Editor’s Letter

STATE

BRAND MANAGEMENT

Megan Horton | Interim Associate Vice President of Brand Management Erin Petrotta | Director of Marketing and Student Communication Shannon Rigsby | Public Information Officer Mack Burke | Editorial Coordinator Dave Malec | Design Coordinator Dorothy Pugh | Managing Editor Codee Classen, Paul V. Fleming, Valerie Kisling, Chris Lewis, Michael Molholt, Benton Rudd and Lauren Knori | Design Phil Shockley, Gary Lawson and Brandee Cazzelle | Photography

Kurtis Mason | Trademarks and Licensing Leslie McClurg and Kinsey Gutierrez | Administrative Support

Department of Brand Management | 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024 405-744-6262 | okstate.edu | statemagazine.okstate.edu | editor@okstate.edu osu.advertising@okstate.edu Contributors: Jordan Bishop, Jane Braden, Aaron Campbell, Will Carr, Alexis Embry, Harrison Hill, Amanda O’Toole Mason, David C. Peters, Kyle Stringer and Kylee Sutherland

OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Tina Parkhill | Chair

Kurt Carter | Vice Chair Tony LoPresto | Immediate Past Chair Rob McInturf | President

Gina Lowe | Vice President of Marketing David Parrack | Vice President of Finance and Operations Jessica Medina-Benningfield | Executive Director of Engagement Treca Baetz, Ann Caine, Michael Carolina, Ben Davis, Scott Eisenhauer, Becky Endicott, Todd Hudgins, Aaron Owen, Joe Ray, Darin Schmidt, Taylor Shinn and

Baloo Subramaniam | Board of Directors Lacy Branson, Will Carr, Chase Carter, Avery Hudson and Lerin Lynch | Marketing and

Communications OSU Alumni Association | 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 740787043 | 405-744-5368 | orangeconnection.org | info@orangeconnection.org

OSU FOUNDATION

David Houston | Chair Blaire Atkinson | President

Robyn Baker | Vice President and General Counsel Donna Koeppe | Vice President of Administration and Treasurer Scott Roberts | Vice President of Development Chris Campbell | Senior Associate Vice President of Information Strategy Shane Crawford | Senior Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts Pam Guthrie | Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources Blaire Atkinson, Bryan Begley, Bryan Close, Jan Cloyde, Ann Dyer, Joe Eastin, Jennifer Grigsby, David Houston, Gary Huneryager, A.J. Jacques, Brett Jameson, Griff Jones, Robert Keating, Diana Laing, John Linehan, Joe Martin, Greg Massey, Robert McInturf, Ross McKnight, Gail Muncrief, Bill Patterson, Jenelle Schatz, Becky Steen, Terry Stewart, Vaughn Vennerberg, Beverly Walker-Griffea and Jerry

Winchester | Trustees Jennifer Kinnard, Lauren Knori, Chris Lewis, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Heather Millermon, Michael Molholt, Benton Rudd and Kyle Stringer | Marketing

and Communications OSU Foundation | 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 800-622-4678 | OSUgiving.com | info@OSUgiving.com

STATE magazine is published three times a year (Fall, Winter, Spring) by Oklahoma State University, 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by the Office of Brand Management, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, and is mailed to current members of the OSU Alumni Association. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $50. Call 405-744-5368 or mail a check to 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater OK 74078-7043. To change a mailing address, visit orangeconnection.org/update or call 405-744-5368. 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 senior vice president of executive affairs, was printed by Royle Printing Co. at a cost of $0.99 per issue: 33,895 | December 2021 | #8772 | Copyright © 2021, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

Letters

From the Editor's Desk

After waiting a century to celebrate the centennial of America’s Greatest Homecoming, the Cowboy family was asked to wait a little bit longer. In a heartfelt message last summer, the OSU Alumni Association revealed there would be no 2020 Homecoming festivities. This October, OSU faithful returned to campus in droves, ready to celebrate a milestone 101 years in the making, and it did not disappoint. In this issue, we dive into the history of OSU’s unrivaled homecoming tradition (Page 66), unforgettable moments from the past, and, of course, the magic of the centennial celebration.

In other news, Cowboys have taken part in some noteworthy launches as of late. In July, 82-year-old alumna Wally Funk made history as the oldest person to go to space. That record didn’t hold for long as William Shatner, 90, made a similar trip aboard Blue Origin in October, but Funk’s historic moment captivated the nation. In this issue, we tell her story, relive her visit to campus and look at other Cowboys who are making names for themselves among the stars (Page 30).

Then, in August, OSU celebrated a different kind of launch — the creation of the new Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (Page 22). This ambitious new institute aims to bring the state’s aerospace innovation economy together under one umbrella.

September brought more to celebrate with the grand opening of the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music. In concert with The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, the new, state-of-theart facility will elevate OSU’s music and performing arts programs to falsetto heights. Alumni returning to the Lushanya Stage at The McKnight Center will tell you, “it's changed everything.” (Page 14).

We also catch up with the Hargises, who have been busy with the launch of the new Hargis Leadership Institute (Page 88), recognize a major gift from Francis and Kathleen Rooney to benefit the construction engineering technology program (Page 90) and revisit audio treasures from the past (Page 104).

We also have a little fun with the Top 5 OSU traditions (Page 60). We weren’t sure what kind of response we’d get when we put out a social media poll this fall, but after about 80,000 responses, we feel pretty good about our sample size.

And finally, though the game happened after our publication deadline, we had to include a nod to the Cowboys' unforgettable Bedlam victory at Boone Pickens Stadium (Page 119).

Happy holidays! Go Pokes!

Mack Burke Editor

STATE Magazine

305 WHITEHURST OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER, OK 74078 EDITOR@OKSTATE.EDU STATEMAGAZINE.OKSTATE.EDU