Still dreaming Friday, October 15, 2021
Aviation trailblazer Wally Funk returns to Stillwater Anna Pope News Editor
Wally Funk grinned and waved to the crowd from the round window on the plane. Oklahoma State’s Spirit Band played and people cheered as Funk walked down the steps of the private jet. The Flying Aggies, pom, cheer, Pistol Pete, students and community members greeted the flying Cowgirl. “I didn’t expect all of this,” Funk said. An OSU alum, Funk became the oldest person to fly in space with Jeff Bezos, Oliver Daemon and Mark Bezos on Blue Origin’s rocket the New Shepard, adding to her ceiling-shattering accomplishments. Funk said her ride to and from space was smooth. “When we lifted off, I didn’t feel anything, all I had was the noise and I had ear plugs,” Funk said. “When the vehicle departed and we went off into space, we didn’t feel it. It was wonderful, and not at all what I expected.” Once the crew got to space, Funk expected to see the world, but she said it was black. In space, she loosened the straps of her seat, and got out of her chair and began to move around the small capsule. Then, after three minutes of twisting and turning in weightlessness, she sat down and strapped herself back in. When the vehicle landed, Funk said she did not feel anything, all she saw was dust out the capsule window. “When we
got into space, it was so fabulous,” Funk said. “The seat was like, ah, I could have gone to sleep in that seat, it was so beautiful.” This summer, Funk’s flight to space made history and the instructor is still dreaming to go higher, immersing herself in the experience. “I would like to go up again, but I want to go to ISS (International Space Station),” Funk said. “I still want to do that.” Later, at the Conversation with Wally Funk event at the McKnight Center, Funk said she wished the house lights were on, instantaneously, the performance hall lit up, revealing hundreds of students, in-
cluding members of Flying Aggies and her sorority Alpha Chi Omega, and people from the community including Rep. Trish Ranson and City Councilor Christie Hawkins. She then pulled out her red camera and took pictures of the crowd. At the event, OSU announced the $1,000 Wally Funk Scholarship. This scholarship is given annually for student who want to be in aviation. Funk not only told her story, but also offered advice to students. “If your goal is to keep on saying ‘Yes, I can do it,’ keep moving forward with confidence,” Funk said. “Don’t ever sit on a pile of negative.” Funk graduated Stephens College, and chose to attend OSU because of aviation. She said in flying competitions, she competed against the Flying Aggies. “You all (Flying Aggies) won, time, and time, and time after time,” Funk said. At OSU, Funk earned multiple ratings and won awards from her involvement in the Flying Aggies. After graduating from the university, Funk worked as a civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Branson Evans Kat Gardner-Vandy speaking at the conversation with Wally Funk event.
See Dreaming on 8A
Branson Evans
Branson Evans Wally Funk became the oldest person to fly in space this summer.
Lasting impact
OSU’s new ASL major opens opportunities Taeyln Brown Staff Reporter
Adrian Chebultz grew up attending a deaf school until his freshman year of high school. He then made the decision to transfer to a public school. During the first four months at the new school, he did not have access to an interpreter. As a deaf student in a hearing environment, this made learning almost impossible for him. “It was one of my hardest struggles, it’s frustrating and my grades were hurting because of it and then I got a full time
interpreter and it made a complete difference,” Chebultz said. “I had a support system and she knew what I needed and she delivered. Every extracurricular activities and club meetings, she was there. “I took couple of concurrent classes also, she was there every night. If it wasn’t for her then I wouldn’t be able to get the education I needed to get me where I am today. Then I’m thankful for people like Janice Woods and Taylor Woodall-Greene. They’re great interpreters and not only that but they’re also my supporters.” Chebultz is a sophomore at Oklahoma State studying elementary education. Chebultz said students at OSU are
hoping to positively impact people in the deaf community similarly to how his interpreter was able to help and advocate for him. Because of OSU’s new bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language (ASL) studies, those hopeful students have the opportunity to dive into deaf culture and become fluent in ASL. Furthermore, if students pursuing the ASL studies degree want to become interpreters, they have the option to focus their career path specifically on that.
See Impact 4 TayloronWoodall-Greene is an as-
Inside... Animals................................. 4A Updating the Stillwater Animal Welfare Facility is a proposed TIME project.
Rodeo.................................... 5A Cowboy Stampede features events like steer wrestling, barrel racing and roping.
Culture shock.........................6A OSU multicultural organization come together.
Cookies and Community........7A One girl in the commons makes the dorm feel like home.