grandparent University

An important part of the OSU Legacy Program is Grandparent University, an Alumni Association program in which a grandparent can “enroll” with a grandchild to attend a one-and-a-half-day program in apparel design, architecture, aviation, physical training or veterinary medicine.

Dr. Carolyn MacAllister, associate professor at Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, hosted the first Grandparent University at CVHS. Eleven adults and 12 children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old attended, representing 19 percent of this year’s 123 participants university-wide.

“We set up five stations in the small animal clinic where attendees learned about eye care, small animal healthcare, microscopic views of diseases, radiogram technology and dental care,” MacAllister says.

“At the equine clinic, we were able to demonstrate how we examine a horse’s stomach with a video-endoscope and echocardiography of the heart with our new ultrasound equipment. At both clinics, we had a lot of hands-on activities for the children and their grandparents to share.”

Other activities at the large animal clinic included checking a horse’s teeth and filing any sharp edges, looking at the heart, learning where foals come from and watching an unborn foal in a pregnant mare using an ultrasound machine.

Alumni from all over the country traveled to Stillwater to experience this educational opportunity with their grandchildren.

“I’m amazed at how many different states people came from,” says Sheryl Underwood, class of 1970. “I traveled from Guthrie, Okla., with my 9-year-old granddaughter, Baylor Nelson, but I’ve talked with folks here from Florida, Texas and Virginia. It’s very well organized.”

This was the first time David Helmer, class of 1964, and his wife attended, traveling from Roanoke, Va., with their 9-year-old granddaughter, Madeline Pelgrim.

“I’ve been to Grandparent University for the past three years. It’s great,” says Joe Ann Vermillion of McAlester, who earned two degrees at OSU, a bachelor’s in 1966 and a master’s in 1972.

“This is something for our granddaughter to see,” Helmer says. “We’ve taken her to many OSU sporting events throughout the years. This brings the depth of the educational aspect of OSU to life for her.”

“I’ve gone to a different college each year and try to bring a different grandchild each year. My grandson, Louden, came last year but really wanted to come again this year, so I brought him and his cousin, Courtney. I like the time we spend together. The programs are really geared toward the kids.”

The children agree. “It’s very interesting to see and learn about everything here,” Courtney says.

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