pioneernews Wednesday, March 5, 2014
WESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE COLLEGE news@wosc.edu
Apply to Become a Western Ambassador
Western’s elite group of student leaders, The Western Ambassadors is now accepting applications for the 201415 school year. Application materials can be found at: http://www.wosc.edu/index.php?page=Ambassador . The applications are due on Tuesday March 25 by 4:30 p.m. and interviews will be conducted April 9. Please return applications to Katie Brewer, High School and College Relations Specialist. For more info call 477-7925 or email katie.brewer@wosc.edu. Katie says, “ As Ambassadors, we work hard but play even harder. Being an Ambassador is a chance for students to improve their professional skills.” The Western Ambassadors were established in the 2001-02 school year by Larry Duffy, Vice President for Development and Alice Newman, former Director of Public Information. In 2002-03 the organization became a President’s Leadership Scholarship program, while continuing to focus on the development of leadership and speaking potential. President Phil Birdine, supports the organization by providing scholarship opportunities and leadership development activities. The mission of the Ambassodors is to develop student leadership, public speaking ability and actively recruit prospective Western students and future Ambassadors. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.25, have a wide variety of leadership experiences in school and the community, two letters of recommendation, and official high school and/ or college transcripts. As a highly select group, Western Ambassadors should represent the college well at all times personally, academically, with their appearance, dress, attitude and through their campus involvement.
Ambassadors attend weekly meetings, mandatory Western events, engage the public at various scholastic and civic events and conduct tours on Western’s campus for future Pioneers and their families. Ambassadors are compensated for their work and commitment with a $250 scholarship from the WOSC Foundation and a 12 hour tuition waiver from the Western financial aid office. In addition they receive $7.25 per hour of required work in the Office of Recruiting and by attending high school recruiting trips and college and career days. Western Ambassador, Shelby Thornton said, “It’s one of the best experiences of my life and was a good growing and learning experience. It helped me mature and get ready for my career and the rest of my life!”
Pioneer Men’s Playoff Run Comes to an End The Western Pioneer Men’s Basketball team fell to Northeast Oklahoma A&M on Thursday, March 6 at St Gregory’s in Shawnee during the Men’s NJCAA Region 2 Quarterfinal. The loss ended the Pioneers season at 20-9. The Pioneers got off to a great start with a 13 point run in the first five minutes of play but then lost momentum to NEO’s 14 point run. The first half showed numerous lead changes including an 8-0 run by Western to take a 35-34 lead into the half. The second half was a continuation of the first, with the game remaining tight all the way to the end. The largest lead by either team during the second half was just 4 points, but NEO would come out on top due in large part to the 22 turnovers committed by Western and the 41 free throw attempts by NEO on 31 personal fouls called against Western. Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan led the Pioneers with 18 points followed by Jalen Chapman with 14. Jahmal Lane also pitched in with 10 points in the 76-69 loss.
By: Ryan Whitehead
Two Western players also received honors before the game on Thursday night. Stirling Thomas, a sophomore guard, averaged 19.1 points per game in Conference play and was voted First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region. Also receiving honors was Dii'Jon Allen-Jordan who averaged 16.9 points per game in conference play and earned Second Team All-Conference as well as Second Team All-Region. “I am happy for both of these young men which have meant so much to our program the last two years." said Coach De La Barrera
Above: Stirling Thomas, point guard, drives the baseline.
Students Test “Arrive Alive” Simulators
Mary Ann Callaway experienced Unites, “Arrive Alive” texting and drunken driving simulator Friday, March 7, 2014. Western WINDS and TRIO sponsored the event for all students to get a virtual look at the effects that texting or driving while intoxicated can have on their driving skills and safety.
Left: Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan, small forward tips off against NEO and takes possession.
Volume 15, Issue 25
Sea Chanters Perform Thursday at Western The Navy Band Sea Chanters will perform Thursday, March 13, 2014 at the Hershal H. Crow Fine Arts Center at 7:00 p.m. The concert venue doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Ticket holders are asked to be seated no later than 6:45 because any unclaimed seats will be released to the general public at 6:50 p.m. Chief Musician Adam Tyler, originally from Phoenix, joined the Navy Band Sea Chanters in 2000. He earned a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Northern Arizona University in 1996 with an emphasis in opera and musical theater. His vocal instructors include Judith Cloud and Judy May-Selheim. He performed with numerous professional theater companies prior to joining the Navy, including the Grand Canyon Shakespeare Festival in Flagstaff, Ariz.; the Moonlight Theater Company in San Diego; the Canyon Moon Theater Company in Sedona, Ariz.; and the Phoenix Theater Company in Phoenix. Tyler is actively involved in choral music in Washington. He is a vocalist with "Brethren," an all-male contemporary Christian ensemble, and "The Potomac River Chorale," both comprised of professional singers from the Washington area. In addition to his duties as a vocalist, Tyler has worked as a church musician for nine years. He was a cantor at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., for three years and is currently the staff piano accompanist at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church.
Rich and Gordan Rope a Win at FSCC By: Emily Smith Rodeo
The WOSC Rodeo Team has been on the road for the last three weekends. Last west weekend found the team at the rodeo hosted by Ft. Scott Community College. The weather conditions have been typical of Midwestern winter weather, sub-zero temperatures one day, followed by sunshine the next. Yet despite the long distance travel and fluctuating weather, the talented freshmen and sophomore athletes of WOSC continue to prove they are able to compete with the upper classmen that attend the rival Universities in the Central Plains College Rodeo Region. Freshmen, Douglas Rich of Illinois who has either been in the top ten of the tie down roping or the team roping at the last three rodeos, earned another trip to the short round last weekend in the team roping. Rich and his fellow freshman classmate, Dylan Gordon, roped their team roping steer in a speedy 4.9 seconds in the first round. This was the fastest time of the weekend. They won first in the short-round as well, with another quick time of 5.4 seconds. Their combined time on two steers of 10.3 seconds won the rodeo by more than four seconds! The Oklahoma team of Braden Harmon and Hunter Munsell won second in the first round of the team roping with their time of 6.2 seconds. Unfortunately, Munsell missed their steer in the short round and the team had to settle for sixth place points in the average. Luke Madsen is another freshman athlete that has qualified for each of the last three short rounds in either the team roping or tie down roping. Last weekend, he won the tie down roping at GCCC and this weekend he was back in the top ten of the tie down roping, as well. Madsen tied his first calf in 10.1 seconds, which earned fifth place honors. He also picked-up points for fourth in the short-round and third in the average. Sophomores, EJ Bechthold , Laine Herl, and Jarek Van Petten each qualified for the short round in the steer wrestling. In fact, Bechthold had the fastest time of the weekend in the first round with his speedy, 4.1 second time! Unfortunately, he received a no time in the short round. However, Laine Herl earned the reserve steer wrestling title after he placed fourth in the first round and second in the short round. Lastly, though Van Petten didn’t make any super quick runs, he continued to stop the clock and when the dust had settled, he’d earned points for sixth in the short round and sixth in the average. Only two women from the WOSC’s Women’s Team qualified for the short round and both qualified in the goat tying. Taylor King and Dana Spitzke tied their first goats in 7.5 and 7.6 seconds respectively. Each tied their short round goats in longer 9-second times. While Spitzke was too long to place, King managed to earn points for sixth in the short round and sixth in the average. The WOSC Rodeo Team will end its three week run to Kansas with the arrival of spring break. The next rodeo that the team will travel to is the local high school rodeo, Aaron and Ed’s Rumble on the Red. The WOSC Rodeo Team helps to coordinate this wonderful memorial event that will take place March 28, 29, and 30 at the Great Plains Stampede Arena. If you would like to support this event, please contact Guy Smith at 580-481-0715 to purchase trailer raffle tickets to help support the Rumble on the Red Scholarship Program. For more information on the rodeo, visit www.rumbleonthered.com.