Vision - Spring 2012

ISION T R A D I T I O N

• S E RV I C E

• A L U M N I SPRING 2012

www.oc.edu/alumni

DECADE OF EXCELLENCE

DR. O’NEAL CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENCY

TAKING THE BATON DESTEIGUER NAMED NEXT PRESIDENT

MUSIC MEMORIES

CHORALE REUNION HONORS RETIRING ADAMS

From the

P r e si d e n t

Read more from Dr. O’Neal at www.oc.edu/president

As I pen my last President’s Message for Vision, it is with a mixture of nostalgia for this past decade and an eager anticipation for the unfolding of continued blessings for OC. Nancy and I have thoroughly enjoyed our 10 years serving alongside a dedicated Board of Trustees, a talented, diligent administrative team and staff, and one of the finest faculties anywhere.

We will deeply miss the unique opportunities this role has afforded us.

Looking back over the past 10 years, we have seen the hand of God working through His people to transform the institution and the lives of thousands of young men and women.

We are grateful that God has enabled the University to achieve many of the objectives and goals that were envisioned a decade ago.

What a blessing it is to conclude our service with confidence that Oklahoma Christian University will continue her focused, purposeful mission and will operate from a solid spiritual, academic

and fiscal foundation, guided and blessed by the hand of God. Please pray for God’s blessings on the University as she faces the challenges affecting Christian higher education now and in the foreseeable future: changing demographics of college-going students; the affordability of campus-based education; new learning paradigms; an increasing hostility of the public square and culture to the values of faith; declining appreciation for holistic, liberal arts-based education; and intensifying competition from highly-endowed and government-funded education.

Despite these unique challenges, OC’s future is exceedingly bright. We are confident that the One who is ultimately in control of this world will continue to bless those who are faithful.

We are confident that you – our alumni and friends – treasure the special Christcentered, holistic and excellent education offered at OC. One of the greatest blessings as I leave this role is knowing that my successor

shares the vision and has been gifted by God with the character and skills to carry out the mission.

It is of inestimable comfort to know that President-elect John deSteiguer and his wife Darla are people of deep faith and great talent.

Thank you, the OC extended family, for giving Dr. deSteiguer the encouragement, prayers and support to carry out the very worthy mission of transforming lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service.

We thank God for the opportunity Nancy and I have had to serve as President and First Lady of Oklahoma Christian University. It has been a great blessing to our lives, and we pray that the Oklahoma Christian family has been blessed and that God has been glorified by our service.

Your servant in Christ,

Mike E. O’Neal President

SPRING 2012

10 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

John deSteiguer chosen to succeed Mike O’Neal as OC president.

20 oc promotes college affordability

New pricing structure holds the line on costs, eliminates student fees.

26 michelle mallett

Award-winning alumna has teaching down to a science.

24 mission-minded ministers

36 vision news

30 scott lamascus

44 Milestones

Dabbs, Cochran, Stolte give Dallas-area ministry team a distinct OC flavor.

Professor leads successful Honors program.

35 ALLISON GARRETT

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs appears in congressional hearing.

Summary of recent highlights and accomplishments.

28 KEN ADAMS

Beloved Chorale director set to retire after 40 years of service to OC.

Follow us online www.oc.edu/connect

Comings and goings of your former classmates.

50 SAVE THE DATE

Upcoming events at your alma mater.

VISION STAFF President:

executive director of alumni relations:

Designers:

Dr. Mike E. O’Neal (68)

Bob Lashley (74)

Judson Copeland (02), Jonathan Curtis (03), Rachel O’Donnell (02), Kim Walden (98)

SENIOR Vice President for Advancement:

Editor:

Dr. John deSteiguer

Wes McKinzie (98)

Photographers:

Vice President for Communications:

WRITERS/CONTRIBUTORS:

Judson Copeland (02), Steven Christy (01), Jeremy Gan

Ron Frost

Will Blanchard (07), Murray Evans (89), Kelsey Frobisher, Dana Holley, Sharon Lindsey, Dawn Shelton (90), Brooke Tallon, Josh Watson, Ann White (04), Monica Williams

vice president FOR alumni relations: Kent Allen (79)

VISION Alumni Magazine of Oklahoma Christian University (USPS 405-420) Volume 13, No. 2, Spring 2012 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VISION Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100

© Oklahoma Christian University 2012 Oklahoma Christian University admits students of any race, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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SPRING SING 1 2

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The men of Chi Lambda Phi captured first place in Spring Sing 2012 with their “Founding Fathers” show.

Tim Giddens, Laura Vanderzee, Brett Vanderzee (foreground) and Kalee Floyd, Alyssa Jackson and Weston Waugh (background) did an outstanding job as hosts and hostesses.

Psi Epsilon placed fourth as the “Super Mario Brothers.”

Gamma Rho took third as “Dorothy” from Wizard of Oz.

WATCH A VIDEO RECAP OF SPRING SING 2012.

WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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LIGHTING OF THE COMMONS Dr. Jim Baird made a great Santa Claus at Lighting of the Commons as OC celebrated its annual Winter Wonderland Week.

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Lighted trees add a dazzling complement to the Freede Centennial Tower, McGraw Pavilion and Lawson Commons.

Weston Waugh, Lindsey Floyd and Kalee Floyd sing with New Reign.

Robert Mujyambere, Clement Makuza, Veronique Makuza (left) and Grace Musabayezu and Anitha Ingabe (right) enjoy a carriage ride.

The OC family took time to write special Christmas cards for the U.S. troops serving overseas.

“Santa Baird” and President Mike O’Neal flip the switch to light the Commons.

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5 WATCH A VIDEO RECAP OF LIGHTING OF THE COMMONS. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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Hannah Faye Foster and Ryan Gonzales starred in OC’s production of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Ryan Gonzales (foreground) Brett Vanderzee (as Gaston) with the villagers, played by Lauren Wheeler, Nathan Anderson, Connor Weaver, Steven Brockschmidt, Lavon Wheeler, Laura Vanderzee, Brent Pedersen and Joel Barneche.

Angela (Wallace 96) Richards received the Alumni Achievement Award for the Department of Music from Dr. Kathy Thompson.

Many faculty, staff and alumni gathered for the Alumni Achievement Awards.

Susan (Smith 99) Nelson received the Department of Communication award from Dr. Philip Patterson.

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The Pi Zeta Phi social service club got in the patriotic spirit at the Homecoming Parade.

The student body elected Mary Watson as Homecoming queen and Cameron Sutherland as Homecoming king.

Alumni from the 60s gathered for a special night of fellowship at the “Back to the Barn Bash.”

OC honored Dr. Terry (64) and Marty (Mitchell 71) Johnson with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

President Mike O’Neal (68) with Distinguished Young Alumni honoree Ben Langford (98) and Ben’s wife, Kym.

WATCH A VIDEO RETROSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE AT OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN IN THE 1960 S .

WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

TAKING THE BATON

JOHN de steiguer CHOSEN TO SUCCEED MIKE O’NEAL In his first address as Oklahoma Christian University’s president-elect, John deSteiguer thanked those who have come before him to build on the university’s mission of transforming lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service.

He thanked faculty members, previous presidents, board members and students who have built on OC’s humble beginnings over the last 62 years to bring the university to its stature today as a nationally-recognized and vibrant institution.

“What an honor this is for me and for my family,” deSteiguer told a capacity crowd in Hardeman Auditorium on February 6.

“To me, Oklahoma Christian is home, and I want it to be your home.”

He explained that home is where you are nurtured, grow and learn, and that home is the place that prepares you to make a difference in the world.

A native of Tahlequah, Okla., deSteiguer was elected as the next president of Oklahoma Christian by the Board of Trustees in February, culminating a six-month national search process. deSteiguer, who currently serves as OC’s senior vice president for advancement, will officially succeed Dr. Mike O’Neal (68) and assume the duties and responsibilities of the president on May 1.

“Dr. deSteiguer is well-known and well-respected in the community and on our campus, giving Oklahoma Christian a visionary leader who possesses a strong appreciation and respect for Christian education and the difference it makes in the lives of our students,” OC board chair Don Millican said.

“He has a proven track record in the area of development that is critical to our future success. We look forward to working with him to advance Oklahoma Christian as one of our country’s finest private Christian universities.”

Millican said OC was blessed to have two well-qualified and talented finalists, deSteiguer and Dr. Allison Garrett (84), senior vice president for academic affairs, who were selected in December by the Presidential Search Committee. deSteiguer has spent almost two decades in higher education.

He served at his alma mater, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, as a senior development officer before arriving at OC in 2003 as part of President O’Neal’s new administration.

During nine years as OC’s chief advancement officer, a record $110 million was given to the university, including the successful $60 million Higher Learning~Higher Calling campaign, that was completed ahead of schedule.

The campaign led to significant improvements for the campus, including the new Lawson Commons, featuring the

Freede Centennial Tower and McGraw Pavilion, and the $7.5 million initiative to build the Noble Science Wing and upgrade the Mabee Laboratories at Vose Hall.

The campaign also produced four new endowed chairs and more than 60 new or enhanced maintenance, operating and scholarship endowments.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the board’s decision and confidence in me,” deSteiguer said. “OC is a one-of-akind university and I appreciate our board, faculty, staff and alumni. During my nine years here, I have been inspired by the personal engagement our students receive to ensure they are intellectually and spiritually ready to succeed and serve when they graduate.” deSteiguer is a member of several civic organizations, including the Edmond Chamber of Commerce’s executive committee, the Oklahoma Planned Giving Council, the Edmond Rotary Club and the Oklahoma Bar Association.

He received his undergraduate degree at Northeastern State, summa cum laude, in 1984. He was a Rotary International Scholarship recipient at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, and earned his juris doctorate from Pepperdine University, magna cum laude, in 1989.

He and his wife, Darla, also an attorney, have two teenage children, Joe and Abby. He is a frequent Bible class teacher and a deacon at Memorial Road Church of Christ.

“On behalf of the board, we thank the entire OC community faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters - for their prayers and encouragement during this exciting transition,” Millican said. “We are also grateful to President O’Neal for his fine leadership that has strengthened our university in many ways and positioned us for greater success in the future.”

Dr. O’Neal, who will continue to serve the university as president emeritus, congratulated the board on its selection of deSteiguer as his successor.

“The future looks extremely bright under the future leadership of Dr. deSteiguer,” O’Neal said. “We need someone who is prepared to see a new vision from where we are now, articulate that vision for the community and then inspire the people to go there. No doubt Dr. deSteiguer is capable of doing that.”

By Dawn Shelton (90) Additional reporting by Kelsey Frobisher WATCH THE VIDEO RECAP OF THE CHAPEL CEREMONY PRESENTING JOHN DESTEIGUER AS OC’S NEXT PRESIDENT. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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john de steiguer In 2001, the last time Oklahoma Christian conducted a search for a new president, a young administrator from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah was nominated.

John deSteiguer, currently OC’s senior vice president for advancement, didn’t get the job then. But he made an indelible impression on members of the search committee.

“We had never seen him before and didn’t know how to pronounce his name, but we were so impressed,” said Kent Allen (79), who will succeed deSteiguer as OC’s vice president for advancement (Allen was a local minister serving on the search committee at the time). “We said, ‘That guy needs to be working at OC in some leadership capacity … and one of these years, that guy is going to make someone a great, great president.’”

That prediction proved prophetic, as deSteiguer soon joined the OC administration and – 11 years later – will become OC’s president.

The university’s 33-member board of trustees selected the

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50-year-old deSteiguer to replace Mike O’Neal, who will retire from the presidency at the end of April.

After the board of trustees hired O’Neal as OC’s president, he began looking for a chief development officer. He thought of deSteiguer, whose time as a Pepperdine University law student overlapped with O’Neal’s time as an administrator there.

“John was just a natural, and it made a great deal of sense to bring him to OC,” O’Neal said. “He has a natural talent for raising money and he is a great Christian man. John genuinely loves people. He’s thoughtful of other people. When you’re in John’s presence, you always feel like you’re somebody special.”

Given the opportunity to combine his passions of faith and higher education, deSteiguer left his alma mater and his hometown for the unknown, with his wife Darla’s blessing.

“We always thought that, sometime toward the end of my career, we would go to Christian higher education,” deSteiguer said. “Our faith is very important to us and we thought we

NEXT PRESIDENT CALLS OC HOME would be able to serve in some way. When the opportunity arose for us to serve earlier, we prayed a lot about it and we talked a lot about it, and we were convinced that God was creating opportunities to move us in this direction.”

He said Oklahoma Christian has become his home, and he wants everyone connected with the university to feel the same way.

“This place has really become home to us in the time we’ve been here,” he said. “We were outsiders in every sense of the word, but we were taken in by a number of folks. We have been blessed by the people that we’ve come to know here.”

The son of a naval aviator, deSteiguer moved a lot as a child, living in California, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia, as well as on the island of Guam.

His family eventually settled in his mother’s hometown of Tahlequah, where he caught the attention of Don Betz, a professor at Northeastern State who directed NSU’s President’s Leadership Class. Betz worked hard to recruit the Tahlequah High School product to NSU in 1980.

“John, from the time he was a young man, evoked trust from other people,” said Betz, now the president at the University of Central Oklahoma. “He exhibits servant leadership. He’s the kind of leader who understands it’s not about him, but about the service he provides. That’s what I saw in John when he was 18.”

In 1982, deSteiguer, a political science major, became NSU’s first Truman Scholar. He was active in the Model United Nations program, which took him and his fellow NSU students all over the United States.

He also became the student government president and speaker of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature’s House of Representatives before graduating in 1984. deSteiguer was a Rotary International Scholarship recipient and spent the 1984-85 school year attending the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, before moving back to Tahlequah and serving as the youth minister at South College Church of Christ in Tahlequah.

He married his college sweetheart, Darla, in June 1986, not long after she returned from a year of overseas study in New Zealand as a Rotary International Scholar.

That August, the couple enrolled in law school at Pepperdine.

They graduated with their juris doctorate degrees in 1989.

Soon after, they moved to Dallas to start their legal careers – John with a labor and employment law firm and Darla as the clerk for a federal judge.

By 1993, as they started their family, the deSteiguers decided

they wanted to raise their children outside of “the high life of big-city law practice,” he said.

In August 1993, NSU hired John as a senior development officer. He came to OC in January 2003.

As president, deSteiguer said he will seek to employ the connections he has made to help OC students establish themselves in the local community. He also wants Oklahoma Christian to continue to develop its atmosphere of a second home for students.

“Home is a place where you learn, grow and connect, and home prepares you to leave and go out into the world and make a living … make a life,” deSteiguer said. “My vision for the institution is really not that complicated: OC as home, OC grows and OC as mission.”

Oklahoma Christian currently has approximately 2,200 students. deSteiguer’s five-year plan includes growing to 3,000 students, including undergraduate, graduate and online students. deSteiguer also envisions continued financial growth for the school.

“When President O’Neal began, our budget model really did not work,” deSteiguer said. “He had to make some very difficult decisions and that’s a great legacy of his.” deSteiguer plans to continue this legacy by raising endowment money and paying down the university’s long-term debt.

“In 10 years, if this measure is correct, the university will have revenue it will spend on programs, people and things … and that will be significant,” deSteiguer said.

Mission – deSteiguer’s third goal – extends beyond the typical conception.

“We provide a great education, and our faculty are second to none in what they know, how they teach and how they care about the students,” deSteiguer said. “But if all we provide is a good education, we’re missing the boat. So OC as mission is the idea that we are here to transform lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service. If we seek wisdom from God, His providence is going to continue to blaze the way for this institution.”

By Murray Evans (89) and Kelsey Frobisher This feature is a combination of two articles: Murray’s feature originally appeared in the Oklahoman; Kelsey’s feature originally appeared in the Talon

WATCH JOHN DESTEIGUER’S OPENING ADDRESS AND THE HALFCOURT SHOT HE MADE AT AN OC BASKETBALL GAME. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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Dr. Mike O’Neal

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PRESIDENTIAL HIGHLIGHTS Oklahoma Christian’s strength and quality transcend bricks and mortar, but the physical growth of the campus over the last decade is testament to OC’s stability and vitality in tough economic times.

In 2009, Oklahoma Christian completed the Higher Learning~Higher Calling campaign, raising $64.3 million from more than 7,000 supporters over a five-and-a-half-year period.

OC reached the campaign goal early and exceeded the target by more than $4 million, no small feat in any economic environment.

Proceeds from the campaign made the following possible as OC grows in its mission to transform lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service: • Significant additions to the university’s endowment; • 50 new or substantially increased endowed scholarships; • 4 endowed faculty chairs (JJ Millican Chair in Accounting, Pat Lawson Chair in Arts and Sciences, Richard Lawson Chair in Professional Studies, Lynn and Joy McMillon Chair in Biblical Studies); • 3 endowed centers (McBride Center for Faith and Literature, Fletcher Center for Music, Gaither Center for Biology); • Numerous academic and administrative endowment funds; • Lawson Commons, an official Oklahoma Centennial Project,

including the Jack and Wanda McGraw Pavilion and the Jose Freede Centennial Tower; • Dramatic upgrades of all science facilities, including the new 13,000-square-foot Noble Science Wing; • Dobson Field, OC’s new intercollegiate baseball facility; • Multi-purpose Jackson Intramural Fields.

“Generations of OC students will benefit from the statement of faith in the university’s future by our alumni and friends who made this effort an overwhelming success,” President Dr. Mike O’Neal (68) said.

The decade also featured a comprehensive $34 million student residence project, with the construction of two new residence halls and two new apartment complexes, plus the renovation of most other student housing.

The initiative coincided with a surge in student enrollment; the university set numerous enrollment records over the past 10 years, including seven straight of more than 2,000 students.

The construction of a new central plant and the Bobby Murcer Indoor Baseball Training Facility, plus the renovation of Hardeman Auditorium, the Dave Smith Athletic Center (known as “The Barn”) and the Mabee Science Labs also enhanced OC’s campus.

The university also made advancements in how it used the

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Lawson Commons, the McGraw Pavilion and the Freede Centennial Tower.

campus technologically. Long known as a leader in pedagogical technology with one of the first wireless campuses in the nation, Oklahoma Christian remained at the forefront by partnering with Apple in 2008.

Students received MacBook laptop computers and their choice of an iPhone or iPod touch. OC added the iPad as an upgrade option after its launch by Apple.

OC’s academic programs continued to offer opportunities for full intellectual engagement by our students and masterful teaching that brings the Christian worldview into focus in every discipline. The many accomplishments and honors in the past several years included: • Receipt of many regional and national awards for students in Art and Design, Communications, Psychology, Business and Engineering; • The History Honors Society’s receipt of the National Best Chapter Award for the 16th straight year among smaller universities, and recognition of its journal as one of the best in the nation; • Recognition of Soundings, our student literary journal, as one of the best in the nation twice in the last five years; • Creation of a nursing program in which our students excel in the classroom and in service, traveling to Honduras each year on a medical mission trip; • Accreditation of the interior design program; • Creation of a Master’s of Science in Engineering to complement our growing master’s degree programs in business and Bible; • The growth of the Honors Program, including the creation of the Summer Honors Academy for talented high school students, and the creation of a new Honors House in which

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Mike O’Neal greets King Abdullah II of Jordan (right) and General Tommy Franks.

many of our Honors students live; • Recognition of the gaming and animation program as one of the nation’s best; and • Strong placement of Biology, Business, English, History and Political Science students into graduate programs at Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Columbia University and other top schools.

Oklahoma Christian’s global engagement continued its tradition of strong interest and commitment to international understanding and development.

In recent years, OC has helped build water wells in Africa for the thirsty, hosted campus fundraising walks for a medical mission in Honduras, helped families becoming self-sustaining in the Philippines, continued to send hundreds of students on international programs to Europe and the Pacific Rim, and have rushed to the aid of the hurting after disasters in Japan and China.

In 2006, OC embarked on a very special relationship with the small East African nation of Rwanda. The country was seeking partnerships to assist the country’s VISION 2020 recovery from its tragic 1994 genocide.

Through a business connection with board member and alumnus Richard Lawson (66), and his wife, Pat (67), Dr. O’Neal was introduced to Rwandan President Paul Kagame. From that relationship, OC began partnering with Rwanda in a variety of ways: • Since 2006, the Rwandan Presidential Scholars Program has brought 10 to 20 of the brightest young men and women from Rwanda to OC each year; • OC helped begin the Peace Through Business program in Rwanda, which provides entrepreneurship training

for female business owners, and the Kigali International Community School, which educates more than 300 Rwandan and expatriate children each year; • The Rwandans4Water and Wishing Well programs are student-led non-profit organizations that raise money for clean water projects in Rwanda and other impoverished locations in Africa.

In April 2010, when the first 10 Presidential Scholars graduated, President Kagame made his second visit to OC to deliver the commencement address. He said he appreciated Oklahoma Christian’s approach of “putting values at the center of education.”

Education has an impact in the Philippines, where Give A Goat is making a difference in the lives of impoverished villagers.

OC students and alumni are among those leading the program, which provides milk, food and money - and teaches self-reliance - through goat raising.

OC also has grown and deepened its relationships in Asia.

Through our four-decade relationship with Ibaraki Christian University and several congregations throughout Japan, our numbers of alumni have grown along with the numbers of students who are coming to study on our campus.

In addition, our international recruiting efforts have drawn many students from China and 60 other countries. OC’s Study Abroad programs also have continued to flourish and grow.

In 2010, OC founded the Center for Global Missions to encourage students to become mission-minded, not only while they are students, but in their future careers and endeavors.

The Intergenerational Faith Center, launched in 2011 with a special event featuring best-selling author and Barna Group president David Kinnaman, aims to bridge discussions with students, younger adults, ministers and churches.

In the past decade, Enterprise Square USA has been home to

The O’Neal family: Becky (Graham 01), Michael (01), Will (on Michael’s shoulders), Mike, Nancy, Luke, & Mandy (O’Neal 07) Brensing.

the university’s Academy for Leadership & Liberty.

The Academy has made a significant impact through programs such as the Distinguished Speaker Series, Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks, the International Energy Policy Conference, the Oklahoma Leadership Academy, Opportunity Oklahoma, Complex Dialogues, Peace through BusinessRwanda, and the Southwest Youth Leadership Conference.

Many of OC’s most distinguished guest speakers have visited campus through Academy programs. Truett and Dan Cathy, Mike Huckabee, Michael Reagan, Tony Snow and Kenneth W. Starr are just a few of the speakers who have raised OC’s profile and helped the university impact the community.

Through the Four Star Leadership program, students had the opportunity to meet King Abdullah II of Jordan on a 2010 trip to his country, then again in 2011 when the king visited Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Christian also expanded its efforts in Alumni Relations, reconnecting with alumni, and Church Relations, reconnecting the university to congregations in the region.

The many accomplishments of Dr. O’Neal’s tenure include the preservation and strengthening of the faith foundation upon which OC was built. His global vision connected the university with kings, presidents and other leaders. His financial expertise helped guide Oklahoma Christian through turbulent economic times and helped ensure the university’s long-term vitality.

He has strengthened OC for a bright future of transforming lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service. From bricks and mortar to the integration of faith and learning in the classroom, there are signs of Dr. O’Neal’s impact everywhere.

By Wes McKinzie (98)

READ THE FULL PRESIDENT’S REPORT AND VIEW A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF the ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN DR. O’NEAL’S TENURE. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

Dr. O’Neal and Rwandan president H.E. Paul Kagame. Dr. O’Neal and John deSteiguer recently led an OC contingent on a visit to Rwanda.

LEADERS PRAISE DR. O’NEAL Mike O’Neal is a legacy leader. Everything that he has touched is enhanced. Everything that he has accomplished is accomplished with humility, goodness and a servant’s willingness to share credit. He uplifts and teaches in the spirit of optimism and hope and a determined commitment to truth. He is the quintessential educator and friend. There is no one better.

Frank Keating Former Governor of Oklahoma My heartfelt congratulations go out to President O’Neal for his 10 years of dedicated service at Oklahoma Christian University and the tremendous growth the community has experienced during his tenure. He has been a friend and passionate advocate of the founding principles that made America great. His Christcentered vision for the university and his love for serving others is the visible result of someone who knows what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus by practicing servant-leadership.

Dr. Tom Coburn U.S. Senator OC has taken extraordinary strides in the last 10 years under Dr. O’Neal’s leadership. Graduates and professors are leading our state by volunteering on statewide boards and commissions, and by stepping up in the community. In Edmond, OC had more than 100 athletes show up to our “Make a Difference” Day and work alongside our younger kids to make improvements to area parks. The younger kids were so impressed that these college students would take the time to work in our city.

Patrice Douglas (83) Oklahoma Corporation Commission Former Mayor of Edmond President Mike O’Neal is unmatched in his dedication to the principles of liberty and servant leadership, and he has left an indelible mark on Oklahoma Christian University during his tenure. As the man who spearheaded the creation of the Academy of Leadership and Liberty, he labored to make sure those values were preserved and passed down to future generations. President O’Neal also reshaped OC’s campus and has helped set consecutive undergraduate and graduate enrollment records along the way. No one can doubt his leadership or his commitment to education.

Mary Fallin Governor of Oklahoma

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Pound for pound, there are few institutions that are making a difference the way OC is in America and around the world, and that is due in large part to Dr. Mike O’Neal’s outstanding character and prayerful leadership. Speaking at the United Nations, working with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, or traveling with me to Jordan to meet with His Majesty King Abdullah II, Mike O’Neal has not only made OC a better place in his time as president; he has made the world a better place.

Gen. Tommy Franks Former Commander-in-Chief United States Central Command (Retired) While Mike O’Neal is often the smartest guy in the room, he is also the nicest. I am proud of my former colleague and the progress my alma mater made during his significant tenure as president. He and Nancy were a blessing OC will never forget, and I am grateful.

Dr. Andrew K. Benton (74) President of Pepperdine University Dr. Mike O’Neal has led OC to a new level of involvement and prominence in the Oklahoma City community. Mike has built relationships across our community, reaching out to business leaders through his service on the board of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and cultivating relationships among the leadership of our Christian community through Salt and Light Leadership Training. University presidents will come and go, but Mike and Nancy O’Neal have made a lasting mark on our city because they took the time to reach out and build personal relationships with people across our city, including me. They are our friends – and our brother and sister in Christ. Thanks, Mike and Nancy, for touching our city!

Kirk Humphreys Former Mayor of Oklahoma City Dr. Mike O’Neal deserves the highest praise and congratulations for his strong tenure and excellent leadership of Oklahoma Christian over the past 10 years. His service to the university improved the school through growth and strength.

He has had a positive impact on students and faculty that has reached beyond Oklahoma to the rest of the world while setting OC on a track of success for years to come. Dr. O’Neal, your work, your legacy, and your example leave big shoes to fill.

Jim Inhofe U.S. Senator

CELEBRATING

10 YEARS SUPPORTING CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

This year’s Associates Dinner will honor three former governors and their wives with the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Award.

George and Donna Nigh, Frank and Cathy Keating, and Brad and Kim Henry will be in attendance to receive this prestigious award for their outstanding contributions to our great state.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Celebration begins at 6:30 pm National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

The Associates Dinner also will serve as a tribute to Dr. Mike O’Neal, who will retire as OC President in June following 10 years of service to the University. Incoming President John deSteiguer also will speak as we celebrate Oklahoma Christian’s past, present and future.

ON THE HORIZON OC PROMOTES AFFORDABILITY Oklahoma Christian University will eliminate all student fees and will not raise students’ total costs for tuition, room and board for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Oklahoma Christian also will expand its block pricing to 17 hours per semester (up from 15).

Tuition for students taking 12 to 17 hours will be $18,800 per year. Total costs, including room and board, will be $24,975, far below the national private-school average of $38,589.

“We’ve shown our commitment to affordability over the last decade by keeping our price below the rate of inflation at both public and private schools,” OC president-elect John deSteiguer said. “Strong enrollments and wise financial management have fortified us in this turbulent economy, allowing us to take more steps to benefit students and their families.”

OC’s new pricing increases the opportunity for students and families to shape their costs with technology, housing and meal plan choices that best fit their budgets and needs.

Options include the ability to upgrade the standard 11-inch MacBook Air that all fulltime undergraduate students receive as part of their tuition costs. In addition to their meal plan, students can purchase “Eagle Bucks” for tax-free use at Alfredo’s, ChickFil-A, Jimmy John’s and the OC Grill.

OC’s 17-hour block pricing is aimed at helping students

graduate in four years while controlling the costs associated with extra credit hours or extra years in school.

The elimination of fees simplifies the college search and decision-making process for student families, allowing them to better assess OC’s value in comparison to colleges and universities that charge course fees and other large fees on top of their tuition “sticker price.”

In addition to its pricing policy, Oklahoma Christian will continue to promote affordability through student financial services. Ninety-five percent of OC students receive financial aid.

This includes the Presidential Academic Success Scholarship, which rewards academic achievement tied to student performance on ACT and SAT exams, plus scholarships for National Merit Scholars.

Oklahoma Christian currently has 30 National Merit Finalists enrolled, including 11 in the most recent freshman class. Overall, the last five years have featured the five largest enrollments in OC history, including 2,193 students in 2011-2012.

WORTH THE WEIGHT

OC REMAINS ON TECHNOLOGY FOREFRONT WITH MACBOOK AIR Incoming freshmen this fall will receive Apple’s new MacBook Air laptop.

The 11-inch standard model weighs just 2.38 pounds. Students will have the ability to upgrade to a 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Pro. The OC laptop program provides students access to software from vendors like Apple, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft that they would have to purchase on their own at other institutions.

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In most cases, students have access to all the software they need right on their MacBooks, which run both the Mac OS and Windows operating systems.

OC has won Apple’s Commitment To Excellence award for an Apple repair site for the last 10 consecutive quarters.

With more than 275 wireless access points, the university is continuing to adapt to the bandwidth needs of a truly wireless campus.

OC to apply for NCAA Division II membership Oklahoma Christian will apply for membership in NCAA Division II this June.

The university also has been accepted into the Heartland Conference, pending approval of the application by the NCAA, and will play a full Heartland Conference schedule in 2012-13.

“Oklahoma Christian has a long and storied athletic tradition,” OC president-elect John deSteiguer said. “We’ve been very successful in the NAIA through the years. Now it’s time for OC to apply for membership in NCAA Division II. It’s the best thing for our student-athletes, our coaches and our fans.”

OC has been in the NAIA since the 1960s and has been a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference since its creation more than 30 years ago, but changes in the NAIA, along with the university’s growth, have led OC to re-evaluate its affiliations.

Since 2006, OC has been engaged in a comprehensive study regarding national affiliation.

Led by Athletic Director Curtis Janz (86) and overseen

by President Mike O’Neal (68), the President’s Advisory Council and the university’s Board of Trustees, this has been a comprehensive study of the university’s athletic programs, institutional framework and long-term strategy and fit.

This process has included OC’s senior administrators, staff, faculty, students, alumni, boosters and community neighbors.

The university determined its strategic values and long-term

vision are more closely aligned with those of NCAA Division II. OC already is functioning on an NCAA Division II level in terms of budget, staffing, sports sponsorship, scholarship support, academic standards, rules and governance, marketing, competitive success, student experience and other factors.

OC finished eighth among NAIA institutions in the NACDA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup all-sports standings during the 2009-10 school year and was 10th in 2010-11. OC’s studentathletes also combined for a 3.2 grade point average in 2010-11.

The university has won all four of its team national championships in the past decade, including two in the last year: men’s tennis (2003); men’s golf (2009 and 2011); and men’s cross country (2011).

The Heartland Conference consists of Dallas Baptist University in Dallas; Newman University in Wichita, Kan.; Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell; St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas; St. Mary’s University in San Antonio; Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas; the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, the University of Texas-Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas; and McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

HAPPY TRAILS

LATEST OC FITNESS INITIATIVE DEBUTS THIS YEAR Construction began last month on new campus trails that will promote fitness on campus and further connect Oklahoma Christian with the surrounding community.

The side-by-side asphalt and crushed granite trails will span a distance of three miles around the campus and feature lighting, landscaping and five security phones.

It will connect with the growing Edmond trails system and, eventually, with the Oklahoma City trails system.

A $605,000 grant by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and about $500,000 from private donors funded the project.

Oklahoma Christian will host an inaugural fun run/walk this fall to help dedicate the trail.

Recent fitness initiatives, led by “Team OC,” have benefitted the campus and community. Each year, more than 500 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends participate in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, sometimes ranking as the biggest group in the event.

“The idea of the trail came along as the popularity of Team OC grew,” said OC dean of students Neil Arter (90), who spearheaded the trails initiative. “We were encouraging people to get active and run, but that meant that we had more people running on campus.”

For more information about Team OC, go to www.oc.edu/ teamoc.

21 WWW. OC. E D U

Fighting poverty is a noble and often challenging mission. Sizable accomplishments require time, dedication and a good strategy.

David Bowden (10) knows this firsthand. The vice president of nonprofit Give a Goat recently returned from his second trip to the Philippines, where he and his wife, Meagan (Martin 10), connected with those who need their help the most.

“I have been working with Give a Goat for over two years,” David said. “Unlike my first trip, when I only visited for two weeks, this trip lasted three months. We decided we needed to have an extended presence in the field in order to build healthy relationships, gather reliable information, and connect more deeply with those we were helping.”

OC alumnus Peter Cariaga (09) founded the Give a Goat nonprofit on the OC campus in 2006 to teach his fellow countrymen how to raise goats as a sustainable way to provide for their families.

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Goats are given to the families, providing milk that can be used for food or sold. Goat milk is especially suited for a lactose intolerant population like the Philippines. It can be turned into cheese, yogurt or butter. It also can be used for making soap, lotion and other products.

Goat manure is a natural fertilizer that can help farmers raise healthier crops. When goats are no longer productive, they can be sold as meat. Goats reproduce often and families have the opportunity to raise their own herd.

The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of 7,100 islands and has a population of about 94 million. According to the latest U.N. statistics, almost half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day and the poverty rate is projected to grow.

“My wife and I lived on Lapu-Lapu. We resided in a small rent house in what is known as the ‘firework village.’ This village is filled with nearly 30,000 people who supply the Philippines with their stocks of fireworks by making every

We heard story after story about how goats are changing people’s lives for the better.

piece from scratch,” David said. “These hardworking people spend every second of daylight mixing black powder, rolling shells, drying wicks, stuffing mortars, and rolling explosives for around $1 to $2 a day. They live in a perpetual cycle of poverty. Loan sharks give them money to buy their supplies at extremely high interest rates. The workers buy their supplies and work long hours for pennies on the dollar.”

The workers are left with barely enough to provide for their families.

Many families pull their children out of elementary school to help roll fireworks before they even finish the first grade.

“My wife and I knew that we had to do something about this problem, and that giving goats was a wonderful solution,” David said.

One worker’s story especially struck David and Meagan.

“We met a wonderful woman named Mary-Ann. She was a hardworking mother of two and was struggling to get by. In between her work with the firecrackers she was doing manicures and pedicures for about 50 cents. Even with this extra income she was having a hard time providing for her family.”

After about a month of conversations and training, the Bowdens bought the supplies and built Mary-Ann a goat house.

“In about three days it was finished.

We went and purchased two pregnant females and one male and gave them to Mary-Ann,” he recalls. “We told her that she did not have to be poor, and she did not have to be hungry. She now has six goats, can afford more food and clothing

for her family, and is on track to send her children to school all the way through college.”

The nonprofit distributes goats only to people who are willing to learn how to take care of them. The goats are considered borrowed and families are not allowed to kill them for food or sell them for money. They can keep the offspring and potentially double their income. So far, Give a Goat has distributed more than 1,500 goats and has helped 137 families.

The target for the next five years is 10,000 goats, and in 10 years the nonprofit hopes to reach the 100,000 mark.

“It’s amazing the difference I’ve seen even in the one year between my visits,” David said. “Give a Goat has boomed to nearly every major island in the Philippines, and each hub is more amazing than the last. Time after time, we heard story after story about how goats are changing people’s lives for the better.

We saw sons providing medicine for their parents, parents providing education for their children, and families providing resources for their communities, all through the gift of a free pregnant goat.”

“These stories are compelling, but there are always more families to help than what we have funds available,” Give a Goat president Bryan Clifton said.

He explained one goat costs about $50 and one of the biggest challenges for the organization is saying no to families because of lack of resources. Give a Goat partners with several local organizations, such as churches, clubs and schools and there are plenty of volunteering opportunities for those who want to get involved.

To learn more about Give a Goat or to volunteer, go to www.giveagoatnow.com.

By Radina Gigova & Erica Smith Originally published in Edmond Outlook

23 read more a b out G LO B A L LY E N GAG E D alumni at w w w.o c . ed u/ fa i t h f u lly

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ALUMNI SHARE PASSION FOR GOD AND COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE

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On a plane from Athens, Greece, to Berlin, Germany, Robert Stolte (95) found himself wanting to go home … immediately.

‘Home’ was Dresden, Germany, where he and his family were missionaries.

In a day before cell phones made it easy to communicate on the go, Robert had no way to reach out and tell his family he was changing plans – cutting short his stay in Berlin – to come home.

When he finally connected with his wife, Brenda (Hit 95), he found out she’d been praying for God to bring him home.

Her car had hit a man on a bicycle earlier that day. She wasn’t hurt, but the man wasn’t expected to live.

She faced jail time in a foreign land. She faced threats of retaliation from the man’s friends and family.

Brenda needed Robert home.

God worked. The man pulled through.

Reconciliation, forgiveness and friendship followed.

Robert, now the equipping and empowering minister at Prestoncrest Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas, traces his ministry calling back to a meeting with Dr. Loren Gieger at a “Taste of Culture” event at Oklahoma Christian.

A campaign to Greece followed. A subsequent trip to Germany with Clyde and Gwen Antwine hooked Robert and Brenda. They embraced the need there.

“Faith began to flourish in hearts that were not open to the Lord before they were introduced to Jesus, much like my heart wasn’t open to mission work until I went to that event on the campus of Oklahoma Christian. We saw that play out

Gordon said. “There’s a stirring to make a difference here in our neighborhoods. We always have, but it seems like its gaining momentum. We’re beginning to take seriously that call to show compassion for people in the neighborhoods where we live and work.”

People are flowing into the area and into the congregation from all over the world.

Prestoncrest recently adopted an elementary school where members help 100 Burmese refugees. They’re helping local college students from Taiwan find jobs. Their FriendSpeak program works with people from Afghanistan, China, Columbia, France, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine,

He has a mission for us all throughout this mission field called Dallas, and then He also will take us beyond that to where he chooses to take us.

over and over again on the mission field, that God has a way of pursuing us for his purposes.”

In 2004, the pursuit led Robert to Prestoncrest, where he serves alongside fellow OC alumni Gary Cochran (84) and Gordon Dabbs (91).

Gordon, Prestoncrest’s preaching minister since 2009, and his wife Ila (Lewis 95) worked as church planters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for 10 years.

The Victory Church in Rio now has 200 members and Brazilian elders and ministers.

Gordon’s Rio experience helped prepare him for his work in Dallas. Poverty, addiction and broken lives are all around in the big city.

“We have been known for a long time as a great missions congregation. But God is starting to open our eyes and say, ‘Hey guys, I put you in Dallas, Texas.’

There are needs all over the place,”

Uruguay and Vietnam.

“We’re embracing them, we’re helping them, we’re sharing the love of God, and that’s drawing them into relationships based on Jesus Christ,” Robert said. “And in those relationships, belief is being transferred, belief is being developed and faith is beginning to flourish in hearts that never had the opportunity in their home countries.”

Gary, who became Prestoncrest’s singles minister in 2006, developed his passion for urban ministry at OC. While he pursued biblical studies as an undergrad, mentored by Howard Norton, he drove newspaper delivery trucks for the Oklahoman into “places a Christian boy from southeast Oklahoma City rarely ever went.”

He began to wonder how people got into those difficult situations, and who was helping them. He decided to help, and he hasn’t stopped … working in

inner-city ministry during grad school in Abilene, and in his jobs at Mayfair Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, A&M Church of Christ in College Station, Texas, and now at Prestoncrest.

“Our mission field begins on the other side of this door and it’s outside of our own homes,” Gary said. “It takes us to places in the city that we really can’t anticipate. What we can anticipate and choose is whether we’re going to go or not. Are we going to be open to people, and to love, serve and give, and see what those possibilities are? He has a mission for us all throughout this mission field called Dallas, Texas, and then He also will take us beyond that to where he chooses to take us.”

A few hours after he said that, Gary and other Prestoncrest singles went to a boxing gym, where they’re mentoring children who don’t have fathers at home.

They’ve provided coats and blankets to others in need, and formed Christ-like relationships as they “cover Dallas with love.”

Urban ministry is a big part of Camp Genesis, which Gary helps lead on the OC campus each summer.

Gordon also felt God’s calling home to Oklahoma Christian. In addition to his work at Prestoncrest, he’ll begin serving on OC’s board of trustees this fall.

He’s happy to be involved with a place where his sister, senior vice president for academic affairs Dr. Allison (Dabbs 84) Garrett, has made such a big impact as a student and administrator … and where mentors like Norton, Dr. Ron Bever and Dr. John Maple blessed his life.

“I had a great time at OC. God spoke to me there; God stretched me there; my faith became my own there,” Gordon said. “God did so many things at OC. It seemed like such an amazing opportunity to continue to be a part of this university that’s been a big part of my life.”

By Wes McKinzie (98) WATCH A VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH GARY, GORDON AND ROBERT. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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CSI IN THE CLASSROOM ALUMNA EARNS TEACHING AWARDS It was inevitable that Michelle (Carlson) Mallett would be a doctor. After all, her father is a doctor. His father was a doctor.

And his father was a doctor.

Michelle grew up believing this foregone conclusion. A whiz at all things scientific and mathematical, she excelled at Oklahoma Christian, and was named the Outstanding Science and Engineering Alumnus of the Year in 2000.

But as she was finishing up her undergraduate degree in biology-medical at OC in 1990, and was on the fast track to medical school, she was troubled by a nagging feeling.

Michelle received wise counsel from two of her mentors and advisors, Dr. Roland Schultz and the late Dr. Kim Gaither (81).

They told her to pray.

So pray she did. Alone at a park in Edmond, Michelle took her concerns, anxieties and questions about her future to the Lord.

She prayed. And got a clear answer.

She would not be a doctor. She would be a teacher.

“Immediately, the weight on my shoulders lifted,” she said.

Now, after 18 years of teaching many science courses, including anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, forensics, advanced placement biology, advanced placement chemistry and physics at Oklahoma Christian Academy in Edmond, Oklahoma, Michelle gives glory to God for equipping her to instill a love for learning in her students.

She also credits Him for the many awards she has received, most recently the Dwain Hart Teacher of the Year award from the Texas Christian Schools Association.

“Mrs. Mallett has a unique gift for teaching that I have rarely seen elsewhere. Her dedication to her students and involvement in their lives goes leaps and bounds beyond the extra mile,” said Brianna Gaither, the daughter of Kim and David Gaither (81).

Brianna graduated from OCA in 2007, from OC in 2011, and is now a popular singer/songwriter. “She invited us into her home for dinner on a weekly basis, making every effort to get to know us individually.”

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Michelle, who lives in Edmond with her husband Jevon (91) and their two children, Merideth, 12, and Harrison, 8, is known for her whimsical and varied teaching approach that speaks to auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners. She wants her students to know how to think and to be confident even if they make mistakes.

“How do we learn unless we make a mistake?” she reminded her freshman biology students, who were learning about nucleotides, uracil, and other puzzle pieces of DNA. Her passion, style and talent bring the material alive, though she admits it is more challenging for students in the digital and gaming generation of constant and immediate media. But she puts in the time and creativity to literally put together puzzle pieces that represent DNA, sing about the Scientific Method, or recreate a crime scene for her forensics class.

And she can do it all with a Christian worldview. “What does God know that we do not know?” she will ask her students to drive home a point about our creator, who formed all living things intricately and purposefully.

She also has a testimony about God’s protection. In 1996, Michelle was driving for a school trip when a semi-truck broadsided her vehicle.

Michelle suffered a broken back, skull, facial orbit and arm.

She had multiple burns, abrasions and embedded glass shards.

She deals with chronic pain that is only alleviated by standing most of the time. But she is grateful for her survival and her ability to raise her family and continue her career.

“I tell my students that I thought I was in control of that car, but that semi hit me, and I should not have survived. Things happen that are out of our control, but with God we find out who we are and how we are going to grow,” she said.

By Dawn Shelton (90) WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE AND SEE HER IN ACTION IN THE CLASSROOM. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

‘YOU CAN’T OUTGIVE GOD’ CATHEYS SHARE BLESSINGS WITH OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN Those words, spoken decades ago by a respected friend, presented an enticing challenge for one of OC’s newest campus couples.

For Bill and Barbara Cathey, the challenge has never been to push God, but to prove that giving does not dictate getting.

However, during 53 years of giving together, the Catheys have found it difficult to prove the sentiment wrong.

Though Bill and Barbara are new to the OC campus (they moved to Tealridge, the university’s on-campus retirement community, in 2009), their roots in Edmond run deep.

The two met and married while attending Central State College (now UCO) in the late 50s.

The Catheys’ daughter, Belinda, was born in Edmond, as were the couple’s long careers in education, which extended for more than 30 years in Littleton, Colorado (though Barbara says “Oklahoma has always been home”).

It was in Colorado the Catheys first took to the challenge of outgiving God. “We started tithing 10 percent, and found we had extra each month,” Bill says. “So we kept increasing our giving, but the extra kept increasing, too.”

And the cycle of blessings continued. They taught in new schools, in a community that was excited about education.

Bill coached several winning tumbling teams, and the couple operated a fruitful side business to boot.

After retiring from education, the couple returned to Bill’s hometown of Seminole, Oklahoma, where God led them to the cattle business.

Again, the Catheys found many opportunities to give: they helped children get show calves, assisted in church projects and, through Barbara’s involvement in the Seminole’s chapter of the Oklahoma Christian Women’s Association, they began supporting OC. But they still found it impossible to keep pace with God’s blessings. Their Silver Top Ranch flourished, growing to 170 head of Limousin cattle and producing what some called the “best cattle sale in Oklahoma.”

Not long after a devastating wildfire, which the Catheys’ home and herd miraculously survived, the couple sold their ranch.

Today, Bill and Barbara are back in Edmond, enjoying the college scene at OC. They continue to give, most recently by creating a generous endowed scholarship through their estate plan.

“We both had scholarships in college and they helped a lot,” Bill says. “No one in our family has been able to do anything like this before. We feel so blessed to do it.”

Through their trust, the Catheys intend to fund up to 40 annual awards for deserving OC students.

“We’ve done many things,” Barbara says, “and this is the only thing left: to give back for God.” After years of sacrifice and success, the couple happily agrees that “you can’t outgive God.” But that doesn’t mean the Catheys will ever stop trying, and the legacy they leave behind at OC will be an ongoing testament of how God’s blessings – when shared – truly overflow.

By Will Blanchard (07)

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SWAN SONG For Adams Beloved Music Professor Retires after 40 Years

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He has changed the world, one student at a time.

That was the sentiment of one of Dr. Ken Adams’ many students upon hearing word that he will retire this year.

For 40 years, Dr. Adams has been one of OC’s musical leaders. Chorale director.

Music professor. Conductor of musicals, operas, cabarets and countless concerts.

For 40 years, he played his own part in orchestrating the rise of a fledgling Christian college into a vibrant university that has held true to its mission to transform lives for faith, scholarship and service.

After 40 years, it is time to retire, though it is hard to imagine OC without him.

Many of his students are warming up their voices, brushing up on Latin and French pronunciation, and planning a trip back to the Hardeman stage to sing under his direction, one last time.

To honor Ken and his wife Lindy (69), Chorale alumni have been invited back to campus March 30 through April 1 for a reunion and rehearsal weekend.

Activities will culminate in a Sunday afternoon special performance featuring the current Chorale, alumni and a 50-piece

CHORALE CELEBRATION OC Music Department presents the members of the University Chorale (1972-2012) and a professional orchestra in a Gala Concert. professional orchestra presenting Karl Jenkins’ monumental composition, “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.”

The voices traveling back come from far and wide, include Dr. James Hallmark’s.

He is the student who commented that Dr. Adams has changed the world, one student at a time, adding, “I am honored to be one of those students he changed.”

Dr. Hallmark (83), longtime provost/ vice president for academic affairs at West Texas A&M University, is now the acting vice chancellor for academic affairs of the Texas A&M University System.

Still others are too far away to return, such as Randy Hatfield (85) in Pakistan, who wrote on the reunion event’s Facebook page, “I appreciate Ken for

The Lord bless you and keep you.

introducing us to such passion and intensity through music. I still have good memories of Dona Nobis and Rex Celestes around Christmas. Occasionally, something will trigger me to hum Trois Chansons or Klagich Schrei. Thanks, Ken for opening the door to the world with this music.”

As he prepared to invite his students back, Ken said he was struck with a vision: if he could line up all of the students that he knew something about – could recall their name, maiden name, hometown, career accomplishments or some detail – the line would span

hundreds and hundreds of students.

“That means so much to Lindy and me,” he said. “I consider myself very blessed that as a result of doing work I love, I have been blessed with so many friendships. There are not many other professions where you could claim that.”

When he started as a faculty member at Oklahoma Christian in 1972 (after being an OC student and meeting his bride), he was scarcely older than his students.

Back then, he had an opportunity to know more non-music majors.

One reason was that the music room was in the current financial services office with the big windows. Virtually everyone from the entire campus would walk by and wave.

Those early days also were unique with the faculty, who communed daily in the faculty lounge during the 30-minute open time between the end of Chapel and 11 a.m. classes.

With no office coffee pots or mail delivery in those days, everyone was in the lounge. Harold Fletcher. Raymond Kelcy.

Elmo Hall. James Cail (58). Mike Gipson (66). Darvin Keck. Gary Shreck (62).

Ken and Lindy fondly recall the legendary and always good-natured debates among OC’s faculty giants. They say, in many ways, it was the golden age.

“The campus was not segregated by architecture and we really were in a village where we saw and knew everyone,” Ken said. “It was a special time.”

But time marches on. With progress came more buildings, students and faculty. No one would trade that success, but Ken and Lindy count the memories as treasures in their hearts.

He doesn’t know what life will look

Dr. Ken Adams conducts the Oklahoma Premiere of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins

April 1, 2012 2:30 pm, FREE Admission, Hardeman Auditorium Visit www.oc.edu/chorale-reunion or call 405.425.5530 to get involved. like in retirement. But before that new journey begins, Ken and Lindy have a new adventure ahead. After leading students on countless Chorale tours across the United States, and twice as sponsors of the Vienna Studies Program, Ken and Leady will lead students on OC’s Pacific Rim (China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii) program next fall.

A Facebook comment by Spencer Goad (09) sums it up for many of us: “You both have been a blessing to tons of students through the years. PacRim is a pretty good way to retire. Maybe you’ll just stay in Hawaii when the group flies away!”

But before that bon voyage, Ken will lower his baton one final time at the April farewell concert. And we will all sing, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

By Dawn Shelton (90)

WATCH A TRIBUTE VIDEO TO DR. ADAMS. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

29 read more a b out DY N A M IC A L LY E Q UI P P E D alumni at w w w.o c . ed u/ fa i t h f u lly

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LAMASCUS’ FOCUS ON FAITH AND LEARNING PREPARES STUDENTS

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Dr. Scott LaMascus (84) grew up browsing through yearbooks of Central Christian College and listening to his parents tell stories of fun, learning and friends.

So it should come as no surprise that LaMascus is now one of the professors whom students clamor to take, alumni come back to visit, and colleagues appreciate.

LaMascus has served many roles at OC, beginning as a Language and Literature faculty member, moving to chair of that department, and now acting as director of the Honors Program and the McBride Center for Public Humanities.

Though it might seem like a daunting challenge to take on the mantle of the Honors Program from Dr. Bailey McBride

(54), a member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame, Dr. LaMascus is a natural choice to follow in those footsteps.

Scott says that the Honors Program “will always bear the seal of people like McBride, Larry Jurney, and others involved in the foundational design of the program.” He shares with them the grand vision of what the Honors Program and OC can become.

Scott has been integral in designing programs and physical spaces that nurture community, such as the study and lounge areas in the Language and Literature Department and in the new Honors House.

He is grateful to mentors like McBride, Darryl Tippens (68) and Joy McMillon (63), who have shaped and challenged

... indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding ... then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3 him through the years.

McBride’s excellence in teaching and love of the written word have inspired generations. Tippens taught him to pursue excellence in all things.

And McMillon, Scott says, taught him how to write in his first job with The Christian Chronicle.

“I would submit a piece, and it would return to me marked up. But somehow she made editing my own writing fun,” he said.

Reminiscing on the changes that have taken place on the OC campus in the 13 years since his arrival, Scott is most excited about the campus-wide rededication to great teaching and undergraduate research.

He recalls the way that eagles train their eaglets to leave the nest. Eagles never push the eaglets out of their nest before they are ready to take flight; that would be disastrous.

Instead, the eagles nourish and provide a foundation for the eaglets. And when they are ready, they leave the nest to begin their life, fully prepared.

Scott fully anticipates having many students who go into the world to do great things.

“Our students will outgrow us if we do our jobs correctly, but I hope they will never outgrow their love for OC and its people,” he said.

With his numerous professional and academic accomplishments, the quality that keeps Scott at OC is simple: community.

“Too often today, community is used as a buzzword, but it is real at OC,” he said.

Scott says that the greatest poetry was never written to be kept in an ivory tower; instead it was meant to be read around

campfires and shared with friends.

“Words can be used as a weapon or words can be used to build bridges.

You have to be careful in what you use to motivate students to learn,” he said.

“I hope that students not only gain knowledge from me, but also see humility modeled. You can’t only receive from a place like OC; you also have to give back.

To whom much has been given, much is required.”

Above all else, Scott believes that education is the gateway to growing in wisdom.

“With great learning, comes great insight,” he said.

And with his continued influence, generations of Eagles will continue to leave the nest to begin their life, fully prepared.

By Ann White (04)

WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT SCOTT LAMASCUS AND OC’S HONORS PROGRAM. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

at Oklahoma Christian University

July 15-21, 2012 A one-week collegiate experience for high school students completing their freshman, sophomore, or junior year.

Students earn up to two hours of academic credit for the cost of room and board.

Space is limited, apply now online!

www.oc.edu/summeracademy

Heart For Service RIX USES MANY TALENTS FOR MISSIONS

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One of OC’s newest Bible professors brings an impressive list of skills and accomplishments to campus.

Dr. Charles Rix arrived last fall from New Jersey, where he taught at New Brunswick Theological Seminary and served as minister of the Monmouth Church of Christ in Tinton Falls. He holds a doctorate in biblical studies from Drew Theological School.

A retired financial executive for Exxon, Rix also holds a master’s degree from the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management.

If that weren’t impressive enough, he is also an accomplished pianist.

He has performed around the world, including St. Petersburg, Russia, and has been a finalist in international competitions in Paris and New York City.

After 17 years as a pulpit minister,

Rix felt called to transition to full-time teaching. After interviewing, he knew OC was the right place for him.

“I quickly knew this was where I wanted to be,” Rix said. “It was the great people who convinced me.”

Dr. Alan Martin, dean of OC’s College of Biblical Studies, helped bring Rix to campus.

“Dr. Rix is truly a renaissance man,” Martin said. “OC is blessed to have a man of such great talent with a sure heart for service. On top of his academic preparation, he still has time to counsel and mentor students.”

When asked about what he has enjoyed most in his short time at OC, Rix says those same people stand out.

“The other members of the Bible department are such a talented, congenial and supportive group,” he said. “The

students have been very engaged and receptive, too. I can’t imagine a more welcoming place.”

Helping students form their spiritual lives is one of Rix’s motivations for teaching.

“I really want to help students realize how reading the Bible well helps shape one’s faith,” he said. “I want to help them connect to the text in ways they haven’t thought of yet.”

OC is blessed to have a man of such great talent with a sure heart for service.

One way Rix reaches students and churches with his lessons is by drawing from his musical experiences.

“I like to use art and narrative theory to unpack how the text reflects real life,” he said. “An understanding of music helps unlock the emotional response to God. It shows how real people living in

the real world connect with these stories, especially in the Psalms.”

Rix recently published a series of essays exploring connections between the Bible, the Shoah and the artwork of postHolocaust painter Samuel Bak. In fact, one of Rix’s areas of study is the presence of God in the midst of suffering.

But it is more than a topic of study for Rix. This year marks the seventh anniversary of his wife’s death from melanoma cancer. The two met in Singapore, where she was doing mission work and he was working for Exxon.

“Jenny had gone there to work with single women every summer since she graduated college,” Rix said. “Ministry was always a part of our relationship and time together. In my time at OC, I hope to continue that shared interest in missions and outreach.”

Rix will do just that April 20 with a benefit concert for OC’s Center for Global Missions. He will help raise funds for students interested in mission work.

Many of Rix’s performances, even at prominent events and venues throughout the world, have benefited mission work.

“Both times I performed in Russia, I was accompanied by a mission trip, and we were able to share the gospel or promote a local meeting,” he said.

Rix also sees his and Jenny’s shared focus on outreach continued through their children. His son, Nathan, has worked for Teach For America in a Dominican community in the South Bronx. His daughter, Abby Rix Degge, works in end-of-life care for those with HIV at a University of Maryland hospital.

“She works with people on the street who are dying,” Rix said. “And Nathan reached out to those that others had turned away. That’s our orientation, living out the kingdom to those in need.”

By Josh Watson

WATCH VIDEOS OF DR. RIX’S CLASSICAL PIANO PIECES. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

STEVES BRINGS COMMUNITY TO OC FOR GLOBAL LECTURE Travel writer and TV personality Rick Steves spoke to an overflow crowd of more than 1,500 people at Oklahoma Christian earlier this month.

Steves’ lecture, Cultivating a Global Perspective through Travel, sold out Hardeman Auditorium. Oklahoma Christian accomodated the demand by setting up a live feed of the lecture in Judd Theatre.

Sponsors for the event included the Oklahoman, KOSU, OETA and KaliKosmos Travel.

Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel, helping travelers connect intimately and authentically with Europe for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.

Over the past 20 years, he has hosted more than 100 travel shows for public television. His Rick Steves’ Europe TV series is carried by more than 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. He also created two award-winning television specials, Rick Steves’ European Christmas and Rick Steves’ Iran.

Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves, and has created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, London and Athens.

He has written more than 50 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and “snapshot” guides since first publishing his travel skills book, “Europe Through the Back

Rick Steves

Door,” in 1980. For several years, “Rick Steves’ Italy” has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the United States.

In addition to his guidebooks, television and radio work, Steves is a syndicated newspaper columnist with Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.

WATCH A VIDEO FROM THE SOLD-OUT EVENT AND A VIDEO ABOUT OC’S LONG HISTORY OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

BARNA GROUP PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN Best-selling author David Kinnaman spoke at Oklahoma Christian in October about the research used in his newest book, “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church … and Rethinking Faith.”

Kinnaman’s first book, “unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity,” was a New York Times bestseller. He is president of the Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture.

According to Kinnaman, those under the age of 30 are often misunderstood or ignored by Christian groups across the United States.

“In many ways, twenty-somethings are a ‘lost’ generation, as their spiritual journeys often lead them away from congregational church involvement and out into the wider world,” he said.

Kinnaman’s lecture was the first in a planned series presented

by OC’s new Intergenerational Faith Center, which was created

by OC associate professor of youth ministry Dr. Dudley Chancey.

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David Kinnaman

“We want David’s talk and the work we do at the IFC to bridge discussions with students, younger adults, ministers and churches,” Chancey said. “We can’t reach a generation that is leaving the churches they grew up in if we don’t engage them in conversation and let them know we want to listen.”

GARRETT APPEARS IN CONGRESSIONAL HEARING Oklahoma Christian’s Dr. Allison Garrett (84) testified in a February hearing by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?”

Garrett, OC’s senior vice president for academic affairs, was one of four witnesses representing Council for Christian Colleges and Universities member institutions.

Dr. Garrett’s testimony addressed a recent government mandate that requires religion-affiliated institutions to include free coverage for abortifacients in their employee health plans.

Churches are exempted from the requirement.

“We believe strongly in our right to practice our faith without interference from the government,” Garrett said at the hearing.

“While we believe that every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities, we respectfully ask that you not force Oklahoma Christian to choose between following our sincerely held religious beliefs or violating federal law ...

“We teach our students not just to be proficient as engineers or historians or writers, but to approach their disciplines from a Christian worldview. We incorporate our faith in everything we do at Oklahoma Christian, from daily chapel to prayer before intramural athletic events to service activities around the world, yet the exemption does not apply to us ...

Dr. Allison Garrett

“Forcing employers to cooperate in offering drugs or services that they believe are morally wrong leaves employers in the same moral quagmire as the original regulations. We ask that the Administration and the Congress overturn these regulations because they infringe on our religious liberty.”

Watch the video AND READ THE TEXT OF Dr. Garrett’s full statement BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

THE WRITTEN WORD

FROM BOARDROOM TO WHITEBOARD PHILLIP V. LEWIS WITH MARILYN HERMANN LEWIS

BAPTISM: HISTORICAL, THEOLOGICAL & PASTORAL PERSPECTIVES

A sampling of recent books authored by OC alumni, faculty and staff:

10 Critical Factors in Fundraising J. TERRY JOHNSON

IMAGES OF AMERICA: BRICKTOWN STEVE LACKMEYER

JAMES D. DVORAK (co-editor)

For information about how to purchase these books, go to www.oc.edu/books. OC faculty members also have been published in numerous journals and presented at prestigious conferences recently. For a listing of these and many other accomplishments by OC’s faculty, staff and students, go to www.oc.edu/accomplishments.

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Keep up with YOUR ALMA MATER at www.oc.edu/NEWS

HISTORY CHAPTER WINS 16th STRAIGHT NATIONAL AWARD

OC ALUMNUS RAY VAUGHN EARNS NATIONAL AWARD

OC’s history honor society was chosen as a Best Chapter in the nation among smaller universities for the 16th consecutive year and 17th time overall.

“The students deserve the credit for this exciting achievement,” said John Maple (72), the group’s sponsor and chair of the department of history and political science.

“Their pursuit of excellence in chapter activities resulted in this recognition from Dr. John Maple the national office.”

OC’s chapter is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society for college history students and professors in the United States. More than 350,000 students from 860 chapters compete in regional and national conferences.

The OC chapter, known as Tau Sigma, competed against other universities that had won five or more Best Chapter awards, and that have up to 3,000 students, the category with the most competitors in Phi Alpha Theta.

“By winning this competition so many times, our history students have earned more than $4,200 to help fund library purchases here at Oklahoma Christian,” Maple said.

The National Association of Counties recently recognized Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn (70) with the prestigious 2011 County Courthouse Award for Innovative Governance, sponsored by Siemens.

As part of the award, Siemens presented a $5,000 scholarship on Vaughn’s behalf to OC’s School of Engineering.

NACo honored Vaughn for his dedication to improving the lives of Oklahoma County’s residents, including his leadership in the county’s acquisition of a shuttered General Motors manufacturing plant. The county leased the facility to Tinker Air Force Base, the area’s largest single-site employer. By doing this, nearly all of the 2,400 jobs lost as a result of the plant closure are on track to be replaced.

OC RECEIVES $200,000 NEH GRANT Oklahoma Christian received a $200,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant in December.

“Being selected for such a competitive financial award is not only an acknowledgement of the quality inspired by Bailey and Joyce McBride, but also a signal that alumni and community partners invest in the McBride Center,” said Dr. Scott LaMascus (84), McBride Center director. “Christian faith has a lot to say about human experience and our guest speakers have proven that the resulting dialogues can be civil, intellectual, meaningful and bridge-building.”

Noting that NEH gives virtually all its money in challenges, OC senior vice president for advancement John deSteiguer said the university will seek others who share the McBrides’ commitment to excellence in the humanities.

“This NEH challenge grant is a huge victory for Oklahoma Christian,” deSteiguer said. “The size of the grant, larger than some states’ total grants, speaks to the high quality of our humanities programs here at OC and the noteworthy track record of nationally prominent guest speakers brought to our campus.”

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Mike O’Neal, Ray Vaughn, Chuck Hall from Siemens, John deSteiguer

SPRING GRAD’S ESSAY CHOSEN AS BEST IN THE NATION An essay on Japanese No drama by recent OC graduate Wil Norton (11) was selected as the best overall submission in 2011 by Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honors society.

Sigma Tau Delta has more than 750 active chapters located in Europe, the Caribbean and the United States.

“Wil is very deserving of this great honor,” OC professor of language and Wil Norton literature Cami Agan (91) said. “I am so proud of him and the superb work he has done throughout his time at OC.” Norton’s essay was also chosen for best work in the critical category. He’s presenting at the national convention this month.

Along with fellow OC graduate Henson Adams (11), he is one of 50 Teach for America teachers in Oklahoma City.

CREATIVE ALUMNI WIN ADVERTISING AWARDS OC alumni made a great showing at the Oklahoma City ADDY Awards, which recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising.

Alumni winners included Brandon Anderson (05), Bobbie Earles (07), Jonathan Hord (10), Chelsi Lecrone (09) and Amy Nickerson (04) from Insight Creative Group; Holly Arter (98) from Third Degree Advertising; Dylan Conklin (09) from Chesapeake Energy; Aaron Cahill (00) from VI Marketing and Branding; Guy McAlister (98) from Express Employment Professionals; and Lucas Ross (03) with Two Movie Guys.

Alumni Erick Alexander (00) and Addi Panter (07) were the featured singers in a commercial produced by Boiling Point Media about Oklahoma City. You can see the video at www. oc.edu/octunes.

HONORS STUDENT TO STUDY AT OXFORD OC’s Riley Hansen has been accepted to study in the Scholars’ Semester in Oxford, the prestigious program for CCCU students at England’s Oxford University.

Hansen, a second-year student from St. David, Ariz., majoring in international business, is fluent in Thai language and culture and excels in the University Fellows program of OC Honors.

“Riley has added so much to our programs, classes, and our campus,” Honors Director Dr. Scott LaMascus (84) said. “The greatest joy of his selection is that Riley has such an open, global perspective as a Christian who will, I know, make an increasingly large impact everywhere he goes. He’s just a great young man.”

ASSOCIATION NAMES PROFESSOR MEMBER OF THE YEAR Dr. Burt Smith has been named the 2011 Member of the Year by the National Speakers Association of Oklahoma.

Smith has served on the NSA board of directors for the past four years.

“Receiving an award that has been bestowed upon people in this business I admire really makes it special,” Smith said.

Smith also was the auctioneer at a charity event to raise funds for injured Dr. Burt Smith Oklahoma City police officer Chad Peery.

The event, organized by Dee Patty, Peery’s captain and a 2011 OC MBA graduate, raised more than $155,000. Smith was the 2002 Oklahoma State Champion Auctioneer and has raised over $1.4 million for charities across Oklahoma and Texas.

Smith’s firm, EMI Research Solutions, has served clients such as Cox Communications, OG&E, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Subway and the Oklahoma City Zoo. The Oklahoma City chapter of the American Marketing Association created the “Dr. Burt Smith Lifetime Achievement Award” in his honor in 2010.

“Burt is always mindful that what he does on or off campus is with the goal of providing value for our students,” said Dr. Phil Lewis, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “When he succeeds in the marketplace, it shows our students that what we’re teaching them here works and will pay off for them.”

OC PROFESSOR REFLECTS ON TWAIN, HOLBROOK OC English professor Dr. Willie Steele recently shared the stage with Hollywood actor Hal Holbrook at the Christian Scholars’ Conference, which focused on the works of Mark Twain.

Holbrook shared the stage with Steele because of the actor’s well-known oneman show that celebrates the life of Twain.

Holbrook talked about what it has been like to play Twain on stage for 57 years.

Dr. Willie Steele “Holbrook’s reflections on his experience were fantastic,” Steele said. “During the Civil Rights movement, he spoke Twain’s words about race in Huck Finn to a crowd in Mississippi, and to another crowd in Arkansas after the schools in Little Rock had been integrated.”

Held at Pepperdine University, the conference’s emphasis on Twain reflected a recent wave of scholarship following the 100th anniversary of Twain’s death in 2010.

Steele presented his paper, “And Ever the Twain Will Tweet; Presenting Twain in The 21st Century.” In it he addressed topics from some of Twain’s lesser-known works.

“Twain’s sarcasm was often aimed at people who professed to be Christians while living contrary to what God commanded,” Steele said. “He has been painted as a man who was an atheist, but the reality is Twain was someone who seriously considered scripture and the relationship between God and man.”

OC HONORED FOR TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES OC vice president for information technology John Hermes (93) was presented with the Laserfiche Visionary Award for his work in leading the campus in several key technology initiatives, including the implementation of a electronic content management (ECM) system across multiple areas of campus.

Oklahoma Christian earned the Laserfiche Run Smarter award for its work in streamlining information technology processes across campus.

Hermes, working closely with OC director of student financial services Clint LaRue (97), kicked off the Laserfiche project by enabling students to complete and submit financial aid documents through a student portal. Subsequent initiatives streamlined the systems in Admissions and the Business Office.

OC also partnered with AT&T to launch the Rave Campus Messenger, which connects students easily so they can receive university communications through Facebook, Twitter, email and

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Mason Drumm

DRUMM BEATS OWN PATH TO JAZZ TITLE In a competition traditionally dominated by larger schools, senior Mason Drumm snatched the title of Oklahoma’s Outstanding University Jazz Musician of the Year, an honor given by Oklahoma Music Educators Convention to the most qualified student musician in the state.

This is the first time an OC student has won the statewide award.

Drumm was “discovered” at his middle school by OC professor of music Dr. Heath Jones, who was also a clinician working with school bands.

“He was a strong Christian when I met him,” Jones said. “He said, ‘You work at a Christian university?

I always wanted to go to a Christian university.’ I said, ‘Well, look no further.’”

Drumm, a Bible major, not only has the gift of music, but the gift of ministry. He speaks of a love for God partnered with a love for people that keeps him wanting to teach wherever he plays. Although he has played in many venues, his primary passion is clear.

“Even though I’m a musician, I feel like God is calling me to focus my attention more on ministry. What’s great about ministry is that it can be done anywhere and everywhere, and it should,” Drumm said. “As I’m out on a gig, I’m also building relationships. And my hope is that through drumming I might be able to talk with people about Jesus. This is especially needed in the music culture that I’m a part of. Plus, I love drumming for God.”

By Monica Williams Courtesy of the Talon

38 VI SI O NSPRIN G2 012

texts. Students can customize how they receive notifications.

The system integrates with the Blackboard learning management system that professors use to post documents and grades, make assignments and even administer tests.

Another feature allows anyone on campus to anonymously report a crime or inappropriate behavior via anonymous text messages.

“What makes us unique is that the students and faculty communicate easily, whether it’s face to face or through technology,” he said.

“It’s a good community of learning, where the faculty is concerned not just about your grades, but about you as a whole person. And technology has made that a little bit easier.”

MBA SCHOLARSHIP PLAN ANNOUNCED The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian recently launched an MBA scholarship program for tribal members.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is comprised of more than 200,000 members worldwide and is the third-largest Indian tribe in the United States.

Dr. Ken Johnson, chair of OC’s Graduate School of Business, said most of the Choctaw students will complete the program online.

“Being able to complete our fast-track MBA program online is an attractive feature for students who are pressured for time with job and family commitments,” Johnson said. “Our emphasis on ethics, practical knowledge and real-world application is very attractive to employers who highly value those attributes.”

AWARD-WINNING NOVELIST APPEARS AT OC Alice McDermott, author of six novels and winner of the National Book Award, delivered the seventh-annual McBride Lecture for Faith and Literature in October.

“Alice McDermott is an artist whose novels are loved for many reasons, including their ability to capture the poignancy of American life,” said Dr. Scott LaMascus (84), director of OC’s McBride Center for Faith and Literature.

During her visit, McDermott also participated in writing workshops coordinated by OC professor of writing Dr. Rebecca Briley.

This program is funded by an endowment

provided by family members and OC alumni in honor of Bailey and Joyce McBride. Bailey has taught English at Oklahoma Christian since 1956 and was OC’s chief academic officer for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

MEINDERS, ANDERSON HIGHLIGHT CEREMONY OC’s December commencement featured two highly successful local business leaders: Mo Anderson, vice chairman of Keller Williams Realty, and Herman Meinders, founder of American Floral Services, Inc. Meinders received an honorary doctorate for his support of higher education and service to his community and industry. He has been a champion and benefactor to many community programs, including local literacy programs for special needs students, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boy Scouts of America.

Mo Anderson gave the commencement address. In 2006, she was named one of America’s Top 25 Influential Thought Leaders

by Realtor magazine. In 2007, the Women’s Council of Realtors featured her as one of Real Estate’s Most Influential People.

OC HOSTS EXECUTIVE FOR ETHICS SYMPOSIUM A former energy company CEO discussed ethics with OC students in November. Jim Gardner, who retired as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Massey Energy in 2004, was the keynote speaker at OC’s fifth-annual J.J. Millican Ethics Symposium.

Gardner, now a professor at Freed-Hardeman University, graduated from Harvard College and Yale Law School.

“This was another excellent opportunity to learn from someone who has practiced and applied ethics at the highest levels of business,” said Elaine Kelly, associate professor of accounting and holder of the J.J. Millican chair.

“His teaching and experience demonstrate how and why ethics must be practiced in business, especially as a person of faith.”

Gardner’s address was part of Ethics Week, which featured the theme of “Living Beyond Reproach” in daily Chapel talks. Speakers included Gardner; OC board chair Don Millican, executive vice president and chief financial

officer for Kaiser-Francis Oil Company; Shannon Warren, founder of the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium; and Dr. Allison Garrett (84), OC senior vice president for academic affairs and a former executive at Wal-Mart.

WALK FOR HONDURAS HELPS MISSION Oklahoma Christian supported the Predisan medical mission with the on-campus Walk for Honduras.

OC has a long history with Predisan. Each year, our nursing students go serve in Honduran clinics. Engineering students go to work on different systems for the mountain villages.

Earlier this year, OC president Mike O’Neal visited Predisan.

NEW LOOK AND FEATURES FOR OC.EDU OC recently unveiled the redesign of its public website, www. oc.edu.

The new site has a streamlined design, simpler, cleaner and easier navigation, and separate front pages for Alumni & Friends, Future Students, Parents,

Current Students, and Faculty/Staff, with news stories, calendar events and links customized to their interests.

New features include enhanced news pages; improved integration with OC’s social media content on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo and Flickr; a reorganized Academics section for easier browsing; and updated systems for the calendar, campus directory and campus map.

The website also has a mobile version; most pages are optimized for viewing on your mobile phone.

TOP 10 STORIES OF 2011 What stories were most important to you in 2011? According to unique pageviews from Google Analytics, these were the most-viewed entries on the news blog at www.oc.edu: 1.

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Updates from Japan earthquake and tsunami 2011 Spring Sing results Two named finalists for Oklahoma Christian president First Week Follies 2011 videos OC’s new tuition and fees well below national average Acappella adds two with OC ties OC professor named president of Ohio Valley University Homecoming 2011 honorees OC to offer Honors housing in fall, Summer Honors Academy in July 10. Recap from Associates Dinner

Tori (Murcer) Witherspoon, Kay Murcer, Todd Murcer, Chuck White (77), Pat Lawson (67), Todd Dobson (85), David Smith Jr. (97), Dewey Leggett (86), Max Pope (71), Bob May (76), Mike O’Neal (68), Col. Doug Wheelock, Clint Vaughn (00), Susie Jackson (79) and David Seat (73) cut the ceremonial ribbon at the dedication of the Bobby Murcer Indoor Training Facility.

Just after our press deadline for the last issue of Vision, Kay Murcer, Col. Doug Wheelock and other dignitaries helped commemorate a big day at Oklahoma Christian.

Murcer, the wife of the late New York Yankees great Bobby Murcer, spoke at the dedication of the $503,000 Bobby Murcer Indoor Training Facility.

Wheelock participated in the dedication after making his second in-person appearance at an OC Chapel service and his third overall, including 2010’s “Space Chapel.”

WATCH the dedication ceremony and a behind-the-scenes look at the murcer indoor facility.

WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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S P O RT S N E W S Keep up YOUR OC ALMA MATERatatwww.ocEAGLES.COM www.oc.edu/NEWS Keepwith up with SPORTS

“It is one of the highest honors a coach can have to represent the United States in a team competition,” Lynn said.

“Coaching in South Africa in 2008 was a great experience and I feel very fortunate to have been asked to coach Team USA again next summer in the Czech Republic.

Lynn coached the OC men’s golf team to the 2011 NAIA championship, the second national title in OC golf history.

Coach Hays cuts down the net after the Eagles won the SAC championship.

HAYS BECOMES WINNINGEST COACH IN STATE HISTORY OC’s Dan Hays is No. 1 when it comes to wins recorded by a men’s basketball coach exclusively at an Oklahoma school.

Hays’ Eagles beat Central Bible (Mo.) 75-48 on Homecoming Saturday, raising his career record to 663-387.

He eclipsed the record he shared with former Southeastern Oklahoma State coach Bloomer Sullivan; legendary Oklahoma State coach Henry Iba is third on the list with 655 wins.

“It’s an honor to have my name mentioned along with coach Sullivan and coach Iba,” Hays said. “I’d like to have won a few more games, just like I think every coach could’ve. But I’ve been able to do it the way I choose to do it, with good kids and good students and graduating almost all of them.”

The seven-time conference coach of the year ended the season on a high note, too. He led the Eagles to the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship and the ninth NAIA national tournament appearance in his 29-year tenure.

Lady Eagle basketball coach Stephanie Findley (82) holds the state record for most wins by a women’s basketball coach at a four-year Oklahoma college. With 521 career wins, she ranks No. 2 in the nation among NAIA Division I coaches.

LYNN SELECTED TO COACH U.S. TEAM OC Director of Golf David Lynn (95) has been named as the men’s co-coach of the U.S. team in the 2012 World University Golf Championship.

The 72-hole event will be July 2-7 in Liberec, Czech Republic.

It will be the second time Lynn has participated as a coach in the event; he helped guide the U.S. team during the 2008 World University Golf Championship in Sun City, South Africa.

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David Lynn

KISORIO EXCELS IN PRESTIGIOUS RACE OC senior Silas Kisorio ran a personal-best and school-record time of 3:55.84 to finish fourth in the Wanamaker Mile during the Millrose Games in New York City.

Kisorio placed second among seven collegiate runners behind Miles Batty of Brigham Young, the reigning NCAA Division I indoor mile champion.

The invitation-only Wanamaker Mile is considered one of the most prestigious U.S. events during the indoor track season.

“It’s hard to beat this stage, but he’s going to have excellent opportunities because of this race,” said Mark Thompson, OC cross country coach and assistant track and field coach.

Read more about Kisorio, the first active student ever to be inducted into the OC Athletic Hall of Fame, on page 42.

OC DOUBLES TEAM WINS ITA CHAMPIONSHIP The OC women’s doubles team of Lucie Sipkova and Hermon Brhane won the NAIA division of the USTA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Small College Championships.

They advanced to the “Super Bowl” title match among all divisions (NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, junior college) and finished as the overall national runnerup.

Oklahoma Christian had a great collective showing at the ITA national championships. Both Brhane and men’s player Bruno Tiberti advanced to the NAIA singles finals. The men’s doubles team of Tiberti and Martin Poboril made it to the NAIA semifinals.

The Eagles and Lady Eagles, coached by Kris Miller (86), are ranked third and fourth, respectively in the latest NAIA national polls.

WATCH THE ‘FLASH MOB’ BY OC STUDENTS CELEBRATING COACH HAYS’ RECORD WIN. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

EAGLES RUN AWAY WITH CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP The scenario Oklahoma Christian cross country head coach Mark Thompson had pictured before the season happened in November.

Thompson hadn’t shied away from talk that his Eagles could win the NAIA men’s national championship, and they went out and did so in dominating fashion on a brisk fall day at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

“We thought going in, if we really executed well, we’d win, and we executed well, better than I expected,” Thompson said.

With three runners – Silas Kisorio, Geoffrey Njonjo and David McWilliams – finishing in the top 20, the No. 1-ranked Eagles posted a team score of 93, well ahead of second-place California State-San Marcos, which finished with 188.

The national championship was the first in the OC cross country program’s history and the fourth in university history in any sport. OC won the men’s tennis title in 2003 and men’s golf titles in 2009 and 2011.

OC’s previous best national finish in men’s cross country was fifth in 1976.

“In a race like this, you expect a few guys to run well and a few guys to not have their best day,” said Thompson, who was named the NAIA coach of the year. “I don’t think that happened.

Really, one through seven, we ran about as well as we could have. There were maybe a few points here or there, but we didn’t leave many points on the course.”

The Eagles didn’t wait long after the race to celebrate, dousing Thompson with water after it became evident they’d won the title. Later in the day, after an awards ceremony at nearby Hudson’s Bay High School – in a gym named the Eagles’ Nest, just like OC’s – team members took turns holding and posing with the national championship trophy.

Rain that had fallen all week in Vancouver stopped overnight and temperatures were in the low 40s at race time. The Eagles responded to the favorable conditions with arguably their strongest performance of the season.

Kisorio, who won the individual NAIA title as a sophomore in 2009, ran second on Saturday. Njonjo finished 11th in 24:21, and in what he called “the best race of my life, by far,” McWilliams was a hard-charging 19th with a time of 24:37.

Brayden Barrientez (34th), Nathan Mesta (56th), Roberto Diaz (64th) and Austin Simkins (95th) rounded out OC’s entrants in the 312-man field.

Kisorio earned cross country All-America honors for the fourth straight year and now has 19 All-America honors in both cross country and track. Njonjo now is a two-time All-American while McWilliams received the honor for the first time.

By Murray Evans (89) WATCH THE EAGLES CELEBRATE THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

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OC INDUCTS FIVE GREATS INTO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Oklahoma Christian inducted its five newest Athletic Hall of Fame members in January.

Men’s basketball star Charlie Smith (70), tennis coach Kris Miller (86), track standout Kathy (Nelson 98) Belcoff, softball ace Leah Carrell (01) and current track and cross country AllAmerican Silas Kisorio (12) participated in the formal induction ceremony.

The addition of the five honorees raised the membership in the OC Athletic Hall of Fame to 41 people. A 25-person committee consisting of members of the OC athletic department staff and representatives from the campus community chose the inductees.

Don Meyer, the NCAA leader in career men’s basketball wins with 923, was the keynote speaker. The former coach at Lipscomb University praised the five inductees for developing their athletic gifts and encouraged the 250 people in attendance to do the same. He said it’s important for athletes – and everyone – to set a good example in today’s world.

“Your example is not the main thing that influences people,” he said. “It’s the only thing. It’s the greatest example in the world when you’re doing what you say everyone else should do. There is no sacrifice too big, no task too small.”

Leah Carrell, Charlie Smith, Silas Kisorio, Among those attending the event were Oklahoma women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale (87), an OC Athletic Hall of Fame member; Oklahoma state Treasurer Ken Miller, an OC economics professor; and Buffalo Bills wide receiver David Nelson, the son of Belcoff.

Smith earned NAIA All-America honorable mention in men’s basketball after leading the 1970 Eagles with 20.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. The transfer from Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) scored 906 points in two seasons at Oklahoma Christian.

He was Freed-Hardeman’s athletic director from 1980 to 2003 and coached FHU’s volleyball, tennis, baseball and basketball teams. He was inducted in 1995 into the FHU Athletic Hall of Fame. Smith now serves as the commissioner of the TranSouth Athletic Conference.

Miller is in his second stint as coach of OC’s men’s and women’s tennis programs. In 2003, he guided the Eagles to the university’s first national team championship. He’s been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s NAIA coach of the year six times and received NAIA District 9 Coach of the Year honors three times. He’s twice been an NAIA regional coach of the year.

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Miller, a professor of biology at OC since 1994, has produced more than 50 NAIA All-Americans. His coaching tree includes four current NCAA Division I head coaches – John Blackburn of Eastern Illinois, Dann Nelson of Southern Illinois, Sam Winterbotham of Tennessee and Chris Young of Oklahoma State.

Belcoff earned NAIA All-America honors in the 200 meters in 1997 and the 400 meters in 1997 and 1998. She was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CoSIDA Academic All-America second-team pick in 1998. A single mother of three young boys during her time at OC, Belcoff received the NAIA’s A.O. Duer Award – recognizing excellence in character, playing ability and scholarship – at the conference and national level in 1998.

She holds OC indoor school records in the 200, 400 and 600 meters and holds outdoor school records in the 100, 200, 400, 400-meter relay, 800-meter relay, 1,600-meter sprint medley and 1,600-meter relay.

Carrell was a two-time AllAmerican in softball, and is the first player from her sport to be inducted into the OC Athletic Hall of Fame. She made the NAIA All-Region team each year from 1998 to 2001. She was a two-time All-Sooner Athletic Conference first-team pick in 2000 and 2001, and was named the 2001 SAC player of the year.

Kathy Belcoff, Kris Miller.

She holds OC records for most innings pitched, strikeouts, complete games, wins, best winning percentage, lowest earned run average, and shutouts.

Her 20 strikeouts in a 2001 win over Southern Nazarene stood as the single-game NAIA record until 2010.

Kisorio, a senior from Eldoret, Kenya, is the first current student to be inducted. He is a 10-time NAIA national champion and 18-time All-American in track and cross country.

He is a three-time NAIA cross country All-America and won the 2009 individual title. He won the NAIA outdoor title in the 800 meters in 2009 and in 2010, he won NAIA indoor titles in the 800 meters and mile run and outdoor titles in the 800 and 1,500.

In 2011, he won the same four national titles. He holds school records in the 800 meters, 1,500 meters, and the mile.

He was featured in the “Faces In The Crowd” section in the March 22, 2010, issue of Sports Illustrated.

By Murray Evans (89) WATCH A VIDEO RECAP OF THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME DINNER. WWW.OC.EDU/VISION

NAC SPOTLIGHT

A CLOSER LOOK AT NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS

NAME: GLEN DAVIS (’84) Hometown: Yukon, Oklahoma Current Job: Project Manager at Tinker Air Force Base Childhood Ambition: Astronaut Fondest Memory: Watching my soon-to-be wife walk down the aisle at our wedding.

Wildest Dream: To write a screenplay or book that would have a positive impact for good on our culture.

Alarm Clock: Depending on what’s going on that day ... 5:07, 5:34 or 6:06 am.

Favorite OC Bible Class: History of the Old Testament with Dr. Bill Jones.

Proudest Moment: Raising our four great kids (Jacob, Jill, Danny, Jed) with my wife Cindy.

Biggest Challenge: Raising our four great kids (Jacob, Jill, Danny, Jed) with my wife Cindy.

Indulgence: Mountain Dew! Inspiration: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24) My Life: Striving to be a positive influence of salt and light on those around me. Not perfect and don’t even pretend to be, but hopefully, even that is an example in itself.

(Psalm 37:23-24) Always learning, growing, maturing. Trying to keep my conscience sharp and to live up to it, knowing that it is impossible. (Thank you, God, for grace.)

My School = my life, literally. My parents met at Oklahoma Christian. If OC did not exist, neither would I. Since then, OC has always been a natural and integral part of my life, as I grew up in Edmond, next to the campus. I have many childhood memories of roaming the campus in the summertime. Now that I’m older, I have memories of our sons getting married on the OC campus. Now it’s a part of their lives, too.

NAME: KEVIN LAWRENCE (’01) Hometown: Portland, Oregon Current Job: Senior Manager, Ernst & Young Childhood Ambition: To become a policeman (until my older sister warned me about getting shot).

Fondest Memory: Meeting and talking to Devin, my wife, for the first time in the dorm room lobby during our freshman year at OC (she later told me I wasn’t as funny as I thought I was).

Wildest Dreams: 1) See my kids grow up to be faithful, humble and positive thinking adults; 2) See the Portland Trailblazers win an NBA championship.

Alarm Clock: 5:25 a.m. (but I actually get out of bed around 5:45 a.m.

Favorite OC Bible Class: “World Religions” taught by Bob Carpenter.

Proudest Moment: Seeing my kids learn and achieve new things each day.

Biggest Challenge: Finding the proper balance between success at work and home.

Indulgence: Sports in the Pacific Northwest (Blazers, Ducks, and Mariners).

Inspiration: Zig Ziglar: If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want in life.

My Life: To become a servant to my family, church, and community.

My School: OC not only taught me accounting, it provided me the values to succeed in the “real world,” which were closely aligned with the values expected by my employer, Ernst & Young: respect, enthusiasm, courage to lead, integrity, teaming and building relationships based on doing the right thing.

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Mi l e s t on e s Keep up with milestones online at www.oc.edu/alumni

1964

1983

1991

1997

Bill and Judy (Sharp 64) Freeze celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 1, 2011.

James Riley was installed as chaplain of the Good Samaritan Home in Quincy, Illinois. A former pulpit minister in Quincy and in Bradford, Pennsylvania, he has served in the Blessing Hospital Volunteer Chaplain program for more than 10 years and as its president twice.

Wade Lawrence was selected to attend National War College in Washington, D.C. He is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and will graduate from this prestigious school this June. He and Landa (Bode 92) live in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with their two children Grayson (14) and Sierra (12). wadenlanda@hotmail. com

Mike Sanders received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award in February. He serves in the Oklahoma State House, representing District 59, and is assistant majority whip. He is a former deputy chief of staff for rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

1992

Sarah (Stinnett) and Jeff Gigstad have a new address: 23792 Casa Blanca, Edmond, OK 73025. sarah247jojo@yahoo. com

1972 Aaron Sayles was honored as the 2011 Alumnus of the Year at Southwestern Christian College. asay1@aol.com

SCOTT KEELE (left )

aar on say les

1976 Ohio Valley University honored Oklahoma Christian alumnus Stan Inman with its Medal of Merit in computer science and technology. He works as a desktop support specialist at OVU.

1977 Warren Branch was named the 2011 Texas Dentist of the Year by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. He maintains his practice of 30 years in San Antonio. He is active in philanthropic efforts through mission trips to Mexico and Guyana and his work with Donated Dental Services and Give Kids A Smile.

1978 Ohio Valley University honored OC alumnus Larry Ice with its Medal of Merit in Christian service. He has been a deacon at Grand Central Church of Christ in Vienna for 25 years. Diagnosed in 2004 with Parkinson’s Disease, he and other supporters have raised nearly $5,000 for Parkinson’s awareness in the last two years.

1986 Scott Keele was honored by Broken Arrow Church of Christ for 25 years as a minister. He also has served as a police chaplain in Broken Arrow since 1995, and served as chaplain to the New York City Police Department & Port Authority following 9/11.

Thomas Reed is a Recognized Associate Substance Counselor. He is in his third year as a drug and alcohol counselor for Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare after 12 years as a mental health worker. zysogus@hotmail.com

1987 Gean Hackworth earned the Advocate - Educator of the Year Award from the Tulsa Advocates for the Rights of Citizens for her service in special education with Fort Gibson (Oklahoma) Public Schools.

Gean and her husband Terry and children Hunter, Hayden and Hannah attend Fort Gibson Church of Christ.

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Brandy (Mathews) Segraves recently earned her Masters of Elementary Education degree. segraves76@q.com

1999 Andrea (Johnson) and Randon (98) Rieger announce the birth of Jaxon Loren Rieger on May 31, 2011. Jaxon joins Emily (7) and Cadon (5). arieger77@cox.net

Jeremy Peterson

1994 James Griffith was honored as an OKC Friday “Rising Star,” a group of top Oklahoma City community leaders under the age of 50. He is a senior vice president at Quail Creek Bank, managing the accounting, data processing and customer service areas.

1995

Jaxo n Riege r

Tyson Schwerdtfeger has joined Alliance Resource Partners, LP, as Corporate Counsel. Prior to joining Alliance, he was a partner at GableGotwals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his practice focused on energy litigation. Tyson and his wife Kenna (99) live in Jenks, Oklahoma, with their children, Owen and Kate. tyson. schwerdtfeger@gmail.com

Lee Langdon recently accepted a position as the Youth and Family Minister at Alameda Church of Christ in Norman. Lee, his wife Aime (Walker 99), and their four children, Britt (13), Keegan (11), Hayden (9) and Makenna (7) live at 1517 Cambridge Drive, Norman, OK 73069. lee.langdon@ alameda-church.org

wade lawrence

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Bonny (Bornschlegel) and Tom (91) Peterson announce the birth of their son, Jeremy Thomas, on October 28, 2011. Jeremy has two excited big sisters, Molly (14) and Mindy (8). Tom is a software engineer for Delphi in Kokomo, Indiana. Bonny is the director of SonLight Station Preschool. They lead the youth group at Center Road Church of Christ. tomandbonny@yahoo.com

1998

elin engelke

2000 Erin (Richards) and Jason (00) Engelke announce the birth of their daughter, Elin Elisabeth, on March 30, 2011. She joins big brother Gabriel (6) and big sister Ava (3). eengelke@wn.org

2001 Brian Blundell was honored as an OKC Friday “Rising Star,” a group of top Oklahoma City community leaders under 50. He is a vice president at Arvest Bank.

Sabrina (Fleming) and Ryan Schroeder announce the birth of their first child, Rylan Douglas, on April 25, 2011. He weighed 8 lb., 5 oz., and was 21 inches long. srfacct77@yahoo.com

Coh en cop elan d

2003 JC and Courtney Curtis (00) announce the birth of their daughter, Remy Cate Curtis, on February 20, 2012. She weighed 7 lb., 14 oz., and was 22 inches long. Her big brother is Dax. JC is the senior graphic designer in OC’s Marketing Office.

sutter sheer Erica (Smart) and Jordan (03) Sheer announce the birth of their son, Sutter Benjamin Sheer, on May 3, 2011.

He weighed 3 lb., 9 oz., and was 15 1/2 inches long. They live in Kansas City, Missouri. erica@alumni.oc.edu Joshua and Stephanie (Sneed 02) Steward announce the birth of their second son, Jace Riley Steward, on October 2, 2011. jsteward2@dc.rr.com

rem y cur tis Ryan Schr oede r

2002

Diana (Kniffin) and Bradley (02) Oglesby announce the birth of their daughter, Lola Jane Oglesby, on September 24, 2011. She weighed 4 lb., 15 oz., and was 18 inches long. texasrocks@earthlink.net

Elizabeth (West) and Jon (98) Mitchell announce the birth of their daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Mitchell, on September 24, 2011. She weighed 7 lb., 10 oz., and was 20 inches long. pamperedchefmitchell@hotmail.com

jace steward Kay (Reitz) and Marc Thomas announce the birth of their second daughter, Victoria Diane Aria Thomas, on October 7, 2011. pidleywinks@hotmail.com

2004 Benay (Owens) and Nick Fossey announce the birth of their first child (and first grandchild in both families), Calvin Owens Fossey, on August 21, 2010. He weighed 10 lb., 5 oz., and was 22 inches long. calvinfossey.com, benay127@gmail.com

lol a ogl esby

Katherine Mitchell

Judson and Amanda (Andreas 02) Copeland announce the birth of their son, Cohen Judson Copeland, on July 21, 2011. He weighed 8lbs, 8oz., and was 20 inches long. Judson is the Director of Creative Services in for the OC Marketing Department.

Kinder (Vanderburg) and Andrew Shamhart announce the birth of their daughter, Karis, in September 2010. After spending two years in New Mexico, they have returned to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Kinder recently opened her own law firm, Kinder Shamhart, Attorney at Law, PLLC. akshamhart@gmail.com

MARK STAN SBER RY

PTPI TAPS ALUM Mark A. Stansberry (77), founder and chairman of The GTD Group, has been re-elected to serve a two-year term as chairman of the 14-member governing board of People to People International, a Kansas City, Missouri-based notfor-profit organization.

Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, PTPI promotes international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities.

Major initiatives include Operation International Children – a program founded by actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand – and the Global Landmine Initiative.

PTPI (www.ptpi.org) has a presence in 135 countries with more than 80,000 families and individuals involved in its chapter network, membership and programs.

Stansberry also serves as chairman of the GTD Group. In that role, he recently appeared on CNN to discuss what can be done to stop the spike in gasoline prices.

The GTD Group specializes in energy education and investments, business and trade development and management, and international investments.

calv in foss ey

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Jennie (Ziegler) and Kacey (04) Goss announce the birth of their twins, Kynlie Grace and Korbyn Graham, on December 1, 2011. Kynlie weighed 6 lb., 14 oz., and Korbyn weighed 6 lb., 12 oz. They both were 20 inches long. They join Kyndall Brody Goss (2). jenzig00@hotmail.com

Monika (Magee) and David (05) Paden announce the birth of their third son, Oliver Nathaniel Paden, on April 10, 2011.

He joins big brothers Benjamin (5) and Timothy (3). monika.paden@gmail.com

2007 John and Micah (Wooten 05) Domina were married on December 3, 2011. John is the Apartment Maintenance Supervisor at Oklahoma Christian and Micah is OC’s Media Production Coordinator.

Aubrey (Coble) Proctor was a part of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition along with Danze & Davis Architects, Inc. They were chosen by ABC and EFC Custom Homes to design a home for family who lost their home to the wildfires in September. aubreylproctor@ gmail.com

2009 Jennifer (Cleverley) and Adam (08) Blackerby announce the birth of their son, Daniel Isaac Blackerby, on January 17, 2011. He weighed 9 lb., 8 oz., and was 21 inches long. jen.blackerby@gmail.com

DAVE SMITH

MTM TURNS 40 MTM Recognition, a company founded by 1968 Oklahoma Christian alumnus Dave Smith, celebrated its 40th anniversary this month.

MTM manufactures jewelry, medals and awards for world-class events, including the World Series (Major League Baseball), the Super Bowl (National Football League), NASCAR, the Olympics, and the NCAA Championships.

Smith, the CEO of MTM Recognition, started the company as Midwest Trophy in 1971.

KYNLIE AND KORBYN GOSS

Carly (Graham) and Jared Harris announce the birth of their twins, Ryder Warren and Brynn Elise, on January 24, 2011. Ryder weighed 7 lb., 5 oz., and Brynn Elise weighed 5 lb., 13 oz. They were welcomed by big brother, Gavin. carlyjuice9@hotmail.com Jennifer (Reagan) and Trevor McIntyre announce the birth of their second girl, Maxine Mari Ellen, on January 22, 2012.

She weighed 7 lb., 10 oz., and was 21 inches long. coasterdot@gmail.com Aubrie (Lashley) and Lucas (03) Ross announce the birth of their second child, Simon Charles, on April 11, 2011. He joins older brother Henson (2). aubrieross@ gmail.com

MICAH AND JOHN DOMINA Amanda (Creed) and Mitch (07) Moore announce the birth of their second child, Jack Donovan Moore, on April 19, 2011. He weighed 8 lb., 6 oz., and was 21.5 inches long. amanda.bc.moore@gmail.com Rachel (Yeakley) married Zach Sewell on October 23, 2011, in Kansas City, Missouri. Rachel is an account executive at an advertising agency and Zach is the minister of Adult Education and Community Outreach at Overland Park Church of Christ. rachelbewell@gmail.com

Dan iel blacke rby Tom and Carrie Cheaney announce the birth of their daughter, Emily Kate Annabelle Cheaney, on January 23, 2012.

She weighed 8 lb., 15 oz., and was 21.5 inches long. She has one sibling, brother Bradley Cheaney (2). The Cheaneys live in of Gainesville, Texas. tomcheaney@ hotmail.com

2008

Simon Ross

Morgan and Jessica Estes announce the birth of their first child, Joanna Kathleen Estes, on September 30, 2011. She weighed 7 lb., 8 oz., and was 20.5 inches long. morgan.estes@alumni.oc.edu

Brad Traynor, an OC MBA graduate, was honored as an OKC Friday “Rising Star,” a group of top Oklahoma City community leaders under the age of 50. He serves as First Fidelity Bank’s treasury services relationship manager.

Heather (Peine) and Micah Nelson announce the birth of Audrey Maye Nelson on April 27, 2011. She weighed 6 lb., 2 oz., and was 18.5 inches long. heather.nelson09@gmail.com

2005 Hollee (Bland) and Wes McAdams announce the birth of their second son, Noah Lane, on May 12, 2011. Noah joins older brother, Malachi. They live in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Wes is the youth and family minister at Airport Road Church of Christ. holleenotes@hotmail.com

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Emily Cheaney

2010 Aaron and Whitney Stewart announce the birth of Rachel Nicole Stewart on April 23, 2011. Aaron.J.Stewart-1@ou.edu

Stefanie (Trent) and Luke (11) Patton were married on September 10, 2011, at Memorial Road Church of Christ. stefanie. patton@hotmail.com

Rach el Stewart

PASSAGES Dr. Bill Jones passed away February 17, 2012, at age 82. He was a distinguished professor of biblical studies at Oklahoma Christian University for 36 years.

He dedicated 60 years of his life to preaching God’s word. Donations in his honor can be made to Heart Beat for Hope, a non-profit organization that supports an orphan home in Ghana.

Roberta Jean Parker, who wrote awardwinning “Cornerstones” columns in the Broken Arrow Ledger and Broken Arrow Scout newspapers for three decades, passed away January 1, 2012, at the age of 78. She was a member of the Oklahoma Christian Women’s Association; donations in her honor can be made to: Memorial - Oklahoma Christian Women’s Association, Attn: Monah Pittman, Treasurer; 11849 South 87th East Avenue, Bixby, OK 74008.

New seats in Hardeman

Soccer field lights

Bill Rampey (71) passed away at age 62.

He was principal at Park Lane Elementary School in Broken Arrow for 23 years.

In 2003-04, he was named the middle school teacher of the year in Joplin, Missouri. He served as an elder and deacon at Broken Arrow Church of Christ.

$1.3M in lights, heat, water, etc.

Marty Winchester (90) passed away October 8, 2011, at the age of 43. She was a member of the National Road Church of Christ in Wheeling, West Virginia, and worked as an accountant at Washington Hospital in Washington, Pennsylvania.

$$

$14.4M in student scholarships

What does all this have to do with you?

Bedding for international students

Everything.

Enhancements on campus

Thanks for continuing to give back to your alma mater.

Library renovations

www.oc.edu/givenow 405.425.5094

Global Missions

Microscopes

Baseballs

SMART Boards for teachers

ALUMNI SERVICES homecoming

ALUMNI JOB NETWORK

Planned by the Office of Alumni Relations, Homecoming is a perfect time for you to reunite with classmates. We hope you’ll come back each year. Homecoming 2012 will be November 2-3.

The projected date for launching this program is Fall 2012.

This project will be a cooperative effort with OC’s Office of Career Services. The intent is to serve new graduates and other alumni by connecting them with alumni professionals and giving them job leads available in their desired geographical areas.

ALUMNI FINDER ASSISTANCE The Alumni Relations office will be happy to assist you in locating classmates from your days at OC. We cannot release any general lists (i.e. cities, states, etc.), but if you have classmates you’re looking to reconnect with, we’d be glad to help.

ALUMNI EMAIL alumni discount program Each alum will receive a personalized discount card good anytime on campus for these discounts for each cardholder.

OC Home Basketball Games 50% OC Theater Productions 50% Campus Bookstore 10% Campus Dining 10-50% (Some restrictions apply)

LEGACY PROGRAM The Alumni Office would like to recognize your children at key times in their development with these gifts. Be sure to help us keep your records complete and up-to-date.

BIRTH – Lil’ Eagle toddler shirt – Sent when you notify our office about your child’s birth.

START OF SCHOOL – OC Eagle backsack – We will scan our records in mid-summer for alumni children with birthdates that make them 5-6 years old.

AGE OF ‘MOBILITY’ – Eagle lanyard and keychain – We will scan our records monthly for alumni children with birthdates that make them 15-16 years old.

To check and update your records, please go to www.oc.edu/ alumni and click on Eagle Connect.

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As an OC alum, you can request a permanent OC alumni email account. Go to www.oc.edu/alumni and click on the link that says ‘Permanent Email’ to request your OC email acccount.

EAGLE EXCERPTS Monthly online newsletter with recent stories and events relative to each month’s issue. Contact dana.holley@oc.edu to sign up to receive Eagle Excerpts.

VISION MAGAZINE We publish this alumni magazine 2-3 times per year.

ATLA RELIGION DATABASE

SENIOR SENDOFF

To support the university’s mission of “transforming lives for Christian faith, leadership, and service” beyond a student’s time at OC, the Beam Library and the College of Biblical Studies offer alumni access to the ATLA Religion Database. ATLA is the premier online index to journal articles, book reviews, and book chapters in all fields of religion. It also has almost 300,000 journal articles in full text. To access ATLA, you must be a registered user on Eagle Connect 2.0 (http://connect.oc.edu). For more information, contact tamie.willis@oc.edu or chris.rosser@oc.edu.

This program’s activities, funded by interested alumni at no cost to graduating seniors, may include: dinner and an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game, exclusive and unlimited use of an entertainment facility like Celebration Station, Dave & Busters, or Frontier City, or dinner and a movie.

A senior student committee helps choose the activities.

NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL The NAC is a select group of alumni from various eras and geographic locations that meets twice a year. A current list of NAC members and their contact information is available at www.oc.edu/alumni (click on the NAC tab). Feel free to contact them with questions, concerns, or ideas pertaining to OC Alumni.

ALUMNI CHAPTERS With chapters in North Texas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, we expect more alumni chapters to be developed in the near future. The objective of these chapters is to unify local alumni to advance the work of Oklahoma Christian in their areas of the country. To check on starting a chapter in your community, contact Bob Lashley at 405.425.5110.

WHAT YOU CAN DO! Keep your information up to date with any changes by going to http://connect.oc.edu and joining Eagle Connect 2.0.

By doing so, you can update your records to continue receiving information about your alma mater and all of the programs listed in this brochure, plus search for your friends and classmates who are also on that site.

Watch for and join in alumni gatherings and activities in your area. Many cities host recruiting/alumni gatherings in alumni homes (Road Shows), summer sendoffs for OC students (Eagle Exits), and tailgate parties for away athletic games. Watch for info on each year’s Homecoming activities as well.

Consider helping us financially when you can, in order to pass on to current students the generosity that many passed on to us during our OC years. Even a few dollars a month by a large number of people can make a big difference. To find out how to get started, contact us at 405.425.5110.

For more information, contact: 405.425.5110 alumni@oc.edu www.oc.edu/alumni

49 WWW. OC. E D U

SAVE THE

DATE ASSOCIATES DINNER • APRIL 5 www.oc.edu/associates

find out about the latest events going on at Oklahoma christian university and how you can get involved with your alma mater by visiting www.oc.edu/calendar

GRANDPARENTS DAY • APRIL 17 www.oc.edu/grandparents

CHICK-FIL-A LEADERCAST • MAY 4 www.oc.edu/academy

OC LECTURESHIP 2012 INAUGURATION DAY • AUGUST 27 www.oc.edu/inauguration

CHECK OUT THESE

OTHER GREAT

OC EVENTS 50 VI SI O NSPRIN G2 012

LECTURESHIP • OCTOBER 7-9

HOMECOMING • NOVEMBER 2-3

www.oc.edu/lectureship

www.oc.edu/homecoming

A R TS

ADMISSIO N S

AT H LETICS

w w w.o c . e d u/a r t s

w w w.o c. e d u/a d m i s s i o n s

w w w.o c e ag l e s .c o m

GALA C H O R ALE CO N CE R T • A p r i l 1 C H AM B E R CO N CE R T • A p r i l 1 0 T H EAT R E P E R FO R MA N CE • A p r i l 1 2 - 1 4 The Nerd O P E R A P E R FO R MA N CE • A p r i l 1 5 T h e M o t o r m o u t h s ( L e s B ava r d s ) B A N D CO N CE R T • A p r i l 2 2

CAM P US CO N N ECT • A p r. 1 3 TA K E FLI G H T • M ay 4 , Ju n e 2 2 , Au g u s t 1 8

S P R I N G S P O R TS • J a n u a r y - M ay ALUM N I B AS K ET B ALL GAME • A p r i l 1 4 CAG E CAM P • Ju n e - Ju l y

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OC? Sarah (LaPorte 90) and Bruce Scott (90) with their children Austin and Sydney at the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.

Here’s a three-point plan for the next time you take that vacation or mission trip to some famous or exotic location: 1 Take some OC gear.

2 Take your picture with you wearing it.

3 Tell us where you are and what you’re doing.

If you email or mail the photo to us, we’ll post it on our alumni website … and it might even appear in the next Vision. We look forward to seeing those pictures!

Jonathan Hanegan (06, in the grey shirt) and Kelly (Eroh 02) Tyson and Ben Tyson (02) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Jonathan is a missionary.

SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO: alumni@oc.edu

Mike (79) and Sheryl (Thurman 77) Scherf at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

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aerie Archive

1 960s

A blast from the past

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A TRADITION OF ATHLETICS AND FITNESS (Left to Right) Cheerleaders in 1960, Coach Ray Vaughn in 1962, Mike Gipson (40) and Mike Benham in 1965, Juan de Hoyes in 1966, a student competes in intramural track and field in 1969.

53 WWW. OC. E D U

BOX 11000 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73136-1100 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Visit www.oc.edu/alumni to update your name, address, email and other information.

2

@okchristian on twitter A sampling of OC tweets from the spring semester.

@okchristian: Ike the eagle is hobnobbing with the stars at the I-40 grand opening. @rumblethebison lockerz.com/s/171820069 @okchristian: The @OCEagles #1 fan. #OCpresident #deSteiguer lockerz.com/s/181329357

1

1

2

@brettvanderzee: “i” before “e” except after “deSt” and “e” before “r” especially after “u” but not in “President”@okchristian #deSteiguer @JayWiles: Rwandan royalty comes to @okchristian on Rwanda Night pic.twitter.com/hyMWDJEy

3 3

@admomok: Listening to Gov. Mary Fallin @okcchamber Chairman’s Breakfast @okchristian @OCEagles: #OC star Silas Kisorio finishes 4th in Wanamaker Mile in personal-best time of 3:55.84! @MattJohns1983: @okchristian I think @IkeTheEagle is ready for #Winterfest12 in Gatlinburg, TN. lockerz.com/s/184729345

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@Ray_Ray_Mac: @okchristian Got the shirt for christmas! #OCBOUND <3 pic.twitter.com/K5mAjdmM

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F O L LOW O C O N L I N E at w w w.o c. ed u/C O N N ECT