Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Fresh Faces - Class of 2026 bound for Stillwater Thess Holloway, a freshman majoring in theater from Fort Smith, Arkansas, had very similar reasons for choosing OSU as his school of choice. “I chose OSU because of the large campus, variety of Peyton Little student organizations, and the Staff Reporter staff and students who welcomed me with open arms,” As the summer is headHolloway said. ing to an end, Oklahoma State Oklahoma State’s welUniversity is preparing to coming environment seems kick off another school year. to have quite the reach for With that, a whole new class people all across the country, of Cowboys and Cowgirls will as neither of these students step foot on campus for the are from Oklahoma and chose first time. Freshman year can Oklahoma State over other be seen as daunting sometimes, schools within their state. The but it is also full of new adfamily atmosphere stuck for ventures and excitement. As people here in Oklahoma as the class of 2026 steps into well. Liam Wisner, majoring this new chapter of their lives, in accounting with a minor in Oklahoma State will be husfinance from Bartlesville, felt a tling and bustling with new strong connection to the people faces. at Oklahoma State. New faces, such as busi“In my sophomore high ness marketing major Emily school chemistry class, my Williams from Prosper, Texas, teacher told me ‘go to the place will be where you attendfeel the most ing OSU at home’ that come fall was deeply semester. impactful for Despite me,” Wisner her decisaid. “When sion to I visited spend her other colcollege leges and days in universities Stillwater, none could Oklahoma compare. State was From the not even welcoming on the and endearradar at ing Cowboy the beginfamily to ning of the beautiful her school and serene search. campus, I “I know that I really have found had never a home at heard of OSU.” Oklahoma For State Courtesy of Thess Holloway some howuntil my Thess Holloway will become part of the Cowboy ever, family mom and family this fall, and he says he is excited to finally legacy draws I started see what college life will be like. people to the looking orange and around at colleges and she sug- black. This is the case for Stillgested taking me to OSU for a water native BreAnna Peeper, a tour,” Williams said. “As soon freshman majoring in elemenas I stepped onto campus, it felt tary education with a minor in right. The environment at OSU child development. stood out, and it felt like it was “I chose Oklahoma State the right place to be. The place because both of my parents that would feel the most like attended here and I grew up home.” coming to all of the homecom-
ing events, feeding the ducks at Theta Pond, and attending any OSU sporting event when I was in town,” Peeper said. “OSU has always felt like home to me and I am so excited to finally be a Cowboy.” Alumni ties also run strong for Evelyn Perkins, a human development and family sciences major from Wichita Falls, Texas. “Since my parents are both OSU Alumni, I’ve grown up rooting for OSU, attending games and getting to know the family-like culture of OSU,” Perkins said. “It was only natural to step into such an amazing community.” With a transition like going to college and being in a completely new environment, there can be so many opportunities at hand. Undoubtedly, this new class of freshman is ready for all that Oklahoma State has to offer. “I’m excited about meeting lots of new people and making new connections,” Williams said. “I’m also excited about new independence and learning how to manage everything completely on my own. I’m excited about the possibility of traveling abroad. I think it would be an amazing once in a lifetime experience and a great learning opportunity. Lastly, I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of PLC. I think I will make great connections and learn important skills through this year.” Studying abroad seems to be one of the biggest draws for freshmen, as Audrey Arant, an entrepreneurship major from Tulsa, has also expressed her desire to see the world while studying abroad. “I am so excited to study abroad.” Arant said. “My heart is set on traveling the world and checking off every place on my bucket list. I am also ready to dive into the world of entrepreneurship and learn how to start and run a solid business.” Other students are more ready for the excitement that is building in being a part of the home crowd in Boone Pickens Stadium and Gallagher-Iba Arena. “I am looking forward to cheering on the Pokes during
football and basketball season, ferent class locations, it can be America’s greatest homecom- easy to see how one would get ing, meeting new people, and turned around. being involved in PLC and “I’m a little nervous other organizations on camabout navigating the campus pus,” Peeper said. for the first couple weeks,” Some dread it, but others Holloway said. like Daniel Castillo Jr., a musiWith so many people cal theater major from Austin, from so many places on OSU’s Texas, are actively ready for campus, home may be far away that sense of independence. for many of these students. “I’m most looking forFor pro pilot major Bryce ward to beKincannon ing able to from New focus more Braunfels, on what I Texas, home love to do is roughly and having 7 hours and a sense of 40 minutes indepenaway from dence,” Stillwater. Castillo Jr. “I am said. nervous There about gois also ing so far the other away from side of the my family,” coin for Kincannon the freshsaid. “It will men, and be the farthat is the thest I have challenges been without that come knowing along with anyone.” making it For through others, the college. nervousness There will is nothing be some Courtesy of Bryce Kincannon more than growing excitement Bryce Kincannon, pictured above, says that pains no although he is a bit nervous about coming to OSU, for what’s in doubt, but he is extremely excited for the opportunities OSU store for the in a sense will provide. future. that is what “I’m college is all about. Freshman more excited than nervous for Victoria Sanchez, a pre-med OSU this fall,” Arant said. chemical engineering major “The community here is unfrom Oklahoma City, is slightly matched and I have never felt overwhelmed by deciding on more at home. I am so ready which organizations to be a to see what OSU has in store part of. these next few years.” “I’d have to say I’m most With summer being nervous about choosing what nearly over, these freshmen are clubs to be a part of,” Sanchez about to step into a completely said. “There’s so many and different phase in their life. I don’t want to overwhelm Just like many college students myself.” have before, they will expeHowever, there is one rience highs and lows, take group that she is thrilled to be difficult exams, and meet all a part of coming this fall. sorts of new people. As seen “I’m most excited to join by those that have come before a sorority this coming fall,” them, college may be crazy at Sanchez said. “I’ve always times, but it is a rollercoaster wanted to rush since I was a that just may be worth riding. little kid.” Campus can be a bit overwhelming sometimes and with so many buildings that news.ed@ocolly.com look similar and so many dif-
Hearing pushed to September in protective order case against AJ Ferrari
Habbie Colen Former OSU national champion wrestler AJ Ferrari faces a protective order filed by a Stillwater woman.
sions of the emergency protective order filed on July 5 remain in full effect. Derek Chance was the attorney on behalf of Ferrari who issued a statement denying the allegations when news broke last Wednesday. After the hearing concluded, Ben Hutchens Chance told The Stillwater News Assistant Sports Editor Press he could only speak about procedural matters. Former Oklahoma State wres“Today was set for a hearing,” tler A.J. Ferrari appeared in Payne Chance said. “That hearing got County District Court on Monday postponed for us to do discovery for a hearing to determine the and what that means is we want to status of an emergency protective find out what all (the plaintiff) has order filed against him by a Stillwa- to say and what she’s suggesting ter woman. happened. And we have a process In the EPO, the woman acto do that, and the court allowed us cuses Ferrari of unwanted sexual to do that.” contact. No official charges have Chance said he doesn’t know been filed against Ferrari, though if the postponement will help or the Stillwater Police Department hurt the case he is building. He say they are investigating the accu- made it clear his side is looking forsations. Ferrari, wearing a gray suit ward to having the hearing. Chance with a striped navy tie, attended said the ongoing criminal investigawith his mother and father. The tion should take place before the woman seeking a protective order future hearing. from Ferrari also attended, but did The plaintiff in the case did not speak in the hearing. not have a lawyer present who In the span of a few minutes, could be reached for a statement. another hearing was scheduled for Sep. 15. Until that day, all provinews.ed@ocolly.com