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