Think critically. Live faithfully.
2020 VI E W B OO K
Shape the future.
Greetings from Bison Hill! This is an exciting time in your life as you prepare to finish high school and determine which college will become your home for the next four years. I encourage you to take a serious look at OBU because when you do, you will find a future-shaping, faith-forward education. As an OBU student, you will experience faculty who become your mentors, personally investing themselves in who you are and who you will become. They not only teach you about a subject, they show you how to use your faith and education to impact the world for God and for good. You become part of a community with other students who share common interests, who become the friends you study and hang out with, and who stay connected with you long after graduation. You’ll receive a world-class education, preparing you for life regardless of your field of study. But an OBU education does much more than that. It teaches you how to use your voice, your gifts, your talents, and your resources to leverage them for Jesus. Because in Him, we find our value. In Him, we find our purpose. In Him, we find our path. At OBU, we don’t just want you to earn your degree. We want to shape you as a person called by God, powered by God’s love, and fueled by the education you obtain here to go into this world and make a difference. Consider OBU. Apply and visit campus. When you experience the OBU difference firsthand, we believe you will find your new home here on Bison Hill where you will be transformed into the future shaper you were created to be. I hope to see you on campus soon. God bless you!
Heath A. Thomas, Ph.D. OBU PRESIDENT
Oklahoma Baptist University’s faithforward education prepares the hearts and minds of students so they can engage with purpose and live well in God’s world.
A faith-forward education that will fast-forward your career.
An OBU education will transform your heart and mind so you can engage with purpose, compassion and confidence in the world for good and for the glory of God. You will be ready to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world and workplace. PICTURED: McKenzie Reece, a 2019 graduate who majored in theatre with a minor in music, moved to New York City for an aspiring career in theatre and hopes her personal walk with Christ will be a testimony to others.
99% of OBU graduates land jobs or spots at top graduate schools within six months of graduation.
OBU is consistently ranked among the Nation’s Top Colleges by U.S. News & World Report and forbes.com.
You’ll be challenged to question and reach higher. Much higher. At OBU, you will be encouraged to go beyond and reach higher than you ever thought possible, approaching everything you do with excellence. Your OBU journey will help you discover who you are, your passions and your purpose in life. Every subject is explored through a Christian worldview. Faith and knowledge blend together harmoniously to develop critical and analytical thinkers who can write, speak and communicate clearly, persuasively and with confidence.
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Because of OBU, I am equipped to use my career in media to glorify God and defend my faith well in a diverse world. 2020 graduate Olivianna Calmes Journalism major from Taichung, Taiwan WAND-TV news anchor in Illinois
Hearts change. Minds grow. Leaders are equipped.
From the moment you step on campus, you feel a sense of community and belonging, developing deep and genuine connections. Faculty become personal mentors who invest their time, expertise and passion in you. You’re never alone in your journey to change, grow and lead. You’re encouraged to explore, question and take risks in a space where you’re supported along every step of the journey.
OBU is ranked #1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching in this region of the nation by U.S. News & World Report
Discover your gifts, sharpen your skills and put them to work in the world. When you begin your journey at OBU, you never know where it will take you. Lucas Adams, a 2016 OBU graduate, experienced the OBU difference firsthand. From his days as a student in OBU’s W.P. Wood Science Building, to his time working as a student intern at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, his education helped him shape his future. As he took his next steps through a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and ultimately studying in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University, he has applied his lifelong passion for research to find answers that will help fight disease. In August 2020, Adams found himself working with researchers at Washington University School of Medicine to find a COVID-19 vaccine that prevents the illness.
OBU has been named as a 2020-21 Career Development College of Distinction.
PHOTO CREDIT: COLIN MCCORNACK, MD-PHD STUDENT AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
GLOBAL OUTREACH IN ECUADOR
Take on a bigger view of your place in the world. What if you followed not just Christ’s words, but his actions? What if you set out to make a difference in the lives of others and in the communities where you live? What if you learned to combine your faith with your ability to think deeply and to serve others? That’s what students at OBU experience through Global Outreach trips, research excursions, capstone projects and study abroad opportunities. You’ll learn to see the world through the eyes of another culture. Whether you’re studying politics, nursing or music, international travel opens your mind to new ideas, issues and solutions.
In 2019, OBU students traveled to 20 other countries on Global Outreach and Study Abroad trips.
It’s more than a path to a career, it’s a path to a calling. From “The Walk” you take as a freshman wearing your beanie and a Welcome Week t-shirt to “The Walk” you take as a senior wearing your graduation cap and gown, the path you take at OBU is one of transformation, moving you from the dream of what’s ahead to fulfilling your purpose. At OBU, you not only grow in knowledge, you grow in faith that will help you understand who you are, where you want to go and how you want to make a difference in the world.
2020 graduate, Misael Gonzalez, was a biblical and theological studies major. As a student, he led as the Welcome Week steering committee co-chair (pictured here) and served as an associate/worship pastor at a local church. After graduation he joined the pastoral staff at First Baptist Church Owasso as their bilingual teaching pastor.
Learn to live well and lead well in God’s world. At OBU, you learn what community is and how to live well within it. Engaged in classes, labs, worship, residential life, service projects and the myriad of student activities, groups and organizations available, you find a home and a family on Bison Hill. Whether it’s playing on an intramural team, joining a social club or leading a campus organization, you find places to develop your interests and form powerful connections that last a lifetime. Community becomes part of who every OBU student is and you take these values with you as you graduate and become engaged community builders wherever you live, work and worship.
Consistently recognized as a top school for student engagement, OBU recently ranked #2 nationally on Wall Street Journal’s top schools for student engagement.
Here, faith is not the enemy of education.
It’s the very heart.
OBU leads with faith, boldly integrating it into every aspect of learning and life on campus, so as a community we can go out into the world and do something beautiful for God. The Christian worldview at OBU frames the academic experience, but it does not close it in. Rather, you are introduced to broad perspectives, ideas and thoughts and are challenged to explore how faith influences how you will live out Christ’s love in a complex world.
OBU’s College of Nursing reports a 100% employment rate for nursing graduates and 90-100% NCLEX pass rates among nursing students over the last five years.
Champions play here. A winning tradition – in the classroom and on the field. OBU Athletics has earned its reputation as one of America’s elite institutions.
33
national titles, including 30 since 2005.
33
Intramural Events
12
Club Sports
24
NCAA Division II Sports WOMEN’S
MEN’S
Basketball Cheer Cross Country Golf Indoor Track & Field Lacrosse Outdoor Track & Field Pom Soccer Softball Stunt Swimming & Diving Tennis Volleyball
Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Indoor Track & Field Outdoor Track & Field Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis
obubison.com
2019 GAC TOURNAMENT TITLE
PHOTO BY GEORGIA READ
Shawnee offers a big experience in a small community. Shawnee is a thriving community with the comforts of a large city, the charm of a small town and a location near anything you want to do. In Shawnee, the CPN / FireLake district includes a 24-lane, state-of-the-art bowling center with an arcade, golf and mini-putt. The historic Hornbeck Twin Theatre on Bell Street is a great place to catch a bargain movie every day of the week, and FireLake Arena has a continual line-up of concerts, comedy acts and sporting events. Oklahoma City is an easy 35-minute drive from OBU. Here are some highlights in the OKC metro area. • Bricktown is an entertainment district with great food, minor league baseball, the navigable Bricktown Canal, and a 16-screen Harkins movie theatre, along with nearby Scissortail Park and Skydance Bridge. • Chesapeake Energy Arena is home to the OKC Thunder NBA team and plays host to major concerts and world-class entertainment. • RIVERSPORT offers whitewater rafting, kayaking, zip lines and much more. • The OKC Zoo and the Myriad Botanical Gardens feature amphitheaters for outdoor concerts.
OKC THUNDER PHOTO PHOTO BY SERGE MELKI
PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE
H OBU
OKC Will Rogers World Airport
7
27
45
airlines direct minutes flights from OBU
Invested in You. OBU invests more than $29 million per year for financial aid and scholarships. To learn about all available university scholarships, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. File your FAFSA as early as possible to receive the maximum amount of financial aid. Students may file the FAFSA beginning October 1. GET STARTED ONLINE
okbu.edu/fafsa
OBU’s school code – 003164
100% of OBU’s admitted freshmen receive a guaranteed minimum $7,000 scholarship.
FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIPS $7,000 - $14,000 per year Academic Scholarships Scholarship Academic Grant Academic Grant President’s Academic Trustee’s Academic Founder’s Academic
Four-Year Award $28,000 $36,000 $44,000 $48,000 $56,000
Annual Award $7,000 $9,000 $11,000 $12,000 $14,000
$7,000 per year International Diversity Scholarships – Students attending OBU on an I-20 application are eligible.
FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS University Scholar – 32 ACT or 1420 SAT and a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher to apply.
Allen Academic Scholar – Western Oklahoma student who has at least a 27 ACT or 1260 SAT and a 3.5 GPA to apply.
Martin Choctaw Student Scholar – Oklahoma resident Choctaw student with at least a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT and a 3.0 GPA to apply. NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS Endowed Scholarships – Grants awarded based on unmet demonstrated need and other financial aid student is receiving.
$1,000 - $5,000 Allen Scholarships – Scholarships awarded to students from Western Oklahoma, based on unmet demonstrated need and other financial aid student is receiving. $1,000 - $5,000 Martin Scholarships – Scholarships awarded
to Oklahoma resident Choctaw students recognized by the Choctaw Nation as being Choctaw, based on unmet demonstrated need and other financial aid student is receiving.
TA L E N T S C H O L A R S H I P S $250 - $1,000 Band Awards – Non-music majors who are members of Symphonic Winds may apply.
$500 - $4,000 Fine Arts Scholarships – Students who major in voice, keyboard, instrument, music composition, art or theatre. D E N O M I N AT I O N A L S C H O L A R S H I P S Up to $2,000 per year Church Partnership Program OBU will match up to $1,000 per year from any Baptist church or association.
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$1,000 per year Church Staff Dependent Scholarships The financial aid team here at OBU has done a great job working with me and my family to provide helpful scholarships including a President’s Academic Scholarship, allowing me to further my education here on Bison Hill. OBU Junior Sydney Boudreaux Criminal Justice major from Owasso, Oklahoma
For children or spouses of currently employed, paid, professional denominational ministers of Baptist churches, associations, state or national conventions.
MK Scholarships – Guaranteed 50% tuition in OBU Scholarships. Children of current IMB or NAMB missionaries.
$2,000 per year Louise M. Prichard Scholarships
Ministry majors in the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry.
AT H L E T I C S C H O L A R S H I P S Prospective student-athletes can visit obubison.com/recruit.
okbu.edu/calculator This online tool will give you an idea of what it will cost to attend OBU.
#visitbisonhill Some things you just need to see for yourself. Attend one of our preplanned campus visit days, or let us customize a personal visit for you.
V I S I T D AY S Preview Days Tour campus, investigate academic programs and learn about scholarships and financial aid. In-Person Visit Schedule a customized visit to meet your specific needs and interests. Virtual Visit okbu.edu/admissions/virtual-visit
PLAN YOUR VISIT ONLINE okbu.edu /visit
Follow us on social! @go2obu oklahoma baptist university
Let’s do this. Join our family of Future Shapers and apply online:
okbu.edu/apply Apply early so you can hear back about financial aid and scholarships!
A P P L I C AT I O N C H E C K L I S T 1. Apply online at okbu.edu/apply (Beginning January 1 during junior year)
2. Submit these documents to admissions@okbu.edu • ACT, SAT or CLT score OBU’s ACT code is 3414; SAT code is 6541.
• High School and College transcripts 3. Submit a FAFSA - fafsa.gov (Opens October 1 during senior year)
4. Submit your $125 Enrollment Guarantee 5. Submit your Housing Application
#chooseOBU
Questions? Let’s connect.
Office of Admissions 500 W. University Shawnee, OK 74804 405.585.5000 | admissions@okbu.edu
500 W. University Shawnee, OK 74804
Who will shape the future? Those who are not just well-educated, but those who know their purpose, who know what it means to bring value to this world. The personal, intellectual and spiritual transformation ignited at OBU continues for a lifetime. It carries you, it carries all of us, forward – to a better, more truthful, more just world.