STATE magazine - Spring 2024

The official magazine of Oklahoma State University

EXTENSIVE IMPACT AFTER 110 YEARS, OSU EXTENSION CONTINUES TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STATE

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In T his Issue

A Helping Hand OSU has a presence through all 77 counties thanks to its Extension services. This year, OSU Extension celebrates 110 years of helping Oklahomans.

Pages 56-69

On the cover: Team OKC Robotics participates in the FIRST Robotics youth championships on April 18 in Houston. The team, sponsored by Oklahoma State University Extension in Oklahoma County, is an example of the kinds of hands-on learning opportunities available through OSU Extension.

(Cover photo: Robert Seale)

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62

64

More than Agriculture

Paternal Parenting

4-H Youth Development inspires members through STEM pathways.

Extension Strong Dads Program helps fathers become better parents through workshops.

24

Welcome to Innovation Park Visionary new research park aims to unite researchers, industry and community.

30

A Century of Child Development

24

Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory celebrates its centennial this year.

Plus ...

36

Entering the Hall

4

Editor’s Letter

The OSU Alumni Association inducts four into its Hall of Fame.

5

Socially Orange

7

President’s Letter

94

Cowboy Chronicles

98

Campus News

106

Chapter News

Ground Control to OSU

111

Alumni Update

OSU hosts NASA conference focused on making space travel safer for civilians.

113

In Memory

114

Births

115

Weddings

42

50

50

Preparing for Paris Games OSU alumnae work toward the Summer Olympic Games: one as a competitor and the other as a promoter.

76

Creating Possibilities OSU crowdfunding platform PhilanthroPete raises money for projects and organizations.

86

Boosting the Workforce OSU Polytech prepares students for in-demand careers.

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Letters

OSU B R A N D M A N A G E M E N T Megan Horton | Interim Associate Vice President of Brand Management Lance Latham | Chief Communications Officer Erin Petrotta | Director of Marketing Shannon Rigsby | Associate Director of Public Information Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations Casey Cleary | Associate Director of Marketing Strategy Jeremy Davis | Associate Director of Multimedia Dave Malec | Design Coordinator Jordan Bishop | Managing Editor Codee Classen, Bryanna Freer, Cody Giles, Chris Lewis, Stephen Matthews, Michael Molholt and Benton Rudd | Design Phil Gahagans and Karolyn Moberly | Advertising Gary Lawson, Elizabeth Rogers and Phil Shockley | Photography McKinzie McElroy and Meghan Robinson | Inside OSU Kurtis Mason | Trademarks and Licensing Kinsey Garcia and Kara Peters | Administrative Support Contributors: Mack Burke, Gail Ellis, Trisha Gedon, Mandy Gross, Samantha Hardy, David Peters, Sara Plummer, Grant Ramirez, Jillian Remington, Shannon Rigsby, Sydney Trainor, Ainsley Treesh and Mak Vandruff Department of Brand Management | 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024 405-744-6262 | okstate.edu | statemagazine.okstate.edu | editor@okstate.edu | osu.advertising@okstate.edu

O S U A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N Kurt Carter | Chair Scott Eisenhauer | Vice Chair Tina Parkhill | Immediate Past Chair Dr. Ann Caine | President Jake Wilkins | Vice President of Marketing and Engagement David Parrack | Vice President of Finance and Operations Thomas Blalock, Susan Crenshaw, Benjamin Davis, Deedra Determan, Sonja Hughes, Ginger Kollmann, Brian Krafft, Chris Moody, Aaron Owen, Joe Ray, Cecilia Robinson-Woods, Darin Schmidt, Taylor Shinn, Baloo Subramaniam and Matt Waits | Board of Directors Will Carr, Chase Carter, Katie Dragoo, Bailee Kirby, Jillian Remington and Madelyn Trentham | Marketing and Communications OSU Alumni Association | 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078 | 405-744-5368 | orangeconnection.org | info@orangeconnection.org

O S U F O U N D AT I O N Bill Patterson | Chair Blaire Atkinson | President Robyn Baker | Vice President and General Counsel Donna Koeppe | Vice President of Administration and Treasurer Scott Roberts | Vice President of Development Pam Guthrie | Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources Blaire Atkinson, Bryan Begley, Ann Caine, Brian Callahan, Bryan Close, Ann Dyer, Joe Eastin, Jennifer Grigsby, David Houston, Brett Jameson, Griff Jones, Robert Keating, Diana Laing, Shelly Lambertz, John Linehan, Greg Massey, Ross McKnight, Gail Muncrief, Bill Patterson, Jenelle Schatz, Tiffany Sewell-Howard, Terry Stewart, Beverly Walker-Griffea, Jay Wiese and Darton Zink | Trustees Bryanna Freer, Samantha Hardy, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Estefania Martinez-Vazquez, Amanda Mason, Heather Millermon, Michael Molholt, Grant Ramirez and Benton Rudd | Marketing and Communications OSU Foundation | 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 800-6224678 | 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 Department of Brand Management, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, and is mailed to current members of the OSU Alumni Association. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $50.

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, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. OSU is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, the director of equal opportunity/Title IX coordinator is located at 401 General Academic Building and can be reached at 405-744-1156 or by visiting https://eeo.okstate.edu.

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 $1.24 per issue: 38,477. | April 2024 | #statespring24| Copyright © 2024, STATE magazine.

All rights reserved.

From the Editor's Desk The land-grant mission is a core part of Oklahoma State University’s identity, and OSU Extension is an integral piece of that mission. This year, OSU Extension celebrates its 110th anniversary. In over a century of dedicated service, OSU Extension educators have touched countless lives, offering support, guidance and critical information that has helped elevate our state.

In this issue, we delve into that rich history and how OSU Extension has evolved and modernized to meet changing needs in Oklahoma’s 77 counties. (Pages 56-69) In short, there’s a lot more to it than seeds and soil.

We also celebrate another milestone: the centennial anniversary of the Cleo. L. Craig Child Development Laboratory, which combines theory and learning with daily teaching practice in a premier program model for students pursuing degrees in early childhood education.

(Page 30) As a Carnegie R1 research institution, OSU has long been associated with cutting-edge research and innovation. Now, OSU has a bold vision for a new space called OSU Innovation Park that will beckon new ideas, impactful collaboration and partnerships to Stillwater. (Page 24) Earlier this year, OSU welcomed prominent global aerospace leaders for the Human Research Program for Civilians in Spaceflight and Space Habitation (HRP-C) conference. Hosted by OSU’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) and the LaunchPad Center at the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus, the workshop examined ways to make space travel safer, both for astronauts and commercial travelers. (Page 42) Meanwhile, OSU-CHS researchers are exploring semaglutide as a method of addiction treatment. Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, you may know the medication by another name — Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus. (Page 82) Finally, when the Olympic games get underway on July 26 in Paris, two OSU alumnae will be hoping to make their mark — one as a potential four-time paralympic competitor, the other as director of brand strategy for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

(Page 50) It’s always a great time to be a Cowboy. The Cowboy family is a big one, and we’re excited to celebrate the real world impact of the landgrant mission and the crucial and tireless efforts of the people driving it — from students and professors to the Extension educators across the state taking public impact research directly to the people.

Go Pokes!

Mack Burke Editor

STATE Magazine American Marketing Association Foundation | 2023 Higher Education Marketing Team of the Year Oklahoma College Public Relations Association | 2022 Magazine Grand Award

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305 WHITEHURST OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER, OK 74078

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

#okstate

Join the conversation on social media with the Cowboy family.

Leaving a Legacy @OSUFoundation

Orange Crush @okstate

The Senior Class Gift campaign is designed to inspire graduating seniors to leave a legacy @okstate by making a gift that will benefit all #okstate students. This year, the campaign will benefit the Cowboy Strong Student Emergency Fund.

Fix is First 5-Time Big 12 Champ, All-American @OSUAthletics

For many couples in the #CowboyFamily like Jake and Megan Fanning, OSU was where their love story began.

Share how you met your significant other at #okstate in the comments with a pic! #ValentinesDay #OrangeCrush

From Clay to Bronze @okstatealumni

History. Made.

Daton Fix is the first five-time champion in @Big12Conference history!

Fix also became an All-American for a record fifth time at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City. #HomeOfWrestling

Rain or Shine, Sleet or Snow @BeAnOSUCowboy

From clay to bronze OSU Hall of Famer Harold “H” Holden’s sculpture of Frank Eaton and his horse went to the foundry this spring!

Temps may be droppin' but campus visits aren't stoppin'! Besides, the cold never bothered us anyway. #FutureCowboys #okstate

Oklahoma State University

InsideOSU

@okstate

@okstateu

@okstate

Oklahoma State University

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

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Thank you to everyone who participated in

ON APRIL 2-3, THE COWBOY FAMILY SUPPORTED OSU STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND PROGRAMS THROUGH INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY.

Let’s celebrate the impact of your giving over the 1,890 minutes: • Expanded impact with matching gifts, which provided extra funds for more than 250 OSU programs and initiatives • Invested in students’ futures through scholarships • Funded PhilanthroPete projects that directly support OSU clubs, organizations and departments • Advanced dozens of OSU enterprises, which directly help students system-wide

The Cowboy community comes together every year for Give Orange, but in 2024 our campaign made its most far-reaching impact yet!

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To see Give Orange 2024’s success, visit: giveorange.okstate.edu

Cowboy family, Oklahoma State University is on a bold journey to become the nation’s preeminent land-grant university.

That’s why we are also laser focused on expanding access to an OSU education and developing ideal graduates ready for the workforce.

To be successful, we are working to increase scholarship dollars to help students who dream of becoming a Cowboy or Cowgirl find a way to pursue an OSU education, and we’re committed to reducing student debt toward measurable goals.

This academic year, we welcomed a recordsetting freshman class and celebrated a new record for total undergraduate enrollment. We also reached a new high for honors student enrollment, which is up 9%.

Enrollment of first-generation students and Native American students is also up, and enrollment of Oklahoma Promise students increased 15% over the previous academic year. For our students who choose to learn online, enrollment is up nearly 22%.

And something close to my heart as a physician: In April, I was honored to attend the white coat ceremony for the first class of our new nursing program in Stillwater.

I share these statistics and trends to highlight that more and more students are choosing OSU and that we have tremendous momentum that is fueled in large part by the incredible support of the Cowboy family.

But, with all the numbers and facts, our focus remains on one student — and one heart — at a time.

It is humbling that so many parents and families trust OSU to prepare their students for the future and to help them learn to face challenges and believe in themselves.

For parents who are not alumni, it’s not always a trust that is first earned during an official campus visit. It is many times a trust that comes from the interactions with members of the Cowboy family in their communities or at work. They see the Cowboy Code in action through our alumni.

Oklahomans also trust us to faithfully serve the state and improve lives through our land-grant mission.

With a presence in all 77 counties, people from all walks of life across Oklahoma see and experience OSU’s impact through OSU Extension. From Altus to Miami and Boise City to Broken Bow, Extension educators play a vital role in their communities, not just in agriculture, but in workforce development, rural health care and economic development.

We’re also leading the way in workforce development through OSU Polytech programming, which is training highly skilled workers to meet industry demands and empowering Oklahomans to pursue their dreams.

Whether it’s through Extension, the growing reach of OSU Polytech or our state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, the landgrant mission is about lifting people up, and together, as servant-leaders, we strive to honor that mission every day.

Go Pokes!

Dr. Kayse Shrum OSU President osupres@okstate.edu S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 7

KANSAS CITY OSU ALUMNI CHAPTER

More than 3,500 Cowboys participated in a day of service on April 13, reflecting OSU’s commitment to its land-grant mission.

Scan the QR code for an Inside OSU feature on Into the Streets or go to okla.st/IntotheStreets24.

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State of Orange: A Day of Cowboy Service offered an opportunity for Cowboys to serve at more than 350 locations nationwide, including in Stillwater and nearly every county in Oklahoma.

“Today is all about living the Cowboy Code, doing what’s right, giving it our all,” said President Kayse Shrum at the event’s kickoff event in Stillwater. “Today, we’re dreaming big about making a difference.”

Events were facilitated by the OSU Alumni Association, OSU Extension offices, OSU System institutions and Into the Streets, a longtime student program that was expanded this year to promote community service and connections among students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“State of Orange is an opportunity for the Cowboy family to accomplish acts of service to better the communities we live in,” said Dr. Ann Caine, OSU Alumni Association president. “Not only are we getting fellow Cowboys connected, but also we’re making a difference together.”

EAST TEXAS OSU ALUMNI CHAPTER

OKC METRO OSU ALUMNI CHAPTER

TILLMAN COUNTY

JACKSON/HARMON COUNTIES OSU ALUMNI CH A P T ER

INTO THE STREETS

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OSUIT

NORTH TEXAS OSU ALUMNI CHAPTER

CHOCTAW COUNTY

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ADAIR COUNTY FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

DELAWARE COUNTY

PONTOTOC COUNTY 4-H

OSU-OKC

“Today, we’re

dreaming big about making a difference.”

– DR . K AYSE SHR UM

ALFALFA COUNTY 4H OSU-CHS

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STUDENT NEWS

IMPACT Spotlight

Cortney

Hometown: Spencer, Wisconsin

Zimmerman Sophomore

Major: Agricultural Communications Scholarships: Ferguson College of Agriculture Associate Dean Fund Ferguson College of Agriculture Enhancement Scholarship Fund Joseph Fleming Memorial Scholarship McKnight Leader Scholars Endowed Scholarship

Oklahoma State University Scholarships When you donate to scholarships, you equip students with the financial and academic support that allows them to pursue their orange passion.

Your support offers life-changing experiences to help students be successful at OSU and beyond.

For more information on donating, visit OSUgiving.com.

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What made you decide to attend OSU? The decision to attend Oklahoma State University was easy after I had the opportunity to meet with staff in the agricultural communications department within the Ferguson College of Agriculture. I wanted to attend a university that appreciated my experiences before coming to campus, offered me a top-notch degree program and allowed me to work alongside high-quality, motivated people.

What does receiving scholarships mean to you?

Receiving scholarships not only helps alleviate the stress that comes with paying tuition, but also is a great reminder that somebody believes in my abilities.

It is often easy to get caught up in the frustrations of a tough class or the nerves of an upcoming exam, but receiving a scholarship is a reminder that someone sees my potential and has faith in me.

What would you say to the donors who made your scholarship possible, if given the chance?

First and foremost, thank you! It is because of donor generosity that I could say yes to attending Oklahoma State University and take that next big step in my journey. Being an out-of-state student, and the fear of not knowing what being in Stillwater would look like often crossed my mind.

However, because of my scholarship donors, I have been able to get involved in countless experiences.

Brooklynn Hometown: Whitesboro, Texas

Lamb Freshman

Major: Applied Exercise Science Scholarships: Hunter Stone Endowed Scholarship Fund OSU-DFW Brighter Orange Endowed Scholarship Fund Could you describe a person or experience that shaped who you are today?

My parents. They are good-hearted people who love to open their doors to those in need. This has shaped me into a person who loves putting others' needs first and doing everything I can to help others. Along with being people of service, my parents are also big-time sports lovers and instilled that passion in me from a young age. These are qualities that have led me in the direction of a near perfect dream career — a collegiate athletic trainer for Oklahoma State University.

What are you passionate about and how do you plan on pursuing it?

Sports have always held a special place in my heart and sparked a passion that I am eager to apply to a career filled with helping others succeed. I am committed to using my education and learned skills to become a successful athletic trainer. I want to give athletes the support they need to be successful in their sports while also looking out for their health and wellness.

How will scholarships help you reach your career goals/dream job?

I am a first-generation college student with two parents who were never able to pursue their dreams, which means that I have been on this journey all by myself. Scholarships not only help me to stay enrolled at OSU, but they also allow me to do so without the constant stress of financial burdens. Moreover, these scholarships give me more reasons to work hard and be thankful for everything that I am today.

Tori

Hometown: Mannford, Oklahoma

Austin Freshman

Major: Human Development and Family Sciences Scholarships: Alta L. Robertson DuMont General Scholarship Thomas W. Utterback Endowed Scholarship What made you decide to attend OSU? Oklahoma State University has a lot to offer, including the human development and family sciences program. My grandma is an OSU alumna and loved her time at OSU. She always had good things to say about this university. I also really like the location because it is not too far but not too close to my family.

What are you passionate about and how do you plan to pursue it?

My major is human development and family sciences, which can be used in many ways. I want to be a foster care worker. I went through the foster care system as a child, and I want to help children in the system. I believe every child deserves to know that they are not alone in their struggles. I want to help change the system one kid at a time.

How have scholarships and donor generosity impacted your time in college?

Scholarships are making it possible for me to attend OSU in the first place. I am one of six children from a singleparent household, so I cannot ask for financial help from my family. Because of this, scholarships make my career goals possible. I am thankful for donors who make scholarships possible because their generosity has helped me pave the way for my future.

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2023 2024

The OSU Alumni Association recognized 59 students as OSU Seniors of Significance for the 2023-24 academic year.

The Seniors of Significance Award recognizes students who have excelled in scholarship, leadership and service to campus and community and have brought distinction to OSU. The 59 students represent the top one percent of the Class of 2024, including all five OSU undergraduate academic colleges.

Savannah Asher, aviation management, Tulsa Ryan Austin, aerospace administration and operations, Wichita, Kansas* Paige Beadles (Anderson), animal science and agricultural education, Louisburg, Kansas Grace Bledsoe, applied exercise science, Oklahoma City Sarah Blumer, accounting, Monticello, Wisconsin Leah Brainerd, fashion merchandising, Tulsa Kate Buckmaster, animal science biotechnology, Porter, Oklahoma Elizabeth Carlson, entomology, Haslet, Texas Jackson Martin Caves, mechanical engineering, Amber, Oklahoma* Lily Chavez, global studies, Weatherford, Texas Weston Church, sports management, Fairview, Oklahoma Anecia Coleman, sports media, Dallas Jaxson Crull, management information systems, Bixby, Oklahoma Carldon Christ Deniega, biology, Tulsa Sarah Easterly, political science, Enid, Oklahoma* Georgia Eastham, chemistry, biochemistry, plant and soil sciences, Davis, California* Kyra Elliott, animal science and agribusiness, Calumet, Oklahoma* Abby Ellis, accounting, Edmond, Oklahoma Emmalee Evans, nutritional sciences, Bentonville, Arkansas Mackenzie Frech, secondary education, Enid, Oklahoma* Dana Friend, aerospace administrations and operations, Lewisville, Texas Ashley Fritch, applied exercise science, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

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Elli Clarisse Hanvey, hospitality and tourism management, Keyes, Oklahoma Braden Heisler, agribusiness, Waukomis, Oklahoma Holden Husbands, biology, Edmond, Oklahoma Meg Jackson, political science, Edmond, Oklahoma Corinne Kissel, nonprofit and sports management, Northville, Michigan Jenna Lanham, nutritional science, Pryor, Oklahoma Evelyn Larson, marketing, Ponca City, Oklahoma Brianna Maguire, physiology, Bixby, Oklahoma Mariah Martin, human development and family science, Ringling, Oklahoma Liz Mateo-Johnson, fashion merchandising, Edmond, Oklahoma* Addison McGill, nutritional sciences, Byng, Oklahoma Austin McKay, accounting, Mansfield, Texas Bryanna Nickel, strategic communications, Stillwater* J. Samuel Oakes, accounting and economics, Guymon, Oklahoma* Elizabeth Ann Perdue, agricultural communications and agribusiness, Kingfisher, Oklahoma Kait Pinkerton, political science, Pryor, Oklahoma Mallory Pool, multimedia journalism and strategic communications, Enid, Oklahoma Stephen Pulliam, biochemistry and molecular biology, Canadian, Texas Rachel Reyes, international business, Grove, Oklahoma Reilly Roggendorff, management and human resource management, Tulsa*

Jessica Marie Rojas, university studies, Altus, Oklahoma Kaylee Rolph, electrical engineering, Dewey, Oklahoma Cameron Shropshire, accounting, Norman, Oklahoma Erin Slagell, food science, Hydro, Oklahoma Lindsey Smith, political science, Sand Springs, Oklahoma* Marleigh Smith, communication sciences and disorders and psychology, Edmond, Oklahoma Sammie Smith, public health, Edmond, Oklahoma* Mackenzie Steele, political science, Shawnee, Oklahoma* Huntyr Terry, psychology, Colleyville, Texas* Alexandra Tutor, applied exercise science, Fort Worth, Texas Kailen Urban, animal science, Mountain View, Oklahoma Nadia Valles, political science, Hennessey, Oklahoma Lanie Varner, entrepreneurship and marketing, Ponca City, Oklahoma Charlie Vermeire, biochemistry, Miles City, Montana Sydney Vieira, agribusiness and agricultural communications, Ripon, California Carson Voelker, architecture, Perkins, Oklahoma Paeton Watkins, psychology, Stillwater*

*Student is a member of the OSU Alumni Association

STORY JILLIAN REMINGTON | PHOTO GENESEE PHOTO SYSTEMS

home run

Hit a when you make Legacy Village of Stillwater your new home!

Stillwater’s premier senior living community is officially endorsed by the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association. Our stunning campus is just a few miles away from OSU and offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care services.

Step up to the plate and see why Legacy is the preferred senior living community of the Cowboys!

Call now to schedule a tour!

(405) 591-5956

5 6 01 N . WA S H I N G TO N S T. | S T I L LWAT E R , O K 74 07 5 | L E G A C Y V I L L A G E S T I L LWAT E R . C O M

WIM 7646

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The ‘Chicken from Hell’ CHS student discovers new dinosaur species

O

nly a small number of people can say they’ve named a new dinosaur.

Now, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences student Kyle AtkinsWeltman is part of that exclusive club.

Atkins-Weltman, an anatomy and vertebrate paleontology Ph.D. student in the School of Biomedical Sciences, was studying a small collection of foot and leg bone fossils of what was believed to be a juvenile Anzu wyliei, which was described as a “chicken from hell” when it was discovered in 2014.

But, histology tests of the bones conducted at OSU-CHS determined that it wasn’t a juvenile, but a different species in the dinosaur family caenagnathid.

Atkins-Weltman named the new dinosaur Eoneophron infernalis, which translates to Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from hell. The name honors the description of the Anzu as well as his

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late beloved pet, a Nile monitor lizard named Pharaoh.

Based on rough estimates, Eoneophron weighed around 150 to 160 pounds and stood about 3 feet tall at the hip, about the size of a human.

“It was a very birdlike dinosaur. It had a toothless beak and Kyle Atkins-Weltman relatively short tail. It’s hard to tell its diet because of the toothless beak,” Atkins-Weltman said. “It definitely had feathers. It was covered in feathers and had wings.”

Atkins-Weltman’s paper on the new Eoneophron species was published in the peerreviewed journal PLOS ONE, released by the Public Library of Science, in January 2024.

STORY SARA PLUMMER | PHOTOS MATT BARNARD, KYLE ATKINS-WELTMAN ARTWORK ZUBIN ERIK DUTTA

“Kyle is the first student researcher at OSU-CHS to reveal, describe and name a new dinosaur,” said Associate Professor of Anatomy Eric Snively, Ph.D., and Atkins-Weltman’s faculty advisor.

Atkins-Weltman said he never intended to find a new species. In January 2020, he was analyzing foot and leg fossils to study the weight-bearing metatarsal, or toe, bones of the Anzu dinosaur. The fossils were found in the Hell Creek Formation that spans parts of Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota and date back to the end of the Cretaceous period before dinosaurs went extinct.

“They were about 25% smaller than other Anzu fossils. We figured it was a juvenile Anzu,” he said. “I assumed it was an Anzu until the evidence showed it wasn’t.”

When it looked like the fossils may not belong to an Anzu, Atkins-Weltman turned to caenagnathid researchers Greg Funston, Ph.D., a paleontologist with the Royal Ontario Museum in Ontario, Canada, and paleontology Ph.D. candidate Jade Simons with the University of Toronto for their help and expertise.

He also called on the help of OSU-CHS Associate Professor of Anatomy Holly Woodward Ballard, Ph.D., whose own research utilizes paleohistology — the study of fossil bone microstructures. Through paleohistology techniques, they determined that the foot and leg bones were not structurally those of a juvenile, but of a more mature specimen, meaning a new dinosaur species in the caenagnathid family.

“It was really thrilling. Based on the work and research I do, I never thought I would be someone to discover a new dinosaur species,” he said.

Atkins-Weltman said his project and published findings would not have been possible without his co-authors and those who assisted him.

“It was the whole team of people — other scientists who have more experience in this family of dinosaurs. And Dr. Ballard’s histology was invaluable,” he said.

Snively said he was thrilled to help AtkinsWeltman discover a new dinosaur.

“OSU-CHS attracts amazing graduate students through our anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track, and Kyle is an inspiring pioneer,” he said.

Since the discovery of Eoneophron was announced, Atkins-Weltman and his research have been featured in state, national and international news outlets including “The Washington Post,” National Public Radio and BBC News, as well as dozens of science and paleontology websites and blogs generating millions of clicks and views.

“I was genuinely shocked with how much attention it got. I figured, being a relatively small dinosaur and not one of the big Tyrannosaurs or anything like that, it would make a very small splash,” he said. “It was very shocking to see how much media coverage this little fellow got. I’m blown away by it all.”

Atkins-Weltman said he will continue to conduct research as he pursues his doctoral degree at OSU-CHS. He hopes the excitement and media coverage of his discovery generates more attention to OSU’s anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track, as well as inspire other institutions to reevaluate their own fossil collections.

“It might help bring attention to the great work that all of my colleagues are doing, and that kind of attention can bring funding for research,” he said.

“We might be able to build a more complete picture of these animals.”

EONEOPHRON INFERNALIS “Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from hell” Weight: 150-160 pounds Height: 3 feet at the hip, about human-sized

LEARN MORE about the anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track at OSU.

The fossils were found in the Hell Creek Formation that spans parts of Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 17

Southwestern Legacy Hall had state-of-the-art video walls installed that are entirely customizable, which offers a unique addition to any event hosted there.

Cowboy Makeover: Alumni Center Edition

ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center starts the year with a fresh, new look

T

Scan to watch a visual tour of the renovated ConocoPhillips Alumni Center or go to okla.st/ AlumniCenterRefresh.

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he on-campus home of Oklahoma State University’s 270,000 living alumni has received its most-extensive refresh to date since opening nearly 20 years ago.

In the first phase of renovations at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Alumni Association leaders focused on creating an environment that is more welcoming and modern for members of the Cowboy family to visit.

Board member Aaron Owen, who has a background in commercial construction, serves as the chair of the Board’s Alumni Center committee and helped oversee the project.

“Cowboys are family, right? We want our Cowboy family to visit, attend home games and events. We want alumni to have a place they can be proud of and call home,” Owen said.

More than 75,000 people come through the Alumni Center every year, said Dr. Ann Caine, OSU Alumni Association president.

“As the first stop on a campus tour for prospective students, it was important for us to be able to tell the OSU story,” she said. “We hope this refresh will help capture prospective students’ attention and help us get to that 5,000 incoming freshman class number that’s part of the strategic plan.”

Within Southwestern Legacy Hall, visitors will now find 1,100 square feet of high-definition video walls along with four interactive touchscreens.

In addition to displaying OSU’s history, the new video walls will also be used to highlight current university news and achievements from students and alumni.

“Alumni use this space for reunions, wedding receptions, banquets and gathering places before games,” Caine said. “The video walls are fully customizable, allowing those who utilize our building to have unique displays during their events.”

STORY J I L L I A N R E M I N G T O N | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

The Alumni Center refresh will be finished in three phases. The first phase, completed in early 2024, focused primarily on the first floor of the Alumni Center. In addition to upgrades in technology, flooring and lighting, several changes were also made to the overall look and flow of the building.

“Everyone loves the new reception desk,” Caine said. “During the day, we will have a staff member housed there who can grant access to the meeting spaces upstairs. At night, the desk serves as a welcome center or refreshment bar during events.”

More extensive updates were made to the newly formed Barnes/ Halligan Suite by combining two small conference rooms into one larger space. The updates also include a fully functioning catering kitchen, private serving area and an 85-inch touchscreen television for presentations and video conferencing.

“We also did a total refresh on the Craig Family Room,” Caine said. “The Craig Family is very supportive of the updates in the room, and we greatly appreciate their support.”

John Stobbe, a board member of the Cleo L. Craig Foundation, said the Craigs have a long history of family members attending OSU, which has cultivated a deep pride for the university within their family. The foundation’s involvement with the Alumni Center

The Craig Family Room is a comfortable location for Cowboy family members to gather.

The newly renovated Barnes/Halligan Suite allows alumni and guests to host small- to medium-sized gatherings. It also includes a beautiful view of Old Central.

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The renovations includes this feature: a welcome desk by day and a catering space by night.

The focal point of the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center is Traditions Hall, which is the first stop when new students and alumni visit.

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started before the building was opened in 2005.

“Jerry Gill, the Alumni Association president at the time, came to Shawnee to meet with our foundation and talk about the building,” Stobbe said. “Jerry walked in with a Hideaway pizza, and that was special to Helen and C.L. because of the memories they share going to Hideaway. So, we ate the pizza and that was what sealed the deal.”

The newly renovated Craig Family Room features a built-in serving area and a comforting fireplace surrounded by new seating. Additional changes were made to the look and aesthetic of the room, creating a more modern but family-oriented space.

“The Craig family truly sees the value in the Alumni Center,” Stobbe said.

“Helen loves to host family, so having a family room as a meeting place for the Cowboy family, or a place to relax for a minute, is something they truly appreciate.”

Phase two of the Alumni Center renovations are planned to start later this year. Future updates include a full renovation to Jones Hall as well as new paint, carpet and lighting on the second floor where the Alumni Association’s offices are housed.

Jones Hall is currently in a tiered seating configuration, and the future renovations will transform the room into one level with a drop-down wall that can be used to split the space.

“The Alumni Center is the front door to the university,” Owen said.

“We want everyone, not only alumni, to come back to OSU and feel appreciated by seeing the efforts the Alumni Association has poured into upgrades. We want to keep the momentum with current students who will eventually become alumni. We take great pride in our facility, and we want to be able to showcase what we do and take pride in at the Alumni Association.”

Visit osualumnicenter.com to learn more about the Alumni Center’s refresh and rentable spaces.

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Remembering Then, Embracing the Now

Looking back on Agricultural Hall on the cusp of New Frontiers’ grand opening

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klahoma State University students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors await the opening of the $115 million New Frontiers Agricultural Hall, the modern home for the Ferguson College of Agriculture, OSU Ag Research and OSU Extension.

The cutting-edge facility is set to open this fall, 55 years after the official dedication of the front section of Agricultural Hall. A new era is soon to begin, advancing OSU Agriculture’s claim on research, teaching and Extension.

“We eagerly anticipate the grand opening of the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall and the endless opportunities our new headquarters will provide to students, faculty and staff in all three of our mission areas,” said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “The state-of-theart research laboratories, cutting-edge teaching classrooms and collaborative spaces — including

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Larry and Kay’s Dairy Bar, huddle rooms, and club and study spaces — make it a student-friendly building that will foster an enhanced, vibrant sense of community we’ve come to expect and love about OSU.” The front section of Agricultural Hall was dedicated on March 28, 1969, and the front section and wings of the original building cost $3 million to construct. As OSU Agriculture grew and developed, the need for a new building became clear.

The 194,091 square-foot New Frontiers Agricultural Hall is designed to strengthen OSU Agriculture’s land-grant mission by offering spaces that foster learning, innovation and collaboration.

“The most significant difference between the two buildings is the abundance of collaborative spaces in New Frontiers,” said Dr. Randy Raper, assistant vice president of facilities for OSU Agriculture. “We are going to have upwards of

The 55-year-old Agricultural Hall will be replaced with the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall when it opens this fall. The New Frontiers Agricultural Hall will feature a greatly expanded Student Success Center.

STORY AINSLEY TREESH | PHOTOS KRISTIN KNIGHT AND PROVIDED

3,000 to 4,000 square feet of what I call truly collaborative space — places with lounge seating where students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to meet up to study, work on group projects and socialize.”

One of the few collaborative spaces in the existing Agricultural Hall is the Student Success Center. The center serves as a welcoming destination for students to study alongside their peers and provides access to helpful academic resources. In the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall, the Student Success Center’s 1,280-square-foot footprint — a 400-square-foot increase from the current space — will allow greater capacity to engage students.

“The Student Success Center is the heart of Agricultural Hall,” said Taylor Triguerio, an agricultural education junior and Ferguson College of Agriculture ambassador. “There is no doubt we are starting to outgrow our current Student Success Center, so we are excited to have more space to connect with our Ferguson family.”

In addition to the expanded Student Success Center, seven classrooms and a lecture hall in the new building will accommodate up to 487 students. New features will include dedicated club and study rooms and huddle rooms located throughout the building’s three floors.

With more than 60 student clubs and organizations within the college, the club and study rooms will allow ample space for groups to meet or study. The 19 huddle rooms provide areas for faculty to interact with each other and engage with students.

Collaborative spaces also have been integrated into the design of the research area. The new facility has 25,855 square feet of flexible research laboratory space that can be rearranged to accommodate various research needs and serve multiple disciplines.

Dr. Sergio Abit, professor in OSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, said having the integration of research and teaching within the same space is unique in New Frontiers.

“To have flexible lab space that I can rearrange to suit the kind of creative teaching technique that I want to implement for a particular exercise

“To have flexible lab space that I can rearrange to suit the kind of creative teaching technique that I want to implement for a particular exercise will be an incredible tool for educating students.”

DR. SERGIO ABIT, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES

will be an incredible tool for educating students,” Abit said.

Oklahoma 4-H Youth Development will also make its home in the new building.

Located on the second floor, the 4-H suite will house offices for the state program director, Oklahoma 4-H Foundation director, state specialists and coordinators, administrative staff and student workers. The large suite will allow staff and student workers to collaborate on statewide outreach, educational programs and events.

“New Frontiers will provide a new front door to Oklahoma 4-H and a familiar presence to many students who grew up with 4-H,” said Steve Beck, state 4-H program leader. “We are thrilled about the new home for the program and know the facility will serve many future generations of Oklahoma youth.”

Unlike the existing Agricultural Hall, which was funded by state building bond issues and federal grants,

construction of the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall was made possible through private support, OSU and other resources. More than $50 million was raised from 641 private donors.

The New Frontiers campaign reached its fundraising goal in record time; it is recognized as one of the fastest capital campaigns at OSU and the first academic capital campaign of this magnitude to reach its campaign goal before the building opens.

Naming opportunities in the building are still available. To learn more about giving to the New Frontiers campaign, visit OSUgiving.com/new-frontiers .

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

NE US OF

COLLABORATION VISIONARY NEW RESEARCH PARK AIMS TO UNITE RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY

T

he Innovation Foundation at Oklahoma State University has released a vision plan for a reimagined, 678-acre collaborative research park in southwest Stillwater that has the potential to ignite transformational collaborations and revolutionize the innovation landscape in Oklahoma.

Alongside Highway 51 in Stillwater, Innovation Park will be adjacent to the OSU Student Farm, Botanic Garden and the Ferguson College of Agriculture Agronomy Research Station. Formerly called The Oklahoma Technology and Research Park, The Innovation Park will connect these established facilities and serve as a crossroads for advancing OSU’s land-grant mission through the pursuit of technology development and commercial partnerships.

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“At Oklahoma State University, our commitment to our students, the state and the nation rests on some fundamental pillars, including our landgrant mission to serve and use our R1 research prowess to improve lives,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said. “The Innovation Park reflects our vision and commitment to our mission of serving the needs of Oklahoma and beyond. A big part of our We Are Land-Grant strategy is transdisciplinary research, as well as partnerships with industry and the community. As the state’s largest university system, we are excited about what’s possible with this project.”

Positioned as a welcoming gateway to the city of Stillwater from Highway 51, the park aims to cultivate publicprivate partnerships and engage the community and state as a centralized

STORY MACK BURKE | RENDERINGS COURTESY OF THE INNOVATION FOUNDATION AT OSU

HISTORIC BARN

hub of innovation, education and collaboration.

This unique environment will encourage individuals to actively engage in tackling society’s most critical health, technology, energy and environmental challenges and leverage the talent of OSU’s applied research institutes — Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute, Hamm Institute for American Energy, and the National Center for Wellness & Recovery.

Elizabeth Pollard, CEO and president of The Innovation Foundation at OSU, said the park will spur innovation while also creating an environment that harmonizes technology, education and nature.

“The Innovation Park is a nexus of technology development, commercialization, partnerships, forward-thinking ideas and collaborative innovation,” she said.

“Fusing OSU’s land-grant mission with the ecosystem of the Student Farm and Botanic Garden, The Innovation Foundation is forging a transcendent path aimed at redefining typical boundaries and shifting the paradigm of education, discovery, agriculture, technology commercialization and art

“THE INNOVATION PARK IS A NEXUS OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCIALIZATION, PARTNERSHIPS, FORWARDTHINKING IDEAS AND COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION.” – Elizabeth Pollard, CEO and president of The Innovation Foundation at OSU

WELCOME CENTER

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 25

“THE INNOVATION PARK WILL BE A PLACE WHERE OSU’S ESTEEMED FACULTY, INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND THE COMMUNITY CAN GET TOGETHER, SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND SOLVE PROBLEMS.” – Eddy Crosby, AVP Strategy and Park Development for The Innovation Foundation

COLLABORATION PAVILLION

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while seamlessly integrating facets of OSU, the Stillwater community and the entire state of Oklahoma.”

Launched in 2023, the Student Farm initiative allows students to gain hands-on expertise in land cultivation, crop growth and innovative approaches to overcoming challenges in produce distribution.

Led by Dr. Justin Quetone Moss, the Student Farm has already provided over 53,000 pounds of produce to Payne County through a partnership with Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center. Rachael Condley, Our Daily Bread executive director, said these efforts have helped feed more than 5,000 families in just seven months.

“Having fresh produce from a local farm has allowed for our produce shelf life to be extended and has provided a unique partnership for our organizations,” Condley said. “In the past, we have been limited in the amount of quality, fresh produce we could provide to our guests. The Student Farm production has not only enabled us to provide more produce and a better selection to guests visiting the shopping floor at Our Daily Bread, but it has also

empowered us to take produce to our Mobile Market outreach locations and our satellite sites. These locations had not had a consistent source of produce before the Student Farm began harvesting.”

Plans are in development to renovate the historic barn at the Student Farm while preserving its essential character.

This renovation will allow the Student Farm to expand its impact through new educational opportunities and valuable nutrition resources, as well as research partnerships with HPNRI, the College of Education and Human Sciences, and OSU Agriculture focused on measuring community health outcomes.

Construction is underway for a vegetable cleaning station at the Student Farm, which will allow students to be more efficient in processing the produce they grow. The Innovation Foundation is partnering with the OSU Foundation to secure private support for this and other Innovation Park projects.

The vision plan for the park also includes concepts for strategically placed collaboration centers throughout to nurture creativity, encourage transdisciplinary research

and facilitate valuable commercial partnerships.

A proposed Analytical Solutions Center, equipped with a supercomputer and multiple data centers, will anchor the park at the Michael S. Morgan Business Accelerator. The building will undergo a $4 million renovation to accommodate the supercomputer — a project made possible by a Major Research Instrumentation grant from the National Science Foundation. The OSU-led grant proposal was a joint effort by universities from the Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas (OAK) region.

Able to process immense amounts of data at once, this supercomputer will be the largest in Oklahoma and several nearby states. The new technology will elevate the research capabilities of the state and the nation and make OSU the leader in supercomputing for OAK. There are additional plans in development for an Internet Exchange Point, which will attract tech partners, foster collaboration to enhance lastmile connectivity, enabling OSU to provide needed workforce training and virtual health care to rural areas across the state.

The Innovation Park is also expanding university services to provide genomic analysis capabilities and a cutting-edge biorepository.

This biorepository and sequencing laboratory, which began operations in March, will support OSU’s One Health initiative by efficiently storing and managing biological samples from human, plant and animal specimens, ensuring optimal preservation for current and future research initiatives.

The Drone Education Center will actively engage visitors and OSU students in hands-on drone applications, promoting education and responsible usage in a contained area.

Nestled within OSU’s Botanic Garden, the new 2,100-squarefoot Horticulture Education Center features a spacious classroom and office space, offering publicly accessible opportunities for inspiration through unique interactions with nature.

This facility is designed to advance sustainable practices, creating an eco-conscious environment for OSU, Stillwater and the surrounding communities.

A network of scenic trails, fitness locations, tree walk villages and family friendly amenities will connect the park and its centers. Complementing this natural tapestry, the trail system will incorporate STEM through AI-generated art displays with light and sound, seamlessly integrating the arts, nature and technology in an immersive showcase.

THE INNOVATION FOUNDATION IS PARTNERING WITH THE OSU FOUNDATION to secure private support for the Innovation Park projects.

To learn more about how you can support this exciting initiative, contact Assistant Vice President of Corporate and Foundation Relations Justin Hazzard at jhazzard@osugiving.com.

Eddy Crosby, assistant vice president of strategy and park development for The Innovation Foundation, believes the project will not only drive economic growth and benefit students and faculty but also foster a spirit of shared responsibility and a stronger, more connected Stillwater.

“The Innovation Park will be a place where OSU’s esteemed faculty, industry partners and the community can get together, share knowledge and solve problems,” he said. “Applied interdisciplinary research will be at the forefront, working at the speed of industry, while connecting and aligning valuable resources.”

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 27

We got to see the building during a hard hat tour and immediately knew we wanted to be a part of this project. New Frontiers will have an ever-growing impact on the Ag Family and future generations of students.

We’re proud to give back by naming the Hammertime Huddle Room.”

Beth Hammer, Speech Pathology, ’82 Doug Hammer, Agricultural Economics, ’82 New Frontiers Major Gift Donors

YOUR DREAM IS OUR MISSION

OSU Center for Health Sciences Physician Assistant program is a 28-month Master of Science degree.

Throughout the curriculum, the program focuses on interprofessional education as well as rural and underserved medicine.

Find a career in one of the nation’s top 10 jobs.* Learn more at medicine.okstate.edu/pa.

*2023 U.S. News & World Report

OSU CHILD DEVELOPMENT LAB CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF PREPARING CHILDREN, EDUCATORS FOR THE WORLD The day is just starting, but the children attending the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory are wide awake.

Ranging from 1-5 years-old, the youngsters are always on the move, whether participating in a “good morning” song-and-dance, rotating between stations in their classroom or building sandcastles on the playground outside.

There’s rarely a dull moment inside the CDL. Housed within Nancy Randolph Davis West, the lab offers an innovative, educational and inclusive learning environment for children.

In addition to shaping Stillwater youth, the CDL provides invaluable hands-on learning experiences for Oklahoma State University students, preparing them for careers in early childhood education.

This year, the lab celebrates a century of serving the university, community and state. It is recognized as the second-oldest development lab in the country.

“It’s important to reflect on the many children, families and students who have been positively impacted by educational opportunities offered at the CDL,” director Sandy Major said. “The lab has been a learning, teaching and research environment for students at OSU for 100 years, and it’s so exciting to look back on both the history and transformation of ECE.”

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STORY GRANT RAMIREZ | PHOTOS BRYANNA FREER AND PROVIDED

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The CDL has been a feature on OSU’s campus in various iterations since it first opened as a nursery school in 1924. Back then, the CDL had only two classrooms and worked with a small number of 2-and 3-year olds.

OSU faculty member Girdie Ware became one of the nursery school’s first teachers when her son, Bob, began attending in the early 1930s.

“Mom and Dad really thought outside the box when it came to education,” said Bob, now 95. “I didn’t come to appreciate that until many years later.”

The Ware family was instrumental in helping lay the groundwork for the CDL. Girdie worked closely with former home economics dean Nora Talbot to establish programs that were uncommon at the time. She shared her belief with former department head Virginia Messenger that teachers not only needed to be trained to work with children, but also have education degrees.

Girdie’s husband, H.G., helped out any way he could, even upgrading the playground by designing his own jungle gym equipment with the help of OSU’s engineering tech program.

Their daughter, Ramona Paul, earned her degree at OSU and later became assistant state superintendent, helping the CDL become a true child development program.

“The support from Dean Talbot and Dr. Messenger to experiment and try new things created the basis for what the CDL has become,” Bob said. “I think it speaks to that strong foundation for the CDL to still be so highly regarded 100 years later.”

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LAYING THE FOUNDATION

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S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 31

VALUING CHILDREN

The OSU students who learned from their experiences observing and working at the CDL have made a wide impact in Oklahoma and beyond.

In the early 1970s, Anita Schlaht attended OSU to study early childhood education. She inherited a love of children from her mom, Donna Edwards, who experienced the CDL herself in the mid 1940s — both as a student and a teacher after graduating.

Edwards later became a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and played an integral role in starting its own Child Study Center. The program was significantly modeled on the CDL’s success and has helped Oklahoma produce even more well-prepared teachers for its schools.

“My mom raised my brothers and me with the same philosophy she took to teaching,” Schlaht said. “She gave us lots of different experiences, watching to see what our talents and interests were and then being really supportive of those. She had such a dedication to children.”

Although Schlaht didn’t finish her degree at OSU, she learned more during two years in Stillwater than she did in four years at other institutions.

She spent hours in the screenedoff observation areas in the back of the classrooms, watching children at play. It was a much different experience than the modern observation booths, which are elevated spaces that utilize one-way glass.

Schlaht picked up countless tips and tricks that she still uses to this day. Most of all, she developed the core value that children need to learn through play. Throughout her career in education, she focused on creating comfortable environments where children would thrive.

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She started her own preschool, taught kindergarten, worked for a school-based nonprofit and created curriculum for children’s programs at a museum. Her 1974 poem, “Just Playing,” went international.

Schlaht’s classrooms were built on the lessons she learned at OSU and the CDL. That formula has set countless children up for success, becoming everything from doctors to lawyers a nd athletes, including g ymnast a nd 7-time Olympic meda list Sha nnon Miller.

“To be in education, you need to value children, their uniqueness, their differences, their energy and creativity,” Schlaht said. “If they learn to love learning, they are going to make it. They become lifelong learners, and that just sets them up for success.

“I learned so much from my teachers and peers at OSU that were just invaluable. The commitment to allowing students to be active in the program is huge.”

The concept of learning through play is called developmentally appropriate practice. April Stobbe, another CDL alumna, said the idea was drilled into them from day one.

Throughout the CDL’s history, much has changed, but the philosophy remains the same.

“I used absolutely every single thing I learned there at my job right out of college,” Stobbe said. “I think it says a lot for the university to have supported the program for that long and for it to continue to grow, both in the research side and the education side.”

MAINTAINING A FIRST-CLASS PROGRAM In 2006, Stobbe’s parents, C.L. and Helen Craig, made a naming gift to establish the lab as the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory. The facility underwent a $1 million upgrade, while additional renovations were made in 2017, expanding to four total classrooms and providing a new outdoor learning environment.

C.L. said it has been extremely gratifying to look back and see the impact graduates have had on the children of Oklahoma.

“Early childhood education is generally overlooked, but it’s proven to be very important,” he said. “Aside from helping local kids, of course, the idea is to send that expertise out into the whole state.”

Thanks in large part to the Craigs’ generosity, the CDL has the capacity to enroll 71 children. Its services are so highly regarded and in such high demand that more than 250 individuals remain on the waitlist.

Over the years, the Craigs established multiple scholarships for student teachers and also fund a music therapy program at the CDL. They, along with several others, are early champions of the CDL’s centennial fundraising efforts, which has a goal to raise $1 million.

Private support will help update classrooms and spaces, hire and retain qualified staff and maintain the high-quality education that has become synonymous with the program.

“Early childhood professionals are one of the lowest paid within the educational system,” said Helen, a former college student of Girdie Ware at OSU. “That just shows why it’s even more important to give to this area because it, without a doubt, takes a boost from other people to make it all work.”

With the help of eight teaching assistants, five certified teachers lead the classrooms each week, and more than 50 college students spend time in the lab observing, interning or earning clinical hours.

The CDL holds accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is an Oklahoma State Department of Education Accredited Non-Public School. It has been rated as a five-star child care facility by the state of Oklahoma and its Department of Human Services as of December 2022.

The lab strives to offer an inclusive learning environment for all children, providing the same opportunities to kids with learning disabilities.

“Having a diversified classroom is wonderful,” Helen said. “For one thing, it’s great for the special needs children to get to be in normal situations. But it’s also good for the other kids to learn how to include them and how to treat those people.”

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THE NEXT CLASS Weather permitting, the children go outside to play often. Indoors, they are exposed to a wide variety of activities, giving them a chance to discover their interests. Some of the kids already have big aspirations.

In the 4-year-old classroom, Emma S. enjoys reading and wants to be a doctor, while Yatheesha C. plans to help people in other ways, dreaming of becoming Spider-Man. Clara R. doesn’t know what her future holds, but she has plenty of time to figure it out.

Margaret Napier, a teacher at the CDL for 24 years, loves to see kids improve and do things they

couldn’t do before. No matter what the children end up becoming, “Ms. Margaret” hopes to always recognize them.

“Being here for so long, sometimes I’ll see kids who were in my class at CDL grow up and graduate from either high school or OSU … and even though they’re all grown up, I can still see their little faces in them,” Napier said.

On April 6, the CDL held its 100th birthday party on Willard Lawn featuring bounce houses and carnival games. This fall, it will host a CDL Centennial tailgate during football season.

SCAN THE QR CODE to share your story with us about how the CDL has impacted you!

To find out how you can make a gift to leave your mark on the CDL’s 100th anniversary, visit OSUgiving.com or contact Sheri Carter at scarter@ osugiving.com or 405-612-9637.

KIDS’ FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE “NOODLES AND CEREAL”

TYNSLEY D., AGE 3 CHEF CORBIN AND THE REST OF THE KITCHEN STAFF SERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF BALANCED MEALS, WHICH ARE EATEN IN A FAMILYSTYLE SETTING.

“CENTERS”

CLARA R., AGE 4 IN THE AGE 4-5 CLASSROOM, STUDENTS ROTATE THROUGH DIFFERENT STATIONS AROUND THE SPACE THAT EACH OFFER A UNIQUE ACTIVITY.

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“BRIDGE”

WILL A., AGE 3 THE BRIDGE IS A POPULAR PLAYGROUND FEATURE THAT CHILDREN RUN ACROSS AND USE TO PLAY DIFFERENT GAMES.

A Oklahoma State Full Pete Orange/White Crewneck S-XXL | $50 B Cowboys Stillwater Ombre Hoodie S-XXL | $50 C Infant Lampoon Set 0-18m | $40 D Nike Long Sleeve Max90 Heritage Tee S-3XL | $45 E 1890 Bar Tee S-XXL | $24.95 F Oklahoma State Rock & Roll Waist Length Tee S-XL | $38 G Camino Camp Shirt S-3XL | $65 H Russ Short Sleeve Active Blend Tee S-3XL | $28

I Cowboys Waist Length Short Sleeve Tee S-XL | $36 J Oklahoma State Cowboys Danbury Crop Tee S-XL | $30 K Pistol Pete Animated Plush $45.95 L Full Pete Black Racer Back Tank S-XL | $28 M Toddler Harrington Tee & Short Set 2T-5T | $40 N Stack OSU Cowboys Short Sleeve Tee S-XXL | $25.95 O Grand Slam Baseball Hoodie S-XXL | $72.95 P Power Play Crew Neck S-XXL | $72.95

ALUMNI A S S O C I AT I O N

T

2024

he Oklahoma State University Alumni Association honored four new members of the OSU Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Feb. 2 in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Calvin J. Anthony, Gary C. Clark, Harold T. Holden and Dr. Dennis R. White all received the university’s highest honor.

The award celebrates outstanding lifetime achievement in society and professional life.

WATCH THE EVENT Visit okla.st/HOF2024 to watch the induction video for each honoree and the full ceremony.

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STORY JILLIAN REMINGTON | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

CALVIN J.

Anthony Calvin J. Anthony attended OSU and played baseball before entering the University of Oklahoma’s College of Pharmacy program, earning an advanced degree with honors three years later.

He owned Tiger Drug Company in Stillwater for 47 years and expanded the business to the surrounding communities of Perkins, Yale and Perry. Anthony and his wife, Linda, also operated and owned a medical supply company for 10 years. Before his retirement in 2016, Anthony mentored and employed dozens of pharmacy students during his four decades of business, transferring each location to a graduating pharmacist who had worked with him.

Anthony has been highly involved in the Stillwater community, serving on the boards for numerous organizations, including chairman of Stillwater Savings Bank, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, OSU Alumni Association and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

He was elected mayor of Stillwater in 1985 and to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1992. While serving in the Legislature, Anthony chaired the joint committee tasked with solving funding issues related to the OU College of Medicine and Oklahoma Memorial Hospital. Years later, while serving as a regent for OSU, he would be called upon again to help solve similar issues regarding the OSU Center for Health Sciences teaching hospital in Tulsa.

Following his time in office, the Anthonys transitioned to Washington, D.C., where he served as chief executive officer for the National Community Pharmacist Association, representing 24,000 pharmacies and 70,000 pharmacists nationwide. For two years, Anthony chaired Pharmintercom, an international pharmacy organization of all the Englishspeaking countries in the world.

Anthony’s honors include Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, induction into the Stillwater Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He was presented with the Calvin J. Anthony Leadership in Pharmacy award named in his honor by the National Community Pharmacists Association for dedication to his profession. Anthony served for two terms on the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, including as chair for three years. He also served on the Stillwater Medical Center Board of Trustees for 18 years.

The Anthonys have been married for 55 years and live in Stillwater. They have three children, all OSU alumni, and eight grandchildren. He is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“In 1963, after enrolling at OSU to play baseball and finding myself running wind sprints in the old dirt track in the basement of Gallagher Hall, I would have never believed for the next 60 years, Stillwater would be my home. But it was, and I am so thankful for that.”

C A LV I N J . A N T H O N Y

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 37

GARY C.

Clark Gary C. Clark graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 1969 and a master’s degree in agricultural education in 1972. While on campus, Clark was recognized as an OSU Top Ten Senior in 1969.

After graduating, Clark worked in agricultural education at Laverne Public Schools in Oklahoma for one year before serving in the U.S. Army. He then attended the University of Texas School of Law, where he graduated with honors in 1975.

While in private law practice in Tulsa, Clark was an active member of the Tulsa County and Oklahoma bar associations. He served as president of the Tulsa County Bar Association from 1993-94 and as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2002. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and member of the American Law Institute. Clark is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Trusts and Estates).

Clark served as a member of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents from 1993-2001, serving as chair from 1997-98. He was vice president and general counsel for the OSU Foundation from 2004-08, where he worked over 18 months negotiating the purchase of 275 tracts of land that make up the Athletic Village. In 2008, Clark was hired by President Burns Hargis to work with him at OSU. He retired in 2021 as senior vice president and general counsel.

In 1996, Clark was selected as the Outstanding Senior Lawyer of the Tulsa County Bar Association and received the first TCBA Distinguished Service Award, which was then named in his honor. The Oklahoma Bar Association has recognized him with its President’s Award, the John Shipp Award for Ethics and the Joe Stamper Distinguished Service Award. He was honored with the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003 and as a Ferguson College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumnus in 2023.

Clark and his wife of 54 years, Jane, have two children. He is a life plus member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“More than a third of my life has been closely associated with Oklahoma State University.

So many wonderful life-changing events have come from that association.”

GARY C. CLARK

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HAROLD T.

Holden Harold T. Holden attended OSU for one year before attending the Texas Academy of Art in 1961. He then pursued a career in the commercial art field.

Primarily known as a cowboy artist, Holden captured the West in sculptures and paintings for more than 50 years. His works can be found across Oklahoma and beyond, from the Oklahoma State Capitol to a United States postage stamp. His 25th public sculpture — a monument of Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton — will be placed on the OSU campus in 2024. This will be Holden’s fourth monument for OSU preceded by the “We Will Remember” Kneeling Cowboy, Barry Sanders and T. Boone Pickens.

In 2001, Holden received the Governor’s Art Award from then Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Sculpture Society. He received the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 and was elected to membership in the Cowboy Artists of America in 2012.

In 2014, Holden was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and in 2017, he was the first Oklahoma artist to be inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. He was the recipient of the James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award at the 2020 Prix de West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and received the Ray Swanson Award at the 2020 Cowboy Artists of America Show.

Holden was known for his attention to detail, particularly regarding the horses he sculpted and painted. He enjoyed team roping in his free time, and along with his cousin, Jeff Holden, he raised and raced quarter horses. He attributed his love for horses to his father, and his art career was encouraged early on by his grandfather, George E. Failing.

Holden died in December 2023 after a long fight with lung disease. He was 83.

Holden lived with his wife, Edna Mae, near Kremlin, Oklahoma. Harold was a member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“H loved that this university is agriculture related and that the mascot is a real cowboy. Our connection to OSU through H’s sculptures and the friends we have made is very special to our family.”

EDNA M A E HOLDEN

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

DENNIS R.

White Dr. Dennis R. White graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1964 and a master’s degree in animal nutrition in 1969. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from Texas A&M University in 1972.

While at OSU, White was a member of Block and Bridle, Ag Council, the OSU Livestock Judging team and Phi Kappa Phi. He was also a member and president of Alpha Zeta.

Following his graduation from Texas A&M, he started his career at the university as a beef cattle specialist. White later served as director of feeder services for the American National Cattlemen’s Association. He was employed by Elanco Animal Health from 1978 until his retirement in 2001. During his career with Elanco, he served in both the marketing and research divisions. White and his family then returned to his hometown of Ninnekah, Oklahoma, to expand their ongoing partnership in stocker cattle with White Bros.

Cattle Co. Inc. In 2007, White received the Ferguson College of Agriculture’s Distinguished Alumni Award and was awarded the Graduate of Distinction Award by the OSU Department of Animal Science in 1997. He was also awarded the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.

He served as chairman for the American Society of Animal Science’s Extension Program Committee, director of the Feeder Council of the American National Cattlemen Association and a non-resident fellow of the Noble Foundation. He is a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and served as an associate director-at-large for the American Society of Agricultural Consultants.

White served as president of the OSU Animal Science Alumni Association, was a member of the Ferguson College of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Committee and was chairman of the steering committee for the Totusek Endowed Chair. He has served as an OSU Foundation Board of Trustees member and is on the Board of Governors.

After retiring from the cattle company in 2017, White and his wife, Marta, moved to Stillwater where they continue to reside. He enjoys honing his skills in woodworking while continuing to stay involved with the university.

White is a life plus member of the OSU Alumni Association.

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“While at OSU I learned a lot, developed skills, and achieved the confidence that enabled me to compete successfully with my career in animal science.”

DENNIS R . WHITE

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SAFE SPACE AEROSPACE LEADERS EXPLORE SAFETY CONCERNS AND SOLUTIONS SURROUNDING THE RISE OF COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT

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STORY SHANNON RIGSBY | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND UNSPLASH

I

n the 1960s, the world watched as the exploration of the vast frontier of space suddenly seemed within reach.

And Tulsa played a significant role.

Jim Bridenstine, former NASA director, said Tulsa’s history with space exploration is rich — from supplying parts for the Saturn rockets to the mechanical arms on the Space Shuttle — and it began the day after President John F. Kennedy told the nation that the United State should “commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.”

“The day after, right here in the city of Tulsa, we had the first Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Conference,” Bridenstine said. “Wernher Von Braun, renowned leader of the National Aviation and Space Administration, and the Americans and German American engineers tasked with getting us to the moon descended on Tulsa. The Soviet scientists also came to Tulsa and together they talked about how space could be utilized in a peaceful way for humanity.”

Once again, leaders in space exploration from around the world descended on Tulsa in January with a common goal: to make space travel safe for everyone, including civilians.

The demand for commercial spaceflight is growing exponentially, and while technological developments have continued to advance on the shoulders of previous missions and discoveries, commercial spaceflight represents a new frontier where critical questions regarding human health and safety have yet to be answered.

Oklahoma State University welcomed global aerospace leaders Jan. 23 and 24, at the Human Research Program for Civilians in Spaceflight and Space Habitation (HRP-C) Conference to explore those questions and potential solutions.

The event was hosted by OSU’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) and the LaunchPad Center at the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus. The workshop — under the banner of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) — included leaders from NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, commercial space companies, astronauts, and researchers from around the globe including Italy and Nigeria. The workshop provided a forum to discuss the health, safety and performance of

“THE DAY AFTER [JFK’S SPACE SPEECH], RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF TULSA, WE HAD THE FIRST PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE CONFERENCE.” – JIM BRIDENSTINE, FORMER NASA DIRECTOR

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

U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas, who serves as chairman of the House Committee for Science, Space and Technology, speaks at the IAASS Workshop in January.

civilians living and working in space in an exhaustive two-day conference.

Dr. Michael Marge — vice chair for the IAASS workshop planning committee and longtime scientific leader in health care advocacy at the National Institutes for Health, Health and Human Services, and NASA — said humanity is on the cusp of an exponential increase in space exploration as more private companies enter the commercial space race.

That increase means more civilians will have access to frontiers that once belonged exclusively to astronauts in perfect health. Marge said more than 50% of the U.S. population has one or more chronic health conditions, from diabetes to kidney disease, and civilians will be bringing their health conditions and disease processes with them to space.

“The proposal that prompted the workshop was developed over months during think-tank sessions with spaceflight experts, scientists, spaceflight providers, medical experts and space agency representatives,” Marge said. “The conference presented a comprehensive program of research that we think will identify potential problems that humans face in space so that we can find countermeasures to reduce the risk and make it possible for

44 S P R I N G 2 0 24

them to go into space with good health, safety and comfort.”

Bridenstine said the hazards of long-duration spaceflight — from bone and muscle loss to blood clots and sometimes permanent changes in eyesight — have become evident as astronauts have spent more continuous time in space. And yet, researchers are uncovering new possibilities for revolutionary HIV and cancer treatments as well as growing human tissue in microgravity conditions.

“What we’re doing here is critically important for what we do as a nation and quite frankly as a globe as we move humanity off the Earth,” he said.

“And it’s not just NASA astronauts — it’s not people in great physical shape.

Everyone is flying into space. We have had 90 people fly in space who are not professional astronauts. For the commercial human spaceflight era we are entering, we have to take steps now to do it right.”

The idea of civilians traveling to and eventually living in space is relatively new, and the workshop is the first of its kind. Leaders provided information on risks to the human body in spaceflight, possible measurements for targeted research, the creation of data repositories so everyone can benefit and countermeasures to

improve health and safety of civilians in space.

Dr. James D. Polk, chief health and medical officer for NASA, is triple board-certified as an osteopathic doctor, an emergency medical doctor and a flight surgeon specializing in aerospace medicine, and he recently earned his doctorate of education in applied education studies with an option in aviation and space education at OSU. He stressed that it’s critical that an individual’s medical pathology is known and taken into account before they’re sent to space. Although NASA’s business is exploration and not the oversight of spaceflight outside the agency, NASA has made their astronaut selection standards available online as a resource for commercial spaceflight.

“The thing we worry about in commercial spaceflight isn’t that you’re going to fly more pathologies,” Polk said to the attendees. “The thing is to make sure you know the pathology you’re going to fly, how it’s going to interact and how it’s going to behave in microgravity.”

Thomas Marshburn, a former NASA astronaut and current chief medical officer at Sierra Space, spent 337 days in space and is the oldest person to perform a space walk at 61

years of age. He outlined physical and mental changes that afflicted him in space that need to be considered when opening space to civilians. He was followed by medical experts like Dr. Jeffrey Jones of the Baylor College of Medicine; Dr. Bettina Beard of NASA; and Dr. Lori Ploutz-Snyder with the University of Michigan who tackled phenotyping as it relates to humans in space, physiologically, behaviorally and morphologically, respectively.

Dr. Michael Schmidt, Sovaris Space CEO and chief scientific officer, said the question is how to optimize gathering data to provide the greatest benefit. While the HRP-C has no regulatory role, the data gathered could be useful for companies working to commercialize space.

“It’s not the job of the HRP-C to decide who flies in space,” Schmidt said. “The HRP-C is really about how do we do the best possible kinds of research, generating extensive amounts of data and doing so in an unburdenedsome way. … This is really the foundation of how we’re building a program that’s going to be able to serve the entire industry if we all agree this is the way to go forward.”

Dr. Melchor Antuñano, director of the FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, outlined many lingering issues for commercial spaceflight from age of consent and malpractice insurance for physicians who screen spaceflight participants to whether heart rate is a data point that needs to be collected since it naturally varies.

“The question is which variables are really important where we’ll have actionable information you can do something about,” he said. “We need to pay attention to not only what we measure and collect but how are we going to use that information and for what purpose.”

Congressman Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Committee for Science, Space and Technology, said his top priority as chair is to ensure American competitiveness and leadership in the fields of research and technology development, which includes space exploration and commercialization.

Dr. Jamey Jacob, executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, speaks at the IAASS Conference in January.

“I can assure you that the science committee will strongly support our human exploration efforts as part of the Artemis program,” Lucas said. Artemis is NASA’s return to the moon program.

“An important component of space exploration is continuing research on the International Space Station, which engages in human health research in lower Earth orbit. This research is vital. As we return our astronauts to the moon, and on to Mars, it will also benefit the commercial space sector as well.”

Dr. Jamey Jacob, executive director of OAIRE, said the workshop was a

critical step in the effort to advance human spaceflight.

“This is the first of many meetings on commercial spaceflight OAIRE will be hosting through the auspices of the LaunchPad Center,” Jacob said. “Oklahoma has a long history in spaceflight, and we look forward to supporting future collaborations connecting industry and OSU’s innovation expertise as part of our journey to the stars.”

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

L A S T I N G I M A G E

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PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Shockley retires after 19 years as university photographer Phil Shockley loved all things cars growing up, especially dragsters. On several occasions during his childhood, his family would drive from their home in Fresno, California, to Bakersfield for the March Meet drag races.

Twelve-year-old Shockley took his Instamatic camera to one of the events and attempted to capture the lightningfast machines as they streaked down the strip. When he got the developed pictures back, disappointment hit hard.

Instead of crisp, vivid images, he was met with vast expanses of emptiness, with only teeny-tiny cars in the frame.

Little did he know that desire to get better car photos would turn into a passion and eventually, a career.

From that moment, Shockley set out to improve his photography skills by learning all he could and obtaining better equipment.

At 31, Shockley got serious and enrolled in Brooks Institute of Photography, a professional photography program in Santa Barbara, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in advertising/illustration photography. This led to positions with various companies in addition to plenty of freelance work.

One day, Shockley received a phone call from a classmate aware he was looking for an opportunity to expand his photography career, so he packed his bags and headed east.

In 2005, Shockley moved halfway across the country to be Oklahoma State University’s photographer — where his world turned orange. He went on to photograph many iconic Cowboy moments, from Thurman Thomas’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame to President George W. Bush’s

commencement address as well as interviews with 101-year-old Melvin Welch, who sang Oklahoma’s original state song at the state’s centennial celebration in 2007.

In the last 19 years, Shockley has captured almost 40 commencements, 19 Homecomings, 43 STATE magazine covers and more event photos than he can count. Shockley said variety is what he enjoyed most about his job and is extremely grateful for the opportunities he’s been given.

“My biggest motivation comes from creating effective images that I like and that I’m proud of,” Shockley said.

In many cases, even before he picks up his camera, Shockley has already visualized the final image in his mind and determined how to get there.

“Being creative, I mean, that’s the fun part,” he said.

For Shockley, it always comes back to the people he gets to meet.

“As a photographer, on top of the creative and artistic aspect, you’ve got lighting and cameras settings and other technical details to work out,” Shockley said. “When photographing people, you have to make the person you’re photographing feel comfortable or the photos won’t look good. So, in a way, you’re part psychologist too and it’s that process where connections are made.”

Although Shockley retired on April 1, his career at OSU endures through his photos. And unlike those drag race images so long ago, these are a source of pride. Just like he likes them.

STORY SYDNEY TRAINOR | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

Pictured are some of Shockley’s favorite photos from his 19-year career at OSU.

2

1

3

5

4 6 1 Mendenhall observatory (2009) 2 Equestrian rider (2007) 3 Edmon Low Library (2018) 4 Boone Pickens (2006) 5 Melvin Welch (2008) 6 Importance of Being Earnest (2016) 7 Robert Miller (2007)

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7

9 8 Globe (2008) 9 Library sunrise (2005) 10 Sydney Weiser (2020) 11 Nancy Randolph Davis (2007) 12 The McKnight Center (2019) 13 Moh’d Bilbesi (2016) 14 Old Central (2006)

8 10

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

Oklahoma State University alumnae prepare for the 2024 Olympics in Paris: One as a potential four-time competitor and the other promoting Team USA

Paralympian’s Perseverance Mitchell looks to make fourth Paralympic Games 25 years after life-changing diagnosis

CASSIE MITCHELL has always found a way to adapt.

No matter what obstacle was placed in her way. No matter what new diagnosis she got from the doctor. No matter what age people are supposed to stop being Olympians, she doesn’t stop pursuing her ambitions.

If she did, her competitive career would have ended almost before it began, back when she was 18.

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STORY MAK VANDRUFF | PHOTOS MARCUS HARTMANN AND MARK REIS

RIO 2016

Track & Field Women’s Club Throw BRONZE Women’s Discus SILVER

TOKYO 2020

Track & Field Women’s Club Throw SILVER

Cassie Mitchell, a 2004 OSU chemical engineering alumna, has competed in the London, Rio and Tokyo Paralympics and is looking to make it to Paris in 2024.

First Diagnosis Mitchell grew up in Warner, Oklahoma, and played sports for her entire life.

She rode horses, winning world titles in Western speed events, like barrel racing. She even had a track scholarship to college in Missouri, but before she could even get on the campus blacktop, she became paralyzed.

In 1999, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Devic’s neuromyelitis optica, which causes painful muscle spasms and inflammation around the spinal cord and optic nerves.

Mitchell changed colleges, deciding on Oklahoma State University for its engineering program, eventually graduating in 2004 with a degree in chemical engineering.

But, when she first arrived as a freshman, she was still getting used to her wheelchair. One day, when she was making the trek to the engineering building, she was approached by Ken Lee, who was OSU’s wheelchair basketball coach. He asked her to attend the team’s practice; the rest soon became history.

“I became an All-American as a college wheelchair basketball athlete,” Mitchell said. “But as my disability progressed, it’s a progressive neurologic disability, I was not able to continue in basketball. I had to switch sports for something that would be better for someone who had impairments in all four limbs.”

Mitchell said she shot remarkably well while she was playing basketball, making 80% of her free throws and 42%

of her 3-point attempts. Everything is the same for wheelchair basketball as it is for traditional basketball, right down to the height of the rim, so she performed at a high level while seated.

Back when Mitchell was still playing basketball, she also met former men’s basketball coach and OSU legend Eddie Sutton.

“There was a lot of positive momentum for basketball during that time,” Mitchell said. “I actually have a basketball signed by Eddie Sutton that says, ‘Always have faith in God, yourself and the Cowboys.’ He signed that for me when I got the Goldwater Scholarship at Oklahoma State, and that happened at the same time I had gotten All-American for wheelchair basketball.”

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

“... ‘Never, never, never give up.’ It’s attributed to Winston Churchill. That is my message. It applies to everyone, it doesn’t matter whether you’re permanently disabled, or you just broke your leg and it’s temporary, or if you have a cancer diagnosis or if you’re just having a bad day.

You have to have a mindset that you’re not giving in.”

CASSIE MITCHELL, OSU ALUMNA AND PARALYMPIAN

First Olympics

New diagnosis, more Olympics

‘Never giving up’

Because her disease progressed, Mitchell was no longer able to shoot the basketball like she had been, and had to find a new sport.

She ended up choosing track and field and went to the London 2012 Paralympics. There, she won fourth place in each event she competed in: the women’s 100-meter, 200-meter and discus.

Originally, Mitchell was disappointed that she didn’t medal, but after getting off the subway, she had an experience with a fan that she said was one of the most memorable moments she’s had from competing in the Paralympics.

“A young kid in a wheelchair came up to me,” Mitchell said. “He knew my name, what kind of racing wheelchair I had and he just looked at me. Then he said, ‘I want to be just like you when I grow up.’ I melted, and I signed an autograph for him. It didn’t matter to him that I had just gotten fourth.”

Mitchell was amazed to realize the kind of impact she and other similar athletes were making on people’s lives around the world.

Mitchell’s original motivation to keep training came from wanting to stay fit, but now she says she is also driven by a love for her country. She wasn’t able to serve in the military but said she admires those who have, and being a part of the Paralympics gives her a chance to serve her country in a different way.

“To wear a USA uniform and have a flag on my chest, it’s just an amazing feeling,” Mitchell said.

Not only does Mitchell have a progressive neurologic disability, but she also has leukemia.

She’s been dealing with it since back in 2016 and continues to fight it today.

She said she remembers the London games fondly because of the exciting atmosphere and the thousands of fans, but the Rio Paralympics forced her to take more care.

“I had to be cautious because I was only a few months into chemo,” Mitchell said. “I had just gotten out of the hospital right before I went to the trials, and I had to pull myself out of the hospital for the Olympic trials and then go back for treatment. It had its own challenges, but I got my first medal.”

Her first medals in Rio were a bronze in the women’s club throw and a silver in the women’s discus. She also competed in swimming, where she got seventh place in the women’s 50-meter backstroke. In the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, she won a silver medal in the women’s club throw and fourth in the women’s discus.

Mitchell hasn’t won a gold medal yet, but she is working hard to pursue that goal for the Paris 2024 games.

“I am putting in the effort and the training, and I foresee myself being in medal condition for Paris 2024,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, no athlete is going to say their goal is to get the bronze. No, the goal is always to get the gold. That’s the goal. Nobody sets the bar lower.”

Although Mitchell, 42, recognizes that she’s getting older, she hopes to hold out for the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in 2028 so she can compete on U.S. soil.

On top of being a Paralympian, Mitchell also works as an associate professor in biomedical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She received graduate degrees in biomedical engineering from both universities.

Mitchell’s message to her students, others with disabilities and the world is to be thankful for what you have and never give up.

“I have in my house, in my office, in my research lab and basically everywhere a sign that says ‘Never, never, never give up,’” Mitchell said. “It’s attributed to Winston Churchill. That is my message. It applies to everyone, it doesn’t matter whether you’re permanently disabled, or you just broke your leg and it’s temporary, or if you have a cancer diagnosis or if you’re just having a bad day. You have to have a mindset that you’re not giving in.

“You can let yourself bask in the misery for a little bit, you know, that’s human, and believe me, I’m human. But you have to be able to pick yourself up and have the mental toughness to say, ‘I’m not giving in to this adversity.’”

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Scan the QR code to watch a video about Cassie Mitchell’s training for the Paris Olympics or go to okla.st/2024Olympics.

OSU alumna Hannah Schultz poses in front of the Olympic Rings at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Spreading the Word Schultz brings Olympians’ stories to the digital age HANNAH SCHULTZ , a graduate of Oklahoma State University’s sports media and strategic communications programs, is now at the forefront of American athletics as director of brand strategy for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. (USOPC) Schultz’s passion for sports was nurtured early. Hands-on internships with the OSU Athletics Department, former WNBA franchise Tulsa Shock and Oklahoma City Thunder solidified her career path. She said OSU’s supportive community and the School of Media and Strategic Communications

equipped her with the skills and confidence to pursue her dreams.

“My experiences with the sports media program exposed me to working professionally in sports so early, I feel like I had a leg up in breaking into the sports industry,” Schultz said.

“Oklahoma State also gave me wellrounded people skills.”

Now at the USOPC, Schultz focuses on revitalizing Team USA’s brand.

She emphasizes the Olympic and Paralympic movement’s core values: fostering unity and celebrating diversity through sports.

One of her job’s challenges is that Olympic viewership has declined, and navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape adds complexity. But

Schultz views these as opportunities to innovate and connect with fans in new ways.

“It’s challenging and really interesting and fulfilling to dive deeper into how these changes have affected the way we tell athletes’ stories and connect with fans,” Schultz said. “It’s both a challenge and an opportunity for us because the ultimate goal is to bring new fans in to support Team USA athletes. The changing landscape is going to continue, so we’re learning to be flexible and adjust our tactics where we need to.”

Her vision is to make Team USA a household brand. This involves showcasing athletes’ journeys and personalities beyond the games,

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 53

In this 2022 photo, Hannah Schultz visits Greece as part of her training with the International Olympic Academy.

making them relatable to fans of all backgrounds.

The upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 offer an exciting platform to re-engage fans. Schultz highlights the presence of spectators, the cultural richness of Paris and the potential to attract new audiences.

“The city of Paris is really excited to host these games, and they’ve been very welcoming to us,” Schultz said. “We’re thinking about planning experiences for fans and athletes, and we’re looking into different ways we can leverage the cultural aspects of Paris as it relates to the content and coverage of the games.”

Empowering athletes is also crucial for Schultz. She recognizes the power of individual stories and believes in supporting athletes to share their journeys and build their brands.

Schultz has a great enthusiasm for sports and a dedication to Team USA. She finds fulfillment in seeing her

54 S P R I N G 2 0 24

work come to life at events, supporting athletes and contributing to a brand that reflects the nation’s spirit and diversity.

“You can’t really compare Team USA to another team,” Schultz said.

“Team USA is more diverse than any professional or collegiate teams in the U.S. That’s something we’re really proud of, and we feel that Team USA is a representation and reflection of our nation. We feel this makes our team and brand relatable to anyone, whatever sport they like, whatever their background and heritage. If we’re showing up consistently, we’ll have a story that’s going to attract a new fan.”

For aspiring sports marketing professionals, Schultz’s advice is simple: seize opportunities and actively engage early. She said passion and dedication can pave the way to a fulfilling career in this field.

“I think a lot of people are always looking for the perfect job, title or position,” Schultz said. “But really, I

think you can wear a brand strategy hat in any role or opportunity that presents itself.”

Schultz originally played basketball and softball but decided she didn’t want to pursue sports long-term. She decided the next best thing would be working in the sports industry, which is what drove her to OSU. One of the things that pushes her to keep going in this profession is the opportunity to support U.S. athletes on the world’s largest stage.

“The stories across Team USA are ones that captivate you and bring you in,” Schultz said. “I never thought I would be a wrestling or goalball fan.

There really is so much to explore with Team USA. Even being on the inside, I’m learning something new every day.

I’m growing the variety of opportunities that I have, and it keeps me coming back for more.”

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EDUCATION EVERYWHERE FOR EVERYONE

OSU Cooperative Extension has served the state in many areas for 110 years

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STORY GAIL ELLIS AND SIERRA SCHUPP | PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA, TODD JOHNSON, THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND OSU UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

An OSU Extension family and consumer science specialist hosts a class on financial management for home and agricultural operations. Extension specialists have historically provided residents with research-based information to improve their lives and communities.

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very week, Sonya McDaniel drives over to Bethel Elementary from her office in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to meet with young, curious minds.

The Pottawatomie County Extension director, who also serves as the family and consumer sciences and 4-H educator for her local office, leads a development program called Character Critters for pre-K students as well as anti-bullying programs for first and second graders. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she visits the classroom of second grader Julianna Kuchynka with games and crafts.

“Mom always says there’s enough ugly in the world, and we need more people who are good and kind,” said Julianna, who participates in Cloverbuds, a program for the county’s youngest 4-H members.

Her mother, Caitlin Kuchynka, volunteers as a Bethel 4-H leader.

“I see how children are impacted when they are not raised to recognize each other’s differences,” Caitlin said. “Pottawatomie County OSU Extension and Bethel Public Schools go out of their way to encourage kindness. Extension does a great job of developing youth programs that get kiddos out and about in communities.”

With an office in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, OSU Extension educators are a model of community leadership. When educators learn of an opportunity to solve a problem or help residents of any age, they forge a path. Equipped with programs, community partners and OSU’s land-grant university resources, Extension employees are a county’s built-in advocate for health, safety, community and economic development, and agriculture.

“We are blessed in this state to have a system with educators in every county where communities have access to programming for both urban and rural populations,” said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “We must maintain that presence and continue to take the latest research and translate it for people as it relates to agricultural production, youth programs, health, STEM education and other areas imperative to today’s communities to enrich and improve the lives of Oklahomans.”

OSU Extension marks its 110th anniversary in 2024. When the federal government passed the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 to create a nationwide agricultural Extension service, OSU founded Oklahoma Cooperative Extension to teach, train and support families while advancing the state’s economy and agricultural industry.

The rich heritage of OSU Extension is grounded in the university’s origin as a land-grant institution.

The Land-Grant Trifecta The Morrill Act of 1862 granted federal lands on which to build public universities throughout the country to provide agriculture, military and engineering instruction to members of the working class.

In 1887, the Hatch Act authorized federal money to establish an agricultural experiment station that was directly connected to each state’s landgrant institution. Oklahoma’s experiment station was located on land that became Oklahoma A&M College in 1890.

With teaching and research components established by 1900, founding a Cooperative Extension service through the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 completed OSU’s land-grant trifecta. The Smith-Lever Act permanently authorized ongoing federal support for Extension services through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and required states to match federal funding with additional dollars to assist in state and county Extension efforts.

“Our educators live and work in communities where strong ties foster programming that is responsive to local needs,” said Dr. Damona Doye, associate vice president of OSU Extension. “At the same time, personal conversations help inform the larger OSU system about what emerging research or new educational programming could improve the quality of life for residents or boost a county’s economic growth.”

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Annie Peters Hunter (left) and Lula B. McCain (right) served as Home Demonstration educators in Okfuskee County. Hunter became the first federally appointed Home Demonstration woman educator in Oklahoma in 1912.

THE RICH HERITAGE OF OSU EXTENSION IS GROUNDED IN THE UNIVERSITY’S ORIGIN AS A LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION.

The Evolution of Extension

Family and Consumer Sciences

While the early days of Extension are often associated with grainy, black-and-white images of specialists visiting dusty fields on the Oklahoma prairie to offer farming advice, OSU Extension looks much different today.

Programming has evolved over decades, with digital resources and online courses to modernize and remain relevant in communities.

Educators are the heart of a county Extension office. Specializing in family and consumer sciences, agriculture and natural resources, economic development and 4-H youth development, these educators are liaisons between Oklahomans and OSU. “Extension is quickly adaptable to address timely or emerging issues with field experts, state and federal resources, and a large volunteer base,” Doye said.

One flagship program housed under the family and consumer sciences umbrella is the Community Nutrition Education Program.

In 2023, OSU Extension food and nutrition education courses reached more than 143,000 program participants and their family members, improving diet quality, physical activity, food resource management and food security.

Cushing Upper Elementary fourth grade students have participated in the Payne County Extension Cooking School for more than a decade.

The daylong experience teaches youth life skills in the kitchen, from food safety and meal prep to cooking and cleanup. In small groups, they cook a meal from start to finish and share their dishes with the entire class. At the end of the day, they take home a cookbook of the simple and tasty meals they learned to prepare.

“Cooking School requires the students to work together, and they are encouraged to taste all of the foods,” said Cushing Upper Elementary fourthgrade teacher Brandie Loftis. “They learn so much in that one day, and it changes the outlook on cooking for some kids. Some may cook for younger siblings in their household, or others may have to cook for themselves.”

An OSU Agriculture staff member harvests pecans with a tree shaker at the Cimarron Valley Research Station in Perkins, Oklahoma.

An Oklahoma 4-H member exits the show ring after exhibiting her market steer and winning a blue ribbon at the Tulsa State Fair.

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Health OSU Extension also encompasses community health efforts to help families improve their diet and adopt more active lifestyles.

Sandy Pogue is a retired teacher and member of the Oklahoma Home and Community Education organization through Stephens County Extension.

Founded in 1935 as home demonstration clubs, Oklahoma Home and Community Education provides emotional and financial well-being, leadership development and more to 3,200 members in all 77 counties.

Pogue sought her network of Extension resources for diabetes prevention tools and discovered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention curriculum Prevent T2, a program that changed her life. In October 2022, she and her mother began the yearlong Zoom series hosted

by Dr. Lauren Amaya, OSU Extension diabetes prevention specialist.

“I’m overweight, and I knew there was a chance in my later years that I would become diabetic if I didn’t do something about it,” Pogue said.

Weekly Zoom calls and program materials helped Pogue and other Prevent T2 participants increase energy, improve their overall mental health and regulate their diets.

Within the past two years, OSU Extension has also created pivotal new state specialist positions to help combat health disparities and address issues such as obesity, and opioid and substance use.

Other Extension efforts, such as the Co-Parenting for Resilience program operated in the OSU College of Education and Human Sciences, promote active parenting, caregiving education and mental health advocacy. Co-Parenting for Resilience has served thousands of Oklahomans within the past year.

OSU students participate in a MyPlate Education cooking class hosted by Pete’s Pantry and educators from the OSU Extension Community Nutrition Education Program.

Trinity Brown, Pawnee County family and consumer sciences educator, (right) supervises a participant in one of her canning food preservation workshops.

4-H Youth Development Oklahoma’s award-winning 4-H youth development program is nationally known for its service projects and innovative student leaders.

Oklahoma 4-H enrolls more than 12,500 members and reaches 175,800 youth across the state.

Participants excel in STEM activities, livestock exhibition, leadership development, nutrition and health skill competitions, outdoor sports and activities, and character enrichment.

“One of the foundational parts of 4-H is how it helps you train for the heart of service,” said former Grady County 4-H member Keely Ratcliff. “It’s so easy to focus on yourself, but life is about loving people, enjoying relationships and learning about the gifts you have for service.”

Ratcliff developed a passion for health and fitness projects in 4-H that eventually called her to a career in medicine. Now 26, she is a team physician assistant for OSU Athletics and will soon see patients at the OSU Family and Sports Medicine clinic in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

“I learned how to communicate and care about people. 4-H taught me how to do that in a practical way — to connect and help others,” she said.

Steve Beck, Oklahoma 4-H assistant director and state program leader, said the positive youth development concepts and hands-on life skill instruction help children and teens take clear and intentional steps toward adulthood.

“We know that our youth are two times more likely to participate in healthy activities and be civically engaged, and they are four times more likely to be involved in community service than youth involved in other activities outside of school,” he said.

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“OUR STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT RURAL AND URBAN AREAS THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA FOR ANOTHER 110 YEARS AND BEYOND.”

DR. DAMONA DOYE

(Above) Leo Perez, coordinator of the OSU Extension High Obesity Program (right), helps Muskogee County residents select fresh produce at an OSU Mobile Market event in downtown Haskell, Oklahoma. (Below) Children and youth, including 7-year-old Elias Mattox-Wilburn of Stillwater, explore insects and entomology during an OSU Extension Insect Adventure open house at The Botanic Garden at OSU.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension systems across the country are traditionally associated with agriculture, and in a state like Oklahoma, the agriculture industry is a primary driver of economic development.

From livestock and crops to horticulture and wildlife, OSU Extension was founded on the prospect of advancing rural enterprise. Today’s OSU Extension agriculture state specialists and educators are on call with information and firsthand experience to answer questions about financial record keeping, broadband internet service, wheat disease, raising livestock and more.

Signature programs within OSU Extension’s agriculture division include Master Gardener, Master Cattleman and Master Irrigator certifications rooted in research-based curricula designed to enhance participants’ proficiency in their area of specialty.

Kenny Wilson, a 58-year-old rancher in southeast Oklahoma, completed the OSU Extension Master Cattleman certification three years ago and said his cow-calf operation has benefited from the education through stronger quality control and higher market premiums.

“I’ve combined the ranching methods I was taught as a kid to the modern ways I’ve learned in later years,” Wilson said. “I knew I needed somebody to tell me what I should be doing with my herd and back it up with the reasons why I should be doing it that way.”

Working with experts at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, OSU Extension is a base for anyone involved in agriculture, including grape growers, pecan farmers, beekeepers, backyard poultry owners, wheat producers and cattle ranchers.

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Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur said agriculture has been essential in supporting families and building businesses in Oklahoma for more than a century, and OSU Extension has made much of that possible.

“OSU Extension has been a mainstay of Oklahoma agriculture for generations, providing information and tools to move our industry forward in all four corners of our state and every community in between,” Arthur said. “From increasing efficiency and productivity in the field or feedlot, to developing future ag and community leaders, to helping families thrive, the OSU Extension network has positively impacted every Oklahoman in some way.”

Timeless relationships formed in the early days of Extension are still prominent in today’s culture of programming and educational opportunities. In the future, OSU Agriculture hopes to add even more educators, resources and programs that advance the lives of residents statewide.

“Our strength in community programming will continue to impact rural and urban areas throughout Oklahoma for another 110 years and beyond,” Doye said.

THE COWBOY WAY

When the Oklahoma State University Extension office in Oklahoma County relocated to Northeast 63rd Street in Oklahoma City, LaDonna Hines envisioned a dream.

EXTENSION

The new location was a food desert, and she wanted to address the issue by establishing a farmers market. It took time to piece the puzzle together, but that dream became a reality in 2022.

Hines’ educational background as a registered dietitian, coupled with the expertise of other Extension educators in the Oklahoma County office, helps the Eastside Farmers Market meet a critical need by providing fresh, healthy food to residents. From May through October, the market is a welcoming site for consumers and producers interested in sharing their produce.

Hines’ Extension career spans more than two decades. She began as a Community Nutrition Education Programs area coordinator in 2001 and was one of the first registered dietitians hired

by OSU Extension. She later served as a family and consumer sciences/4-H Youth Development educator, and for the past 14 years, Hines has served as the Extension director in Oklahoma County.

“My favorite thing about being county director is that I have the opportunity to work in all program areas,” she said. “This helps me relate to things my educators are facing so we can work together to not only meet their needs as professionals, but also the needs of the people we serve.”

Hines has been instrumental in securing more than $7 million in grants and external funding to provide additional programming that enhances the lives of Oklahoma County families. She has helped educators foster impactful partnerships that benefit Extension and its constituents.

“I want my educators to be successful. I hope my leadership helps them bring out their best,” she said. “I work to be a leader who is down in the trenches motivating them so that together we can make our community a better place.”

Her many accolades include the 2022 Distinguished Educator Award she received from OSU Extension, but she credits a successful career to her dedicated coworkers and the passion she has for helping others.

“Serving the people of Oklahoma and providing programming that has such a positive impact not only in Oklahoma County but also across the state, is such a rewarding career,” Hines said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

STORY TRISHA GEDON | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

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EXTENSION

Every 4-H Clover Has a STEM

Youth organization teaches kids more than just agriculture

Logan County 4-H’er Shawn Ferrell learns more about STEM by designing projects on his 3-D printer. All 4-H projects feature elements of STEM.

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klahoma’s first 4-H members gathered in a small Johnston County town to explore innovative ways to increase crop yields.

More than a century later, the past meets the present in traditional programming with a modern twist.

Although 4-H is known for its agriculture projects, it continues to broaden its reach and meet the needs of youth by incorporating STEM programming.

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STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — when combined with the four Hs of 4-H — head, heart, hands and health — creates empowering hands-on learning opportunities for club members and reflects the ever-changing landscape of today’s job market.

“I see STEM everywhere I look,” said Kelly Wardlaw, Oklahoma 4-H Youth Development STEM specialist. “STEM has a place in the more than 60 projects

available in 4-H. If a 4-H’er is sewing a shirt, they need to know how to measure. For those who enjoy cooking, everything we do in the kitchen is chemistry. Agriculture, art, soil science, photography, gardening — it all involves STEM.” Wardlaw said STEM teaches youth skills and critical thinking applications they can use throughout their lives.

“In science, we learn more when we’re wrong than when we’re right,”

STORY TRISHA GEDON | PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA AND ROBERT SEALE

Left: Members of Team OKC work on their robot in Houston at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in April.

Right: Charramaiyne Brown uses block coding to program a micro:bit pocket-sized computer during the 4-H Youth Innovate Summit.

The micro:bit introduces youth to how software and hardware work together.

Wardlaw said. “When we’re right, we confirm what we already know, but when we’re wrong, we learn new information and use critical thinking skills to figure it out. Through hands-on learning opportunities in 4-H, youth are provided a safe environment where they can fail and try again.”

One way Oklahoma 4-H is educating youth about STEM is through outreach initiatives such as the 4-H Innovate program. Club members in eighth through 12th grade recently participated in the 2024 Innovate Youth Leadership Summit where they were trained to teach STEM-related workshops in their communities.

Each participant, known as a STEM Innovator, completed the workshop and learned how to replicate it to teach others. The innovators will present the workshops in schools, summer library programs and daycare centers.

“This is a great program because Oklahoma youth are exposed to STEM activities, and the innovators are gaining experience in life skills such as public speaking, organization and time management,” Wardlaw said.

“The innovators also develop positive working partnerships with adults who mentor them as they prepare and present the workshops.”

In 2023, 14 innovators reached 4,271 youth members through educational workshops and helped spark a greater interest in STEM activities.

Tulsa County 4-H STEM Innovator Joslyn O’Daniel said her involvement

has provided opportunities she wouldn’t have had otherwise. She served as assistant captain and head programmer on a 4-H FIRST FTC robotics team that won the Oklahoma State University FIRST FTC Innovate Award.

“As a 4-H STEM Innovator, the plethora of events to educate others, specifically children, has built lifelong skills in leadership and public speaking,” O’Daniel said. “When we can break down, explain or demonstrate scientifically and mathematically challenging principles so others can understand, that is when we succeed.”

Cody Yount, an Oklahoma County 4-H educator, said Team OKC has participated in the FIRST Robotics World Championships since it was established three years ago. The senior level team traveled to Houston for the competition this year, and Yount said the 4-H club gives students interested in robotics an outlet to show their skills.

“All of these kids competing at this high level have been doing robotics since they were 6 years old,” he said.

“They have grown up on it. For a lot of them, it really is like a team sport. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Loren Sizelove, Beaver County OSU Extension educator, is exposing club members to STEM through drone technology. Sizelove, a self-proclaimed technology hobbyist, started with Lego robotics and moved on to microprocessors to acquaint 4-H’ers with programming.

“I’m trying to introduce our young people to a job or life skill that will hopefully keep them in rural Oklahoma.

Kids tend to move away from here once they graduate from high school,” Sizelove said. “Drones are a lot of fun to fly, but the technology can be applied to numerous jobs, including agriculture.

Farmers and ranchers use drones to check livestock, map fields and even determine crop stress. Also, drones are increasingly being used by real estate agents and insurance adjustors, which are great careers.”

Wardlaw said STEM comes naturally to youth in today’s world of advanced technology, and they love being able to share what they know.

“Participating in STEM activities is a positive environment for everyone involved,” she said. “There is so much collaboration when club members are teaching one another how to do things.

New things are being discovered all the time, and 4-H’ers get to be part of it.”

4-H is historically known for its youth instruction, and STEM broadens all those possibilities, said Steve Beck, state 4-H program leader.

“Empowering our youth with STEM education is like giving them the keys to unlock their full potential in tomorrow’s workforce. It’s not just about rockets and robots — it’s about fostering curiosity, critical thinking and innovation,” Beck said. “STEM is essential for shaping the leaders and problem-solvers of the future.”

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EXTENSION

2024

WILDFIRES

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In late February, the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles endured a series of spring wildfires that scorched over a million acres of land, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire — the largest on record in Texas. Oklahoma State University Extension county educators in western Oklahoma helped coordinate the donation of livestock supplies and other resources as producers began the recovery process.

PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA

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EXTENSION

Building Better Dads Extension program helps fathers learn parenting skills

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s 28-year-old Garfield County resident Tristen Goans sought custody of his 4-year-old daughter in 2023, he knew he needed to become more involved as a parent. He was still carrying a few tough memories from his childhood, and he was ready to heal.

“Because of my biological father, I never wanted to take things too far, and my ex-wife was more of the disciplinarian for our daughter,” he said.

Goans signed up for a free course he had learned about through his local Oklahoma State University Extension office called Strong Dads, a workshop designed to empower men with lifelong parenting knowledge, resources and friendships.

For the next three months, he attended a weekly, two-hour session focused on self-awareness and self-care; mental, physical and emotional health; parenting skills; the role of a father; and fostering a healthy relationship with children, spouses and co-parents. When he received custody of his daughter in February, Goans felt capable and inspired in his paternal role.

“If I need advice, I have people who are also parents that can help,” he said.

Goans graduated from the Garfield County class in December alongside Jim Lind, 54, who has two adult daughters and a 9-year-old son. As he endured a divorce, Lind said he knew his young son was watching.

“I’ve got a lifetime of parental experience behind me, but I think we can all be better parents,” he said.

“We’ve all cried and shed tears together.

It established a brotherhood of men going through the same things and gave me a support group.”

Strong Dads is currently offered in nine Oklahoma counties — Carter, Creek, Garfield, Kay, Muskogee, Oklahoma,

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Payne, Rogers and Tulsa. Oklahoma Human Services received $9 million in federal funding to support fatherhood services in 2023 and then partnered with OSU Extension to implement the Strong Dads curriculum, provided by the National Fatherhood Initiative.

The project is facilitated through OSU Extension’s Co-Parenting for Resilience and Fatherhood initiatives in the OSU College of Education and Human Sciences.

“Dads today have an increased role in caregiving, yet many programs cater to serving moms,” said Katey Masri, manager of the OSU Extension Co-Parenting for Resilience program.

“Strong Dads is unique in that it equips men with the self-awareness, compassion and sense of responsibility that every good parent needs.”

Matt Brosi, OSU Extension state specialist in human development and family science, said fathers often feel hopeless due to a poor relationship with their children’s mother, employment issues or being embedded in a social system that devalues their role as a father.

“Our goal is to help fathers build better relationships with their children by increasing their sense of self, mobilizing internal and external resources, and increasing their confidence and motivation to have a good relationship with their children,” Brosi said.

Varying in age and ethnicity from all walks of life, Strong Dads participants learn practical applications to contribute to society as responsible and compassionate fathers. Participants include community leaders, professors, military and public service veterans as well as fathers who are in recovery from addiction or have previously been incarcerated.

Carter County coordinator Eric Swenson said participants share a powerful goal.

“They want to change the trajectory of their children’s lives, and the only way to do that is to change their own,” Swenson said.

Greg Brungardt, Payne County coordinator, said the program provides fathers with specific parenting tools that help alleviate family stressors.

“These guys are mentally healthier and happier,” he said. “They have a more level baseline and are more comfortable with themselves now that they understand everybody else is in the same situation.”

Payne County Strong Dads graduate Moustapha Sanogo said the course was a deep dive into the essence of what it means to be a dad.

“It helps embrace your worth, map out your shortcomings and, most importantly, learn again to lift your head high after being weathered by societal judgments,” Sanogo said. “It reminds me of the power of community, understanding and love. I will forever cherish this experience and the profound impact it has had on my journey as a father.”

Due to the rapid growth of Oklahoma’s Hispanic population, workshops will soon be offered in Spanish as well. Enrollment is open and anyone in a fatherhood role is eligible to enroll in any county where the program is offered.

LEARN MORE about the program at strongdads.okstate.edu

STORY GAIL ELLIS | PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA

Moustapha Sanogo said the Strong Dads program gave him more confidence as a father.

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WELLNESS EXTENSION

Putting Down Roots

Horticulture Education Center celebrates grand opening at The Botanic Garden at OSU

The new Horticulture Education Center is located within The Botanic Garden at OSU.

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he Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University has a new feature springing up.

It’s not a f lower or plant, but rather a blossoming, evergreen facility that will serve as a hub for learning within the Stillwater community.

On Dec. 19, OSU celebrated the grand opening of the Horticulture Education Center, which was filled with more than 100 donors and friends of OSU Agriculture.

The 2,100-square-foot facility features a large classroom for student, faculty and community learning opportunities, as well as office space and restrooms.

“It’s another memorable milestone in the history of The Botanic Garden at OSU as we celebrate the grand opening of the Horticulture Education Center,” said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean Lou Anella, director of The Botanic Garden at OSU, spoke of OSU Agriculture. “This new center will further enhance participation in at the Horticulture Education horticultural activities at the garden Center grand opening.

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and ensure that OSU Agriculture’s legacy of community will continue to evolve for future generations.”

The $1.725 million project is a public-private partnership made possible with support from the OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, industry partners and individual contributions.

“The Botanic Garden does amazing work for both OSU and Stillwater as a whole, and this center will only amplify that,” said Blaire Atkinson, president of the OSU Foundation. “It’s a great example of how our donors’ passion and commitment can make an impactful difference.”

Donor support allowed the center to boast numerous special features. A generous gift from the Shamas Family Foundation funded a patio extension project, which provides a perfect outdoor space for learning opportunities.

“We’re dedicated to the Stillwater community and wanted to honor the Shamas and DeBenning

STORY GAIL ELLIS AND GRANT RAMIREZ | PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA

Left: Vice President and Dean of OSU Agriculture Jayson Lusk visits with guests at the Horticulture Education Center grand opening. Right: More than 100 donors and friends of OSU Agriculture filled the Horticulture Education Center to celebrate its grand opening.

legacy at OSU,” Annawyn DeBenning Shamas said. “This contribution to the Horticulture Education Center patio project is a tribute to the family’s commitment to education and love of gardening. It’s a promise to cultivate a vibrant future for generations to come.”

Located on the north side of State Highway 51 in Stillwater, the Horticulture Education Center is an off-campus, easily accessible site for community members, students, faculty and staff to visit.

Aligning with OSU’s land-grant mission, the Horticulture Education Center will serve the community by providing a much-needed space to share knowledge with youth and other community members about plants, gardening, sustainable practices and more.

“The center offers a comfortable experience for our guests and will be a great asset for the community,” said Lou Anella, director of The Botanic Garden. “We’re looking forward to increasing programming including children’s programs, Extension educator professional development, labs for OSU students and volunteer training. Twenty-one different college classes use the garden for educational purposes.”

The Horticulture Education Center’s programming schedule will also include other Master Gardener training sessions, Tuesday Gardening Series talks and community events throughout the year. The in-person instruction will enrich local horticulture involvement while promoting OSU horticulture degree options and career opportunities in the industry.

Shelley Mitchell, OSU Extension specialist, will office at the Horticulture Education Center, and she anticipates incorporating fun and spontaneous activities for youth.

A longtime horticulture instructor, Mitchell said the facility will allow her to better serve Oklahoma 4-H members, establish an afterschool teen volunteer program and incorporate more gardening knowledge into local school curriculum.

“Between Botanic Garden tours, training sessions and other events, I will have a captive audience to offer informal, fun lessons,” Mitchell said.

“I teach day camps, work with Girl Scout troops to earn badges, facilitate horticulture workshops during OSU Grandparent University and serve as the state contact for the Junior Master Gardener program.

“The center is a more convenient location that everyone can access any day and time without having to navigate parking on campus.”

The Horticulture Education Center is the first new facility added to the three locations that will comprise the newly planned OSU Innovation Park. Alongside and adjacent to OSU Student Farm/OSU Agriculture Agronomy Research Station and The Innovation Park, The Botanic Garden continues to advance OSU’s landgrant mission through the pursuit of technology development and commercial partnerships within this new ecosystem.

Scan to learn more about how you can make a difference at The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University.

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2023–2024 The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association is proud to honor 21 students with the 2023-24 Outstanding Seniors Award. This award recognizes students who distinguish themselves through academic achievements; campus and community activities; academic, athletic and extracurricular honors and awards; scholarships; and work ethic. After reviewing the students’ applications, the Alumni Association Student Awards Committee met with 58 of the Seniors of Significance who were announced in November 2023 and selected 21 for this prestigious honor. *Denotes Alumni Association Member

RYAN AUSTIN* Wichita, Kansas Aerospace administration and operations

GRACE BLEDSOE Oklahoma City Applied exercise science

SARAH BLUMER Monticello, Wisconsin Accounting

LILY CHAVEZ Weatherford, Texas Global studies

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During his time at OSU, Austin became the youngest flight instructor in the aviation program, teaching students behind him to fly. He served as president of the Flying Aggies, communications director on the 2023 Homecoming Executive Committee, and First Year Seminar ambassador for the College of Education and Human Sciences.

Austin was awarded the Top Pilot award at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region IV competition in 2023 and served as assistant coach of the OSU Flight Team.

After graduation, Austin will continue flight instruction at OSU until he begins training as a pilot for Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines.

While at OSU, Bledsoe was recognized as a Top 10 Freshman Woman. She served as vice president of Mortar Board Honor Society and secretary of Order of Omega Honor Society. She also worked as a sports medicine aid for the Cowboy football team.

After graduation, Bledsoe hopes to start physical therapy school in summer 2024.

Blumer was an operations program assistant at the Department of Wellness and OSU team coordinator for Special Olympics. She served as vice president for Spears Ambassadors and treasurer for OSU Diamond Dolls. Blumer was also nominated for OSU Student Worker of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

After graduation, Blumer hopes to pursue her master’s degree in accounting at OSU and sit for the CPA exam. She also plans to start her accounting career with Grant Thornton LLP.

While at OSU, Chavez facilitated the organization of the Wishes for Water Foundation where her team raised $49,000 to drill two water sources and construct a fenced-in garden with an irrigation system at a rural school in their inaugural year. She visited Zimbabwe to witness the well drilling process firsthand.

Chavez was also an institutional nominee for the Harry S. Truman scholarship and a student in the President’s Leadership Council scholarship program.

After graduating, Chavez hopes to attend Stanford University’s international policy program. Following her studies there, her goal is to serve as a foreign service officer for the United States Agency for International Development.

STORY JILLIAN REMINGTON | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY, GARY LAWSON AND PROVIDED

CARLDON CHRIST DENIEGA Tulsa Biology

GEORGIA EASTHAM* Davis, California Chemistry, biochemistry, plant and soil sciences

MACKENZIE FRECH* Enid, Oklahoma Secondary education

DANA FRIEND Lewisville, Texas Aerospace administrations and operations

HOLDEN HUSBANDS Edmond, Oklahoma Biology

During his time at OSU, Deniega worked as a first responder during the peak of COVID-19.

He received the Research Excellence Award for studying a novel liver cancer as an undergraduate student at OSU Center for Health Sciences and was an executive officer of the United Asian American Organizations of Oklahoma schools.

Deniega was a College of Arts and Sciences Research Leader and CAS Ambassador.

After graduation, Deniega plans to continue his research and will be applying to medical school.

Eastham was a 2023 Goldwater Scholar and an ambassador for the Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research.

She placed first with her undergraduate oral research presentation at the National Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy. She received Outstanding Presentation of Session at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Eastham also serves as a mentor for the McKnight Scholars Leadership Program.

After graduation, Eastham plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry with the goal of leading a lab in organic synthesis.

Frech was an Outstanding Senior for the School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences and a Senior of Distinction for the College of Education and Human Sciences. She was also recognized as a Mortarboard Top 20 Freshman Women. Frech received the CEHS Outstanding Leader Award and served as a member and facilitator with the President’s Leadership Council.

After her graduation in December 2023, Frech began teaching history at the secondary level in the Tulsa area.

While at OSU, Friend served as the elected National Intercollegiate Flying Association student representative, president of OSU Women in Aviation and Squadron Commander of Thunderbird Squadron of Arnold Air Society.

She was also a 2022 Field Training Distinguished Graduate and a USAF Pilot-select.

After graduation, Friend plans to attend undergraduate pilot training in the U.S. Air Force.

Husbands was an undergraduate research assistant for the Minghetti Lab and shadowed physicians at Oklahoma Heart Hospital. Husbands was involved in the Temple Classic Volleyball Philanthropy and served as an assistant crosscountry coach with Bishop McGuinness High School. Husbands also volunteered in the Stillwater Medical Center emergency room.

After graduation, Husbands plans to attend medical school.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 71

MEG JACKSON Edmond, Oklahoma Political science

CORINNE KISSEL Northville, Michigan Nonprofit and sports management

MARIAH MARTIN Ringling, Oklahoma Human development and family science

AUSTIN MCKAY Mansfield, Texas Accounting

KAIT PINKERTON Pryor, Oklahoma Political science

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Jackson studied abroad in Graz, Austria, and played in the OSU Symphony Orchestra. She was an institutional nominee for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship and has three minors in music, social justice, and gender, women and sexualities studies. She was also a student in the OSU Honors College.

After graduation, Jackson plans to attend law school. After law school, she hopes to serve as the legal representative for survivors of genderbased violence.

Kissel raised $10,000 for Payne County Court Appointed Special Advocates as fundraising director of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was the executive director of the OSU Athletics Nike N7 Youth Movement and was honored with the Collaboration in Leadership Award from Hargis Leadership Institute. She traveled to Seoul, South Korea, with Spears School of Business and was a member of the 2022 Homecoming Royalty Court.

After graduation, Kissel hopes to work at a nonprofit focused on whole-individual care or a professional sports organization foundation.

During her time at OSU, Martin was an intern for Opportunity Orange Scholars. She volunteered at Turning Point Ranch and Wings of Hope Family Crisis Center. Martin served as a coordinator for Junior Greek Leadership and a New Student Orientation leader.

After graduation, Martin plans to attend law school.

McKay was a member of the McKnight Scholars Leadership Program and was a Spears Scholar Leader. He was an Into the Streets facilitator and a Transylvania Station volunteer. McKay also participated in the Remember the 10 Run.

After graduation, McKay plans to return to OSU to pursue a master’s degree in accounting. After graduating with his master’s degree, he hopes to become a certified public accountant and contribute to the financial success of businesses and organizations in his community.

While at OSU, Pinkerton was a Udall Scholar and Miss American Indian OSU. She served as Native American Student Association President 2022-24, College of Arts and Sciences Homecoming and Awards chair, and a community mentor.

After graduation, Pinkerton will be pursuing a concurrent master’s degree in public administration and Native American studies with a focus in tribal government and leadership.

STEPHEN PULLIAM Canadian, Texas Biochemistry and molecular biology

JESSICA MARIE ROJAS Altus, Oklahoma University studies

CAMERON SHROPSHIRE Norman, Oklahoma Accounting

NADIA VALLES Hennessey, Oklahoma Political science

LANIE VARNER Ponca City, Oklahoma Entrepreneurship and marketing

During his time at OSU, Pulliam was a member of the McKnight Scholars Leadership Program, participated in Freshman Follies for Cowboys vs. Cancer and Into the Streets. He received the Dr. Ulrich and Karen Melcher Endowed Fund and Webster Award. Pullium was the 2023 OSU Homecoming King.

After graduation, Pulliam plans to continue his education in pursuit of a medical degree.

Rojas has maintained a 3.8 GPA while being a wife, mother and serving active duty in the Army. She increased her knowledge and interest in systematic racism and discrimination while becoming an OSU alumna.

After graduation, Rojas plans to continue her career in the U.S. Army until her retirement in nine years. Upon her retirement, she hopes to pursue a job in health care, working to eliminate systematic racism and discrimination. She hopes to provide inclusive health care opportunities to everyone regardless of their socioeconomic upbringings, backgrounds or race.

While at OSU, Shropshire planned the annual OSU Black Alumni Society Homecoming golf tournament. He created a directory for Blackowned businesses in the city of Stillwater and visited Stillwater High School to talk to students about the importance of postsecondary education. Shropshire was named an orange gown recipient as the top senior for the Fall 2023 Spears School of Business Commencement and served on the 2023 Homecoming royalty court.

After graduation, Shropshire plans to pursue a master’s degree in accounting. He also plans to sit for the CPA exam before launching his career in public accounting.

During her time at OSU, Valles was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and a Harry S. Truman institutional nominee. She serves on the Multicultural Greek Council executive board and as a Henry Clay College Student Congress Oklahoma Representative. Valles was also a Latino Oklahoma research assistant.

After graduation, Valles hopes to obtain a graduate degree in public policy and pursue a career in evaluating and developing immigration and education policy.

During her time at OSU, Varner was the undergraduate coordinator for the President’s Leadership Council. She served as a workshop facilitator at Lead4Success with the Hargis Leadership Institute. She also studied abroad in Zimbabwe with the President’s Leadership Council. Varner was a founding officer of the Entrepreneurship Club and a Don R. Brattain Entrepreneurship Scholar.

After graduation, Varner hopes to begin her professional career with a marketing firm in Oklahoma City.

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CHARLIE VERMEIRE Miles City, Montana Biochemistry and microbiology

CARSON VOELKER Perkins, Oklahoma Architecture

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While at OSU, Vermeire conducted and published undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology research. She was a Goldwater Scholar and member of the McKnight Leadership Scholars Program. She also participated in the Cambridge Scholars Program, The Honors College and the OSU Microbiology Club.

After graduation, Vermeire plans to attend the University of Nebraska Medical College M.D.Ph.D. program with the goal of exploring cancer immunology and becoming a physician-scientist.

Voelker served as the co-president of ASTEK. He partnered with Stillwater Public Library and Schools to provide architectural courses for students during COVID-19. He was awarded first place in design within the Senior Integrative Design Studio. Voelker also studied civic and religious architecture typologies in Europe and has been on the President’s Honor Roll each semester.

After graduation, Voelker will continue his education at Princeton University School of Architecture.

THANKS YOU! FOR A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON

g n i r e n t r Pa wit h

FOR CAM OSSIBILITIES P W E N S E T A RM CRE DING PLATFO N U F D W O R C OSU S NS, PROJECT ORGANIZATIO

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here are hundreds of clubs, organizations and projects across the Oklahoma State University campus, and many could use extra assistance.

PhilanthroPete is here to help them thrive.

OSU’s online crowdfunding platform, PhilanthroPete, gives the Cowboy family an opportunity to participate in collective giving that supports campus programs, faculty research and more.

Donor support allows these groups to give the best possible experience to its members, and many projects also benefit OSU and the Stillwater community as a whole. Any academic department, campus unit or student organization can apply to be a part of PhilanthroPete.

“PhilanthroPete has a place for everyone, whether you are an established organization or a new club that is just starting up,” said Adrian Matthys, assistant vice president of annual giving. “There are so many amazing things going on at OSU that the general public doesn’t even know exist. I’m glad this platform gives people the opportunity to have their passions noticed and supported.”

New groups of projects are accepted twice a year, during the fall and spring semesters. While PhilanthroPete debuted in 2017, the platform has skyrocketed over the past few years.

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PUS

In 2022, its projects raised just under $15,000.

But in the last fiscal year, funding saw a dramatic increase as it received 1,170 gifts that raised more than $222,000, all directly supporting students, faculty and staff.

Performance in the fall semester exceeded last school year’s total numbers, both in amount and number of gifts.

Still, the platform is always looking for ways to improve and expand.

“Much of our plans center on continuing efforts to increase the on-campus awareness of PhilanthroPete so that more organizations and departments know this is an option for them,” said Kyle Stringer, assistant director of annual giving. “As we are getting close to having nearly 70 projects a semester, we would love to see that number get closer and closer to 100 projects.”

Successful PhilanthroPete projects stay engaged with donors and other advocates throughout a 20-40 day campaign. Students and campus partners create a compelling webpage that markets exactly what they need and helps donors feel connected.

Whether it’s funding jerseys for club sports, travel for conferences, or food for events, money raised through PhilanthroPete makes a huge difference. A few successful project teams have shared their stories and the impact PhilanthroPete has had on them.

STORY GRANT RAMIREZ | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Cowboy Marching Band

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ame days inside Boone Pickens Stadium wouldn’t be the same without the Cowboy Marching Band.

The musicians amplify the electric atmosphere, helping establish a strong homefield advantage by bringing out the most from both the fans in the stands and the players on the field. From “The Walk” before the game, to the alma mater afterward, the marching band’s presence is always felt.

“Marching band is one of the things that separates college football from professional football,” said Dr. Bradley Genevro, CMB director. “The energy that the marching band provides in the stadium cannot be duplicated by anything.”

CMB performs in front of hundreds of thousands of fans each year across football games, basketball games, wrestling matches, pep rallies and other university events. It has been an OSU tradition for 114 years.

Each year, marching band members participate in a 10-day band camp before the beginning of the fall semester. Along with practicing for the season, it teaches new members and reminds returning ones about CMB’s rich traditions and history.

“CMB as an institution is bigger than any of us,” Genevro said. “When we are representing this group, there are certain expectations we hold all our members accountable to. We know what it means to put on the uniform.”

Despite being one of the most prominent organizations on campus with 305 members, CMB still requires additional financial support.

The band is regularly in need of instrument repairs and is always looking to supplement its supply of instruments and uniforms.

CMB also has sizable travel expenses, covering 1,356 miles this past football season, as well as music and licensing costs. Its PhilanthroPete project, which raised more than $16,000, received a generous matching gift of $5,000 from Bob and Pam Spinks.

“PhilanthroPete is a way of connecting ourselves with alumni and supporters that we might not have relationships with otherwise,” Genevro said. “This project has helped us expand our reach and open the doors for future communication.”

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YEARS OF TRADITION

1,356

MILES TRAVELED IN 2023

$5,000

MATCHING GIFT

$16,000+ RAISED

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

OSU Women in Aviation

“WE ARE GRATEFUL WHEN THE COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI GIVE BACK TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS SO MANY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR AVIATION CAREERS.” DANA FRIEND, OSU-WAI PRESIDENT

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he world of aviation is 120 years old, but only 7% of the industry is represented by women.

OSU’s Chapter of Women in Aviation International is looking to do its part in changing that. The home of the Flying Cowgirls, OSUWAI is committed to building relationships and getting women involved in aviation through community outreach, social events and networking opportunities.

OSU-WAI President Dana Friend said the organization’s involvement with school programs is one of the most rewarding aspects about being a member. She and other officers have developed K-5 and 9-12 programs where they share the possibilities of aviation careers with youth.

“Getting to see kids and young adults get so excited about their futures is really inspiring,” Friend said. “Just like it’s important to celebrate the trailblazers who came before us, it’s important to pay it forward for the generations of aviation professionals.”

Along with community outreach, networking is also a core pillar of OSU-WAI. For the Flying Cowgirls, the annual WAI Conference is their best opportunity to do so.

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The conference features guest speakers, workshops, industry briefings, the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame induction ceremony and more. It’s an incredibly beneficial opportunity for aviation enthusiasts in any phase of their career.

“The WAI Conference is a showstopper,” Friend said. “There is no other event where so many women in aviation convene or a place where so many networking opportunities are available.”

OSU-WAI’s PhilanthroPete project was set up specifically to raise money for its members to attend the conference. The organization has raised thousands of dollars to cover the costs of registration, airfare, meals and lodging.

While the average cost to attend is $1,600 per member, PhilanthroPete has given OSUWAI hope that its members can attend for as little as $100.

“Our chapter works hard to fundraise so as many Flying Cowgirls as possible can attend the conference,” Friend said. “More women are getting involved in the industry, breaking stereotypes and proving that the sky is not the limit, it’s just our playground.”

OSU Running Club

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unning is a popular hobby for many, providing an outlet to relieve stress, teaching mental discipline and improving overall physical health.

Adam Hartman, president of OSU Running Club, loves running because it is proof that hard work pays off. It developed mental toughness, preparing him to handle challenges in all aspects of his life. Still, when he started OSU Running Club in 2023, Hartman wasn’t sure if it would catch on with enough students.

“We took a leap of faith, hoping that our passion for running would be shared by fellow students at OSU we didn’t know yet,” Hartman said. “The most rewarding part of seeing the club grow is finding those dedicated, passionate members we hoped for.“ For a first-year organization, Running Club has performed beyond expectations and already found a dedicated community on campus. Its members consistently show up twice a week for events, even into the cold winter months.

The club has competed in both the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon as well as the Tulsa Marathon and Half-Marathon. Last October, it

Est. 2023

held a Halloween-themed 5K where members wore costumes during the run.

“In November, we had two freshmen step into officer positions within the club without hesitation,” Hartman said. “It’s extremely promising to think that members like these can help the club outlast its founders and continue to grow.”

Running Club did face some challenges, however. Since first year clubs can’t apply for financial aid from the competitive sports office, it was solely reliant on member’s dues to pay for club activities.

PhilanthroPete funding has helped alleviate those concerns, raising $800 to support club activities. The funds will allow the organization to hold dinner and movie night, a race on the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course, an end-of-year party and club T-shirts.

“Setting up the PhilanthroPete page was a lot of work to navigate the first time, but it was very rewarding,” Hartman said. “PhilanthroPete donations were the largest source of income for the OSU Running Club in its first year. They tremendously helped us solidify our club as longlasting and impactful.”

$800 RAISED

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Agronomy Club

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SU Agronomy Club has been around for a century, teaching its members and the community how to leave the Earth better than they found it.

Although it is the official club of the plant and soil sciences department, the group consists of a variety of majors from across the Ferguson College of Agriculture. With members also hailing from many different regions, the club is able to share a diverse set of perspectives on agriculture.

“The Agronomy Club is a family-like community of individuals who provide a supportive space for networking and personal growth,” Agronomy Club President Morgan Wehr said. “Engagement extends beyond our formal gatherings, with members and advisors collaborating on projects, agronomy tours and community outreach initiatives.”

Along with participating in events within the college and during Homecoming, Agronomy Club serves OSU’s land-grant mission by educating the community.

Last fall, the club grew and harvested pumpkins before visiting elementary school classes to speak about the importance of agronomy. Students were shown how to plant seeds and took home a small pumpkin.

Agronomy Club also hosts Agronomy Tour Day, which allows members to gain hands-on experience with agronomic businesses with Oklahoma as well as promote networking. But the club’s biggest networking opportunity is the annual National Student of Agronomy, Soil & Environmental Sciences Meeting.

“These meetings are extremely beneficial to our members and allows them to collaborate with like-minded students from different universities, world renowned professors and industry professionals,” Wehr said.

Attendees compete in various competitions, attend panels and a career fair, and spend a whole day touring an agronomy facility.

Previously, Agronomy Club could only afford to send club officers to the meeting, but PhilanthroPete has helped change that. This year’s project raised more than $2,500 to cover the cost of registration, travel and more. The funds will allow all members to be able to attend.

“PhilanthroPete has promoted its importance of our club and allowed it to become more prevalent in our community, sharing its importance with even more people,” Wehr said. “It’s very exciting that we can share these amazing opportunities with more students.”

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“ PHILANTHROPETE HAS PROMOTED THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CLUB AND ALLOWED IT TO BECOME MORE PREVALENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.” – MORGAN WEHR, AGRONOMY CLUB PRESIDENT

For more information on how to make an impact through PhilanthroPete, visit

philanthropete.osugiving.com.

OSU Online is ranked #1 “Best Online College in Oklahoma”

by Intelligent.com

FLEXIBLE, AFFORDABLE, WORK-ABLE. Continue your Cowboy legacy at Oklahoma State University with a flexible and affordable online graduate degree or certificate. With career-ready options in high-demand fields and access to student support services, it’s easy to see why OSU Online is ranked as the #1 “Best Online School in Oklahoma.”

Apply today and receive waived application fees for our OSU alumni and, for the first time, one rate tuition for most graduate degree programs.*

*Great Plains IDEA and Center for Health Sciences Programs are not included in one rate tuition for graduate degrees.

Learn more at osuonline.okstate.edu

BRAIN MATTERS OSU-CHS RESEARCHERS STUDYING SEMAGLUTIDE FOR POSSIBLE any have seen semaglutide ADDICTION advertised or heard it talked TREATMENT about on TV and radio. You

M

may know it by some of its other names like Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus.

Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, the medication is also being studied as a possible treatment for many other conditions and diseases, including addiction.

Dr. W. Kyle Simmons — Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences professor of pharmacology and physiology — is leading the

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Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction study at OSU’s Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience to determine whether semaglutide can be used to treat alcohol use disorder.

Simmons has a personal connection to the STAR study and its findings.

His grandfather battled alcohol use disorder for most of his life.

“He eventually achieved a measure of sobriety and started a business in the 1950s and ’60s that produced items like sobriety chips and coins

STORY SARA PLUMMER | PHOTOS MATT BARNARD AND COURTESY OF OSU BIOMEDICAL IMAGING CENTER

“AT A YOUNG AGE, I SAW THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. IT DEFINITELY MOTIVATES ME.”

– DR. W. KYLE SIMMONS, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES PROFESSOR OF PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY

for organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous,” he said.

Simmons even worked there himself when he was younger filling orders, stocking shelves and attending sobriety conventions as a vendor.

“It gave me a real-world, personal connection to this group of people who are struggling with this disease,” he said. “At a young age, I saw that recovery is possible. It definitely motivates me.”

HOW DOES IT WORK? Semaglutide is a molecule that mimics the natural hormone GLP-1, which is released right after eating, and signals the brain that we no longer need food.

“Our natural GLP-1 only lasts about 10 minutes, which is why you can feel full after eating a large meal, but still be able to eat a dessert if you wait 10 to 15 minutes” said Dr. Stacy Chronister, OSU-CHS clinical assistant professor of internal medicine and board-certified physician in obesity medicine.

Semaglutide is nearly identical to GLP-1 with only three small molecules changed so it remains active in the body for a week rather than just minutes, Chronister said, decreasing a person’s food intake because they feel fuller more quickly and for longer.

“Less food means less glucose in the bloodstream, which improves diabetic symptoms and outcomes.

For the disease of obesity, the patient loses weight because of the effects of decreased food intake but has the added benefit of the GLP-1 working on the weight loss receptors in the brain,” she said.

Dr. Kelly Murray — OSU-CHS professor of clinical pharmacy — said GLP-1 is also responsible for telling the body when to release insulin that helps cells use sugars in your blood for energy, which in turn decreases blood sugar in diabetic patients.

Simmons said the way semaglutide works to reduce hunger and the desire for food could potentially decrease the desire for substances like alcohol.

“Semaglutide binds to receptors in the brain involved in dopamine signaling,” he said. “These regions in the brain play a significant role in making us want and enjoy things that make us feel good. They are critical for motivating us to seek out and enjoy rewarding experiences.”

BRIGHT STAR Late last year, Simmons and another researcher from the University of Oklahoma/University of Tulsa School of Community Medicine co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry that found six patients who received semaglutide for weight loss also demonstrated a significant decrease in their Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores.

Now, Simmons is leading the largerscale STAR study — a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial — that involves thorough screening and a range of evaluations including neuroimaging

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Dr. W. Kyle Simmons, professor of pharmacology and physiology, lectures during his principles of neuroscience course at OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa.

at the Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience, where he also serves as director of the OSU Biomedical Imaging Center.

“This means that neither the participants nor the researchers interacting with them know whether the participant is receiving the actual medication, semaglutide, or a placebo,” he said. “This design helps ensure the results are not influenced by biases and that any observed effects are genuinely linked to the medication.”

Participants in the STAR study are screened and baseline measurements and neuroimaging scans are recorded before receiving either semaglutide or a placebo for 12 weeks. Records of any changes in behavior, brain activity and

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biomarkers are examined during the study period and at the end of 12 weeks.

“The focus is not only on changes in their drinking behavior, but also how their brain activity and various bodily systems — endocrine, metabolic and immune pathways — may be linked to these changes,” Simmons said.

The study is also looking at semaglutide’s potential effects on other rewarding behaviors.

“There’s a concern that semaglutide might not only reduce the desire for harmful substances like alcohol, but also affect other rewarding behaviors, potentially leading to anhedonia, a loss of interest in pleasure,” he said. “It’s

extremely important that we figure that out because that helps us understand who this medication would be safe for and who it wouldn’t.”

The STAR study will continue into 2025. Simmons and his team are still enrolling people for the study.

“For those who believe they might be candidates for the study and are experiencing a relatively high level of weekly alcohol consumption, I would encourage them to reach out and

Scan to complete the online screener of the STAR study, or go to okla.st/4acCEP0 complete the online screener to see if they qualify for the study,” he said He strongly discourages people from seeking out semaglutide on their own as a treatment.

“This is a clinical trial to discover whether semaglutide is safe and effective in humans for alcohol use disorder treatment. We don’t know if it is,” he said. “If patients are struggling with alcohol use disorder and they want treatment for it, there are good options available, and they should reach out to their care provider to access those treatments.”

A HEALTHIER OKLAHOMA Right now, semaglutide is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight management. And if Simmons’ STAR study and other studies like it across the country are successful, it may also be approved to treat alcohol use disorder and other addictions in a few years, potentially impacting the health of thousands of Oklahomans.

Nearly half of Oklahoma adults have either diabetes or prediabetes according to the American Diabetes Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Oklahoma has the third highest prevalence of obesity in the nation, affecting about 40% of its population.

And about 16% of Oklahomans report a substance use disorder, but only a fraction are receiving treatment.

“The costs of each of these three diagnoses are profound, and each carries risks of additional

Dr. Kelly Dunn, left, executive director of clinical treatment at the National Center for Wellness and Recovery, and Dr. W. Kyle Simmons, analyze brain scans in the Biomedical Imaging Center at the Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience in Tulsa.

downstream health consequences if not appropriately treated,” Murray said. “Diabetes, obesity and substance use disorder diagnoses don’t happen in silos. Many Oklahomans suffer from two or maybe even all three.”

Chronister said diabetes, obesity and substance use disorder cost the state about $5 billion in health care costs a year, but that doesn’t give the full picture.

“These conditions result in lost time from work, higher disability rates, increases in mental health conditions and, most importantly, the inability to live the active lives that we want to lead,” she said, so the potential for one medication to treat multiple conditions could be revolutionary.

“Food and addictive substances use the same receptors to tell our bodies that ‘this is good for us’ and ‘this makes me feel better.’ We already have medications that are used for both obesity and in the treatment of addiction, so it’s only natural that we look to see if that link exists with semaglutide as well. There are also ongoing studies for the use of semaglutide in osteoarthritis, depression and even Alzheimer’s disease.”

Murray said she is also excited about the potential impact semaglutide

could have on the overall health of Oklahomans.

“Health care teams do their best to treat patients as a whole. If there’s a medication with the ability to help treat multiple conditions, this could lower a patient’s exposure to multiple medications in turn decreasing the risks of side effects and drug interactions, and potentially lowering health care costs to patients as well as the health care system,” she said.

Still, it’s important for people to always consult their doctor or medical providers before starting a new medication or treatment. Side effects of semaglutide are usually gastrointestinal with nausea and vomiting being the most common.

“Semaglutide can benefit many Oklahomans, but it’s incredibly important to talk to your health care team to determine if it is right for you,” Murray said. “Just like with any medication, ask for guidance on how to administer it, what side effects to expect and if you need to adjust how you take any other medications you’re prescribed. And make sure to follow up with your health care team to monitor how the medication is working.”

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HIGH-TECH HIGHER ED OSU POLYTECH PREPARES GRADUATES FOR IN-DEMAND CAREERS, BOOSTS OKLAHOMA ECONOMY

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SU’s Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee institutions have faithfully served the state for a combined 164 years offering technical programs. In December, the OSU system launched a statewide initiative — OSU Polytech — to address Oklahoma’s high-tech workforce needs. Now under the umbrella of OSU Polytech, OSU System’s workforcedriven technical academic programs are expanding educational access and bolstering Oklahoma’s economy and workforce.

Oklahoma has a pressing need for a high-tech workforce to fuel economic growth. With support from Oklahoma

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industry leaders and government officials, the OSU Polytech initiative addresses the immediate demand for specialized talent and through innovative STEM-based curriculum while offering students across the state greater access to flexible learning opportunities and real-world learning experiences.

“What’s so exciting about what OSU is doing is they’re not just thinking one step ahead, they’re thinking 10 steps ahead when it comes to Polytech,” Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said.

OSU already has over 3,700 students enrolled in 60 polytechnic education programs in person and online across the system.

“OSU is the state’s undisputed leader in advanced technology education,” said OSU President Kayse Shrum. “OSU Polytech is reflective of our land-grant mission to serve the state, our longstanding tradition of service and our commitment to a

STORY SYDNEY TRAINOR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND PHIL SHOCKLEY

“OSU IS THE STATE’S UNDISPUTED LEADER IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. OSU POLYTECH IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR LAND-GRANT MISSION TO SERVE THE STATE, OUR LONGSTANDING TRADITION OF SERVICE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO A STUDENT-FOCUSED APPROACH TO HIGHER EDUCATION. AS THE STATE’S LARGEST UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, OSU IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ENSURE THAT OKLAHOMA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN THE FAST-MOVING AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.” – KAYSE SHRUM, OSU PRESIDENT

student-focused approach to higher education. As the state’s largest university system, OSU is uniquely positioned to ensure that Oklahoma is open for business in the fast-moving areas of science and technology.”

HIGH-TECH STEP-UP Polytech caters not only to recent high school graduates but also to individuals who entered the workforce directly after high school and are now seeking career advancement.

Recognizing that full-time workers may have limited time for professional development, university leaders saw an opportunity to diversify program formats to offer flexible learning experiences.

OSU Polytech offers courses focused on developing career critical skills through technical programs, which can result in micro-credentials that can stack into traditional degree programs, in areas such as aerospace engineering, manufacturing, energy, health care, IT and supply chain management.

Micro-credentials are credentials awarded after completion of certain courses or activities focused on a specific career discipline and may be credit or non-credit. These credentials enhance employability, potentially increasing compensation for students as skills and credentials grow.

The aim is for students to stack these credentials while steadily progressing towards certificates and degrees, with many transitioning directly into the workforce upon completion.

Dr. Ronna Vanderslice, OSU-OKC interim provost and vice provost of academic affairs of the OSU System, said each step in a student’s journey through the OSU Polytech system is geared toward helping them achieve career success.

“We are excited for the OSU Polytech initiative and its potential to increase the number of students in technical programs, so we can meet the needs of students and employers,” Vanderslice said. “By partnering with

OSU ALREADY HAS 3,700 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN 60 POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN PERSON AND ONLINE ACROSS THE SYSTEM. employers in the state of Oklahoma, we provide our students with unique experiences. Graduates from our technical programs are employed at a higher rate and have higher salaries than their counterparts.”

OSU’s Institute of Technology, located in Okmulgee, has a rich history of collaborating with the private sector, customizing its programs to align with industry needs for over seven decades.

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To that end, an impressive 90% of its graduates secure employment prior to graduation.

What sets OSU Polytech technical programs apart is their focus on applied learning, paired with hands-on experiences. General education courses are integrated with experiential learning opportunities, offering students immersive learning environments to develop skills relevant to their chosen field.

The training mirrors real-world job tasks, utilizing high-tech equipment.

A student is not simply learning about robotics; they’re learning how to build robots and program robots with their own hands, Vanderslice said.

A BIGGER FOOTPRINT A major goal of OSU Polytech is to expand educational access across the state. One way it aims to achieve this goal is by providing new educational pathways geared toward providing students with in-demand microcredentials, certifications and skills.

OSU Polytech also aims to tap into and expand OSU’s extensive physical footprint across the state.

“We want to take what we’ve done in Okmulgee and expand that in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City campuses and through online and hybrid opportunities,” said Kyle Wray, OSU senior vice president of system affairs.

OSU Polytech is set to have a presence across the OSU System through purpose-built and customized educational spaces. Leveraging OSU Extension’s presence in all 77 counties, OSU Polytech plans to establish and foster partnerships for training initiatives across the entire state, including rural areas.

Recently, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and OSU Polytech through the OSU-OKC campus formed a partnership to promote an advanced workforce education work/ study initiative: The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) program.

As a successful national hybrid academic/training program, FAME is designed to help students prepare for highly skilled, globally competitive jobs.

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OSU Ph.D. student Samarjith Biswas works on a School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering project to make jet engines less noisy.

“OKC FAME is an ideal fit for OSU Polytech, which encompasses applied technical education programming in Oklahoma across the OSU System,” Wray said. “Programs such as OKC FAME are an excellent way to bring together the best from the classroom and the ‘real world’ to produce students who are ready to work day one following graduation.”

The OKC FAME program will begin this fall on the OSU-OKC campus. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is the hub organization acting as the convening partner with FAME USA nationally and recruiting local companies to join the effort.

Through the program, students attend OSU-OKC for classroombased learning twice a week and work off-campus for at least 24 hours weekly with a sponsoring employer, providing hands-on training and

paying a minimum of $16 per hour.

Upon completion of the two-year program, students will have an associate degree from OSU-OKC and certification as an advanced manufacturing technician.

“As a chamber, we are committed to helping our employers, especially in manufacturing, find new ways to access skilled talent,” said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

“OKC FAME is an incredible asset in our arsenal to bolster the economic growth of Greater Oklahoma City, and we cannot wait to see how this program grows in the coming years.”

OKC FAME has already partnered with manufacturers IDEX Energy Advanced Flow Solutions, Climate Control Group, Canoo and OMADA International that will employ OKC FAME students.

“OKC FAME and OSU-OKC are offering an innovative intersection of education and paid training to help students earn an associate degree and the certifications needed to land jobs in a modern manufacturing workforce,” Vanderslice said. “This partnership with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and a growing number of outstanding Oklahoma industrial companies is helping Oklahoma address its shortage of high-tech workers and spark a revolution of hiring and economic growth.”

SYMBIOTIC PARTNERSHIPS OSU Polytech is pursuing innovative new ways to better serve students. In doing so, it’s also filling the talent pipeline in Oklahoma with highly skilled workers capable of meeting industry demands.

Applied hands-on experiences are critical to ensuring students are trained with employer expectations.

One of the best ways for students to gain experience is by working in internship and apprenticeship roles, Vanderslice said.

“We hire experts in automation, instrumentation, data analytics and geology, and we also employ many

“WHAT’S SO EXCITING ABOUT WHAT OSU IS DOING IS THEY’RE NOT JUST THINKING ONE STEP AHEAD, THEY’RE THINKING TEN STEPS AHEAD WHEN IT COMES TO POLYTECH.” –LT. GOV. MATT PINNELL engineers,” said Trey Lowe, chief technology officer of Devon Energy.

“Finding people with that knowledge and those technical skills has been challenging for several years.

Oklahoma State University is working to address this problem through OSU Polytech by collaborating with the industry to customize degrees and programs, from Ph.D. to technical ones.”

Through intentional collaborative efforts with business leaders, private sector partners and faculty, OSU

High school students talk to Oklahoma State University aerospace experts at Aero-Student Day, which is held at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, home of the Thunder.

Polytech is pinpointing emerging workforce trends and needs. These efforts are driving program curriculum considerations to ensure OSU’s applied learning opportunities are in line with industry demands.

“As a land-grant institution, OSU has an obligation to help lead the state’s response to these workforce challenges,” Wray said. “We are committed to collaborating with industry partners, state leaders, state regents, K-12, CareerTech and workforce-focused organizations such as the Oklahoma State Chamber and Oklahoma Business Roundtable to meet this pressing challenge.”

OSU Polytech is set to host a series of roundtables throughout Oklahoma in partnership with industry with the goal of gathering industry feedback to design impactful education and training programs and work-based learning opportunities to develop a highly skilled, career ready workforce for Oklahoma. Industry partners include Cox Communications, NORDAM, and Saint Francis Health System.

“To fuel our growth, we rely on the right talent and the right people.

Supply chain and logistics is a prime example. To sustain our business and cater to our customers, we need the right talent,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s Travel Stops. “We strive to source as much talent as possible from our state. With OSU’s focus on producing job-ready talent, it’s a mutually beneficial situation. Ideally, these individuals will seamlessly integrate into our workforce when we hire them, thanks to the collaboration with OSU Polytech.”

“To fuel our growth, we rely on the right talent and the right people.

Supply chain and logistics is a prime example. To sustain our business and cater to our customers, we need the right talent,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s Travel Stops. “We strive to source as much talent as possible from our state. With OSU’s focus on producing job-ready talent, it’s a mutually beneficial situation. Ideally, these individuals will seamlessly integrate into our workforce when we hire them, thanks to the collaboration with OSU Polytech.”

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POWERING OKC’S WORKFORCE Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma City is a top-tier institution that combines a first-class education with the conveniences of an advantageous location and tremendous degree affordability.

Through innovative programs, OSUOKC directly addresses workforce needs in Oklahoma and nationwide industries including health care, public safety and STEM. Meeting the needs of students with a variety of backgrounds, there are abundant resources available including programs for first-generation students, single parents, and veteran and military students.

OSU-OKC is powering Oklahoma’s workforce through its commitment and dedication to its students.

Visit osuokc.edu to learn more.

THIS IS GREEN ORANGE COUNTRY Some call it Green Country, but we know northeastern Oklahoma is really Orange Country.

Oklahoma State University impacts the lives of residents here in countless ways. With more than 52,000 proud and loyal alumni, partnerships with hundreds of companies and nonprofits, and more than 2,500 employees, OSU is a changemaker for Tulsa, Okmulgee, Tahlequah and beyond. We’re training future health care leaders for Oklahoma, helping working professionals advance their careers, educating tomorrow’s advanced technology workforce and building a world-class medical district downtown — all in our own backyard.

Discover why Orange is the Answer and partner with us to make a difference at orangecountry.okstate.edu.

C ENT E R FO R H EA LT H SC IENCES | OSU-TULSA | OSUIT M ED I C I N E | POLYT ECH

Leveling Up

OSU esports certificate garnering national acclaim, bringing more women to community

Students concentrate on a match during an esports tournament at the OSU esports arena in the Student Union.

S

ports media senior Jenna Murff didn’t really play video games growing up, outside of Mario Kart with her friends.

She didn’t come to Oklahoma State University for an esports career, but a new certificate piqued her interest. Murff knew nothing about esports before pursuing the certificate. However, she saw the industry’s growth and decided to try it out.

In the past few years, OSU has been making waves in collegiate esports, with ambitious plans to establish itself as a national leader in this rapidly growing field. Its certificate program has proven to be a success, with students like Murff crediting it with helping her earn a job in the esports industry.

Murff’s story exemplifies the diverse career opportunities available in esports beyond just

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professional gaming. The industry offers many potential career paths, from graphic design and event management to marketing and communications.

“When it came to my sophomore year and applying for internships, the esport certification got me recognized by ASA Entertainment,” Murff said. “They flagged my resume because I was the only person they had seen with esports experience.”

Now, Murff is the esports and content coordinator for the Super Girl Gamer Pro organization, which is owned by ASA Entertainment. She creates the graphics for its Twitch streams, helps recruit girls for the tournaments, answers questions and interacts with people on social media.

STORY MAK VANDRUFF | PHOTOS PROVIDED

ESPORTS INDUSTRY NUMBERS The esports market worldwide is projected to reach a revenue of $4.3 billion in 2024.

The U.S. generates the most revenue in the esports market.

In terms of user base, the esports market is expected to have a total of 856.5 million users by 2028.

Source: Statista Inc.

Jenna Murff

Shaun Noll

“The gaming industry is constantly growing, especially on the esports side, as more and more games are picked up to play competitively,” Murff said. “No matter what your interest is, what your skill is, you can find a job within that industry. I think within the next few years, management positions will be the most prevalent positions we’ll see start taking hold. I think we’ll see an evolution of people becoming more like traditional athletes, where they have agents and people who negotiate contracts on their behalf.”

The esports certificate is open to people of all experience, from those like Murff to those on the varsity esports team.

The OSU esports program has steadily grown since the certificate was introduced in 2021. With a vibrant esports arena, a certificate program and a dedicated club, OSU is already ahead of the curve, but university officials are determined to do even more.

“We wanted to be proactive and not reactive to the industry trend,” said Adam Barnes, associate director of the Student Union.

This forward-thinking approach led to the creation of the esports arena in 2021, which Barnes hopes will catalyze further growth.

Barnes said one of the biggest challenges is gaining recognition for esports as a legitimate academic and career path. He believes offering scholarships and developing degree programs will attract talented students and demonstrate the university’s commitment to this field.

Shaun Noll — manager of meeting and conference services for the Student Union, advisor to the Gamers of OSU club and manager of the esports arena — echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of scholarships in attracting top esports talent.

“Ultimately, it would be awesome to have scholarships to get those students looking at other places,” Noll said. “And we want to compete at a

high level, especially in Power Five, where it’s not as common to have scholarships.”

Barnes and Noll also want to expand the program’s academic offerings, potentially developing a minor or even a major in esports. They said this would solidify OSU’s position as a leader in esports education and provide students with the specialized skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this growing field.

Beyond academics, OSU is committed to fostering a thriving esports community on campus.

The Gamers of OSU club provides a welcoming space for students to connect, compete and learn from each other. The club also organizes tournaments and events, further enriching the esports experience for students.

“Half of our leadership is made up of women,” Noll said. “We’re trying to crush the stigma that it’s a male-dominated sport because it’s really not. It’s just harder to get the women to come out and play.

That’s been a huge push of ours.”

One student, Angélica Romines will be graduating with her Master of Science in educational leadership from OSU in May 2024. She is creating an event to invite Indigenous students to get involved in esports. Noll said opening and inviting the space to all will help OSU’s esports footprint grow.

Barnes and Noll said OSU is currently wellpositioned to become a national leader in collegiate esports. With its commitment to academics, community building and cutting-edge facilities, OSU is creating an environment where students can thrive and pursue successful careers in this dynamic field.

“If you think there’s an opportunity somewhere, don’t be afraid to go and try it just because you think you don’t have the qualifications,” Murff said.

“You can always gain the skills and learn more.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions that will help you out. You just have to try it, and don’t be afraid.”

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COWBOY CHRONICLES

An Original Pioneer Woman The story of a forgotten work of art

“There are few men of the West of my generation who did not know of the pioneer woman in his own mother, and who does not rejoice to know that her part in building that great civilization is to have such beautiful recognition.

It was those women who carried the refinement, the moral character and spiritual force into the West. Not only they bore great burdens of daily toil and the rearing of families, but they were intent that their children should have a chance, that doors of opportunity should be open to them. It was their insistence which made the schools and the churches.”

— President Herbert Hoover

(Ponca City Pioneer Woman Dedication, 1930)

F

or 95 years, Oklahoma State University has had a unique relationship with a pioneer woman who has resided with her infant on campus. Her name is Challenging, she is closely related to the pioneer woman statue in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and their births are linked directly to 10 others.

E.W. Marland, an Oklahoma governor, congressman and oilman, was also a philanthropist and supporter of the arts.

Marland proposed a series of sculptures to document the settling of the American West, and in October 1926, he invited American and international sculptors to produce 3-foot models representing the best qualities of a pioneer woman.

Eventually 12 artists, all men, were selected and paid an honorarium to create unique individual E.W. Marland bronze statuettes.

By March 1927, a dozen sculptures were on display in New York City’s Reinhardt Galleries. Ninety-one-yearold Betty Wollman, whose family had settled in the Kansas Territory in 1855, attended the exhibit.

Interviewed by “The New York Times,” she said:

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STORY DAVID C. PETERS | PHOTOS OSU ARCHIVES

“Mr. Marland is to be congratulated for doing this in commemoration of these early women of the West. The hardships were many, and the courage and selfdenial of the women who worked sideby-side with their husbands and sons and brothers in those primitive days are largely responsible for the development of the Middle Western States, now so rich in everything that goes to make life worthwhile.”

After three weeks, the 12 statuettes traveled to Boston to begin a tour that included Buffalo, New York; Chicago; Cincinnati; Dallas; Detroit; Fort Worth, Texas; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis; St. Paul, Minnesota; Oklahoma City; Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; and finally, Ponca City.

Visitors at each site were asked to vote for their three favorites. With over 750,000 total attendees, more than 120,000 votes were cast. Marland made the ultimate decision and Britishborn Bryant Baker’s Pioneer Woman named Confident, which had received the most votes, was selected. Marland’s adopted son and nephew, George, made the announcement on Dec. 20, 1927,

in New York City at the Reinhardt Galleries.

Some of the remaining models and recasts eventually found their way to Marland’s mansion in Ponca City. Later, all 12 went to Frank Phillips’ Woolaroc Museum near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and others to cities and towns on the central plains, either in their original form, or as recasts or replicas. One statuette would find a home on the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College campus in Stillwater a year before the Ponca City statue was dedicated.

A CHALLENGING CREATION Hermon Atkins MacNeil was one of the artists invited to submit a statuette and receive the honorarium of $10,000, quite a sum of money in 1927.

Born in Everett, Massachusetts, in 1866, MacNeil was working in Paris when he heard of Marland’s project.

MacNeil had spent considerable time studying art, architecture and design in Europe, living for extended periods in Paris and Rome. In his early 60s, he had developed an excellent reputation in the art

Left – Hermon MacNeil’s statuette, Challenging, stands with child in the OSU Student Union.

Right – MacNeil’s Standing Liberty Quarter was produced with several minor changes during its 15-year run. The one pictured here was produced during World War I when it was given a chainmail garment on top. The bottom star on the right-hand side has the letter M next to it for MacNeil.

world and was known especially for his sculptures.

MacNeil was probably best recognized for the Standing Liberty quarter (1916-30) and later in his career, for the East Pediment of the United States Supreme Court — Justice, the Guardian of Liberty — completed in 1934. During a career that spanned almost six decades, MacNeil produced over 200 sculptures with subjects including U.S. presidents George Washington, James Hermon Atkins Monroe, Abraham MacNeil Lincoln and William McKinley; historical figures; statesmen; politicians; and Native American leaders. He also had cousins living in Stillwater.

During the summer of 1926, OAMC Dean of Home Economics Nora Talbot took a summer sabbatical and traveled to Europe on June 7 with her father’s first cousin, who happened to be MacNeil. They — along with MacNeil’s wife, Carol, also a wonderful artist, and their 15-year-old daughter, Joie — landed in Hamburg, Germany, and toured Germany, the Netherlands, France and England.

While in Paris, MacNeil wrote to an acquaintance on Sept. 12 about Marland’s pioneer woman statue proposal. MacNeil’s vision for the statue was of a strong mother in the western United States striding confidently into the future facing challenges with determination and courage. From his friend, he requested additional descriptions of female pioneers attempting to discover how she might appear and what she wore.

As inspiration, Marland provided sunbonnets, a common head covering worn by country women in the late 19th century frontier, to each of the artists.

The women featured in nine of the statuettes contained sunbonnets in S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 95

some way. Eleven of the 12 included a child.

In early 1927, MacNeil began production of a plaster model he called Survival of the Fittest. She was nude clutching an infant as she walked holding an axe in her right hand. On Feb. 26, 1927, he submitted his final statuette titled, Challenging.

MacNeil’s pioneer woman was cast in bronze at the American Art Foundry located in Queens, New York. He had draped his nude figure with appropriate western women’s period fashion, remaining barefoot and with a firm grip on the axe. His statue was part of the first group of seven models — that when joined with five others — would then tour the country with their pioneer sisters. MacNeil’s statuette received the second most votes in New York City and illustrations of Baker and MacNeil models were featured in an extensive article about the project appearing in “The New York Times.”

When all pioneer woman votes were tabulated at the end of the tour, MacNeil’s Challenging trailed only Baker’s Confident.

A GRACIOUS GIFT For over 20 years, OAMC graduating classes had left memorials to the college.

Some were utilitarian, such as a water fountain, a section of sidewalk, a fence, gates and a bench. Other donations

both returned to campus in 1924 were in remembrance such as the WWI with Reed taking over as head of the service flag for those who had served in department and McCool serving the war or a stone with 1905 carved on as an assistant professor. Three top placed near Old Central. earlier female instructors in the art The OAMC Class of 1928 wanted department had been forced to resign to do something different and decided after they married. McCool remained to leave a work of art, a statue. It single and kept her job until 1931 may have been the first 3D art object when her position was eliminated purchased for the college. Daisy Dell during the first years of the McCool, instructor in drawing and Great Depression. She would art, suggested they consider eventually go to Hawaii MacNeil’s pioneer woman and remain active in art statuette. Class president and real estate until she Ted Frizzell took the idea passed away at 89. to the seniors, and the class The Class of 1928 decided to approve the planned to acquire purchase. an exact replica of the McCool was acting head MacNeil pioneer woman and instructor in drawing and bronze. The statuette they art beginning in 1918 before Ted Frizzell purchased was produced at taking a leave of absence during the American Art Foundry in 1928 the 1923-24 school year. She traveled and placed on display at New York to England, France, Italy, Belgium and City’s National Sculpture Exhibition the Netherlands after surviving the from Oct. 1 through Dec. 16, 1928. campus administrative turmoil during MacNeil was a member of the National the summer of 1923. Many OAMC Sculpture Society and had been staff and faculty had been fired or selected to the American Academy their contracts not renewed for the fall of Art and Letters the previous year. semester. Others had left in frustration The 3-foot statuette was anticipated and explored employment opportunities to be shipped later in December after in higher education elsewhere. McCool the close of the exhibition and arrived took a sabbatical. in Stillwater around Jan. 1, 1929.

While in Europe, she may have Arrangements were made for a special had contact with MacNeil associates pedestal to be placed in the college and Doel Reed. Reed was in Europe at the same time. McCool and Reed

The Main Reading Room in the 1921 OAMC Library was located on the first floor and served as the original home of the Pioneer Woman for her first 23 years on campus.

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library, which was designated to become her final residence.

The formal dedication of the 17-foottall pioneer woman statue in Ponca City would take place on April 22, 1930, with over 40,000 in attendance. U.S. President Herbert Hoover addressed the crowd from the White House and Will Rogers flew in from California.

But, with this project and other lifestyle expenditures, Marland had overextended his finances. Marland Oil Company would fall into bankruptcy in the early 1930s and Marland would turn to politics where he served in the U.S. Congress from 1933-35 when he was elected Oklahoma governor and served in that role until January 1939.

He would die on Oct. 3, 1941, nearly bankrupt and only 67.

A FORGOTTEN FIGURE MacNeil visited the Talbot family and OAMC in the spring of 1940.

He was invited to the art department to talk with students and met on campus with Reed, having first seen him in 1927 while both men were in Paris.

MacNeil had come to the Midwest for the dedication of his statue, The Pony Express, located in St. Joseph, Missouri, and then returned to his studio and winter home located in Pinebluff, North Carolina.

The installation of OAMC’s 3-foot pioneer woman statuette in the college library occurred sometime in the spring of 1929. She would reside there for over 20 years until “temporarily” moved to the Student Union in 1952 while waiting for Edmon Low Library to be completed a year later.

During the transition of materials from the old college library to the new facility in 1953, she remained at the Student Union. A pedestal had been placed at the top of the second-floor front landing in the new library to support and display the pioneer woman statue.

With the death of OAMC President Henry Bennett in December 1951 and the many other challenges occurring on campus in the early 1950s, the final transfer of MacNeil’s pioneer woman statue to her permanent home in the new library was never completed and she resides to this day in the OSU Student Union.

The pedestal on the second floor and at the top of the main staircase in the 1953 library was designated to be the new home of the Pioneer Woman. Nothing was written on the pedestal until 1977 when the library was named for former University Librarian Edmon Low.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Cowboy cross country wins 5th NCAA title, OSU’s 53rd overall Oklahoma State men’s and women’s cross country teams achieved a historic feat in November, with the Cowboys winning their first national title since 2012 and the Cowgirls claiming their second-straight podium finish at the Panorama Farms Cross Country Course in Virginia.

The Cowboys now have five national championships in program history, with four coming under Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith. All five scorers of the Cowboys were in the top 15 for 49 points overall, defeating defending champions Northern Arizona by 22

The OSU men’s cross country team holds the NCAA Championship trophy.

points. It was OSU’s 53rd NCAA title in all sports.

The Cowgirls earned a third-place team finish, their best placement in school history, with 156 points. Billah Jepkirui, Molly Born and Taylor Roe

became All-Americans in the process.

Jepkirui’s seventh-place finish — with a school record time of 19:27.5 — was the highlight of the day on the women’s side.

Cowboy basketball tabs Lutz as new coach Oklahoma State University hired Steve Lutz as the school’s 21st men’s basketball coach in April.

“Coach Lutz is known as one of the hardest-working coaches in the business,” OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said. “He has worked at all levels of college basketball and has deep ties to this part of the country, especially Texas. The work he has put into his career has resulted in success as a head coach and why I believe he is the right person to be the leader of Cowboy basketball.”

A rising star under Creighton’s Greg McDermott and a fifth-generation member of Henry Iba’s coaching tree (via Purdue’s Matt Painter), Lutz is off to a successful start to his own head coaching career with NCAA tournament appearances in each of his first three seasons.

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Oklahoma State University hired former Western Kentucky coach Steve Lutz on April 1.

In rapid rebuilds at Western Kentucky (2023-24) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2021-23), the 51-yearold has posted a combined 69-35 record, including a perfect 8-0 mark in conference tournament play.

The Hilltoppers finished 22-13 and punched their first NCAA tournament ticket since 2013 after winning their first ever CUSA tournament title.

Lutz worked similar magic in Corpus Christi with back-to-back bids,

ending what had been a 15-year March Madness drought and a run of four straight losing seasons.

Originally from San Antonio, Lutz played collegiately at Texas Lutheran University, serving as team captain during his senior season while completing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in secondary education/business administration. He added a master’s in physical education from Incarnate Word in 1997.

Huang named new CEAT dean Dr. Hanchen Huang was appointed as the new dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University in March. Huang, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, previously served as a professor and provost at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of North Texas.

Dr. Jeanette Mendez, OSU’s provost and senior vice president, expressed confidence in Huang’s appointment, saying he was the best individual to

lead CEAT and continue to solidify Oklahoma State as a leader in STEM education, cutting-edge research, and Extension programming. Huang hoped to elevate the college in research, education and Extension in order to propel OSU to achieve ‘uncommon preeminence for the common good.’

Dr. John Veenstra, who served as interim dean of CEAT, welcomed Huang’s appointment. Huang earned his doctoral degree in nuclear engineering from the University of California-Los Angeles, his master’s degree in theoretical nuclear physics from the Institute of Atomic Energy/ Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and his bachelor’s degree in physics from Hebei Normal University.

Dr. Hanchen Huang

Afghan students pose after their English language class.

OSU earns prestigious international award Oklahoma State University has been awarded the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award by the NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The award, named after the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois, recognizes outstanding innovation and accomplishment in campus internationalization.

OSU was recognized for its Afghan Family Project, which provided support to Afghan refugees in Oklahoma. OSU worked alongside Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma to resettle 72 Afghan refugees in Stillwater, providing them with apartments and aid such as transportation and access to campus resources. OSU established a robust infrastructure to accommodate the initial group of Afghan refugees and became a

hub for university-based refugee resettlement.

OSU’s work exemplified its land-grant mission and values in serving others, stewarding resources and improving the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world. The Simon Awards honorees were featured in NAFSA’s annual report and honored during NAFSA’s 2024 Annual Conference and Expo. Syracuse University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute were also recognized.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 99

CAMPUS NEWS

Shell named chief facilities officer Ron Tarbutton retired as the chief facilities officer at Oklahoma State University after working for 42 years in facilities.

He had experience working in private companies, K-12 schools, hospitals, and universities. Tarbutton earned his degree in electrical engineering from OSU in 1981 and met his wife, Liz, in the student section of the football stadium. He started in Operations and Maintenance and eventually became Facilities Management’s chief facilities officer seven years ago. During his tenure, OSU won three national awards, including one grand award for the most outstanding landscape at a large college.

From left: Casey Shell and Ron Tarbutton

Casey Shell, who has a degree in civil engineering and spent 32 years with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, was hired to fill Tarbutton’s shoes. He was hired five years ago to open the Office

of University Planning, primarily dealing with issues management.

He felt honored to be chosen to fill Tarbutton’s shoes and is excited about his new role.

OKC mental health hospital breaks ground The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services partnered with Oklahoma State University in March to celebrate a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Donahue Behavioral Health facility.

Announced in September 2023, this 200,000-square-foot behavioral health facility on the OSU-OKC campus will replace the Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman, Oklahoma, which has been the state’s primary mental health hospital for over a century.

Donahue Behavioral Health will offer an array of innovative services that Oklahomans rely on during their most vulnerable moments. The facility will offer care for adults and adolescents, as well as referrals to outpatient services.

Equipped with the latest in acute care capabilities, the hospital will expand ODMHSAS’ psychiatric bed capacity and operational reach. The

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From left: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Sen. Roger Thompson, ODMHSAS Commissioner Allie Friesen, Cullen Sweeney, U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Bice and Kyle Wray, OSU senior vice president of system affairs. Photo credit: Ryan Magnani.

inclusion of an Urgent Recovery Center (URC) will ensure immediate access to vital services, providing walk-in availability to stabilization services.

Last year, OSU broke ground on the 106-bed, $70 million Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center in Tulsa, which will open in the next year.

The new Oklahoma City facility is expected to add about 250 jobs to the local economy. The five-year economic impact of the new hospital on the OKC metro is estimated at $447.5 million, with improvements in job creation and taxes, as well as reducing emergency room costs and homelessness.

The Donahue campus was selected based on ease of access, community

support and the opportunity to draw upon broader workforce development partnerships and support resources.

The hospital creates the opportunity to explore collaborative health programming opportunities with the school.

The facility is named after Dr. Hayden Donahue, who became Oklahoma’s first director of mental health in 1953. A former OSU professor, Donahue was named to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1968.

The hospital was also made possible in part thanks to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Kirkpatrick Family Fund and Arnall Family Foundation.

OAIRE named to ‘Fast Company’s’ Next Big Things in Tech List The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education at Oklahoma State University has been named to ‘Fast Company’s’ third annual Next Big Things in Tech list, honoring technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future of industries — from health care and security to artificial intelligence and data.

On the list, 119 technologies developed by established companies, startups, or research teams are highlighted for their cutting-edge advancements and potential to impact consumers, businesses and society overall. While not all of the technological developments are available in the market yet, each one is reaching key milestones in order to have a proven impact in the next five years.

OAIRE’s nomination cited a variety of projects and initiatives with a focus on its work with the OSU Global Consortium For Explosive Hazard Mitigation (OSU GCEHM), which is based at the OSU Center for Health Sciences. OAIRE helped find

NPR elects KOSU’s Hubbard to board of directors National Public Radio has named KOSU Executive Director Rachel Hubbard to its board of directors to serve as a member director.

Hubbard’s current term, which began on Feb. 12, will end in November 2026.

“The media industry continues to be disrupted. NPR and public media are in an amazing position to take advantage of an opportunity and be the best version of what our network was designed to be,” Hubbard said.

A drone sits on the ground near a pile of ordnance.

an innovative approach to landmine detection that could save lives on a global scale: utilizing drone technology and machine learning for mine detection and mitigation.

The approach adds a layer of efficiency and accuracy to drone detection while removing the need for humans to identify and handle dangerous explosives.

Aside from aiding in post-conflict drone detection, Jacob said the innovation is especially significant now since mines like the antipersonnel mine, developed by the Soviet Union and deployed in its war in Afghanistan from 1979-89, are similar to those currently being utilized by Russia in Ukraine.

OSU GCEHM, OAIRE and DRC played crucial roles in helping facilitate

the innovative drone-detection approach, which has been lauded in various peer-reviewed journals including The Leading Edge, Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, and Remote Sensing, among others.

A feature story about the innovation appeared in Scientific American and included a mini documentary from the test site in Oklahoma.

Elizabeth Pollard is CEO of Cowboy Technologies and executive director of The Innovation Foundation at OSU, which houses OAIRE and the university’s applied research institutes.

She said OAIRE and its partners have earned this recognition for their impactful work, which is indicative of the university’s land-grant mission.

“I look forward to serving with this group of colleagues as we navigate and collectively shape what is to come.”

Hubbard became KOSU executive director in February 2020. She has delivered more than 50% growth in KOSU’s online presence, introduced a daily news podcast and driven increased fundraising success through a new extensive giving program to better meet the information needs of Oklahomans. KOSU is also moving into a new 5,200 square-foot space in Oklahoma City.

Hubbard is a mentor for Next Generation Radio, a member of Oklahoma City Rotary Club 29, the Joint NPR Network Leadership Team, the Institute for Nonprofit News and

the Online News Association.

NPR’s 23-member Board of Directors includes 12 member directors who are managers of NPR member organizations and are elected Rachel Hubbard to the board by their fellow members; nine public directors who are prominent members of the public selected by the board and confirmed by NPR members; the NPR Foundation chair; and the NPR president and CEO.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 101

Legacy of Service OSU remembers Regent Callahan’s legacy

I

Jarold Callahan

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n the heart of Oklahoma, Jarold Callahan’s legacy resonates far beyond the pastures of cattle he tended and the classrooms he graced.

On Dec. 23, 2023, the Oklahoma State University/A&M system and the cattle industry lost an icon who radiated a spirit of generosity and service in every facet of his life.

Whether championing agricultural excellence, instilling youth with values of integrity and diligence, or passionately advocating for the educational pursuits of students at OSU, his legacy resonates with deep dedication to those around him.

“Jarold was a fierce advocate for higher education and changed thousands of students’ lives through his leadership on the OSU/A&M Board of Regents,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said. “From his years as a faculty member to his decades of dedication to the agriculture industry, Jarold lived by the Cowboy Code and always worked to do what was right — even if it wasn’t easy. He lived a life of character and inspired all of us who knew and had the honor of working with him.”

Callahan grew up in northeastern Oklahoma on a diversified family farm and cattle operation which quickly sparked his passion. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from OSU where he competed on the livestock judging team as a student, winning national honors.

Throughout his career, Callahan served as a faculty member and livestock judging coach at both NEO and OSU. Both institutions recognized

him as an exceptional teacher and coach. His livestock judging teams won national championships and he was recognized as National Coach of the Year on multiple occasions.

Callahan was elected to the OSU/ A&M Board of Regents for the first time in 2016 and began an eight-year term in 2018. Callahan served as the board chair from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023.

“Regent Callahan has served on the Board since his appointment in 2016 with unwavering dedication, carrying out his responsibilities professionally and thoughtfully,” said the OSU/A&M Board of Regents in a statement. “His extensive knowledge of higher education from his service as a faculty member at NEO and OSU, and his expertise in agriculture was a true asset to his role as a Regent. His strong commitment to advancing agricultural knowledge and making an impact in our state will be remembered and cherished.

“Regent Callahan’s legacy of service and his contributions to advancing the mission of each university and college governed by the OSU/A&M Board will continue to inspire and benefit future generations.”

Callahan served as president of Express Ranches, one of the nation’s largest purebred and commercial ranching operations headquartered in Yukon, Oklahoma. He also co-owned and operated Callahan Cattle Company and XCEL Feedyard LLC. Under Callahan’s leadership, Express Ranches has been the American Angus Association high point Roll of Victory Breeder for the past 10 consecutive years.

Callahan’s legacy lives on through his wife, Jennifer, and their children Brian, Tracie and Ryan.

STORY SYDNEY TRAINOR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

Jarold Callahan congratulates a graduate at a commencement.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 103

OSU donor Cecil O’Brate poses in front of the baseball stadium that dons his name.

The Man Who Made It Happen

Celebrating the legacy of baseball benefactor Cecil O’Brate

T

he jewel of college baseball, which can be found at the corner of Washington Street and McElroy Road in Stillwater, wouldn’t be possible without Cecil O’Brate.

The cheering crowds, the concourse concessions with its peanuts and Cracker Jacks, the immaculate grass and the state-of-the-art video board blasting The Gap Band after a Cowboy home run wouldn’t exist without O’Brate.

Oklahoma State University lost the man whose name dons Cowboy

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baseball’s new home on Jan. 20 when O’Brate died at the age of 95.

O’Brate gave $35 million toward the construction of O’Brate Stadium, which opened in 2021 and is one of the top facilities in college baseball.

“Cecil O’Brate was a remarkable person, and I was blessed to know him,” OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said. “He was a fearless entrepreneur, a pioneer in business, a difference maker in his community and an extremely generous philanthropist that changed the lives of hundreds of underprivileged

and orphaned youths by providing college educations, mentoring and support.

“Cecil was the ultimate game changer for the Cowboy baseball program, our players and fans alike, for generations to come. He lived by his creed of ‘Make It Happen,’ and that is exactly what he did every single day.

Born in Enid, Oklahoma in 1928, O’Brate attended then Oklahoma A&M College from 1946-48 before becoming a self-made serial entrepreneur. He was the owner, developer and operator of multiple

STORY OSU ATHLETICS | PHOTOS BRUCE WATERFIELD

businesses in numerous and diverse industries, among them agriculture, banking, manufacturing, energy, hospitality, real estate, alternative energy, medicine and food science.

O’Brate and his wife, Frances, were married for over 70 years and spent much of their lives in Garden City, Kansas, which they helped develop into a hub for business and shopping between Wichita, Kansas, and Denver. Among his many endeavors, O’Brate helped build American Warrior, Inc., one of the largest independently owned oil and gas production companies in Kansas.

With the establishment of the O’Brate Foundation in 2013, the O’Brates helped provide over $6 million in scholarships to more than 600 students who are graduates of the foster care system or those who come from households with income below the poverty level.

O’Brate received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from OSU

in 2018, and he was inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame in 2023.

“Cecil was extraordinary with a capital E,” said Mike Holder, OSU athletic director emeritus. “He did impossible things and made them look easy. He cared about others, especially those less fortunate, and invested significantly in helping them dream of a better life.”

Since opening for the 2021 season, O’Brate Stadium has welcomed over 435,000 fans and ranked among the national leaders in attendance for three consecutive years.

O’Brate Stadium was dedicated on Aug. 14, 2020, with the O’Brate family along with friends and OSU players and coaches in attendance.

The first game at O’Brate Stadium was played on Feb. 24, 2021, with the Cowboys defeating Little Rock by a 7-2 score.

On May 20, 2021, O’Brate Stadium was officially dedicated in front of

a then-OSU baseball record crowd of 6,362. George W. Bush — the 43rd president of the United States and a friend of the O’Brates — threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

“Cecil O’Brate changed the lives of so many, where do you even begin?” OSU baseball coach Josh Holliday said. “He has an amazing family of loved ones who will forever cherish their loving and caring leader. There are countless individuals and organizations who benefited and will continue to benefit from his generosity, kindness and belief in what people can accomplish if they work hard. He had an amazing business career and was a part of so many creative and successful endeavors over the years.

“As for OSU baseball, our university, our players, fans and staff will forever be grateful for this amazing new home he made possible. O’Brate Stadium changed our lives, and we will honor his name and his mission in life to ‘Make It Happen’ each and every day.”

Cecil O’Brate and former U.S. President George W. Bush throw out the first pitch at O’Brate Stadium in 2021.

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CHAPTER NEWS

HOUSTON Members of the Cowboy family met at The Clubs at Houston Oaks for the Houston OSU Alumni Chapter Golf and Clay Tournament. The annual tournament is held to raise money for scholarships for local OSU students.

COMING SOON TO HOUSTON: The Houston OSU Alumni Chapter is excited to announce this year’s fundraiser — Cowboy Casino, which will be held from 6-10 p.m. June 8 at the Ballroom at Tanglewood. The evening will be full of Cowboy fun, networking and fellowship as they raise money for their chapter scholarship fund.

Registration is $125 per person and $100 for recent graduates (2020-24). Tickets include entrance to the event, $1,000 in Cowboy Casino money, two drink tickets and appetizers.

It is also looking for members of the Cowboy family to sponsor the event. These additional funds allow the chapter to provide fun extras at the event as well as provide additional support to the scholarship fund.

Scan to learn more about the upcoming Cowboy Casino fundraiser from the Houston OSU Alumni Chapter.

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AMERICAN INDIAN ALUMNI SOCIETY Members of the American Indian OSU Alumni Society returned to Stillwater for a Cowboy baseball game at O’Brate Stadium.

PHOTOS PROVIDED TO OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

OKC METRO (Above) The OKC Metro OSU Alumni Chapter attended a day of service with Special Olympics Oklahoma at their annual Polar Plunge event.

(Below) The OKC Metro Alumni Chapter cheered on the Cowboy baseball team as it took on the Mercer Bears.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 107

CHAPTER NEWS

STUDENT NETWORK (Above) To celebrate Valentine’s Day, members of the OSU Alumni Association’s Student Network enjoyed a game of bingo with the residents of Legacy Village.

(Below) Lerin Lynch, ’17 strategic communications, gave Student Network members a lesson on etiquette at Emerging Professionals Night.

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NORTH TEXAS (Above) 200 Cowboys in the North Texas area attended OSU Night with the Dallas Stars. Each attendee received a unique, co-branded Dallas Stars and OSU cap.

(Below) Brighter Orange of North Texas is an exciting event for alumni and friends in North Texas. Attendees participated in a live and silent auction to help raise funds for scholarships for area OSU students.

(Photos by Nancy Farrar)

TULSA Cowboy wrestling coach John Smith and assistant coach Coleman Scott (left) joined 130 Cowboys and Cowgirls in Tulsa to prepare to cheer on OSU at the Big 12 Championship.

RODEO ALUMNI Current OSU students enjoyed an evening at Cowboy Ball. The event is held to help raise funds for the OSU Rodeo team. (Photos by Mitchell Alcala, Office of Communications and Marketing, OSU Agriculture)

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 109

CHAPTER LEADER PROFILE

Karli Gribble, Jackson/Harmon Counties OSU Alumni Chapter Karli Gribble, vice president of the Jackson/Harmon Counties OSU Alumni Chapter, was looking for a place to call home.

She found it within the Cowboy family.

Gribble — originally from Dumas, Texas — graduated high school in 2005.

After two years attending the University of Texas in Arlington, Gribble decided to transfer to Oklahoma State University.

“I was driving to Stillwater frequently visiting friends and attended a couple basketball games,” Gribble said. “I just loved being there, and I wasn’t even a student yet. I decided to transfer, and the friendly, small-town atmosphere immediately felt like home.”

While at OSU, Gribble participated in intramural sports at the Colvin Recreational Center in her free time.

After ending up on the same basketball team, she met her now husband, Joe Gribble, ’08 marketing.

The Colvin Center became a special memory for the Gribble family afterward. Following the birth of their first son, they debated building and street names across campus for his name, but Colvin held a special place in Gribble’s heart.

“OSU plays a huge part in how my family started,” Gribble said. “My husband and I loved being on campus together and he even proposed at OSU. We had Pistol Pete at our wedding. OSU is our happy place. So, we named our first son Colvin.”

In 2017, the Gribbles relocated to Altus, Oklahoma. In a new place with a small child, Gribble said she was looking for family friendly places to meet people.

“The former vice president, Jennie McLeod, invited me to ‘A Night with OSU’ to help her decorate and meet people,” Gribble said. “Immediately, it felt like I knew everyone and was a part

of the family. Jennie started taking me to everything from watch parties to happy hours.”

Gribble took on her role in April 2023.

Since then, she’s strived to get families with children of all ages involved.

“This year, we hosted a pumpkin patch event for the first time,” Gribble said. “We also added a special kids table to ‘A Night with OSU.’ We brought in smaller tables for the kids to have a coloring section and are hoping to make even more kid friendly activities next year.”

JACKSON/HARMON COUNTIES CHAPTER BY THE NUMBERS 599 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS 125 MEMBERS 67 CURRENT OSU STUDENTS 165 MILES FROM STILLWATER

From left: Karli and Joe Gribble make the “Pistols Firing” hand gesture with Pistol Pete while holding their sons, Callan and Colvin.

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STORY JILLIAN REMINGTON | PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ALUMNI UPDATE

1974

1984 1979

1994

1965

Sharon S. Wright, ’65 business education, ’94 doctorate in higher education, said since retiring as dean of instruction at Tulsa Community College, she and her husband, Gary, have enjoyed life without commuting daily. She travels occasionally and tutors OSU athletes. The two enjoy spending time with their two sons and daughter-in-law, two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.

John T. Severe, ’74 prelaw, and his wife, Karen (McCracken) Severe, ’74 special education, continue to enjoy life in Stillwater. He enjoys being able to go to OSU Athletics events and other activities regularly.

1975

Gregory E. Hart, ’79 agricultural mechanics, retired from his 37-year long career with John Deere in 2016 and moved to Tulsa in 2017. He and his wife, Kristen, were recognized as 2020 Ferguson College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni. Hart was inducted into the Grand National Quail Club Hall of Fame in 2023 and has been a member of the OSU Foundation Board of Governors since 2011.

Eddie R. Porter, ’75 sociology, developed his career as a consultant to prisons across the United States and with the Pentagon. He said he owes much of his opportunities to the best university in the country, OSU.

1979

Daniel B. Dexter, ’79 electronics technology, is enjoying life, semi-retired in Florida.

Keith W. Segner, ’86 marketing, recently celebrated 30 years with Hertz.

Randal L. Waters, ’79 agricultural economics, retired in 2021 from his 42-year long career in banking. Waters and his wife, Paula, ’80 family relations and child development, ‘82 master’s in design, housing and merchandising, moved to Edmond and are enjoying spending time with their six grandchildren. The two traveled to Rwanda, Africa, this summer. They are season ticket holders in football, basketball and baseball.

Brian Callahan, ’94, has been appointed as CEO of ISN, a global leader in contractor and supplier information management.

1994

1986

1979

1970

Royce G. Caldron, ’70 secondary education, ’75 master’s in college student development, is a devoted genealogist.

He was admitted to the Mayflower Society after completing documentation of his family lineage back to a passenger on the famed Mayflower voyage in 1620.

Lisa B. (Deason) Crowe, ’84 journalism, participated in the orange splash during the Fall 2023 Official Class Ring Ceremony at OSU on Dec. 7, 2023. Her husband, Norman Crowe, gifted her ring for her 66th birthday and 21st wedding anniversary. She is wearing her new class ring proudly.

1987

John Alberts, ’87 sociology, owns a law firm named Bedlam Law and hosts an annual “Bedlam Party” before the game.

This year, they gathered to celebrate the last Bedlam.

Justin D. Mecklenburg, ’94 accounting, was recognized as one of “OKC’s Most Influential” by 405 Business magazine. This list highlights those who take their position of leadership and use it to mold, shape, inspire and propel their spheres of influence forward.

1998

Lisa D. (Sperry) Allen, ’98 accounting, retired Jan. 2, 2024, after working in research administration at OSU for 24 years.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 111

2003

2019

Christopher M. Solorio, ’03 associate in air conditioning and refrigeration technologies, could not be happier to be an alumnus of OSU. Since his graduation, life has been nothing but an adventure.

Solorio’s career has taken him to Texas and Arizona.

Now, he has settled down in the Tulsa area where he met his wife, Kristen Solorio. The couple married in September 2012. Since moving, he has advanced his career with Cherokee Nation Entertainment.

Paul H. Flowers Jr., ‘19 master’s in entrepreneurship, is thankful for the OSU family. The Cowboy family helped him on his journey to having an amazing career, family, and circle of friends and community.

2020

2023

Eric O. Webster, ’20 master’s in health care administration, has accelerated his career within the health care supply chain advisory services industry. He is grateful for the incredible professors and insight into the health care space, enabling him to partner with supply chain executives within global life science organizations to transform operations, resulting in improved patient care. On the personal side, his family resides in Dallas, though they continue to make trips to Stillwater for OSU Athletics.

Bailey L. James, ’23 business administration, is a career coordinator in the Spears School of Business. She helps students become career ready and learn how to professionally develop into their careers.

2000

Erin M. (Vroman) Oller, ’00 aviation management, ’02 master’s in natural and applied sciences, has been promoted to the executive director of business development for Boeing Global Services.

In this role, she leads a team dedicated to the U.S. Army Marine Corps and Special Ops Missions portfolio, providing critical support to the U.S. government services business.

She is responsible for developing and maintaining customer relationships that align Boeing’s products and services with customer mission requirements, capturing new business, sustaining platform support and achieving business growth.

2013

2003 Frienchelle Dulan, ’13 accounting, is working as an accountant in Dallas after relocating from Tulsa five years ago. She is set to graduate with her MBA in accounting next fall and sit for the CPA exam.

Vinil Komalan, ’03 master’s in industrial engineering and management, has been with the logistics industry for over 17 years now.

Working with Fortune 500 companies like FedEx and UPS, he is now the vice president for industrial engineering at MOVIN Express Pvt. Limited, a B2B logistics company in India. Komalan has had a fantastic journey in his career, utilizing the industrial engineering principles he learned at OSU.

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2019

2021 Adam P. Hoak, ’19, fire protection and safety engineering technology, moved to the state of Michigan in 2023. His parents came to visit him on his 27th birthday and the Cowboys secured the win on his birthday against West Virginia 48-34.

2019

Kortni R. Smith, ’21 animal biotechnology, and Gavin Perkins, current OSU student, got engaged on Oct. 20, 2023.

2021

2018

Reagan W. Coates, ’18, mechanical engineering, has acquired a PE license and moved back to Stillwater. He works at the Phillips 66 Ponca City Refinery and gets to enjoy Cowboy sports all year long.

2023

Kara S. Stead, ’19 mechanical engineering, is leaving her current position as a senior project engineer at General Dynamics OTS in Lincoln, Nebraska, to join Pratt and Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut, as an engineering team leader. She is excited to take this next step in her career while she continues to pursue her master’s in engineering and technology management at OSU.

Austin H. Urbine, ’23 sports management, continues his education at Florida Atlantic University working on his MBA in sports management.

He has accepted a position with the Miami Dolphins as an events and entertainment staff member as well as a part-time position with FAU Athletics as an academic mentor for student-athletes.

’50s

Douglas L. Peacock, ’58 agricultural economics, is a retired attorney who practiced law in Phoenix 20 years ago. He has traveled the U.S and Europe by boat.

’60s

Mark F. Ridner, ’21 forensics, ’22 GCRT – graduate certificate, now works as an ATF national academy training manager at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Shelagh M. Curtin, ’64 zoology, is living in Virginia with her daughter, Andreas, her son-in-law, Andy, and her 16-year-old grandson, Braedan. She has two cats, Miki and Cali, and two dogs, Roscoe and Sadie.

Jimmie Smith, ’64 agronomy, retired in 2019.

He farmed for 30 years and was a safety director for County Commission Association, Tillman Co. Commissioner for 16 years.

Gloria J. (Jones) Rehrig, ’67 trade industries education, is grateful for her 94 years and loves being an OSU Cowboy.

Richard D. Cook, ’68 business, recently retired as the corporate risk manager for Student Transportation of America, which is the third largest school bus company in the United States. He was in the Navy from 1961-65, where he was a crew member on an antisubmarine in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. During those missions, he talked to President Kennedy several times.

Dwight A. Dickinson, ’69 architectural studies, sold his firm, DHAArchitects, and is a full-time principal at a new firm, BLDDDHAArchitects, until July 30, 2024, when he will retire after 52 years in the profession.

In Memory

’70s

Richard H. Bechtol, ’71 physiology, went on a recent mission trip to Zambia with seven doctors and 29 team members. The team saw 955 patients. Bechtol said the First Baptist Church and the people of Zambia are continuously blessed through the medical mission group.

Stephen R. Frazier, ’72 accounting, is enjoying retirement.

’80s

Andrew H. Brejda, ’80 electric technologies, retired from Federal Civil Service on Aug. 31, 2021. Since then, he has spent time traveling around the U.S., Europe and the South Pacific.

Sheila A. (Herbel) Blankenship, ’80 journalism, retired in February 2024 after almost 44 years at the “Hooker Advance” weekly newspaper. The “Advance” celebrated 120 years of business and Blankenship published her final hometown news edition on Feb. 22, 2024. She will now focus on community and church involvement without the weekly deadline.

James M. Wuerflein, ’82, secondary education, retired from farming.

Craig B. Stunkel, ’82 electrical engineering, ’83 master’s in electrical engineering, was selected for the 2023 OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Hall of Fame.

W. Kent McCord, ’88 secondary education, celebrated coaching 30 years with a Special Olympics level 4 coach. He has been married for 12 years to Cindy Sharp McCord and his daughter, Alyssa McCord, is attending OSU now.

’90s

Darren Burns, ’94 civil engineering, had his grandson turn 1 on Jan. 6 and his granddaughter arrived Feb. 19, 2024. In addition to his grandkids, after 29 years at Wallace Design Collective, he has started his 30th year as CEO. WDC finished up the design of Engineering South on campus and will be a part of the new Human Performance Innovation Complex.

’20s

Emily A. Geest, ’21 integrative biology, was awarded the 2023 Conservation Hero of the Year award at the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden for her work with monarch butterflies, community science, and launching a plant head start program to help bolster rare milkweed species populations in the state. She earned a Ph.D. at OSU studying the effects of land management on butterflies and continues to research butterflies from a landscape ecology perspective.

Harold T. Holden, was born in Enid, Oklahoma on March 28, 1940, to Patrick Miles and Betty Jane Failing Holden. After graduating from Enid High School, Holden attended Oklahoma State University for one year before attending the Texas Academy of Art in 1961. He began his career in the commercial art field, working in Wichita, Kansas and in Houston, eventually taking the position of art director at Horseman Magazine. Holden worked during the day and began his fine art career at night, painting and sculpting the West. He was completely self-taught as a sculptor.

On March 22, 1989, he married Edna Mae (Simmons) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the two built a loving partnership for over 34 years.

After a tour during the Vietnam War, Holden pursued a full-time career as a professional fine artist. Commissions from the National Cattlemen’s Association from 1982-86 helped until collectors began noticing his work. In 1987, Holden was chosen to sculpt the 165-year history of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma and Kansas and he completed his first monument — “Boomer” — for the City of Enid, which was used on a U.S. Postage

Stamp. Since his first monument, Holden completed 24 additional monuments for placement in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas.

Some of Holden’s accolades include receiving the Governor’s Art Award in 2001 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Sculpture Society in 2000. In 2014, Holden was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and in 2017, he was the first Oklahoma artist to be inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Holden won the Ray Swanson memorial award at the 2019 Cowboy Artists of America show and the James Earle Fraser sculpture award at the 2020 Prix de West art show.

At the time of his death, Holden was working on his last monument, a larger-thanlife sculpture of Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton on horseback, to go on the OSU campus in Stillwater. This will be Holden’s fourth monument for OSU preceded by the “We Will Remember” Kneeling Cowboy, Barry Sanders and T. Boone Pickens. Upon completion of this piece by his sculptor friends, Holden will have created 25 different monuments throughout his 58-year career.

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Births

Dunlap William K. Dunlap, ’83 outdoor recreation, is a proud grandfather to Paige Vilas Dunlap.

Paige was welcomed into the world on June 26, 2023. She is the daughter of Kyle Dunlap, ’14 strategic communications, and his wife, Dana. The newest Cowgirl was also welcomed by grandmother Corde’ Dunlap, ’83 design, housing and merchandising, uncle Bryce Dunlap, ’19 business administration, and aunt Brynn.

Hughes Andrea N. Hanken-Hughes, ’05 counseling and ’20 doctorate in educational psychology, and husband William Hughes, ’08 theater, welcomed their two sons, Zane and Nolan, into the world on Feb. 28, 2023.

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Camp Madison Camp (McKnight), ’11 human development and family science and ’17 master’s in teaching and learning leadership, and husband Clayton Camp, ’16 recreational therapy, welcomed their second son, Harrison Scott Camp, into the world on June 23, 2023.

Harry was born in Stillwater, and he loves milk, playing with his toys and laughing with big brother, Dean. He’s already excited for his first OSU baseball season!

Lynch Tyler Lynch, ’17 animal science, ’19 plant and soil sciences, and his wife, Lerin (Thomas) Lynch, ’17 strategic communications, welcomed their son, Brody Tate Lynch, into the world on Aug. 12, 2023. Big sister Rorie is very proud, and Brody is already working on following in his Uncle Pete No. 90’s footsteps to become a future Pistol Pete!

Nixon Amy E. Nixon (Sugg), ’11 human development and family science, and husband Joseph R. Nixon, ’10 secondary education, welcomed their son, Jase Hoy James Nixon, into the world on Sept. 21, 2023.

Wiley Matthew R. Wiley, ’23 engineering and technology management, welcomed his little cowgirl, Kearslee Dreah Wiley, into the world on Sept. 11, 2023.

Weddings Gerald Robert McCullers, ’18 mechanical engineering, and wife, Catherine Imogene Peters, ’16 microbiology and ’20 doctorate of osteopathic medicine, got married on May 20, 2023.

Anna Grace (Lewis) Ashley, ’21 communication sciences and disorders and husband Brendan Ashley, ’22 multimedia journalism and strategic communications, were married Nov. 18, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Taylor L. (Chapman) Wood, ’21 animal science, and Kaleb B. Wood, ’20 agricultural education, got married on Aug. 5, 2023.

Submit your update at ORANGECONNECTION.org/share.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 115

New Life Members

The OSU Alumni Association would like to recognize and thank the following individuals who are now connected for life to Oklahoma State University through their new life memberships purchased Oct. 1, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024.

ALUMNI A S S O C I AT I O N

Visit ORANGECONNECTION.org/life to see how easy it is to become a life member today or call 405-744-5368.

*An asterisk designates life members who joined as OSU students.

Mason Adams* Jolene Addington* Lauren Albright Ron Alexander, '72 Taylor Allen* Jake Allison, '21 Zachary Anderson, '05 Garrett Anderson* Marlys Antonoff, '60 Kristy Archuleta, '01 Jim Arnold III, '61 Shirley Arnold John Atkins, '73 Karen Atkinson, '82, '86 Ryan Austin Rene Axtell, '99 Kyle Bacon, '07 Corey Baney, '20 Tammie Barham, '90 Tasha Barnes, '93 Wyatt Barrier, '23 Hugh Barton, '59 Mitchell Battise Leroy Bayliff, '71 Melinda Bell, '07 Jamie Berberick* Sally Berger, '87, '98 Neal Berry, '93 Christopher Bierly* Shelly Bilderback, '97 Curtis Blankenship, '75 Grace Bledsoe* Carly Bloom, '23 Madelyn Blue* Sarah Blumer* Deanna Bohlen, '93 Savanna Bojorquez Dan Bomhoff, '04, '04 Jeffrey Boussu, '00 Diane Bridenstine, '84, '87 Michelle Brooks, '06 Clara Brown, '01 Mike Bunning, '78, '80 Christopher Burchett* Zachary Burlison* Taylor Burnett Charles Burns* Madison Burris* Amanda Buus Thomsen, '02 Ron Calsing, '70, '71 Johnny Camp*

116 S P R I N G 2 0 24

Anne Campbell, '82 Suzanne Carolla, '80 Melanie Carroll* Kelsey Cavender* Jackson Caves* Katy Cerezo Wallace Champlain Jr., '79 Bryon Chesser, '94 Bryant Chitsey* Bob Clark, '75 Bailey Clawson, '21 Mike Clock, '67 Bobby Combs II, '83 Sherri Conklin Caitlin Cooper* Bill Cooper, '75 Jake Crawley, '85 Mary Darcy* Ed Daugherty* Tobi Davis Ashlynn Davis, '23 Jacob Dennis* Ellison Denoso* Bob Dibble, '72 Dwight Dickinson, '69 Savannah Dickinson, '06 Rachel Dillard, '23 James Dirickson Jr., '70 Ashton Donson, '23 Patrick Dover, '91 Floyd Dowell, '84, '85 David Duncan, '74 Pruitt Durham* Melisa Echols, '96, '15 Emilie Egan, '21 Pat Elsener, '77 Lew Ellen Erickson, '81 Bill Everett, '55 John Feamster, '83 Tony Fell, '65, '66 Donald Ferrell, '53 Joshua Fincannon* Presli Findley* Ellie Fly* Malcolm Fowler, '90 Kolbi Franklin* Stephen Frazier, '72 Kathy Freeman, '76 Jim Freudenberger, '61 Matt Friess, '94 Vaughndean Fuller, '58

Brynn Gartner* Ashleigh Gass, '21 Dawson Gates, '22 David Gilbert, '79, '82 Ellie Gilbreath, '23, '23 Caleb Gillaspie, '11 Malarie Golbek* Valerie Gordon, '97 Ryan Grant, '10 Connie Green, '80 Joyce Greenhaw, '58 Cora Griffin Susan Griffith, '76, '80 Emily Griffith* Austin Grimes* Eric Grote, '00 Sean Hamrick, '00 Elliott Hanks, '17 Catherine Harmon John Hasz, '58, '61 Heath Hawkins, '14, '22 Leah Haxton, '23 Stacie Hearp, '96 Linda Heller, '73, '76, '84 Tyler Helm* Grace Herman Barbara Herren, '71, '91 Alexia Herrin, '74 Laura Hofmann, '90 Eric Hotwagner* Harley Houston* Faith Howe* David Hudson, '23 Riley Hurlbut* Angela Hurst, '18 Ryan Hurst Heather Interian, '93 Mary Ann Iven, '55 Reese Jackson, '23 Christine James, '02 John Jarboe, '55 Kyler Jenderseck* Amy Johnson, '95, '00 Sean Jones, '87 Chris Jones, '08 Gaurav Karki, '23 Bryan Karns, '06, '09 Braden Kellogg, '20 Charles Kelly, '68 Makinley Kennedy* Kenzie Kerbs, '23 Paula King, '67 Wynter Kipgen

Kelcie Kirkegard, '23 Greg Kline, '87 Jennifer Kline, '88 Stephanie Kuhlmann, '04 Zachary Kuhlmann, '03 TeNona Kuhn, '87 Paul Kuznekoff, '72 Caeleigh Lancaster* Jamie Lathrop, '95, '98 Ken Leach, '76, '78 Cindy Leach, '71 Sara Leckie, '70 James Lee* Lisa Leroux-Smith, '91 Victor Letbetter, '88 Zoey Lewis* Jared Lewis, '23 Tayten Lierle* Katie Liston, '00 Steven Loafman, '76 Jann Loafman, '74 Vince Logan, '79 George Louthan III, '82 Jedeane Macdonald, '57 Carson Mann* James Masoner, '23, '23 Elizabeth Mateo-Johnson* Andromeda Mathews, '23 Stephan Mathis, '90 Chelsey Matthews, '11 Lori Mayhue, '04 Jack McBryde, '20 Chase McCall, '23 Adam McCartney* Aubrey McCaul* Griff McClellan* Kent McCord, '88 Collin McDade* Lane McMahon Jazz Metten, '20 Bob Milam, '84 Khiley Miller* Justin Miller, '97 Hailey Minet, '23 Lauren Minnix* Rachel Mitchell, '16 Kevin Molinar, '22 Gracie Moody, '23 Cory Moore, '01 Kiley Moore*

Karie Moorehead, '23 Brad Morgan, '85 Ora Morgan, '77 Kojak Morris Kent Morris, '75 Ian Morton, '23 Craig Mullarkey* Paul Muret, '96 Jenna Murff* Erin Nally, '13 Bryan Nance, '82 Andrew Narrin* Jamie Nix, '05 Matthew Nogalski* Nick Nowak, '23 Scott Null, '88 Janice Null, '88 Rachel Overheul, '99 David Pace, '76, '83 Linda Parker, '72 Nancy Patterson, '69 Alexandrea Paulson* Elizabeth Perdue* Budo Perry, '66, '67 Susan Perry, '79 Cindy Peterson, '99 Jace Pevey, '23 Robert Pinson, '87 Lindsey Prewett* Elizabeth Pribil* Jack Price, '60 Evan Price* Katrina Pugh Shanmugam Puvanendran Michael Quint, '04 Paul Rachel, '71 Dinda Rachel, '82 Hank Reeves, '89 Bob Regnier, '66 Krey Reimer, '83 Krista Reimer Jackson Reynolds, '23 Nicholas Reynolds* Darrell Richardson, '73 Burl Richardson, '61, '62 Colin Richter* Otie Rickman, '94, '98 Leah Rios, '09 Douglas Reed Roberts, '20 Dallas Rogers*

Stacey Roggendorff, '92, '96 Shae Roggendorff, '92 Kaylee Rolph* Jennifer Rosell, '12 Matthew Rosman* Jason Rozneck, '96 Kim Salisbury, '03 Alan Schaefer, '79 Tracey Schaefer, '85 Jamie Schuermann, '12, '14 Cathryn Schulle, '94 Bobby Schultz II, ‘86 Steven Schwandt, '77, '79 Ira Scott Jr., '67 Robyn Seabolt Mike Sealock, '78, '83 Bruce Sewell, '76 Andy Shanahan, '93 Coleton Sharp, '12, '21 Robin Shilt, '84, '85 Tammy Shirley, '82 Jim Shmidl, '58, '60 Jane Sigmon, '65 Michelle Singer, '99 Logan Smith, '23 Samantha Smith* Wes Smith, '91 Scotland Souders* Trenton Stafford, '98 Madison Standrich* Garrett States, '23 Mark Stephens, '76 Matthew Stites* Paul Storm, '63 Stephany Stricklin, '20 AJ Stricklin Gracelyn Stuckey* Kent Studebaker, '69 Laura Summers, '95 Brett Sundstrom, '92 Jacob Sutherland* Douglas Swartz, '06, '06 Jan Taylor, '72 Makenzie Terrell Ty Tetrick* Gary Thomas, '81 Brooks Thomas, '95, '98 Chris Thompson Jordyn Tinsley, '23

Luke Tompkins, '23 David Torres* John Trent, '67 Tylee Trevizo, '23 Mervin Turnbull, '84 Colby Turner* Scott Tyner, '96 Merideth Vansant, '12

George Veirs, '67 James Wallace, '73 Remington Ward, '23, '23 Ed Watkins, '68 Lauren Weber* Rex Weigand, '65 Lynn Wells, '60

Nathan White, '23 Joel White, '98 John Whiteaker, '13 Jennifer Whitworth, '02, '05 Hannah Wilcocks* Gregory Wilcox* Mathew Wiley

McKenzie Wilhelm, '20, '20 Frank Williams, '78 Allie Williams, '20 Jonathan Williams* Rhonda Wilson, '18 Lea Winkle, '10, '12 Wade Witcher, '21

Matt Witt, '06 Jamey Wood II, '88 Jay Wyatt, '95 Dax Yosten* Joni Zagst, '05 Timothy Zajac, '88

All new Life Members receive a kit filled with exclusive items for the most loyal and true Cowboys.

S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 117

ACADEMIC COURSE OFFERINGS: May 20-31, 2024 and July 1-13, 2024 SUMMER LEISURE LEARNING COURSES: July 22-26, 2024 FINAL Day to Enroll is June 15 FALL LEISURE LEARNING COURSES: September 19-21, 2024

A PICTURE-PERFECT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY The OSU Doel Reed Center in Taos extends Oklahoma State University’s reach to culturally rich northern New Mexico, offering students a studyabroad experience without having to leave the country. This unique learning experience has a transformative impact on each student, no matter their area of study. Many students depend on scholarships to take advantage of the educational opportunities available at the Doel Reed Center. Academic programming can only be expanded with additional support, affording more students a chance to participate in these amazing programs.

“Without the generous scholarship I received, I would never have been able to have this experience,” said Jahania Wright, a recent graduate of OSU. “It allowed me to explore a new culture and delve into new artistic and intellectual pursuits that aided me in my understanding of my field. While learning about arborglyphs in a classroom at OSU would have been interesting, it simply does not compare to the trip to Taos and having classes at the Center.”

To learn how you can help support the Doel Reed Center, contact Jayme Ferrell at jferrell@osugiving.com or visit OSUgiving.com/DoelReed. To read about all the Doel Reed Center has to offer, visit doelreed.okstate.edu.

COWBOY OWNED COWBOY LED The Cowboy100 is a celebration to acknowledge the business and leadership achievements of Oklahoma State University graduates. The Cowboy100 highlights the contribution of entrepreneurial graduates from across the university and their positive influence on OSU, our students and the world.

Scan the QR code to learn more about the Cowboy100.

2024 Cowboy100 Honorees 1. Coterie Media 2. Infinite Composites 3. Embark 4. Ten Toes 5. Medefy Health 6. Little River Energy Company 7. Hood & Associates, CPAs, PC 8. Bedlam Law 9. Solar Power of Oklahoma 10. Twin Eagle 11. Phase 2 Development 12. Pinnacle Petroleum 13. Kimray 14. Renovation Construction Services 15. Extract Companies 16. Bowers Logistics 17. Taurex Drill Bits 18. Medical Billing Wholesalers 19. Upside Interiors 20. Sidwell Seed 21. Bertrem Products 22. Credera 23. 405 Vet Animal Hospital 24. Sidwell Strategies 25. The FerVID Group 26. AAON 27. Scuba Savvy 28. Webco Industries

29. Video Gaming Technologies 30. NeoInsulation 31. Homes by Taber 32. NeoManufacturing 33. Matt C. Sims Auction 34. Alegacy 35. Stephenson Baggs & Guthrie 36. Glenn | Partners 37. Thermal Specialties 38. Sawyer Manufacturing Company 39. Swallowing and Neurological Rehabilitation 40. Whisper Intimate Apparel 41. Cowboy Driving Academy 42. Hideaway Pizza 43. Stillwater Furniture Showcase 44. Pinot's Palette 45. Sweet Turns 46. iDENTIFY 47. Iron Monk Brewing Company 48. Resinous Flooring Supply 49. Fenton Motors 50. Boadie L. Anderson Quarries 51. Jimmy's Egg 52. The Persimmon Group 53. Air Hygiene International 54. Zeeco 55. Stephen H. McDonald & Associates 56. Ewbank & Hennigh

57. Sidwell Insurance 58. Myers Property Investments 59. Pie Junkie 60. Liberty Capital Bank 61. SNB Bank, National Association 62. U.S. Tank Trucks 63. Hartman Wanzor McNamara 64. ISN Software Corporation 65. DeWitt, Paruolo & Meek 66. Flexplan Administrators 67. Dream First Bank 68. Direct Kicks 69. Custom Powder Systems & Integrated Containment Systems 70. Resolute PR 71. Community Infusion Solutions 72. Pipeline Equipment 73. Alert Rental 74. Payne County Tree Service 75. Sidwell Farms 76. Big Elk Energy Systems 77. 24OurCare 78. Enterprise Grain Company 79. Oklahoma Promo 80. Parkhill's Liquors & Wine South 81. LEAD Training 82. Tri-8 83. Evans Building Concepts

PARTING SHOT | 04 .08 . 24 The recent solar eclipse was seen with near 100% totality on its path through the southeast portion of the state. Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education faculty and students used the opportunity to study the atmospheric effects of the eclipse to improve weather forecasting.

PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Attend Stillwater Events On Us! ENTER

& Win! #FlySWO

America’s friendliest college town!

2024 SYMPOSIUM PRESENTED BY

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS 2024 WOMEN FOR OSU SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS

including presenting sponsor Bank of Oklahoma, platinum sponsor Jimi Davidson and everyone who attended this year’s event!

Congratulations to the 2024 Philanthropist of the Year Cheryl Clerico, our five Partnering to Impact grant recipients and our 16 outstanding student scholars.

For continued coverage of the 2024 Symposium and the latest Women for OSU updates — including next year’s speaker — be sure to follow @OSUFoundation on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn, or visit OSUgiving.com/Women.

OSUgiving.com/Women