews with alumni in every county in Oklahoma. The Cowboys in Every County project was created by the OOHRP in celebration of OSU’s 125th anniversary. The project involves friends and family nominating their favorite OSU alumni for an opportunity to have their history recorded for future generations to enjoy. By the end of 2016, researchers will have visited all 77 Oklahoma counties, documenting the impact OSU has on the lives of its students. In interviews recorded to date, our Cowboy faithful have shared memories of campus life, professors, educational opportunities, and of course, graduation. Most note that earning their degree from Oklahoma State has opened doors to success in their lives and that no matter where you are from, big and small towns alike, you can benefit from the OSU experience. On the road, we met alumnus Don Ramsey from Oklahoma County. Ramsey grew up in Three Sands, Oklahoma, now a ghost town. He knew from an early age that he wanted to attend college in Stillwater, hoping to become an agricultural education teacher like his older brother. Coming to a large university from such a small town, Ramsey had to work extremely hard as an undergraduate student to keep up with the academic expectations. He claims he was not the best student in high school but remembers OSU helped him tremendously in achieving his career goals. When Ramsey transferred to Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in the fall of 1947, he did not have enough money to pay for tuition without financial aid. Appreciative of his alma mater, Ramsey tearfully remembers:

“I had no money, washed dishes for a while. It didn’t take much money. This is something I have to thank OSU for is people there back then. I wasn’t the only one. There were people back there then that would make a way for a student if they wanted to go to school … I know that they would make you a way if you wanted to.” Ramsey taught agricultural education for 20 years, creating a fundraising concept that developed into Blue and Gold Sausage Co. in 1972. He has built the start-up meat manufacturing business in Jones, Oklahoma, into a national prominence with involvement from his entire family.

ANNA MCDOUGAL O S U L I B R A RY I N T E R N

Although he struggled as a college student, Don Ramsey leads Blue and Gold Sausage Co. today.

Learn more about Cowboys in Every County on the travel blog at cowboys.library.okstate.edu. Want an alumnus you know to be recognized in this series? Cowboys in Every County is accepting nominations through early 2016. To access the nomination form, visit bit.ly/1IIzRxE. O-State Stories is part of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the Edmon Low Library, chronicling the rich history, heritage and traditions of Oklahoma State University. Interviews are available online. Read or listen to more recollections by visiting www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/ostate/. For more information, call 405-744-7685.

Historical Online Timeline Presents Henry Bennett Era

BY J I M M I T C H E L L

Digital record features searchable articles and video

SU’s 125th anniversary timeline would not be complete without Henry Bennett, who first visualized and helped shape the campus we know and love today. Though not a pilot himself, Bennett enjoyed flying, and he took the school on the prairie to new heights as its 11th president. “Dr. Bennett saved Old Central,” wrote the late historian B.B. Chapman in the Chronicles of Oklahoma. “When he became president, the doors were closed and the building was condemned. … Dr. Bennett found means to restore Old Central, and the heart of Aggieland was just a little lighter … celebrations on Founders Day came to have a special meaning to Aggies for the occasion was also the birthday of Dr. Bennett, who was five years older than the college.” Bennett unveiled a visionary 25-year plan for the university in 1930 that included landmark building projects such

as the Student Union and the campus centerpiece, the soaring library building. He flew throughout the state inviting students to come to Stillwater for a quality education, taught adult Sunday school, started an annual land conservation fly-in for farmers, slept only two to three hours a night and baked biscuits to rave reviews. Just before Christmas 1951, on the last leg of a long trip abroad to help underdeveloped countries, Bennett and his wife Vera were killed when their passenger plane crashed in a mountainous region just outside Tehran, Iran. All 16 aboard died in the crash, including a team of four who had been traveling with the couple. The campus mourned, and an estimated crowd of 5,000 attended the Bennetts’ funeral on January 10, 1952, in Gallagher Hall. “While it was a sudden and tragic loss, Dr. Bennett and First Lady Vera left us an enduring legacy that is obvious every time we see the campus, whether in person or

during a nationally televised sporting event,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “We take pride in caring for what they’ve given us, and we’re inspired by their example to consider what we can still become.” The Bennett era was definitely a time of several firsts on the anniversary timeline, including the establishment of a wrestling dynasty, led by alumnus Ed Gallagher, who would take his teams to 11 national championships between 1928 and his death in 1940. Extension agent Edd Roberts joined his colleague Harley Daniels with the Ag Experiment Station to create the first annual “Soil Rodeo” to teach youth about the value of soil and its various types. By 1951, the event grew to become a national contest, attracting teams from across the United States. In the meantime, Aggie teams repeatedly took home the trophies to establish a national reputation in livestock and crop judging.

Nancy Randolph Davis was the first black student to enroll at Oklahoma A&M College.

Bob Kurland, center, earned All-American honors under legendary basketball coach Mr. Henry P. Iba, left.

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Bonnie Emerson Smith was elected the first female student body president at the university in 1943.

OSU President Henry Bennett created a 25-year plan for the college.

Extension agent Edd Roberts taught youth about the value of soil, creating national agricultural competitions. Kurland was dunking, blocking shots and earning the same honors in basketball under legendary coach Henry Iba. Nancy Randolph Davis became the first black student to enroll at Oklahoma A&M College in 1949. Though originally told to sit in the back of the room or the hallway, classmates demanded that the professor let her sit with them after she made the second-highest grade on an exam. Davis graduated with a master’s degree in 1953 and went on to a successful career in teaching. She is recognized today as a leader in education and civil rights with an OSU residence hall and several scholarships in her name. Join OSU’s celebration of its 125th anniversary and find out more about the people and achievements that made it the leading land grant institution it is today at timeline.okstate.edu.

Bob Fenimore was the university’s first All-American athlete in football.

WAVES trained and marched on campus during World War II.

PHOTOS / EDMON LOW LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Bonnie Emerson Smith won election as the first female student body president at the college in 1943, serving two terms and completing a master’s degree. Women Appointed to Voluntary Service (WAVES) trained and marched on campus during World War II joining other “coeds” to conduct scrap drives, purchase war bonds and remember the more than 6,000 alumni and former students who served during the war. Following the war, an influx of veterans created a literal village on the campus’s far northwest corner with its own mayor, post office and grocery store. The requirement that freshmen wear beanies suddenly vanished among the comparatively older veterans, who also ushered in a golden period of sports dominance in football and basketball. While “Blonde Bomber” Bob Fenimore scampered his way to become the Aggies’ first All-American in football, 7-foot Bob

Coeds remembered the 6,000-plus alumni and former students who served during World War II.

Vet Village provided housing for thousands of veterans enrolling in college after the war.

Cowboy egend L BY C H R I S T I N A M I L L E R

Tradition Keepers program helps students learn campus history while creating their own OSU memories

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“Becoming an OSU Tradition Keeper is more than just going to football games or attending a play on campus … It’s important that [students] understand why tradition is essential to our university.” — M E L I S A PA R K E R S O N O S U A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N D I R E C T O R O F S T U D E N T P R O G R A M S

The Oklahoma State University Tradition Keepers program has been a long time coming. Seven years and several concepts later – students are being invited to learn about campus history and gain appreciation for their own role in building, living and enjoying Cowboy traditions. As early as 2008, the release of a traditions book at the University of Florida prompted ideas at the OSU Alumni Association, but a revolving door of student volunteers and the lack of any pressing deadlines allowed plans for an actual project to fade by 2011, according to Melisa Parkerson, director of student programs for the association. However, the idea was reenergized in a big way when OSU Student Alumni Board executives got a look at the traditions books that the University of Nebraska and North Carolina State University published in 2013. Almost immediately, a campus task force of students and faculty met to explore possibilities for an OSU version. “We didn’t really have anything that talked about what OSU has to offer as a whole,” Parkerson explains. “There were little pieces here and there through different student groups but nothing collective that encouraged students to explore OSU.” The committee created a list based on one question: What should all Oklahoma State students do before they graduate? To provide a thorough answer, they involved different college deans, program directors and student leaders. This established the first of several standards that all traditions had to meet prior to being considered for the Tradition Keepers program and its book, dubbed Cowboy Legend. continues

TRADITION REQUIREMENT #1:

TRADITION REQUIREMENT #2:

TRADITION REQUIREMENT #3:

Must be open to all students regardless of their college, living group or campus involvement.

Must expose students to a campus-wide variety of events and history.

Must help create well-rounded and engaged alumni.

“We wanted everyone to be able to partake in the program somehow,” Parkerson says. “We felt like students needed to be able to complete a majority of the traditions to be encouraged to learn about OSU.”

Some items in the Cowboy Legend are not traditions in the conventional sense, but they are still long-standing events on campus. Like other schools, OSU has many traditions centered on sports, which promotes excellent school spirit. But there are other types of events and traditions that are equally as important to the university’s history. “Varsity Revue and Freshman Follies are great examples of two of the oldest, student-run, voluntary competitions on campus,” Parkerson says.

The idea of the requirement is to encourage students to explore outside their small areas of interest. The program wants students to know where they came from and what their school has to offer that differentiates it from other universities.

PROGRAM LEVELS Level One:

20 traditions including 1 athletic event Level Two:

40 traditions including 2 athletic events and 1 art event Level Three:

60 traditions including 3 athletic events, 1 art event and Student Alumni Association membership Level 4:

70 traditions including 4 athletic events, 2 art events and SAA membership OSU Tradition Keeper:

78 traditions including 4 athletic events, 2 art events and SAA membership

Jacoby Gonzales and friends make a human pyramid to complete the Chi-O clock tradition.

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Jacoby Gonzales snaps a photo while visiting The Botanic Garden at OSU to check off a Tradition Keepers segment.

When the Cromer family, from left, Janet, Aaron, Adam and Kelsee, strolled through Homecoming Walkaround, Aaron completed a Tradition Keepers task.

Once the list was compiled, three seniors on the Student Alumni Board, Brandon Hubbard, physiology and psychology; Lauren Foley, zoology and biological sciences; and Chris Stockton, finance and management, divided up the traditions and began writing the pages. They established a format for all the pages so the book would have a cohesive look and feel. The writing and editing process took about one year. University Marketing Senior Graphic Designer Dave Malec worked closely with current Student Alumni Board Executive Director Lyndsay Parks to incorporate student input and develop the layout, format and preferences for the book and smartphone application. The Student Alumni Board voted to approve the theme Cowboy Legend because it has a double meaning. The theme refers to OSU’s history and the legend of Pistol Pete, but it also signifies that the book serves as a map or guide (legend) for students as they explore OSU, the campus and Stillwater. Malec and Parks used map graphics and street photographs in the design process to apply their idea to paper. In fact, all streets pictured in the backgrounds of the pages are actual roads in Stillwater. To become an official OSU Tradition Keeper, students must complete five levels in the program. Each level builds on the one before it, so by the final level, students have completed a minimum of 78 traditions, including attending four athletic events of different sports and two art

events, along with becoming a member of the Student Alumni Association. “Becoming an OSU Tradition Keeper is more than just going to football games or attending a play on campus,” Parkerson says. “OSU has so much to offer and students are only here for a limited time. It’s important that they understand why tradition is essential to our university.” In the first month, students Allison Kinkead, Diego Lippi, Laura Walker, Allison Godwin and Jacoby Gonzales took the lead in the program with the highest number of traditions completed. Kinkead led the group with 34 traditions, but as a whole, these students completed a total of 139 traditions. “I have enjoyed discovering my school and town,” Gonzales says. “I’ve seen some new things as well as revisited the old. I find it fascinating that places like the OSU Botanic Garden and Bennett Chapel have been around for decades.” While returning students are using Tradition Keepers to explore their campus more extensively, new students are able to use the program as an introduction to all things OSU and as an icebreaker in social settings. “I came from a small high school and then transferred from a small college. Participating in the Tradition Keepers program has allowed me to break out of my shell and find new interests while meeting new people,” Walker says. Through the program, these students have discovered resources on campus and in Stillwater such as the barber shop in the

Aaron Cromer, far left, and friends perform in Varsity Revue which is an annual event included in the Tradition Keepers book.

Christina Miller, left, participates in the Fall Sports Tradition Keepers by attending an OSU football game.

Amy Hocker and her mother complete the Tradition Keepers segment for visiting Theta Pond.

Student Union basement, the Gardiner Art Gallery and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “It’s awesome to complete traditions that were created so long ago,” Kinkead says, “I have learned about places and events to check out both on and off campus, like the Harvest Carnival.” The Alumni Association awards prizes to students as they achieve each level, and the prizes become more significant at each stage. “We want to award prizes that motivate students to complete traditions,” Parkerson explains. “But the main focus of the program is to immerse our students in the rich traditions of OSU.” Tradition Keepers awards will vary as the program grows, but students who reach level four will receive something

unique to wear at their graduation ceremony. Parkerson would like the award for anyone who reaches the Tradition Keepers Level to be a personalized Cowboy Legend book with that student’s pictures, writings and submissions incorporated. She is currently working with Essenza software, the company that designed the smartphone app, on this proposal. The books and app are free of charge. The OSU Alumni Association paid for the books, and the app was funded in part by the association, donations from the university, the OSU Foundation and university athletics. During this school year, Parkerson would like to see 90 percent of students in the program complete Level One. She hopes the program broadens students’ interests and allows them to explore new

areas. Ultimately, the program would serve to diversify involvement across campus and increase attendance at the lesser-known events. “I would like to see more students take advantage of all OSU has to offer,” Parkerson says. This year, the association is focusing on promoting the program to nonfreshman students. Its goal is to reach 3,000 app downloads and 400 Student Alumni Association members participating. They would also like to see student retention increase in the coming years as a result of Tradition Keepers. As the program grows, the initial Tradition Keepers will have the honor of building a new legacy for the students who follow.

IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS, THE TRADITION KEEPERS PROGRAM HAD: • 1,558 total app downloads • 314 SAA members in the program • Roughly 5,000 books distributed • 2,386 total traditions completed

More than 150 students start their Tradition Keepers journey at Camp Cowboy.

Feeling the Love Alumni share stories in contest

Mary Lynn and James Howard say, “I do,” in 1959 after meeting on a blind date at OSU.

While receiving a world-class education at Oklahoma State University, many students also find love. With more than 260,000 OSU graduates and 18,000 Cowboy couples, the bonds created in college are strong. For the past three years, the university’s “Orange Crush” contest has encouraged students, alumni and fans to share their love stories on OSU’s social media platforms. The winners of the 2015 Orange Crush contest are Mary Lynn and James Howard who met on a blind date at OSU in 1958. Mary Lynn was entering her sophomore year at OSU, and her neighbor, Georgia Howard, from her hometown of Ardmore, Oklahoma, thought she should meet her nephew, James Howard. Georgia wrote James a letter in September to tell him that Mary Lynn’s birthday was October 1 and suggested that he take her on a date. Georgia sent James $5 to pay for the date. “I was pretty excited because I knew James was a senior and captain of the football team,” Mary Lynn says. James called Mary Lynn and invited her out. For their first date, they went to Hideaway Pizza and then to the movies. “We were both very shy and hardly said much all evening,” Mary Lynn says.

However, he called again, and that started a year of fun times together. The Cowboys won the one-and-only Kentucky Blue Grass Bowl against Florida State, which was the first time the football team appeared on television. The game was played in Louisville, Kentucky. The national broadcast introduced a young announcer at the time – Howard Cosell. “I watched James on TV and when we came back to campus, we continued dating. Before the end of the school year, he proposed,” Mary Lynn says. “He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and had his second lieutenant bars pinned on at graduation.” They were married in August 1959 and left immediately for Fort Benning, Georgia. “The Army life was very different for me but I soon adjusted and loved all the moving and traveling,” Mary Lynn says. James retired as an Army colonel in 1988 and ran their cattle ranch in Love County for 17 years before moving to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. All three of their children, Janelle, Alan and Cynthia, graduated from OSU. Their granddaughter, Emily Clause of Newport News, Virginia, is a student at OSU now.

Mary Lynn and James Howard attend athletic events as much as possible, including returning in 2008 for the 50th Anniversary of the Kentucky Blue Grass Bowl Championship when James was co-captain of the football team.

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BY B R I A N P E T RO T TA

One of the best examples of Oklahoma State University’s ongoing commitment to Morrill’s land grant vision is the recent expansion of the OSU Writing Center.

he blending of liberal and practical education was one of the primary inspirations behind Senator Justin S. Morrill’s Land Grant College Act. The Writing Center has served the campus since 1976, but it expanded dramatically prior to the Fall 2015 semester. In addition to its primary location in the Student Union, the Writing Center opened five satellite operations and added 20 new undergraduate and five new graduate students to its staff. The Center serves all students across all majors and aims to assist with all sorts of writing styles. So whether a graduate student is refining a dissertation or a first-year composition student needs help brainstorming, the Writing Center tutors have it covered. The Center is able to handle a wide range of writing styles in part because the tutors are not necessarily English majors. In fact, of the 25 new hires, more than half claim something other than English as their primary discipline. “There are some very talented writers who might not make the best tutors,”

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explains Susannah Clark, coordinator of the OSU Writing Center. When reviewing the candidate pool for tutors, they were more interested in how applicants would go about teaching, she says. Rebecca Damron, director of the Writing Center and associate professor of English, hired Clark in January 2015. Together, they have led the expansion efforts creating a campuswide physical presence with affiliate centers in the Edmon Low Library; College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Center for Student Excellence; College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Student Success Center; and Scott Hall. “Home base,” room 440 in the Student Union, underwent a significant facelift, with every detail shaped to create a welcoming environment. “It was very important when we created the space that it feel very comfortable and non-intimidating,” Damron says. Students — and faculty — of all levels are welcome at the Center. Graduate and

undergraduate tutors with backgrounds in fields as diverse as English, engineering and architecture handle creative writing topics, questions on grammar and structure, and even more specialized areas such as technical or grant writing. So while an English major can be a natural fit to tutor at the Center, the first quality Damron and Clark look for in a candidate is passion for writing. Studies have shown most tutors do not necessarily go on to become academics, but being a tutor has huge effects on job management to life skills by learning how to communicate clearly and concisely. For many tutors, the Writing Center provides their first job outside of the food or service industries and gives them valuable experience to add to their résumés. “We really see this position as an opportunity to give professional development to these students,” Clark says. An overlooked aspect of the Center is its commitment to community outreach. During the Fall 2015 semester, the Center continued its successful program teaching Highland Park Elementary fifth graders to be peer tutors. It continues to provide literacy programs to Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services and the WONDERtorium. One graduate student tutor is also

PHOTOS / BRIAN PETROTTA

Brett Pendergrass tutors Yihan Sun in the Writing Center.

collaborating with Jodi Jinks, associate professor of theatre, on her prison outreach program, ArtsAloud-OSU. “We are at a land grant institution, and our center really aligns with that,” Damron says. “The land grant institution allows us to — and gives us the mandate to — help the people of Oklahoma.” The Center also organizes English as a Second Language conversation groups. The ESL gatherings, which are a mix of structured lessons and informal exchanges, have become highly popular. “They get to learn the ‘inside things’ about American English and culture they can’t ask anywhere else,” Damron says. Even better, the price is right. “We are offering a free service to the OSU community,” Clark says. On top of guiding students and faculty with their writing and organizing community outreach efforts, Damron and Clark are leading research efforts out of the Center. Damron is president of the regional writing center association

Susannah Clark

Rebecca Damron

PHOTO / ASHLEY RAY

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

and has amassed more than $500,000 in research grants during her time at OSU. Prior to landing in Stillwater, Clark spent six months building a writing center at a new university in Delhi, India. She holds a MFA in creative nonfiction from Emerson College in Boston. Together, Damron and Clark are studying the impact of writing centers and over the next year expect to be able to share their results with a national audience. “We are going to formalize inquiry projects in the spring, and I hope some of those will be presented at the National Conference on Peer Tutoring & Writing next fall,” Damron says.

In the meantime, the OSU community has access to an invaluable service. The tutors go beyond offering a simple critique. They work one-on-one with the writer to give them a foundation for future projects. “We’re here to provide writers with skills and strategies they can take with them,” Damron notes. Thanks to its passionate director and ambitious expansion, the OSU Writing Center empowers Oklahoma State University to further its 125-year-old land grant mission.

KOSU, celebrating a tradition of service to Oklahoma By Karolyn Bolay

Though its first 10-watt transmitter barely reached listeners on the outskirts of Stillwater, radio station KAMC soon became KOSU, which now serves a 54,000 square mile area with programming that blazes new trails. Destined to be different from the start, the station was only the third in Oklahoma to broadcast with an FM signal when it went on the air on December 29, 1955. After Oklahoma A&M College was renamed Oklahoma State University in 1958, KAMC changed its call letters to KOSU and gained a new 250-watt transmitter, enabling it to reach up to 30 miles outside of campus. Since that time, KOSU has established a national reputation for its news and information programming that was stimulated by its decision to become National Public Radio’s 100th member station in 1971. KOSU’s focus on local music and artists came into full view recently with the completion of a special venue at its Oklahoma City studio. “We just finished outfitting our performance space in Oklahoma City, which was made possible by a generous grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation,” says Jenny Mae Harms, KOSU development director. “Basically, this space has given us the broadcast and recording capabilities to host live music events and public forums. We featured a dozen Oklahoma artists and musicians during our recent membership drive.” From the beginning, KOSU’s mission has been to connect people with each other and the world through its programming and news coverage. Its airwaves carry ideas, artistry and the celebration of

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culture, which is especially evident in one of its new series called Finding America. “We are one of 15 stations selected from across the country to participate in the series that was initiated by the Association of Independent Reports through its Localare program,” says Kelly Burley, KOSU director. “We will be working with a contract reporter, supplied by AIR, to help us expand our American Indian coverage in Oklahoma.” The goal of the Finding America series is to discover Native communities across Oklahoma. “It’s designed to help us better understand Native communities in Oklahoma

languages. We are inviting American Indian tribes here in Oklahoma to help us include their languages in this library.” So far, KOSU staff has helped the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes record more than 20 different books, with plans to work with several other tribes to record books in their native languages. “We want to make our studios in Stillwater, Oklahoma City and Tulsa available to tribal members who want to come in and record their language,” says Burley. “This is a great way for us to fulfill our public service mission.” As KOSU marks its 60th anniversary on December 29, 2015, its ongo-

“The goal of the Finding America series is to discover Native communities across Oklahoma. We want to show the impact Native American contributions have had throughout the state by telling the stories that have been undertold.” — Jenny Mae Harms, KOSU development director

and their progress in the last 20 years,” says Harms. “We want to show the impact Native American contributions have had throughout the state by telling the stories that have been undertold.” The series is also being incorporated into an ongoing program called Unite for Literacy, which features a digital library with books and audio available in several languages. “The digital library is part of a campaign called ‘Reading is Crazy Smart,’ that we use to encourage families to read with their children every day,” says Burley. “The library features more than 140 titles and you can listen to them in 27 different

ing commitment to listeners is obvious in the new ground it continues to break by providing unique programming and services. Plan to lend an ear and celebrate KOSU’s rich tradition throughout the coming year. To make a contribution to KOSU, visit kosu.org.

Upon graduating from OSU in 1970, I was commissioned a U.S. Army officer through the ROTC program. After completion of Armor Officer Basic and Aviation School, my first duty station was Vietnam, assigned to Lighthorse Air Cavalry operating in the Mekong Delta. • Following military protocol, I reported to my commanding officer, Captain Robert Allan Goodbary, who welcomed me to the troop and told me that I would be flying Cobra gunships. Later, I learned Goodbary graduated from OSU, too. • As I became accustomed to the cavalry way of flying and the proud traditions of Lighthorse, I heard about a bold and courageous pilot who flew three years earlier. His name was Ace Cozzalio, and the stories were legendary. • Years later, while attending Lighthorse reunions, I continued to hear “Ace stories.” Eventually, I decided to take the challenge, gather the stories and write a book about him. I had the privilege to interview more than 40 Vietnam veterans who knew Ace or were impacted by his heroic actions. And, as I researched the stories, I discovered that Ace had several connections to Oklahoma State University. — Rex Gooch

It’s a Small World California Cowboy Like many at OSU, Ace Cozzalio’s lifelong passion was being a cowboy — a role he lived and loved his entire life. Growing up on a 350-acre ranch in the beautiful Klamath River Valley of northern California, Ace learned to ride a horse at an early age. On a daily basis, he and his horse, Cody, traveled the countryside with Ace envisioning himself as one of his favorite western stars — Tom Mix, Gene Autry or Roy Rogers. As a young man, he never imagined that someday he would ride with the cavalry, but his trusty steed would be a helicopter instead of a horse. King of the Air Ace arrived in Vietnam as a U.S. Army officer and helicopter pilot assigned to Lighthorse Air Cavalry at Dong Tam, near the Mekong River in December 1967. In his 18-month tour of duty, he was shot down by enemy gunfire six times, not counting the numerous times his helicopter was deemed unflyable due to combat damage. In recognition of his courageous acts on the field

OSU alumni cross paths with heroic Lighthorse Air Cavalry helicopter pilot

of battle, he was awarded every medal of valor except the Medal of Honor, including 14 prestigious awards ranked higher than his 48 Air Medals. And, Ace was a maverick — adopting a cavalry image of yesteryear with white Stetson Cavalry hat, saber and yellow scarf, thereafter a proud Lighthorse tradition. Warwagon platoon In the Warwagon Scout platoon, Ace was tasked with training new pilots in low-level scouting techniques, a role that he did not take lightly. One day, Warrant Officer Gary Winsett, an OSU student drafted into the military, was assigned to the platoon. Ace took Winsett under his wing and taught him the intricacies of flying the OH-6 helicopter and how to aim and fire the aircraft’s minigun. After several days of intense training, Winsett flew as Ace’s wingman, covering his leader on combat missions. It is through this flying partnership that Winsett and Cozzalio became close friends — a bond forged by serving side-by-side in combat. continues

“Ace Cozzalio is the reason I am here today,” Winsett says. “He was the finest soldier and bravest man I have ever known. And, he was an inspiration to all who knew him.” Cobra gunships After flying with the Warwagon Scouts for eight months, Ace transitioned to Cobra gunships. Armed with heavy firepower, the gunships flew at a higher altitude to cover the scouts on the ground below. About this time, Major Brennon Swindell assumed command of Lighthorse. Swindell was in the OAMC Class of 1955. “Ace was an exceptional pilot and a charismatic leader with a ‘follow me’ attitude that inspired confidence within the troop,” Swindell says. “For that reason, I gave him command of the Crusader Gunship platoon.” Doughnut Dollies Sherry Giles was about to graduate from OSU when she read an article about the Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas program. The program’s goal was to boost the morale of U.S. combat troops in Vietnam. She requested an application and, to her surprise, received an airline ticket to

Former OSU student Sherry Giles met Ace Cozzalio when she served with the Red Cross in Vietnam. They married after the war.

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St. Louis for an interview. Several months later, she arrived in Vietnam wearing the powder blue SRAO uniform. Although they had many duties, the women were affectionately known as Doughnut Dollies. Shortly after her arrival at Dong Tam, Sherry met Ace Cozzalio at the Officers Club and they became good friends. With the war as the backdrop, their friendship developed into a love story that culminated in marriage after they returned from Vietnam. “Ace was a very positive, goal-oriented person and a role model for all who knew him,” Giles says. “He encouraged everyone, including me, to maximize his or her potential. He often advised, ‘Never be satisfied with the status quo. Instead, always look for a better way.’ ” Where are they today? Ace Cozzalio had a brilliant career in the Army, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel before he was diagnosed with heart problems and medically retired with 20 years of service. He died at age 46 after undergoing a heart transplant. Sherry Giles Cozzalio Taylor earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from Sul Ross State University in Alpine,

The late Captain Frank Bryan and former OSU student Gary Winsett, right, were in Lighthorse Air Cavalry with Ace Cozzalio in Vietnam. Drafted into the U.S. Army as a student, Winsett’s three sons graduated from OSU.

Texas, and retired in Boerne, Texas, after a 30-year career with military early care and youth programs. Brennon Swindell retired as a lieutenant colonel and worked for Bell Helicopter for 20 years, retiring as vice president of marketing in Grapevine, Texas. After Vietnam, Gary Winsett attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in aviation science. He retired as a Delta Airlines pilot and manages the family farming and ranching operations in Elmer, Oklahoma. Retiring as an Army major general, Robert Allan Goodbary served on the OSU staff from 19962007, including four years as the Rex Gooch weaves a tribute to Vietnam helicopter pilot Ace Cozzalio including the many OSU alumni who crossed his path.

university’s chief of staff. Goodbary lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. About the author Rex Gooch, retired after working 27 years for Johnson & Johnson Company, Phillips Petroleum Company, Coors Brewing Company and Springs Industries, Inc. He lives in a motor home and travels across the nation, writing in his spare time. His book, ACE, the Story of Lt. Col. Ace Cozzalio, was published in April 2015. It tells the inspiring story of Ace Cozzalio, focusing on his escapades and mishaps in the Vietnam War — including his interaction with several OSU alumni. The book is available at Amazon. com. For more information, visit www.fifthcavalry.com.

The Reserve Officers Training Corps, also referred to as the Department of Military Science, has plans to celebrate its centennial during the 2016-17 academic year. ROTC will pay tribute to its past and present cadets, many of whom have gone on to establish distinguished and diverse military careers. Military instruction began at Oklahoma A&M College with the establishment of the school in 1891 under the Morrill Act of 1862. In 1916, Army ROTC was created on the Stillwater campus under the passage of the National Defense Act, which included establishing commissioning programs through military instruction at colleges. Over the past 100 years, the program has commissioned more than 6,000 Army officers, producing 90 generals.

As one of his first duties as a commanding officer, OSU alumnus Major Brennon Swindell awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart to Ace Cozzalio on active duty in Vietnam in 1969.

America’s Brightest Orange is Home for the Holidays with Annual Poinsettia Sales BY TAY L O R S E L F

he poinsettia is a universal symbol of the holiday season, and each December, thousands are given as gifts or used as decorations. Oklahoma State University makes a very personal contribution to this holiday cheer with annual poinsettia sales. The greenhouse management class in Stillwater hosts its Poinsettia Sale in early December. At the Oklahoma City campus, the Poinsettia Sale continues to December 12. OSU-OKC has held this popular event in campus greenhouses for more than 20 years. During the Oklahoma City campus two-week sale, the greenhouses come to life and overflow with the colorful plants, transforming the space into a vibrant sea of red, white, pink and even orange leaves. As one of the largest sales in the bustling campus greenhouse, the Poinsettia Sale is a fixture in the Oklahoma City community and eagerly anticipated by hundreds of fresh flower lovers seeking color during the winter months. The most striking feature of the Poinsettia Sale is the beautiful Orange Spice Poinsettia. It’s not the traditional red that so many consumers have come to accept and therefore is grown on a limited basis. With its unexpected orange color, this variety is the hallmark of the annual sale and persists as a customer favorite. “The Orange Spice variety may seem out of the ordinary for the holiday season, but it’s incredibly popular, especially among OSU Cowboys fans,” says Shawna

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McWaters-Khalousi, agriculture technologies division head. OSU-OKC is proud to offer surprising varietals beyond the traditional red plants. Greenhouse staff members expect to have 19 different types of plants such as Snowcap White, Jester and Visions of Grandeur for a grand total of 3,500 quality plants for sale at a great value. The journey from seed to fully realized plant, however, is not a simple one. All of the varietals sold at the Poinsettia Sale are grown on the OSU-OKC campus starting in early spring and represent the hard work of many different people. The nearly ninemonth process involves diligent and careful care on behalf of the faculty, staff and agriculture technologies students to produce the crop in December. One of the defining characteristics of poinsettias is the need for long, uninterrupted periods of complete darkness interspersed with shorter hours of daylight later in the growth cycle. The darkness allows the plant’s bracts to develop the characteristic deep hues. This necessity is quite the challenge for the greenhouse staff. “To help the plants develop correctly, we’ve used shade cloths, a temporary wall to separate the plants from students’ lab experiments and even disabled lights in our parking lot,” says Haldor Howard, horticulture technologies associate professor. The Poinsettia Sale’s benefits are also academic. From the start of the growth cycle, OSU-OKC faculty members involve students in every step of the process. The complex growth procedure provides a perfect lab for students of all skill levels,

particularly those studying greenhouse production. From propagating cuttings to nurturing the bracts to interacting with customers during the sale, students gain valuable experience from this yearly practice. The Poinsettia Sale is also a celebration of OSU-OKC’s connection to the community surrounding campus and the holiday season. Faculty and staff members report seeing the same customers year after year and enjoy connecting with these individuals over these much-loved plants. “I like seeing the joy and excitement the sale brings,” says Angie Holmberg, horticulture technologies department head. “Everyone really gets in the holiday spirit when they come to see and purchase these poinsettias.” OSU-OKC also keeps the holiday spirit going long after the sale is complete. Any plants not purchased in the sale are donated each year to decorate the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner on December 25 at the Cox Convention Center. Each year, this event provides a warm meal and toys to more than 5,000 Oklahomans. “These plants are so beautiful,” said McWaters-Khalousi. “We are honored to be able to share them with everyone in our community.” The public can visit OSU-OKC’s Poinsettia Sale in the John E. Kirkpatrick Horticultural Center on campus and bring home a little Cowboy holiday cheer for themselves from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays until December 12.

Any questions?

Located inside the Atherton Hotel. Call 744-BEEF for reservations.

Jerry E. and the late John Marshall have donated $450,000 in memory of Scot W. Marshall to support students at OSU-Tulsa.

Scot Marshall

Scot Marshall loved his time as a student at Oklahoma State University. Now his family is giving back to his alma mater in his memory to help educate future generations of OSU students. “Scot was an avid Cowboys fan,” says his mother, Jerry. “He loved to play golf with his dad, John, and they played together in the Cowboy Pro-Am for many years.” During his time at OSU, Scot was an award-winning pilot in the Flying Aggies. He was honored as the Outstanding Male Pilot for the 1977-78 school year. As a business management major, Scot developed an interest in entrepreneurship, a trait that runs in the Marshall family. After leaving OSU, he worked in sales and manufacturing at various businesses, including the Marshall-family-owned Bama Pie in Tulsa. His great-grandparents founded the pie company in the early 1920s in Dallas.

S E A N

K E N N E DY

A successful entrepreneur, Scot and his wife, Renee, started their own company in 1988. They created Preferred Tape Inc., along with sister companies. Preferred Tape creates plastic film rolls for use in shipping and safety applications. When Scot passed away in 2012 at age 54, his family wanted to continue his passion for the university by helping future generations of OSU students. The Marshall family has contributed $450,000 to provide for student scholarships and the creation of a new state-of-the-art distance-learning classroom for OSU-Tulsa. Jerry E. and the late John W. Marshall donated $100,000 to create the Scot W. Marshall Interactive Learning Classroom at OSU-Tulsa. They have also donated $300,000 to establish the Scot W. Marshall Endowed Scholarship at OSU-Tulsa, which will fund generous scholarships for five to seven OSU-Tulsa students

O R A N G E PA S S I O N :

“I hope that Scot’s passion for OSU will continue on in each of the students who benefit from these scholarships or utilize this 102

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in Tulsa and Stillwater. Professors can teach on one campus and each year into perpetuity and $50,000 to the A Stately Affair connect with students at the other. Faculty may record lectures scholarship fundraising campaign, half in 2015 and the other for students to refer back to for reference and studying. half to the 2017 event. “The upgrades to the classroom have really helped facili“I hope that Scot’s passion for OSU will continue on in each tate the instruction for my class, connecting students on both of the students who benefit from these scholarships or utilize this the Stillwater and Tulsa classroom,” Jerry says. campuses to provide for “These funds will help more sharing of opinother students complete “ I H A V E T H E A B I L I T Y T O E S S E N T I A L LY ions and ideas,” says Jill their education from BE IN T WO PL ACES AT ONCE … .” Metzger, clinical profesScot’s alma mater.” sor of elementary educaLocated in — J I LL M E T ZGER, CLI N ICAL PROFESSOR OF tion in the College of OSU-Tulsa’s Main Hall E L E M E N TA R Y E D U C AT I O N , C O L L E G E O F E D U C AT I O N Education. “I have the 2227, the classroom was ability to essentially be in completely overhauled two places at once, and to provide a cuttingit cuts down on the time and travel expenses for students and edge learning experience connecting students in Tulsa to classes faculty who commute between campuses.” in Stillwater or other distance learning sites. Upgrades to the Since students at OSU-Tulsa can take classes offered at classroom include two 80-inch display monitors, push-to-talk OSU-Stillwater and vice versa, the classroom also helps students microphones, videoconferencing equipment, a faculty lectern cut down on travel expenses and commute time. with an integrated touch control panel, computer system and a “The Scot W. Marshall Interactive Learning Classroom is document camera. adaptable for our faculty and can be utilized for many differ“We greatly appreciate the Marshall family’s investment in ent types of classes,” says Barnett. “It will also help OSU-Tulsa our campus in honor of Scot, who was a loyal and true supporter maximize our resources to provide the best learning opportuniof OSU,” says Howard Barnett, OSU-Tulsa president. “This ties for our students.” generous gift will provide expanded learning opportunities for students at OSU-Tulsa and throughout the OSU system and For more information about how to contribute to OSU-Tulsa, contact offer our faculty the opportunity to share their knowledge with the OSU Foundation in Tulsa at 918-594-8500. students on other campuses.” The Scot W. Marshall Interactive Learning Classroom, which is already being utilized, helps facilitate instruction for students

classroom. These funds will help other students complete their education from Scot’s alma mater.” —

J E R R Y

M A R S H A L L ,

M O T H E R

O F

S C O T

M A R S H A L L

Background: The Scot W. Marshall Interactive Learning Classroom provides a state-of-the-art learning experience connecting students in Tulsa to classes in Stillwater or other distance learning sites.

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Hall of Famer BY JAC O B LO N G A N

OSUIT alumnus built business into great success

PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

PHOTOS / RAE CORPORATION

Jim Swank cofounded a company that now employs about 300 people, yet he downplayed his credentials while humbly accepting the honor of induction into the OSU Institute of Technology Hall of Fame last April. “I came to OSUIT not to go to school but to play baseball and basketball,” says the retired president and CEO of RAE Corporation. “The head of the school must have liked baseball and basketball, too. He came up to me one day and said, ‘I don’t think you’re going to make a living playing baseball or basketball. Maybe you should think about being a student.’” Swank completed the two-year air conditioning and refrigeration program in 1958. It helped prepare him for a career that followed an unexpected path and culminated with his retirement in 2000 as president and CEO of the company, which designs and produces engineered heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. “The education I received at OSUIT gave me the capability I expected – product understanding, product development, product creation,” Swank says. “All of those things are what I expected when I went there.”

Choosing a career field Swank grew up during the Great Depression. World War II was over by the time he joined the Army, which stationed him in Germany. After the service, he returned to America determined to pursue an education through the GI Bill. “I didn’t have any clue as to which school or what education,” Swank says. “I was told that at OSUIT, you could easily select an employment in a shorter term. And there seemed to be more opportunities in air conditioning and refrigeration than in most industries at that point.” Swank’s wife, Verona, worked while he went to college. After he gave up sports, Swank started working in Tulsa for Webster Engineering, a commercial refrigeration manufacturer. He even took a few months off from school to work full time before completing the academic program. He remained with Webster Engineering not only through college but well afterward. In fact, he stayed through one corporate merger and didn’t leave until 1971, when the operation moved to Columbus, Ohio.

Eric Swank, left, consults with his father Jim, the founder of RAE.

“The education I received at OSUIT gave me the capability I expected — product understanding, product development, product creation.” — J I M SWA N K

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PHOTO / RAE CORPORATION

Now what?

PHOTOS / KASI KENNEDY

Swank was unemployed for about a month and unsure how he would provide for his three children when a call from a friend changed his life. He became one of six co-founders of Technical Systems Incorporated in 1971 and spent five years establishing and overseeing the startup’s manufacturing operation. This predecessor of RAE leased a small, “somewhat rickety” building in the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor Creek, Oklahoma. The first air-conditioning unit it sold was 2-feet-by-2-feet. Today, RAE has more than 120 sales offices from coast to coast and sells units with up to 500 tons of capacity. The corporate headquarters encompasses about a city block in the MidAmerica Industrial Park. “I’m not sure what RAE is today even applies to what the company was then,” Swank says. “We were so much smaller and had limited dollars, but what we did then resulted in this corporation.” Swank became majority owner in 1976, borrowing money to buy stock. He knew the company’s equipment very well but soon realized he had a lot to learn about its finances. “I felt we could – in fact, did – hire capability,” Swank says. “There are many people who are able to work with numbers that wouldn’t know an air conditioner if they met it. You learn rather quickly if you have someone skilled to do it, and at least we had sense enough to get skilled people.” Technical Systems Incorporated began expanding even before Swank took over. In 1974, a sales division named Refrigeration Systems Inc., went to Boise, Idaho. A decade later, Century Refrigeration was established. Then came the addition of RAE Coils, which sells heat transfer coils. In 1992, RAE Corporation was established to unite those four divisions into one entity. Swank was president and CEO, and his eventual successor was rising up the organization’s ladder.

RAE designs and produces engineered heating, cooling and refrigeration systems.

Like father, like son

Giving back

Eric Swank began sweeping floors for his father’s company at the age of 15. He completed OSUIT’s air conditioning and refrigeration program in 1990. By the time health issues led to Jim’s retirement in 2000, Eric was the logical replacement. “He knew all about the equipment, distribution and design,” Jim says. “He had a lot of experience with all of this company except for the financial part. He had to learn that side rather quickly. I was taught slowly, but when he took over the opportunity to do it, slowly didn’t exist.” Jim says Eric’s leadership of the organization has made him proud from day one, and he has no doubt Eric will guide RAE to even more success in the future. “I believe that we still value the things that our founders valued, which is excellence in our people, products and relationships,” Eric says. “Although I don’t know what the next 40 years hold for RAE Corporation, I do know that if we are better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today, it will take us where we want to be as an organization. We will be able to handle anything the world throws at us, and we will continue to be the excellent company we are, now and in the future.”

The Swanks and RAE are dedicated to benefiting others. Jim supported the establishment of Thunderbird Youth Academy in Pryor, which helps highschool dropouts pursue a path to a positive change. He was also influential in establishing OSUIT’s presence at MidAmerica Industrial Park. The RAE Family Foundation assists the company’s employees dealing with financial hardships due to uncontrollable circumstances. It also provides scholarships for the children of RAE employees. Roger Shepherd, chairman of OSUIT’s air conditioning and refrigeration program, says the Swank family and RAE have also greatly supported OSUIT even beyond financial support. “In the 13 years I have been in this department, RAE Corporation has always been there to assist the program with field trips, hiring interns and graduates, being involved with the advisory board and career days, even donating equipment,” Shepherd says. “It is people like Jim Swank and companies like RAE that make this school what it is today.” To watch a video feature about Jim Swank and RAE Corporation, visit OSUgiving.com/ RAE.

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OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital trusted with precious family members BY D E R I N DA B L A K E N E Y

Sardinia, Dr. David Traubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cat, warms up to fourth-year veterinary medicine student Taylor Holmgren of Edmond, Oklahoma.

PHOTOS / DERINDA BLAKENEY

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he Oklahoma State University Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital staff is known for giving their patients excellent veterinary medical care. It’s their job, their purpose, their calling to provide that care while educating tomorrow’s veterinarians as fourth-year students train in 17 clinical rotations. However, they routinely go above and beyond what is typically expected, and that results in grateful client gifts. These funds are used to upgrade equipment, maintain the building and keep the hospital on the cutting edge of veterinary patient care. David Traub, M.D., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one such grateful client. He has been bringing his pets to OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital for the past seven years. “Obviously, the excellence in care is what I like the best — really outstanding,” Traub says. “And then there are perks along with that. The people here care, and I mean truly they care. And that makes a big difference for the health of the animals

when they are recovering from surgery. I’ve been through this several times now, and I think that’s what I like best.” Traub has two dogs — Penny, a golden retriever, and Samantha, a German shepherd. Samantha had knee stabilization surgery after she ruptured her cranial cruciate ligament. He also has three cats. “The cats I found in my yard. I tamed them and brought them in the house. That was a project, but now they are all part of the family,” Traub adds. One of his orange tabby cats, Sardinia, was hospitalized in June 2015. He had surgery and spent several weeks recovering in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Being a feral cat at birth, he was not the most loving patient hospital staff and students have treated. “Sardinia had acute renal failure,” Traub explains. “A mobile vet came to the house because the cats were feral and I couldn’t pick them up at the time. I can now; he’s been socialized. But at the time, we took him to a local hospital where a PU (perineal urethrostomy) was done. He didn’t do well, so I called Dr. (Mark) Rochat and explained what the problem was. He said bring the cat. I brought him that day, and Dr. Rochat fixed him the next day by revising the PU. The surgery went perfectly.” OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital pairs a veterinary student with each patient. Taylor Holmgren, class of 2016, was assigned to Sardinia’s case. “When I first saw Sardinia, I thought that he looked very scared and very sick,” Holmgren says. “I was worried that he would not like me, because he wasn’t too fond of anyone else that he had come in contact with. At first, I would just sit at the edge of his cage with the door slightly open for about

10 minutes at a time. I slowly introduced my hand closer to him and, by the end of the first week of caring for him, he was allowing me to scratch his head and handfeed him canned food. From then on, we were friends! I continued to hand-feed him and give him lots of attention for the next three weeks. It was amazing to witness what the human-animal bond can do.” “Taylor did a wonderful job caring for Sardinia,” Traub says. “She really went above and beyond what is expected, and I truly appreciate that. The people here provide really outstanding care and, they don’t do it for the money. They are motivated by providing excellent care and by teaching other people how to provide excellent care, and I can get into that. That’s a good motivation for me to help.” And help he has. In the last two years, Traub has donated more than $40,000 to OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital. His generosity made it possible to install new state-of-the-art surgery lights with cameras that allow students to more closely observe the procedure in one of the hospital’s three small animal surgery suites, along with other valuable pieces of equipment the surgeons need to maintain the high level of success they enjoy for patients like Sardinia. “If somebody is motivated to want to help out beyond that, it doesn’t really matter how much,” Traub says. “Just giving something that you can comfortably reach, it goes to good work here.” “I’m so grateful that Dr. Traub is so supportive of the veterinary hospital,” Holmgren says. “It is an honor to be part of such a great team here at the OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital.” Check www.ostate.tv for a video about Sardinia. For more information on OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call 405-744-7000. If you would like to support veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State University, call Jayme Ferrell at 405-385-0729.

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BY H O L LY B E R G B O W E R

During halftime of OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football game against the University of Texas-San Antonio, the 2015 Distinguished Alumni celebrate together with, from left, OSU President Burns Hargis, honorees Harry Birdwell, Phil Terry, Linda Parrack Livingstone, CassieÂ Mitchell, Sarah Coburn, Jan Riggs Cloyde, OSU Alumni Association Board Chairman Phil Kennedy and OSU Alumni Association President Chris Batchelder.

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FROM AN OPERA SINGER TO AN OLYMPIAN, the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association recognized some of OSU’s most extraordinary alumni at the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards reception on September 18 in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. The six alumni were honored at several events, including during the halftime of the football game on September 19. The 2015 recipients of the award are Harry Birdwell, Sarah Coburn, Jan Riggs Cloyde, Linda Parrack Livingstone, Cassie Mitchell and Phil Terry.

GE NE SE E PH OT O /

ST EM S PH OT O SY

More than 260,000 students have graduated from OSU in its 125-year history. Since 1977, 233 graduates have been recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award given out annually by the OSU Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni who attain distinctive success in their fields, perform outstanding services for their communities, and strive to support the advancement of their alma mater and the OSU Alumni Association. Harry Birdwell, of Edmond, Oklahoma, graduated from OSU in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. While at OSU, Birdwell served as president of the SGA and was a nominee for Rhodes Scholar. In 1975, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma. As an OSU administrator, Birdwell served as chief spokesman and financial officer, vice president for business and external relations, and director of intercollegiate athletics. He was instrumental in integrating OSU-Tulsa into the OSU System and helped secure the finances for numerous campus building and remodeling projects. Birdwell is the secretary and agency head of Oklahoma Commissioners of Land Office. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Supreme Court of the United States Bar Association and the vice president and president-elect of Western States Land Commissioners Association. “Being honored by the Alumni Association was a personal affirmation of my lifelong love affair with OSU,” Birdwell says. “I spent half my professional career working for the university. I am grateful for this honor. It will always be a treasure to me. I am truly humbled.”

Jan Riggs Cloyde, of Los Angeles, graduated from OSU in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and in 1974 with a master’s degree in student personnel and guidance. Cloyde enjoyed a career in management with several top 20 banks. She first retired from City National Bank in Los Angeles in 2006. She co-founded a community bank after raising $350 million in the private equity markets in 2009. She served as its president and a board member until her second retirement in 2011. Cloyde has served on and led a number of nonprofit boards, including the Graziadio Board of Advisors at Pepperdine University, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the National Breast Cancer Coalition President’s Council. Today, she serves on the council of Women for OSU and the OSU Foundation Board of Governors. She is a member of the President’s Fellows and a lifetime member of the OSU Alumni Association. “Even though there are many who deserve this recognition, it was a privilege to be honored by OSU, where I spent an important, happy and foundational part of my life,” Cloyde says. “I always enjoy being back on campus and look forward to contributing to our students.” continues

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Sarah Coburn, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduated from OSU in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She earned a master’s degree in music with an emphasis in vocal music from Oklahoma City University. Coburn, an operatic soprano, captivates audiences with her “precision placement, mercury speed and gorgeous liquid tone,” according to The Globe and Mail, a Toronto newspaper. Career highlights include performing alongside Placido Domingo at the Metropolitan Opera in Tan Dun’s The First Emperor and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles Opera in Tamerlano. Coburn has also graced the stages of the Vienna State Opera, the Seattle Opera, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Cincinnati Opera and the Welsh National Opera. She has appeared in several international festivals, including the Tivoli Festival in Copenhagen. This year, Coburn released an album, Oh, When I Dream. Coburn has received awards from the George London Foundation, the Richard Tucker Foundation, the Jensen Foundation, the Liederkranz Foundation and the Metropolitan Opera National Council. “I am incredibly honored to receive this award, especially in light of the major achievements, service and leadership of my fellow award recipients,” Coburn says. “The rigorous educational requirements that I experienced in the OSU music department, as well as the exposure to the joy of performing, gave me a wonderful start to my continuing education and career.” Linda Parrack Livingstone, of Falls Church, Virginia, completed her bachelor’s degree in 1982 in economics and management while playing basketball for OSU. She obtained a master’s degree and a doctorate in business administration in 1983 and 1992, respectively. In 1991, Livingstone began her academic career as an assistant professor of management at Baylor University, going on to become associate dean of graduate programs. She became the first female dean of Pepperdine University’s Graziado School of Business in 2002 and is currently dean of the school of business at George Washington University. Livingstone is the author of several business textbooks and has been published in numerous academic journals. She serves on the board of directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and was previously on the board of the Graduate Management Admissions Council. “Being recognized as a Distinguished Alumni was a humbling and moving experience,” Livingstone says. “My time at OSU and the people who have touched my life from OSU have had a profound influence on my life. I am deeply grateful for the tremendous education I received and for the lifelong friendships I have because of OSU.”

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Cassie Mitchell, of Atlanta, graduated from OSU in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. At OSU, she was a national Goldwater Scholar and founded Chemkidz, a program that teaches chemical engineering principles to elementary students. Mitchell went on to receive a doctorate in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in neuroengineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. She is a research engineer and professor in biomedical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she predicts disease mechanisms, prognosis and potential outcomes. Mitchell competed with the 2012 London USA Paralympic Track and Field team in three events and placed fourth in all three. She is in training for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympics. Mitchell volunteers as a mentor for patients at the Shepherd Center Spinal Cord and Brain Rehabilitation Hospital. “To be selected by my OSU family for the Distinguished Alumni Award is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Mitchell says. “It is a tribute to all the wonderful family, friends, teachers, mentors and students who enriched my life to help me overcome seemingly impossible odds, turning tragedy into triumph. I am so very thankful to be selected for this tremendous honor.” Phil Terry, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduated from OSU in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He began his career as an engineer with Mobil Oil Corp. and subsequently served in management and executive positions with several public and private energy companies. In 2003, Terry joined Arena Resources Inc., a small Tulsa public company, where he later served as president, chief operating officer and chief executive officer until 2010 when Arena merged with another public energy company. He went on to co-found Capstone Natural Resources LLC in 2011 and served as its chairman and CEO. Terry co-founded Capstone Natural Resources II in 2015 and serves as its chairman. He is a registered professional petroleum engineer and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He now serves as an OSU Foundation trustee and sits on the budget and governance committees. “Receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award is a tremendous honor,” Terry says. “I feel extremely humbled to be recognized by my alma mater, Oklahoma State University.”

These distinguished individuals are examples of the many notable OSU alumni who are changing the world. The 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award nomination forms for deserving graduates are available at orangeconnection.org. Nominations are due March 15, 2016.

LIVE ORANGE. SHOPOKSTATE. C

SHOPOKSTATE.COM

1-800-831-4OSU

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget, OSU Alumni Association members receive a 10% discount! You must have your OSU Alumni Association membership number (located on your membership card) at the time you place your order to receive the member discount.

Cowboy Caravan travels to Oklahoma City and Tulsa The Cowboy Caravan brought the excitement of a Cowboy game day from Stillwater to Tulsa and Oklahoma City in August. Hosted by the OSU Alumni Association in partnership with the OSU POSSE, the Caravan made the metro areas the last two stops on its annual tour to promote the start of the 2015 Cowboy football season. OSU-Tulsa and OSU-OKC helped coordinate the logistics for the Caravan, which featured a new carnival-style format this year, complete with inflatables, face painting, popular local food trucks and student athlete

The 2015 Cowboy Caravans introduced new activities that were fun for all ages and created a carnival-like atmosphere.

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Cowboy fans of all ages enjoy the events. The Cowboy Marching Band creates a game day atmosphere.

autograph signings. Guests were invited to take photos with Pistol Pete and get revved up for football season with the help of the Cowboy Marching Band and the Spirit Squad. The second part of the evening featured a panel of OSU Athletics coaches moderated by the Voice of the Cowboys, Larry Reece. The panel featured coaches Mike Gundy, Josh Holliday, John Smith, Travis Ford and Athletic Director Mike Holder. Coaches took questions from the moderator and fans. Loyal Cowboys submitted questions beforehand on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #CaravanQA. More than 400 OSU alumni, fans and friends participated in the fun after the Caravan’s 60-mile trek to the OSU-Tulsa campus on August 6. Food trucks included Wild Al’s, T-Town Gourmet, the Stella Reauxs, Zen Ice and Smokin’ Howard’s BBQ.

The Caravan traveled 65 miles to the OSU-OKC campus on August 11, where more than 250 alumni and fans enjoyed the entertainment, insights and fare from food trucks featuring Head Country, Kaiteki Ramen and El Reno Original Onion Fried Burgers. “This year’s Tulsa and Oklahoma City Caravans were a fantastic kickoff to the 2015 football season,” says Shane Smith, OSU Alumni Association director of engagement. “We appreciated all the members, families and friends who celebrated the Cowboys with us, and a special thanks to the local food trucks that came to each event.” To allow even more fans to participate, both Caravans were broadcast on OState.TV. The OSU Athletics Ticket Office was onsite to provide information about football season tickets, the student All Sports Pass and other ticketing needs. For more information about how you can support Cowboy and Cowgirl teams with the OSU Alumni Association, visit orangeconnection.org/athletics.

Upcoming Events

First Cowgirl visits alumni in Norman

OSU Nights a hit at ballparks The Houston, North Texas and OKC Metro Alumni Association Chapters hosted OSU Nights at minor and major league baseball games over the summer. The North Texas Chapter offered discounted tickets for alumni and friends to attend a Texas Rangers game against the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 10. The first 1,000 Cowboy fans who purchased a ticket received a special event ticket for a limited edition OSU-themed Rangers hat. Around 1,600 attended the event, and alumnus T. Boone Pickens threw the first pitch. The OKC Metro Chapter hosted its 2nd Annual OSU Night at the Bricktown Ballpark to watch the OKC Dodgers take on the Colorado Sky Sox on August 8. There were 120 OSU alumni and fans in attendance, and children under 2 years of age were admitted for free. The chapter reserved the Budweiser Deck, and fans enjoyed all-you-can-eat food

Join an Oklahoma State University Alumni Association 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. December 13 Holiday Harbor Cruise Orange County Chapter December 18 OSU Alumni Association Night at the Nutcracker Tulsa Performing Arts Center Tulsa Chapter

PHOTO / LYNNE MCELROY

First Cowgirl Ann Hargis introduced Scruff, a member of Pete’s Pet Posse, to the monthly meeting of the Cleveland/ McClain Counties Chapter of the OSU Alumni Association. Members met in the historic Norman Depot, now used as the Amtrak station. Attendees brought pet food, cleaning supplies and pet treats that were donated to the animal shelters in Purcell and Norman for the Cowboys for a Cause project. Scruff demonstrated his good behavior when the trains came roaring through town by alerting the crowd with a polite perk of his ears. He was quite the gentleman, demonstrating his good manners by refraining from barking or whimpering as Hargis updated the chapter on enrollment, construction and student involvement. “This was one of the most fun meetings we have had. All our members have

pets, so it hit a soft spot in our hearts,” says Lynne McElroy, chapter president.

First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and Scruff welcome alumni.

and beverages along with limited-edition Dodgers hats. The Houston Chapter also offered discounted tickets to OSU alumni and friends to attend the Astros game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park on August 21. About 200 OSU alumni enjoyed reserved seating together in the Terrace Deck, the Bullpen or Club Level. Marathon Oil Corp. presented a fireworks show after the game, accompanied by songs from the Beatles. Some Houston alumni, fans and friends who attended the game also met for a pregame gathering at Lucky’s Pub. The OSU Alumni Association Houston Chapter provided appetizers, and fans had the option to walk to the ballpark together or take advantage of Lucky’s shuttle service afterward. To find an alumni chapter near you, visit orangeconnection.org/chapters.

February 19

Brighter Orange Dallas Country Club North Texas Chapter

February 20

Vintage O-State Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa Chapter

February 23

Honors Banquet Kiowa Greer Chapter

February 26

Vintage O-State Aloft Hotel OKC Metro Chapter

March 7

Honors Banquet Caddo Chapter

March 17-19 Wrestling National Championships New York City

OSU fans view of Minute Maid Park at the Houston Astros’ game against the L.A. Dodgers was spectacular.

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Chapter Leader Profile:

Lori Kandel Cowboy spirit has been growing in southeast Virginia for the past three years, thanks in part to Lori Kandel, president and one of the founders of the Southeast Virginia Chapter. The chapter is geographically spread out and includes, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Williamsburg and all the cities in between. Her efforts have brought together a promising and hard-working group of alumni. Kandel recalls that OSU was an easy choice for her to make as a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, teenager. It was not too far from her hometown but far enough to foster her independence. OSU’s College of Education appealed to her career goals, and she was also an OSU legacy through her grandfather. “My grandfather attended OSU back in the ’30s and ’40s when it was Oklahoma A&M,” Kandel says. While at OSU, Kandel was very active in Greek life through Delta Zeta sorority, where she served as the social chairman. She made many memories with her sorority sisters, including the tradition of being thrown in Theta Pond on her birthday, attending OSU football games and frequenting Nick’s Bagels on The Strip. “Some of my favorite memories were doing things with the other fraternities and sororities on campus,” Kandel says. She graduated in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. In the following years, she taught at various schools in Oklahoma until she moved to Virginia with her husband. She has been teaching at Dutrow Elementary School in the Newport News Public School System for 17 years, and her husband has been stationed at the Langley Air Force Base. About three years ago, another OSU alumnus in the area contacted her about starting a chapter.

“I had been exploring the idea of starting a chapter, so we founded it together about three years ago,” Kandel says. Kandel loves OSU and the opportunity to make connections through her chapter involvement. Several members are retired from the Air Force, so she finds a lot of common ground with her fellow alumni. She and her husband live in Williamsburg, Virginia, and have two adult children, Jessica and Justin. Kandel was named Dutrow Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009 and again in 2015. Her hobbies include sailing, traveling with her husband and decorating baked goods. She likes to decorate anything from wedding cakes to sugar cookies. “We live so far away from Oklahoma and don’t get to go home as much as I would like,” Kandel says. “I get homesick, but the chapter gives me a connection.” The Southeast Virginia Chapter participates in Cowboys for a Cause through the OSU Alumni Association; Clean Up America; and fundraises for scholarships to be awarded to OSU-bound students from Virginia. They also regularly host thriving watch parties in Richmond, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach for Cowboy fans, and change things up on occasion with brick-oven pizza parties and summer barbecues.

“We live so far away from Oklahoma and don’t get to go home as much as I would like. I get homesick, but the chapter gives me a connection.” — LORI K ANDEL

SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA CHAPTER BY THE NUMBERS 260 alumni and friends 33 members 42 current students from Virginia 1,350 miles from Stillwater

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“We like to get together for more than just football game watch parties,” Kandel says. “It strengthens us as a chapter and helps create more connections.” The chapter’s current goal is to build its scholarship funds. The OSU Alumni Association named Kandel’s group the Chapter of the Year among new chapters in 2012. “Sending local students to OSU is important to our chapter,” Kandel says. “Those students may graduate and return here to become chapter leaders one day.”

’40s Charles Rodenberger, ’48 engineering, moved to Granbury, Texas, and continues to write a newspaper column for the Livestock Weekly. He teaches a Bible study for his church. He started school in Stillwater in 1932. His mother, brother and several nephews have graduated from OSU. Dorothy Lawson studied accounting at OSU and earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma City University in 1949. She received a doctor of jurisprudence degree from OCU in 1963. She has closed her law office and moved to St. Ann Independent Retirement Center in Oklahoma City. She remains active in wheat farming operations in Kiowa and Washita counties. She can be reached via email: d.a.lawson@cox.net.

’50s Marlene Rathbun Wilkinson, ’53 liberal studies, was awarded honorary membership to the Advisory Council of the Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America on April 15, 2015. She was recognized for her many years of dedicated leadership and service to the hereditary community. She started researching in 1969 and is still an active genealogical researcher. John Fasciano, ’54 psychology, has seven grandchildren attending college or recently graduated. His oldest granddaughter, Meghan, received a master’s degree from West Virginia University and recently married. Her brother Patrick graduated from Kean University and their sister, Amy, graduated from Montclair State University. Grandsons Christian and Jesse attend Penn State University and Bloomsburg University, respectively. Granddaughters Emily and Carly attend the State University of New York. Marilyn Anthony, ’58 childcare program management, and Bob Anthony, ’64 trade and industrial education, have three grandchildren at OSU — Hannah, Grace and Caleb. They are the children of their son Richard Anthony, ’83 business administration.

Cary Couch, ’65 zoology, retired after 33 years of orthopedic surgery practice in Stillwater and is enjoying family (including four grandchildren) and the Colorado mountains. Joe Bohannon, ’58 industrial engineering management, and Sara Suggs Bohannon, ’59 economics, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on September 6, 2015, with a trip to Las Vegas. After graduating from OSU, he worked in the oil pipeline industry for 16 years before returning to the University of Tulsa for a doctor of jurisprudence degree in 1985. He has been practicing law nearly 30 years. Joe still goes to the office each day. He and Sara each own a retail liquor store in Tulsa. Their claim to fame is appearing on Wheel of Fortune on February 14, 2012, where they won money and a trip to one of the Sandals resorts in Antigua. Their son, Brian Bohannon, ’85 hotel and restaurant administration, lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and their daughter, Stacy Sargent, ’88 geology, lives in South Carolina. They still see friends from OSU and look forward to wrestling season each year.

’60s David Ihle, ’62 agronomy, retired from the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army. He lives in Alabama and is building a house in Tennessee. Danny Roe, ’62 mechanical technology and drafting/design, is proud of his granddaughter, Crystal James, a freshman at OSU. Mickey Vanatta, ’63 personnel management, met and married his wife, Pat, at OSU in 1962. After graduation from OSU in 1963, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. While he was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, Pat completed her degree at Baylor University and taught school for many years. After his Army service, he developed a business that he sold in 2010 and retired. His wife is retired, too. Their son, Micah Vanatta, ’89 economics, is married and owns a landscaping business in Florida. One daughter, Melissa Vanatta Hamby, ’93 elementary education, met her husband David Hamby, ’92 journalism, at OSU and is a teacher with two daughters. Another daughter, Melissa, received a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies this summer.

Bill McClure, ’68 music education, is a speaker and author in higher education.

’70s Gary Voise, ’70 agricultural economics, retired from 3M Co. as a

senior account representative in 1997 and now serves as the president of VP Products in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Letha Caudle, ’71 secondary education, ’77 master’s degree in history, retired from teaching middle school social studies. She volunteers twice a week at Bristow Baptist Church in Oklahoma. Ross McKnight, ’71 animal science, was named chair-elect of the Baylor Scott & White Board effective October 2015.

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Alumna Named Brandeis University Professor Anita Hill, ’77 psychology, was promoted to university professor at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. It is the highest designation for faculty. She has served as a senior adviser to the provost and professor of social policy, law, and women’s, gender and sexuality studies. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Hill has had a leading role in developing Brandeis’ strategic plan, chaired the university committees on diversity and communications, and has been instrumental in national searches for senior administrators and faculty positions in her leadership role in the provost’s office. Hill, who has been a member of the Brandeis faculty since 1998, is lauded by her students for her ability to bring both theory and practice into her classroom lectures on legal and societal issues of race and gender. Her views and insight on those issues, as well as on workplace discrimination, have made Hill an in-demand speaker nationally. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Hill earned a law degree from Yale University. She entered public service, first in the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education and then at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She returned to her native Oklahoma to teach law, first at Oral Roberts University and then as a tenured professor at the University of Oklahoma. Her longstanding interest in civil rights and social policy led Hill to Brandeis and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, first as a visiting professor and then as a full professor.

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Leaders Award Honors OSU Business Graduates Since opening in 1966, Oklahoma State University’s current Business Building has been the learning environment for some of the business school’s most distinguished alumni. In the early 1970s, College of Business Administration faculty Wilton T. Anderson, Lanny Chasteen, B. Curtis Hamm and Richard Leftwich were among the leaders in their respective fields of study. Tim DuBois (accounting) and Neal Patterson (finance) were both OSU business students in the late 1960s and early 1970s who benefited from these excellent teachers, and both are now leaders in their industries. The OSU graduates were recognized in September by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, the oldest and best-known global accrediting body and membership association for business schools, as two of the first-ever 100 AACSB Influential Leaders. The work of DuBois and Patterson exemplifies the innovative mindset and meaningful contributions to society that OSU graduates display around the world and every day — whether they operate within large corporations, small businesses or the nonprofit sector. OSU is one of only 19 business schools in the world to have two graduates honored as Influential Leaders. “We are very pleased to have Tim and Neal receive this award,” says Ken Eastman, dean of the Spears School of Business. “Tim has been a leader in the music industry for a number of years, and Neal and (his company) Cerner are leaders in the medical technology industry. Their success is a great example of what can be accomplished with an OSU education. We in the Spears School are honored and proud to be the only business school in the state to have graduates selected to be recognized as Influential Leaders by the AACSB.” DuBois earned two accounting degrees — a bachelor’s in 1971 and a master’s in ’72 — before joining Arthur Andersen in the Dallas office and becoming a certified public accountant. Though his academic training is in accounting, DuBois’ passion has always been music, which led him to Nashville. There, he became not only an award-winning songwriter and producer but also one of the most powerful executives in the music industry. He was picked to open the Nashville division of Arista Records in 1989 and is credited with discovering and signing numerous talents, including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn and Brad Paisley. The artists he signed have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. DuBois has also served as the senior partner of Universal South Records, managing executive of ASCAP Nashville and as clinical professor of digital media at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. He is

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Tim DuBois

Neal Patterson

currently president of Tim DuBois Entertainment LLC, an entertainment consulting firm with offices in Nashville and Dallas. Patterson completed a finance degree in 1971 and earned an MBA a year later. He co-founded Cerner Corp. in 1979. During his tenure as co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer, he has led Cerner to invest more than $4 billion in research and development of health information technology. These technologies are now used by approximately 18,000 facilities worldwide, including hospitals, physician practices, ambulatory facilities, extended-care facilities and pharmacies. Gifts from the OSU graduate were instrumental in creating the Center for Health Systems Innovation at OSU. Patterson is a member of the CHSI advisory board. In 2014, the OSU Spears School named DuBois and Patterson as two of its 100 most influential alumni over the 100-year life of the school. DuBois and Patterson join individuals such as the CEO of one of the world’s largest global relief services, a technology pioneer who is working to cure cancer, the founder of a global e-commerce powerhouse and an enterprising president attributed with reviving an international toy industry favorite. More than 20 industry sectors, from consumer products to health care to nonprofits, across 21 countries, are present in this year’s group. “It is a tremendous honor to be named as one of AACSB’s 100 Influential Leaders,” Dubois says. “Although the majority of my career has been in the entertainment industry, my business education has been fundamental to my success. It instilled in me the need to search for those projects where creativity and commerce intersect.” Patterson recalls, “My business education at OSU, an AACSB-accredited school, provided a great foundation for me as a young entrepreneur.”

(’70s continues from page 115) James Hurst, ’74 economics, lives in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area and is interested in coordinating football watch parties in Clearwater or Safety Harbor. Gary Byrd, ’76 biological sciences, was a featured oil painting artist at the Great Plains Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Bosque Art Classic in Clifton, Texas. Joyce Taylor, ’76 business administration, celebrated one year of retirement this summer with a trip to London, Paris, Florence and Rome. Taylor retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma after 22 years. She recently attended a 20 th biennial family reunion in Denver, with her sons OSU alumni Kevin Taylor, ’07 mechanical engineering, and Jason Taylor, ’07 animal science.

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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Anand S. Desai, ’77 master’s degree in business administration, is the dean of the W. Fra n k Barton School of Business at Wichita State University in Kansas. Robert Dodd, ’78 petroleum engineering, and his wife E. Carol Dodd, ’78 business and public administration, have a new grandson named Grayson. Thomas Barber, ’79 mechanical engineering, has been s e l e c te d by h i s peers at Coats Rose for inclusion in the Best Law yers in America 2016. The guide honors lawyers in Houston, Austin, Dallas, New Orleans and San Antonio in 15 areas of practice. Barber has been selected for the past five years for his work in construction law.

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Gary Humphrey, ’81 civil engineering, has been honored to serve on the board of visitors for the OSU School of Civil and Environmental Engineering for the last three years.

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Quadruplets feel at home They may have grown up together in a small town, but that didn’t stop them from branching out at Oklahoma State. Sophomore students Jamie, Michael, Scott and Shelby Dobrinski are quadruplets from Okeene, Oklahoma, and everyone from their hometown knows them as the “Dobrinski quads.” Their parents are OSU alumni Mike Dobrinski, ’85 business administration, and Virginia “Ginny” Dobrinski, ’92 education. Mike has been a Chevrolet dealer in Okeene and Kingfisher since graduation. He has also served as a trustee for Pioneer Telephone Cooperative since 1998. Growing up in Okeene and going to school together, the siblings were used to seeing each other every day. Now, for the most part, the quads are on their own — but they know they’re always there for each other if they need help or just want to hang out. They have very different fields of study — Shelby, early childhood development; Scott, biosysytems engineering; James, business management; and Paul Michael, graphic design. “The first semester we didn’t see each other that often, so that was a big change going from seeing each other every single day to all of us having different class schedules and not living together,” Shelby says. “Going from this summer and seeing them all the time makes it strange to go back to not seeing each other again. But if it gets too bad, I can just call them up and say, ‘Hey let’s go do something.’” Growing up in a town of 1,200 to living in Stillwater is different, but the two towns share some similarities, so it made the change easier. “In Okeene, a lot of our friends and people in the community remember when they were born and what a big deal it was,” says the quadruplets’ father Mike. “The community kept their eyes on our kids and helped us to get them where they are now. We couldn’t have done it without them, and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to do it on our own. There were a lot of people involved with it, and that’s what is neat about living in a small town.”

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There are some financial challenges, but Mike and Ginny know their kids understand the commitment it takes to complete their degree at OSU. “It’s well worth it because we know that they are getting a great education. They’re thriving and that’s most important,” Ginny says. Each of them enjoyed their first year at OSU with meeting new people and joining clubs and organizations around the university. “My first year was a lot of fun,” Scott says. “I lost a ton of sleep, but I mean it happens — loved every minute of it and made new friends.” The quads were familiar with the campus since their parents brought them to football and basketball games at an early age. “Stillwater feels like home to us,” Mike says. “It’s a beautiful campus and very friendly community. People on and off campus make all of the students feel very welcome.” “We’ve always said that if we moved, it would be to Stillwater,” Ginny says.

Alumni Mike and Ginny Dobrinski’s quadruplets are sophomores at OSU — from left, Shelby, Scott, Jamie and Michael.

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Calendar of events: orangeconnection.org/northtexas Brighter Orange: February 19, 2016, Dallas Country Club Alumni in the area: 14,091

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(’80s continues from page 117) Mike Stump, ’81 management, and Debbie Stump, ’81 education, are proud grandparents of Campbell Ann Cline, who was born in May 2015. Campbell’s parents, Elizabeth Stump Cline, ’09 human development and family sciences, and Tanner Cline, ’09 agribusiness, are also OSU graduates. Gary Hohweiler, ’82 marketing, has released a book, Fear Not! A Journey from Fear to Freedom. Ranee Taylor, ’83 marketing, is proud to say her daughter, Madison Taylor, ’14 biochemistry and molecular biology, is working on a master’s degree at OSU. Patricia Marshall, ’86 doctorate in curriculum and instruction, was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to Ecuador in Januar y 2015. In August, Marshall began working as a visiting professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. During her nine-month stay in Ecuador, she is teaching courses in multicultural/cross-cultural education in Spanish and conducting research on teachers’ investment in the critical study of race and class inequities in pre-collegiate schooling in Ecuador and the United States. Ziva Branstetter, ’87 journalism, and Cary Aspinwall, ’02 journalism and broadcasting, were finalists for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for their outstanding reporting while working for the Tulsa World. They have joined a new venture, The Frontier, an onlineonly digital media company.

’90s Dan Miller, ’90 psychology, plans to run for Tulsa County sheriff in 2016. Heidi Rogers, ’90 doctorate in curriculum and instruction, was recognized as a global hero in education by Microsof t on August 11, 2015. The award honors her role as CEO and executive director

of the Northwest Council for Computer Education.

Bret Sholar, ’90 wildlife ecology and management, and his wife, Angie Brown Sholar, ’88 psychology, ’90 master’s degree in business administration, have been married 26 years and live in Oklahoma City. They have three daughters in college. Elizabeth is a student at the University of Oklahoma, and Abby and Kate are students at OSU. Bret is an environmental scientist with Enterprise Products. Angie is a national board certified pre-kindergarten special education teacher for Deer Creek Schools in Oklahoma City. Angie was also a Top Ten Senior in 1988. Angie and Bret bleed orange and can be found at Boone Pickens Stadium any time the Pokes are playing. Andrew Griffith, ’96 construction technology, was awarded tenure in May 2015 at Iona College in New York. On September 1, 2015, he was promoted to associate professor of accounting. Laurie Taylor, ’99 journalism and broadcasting, founded Beacon Public Relations in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which celebrated 15 years helping clients in business development endeavors, including expanding into Kansas, Kentucky and Indiana. Relocating to Louisville, Kentucky, in 2013, Taylor is earning a master’s degree in leadership, serves as marketing director for Southern Seminary and as a communication instructor for the University of Louisville. Taylor’s three daughters are involved with Louisville ministries.

Tammi Harkin, ’03 psychology, has a newborn daughter, Jillian.

Preston Nicholson, ’04 management, is the director of admissions at Wa s h bu r n L aw School in Topeka, Kansas. Since graduating from OSU, he has appeared on Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Joshua Rhea, ’04 business management, and his wife, Blair Robbins Rhea, ’05 design, housing and merchandising, became the parents of Griffin Perry, who was born in July. Ben Dickey, ’05 finance, has welcomed two additions to his family. Marshall Lee was born on October 15, 2012, and Evan Morgan was born on April 7, 2014. Jeromey Howard, ’05 sociology, was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church on June 21, 2015, and is the pastor of United Christian Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Missouri. Robert Krause, ’06 master’s degree in U.S. history, works as a historic preservation planner with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Darren Vetter, ’06 doctorate in higher education administration, has published two books: The Journey of the Foam Container and I Want to Go to the Lake with My Dog!

’00s Amber Godfrey, ’03 family relations and child development, ’05 political science, and her husband Stuart Godfrey, ’02 psychology, ’06 master’s degree in human development and family science, welcomed their son, Jones Rhys, on November 6, 2014.

Mark “Wes” Charles, ’07 economics and ’09 master’s degree in business, and Lori Charles, ’08 journalism and broadcasting, married May 16, 2015, in Dallas. They met at

OSU in 2005 and were friends until they started dating in 2012. They are grateful for their years at OSU for many reasons, but most of all because they met each other. Amy Giulioli Canida, ’08 doctor of veterinar y medicine degree, announces the birth of her son, Trenton Kyle Canida on July 5, 2015. Airika Wallace Gigas, ’08 advertising and public relations, is director of sales for Memphis, Tennesseebased LEO Events. She was honored with the Association of Destination Management Executives International’s Rising Star Award. Shanna Padgham, ’09 environmental science, and Matthew Padgham, ’10 mechanical engineering, have a baby girl named Cline Diane.

’10s Nathan Marquez, ’11 management, and Lindsay Marquez, ’14 design, housing and mercha ndis ing, welcomed future Cowgirl London Turner on June 25, 2015. Michael Solomon, ’13 mechanical engineering technology, vacationed in the Andes Mountains with the American Climber Science Program. He climbed in the Cordillera Blanca range of the Andes while conducting climate research on the glaciers, rivers and energy resources of the mountains, including Nevado Pisco peak in Peru. Taylor Miller, ’13 strategic communications and Spanish, earned the National Wrestling Spor ts Information Director of the Year Award. She is a graduate assistant for OSU Athletics. Schellon Stanley, ’13 master’s degree in aerospace/aviation management, is the manager of the Guthrie/Edmond Regional Airport in Guthrie.

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(’10s continues from page 121) John Berry, ’15 master’s degree in business administration, wants to organize OSU Athletics watch parties in the San Francisco Bay area. Write him at John@Berry.org if you are interested in joining the group cheering for the Pokes. Rachel Yauk Feix, ’15 English, married Carson Feix, ’15 microbiology/ cell and molecular biology, on July 24, 2015. They live in Oklahoma City.

In Memoriam

Matt Enger, right, and his brother Dan Enger of Taos, New Mexico, stop to view Matt’s work in New York City.

Artist creates in New Jersey studio Matt Enger, ’87 bachelor’s degree in studio art, was inspired by Oklahoma State University emeritus faculty member James Thayer to explore Native American themes in his art during an elective religions course, which surveyed tribal rituals and traditions. The Kappa Sigma fraternity member has ventured far beyond his Oklahoma roots to create screen prints, unique fashions and mixed-media art from his home and studio in Newark, New Jersey. His work is on display in the Christopher Henry Gallery inside a renovated church in New York City.

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Born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Matt and his identical twin, the late Mark Enger, ’89 bachelor’s degree in studio art, were raised in a military family. Their father regularly took them to museums where the brothers discovered their love and fascination for military history and Native American art. At 4 years old, they began creating art of their own. They graduated from Enid High School. “OSU was a fantastic place to go to school and it’s where I found the tools to realize my art dreams,” Enger says.

Richard A. Nigro, ’52 chemistry, died October 23, 2014, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 84. He was born January 13, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Rosario and Rosa Finocchiaro Nigro. He attended OSU from 1948 to 1952 where he wrestled for the Cowboys and eventually met his wife, Mary Nigro. Following graduation, he became a systems analyst for AMOCO. He was a veteran of the United States Army, a life member of the OSU Alumni Association and an “O” Club member. He never missed an OSU wrestling match or football game. He and Mary celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary watching the Cowboys wrestle. He is survived by his wife Mary and daughters Jill Minihan (’74 education), Cindi Barrett (’78 horticulture) and Gina Miller (’83 chemical engineering), 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He has two granddaughters in their senior years at OSU, carrying on his Cowboy legacy. James Davis Foley, ’52 geography, died August 9, 2015, at age 86. He graduated from Lindsay High School before entering Oklahoma A&M College. He is survived by his wife, Alice King Foley formerly of Arapaho, Oklahoma. He entered the U.S. Army upon graduation and served 21 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He earned a master’s degree from the College of William and Mary and a doctorate from Mississippi State University. After his Army career, he taught social studies and history and coached football and basketball. He was a member of the OSU Alumni Association.

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Dean Caton died September 22, 2015, at the age of 81. Born in Ravia, Oklahoma, on November 13, 1933, to Conrad and Mattie Caton, he served honorably in the U.S. Army. A longtime Oklahoma City businessman, he established Southern Builders Supply in the 1960s and operated the business until the 1980s. After moving from Oklahoma City to Chandler, Oklahoma, in 1981, his entrepreneurial spirit led to the opening of the Southern Ranch Hunting Club, which operated from 1985 until 1999. He had many accomplishments in his welllived life, including his appointment by Governor David Boren to the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Terri, five children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Craig Allan Coberly, ’63 animal husbandry, died September 8, 2015. He was born April 15, 1941, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Loren and Margaret Carlson Coberly. He graduated from high school in Moorhead, Iowa. He was active in 4-H showing cattle and participated in rodeo events on the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He came to OSU in 1959 and earned a pilot’s license in addition to his bachelor’s degree. He married Ann Fox, ’63 home economics, on May 23, 1964, in Talihina, Oklahoma. They had two children, Kelly and Dana, ’94 preveterinary medicine. He farmed and raised livestock in the Moorhead area. He served on the East Monona School Board and the Moorhead Coop Board. He was also a member of the Moorhead Christian Church. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by two grandchildren. Memorials may be directed to the Oklahoma State Foundation, Craig Coberly Rodeo Team Memorial Fund, 400 S. Monroe, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074. Donna McCool, ’64 geography, died June 30, 2015, at age 73. She was born January 25, 1942, in Oklahoma City. In 1965, she received a master’s degree with honors in library sciences at Columbia University in New York. She started working with the Tulsa City-County Library System in Oklahoma and later joined Washington State University Libraries. On

March 17, 1972, Donna married Donald McCool in Pullman, Washington, and they had three children. Donna was a lifelong learner and continued to take courses in business administration, leadership and Russian at Gonzaga University, the University of Washington and WSU. While at WSU, she worked in China, Russia and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She also focused on special projects at WSU, chairing the building committee for the Holland Library from 1989-1994. Donna retired from WSU in 1999 and took a Senior Fulbright Scholar position at Moscow State University of Culture and Art. She had been an active member of the American Library Association since 1968. From 1996 to 2007, Donna hosted and planned professional programs for librarians from Russia and Uzbekistan. In 2001, Donna received her Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and was an ESL instructor and visiting professor in Moscow, Russia, in 2002. She was also an ESL tutor with the Literacy Council of the Palouse from 2001-2004. Bonnie Stone, 65, died October 24, 2015. She was born February 19, 1950, in La Junta, Colorado, to Thelma and James Blakemore Flowers Jr. She was raised in Kim, Colorado, where she graduated from high school in 1968. During high school, she was very active in the community including with the Youth Draft Board and the Southern Baptist Church. She attended Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado, where she met the love of her life, Marvin Stone. They married December 31, 1970. The couple relocated to Fort Collins to attend Colorado State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in archaeology. She lived in St. Louis and Pullman, Washington, before settling in Oklahoma, where she worked for Oklahoma State University for more than 30 years. Since 1998, she served as coordinator for Student Information Systems Operations and Training for OSU Institutional Research and Information Management. Through the years, she held positions in several departments including enrollment services and student data, production and operations of annual payroll accounts, and systems support for the OSU records database and ID card system as well as microcomputer technical support

Stillwater native Brogan Williams competed at the Universiade games in Gwangju, South Korea.

Team USA brings home silver medal from games Oklahoma State University student Brogan Williams helped Team USA to a second-place finish at the 2015 Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea. The 12-day event brought together about 13,000 student athletes from 143 countries to compete in different events. The Universiade is the second largest multi-sport event behind only the Olympics. It is held every oddnumbered year and alternates between summer and winter Olympics. The United States set a record this year with a total of 54 medals, which placed them at fifth overall. As a freshman, Brogan went to France to compete in the World Archery Indoor Championships. It was her first time competing outside the country, and she says that experience helped her with nerves during the games in South Korea. Now she loves traveling with the national team and competing against other countries from around the world. “It’s absolutely awesome just to wear USA, and it feels so cool to do when you’re not in your home country just because I’m so proud to represent the U.S.,” she says. “Traveling outside of the country is an eye-opener because you see how different other countries are, and I didn’t realize how comfortable we are in the U.S.” Williams is a sophomore majoring in psychology, and when she’s not studying or working, she’s practicing archery. She is known as one of the best collegiate archers in the country. Over the past six years, she has competed in 92 different competitions around the world, placing first in 41 contests. Williams is also vice president of the OSU Archery Club alongside the president, her older brother Gary, who founded the club two years ago.

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Book Corner

Ally Carter ’97

Ally Carter, a 1997 Oklahoma State University Summa Cum Laude graduate with a degree in agricultural economics, recently wrote a book titled See How They Run, the second book in her new Embassy Row series. See How They Run, a young adult novel, centers on Grace Blakely — a girl who thinks unveiling the truth about her mother’s murder will make everything better. Unfortunately, a search for the truth only brings Grace face to face with danger, and she must eventually decide how far she’s willing to go and what must be done to bring her peace. Published by Scholastic Press, See How They Run will be released December 22, 2015. It can be pre-ordered in stores and online through Amazon.com, Indiebound.org, BarnesandNoble.com and Booksamillion.com. Carter, born Sarah Leigh Fogleman, is a New York Times Bestselling Author who resides in Oklahoma. She was first published in 2005 for her novel Cheating at Solitaire, the first book in a two-book series. Soon after, she wrote and completed the Gallagher Girls series as well as five other novels. Her books have been published in more than 20 countries and made various bestseller lists.

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(In Memoriam continues from page 125) for the university’s financial aid and bursar’s offices. She was a knowledgeable expert assisting deans, directors, department heads, academic advisers and support staff. An avid supporter of the university and the athletic departments, especially the basketball team, she happily sacrificed her voice following a game day from cheering so loud for her Cowboys. Mrs. and Dr. Stone were inseparable and, while they never had children of their own, they mentored nieces, nephews and hundreds of students. She was an avid bicycle rider and enjoyed hiking, backpacking, camping, snorkeling and her horse, Chico. She is survived by extended family. Marvin Stone, 65, died October 24, 2015. An OSU Emeritus Regents Professor, he retired in 2006 following 24 years of exemplary service as a biosystems and agricultural engineering teacher and researcher. In 2005, he received the Eminent Faculty Award, OSU’s highest faculty honor. He was born June 22, 1950, in Denver, Colorado, to Lyle Wesley and Laura Elizabeth Howe Stone. He was the oldest of six children. He graduated from Colorado’s Flagler Public Schools in 1968 and completed his first two years of college at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado, where he met the love of his life, Bonnie Flowers. They were married December 31, 1970, and relocated to Fort Collins, where he attended Colorado State University, completing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering in 1973, followed by a master’s degree in 1977. He worked for Ralston Purina for two years as a food technologist in St. Louis. The couple moved to Pullman, Washington, where he earned his doctorate in engineering science at Washington State University. In 1982, Dr. Stone went to work for Oklahoma State University. As a mentor and adviser for both undergraduate and graduate students, he was often identified as their best teacher. His research expertise focused on two major technological areas: international equipment communication and diagnostic protocol standards, and high-speed, selective, pointspecific field application of chemicals. He was a key member of the

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource’s interdisciplinary research team that developed the landmark GreenSeeker® optical sensor system honored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2002 with its Secretary’s Honor Award, the highest award presented by the USDA. Adopted worldwide, this groundbreaking technology precisely measures crop needs in real time, allowing a producer to apply only the needed amount of fertilizer or agricultural chemicals, thus reducing waste while potentially improving yields, decreasing nitrogen costs and promoting improved environmental stewardship. Dr. Stone also was involved in the formation and growth of the Oklahoma Mesonet and co-authored one of the original Mesonet papers. Designed and implemented by engineers and scientists at OSU and the University of Oklahoma, Mesonet is a world-class network of 120 automated environmental monitoring stations covering Oklahoma. There is at least one Mesonet station in each of the state’s 77 counties, with readings being a common fixture in reports issued by Oklahoma weathercasters and the National Weather Service. A Fellow in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, he served on its board of trustees. In addition to his many awards, he also held many patents and is credited as an author in several books. Generations of OSU students benefited from his knowledge and experience gained through years of biomechanical engineering service to the U.S. and international heavy equipment industry. He was the 2003 recipient of the Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award, one of DASNR’s most prestigious honors. Additional honors included being named the recipient of the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002 and the Regents Distinguished Research Award in 2003. Dr. Stone was named the Halliburton Outstanding Faculty Member by the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology in 2001. He was a nine-time recipient of the Alpha Epsilon Distinguished Service to Students Award and was named Chi Epsilon Teacher of the Year in 1987. Dr. and Mrs. Stone were inseparable. They enjoyed having lunch together each day while working. The couple loved to explore the world, and regularly went backpacking, camping, scuba diving and snorkeling throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Stone always had a great interest in each of his nieces,

nephews and their children’s lives. He is survived by extended family. Cynthia Smith David, ’73 elementary education, died September 14, 2015. She was born to Bob and Winifred Smith in Oklahoma City, on October 29, 1950. She graduated from Oklahoma’s Edmond Memorial High School in 1968. After earning her degree at OSU, she taught two years in Bristow, Oklahoma, and moved to Tulsa after her marriage to Allen David in 1977. She lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since 1986. She worked for Fuelman of DFW for 15 years and was an ardent supporter of all things OSU. Her experiences in the OSU Alumni Association were among the joys and highlights of her life. Jason Paul Kruska, ’96 mechanical engineering, died August 16, 2015. He was born in Altus, Oklahoma, on May 4, 1972, to Paul and Mary Kruska. Prior to entering ninth grade, Jason was injured in a bicycle accident that left him a quadriplegic. He graduated from OSU in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in Spanish. He was president of Tau Beta Pi, vice president of Pi Tau Sigma, a member of Farmhouse Fraternity and the Blue Key Honor Society. During his undergraduate studies, he was a NASA co-op student at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Johnson Space Center in Houston. This led him to employment at NASA in 1997. He completed a master’s degree in business administration with a certificate in marketing and management of technology at the University of California at Berkeley in 2002. In 2008, he participated in International Space University’s Space Studies Program in Barcelona, Spain, representing the Johnson Space Center during a two-month intensive program. Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife of 13 years, Moon Tse Kruska, brother, Dr. Jarrett Kruska and family, and a host of relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to Western Oklahoma State College Foundation or the Oklahoma State University Foundation. Haden James Bean, ’15 aerospace administration and operations, died September 16, 2015. He was born March 19, 1993, to Shawn David and Jana Sue Geary Bean and grew up in Enid, Oklahoma, graduating from Chisholm High School in

2011. At the time of his death, Army Specialist Bean was attending the basic airborne course en route to Special Forces assessment and selection. Memorials may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Passages The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association has received notice that the following graduates died between July 15 and September 29, 2015. Their graduation year(s) and last place of residence are listed in Passages. Families may send biographies for Class Notes In Memoriam to the OSU Alumni Association, STATE Magazine, 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043. Moore Sr., Edwin S., ’41, ’52, Cushing, Oklahoma Fannell, Louis, ’42, Oklahoma City Roberts, Bob, ’42, Dallas Fowler, Don, ’45, Tulsa, Oklahoma Jones Jr., Jim, ’45, Enid, Oklahoma Arnold, Don, ’47, Yukon, Oklahoma Bowker, Jack, ’48, Ponca City, Oklahoma Jabara, Fran, ’48, Wichita, Kansas Good, Mary, ’49, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Hathorn, Fields, ’49, Allen, Texas Teape, Bob, ’49, Shawnee, Oklahoma Boyd, Chuck, ’50, ’53, McAlester, Oklahoma Hedges, Wendell, ’50, ’58, Seiling, Oklahoma Kirtley, Wendell, ’50, Kingfisher, Oklahoma Minton, Max, ’50, Arlington, Texas Roof, Russell, ’50, Edmond, Oklahoma Weber, Charles, ’50, Edmond, Oklahoma Welch, June, ’50, Oklahoma City Haley, Joan, ’51, Marana, Arizona

Hazlett, James, ’51, Duncan, Oklahoma

LaBrue, Paul, ’65, Goddard, Kansas

Johnston, Wanda, ’51, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Reed, Jimmie, ’66, Edmond, Oklahoma

Wyatt, Louise, ’51, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Adams, Paul, ’68, Moore, Oklahoma

Branson, Henry, ’54, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Colpitt, Jim, ’69, Collinsville, Oklahoma

Clay, Roger, ’54, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Marcum, Emmett, ’69, El Reno, Oklahoma

Kelley, Jack, ’54, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Price, Walter, ’70, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Redden, Jim, ’54, Franklin, Louisiana

Cheaney, Robert, ’71, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Choate Jr., R.D., ’55, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Elliott, Donna, ’72, Bellevue, Nebraska

Flaming, Edith, ’55, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Moss, Jan, ’72, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Nance, Eldon, ’55, Norman, Oklahoma

Watkins, John, ’72, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Waterfield, Jim, ’56, Canadian, Texas

Fariss, Jennifer, ’73, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Crow, Herschal, ’57, Oklahoma City

Case, Danny, ’74, Oklahoma City

Ingram, Parker, ’57, Fletcher, Oklahoma

David, Cynthia, ’75, Edmond, Oklahoma

Koerner Jr., Kenneth, ’57, ’62, Oklahoma City

Hobbs, Tony, ’76, Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Russell, Merion, ’57, Apache, Oklahoma

Yates, Charles, ’76, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Westover, Gene, ’57, Edmond, Oklahoma

Holman, Donna, ’77, Mesa, Arizona

Dawson, Harold, ’58, Fletcher, Oklahoma

Mullican, Don, ’79, Chickasha, Oklahoma

Day, Patty, ’58, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Shaw, Bill, ’79, Claremore, Oklahoma

Retherford, Norman, ’58, Gainesville, Texas

Crall, Sherry, ’80, Weatherford, Oklahoma

Copelin, John, ’60, Lexington, Nebraska

Hardwick, Eddie, ’80, Oklahoma City

Dickey Sr., Jack, ’60, Weatherford, Oklahoma

Lotspeich, Barry, ’82, Oklahoma City

Stump, Ann, ’60, Grove, Oklahoma

Riddle, Diane, ’83, Hennessey, Oklahoma

Dodson Jr., Alfred, ’62, Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Burkes, Jeff, ’84, Oklahoma City

Goodno, Floyd, ’62, Edmond, Oklahoma

Casto, Paul, ’87, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Sailors Jr., Tom, ’62, Enid, Oklahoma

Bowlby, Linda, ’91, Evansville, Indiana

Coberly, Craig, ’63, Moorhead, Iowa

Kruska, Jason, ’96, Webster, Texas

Kirk, Gerald, ’63, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Patterson, Sonya, ’07, Oklahoma City

Beavers, Don, ’65, ’67, Faxon, Oklahoma

Bean, Haden, ’15, Enid, Oklahoma

Book Corner

Sandy Tharp-Thee ’96

Sandy Tharp-Thee, an Oklahoma State University alumna who graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, recently wrote a children’s book titled The Apple Tree. The Apple Tree, a presentday Cherokee story told in English and Cherokee, centers on the tale of a young Cherokee boy and an apple tree. In the beginning, the boy decides to plant an apple seed and immediately foresees its true potential, but unfortunately, the apple tree begins to doubt itself more and more, especially after it fails to produce apples on time. The boy then begins to help the little tree deal with its impatience. Will the optimistic boy be able to convince the tree of its destiny? Published by The RoadRunner Press and edited by 1985 OSU graduate Jeanne Devlin, The Apple Tree can be found at local bookstores, Hastings Books, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Plans are underway for the release of an audio book version of the story as well, thanks to Christine Armer, a Cherokee first speaker and Cherokee language instructor at the University of Oklahoma. Tharp-Thee is a Cherokee author and serves as the library director of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma in Perkins, Oklahoma.

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Research impacts the world BY K E N N E T H W. S E W E L L O S U V I C E PR E S I D E N T F O R R E S E A R C H

The three-part mission of OSU: Instruction, Research and Service These three values were embodied by Oklahoma A&M’s first Herbert L. Jones, left, also known as “Cyclone Jones,” was a teacher and researcher, A.C. Magruder who planted test plots pioneer in tornado research from 1946 to 1970. After the 1947 of wheat in 1892 to begin a study that continues to this day. The Woodward tornado that killed more than 100 in Oklahoma, he “Magruder Plots” are now listed on the National Register of was inspired to help save lives. Working closely with the U.S. Historic Places. Other early innovations included drought-resisWeather Bureau and Air Force Weather Service, his tornado tant cotton varieties introduced in the 1930s when A&M also identification and tracking methods were hailed by the national helped farmers survive the Dust Bowl by introducing techniques press as a huge step toward the realization of a public warning to terrace farmland to conserve moisture. system based on accurate information. OSU investigators quickly broadened into other fields that impacted Oklahomans and people across the country. The novel tissue-engineered model of the lung to aid in understanding world’s first parking meter was developed by our engineering students and faculty in the 1930s and installed in Oklahoma City. respiratory diseases. OSU has one of the country’s leading aerospace engineering Engineering faculty members launched tornado research in the programs, including the development and testing of unmanned 1950s and found a way to identify storm paths using directional aerial vehicles. Partnering with NASA, OSU has furthered space radar. Pioneering researchers funded by the National Cancer exploration for decades. And in a state where energy is so imporInstitute studied cell division in the 1950s that led to greater tant, OSU scientists are improving oil and gas extraction as well understanding of how cancer grows and spreads. as alternative energy production using everything from biomass The School of Veterinary Medicine was founded in 1948 to algae to geothermal sources. and soon thereafter developed the nation’s first vaccine for I could go on and on. anaplasmosis, a fatal tick-borne cattle disease. The vaccine Agricultural innovation may have been this institution’s first saved countless animals from premature death, and it saved the prominent research area, but in our 125th year, OSU has faculty cattle industry millions of dollars. Today, the OSU Center for members and students conducting world-class research in virtuVeterinary Health Sciences leads the nation in research to protect ally every field across the academic spectrum, spanning engianimals and humans from parasites. The center is also at the neering and the physical, natural and social sciences, all the way forefront of biomedical research, including developing nanoparthrough business, humanities and the arts. ticles to deliver targeted drug therapies in humans. Biomedical Keep your eyes on OSU research. The next 125 years will be research is also driving innovation in the College of Engineering, even more exciting than the first! Architecture and Technology, where researchers developed a

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PHOTO / OSU EDMON LOW LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

invite you to join me in celebrating OSU’s first 125 years of contributions to the state, the nation and the world through scientific exploration and scholarly achievements. Research was underway at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College even before the first classroom building was constructed. From the day Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University, was established by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, its founders knew research would be central to its mission. Now, 125 years later, we are marking that milestone.