STATE magazine - Fall 2019

STATE The official magazine of Oklahoma State University

BRIGHTER ORANGE, BRIGHTER FUTURE NEW CAMPAIGN AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS COVER COLLEGE COSTS

Pete says,

YOU CAN HELP MAKE AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST ORANGE EVEN BRIGHTER. Share the spirit of OSU with the next generation of Cowboys and Cowgirls by sending us their information! knowafuturecowboy.com

In T his Issue

Brighter Orange, Brighter Future The OSU Foundation is launching a new campaign to raise funds to ensure our students have the financial support to attend college.

Pages 42-67 (Photo: Gary Lawson)

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LifeChanging Education

Opening Doors

Recognizing Top Scholars

The Niblack Research Scholarship has opened doors for a nontraditional OSU student.

Five more freshmen get full scholarships for their academic accomplishments with the Oklahoma State Scholars Society.

Dr. Adrienne Sanogo, the senior associate dean of the College of Education, Health and Aviation, is a great example of how education has changed her life and the lives of those around her.

COVER PHOTO GARY LAWSON

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Redefining Our Identity OSU is a powerhouse — and we’ve got a new single identity to reinforce that.

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Treating Addiction The OSU Center for Wellness & Recovery is addressing the opioid epidemic with funds from a settlement with drugmaker Purdue Pharma.

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4 Letter from the Editor 5 Socially Orange

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6 President’s Letter 8

New Leader at CAS

STATEment

10 Wellness with Ann Hargis

Glen Krutz is taking the helm as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Plus...

26 Campus News

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66 Impact Spotlight 74 Cowboy Chronicles 78 Legacy Link

Fearless Forecasts for 25 Years

79 Cowboy Way

After a quarter century, the Oklahoma Mesonet is still watching the skies and saving lives.

121 Alumni Update

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50 Years of Top Honors

114 Chapter News

123 Weddings 124 Births

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The Oklahoma State University Honors College celebrated 50 years of graduating top-notch students this year.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 3

STATE

Letters

BR A N D M A NAGEMENT

Kyle Wray | Vice President of Enrollment and Brand Management Erin Petrotta | Director of Marketing and Student Communication Megan Horton | Director of Branding and Digital Strategy Monica Roberts | Director of Media Relations Shannon Rigsby | Public Information Officer Mack Burke | Editorial Coordinator Dave Malec | Design Coordinator Dorothy Pugh | Managing Editor

Lacy Branson, Codee Classen, Paul V. Fleming, Valerie Kisling, Chris Lewis, Michael Molholt & Benton Rudd | Design Phil Shockley, Gary Lawson & Brandee Cazzelle | Photography Kurtis Mason | Trademarks & Licensing Pam Longan & Leslie McClurg | Administrative Support Office of Brand Management | 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024 405-744-6262 | okstate.edu | statemagazine.okstate.edu | editor@okstate.edu osu.advertising@okstate.edu Contributors | Kim Archer, Sarah Bildstein, David Bitton, Derinda Blakeney, Will Carr, Brandee Cazzelle, Jeff Joiner, Christy Lang, Jacob Longan, Lindsay Lynch, Karolyn Moberly, David C. Peters, Sara Plummer, Shannon Rigsby, Monica Roberts, Gary Shutt, Donald Stotts, Jet Turner and Kristi Wheeler

O S U A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N Tony LoPresto I Chair Tina Parkhill | Vice Chair Kent Gardner | Immediate Past Chair Blaire Atkinson | President Pam Davis | Vice President of Engagement and Strategies David Parrack | Vice President of Finance and Operations Jillianne Tebow | Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications Treca Baetz, James Boggs, Larry Briggs, Ann Caine, Michael Carolina, Kurt Carter, Kent Gardner, Angela Kouplen, Tony LoPresto, Mel Martin, Aaron Owen, Tina Parkhill, Joe Ray, Tom Ritchie, Darin Schmidt & Tina Walker | Board of Directors Lacy Branson, Will Carr, Chase Carter, Lucy Hodges & Lerin Lynch | Marketing and Communications OSU Alumni Association | 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 740787043 | 405-744-5368 | orangeconnection.org | info@orangeconnection.org

O S U F O U N D AT I O N Jerry Winchester | Chair Kirk Jewell | President Donna Koeppe | Vice President of Administration & Treasurer Chris Campbell | Senior Associate Vice President of Information Strategy Shane Crawford | Senior Associate Vice President of Philanthropy, Leadership Gifts Stephen Mason | Senior Associate Vice President of Philanthropy David Mays | Senior Associate Vice President of Philanthropy Jamie Payne | Senior Associate Vice President of Development Services Robyn Baker | Vice President and General Counsel Pam Guthrie | Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources Deborah Adams, Mark Allen, Blaire Atkinson, Bryan Begley, Bryan Close, Jan Cloyde, Patrick Cobb, Ann Dyer, Joe Eastin, Helen Hodges, David Houston, Gary Huneryager, A.J. Jacques, Brett Jameson, Kirk Jewell, Griff Jones, Diana Laing, John Linehan, Joe Martin, Ross McKnight, Bill Patterson, Jenelle Schatz, Becky Steen, Lyndon Taylor, Phil Terry, Jay Wiese & Jerry Winchester | Trustees Shelly Cameron, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Karolyn Moberly, Michael Molholt, Lauren Knori, Kyle Stringer & Benton Rudd | Marketing and Communications OSU Foundation | 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 800-622-4678 | OSUgiving.com | info@OSUgiving.com STATE magazine is published three times a year (Fall, Winter, Spring) by Oklahoma State University, 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by the Office of Brand Management, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, and is mailed to current members of the OSU Alumni Association. Postage is paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $45.

Call 405-744-5368 or mail a check to 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater OK 74078-7043. To change a mailing address, visit orangeconnection.org/update or call 405-744-5368.

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies.

Contact the Director of Equal Opportunity at 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; telephone 405-744-5371; or email eeo@okstate.edu. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator at 405-744-9154.

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the vice president of enrollment management and marketing, was printed by Royle Printing Co. at a cost of $0.97 per issue: 37,622 | August 2019 | #7997 | Copyright © 2019, STATE magazine.

All rights reserved.

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From the Editor's Desk I’m a Cowboy now.

Those words were strange to write but felt right when I first released the news back in Norman, Oklahoma, that I had taken a new job in Stillwater as the editorin-chief of Oklahoma State University’s official magazine.

After eight years of working on the news side at The Norman Transcript, I found myself searching for something new, something different.

Earlier this year, buried in newspaper deadlines and dirty diapers, I would not have guessed that my future would bring me here, but the call piqued my interest.

I was blown away by what I saw on this campus, and today, the future looks as bright as America’s Brightest Orange.

I’ve never felt so genuinely and instantly welcome as I have here — a testament to OSU’s well-earned reputation as the friendliest campus in the country.

Behind OSU’s familial atmosphere is a powerhouse of higher education. With over 275,000 Oklahoma State graduates making a difference around the globe, my goal is to share their stories far and wide, to inspire the next generation of Cowboys and to let the world know what you already know about the Cowboy family and the great opportunities that await students here.

In this issue, we’re excited to share with you the launch of the Brighter Orange, Brighter Future campaign, an ambitious effort to secure $375 million in funding to ensure that tomorrow’s Cowboys have the financial footing to finish their degree and make sky-high dreams reality.

We’ll also explore 50 years of Honors College tradition and how the state’s multimillion-dollar Purdue Pharma settlement is opening doors for OSU’s Center for Health Sciences to tackle the opioid crisis.

There are countless Cowboy stories still left to tell and new ones being lived every day. If you have ideas for potential stories, email me at editor@okstate.edu.

No longer a Sooner in a strange land, but an enthusiastic Cowboy in Whitehurst Hall, I’m saying howdy and thanks for the warm welcome.

Go Pokes!

Mack Burke Editor

STATE Magazine 305 WHITEHURST OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER, OK 74078

EDITOR@OKSTATE.EDU STATEMAGAZINE.OKSTATE.E D U

#okstate @BeAnOSUCowboy

@OSU Foundation

Join the conversation on social media with the Cowboy Family.

Class of 2024 #okstate24: Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and videos once you’ve received your admissions card! We love seeing your excitement!

#TBT Old Central @okstate

Loyal and True There is still time to become a member of the Loyal and True giving society! Visit️ okla.st/ LoyalAndTrue to give and receive your very own decal.

Big 12 Champions @OSU Athletics

“Stillwater’s Pride” was the first permanent structure at #okstate — known today as Old Central. It was dedicated in June 1894. #TBT

Grandparent University

Bringing it back home. #okstate #GoPokes

International Alumni Weekend @okstate_SGSP

@OKStateAlumni

The Cowboys, Cowgirls and coaches rolled out tonight for our Grandparent University Tailgate! We our OSU family! #GoPokes #GPU19

Adios, Mexico! We had a great time connecting and celebrating the OSU alumni in Mexico at the first International Alumni Weekend with the @OKStateAlumni in San Miguel de Allende! What a wonderful place to kick off this new OSU tradition! #MexicOSU #globalokstate

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Visit social.okstate.edu for more social media connections.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Unifying Our OSU Identity Throughout this issue of STATE, you will see the “brand” logo, which is the new, singular logo for our beloved Oklahoma State University.

A strong, unified identity is critical for a university in today’s competitive higher education landscape. One logo provides consistency and strengthens our communications and engagement with students, employees, alumni, donors, fans and other stakeholders.

The OSU brand is already widely recognized and associated regionally, nationally and internationally with Oklahoma State University. The move to a single logo is the result of extensive research. The new logo launched July 1 and will be used across all university campuses, colleges, departments and by our athletic teams. Of course, the academic land-grant triangle will continue to be used on academic and research communications.

We’re one OSU, with one mission, and now one identity.

Elsewhere in this issue, you will read about the impact of student scholarships and the launch this fall of the Brighter Orange, Brighter Future campaign. The initiative focuses on strengthening educational access for students, especially those in financial need.

This much-needed student support will change lives and help OSU retain its reputation as one of the best values in higher education.

First Cowgirl Ann and I, along with other OSU leaders, attended the July commencement for thousands of students at Haramaya University in Ethiopia. Oklahoma State helped establish the university nearly 70 years ago and has continued to play an active role. OSU President Oliver Willham gave the first commencement address to graduates in 1957, and I had that same honor this summer.

Back here at home, we are beginning another exciting academic year. Thanks for your support. Ann and I hope to see you on campus this fall.

Go Pokes!

Burns Hargis OSU President

6 SPRING 2019

Jennifer Steinkamp, Bouquet 1, 2013, computer-generated animation. © Jennifer Steinkamp, courtesy of the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation, photo by Joseph Rynkiewicz.

LITTLE NEMO’S PROGRESS ANIMATION AND CONTEMPORARY ART Little Nemo’s Progress: Animation and Contemporary Art highlights the processes and creative possibilities involved in crafting animated spatial environments and illuminates a broad range of innovative animation-based processes, including video game design. The exhibition features a selection of works by contemporary artists, including works drawn from the Thoma Foundation Collection of Digital & Electronic Art.

AUGUST 6 TO DECEMBER 14, 2019 Panel discussion Thursday, September 26, 5:30 p.m.

Panelists: Guest Curator and Facilitator, Mora Beauchamp-Byrd, Ph.D. and exhibition artist Lyndon Barrois.

Opening Reception and Final Friday, Friday, September 27, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.

All programs are free, open to the public and held at the OSU Museum of Art, 720 S. Husband Street. Downtown Stillwater.

This exhibition is supported by: the OSU Museum of Art Advocates, Malinda and Dick Fischer, Mary Ann and Ken Fergeson, the Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation, the Thoma Art Foundation, and the OSU Museum of Art Founding Patrons and Charter Members.

STATE MENT

Dear OSU Alumni and Friends, The Cowboy family is known for coming together — and this fall brings several opportunities for our alumni and friends to do just that.

With the launch of a single primary institutional logo for the university, Oklahoma State is moving toward an even stronger identity. The logo, which appears on the cover of STATE magazine, will be used across all university campuses, colleges, departments and athletic teams. We are all one Cowboy family!

As the school year gets into full swing, we are proud to welcome the largest incoming Honors College class as well as the second cohort of Oklahoma State Scholars. You can read more about this prestigious scholar program beginning on Page 56.

Our students are showing they are well on their way to a bright future. But that doesn’t mean they won’t need any help. Later this fall, the university will celebrate with the OSU Foundation the launch of the Brighter Orange, Brighter Future fundraising campaign, which seeks to raise $375 million in endowed support for our students. Through the campaign, the Cowboy family can support all aspects of student success, including scholarships, study abroad and internships. You can read more beginning on Page 42.

We hope to see many of our Cowboy family back home this fall as we celebrate the 99th Homecoming celebration.

Homecoming 2019: ‘As the World Turns Orange’ is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your fellow Cowboys. Our Game Day Guide on Pages 112-113 breaks down all the ways you can cheer on the Cowboys with the Alumni Association this season. At our first home game Sept. 7, we’ll be celebrating seven members of our Cowboy family who have been named Distinguished Alumni. You can learn more about them and RSVP to the event at ORANGECONNECTION.org/ daa.

From our brand to our support for students to celebrating our OSU traditions, the Cowboy family continues to come together to shine the brightest orange.

Go Pokes!

Blaire Atkinson

Kirk Jewell

Kyle Wray

President OSU Alumni Association

President OSU Foundation

Vice President for Enrollment and Brand Management

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PHOTOS P H I L S H O C K L E Y, GARY LAWSON

Visit

STILLWATER and Join the Crowd

Experience the Traditions Experience the Music Experience America’s Friendliest College Town! #FlySWO direct on American Airlines!

WELLNESS

“This is the coolest program. My daughter is going to miss her puppy. I’m glad she can love on these dogs while she is away.”

— #OKSTATE22 MOM

Dear Cowboy Family, Research shows dogs can improve health in a variety of ways. Dogs have the ability to lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, help with feelings of depression and act as social magnets, drawing people together who might not have ever spoken. Pete’s Pet Posse (P3) dogs are making an impact at OSU every single day.

Ghost, Lumos, Cali and King. These rescued pups recently graduated from Pete’s Pet Posse, OSU’s nationally unique pet therapy program. They are currently serving our campus, thanks to the generosity of donors who provided a scholarship for training.

People who provide scholarships are special. They don’t just believe in education — they believe in it so passionately that they provide the opportunity for others. Oklahoma State University has been blessed with many of these incredible people who are giving back.

Get in Touch:

PetesPetPosse,

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’19 STILLWATER’S P3

Pete’s Pet Posse was established as a wellness program in fall 2013 with eight pet therapy teams, consisting of the dog and the owner/handler. The program expanded to include OSUTulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences in fall 2015. Today, more than 60 pet therapy teams serve Oklahoma State University across three campuses.

Dogs are owned by OSU employees, and their first priority is to serve with their human in the office as a wellness benefit. They are also available, as their schedule allows, to attend OSUsponsored events. An advisory board comprised of key constituents across campus governs the program, and the student volunteer group, the Ruff Riders, also enhance P3.

Pete’s Pet Posse is not funded by the university and relies on donations to operate. Teams accepted into the program are responsible for training and certification costs. Scholarships, as well as other gifts, are important to the success of the program.

@pets4pete,

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37 dogs in 31 different offices

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Over 930 special appearances

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Over 5,000 hours of pet therapy

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Over 60,000 people reached

We are thankful for those who provide scholarships to both OSU students and pet therapy teams.

Together, we are making a difference.

Go Pokes!

Ann Hargis OSU First Cowgirl

Below: The seventh graduating class of Pete's Pet Posse.

@pets4pete | pettherapy@okstate.edu | pettherapy.okstate.edu

PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

OKLAHOMA NEEDS DOCTORS LIKE YOU Choose a career in medicine and make a difference.

OSU-trained physicians work and live in every county in Oklahoma, providing excellent patient care to generations of Oklahoma families. Learn how the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the OSU Center for Health Sciences can help you achieve your dream of becoming a doctor.

Learn more about applying to medical school at health.okstate.edu.

1111 West 17th Street | Tulsa, OK 74107-1898 | 918-582-1972

One Brand for All

OSU solidifies its identity with single new logo

O

Megan Horton

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ne brand. One identity. One OSU. On July 1, Oklahoma State University officially launched a brand update to unify its identity under the umbrella of one logo — a logo that is already recognizable regionally, nationally and beyond.

The new “brand logo” will be utilized across all university campuses, colleges, departments and athletic teams. The OSU A&M Board of Regents, President Burns Hargis and Provost Gary Sandefur have all approved its usage.

But why? What’s really in a logo? Why is this seemingly minor change poised to make a big impact?

The “brand logo” effort is a forwardthinking initiative rooted in expanding OSU’s brand recognition and, in the process, positioning the university for future success.

The rebranding effort was the culmination of over a year’s worth of strategic planning and market research that included survey data from more than 5,000 respondents, market penetration research on the gamut of OSU logos, a design analysis of OSU’s logos and those of Big 12 counterparts, and a digital audit of more than 1,600 online OSU accounts and websites.

That research determined that the OSU “brand logo” is the strongest logo with the most audience recognition and prominence. The research also indicated that Pistol Pete is a strong brand asset.

Our beloved mascot isn’t going away — he will continue to be used in marketing materials. And now, OSU’s identity is tied to a logo that is both strikingly symbolic and instantly recognizable.

Director of Branding and Digital Strategy Megan Horton said having a variety of logos in broad circulation diluted OSU’s branding power.

“By everyone embracing one identity, one approach, it really unifies us in more ways than just a logo,” she said. “Externally, it provides that brand equity that we’ve really needed for a long time. I think this step is a huge one for elevating our image — when people see the OSU brand, they know who we are.”

Horton said that consistency over time will continue to raise OSU’s brand recognition.

“Our identity resonates with the public and people want to align themselves with us as an institution,” she said. “This effort gives us a platform to reach more prospective students, parents, alumni and donors.”

OSU has had many logos over the years that have nostalgic affinity. But the most significant brands have definite, singular identities. For example, what does the Coca-Cola logo or the General Electric logo look like?

You don’t have to ask “which one?” You already know. Those logos are those brands.

That didn’t happen by accident, Horton said.

The principles of design and branding that have elevated those marks to global prominence are the same that OSU is tapping into with its unified branding message.

“They have obviously been intentional and strategic in their choices and how they present themselves. And it has worked,” she said. “We want to be known. OSU is a special place and it can’t be the best kept secret anymore.”

OSU isn’t alone in the trend of logo unification.

Many institutions across the nation are also moving to “one brand for all” including Auburn, the University of Kentucky and the University of Nebraska, just to name a few.

Of course, Oklahoma State University is unique.

The brand update is not about following the crowd, but standing out — unified, bold and bright.

“There are definite character qualities with our institution,” Horton said. “We’re known for academic excellence, research innovation, grit, our familial atmosphere, working hard, playing hard and helping others. If you’ve been an OSU student or you’ve been on campus, you’ve experienced those things. I think it’s time for us as an institution to convey who we are through our identity in a more overt, upfront way. Part of that comes with having that brand consistency, as well as living out those brand characteristics.”

STORY MACK BURKE | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

(

“We are an amazing place, we have amazing people, our programs are top-rated — and our visual identity needs to line up with that.”

)

MEGAN HORTON, DIRECTOR OF BRANDING AND DIGITAL STRATEGY

PHOTO GARY LAWSON

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OKLAHOMA’S PURDUE PHARMA SETTLEMENT GIVES OSU-CHS MORE RESOURCES TO TREAT PATIENTS, TRAIN PHYSICIANS AND TACKLE THE OPIOID CRISIS NATIONWIDE

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here is no typical day for Dr. Kelly Dunn, an assistant clinical professor and physician at the OSU Addiction Medicine Clinic in Tulsa.

“I don’t have a typical patient, either. We see young adults to people in their 50s and 60s,” Dunn said. “Addiction is very indiscriminating. It can affect anyone.”

The vast majority of patients with an opioid addiction started out with a prescription they received after an injury or a procedure, Dunn said.

“They like the way it feels, the euphoria after they take it,” she said.

“Then they’re continually chasing a higher dose because of the tolerance they build up.”

But the picture many may have of what someone with an opioid addiction looks like rarely matches the reality.

“One of my patients is a young woman who just got married and bought her first new car. Another patient is a working mother in her 40s,” Dunn said. “You would never be able to pick them out as substance abuse patients.

Most of my patients, you couldn’t tell. A lot of people suffer in secret.”

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STORY SARA PLUMMER | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND CHARLES AMLANER

Add ict I

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Dr. Kelly Dunn is an assistant clinical professor and one of the physicians at the OSU Addiction Medicine Clinic that opened in Tulsa in September 2018.

THE ORIGINS

Several factors in the health care industry collided about 20 years ago to create today’s opioid addiction epidemic.

A one-paragraph letter to the editor published in 1980 in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that addiction was rare in patients using narcotics. That one paragraph became widely cited evidence that opioids were non-addictive, said Julie Croff, Ph.D. and executive director of the OSU Center for Wellness & Recovery.

“We now know that at five days of using a prescription the definition opioid, the risk of addiction WHAT IS AN OPIOID? Opioids are a goes up, and if taken for 30 class of prescription pain medications days, the risk of addiction and that have addictive properties. being on those pills a year later Common prescription opioids include is at 40 percent,” she said.

OxyContin, Vicodin and morphine.

In the mid-1990s, pain became one of the vital signs of health, and physicians were urged to treat pain as a tenet of practicing medicine.

At the same time, pharmaceutical companies were advertising the benefits of opioids to health care providers and releasing new formulations.

“Doctors were advised by professional societies in the last two decades that it was unethical to not treat patients’ pain. The result is that the opioid epidemic is akin to the bubonic plague of the 17th century or the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s — it is the plague of today,” said Jason Beaman, D.O., chair of OSU-CHS’ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and director of training and education for the Center for Wellness & Recovery.

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FIGHTING BACK

In November 2017, OSU Center for Health Sciences President Kayse Shrum, D.O., established the OSU Center for Wellness & Recovery to address the opioid epidemic plaguing Oklahoma. Less than a year later, the OSU Addiction Medicine Clinic opened in partnership with 12&12, a Tulsa-based nonprofit residential addiction treatment and counseling center.

The addiction clinic offers patients comprehensive outpatient treatment options and services that incorporate both medical and mental health treatments in order to give them the best chance at recovery, Dunn said.

More than two years ago, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter sued several pharmaceutical companies, claiming the effect of deceptive marketing campaigns over the last decade fueled the state’s opioid crisis. In March, a $270 million settlement between the state and Purdue Pharma was reached, with $197.5 million of that settlement earmarked to establish an endowment at the Center for Wellness & Recovery that will create a national center and foundation for opioid addiction treatment and research as well as a national scientific advisory board.

“The addiction crisis facing our state and nation is a clear and present danger. Deploying the money from this settlement immediately allows us to decisively treat addiction illness and save lives,” Hunter said. “This endowment will allow the university to expand its footprint to a national level to combat the crisis. I have full faith and confidence in Dr. Kayse Shrum and her team to lead this initiative.”

HOSPITALIZATIONS In 2018,, MORE THAN 3,000 OKLAHOMANS were admitted to a hospital for a non-fatal overdose, and 80 percent of those involved a prescription opioid medication.

EDUCATION FIRST

As part of OSU-CHS, the Center for Wellness & Recovery follows the institution’s osteopathic philosophy of holistic medicine. The center addresses pain and addiction through four main pillars: training and education, clinical practice, advocacy, and research.

Treating addiction starts with educating the public, patients and physicians.

“When I was in medical school people weren’t talking about it yet. I didn’t get any specific training. It’s slowly becoming a part of medical education, including educating physicians,” said Dunn, who graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 2014.

As a national average, medical students receive between two and eight hours of education about addiction, but OSU-CHS goes far beyond that.

Since 2015, all second-year medical students take an additional 16 hours of instruction time and can complete clinical rotations at 12&12.

Dr. Sam Martin, director of addiction medicine, said OSU-CHS’ focus and attention to addiction medicine is what brought him here in 2016.

“Oklahoma has been one of the hardest-hit states in the opioid epidemic. There are more Oklahoma adults between 25 and 64 dying of unintentional prescription drug overdoses than in car crashes,” Martin said. “OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine recognizes addiction for the health crisis that it is. Our medical students not only learn about addiction in the classroom, but then they have this opportunity to see its cause and effect and treatment first-hand.”

In 2018, OSU Medicine received approval to offer a one-year fellowship in addiction medicine that rotates through the addiction clinic and inpatient units at 12&12.

“We believe that we have a responsibility to prepare future physicians to recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction and to provide patients with the answers and help they need to seek recovery,” Beaman said. “Great strides against addiction can be made by educating future doctors about the disease.”

The Center for Wellness & Recovery also provides continuing medical education courses to physicians as well as public workshops and presentations covering a variety of addiction topics. This fall, the center will host the Addiction Medicine Conference and Board Review Course, a fiveday conference for practicing physicians. deathS Center staff and physicians are also working with strategic NEARLY 50 PERCENT of Oklahoma’s partners on several research drug overdose deaths in 2018 were initiatives dealing with attributed to a pharmaceutical drug. alternative treatment options and predictive models.

“Further understanding that addiction is a brain disease and how we best treat and prevent addiction is the overall goal for our research. We have to better understand how addiction starts, and if there are ways to interrupt it,” Croff said. “We know one cause of opioid addiction has been pain — both physical and emotional. We have to find new and better ways to treat pain in order to prevent addiction to opioids.”

OSU Center for Health Sciences President Kayse Shrum, D.O., speaks with reporters after the Purdue Pharma settlement press conference in March 2019.

SPENDING WISELY

dosing The CDC recommends a first opioid prescription be for less than seven days and under 50 morphine milligram equivalents. Anything longer or higher is considered long duration and high dose. In 2017, ONLY 36 PERCENT of Oklahoma Blue Cross Blue Shield members received first prescriptions that met those CDC guidelines.

Following the settlement with Purdue Pharma in March, an endowment was created at the center that will be used for treating the ongoing opioid addiction epidemic nationwide.

The endowment received an initial $102.5 million from the settlement and beginning in January, another annual payment of $15 million for five years. During that same five-year period, the endowment will also receive ongoing contributions of addiction treatment medicine valued at $20 million.

“The mission of the OSU Center for Wellness & Recovery is to save lives and rescue those who are struggling with addiction. This endowment will allow us to assist communities in Oklahoma and across the country that have been ravaged by the opioid epidemic with innovative approaches to addressing this health crisis,” Shrum said. “Now we will have the resources to create a place where people can come together to engage in meaningful initiatives to prevent, treat and eradicate this horrible disease.”

The center has primarily been funded through a combination of federal and private funds. The injection of endowment funds gives it resources that can be used more broadly in clinical practice and research.

“We were honored to be selected to receive these funds. It is a huge testament to the work started at OSU-CHS before the Center for Wellness & Recovery was formally created and what the CWR has been able to accomplish in a short amount of time,” Croff said. “It is our goal to continue to pursue cutting-edge training, clinical services, research, prevention and advocacy in the area of addiction medicine.”

pills In 2016, enough opioids were prescribed in Oklahoma FOR EVERY ADULT HERE TO HAVE MORE THAN 100 PILLS.

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Dunn, who works directly with patients, said resources are needed the most in prevention, training in addiction medicine, and increasing the number of treatment and recovery programs and facilities.

“Right now, when someone is ready to seek treatment, they have to go through an intake process and then they’re put on a waiting list. There’s just not room for them. That’s something I hope the funds can help with,” she said.

Ultimately, this settlement will affect everyone in the state in some way because addiction isn’t just an individual disease — it affects families and communities.

“It means hope for a better tomorrow. Our communities and families have been plagued by an epidemic of addiction. CWR will help families and patients find hope in recovery,” Croff said. “We will create best practices that protect our communities in the future.

We will partner to heal the damage of this epidemic. We will continue to be a part of the work of communities across the state and this settlement provides us the means to continue that work.”

paper In 2017, Oklahoma was one of the top opioid-prescribing states, writing 88.1 prescriptions per 100 people. That’s 3.44 MILLION OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS for a population of 3.933 million.

Learn more about this story and the OSU-CHS mission to serve rural communities with the Inside OSU podcast featuring Monica Roberts’ (right) interview with Dr. Kayse Shrum, president of OSU Center for Health Sciences. To listen, visit okla.st/shrum.

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Cowboy Comeback

Doug Hallenbeck reflects on his college days as he returns to OSU

THIS SPRING, DR. DOUG HALLENBECK BECAME OSU’S NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS. The campus is familiar territory for him, having worked in student housing at OSU from 1996-2003 while completing his doctorate in applied behavioral studies. A visit just a week after he began his new job revealed an administrator excited to take the reins and make a positive impact on OSU students.

INTERVIEW MONICA ROBERTS | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

Let’s start at the beginning. Where are your roots?

I was born in Iowa while my dad worked at Iowa State. Then I moved to Athens, Georgia, when I was 5 because my dad was the director of housing for the University of Georgia. That’s home ... I graduated high school there. My brother and his family and my parents live there. I went to school at Georgia College, got a degree in psychology there, and was an RA (residence assistant) and a cheerleader there. I was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

You were a cheerleader?

We were the first ever co-ed college cheerleading squad! Funny story, I was sitting in the cafeteria one day and this guy came in with a flyer and said, “You know, you can be a Georgia College cheerleader!” About five of us tried out since we didn’t have anything else to do, and we made the team as freshmen. I did it all four years. I had been a football player in high school — we did the yells and helped the girls do their stunts, but we didn’t do flips or the things guys do today!

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People forget how much happens outside the classroom, how much you learn about what it takes to be a good citizen, a good employee, family member outside the classroom.

You mentioned your dad worked in higher education.

Yes. I started painting residence halls when I was 16 — it’s really where I got my start in student housing. It’s a unique aspect of student affairs with the operations and custodial aspects, understanding the maintenance aspect. The staff had such an affinity for my father, and it really taught me a lot about the importance of how you treat people.

So what made you want to come back to OSU? OSU has always been the one school — and I’ve been at several … Mississippi State, the University of Florida, SMU, Clemson — that I always said I’d go back and work there again.

What would you say your fondest college memory would be?

When I was an RA, we’d stay up all night playing cards with the students in the lobby in an old building with no air conditioning, no cable TV. ...

When I look back it was those moments I enjoyed the most.

And why is that?

Part of it is we have a relatively calm student body. I was here for seven years and got pretty involved, played softball, went to church. I enjoy the size of Stillwater. And it’s a land-grant institution, the type of university I want to work for.

What is your favorite aspect of student affairs?

I grew up around student housing — and I see it really as the delivery mechanism for what we do in student affairs and a good training ground.

But the thing about student affairs on college campuses is that it’s always changing, and you need all different aspects of it to work together.

It’s not just the programmatic side of student life, but also the operations side … cooking meals, cleaning the halls. Treating students when they’re sick, talking to them when they’re down … all of it works together in a pretty unique way.

How has OSU changed since you were here?

Not a whole lot in terms of culture and the feel.

Obviously, some new buildings, more students and some growth. But people are still wanting to do right ... there’s an enthusiasm here. It’s very comfortable to be back. It’s surprising the amount of people still working on campus that I knew years ago when I was here in the late ’90s.

Is there a specific area you really hope to focus on?

Helping the institution focus on retention efforts.

Most of the reason students leave is something happening outside the classroom. Mental health issues and wellness issues are big. The level of anxiety and stress keeps going up for students across the country, so we need to find some strategies involving recreation, nutrition, sleep patterns — those sorts of things will be areas we focus on. Career readiness — what are we doing to add value back to the state? Student affairs can get philosophical and not practical, and we need to focus on critical thinking, learning across differences, leadership, global engagement — those types of things we will look at as we start our strategic planning for the division this summer. We are here to serve the academic mission of the institution.

What do you do for fun when you’re not at work? I heard you play the guitar!

I do play the guitar and I like to run — those two things for sure. I play golf — not well — on occasion. I love sports and just went to a baseball game the other day. I also have three kids — two daughters in college and a son who’s a junior in high school — so I enjoy spending time with them, of course!

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S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 23

Arts and Sciences Gets a New Dean

Glen Krutz is excited to take the helm of OSU’s largest college

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len Krutz, the new dean of Oklahoma State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, embraces the challenges that come with leading CAS. “I am excited to join OSU’s largest college and the intellectual heart of this great American land-grant university,” Krutz said. “President (Burns) Hargis and Provost (Gary) Sandefur are big advocates for the liberal arts and sciences. In Oklahoma, now more than ever, it is important that students gain depth in these elemental fields of study, so as to make deep contributions to their community after graduating from OSU.” Krutz, formerly a political science professor and senior vice provost at the University of Oklahoma, had not been pursuing a deanship, so he sought advice from people he trusted. They told him good things about OSU and reminded him how rarely major universities have open dean positions.

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“I applied, and from the first interview here, I really liked the vibe,” Krutz said. “I liked the hard questions they asked and what they had to say about OSU. There were several people on the committee who had degrees from or worked at OU, so they were able to compare the universities.

It was a delightful exchange during a one-hour interview that would normally be stressful, not fun.”

Krutz was hired after an intensive national search that began last fall. A 19-member search and screening committee included faculty, staff, alumni and students. They narrowed the pool of candidates through interviews, reference calls and written responses to a slate of questions. Krutz was among the four finalists who made daylong campus visits and attended public forums last winter.

“Dr. Krutz received significant support from the many individuals and groups involved in the interview process,” Sandefur said. “I am confident we succeeded in identifying the individual best suited to lead the College of Arts and Sciences, and I look forward to Dr. Krutz joining the Academic Affairs leadership team.”

Krutz has also been named the Puterbaugh Foundation Chair. That position was established by the Puterbaugh Foundation, based in McAlester, Oklahoma. As the chairholder, Krutz will direct funds “to important educational purposes that improve the public good.”

“Philanthropy was the real legacy of Jay Puterbaugh, a favorite son from southeastern Oklahoma,” Krutz said. “The Puterbaugh Foundation continues to help the state of Oklahoma through a variety of programs in education, including the Puterbaugh chairs program at OSU.” Krutz earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and speech communication, and a master’s in public administration from the University of

STORY JACOB LONGAN | PHOTOS JASON WALLACE

Glen Krutz arrived on the OSU campus in July, just in time to attend some new student orientation sessions (opposite page).

Nevada, Reno, which is a land-grant institution.

His doctorate in political science is from Texas A&M. His research fields are political institutions, public policy and administration, and research methods.

He joined OU’s faculty in 2002 and began working in the provost’s office in 2010. While he enjoyed that, he is looking forward to “getting closer to the action of teaching and research.”

“I want to be in contact with students, faculty and alumni,” Krutz said. “In fact, I’ll need to be in contact with all of those groups regularly to be a good dean, and that appeals to me. I’ve gotten to know the administrative team a little bit, and I’m

excited and fortunate to have a great team like that.

I’m looking forward to developing relationships with faculty, students and alumni.”

Krutz’s first faculty position was a three-year stint at Arizona State University. Prior to that, he spent three years working for the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Office of the Chancellor. His first job out of college was spending a year as a legislative staffer for U.S. Sen. Richard H. Bryan.

His wife, Julie, is the coding lab manager at the OU Center for Risk and Crisis Management. They have been married 27 years and have three adult children.

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CAMPUS NEWS

OSU hosts The Wall That Heals Thousands of guests visited the Oklahoma State University campus in April to view a 375-foot-long traveling version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, paying tribute to those who served and the more than 58,000 service members who died during the Vietnam War. The Wall That Heals — which rises to an apex of 7½ feet tall at its center — was displayed on the intramural athletic fields west of the Colvin Center.

“It was an honor to host The Wall That Heals,” said Rick Hansen, a retired Marine Corps captain and coordinator of OSU’s Office of Student Veteran Success, which serves more than 600 student, faculty and staff veterans.

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“Seeing all the veterans and members of the community turn out to show their respect, and in some cases remember comrades and family members whose names are listed, was very moving.”

There are 987 Oklahomans on The Wall That Heals, including 16 from Payne County, according to data from the National Archives.

The exhibit also included a mobile education center about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the lasting impacts of that war.

Stillwater was the eighth of 34 stops in 2019 for the traveling exhibit, which honors the more than 3 million Americans who served during the Vietnam War. The Wall That Heals was brought to OSU by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, a nonprofit that funded the construction of the Maya Lindesigned Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1982.

STORY DAVID BITTON | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

OSU alumni speak at School of Geology banquet The 2019 Boone Pickens School of Geology Spring Banquet was highlighted by guest speakers from Continental Resources, which included Oklahoma State University alumni Andy Rihn and Tony Moss, as well as Continental President Jack Stark.

Continental Resources — an oil and natural gas company based in Oklahoma City — has built a connection with OSU over the years through internship programs and OSU employees.

When Continental Resources President Jack Stark joined the company 27 years ago, it was having trouble attracting experienced talent

to its headquarters in Enid, Oklahoma.

This led to Stark contacting OSU nearly 15 years ago, which established the successful internship connection between Continental and OSU. “Continental has definitely been the beneficiary of the alumni from OSU,” Stark said.

This connection led Rihn and Moss to their current jobs as geologic managers. Each were honored and excited to return to their alma mater and speak during the annual banquet.

“Having the opportunity to speak to students and alumni was exciting for me,” Rihn said. “I believe it is important that students hear from companies and

individuals who are making a difference and having a positive impact in the oil and gas business. It shows that opportunity is out there as a result of the education they earn while at OSU.” Moss added that the School of Geology does an excellent job providing experiences and mentorship to prepare students to hit the ground running in their careers. “The education I obtained at Oklahoma State provided the foundation for the success I’ve enjoyed throughout my career,” he said.

Both Rihn and Moss were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in energy in 2011.

CVHS’ Tracy Kyle Chair to focus on newest treatments OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently established the Tracy Kyle Chair in Small Animal Medicine to focus on less-invasive treatments for small animals.

“The Tracy Kyle Chair actually aids us in fulfilling our mission, which is shaping the future through discovery, education and unparalleled veterinary care,” said Dr. Jeff Studer, director of the center’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. “This chair allows us to pursue newer and less-invasive treatments for our patients, which is very exciting.

In some cases, these treatments are an option that patients would not have otherwise had. So not only are we able to offer faster healing times and less pain with recovery through minimally invasive procedures, but we are able to use this technology to treat patients that we could not have treated before. I think it will be revolutionary for veterinary medicine, especially here in the state of Oklahoma.”

The chair is being endowed by David and Tracy Kyle of Tulsa.

“Funds from this chair allow the chair holder to expand the service in minimally invasive procedures that are performed at the hospital,” said Dr. Daniel Burba, head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. “We are actively pursuing a position in the minimally invasive area, primarily cardiology. Hopefully in the next 12 months, we will be able to fill this chair.

“Without support from people like the Kyles, we could not do the things that we do here both in the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and specifically in the Veterinary Medical Hospital.

We are so thankful to have donors like the Kyles to be able to advance our medicine as well as our teaching and research.”

For more information on Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, visit cvhs.okstate.edu.

SEE MORE Learn more about the Tracy Kyle Chair in Small Animal Medicine at okla. st/kylechair.

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OSU President Burns Hargis (left) visits with the interim president of Haramaya University, Dr. Jemal Yusuf, at the Ethiopian school’s commencement ceremony.

Strengthening Ethiopian Ties

OSU’s Hargis addresses graduates at Haramaya University

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klahoma State University President Burns Hargis, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and other OSU leaders joined Ethiopia’s Haramaya University in celebrating its commencement for more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students on July 6.

Oklahoma State helped establish the Ethiopian university nearly 70 years ago. Nearly 200 OSU professors and administrators have assisted Haramaya University through the years. While OSU is not as involved in Ethiopia as in the past, the two institutions are looking to strengthen ties once again.

Hargis delivered the commencement address to graduates, becoming the second Oklahoma State president to do so. OSU President Oliver Willham made the commencement speech to the first class of Haramaya graduates in 1957,

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when the institution was known as the Imperial College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts.

“It was a special honor to attend the Haramaya commencement and provide the message to graduates,” Hargis said.

“Oklahoma State is extremely proud of its long history with Ethiopia and its people. We are excited to work with Haramaya officials going forward.”

Hargis challenged the graduates to use their hard-earned degrees to advance Ethiopia’s economy and wellbeing through their passion, creativity and valuable skills. Hargis hooded the doctoral students and handed diploma covers to a number of other graduates.

Haramaya was a result of the Point Four Program established by U.S. President Harry Truman, who selected OSU President Henry Bennett to direct it. The Point Four Program was created

to support nations in the aftermath of World War II and help combat the rise of communism. Truman envisioned America’s land-grant universities providing expertise in agriculture, engineering and other areas.

In May 1951, Bennett addressed the graduating class of then-Oklahoma A&M College. “We must,” he said, “upon the rubble and wreckage of the old imperialism erect a new world system — a world system inclusive of all, a world imperialism of morality and justice based upon economic efficiency and security.”

Bennett and his wife died Dec. 22, 1951 in a plane crash in Iran while on a State Department tour of several nations.

He never saw the growth of Oklahoma State’s relationship with Ethiopia, but planted the seeds of a special relationship that continues today.

STORY AND PHOTOS GARY SHUTT

Your newest home for t he arts

The curtain goes up this fall at The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Stillwater. Performances are selling out – order your tickets today!

New York Philharmonic with Kelli O’Hara | OCTOBER 11-13 The Phantom of the Opera | OCTOBER 31 Chamber Music Festival | NOVEMBER 9-10 Cirque Mechanics | NOVEMBER 22-23 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | DECEMBER 12

View the full Inaugural Season lineup at McKnightCenter.org Box Office: (405) 744-9999

Turning 10 OSU's School of Entrepreneurship celebrates its first decade

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he School of Entrepreneurship at the Spears School of Business has had much to celebrate in its first decade, from the $28 million gift that made it all possible to unprecedented success in business plan competitions to an expanding list of successful business startups involving students from the program. But for Dr. Bruce Barringer, April 2019 was a watershed for the program’s student entrepreneurs.

“April has been the most successful month we’ve ever had in the program, with student teams winning a business plan competition at Princeton University and taking the top spots in the undergraduate and graduate divisions at the Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup,” said Barringer, director of the school and the Student Ventures Chair and N. Malone Mitchell Jr. Chair of Entrepreneurship.

“This level of success shows the breadth of the student talent our program is attracting.”

The School of Entrepreneurship and its outreach office, the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship, is celebrating its 10th anniversary Nov. 15 with a gala that will welcome back OSU alumni Malone Mitchell III and his wife, Amy Mitchell, who made the program possible with their gift in 2009. Their passion for OSU and for starting businesses have inspired hundreds of students who have pursued ideas for businesses through OSU entrepreneurship training.

“As we looked back at the successes we had at that point, we thought it would be fantastic if that knowledge could be incorporated into entrepreneur classes and taught to students at a much younger age so they might go on to generate successful businesses and avoid some of the travails we had gone through,” Malone Mitchell said.

Along with celebrating the Mitchells’ legacy, OSU is marking the school’s growth to become one of the nation’s most successful entrepreneurship

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education, research and outreach programs and one of only a handful that can claim an entire school dedicated to entrepreneurship.

The school includes more than 300 undergraduates majoring and minoring in the discipline as well as hundreds of others taking entrepreneurship classes. A new generation of engineering and science students also hope to learn to launch technology product and services businesses.

“The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) now offers a minor in entrepreneurship, so, for engineering to free up credit hours for entrepreneurship training is a real acknowledgement that this is valuable,” Barringer said.

In fact, several technology business startups created by OSU students have been partnerships between Spears and CEAT teams. Just one example is the student-led startup Contraire that is designing a wastewater treatment analytical control system developed by CEAT students and faculty. A Spears student and faculty members are assisting with a business plan that has placed in several competitions, including winning the Princeton University TigerLaunch contest.

The entrepreneurship program also includes a doctorate and graduate certificates that bring graduate students and faculty researchers together on work published in the discipline’s top journals.

OSU entrepreneurship researchers tied for fourth among 500 international colleges and universities in a 2019 ranking of research productivity.

Barringer said the passion at OSU for developing entrepreneurial mindsets is helping fuel the state’s growing technology economy with the launch of numerous small companies. Student-led technology startups at OSU include Roll-2-Roll, a company that makes a guide system and computer algorithms for manufacturing rolled materials;

STORY JEFF JOINER | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

The Riata Center for Entrepreneurship has its home in the new business building.

Plasma Bionics, which invented a low-temperature medical instrument sterilization device; MITO Materials, which developed an additive to make a super-strong epoxy resin material; MaxQ, which makes safer containers for transporting blood products; and Infinite Composites, which makes containers for shipping and storing pressurized liquids and gases.

In the last five years, graduate students in the program have started 41 businesses while undergraduates have launched 52 startups that have raised a combined $13.5 million in capital.

Technology jobs bring the greatest potential for income growth in Oklahoma, according to Barringer, who cites a 2018 report by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

that found the average annual wage for a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) job in Oklahoma is $76,274 while the average wage for all occupations in the state is $43,340.

“Technology startups just create better-paying jobs,” Barringer said.

Even if a Spears entrepreneurship student doesn’t end up starting a business, the unique education creates opportunities with companies seeking creative employees.

“The way we teach entrepreneurship, it’s more than just starting businesses,” Barringer said. “All companies are interested in new markets, new products and new ways of thinking, and those are the value-adds that our graduates bring to a job.”

LEARN MORE about entrepreneurship okla.st/entre

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‘Nation’s Gold Standard’

Oklahoma Mesonet celebrates 25 years of monitoring the weather and the environment

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“The Oklahoma Mesonet literally helps us save lives.”

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— LACEY SWOPE, NEWS 9 METEOROLOGIST

STORY DONALD STOTTS | PHOTOS TODD JOHNSON

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klahomans may think every state has a weather monitoring system like Oklahoma Mesonet.

They don't.

That's one of many reasons why News 9 meteorologist Lacey Swope calls it a blessing — one that’s easy to overlook by Oklahomans who might think every state has a similar system of weather and environmental monitoring.

“The value of having accurate, needed and updated real-time data cannot be overstated,” Swope said. “It’s not just weather forecasting. It’s now-casting. The Oklahoma Mesonet literally helps us save lives.”

The Oklahoma Mesonet, a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations that provide updated information every five to 10 minutes, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019. A system of 120 stations with at least one in every county, the network was designed and implemented by scientists working together from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, with the two universities continuing to provide valuable expertise to this day.

Swope said other states might have only 10 to 20 monitoring stations, and even those typically do not provide the breadth of information available through the Oklahoma Mesonet sites. They also do not provide the frequency of updates Swope feels are key to knowing what is going on in real time.

“The constant flow of in-depth above-ground and below-ground data allows state meteorologists to more easily and accurately determine where the dry line is and how fast a weather front is moving and similar factors that are important to reporting on tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods and wildfires,” she said. “We’ve also got 25 years of accumulated historical data to assist in weather predictions, letting us better project the severity of events from certain environmental factors. That is a forecaster’s dream.”

DATA-DRIVEN AGRICULTURE For fifth-generation rancher Chuck Coffey of Double C Cattle Co. near Davis, Oklahoma, Mesonet data is crucial. He analyzes the accumulated historical information and uses it to create his own agricultural-based forecasts.

Important and widely used aspects of the Mesonet’s agricultural toolset include the general farm monitor; the cattle comfort adviser, providing environmental factors that can affect an animal’s well-being; drift risk analysis detailing when to spray pesticides, herbicides and insecticides; degree day heat units, which can affect crops, pastures and livestock; irrigation planning assistance; a drought monitor; and more.

“The Double C is pretty much the highest elevation in Murray County,” Coffey said. “When I look at the Mesonet data from the Ardmore or Sulphur stations and the wind speed is 12 miles per hour, I have learned to add five to eight miles per hour on top of that. If the data tells me the relative humidity is going to drop to 30 percent, I subtract an additional 5 percent. Mesonet data is not only extremely useful, the more experience you have with the data, the better you can adapt the information to your specific operation.”

A Texas A&M University alumnus with three kids who have attended Oklahoma State, Coffey is proud of how OSU and OU work together to support agriculture with the Oklahoma Mesonet.

SEE MORE See more about the Mesonet’s 25 years: okla.st/meso.

Aaron Beckwith, Oklahoma Mesonet electronic technician, performs on-site station maintenance and calibration to ensure accurate weather and environmental data is always easily accessible and up to date.

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The Oklahoma Mesonet is a publicly available resource.

Find it online at mesonet.org or visit the App Store at Google Play or iTunes. The Oklahoma Mesonet is funded by state partnerships with federal agencies, private-sector user fees, and grants and contracts.

Slapout Fire Chief Charlie Starbuck can use a number of common devices to consult the Oklahoma Mesonet and determine conditions his firefighters will be facing when going out on call.

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“It doesn’t have to be Bedlam all the time,” he said. “Agriculture is a big deal in Oklahoma, and we’re all working for the same purpose.”

Improving the quality of life for agribusiness operators and agricultural producers, their families and the communities where they live is a key part of OSU’s state and federally mandated land-grant teaching, research and Extension mission, said Tom Coon, OSU vice president and dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

“Oklahoma produces more than $8 billion in new crops and livestock annually, making agriculture an important driver of the state’s economic wellbeing,” Coon said. “This affects everyone in Oklahoma, even those who are not directly involved in agriculture.”

HOTTEST THING GOING Fire Chief Charlie Starbuck, of Slapout, Oklahoma, originally used the Mesonet for storm spotting, but wildland fire management has become a major focus in recent years.

“The Oklahoma Mesonet has a section called OK-FIRE, which has proven to be invaluable,” he said.

“I can get all the information I need on one page, be it on my computer, tablet or phone.”

OK-FIRE provides a comprehensive set of products for fire weather, fire danger and smoke dispersion that incorporates an 84-hour forecast, the OK-FIRE wildland fire management website, and regional training and support for users. Applications include wildfire, prescribed burning and smoke management. Since 2006, more than 1,600 wildland fire managers have been trained through the OK-FIRE program.

The morning of March 6, 2017. Starbuck’s pager went off at 10:53 a.m., informing him that a grass fire was burning in a Beaver County oil field. He led the trek to the fire with eight crew members and three fire trucks. Thanks to OK-FIRE data, he saw the fires had already expanded. He was on the phone immediately, calling for aid from other area fire departments.

The blaze was part of a wildfire outbreak that burned 781,000 acres in Oklahoma.

The outbreak officially would be dubbed “the Northwest Complex Fire,” but many still refer to it by the name initially used by Mark Goeller, director of Oklahoma Forestry Services — Starbuck’s.

Charlie’s sister in Virginia even called him to ask about the “Starbuck fire” she had seen on the national news. His sudden fame caught the Slapout fire chief by surprise.

TIMELY AND RELEVANT “Oklahoma experiences a lot of hazards, so we need to be as precise as possible to effectively respond to emergency situations,” said Albert Ashwood, the now retired director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management for 21 years. “The value of being able to use the Oklahoma Mesonet to look at any county in the state and determine local conditions can’t be stressed enough.”

Derrell McBee, OSU Cooperative Extension agricultural educator and Harper County Extension Office director, was at the center of recovery efforts from that 2017 wildfire outbreak.

“Believe it when people talk about the importance of the information provided through the Oklahoma Mesonet, and as the agriculture section and other sections show, it goes beyond emergencies and disasters,” McBee said.

“Truthfully, getting on the Mesonet is not a bad way to start your day, whether you’re a wildland fire manager, agricultural producer, community event planner or are just going to be outside.”

Oklahoma Climatological Survey Director Kevin Kloesel believes the Mesonet should be counted among the state’s true treasures. He said it stands as a testament of public service to those who played pivotal roles in its creation and continued relevance to all of Oklahoma.

“Weather never stops: It is a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year operation to get information into the hands of those who need it, and there is always someone, somewhere who needs timely, accurate and relevant weather and environmental information,” he said.

Kloesel, who is also an associate professor in OU’s College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, is quick to laud the hundreds of people behind the scenes who have been vital to the Oklahoma Mesonet’s operation.

“There are so many people who deserve recognition, historically and those who work with the Mesonet today,” he said. “The Oklahoma Mesonet has been called the nation’s premier ‘gold standard’ when it comes to mesoscale observations and the way the system makes the data gathered available to those who need it, when they need it. It really is something special.”

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The Strength of Generosity Tulsa gala breaks its fundraising record

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Jay and Fayenelle Helm, chairs for the 2019 A Stately Affair in Tulsa, celebrate with Pistol Pete during the gala.

Crystal Goree, an OSU-CHS medical student and scholarship recipient

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hen donors provide college scholarships for students at Oklahoma State UniversityTulsa and Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, their investment doesn’t end with the student.

The impact stretches across Oklahoma.

“The scholarships were invaluable,” said Autumn Rider, who graduated from OSU-Tulsa in May with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace administration and operations. “Because of them, I was able to focus on my children while going to school full time and earning a degree.”

OSU-CHS medical student Crystal Goree called her scholarship vital to her goal of becoming a primary care physician.

“When I received my scholarship, I was really excited because it was specifically for students who are interested in serving in primary care and further in health professional shortage areas. I want to take what I’ve learned at OSU and give back to patients in rural areas,” Goree said.

The 2019 A Stately Affair in Tulsa gala raised a record-breaking $1.2 million in scholarships for OSU students in Tulsa. OSU-Tulsa’s first president, Dr. Gary Trennepohl, tipped the scales with his $250,000 gift.

Since its inception in 2011, A Stately Affair in Tulsa has brought in a total $8.6 million.

The success of this year’s gala is partly due to the enthusiasm of event chairs Jay Helm, chairman of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and an OSU graduate, his wife Fayenelle, and his daughter Christian Leikam and her husband Robert, also OSU graduates.

In addition to the event’s move from Southern Hills Country Club to the

Autumn Rider, an OSU-Tulsa graduate and scholarship recipient

Cox Business Center, the gala attracted more guests than ever — a total of 375 — to the fundraiser.

Both Tulsa campuses are celebrating milestones in 2019. Founded in 1999, OSU-Tulsa is celebrating its 20th anniversary. OSU-CHS is marking 30 years as part of the OSU system.

The biennial fundraiser plays a key role in helping OSU students at both Tulsa campuses realize their career goals, particularly as tuition costs rise and the burden of student loans grows.

For information about scholarship donations for OSU students in Tulsa, contact the OSU Foundation in Tulsa at 918-594-8500.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE OSU MUSEUM OF ART! For one night, guests were treated to a gallery of tablescapes — beautiful, interpreted works of art constructed by talented friends and advocates of the OSU Museum of Art. Famous European artwork and their creators were the inspiration behind the 2019 event, which was hosted by the OSU Museum of Art Advocates on May 4.

We are so excited to announce we raised $122,000 for OSU Museum of Art exhibitions and programming — THANK YOU!

EVENT SPONSORS:

EVENT AND AUCTION DONORS:

RENAISSANCE

Martha & Marty Avrett

Susan & AJ Jacques

Patricia Bradley

OSU President’s Office & OSU Foundation

Jeff Denton & TS Fork Malinda Berry Fischer & Dick Fischer

IMPRESSIONIST

Jim Franklin

Charlcie & Colin Cumming

Lee Cromer Freeman & Alan Shryock

Riccarda de Eccher & Bill Goldston

Meredith & Don Garner

Deb & Dave Engle

Ben & Barbara Harjo Harold Holden

EXPRESSIONIST

Courtney & Walter Kelly

Nancy & John Allford

Priscilla Kinnick

Judi Baker

Jena Kodesh

BancFirst

Mike & Martha Larsen

Vicky & Tom Berry

OSU Museum of Art

Linda Cline & Amy Cline

James Pickel

Malinda Berry Fischer & Dick Fischer

Gayla Salvati

Carolyn Gang & Ed Noltensmeyer

Carol & Tom Stewart

Diane & Bob Graalman

Sonya & Mark Terpening

Janzen Toyota

Jude Tolar

Marilyn & Darrel Kletke

Van Duzer Vineyards/Marilynn & Carl Thoma

Jeri & Alan Seefeldt

Becky & John Womack

Simmons Bank Van Duzer Vineyards/Marilynn & Carl Thoma Jill & Bruce Webber

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE OSU MUSEUM OF ART, VISIT:

museum.okstate.edu

Sam Emerson (left) and Nate Jenkins are early in their academic careers at OSU, but they’re already gaining attention for their work.

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STORY CHRISTY LANG | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

Stronger Together

Young faculty members team up to increase their impact

A

unique collaboration between two early career faculty at Oklahoma State University is paying dividends.

Not long after Sam Emerson began his faculty position in nutritional sciences, he met Nate Jenkins, an assistant professor in health and human performance. The pair discovered they had similar research interests and training across the two disciplines of nutrition and exercise. During that initial meeting, Jenkins mentioned a funding opportunity from the American Heart Association.

“I told Sam I was thinking about this opportunity and asked his opinion,” Jenkins said.

Funding from the American Heart Association is often difficult to secure, but they decided to give it a shot together.

“For a lot of grants, you put in the first proposal and hope to hear something positive. You don’t fully expect to receive funding the first time,” Emerson said.

(

The proposal sought to study specific ways for older women to combat heart disease. The American Heart Association funded it on the pair’s first submission for $153,933 over two years.

Cardiovascular disease and heart attacks are often thought to be a more prevalent problem for men. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, and more women than men are living with cardiovascular disease.

Jenkins and Emerson’s study focuses on postmenopausal women.

Hormone replacement therapy appears to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and both the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association advise against estrogen replacement. There is an identified need for interventions and alternatives to control or decrease cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

“From an exercise standpoint, we would typically prescribe aerobic exercise, such as going for a walk, for

heart health,” Jenkins said. “But there is also emerging evidence that suggests resistance training may have either similar or additional benefits for cardiovascular health.”

That’s the premise of this study — to determine if resistance training can lessen cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.

“It’s a practical project. The assumption that people would rather do aerobic exercise than resistance exercise is not actually true,” Emerson said. “Some evidence suggests that adherence to a resistance regimen is actually better than aerobic exercise.”

With support from the grant, Emerson and Jenkins are running a series of groups in 16-week training periods. The women start the study with a visit the Laboratory for Applied Nutrition and Exercise Sciences (LANES) or Applied Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory, where they go through a series of tests over a threeday period. Lab assistants look at body composition on a DEXA scan, metabolic outcomes, aerobic capacity, muscle function and more.

“It has huge benefits. There is a cross pollination of ideas among students in different programs that wouldn’t normally occur. It’s a benefit for students in different programs to have the opportunity to work together.”

)

STEPHEN CLARKE, NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT HEAD

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 39

(

“Working with students is something I aim to prioritize, and I personally enjoy it. I think working with both graduate and undergraduate students gives research even more purpose.”

)

— SAM EMERSON

“Through the process of recruiting subjects, we’ve heard that women are really excited about the resistance training component,” Emerson said.

“Resistance training makes muscles stronger but can also improve your aerobic fitness and ultimately lower your risk. Even if we find that resistance versus aerobic training are not that different in terms of interventions or outcomes, that alone is meaningful, because you may have an (exercise) preference.”

Nutritional sciences department head Stephen Clarke says the support from the American Heart Association is a good reflection of the translational research Emerson and Jenkins are conducting to help improve quality of life.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are part of the research team.

“Nate and Sam are providing a stimulating research environment where students can apply what they are learning in the classroom,” Clarke said.

Developing student researchers is another shared passion for Jenkins and Emerson. “(The students) are a critical part of the process and carry a lot of the dayto-day tasks,” Emerson said. “Working with students is something I aim to

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prioritize, and I personally enjoy it. I think working with both graduate and undergraduate students gives research even more purpose.”

“At the end of the day, my students are my main priority,” Jenkins added. “I want to train my doctoral students so they are in the position I was two years ago, graduating with their choice of some of the best jobs out there.”

Health and human performance professor Doug Smith is impressed with the duo’s investment in students.

“They are great mentors for undergraduate and graduate students.”

Smith said. “Their Ph.D. graduates are seeing great success. They are competitive and receive quality job offers in academia.”

Jenkins and Emerson are both 29 years old and early in their academic careers. Still, they are already receiving a considerable amount of recognition.

In 2018, Jenkins was named the Terry J. Housh Young Investigator of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also part of the American Heart Association’s Research Leaders Academy.

Emerson, entering his third year as a faculty member, has mentored two Freshman Research Scholars and

two Wentz Scholars at OSU. He also received the College of Human Sciences’ Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award in 2019.

Jenkins and Emerson now hold joint appointments across both the College of Education, Health and Aviation and the College of Human Sciences, which is unique at OSU. The joint appointments facilitate collaboration on research projects and shared lab access. Jenkins and Emerson are also working to develop a joint course for undergraduate students across campus that is meant to be an overview of how nutrition and exercise science impact overall health.

Department head Clarke believes the joint appointment and collaboration are an asset to students.

“It has huge benefits. There is a cross pollination of ideas among students in different programs that wouldn’t normally occur. It’s a benefit for students in different programs to have the opportunity to work together,” Clarke said.

Jenkins and Emerson fully recognize the benefit as well.

“It makes a ton of sense. Together, we are stronger than we are apart,” Jenkins said.”

Sam Emerson (left) and Nate Jenkins look over some information gleaned from their study on women and cardiac disease that’s being funded by the American Heart Association.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 41

Investing in a

BRIGHT FUTURE

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PHOTO GARY LAWSON

A higher education is the gateway to possibility, discovery and ingenuity.

It sets the tone for a future that includes higher employment rates and better-paying jobs among many other benefits. But it’s more than simply investing in and earning a degree. It’s a journey unique to each OSU student.

This fall, the OSU Foundation — the university’s fundraising arm — is launching the $375 million Brighter Orange, Brighter Future campaign, which focuses on increasing support for students on their paths from enrollment to graduation and beyond.

The campaign will create generationslong impact for talented students, many whose financial circumstances threaten their success or limit opportunities at Oklahoma State.

On the following pages of this special section, you’ll learn more about this impressive campaign and find stories of students and graduates whose lives were changed by the generosity of others.

While no one can say which direction a student’s path will lead, at Oklahoma State, no one goes through it without the power, hope and support of the Cowboy family behind them.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 43

SCHOLARSHIPS

Brighter Orange Brighter future OSU FOUNDATION’S NEW FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN AIMS TO ASSIST STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEYS.

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STORY KAROLYN MOBERLY | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY AND GARY LAWSON

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 45

Dressed in her doctoral regalia, Adrienne Sanogo smiled AS SHE CONGRATULATED OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATES AT THE SPRING COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES IN GALLAGHER-IBA ARENA. SHE SHOOK HANDS AND SHARED HUGS WITH THE NEWEST ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY THAT GAVE HER A CHANCE TO CHANGE HER LIFE — AND THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND HER.

As the senior associate dean of the College of Education, Health and Aviation and an associate professor of mathematics education, Dr. Sanogo has clearly made education a priority in her life.

But without the help of the Cowboy family, it might have been a different story.

Growing up in Tulsa, Sanogo never thought her journey would lead to college, let alone a Ph.D. and a career shepherding students and peers to achieve their best.

With six siblings, her parents going through a divorce and her mother moving to subsidized housing, she didn’t know how she was going to be able to finance her education. On top of the financial roadblock, Sanogo was also the first in her family to pursue higher education.

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“When you’re a first-generation student, your family doesn’t really know how to support you,” she explained.

At OSU, she found the support and help she needed from the college’s faculty and staff members, who helped her navigate the firstyear experience and cheered her on when life got difficult after she took time off from her education to care for her newborn son.

“I had a professor who gave me a baby crib and a car seat. It was more than just a college — it was a family,” she said. “You have this cadre of faculty and staff, and they help you see the path. It’s scary, and you’re not sure what you’re doing. These people are on the path, shining a light on where to go.”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 47

Life-changing support

of scholarships and financial aid. “These families need financial help.”

As Sanogo illustrates, the pursuit of higher education is more than merely enrolling in classes at Oklahoma State. It’s a journey unique to each individual who joins the Cowboy family.

This fall, the OSU Foundation is launching the Brighter Orange, Brighter Future campaign, which aims to ensure students have additional financial resources to attend Oklahoma State and increased access to support and life-changing educational experiences.

The campaign focuses on OSU students and their path from enrollment to graduation and beyond. It encompasses three main priorities:

Highlighted path

• strengthening educational access, academic experiences • improving and opportunities, • and leveraging support for success.

“We seek to raise $375 million for student support,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “This will create a generations-long impact for talented students, some of whose financial circumstances threaten their success at OSU. It will also help OSU retain its reputation as a ‘best buy’ in higher education.”

The campaign also focuses on internships, study abroad opportunities and programming that enhances academic achievement, student inclusion and general student well-being.

“Everyone should have an opportunity to pursue higher education,” said Kyle Wray, vice president of enrollment and brand management. “This campaign will allow donors to give students hope, because that is really what they are giving when they support scholarships and student programs.”

Of the $375 million fundraising goal, a large priority is set on scholarship funds, which are becoming increasingly important to retaining students and helping them succeed.

“With the reduction of state appropriations, the burden of financing higher education is shifting to the families,” said Chad Blew, OSU’s director

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In addition to scholarships, the familial support and learning opportunities at Oklahoma State also help students navigate their journey.

“When a student enrolls at Oklahoma State, they become part of the Cowboy family,” Wray said. “We aim to provide the necessary resources to empower our students to thrive while on campus and after graduation.”

Those resources come in a wide array of academic success programs, such as the First Year Success Center and the OSU Writing Center, student inclusion initiatives such as the Office of Institutional Diversity, and student safety and well-being initiatives including Pete’s Pet Posse, Counseling Services and food security programs.

Experiential learning — whether in classrooms, internships or studying abroad — also empowers students to learn whether a career is a good fit while providing the skills that are vital to compete in the job market.

“Internships are about finding a good fit for the student and the company,” said Pam Ehlers, director of OSU Career Services. “You may have always thought you wanted to work for the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma, but how do you know you like working in that environment if you’ve never been in that environment?”

Ehlers is eager to see more donors and corporations support paid internships. She said many companies hire from their intern pools, sometimes offering positions months before graduation. Internships are also crucial for students entering fields with tight job markets.

“A lot of companies will not hire students unless they’ve had internships,” she said. “I worry about the student who doesn’t have the means to house themselves and accept an intern’s wage because they can’t afford to. More support would allow more students the ability to participate in these critical learning experiences.”

Brighter

Orange,

Brighter

Future Priorities educational access Focus Areas:

• Merit-based and Needs-based Scholarships

Academic Experiences and Opportunities Focus Areas:

• Internship and Study Abroad Opportunities

Support for Success Focus Areas:

• Enhanced Academic Success and Student Inclusion Programs • Student Safety and Well-being

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 49

“This will create a generations-long impact for talented students, some of whose financial circumstances threaten their success at OSU. It will also help OSU retain its reputation as a ‘best buy’ in higher education.”

Burns Hargis OSU president

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Influencing others

Recalculated route Like it has for many alumni, Oklahoma State has always been a haven for Dr. Sanogo.

After she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2000, Sanogo and her family moved to Texas, where she worked as a math teacher.

She had just completed an online master’s degree when her husband died suddenly.

“I was left wondering, ‘Where do I go in life?

Where did I get the best education, best foundation, support and love?’” she said. “The answer was Oklahoma State.”

As a single mother and widow, Sanogo returned to Stillwater to pursue her doctorate in mathematics education and needed financial support to complete the program. Two donors provided her with scholarships to finish her education.

“Their generous gifts made it possible for me to finish my dissertation and graduate,” she said, noting they inspired her to be a donor as well.

Today, Sanogo is one of the many faculty and staff members at OSU shining a light on the roadmap to success for students by helping them through their own challenges.

She looks for opportunities to encourage students, looking for signs they may be feeling adrift, struggling with life circumstances or simply feeling lonely.

Oklahoma State provides many programs and resources to empower students to thrive when hardships — whether a difficult class, a family crisis or simply a longing for home — cross their paths.

“So often we think of student support as just scholarships,” Wray said. “But student success is in the journey. Our goal is to ensure the student as a whole is taken care of and prepared to take on the world upon graduation.”

The education Sanogo received at OSU also produced positive ripples in her family. Because of the faculty, staff and donors who supported her, Sanogo was able to inspire her siblings to pursue their education as well.

“My little sister Jamie went to college and will receive a master’s in counseling psychology,” Sanogo said. “My older sister Lena went to OSUTulsa and graduated with a bachelor’s in human development and family science. My little brother Joshua is finishing his residency as a doctor of osteopathic medicine from OSU-Center for Health Sciences and graduated with a master’s in medical research.

“The education I received at OSU allowed me to show my siblings that anything is possible and that they can do it, too.”

Sanogo said her positive experience as an OSU undergraduate has influenced her journey the most.

Part of her role now in the College of Education, Health and Aviation is to oversee scholarships.

She wants every student to know about the opportunities for assistance.

“My aid package was a Pell Grant and subsidized student loans. I left OSU that first time with a lot of debt,” she said. “I didn’t know that after your first year, you could re-apply for scholarships. Our college does a really nice job of helping students understand how to apply for more aid.”

She also contributes financially to her students.

This March, Sanogo pledged a gift to the College of Education, Health and Aviation’s general scholarship fund.

“To be able to give back to the university that shaped my future and continues to shape my present means the world,” she said. “It brings me great pride and joy to know that I can help bring these experiences and knowledge to another future or current student who may not have been able to have them otherwise.”

Kirk Jewell, president of the OSU Foundation, said Sanogo’s story is especially meaningful because of the immeasurable impact she continues to have.

“You never know what interaction has the potential to significantly change the outcome of a student’s life, whether that is a faculty member reaching out to help, a student who strikes up a conversation or a donor making a gift,” he said.

“That is what is great about the Cowboy family, and we hope to accomplish that through the Brighter Orange, Brighter Future campaign.”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 51

SCHOLARSHIP ROADMAP

for Parents and Students The process of applying for scholarships and financial aid can take many twists and turns, especially for high school seniors. Check out these tips from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to make the scholarship and financial aid process easier to navigate.

apply early New students should apply as early as possible to be considered for the widest range of scholarships.

Nov. 1 is the Early Opportunity Scholarship Deadline, and we encourage students to meet that deadline if at all possible. Don’t wait for a new test score. OSU will always consider your top score.

all-in-one application The application for admission is your scholarship application.

The application will put you into consideration for all OSU scholarships. Some may require additional materials or interviews.

“The Brighter Orange, Brighter Future campaign will allow donors to give students hope, because that is really what they are giving when they support scholarships and student programs.”

Kyle Wray OSU vice president of Enrollment and Brand Management

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“A lot of companies will not hire students unless they’ve had internships. I worry about the student who doesn’t have the means to house themselves and accept an intern’s wage because they can’t afford to. More support would allow more students the ability to participate in these critical learning experiences.”

Pam Ehlers

director of OSU Career Services

keep going Continuing students will apply for scholarships through their respective colleges.

These deadlines vary, so it’s best to check with your college to make sure you’re taking advantage of all opportunities.

fill out everything When applying for admission, also complete your leadership résumé and essay questions to make sure you’re considered for all applicable scholarships.

Don’t be humble. Tell us all that you’ve done, including your work experience.

fafsa counts, too Don’t forget to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (fafsa.ed.gov) as soon as possible beginning Oct. 1.

All students should apply for federal aid regardless of their financial situation as some scholarships require a completed FAFSA for consideration.

“With the reduction of state appropriations causing an increase in tuition, the burden of financing higher education is shifting to the families. These families need financial help.”

Chad Blew OSU director of Scholarships and Financial Aid S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 53

SCHOLARSHIPS

For the Love of Mom

Niblack Scholar credits his mother’s love — and fate — for his successful college career

L

iam Whiteman was a gifted student. He was also apathetic, with just enough focus to escape with a diploma from an alternative high school. He casually meandered through life until a tragedy lit a fire under his reserve and a scholarship broadened his horizon.

“The only reason I did receive a high school diploma was because I had teachers and a mother who cared deeply for my success,” he said.

After graduation, he dabbled at college and moved briefly to the West Coast. An only child, Whiteman talked with his single mom, Mary, every day. One sweltering Sunday in August 2013, after he had returned to Oklahoma, he didn’t hear from her. Going to her house, he found her on the floor of her bedroom. A stroke had stolen the use of the right side of her body and decimated her brain. Just 53, she would no longer be able to live alone. He moved into her house in one weekend, transforming overnight into her primary caregiver while still working full time and attending college.

Watching his vivacious mother lose her independence in a single moment distilled life to one truth for him: Build a life that makes you happy.

He saw his next direction clearly.

“I have known since the day I was born that I was a scientist,” Whiteman said. “That is the only thing I have ever known about myself. Everything is up for question except that one thing. I am a scientist.”

He didn’t have any idea where it could take him.

“I didn’t know where to look or who to talk to,” he said. “What does it mean to be a scientist? What can you do with that?”

He finished his associate degree and set his sights on a bachelor’s. One of his preferred choices was studying entomology at Oklahoma State.

(

“I was like, bugs? Cool. Why wouldn’t I do that?

It immediately made sense to me,” Whiteman said.

“I’ve always been into conservation and ecology. You can’t separate ecology and conservation without talking about bugs. They’re the keystone or the fulcrum that holds it all together.”

A campus tour decided his course.

“I came to OSU and went on the tour and said, ‘This is where I belong.’ This school has so much to offer students — the way it feels, the community.

There are so many little things OSU does for its students that blow me away — it could be the counseling services or as simple as free color printing. I love this school. I feel like an evangelical preacher when I talk about OSU.” Meanwhile, his mother needed more care than he could provide. In 2016, she moved into an assisted living facility. Three months later, on the day of his college tour, she fell and broke her hip. Surgery and stints in rehabilitation clinics followed before she went to a nursing home.

From 2016 until December 2018, Whiteman commuted daily from Oklahoma City for classes.

His adviser, Dr. Wyatt Hoback, suggested he apply for a Niblack Research Scholarship, which opens opportunities for undergraduate research — and he got it.

The scholarship funds made it possible for him to find an apartment in Stillwater and turn the time he had spent commuting into lab hours, study time or visits with his mother.

“No. 1, it’s not even about the money,” he said.

“It’s just the opportunity to do my own research and do the ropes of the scientific method in action, not just what you heard in middle school. Hands-on field work. Hands-on lab work.”

“It’s just the opportunity to do my own research and do the ropes of the scientific method in action, not just what you heard in middle school.”

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— LIAM WHITEMAN

)

STORY SHANNON RIGSBY | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

He’s studying the mosquito Culex erraticus. At a research area at Camp Gruber in Braggs, Oklahoma, more than 7,000 adult mosquitoes but not a single larva has been found. The question for the summer is to find where the females are laying the eggs.

“We need to be able to identify the entire life history of these mosquitoes so we can control them,” Whiteman said. “We don’t know if they could potentially transmit disease.”

The Niblack scholarship has opened doors that Whiteman could not open on his own. He is set to graduate in May. Whiteman remains devoted to his mother. He kept her house, returning home Thursdays through Sundays to see to many of her essential needs

himself, from bathing to cutting her nails. He hopes that someday he can afford in-home care and give her back the gift of home.

“She sacrificed everything for me,” he said.

“I’m holding on to that hope that I can bring her home, and I can give her a feeling of independence, privacy and as much of her life back as I can. You’re told if you go to college, you get a degree, and you’ll have a secure job at the end of it. I’m trying to do something that will make me happy in my life and give me a financially secure future so that I can support her.”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 55

SCHOLARSHIPS

Hard Work Pays Off

Five freshmen receive Oklahoma State Scholars Society honors — and full scholarships — for their academic success

F

ive Oklahoma State University first-year students are breathing a little easier after learning their undergraduate education is paid for.

Now in its second year, the Oklahoma State Scholars Society — the university’s prestigious scholar development program that offers major financial support and scholarly mentorship to topperforming in-state high school students — has named Mary Erdmann, Rio Bonham, Carinna Marling, Landon Bakhsh and Karley White as this year’s fellows.

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Each fellow receives up to $74,500 in scholarship support — the full cost of attending four years — including a study-abroad stipend.

Twelve semifinalists were recognized as Oklahoma State Scholars Society members and will receive up to $20,000 in academic support over four years.

“Members of this society are some of Oklahoma’s best and brightest students,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “They are Oklahoma’s next generation of leaders, innovators and visionaries.

We are honored to extend this offer and have them join our university.”

STORY DAVID BITTON | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY AND GARY LAWSON

FIVE NEW FELLOWS MARY ERDMANN wants to become a doctor, providing compassionate and impactful care to Oklahomans.

After graduating from Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa last spring, Erdmann is excited to be diving into her microbiology/pre-medical professional coursework.

“I hope to not only find fulfillment of my love for science, but to discover new passions,” Erdmann said.

She credits the OSSS scholarship with giving her the time and opportunity to pursue her interests.

“This scholarship is a prestigious honor, an incredible gift and a once-in-alifetime opportunity,” Erdmann said. “It paves the way for me to reach my longterm academic aspirations as well as career goals. To me, this award means that OSU believes in my potential to meaningfully contribute to the Cowboy family and to Oklahoma. I will have the flexibility to seek out internships, research, service and experiences to further my own development.”

Erdmann studied Spanish in grade school and high school and plans to study abroad.

“One day, I hope to communicate and serve others in their own language,” she said. “As Nelson Mandela said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.’”

Growing up on a farm near Tishomingo, RIO BONHAM understood there was always work to be done.

But the Madill High School graduate made sure to fit schoolwork and extracurriculars in with his daily chores, and that work ethic paid off with a major scholarship.

“I am honored to be part of the group that receives this award,” he said. “For me, this scholarship means I am not forced to just take work as I can get it.

With the financial support from this program, I can choose the internship or job that best aligns with my educational goals and fits what I want to be doing in the future.”

Bonham is majoring in biosystems and agricultural engineering and is looking forward to research opportunities that he feels passionate about.

“I am hoping to leave OSU with a better idea of what I want to be doing in my career as well as a network of friends and industry leaders who will help me find a job where I can make a real impact,” he said. “My career goal is to help agriculturists be more environmentally sustainable by helping develop new production technologies and techniques.”

Tears of relief rolled down CARINNA MARLING’S cheeks when she learned her undergraduate education at Oklahoma State University would be fully covered.

Years of dedication and hard work for the first-generation college student had paid off.

“I have spent the last four years wondering how I was going to afford to go to college, and this scholarship was an answered prayer,” Marling said.

The recent Bartlesville High School graduate is studying mechanical and aerospace engineering.

“I have no idea what to expect as I take this next step into my life, but I am embracing the surprise and excitement,” Marling said over the summer. “I hope that my endeavors will help motivate my younger siblings and help them realize everything that is possible if they work hard for what they want in life.

“For me, this scholarship is the key to unlocking endless potential both during and after my time at Oklahoma State University. This is a life-changing opportunity for me and I cannot wait to utilize the opportunities that this scholarship has opened up.”

For her career, Marling hopes to design engines that use less fuel, run on alternative fuels and are more affordable.

“I hope to address the environmental issues caused by burning fossil fuels so that I can hopefully improve the lives of those all throughout the world.”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 57

OSSS CRITERIA Students met the following criteria for membership in the society: • Minimum 3.8 high school unweighted GPA • Minimum ACT score of 30 or equivalent • Admitted to OSU and the Honors College • Demonstrated maturity and potential through outstanding résumés and essay responses • In-person interview with faculty committees on a variety of topics

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LANDON BAKHSH dreams of being a tinkerer, inventor and innovator.

The recent Thomas A. Edison Preparatory School graduate is majoring in mechanical engineering at Oklahoma State University and hopes to start a business in his hometown of Tulsa.

“I want to own and grow my own business centered around the development of the community, which has always supported me, using innovation and creation to pave the way to success,” Bakhsh said.

But first up are four transformative years at OSU. “I am so excited to be a Cowboy,” he said. “I am looking forward to the sheer amount of new people I will be able to interact with, giving me the ability to learn of new thoughts, ideas, and stories I would’ve never been able to conjure on my own. Becoming an Oklahoma State Scholar Society Fellow means so much to me. It has revealed to me that my hard work and dedication throughout high school hasn’t gone unnoticed, reinforcing within myself the thought that I have a promising future ahead of me. I absolutely cannot wait to make the most of the opportunities this scholarship will provide for me.”

He hopes to study abroad in South Korea.

“I am interested in South Korea because of their intriguing culture, emphasis on educational success and desire to remain on the forefront of technological development,” he said. “I would love to experience what life is like there firsthand, using my experiences there to better both myself and my community back home.”

KARLEY WHITE has always had her eyes on the prize.

The recent Mannford High School graduate wants to become a physician specializing in neurology.

“Majoring in chemical engineering provides a wide variety of career paths, but I am confident in my desire to change lives through a career in the medical field,” White said.

She is looking forward to her time at Oklahoma State University, which she described as an energetic campus with a family-like atmosphere.

“I plan to be involved in clubs and community service organizations while also being involved in freshmen research and academic organizations within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology,” she said.

White said coming from a military family — her father serves in the U.S. Air Force — presented a struggle but it also molded her into the person she is. She’s planning to be the first person in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree.

White is humbled that she received such a major scholarship.

“After meeting the caliber of students nominated for the Oklahoma State Scholars Society, I am very honored to have received this scholarship,” she said. “I feel as though all of my hard work and commitment while in high school is being recognized by this scholarship.”

LAST YEAR’S FELLOWS Fellows from the inaugural OSSS class reflect on what they learned, how they have grown in their first year at Oklahoma State University or what the future may hold.

ABIGAIL FERRELL Hometown: Edmond Major: Psychology “One of the most important lessons that I learned over the past year is that, as much as I love my field, I need to do things outside of it to help keep me balanced, such as playing the guitar. Switching my focus to these extracurriculars rather than dedicating every moment to my studies has given me greater insight into both topics more directly related to my broad interests and into the world at large.”

KILLIAN KANE Hometown: Tulsa Major: Mechanical and aerospace engineering

AMANDA BOLINGER Hometown: Beaver Major: Animal science with a pre-veterinary option

CARTER SWALLOW Hometown: Oklahoma City Major: Aerospace and mechanical engineering

“OSU has taught me a lot of skills outside of class on how to operate without the safety net I had in high school. I’ve become more self-reliant, but also more reliant on the resources I have in others (study groups, etc.). I’m most excited about the opportunities I have to make a difference within the college, whether it be through the fellows/scholars program, student council or any of the other groups I’m involved with. Obviously, I’m excited about my major as well, but growing is more fun when you grow with a community.”

“CASNR’s curriculum has expanded my horizons and impressed upon me the great importance of agriculture as a whole. I want to use my expertise for the benefit of the agriculture community. These are the people I’ve grown up with, who have helped me. They are neighbors and family, and they are the hardworking individuals feeding the world. I want to do my part to help them. My classes this year have really helped to reinforce that passion.”

“I love going to classes every day for engineeringrelated courses, alongside the honors courses I am interested in taking. I took the intro coding class as part of my major and found out I actually like to code.

I’ve added the computer science minor to my degree.

I’m excited to take intro to computer security and artificial intelligence I. After getting my bachelor’s, I plan on applying to either Boeing, SpaceX or NASA.”

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SCHOLARSHIPS

Driving Future Success Alumni Association chapters provide scholarships to young Cowboys

T

rent Gibbs never thought he’d be able to go to college.

“College was always considered out of the realm of possibility for me,” said Gibbs, a native of Duncan, Oklahoma, who was the oldest of eight kids. “It wasn’t really a possibility. I had always considered it to be much too expensive.”

Gibbs’ dream started to become a reality when he met Kathy Snider and Linda Hutson, both members of the Stephens County OSU Alumni Chapter. The two helped him earn an OSU scholarship from the chapter.

“They really wanted to make sure that I had the opportunity to pursue a college education,” Gibbs said. “They understood what it could mean not only for me, but for my kids one day.”

Gibbs is one of 527 OSU students who have received a scholarship from the OSU Alumni Association and its chapters over the past three years. More than $1 million has been distributed to incoming freshmen, with half of those funds coming from OSU car tags.

For thousands of Cowboys across Oklahoma and Texas, giving back to OSU is as easy as driving around town.

The OSU car tag program began in Oklahoma in 1997 and expanded with a Texas plate in 2010.

A portion of proceeds from each tag sold goes into an Alumni Association fund earmarked for scholarships.

OSU alumni chapters raise scholarship dollars through a variety of events each year, and those dollars are matched by the Alumni Association with the funds from the car tags.

“The OSU car tags are one of the easiest ways to support OSU students while also showing off your Cowboy pride around town,” said Blaire Atkinson, OSU Alumni Association president. “The more OSU car tags we can put on vehicles, the more OSU students we can help each year.”

Gibbs’ dream is now a reality: He is a freshman at OSU, planning to study the music industry with a pre-law option. His main focus in life is finding ways to help others, whether through music or another path.

The feeling that someone believed in him has already helped drive Gibbs toward his academic success. The support from Snider, Hutson and the rest of the Cowboy family is something he said he could always feel.

“Hundreds or even thousands of people have donated to those funds,” Gibbs said. “They believe in me and my dreams enough to invest in me. That responsibility has really driven me to be my best in everything I do and to make myself worthy of that belief.”

Trent Gibbs poses outside Old Central before beginning his freshman year at OSU this fall.

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STORY WILL CARR | PHOTOS COURTESY TRENT GIBBS AND ASHLEIGH EVANS

Ashleigh Evans celebrates her spring 2019 graduation outside Edmon Low Library.

CHAPTER SUPPORT The following OSU alumni chapters offer scholarships to incoming OSU freshmen: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Beckham/Roger Mills/Dewey Counties Caddo County Cherokee Strip Cleveland/McClain Counties Comanche County Denver Grady County Houston Area Jackson/Harmon Counties Kay County Kiowa/Greer Counties North Texas Northwest Arkansas Northwest Oklahoma OKC Metro Pittsburg County Pottawatomie County Southeast Virginia Stephens County Tulsa Area Washington County

Scholarships are also offered by the New York City Chapter and the Black Alumni Society to nonfreshmen.

OSU alumni and friends support student scholarships by purchasing OSU car tags in Oklahoma and Texas.

Ashleigh Evans, a recent OSU graduate with a degree in animal science, also benefited from a scholarship provided by the North Texas OSU Alumni Chapter and matched with car tag funds.

Evans is the daughter of Dustin and Shonja Evans of Farmersville, Texas, both OSU alumni and teachers in Texas. Attending her parents’ alma mater was always Evans’ dream.

“OSU has definitely been a big part of my life since the day I was born,” Evans said. “I have always been a loyal and true fan of OSU. Always been a Cowboy.”

OSU’s out-of-state tuition worried Evans, but the scholarship from the North Texas Chapter helped make her OSU dreams come true.

“The scholarship took a huge financial burden off of my family,” she said. “That money helped with buying textbooks as well as the different fees from

the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.”

Evans is set to attend veterinary school at the University of Missouri and hopes to go into a mixed animal practice.

Both Gibbs and Evans said they’ve been inspired to give back to future OSU students and show the support they felt from current alumni.

“I admire anyone who gives up what could have been used for their personal enjoyment,” Gibbs said.

“I want to be like that when I grow up. I want to help others who deserve a college education, but may not have the means to get it.”

“Someone made the decision to help younger people like me,” Evans said. “Someday, I would love to give back.”

To purchase an OSU car tag in Oklahoma or Texas, visit ORANGECONNECTION.org/ cartags.

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SCHOLARSHIPS IN BRIEF

Unexpected support bolsters junior

Allie Williams faces all the usual challenges of life as a college student — plus the challenges that come with spinal muscular atrophy. Her wheelchair is empowering but not limitless.

“Two inches can keep me from a world of opportunity,” Williams said.

“This chair can hop over a six-inch gap, but it’s stopped by a two-inch step or a doorway two inches too narrow.”

The music performance junior sometimes encounters unexpected challenges working toward her goal of becoming a music teacher. But she was recently bolstered by support as the inaugural recipient of the Janice C. Jones Endowed Wheelchair Scholarship.

“I checked my email just before bed and I saw the message,” Williams said. “I was like, ‘Oh. Wait, what? This happened? What?’”

Megan Pitt, Williams’ academic adviser in the Department of Music, nominated her for the award.

“Allie works so hard,” Pitt said. “She has dealt with so many challenges in her life, and she just keeps coming back. She has so much courage and bravery, and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this scholarship.”

The scholarship honors Janice Jones, a 1972 family relations and child development alumna who died in 2017 from complications related to multiple

sclerosis. Her husband, Brent, and sister, Gay, created this scholarship.

“I am so grateful for the generosity of Brent and Gay, who I met at the College of Arts and Sciences Awards Banquet,” Williams said. “They were really sweet, and we email now a little bit.”

One of Allie’s favorite performers is Ali Stroker, the first wheelchair user to win a Tony Award. Stroker was named Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Ado Annie in the Broadway revival of Oklahoma!

“Ali is very talented and has done so much even while fighting all the accessibility issues stacked against her,” Williams said. “She deserved to win the Tony, and that win magnified the fact that even in such a program, where there is lots of funds, prizes and fame, there is not lots of access. They knew she was nominated and she was performing during the show, and there still wasn’t a ramp onto the stage.”

4-H Foundation scholarships help make dreams come true The cost of college figures into many college dreams. Madison Deeds, an agricultural education junior at Oklahoma State University, is no exception.

Deeds knew she wanted to earn her degree from OSU, but she had concerns about the cost. Scholarships from the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation helped her dream come true.

“I always knew I’d go to college, but I really wanted to be able to attend all four years at OSU instead of starting somewhere else and transferring in,” Deeds said. “If it weren’t for the scholarships I received for my work in 4-H, that simply wouldn’t have happened. Without 4-H, I wouldn’t have had the qualifications for the other scholarships.”

In total, Deeds received close to $12,000 in scholarships, which covered nearly all of her first two years at OSU.

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Milford H. Jenkins, executive director of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, said the foundation provides between $150,000 and $160,000 worth of scholarships each year to club members.

“Investing in the lives of 4-H youth through scholarships, education and leadership training and empowering our 4-H youth to achieve their dreams, is an investment in the future leaders of our communities, state and nation,” Jenkins said. “It’s only because of the generous philanthropic support from individuals, foundations and corporations that the foundation is able to make this possible for our 4-H members.”

To learn more about the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, visit oklahoma4hfoundation.com.

Madison Deeds was an active 4-H’er in Garfield County and earned numerous scholarships from the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation.

OSUIT culinary arts alumna establishes scholarship Celebrated author and chef Jennifer Hill Booker is living out her dream these days in Atlanta. But she’s never forgotten what it required to make that dream a reality.

“I attended OSU Institute of Technology’s Culinary Arts program on a full scholarship,” Booker said.

“Without it I would not have been able to attend culinary school.”

The Jennifer Hill Booker Culinary Arts Scholarship, founded in 2016, aims to help culinary students pursue their passion, just as she has. Booker is the owner and executive chef of Your Resident Gourmet and author of two cookbooks: Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern Recipes with a French Accent and Dinner Déjà Vu: Southern Tonight, French Tomorrow.

“I've found through my career that a solid education leads to a solid career, one that supports yourself, your family and even your community,” she said.

At OSUIT, Booker remembers being invited to cook at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. “It was such a huge deal!

We were these fresh, inexperienced culinary students in charge of preparing meals for some pretty famous people.

I remember having such a wonderful time and feeling so proud of all we accomplished that week.”

After graduating, she attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in France, where she refined her culinary style.

“When people compliment me on my success, they often attribute it to attending Le Cordon Bleu-Paris.

Although Le Cordon Bleu helped me polish my culinary skills, I have to remind them that my culinary foundation is from OSUIT, a technical college. That's where I built my strong foundation, due to a strong culinary arts program and some outstanding chef instructors.”

Booker lives in Atlanta and has taught culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu-Atlanta. She is also a Georgia Grown Executive Chef for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Culinary Explorer for the Georgia Department of Tourism and Travel, is the founder of Southern Divas of the New South™️ Dinner Series, and sits on the James Beard Foundation Food Waste Advisory Council.

New veterinary scholarship makes first award Laura Michelotti of Rockville, Maryland, is the first recipient of the Tracy Kyle Small Animal Endowed Scholarship, which was awarded in April at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences annual reception.

“Receiving the Tracy Kyle Small Animal Endowed Scholarship means a great deal to me, both financially and personally,” Michelotti said.

“This generous gift is allowing me to decrease my loans for the upcoming year and have less stress repaying loans after graduation when I’m trying to obtain an internship and residency.”

Growing up, Michelotti loved animals, science and creative problem solving.

“I have always wanted to be a veterinarian,” she added. “I have discovered a deep interest in ophthalmology as a specialty — an interest I think my pug, Rotini, and her plethora of eye problems has spurred along.”

Michelotti chose Oklahoma State University for her DVM degree because both the school and the town suited her needs.

“I really wanted to be on a campus with a sense of pride and community,

which I feel Stillwater definitely has,” said Michelotti. “I am very glad I did pick OSU because of the amazing friends I have made and the quality of education I am receiving.”

Michelotti finished the first three years of the DVM curriculum and began her clinical and final year of veterinary college in May. “Personally, I feel honored to have been selected for such an award at the culmination of my classroom education and entrance into clinical medicine.”

OSU’s veterinary center awards more than $542,270 in scholarships to 158 different veterinary students.

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SCHOLARSHIPS IN BRIEF

Peter Erdoes

Philip Erdoes

Erdoes brothers pay it forward the Cowboy way Last October, the Erdoes Family Scholarship Fund made a significant donation to Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma City’s President's Leadership Council scholarship program at the school’s biennial fundraiser, Paint This Town Orange.

The Erdoes Family Scholarship Fund — established by Oklahoma State University alumni, brothers and successful businessmen Philip and Peter Erdoes — made a $1 million commitment to support students at both Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma City and OSU. At OSU-OKC, the donation has already enabled the President's Leadership Council program to significantly increase the number of students receiving a scholarship.

“The Erdoes family is committed to helping our students reach their potential in today's fast-paced, changing world,” said Brad Williams, president of Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma City. “Their generous contribution goes a long way toward helping us develop leaders who are destined to make a difference in their communities.”

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OSU-OKC's PLC scholarship recognizes outstanding students who demonstrate talent and distinguished achievement in the areas of leadership, citizenship, service, and communication with a full tuition waiver for up to 15 credit hours for a full school year.

The Erdoes brothers’ philanthropy is rooted in their humble beginnings.

Peter and Philip Erdoes graduated from Northeast High School in Oklahoma City in 1978 and 1981, respectively, and went on to graduate from OSU in 1982 and 1985. Their experiences growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Oklahoma City led to their interest in community efforts that make a difference in the lives of lower-income students.

A prolific entrepreneur based in New York with a range of investments in everything from U.S.-based home furnishing manufacturing to edge computing, from film production to competitive fitness, Philip Erdoes sums up the family’s philanthropy approach.

“We grew up without much, so we totally understand the financial struggle college can be,” he said. “We want to help those with huge potential who just need that extra lift. (We) figured if we could help alleviate that struggle for a set of special students, we should, or — as I like to say — ‘Play offense, or don’t play.’”

Peter Erdoes, founder of Oklahoma City-based Erdoes PC, added that the culture of service and family they found at OSU inspires their philanthropic efforts.

“OSU is a lifelong family,” Peter Erdoes said. “We've always treated one another like family. Welcoming and helping new members to that community has been most rewarding.”

Years removed from their time in Stillwater together, the brothers remain in sync on their commitment to “paying it forward” the Cowboy way.

“I think our biggest hope is that these kids go on and do great things and then turn around and help the next generation,” Philip Erdoes said. “Break one cycle, create another. Reach out and help. It's easy. It's simple. Show people what OSU really means. Cowboy up!”

FFA and 4-H scholarships will lead to future doctors for rural Oklahoma Two significant gifts to Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences will allow the school to offer medical school scholarships to benefit rural Oklahoma high school students who participated in FFA or 4-H chapters.

The $2.8 million in scholarship funds was created by combined gifts from the Joseph E. Robert Jr. Charitable Trust and the estate of Audrey M. Hendershot.

“OSU-CHS is committed to combating the growing physician shortage in rural Oklahoma by creating and growing a strong pipeline of new doctors eager to bring their skills back to their hometowns upon completion of their medical education,” said Kayse Shrum, D.O., OSU-CHS president and OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine dean.

“Our Blue Coat to White Coat program, in cooperation with FFA chapters all over the state, encourages some of Oklahoma’s brightest

rural students to pursue a career in medicine. The success of the program has inspired us to forge a new partnership with the state’s 4-H programs,” Shrum said.

Neither Robert, a financier and philanthropist from Washington D.C., nor Hendershot, a widow from Shawnee, Oklahoma, were OSU alumni.

However, OSU alumni played a critical role in making these gifts possible.

The $1 million gift from the Robert Trust was initiated by a connection that OSU alumnus Ross McKnight made with David Fensterheim, trustee of the Robert Trust and executor of the Robert estate. The trust’s gift will endow a medical scholarship for FFA students attending medical school at OSU Center for Health Sciences who want to care for underserved children in rural Oklahoma.

Likewise, OSU alumnus Rick Hesser worked closely with Hendershot to set up four scholarship funds to support future rural physicians. Proceeds from

her estate will be used to set up a $1 million scholarship endowment for 4-H students studying medicine at OSU interested in practicing medicine in rural Oklahoma; $30,000 to establish an endowed scholarship fund for the 3+1 Program at OSU-CHS; and $770,000 in cash scholarships for 4-H and FFA students attending OSU to study medicine.

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STUDENT NEWS

IMPACT Spotlight

Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas

Experience Beyond the Classroom Internships create opportunities for students to learn and grow outside of the classroom and become more prepared for their future careers.

Oklahoma State University has partnered with the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks to provide opportunities for OSU students majoring in biology and engineering.

Paid internships are supported by incredible donors like Bill Beaulieu, and opportunities to contribute still exist. To help the aquarium continue this great program you can donate to the Integrative Biology Department Fund by contacting Laura Ketchum at 405.385.0701 or lketchum@osugiving.com.

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Major: Ecology and Conservation Biology and Environmental Biology Minors: Microbiology and Zoology

Hallie Moss

Class of '20

How would you put into words the impact your internship has had on you?

It's actually hard to put into words what exactly the experience has done for me. I've learned so many things that couldn't be learned in a classroom setting. I've gained a sense of confidence that I’ve never had before by being part of OSU's Coral Research Team at the Oklahoma Aquarium.

I feel like I really belong in this field of work, and being an intern at the aquarium has solidified my passion for this field.

How important would you say this internship has been to your education and future?

I think internships like this are so important because they teach you things that you can’t learn in a classroom but are so important for the workplace. When I finish my undergraduate in May 2020, I'll have three years of experience working at an aquarium. That's so incredible to me, and I just feel so lucky that I even had this opportunity in the first place.

What has been your favorite part of your internship?

My favorite part of being an intern at the Oklahoma Aquarium has been being part of the behind-thescenes side of the work they do. I've been going to the Oklahoma Aquarium ever since I was really young, and I have always been infatuated with every exhibit they have there. So, it's been a really special experience for me to be the person who gets to go to work there every week and just to be a part of the work they are doing.

Occupation: Director of Education Programs and Research, Oklahoma Aquarium

Ann

Money

What types of internships are offered to OSU students, and what role do those students typically have?

The Oklahoma Aquarium offers several different internship paths. There are internship positions in animal husbandry, chemistry lab/water testing, engineering, education and research. The student interns help support the department in which they are placed, like food preparation, animal care, running water chemistries, leading school groups/curriculum writing, independent engineering design and research assistance in our coral lab.

How would you describe the importance and impact of the hands-on experience the interns gain?

Internships allow students to explore possible career choices, and being immersed in the job gives a real-world experience. The knowledge and work ethic gained during an internship are skills and information to carry into a career.

Students leave the internship having gained experience that is not available in a classroom. In addition, they make connections with professionals in their field who can act as mentors and references in the future.

What is the significance of having donors who are willing to support paid internships?

The majority of internships available to undergraduates, specifically undergraduates in science fields, are unpaid. This limits the experiences for students who are unable to afford the travel and time away from paying jobs. The ability to offer paid internships opens up the opportunity to more students who could benefit and learn from the experience.

Occupation: Chair of the Helmerich Research Center Advisory Board; Donor

Bill

Beaulieu

Why did you choose an internship program to fund?

One of my wife Diana’s and my long-term goals has been to support education. We have found opportunities to do so through interns who are being educated in fields we have a strong interest in. Our support of the intern at OSU grew from our interest in the Oklahoma Aquarium and the research conducted there.

How would you describe the significance of internships for today’s students, and what feeling does it give you creating an opportunity like this?

From our experience, internships are an essential part in the education of students and in their preparation for postgraduate work or employment. We feel like we are giving back to others when we can support a student through an internship. That is an extremely rewarding feeling for us.

How have internships played a role in you and your family’s college/career experiences?

Neither my wife nor I had the fortune to have an internship in our education. Times were different then. We were both fortunate then to have jobs that helped us pay for part of our education. But both of our children who graduated from OSU had internships. My son had a paid internship with Chesapeake, which led to his current job there. My daughter had an unpaid internship, which led her to her graduate degree in sports marketing at the University of Colorado. She now works as a senior consultant for the Persimmon Group in Tulsa.

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“When I look back , I remember my honors classes when I don’t remember other classes.”

— DR. KEITH GARBUTT, Honors College dean, quoting an alumnus of the college

Honors College’s first three graduates return to OSU for celebration

THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF GRADUATING TOP-NOTCH STUDENTS THIS YEAR BY HONORING 135 NEW GRADUATES AND ITS THREE ORIGINAL GRADUATES DURING A HOODING CEREMONY THIS PAST SPRING. The 1969 graduates — Drs. Allan Edmonds, Robert R. Edgar and F. Alan Barber — all came to OSU from Bartlesville (Oklahoma) High School.

“They have gone on and done quite remarkable things,” said Honors College Dean Dr. Keith Garbutt. “One is a math professor, one’s a professor of African history, and the other’s an orthopedic surgeon. Not bad. We honored them by hooding them with their own honorary hoods, since hoods were not received in 1969 when their degrees were awarded.”

The original graduates (from left): Dr. F. Alan Barber, Dr. Allan Edmonds and Dr. Robert R. Edgar

STORY DAVID BITTON | PHOTO COURTESY DR. ALLAN EDMONDS

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Dr. Allan Edmonds OSU HONORS COLLEGE DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS Edmonds, a retired mathematics professor from Indiana University, enjoyed meeting faculty from OSU’s math department and speaking with President Burns Hargis during his visit.

“It was an honor to be invited back and a pleasure to reconnect with my two other honors graduates,” Edmonds said. “I was impressed to see the growth and development of The Honors College.

There is good involvement from the faculty across the university, and The Honors College seems to be a vibrant and meaningful part of the university.”

Looking back at his time in The Honors College in the ’60s, Edmonds said things were very different.

“It was very much a work in progress,” he said. “Requirements and courses were under development and subject to change. My strongest early memory of the fledgling honors program was a new attempt at an honors calculus course taught by professor Roy Deal. It worked for me but it was a difficult experience for almost everyone else. It was very theoretical and more about the foundations of calculus rather than the usual tool subject.”

Edmonds remembers having the opportunity to take several graduatelevel mathematics courses as an undergraduate.

His last three years at OSU were “difficult times” because of tensions from the Vietnam War. During his final year in Stillwater, Edmonds taught basic algebra courses.

After earning his bachelor’s, Edmonds earned his doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1973.

He became an assistant professor at Cornell University before accepting an associate professor position at Indiana University in 1978 and has lived in Bloomington ever since. He was promoted to full professor in 1983 and remained in the Department of Mathematics until retiring in 2012.

Edmonds had more than 60 research articles published.

One of his most significant accomplishments was the solution of a problem with formal roots dating back to the 1880s, asking for a generalization of Euclid’s mathematical investigations of the five Platonic solids. Working alongside his Indiana University colleagues, Edmonds achieved the longsought generalization of Euclid’s theorem.

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Dr. F. Alan Barber OSU HONORS COLLEGE DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY “It was exciting to come back to the school that holds so many memories and participate with three high school friends in this recognition,” Barber said. “The college has grown from a fledgling program to an extensive and highly organized one. It is quite impressive to see the change over time. In the past 50 years, new traditions have been established, and I got the sense of significant community and connectiveness among the faculty and students.”

While excelling at both sports and academics in high school, Barber was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship to attend OSU. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army and earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Barber served as a medical officer at hospitals in the United States and Europe.

After leaving the Army, Barber worked as an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Barber has published more than 250 scientific journal articles, written several book chapters and is the associate editor for the Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review magazine.

Today, he is an orthopedic surgeon at Plano Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, where he has performed more than 16,000 surgeries.

VIDEO See Dr. F. Alan Barber at okla.st/honors.

PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

LEARN MORE For more information about the Honors College, visit honors.okstate.edu or call 405-744-6799.

Dr. Robert R. Edgar OSU HONORS COLLEGE DEGREE IN HISTORY “I think we were all excited and at the same time surprised that the Honors program had remembered us,” Edgar said.

Edgar earned an undergraduate degree in European history, a master’s in African history at Indiana University and a doctorate in African history from UCLA. He taught at Howard University, a historically black university in Washington D.C., from 1977 until 2016. Edgar specialized in modern religions and political movements in southern Africa and has been widely published.

He was called “The Indiana Jones of South Africa” in an article after restoring an Ark of the Covenant to a group in Africa.

“I still get a kick out of that,” Edgar said.

Edgar had visited the OSU campus a few times over the years but said it was great to receive the invitation with Edmonds and Barber.

“It was an enjoyable experience, and I deeply appreciate the Honors program recognizing us,” Edgar said. “Dean Garbutt was saying he was blown away by our CVs because it sets a very high standard for future honors classes. The dean read the profiles of what we’d accomplished over the years. I think he was sending a message out to the

graduates but also to their families in the audience. This honors degree is the starting point for their professional lives.”

Edgar said he would like to give back to Honors students by mentoring students in his field of study.

“We were the first three, but it would be nice to bring in honors graduates from other classes and get them involved in terms of interacting with current honors students,” Edgar said.

He remembers what it was like coming to college from a small town.

“Coming from a small town sometimes you are unsure about yourself and what you are capable of doing, and I think it’s nice to have a group of people who can talk with you and say, ‘We’ve gone through something similar,’ and give them words of encouragement and advice on how to go to the next level,” Edgar said.

“The college has grown from a fledgling program to an extensive and highly organized one. It is quite impressive to see the change over time.”

— DR. F. ALAN BARBER, OSU Honors College College degree in Chemistry

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‘Cool AND Different’ Honors College takes research and ‘rabbit holes’ to the highest academic standards, says Dean Garbutt

OVER THE YEARS 72 FA L L 2 0 1 9

1963

1964

1969

Dr. Eugene Swearingen announces the start of an honors program within the Business College.

Dr. Robert Kamm promotes the Arts and Sciences honors program to freshmen and sophomores.

First three students graduate with honors degrees.

STORY DAVID BITTON | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

F

or the first time in its history, the Honors College had two hooding ceremonies this spring to accommodate its 135 graduates and their families. Students with this award have completed all the Honors College degree requirements with a minimum grade point average of 3.5.

Another 67 students were recognized for having received or being candidates for a General Honors Award or a Departmental or College Honors Award for the previous academic year.

When Dr. Keith Garbutt arrived in 2014, he became the first dean of the Honors College.

“Honors dean is such a great position to have,” Garbutt said in his distinct British accent. “I’m working with smart undergrads. All deans have to deal with problems, but the problems that walk through my door are good ones. It’s ‘Wow, that’s a cool idea, how could we do that?’ Those are the best sort of problems to have.”

The Honors College Degree is the highest academic distinction OSU awards.

The program serves roughly 2,100 students from a wide range of majors across all colleges.

Honors students are routinely selected as Top 10 Freshmen, Outstanding Seniors and regularly nominated for — and win — national awards, such as Truman and Goldwater scholarships.

“We are going to expect a lot of you but also be there to help through honors advising and supportive professors,” said Dr. Robert Spurrier Jr., director emeritus of the Honors College and professor emeritus of political science.

Spurrier, who taught at OSU from 1972 to 2014, was instrumental in getting the Honors College moved from the fifth floor of Edmon Low Library to Old Central.

“It is wonderful the Honors College is housed there,” Spurrier said. “It is a classic space.”

He will teach First Amendment freedoms, along with honors law and legal institutions, this fall.

“We’ve prided ourselves in having some of the most rigorous standards with the numbers of credit hours for the Honors College degree and the GPA required,” Spurrier said.

To earn an Honors College degree, a student must complete at least 36 honors credit hours and six hours of thesis work.

“That makes us one of the most rigorous programs in the country,” Garbutt said. “Doing research is a crucial part of the experience. Our program, like most of the programs in the country, integrate Honors into the curriculum of the university.”

Honors courses are often general education classes because all students have to take those.

“We’ll take History 1113 and do an honors section of it, and do something completely different with it but still meet the history requirement,” Garbutt said. “In a traditional class, you are kind of restrained by all the material you have to get through. In an Honors class, if the class disappears down a really interesting rabbit hole, you can go after them and see what’s down there and what’s cool and different.”

The Honors College also encourages students to have educational experiences outside the traditional classroom, such as studying abroad.

“Doing short-term study abroad is OK, but you tend to carry a little bubble of American around with you if you’re not careful,” Garbutt said. “I’d really like to see a lot more students do it. The appreciation of where you come from changes once you’ve been abroad. You see that some things you just take for granted are really important and some things you thought were important now seem strange and you wonder why you are doing them.”

Professors can also have a big impact on student success.

“The thing that defines an Honors professor is their passion for what they are teaching,” Garbutt said. “They are all volunteers and want to experiment, trying stuff out to see what might and might not work. Professors are engaged, and students are part of the learning process. Under those sorts of circumstances, you can take students on an intellectual journey they didn’t think they could do.”

1989

2000

2009

2019

The individual honors programs are consolidated to form the universitywide OSU Honors Program.

The OSU Honors Program is recognized as an independent academic college and becomes the Honors College.

The Honors College gets a new home in Old Central.

The Honors College graduates the largest number of degree recipients since its inception.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 73

COWBOY CHRONICLES

Three Gold Medallions

Alexander C. Magruder Awards inspired OSU’s first top scholars

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klahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College faculty member Alexander Magruder worked to motivate and encourage young minds. Most of the students enrolling at the new college in December 1891 never imagined that they would have the opportunity to acquire a university education. Few knew what to expect in a university.

These young people had arrived on an open prairie near what would become Stillwater during the Land Run of 1889.

Magruder was one of the first faculty members hired at the OAMC in the fall of 1891. Known as Alec Magruder, he was an excellent lecturer, admired by his students, and he helped establish a strong agricultural research station.

The region had been the traditional borderlands of the Osage and the Kiowa.

Briefly a home for the Seminoles and Creeks, it was opened for homesteading families to occupy the unassigned lands at the center of the Indian Territory. It was doubtful that many envisioned a university education in their future.

Local students had only limited formal educational experience, and half had not graduated from high school. The non-graduates, some as young as 13 years old enrolled in the sub-freshman preparatory program.

Inspiring these young scholars at a new college with no permanent facilities, few faculty members and limited resources would be a challenge. The first faculty members, also new arrivals, set about to implement educational standards with realistic expectations for student success. Classes started in mid-December 1891, and the first full semester ended in the spring of 1892 without fanfare. By the fall of 1892, Magruder, who was professor of agriculture and horticulture, supported

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STORY DAV I D P E T E R S | PHOTOS OSU ARCHIVES

Alec Magruder (standing, center) was photographed with members of the Sigma Literary Society in 1894. With him are the first two winners of the Magruder Medal (pictured above), George Bowers (right of Magruder) and Kate Neal (seated, second from left). Both Kate and George are wearing their awards.

the Star Crescent Literary Society. Very few details survive for this group, and it disbanded the following year, but efforts to build a community of scholars continued.

Early in the spring of 1893, college faculty members decided to hold a three-day commencement celebration to establish a routine and prepare for the day when students would graduate.

Professor Magruder sponsored a contest for the freshman class the first night. During the program, a student competition in declamation was held to increase student attendance. Students selected poems or passages to recite. Six finalists were selected for the formal presentations to the public.

The first commencement celebration started Friday evening, June 16, 1893.

No facilities were available on the OAMC campus, so the ceremonies took place in the new Methodist Episcopal

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Kate Neal

Church-South, located about a halfmile south of the college. The sanctuary had a 250-seat capacity, which the eager crowd exceeded. Three members from the Class of 1896, Frank E. Duck, Erwin Jarrell and Kate Neal were finalists. Contest winner 15-yearold Kate Neal presented the dramatic reading “Searching for the Slain,” a poem about a mother searching for her son’s body on a battlefield. Magruder and Freeman E. Miller, a local poet and writer, judged Kate’s recitation was the best. Miller presented her with the first gold Magruder Medal “For Merit in Declamation” the following day. Miller was the newest faculty member on campus. He had been hired to serve as the College Press Bureau director and would later supervise production of the first student literary publication, The Oklahoma A.&M. College Mirror.

Kate Neal, the daughter of Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station Director Dr. James C. Neal and his wife Emma, had spent weeks memorizing her lines. Her younger sister Amie declared, “It had taken my sister many weeks of practice to learn that piece and having had to listen to her, I could have taken over had she forgotten her lines that fateful night.” Two years later Kate, the only remaining female in the Class of 1896, would leave college one semester

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George Bowers

shy of graduation. Her father died of a heart attack on campus in December 1895, and Emma took the two girls with her back east. Kate would not become the college’s first female graduate, but she had demonstrated that women were capable, qualified and competitive with their male counterparts in higher education.

The first commencement festivities, including the declamation contest, were both successful and popular.

Efforts expanded for the 1894 events.

The second class of OAMC freshmen qualified for the “best declaimer” contest with the program moved to Saturday at 10 a.m. on June 16, 1894.

The new Assembly Building (Old Central), with an auditorium on the second floor, hosted the event. This building was dedicated during the 1894 commencement activities. Six finalists were selected to present memorized passages from a diverse set of sources.

This year, the program was under the direction of faculty members Frank A. Waugh and George L. Holter. Waugh had a master’s degree in horticulture from Kansas A&M, and Holter was a Penn State graduate in chemistry. Neither had an academic background in public speaking, but that did not stop them from forcing the finalists to practice for extended periods as they fine-tuned

Arthur Adams

their presentations. The college orchestra performed selected pieces between sets of recitations.

The winner of the second gold Magruder Medal, George W. Bowers, described his experience: “At 10 a.m., we were all present and prepared for the ordeal. I was worried and quite nervous, but fortunately I was the first speaker.

What a relief it was when I finished and could sit down and listen to my classmates, a procedure I thoroughly enjoyed. To my surprise, the judges gave me the decision, and when the medal was presented to me, I was almost speechless. All I could say was, ‘thank you.’”

The final Magruder Medal was given to the winner of “Best Oration, Junior Class, 1895.” The six finalists for the prize would eventually become the first six Oklahoma A&M College graduates the following year. For this competition, the finalists would write about an agricultural or scientific topic and present their paper to the audience. The presentations took place on a Monday evening in mid-June as part of the third annual commencement.

The evening performances began with the OAMC Orchestra followed by the first two speakers. This pattern continued with the orchestra playing another musical number, and two more

speakers would present their papers.

After the last two speakers, there was a cornet solo, and the judges (Hays Hamilton, J. S. Workman and the Rev. G.W. Mowbray) left briefly to make their decision. They arrived at a unanimous decision and shared the winner’s name with Alec Magruder. According to the report in the College Mirror: “Magruder, the generous giver of the medal, made the presentation to the winner in an eloquent and pleasant speech, full of feeling and beautified with tender sentiment and good advice.” Arthur Adams won the third and last gold Magruder Medal for his presentation on the significance of electricity and the impact it would have on the future.

The College Mirror provided descriptions of each student presentation. The new literary societies, established two years earlier with Magruder’s support, published the monthly publication. The Webster Literary Society, which was all male, and the Sigma Literary Society, which was open to both genders, collaborated to produce this monthly literary magazine. It would be the predecessor of the OAMC student newspapers.

Magruder, known as “the faculty aristocrat,” designed and financed the production of the three gold medallions awarded for literary merit, supported the establishment of literary societies and was instrumental in the establishment of the first commencement ceremonies.

All of these activities proved especially significant during the three years before there were any graduates when the young academic community was attempting to establish expectations for fledgling college scholars. Magruder would leave Oklahoma A&M in June 1895, but his contributions to inspire scholarship, to quality instruction in the classroom and to excellence in research remain with us today.

1894 MAGRUDER MEDAL CONTESTANTS Subject

Author Speaker

“Story of a Cyclone”

Anonymous

George W. Bowers

“Seed Catalogs”

L. H. Bailey

Andrew Nelson Caudell

“The Vision of Mirza”

Joseph Addison Jessie Olive Thatcher

“Labor and Poverty”

Carlyle Oscar

Clay Adams

“A Sewing Girl’s Diary”

Will Carleton

Gertrude May Diem

“Story of a Battle”

Bob Burdette

Rawson Van Taylor

1895 MAGRUDER MEDAL CONTESTANTS Subject

Author and Speaker

“Landscape Gardening”

James H. Adams

“Agriculture”

Alfred E. Jarrell

“Plant Life”

Frank E. Duck

“Irrigation”

Erwin G. Lewis

“The Kitchen Garden”

Oscar M. Morris

“Development of Electricity”

Arthur W. Adams

The Magruder Medal presentations were held in the Assembly Building (Old Central) in 1894 and 1895. The auditorium on the east side of the top floor was filled to capacity for the June commencement ceremonies.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 77

EmOji pUzZLe

Encourage your cowboy or cowgirl to complete the Legacy Link activity page in each issue of STATE magazine. Register your Legacy in the OSU Alumni Association Legacy Program online by visiting ORANGECONNECTION.org/legacy to receive all the legacy benefits available with your membership!

Answer key available at ORANGECONNECTION.org/legacylink.

THE COWBOY WAY

When Karen Chen speaks about the landgrant mission at Oklahoma State, the passion in the Tulsa native’s voice is unmistakable.

As the assistant vice president of enrollment management, Chen said providing educational access to Oklahoma students isn’t an obligation — it’s an opportunity. “We want to attract and educate students from all over the United States and the world, but specifically our Oklahoma students, we help them get a great education and then have them give back to their community and state,” she said. “That’s really important, and at a comprehensive research one institution, we have all the opportunities available for our students to be successful. We need to reach and engage with them.”

Experience

Starting out in Undergraduate Admissions and now assistant vice president of enrollment management, she brings over 15 years of experience in higher education to OSU. Karen is fully Oklahoma educated, growing up in Tulsa and earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Tulsa and her master’s at OU-Tulsa.

Cowboy Family

She truly loves what she does recruiting the next generation of OSU undergraduates because of the people. “It’s our faculty, our staff, our students. … It’s important that our students have a diverse student body that they can interact with and learn from. That’s why it’s so important to have our international students, our transfer students and the traditional freshmen on campus. This is what encompasses our Cowboy family — you can’t have one without the other.”

Sweet Music

Karen isn’t all work, though. She is also a country music fan and Faith Hill devotee, having seen her perform 19 times (so far). “There’s just something about it for me. … It’s a shared experience and the person standing next to you is right there, but their experience can be completely different than yours.”

The signed Martina McBride guitar in her hands is one of her prized possessions. “At a lot of concerts, they will sometimes have one or two items signed by the artist that they put up for sale.

I didn’t have a signed guitar, so I figured, why not?”

On Broadway

Another favorite experience of Karen’s is Broadway plays and musicals. She frequently travels to New York for shows. “Yes, I am one of those people who wait around by backstage doors to meet the cast members. Sometimes they come out and sometimes they don’t — but no matter, I have great respect for their talents.”

The payoff is an impressive collection of autographed playbills. She has seen In Transit, Dear Evan Hansen, She Loves Me, Rent and Wicked, to name a few. “There are no bad musicals. Who doesn’t love something where somebody can break out into song? Anytime anyone can break out into song in the middle of a conversation is a win for me. I love it, it’s just fun.”

STORY BRANDEE CAZZELLE | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 79

Norma Smith (left) and Deb Petty are all smiles as they spent Memorial Day weekend reconnecting with each other.

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Reconnecting for Life

One phone call reunites two long-lost sisters

E

very time Christy Clark answers the phone at the OSU Alumni Association, there’s a chance the person on the line is going to be looking for a lost classmate.

“We get calls from people all the time searching for former dorm mates or old flames,” Clark said. “But the call I got in January 2019 searching for a long-lost sister was definitely a first.

“Little did I know at the time, it would bring a whole new meaning to our motto, ‘Connections for Life.’”

Deb Petty grew up in small-town Iowa with her mom, Dorothy Wilkes, and her grandparents. She went through her childhood believing these three people were all the family she had.

“I grew up thinking I was an only child,” Petty said.

She didn’t know that her mother had given birth to another child two years before Petty was born. The baby was given up for adoption to a family in Oklahoma City while Wilkes was accompanying the father on a trip.

Wilkes shared her story with Neatha Bentley and Lee McNutt, and the couple

agreed they would adopt the child once she was born. Later that year, Wilkes made the trip back from Iowa to Oklahoma to give birth to Norma Smith.

Smith grew up somewhat as an only child as well because her siblings were so much older than her.

“All of my parents’ (Bentley and McNutt) kids were either out of the home or leaving the home,” Smith said.

“The sibling closest to me in age was my sister, who was 17 years older than me. She was more like another mother figure.”

Years passed as Petty and Smith experienced life without any contact, other than a brief meeting when they were children. Smith, 9 at the time, was taken by her adoptive mother to meet Wilkes. Petty, 7, spent time with Smith, but neither girl realized at the time the connection they shared.

“When you are 7 and 9, she is just a playmate,” Petty said. “I didn’t have any idea she was my sister. She certainly was not introduced to me as my sister.”

Smith has a similar recollection of the first time she met Petty, Wilkes

and her grandparents. She wishes she could have known the truth about the interaction at the time.

“It is kind of sad we didn’t know,” Smith said. “When you are a little kid, you don’t think about that kind of stuff.

Nobody told us.”

The second meeting between Petty and Smith would not come until more than 50 years later. The connection would be made with some help from Petty’s cousin and the Alumni Association.

After Wilkes died, Petty discovered some documents with some information about having another child.

“When I found the paperwork, I was so disappointed because no one told me before,” Petty said. “I had a sister, and I didn’t get to grow up with her.”

Unfortunately for Petty, there wasn’t much information for her to use to find her sister. But she didn’t know another individual was already doing research on her family.

Gary Borchardt grew up not knowing a lot about his father’s family. He found Petty through Ancestry.com and

“Little did I know at the time, it would bring a whole new meaning to our motto, ‘Connections for Life.’”

– CHRISTY CLARK, OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

STORY WILL CARR | PHOTOS COURTESY DEB PETTY AND NORMA SMITH

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 81

discovered she was actually his cousin.

When the two began communicating, Petty shared with him the story of the sister she never knew.

“I wasn’t looking for any kind of thanks or recognition,” Borchardt said.

“I wanted to help my cousin. I wanted to do something nice for someone. I wanted someone to find their family the way I had.”

Borchardt spent the next few years looking for anything he could find about Smith. He wasn’t having much luck until he stumbled upon a picture of Smith in OSU’s 1974 yearbook. He brought the information to Petty and got in contact with the Alumni Association.

“At first, I thought this was a routine request to find one of our graduates,” said Clark, a program assistant at the Alumni Association. “After I received

Norma Smith and her mother, Neatha Bentley, on Smith’s wedding day.

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Deb’s letter and baby photos, I realized this could be something special.”

Clark forwarded the letter and photos to Smith, an active Alumni Association member who was living in Florida, with the hopes of helping Petty get in contact with her.

“I opened a letter from the Alumni Association and was confused when copies of my baby pictures started falling out,” Smith recalled. “Then, I saw the letter from Deb. When I got that note, I reached out to Deb immediately.

The same evening.”

At the time, Petty was still trying to comprehend the fact she had finally found the sister she was looking for since she discovered the informative documents.

“I think we were both kind of in awe we had actually found each other after

all of these years,” Petty said. “What are the chances of that happening? In my opinion, I never thought it would.”

Petty reached back out to Clark at the Alumni Association to tell her the good news. Clark can still remember the joy she heard in Petty’s voice.

“She told me she was no longer an only child,” Clark said. “That brought tears to my eyes. It was an exciting and emotional moment for me as well.”

Smith and Petty have been in daily contact since the reconnection. Over Memorial Day weekend, Smith traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to meet Petty. Neither of the sisters were nervous about the first interaction with each other. Instead, they were filled with anticipation.

“I am just excited to hang out with my sister,” Smith said prior to the meeting.

Deb Petty and Dorothy Wilkes on Petty’s wedding day.

“I can’t wait to share memories and for her to tell me things about Mom (Wilkes) that I don’t know.”

“We have connected so well,” Petty said a few days before the meetup. “It has just kind of fallen into place like we have always known each other.”

The connection between the two sisters was strong immediately. They spent time realizing the similarities they each shared with each other and their mother. The similarities reached beyond personality traits and allowed the sisters to see a bit of their mother in one another.

“It was so funny because sometimes Deb would look at me and say, ‘You look so much like Mom,’” Smith said. “I think it shocks and surprises her, but I see the same things in her. She just doesn’t see them.”

As the weekend concluded, the sisters had a chance to reflect on what the time spent together meant to them. Petty no longer felt as though she was an only child, and Smith finally had the answers to questions that had been on her mind for years.

“The whole thing was just awesome for me,” Petty said. “I enjoyed every minute of it. It was so hard to see her get on the plane to go home.”

“It has given me a sense of belonging,” Smith said. “A better insight into myself.

It’s just been a really eye-opening experience.”

Petty and Smith have continued to talk every day since their Memorial Day weekend meetup and have plans to visit each other more in the future.

Norma Smith (left) poses with Anthony, Deb and Elaine Petty as she got to meet her sister’s children.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 83

Global Impact

Kimberly-Clark’s first chief scientist offers his take on the future at OSU conference

O

klahoma State University alumnus Peter Dulcamara is the chief scientist and technical vice president of consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark. The company, which is known for some of country’s most recognizable brands — Huggies, Kleenex, Kotex and more — aims to lead the world in essentials for a better life.

And that suits Dulcamara perfectly.

“I feel fortunate to work for a company where the business mission aligns with my personal mission to create a better, more sustainable future,” Dulcamara said on a recent visit to OSU. “I never think of myself as an employee of Kimberly-Clark. Rather, I see my role at the company as part of a larger purpose, aligned to my personal mission which is to help create businesses that improve people’s lives,” he said. “Stress is what you feel when you are working on something you don’t like, and passion is working on something you love. I feel blessed to be working on my life’s passion at Kimberly-Clark.”

Dulcamara sees his role as the company’s chief scientist as both innovator and coach.

The OSU grad is the first chief scientist in the history of KimberlyClark. His role is to ensure that the company has an enterprise-wide research and engineering technology strategy, continues to grow its technical talent and strengthens its culture of innovation and value creation.

He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. Unsure of his next step, he reached out to OSU’s engineering department to pursue a master’s degree in chemical engineering.

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STORY KRISTI WHEELER | PHOTOS KRISTI WHEELER AND PETE DULCAMARA

Peter Dulcamara, KimberlyClark's first chief scientist.

However, Dr. Rob Robinson, the chemical engineering adviser and faculty member, didn’t think it would be a good idea for Dulcamara to go directly into the master’s program lacking a bachelor’s in engineering to ground him.

“Rob told me that he wanted me to start in the bachelor’s degree program for chemical engineering to see how the first semester would go,” Dulcamara said. “The first semester went really well, and I was setting some of the grading curves. Rob ended up hiring me to work in his interfacial tension lab and became my adviser for my master’s thesis.”

Dulcamara ended up getting both his bachelor’s degree (1986) and master’s degree (1987) in chemical engineering at OSU. “What I really loved about OSU was the balance between science, technology and pragmatism,” he said.

“There is a strong work ethic instilled here at OSU. Everyone I knew in my class has done well in industry because of the education they received here.

The culture fostered in the School of Chemical Engineering enabled me to leave the program with the belief that I could solve problems, communicate with confidence and influence others at every level in an organization.”

Dulcamara spent 18 years at Dow Chemical Co., working in plastics, chemicals and new business development. He joined KimberlyClark in 2006 as vice president of global science and technology before being named vice president of corporate research and engineering in 2009. He became the company’s chief scientist in May 2018.

Dulcamara recently returned to OSU as the keynote speaker for the International Conference on Web Handling. There, he spoke on data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence and transformational innovation. He demonstrated how they relate to research his company is doing as well as industry in Oklahoma.

“Today, electricity is in the background making everything work. In the near future, artificial intelligence will be in the background making everything work a whole lot better,” he said.

“It is really important to understand artificial intelligence, network effects and other exponential technologies and how we apply these capabilities to everything we do,” Dulcamara added.

“At Kimberly-Clark, we use artificial intelligence to make better predictions that lead to better business decisions, and ultimately, lead to making lives better for our consumers.

“Almost every industry of the 20th century was based on oil, electricity and steel. Today, data is the new oil. Artificial intelligence is the new electricity. And robotics is the new steel.

This is the infrastructure for innovation in the 21st century.”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 85

Saluting a WWII Veteran

Cowboy fan lights up when Pistol Pete joins his birthday celebration

A

t a well-kept home on the edges of Marlow, Oklahoma, the world sent its love to Oklahoma State University fan Recil Troxel, one piece of mail at a time. The flood of correspondence renewed the faith of his daughter Liz Anderson in the goodness of people and left the family awestruck

at the power of a Facebook request for cards for a World War II veteran.

For OSU, Troxel’s recognition culminated on his 93rd birthday. On April 17, Pistol Pete paid a visit to the home along with Jamie Payne, senior associate vice president of Development Services for the OSU Foundation; and Blaire Atkinson, president of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association. Bearing a gift basket and 93 greeting cards from OSU students, athletes and administrators — including one from President Burns Hargis — they

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commemorated Troxel’s birthday with an orange celebration for a life well lived.

Payne called the visit “an absolute honor.”

“You should have seen his eyes light up when Pistol Pete walked through his front door to wish him a happy birthday and thank him for his service to our country,” Payne said. “Recil was wearing his orange with pride and grinning from ear to ear when reading the cards from the OSU family. When he opened the card from President Hargis, Recil said it was so special that he would frame it. This is pretty amazing, considering he has received over 100,000 cards from all over the world in the past few months.”

The deluge of mail and visits started when Anderson grew tired of seeing her father disappointed when he had no mail addressed to him.

“I thought, ‘My sister just retired. I’ll have her put it on Facebook in Missouri, and we will get him a few cards for his birthday and he can get some mail,’” Anderson said. Her goal was maybe 100 cards for his birthday. The request was picked up by television stations and even made Southern Living magazine.

“The first day the mail came, he had four packages of cards and I thought that was great,” she said. “Then Monday comes, and the mail had six of those huge bags full of cards and over 100 packages. For a month, UPS came to the house once a day and FedEx came twice.”

Avid OSU fans, the family has a bedroom bedecked in Cowboy orange — and swimming in boxes of mail nearly shoulder-high.

“It has been a whirlwind,” Anderson said.

Troxel’s life before WWII included shining shoes for a nickel a pair at the barbershop when he was 8 years old, delivering papers at 12 and working

as a short-order cook at a downtown cafe when he was 13. He dropped out of school to drive a truck and help support his family before he left for war.

He spent two years and 29 days as an Army combat engineer in Guam, the Philippines and Saipan. He battled foot rot from weeks in wet terrain. He guarded prisoners, dug foxholes, served on a bomber and crawled through muck on the front lines. He earned a total of $262.01 for nearly 25 months of service.

After the war, Troxel married a waitress who caught his eye, Ida Lee. They owned a trucking company before he went to work for the Stephens County Barn-District 1 and the State Highway Department. In retirement, he and Ida Lee traveled the country, selling crafts and making rounds of garage sales. Ida Lee died in 2005.

In the years since, Troxel has battled more than one round of near-fatal pancreatitis and is being treated for skin cancer. He was in a rehab facility before Anderson brought him to live with her.

With age and illness, the breadth of his world slowly contracted to the view from the front window that overlooks State Highway 81 and a daily drive to check the mail.

Now the world comes to him in packages and in person. Veterans stopped by on a cold day in February.

On April 13, his family threw a birthday celebration with family and friends — some of them new friends who have adopted Troxel as an honorary grandpa since the request for birthday cards.

Through it all, Oklahoma State has been well represented for this family of Cowboy fans.

“We are so appreciative of everything OSU has done,” said Tracy Nichols, Troxel’s granddaughter and mother to OSU grad student Meagan Bourne. “The whole university has been amazing.”

STORY SHANNON G. RIGSBY | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Global Education

OSU school counts its impact around the world as it marks 20 years

T

he School of Global Studies and Partnerships at Oklahoma State University is celebrating 20 years of global education and preparing students for careers with the U.S. government, international nonprofits and multinational organizations. Since its inception, more than 500 students from around the world have earned master’s degrees in international studies and are working to make a difference in more than 56 countries through organizations such as HelpAge International, UNICEF and Walmart.

“We are proud of our alumni and the impact they have both here and abroad,” Dean Dr. Randy Kluver said. “We continue to be dedicated to developing global leaders who are making a difference in the fight against global hunger, poverty, sustainability and humanitarian crises.”

In April 1999, OSU established the School of International Studies to direct international endeavors and prepare students for global careers.

The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents restructured the unit in late 2016 into the School of Global Studies and Partnerships.

In January 2018, Dr. Jami Fullerton, a longtime OSU professor and the Peggy Welch Chair in Strategic Communications, became the director of academic programs. Since then, the program has doubled in size and will welcome about 25 new graduate students this fall.

“Students are drawn to our program because of the skills they develop and connections they make,” Fullerton said. “We’ve been successful at placing students in internships with the U.S. Department of State, multinational NGOs and corporations.”

Pending approval from the OSU/ A&M Board of Regents and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the School of Global Studies’ new curriculum will go into effect this fall. The curriculum features an interdisciplinary approach.

Additionally, the school has brought in its first two full-time faculty members: Dr. Marten Brienen, an expert in crisis management and Dr. Eugene Bempong Nyantakyi, a global trade economist from the World Bank.

The school houses the Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies Program, which examines critical environmental,

STORY SARAH BILDSTEIN | PHOTO SCHOOL OF GLOBAL STUDIES AND PARTNERSHIPS

economic and developmental issues facing Iran and the Persian Gulf region. The program awarded its first of four professorships this year to Dr. Saleh Taghvaeian, an assistant professor and state extension specialist in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering who is an expert in water issues in the region.

Earlier this year, the school welcomed the Tulsa Global Alliance to the OSU-Tulsa campus. This partnership will allow OSU students in both Stillwater and Tulsa the opportunity to interact with international visitors and leaders who visit the state. The school also plans to offer its master’s in global studies at OSU-Tulsa, including its graduate certificate in global trade, pending approval.

“OSU has an incredible international heritage, and the 20th anniversary of the School of Global Studies and Partnerships is a large part of that,” Kluver said. “We believe these changes will help us use our resources to provide students, faculty and staff across the university with the best tools to succeed as we continue to build on OSU’s global legacy.”

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Give Orange: 1,890 minutes for OSU Annual day of giving raises $487,730

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embers of the Cowboy family from 49 states and as far away as Jerusalem came together during this year’s Give Orange event to support Oklahoma State University with gifts of all sizes. This online-driven giving campaign allows OSU alumni, donors and fans to give back to their orange passion to provide high-quality experiences for students, faculty and staff.

Highlights:

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1,356 gifts

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$487,730 raised

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The Cowboy Strong Student Emergency Fund $10,000 Match was met

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The Homecoming $9,500 Match was met, revealing this year’s Homecoming theme, “As the World Turns Orange!”

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The America’s Healthiest Campus $1,000 Match was met

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Over 1,000 Cowboys participated in Give Orange, unlocking an additional $5,000 for the Cowboy Strong Student Emergency Fund

Thank you to our matching gift donors!

America's Healthiest Campus Donor Tom and Sue Bennett Bryan Close Cowboy Caller Scholarship Donor Cowboy Strong Donor CVHS Donor Food Insecurity Donor Bill Ford Gary and Susan Ford Mike and Anne Greenwood Honors College Donor Human Sciences Donor Nutritional Sciences Scholarship Donor OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors OSU Alumni Association Leadership Council OSU Animal Science Alumni Association OSU Foundation Board of Governors Teri and John Shaffer Barry Vandivier

“IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THE ABUNDANT GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT WITHIN THE COWBOY FAMILY. BEING PART OF GIVE ORANGE WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. THIS EVENT ALLOWS OSU TO STAY AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST ORANGE!” — PAYTON PLEASANT, GIVE ORANGE STUDENT HOST

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Mark your calendars for Give Orange next year on April 7-8!

Follow the OSU Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates, or find out more at giveorange.okstate.edu.

S TO RY KAROLYN MOBERLY | P H OTO REED ALDRIDGE

ALUMNI UPDATE

Taking his seat Alumni Association welcomes new board chair

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n July 2019, Tony LoPresto became the new chair of the OSU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, but his connection to the organization and the university goes back decades.

LoPresto grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from Putnam City West High School. He says OSU was always going to be the place he called home.

“My mom, Gail, is an OSU graduate,” LoPresto said. “Even though my dad, Kirby, went to UCO, we grew up as OSU fans. I grew up going to Stillwater and Eskimo Joe’s.”

Once on campus, LoPresto got involved in Bennett Hall’s student government and participated in the hall’s Homecoming contributions. All of this led to LoPresto getting more involved with the Alumni Association, eventually serving on the Homecoming Executive Team and working part time for the organization in the summer of 2000.

“Being a Homecoming executive was definitely the highlight of the activities “I have probably 20 or 30 Pistol Pete I participated in during my time at OSU,” statues,” LoPresto said. “I also love to LoPresto said. collect Oklahoma A&M memorabilia, After receiving his accounting and orange pens.” degree in 2001, LoPresto went to work Once he moved back to Oklahoma for KPMG, LLC in Oklahoma City. He City, he became a member of the OKC joined Loves Travel Stops & Country Metro OSU Alumni Chapter before Stores, Inc. in 2007 and worked for the serving on the Alumni Association’s company until 2018, serving as Loves’ Leadership Council and ultimately the director of finance. LoPresto now serves Board of Directors. LoPresto says he is as the vice president and chief financial excited to serve the Cowboy family as officer for Griffin Communications. He chair. also received his MBA from OSU in “First and foremost, I look forward 2012. to offering programming and ways for While at Loves, LoPresto met his members to connect,” LoPresto said. wife, Lexi. The couple now has two “That is always the most important thing daughters, Harper and Anderson. to me. I want to provide an outlet for He enjoys collecting multiple items, alumni to stay involved with OSU.” including classic sneakers and OSU memorabilia.

S TO RY WILL CARR | P H OTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Tony LoPresto will serve as chair of the OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors through 2021.

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Going Polar

OSUIT graduate explores baking on ice

“There is so much more world to see.”

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— RACHEL BOYLES

STORY LINDSAY LYNCH | PHOTOS KIRA MORRIS AND RACHEL BOYLES

OSU Institute of Technology graduate Rachel Boyles has been in Antartica since February.

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t’s not every day that you hear about a local pastry chef moving to Antarctica to bake. For one OSU Institute of Technology graduate, that is exactly what has happened.

Rachel Boyles, a graduate from OSUIT’s Culinary Arts program, specialized in baked goods and pairing food with coffee at a Tulsa coffee shop when she heard about an opportunity to bake in Antarctica.

“I had a co-worker at the time tell me about ‘Baking in Antarctica,’” said Boyles. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it and started searching for ‘baker positions in Antarctica.’”

After applying, Boyles had several phone interviews with the sous chef at the South Pole and the executive chef in McMurdo, Antarctica. She had originally applied for the bakery sous chef position at the South Pole and received an alternate contract, making her second in line to head down south.

About a month later, she was offered the primary contract for the winter at McMurdo.

“The interview process can be a little intimidating because they need to make sure that you are mentally capable of staying on the continent for extended periods of time,” said Boyles. “They also have you do a very intensive physical to ensure it’s safe for you to be on the ice, due to very limited medical support as well as minimal planes in the winter seasons.”

Boyles began her eight-month civilian deployment through the Compass Group in February.

McMurdo Station, the logistics hub of the United States Antarctic Program, includes civilians, military personnel, researchers, NASA employees and firefighters. The program, founded in 1959 by the U.S. government, manages all U.S. scientific research and related logistics in Antarctica as well as on board ships in the Southern Ocean.

The weather is extremely dry in the region’s polar climate, Boyles said — and extremely cold. Temperatures have been recorded as low as minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and as high as 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

While Boyles provides all of the baked goods for the station, she said this extreme climate makes it challenging to bake.

“I have to make adjustments during baking to ensure the moisture remains,” she said. “If I am making bread doughs, I have to immediately use the dough or cover it because a tough skin can form within two minutes. Something as simple as graham cracker crust involves twice the amount of moisture just to make sure it will form a cohesive crust.”

The dry climate in Antarctica affects more than Boyles’ baking, of course.

“Your body adjusts to the cold easily. We go on hikes in negative fivedegree weather, but the air is pulling all of the moisture from you. I have to constantly stay hydrated and apply Chapstick or lotions. We all keep water next to our beds because you constantly wake up with cotton mouth in the middle of the night.”

Although the climate has been an adjustment, Boyles has enjoyed her time in Antarctica.

“My favorite part of this experience is the people and the wildlife,” she said.

“You meet some of the most interesting people down here from all over the world.

I absolutely love when someone sees a penguin. Everyone stops what they are doing to run out the door and see it.”

Boyles said her education at OSUIT helped prepare her for the experience.

“Rachel always showed creativity and originality in her classes,” said chef Grady Perryman, OSUIT Culinary Arts instructor. “She showed a willingness to learn new things and was always asking questions.”

Boyles said that at some point in most chefs’ lives, they think back to that one instructor or class during a difficult situation, and it’s no different for her: “I’m always remembering things chef Perryman taught us.”

She encourages Culinary Arts students to just keep going. “It gets hard,” she acknowledged. “No one said you have to like every single class, but it is such an amazing experience. If you truly love cooking or baking, you couldn’t choose a better place than OSUIT to be involved with.”

Boyles said she hasn’t decided where she wants to go after she leaves Antartica in October.

“Luckily, with this profession, you can go anywhere, even the bottom of the world.

There is so much more world to see.”

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STORY KAROLYN MOBERLY | PHOTOS LAUREN KNORI

President Burns Hargis and emcee Kelly Ogle welcome the audience to the Proud & Immortal Society event.

Bright Shines Your Name OSU inducts 48 new members into the Proud & Immortal Society

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n the lobby of the Student Union Theater on the second floor, there’s a wall shining brightly with the names of individuals, couples and organizations who have made a difference at Oklahoma State University.

These generous donors make up the Proud & Immortal Society, which recognizes those who have cumulatively given $1 million or more during their lifetime.

“The generosity of this admirable group serves as an example to others and inspires us all to give back just as they have,” said President Burns Hargis.

“These honorees encourage all of us to challenge ourselves and to not settle for small dreams.”

Since President Hargis joined the university in 2008, the number of qualifying couples and organizations has risen from 163 to 381. Adding the gifts from this year’s 48 new inductees brings the total cumulative giving of

the entire Proud & Immortal Society to more than $2 billion.

“The impact of these gifts has transformed this university,” said Kirk Jewell, president of the OSU Foundation.

“The importance is not the gift but what the gift does. It touches lives. It changes programs. It enhances facilities. It really touches every part of campus.”

Brad and Leah Gungoll were among the honorees recognized April 13 at the Proud & Immortal Society dinner.

The Gungolls have supported several areas at Oklahoma State, including the College of Arts and Sciences, Student Affairs and OSU-OKC, to name a few.

“We have made many lifelong friends at OSU, and our success has been greatly enhanced by our experience at OSU,” Brad Gungoll said. “We have been given so much from OSU and realize we need to support OSU for those who come after us.”

DONORS INDUCTED THIS YEAR

SOCIETY MEMBERS

IN CUMULATIVE GIVING S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 93

President Burns Hargis presented Brad and Leah Gungoll with their Proud & Immortal Society rosettes on stage.

Brad Gungoll currently serves on the OSU Foundation’s Board of Governors, and Leah Gungoll is a member of the Women for OSU Council. They are also lifetime members of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association.

The couple also established the Mary Jo Webb Scholarship in honor of Leah Gungoll’s mother, who returned to earn her bachelor’s degree in sociology as a 30-something married mother of four in the 1970s.

“It is incumbent on those that can to help those who are trying and need support,” Brad Gungoll said. “In our small way, we are pleased to help those struggling to achieve at OSU.” The Gungolls said they were honored and humbled to be included in this group dedicated to the education of students at Oklahoma State.

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“OSU has always been an important part of our lives, and we really were unaware of the threshold we made to be a member of the society,” Leah Gungoll said.

The biennial event, which featured OSU alumnus and KWTV anchor Kelly Ogle as emcee and entertainment from the OSU Theatre Department, highlighted the growth of this prestigious group and showed the commitment of donors, alumni and friends.

“The OSU experience continues to evolve and change with every class of students that arrives on campus,” Jewell said. “These gifts — in the past, present and in the future — continue to enhance that experience. We are beyond grateful for the investment this group has made and the impact they have had at Oklahoma State.”

“The OSU experience continues to evolve and change with every class of students that arrives on campus. These gifts, in the past, present and in the future, continue to enhance that experience.

We are beyond grateful for the investment this group has made and the impact they have had at Oklahoma State.”

— KIRK JEWELL, PRESIDENT, OSU FOUNDATION

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Peggy Helmerich was honored as the Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year during the 2019 Symposium.

Keynote speaker Amy Cuddy

Celebrating Presence

Women for OSU names Peggy Helmerich as Philanthropist of the Year

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or the past 11 years, Women for OSU has built a presence that inspires leadership and provides financial support to OSU. This tradition continued when more than 500 individuals came together for the Women for OSU Symposium in Gallagher-Iba Arena on April 25 to recognize 10 outstanding student scholars and the 2019 Philanthropist of the Year, Tulsa benefactress Peggy Helmerich.

The Symposium celebrated the philanthropy and contributions of the influential Women for OSU community. Over the past 11 years, the cumulative giving from the attendees has totaled more than $200 million to Oklahoma State, including $300,000 in scholarships to 71 Women for OSU student scholars.

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First Cowgirl Ann Hargis was blown away by the impact and philanthropy Women for OSU has shown since its inception. “The results of your generosity and commitment are evident all around us with growing enrollment, world-class facilities and new, dynamic programs,” she said.

The theme of presence was seen throughout the symposium, and worldrenowned social psychologist and keynote speaker Amy Cuddy solidified that feeling with her address. Cuddy’s message resonated with what Women for OSU stands for and served as worthwhile advice for attendees.

Spears School of Business adjunct professor Abbey Davis arranged for 150 of her students to attend. Davis, who teaches in the Eastin Center

for Career Readiness, incorporates Cuddy’s book, Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, in her curriculum to help students prepare for successful job interviews.

She interviewed Cuddy before the Symposium and will use the video in her classes this fall.

Part of Cuddy’s research focuses on the physical space someone takes up when they feel successful. She showed several clips of athletes with their arms raised in the air following a victory — power pose, in her words.

The crowd responded with cheers and laughter when each of this year’s 10 Women for OSU scholars struck a power pose as they crossed the stage to accept their awards.

“The results of your generosity and commitment are evident all around us with growing enrollment, world-class facilities and new dynamic programs.”

— ANN HARGIS

)

STORY KYLE STRINGER | PHOTOS LAUREN KNORI

The 2019 Women for OSU scholars included (standing, from left) Caitlin Way, Rachel Terry, Courtney Keeney, Alexis Vance, Carly Bender, Lana Duke, (seated, from left) Christine Walters, Seraiah Coe, Alison Booth and Peighton Coleman.

The group also announced next year’s keynote speaker — OSU alumna and humanitarian Dr. Tererai Trent.

Oprah Winfrey named Trent, recognized as one of the world’s most acclaimed voices for women’s empowerment and quality education, as her “favorite guest of all time.” Rooted in humble beginnings, Trent grew up in a cattle-herding family in rural Zimbabwe and was forced to marry at age 11. In 1998, the couple and their five children moved to Oklahoma so she could pursue an education at OSU. Through the help of Oklahoma State professors, she escaped her abusive marriage and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and master’s degree in plant pathology. She met her current husband while studying at Oklahoma State.

Trent is an educator, motivational speaker and an award-winning author for her book, The Awakened Woman — Remembering & Reigniting Our Sacred Dreams. Trent also serves as a United Nations Global Ambassador of Education and Peace and continues to lead the global charge in the fight for quality education for all children and for women’s rights.

Trent will speak at the 2020 Women for OSU Symposium, scheduled for April 23 at Gallagher-Iba Arena. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities for the 2020 Symposium, contact Michal Shaw at mshaw@osugiving.com or 405-385-5147. Individual tickets will be available this winter at OSUgiving.com/Women.

Dr. Tererai Trent

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2019 Philanthropist of the Year

Women for OSU Chairwoman Robyn Byford (left) congratulates Peggy Helmerich during the 2019 Women for OSU Symposium.

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Honoring the Philanthropist of the Year has become a rich tradition of the Women for OSU Symposium. This year was no exception with the recognition of Peggy Helmerich.

Years before Peggy was a household name and civic leader in Tulsa, she thrived in Hollywood, co-starring in eight movies for UniversalInternational. After three years on the big screen, Peggy (whose last name was Dow then) fell in love with Tulsa oilman Walter H. Helmerich III and retired from show business when the two married.

Together, they would lay the foundation for both Peggy’s and the Helmerich family’s philanthropic spirit and become influential leaders within their communities.

Peggy had a passion for charity work that developed in the 1970s and 80s when she began serving on the Tulsa City-County Library Commission and the Tulsa Library Trust. Peggy held leadership roles with both organizations, and her contributions to the libraries in Tulsa led to the Peggy V. Helmerich Library in south Tulsa being named in her honor. Peggy and Walt also led the way on the Helmerich Research Center in Tulsa with their family foundation's $9 million gift.

Decades of Peggy’s life have been devoted to serving her community by improving health care, education, arts, libraries and other charitable endeavors in Tulsa, at Oklahoma State University and other colleges throughout the state.

“I credit my strong foundation in family, faith and love of OSU for my passion to influence my community,” she said.

In the mid 90s, Peggy co-chaired Edmon Low Library’s fundraising campaign at OSU, resulting in several million dollars in gifts. The Helmerichs were also leaders in the campaign to renovate historic basketball and wrestling venue Gallagher-Iba Arena.

They’ve given to dozens of causes at OSU, and the two were jointly awarded OSU’s Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Service Award in 2001.

“Peggy has been especially exemplary and inspirational in positively shaping the future of our university through philanthropy and engagement with our library, along with many other academic and athletic facilities and programs on multiple OSU campuses,” said Sheila Johnson, OSU’s dean of libraries and Clerico Family Chair for Library Excellence.

“I hope Walt and I, throughout our lives, have encouraged people to get involved in causes they are passionate about. We served on boards, worked on fundraising committees, volunteered in numerous ways; the work we did, no matter the task, was important,” Helmerich said.

Peggy has continued to volunteer with numerous organizations, including the Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Garden Center and Friends of the OSU Library. She hopes her work will inspire others to connect to their communities and make a difference.

MAR K YOU R C ALE N DARS FO R TH E

2020 SY MPOSIUM! featuring keynote speaker

Dr. Tererai Trent

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED VOICE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION & WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

Oprah’s “Favorite Guest of All Time”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 99

OSU Foundation begins search for new leader Organization’s new president will continue to unite donor passions with university priorities

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he Oklahoma State University Foundation has proudly supported the university’s fundraising needs for more than half a century with a cadre of strong executives. This fall, the organization is working to find its new leader as current President Kirk Jewell has announced his 2020 retirement.

As one of the top higher-education fundraising organizations in the Big 12, the OSU Foundation started out with one development officer raising just a few thousand dollars in 1961. The momentum built and

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milestones continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including in 1976, when gifts in a single year surpassed $2 million for the first time. In 1982, T. Boone Pickens made his first $1 million gift. He later made the three largest gifts in Oklahoma State University’s history, with each totaling $100 million or more.

In June 1994, the OSU Foundation launched its first comprehensive campaign, Bringing Dreams to Life, which ended in June 2000, surpassing $260 million after an initial goal of $125 million. In December 2007, the OSU Foundation launched a subsequent campaign, Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University. More than 100,000 donors helped the campaign exceed its audacious $1 billion goal nearly 15 months ahead of schedule with a historic $1.2 billion raised in gifts and commitments in December 2015.

The organization has come a long way over the past 58 years, thanks to the Cowboy family and legacy-building Foundation presidents.

Today, the Foundation is home to nearly 200 employees who wholeheartedly believe in the organization’s mission to unite donor passions with university priorities to achieve excellence.

Thanks to the tremendous generosity of donors, the leadership of OSU President Burns Hargis and the hard work of many, including the OSU Foundation, OSU’s transformation continues.

There have been many game-changing additions to campus over the past few years, such as The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, which will open this fall. The new wing for the College of Human

STORY JENNIFER KINNARD | PHOTO BENTON RUDD

A Tradition of Strong Leadership Sciences, now the College of Education, Health and Aviation, opened in 2016, and the new building for the Spears School of Business was dedicated in 2018. The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology also opened its new, state-of-the-art ENDEAVOR lab in 2018.

All of these projects were made possible by generous donors.

The future is bright for OSU with many more exciting projects on the horizon. Construction on the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music is underway and the building is expected to open in 2021. Major capital campaigns for Aviation and the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, among others, are also underway. And this fall, the organization is launching the $375 million Brighter Orange, Brighter Future scholarship and student support fundraising campaign.

Today, the need for private funding for OSU and its students has never been more important.

A search committee, made up of OSU executives and Foundation Board of Trustees, is overseeing the hiring of a new president. Jewell’s successor will be tasked with continuing the impressive momentum created over the past 15 years.

Help the OSU Foundation continue its legacy of transformational leadership.

Interested applicants should visit OSUgiving.com/president for details.

Robert D. Erwin

Merlin London

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Charles E. Platt

Ron Area

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Malinda Berry-Fischer

Kirk Jewell 2004-Present

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S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 101

Learning to Lead

OSU-Tulsa President’s Leadership Society surpasses expectations

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hen Dr. Raj Basu first created a prestigious group to help highachieving students at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa develop leadership skills, he wasn’t certain how much participation he might find.

Basu was pleasantly surprised when the President’s Leadership Society doubled in size to nearly 80 members in its second year.

“I really didn’t know what to expect when we started, but students were enthusiastic about the offer of leadership development, community engagement and networking,” said Basu, the society’s faculty adviser. “They jumped at the chance to use those experiences and resources to better themselves.”

The organization was formed in 2017 to provide academic enrichment and special recognition for emerging student leaders. Students are invited to join the elite group based on academic achievement and leadership potential.

Members are required to attend monthly meetings and can access seminars on business etiquette, résumé building and interview skills.

Every month, student members hear from Tulsa civic and business leaders on topics ranging from developing professionalism to advancing their career. They also network with area professionals and OSU-Tulsa alumni as well as arrange one-onone mentorships with Tulsa business leaders.

“By exposing these students to the soft skills needed for success in the professional world, OSU-Tulsa is cultivating them to be leaders in the workplace and community,” Basu said.

The society continues to evolve as members pursue more community service and volunteerism opportunities and become campus ambassadors.

Founding member Rachel Millea is among the first society members to graduate from OSU-Tulsa.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in business in May, she plans to return for graduate school.

“PLS was a crucial factor in my success and growth at OSU-Tulsa,” Millea said. “The support and friendship I received enabled me to overcome obstacles during my undergraduate studies. Some of my biggest takeaways and learning experiences happened in PLS rather than the classroom.”

Members of the 2018-19 OSU-Tulsa President’s Leadership Society have made long-lasting friendships outside of group activities.

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ADVENTURE AWAITS IN 2020!

The following pages provide an overview of more than 24 travel opportunities in 2020. All OSU Alumni Association Traveling Cowboys' trips are available to alumni and friends. Book your vacation today at ORANGECONNECTION.org/travel.

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A WE -IN SPIRIN G ANT ARC TICA

Explore the far reaches of the Earth aboard the Ocean Atlantic.

Spend two days immersed in Argentinian culture with an included two-night pre-cruise program. Travel to Buenos Aires, known for its thriving arts culture, and then fly to Ushuaia to experience stunning views of snow-capped mountains on the far reaches of the Beagle Channel. Spend two days at sea and cross the famed Drake Passage. Over the next two days, discover the wildlife of the South Shetland Islands, known for their chinstrap and gentle penguins, elephant seals and unspoiled mountainous landscape.

Explore as far south as possible on the Antarctic Peninsula. Before heading back to Ushuaia, pass back through the Drake Passage to cruise past Cape Horn. Go Next

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T R E ASU RES OF PO RT UGAL O TRAG E OU S SOUT BACK &USOU THERN PAIN | Feb 1 - 1TRIP 7, 2020 F EArua TU ry RED

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T R E ASU RES OF PO RT UGAL THERN S PAIN T&RSOU OPICAL RETR EAT S | F EArua TU ry RED Feb 1 1 -TRIP 1 8, 2 0 2 0

Take in the best of Australia and New Zealand with sun-kissed golden beaches, laid-back coastal towns and energetic urban landscapes. Depart Sydney for Eden and sail to Melbourne.

Continue to Burnie to explore its many wilderness areas. Navigate one of the world’s most exquisite fjords, Milford Sound. Look for sunbathing fur seals and yellow-eyed penguins in Dunedin, and stroll Akaroa’s streets framed by colonial architecture. Discover the thriving art scene in Wellington, and view art deco architecture in Napier. Take a stroll through Gisborne to find celebrated boutique wineries, beaches for surfing and one of the largest Māori meeting houses in New Zealand. Before ending your adventure in Auckland, visit Tauranga, rich with Māori culture, or discover the geothermal wonders of Rotorua. Go Next

Join us for this incomparable nine-day journey from the Costa Rican rainforest through the mighty locks of the Panama Canal aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star Le Dumont D’Urville, featuring the world’s first luxury underwater observatory. Start in Costa Rica with one night in a deluxe hotel in San Jose, then cruise for seven nights from Puerto Caldera to Colon, Panama.

Experience the Panama Canal and explore the terrestrial wonders of Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park and Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Discover the rich marine life in Isla Cebaco’s vivid coral reefs. Tour Panama City, including its Casco Antigua (Old Quarter), a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the San Blas Islands. Gohagan

Explore the sunny shores of the Caribbean and Mexico on this seven-night voyage aboard Oceania Cruises’ Sirena. Your journey begins in Miami, where you set sail for the pastel-hued streetscapes of Key West. Visit Harry Truman’s “Little White House,” and see where writer Ernest Hemingway once shared his big-game fishing exploits. Spend a day at sea, then stop at the island paradise of Harvest Caye, just off the coast of Belize.

Continue to Roatán, where the second-largest barrier reef in the world, the Great Mayan Reef, invites you to snorkel. Before your journey ends in Miami, spend a day in Costa Maya. Take a rare opportunity to swim among dolphins, turtles and schools of vivid tropical fish, or opt to explore the area’s mysterious Mayan ruins.

Go Next

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Laid-back island life awaits you in the South Pacific on this cruise aboard the luxurious Regatta. Spend a day exploring Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, in the tropical paradise of Tahiti.

Sail to verdant Moorea, and take in the colors of this paradise.

Fakarava is home to many rare plant and animal species. Search for unique tropical birds before continuing to Nuku Hiva’s crystal blue lagoons and the world’s tallest waterfall, Cascade Vaipo.

Then sail to Rangiroa before spending two days in Bora Bora.

Before ending the cruise back in Papeete, spend time in Raiatea, a picturesque island with calm waters, emerald mountains and endless blue skies. Go Next

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TRE ASU RES OF PORTUGAL & SOU SPAIN CRU ISETHERN PROVENC E & |BURGUNDY FE ril ATU2 6REMDa yTRIP Ap 4, 2020

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Discover ancient Egypt along the Nile River. This 10-night adventure features four nights on a first-class ship, five nights in Cairo and one night in Luxor. The Great Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings and the tomb of King Tut come to life with an expert licensed Egyptologist during all excursions. Stroll the burial grounds at the Temple of Karnak, witness the fold burial mask and sarcophagus of Tutankhamen and learn how ancient treasures are restored with special access at the Oriental Institute’s Chicago House of Luxor. Witness the Great Temple of Ramses II carved out of a mountain, seek out fantastic treasures in Cairo’s old bazaar and visit venerable mosques and Coptic Christian churches. AHI

Explore the richness of Peru on this 10-night adventure. In the capital city of Lima, take in colonial architecture, study the country’s history at the Laree Museum and savor an authentic Peruvian dinner at a historic home. Travel to Cusco and the Sacred Valley to learn about Peru’s lncan heritage, then mingle with residents of an Andean mountain village. Ride a train through the Andes to wander the temples, palaces and plazas of Machu Picchu. Spend three nights aboard the deluxe Delfin Ill on a luxury cruise through the Amazon rainforest. Discover the amazing diversity on guided skiff boat rides and jungle hikes. Visit a manatee rescue center and see pink-hued river dolphins! AHI

Savor Burgundy wines, lavender-scented foothills, culinary traditions and world-renowned landmarks as you cruise the Rhone River in southern France. Unpack once and travel with ease as you enjoy seven nights on an exclusively chartered first-class ship.

Stroll through the awe-inspiring Benedictine Abbey of Cluney, founded in 910, and learn about its far-reaching influences on European culture. Visit the Palais des Papes in the medieval walled city of Avignon, and follow in the footsteps of gladiators in Arles.

Explore Beaune, the winemaking capital of the Burgundy region, and relish the illuminated landmarks of Lyon during an evening cruise on the Saone River. In several ports, choose from a selection of included excursions. AHI

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Feel the spell of Iberia’s rich Roman and Moorish past and the pull of its vibrant contemporary life on this 15-day journey through the Iberian Peninsula to the intimate lodgings of Spain’s paradores and Portugal’s pousadas. A parader, or pousada, is a luxury hotel, usually in a converted historic building such as a monastery, palace or castle.

Begin with Lisbon’s highlights, including iconic Belem Tower and the lovely National Palace of Queluz. Travel through the picturesque Alentejo region to one of Portugal’s finest pousadas in Evora, a treasure trove of Roman and Moorish heritage and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Encounter Merida’s outstanding Roman ruins. In Spain’s Andalusia region, discover Seville’s beauty and romance and its renowned cathedral and explore Cordoba, a cultural gem. Spend two nights in charming Ronda, then travel to Granada with its extraordinary Alhambra. Visit medieval Toledo before a three-night stay in monumental Madrid. Odysseys Send your graduates on the trip of a lifetime! Join us on an unforgettable voyage through England, France, Italy, Vatican City and Greece. In London, see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. See the Eiffel Tower and explore the best museums of Paris. Ride the high-speed train to the French Riviera. Discover Rome and venture across the Tiber River to Vatican City. Explore Pompeii, where volcanic ash preserved the city almost exactly as it was more than 2,000 years ago, then enjoy the Isle of Poros with its stunning beaches and aquamarine waters. End your grand tour in Athens, where the Acropolis, one of the world’s most breathtaking ancient ruins, awaits. AESU

Embark in Venice and sail to Koper to explore the Praetorian Palace. Take in the 12th-century cathedral in Kotor. Next, stroll through Dubrovnik, an ancient walled city on the Dalmatian Coast.

Relax along the coastline in Corfu before setting off for Taormina.

Then voyage to Amalfi before heading to Rome. Travel to Florence to see the masterpieces of the Renaissance before reaching Pisa and the captivating Tuscan countryside. The next port is Monte Carlo, where you’ll encounter its famous casino and the Circuit de Monaco. Journey to Saint-Tropez, the heart of the French Riviera.

Your journey will end in Barcelona, but before that, voyage to Marseille and wander through the ancient Le Panier neighborhood and the Republique quarter or explore the idyllic countryside of Provence. Go Next

Cruise the Seine in style on this seven-night river journey aboard an exclusively chartered first-class ship. In Paris, explore the Latin Quarter and take in the landmarks of the City of Light at night from your river vantage. Visit the home of Claude Monet in Giverny and wander among the lily ponds that inspired the famous impressionist. Journey along the scenic Seine to medieval Chateau Gaillard, built by Richard the Lionheart, and 15th-century Chateau de Martainville. Explore the impact of World War II at the Caen Memorial. Walk Omaha Beach and visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Explore the quaint harbor town of Honfleur.

Along the way, customize your adventure with excursions that suit your interests. AHI

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SOLD OUT

OB E RAMME RG AU PASSION PLAY & DANUB E

Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, more than 2,000 residents of the quaint hamlet of Oberammergau stage one of the world's greatest performances, the Passion Play founded on unique local history and a legacy that encompasses nearly four centuries. Join us in 2020 for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the 42nd production of the Oberammergau Passion Play, which is reenacted only every 10 years. Spend two nights in the Oberammergau region, coupled with a delightful Danube River Cruise through Hungary, Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Special tickets, unavailable to the general public, have been procured for your Passion Play experience. Gohagan This amazing trip is already sold out.

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Begin your voyage in London. Sail on Nautica to Newcastle, a cultural oasis set astride the River Tyne. Next, arrive in Edinburgh, the hilly capital of Scotland. Marvel at the 12th-century Edinburgh Castle that looms over the city atop Castle Rock and is home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. Travel to Invergordon and explore the Scottish Highlands. In Lerwick, stroll through picturesque moors and flower-filled meadows. Travel to the Orkney Islands and take in the St. Magnus Cathedral and the nearby 17th-century Earl’s Palace. Visit Stornoway, an epicenter of Gaelic culture and history. Then discover Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Before ending your trip in Dublin, enjoy Fishguard in Wales. Go Next

Set out on a summertime expedition through some of nature’s more secluded landscapes aboard the Admiralty Dream. Enjoy the agility and flexibility of small-ship travel, up-close encounters with wildlife, stunning scenery, cultural experiences and the guidance of two expert naturalists. Capture the sight of whales breaching next to your boat, bears fishing along the shoreline and eagles looking down from their nests. Explore this vast and stunningly beautiful wilderness—home to Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Ride the Alaska Railroad, stay in a hilltop lodge with panoramic views located inside the park, and learn how this magnificent area became one of our nation’s most breathtaking conservation areas. Orbridge

Arrive in Amsterdam and board the luxurious Scenic Jasper.

Spend a day cruising Amsterdam’s canals or discover nearby Volendam before heading to Edam. In Cologne, enjoy a scenic ride on the oldest cog railway of Germany and discover the Schloss Drachenburg castle. The next port, Koblenz, is a historic city that straddles two of Europe’s most beautiful rivers. You can explore the town on a guided tour, which includes a visit to Reichsburg Cochem Castle, or you can visit a local vineyard. Next, stop in Rudesheim for a guided tour of Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet. Enjoy a historic tour of Heidelberg Castle. Your journey will end in Basel, but first, visit Strasbourg or journey to Mittelbergheim in Alsace. Go Next

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Join this well-paced sojourn through Canada’s glorious Rocky Mountains highlighted by two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train in Goldleaf Service — with visits to the stunning areas of Banff and Lake Louise. En route, embrace the dynamic changes in scenery as you wind through lush green ranchlands and flowing river canyons surrounded by mountain peaks. On board Rocky Mountaineer’s all-dome fleet, travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain to unlock the unparalleled beauty of British Columbia, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies. Each day offers exciting sightseeing opportunities, and evenings are highlighted by relaxing stays at thoughtfully selected hotels. Enjoy a guided tour through Yoho National Park, and explore the small hamlets as well as Banff National Park. Orbridge

Arrive in Portland, and make your way to Vancouver to board the elegant American Empress. Next, discover Astoria, the oldest city west of the Rockies. Travel to Stevenson, nestled in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Next, sail to The Dalles, between Mount Hood and Mount Adams, once known as the end of the Oregon Trail. Spend two days in Richland, part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area known for its outdoor recreation and natural attractions. Visit Sacajawea State Park, where Lewis and Clark and their Shoshone guide camped in 1805. End your trip in Clarkston, situated in the beautiful Lewis-Clark Valley and touted as the gateway to Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge. Go Next

Discover Scotland’s beauty and heritage on this small-group adventure. Settle in for seven nights in historic Stirling. Walk in the footsteps of Scottish royalty at Stirling Castle and Scone Palace. Cruise on Loch Lomond and admire lake and mountain views in The Trossachs. See Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Old and New Towns, stroll along the famed Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle. Then delight in the glorious Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, performed before the floodlit castle. Feel North Sea breezes from the ruins of St. Andrews Castle, perched on the coast, then see golf’s historic home, St. Andrews Old Course.

Along the way, tour the Glenturret distillery for a “wee dram” of Scottish whisky and examine Scotland’s history with expert guides. AHI

Embark on your luxury cruise aboard the M/V Victory II in Chicago.

Next, stop in Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the West Side Market. Journey to Niagara Falls and witness the thunderous power of the famous Horseshoe Falls. In Toronto, visit some of the world’s finest restaurants and clubs before traveling to Kingston to see its historic waterfront. Then, sail through the Thousand Islands, an archipelago of over 1,800 islands rising up from the St. Lawrence River that mark the border between the United States and Canada, before your trip concludes in Montreal.

Go Next

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PORTRA IT OF IT ALY

From the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to Rome, through the gentle Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to treasured Venice, this wideranging 16-day tour showcases ancient sites, contemporary life, priceless art and unique accommodations. Head to the storied Amalfi Coast and visit Pompeii’s exquisite ruins. Continuing on to the Eternal City for a three-night stay, tour the Colosseum, the Forum, St. Peter’s Square and the Sistine Chapel. Spend three nights in Umbria, enjoying a cooking demonstration in Orvieto and a visit to Assisi. Journey to alluring Tuscany and tour splendid Siena. Discover Florence and encounter classic Tuscany in the hill town of San Gimignano. Sample a local winery’s offerings before concluding in wondrous Venice. Odysseys

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From the high alpine splendor of St. Moritz, Switzerland, to the Italian Lakes tucked into Italy’s Lombardy region, fall in love with two countries on this eight-night journey. Spend four nights in St. Moritz, a mountain resort town, and journey by train to the Swiss town of Zuoz. Board the Bernina Express and gaze at dramatic vistas as you ride from snowy peaks to temperate Tirana. Pass little Swiss villages on a drive to Tremezzo, sitting on the shores of Lake Como. Cruise to the quaint villages of Bellagio and Como and see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Milan. Stroll through palace gardens in the Borromean Islands, and learn cooking secrets at a family-owned restaurant. AHI

Encounter the history of the eastern Mediterranean aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina. Begin in Barcelona and sail to Monte Carlo and take in the glamorous Monte Carlo Casino and the Circuit de Monaco. In Rome, experience the ancient Roman Forum, the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Explore Sorrento, stroll the seaside promenades and cobblestone streets or travel to see the legendary ruins of Pompeii. Next, stop in Santorini and see its breathtaking rock formations climbing from the volcanic floor. Discover the ruins of Ephesus near Kusadasi, home to the Temple of Artemis. Before concluding your trip in Athens, sail to Mitilini. Go Next

Sail to some of the most cultured cities on the western Mediterranean aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina. Your journey begins in Rome. Next, cruise to Florence and take in some of the masterpieces of the Renaissance. Nearby, discover Pisa’s iconic Leaning Tower or the rural Tuscan countryside. In Ajaccio, visit the childhood home of Napoleon Bonaparte before sailing to Palma to discover the Arab Baths or stroll the four-mile-long beach. Valencia is Spain’s third largest city. Tour the incredible Real Colegio Seminario del Corpus Christi or try a glass of agua de Valencia. Experience Barcelona, the sun-kissed capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. Your voyage will conclude In Monte Carlo, but first stop In Marseille and wander the ancient La Panier neighborhood. Go Next

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18PERB10010 CW 2018/04

GAME DAY

Don’t miss the biggest tailgate on campus!

• All-you-can-eat buffet • Iron Monk beer and wine • Indoor and outdoor • Games, music and TVs

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Game Day Parking NEW LOCATION! Season parking starts as low as $300!

Just across the street from the Alumni Center is reserved parking in the Student Union Parking Garage.

Spaces are first-come, first-served.

STARTS HERE

Cowboys

ON THE ROAD

FREE, family-friendly pep rally 2.5 hours before every home game!

PLUS! Pictures with Bullet just outside the Alumni Center.

Watch

PARTIES Join Cowboys and Cowgirls across the U.S. at a watch party near you to cheer on the Cowboys!

Details will be posted on the website listed below.

y Frida the with

y

Famil

When the Cowboys are on the road, so are we!

Kick off your road game experience with Cowboy family events the night before away games at exciting local venues.

Plus, find us on game day for a pregame pep rally !

Be sure to check the website listed below for updates.

ORANGECONNECTION.org/athletics

CHAPTER NEWS

Cowboys Making a Difference OSU alumni and friends across the country participate in volunteer projects

T

he OSU Alumni Association celebrated the seventh year of the Cowboys for a Cause service program with the most successful events to date.

Started in 2013, Cowboys for a Cause gives OSU alumni and friends across the nation the opportunity to participate in service projects with other members of the Cowboy family.

These events usually take place during National Volunteer Month in April.

Over the years, there have been an average of 10 events per year, benefiting communities in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, California, Colorado and beyond.

In 2019, 17 chapters participated in a Cowboys for a Cause event with more than 100 total volunteers.

PITTSBURG COUNTY Multiple generations of Pittsburg County (Oklahoma) Cowgirls volunteered at Shared Blessings to pack nutritional snacks for children.

KAY COUNTY Cowgirls from Kay County spent a morning helping serve food at the Friendship Feast in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

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STORY WILL CARR | PHOTOS OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

LOS ANGELES Cowboys and Cowgirls from the Los Angeles Chapter gathered to clean up a section of Will Rogers State Beach.

WICHITA Partnering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Wichita (Kansas) Chapter helped make a difference at a Muscle Walk.

KANSAS CITY Members of the Kansas City Chapter were all smiles as they volunteered at Harvesters regional food bank.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 115

CHAPTER NEWS

Going Global OSU International Alumni Weekend draws 70 to Mexico

M

ore than 70 Oklahoma State University alumni, partners and friends participated in the first International Alumni Weekend, hosted by the OSU School of Global Studies and Partnerships (SGSP) and the OSU Alumni Association May 18-19 in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.

The weekend kicked off with photos at the famous Parish Church of San Miguel Arcangel with Pistol Pete followed by a cocktail hour in the garden of the Hotel Casa Blanca 7.

Guests partook in a traditional Mexican callejoneada, a celebratory street parade, through downtown Saturday evening. The Board of Tourism for San Miguel de Allende sponsored the parade and provided the mojigangas, or mascots, mariachi band and a donkey.

OSU was well represented with several of the administration, faculty and staff who made the trip, including: Dr. Thomas Coon, vice president of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Dr. Jeanette Mendez, then-interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences; Dr. Randy Kluver, dean of the SGSP; Dr. Jeff Simpson, director of the Study Abroad and National Student Exchange Office; Rodrigo Tello, manager of SGSP international programs; Sarah Bildstein, SGSP communications specialist; Blaire Atkinson, president of the OSU Alumni Association; Pam Davis, vice president of the OSU Alumni Association; and Steven Vekony as Pistol Pete.

Guests were treated to brunch Sunday morning on the rooftop patio of the Hotel Casa Blanca 7 along with

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Pistol Pete got in on the fun in front of the San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church.

a short program with administration and alumni. Coon provided an update on OSU initiatives and campus construction. Atkinson moderated a panel with Kluver, Coon and Mendez, who provided a more in-depth look at their colleges. Additionally, four alumni participated in a panel, moderated by Tello, to share the impact OSU has had on their lives.

Following brunch, a group of about 10 alumni established a Mexico alumni chapter with Davis and Tello. The

chapter has planned to have a few events in various cities around Mexico this fall.

“OSU alumni have a truly global reach, and it’s important now more than ever to keep them connected with what’s happening at their alma mater,” Atkinson said. “Together with our on-campus partners, we are excited about the opportunities to engage alumni around the globe and continue to foster their connection to the Cowboy family.”

OSU has a rich history of engagement with Mexico. The university boasts 43 partnerships with Mexican institutions. One of OSU’s most prominent relationships is with the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP). Through this partnership, several dual-degree programs have been established, which allow students from both universities to earn two master’s degrees in two years and requires them to study for one year at OSU and one year at UPAEP. For alumna Ana Mendez Torres de la Vega, the dual-degree MBA program between the Spears School of Business and UPAEP prepared her well for her career as a leader in Walmart Mexico.

“The program changed my life,” Mendez said during the alumni panel.

“There are very few people who have a master’s degree, let alone a master’s degree abroad, which is probably one of the top reasons I had a chance to move into a managerial position so quickly in my career. Through the program, I matured and gained a greater perspective on how the world works.”

Students from Mexico are consistently one of the Top 10 international student populations on the Stillwater campus each semester, with about 450 studying at OSU in the past

STORY SARAH BILDSTEIN | PHOTOS OSU SCHOOL OF GLOBAL STUDIES AND PARTNERSHIPS

CHAPTER NEWS

The International Alumni Weekend attendees filled the streets with orange during a traditional calejoneada, or street parade.

Cowboys and Cowgirls pose with their mojigangas in the streets of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

decade. Furthermore, almost 200 OSU students have studied abroad in Mexico since 2015.

Through strategic partnerships, stakeholders and alumni, SGSP’s Kluver hopes to expand opportunities for OSU

students to study abroad in Mexico. He’d like to meet a goal that at least 1 percent of OSU students, or about 250, travel to the country each year.

“Mexico is our nearest neighbor and an important strategic partner to

the U.S.,” Kluver said. “Our economies, governments and environmental issues are all linked. We want to encourage more OSU students to take advantage of the incredible opportunity to learn about a key culture.”

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CHAPTER NEWS

CHAPTER LEADER TRAINING

Chapter leaders from many of the Oklahoma chapters and neighboring states gathered in Stillwater for training in June. Connect with a chapter near you at ORANGECONNECTION.org/chapters.

Cowboys and Cowgirls packed Cain’s Ballroom to catch Pat Green and Allie Colleen at this year’s Orange Peel Tulsa.

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PHOTOS OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER NEWS

Former Cowboy Football player Alton Weaver and his wife, Eleanor, take a moment at Houston Brighter Orange to pose with everyone’s favorite mascot, Pistol Pete.

The North Texas Chapter celebrated another successful Brighter Orange of North Texas event at the Dallas Country Club. The event featured a beautiful silent auction full of OSU memorabilia and more.

Orange Peel OKC moved to a new home this year as William Clark Green, Mike and the Moonpies, and Kaitlin Butts took the stage at the historic Tower Theatre.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 119

CHAPTER LEADER PROFILE

Anne Glasco, Houston Chapter Tulsa native Anne Glasco always had her sights set on Oklahoma State.

“When I went to go look at OSU, I fell in love with the campus,” she said.

As a student, Glasco was involved in the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Freshman Follies, Spring Sing and Homecoming. As an accounting major, she was also involved with Spears School of Business.

Glasco met her husband while at OSU, and shortly after graduation, they moved to Texas to start their careers.

While reflecting on her time at OSU, Glasco said one of her favorite memories was Homecoming her senior year. “It was one of those things, Glasco said. “That could be the last Homecoming you see for a little while.”

Now the Houston OSU Alumni Chapter president, Glasco still stays involved with the university, but in a different way.

The chapter’s Brighter Orange Gala is an annual event for OSU alumni in the Houston area to get together for

some fun while also raising money for a scholarship fund for OSU students in the Houston area.

It was at one of these events Glasco heard the Houston Chapter was looking for some new faces on the board.

“I thought that was a perfect opportunity to get re-engaged with the university,” Glasco said.

As the chapter leader, Glasco has the goal of getting more Houstonarea alumni active and engaged with the university. Glasco is also trying to connect the chapter with high school students who are interested to going to OSU. The Houston Chapter does several events throughout the year including watch parties, a charity golf tournament and a Cowboys for a Cause service project. The chapter also hosts a senior sendoff at the end of the summer for students in the Houston area who will be attending OSU in the fall.

“I enjoy being a part of the Alumni Association, meeting with the people we have on our board and coming up with great and crazy, new ideas to find and engage the alumni down here in Houston,” Glasco said. “Just being around other Oklahoma State people and that beautiful orange.”

HOUSTON CHAPTER

BY THE NUMBERS 7,539 alumni and friends 1,024 members 483 current OSU students from Houston 447 miles from Stillwater

Anne Glasco (left) and Patsy Russo pose with Pistol Pete at Football 101 in Stillwater.

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STORY LUCY HODGES | PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE GLASCO

ALUMNI UPDATE

’50s Richard Howl, ’52 business, and wife Marie Howl, ’51 home life, are moving to Edmond, Oklahoma, to be closer to family.

Bill Jackson, ’55 physiology, is proud to have a family who bleeds orange! Six family members have attended OSU, and one of them is still pursuing her degree. Jackson is now retired and living in Clinton, Oklahoma.

Stanley Patton, ’56 agronomy, was on a U.S. Air Force bomber crew from 1956-1960. He will celebrate his 62nd wedding anniversary with wife Arlene in July.

Dr. Charles O. Heller, ’59 bachelor’s and ’60 master’s in civil engineering, is writing his fourth memoir, Cowboy from Prague.

’60s Haydon Grubbs, ’60 mechanical and aerospace engineering, is retired and living in the Sunshine State. Grubbs retired as an aerospace engineer. At Bendix Aerospace Systems Division, he was responsible for designing experiments on the moon and training Apollo astronauts to deploy them.

Roy Peterson, ’60 secondary education, and wife Pat Peterson, ’59 business, recently attended the 60-year reunion of Roy’s OSU baseball team.

Peterson and his teammates received rings that referenced their NCAA championship win from 1959.

James (Jim) Carmichael, ’61 industrial engineering and management, and wife Pat have resided in Las Cruces, New Mexico, since 2011. He enjoys playing golf and working part time. He visited Stillwater for a football game in September

2018. With four grandchildren graduated from, attending or planning to attend Kansas State University, Carmichael jokes that he somehow missed on his recruiting.

Claude Arthur Ricketts, ’61 human resource management, and wife Kay are sponsoring a perpetual scholarship to the Spears School of Business. The first scholarship was awarded for the 2018-19 school year. The Ricketts have 10 grandchildren, with three currently enrolled at OSU. His three children are also OSU graduates. Go Pokes!

Ruth Ann Ball, ’61 HEECS, retired from the University of Central Oklahoma after 10 years in the Department of Human Environmental Sciences.

Patrick Wyers, ’62 mechanical engineering, has been blessed with five grandchildren who have all graduated from excellent colleges. His oldest grandson and his wife have added two great-granddaughters to the family. His youngest grandson recently received his medical degree and will intern in emergency medicine at the University of Arizona Medical School. Wyers has established four scholarships at OSU, one at UTA and one in the Chickasaw Foundation.

Janice (Jan) Smith, ’64 veterinary medicine, enjoyed traveling on a Caribbean island cruise with friends from Indianapolis in the spring. She also visited the Rio Grande Valley to watch her brother, Terry Smith, perform. Smith also went to Stillwater for her 54th DVM class reunion, and to Nashville for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Lonny Morrison, ’65 master’s in business administration, is a Wichita Falls attorney who was selected as one of the five 2019 recipients of the Texas Bar Foundation’s

Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer Award. Morrison is a lawyer, rancher, oil and gas investor and entrepreneur.

Larry Renne, ’68 technical education, turned 74 in March.

Renne is grateful for the years he was able to spend at his alma mater, calling them very important and valuable to his 34-year career with Ford Motor Co. He and wife Gretchen say they are blessed for the opportunities Oklahoma State gave them and the life-building support through each season of their lives.

Loela (Lou) Glossip, ’69 music education, retired from Tinker Air Force Base in 2008 after 34 years.

Glossip has been much busier since retirement and has taken on several jobs as well as gotten involved in her church.

She enjoys traveling and doing genealogical research.

’70s E. William Gray Jr., ’72 bachelor’s and ’73 master’s in accounting, was inducted into the Wilton T. Anderson Hall of Fame for his hard work and dedication to the School of Accounting at Oklahoma State.

He is retired from his position as chief financial officer of a construction firm.

David Branson, ’74 accounting, is enjoying retirement by golfing, fishing and working with wife Terri on her online publishing company.

Franklin Champlin, ’75 bachelor’s and ’81 doctorate in microbiology, is a professor of medical microbiology and adjunct professor of forensic microbiology at the OSU Center for Health Sciences.

William Barnes, ’76 accounting, is a retired energy industry financial executive. He was recently honored by OSU’s

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ALUMNI UPDATE

School of Accounting as an outstanding alumnus and was inducted into the Wilton T. Anderson Hall of Fame.

Curtis Goulding, ’77 agricultural economics, and wife Nancy Goulding, ’77 SEC ADM, own a business that focuses on leadership training and development as well as an agricultural investment company. They enjoy visiting their sons in New York and Kansas City.

Jeffery Jensen, ’77 finance, was awarded the 2019 Claremore (Oklahoma) Progressive Citizen Award on April 25, at the Will Rogers Memorial. This award is presented annually for outstanding professional and philanthropic service to the Claremore community.

Christopher McCann, ’78 biological sciences, is building a new home in Stillwater and will be moving during the fall. He is looking forward to attending more sporting events.

Phillip A. Nokes, ’78 doctor in osteopathic medicine, has semi-retired after serving as the medical director for the Michelin Family Health Center in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Kristin Hinrichs, ’79 special education, retired from West Virginia’s Tyler County Schools in July 2017 and went to work for the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District that October.

Hinrichs’ two sons each added a baby boy to the family in 2018.

’80s Ruben Haye Jr., ’80 master’s in civil engineering, had a granddaughter graduate in May from Hannibal (Missouri) High School as a member of the National Honor Society, STEM National Honor Society and an all-conference softball player. She will play softball at Hannibal-LaGrange University and plans to become a registered nurse.

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Kevin Talley, ’80 geology, is a retired geologist who climbs mountains all over the world to raise money for a water well repair organization in Africa called Child Legacy International. Talley connected the OSU Center for Health Sciences with the organization.

OSU-CHS students will go to Malawi, Africa, training.

Billy Keith Wall, ’82 trade and industrial education, is enjoying retirement after 35 years as a federal employee and another nine years as a defense contractor at Tinker Air Force Base. He enjoys OSU football.

Craig Boelte, ’85 business administration, ’86 master’s in accounting, was inducted into the Wilton T. Anderson Hall of Fame on April 18 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center by OSU’s School of Accounting. He is Paycom’s chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer.

Brent Wright, ’89 business administration, was promoted to brigadier general on May 1. Wright’s last assignment was as vice wing commander of the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa.

He is the assistant adjutant general for the Oklahoma Air National Guard and principal adviser to the adjutant general for all Oklahoma Air National Guard matters. Wright is also responsible for the combat readiness and operational effectiveness of all Oklahoma Air National Guard units.

’90s Michael Wagner, ’93 journalism and broadcasting, served two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Oklahoma in 1997 with a regional nonprofit to help connect older adults with email and the Internet as well as expand services. Wagner helped develop the first alumni

database and program for the VISTA 35th anniversary in Washington D.C. in 2000.

Since then, he has worked for four Feeding America food banks, managing databases, operations and volunteers for a decade. Now Wagner is completing elective courses in computer science to gain access to a new career in information technology.

James P. Boggs, ’96 management, was recently appointed by the city of Edmond to serve on the metro’s new Regional Transit Authority Board. He will work alongside former Gov. Brad Henry. Boggs’ wife Dayna is also an OSU alumna. Their oldest daughter, Lora, is a current member of the Cowgirl tennis team.

’00s Ryne Miller, ’04 economics, has been promoted to partner in the New York office law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. The Rev. Brian Coulter, ’05 sociology, was the featured preacher on Day 1 with host Peter Wallace on June 9, the Day of Pentecost. Coulter is the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Aiken, South Carolina. He also writes for numerous publications, has written curricula for the Thoughtful Christian and is the author of Be Holy published by Chalice Press.

Shawnna LathamFeddersen, ’05 journalism and broadcasting, is CEO of Gameday Couture, a Tulsabased company, and was a finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 award in the Southwest region.

Drew Walker, ’07 aviation services, and daughter Kenley Jane Walker celebrated OSU baseball winning the NCAA OKC regional.

’10s

Weddings

Breanna Fuller, ’14 animal science, has been named event coordinator for Hollywood Feed stores across its 14-state footprint. She most recently served as a buyer for the holistic pet food and product retailer. In her new role, Fuller oversees all aspects of planning and event management, including events with community partners. A Dallas native, Fuller joined Hollywood Feed in 2015.

Jarrett Hardwick, ’15 sports media, has been promoted to director of athletic communications at Oral Roberts University. He will remain the media contact for the women’s basketball program. Prior to joining ORU in August 2016, Hardwick was director of communications at Will Rogers Methodist Church in Tulsa. He previously served as a student assistant with the athletic media relations department at OSU. Gage Calhoon, ’18 finance, was selected by the North-American Interfraternity Conference as an Undergraduate Award of Distinction winner based on his collegiate contributions to OSU, Epsilon Epsilon and outstanding record of campus and community service. Calhoon is one of 12 recipients from across the country this year.

Isabella Martinez, ’19 management, completed her internship with OSU human resources, graduated and moved to Oklahoma City to start a new job at CACI International Inc.

Kristen Lehmann, ’13 multimedia journalism, married Niklas Lehmann on Oct. 13, 2018, in front of family and close friends at the Tulsa Garden Center. The couple now reside in Cologne, Germany, and cheer on the Cowboys every chance they get.

Christopher Haverkamp, ’15 architecture, married Caitlin Vaka on April 6, 2019, at the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, Florida, surrounded by family, friends and fellow OSU alumni. They now live in Washington, D.C. Grayson Morrison, ’16 business management, and Skylar Vogle Morrison, ’16 hotel and restaurant administration, tied the knot on Nov. 11, 2018, in Anna, Texas.

Lehmann

Morrison

Haverkamp

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ALUMNI UPDATE

Births Bill Manera, ’66 business finance, and wife Deborah Anderson welcomed granddaughter Josephine Ruth Anderson on May 3, 2019.

Josephine joins her older sisters Catherine Grace and Lucy Rose.

Brad Russell, ’83 animal science, welcomed a new granddaughter to the family, Dawsyn Vernoty.

Matt Jeffery, ’03 economics, and wife Sara Brown, ’05 marketing, welcomed their son, Nolan Moses Jeffery, to the world on April 8, 2019.

John Brewer, ’09 agribusiness, and wife Addison Brewer, ’11 nutritional sciences, welcomed their son, Porter Howard Brewer, to the world on May 6, 2019.

Hayley Creecy, ’10 international business and Spanish, and her husband, Chris, welcomed their first child, Harper Jane Creecy, on Feb. 22, 2019. Weighing 6 pounds,14 ounces, and measuring 19 inches, Harper already has her smitten parents wrapped around her little finger.

Brewer

Cody Cramer, ’11 agribusiness, ’13 master’s in agricultural communications, and wife Anna (Smith) Cramer, ’13 marketing and design, housing and merchandising, welcomed their daughter, Campbell Race Cramer, on April 13, 2019.

Amber Lyn McCabe, ’13 graphic design, and husband William Thomas McCabe III, ’14 mechanical engineering, welcomed their little bundle, Eve Rose McCabe, on Christmas Eve 2018. She decided to make her appearance two weeks before she was expected. Her first road trip was to Stillwater. Go Pokes!

Creecy

Tabitha Midgley, ’19 human resource management, and husband Joshua Midgley, ’17 strategic mass communications, welcomed their second future Cowboy, Solomon James Midgley, on Dec. 19, 2018.

Baby Solomon was welcomed by big brother Ezekiel.

Cramer

Jeffery

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McCabe

Midgley

Jarod Armstrong, ’12 sociology, and Beth Armstrong, ’12 strategic communications, completed their little family with the arrival of their baby girl, Eleanor Elizabeth. She was born on July 10, 2018, and she sure does look good in orange!

Kolby Schmidt, ’13 agricultural education, and Emily Schmidt, ’13 animal science, held their precious baby boy, August James Schmidt, for the first time on Dec. 16, 2018.

Emily Ann Collier, ’14 marketing and management, and David Collier, ’14 sociology, met their freshman year at OSU. They started dating shortly after and tied the knot in 2013. They welcomed their little Cowgirl, Lilly Collier, in November. Baby Lilly was welcomed by big brother Luke. The parents have done so many OSU activities with Luke and can’t wait to introduce Lilly to America’s Brightest Orange.

Kyle Grant, ’15 electrical engineering, and wife, Melanie Grant, welcomed baby Hunter just in time for Cowboy football. He enjoyed watching the games every Saturday with his family and friends and can’t wait to say “Go Pokes!”

Mariah McGillivray Fleetwood, ’17 human development and family science, met her husband, Jared Fleetwood, ’21 emergency management, in 2011. Big sister Briar, who is 5 years old, welcomed the couple’s littlest one, Bren, on Sept. 4, 2018. The Fleetwoods will encourage their two daughters to attend OSU and continue the orange tradition.

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In Memory ’40s Arno Zane Palmer, ’47 animal husbandry, died on May 22, 2019, joining his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Crow Palmer.

He was 97. He was born Feb. 14, 1922, in Ada, Oklahoma.

Dr. Palmer served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and married in 1945.

He earned his bachelor’s at OSU and his doctorate at the University of Missouri.

Dr. Palmer worked for Swift & Co. before accepting a position at the University of Florida in 1955 as a professor in animal science. While there, he received many honors and awards, including the Signal Service award/Field of Meats/University of Florida, the American Society of Animal Science Award in Meats Research and served as the superintendent of the Southeast Meat Judging Committee.

Following his retirement from the University of Florida, he continued consulting with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Belize and some private firms.

Dr. Palmer was most admired for his influence as the family patriarch and community and church leader. His legacy is only surpassed by his unlimited love for his family, the Lord and an occasional fishing trip.

’50s Maxie (Max) Earl Warr Jr. died May 26, 2019, at AVOW Hospice in Naples, Florida. He was 88 and a 1958 graduate of Oklahoma State University.

He was the youngest son of Maxie Earl Warr Sr. and Annie Laurie Hill, born March 2, 1931, in Ada, Oklahoma, and a 1950 graduate of Classen High School in Oklahoma City. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Mr. Warr worked most of his adult life in the oil business, primarily for Conoco/ Phillips, where he retired after 30-plus years of service. He enjoyed playing football as a youth as well as reading, writing and photography. His ultimate lifelong passion was fly fishing, which took him around the world. His friends knew him as a kind, generous “straight shooter” who was a true gentlemen and great sportsman.

Mr. Warr was married to Doris June Harmon for 45 years before her death.

He is survived by his daughter Erla, son Stan, three grandsons and twin great-granddaughters.

Charles (Wendell) Gates, ’59 mechanical engineering, died Dec. 20, 2018, at the age of 85. He was born April 8, 1933, in Bethel, Oklahoma, to William Leroy Gates and Bessie Wilson Gates. He married Francine Buchanan on July 23, 1954, in Tulsa, and they were married for 64 years. Mr. Gates designed and managed gas transportation system until he retired as an officer of the Williams Cos. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and traveling. As an avid fan of all OSU sports, he held season tickets to OSU football for 45 years, both men’s and women’s basketball, and for a short time baseball and softball.

’60s Roger F. Barnett, ’63 agriculture, died March 22, 2019, at OU Medical Center from complications of multiple myeloma.

He was born Nov. 7, 1941, in Frederick, Oklahoma, to Frank and Florence (Goodknight) Barnett.

Willard Wolf, ’63 animal science, died March 13, 2019, at the age of 78 with his wife and daughter by his side, after a valiant battle with cancer.

He was born July 26, 1940, in Meers, Oklahoma, to Kenneth and Helen Wolf. He and his brother, Gordon, were raised on the family’s commercial Hereford cattle ranch, adjacent to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Mr. Wolf graduated from Elgin High School in 1958 as an honors student and earned an FFA Junior Master Farmer’s Degree. While in high school, he showed the grand champion steer at the 1957 Tulsa State Fair. While at OSU, Mr. Wolf was an active member of several livestock related teams and clubs. He also started buying and selling feeder and fat cattle at the Oklahoma City Stockyards during college.

In 1963, he was hired by the Livestock Market News. In 1965, Mr. Wolf was transferred to Washington, D.C. and later accepted a position with the Foreign Agricultural Service. In 1968, he moved to Spokane, Washington, and began working as the Northwest field representative for the American Hereford Association — a position he held for 33 years. The “Willard Wolf

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Award” is given each December at the annual Western Nugget Show and Sale in Reno, Nevada, to an outstanding Junior Hereford Member.

Mr. Wolf enjoyed calf roping and always looked forward to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

He was accomplished in the art of water witching and successfully witched hundreds of wells across the Pacific Northwest.

Mr. Wolf was first and foremost a cattleman who worked on behalf of the entire beef industry. He was inducted into the American Hereford Association Hall of Merit in 2005 and the National Livestock Marketers Hall of Fame in 2007.

Even though he officially retired from the American Hereford Association in 2001, he stayed active in purchasing cattle for the Certified Hereford Beef Program and Crossroads Cattle Co. up until a few days before his passing.

’80s Douglas Lee McMurtrey, ’87 agronomy, was born into a Cowboy family, and he happily followed their footsteps. He was born on August 27, 1965, in Cherokee, Oklahoma, to parents Ronal (’58 ag econ) and Marguerite McMurtrey (’59 business ed) and maternal grandparents Glen (’35 ag dairy mfg) and Adeline (LeCrone) Gower (’34 home ec). He died March 19, 2019, in Oklahoma City, after complications from flu and pneumonia. He was 53.

He began his college education at Oklahoma State University the same year his sister Rhonda graduated — 1983. He married Dawn Burlie (’89 bachelor’s and ’92 master’s family relations and childhood development) on Sept. 3, 1994, in Wakita, Oklahoma. The couple made their home on their farm west of Cherokee.

Being the fourth generation to farm the land his great-grandfather Harry homesteaded in the Land Run of 1893 brought great joy to Mr. McMurtrey. He farmed and ranched with his dad and granddad Wentz McMurtrey throughout high school and after college and for the past 10

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years with his nephew Curtis. Pioneers of no-till farming, they grew wheat, alfalfa, sesame, soybeans, milo and canola as well as cover crops to improve the soil.

The McMurtreys also operated a cow/calf herd of commercial and Angus cattle.

The couple enjoyed going back to Stillwater for many OSU football and basketball games, cheering for the Cowboys. Mr. McMurtrey was a cooperating partner with OSU scientists and OSU Cooperative Extension specialists and educators, helping make official OSU agronomic recommendations for the area. He was a county leader in the adoption of no-till practices in Alfalfa County.

Mr. McMurtrey served in several capacities within the First Baptist Church of Cherokee. He was a member and past president of the board of directors of Alfalfa Electric Cooperative and past member of the board of directors of Alfalfa County Soil Conservation District and Alfalfa County Fair Board. He was named a 2012 Master Agronomist by OSU’s Division of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources.

Surviving him are his wife, Dawn McMurtrey; parents, Ronal and Marguerite McMurtrey; sisters, Rhonda McMurtrey and Brenda McMahan; niece, Megan Rice; nephew, Curtis McMahan; and three great-nieces.

Faculty Dr. Richard Ortez, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Oklahoma State University, died May 21, 2019, in Oklahoma City. He was 78.

He was born in Hammond, Indiana, on June 13, 1940, to Jesse and Wilma Ortez.

He married Mary Nunez on Oct. 26, 1963; she died Aug. 2, 2001.

He earned his degrees at Creighton University: a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry, a master’s in biology and a doctorate in microbiology.

He also attended the University of Maryland, Sophia University in Tokyo and St. John Vianney Seminary.

Dr. Ortez served in the U.S. Air Force and belonged to the Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri. Besides being a professor at OSU, he was also well known in the community for his weekly articles in the Stillwater News Press.

He was survived by sons Dennis and Victor Ortez; daughters Lupe Lamkins and Dana Kurena; brother Arlis Peach; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

’10s Joseph (Joe) Huser, ’12 mechanical engineering technology, proud Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow, died May 25, 2019.

He was born on Dec. 5, 1988, in Tulsa, and attended Broken Arrow schools. After graduating from OSU, Mr. Huser went to work for Allied Motion in Tulsa as a CAD design engineer and had recently accepted a position as a quality engineer with the company. He enjoyed playing many sports and was a serious gamer. He established his home in Broken Arrow and became president of his neighborhood’s homeowners’ association.

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More Than Cheese Fries OSU’s partnership with Eskimo Joe’s proves successful for both

M

ost college towns have an iconic local restaurant that’s unofficially part of the university experience. But Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater is unique, and so is its relationship with Oklahoma State University.

In 2011, OSU formalized a special partnership with Eskimo Joe’s to produce a co-branded anniversary t-shirt to celebrate both Eskimo Joe’s birthday and the upcoming football season. The partnership has produced nine shirts to date — the latest was officially unveiled July 17 — and a growing tradition.

Kyle Wray, vice president of enrollment and brand management, explained how the joint venture with Eskimo Joe’s owner Stan Clark came about.

STORY MACK BURKE | PHOTO ESKIMO JOE’S

“Stan’s a good friend and we sat down one day and talked about doing a co-brand experiment, and he loved the idea,” Wray said. “He really sort of spoke of it as the ultimate adoption or validity in terms of brand recognition to have Oklahoma State say that it wanted to be in the same space as Eskimo Joe’s. And so we did that for a couple of years and then began to get feedback from Collegiate Licensing Co., which keeps track of all the major collegiate brands across the country.”

Wray and Kurtis Mason, OSU director of Trademarks and Licensing, learned from the licensing company that OSU’s partnership with Eskimo Joe’s was more special than they thought.

“There are a number of universities that participate in co-branded programs … but nothing to the scale that this is,” said CLC spokesperson Tammy Purves. “To this level, the types of merchandise that Eskimo Joe’s produces and the sales they generate with their co-branded shirts is unique.”

The shirt, which always features Pistol Pete, Eskimo Joe and Buffy, is popular, too. The Mike Gundy mullet shirt of 2017 was a top-five seller for a single design in the Collegiate Licensing’s offerings that year.

Wray said the partnership is a nod to the power of both brands.

“We don’t just do it with anybody,” he said.

“We’re very careful — you can probably count on one hand the number of times we’ve co-branded — but Eskimo Joe’s is part of our family here and Stan being a proud alum and the brand strength that they brought to the table as well, it’s been a good decision for both of us.”

For his part, Clark couldn’t be happier.

“I had done business for 37 years in the shadows of our great university, and I was very honored when I was approached with the opportunity to co-brand Eskimo Joe with Pistol Pete,” he said.

“Eskimo Joe’s is extremely proud of this unique partnership.”

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A Gameday Couture Twist It Up Ruffle Sleeve Top S-XXL | $40 B Gameday Couture Bring It On Top S-XXL | $40 C Nadia Jersey Tee S-XXL | $28 D Angie Ringer Tee S-XXL | $25 E Youth Girl’s Front Tie Tee S-XL | $25.95 F Carly Football Tee S-XL | $32 G Lexi Ringer Tank S-XL | $28 H Fresh Script Stripe Top S-XL | $40

I OSU Alumni Mug $13.95 J Nike Pegasus Air Zoom Running Shoe 6-18 | $130 K Youth Victory Falls Cowboys Tee S-XL | $23.95 L Nike College Breathe Polo S-3XL | $75 M Columbia Slide Polo S-XXL | $72 N Pistol Pete Alumni Plate $28.95 O Nike Dri-Fit Polo 2019 S-3XL | $60 P Columbia Flash Forward Windbreaker S-XXL | $68

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AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST ORANGE 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043

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