19th Street Magazine July 2023

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FILL THE BUS

Moore Chamber Collects School Supplies for Local Schools

The Moore Chamber Foundation will hold its annual school supply drive this summer for its sixth year, which helps Moore Public Schools teachers offset personal costs of school supplies throughout the year.

Fill the Bus kicks off on Friday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Walmart Supercenter at 501 SW 19th Street in Moore. A Moore school bus will be sitting at the front of the parking lot where shoppers may drop off donations for the drive. Additional drop off dates are Friday, July 21 and 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then concluding at National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at Regal Warren Moore parking lot from 6 to 9 p.m. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

In mid-August before school begins, volunteers will purchase additional supplies with the monetary donations, sort the supplies, and then deliver them to Moore schools. Last year, the program broke its previous set record and raised a value of $9,200 in supplies that was donated to 30 Moore schools including 20 elementary schools, all six junior high schools, all three senior high schools, Vista Academy and Moore Family Youth Services. Each school received approximately $400 worth of supplies.

“Last year, we were blown away with how much we collected and how the community came together for our schools,” said Kim Brown, president/CEO of the

Moore Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud of how this program has grown each year and we look forward to making 2023 the most successful drive yet.”

LIST OF SUPPLIES THAT ARE MOST NEEDED INCLUDE:

• #2 Pre-sharpened Pencils

• Glue Sticks

• Crayola Crayons, Markers & Colored Pencils

• Folders

• Dry Erase Markers

• Facial Tissue

• Index Cards

• Backpacks

• Calculators

• Reusable water bottles

• Composition Books

• Pens

For more information and to find out how to be a sponsor or volunteer, please vist bitly/2023FILLTHEBUS or call the Moore Chamber at 405-794-3400. – 19SM

Annual OU Coaches Luncheon to Benefit Area Kids in Need

Fostering Futures’ annual OU Coaches Luncheon, on July 27 at Life.Church in Norman, gives Sooner fans a sneak peek at the upcoming football season and a fun way to support the local nonprofit.

Fostering Futures, previously known as the Citizens Advisory Board, started in 1989 as a Secret Santa program to provide Christmas presents for children in foster care in Cleveland County. The organization has since grown to include additional programs, all with the mission “to provide financial and emotional support for children and their families who receive services from the Cleveland County Child Welfare System.”

Each year, Foster Futures hosts the OU Coaches Luncheon, which serves as the nonprofit’s primary fundraiser. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 27, attendees will hear from Oklahoma Football Head Coach Brent Venables, as he shares what he is expecting for this upcoming season. The luncheon will also include a live auction and the Randy Laffoon 50/50 Raffle.

Money raised during the luncheon supports the organization’s various programs, said Sue Durrett, who has been with Fostering Futures since its inception and is the current executive director.

In 2019, Fostering Futures expanded their programs and took over the Luggage of Love program, which provides emergency clothing for children upon request. When children are entering a new placement, they can receive a suitcase with two outfits, a pair of pajamas, shoes and either a coat, jacket or swimsuit, depending upon the season. The luggage also includes a personal hygiene kit, blanket and toy or book.

Another resource is their basic needs program, which provides various items to support families including beds, car seats and gas cards. Additionally, Foster Futures provides financial support for the cost of extracurricular activity participation or a summer camp to allow foster children to build community connections.

Durrett shared a story about a girl who was placed with a family that was active in FFA. The girl wanted to raise a pig through the organization, so Fostering Futures paid for half the pig, with the joke being they are not sure if they paid for the front half or the back, and the foster parents paid for the other half.

“Anything that helps (foster kids) with making connections and establishing roots so they can grow, that’s what we want to do,” Durrett explained.

Through the first Secret Santa event, Fostering Futures served just under 70 kids. Last year through Secret

BY: CHELSEY KRAFT

Santa, basic needs and Luggage of Love, the nonprofit served over 2,100, Durrett said, highlighting the nonprofit’s growth. Fostering Futures also facilitates a teen support group, which assists youth ages 15 to 18 as they plan and prepare to transition out of foster care.

If anyone is interested in volunteering or donating to Fostering Futures, more information can be found at the organization’s website or Facebook page. Durrett explained that most volunteers are needed during Secret Santa season to help set up and distribute gifts to foster parents.

In addition to monetary donations, Fostering Futures will sometimes request donations of specific inventory, especially for the Luggage with Love program. You can find those needs online or on social media.

Through all of their programs, Fostering Futures remains dedicated to remaining anonymous to the children. For example, Durrett said if the organization is paying for summer camps, the check will go directly to the camp or the foster parents.

“We don’t want it set up where they feel like they’re getting charity,” Durrett explained. “They don’t need to know where it comes from, they just need to be kids and explore life.”– 19SM

BOYD STREET VENTURES

Celebrating Success, Looking Ahead to Bold Oklahoma-Based Expansion

Oklahoma may not be the first place investors think of when it comes to venture capital but one local firm is already achieving its goal to change that. Boyd Street Ventures opened in August 2021 after years of planning by co-founders James Spann and Jeff Moore.

Spann, a businessman with 30 years of corporate experience and six years in the Marine Corps, is a proud class of ‘82 OU graduate whose vision for empowering Oklahoma entrepreneurship is rapidly materializing. An eager spokesperson, he recently made time to share about the future of the first-of-its-kind firm energizing Oklahoma’s movers and shakers.

“We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past 18 months, particularly during a time that’s been rather challenging for venture capital firms. From raising tens of millions of dollars to invest in Oklahoma- connected companies to adding 10 under-the-radar companies to our portfolio, we’re very pleased with the progress of our Fund I. And we’re not done yet,” said Spann. “For a first-time fund. to see this kind of growth in the first 12 to 15 months speaks to the potential investors see in our mission. It was an ambitious path that has only accelerated since the opening of our headquarters at 331 W. Boyd St. last fall. We’ve experienced a really busy nine months and it’s not letting up.”

Anchor investors Bank of America and Gateway First Bancorp announced their participation in February 2023. March saw a partnership with OKC Minority Founder Accelerator, which focuses on empowering business innovators who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC).

Later that month, Boyd Street Ventures announced $10 million in funding from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) as part of its Oklahoma Venture Capital Investment program, made possible through the federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Every federal dollar award is required to be matched with at least a one-to-one or greater private donation, which in turn funds local startups.

In April, the firm announced its investment in Moat Biotechnology, which a Boyd Street Ventures press release describes as “a clinical development stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel intranasal and oral vaccines based on the SC-AdVax platform and exclusively licensed from the Mayo Clinic.”

Fund I, which opened in February 2022, has raised about $20 million of its $25 million goal, and has a hard cap of $50 million.

“We’ve scheduled our initial close for August 31, 2023, right before the start of OU’s football season,” said Spann. “It’s been a really good year. Right now, we’re focused on adding the right people to our team and making sure we have the right processes in place as we close Fund I and start planning for future funds.”

“When we first considered the idea of venture capital in Norman in 2015, our original goal was a $5 million fund and everybody said we were crazy because there was no venture capital in Oklahoma. It was very purposeful to have OU as our platform. We have a lot of academic tech, faculty and staff and students solving open-ended problems. There is plenty of opportunity.”

Spann plans to add several more investments to BSV’s Fund I portfolio, with several promising startups currently under review by the firm’s Investment Committee.

“Our mission is critical to the growth of Oklahoma. We are advocates of economic development in the state and healthy returns for our investors..

“We’re based in Norman, grounded in OU. Our focus is how do we put the spotlight on the state of Oklahoma in a positive light and show we have the people, we have the technology, and we have the infrastructure that builds and commercializes that technology with a global impact.”

Ties to OU graduates, homegrown entrepreneurs and a commitment to hiring young people all add to the forward momentum aimed at buoying Oklahoma. “We’re building a team to reach the next generation. It’s invigorating, fun and fast-paced. There’s never a dull moment,” said Spann. “It’s a lot of work but work that needs to be done for our state. We are telling the story of what we have at OU, which rivals what you would see on the coasts in areas like aviation, physics and medicine. The state of Oklahoma is getting noticed. We’re on the move and we’re pulling others in.” Find out more about the projects Boyd Street Ventures has invested in and consider how you can participate at boydstreetventures.com.– 19SM

Founder/General Partner James Spann at BSV headquarters

A meeting of BSV strategic advisors and portfolio company CEOs at BSV headquarters

UNAPOLOGETIC

Back to Back to Back Championships for Sooner Softball

BY: CHRIS PLANK

For the third straight season and the sixth time in the last decade, the Oklahoma Sooner softball team has won a National Championship. The dominating run finished with the Sooners sweeping Florida State in the Championship Series, carrying over a record-setting 52-game winning streak.

The path to the title was not always smooth nor by any stretch easy. Instead burdened with unparalleled expectations and a constant barrage of envy, the Sooners found a way to finish the job.

UNAPOLOGETIC

Softball is a sport that is fueled by emotion and incredible energy on the field and in the dugout. Oklahoma has some of the most passionate, energetic players in the sport to match its incredibly enthusiastic fan base.

As the Sooners made their run through the Women’s College World Series and the entire 2023 season, their hard work resulted in success that was celebrated, as it should be. But as is the nature of social media, the reaction from many was filled with outrage and resentment.

“One thing I’ve told these guys is you must be unapologetic about the energy and the celebrations that you have because women have worked so hard to get here, yet still get judged for those things,” said Sooner head coach Patty Gasso. “That’s the way we play, and that’s what people enjoy or don’t. You either like it or you don’t, but we’re not going to apologize for these players knowing the game and celebrating it the right way.”

Not many moments seemed to draw the scorn of pundits more than when Sooner third baseman Alyssa Brito drew a first-inning walk against Tennessee in the Saturday winners bracket game. Brito celebrated by slamming her bat and yelling toward her own dugout.

“When you really think about the game, walks are so important,” Brito said. “That’s something that we stress, especially as an offense. So, to us, we’re going to celebrate it, it’s just as good as getting a base hit in my eyes. When I bring energy like that, I think we all feel it. As a team, we’re all collectively there.”

There might not be a Sooner in the history of the sport that plays with her emotions on her sleeve more than centerfielder Jayda Coleman. After her intentional walk against Stanford which led to a game-winning double by Tiare Jennings, Coleman celebrated in a similar style to Brito. But Coleman would celebrate the same after hitting or taking away a home run also.

“I think we continuously, and softball itself, are just breaking barriers. I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” Coleman said. “I feel like it’s just very disappointing to see people trying to tear us down in that type of way… making it into a negative light when you’re seeing MLB players doing the exact same thing. Why can’t we have emotion? We’re athletes just like them.”

Perhaps the most frustrating part is that opinions are formed based on a single moment often without perspective. For the Sooner softball team, celebration is not a form of taunting, but instead about building each other up and celebrating the moments that matter, according to Grace Lyons.

“We never mean it disrespectfully or against anyone else,” Lyons said. “That’s not how we play. People may take it that way, but it’s all for our own joy and passion, never to tear down anyone else.”

UNDENIABLE

As the confetti flew and the Sooners celebrated on the field at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, the moments that made the championship possible magnified the undeniable nature of this team. From Kinzie Hansen’s three-run homerun against Clemson to Coleman’s home-run-stealing catch in the Championship Series, the Sooner’s World Series run was littered with clutch plays in massive moments.

“Nothing they do surprises me at all. They’re always ready,” said Gasso. “They’re always talking. They’re wanting to win. They’re wanting to be great. They love doing it together.”

In the first game against Stanford, the Sooners struggled to find a rhythm against hard-throwing, righthander NiJaree Canady. Sooner ace Jordy Bahl matched Canady in a scoreless game as they headed into the bottom of the fifth, but a spot in the lineup that traditionally does not get the attention it deserves stepped up in a big way for the Sooners.

Aleyna Torres led off the fifth with a single and Rylie Boone singled to set up a “moment” for Coleman.

The Sooner center fielder laced a shot into left field bringing in the only two runs the Sooners would need to get a game one win.

“I think it shows that we don’t always have to hit home runs. We can be a team that’s just scrappy,” Coleman said of the game-winning hit.

During the five World Series games, the 8 and 9 spots in the Sooner lineup, specifically Torres and Boone, combined to hit .500 (12-24) with five runs scored and four runs batted in.

After the Sooners pounded Tennessee 9-1 in the winner’s bracket, someone would have to beat OU twice to eliminate the Sooners. Stanford fought through the losers’ bracket after a dazzling performance by Canady against Washington to set up a rematch in the semi-finals.

Both Bahl and Canady came out of the pen with the game tied at 2 and the duel was much like game one. Bahl, the WCWS Most Outstanding Player, battled out of jams and kept the game tied into extra innings. The “moment” for the Sooners came in the

ninth. After Stanford intentionally walked Coleman, Tiare Jennings stepped up. Jennings had been 0-5 against Canady with three strikeouts, but in the ninth, she lined a 0-2 pitch into the right field gap to put the Sooners on top to stay.

Bahl shut down the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth sending OU to the Championship Series again.

“I didn’t know they were going to do that to Jayda. It kind of didn’t matter to me either way. I was going to have to find a way to either get on or help my team as

best I can,” Jennings said. “We talk about not being result oriented, and that’s exactly what happened. I didn’t get the results I wanted earlier, and so what? I’m going to step in there and keep on swinging.”

The moments in the Championship Series against Florida State were numerous, from Bahl’s dominance in the circle to big shots from Cydney Sanders and Lyons as well as another spark provided by Boone. But there might not have been a bigger moment than what Coleman did in the bottom of the third inning of a scoreless game.

After throwing out Florida State third baseman Kalei Harding trying to stretch a single into a double in game one, Coleman made one of the most spectacular plays of the season.

“Immediately I was like, go get it,” Coleman said. “Immediately run to the fence.”

Coleman tracked the deep shot to center field, raced to the wall and jumped to bring it back from over the wall. A home run would have given the Seminoles a 3-0 lead, but in the end, it was a momentum-changing out. The Sooners found another gear after Coleman’s robbery.

“It’s really exciting to make those plays,” Coleman said. “I practice them all the time. But like I say every single time, the best thing out of those plays is watch-

ing your teammates react and watching them just be so happy for you. They know how hard we work. I know how hard they work. So, when things like those plays come into play on this big stage, I mean, it’s so joyful to watch.”

UNDISPUTED

The Sooners swept through the Women’s College World Series for their third consecutive National Championship. They have the longest winning streak in the history of college softball after winning 52 games in a row, finishing a three-year reign of terror with a record of 176-8. Oklahoma is also the first team to win six titles in a 10-year span.

The Sooners led the nation in scoring with 501 runs, 82 more than anybody else. They led the nation in pitching, defense and batting average, 30 points higher than second place.

“The grind of the season, the competition we faced, just shows that we were tested in the best way,” Jennings said. “Everything happens for a reason. It’s just been such a fun season.”

In a lot of ways, Lyons has been the heartbeat of the Oklahoma softball program during the three-peat. Without question, she is one of the best shortstops in recent softball history, winning the 2023 Golden Glove. Despite some struggles in the postseason,

she had a big moment when the Sooners needed it most. But her joy came in other moments too.

“I mean, the home run was awesome, but just the feeling of coming home to my team and just the joy that a home run can’t bring,” Lyons said. “It’s all from the Lord. I think it was just a genuine joy as I rounded knowing that it was a total team effort, and that team is something special.”

Bahl scored two runs in the Women’s College World Series. She pitched 24.2 innings and gave up none. How many pitchers outscore the opponents by themselves? Even though Bahl has pitched her last game in a Sooner uniform after transferring back home to Nebraska, her mark on the 2023 season and World Series run will never be forgotten.

For Gasso, all numbers aside, the joy is always in the journey for the now seven-time National Champion. While many look forward to a loaded roster and an opportunity to do what has never been done in a brand-new stadium, she is all about the journey and the joy she witnesses daily.

“If you’re wondering, wow, they don’t look nervous. It’s because they’re not. They know it’s written. They know they’ve just got to play their best,” Gasso said. “If they win, it will be outstanding, wonderful. If not, it wasn’t meant to be.

“But they never play tight. They never play afraid. If someone is ahead, they’re not afraid because I think they’ve really found their freedom away from the nerves. That’s through their faith. I can’t tell you how proud I am that they are standing up and being vocal about where their hearts are. They’re finding that they have this freedom and they’re trying to share it. I love it. I’m proud of them for doing that.”– 19SM

STEPPING UP THE COMPETITION

New Sooner Volleyball Coach Aaron Mansfield Prepares for First Season

As the passion for Oklahoma Volleyball grows, so do the expectations. After setting a single-game attendance record, with 3,702 fans against Texas, the Sooners were unable to carry the momentum and the energy into the postseason, missing the NCAA tournament for the third straight season. When Oklahoma decided to make a change in leadership, they turned to Aaron Mansfield to get the Sooners on a path toward a national championship. Now, Mansfield is in the midst of preparing for his first season as the head coach at Oklahoma with a reconfigured roster and a fresh and innovative approach.

“It’s been amazing. We put our head down right when we got here, had a lot of work to do,” Mansfield said of his first six months on the job. “We had a solid spring training session with our players and worked really hard to develop a lot of new systems offensively and defensively. We’re asking them to make a lot of changes and they’re resilient to change.”

Mansfield’s track record is impressive. During the last six seasons as head coach at Loyola Marymount, he led the Lions to a 94-68 (.580) record while taking them to a pair of NCAA tournaments. But once he arrived on campus at OU, Mansfield found himself in a numbers crunch when spring practices kicked off.

“We didn’t have enough players for six on six. It was a blessing and a curse because, with the small group, there was a lot of high-level learning taking place. We just didn’t have the numbers to do something that represents playing the game competitively,” Mansfield said. “I know our players are itching to start competing in August.”

The Sooners hit the portal for help to replace talented players like Peyton Dunn and Megan Wilson, who transferred to Auburn and Kentucky respectively. The newest Sooners included junior setter Rylee Faye, who joins the Sooners after spending her sophomore season at New Mexico State where she led the team and conference in aces. Outside hitter Daleigh Ellison joins the roster after transferring from Texas State, while 6-foot-4 middle blocker Lydia Burks was added to the roster after three stellar seasons at Liberty.

“My investment is always in the players we currently have and the players who decided to stay and are here for all the right reasons,” Mansfield said. “They are great kids who work extremely hard and want to get good.”

“We’ve wanted to be strategic about who we add to our group. Our culture is good, our team chemistry continues to improve. We want to bring people in that are skilled, that can not only be a part of that culture but add to it... I feel like the players we’ve added are going to be really nice additions.”

In addition to building a roster, Mansfield also had to put together a coaching staff that was aligned with how he wants to build a program. The carryover from his staff at Loyola Marymount helped to bring a sense of consistency with the hiring of Brian Thornton and Meredith Teague. Thornton spent the last two seasons with Mansfield at Loyola Marymount. Teague follows Mansfield from LMU as well, her alma mater, where she served on the staff the past two years in multiple roles and had an accomplished career as a player (2017-21).

“We have a good amount of continuity from our last staff. We understand what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to do it,” Mansfield said of his staff. “We also added Reagan Hood. She came from Dartmouth, and played professionally overseas for 15 years in seven different countries. She has a tremendous amount of experience seeing a lot of assorted styles of volleyball.

“Plus, with Drake Stenberg continuing as our operations director and Andi Pigeon as our athletic trainer, those who have been in this program for a few years, it’s a really good combination of some new blood and people that knew how things work around here.”

As Mansfield embarks on season one, the foundation is being set. From building a coaching staff to rebuilding a roster to implementing his systems, the process is ongoing and exciting. While the decision was hard to leave a Loyola Marymount program that he had helped build and start fresh at the University of Oklahoma, the people helped seal the deal.

“Joe Castiglione made a great impression on me. I think we were supposed to talk for a half hour, and we talked for two. I felt I could be myself,” Mansfield said. “Then

when I got here, my wife came, and being on campus and seeing the resources and the people behind them, I could picture myself here.

“I could build something special if I got the right people around me and I feel like I have.”

As the building process continues, the support of the community and fanbase is a necessity. Over the past three seasons, the Sooners’ overall attendance increased by 36.5% per match while student attendance increased by 24% per match from 2019 to 2022. And of course, the record-setting crowd for the Texas match was the largest McCasland Fieldhouse crowd for a volleyball match ever. But that support goes beyond just showing up for matches, it’s showing up and bringing some energy and noise.

“Coming and watching our team compete and creating an environment that is a special place to play volleyball is great,” Mansfield said. “Our team does an excellent job in engaging in the community with the great personalities on our team. As a team, we’re starting to believe in what is possible, but we need the support of our community.

“When they come to our matches, they’ll see a team that competes really hard and takes some chances and some risks.”

In a short amount of time, Mansfield has been able to put his stamp on the University of Oklahoma volleyball program. Now as we approach the season, it’s time to see that hard work behind the scenes and on the court come to fruition. And in a short amount of time, it’s a team that has built a strong bond, according to the players.

“They’re extremely supportive of one another,” Mansfield said of the Sooner volleyball squad. “We asked our group to describe itself at the end of the spring and they said they felt they were very supported by each other. The coaching staff and I think that goes a long way and you’re going to see that when we play.”– 19SM

BY: CHRIS PLANK

AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE

MNTC Offers Classes to Community that Focus on Creative Interests, Hobbies

Richa Barnes discovered a delicious diversion during a trip one day to The Well. Barnes spotted a kitchen used for cooking demos through Moore Norman Technology Center at The Well and researched to find out what types of classes were offered.

The Well in Norman is a community hub that features a variety of activities and services for Cleveland County residents and visitors.

“Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies,” Barnes said. She then signed up for as many classes as she could.

“My friends said, ‘Why are you taking cooking classes? You are a great cook,’” Barnes said. “I knew I could learn new recipes and different ways to prepare food.”

Barnes is one of many Cleveland County residents who take Moore Norman’s short-term personal enrichment courses offered at the center’s campuses and through a partnership with The Well. Enrichment classes include those that explore creative interests, such cooking and baking, as well as fitness and well-

ness, home and garden, languages and personal finance classes.

Mendi Brandon, training coordinator, said the classes focus on a variety of interests.

“I love that I get to build classes that I would enjoy taking,” Brandon said.

Other classes include art, sewing, sign language and guitar courses. There also are classes that focus on Medicare, retirement and drafting a will, Brandon said. Some of the benefits of the enrichment classes for residents include fostering continuous learning, helping them discover a new hobby or language or giving them a chance to meet new people in their community, Brandon said. Brandon added that she welcomes suggestions about class offerings and works to add more classes when courses quickly fill up.

“We want people to know that we offer this service so they can come out and enjoy these classes,” she said.

Cooking classes are some of the courses offered through enrichment classes at Moore Norman Technology Center.

Count Barnes as a satisfied customer. Barnes said she has added new dishes to her cooking repertoire, thanks to the classes at The Well. She has learned to make Korean dumplings, spring rolls and sushi. One of the instructors also made a salsa that Barnes now prepares and said she “can’t quit making. I’m hooked.”

Brandon said the partnership between the technology center and The Well has offered another avenue to reach more residents and to offer classes at a minimal cost.

“We wanted to have this option for our community to come and be able to learn new skills and meet other community members,” Brandon said. “I love seeing people come into a class and be invested in what we offer.” She said her hope is that people gain new skills, enhance their knowledge, and meet other people who share similar interests, as well as learn more about the technology center’s programs and services.

Brandon said she is continually updating and adding courses. For more information about the classes available at the center and The Well, visit mntc.edu.

19SM

Course Catalog Available Now!

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Art classes are a popular course in the personal enrichment classes offered.

JUNIOR COPS

Moore Police Department to host Junior Police Academy

Hey, I want to be a policeman!”

If that phrase sounds familiar, the Moore Police Department’s Junior Police Academy may be the perfect fit. The second annual program is for students ages 11 to 14. The, free week-long experience provides insight into the vital role of police officers through team-building challenges, a field trip and the opportunity to spend quality time with those who serve and protect.

The half-day event will take place July 24 - 28. Junior Police Academy is one of three outreach programs aimed at building community relations and bolstering recruitment efforts. Cops with Kids is the Department’s program for elementary students out of its community service unit. A high school version of Junior Police Academy also exists for sophomore, junior and senior students with more advanced themes and introduction to drone surveillance.

Lt. Coleman also recognizes youth interaction as a way to clarify misperceptions the public may hold

about law enforcement, including myths related to who can join the force.

“I would like it to be known that having a record is not necessarily prohibitive,” said Lt. Coleman. “We will evaluate the situation and consider if it was a singular moment in their life in which they made a bad decision or if there was a pattern of behavior. It may be that we need more time and distance. We’ll consider anyone who’s honest and realistic about the incident.”

Recruits must be 21 to officially join but testing can actually begin at age 20.

“Positive interactions with law enforcement can spark an interest at key ages. If students have great experiences with Moore police officers from elementary school to junior high school to high school, that is a win for our young people but also a win for our city and for the department,” said Lieutenant Terrance Coleman, who works in the Patrol Division of the Moore Police Department. “We plan on continuing to offer this class each year and we are excited about hosting kids who are interested in what we do.”

A maximum of 20 applicants are selected to attend, with preference given to students who reside within the city limits of Moore, followed by those residing within the Moore Schools geographic boundary. Students must have at least a C average and submit an essay to help gauge interest but students from public, private or virtual settings may apply, in addition to homeschooled students. Priority is given to first-time applicants in an effort to reach as many youth as possible.

Officers volunteer to teach the class, which also includes sections on topics that may be of particular interest, like forensics and internet safety, as taught by professionals from Mary Abbott’s Children’s House, a Norman-based advocacy center dedicated to abuse prevention and response.

“The forensics portion is a good example of a topic people see on TV that we can put into a kid-friendly setting,” said Lt. Coleman. “It takes a community to raise a child. That’s our approach. The more we can

help make relevant and approachable, the better prepared young people are to consider their future.”

A Game of Life class illustrates budgeting and processes, like getting a job but needing a photo ID to apply and a birth certificate to obtain a valid form of identification, to help students grasp related concepts that factor into adult issues. The student field trip is a visit to Pivot, a nonprofit focused on disadvantaged youth.

The program ends with a donut eating contest.

“Everybody’s nervous on the first day. As the days continue, the kids bond with you and it’s a great opportunity,” said Lt. Coleman. “We just really want to engage with the community and show that we are regular people like everyone else.”

Past sponsors have included Daylight Donuts, Moore Public Schools for field trip transportation and a local trophy vendor.– 19SM

LOCAL IMPACT, NATIONAL NOTICE

Southmoore’s Adam Mewhorter Changes Students’ Lives Through Can-do Approach

Helping students overcome obstacles is an unexpected but ever-present theme of Adam Mewhorter’s career. His dedication has garnered national recognition as the 2023 National High School Heart of the Arts Award recipient and in a segment on ABC’s “Good Morning America” broadcast this past November.

As director of bands at Southmoore for more than 15 years, Mewhorter oversees staff, teaches students and solves problems for the school’s 230 students in grades 9 through 12 in addition to more than 200 middle schoolers at Southridge and Highland.

Mewhorter traces his path back to playing percussion in seventh grade. He graduated from Del City High School and went to college on a band scholarship, later earning a master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

“Participation with music is five percent really about the music and 95% actually about people.

Our young people can be phenomenal when given the opportunity,” said Mewhorter. “Marching band is a very public group to be in and my students are high achievers. We make them work hard and reach achievement while having fun. We fool them into doing

well. I say all the time music teachers have to be laid back and patient but also have high expectations.”

Those high expectations have also been part of Mewhorter’s personal approach to teaching and leading. He was named Southmoore Teacher of the Year in 2016 before living a banner year of honors in 2017 as Moore Public Schools Teacher of the Year and Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Director of the Year, in addition to being named an Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year finalist.

His can-do attitude extended to the approach Mewhorter took with standout student Casey Hubbard, a trumpet player with spina bifida. Hubbard began playing in seventh grade at Southridge and proceeded to add jazz band and concert band to his repertoire as a freshman at Southmoore.

Mewhorter talked with Hubbard as a freshman about the student’s dreams of being able to participate fully with the high school marching band despite performing from his wheelchair and facing major medical interventions, including planned surgeries.

Rather than relegating Hubbard to the sidelines, Mewhorter led the way with full participation in practice and performances by working with choreographers

to fit right in, with unique formations and integral movements. He volunteered to be the person behind Hubbard — literally — by guiding his movements across the field alongside his bandmates. A seatbelt was added to Hubbard’s wheelchair sophomore year to better accommodate related needs, including sharp turns.

Hubbard’s junior year included the Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional Championship, in which the Southmoore Sabercats placed in the top 10, a first in the school’s history. When a judge at a regional marching contest hosted by Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) posted a video online, it went viral, which led to the “Good Morning America” story.

Mewhorter and Hubbard won top honors at the National Federation of State High School Associations with the 2023 National High School Heart of the Arts Award, which seeks to recognize outstanding contributions to the arts by teachers and their students throughout the country.

“Band can include everybody. We can teach anybody. All shapes, all sizes, it’s inclusive. Band is a representation of our community coming together. So many kids you might think are unwilling to put themselves out there find a home in music and band, which gets them out of their shell,” said Mewhorter. “At a time of life when kids are searching and will find something to do with their time, band motivates students for excellence and helps them with their other classes. It’s not necessarily smart kids that go to band. Band makes smart kids.”

Mewhorter is quick to dispel myths around related expenses.

“It is through the support of the community that we are able to make a difference through the arts. Ultimately, we are asking parents and students to put in a lot of time, but the cost is contained. If cost is truly a deterrent, we just knock that wall down,” said Mewhorter. “We force students into real-life socialization. Technology is great and we embrace it, but we will force students to work with the person to their right and to their left to be successful.

“Band teaches what employers are clamoring for: how to work with all different abilities and figure out interpersonal skills. It’s worth the cost.”

Outside of work and related events, Mewhorter can be found spending time with his wife, Kendra, and their children, who will both be in middle school next year.

“My wife, Kendra, is my hero. She allows me to give my heart and soul to my kids and everyone else’s as well,” he explained. “This job is my passion, and I am grateful for her support of my band habit. There are

highs and lows to any job but when you bring passion to your field and believe in it, that shows. My family has to ride that train with me and I’m very fortunate to have their support.”

Mewhorter looks forward to working with Hubbard again in the upcoming school year when he will be a senior. He will also be flying to London this summer in preparation for Southmoore’s participation in the 2024 New Year’s Day parade.

“If I could ask just one thing it would be for the public to know schools are an excellent place for kids. By and large, teachers are all trying so hard to help,” said Mewhorter. “At a time when people are starved for good news, know there are amazing things happening in public schools. I am not unique. It’s going on everywhere.” – 19SM

A BLUEPRINT FOR EXCELLENCE

Norman Regional has received first-in-the-nation accreditation as a Center of Excellence for Obstetrical Emergency Department

Norman Regional has been accredited by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) as a Center of Excellence for its Obstetrical Emergency Department (OBED).

“It is with great pride and excitement that we announce this momentous achievement in obstetric emergency prenatal care,” said Richie Splitt, “This certification signifies a significant milestone in Norman Regional’s unending commitment to the provision of exceptional care for all our patients, and in this case our expecting mothers and their babies.

“Our OBED program received the gold standard stamp of approval for our steadfast commitment to the highest standards of care.”

This distinction marks the first time a health system has been recognized for obstetrical emergency care

by CIHQ. Norman Regional will now serve as a blueprint across the nation for other health systems hoping to be recognized for their OBED.

“This certification validates the importance of the OBED,” said Dr. Kinde Aguilar, OB Hospitalist Group site director at Norman Regional HealthPlex. “Not only does an OBED provide an extra level of care for patients but it also ensures nurses are practicing within the scope of their practice and private OB partners are supported.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States are rising. Oklahoma persistently ranks among the states with the worst rate of maternal death. Norman Regional recognized this problem and began working towards its first national certification in Perinatal Care in 2019.

“A couple of years ago, we went on a journey for our strategic plan that had two prongs to it, the first was bricks and mortar, that was our facilities and our buildings. The second was programmatic and that was around building centers of excellence,” said Brittni McGill, chief nursing officer. “We wanted to do the work to show that we could produce excellent patient care outcomes that met evidence-based quality standards.”

Norman Regional was also the first hospital in Oklahoma with a licensed OBED and remains the only one. The HealthPlex campus houses the OBED, as well as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Mother Baby and Labor and Delivery Units.

CIHQ officials spent several days on-site evaluating the OBED with more than 20 elements required to receive designation as a Center of Excellence in Emergency Services, looking at everything from admission to patient care, all the way through to discharge.

“It is obvious that great effort went into this task, and it is wonderful that (Norman Regional is) recognized for it,” said Michelle Shaffer, a representative with CIHQ. “A Center of Excellence designation means that Norman Regional meets evidence-based standards and performance outcomes that reflect high quality and safe patient care.”

“We are very excited and honored to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Annette Troxell, Norman Regional’s director of women and children’s services. “From the beginning, we have strived to ensure that our OB Emergency Services provide excellence in practice and serve as a model program for evidence-based care. We now have the validation that our efforts were successful.”– 19SM

VETERAN OF THE MONTH: LOUIS COBB

D-Day is an important historical moment. Many movies have depicted the heroic actions of Allied soldiers during the large-scale amphibious invasion of Normandy. Operation Overlord was a pivotal point in the war and Veteran Louis Cobb, a resident at the Norman Veteran’s Center, remembers it well. He was there.

Born in Alex, Oklahoma on April 13, 1924, Cobb moved to Oklahoma City with his family when he was in the third grade. Attending Capitol Hill High School, he graduated, and on April 26, 1942, after turning 18, was drafted into the Army. Six months later, upon completing his basic training at Camp Roberts in California, Cobb was shipped back to Oklahoma.

He then traveled across the country, going everywhere the Army sent him, including Mississippi, Washington D.C. and finally New York where the scope of what was next hit him.

“Everything was a big secret,” Cobb remembered. “There were 15,000 troops when I got there. It didn’t take me long to understand this was a force big enough to invade France.”

After two weeks of training in New York, still not knowing what was next, several ships indeed left New York to take the troops to England, with the eventual goal of reaching France.

“There were about 16,500 people on the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, and it took us three weeks to get to France,” Cobb said.

With destroyers guarding each side of the ships, the troops landed in Liverpool, disembarked, and went on another train to London.

For three weeks, they waited. Then, orders came and trucks took the troops through London, turning south to the beach in Liverpool.

“There were boats all along the shore and we pushed aboard this one ship,” Cobb said. “There were 500 of us. This captain came over and said, ‘I’ll tell you boys when to walk and move.’ We didn’t even have weapons. We lined up and were given rifles, ammunition and everything we needed.”

It was now June 6, 1944.

More than 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy’s fiercely de-

fended beaches in northern France. Unfortunately, the first and second waves of soldiers who went in were essentially wiped out.

Cobb was assigned to the subsequent waves, praying it would be different than the ones before him.

“As soon as they dropped our gate, they shot holes into the landing craft,” Cobb said. “Guns opened up on us and I went over the side yelling for everyone to go over the sides! There was a piece of metal sticking up about two feet wide, driven into the sand and I got behind that. Bullets were pinging off it.

“Our guns became so hot we had to change the barrel. But they couldn’t shoot us because they couldn’t get down to us from the ledge. A guy on top of the ledge would squeeze the handle on concussion grenades, twist them and throw them down the 100-foot drop below. We grabbed those grenades and threw them up into the air as high as we could, forcing them to land in the water.”

Cobb remembers that battle lasting all day.

“We won the battle,” he said. “We shot a sniper off the roof and about 100 yards down the beach. We ran to a big 12-foot rock sticking out of the earth. There was no way they could shoot through it. I got behind that rock and finally got a mortar squad back there. Then the engineers came and blew up that building. There were 10,000 troops running through it and I was one of them. When the Germans came out, they were screaming with their hands up, ‘Bitte, Bitte, Bitte.’ They were holding up their hands trying to surrender.”

The soldiers with Cobb ended up a mile and a half down the road in a city that was already bombed. The troops stopped there to set up camp before it became dark. The next morning, another surprise awaited.

“We woke up and water was two feet deep all around us and in front of us,” Cobb said. “The Germans blew up the dam and let that water come out around us. They took every opportunity to stop us.”

He remembers putting the German soldiers on the run when they found them.

“They took off and we went all the way to the top of Hedgerow Country, a valley with hedges about 200 feet high,” he remembered. “There was a forest on one side and the Germans came down on that end and we were on the other end. Our captain came over to me and told me to lay down there and hold them back so they could get across. Our men got across because I laid down and held them off with a semi-automatic. I burned up two clips holding them back.”

With the war on the Western Front coming to an end, Cobb returned to New York where he and his compatriots waited for their next orders.

“We went up the East River to Rikers Island where we had big barracks and stayed for two to three weeks,” Cobb said. “But we were held back because Japan hadn’t given up and we had to be ready to go to Japan.”

After the war was finally over, Cobb stayed in the Army to help close down bases.

On January 24, 1946, Louis boarded an airplane from Chicago to Oklahoma City, flying first class complete with a chicken dinner. After landing, the captain handed him his discharge papers. At the time, he had no idea he was being discharged.

Knocking on his sister’s door in Norman, she was pleasantly surprised to see him standing there with his suitcase. While in the service, Cobb’s parents bought a farm where he would eventually work.

“There weren’t many jobs when we came home; there were too many GI’s ahead of me,” he explained.

Eventually, he went to work for a trucking company, retiring at the age of 57.

Married twice, the first time for 14 years and the second time for 40, Cobb has five childrenthree living in Norman, one in Ardmore and one in Fort Worth. He participates in activities at the Norman Veteran’s Center where he enjoys doing art. An avid OU football fan, he and his wife traveled to watch OU play in many championship games over the years including to Miami, seven or eight times. – 19SM

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