OUTSTANDING The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes students who distinguish themselves through academic achievement; campus and community activities; academic, athletic or extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships and work ethic during their time at Oklahoma State University. After reviewing their applications, the OSU Alumni Association Student Awards and Selection Committee met with the 44 Seniors of Significance who were honored in the fall of 2008 and selected 13 of them to receive this prestigious honor. The 2009 Outstanding Seniors were honored at a public banquet April 30 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. “OSU is a wonderful university that allowed me to grow intellectually, culturally, spiritually and socially through the opportunities that allowed me to challenge myself to be open to new experiences and embrace the multiple, diverse opportunities available at Oklahoma State.”
“The past four years at Oklahoma State have changed my life by preparing me for a future full of adventure. OSU provided me professors and advisers who educated, pushed and encouraged me to reach new heights. I will be forever thankful for their dedication and for the institution that made it possible.”
Jimikaye Beck, nutritional sciences and Spanish. Nutritional Sciences Club president, Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society president, Wellness State, Share the W.E.A.L.T.H. Peer Health Educator, two-time Wentz Undergraduate Research Scholar in nutritional sciences and Spanish; Bailey Family Memorial Trust Scholarship for study abroad in Granada, Spain, in 2007 and Cambridge, England, in 2008. After graduation, Beck plans to pursue a master’s degree in health and exercise science with an option in nutrition at Colorado State University.
Evan Black, Honors College, public relations and Spanish, magna cum laude, Dec. ’08. Mortar Board Honor Society, Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Top 10 Senior for the College of Arts and Sciences, Bailey Memorial Trust Fund Scholarship, Study Abroad Office Scholarship; Institute for Study Abroad Scholarship Foundation scholarship program participant in Puebla, Mexico; Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach in Chillan, Chile. After teaching in Chile, she plans to join Teach for America to teach Spanish or English as a second language.
“Oklahoma State University has provided me with an opportunity to learn, discuss, lead, serve and build lifelong friendships. More importantly, my time at OSU has shaped my character, strengthened my faith and allowed me to see beyond myself. I am forever grateful and forever a Cowgirl.”
Jolie Britt, biochemistry.
“I’m proud to have been a part of a great university community, dedicated to serving others and providing opportunities for generations of Oklahomans to become competent, capable and contributing individuals in society. That is orange power!”
Jered Tyler Davidson, agricultural economics.
“Attending OSU has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have loved every minute I have spent at OSU. I wish I didn’t have to leave!”
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Fall 2009
Pi Beta Phi vice president of member development, Blue Key Honor Society president, Freshman Representative Council coordinator, Greek Ambassadors president, Presidential Search Committee for OSU, intern for Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Top 10 Senior for the College of Arts and Sciences; Most Outstanding Panhellenic Freshman, Sophomore and Junior; and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Fleming Scholar. Britt plans to attend Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, to pursue an M.D/M.B.A.
FarmHouse fraternity, Student Alumni Board alumni relations executive, President’s Posse coordinator, Mortar Board Honor Society secretary, Into the Streets executive team, Student Government Association director of community relations, 2008 Harry S. Truman national finalist, 2008 Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship Scholar, 2007 Homecoming King candidate, Oklahoma 4-H Hall of Fame and USA Today’s 2009 All-USA College Academic Second Team. After graduation, Davidson plans to work in the rural development and policy fields and attend law school with a focus on public interest work.
Kyle Ensley,
international business and political science. FarmHouse fraternity, Interfraternity Council executive, OSU Speaker’s Board chair, Business Student Council secretary, Student Government Association chief of staff, Student Alumni Board executive; Outstanding Male Greek New Member, Sophomore and Junior; top 50 finalist on season seven of “American Idol”; 2007 Thomas R. Pickering Scholar and a National Public Policy International Affairs Scholar. After graduation, Ensley will intern with the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and then pursue a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University. Afterward, he plans to take a position as a public diplomacy officer in the U.S. Foreign Service.