STATE magazine - Fall 2013

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The official magazine of Oklahoma State University Fall 2013, Vol. 9, No. 1 • statemagazine.okstate.edu

Fall 2010 issue of STATE magazine, your source of information from Welcome to the fall 2013

the OSU Alumni Association, the OSU Foundation and University Marketing. On the cover and below, OSU Museum of Art visiting artist Yatika Fields works with students on a 10-panel mural. Read about Fields and other OSU visual arts efforts inside this edition of STATE. Cover photography by Phil Shockley

SPECIAL SECTION

Art at OSU

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With OSU making bold statements in the arts, STATE magazine is spotlighting some of the university’s visual arts forays.

• The OSU Museum of Art’s Postal Plaza Gallery opens in October.

• Visiting artist Yatika Fields creates a mural with students.

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The Doel Reed Center for the Arts extends OSU’s land-grant mission beyond Oklahoma.

• Alumnus Bradley Chance Hays combines painting and steer wrestling.

• Native American artists speak with the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program.

$1 Billion and Beyond!

Oklahoma State made history when President Burns Hargis announced that Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University had topped the $1 billion mark.

But there is still much more to do before the campaign ends in December 2014.

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FALL 2013

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A Friend to All Cowboys

COWBOY COLLECTION 11

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Ancient Drink, Modern Celebration

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Extreme Algae

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24 Before he retires this fall, OSU Alumni Association President Larry Shell reflects on more than 30 years of service to OSU. It is impossible to estimate how many friendships Shell has made with Cowboys and Cowgirls during his time at OSU.

The Cowboy Way Professor Subhash Kak explores the mind.

Wine Forum offers students scholarships and experience.

Professor Gerald Schönknecht’s algae study sheds light on evolution.

Enhancing Teaching and Research Endowed position medallions show appreciation for donors and faculty.

40 Leaders of the Pack

The Student Alumni Board has been creating leaders for 25 years.

44 Designing a Better Life

OSU student engineers battle disease in Central America.

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The Man, The Sign, The Chant Alumnus Lee Redick is better known as Mr. Orange Power on game days.

82 Changes in Latitude

OSU team creates an athletic turfgrass used in the NFL. 86 Living for Students

Pat “Weird” Ward leaves a lasting legacy with scholarship donation.

88 Stand and Salute

OSU helps military veterans return to school.

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Life at The Ranch

48 Confronting the Twister Aftermath Tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma in May left a wake of death and devastation. But OSU Cowboys rose to the challenge, responding with expertise and kindness. Dr. Stephanie Barnhart used her OSU medical training to provide care, Joe Wertz reported to listeners of KOSU and nationwide, Cowboys donated to victims and students designed tornado-forecasting aircraft.

Alumni join to build a nonprofit continuing-care retirement community.

96 A Giving Triangle

OSU alumni connect through love, animals and scholarship.

100 A Matter of Chemistry

Donors Carl and Joy Kerfoot allow aspiring chemist to thrive.

102 Protecting the Pipeline OSUIT launches Pipeline Integrity Program.

110 Inspiring Change Women for OSU holds its fifth annual symposium.

124 Energy and Optimism

Alumnus Paul Miller ascended quickly in the journalism ranks.

D epa r t m ents President’s Letter 4 STATEment 7 Wellness with Ann Hargis 8 The Cowboy Way 11 Campus News 12 Legacy Link 17 Uniquely Oklahoma 53

O-STATE Stories Life Members Chapters Class Notes History Crossword

72 105 112 117 124 128 3

Oklahoma State University enters another exciting school year this fall with tremendous momentum and, thanks to the support of tens of thousands of donors, more resources.

OSU became one of only 40 public universities to achieve a $1 billion capital campaign when we reached our Branding Success goal in April, nearly two years early. But we still have many critical needs, so the campaign continues. It’s now “$1 Billion and Beyond!”

Student scholarships have been the primary priority of our campaign, and we appreciate all who have supported this priority. In this issue of STATE, we spotlight endowed scholarships provided by Jennifer and Steve Grigsby, and Carl and Joy Kerfoot. Upon his death this year, alumnus Pat “Weird” Ward, a high school chemistry teacher who inspired students with his unique style, left $300,000 for science scholarships.

Long a hidden OSU jewel, the arts are center stage with stories on this fall’s opening of the Postal Plaza Gallery in Stillwater, the Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Taos, N.M., and the Oral History Research Program’s Oklahoma Native Artists collection.

Oklahoma State’s land-grant mission to serve was on full display during and after the deadly Oklahoma tornadoes this spring. Despite taking a direct hit, patients at the Moore Medical Center survived in part because of the heroic actions of OSU Center for Health Sciences alumna Dr. Stephanie Barnhart.

This issue includes a profile on retiring Alumni Association President Larry Shell, who has served the university well. We wish him and his family all the best.

First Cowgirl Ann and I hope to see you on campus this fall.

Go Pokes!

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OSU President Burns Hargis

A little more than five years after launching a transformative fundraising campaign to support OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, we surpassed our $1 billion goal nearly two years ahead of schedule. However, there is more work to be done. We will continue through the campaign’s scheduled conclusion in December 2014.

We thank the tens of thousands of loyal and true alumni and friends who have given to Branding Success: The Campaign for OSU. This is the boldest higher-education campaign in Oklahoma’s history, and the university is stronger because of you.

TO LEARN MORE about the campaign and the many ways you can support OSU, visit OSUgiving.com or call 800.622.4678.

THE STATE’S BRIGHTEST SMILE!

G et yo ur s to da y!

Stillwater World Headquarters 800-256-5637

Tulsa Woodland Hills Mall eskimojoes.com

Eskimo Joe’s is a proud supporter of OSU Athletics. ®

Dear OSU Alumni and Friends, OSU President Burns Hargis recently announced that Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University exceeded its $1 billion goal, but there is more to do before the campaign ends in December 2014.

The transformation across the system since the campaign began in December 2007 is impressive and a cause for celebration. It’s also an incentive for accomplishing so much more before Branding Success concludes. The university will become even stronger as future supporters join the tens of thousands of alumni and friends who have already given $1.03 billion in gifts and pledges.

Learn more about the immediate impact of the campaign as well as the remaining priorities beginning on Page 18.

Many of today’s most successful OSU alumni and donors can trace their first gift to an Alumni Association membership. Our members are passionate, informed and engaged, which benefits every aspect of our alma mater.

From the Legacy Program and the Student Alumni Association to Homecoming and our 50-year reunions, membership supports dozens of alumni and student programs at the Alumni Association.

Please consider becoming a life member or giving a gift membership to a fellow Cowboy this fall, and join us in being lifelong advocates of America’s Brightest Orange.

Before being an alumni, you have to be a student — and now is a perfect time for high school juniors and seniors to start considering OSU for college.

If parents, alumni or friends of OSU want to refer a student to OSU, check out the Know a Future Cowboy program at orangeconnection.org/knowafuturecowboy.

There’s also time to visit campus and apply for fall 2014. Take a look at admissions.okstate.edu to see how to get to know OSU, plan a campus visit or apply for admission.

There’s never been a better time to be a part of America’s Brightest Orange.

Kirk A. Jewell President OSU Foundation

Larry Shell President OSU Alumni Association

Kyle Wray Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing

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Being Well with the First Cowgirl Dear Cowboy family,

freshest of ingredients and keeping wellness on the front burner is an added bonus.

Wellness has always been important in the Hargis house. For In addition to the Cowboy Cooking School, University us, wellness is a holistic approach that covers multiple areas, and Dining Services has created a series of healthy cooking classes one of those areas that is so important to us is nutrition. specifically for students. Designed around cooking in a dorm or When Burns and I arrived at OSU, I was delighted to learn an apartment kitchen, students are learning to make better food the Seretean Wellness Center provided healthy cooking demonchoices. And they are learning that it can strations on campus. Featuring guest chefs still taste good. and focusing on fresh, local and healthy Campus departments, divisions and ingredients, the Cowboy Cooking School units are truly coming together as one seeks to provide flavorful and creative to create a culture of wellness, and I see dishes, all pleasing to the palate and good a bright and healthy future ahead. The for you, too. journey toward our goal of becoming Our daughter, Kate Haas, owner of the America’s HEALTHIEST campus is The Earth Café in Norman, was recently real, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a chef for the Cowboy Cooking School. In a Cowgirl. true Hargis fashion, we all rolled up our sleeves and started cooking. It was so fun In health, to share this side of our family with others.

Cooking together and spending time around the table has allowed us to build Ann Hargis memories and stay connected during the most hectic of times. Knowing we are also Chef Kate Haas, left, cooks with her nourishing our bodies and souls with the mother, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis.

Moroccan stew with garlic and chili infused oil

Salt to taste 1 medium-sized zucchini, chopped ½ cup water

Servings: 6–8 ¼ cup olive oil (to sauté vegetables) 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

Hot pepper sauce cup olive oil

1 red and 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1½ teaspoons ground cumin

1½ teaspoons ground coriander

5 cloves garlic, pressed

1 teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon salt

2½ teaspoons cayenne

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 medium-size sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into ½-inch cubes 3 fresh tomatoes, seeded 2 15-ounce cans of diced tomatoes ¼ cup water 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 cups cooked/drained garbanzo beans (or 1 15-ounce can)

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For serving 4 cups cooked quinoa or couscous Heat ¼ cup oil in a 5-quart kettle over medium heat. Add onion, bell peppers, coriander and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in sweet potatoes and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, water, lemon juice and garbanzo beans. Season with salt to

taste. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Mix zucchini into stew pot and cook, cover and cook, until sweet potatoes are tender, about 5 more minutes.

In a small pan, combine cup olive oil, cayenne, cumin, garlic and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until ingredients are well blended, about 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

To serve, spread quinoa or couscous around the edge of a deep platter, or individually on plates, and spoon vegetable mixture into center. Top with hot sauce as desired.

Calories: 410; Protein: 10g; Carbohydrates: 50g; Total fat: 19g; Saturated fat: 2.5g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Fiber: 9g; Sodium: 290mg (Recipe from Kate Haas will appear in the Seretean Wellnesss Center’s cookbook, Best Bites 2)

Caprese Salad on Skewers Black Bean, Corn and Pepper Salsa

Grilled Vegetable Skewers Cowboy Chili

Cowboy Sliders with Pork Tenderloin

Pecan Berry Oatmeal Bars

Hey, OSU fans!

Stay in the game this football season with healthy tailgating.

Get alternative tailgating tips and delicious recipes featuring heart-healthy fats and fewer calories at wellness.okstate.edu/healthy-tailgating.

Sponsored by the Merrick Foundation

Branding SucceSS has taken our beloved university to a level of innovation and excellence unlike anything we’ve seen at Oklahoma State.

We’ve surpassed our $1 billion goal for Branding Success — and there is still time for you to be a part of this historic campaign, which is continuing through December 2014. Join our family of more than 88,000 donors who have invested in the future of OSU.

every one. every year. every day.

Be A PArt of history At osU. Make your gift count today!

Visit OSUgiving.com to learn more or scan this code with your smart phone.

t h e c o w b o y way

Eyes on the skies

Big thoughts

Ancient Indians, like the Britons’ ancestors who built Stonehenge, watched the stars and used the heavens to chart things such as the seasons’ ebb and flow. “What’s interesting is the ancient man saw the outer cosmos played within the individual,” Kak says. “In fact, the Greeks said, ‘As above, so below.’ In meditation, you make a symbolic journey from the earth to your inner sun. That’s the takeoff in to spirituality.”

The Kashmir native is known for his research in consciousness, neural networks and cryptography, the practice of coding information to protect it in the digital age. Most recently, Kak and several colleagues received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how quantum mechanics — an area of physics dealing with goings-on on atomic and subatomic scales — can improve digital security.

Easy on the cheese

Fancy Words

At their home in Stillwater, Kak and his wife, Naumi Kak, eat simple meals of traditional Indian food. Usually, that’s some kind of vegetable, lentils and rice. They eat out frequently in Stillwater (“Brooklyn’s is good, isn’t it?”) and love Mexican food, but he always asks the kitchen to go easy on the cheese. “One thing I do not like about Mexican as well as Italian is cheese. I don’t like too much cheese. If you can ask them to hold it back, the rest of the stuff, it’s nice. Spicy.

Chilies. All that. That’s good.”

Kak’s work in code writing, neural networks and the mind makes him a frequent speaker at conferences all over the world. He met physician and alternative medicine supporter Deepak Chopra in Agra, India, last year, and struck up a friendship with the best-selling author, who invited him to speak about consciousness at his Sages & Scientists Symposium in Carlsbad, Calif., in August.

Poetic play These hands write poetry considered among the best from his homeland, a country long since gone due to war between India and Pakistan.

They also play some mean pingpong at the Colvin Center on weekends.

Kak says he was very good at the game when he was working on his doctorate at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. He was also very good at chess. He won several championships as a younger man.

“For some time, I thought, ‘Well, maybe I should be the best in the world,’ but fortunately I had better sense before I seized that idea and made it my own.”

Subhash Kak, head of OSU’s computer science department, has written 12 books on cryptography, Indo-Aryan migration, Vedic astronomy — ancient Indians’ study of the stars — and the nature of knowledge, as well as six volumes of poetry. He was nominated for a 2007 Nobel Prize in literature, and his books have been translated into French, Serbian, German, Italian, Korean and Spanish.

In March, Kak lectured at the Toward a Science of Consciousness conference in Agra, India, along with other luminaries such as Deepak Chopra.

He is the executive editor of the Journal of Cosmology, and editor of the Journal of Universal Computer Science. In 2009, he was an editor with UNESCO’s International Council of Monuments and Sites project on archaeoastronomy and the keynote speaker at the Astronomy and Civilization Conference in Budapest, Hungary.

His research has been profiled on the Discovery and History television channels, as well as on networks in Europe and India. He came to OSU from Louisiana State in 2007.

Walk the earth

M at t E l l i o t t PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

These feet have taken Kak all over the place.

He visited Stonehenge on 12-12-2012 at 12:12 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time. He also went to Machu Picchu, the ruined Incan city perched on an Andes mountaintop in Peru. Those places hold a special significance for Kak because he believes they hint at a larger thing — evidence of a common consciousness around since the Big Bang. “If you look at what is the standard conception of science and reality, then life is depressing,” he says. “What’s life worth living for? But if there was another frontier, which is within you, isn’t that exciting?”

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A spirited auction is among the ways A Stately Affair raises scholarship funds for OSU in Tulsa.

of Management were selected No. 37 in the U.S. News Best Online Education Program rankings.

“We’ve accomplished quite a bit in the past three years. I am thankful for the support and major contributions from Oklahoma State University’s administration and the Spears School’s faculty, staff and students as we’ve worked together to make a difference,” Crosby says.

Crosby began Aug. 1 as the dean of the Drucker School at the Claremont Graduate University in California.

OSU is Best Value Stately Affair Honors Icons

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SU supporters came together to raise more than $510,000 for OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences scholarships at A Stately Affair in Tulsa. The event, at Southern Hills Country Club in May, also honored the 2013 Icons for OSU in Tulsa.

“We are grateful to our donors, who really showed their willingness to step up and go the extra mile to support our students,” says Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and the OSU Center for Health Sciences. “They make it easier for students to pursue their education and for us to recruit future physicians for Oklahoma.”

The 2013 Icons for OSU in Tulsa are OSU-Tulsa graduate Chris Benge, senior vice president of government affairs for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; Jim Halligan, former OSU president and current Oklahoma state senator; Tom McKeon, Tulsa Community College president who earned his doctorate from OSU; and B. Frank Shaw, 2007 Oklahoma Osteopathic Association’s Doctor of the Year and past president of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association.

OSU-Tulsa students Sami Sunday and Eric Loya, OSU medical student Jake Whitener and OSU student Chá Reeder, who will be among the first students to enter OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine this fall through the early

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admissions program, were featured in a video discussing how scholarships have benefitted their education.

Business School Dean Resigns OSU Spears School of Business Dean Larry Crosby has resigned and taken a position in California. Crosby began his tenure as dean on May 17, 2010.

Crosby, 63, was instrumental in leading the Spears School in several initiatives, including the creation of the Watson Graduate School of Management, the Ph.D. in Business for Executives program and several academic centers. He also launched fundraising efforts for a new business building on the Stillwater campus.

“We appreciate Dean Crosby’s leadership in raising the Spears School’s already strong profile,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “New initiatives and a new business building will take OSU’s business school to even greater levels of success. We wish him all the best.”

During his tenure, the Spears School steadily climbed in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report rankings. In addition, the Spears School is one of only four schools in the United States in which 100 percent of the full-time MBA students received jobs within three months after graduation. The master’s programs offered in the Watson Graduate School

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orbes has named OSU a top-25 pick on its list of “Best Value Colleges” in 2013. OSU is ranked 23.

“The Forbes list of 650 schools distinguishes itself from competitors by our belief in ‘output’ over ‘input,’” says Forbes staffer Caroline Howard. “Our sights are set directly on ROI (return on investment). What are students getting out of college?”

Forbes partners with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity to produce the annual “Best Value Colleges” ranking by dividing each school’s overall quality score — based on student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, four-year graduation rate and academic success — by its published in-state tuition and fees.

English Professor Named Guggenheim Fellow OSU English professor J.C. Hallman is one of 175 scholars, artists and scientists in the U.S. and Canada to win a John Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship.

“The selection process for the Guggenheim Fellowship involves more than 3,500 applicants and is quite rigorous,” Hallman says. “I am honored to have been selected.”

Hallman was selected as a 2013 fellow for his creative non-fiction work that he describes as “part history, part journalism and part travelogue.”

The foundation awarded Hallman more than $40,000 for his research project, which will focus on the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African country of Swaziland. The epidemic is one of the major challenges to Swaziland’s socioeconomic development.

Hallman’s books include The Chess Artist, The Devil is a Gentleman, The Hospital of Bad Poets, In Utopia and Wm & H’ry.

At OSU since 2011, Hallman is an assistant English professor in the creative writing program.

Medical Center Receives Funding

OSU Has Governor’s Cup Winners

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OSU-OKC’s Team RxOmni is, from left, Mayra Tello, Angela Davis, team leader Kris Monier, Angela Estevez, Lori Hasty, team adviser Amber Hefner and Herbert G. Foncham.

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he OSU Medical Center in Tulsa received $13 million as part of a legislative budget deal reached by Gov. Mary Fallin and state legislative leaders in May. A portion of the funds will be leveraged against available federal health funding to reach $18.25 million, the amount requested by medical center and university officials.

The funding ensures that the medical center and OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine will continue to train physicians and provide health care services to the underserved throughout the state.

“We are very pleased that the governor and state legislators recognized the value of OSU Medical Center and provided the support to needed to ensure continued success,” says Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and the OSU Center for Health Sciences.

“A strong teaching hospital enables us to continue our mission to train dedicated physicians for underserved areas of Oklahoma and helps Tulsa to prosper by providing quality health care for our community.”

With the state’s support secured, OSU officials are seeking a long-term private partner for OSU Medical Center that is willing to provide financial, management and technology resources to ensure that the mission of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine to provide physicians for Oklahoma’s rural and underserved areas can thrive.

Online Engineering Programs Ranked Best Buys

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, center, recognizes the R2R Technologies team members, from left, Aravind Seshadri, Pedro Velasco, Carlo Branca and engineering professor Prabhakar Pagilla.

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n OSU-Oklahoma City team won the Small Business Division competition at Oklahoma’s annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup. A team from OSU’s Stillwater campus placed second in the High Growth Graduate Division, and OSU-Tulsa won an interview award.

The Governor’s Cup requires student teams to identify a concept, research the market, write a business plan and present it before a panel of judges.

OSU-OKC’s Team RxOmni won with a software concept to alert pharmacists to possible adverse drug interactions.

R2R Technologies from the Stillwater campus placed second in the High Growth Graduate Division. In May, R2R Technologies won its division at the Tri-State Donald W. Reynolds Cup in Las Vegas. It competed against teams from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Nevada.

hree OSU engineering programs are best buys for engineering professionals pursuing higher education master’s degrees online, according to a national survey conducted by GetEducated.com.

The website surveyed 193 accredited online engineering master’s programs.

“OSU’s engineering distance learning master’s programs have consistently ranked as a top best buy for consumers since GetEducated began ranking online graduate engineering schools for affordability in 2005,” says GetEducated.com founder Vicky Phillips.

The three top-10 affordable online engineering master’s degree programs offered by the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology are a master’s degree in engineering and technology management, ranked seventh; and, tied at 10th, master’s degrees in engineering and management, and electrical and computer engineering.

Interstate Bridge Named for Graduate

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bridge on Interstate 44 in Oklahoma City was named for Kenneth Kilgore, who earned a 2009 OSU doctorate in school administration.

The Maestro Kenneth Kilgore Memorial Bridge is on I-44 passing over Kelley Ave. In 1979, Kilgore founded what would become the Ambassadors’ Concert Choir. The Oklahoma City based choir has performed throughout the United States and in Mexico. It has provided music for the inaugurations of the past six Oklahoma governors.

Kilgore’s successful music career won him several laurels, including induction into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame along with the Ambassadors’ Concert Choir in 1992 and the Oklahoma Arts Award in 1996. He was the minister of music and fine arts for St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City from 1970-2011. He died in April 2011.

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OSU Employee Sets Rowing Records OSU’s Steve Price set records as part of a two-man team that rowed a 440-mile stretch of Canada’s Yukon River in just more than two days.

“Our trip was the fastest unsupported journey ever recorded along this stretch of river, and we’re the only team that ever made the voyage without once stepping ashore,” says Price, associate vice president for technology development. “Our time was the fastest recorded by anyone in the last five years, and we missed breaking the overall human-powered record by an hour and 18 minutes. That record was set in 2008 by a six-person team.”

Price, 62, and Colin Angus, 42, posted the fourth-fastest time ever recorded and the second-fastest time for a team of two. They rowed from the Yukon Territory cities of Whitehorse to Dawson City in 50 hours and 50 minutes from June 26-28.

Angus, a veteran outdoorsman, was named the 2007 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year as the first person to circumnavigate the globe by human power.

Last summer, Price broke a 24-hour world record for rowing on a rowing machine for his weight and age. In April of 2009, he set another 24-hour world record by completing 3,175 pull-ups.

For more information, go to Price’s blog at yukonrow.blogspot.com.

OSU Royalties Top $2 Million For the first time, royalties at Oklahoma State University topped $2 million in fiscal year 2012. The royalties are generated by the use of university developed technologies that are licensed to start-up or existing companies.

“It is definitely a milestone,” says Stephen McKeever, OSU’s vice president for research and technology transfer.

“Since this figure represents the value companies place on technologies developed by our researchers, I’d say this is a clear indication that we are fulfilling our land-grant mission by providing technologies of vital need in our community.”

Topping the list of royalty-generators is a probiotic administered to the nation’s dairy and feedlot cattle to help maintain the proper balance of microflora in the animals’ gastrointestinal tracts. The bacteria also help the cattle convert food to energy.

The other leading royalty-earners include a collective group of wheat varieties developed by OSU’s Wheat Improvement Team; a method for measuring radiation exposure used in 25 percent of the world’s radiation badges in hospitals, medical and dental offices, universities, national laboratories and other industries; and monoclonal antibodies invented at OSU that identify bovine viral diarrhea virus.

The royalties are re-invested into university research programs. Half of the

OSU’s Steve Price, facing camera, and adventurer Colin Angus recently set records as part of a two-man rowing team on Canada’s Yukon River.

Photo / Yukonrow.blogspot.com

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royalties support the Technology and Business Development Program, an initiative that seeks out research projects with high commercial potential and supports them to the point of licensing.

OSU Captures Dining Services, Nutrition Honors

University Dining Services executive chef Donald Pritchett hosts a cooking class at a residence hall.

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SU’s University Dining Services won two awards from The National Association of College & University Food Services. The Nutrition Awards aim to help member institutions advance their culinary expertise by acknowledging successful promotions and outstanding recipes.

OSU Dining Services won gold for their entry, Understanding Healthy Dining, in the Most Innovative Wellness & Nutrition Program category. To address poor eating habits that lead to weight gain and possible obesity for college students, OSU created the Healthy Dining Program to help educate students in nutritional awareness.

Dining Services tied for silver with its entry, “Grilled Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing,” in the Best Local Foods Recipe category. The recipe uses five local ingredients: spring mix, spinach, grape tomatoes, eggs and honey.

“UDS is thrilled to win these awards. Having our team’s hard work acknowledged by our peers nationally is extremely gratifying,” says Terry Baker, director of Dining Services. “We want to make sure our students have every opportunity to learn about healthy eating and the part each of us plays in creating a sustainable environment.”

Professor Jeanmarie Verchot will create virus-free canna lilies.

Faculty Funded for Research

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ix OSU researchers were awarded funding through the Oklahoma Applied Research Support program administered by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology.

Priyank Jaiswal, assistant professor of geology, will use his award to develop a test model to optimize drilling operations during fracking. Oklahoma oil and gas companies waste $10 million a year in drilling and fracking costs due to their inability to predict the trajectory and pattern of hydraulically stimulated fractures, Jaiswal says.

Ranji Vaidyanathan, professor of materials science and engineering, will develop low-pressure, liner-less all composite adsorbed natural gas tanks.

Chemistry professor Allen Apblett will develop a technology able to transform propane to propylene, a high-value commodity chemical feedstock for a variety of chemicals.

Jay Hanan, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, will target development of high-strength,

high-elastic limit and an amorphous microstructure metallic glass as a honeycomb base material.

Nirmal Govindaraju, research associate in materials science and engineering, aims to use nanodiamonds to improve the ability to detect chemical and biological substances that may be used in terrorist-type activities.

Jeanmarie Verchot, professor of entomology and plant pathology, will create virus-free canna lilies through diagnostic screening and tissue culture. Verchot says traditional growing techniques have produced an explosion of new diseases in the nursery industry.

Growing canna lilies is a $400 million a year business in Oklahoma.

University Program Supports Minority Science Students

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new OSU program gives minority students a boost in the science professions. Funded by the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, the Stillwater student chapter is one of 40 in

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the U.S. and the only college chapter in the state.

Science Scholars: The Native American Path guides American Indian students at OSU in pursuing degrees in science, technology, and engineering and mathematical fields.

Gilbert John, OSU associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, oversees the program.

“We want to give our minority students an opportunity to excel,” John says. “(The program) provides opportunities for our students to participate in training sessions focused on academic success and professional development.”

This year, students can travel to the Chicanos and Native Americans in Science conference in San Antonio.

“Our students meet with top-notch minority scientists who are dedicated to helping them,” John says. “It is a low-key environment where Hispanic and Native American students can feel comfortable.”

You Like Us

Dear Readers, The results are in, and it appears you like what you see and read in STATE. According to a recently concluded OSU Alumni Association survey of life and annual members, STATE is getting your attention.

Of the nearly 2,000 life members asked, about 48 percent say STATE is a “very important” benefit of membership, while nearly 44 percent say it is “somewhat important.” In our mind, that’s about 92 percent who think we’re important.

Of the more than 800 annual members surveyed, nearly 93 percent say STATE is at least a “somewhat important” membership benefit.

But there’s more than just being important: The Alumni Association also asked how many members read STATE. Among life members, nearly 76 percent “often” read the magazine.

About 73 percent of annual members “often” read STATE. When you add in the number of members that “sometimes” Environment read STATE, that number climbs to Matters at OSU about 94 percent of members who he College Database has placed read STATE. OSU on a list of 39 U.S. colleges These numbers are encouraging, “Where Environmental Science Matters.” but we also want to know what we The list is based on the number of can do better to get all members in the green-degree programs a school “often” reading category and believing offers. that STATE is a “very important” part of “OSU is ranked No. 15 on the list their membership. by offering seven degree programs So, if you see something you like, or for students to pick and choose a something you don’t like — we really specialty that fits their academic and hope that doesn’t happen — send professional needs and desires,” says us a letter. Include your graduation Teresa Mullins, managing director for year and major, and send the letter communications with The College to STATE magazine, 121 Cordell Database. “Our congratulations to OSU North, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078 or for making environmental science editor@okstate.edu. programs a fantastic educational option for thousands of students.”

Sincerely, The seven programs at OSU Michael Baker, are bachelor’s, master’s and STATE editor doctoral degrees in environmental science; a post-master’s degree in environmental engineering; and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in housing and in human environments.

T

University Marketing Kyle Wray / Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing Michael Baker / Editor Mark Pennie, Ross Maute & Michael Orr / Design Phil Shockley & Gary Lawson / Photography Dorothy Pugh / Assistant Editor Matt Elliott / Staff Writer University Marketing Office / 121 Cordell, Stillwater, OK 740788031 / 405.744.6262 / www.okstate.edu, statemagazine.org / editor@ okstate.edu, osu.advertising@okstate.edu OSU Alumni Association Jennifer Grigsby / Chair Robert Walker / Vice Chair Ron Ward / Immediate Past Chair Burns Hargis / OSU President, Non-voting Member Larry Shell / President, OSU Alumni Association, Non-voting Member Kirk Jewell / President, OSU Foundation, Non-voting Member Gregg Bradshaw, Bill Dragoo, Russell Florence, Kent Gardner, Sharon Keating, Phil Kennedy, Jami Longacre, Tony LoPresto, Pam Martin, Travis Moss, H.J. Reed, David Rose & Nichole Trantham / Board of Directors Chris Batchelder / Executive Vice President and CPO Pattie Haga / Vice President and COO Chase Carter / Director of Communications Phillip Gahagans, Melissa Mourer & Melisa Parkerson / Communications Committee OSU Alumni Association / 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 / 405.744.5368 / orangeconnection.org / info@orangeconnection.org OSU Foundation Jerry Clack / Chairman of the Board Kirk A. Jewell / President and Chief Executive Officer Donna Koeppe / Vice President of Administration & Treasurer Brandon Meyer / Vice President & General Counsel Kenneth Sigmon / Vice President of Development Jim Berscheidt / Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications Blaire Atkinson / Director of Human Resources Deborah Adams, Mark Allen, Jerry Clack, Bryan Close, Kent Dunbar, Ellen Fleming, Michael Greenwood, Jennifer Grigsby, John Groendyke, David Holsted, Cathy Jameson, Kirk Jewell, Steven Jorns, David Kyle, John Linehan, Ross McKnight, Bill Patterson, Barry Pollard, Scott Sewell, Larry Shell, Lyndon Taylor, Phil Terry, Dennis White, Jay Wiese, Jerry Winchester / Trustees Elizabeth Hahn, Shelly Kelly, Kasi Kennedy, Jennifer Kinnard, Chris Lewis, Jacob Longan, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Greg Quinn, Betty Thompson Richey, Chelsea Twietmeyer / Communications OSU Foundation / 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 / 800.622.4678 / OSUgiving.com / info@OSUgiving.com

STATE magazine is published three times a year (Spring, Fall, Winter)

by Oklahoma State University, 121 Cordell N, Stillwater, OK 74078.

The magazine is produced by University Marketing, 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 $45. Postage paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices.

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with the title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age religion, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Title IX of the Education Amendments and Oklahoma State University policy prohibit discrimination in the provision or services or beliefs offered by the University based on gender.

Any person (student, faculty of staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss their concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of the Title IX with the OSU Title IX Coordinator, the Director of Affirmative Action, 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, (405) 744-5371 or (405) 744-5576 (fax).

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 $1.05 per issue. 31,253/ August ’13/#4881.

Copyright © 2013, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

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Legacy Link

Look for the Legacy Link in every STATE magazine. This page is dedicated to all of our Alumni Association Legacies and to spreading orange to young Cowboys and Cowgirls.

Calling All OSU Legacies -

Pistol Pe te but he n is ready to bra n eeds yo ur help! d his horses, own sp Ma eci horses w al brand for Pe ke your te so his ill be his forever.

You are invited to participate in the Homecoming 2013 Coloring Contest to help Pistol Pete decorate for “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration!”

Contestants will be divided into groups based on age: 3-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds and 9-11 year olds. The winner of each group will receive a special prize from Pistol Pete.

Ask an adult to download and print a coloring sheet for you at orangeconnection.org/coloringcontest.

Legacy

Submit completed coloring sheets

by Friday, October 11 to:

Legacy Return

Name:

Mailing

Addres s:

by Frid ay, Oct ober 1 1 to

Age: : Pistol

Pete•O

SU Alu

mni As

Homet own: Associ ation M ember on•20 ’s Nam 1 Cono e: coPhill ips OSU Alumn i Ce

sociati

Pistol Pete, OSU Alumni Association, 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-7043.

nter•S

tillwat

er, OK

74078

Entries may also be hand delivered to the OSU Alumni Center.

Make sure your legacy is registered in the OSU Alumni Association Legacy Program at orangeconnection.org/legacy to receive all of the legacy benefits available with your membership.

201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 TEL 405.744.5368 • FAX 405.744.6722 orangeconnection.org

Story by Amanda O’Toole Mason & Jacob Longan

Oklahoma State made history on April 24 when President Burns Hargis announced to enthusiastic supporters gathered on the new outdoor plaza at the Student Union that Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State Universit y had topped the $1 billion mark .

In 2007, President Hargis’ plan for Oklahoma State to raise $1 billion in seven years was considered bold even before the markets crashed and the economy crumbled. But this past April, OSU’s president welcomed campus leaders, supporters and students at an event announcing the $1 billion milestone nearly two years ahead of schedule.

The event on the new Student Union Plaza celebrated the achievements of Branding Success: The Campaign for

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Oklahoma State University and also focused on remaining priorities . While the initiative is already transforming OSU, Hargis announced the campaign would continue through its original completion date of Dec. 31, 2014.

The $1 billion milestone was officially reached April 1, when the total of gifts and pledges rose to $1,000,724,453.

By that point, more than 85,000 OSU alumni and friends had combined for $515.9 million in student support, $190

million for facilities, $186.4 million toward faculty support and $108.4 million for programs.

“Out of the hundreds of public universities in this country, fewer than 40 have raised $1 billion or more,” Hargis says.

“We couldn’t have done it without your support. You helped us go places that five years ago were only a dream, and the best is yet to come.” continues

R e m a i n i n g c a m pa i g n p r i or i t i e s i n c l u d e : • The Learning and Student Success Opportunity Center • A new home for the Spears School of Business photo / elizabeth hahn

• Renovation and expansion of the Human Sciences building • The Postal Plaza Gallery and the overall OSU Museum of Art • College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s Structural Engineering and Materials Laboratory

A banner is unrolled to celebrate the $1 billion milestone.

• Additional work on athletic facilities, including the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center, a new baseball complex, a new track facility, improvements to the soccer complex and a new equine center • The Student Success Center at OSU-OKC • Completion of the Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Compression Training Center at OSUIT • Additional scholarships across the OSU system

photo / Gary Lawson

photo / Gary Lawson

President Burns Hargis speaks to OSU supporters at the Student Union Plaza.

Pistol Pete listens to the historic announcement.

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photo / elizabeth hahn

President Burns Hargis is joined onstage by T. Boone Pickens, Ann Hargis, and Ross and Billie McKnight.

When we publicly announced this campaign, I said making it possible for

any student to attend OSU

was the top priorit y.”

“With the reduction in state funding, private dollars are more critical than ever,” Hargis says. “I’m confident we can get the job done.”

Branding Success is already benefitting the entire OSU system with students as the largest beneficiaries. Thousands of future leaders are receiving annual awards from the 936 scholarship funds established since 2007, many of which support multiple recipients bringing the total number of new scholarships into the thousands.

The Pickens Legacy Scholarship Match accounted for $191.5 million in student support. T. Boone Pickens publicly announced the program with a $100

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by creating more scholarships — president burns hargis

million challenge gift in February 2010. He later extended the deadline from Oct. 31, 2010, to Feb. 26, 2011, and added another $20 million in matching funds in response to the 2,600-plus donors who participated.

“When we publicly announced this campaign, I said making it possible for any student to attend OSU by creating more scholarships was the top priority,” Hargis says. “This support is helping many attend OSU, including large numbers from outside Oklahoma thanks to the fine work of Admissions.”

Pickens also established momentum for faculty support when he made his first $100 million challenge gift in May 2008.

In just 40 days, more than 900 donors combined for $68 million in qualifying gifts to endow faculty positions.

“I didn’t doubt we could do it, I really didn’t,” Pickens says. “The school’s a different school today than what it was in 2005, and we started to move.”

“We are up to 134 new endowed positions,” Hargis says. “These allow us to compete nationally and internationally when recruiting the very best to the university. They also help us reward and retain our most outstanding faculty.”

Facility support empowers OSU to build, renovate, equip and maintain the best teaching and research spaces. The

impact of the $190 million is visible with additions such as the Postal Plaza Gallery, premier athletic facilities and OSUIT’s Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Compression Training Center.

“These facilities enhance a student’s experience and make it easier for our faculty to utilize the latest technology,” Hargis says. “We are also beautifying this incredible campus with projects like the Student Union Plaza and the Price

Family Garden at the entrance to the Atherton Hotel.”

The fourth priority area is programs that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries and multiply the knowledge crossroads where leaders and learners share ideas. The highly ranked entrepreneurship program, America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration and the Doel Reed Center for the Arts have all attracted national attention. Additionally, the

expanded and enhanced Learning and Student Success Opportunity Center is already boosting the student retention rate.

“This campaign is laying a great foundation that will serve OSU for many years in the future,” Hargis told the crowd at the April event. “Saying ‘thank you’ does not adequately convey my appreciation for what you have helped us accomplish.” continues

134 new endowed positions . These allow us to compete nationally and internationally when recruiting We are up to

the very best to the universit y.”

— president burns hargis

OSU supporters celebrate the historic day by singing the school fight songs. photos / Gary Lawson

Ross McKnight, left, Branding Success co-chair, and T. Boone Pickens, right, honorary campaign chair, address the crowd.

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photo / Gary Lawson

Ross McKnight, Branding Success co-chair, said Hargis’ leadership was key to OSU exceeding its own fundraising expectations. In fact, Hargis was the person who convinced McKnight and his wife, Billie, to co-chair their alma mater’s campaign.

“Most people go through life looking for the path of least resistance and go down a trail that’s easy to follow,” McKnight says. “A real leader goes where there is no trail and leaves a path for others to follow.

Burns Hargis is that leader for Oklahoma State University.”

The massive banner trumpets the progress of Branding Success.

This campaign is laying a great foundation that will serve OSU for many

Saying ‘thank you’ does not adequately convey my appreciation for what you have helped us accomplish.”

years in the future.

— president burns hargis

photo / elizabeth hahn

OSU supporters close the event by singing the “OSU Alma Mater.”

yo u r c o n t r i b u t i o n s to b r a n d i n g s u c c e ss h av e h e l p e d t r a n s f o r m o SU . to l e a r n h ow w e c a n c o n t i n u e t h i s s u c c e s s a n d g o b e yo n d i n o u r s u p p o r t o f o u r b e lov e d u n i v e r s i t y, v i s i t os u g i v i n g . co m .

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How will you remember OSU? When you name the Oklahoma State University Foundation as a beneficiary in your will or living trust, you make a crowning gift to OSU. Such a plan declares that you believe in OSU’s mission and you want a portion of your assets invested in this worthy cause.

It can provide a visible and enduring tribute for our students, faculty and programs.

If you plan to share your legacy with the OSU Foundation through your estate, we invite you to join the Heritage Society. When we know about your generosity, we can ensure your wishes for its use are met.

For more information about creating a bequest through your will or living trust, or to explore other charitable estate opportunities, contact the Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-622-4678 or giftplanning@OSUgiving.com.

You can also visit us online at OSUgiving.giftlegacy.com.

A friend to 24

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Larry Shell was preparing himself for a life of agriculture when he graduated from Glencoe High School in 1966.

“I came to college just to get the paper,” Shell says. “My grades weren’t all that good, and all I wanted to do was teach vocational agriculture. I wonder a lot of times how that kid from Glencoe, Okla., got to be president of the OSU Alumni Association.”

Shell will retire this fall having served the Alumni Association since 1990 and the university since 1982. For more than 30 years, he has been a friend to tens of thousands of Cowboys whose paths he has crossed.

But it almost didn’t happen.

A New Beginning at OSU Shell graduated with a bachelor’s in agricultural education from OSU in 1970.

He and his wife, Christy, lived four years in Dora, N.M., and another four in Fairview, Okla., while he taught in public schools.

His teaching career lasted eight years before he was hired as the executive secretary of the Oklahoma FFA. Shell traveled around the state and across the country meeting people and making connections.

He says he found the work rewarding, but the time away from his family took its toll.

“I had spent the last three or four summers at camps with state officers, and I hadn’t seen my son play little league baseball,” Shell says.

In the fall of 1981, he got a phone call from Joe Hughes with the OSU Animal Science Department. He told Shell about a new position at the OSU Foundation he thought Shell would be perfect for.

In January, Shell met with OSU Foundation President Charles Platt.

“I thought it couldn’t hurt to visit with him, but I really had no desire to ask anyone for money,” Shell says. “Mr. Platt convinced me it was more about creating relationships and building trust than it was asking people for money.” continues

all Cowboys OSU Alumni Association President Larry Shell reflects on more than 30 years of service to OSU. S TO R Y BY C H A S E CA R T E R

P O R T R A I T BY PH I L S H O C K LE Y

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ries Series from Cente nnial Histo PHOTO s / OSU FOUNDATION

“We went through some difficult times wondering whether we were going to be able to get it done, but seeing the NRC built and knowing you had a part in all of that makes you feel good,” Shell says.

people was more endearing to me than the actual asking.”

Gill says one of his favorite memories was when Shell told him he wanted to apply for the job.

“If you’d had a camera on my face,” Gill says. “My first reaction was one of shock, but then I got a big smile on my face. We still laugh about that today.”

Shell’s move to the Alumni Association marked the beginning of a period of significant growth at the organization.

“We were at a takeoff point where we were getting more programs, and we had to have someone to manage them,” Gill says. “That’s the operations side of the business, and Larry is very good at the nuts and bolts.”

With Shell as vice president, Gill says he was able to devote more time to fundraising and strategic planning. Their pairing had great synergy, he says, and it came from their mutual respect and different strengths.

“If two people agree all the time, one of them isn’t necessary,” Gill says. “I was more of a big-picture thinker, and Larry was a doer. He knew the details; he talked to the staff; he made sure things got done, and that’s how our relationship worked.”

A Friendly Opportunity

Points of Pride

It was 1990 when Alumni Association Executive Director Jerry Gill was looking to fill the No. 2 position on his staff.

“Because of Larry’s background, I asked him to chair the search committee while he was working at the Foundation,” Gill says. “We got it down to probably three or five candidates when Larry asked to come see me.”

Unbeknownst to Gill, Shell had already met with OSU President John Campbell, who Shell knew from his FFA days.

“When John Campbell became president at OSU, he wanted a stronger presence in the Alumni Association,” Shell says. “I’d been at the Foundation long enough to know I had enjoyed my time there, but the opportunity of developing friendships, connecting and engaging

During his first decade at the Alumni Association, Shell wore a variety of hats in addition to managing the staff. He served as membership director for several years, assisted chapters and helped create the Cowboys for Higher Education advocacy program. One year, he even directed OSU’s biggest tradition — Homecoming.

“I thank God for our graduate student Lance Laubach, because I wouldn’t have made it on my own,” Shell says.

Working with so many Alumni Association programs gave Shell a greater understanding of the organization and what goes on behind the scenes.

“It’s always more than you think,” Shell says. “I think those times helped me out a lot.” continues

Left: College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Joseph W. Alexander, left, and Larry Shell watch Charlotte Ownby adjust the controls of an electron microscope. A $150,000 gift from the Sarkeys Foundation paid for the microscope.

RIGHt: During the campaign to raise money for the 21st Century Center project, Larry Shell and other OSU Foundation marketers crisscrossed the U.S. with a 40-pound projector used to tell the story of the forthcoming research center.

After much soul searching, Shell accepted the job and became OSU’s first constituent fundraiser serving the College of Agriculture in 1982.

During his eight years with the OSU Foundation, Shell met thousands of people and quite a few characters.

“There was an elderly lady in Tulsa I worked with for about two years,” Shell recalls. “She had a dog named Booger, and every time I would go visit, that dog would jump on my lap and pee. Then, she would take me out to lunch at the Summit Club — wet pants and all. She got the biggest kick out of that.”

He also remembers the first large gift he ever got and Platt’s unexpected response.

“We were in the $15 million campaign for the Noble Research Center, and I got a gift for $100,000,” Shell says. “I came in feeling pretty big, and I told Mr. Platt I had a $100,000 gift. I thought he’d jump up with joy, and he said, ‘Well that’s good.

You only need 149 more just like it.’”

Shell and the Foundation team ultimately raised the $15 million to construct the facility north of the Edmon Low Library.

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photo / phil shockley

Larry Shell Recognition Day at the Cowboy Corral

Saturday, Oct. 5 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Join the OSU Alumni Association in celebrating the career and achievements of President Larry Shell, who is retiring after more than 30 years of service to his alma mater.

The day will include a special recognition during the Cowboy Corral Pep Rally followed by a reception for alumni, family and friends to share memories and well wishes. The pep rally will be held 2½ hours prior to kickoff of the game against Kansas State.

For more information, visit orangeconnection.org/shell or call 405-744-5368.

27

The Alumni Association hired Anne Scott in 1997 to direct its student programs, including Homecoming.

During her 10 years at the organization, OSU’s Homecoming celebration was named best in the nation, and one highly popular program was created.

“We started Grandparent University in 2003,” Scott says. “If Larry agreed you could take on a project like GPU, then you could count on the fact he would be there to support you and give you the tools to get it done right.”

Scott says Shell was always open to new ideas and would always listen to the suggestions of the Alumni Association’s staff, but there was one famous line that would follow the pitch.

“He would say, ‘Sure, you can do it, but it can’t cost anything,’” Scott says.

“That’s always Larry’s standard. You can do it if it’ll pay for itself, justify the staff time and be a real value to OSU alumni.”

Chad Weiberg made the move from OSU athletics to the Alumni Association when Shell hired him in 1999 to oversee the organization’s field operations.

“He knew everything there was to know about alumni relations as a profession and as a business,” Weiberg says. “He provided mentoring, counsel and guidance,

photo / phil shockley

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Shell says one of the things he’s most but then he let you run the programs and proud of is seeing the staff who have served implement the things you wanted to do.” the Alumni Association go on to do great Weiberg says the most important thing things at other institutions. Scott, Weiberg he learned from watching Shell was how and Malone are three examples, he says. he dealt with people.

Scott is the director of alumni rela“This is a people business, and that’s tions at Texas Woman’s University in such an important part of it,” Weiberg Denton. Malone is the executive director says. “He had the right mix of diploof the University of Texas at Arlington’s macy, but he would tell it like it was, too.

Alumni Association. Weiberg is the senior There’s an art to that, and I’ve tried to associate athletic director for development emulate it.” in Kansas State’s athletic department.

Lora Malone was working in OSU’s “To see some of the staff that came Office of High School and College through here and what they’ve been able Relations when Shell approached her to accomplish is pretty special,” Shell says. in 1999 about joining the Alumni “You would hope they learned something Association. while they were here that helped them.”

“He is so genuine, and you can instantly tell he is a man of true character,” Malone says. “People are drawn to him A Place to Hang Your Hat because he is who he is, no matter what situation he’s in.”

OSU would not have the Malone served as the Alumni ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Association’s membership and marketing without the tireless efforts of Gill, Shell director for many years before taking a and the Alumni Association’s board of seat beside Shell as the vice president of directors and fundraisers. programming. She says she couldn’t have “We had the programming and the made it to where she is in her career withstaffing, but our overarching priority was out Shell’s mentoring. on facilities and financing,” Gill says. “We “Larry was such a good teacher, and wanted a place to house the staff, but I’m sure that comes from his ag days,” more importantly, we wanted a place for Malone says. “Everything he did, he alumni to call home on campus.” taught along with being a leader. That In 1995, the Alumni Association was really what gave me the tools to move received two commitments that started the on. He’s an educator at the best level.” ball rolling on the fundraising. Shell continued to oversee the Alumni Association’s programming and staff while Gill and

“I’ve spent more hours of my life in this building with this staff on this job than I have with anyone else.”

— Larry Shell

photo / gary lawson

other fundraisers helped raise the $15 million to create the Alumni Association’s first dedicated home on campus.

“I think the facility gave the Alumni Association an identity of its own it never had by being housed in the Student Union,” Shell says. “It’s been a great addition to the campus and is used by the university, the Alumni Association and the community.”

When construction began in 2003, Gill says it didn’t take long to realize more oversight was necessary.

“We needed to coordinate a weekly meeting with the general contractor and all of the subcontractors, and I put Larry in charge of that,” Gill says.

“For 18 months, I was like a construction manager,” Shell says. “I put on my hardhat every day and many times found myself in an interesting position between the construction company and the architects.”

Malone recalls Shell sloshing through knee-high mud many days on the construction site. Anyone who knows Shell knows he’s quite fond of his cowboy boots, Malone says, so he would wear mud boots to protect them.

“He wanted it built to the expectations of the graduates,” Malone says. “He would put those boots on every day. That building is amazing, and you can see him all the way through it.”

The building itself has “just the right amount of orange,” according to Shell.

“Larry and I walked through the building when it was pretty much finished,” Gill says. “And the most gratifying thing about it was we looked at it and we said, ‘Yes, this is what we envisioned it to be.’”

New Title, New Expectations Gill announced his retirement in 2006. For the No. 2 man at the Alumni Association, the announcement was a wake-up call.

“I really thought I would retire before Jerry did,” Shell says. “Right or wrong, I continues

29

In the end, Shell says it’s all about the enjoyed working with the staff, handling relationships he and the staff have built the finances and the day-to-day operaon campus, around the community and tions. I didn’t have any true intentions of with peer organizations across the nation being the president.” that have helped the Alumni Association Shell was named the interim president become what it is today. by the board before assuming the position “We’ve turned back to our true mission in 2009. of connections and engagement,” Shell “I’m very proud the Alumni says. “We’re going to play a vital role in Association promoted him,” Gill says. the future of OSU by re-engaging alumni “Larry had more than 20 years of expeand making their relationship to OSU so rience at OSU and with the Alumni significant that it’s going to help in everyAssociation. He understands the relationthing the university does.” ships, where we came from and where we want to go. He was a natural fit.”

The Alumni Association has seen The Road Ahead another era of rapid growth under Shell’s tenure as president. The number of regionAs Shell prepares to retire at the end ally based chapters and watch clubs has of October, it’s been noted by several more than doubled in the last three years, people, including Shell himself, that, eclipsing 100 for the first time this fall.

“Larry isn’t retiring; he’s getting back to Enhancements have also been made to both his roots.” the alumni and student awards programs.

Shell has continued to be a key figure “Homecoming is twice the size it used in the agriculture industry during his time to be,” Shell says. “And the whole concept at the Alumni Association. He travels the of social media and the way we communicountry showing sheep and judging livecate is new. We’re also seeing the Official stock, which are both activities he plans OSU Class Ring become a significant to continue. tradition on campus.”

“Christy retired a year ago,” Shell says With OSU graduating more than 4,000 of his bride of 44 years. “She gets great students a year, Shell says the Alumni joy in social work on behalf of others.

Association is challenged with using essenWe’re also going to enjoy our five grandtially the same resources while providing children and the things they’re involved and maintaining the same level of service in.” to a much larger group of people.

After 23 years at the Alumni Former colleagues credit Shell’s Association, Shell recognizes the decades of experience and his passion for impact the university, the staff and OSU for guiding the Alumni Association the thousands of alumni he’s met have to its current position. made on his life.

“Most people don’t realize all the “In reality, I’ve spent more hours of things Larry has done,” Gill says. “He’s my life in this building with this staff given his blood, sweat and tears, all of his on this job than I have with anyone best years, all of his leadership abilities. else,” Shell says. “I know at some He’s given himself. And he didn’t do it for point in time, I’ll miss parts of that, Larry Shell. He did it for Oklahoma State but what parts I don’t know.”

University and its alumni.”

“He’s a dyed-in-the-wool OSU graduate, and I think he’s a wonderful example of the product this university turns out,” Scott says. “I love the direction the Alumni Association is going now in terms of really serving the alumni, and I can see Larry’s handprint all over that.”

“He’s been a constant advocate for the university and one of the best it will ever see,” Malone says.

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It is impossible to estimate how many friendships Shell has made with Cowboys and Cowgirls during his time at OSU. One of his favorite things to do is walk through the Cowboy Corral game day events at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.

“It’s amazing how many people I’ll know,” Shell says. “Lora Malone used to kid me that we couldn’t go anywhere without meeting someone I know, and I never really thought about that. But the experiences in my life have been such that I have met a lot of people, and it’s nice to have friends.”

Shell has some advice for his fellow OSU graduates whose lives, like his, may not always go as planned.

“Be thankful you had an opportunity to attend a university such as Oklahoma State that prepares you for life, and not just a career. Be open-minded to the opportunities placed in front of you. They may or may not be in the field in which you were educated, but the skills and the knowledge you gained at Oklahoma State will have prepared you for just about anything if you put forth the effort.”

make it a

Homecoming to ReMEMBER The OSU Alumni Association wants to make 2013 a Homecoming to ReMEMBER for one current and one new member!

Now through the end of August, current Alumni Association members and new members can enter to win one of two exciting packages valued at more than $400. Each package includes: Friday, Oct. 18 • Free parking for Walkaround • VIP seating at Homecoming & Hoops • Lodging at the Stillwater Quality Inn (two-night stay) Saturday, Oct. 19 • VIP breakfast invitation for two • Sea of Orange Parade VIP seating

Celebrate a Homecoming to ReMEMBER while ‘Branding a Brighter Orange’

• Alumni Center reserved parking • Cowboy Corral reserved seating • Two meals at Cowboy Corral • VIP pass for pictures with Bullet and Pistol Pete

Oct. 18-19

• Two football game tickets • Two Homecoming shirts

Current Members

Complete an online entry form by Saturday, Sept. 14, to be eligible to win.

Membership must be active on the date the winner is drawn (Monday, Sept. 16).

New Members

Join or renew your OSU Alumni Association membership by Saturday, Sept. 14, to be eligible to win.

To learn more and to enter, visit orangeconnection.org/homecomingvip.

201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 TEL 405.744.5368 • FAX 405.744.6722 orangeconnection.org

Luc Johnson, a student in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, pours wine samples during a tasting event at the Wine Forum of Oklahoma’s Of Wine, Women and the West in April.

Modern Celebration of Ancient Drink

photo / minh dinh

Sold-out Wine Forum of Oklahoma offers students scholarships and experience.

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he Wine Forum of Oklahoma reached a new level in April when Of Wine, Women and the West became a sold-out event for the first time.

The two-day event raised more than $235,000 and funded 54 scholarships, says event coordinator Steve Ruby, a clinical assistant professor for the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration.

“Through the support and hard work of a growing number of very loyal sponsors and supporters of our program, the Wine Forum of Oklahoma provides a unique opportunity to support students and their experiences at OSU,” Ruby says. “The ability to reward students for their dedication to the success of the event impacts the experience for all involved in a special way.”

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The event was established in 2009, when alumni Carl and Marilynn Thoma, the proprietors of Van Duzer Vineyards in Oregon, wanted to support their alma mater by leveraging the strength of OSU’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration to provide hands-on experience for students, inform and entertain the public, and raise scholarship funds.

Carl Thoma is a 1971 agricultural economics graduate, and Marilynn Thoma received a degree in home economics and community services in 1970.

The Thomas provided seed funding and served as honorary chairs for the first Wine Forum of Oklahoma. Their leadership helped the biennial event grow in 2011 and again in 2013.

Beth Nickel, a 1972 design, housing and merchandising graduate, says it was a privilege to serve as this year’s honorary chair.

Nickel is proprietress of four California wineries: Far Niente, Dolce and Nickel & Nickel in Napa Valley, and EnRoute in the Russian River Valley.

“What a treat to share dinner with the student committee chairs before the main

The Wine Forum of Oklahoma was created with four missions: to promote wine’s role with food; to educate students and the public about wine’s contribution to a healthy lifestyle when used in moderation; to increase recognition of the Oklahoma State University School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration; and to recognize Oklahoma-connected wine producers and purveyors.

events to gain an insight into their dreams and aspirations,” Nickel says. “The Wine Forum gives them a chance to show their strengths, bring creative energy and see what it takes to make this super event happen.”

The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, who hosts a daytime show on The Food Network, was the event’s celebrity chef. The Oklahoman’s rise to fame began in 2006 when she started an award-winning blog about ranch life, homeschooling and cooking. She has published four books as well.

The event also featured more than 30 vintners and brokers, 25 moderators and speakers, 90 student committee members and 23 chefs. It incorporated nearly 1½ tons of beef, more than 3,500 wine glasses and 3 million grapes.

The Wine Forum tripled the ticket sales of past editions with more than 1,000 attendees participating in 28 total hours of programming at 20 events at four OSU campus locations — the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development, the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Human Sciences West and The Atherton Hotel.

Ruby says students gain invaluable experience from the Wine Forum, including planning and marketing as well as working with world-class chefs, restaurateurs and vintners.

“It provides a wonderful lesson in leadership development,” Ruby says.

“Students ultimately make the decisions that make the Wine Forum go. They learn from real-life successes and failures, which instills a great deal of pride in each of them. The most common comment we hear from them is, ‘I can’t wait to come back someday as a patron.’”

One success was the utilization of modern technology. Molly Kester, the hospitality committee chair and a hotel and restaurant administration senior from Lincoln, Neb., worked with Ruby to find the best option.

“We needed a more upscale and precise way to keep track of guest lists and know exactly what kind of ticket each

guest had purchased and which seminars they wanted to attend,” Kester says.

The students researched mobile apps for guest registration and event management. They contacted companies for cost and analyzed the options for return on investment and effectiveness. They settled on an iPad app called Check-In Easy, which featured a spreadsheet showing each guest’s name and registered events.

Guests were checked in when they arrived at each event.

“One of the largest benefits was being able to say goodbye to hard copies and use one source to locate and check-in all guests at an event,” Kester says.

Taylor Hedger served on the 16-student committee that spent two weeks in class training on and troubleshooting the app until they “had it down pretty close to perfect.”

“I liked using the iPads,” says the hotel and restaurant administration junior from Fort Worth, Texas. “I thought it was really effective in the check-in process, and it made us look super professional.”

The iPads were purchased with grant money from the Hyatt University Fund. The tablets will be kept for use in classes, clubs and groups as well as future Wine Forums.

“The 2013 Wine Forum of Oklahoma provided so many great learning opportunities for our students and guests,” Ruby says. “The introduction of new check-in technology provided students a chance to experience the latest event-planning trends which increases their value as future employees.

It also laid the groundwork for multiple improvements to future events.”

Left: From left, event coordinator Steve Ruby, celebrity chef Ree Drummond and student Molly Kester attend the Wine Forum of Oklahoma’s Of Wine, Women and the West.

INSEt:

Beth Nickel, honorary chair.

photo / ty mccall

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PHOTOS / GERALD SCHÖNKNECHT

Light microscopic images show Galdieria sulphuraria cells with diameters of 5 to 10 micrometers, or about 1/1,000 of a centimeter at its largest.

Extreme Algae Study sheds new light on evolution.

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BY M AT T E LLI O T T

ou wouldn’t survive in the crater of an active volcano or in acidic mine waste deep below the earth’s surface or in superheated water laced with sulfur.

That is, unless you were Galdieria sulphuraria. The algae thrive in hell on earth, surviving in the most poisonous and noxious environments imaginable.

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And, thanks to a study published in Science, we know a bit more about how the organism does that, a development that also sheds new light on evolution.

“Galdieria really grows in places where nothing else grows,” says Gerald Schönknecht, an OSU botany professor who led the portion of the study that analyzed the algae’s genome and looked at how it transports substances across its cell membranes. “It can take up to 57, 58 Celsius (135 degrees Fahrenheit). You

can grow it in battery acid — diluted, hot battery acid.”

Galdieria sulphuraria colonies growing on an agar plate.

PHOTO / GERALD SCHÖNKNECHT

Unraveling the Puzzle

The work began in 2007. Schönknecht was on sabbatical at the University of Hard Core Algae Dusseldorf in Germany when he became It’s been found all over the world — involved in the algae’s genome project on rocks submerged in hot springs in led by Andreas Weber there. Colleagues Iceland or Yellowstone National Park; on from Michigan State (where the algae’s the slopes of Sicily’s Mount Etna, Europe’s genomes were sequenced), Heinrich-Heine tallest active volcano; and in abandoned University, Berkeley and other institutions mine shafts all over the world, swimming joined the scientists. in acidic mine drainage laden with toxic He began by looking at Galdieria’s heavy metals. genome and examining the chemical Horizontal gene transfer makes it mechanisms the algae use to transport all happen. needed nutrients and waste across the Normally, only individuals from the membranes separating their cells from the same species can exchange genetic mateoutside world. rial, transferring their genes to offspring Evolution works like this. Organisms — vertical gene transfer. That’s sexual live and die with certain small deviations or asexual reproduction. But, through in their genetic codes from their buddies. horizontal gene transfer, Galdieria Those mutations are typically passed on sulphuraria absorbed a list of genes from to offspring through reproduction. Those different bacteria that, over millennia of offspring sometimes take their own spin evolution, gave it traits that help it thrive. on the mutations, and the process repeats For comparison, that’s like absorbing from with each generation. Due to natural selecyour living room geranium the ability to tion, those with the most beneficial mutamake food from light. tions accumulate. Those with the least In Galdieria’s case, Schönknecht beneficial traits die off. and his colleagues found the important That’s a slow process taking place over genes and linked them to specific ways millions of years. In contrast, horizontal it survives. That’s part of why the findgene transfer, Schönknecht says, “allows the ings, which were published last March in rapid acquisition of entirely new functions” Science, are significant. Also, horizontal — an evolutionary leap forward. gene transfer isn’t typically considered to Schönknecht saw evidence of the have played a major a part in the adaptive process clearly in the algae’s inner workevolution of eukaryotes — the broad term ings that were similar to those of fungi for all large, complex organisms (red algae, (the paper in Science focused on bactedogs, humans, et cetera) — that, at the ria — the team wasn’t able to confirm cellular level, have cells with a nucleus. evidence of horizontal gene transfer “I think that’s why we made it in between the algae and fungi). to Science,” he says. “There are others “A lot of the transporters in there are who’ve seen horizontal gene transfer in very similar to transporters from fungi,” other algae … How much an impact these he says, “which is really odd, since algae genes made for the adaptation of these and fungi are not related at all. That’s the organisms. That was not really clear.” point where I really got curious.” continues

PHOTOs / CHRISTINE OESTERHELT

Galdieria sulphuraria has been isolated in several locations in Ireland. From left, colonies of algae have been found with yellow sulfur deposits in Seltun, with yellow sulfur deposits at a hot spring in Seltun and in a volcanic area in Skalafell.

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A Boring Organism Initially, he was frustrated. Galdieria only had one potassium channel, which was a feature common in algae. He threw up his hands and said “now, that’s a boring organism … Forget about it.”

But later he understood why.

Potassium channels conduct protons, he says. In acidic environments, the outside world is loaded with the particles.

Having a transporter that lets them in would kill the cell. Naturally, an organism that thrives in such places would need as few of those as possible.

He also found dozens of ways the cells admitted sugars, amino acids and other food sources, way more than most algae. That’s most likely a trait acquired from horizontal gene transfer, he says, and one that allows the plant to survive without needing light (photosynthesis, the process most plants use to feed themselves). In fact, it can live like a fungus, too, dining on dying bacteria.

“I’m not aware of any different photosynthetic organism that can do that,” Schönknecht says. “Horizontal gene transfer may be more important for eukaryotic evolution than we have assumed so far.”

Understanding Its Benefits Schönknecht says the next stage of the research will look at Galdieria’s arsenic pump, how it adapts to soils and how we can transfer its genes to other organisms.

The group, which grew to 18 researchers by the time the study was published, has speculated the knowledge could be used to help improve biofuels production.

Researchers have, in small quantities,

PHOTO / phil shockley

A native of Osnabruck, Germany,

produced hydrocarbons by tricking algae to make fuel without all the trouble of exploration, pollution and the other environmental baggage of the energy industry.

However, the algae are frail and put out such small amounts the practice remains a pipedream for now.

Schönknecht wonders if stealing some genes from Galdieria or a similar organism could help toughen those biofuel-producing algae. Also, a few of his colleagues in Europe are studying how Galdieria can be used to clean up spills, or things such as waste from paper mills, which is extremely toxic and acidic.

Gerald Schönknecht studies the physiology and evolution of plant membrane transport proteins.

His wife, Ulrike Schönknecht, has a degree in art history and is the academic adviser for the OSU art department. The couple live in Stillwater and have two daughters, Siri and Luise.

Gerald Schönknecht’s other projects include work with the Noble Research Center in Ardmore, Okla., using Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology funding to understand how plants deal with acids and bases and how they get rid of acids produced in waterlogged soils. He has been an OSU botany professor since 2000.

Go to statemagazine.okstate.edu to watch an OStateTV video interview with professor Gerald Schönknecht.

Galdieria sulphuraria grows on rocks and soil around a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park.

PHOTOs / ANDREAS P.M. WEBER, UNIVERSITY OF DUSSELDORF

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PHOTO / greg quinn

Endowed Positions Enhance Teaching, Research Medallions symbolize OSU’s appreciation for donors and faculty.

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institution,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “Chairs and professorships empower us to attract and retain the researchers and educators who are vital to the success of our students and our university.”

Blum has utilized the funding to repair instruments, provide fellowships for graduate students and take six students with him to an American Chemical Society meeting in New Orleans.

“The connections that you make at meetings like this will last a lifetime,” he says, “and without the Bartlett Chair, my students wouldn’t have had that experience.”

Edward Bartlett, a 1912 College of Arts and Sciences graduate, and his wife, Helen, created the Edward E. & Helen Turner Bartlett Foundation in 1963. It has donated more than $1.2 million to OSU, funding scholarships since the mid1960s and establishing this chair in 2007.

It honors Harrison Bartlett, who was a trustee for his family’s foundation from 1979 until he died in 1994. He attended

PHOTO / greg quinn

Frank Blum was a professor at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2010 when OSU approached him about becoming head of the chemistry department. He accepted when he learned about the Harrison I. Bartlett Chair in Chemistry.

“I knew my life would change because I would have to give up some time teaching and conducting research to focus more on administration,” Blum says. “But I also knew that the Bartlett Chair would create opportunities to do things that I couldn’t otherwise because of the funding it provides.”

The Bartlett Chair is one of OSU’s 294 endowed faculty positions, which produce annual funding for faculty salaries, graduate assistantships, equipment and other academic needs.

“The endowment of faculty positions is essential to being a premier land-grant

Trustees Bart Bartlett, right, and Harry Freeman represent the Bartlett Foundation at the March 8 A&S medallion ceremony.

Jac o b L o n g a n

For more information about the importance of endowed faculty positions, visit OSUgiving.com/faculty.

PHOTO / greg quinn

PHOTO / chris lewis

Dean Paul Tikalsky of CEAT shakes hands with Kelvin Wang, who holds the Gorman Gilbert, Bert Cooper and W&W Steel Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Watching is Terri Cooper, who accepted the donor medallion on Aug. 31, 2012, on the family’s behalf.

Liz Eickman, director of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, accepts the Joan Kirkpatrick Chair in Small Animal Internal Medicine medallion from President Burns Hargis during the CVHS medallion ceremony on Nov. 9, 2012.

“Chairs and professorships empower us to attract and retain the researchers and educators who are vital to the success of our students and our university.”

Music junior JoBeth Wasieck hugs Z. Randall Stroope, OSU’s director of vocal and choral activities and holder of the Doug and Nickie Burns Endowed Professorship in Vocal Music at the April 26 A&S ceremony.

PHOTO PROVIDED

— OSU President Burns Hargis

PHOTO / ELIZABETH HAHN

Oklahoma A&M from 1941-42 before joining the Army Air Corps.

“Along with scholarships, it made sense to support endowed faculty positions so that students are learning from and working with the best professors,” says Bart Bartlett, a foundation trustee and Harrison Bartlett’s son.

Arts and Sciences honored Blum and Bart Bartlett at a medallion presentation March 8. It was among 18 such events hosted by OSU and the OSU Foundation to thank donors and faculty for elevating teaching and research through endowed positions.

“It has been amazing to hear students talk about what they are learning from these professors,” says Kirk Jewell, president of the OSU Foundation.

“We are also seeing an immediate impact for research that addresses society’s modern issues. Because of the nature of endowments, the effect will grow over time, benefitting more people in more ways.”

Blum was touched by his introduction from doctoral candidate Balika Khatiwada; appreciated getting more acquainted with the Bartletts, whom he calls “just delightful, generous people”; and was impressed by his peers’ accomplishments.

“It’s always an honor to interact with people who have been so loyal to OSU,” Blum says. “In fact, I’ve found that OSU has the most loyal alumni of any institution I’ve ever come into contact with.

It’s a thrill to see how much people love OSU.” Bartlett adds, “It was a very nice gathering. The small group gave us the opportunity and time to visit with others and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the students’ stories about professors.”

The ceremonial bronze medallion was presented to the donor and holder of each faculty position. It can be worn as academic regalia or displayed on a shelf. In fact, Blum proudly displays it in his office, while Bartlett’s rests on his home’s mantel.

Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and OSU-CHS, left, presented medallions on Oct. 11, 2012, to donor Bryan Close, right, and Whitney Bailey, the Bryan Close Professor in Adulthood and Aging.

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From left, BreAnna Morris, Grant Dixon, Brooke Ramsey, Jonathan Wedel, Rachel Noland and Marty Jones celebrate their selection as Student Alumni Board executive directors for the 2012-13 school year.

2 LEADER5 OF THEPACK PHOTO / ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Oklahoma State University boasts more than 400 student organizations. One is celebrating 25 years of building leaders to serve both students and alumni.

BY K R I S T E N M c C O N N AU G H E Y

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Linda Livingstone was a member of the Cowgirl basketball team, and her father had served as an assistant coach under OSU legend Henry Iba. Gill approached her about starting the program after learning she was staying in Stillwater to work on her doctorate.

“I remember it being a really exciting time because it was a new program designed to really engage students early on about what was going on from an alumni perspective,” Livingstone says.

“We wanted to bring them in early so they would continue to be loyal Cowboys after they graduate.”

One of the organization’s first tasks was to connect with prospective students during visits to the OSU campus.

“SAB members were able to speak to students on a level that administrators couldn’t,” Gill says.

There’s no doubt Livingstone had superior leadership qualities herself. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees along with a Ph.D. in business administration — all from OSU. Since 2002, she has served as the first woman dean of Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management.

“I had an amazing experience at Oklahoma State,” Livingstone says. “The opportunity to work at the Alumni Association was a special piece of that. I developed leadership skills that have been critical to my career.”

Creating leaders on campus who turn into leaders after graduation is what the Student Alumni Board is all about. And after a quarter of a century, the board can certainly boast a number of success stories.

Sponsored by the OSU Alumni Association, SAB was founded at Oklahoma State in 1988. In the mid-’80s, then-OSU Alumni Association President Jerry Gill spoke with colleagues at major universities about the need for a student program.

“We found out many schools were having success with student programs like this,” Gill says. “We wanted to make students more aware of the Alumni Association while they were still here as students. We made SAB unique in our own way.”

The OSU Alumni Association already had a strong working relationship with student leaders on campus through Homecoming.

“The next step was to involve students in other activities besides Homecoming,” Gill says. “The mission wasn’t to create an elite group of students. It just happened that way.”

Livingstone was the heart and soul of getting SAB launched, Major says.

“She put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into SAB and really did a good job of establishing the foundation and the tone,” he says.

Major, who graduated in 1989, says being involved in SAB played a key role in his future. He was recently named the director of strategy and business architecture at Oracle in Houston.

“Experiences gained in Student Alumni Board and other opportunities at Oklahoma State were an important part of preparing me for my career,” Major says.

OSU Alumni Association President Larry Shell has watched SAB’s growth since he started working at the Alumni Association in 1990. Shell says SAB has continued to make its mark on campus as an exceptional leadership group.

“SAB has been recognized by our peer institutions as one of the outstanding student organizations in the country,” Shell says. “This group has brought a number of awards to the OSU Alumni Association for the programming it directs.”

New Initiatives Steffie Corcoran, who served as the director of student programs and adviser of SAB beginning in 1990, says one of the board’s most popular programs in the 1990s was an annual leadership conference for high school students.

“We invited the high school students to campus so they could learn about continues

Successful Students The first SAB executive director was Kent Major, a psychology major from Watonga, Okla.

“I went around to organizations and let people know SAB member Kyle Buthod, Class of 2012, serves ice about it,” Major says. “I cream to a Student Alumni Association member in would explain SAB and what 2011. Buthod now serves as events coordinator of we were trying to do.”

OSU’s Houston Alumni Chapter.

PHOTO / ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The Right Leader

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becoming student leaders when they went to college,” Corcoran says. SAB also became involved in class reunions and alumni events.

Corcoran says she believes leadership is something you’re born with and also something you learn. She says SAB has done a great job of educating OSU students with the skills needed to lead.

“It’s just incredible how the organization has grown,” Corcoran says. “If you pick the right student leaders to interact with an alumni association while they’re in school, they will naturally become your alumni leaders in the future.”

Anne Scott served as the director of student programs at the OSU Alumni Association from 1997 to 2007. During her tenure, SAB members created Legacy Day to coincide with the leadership conference. They also served on the planning committee for the development of the Official OSU Class Ring.

“Their input into the design of the ring will have a lasting impact for generations to come,” says Scott, who now serves as the director of alumni relations at Texas Woman’s University.

Many SAB members who came to the organization already had strong leadership skills that were enhanced even more through the group’s activities, Scott says.

“It’s very exciting to know the group is still active and prospering,” Scott says.

“It’s a tribute to the Alumni Association for having provided the resources and support to keep the group alive, thriving and contributing to the mission of the association and the university.”

Future Leaders The leadership skills instilled in SAB members have had a huge effect on their successes after graduating. Andrew Stroup, a 2009 aerospace and mechanical engineering graduate, is one of many examples.

He was first introduced to OSU through a campus tour led by an SAB member.

“I saw potential in myself through him, and he sealed the deal with my decision on where I wanted to go to college,” Stroup says.

Stroup became involved in SAB his freshman year and was part of the

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2012-13 SAB members and guests package more than 43,000 meals for the Kids Against Hunger food aid organization.

PHOTO / ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

organization for five years. He served as the SAB alumni relations executive officer from 2006 to 2008 and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with distinguished alumni, learning about their OSU experiences and paths to success.

“Surrounding myself with like-minded leaders on campus and engaging alumni gave me opportunities to succeed after graduation,” he says.

The Sand Springs, Okla., native was involved in the Student Government Association, Order of Omega, FarmHouse Fraternity and served as president of Speakers Board. He was also named to the 2009 Homecoming Royalty Court.

“Your undergraduate experience is what you make of it,” Stroup says. “SAB provides opportunities to turn leadership

experience into long-lasting friendships, potential career opportunities through networking, and most importantly the ability to leave your mark on OSU.” After graduating, Stroup went on to work as a systems engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense. He also co-founded CommonKey, a company that manages passwords for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

This summer, he was on the Discovery Channel’s The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius. Each week, contestants had to solve what seems like an impossible engineering challenge. While he was not the overall winner, Stroup was a part of the winning team on several episodes.

Connections for Life Rachel Noland, a 2013 marketing and public relations graduate, also served as the alumni relations executive for SAB. She oversaw the President’s Partners organization, which is a select group of 20 SAB members who assist OSU President Burns Hargis at events throughout the academic year.

“SAB is the first organization I would encourage anyone at OSU to get involved in,” Noland says. “It gives members a great opportunity to connect with the student body and make a difference at OSU.” Blake Wieland, an SAB executive for the 2013-14 school year, has learned

leadership skills and other qualities he says will be beneficial in any career path.

“SAB has helped me with my time management and communications skills when working with various groups and organizations across campus,” Wieland says. “It’s very rewarding to see others come to OSU and open their eyes to the many benefits the Alumni Association offers its students and alumni.”

After 25 years, SAB continues to expand its programming. Since 2008, it has hosted the Farewell Senior Toast, which celebrates the achievements of OSU graduates right before their commencement.

SAB members are also helping the Alumni Association rebrand its student membership program now known as the Student Alumni Association. SAB will serve as the group’s governing board.

“This will give students the chance to experience the structure and function of the Alumni Association’s governing body even before they graduate,” says Melisa Parkerson, current director of student programs at the OSU Alumni Association.

SAB’s newest task is implementing a Traditions Keeper program on campus.

Parkerson says the program is expected to begin next spring and will encourage students to learn OSU traditions and experience everything our campus has to offer. The program will include incentives for students to complete activities through a mobile application and will leave them with a collection of pictures and notes from all of their OSU experiences.

“SAB is taking on even more responsibility with the Tradition Keepers program, which in many ways embodies what SAB is all about,” Parkerson says.

“We want students to experience the activities and history that make OSU such a special place.”

Visit orangeconnection.org/SAB for more information about Student Alumni Board.

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photos provided by OSU Engineers Without Borders

Designing a Better Life in Central America

By Jim Mitchell

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OSU’s Engineers Without Borders chapter makes communities safer.

“We looked at several different designs before coming up with a sand filter that could be easily built with inexpensive materials that are readily available in Honduras,” says Aaron Cain, a senior n the northern Honduran village of Seis de Mayo, a group of OSU students with mechanical engineering major. “When I the Engineers Without Borders program wielded technology and engineering joined EWB-OSU, the chapter was just know-how as weapons in a battle against parasitic diseases and a high infant beginning the pilot test for the biosand mortality rate. filter. Since then, we have helped Seis The pipes that brought water from a nearby spring to the village were broken and de Mayo and other nearby communities sitting in the same stream as raw sewage. Even so, most of the villagers didn’t consider establish three businesses that are producthe slightly murky drinking water a real problem. ing and selling the filters for an affordable The students decided to battle the problem with biosand filters for individual houseprice. Ownership has been completely holds and an aggressive classroom education campaign.

“In every class, the children would tell us what they wanted to be when they grow up: turned over to the locals. It has come a doctors, sailors, nurses, teachers, engineers and several presidents,” says Shawn Parsons, long way.”

The other part of the group’s strategy a junior aerospace engineering major. for introducing the filters was to empha“We want to give them the chance to do those things, but the disease, bacteria and size proper hygiene to local students. viruses can and will take those dreams away from them. We have to take away the abil“Going into schools there is a very eyeity of those ‘bad guys’ to do that, and it starts with clean water.” opening experience,” Parsons says. “We The project in Seis de Mayo was the first for the Engineers Without Borders chapter don’t realize how lucky we are to have at OSU. The chapter, which started with fewer than 10 members in 2008, has grown to standardized education. In Honduras, more than 75 students from engineering and other majors. unless you can afford supplies and a Their work has helped ensure clean drinking water for villagers in Honduras and uniform, you don’t go to school. Our safer stoves for Guatemalan communities. presentations at the schools really brought “We’ve been offering hands-on training to equip home the reason we are doing this project.”

The students also learned how valuvillagers to improve their daily lives by building their able it is to have local helpers who share their passion. own water filters and stoves — skills “One of our interpreters for the hygiene classes was a high they can share with others long after school student, and once he saw our first presentation, he added some more personal touches to it and brought up habits that most we’ve left a location,” says David local kids have that we would never have known to address,” says Heidi Wallace, a junior civil engineering major, who will be Criswell, a senior biosystems and agrileading a future trip to Honduras for the OSU chapter. cultural engineering major.

“In one of the later classes that day with fifth- and sixthgraders, I could hear the passion in the young interpreter’s voice The first team of students left for Seis de Mayo in 2009 to as he begged the children to realize the importance of drinking meet with the local contacts and get acquainted with villagers. only clean water themselves, and making sure that their younger The team returned the next year. siblings and cousins were taught to do the same,” Wallace says.

Paul Weckler, a biosystems and agricultural engineering “He was very animated about it, and you could tell that the kids professor, joined the group for the 2010 trip when the broken really took to heart what he was saying since he grew up like lines used to get water to 210 homes were discovered near raw them and knew how they lived.” sewage. Though he was essentially “volunteered” for the adviser A Honduran teenager contacted Wallace following the position with the local chapter back in 2009, Weckler calls trip to say she had been inspired by the group to seek an his role with the group “one of the great things about my job.” engineering degree.

Weckler and the students considered a variety of options before “You never know who you’re going to help on a trip like this; deciding to use the biosand filter individual households could it really changed my life too,” Wallace says. “I have decided that install. “That way, the few villagers who had expressed an intermy new goal in life is to someday start a civil engineering mission est in clean water could be the leaders in adopting filtration,” after I gain some industry experience. … I would want the people Weckler says. of the community to be able to take pride in the work because they would have had a hand in fixing the problem themselves.”

Left: A Honduran teen in the village of Seis de Mayo stands Wallace’s vision and enthusiasm doesn’t surprise Weckler. with the water filtration system OSU students helped install as “This generation of students has been a big encouragement to part of the Engineers Without Borders program. Contaminated me,” he says. “In addition to their academic performance, they water coming into many of the village homes can cause disease. continues

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participate in all kinds of volunteer activities locally, just to meet the requirements to be part of the OSU-EWB chapter.”

As the OSU chapter grows, Weckler is concerned about giving all the students the opportunity to make such life-changing trips, which is why he is looking for other opportunities.

Weckler returned from a trip to southern Guatemala in May with 11 OSU students, including senior mechanical engineering major Ariel Leff, who helped build and demonstrate the use of stoves at schools in the villages of El Hato and Vuelta Grande.

“The stoves are our own design, based on a so-called rocket stove, which maximizes the use of the heat created by the flame and supports

so we really hope to go back and take advantage of their interest.”

After a teacher in El Hato expressed interest in building the stoves, Leff says, the team is considering publishing a manual.

Leff expects the local interest in the stoves to work in the team’s favor in seeking approval from Engineers Without Borders headquarters for a formal project in Guatemala. “Our EWB chapter will continue to work to get this approved as our next international project, which will allow us to make a five-year commitment to this community with return trips at least once a year.”

“These students are different because they’re especially interested in making a difference, so I’m glad to do what I can to speak to groups and work with various partners to try to ensure we have the money to continue to make these trips and document the results,” Weckler says. “The student interest is obvious;, we just need the money and faculty to keep making it happen.”

really efficient burning so you need less wood, which also burns cleaner,” Leff says.

Raising Money The OSU chapter of Engineers Without Borders raised $1,200 at a local coffee concert where it

Students built eight stoves in the shadow of a distant but active volcano — offered bottomless cups of coffee and sold bags three stoves for each of the two schools and stoves for two families. The indoor of Honduran coffee while four local bands played. stoves most villagers use have dangerThe group is planning a similar event this fall. ous fumes and high potential to cause burns and are also so inefficient that children spend the day gathering piles To help OSU’s Engineers Without Borders, contact of wood instead of attending school.

Cooks often abandon the stoves and cook the organization at ewb.osu@gmail.com or go to outside instead.

“After we left, the cooks at the El Hato the donate page at www.ewb-osu.okstate.edu. school did a test with our stove and the open fire they were using. Our stove got a pot boiling with only three pieces of wood For more information on Engineers Without Borders, visit the national group’s website, www.ewb-usa.org. in about 20 minutes. However, the open fire couldn’t get the pot to boil even with a large pile of wood,” Leff says. “Once everyone witnessed that, they started wanting a stove for their homes,

Left top: Students with the OSU chapter of Engineers Without Borders help build biosand water filters for homes in the Honduran village of Seis de Mayo. Before the students began helping, most of the homes in the village received contaminated water from cracked pipes sitting near raw sewage.

Left middle: The students and residents of Seis de Mayo work together to build a filter to help deliver clean drinking water to homes. The students have been working with the village since 2009 to battle parasitic diseases and a high infant mortality rate.

OSU students, from left, Thompson Thomas, Shawn Parsons and Sara Long test the water in Seis de Mayo.

Left bottom:

Right top: OSU students with residents of El Hato and Vuelta Grande in Guatemala, where the students were building more efficient stoves.

Right middle: Students, from left, Jonathan Nguyen, Brandon Jaworowski, Ted Monhollon, Joshua Madden and Jeffrey Drebes build more efficient stoves for residents of a Guatemalan community. The indoor stoves most villagers had used had dangerous fumes and a high potential to cause burns.

Right bottom: Stoves built by students are safer than what residents of El Hato and Vuelta Grande had been using.

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OSU Cowboys respond after tornado devastation The tornado that struck Moore, Okla., on May 20 cut an approximately 17-mile-long, 1-mile-wide swath, leaving behind shapeless mounds of rubble where neighborhoods, schools and businesses once stood. The storm killed 24 and displaced 33,000 people. A day earlier, a tornado killed two in Bethel Acres near Shawnee, Okla.

Then about two weeks later, another round of tornadoes slammed the Oklahoma City area. The widest tornado ever recorded — 2.6 miles — crashed through El Reno packing winds of more than 295 mph. The May 31 tornadoes and subsequent flooding killed 23 people.

The three storms left a wake of devastated families and communities.

OSU Cowboys responded with compassion, grit and determination. Alumna Dr. Stephanie Barnhart used her medical training to provide care during and after the PHOTO / wravenna bloomberg

storm, KOSU brought reports of the tragedies to Oklahomans, Cowboys donated to victims and OSU students designed tornadoforecasting unmanned aircraft.

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OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine alumna credits training and faith for keeping patients safe during the Moore tornado.

May 20 started as a quiet day for Dr. Stephanie Barnhart, who treated a few patients in the emergency room at the Moore Medical Center.

“We had televisions on at the nurses’ station and in my office tuned to weather reports,” says Barnhart, a 2005 graduate of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. “We knew a storm was coming, but we felt prepared and kept working on the patients we had in the ER.” Television and radio stations were predicting an outbreak of severe weather. Moore had been under a tornado watch most of the day. Just before 3 p.m., a tornado touched down outside Newcastle, about 9 miles southwest of Moore. As it continued its path of destruction, the storm intensified into a monstrous EF-5, the most powerful category for tornadoes.

“At first we thought the storm was just going to pass us, but then I heard the weather forecasters issue a tornado emergency. I knew this situation was something different,” Barnhart says. “We saw on the news that the tornado had touched down, was getting larger and heading straight for us.”

Barnhart, the only physician on duty in the small community hospital’s emergency room, the nurses and a physician assistant quickly moved the few patients they were treating into a central area of the ER known as the Fast Track Clinic.

An Oklahoma native, Barnhart is no stranger to tornado season.

Remembering the duck-and-cover drills from elementary school, Barnhart gathered her patients and staff together, pulling mattresses off hospital gurneys to protect them from any falling debris.

“Then the power went out,” she says. “There was a sound like the roar of a train barreling straight at you. My ears were popping, and there was a lot of pressure all around us. It seemed like it lasted for hours, but in reality it was probably less than a minute before it was over.”

Once the storm passed, Barnhart and the hospital staff distributed emergency flashlights so they could see and assess the damage.

“We were amazed that the clinic was relatively unscathed after hearing and feeling the tornado pass over us,” she says. “We didn’t know how bad the damage was to hospital or to the rest of Moore until we stepped out of the clinic and saw the destruction outside.”

The second floor of the Moore Medical Center had been ripped off the building. Wires hung down from the first-floor ceiling. Windows were shattered. Equipment was knocked over. Dirt and debris littered the hallways.

“You could see directly outside where the lobby used to be,” she remembers. “When I stepped out of the hospital and saw the bowling alley across the street had been partly demolished, it really struck me how bad this tornado had been.” continues

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PHOTO courtesy of OSU-CHS

TORN A DO COV E R AGE

OSU alumna Dr. Stephanie Barnhart survived the May 20 tornado. She helped patients get to shelter inside the Moore Medical Center, in background, and tended to those injured outside the hospital.

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The May 20 tornado ripped off the second floor of the Moore Medical Center.

PHOTO / JOE WERTZ, StateImpact Oklahoma

PHOTO / TRAVIS McBRIDE

Christie Renova surveys the tornado damage from a Shell gas station, where she works, in Moore.

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After the immediate danger passed, Barnhart and the staff helped move the four patients from inside the emergency room to outside the hospital. They also helped staff and patients who had been sheltered in the cafeteria get outside as well. No one in the hospital was injured during the tornado.

“It’s pretty amazing that we were able to walk away from this destruction,” she says.

Seeing that people outside the hospital were injured, Barnhart jumped into action. Running on instinct and the disaster training she received during medical school at OSU and her emergency medicine residency program at Integris Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Barnhart set up a triage station to assess the injured. She treated several patients for broken bones, head injuries and cuts caused by flying debris.

Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU Center for Health Sciences provost and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, credits Barnhart’s quick thinking and dedication to her medical training and her passion for helping people.

“The emergency medicine residency program at Integris Southwest Medical Center, one of our partner institutions for graduate medical education, offers exceptional training for physicians in emergency and disaster situations,” Shrum says. “Dr. Barnhart’s concern for her patients’ safety through the storm and efforts afterward to treat people injured during the tornado are clearly the qualities of an extraordinary physician.”

According to Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences, Barnhart’s heroic actions during

Reporter survives the deadly May 20 tornado and tells the story.

By Joe Wertz, StateImpact Oklahoma

Most of the Shell station shelterees were trying to outrace the storm. Many, like myself, were worried about hail and pulled off the street or interstate when traffic locked bumper-to-bumper to seek refuge under the metal roof that shielded the gas station’s pumps.

When the sirens sounded, we joined lines of other people and watched the funnel churn on the horizon. From a distance, it appeared meteorological, a cloud-like collection of circumstantial weather oddities.

the Moore tornado are indicative of the emphasis OSU places on caring for patients.

“If you ever find yourself in an emergency room in Oklahoma, you are probably being treated by a physician trained by OSU,” Barnett says. “Many of our graduates, like Dr. Barnhart, see the critical care that physicians provide in emergency situations and choose to enter that field.”

Barnhart was featured on CNN, where she was hailed as a hero for her efforts to protect her patients. She humbly gives credit to her faith for protecting those in the hospital.

“I was just doing my job,” she says. “I really believe God’s hand was on us, protecting us.”

After taking a well-earned vacation, Barnhart is back at work in the emergency departments for Norman Regional Health System, which owns the Moore Medical Center. Due to extensive damage from the tornado, the Moore Medical Center will be torn down, but Barnhart will continue to rotate between the emergency departments at the two other hospitals in the system.

Though the tornado may have rattled the community of Moore, Barnhart says she plans on staying in her home state and helping the community rebuild.

“I love Oklahoma, this is where my heart is,” Barnhart says.

“The people of Oklahoma are strong. We will pick ourselves up and get through this together.”

But it became more animalistic as it tracked closer. Bright flashes filled its belly, which grew darker as wispy claws consumed the earth beneath it.

I heard the tornado at the same time I stopped being able to see it. The edges of the funnel were obscured by its proximity, its shapely angles and outlines obscured by an undulating mass of color — an impressionistic landscape we were far too close to.

We turned and ran. A half-dozen of us were hiding in the Shell station when we heard the tornado’s bellow.

We remained fairly calm until the power went out. The windows flexed, the door pulled against its latch, and the roof quaked as the edge of the storm moved overhead.

Bits of metal and wood rained down, and a wave of debris washed over the parking lot, coating the station’s windows. A road-tripping motorcyclist from Texas tightened his helmet’s chinstrap as a piece of ragged steel whipped by the storefront.

Sean Kennedy

We remained motionless for several minutes after the sound stopped. The southernmost edge of the storm had swept overhead, but it was immediately apparent that much of Moore had been in the direct path.

Emerging, the Shell shelterees went separate directions. I used the gas station squeegee to push insulation and shards of shingles off my car’s windshield, picked up my phone and started driving toward the smoke.

Telling the Story South 19th Street was a maze of jagged metal and downed utility lines.

The police scanner crackled with dire reports about the Plaza Towers Elementary School. I checked in with my editor in Norman, who directed me to Eagle Drive, which was impassable.

I parked near a dumpster behind a strip mall, grabbed my camera and recording gear and started

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TORN A DO COV E R AGE

interviewing anyone willing and able to talk. Producers from NPR’s D.C. headquarters called, and I reported from the scene live on Talk of the Nation.

Later, I handed my phone to locals as they returned to their neighborhood so they could share their experiences with NPR’s national listeners.

Most of the people and families I interviewed had survived the F-5 tornado that careened through Moore on May 3, 1999.

The May 20, 2013, EF-5 drew an instantaneous response from every police, fire and medical team within driving distance. Doctors and nurses from nearby hospitals and clinics descended on the neighborhood, many still wearing their scrubs and lab coats, and helped with triage in and around the Plaza Towers school.

The destruction was disorienting.

Familiar neighborhood cues — houses, cars, trees, fences and street signs — were gone. The rubble that

remained was a curious brew of utilitarian artifacts and deeply personal possessions. Conference room chairs soaked up puddles alongside wedding photos. Candy-colored stuffed animals lodged next to the hull of a boat. Cans of concrete sealant fell to earth and landed atop framed war medals. Bedrooms, offices, garages, businesses and public spaces were absorbed, churned and redistributed randomly, like knee-high static.

I interviewed a dad who picked up his son early from the elementary school that day. The young boy walked me over to where the playground had been and pointed at a twisted nest

of blue metal that used to be a set of monkey bars.

The dad and his son stood in the field behind the school, holding hands and watching as rescuers frantically dug into the tangled husk to find the boy’s young classmates.

Many people didn’t want to be interviewed, and a reporter’s presence angered many. Some demanded I leave the area, but most of the protestors just berated me with profanities.

One man slowed his Dodge pickup just long enough to roll down his window and spit on me. I apologized to everyone — even the pickup driver — and kept walking until I found those who wanted to talk.

Joe Wertz of StateImpact Oklahoma, an ongoing collaboration between National Public Radio and several of the state’s public media organizations, including KOSU, provided this story to STATE. Visit StateImpact Oklahoma at www.stateimpact.npr.org/Oklahoma.

Listen to KOSU anytime, anywhere, through the live audio streams at www.kosu.org. In central Oklahoma, tune your radio to 91.7 FM or in northeastern Oklahoma to 107.5 FM.

PHOTOs / JOE WERTZ, StateImpact Oklahoma

Gavin Hawkins, 11, and his dad, Joel, stand near the rubble of the Plaza Tower Elementary School. Joel rushed to the school to pick up his son before the storm hit.

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OSU pitches in to help after deadly tornados leave a wake of devastation.

The OSU community pulled together to help those affected by the May tornados in central Oklahoma. OSU faculty, students and staff collected and delivered tons of needed supplies to relief workers and victims. They volunteered to clear debris from Carney to Moore. And the veterinary medical college treated dozens of injured animals for free, even finding the owners of strays who’d gotten lost or finding new owners for those who weren’t claimed.

Four busloads of donated goods Calling it the Stuff the Bus drive, OSU Parking and Transit Services sent two jam-packed, 36-foot city transit buses and two 45-foot Big Orange Bus shuttles to affected areas.

Working with the United Way, parking and transit employees collected supplies from the OSU Family Resource Center, the OSU Student Union, the manufacturing company National Standard, the First United Methodist Church and other donors.

The first bus arrived in Carney on May 21. Although exact numbers aren’t available, OSU staff collected several tons of everything from paper towels, shovels and diapers to toys, sunscreen and Gatorade, says Steve Spradling, parking and transit director.

The donated items were distributed in Moore, Wellston, Carney, El Reno, Luther and Shawnee. The OSU football team helped with the final shipment on June 6. Kent Sampson, director of campus life at OSU, estimates around 50 faculty, staff and students donated and volunteered, including he and other university officials.

Vet College to the Rescue OSU’s veterinary medical hospital took in more than 60 animals for treatment ranging from minor cuts and bruises to worse injuries.

Some of the animals were strays lost in the storms, while owners also brought their pets in for care. Treated animals include a donkey, a red-eared slider turtle and a potbellied pig.

Officials set up the OSU Animal Relief Fund to pay for their treatments, which the university offered at no charge to the animals’ owners.

“We felt the people affected by these violent storms had suffered enough,” says Dr. Jean Sander, veterinary center dean. continues

Stella Howard hugs her daughter Dawnelaina amid the remains of Stella’s Moore home.

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PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Egor the cat was found, treated and reunited with his family.

“The last thing they need to worry about is how to pay for their beloved pet’s care. We believed that people everywhere would want to help the victims of the tornadoes, and they do.”

Veterinary center personnel also helped reunite lost animals with their owners, an effort led in part through its social media pages such as Facebook. Several strays were reunited with their owners, and others went to new homes.

Scholarship Fund Established The OSU Foundation set up a scholarship fund for students who lost a loved one or had major property loss in the tornadoes.

“The Oklahoma State University community has responded in many ways to the needs of those affected by the spring tornadoes,” OSU President Burns Hargis says. “Many individuals are still looking at how they can help those who lost so much. This scholarship fund is a perfect way to assist an OSU student.”

Donors who wish to give can contact the OSU Foundation at 405-385-5100 or visit osugiving.com for more information.

T-Shirts for the United Way A partnership between the University of Tulsa, OSU and the University of Oklahoma sold 10,154 T-shirts with the universities’ logos on the front and the phrase “OK together.” At press time, the sales had raised more than $140,000 for the United Way, helping with disaster relief all over the state.

Alumni Chapters Donate and Volunteer Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., alumni chapters raised more than $10,000 for relief agencies. Chapters in Cheyenne, Wyo., Kansas City, Pittsburg County, Pottawatomie County, Stephens County, Tucson, Ariz., and Tulsa organized donation drop-off locations.

And more than 60 volunteers with the OKC Metro, Cleveland County and Chesapeake Energy chapters worked with Serve Moore helping those in need.

Matt Elliott

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Students Design TornadoChasing Aircraft The unmanned aircraft could help forecast strong storms and predict tornadoes.

Students from OSU’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have designed storm-penetrating air vehicles.

The unmanned aircraft are designed to penetrate thunderstorms, including the super cells that spawn tornadoes, and obtain meteorological data vital for weather forecasting.

“Oklahoma, along with many regions in the U.S., has to deal with severe weather year round, but violent thunderstorms and tornadoes are most worrisome,” says Jamey Jacob, a professor who oversaw the project. “Better prediction methods can save lives, but this also requires more data about how storms form.”

The vehicles could collect important information about weather systems that can be used for both immediate forecasts of the storm’s path and strength and for predictive models. The data could also be used in numerical simulations to aid meteorologists in their understanding of tornado genesis.

Three teams of OSU aerospace engineering juniors participated in the project: the Barnstormers, the Flying Honey Badgers and the Stormtroopers. Each team designed a vehicle with corresponding onboard sensors, ground control, launch and recovery systems that could be deployed from a catapult or unimproved surface, such as a dirt road.

The aircraft, controlled by a pilot on the ground, would penetrate the storm and relay data back to the ground crew. Some of the teams’ designs also included provisions to deploy meteorological sounding devices, which would provide extra data about the thermodynamic properties of the storm system.

The students came up with the aircraft as part of Jacob’s design class. The course is designed to allow students to design a vehicle to solve a real-world problem.

Oklahoma State University—

Where Honors and Undergraduate Research Thrive OSU BY THE NUMBERS

16 Truman Scholars

Future leaders planning to work in public service

$381,000 in scholarships awarded for undergraduate research annually

1,212

active students in The Honors College in 2012–13

In fall 2012, OSU’s 1,212 Honors College students came from 136 Oklahoma cities and towns, 33 other states and 12 other nations.

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85 45

faculty members mentoring students in honors theses

presentations at the Freshman Research Scholars 2013 Colloquium

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OSU’s Freshman Research Scholars program is the only one of its kind in the state that lets freshmen conduct research in any field.

速

O K L AH O mA S TATE U N IVERS I T Y pRES EN T S:

10.2 4 .13 / 1-5 p.m.

SereTean CenTer COnCerT HaLL OUr THeMe THiS Year iS

INNO VAT E .

OSU students, faculty, alumni and others will share innovative ideas that impact our state and the world that you will not want to miss.

NEW THIS YEAR | OSU student speaker auditions on Sept. 18 in the Student Union Little Theatre.

TICKETS AVAILABLE in earLY SePTeMBer WaTCH TEDxOSTaTeU Live On OSTaTe.Tv

d i d you m i s s t he f i rs t ted xos tateu?

See all the talks on TEDxOStateU.com.

RAND ELLIOTT

MELANIE PAGE

Award-winning architect and OSU alum Rand Elliott introduces Turbinomics as the ultimate green way to design a building.

OSU Professor Melanie Page wakes up the crowd with ideas to create a green campus that saves energy and inspires innovation.

M24D

VICTORIA O’KEEFE

OSU’s Malaysian 24 Seasons Drum beats out the rhythm for TEDxOStateU center-stage.

Victoria O’Keefe brings the sensitive subject of suicide to your attention through her doctoral research at OSU.

Jo i n t h e co nversat i o n

/ t e d x o s tat e u visit

t e d x o s tat e u . c o m

fo r m o re i n fo rmat i o n & updates

Photo by

Fine arts senior Anna Rutherford puts some finishing touches on a mural created under the direction of painter Yatika Fields.

During the event outside the Student Union, dozens of student artists joined Fields to complete the 10-panel mural in rhythm to a performance by music students.

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Phil Shockley

OSU’s forays into the visual arts are making a bold statement.

OSU is beginning to paint some vivid strokes in the art world, and STATE magazine is spotlighting the visual arts at the university with this special section.

The OSU Museum of Art’s Postal Plaza Gallery will open in October, giving students, faculty and the community more opportunity to connect with the arts. The Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Taos, N.M., is extending OSU’s land-grant mission beyond Oklahoma borders.

Artist alumni — such as Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Bradley Chance Hays — continue to produce sought-after work. And visiting artists — such as Yatika Fields and Sonya Terpening — are finding a home at Oklahoma State to create, discuss and interact with students.

Welcome to the bright, beautiful and meaningful world of visual art at OSU. continues

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Studio art seniors Casey Pankey and Randall Barnes clean pieces from the OSU Museum of Art’s permanent collection.

Experiencing Art

PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

The OSU Museum of Art’s Postal Plaza Gallery set to open this fall.

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radling the old woven basket in his hands, studio art senior Randall Barnes observes the aged details of a piece from OSU’s permanent art collection. Made of worn reeds, the basket is part of Barnes’ work to find the names, creators and dates of origin for several artworks being catalogued before the Postal Plaza Gallery opens in downtown Stillwater.

An intern for the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art, Barnes joined other staff members this summer to gather and research the more than 2,000 artworks that will soon be housed at the new gallery.

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“There’s a certain amount of respect that you have for the art,” Barnes says.

“You have to have a certain care and delicacy for it because you are handling a piece of history.”

Cataloguing the collection is one of many tasks being done in preparation for the Postal Plaza’s October opening, which will feature an exhibition of portions of the university’s permanent collection.

Other events will be scheduled for the months following the gallery’s opening, giving students, faculty, staff and the community the chance to interact with the arts by visiting the Postal Plaza.

Taking Art to Students

Experiences like Barnes’ are just the beginning of programs for students being developed for the OSU Museum of Art. Museum Director Victoria Berry says a student focus distinguishes OSU’s teaching collection from that of a private museum or collector.

“We need to take art experiences to the students where they are,” Berry says.

“That’s the founding principle of our museum concept.”

Working with the permanent collection exposes Barnes and other students to practical applications that will help pave

their career path after graduation. Skills ranging from curating shows to properly storing art are vital for graduates looking to enter the art industry.

Graduate students have been working with OSU Curator of Collections Louise Siddons to research and write descriptions for each of the permanent collection’s pieces for the Postal Plaza’s inaugural exhibition catalogue, as well as tracking down artists for copyright approval.

“A lot of students feel like artists are untouchable, so to be able to email back and forth with artists has been very exciting for them,” Siddons says.

Siddons works closely with students at every stage of the process, allowing them to build skills they can add to their résumés. The 150-page catalogue will also benefit faculty, who can use it for their courses, and gallery visitors, who can use it as a gallery guide.

Faculty in several colleges will incorporate the gallery into their courses, including disciplines like emergency services and veterinarian sciences, which will use students’ observation skills to evaluate art at the Postal Plaza Gallery.

With 6,000 square feet of gallery and storage space, the Postal Plaza is nearly three times as big as the existing Gardiner Gallery in the Bartlett Center for the Visual Arts, providing more flexibility for faculty to teach using the permanent art collection housed in the 1930s WPA-era building.

“We have this gorgeous flagship gallery downtown, and it’s bigger than anything we’ve had before,” Siddons says. “We’ll be able to show students real objects, which has been a challenge to do before.”

Funding, like that from the Fergesons, will let the museum grow and create

Postal Plaza Gallery,” Siddons says.

“The students may only visit the gallery once or twice but that experience can stay with them forever.”

Volunteers interested in supporting the museum’s daily operations are welcome to share their skills with staff members so they can find a proper fit, Berry says. Through the Postal Plaza Gallery, the museum also offers a secure place to donate art to be utilized in meaningful ways.

“The more you collect art, the more you learn that artworks have conversations with each other,” Siddons says.

“Donating art to the museum is a way to make sure your pieces have the best possible conversations in perpetuity.”

The museum staff is eager to introduce students, like Barnes, as well as faculty and the community to the Postal Plaza Gallery.

The Fergeson Visiting Artist program, established by Mary Ann and Ken Fergeson, is also connecting students with art. Stillwater native Yatika Fields was the OSU Museum of Art’s first visiting artist.

In April, he participated in a painting event outside the Student Union, where the community and campus watched the creation of art.

Fine arts senior Anna Rutherford says the experience was challenging and eyeopening. Fields orchestrated the event, giving subtle advice such as “this needs more black” and “more geometric shapes here.”

“A lot of us were really nervous at first because it’s like working with a famous person,” Rutherford says. “But it was really humbling, and he taught us so much about a different style of art and getting to travel and a lot about art with public groups.”

Space to Teach, Grow The Postal Plaza Gallery’s reach will extend beyond studio art and art history majors.

PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY

Artistic Interaction

Artwork from the OSU Museum of Art’s permanent collection will be on display in October when the Postal Plaza Gallery opens in downtown Stillwater.

programs. Museum staff members have identified a variety of ways to participate in elevating the arts, including gifts of art, volunteering and joining the Friends of Art — a recognition group for those who give to the OSU Museum of Art. “You only have to talk to students for a few minutes to see them light up when it comes to the museum experience and the

“The ability to touch art and hang pictures doesn’t seem like that big of a deal,” Barnes says. “But learning these elements is exciting and helps me determine what I want to do after I graduate.”

CHELSEA T WIETMEYER

For more information about the OSU Museum of Art, the Postal Plaza Gallery and the Friends of Art, visit museum.okstate.edu. You can also contact OSU Museum of Art Director Victoria Rowe Berry at 405-744-2780 or OSU Foundation Senior Consultant Debra Engle at 405-385-5600.

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tillwater native Yatika Fields, the OSU Museum of Art’s first visiting artist, orchestrated a live painting event outside the Student Union in April.

Art students finished painting a large horizontal mural made of 10 smaller canvases while matching their strokes to the rhythm of music students performing Terry Riley’s 1964 composition, In C. The finished mural is hanging in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts on OSU’s main campus.

Fields, a member of the Cherokee, Creek and Osage tribes, is a contemporary artist based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. His work combines influences of street art, abstract expressionism and surrealism with traditional and contemporary imagery of American Indian culture.

Photos by

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Yatika Fields

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Equal Parts

PHOTO / JEFF HAESSLER

Cowboy and Artist Alumnus is selling OSU-inspired art to support the Postal Plaza Gallery.

I

nstead of choosing between his passions for rodeo and art, Bradley Chance Hays is building successful careers in both.

Hays, 27, was recognized for his talent in each field at January’s International Finals Rodeo, where he qualified to compete for the first time. The OSU graduate placed ninth in tie-down roping to finish fifth in the season standings.

The annual Oklahoma City event also featured his painting, 8-Second Ride, on its official poster, passes and program.

Hays then donated the watercolor to an auction benefitting the Miss Rodeo USA Association.

He had previously donated pieces to benefit other organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and his first alma mater, Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. Now he is donating to OSU by creating art to support art.

Hays painted three OSU-themed pieces and is selling 250 giclee prints of each as well as the originals, with 50 percent of each sale going to the university.

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Two of the paintings are watercolors with 22-by-30-inch prints available for $750. The other is an oil painting with hand-embellished 30-by-48-inch prints on gallery-wrapped canvas for $900. Framing is optional on all three. Discounts are available for purchasing multiple prints: $1,400 for both watercolors, $1,500 for the oil and one watercolor, or $2,200 for all three. The original watercolors are $6,500 each while the oil is $15,000.

“I love OSU and thought it made a lot of sense to help the university by using my talent and partnering with buyers who love OSU,” Hays says. “This is the first time I’ve ever made prints of my work, and I want to use those to support the Postal Plaza Gallery. We didn’t have anything like that in Stillwater when I was there, and we really need that.”

All three paintings feature horses branded with the OSU logo on the shoulder. The oil, Strength of the Bullet, and a watercolor, Power of the Steed, show lone stallions. In the other watercolor, Leading the Pack, a cowboy rides a white horse.

Bradley Chance Hays creates the OSU watercolor, Power of the Steed, in Vail, Colo., where he spent the summer.

The paintings exhibit his signature contemporary Western style, which features vibrant colors and iconic images such as horses, cowboys, Native Americans, buffaloes and eagles.

“I focus on the imagery of the American West as a solid place, and I want to protect it for the next generation,” says Hays, of Bristow, Okla. “When I think about painting, that is the only thing I get motivated to do.”

Hays’ love of art came from his mother, an art teacher who gave him his first pencil and paper set when he was 5.

As he grew, she provided daily instruction and encouragement but never a coloring

book. Instead, she expected him to draw and color his own stories.

That led to Dragonfly, a children’s book he wrote and illustrated at age 12.

The story of a boy and his dragon won a national contest to earn publication in 1997. That was when he decided to pursue art as a career rather than a hobby.

But he also wanted to become a rodeo cowboy like his father, who gave Hays his first rope when he was 6. He started practicing daily, focusing on tie-down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling.

Now Hays competes 50-60 times annually.

He also spent the summer working at Vail Stables in Colorado.

“I feel that I’m just a hybrid of a cowboy and an artist,” Hays say. “Every day I work in the studio in the mornings and then go rope calves after lunch.”

“He knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he had a lot of natural ability,” Titus says. “We really focused on helping him grow technically, and his work really expanded and became much stronger.”

Titus praises Hays’ talent, especially his ability to work “out of his head.”

“He creates a lot of these images of horses, cowboys and things without even using a model,” Titus says. “His memory of what a horse looks like in motion is astonishing.”

Hays achieved a rarity at OSU by selling all of his senior-exhibition pieces. That was the precursor to many subsequent shows, such as the 20-piece exhibition he held in Vail on July 27. He estimates it featured between $50,000 and $100,000 of his work.

He prefers painting over sculpting for a simple and practical reason.

“It takes four walls to build a house,” Hays says. “Every business and every home has wall space, so there are lots of places where people could put my art. I feel like, ‘Why can’t there be a Hays original on every wall?’”

That is part of his motivation for these fundraising prints. He calls it a win-win situation when a cowboy artist helps fellow Cowboys and Cowgirls show their OSU pride while supporting the university.

“I would like to do new pieces every year to raise money for Oklahoma State,” Hays says. “These are so specific to our alumni, and I hope the prints become established items that people start collecting. For me and the buyers, this is a cool way to be part of the incredible things that donors are doing at OSU.” Jaco b L on g an

“I feel t hat I’m just a hybrid of a cowboy and an art ist. Every day I work in t he studio in t he mornings and t hen go rope calves after lunch.” — Bradley Chance Hays His rodeo skills earned him a scholarship to Panhandle State. He also competed for OSU, where he transferred to complete a 2009 bachelor of fine arts. He added a master of fine arts at West Texas A&M in 2012.

“I spent a lot of time working with different colors and visiting different parts of the world for research,” Hays says. “I use a lot of abstract parts, but I also go realistic and combine them to create my own thing.”

Jack Titus, interim head of the OSU Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History, was Hays’ watercolor professor in Stillwater. He says Hays already had a strong affinity for Western imagery when they met.

Bradley Chance Hays is selling prints of his original watercolor, Leading the Pack, and donating half of each sale to OSU.

Those interested in purchasing a piece can visit ChanceHays.com or contact Bradley Chance Hays at bradleychancehays@gmail.com or 620-205-9355.

To view a video feature about Hays, visit OSUgiving.com/Hays.

PHOTO / greg quinn

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Fine arts senior Ashley Farrier paints on the mural created under Yatika Fields’ direction.

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Photo by

Phil Shockley

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Alison Fields

Moving Forward Doel Reed Center for the Arts expands into the future.

M

omentum continues to build for the Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Taos, N.M., as donor support has extended programming, rejuvenated the property and created an Oklahoma State presence in the Southwest.

During the summer, the center hosted its first visiting scholar as well as the return of its first visiting artist. A public event also celebrated the ongoing restoration, renovation and furnishing of the facilities.

“This is a really exciting time,” says Director Ed Walkiewicz. “Part of our long-term vision is to become a center for scholarly activity and creativity. Bringing

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in acclaimed artists and scholars is an important aspect of that. What we’ve done with the facilities is also key.”

Scholarly Visits Alison Fields served as the first Jim and Linda Burke Visiting Scholar in Literature. Fields is the Mary Lou Milner Carver Professor of Art of the American West at the University of Oklahoma. In June, she participated in the two-week course, “Readings in the American Experience: The Nuclear Bomb and the Land of Enchantment.” Fields is writing a book about memories of the atomic bomb in New Mexico and Japan.

Doel Reed Center visiting artist Sonya Terpening with Jim Vallion, who sponsors the visiting artist program.

Terpening was the inagural visiting artist in 2010 and returned this year.

She delivered a public lecture on the topic at the Taos Art Museum, where Doel Reed Center students participated in the Q&A session. The discussion spilled over to the next class period.

“It was a great group with both graduate students and undergraduates,” Fields says. “They had a lot of different backgrounds. It’s a pretty diverse group of interests, so it’s led to some good discussion. I’ve made so many connections that I hadn’t thought about before, which really benefits me as a scholar.”

Kate Strum, a creative writing graduate student, says she learned a lot from English professor Martin Wallen and the contributions of Fields and Walkiewicz.

“You had a class taught by three experts, so they really covered the topic,” Strum says. “Even just interacting with Dr. Fields in a casual setting and hearing what someone with her expertise had to say during the class was another layer of a great experience.”

Strum had previously participated in a study abroad course, as had Andrew Romans, a senior in psychology, marketing and management.

“I had previously spent two weeks at the University of Cambridge in England, sponsored by the Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Recognition,” Romans says. “This is very similar because New Mexico, especially this part, is like another country. Even though it’s not that far from Oklahoma, the landscape, culture and history are all so different.”

Romans and Strum encourage other students to take a course in Taos. For them, scholarships made it too good a deal to pass up.

“I’m from New York and came to OSU partially because of the funding I was offered as a student and graduate assistant,” Strum says. “I wouldn’t have been able to afford this if not for the scholarship.”

Romans adds, “I’ve had an amazing experience. I think more people should take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.

I’d encourage anyone who can to do it.”

Artist Returns Award-winning Western watercolor and oil painter Sonya Terpening returned in July as the Smelser-Vallion Visiting Artist, funded by Jim Vallion of Oklahoma City. She was the inaugural visiting artist in 2010.

The OSU alumna presented “Stories Without Words,” a discussion followed by a painting demonstration, at the Taos Art Museum. She also interacted with the students studying digital art and textile surface design.

“I really enjoyed working alongside the students and giving them the perspective of a professional artist,” Terpening says. “I love sharing some of the things I have learned the hard way that they may not be getting exposed to in the classroom. Unlike a lot of disciplines, most young artists don’t get a chance to participate in an internship and learn by working with people in their field.”

Walkiewicz says Fields and Terpening greatly benefited the students — Fields through expanding their understanding of history and Terpening through teaching the craft of art.

“The students love that the Doel Reed Center provides experiential learning opportunities,” Walkiewicz says. “They are out doing and seeing different things and interacting with the environment, which is a lot different than sitting in a classroom.”

Top Facilities Even the classrooms are different in Taos because they include the historic facilities that make up the Doel Reed Center. In August, an event celebrated the completion of the Vallion Gathering Place and the renovation and furnishing of Casa Sutherland.

The Vallion Gathering Place incorporates an outdoor patio as well as portals on both houses. The smaller home was named Casa Sutherland in appreciation for the support of Ann and David Sutherland of Dallas. At the event, OSU President Burns Hargis also announced that Doel Reed’s studio is being renovated and will honor the contributions of James and Linda Parker of Albuquerque, N.M. “Everything is coming together,” Walkiewicz says. “I’m starting to meet more and more people in the local community who want to be a part of what we’re doing. These are just the latest signs that OSU’s academic programming at the center is really starting to bloom. The Doel Reed Center for the Arts is turning its vast potential into an amazing reality.”

Jaco b L on g an

The Doel Reed Center for t he Arts The center is named for Doel Reed, who was hired to head and develop OSU’s Department of Art in 1924 and directed it until retiring to the family’s Taos, N.M., estate in 1959. The property, donated by his daughter, Martha, is the site of three historic adobe structures that now serve as an inspiring setting for teaching, research and outreach related to the Southwest for OSU students, faculty, alumni, friends and lifelong learners in north central New Mexico. The center also honors the legacy of the Reeds, whose artistic contributions influenced fashion and fine art around the world.

This house is one of the historic structures on the Doel Reed Center for the Arts property.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDREW ROMANS

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I N

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OW N

Oklahoma Native Artists Collection In 2010, the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program began documenting the lives and work of Native American artists with ties to the 46th state.

BARBOUR

Artists interviewed for the Oklahoma Native Artists collection spoke to Julie Pearson-Little Thunder about their training, influences, creative processes, Native American identity and the importance of cultural heritage to their work.

Several of the artists are Oklahoma State University alumni, including Jeannie Barbour, Les Berryhill, Anita Fields, Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Tony Tiger. OSU affected their art careers in many ways, most notably by providing them with wellregarded instructors and the ability to try different formats and techniques.

It didn’t start smoothly for all of them.

After graduating high school, Harjo trained for two years at the well-known Institute for American Indian Art in Santa Fe, N.M. While many of his counterparts went directly into art careers, Harjo enrolled at OSU on the advice of his mentor. His first meeting with department chair J.J. McVicker, an acclaimed painter and printmaker, was not an auspicious one.

WO R D S

“I remember going to OSU and meeting J.J. McVicker for the first time, and I told him that I didn’t think his art department was up to snuff. I had no idea who he was at that time, and he turned to me, and he said, ‘Well, we are not exactly an art school.’ He knew I had come fresh out of an art school.”

In spite of that awkward early introduction, Harjo finished his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at OSU in 1974, after the Vietnam War temporarily interrupted his college career.

Barbour and Fields said art department professor Marty Avrett had a big influence on them. When her husband got a job in Stillwater, Fields returned to school at OSU after having taken courses elsewhere.

“I had this hodgepodge of classes and different degrees of advanced painting, but not what they required over here…

Marty helped me get through what I needed to take in order to graduate.”

Barbour, who ultimately received a bachelor’s in graphic and 3-D design, recalled Avrett’s influence.

“Painting and drawing was really [my] first love, and my paint-

HARJO

F IEL D S

ing teacher at that time was Marty Avrett. Just love him to death. He

The Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the Edmon Low Library documents the culture and history of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

Interviews are available online at www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory. For more information about the program, or for assistance with searching, contact the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at 405-744-7685.

was always concerned with your artistic integrity.”

Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program unveiled a new Oklahoma Native Artists website.

It includes full transcripts, audio, video excerpts, a rotating gallery, exhibit and show listings, and links to external resources.

To read or listen to the interviews, browse the collection at www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/ona.

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Photo by

Phil Shockley

Yatika Fields works on the 10-panel mural he completed with art and music students in April. Artists like Fields and such interaction with students and the public are bringing visual arts to the forefront at OSU.

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the man, the sign, the chant Story by Kristen McConnaughey Portraits by Gary Lawson

“There was a fluorescent orange insulated jumpsuit used for hunting in that basement. I put it on, and it fit. I said to myself, ‘Now I know what I’m wearing to the games.’” — Lee Redick 75

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O

n any given fall Saturday, upward of 60,000 orange-clad fans take over Stillwater, anxious for a Cowboy football game. They file in to Boone Pickens Stadium wearing T-shirts, button downs and sundresses.

But only one fan dons a bright orange jumpsuit.

He thrusts his handcrafted sign up, and fans erupt, “Orange!”

The response follows, “Power!”

A unified stadium then explodes into a cycle of chants: “Orange! … Power!”

On game day, he’s Mr. Orange Power. The rest of the time, the superfan in the fluorescent orange jumpsuit is Lee Redick.

Redick grew up in Sapulpa, Okla., and found himself in orange country after following his friend, Steve Law, to school.

“His father went to OSU, so he was going to go to OSU,” Redick says. “I followed him there and had the best time of my life. We’re still best friends today.”

Redick was strong in math and set out to become a computer systems analyst.

But Redick’s first major didn’t quite fit.

“I transferred to electrical computer technology and knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Redick says. “But that wasn’t it either. Eventually, I kind of threw up my hands in frustration and told my mom I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

Redick switched majors again, but a 7:30 a.m. accounting class ended his enrollment in the business college.

On the fourth floor of Kerr Hall, a friend told Redick about the radio, television and film program he was in.

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

“Orange! … Power!”

Lee Redick leads the home crowd in the “Orange Power” chant as the Cowboys trounce Texas Tech last year.

“I signed up, and I absolutely loved it,” Redick says. “I’ve been in broadcasting for 30 years now, and it’s been a great career.

There are so many different facets to it.”

Although Redick now cheers from the 40-yard line, he once showed his school spirit on the field as a member of the Cowboy Marching Band.

“I played the trombone, so I had a noisemaker at a sporting event,” Redick says. “It was a lot of fun. I loved playing in the band.”

After graduating in 1987, Redick entered the broadcasting industry and found his passion for television marketing and advertising. He is now the general sales manager of KSBI-TV in Oklahoma City. continues

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“I’ve actually come up to OSU to teach labs for advertising and marketing,” Redick says. “I’ve got a philosophy I’m very proud of.”

Reviving the Chant

He asked himself: “How do you get 50,000 people all on the same page?”

The answer turned out to be a sign with “ORANGE” printed on one side to flash to the fans in the north stands.

“Once I made that sign, the Orange Power chant really started to take off.”

PHOTO / OSU SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

His passion for broadcasting has never overshadowed his passion for orange. In 1997, Redick purchased his first season tickets for his 40-yard-line seats. In those seats, Redick made his first attempts to revive a chant that had been lost.

The “Orange Power” chant debuted when the University of Arkansas came to Lewis Field on Sept. 20, 1975. It was used to drown out the Razorback’s “Woo Pig Sooie.” OSU won 20-13, and Cowboy fans loved the new chant.

Redick says it was his favorite cheer when he was a student, but it faded away with time.

“The day I introduced him to my dad, we were coming out of a restaurant,” she says. “My dad pointed to a license plate that read, ‘OSU #1 Fan,’ and Lee said, ‘That is mine, sir.’ My dad leaned over to me and said, ‘He knows we are OU, right?’ My dad had no idea that Lee had converted me.”

Fans at Lewis Field display early Orange Power signs after the chant was created in 1975.

Memorable Moments Mr. Orange Power says he has several favorite games, but a couple stand out: the Cowboys’ 2002 victory over Nebraska at home for the first time in 41 years and, of course, when OSU took home the Big 12 Championship with a Bedlam win in 2011.

“It was a magical moment about half way through the third quarter when we knew we were going to win,” Redick says.

“That was a great day.”

Although he’s had close calls, Redick can’t remember the last game he had to

“I’m getting ready to yell ‘Orange,’ and she stops me and says, ‘Why don’t you go ask them to do it with you? You’re just scaring them.’” — Lee Redick “They thought it was old-fashioned and took too long,” Redick says. “So I would just sit there and yell, ‘Orange!’”

Redick continued his one-word cheer until he received some advice from his then fiancée, Kristi Chapman, during a Cowboy basketball game at the Big 12 tournament in 1999 in Kansas City, Mo. “We were literally on the front row of Kemper Arena,” Redick says. “I’m getting ready to yell ‘Orange,’ and she stops me and says, ‘Why don’t you go ask them to do it with you? You’re just scaring them.’”

“I just directed it with my hands, and it took right off,” Redick says.

Becoming Mr. Orange Power Kristi Chapman was raised an OU fan in her hometown of Jenks, Okla. But it didn’t take long for Redick to replace her love of crimson and cream with America’s Brightest Orange.

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The couple married on March 13, 1999, and bought a 1920s house in Tulsa that May. The previous owners had left behind some belongings in the basement.

One item stood out to Redick, and it would lead to his transformation.

“There was a fluorescent orange insulated jumpsuit used for hunting in that basement,” Redick says. “I put it on, and it fit. I said to myself, ‘Now I know what I’m wearing to the games.’”

Redick wanted to add some OSU flair to the jumpsuit.

“I went down to a place in Tulsa that had OSU patches and things,” Redick says.

“I took it in and said, ‘I want to look like Elvis meets NASCAR.’” All patched up, Redick says there was still one thing he needed before Mr. Orange Power’s debut in the fall 1999 football season.

miss. His best friend P.J. Pinkerton and Mrs. Orange Power are next to him for every chant.

“I absolutely love my wife because she lets me be me,” Redick says. “She’s been encouraging, and I wouldn’t be here without her.”

One of Redick’s most memorable moments was getting the chance to meet OSU legend Barry Sanders after a Detroit Lions game in New Orleans.

“I always wanted to meet Barry Sanders because I left OSU in 1987 and missed his big year in 1988,” he says.

Redick went to a parking lot where the team buses were parked.

Redick stood in the empty parking lot with his OSU shirt, OSU hat and his handmade “Go Barry” sign.

“Barry Sanders got off the bus and came all the way around to my side. For about 15 to 20 seconds, it was just me and Barry Sanders.”

Mr. Orange Power’s favorite part of home football games is tailgating and visiting with friends, OSU fans and visiting-team fans.

“We love saying welcome to Stillwater,” Lee Redick says. “We’re very proud, but we want to learn about their traditions, too.”

Orange for OSU Redick’s support of the university extends beyond the playing field. For many years, Redick has volunteered at the annual Remember the Ten Run in honor of the 10 lives lost in the 2001 plane crash.

“Lee can always be found out on the course cheering on participants,” says Jason Pogue, co-chair of the race. “He offers encouraging words and applause to everyone he encounters on the race course.

Some are fast, some are slower, but he treats them all like world-class athletes.

He smiles that big Orange Power grin and makes them feel like he is there just for them.”

Redick has cheered on all different types of athletes at OSU. “There isn’t anyone on planet Earth as passionate about OSU sports and OSU in general than Mr. Orange Power,” Pogue

A New Power Suit

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE REDICKS

No matter the weather, Redick can always be seen in his trademark orange jumpsuit. He’s worn only two jumpsuits since 1999 and will debut his third this season.

“I get out the schedule every year and look at the September games and pray for a 7 a.m. kickoff,” Redick says. “The jumpsuit is just miserable to wear when it’s 100 degrees.”

Larry Reece, the public address announcer for several OSU sports, says he loves Redick’s spirit at the games.

“I think any guy who will wear an orange jumpsuit no matter the weather has proven he has orange in his blood,” Reece says. “He will do anything to try to get our crowd to make more noise when it’s the right time.”

Not only does the crowd depend on Mr. Orange Power, but so does Reece, who is high up in the press box.

“Every time OSU gets a first down, I will say, ‘Another Cowboy first down and 10,’” Reece says. “When I’m about to say that, I’m looking down at Mr. Orange Power because he’s ready to cue the whole north side to signal first down. It’s become a tradition at Boone Pickens Stadium.”

While he may change jumpsuits, Redick says he has no plans to retire his status as an OSU superfan.

“As long as I can, and as long as I’m having fun,” Redick says. “One thing I loved about OSU when I was in college and now as an alumnus is getting to meet so many great people. It’s a blast.”

Kristi and Lee Redick, better known as Mrs. and Mr. Orange Power, pose for a picture during a 2003 Cowboy football game against Kansas at Lewis Field. says. “We have had many comments from out-of-town guests who have had the opportunity to meet Lee, and I can assure you he is as good of an ambassador for OSU as we have.”

Kristi Redick says she’s surprised how the Mr. Orange Power mystique has grown.

“The best part is seeing the joy he gets out of representing the school he loves so much and being recognized for that love,” she says.

“The worst part is stopping every two seconds for all his fans to take pictures with him,” she says with a laugh. “I love the support of him and love how much he is adored, but sometimes I just want to get to my seat, the car or the bathroom.”

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Game Day The OSU Alumni Association is your connection to all things ORANGE on game day.

CO w BOY

OSU Alumni Association

Corral

The Cowboy Corral at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center is fun for the whole family!

Join Pistol Pete, the OSU Spirit Squad and the OSU Cowboy Marching Band for a pep rally prior to the Spirit Walk. Weather permitting, Bullet will also be available for photos! Enjoy Hideaway Pizza and hamburgers, hotdogs and BBQ brisket from Freddie Paul’s. While dining, check out other great college matchups on our two 15-foot screens.

Sept. 14 vs. Lamar | Distinguished Alumni Day Join the Alumni Association in honoring the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

Oct. 5 vs. Kansas State | Larry Shell Recognition Day Help us celebrate the retirement of OSU Alumni Association President Larry Shell.

Oct. 19 vs. TCU | Homecoming 2013 Come back for Homecoming 2013: ‘Branding a Brighter Orange.’

Discounted Tickets

Nov. 9 vs. Kansas | Legacy Day

Members of the OSU Alumni Association can take advantage of discounted football tickets to two OSU football games this season!

Nov. 23 vs. Baylor | Connections for Life Day

OSU @ UTSA | Sept. 7 | $20/$25 each Lamar vs. OSU | Sept. 14 | $35 each Purchase discounted tickets online at orangeconnection.org/athleticdiscounts.

Bring your Legacies to enjoy OSU-themed games and activities.

Learn about our new programs and take a picture in our photo booth.

Dec. 7 vs. Oklahoma | Bedlam

Warm up your orange blood for the state’s biggest football game!

Doors open 3½ hours prior to kickoff. Learn more at orangeconnection.org/cowboycorral.

GUIDE Game Day Parking

Affordable, on-campus parking on game days is available from your Alumni Association!

Reserved spaces are available in the paved parking lot located at the southwest corner of University Avenue and Hester Street. The lot is within easy walking distance of game day favorites such as the Cowboy Corral, the OSU Student Union, Hideaway Pizza, Eskimo Joe’s and The Strip.

2013

Discounts on Spirit Gear

OSU Alumni Association members can save 10% on game days and every day at the University Store and shopokstate.com.

Discounts are also offered at nearby stores including Chris’ University Spirit, Cowboy Book, DuPree Sports, Elizabeth’s, For Pete’s Sake, Hall of Fame Book Trader and The End Zone.

Visit orangeconnection.org/save for a complete list of merchant discounts.

Nationwide Watch Parties

Reserved parking (6 games) $350/space for members $450/space for nonmembers Per game reserved parking $65/space for members $75/space for nonmembers Businesses: Five reserved parking spaces $1,600 for members $2,100 for nonmembers Three reserved parking spaces $1,000 for members $1,300 for nonmembers Tailgating: Tailgaters (minimum of two spaces) $100/space per game.

For more information, call 405.744.5368 or visit orangeconnection.org/cowboycorral.

Join fellow OSU fans at a watch party near you to cheer on the Cowboys and Cowgirls and celebrate your mutual love of ORANGE. OSU Alumni Chapters and Watch Clubs are perfect ways to connect with Oklahoma State in your part of the world.

More than 100 locations will be hosting watch parties this season with OSU giveaways (while supplies last).

To find a location near you, visit orangeconnection. org/watchparty.

201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 TEL 405.744.5368 • FAX 405.744.6722 orangeconnection.org

Changes in

At the OSU Botanic Garden’s Turf Center, members of the OSU team that developed Latitude 36 are, from left, Dennis Martin of the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department; Charles Taliaferro and Yanqi Wu of the Plant and Soil Science Department; and Jeff Anderson and Justin Moss of the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department.

PHOTO / TODD JOHNSON

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Latitudes P

rofessional, college and even casual athletes across the nation keep trampling all over the pride of Oklahoma State University, and scientists in the school’s turfgrass research program couldn’t be happier.

The program enhanced its reputation this summer when the NFL’s Washington Redskins installed one of the university’s newest varieties, Latitude 36, on their home playing surface at FedEx Field.

The Tennessee Titans followed suit shortly after and installed the turfgrass at LP Field. The 2013 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles have sodded practice fields with the variety.

“The NFL is the ultimate for any football player, so we are delighted that a Bermuda grass created by OSU experts has reached this pinnacle of success,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “The NFL also is the ultimate test of a turf’s durability, and we’re confident the teams will be pleased with the performance of Latitude 36.”

Sales of Latitude 36 began last year after it was released in 2010. Nine outlets nationwide, including two in Oklahoma, are sublicensed to produce the grass through OSU’s licensing firm Sod Solutions. The grass was named after the research farms instrumental in developing the variety, which lies at about 36 degrees north latitude (36° 7’15.14” N).

Despite being a newcomer to the market of high-end turf Bermuda grasses, the award-winning variety is poised for popularity, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region of the country.

“This is just the front end of this. It takes about three to five years to gear up the material and the production once

you’ve released it,” says Dennis Martin, OSU Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist and one of the five OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources researchers credited with developing the new grass.

Other members of the Latitude 36 research team are Jeff Anderson and Justin Moss from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Yanqi Wu and Charles Taliaferro from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Latitude 36 is ideal for use in the transition zone, parts of the eastern, western and southern United States where traditional Bermuda grasses tolerate summer conditions, but can experience winter-kill during particularly cold winters.

The grass is well-suited for sports fields, golf course fairways and tee boxes, commercial grounds and residential lawns because of its tolerance for traffic and recuperation rate. Latitude 36 also has better cold hardiness and excellent color, texture, density and uniformity.

Latitude 36 was intensively tested at OSU for seven years before researchers at other land-grant universities in the southern U.S. and the central transition zone working through the National Turf Evaluation Program examined the grass.

At the conclusion of the 2007-2012 NTEP trials, Latitude 36 claimed overall top honors in the national Bermuda grass test.

Latitude 36 will be part of the 2013-2018 NTEP trials as a standard for quality and performance.

While FedEx Field and LP Field are the first NFL fields to showcase Latitude 36, the University of Virginia is among the first colleges and universities to install the new Bermuda grass at its athletic facilities.

BY LE I L A N A M c K I N D R A

PHOTO / TOBEY WAGNER, SOD SOLUTIONS

OSU turfgrass is fit for the pros.

LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans The Cavaliers have sodded their home track, football and baseball facilities with Latitude 36. Virginia’s track was the first large-scale field in the nation to use the variety.

With the Charlottesville-based campus being located in the transition zone, Jesse Pritchard, the Cavaliers’ sports turf manager, looks for attractiveness, recoverability and cold hardiness in a Bermuda grass.

“Latitude 36 was the first variety to come on the market I felt was very highly ranked in all three of those categories,” he says.

Pritchard says the fields with the grass were in better shape when the grass emerged from its winter transition this spring compared with his previous eight years using other varieties. He says the fields will need less annual sodding and save the university money.

“We’re all in with Latitude 36,” Pritchard says. “Any new facility that gets renovated, that’s the direction we’re going.” continues

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“The program has a strong history of success as evidenced by the high-profile national and international venues that use its products.” — Mike Woods, interim vice president, dean and director of DASNR

Latitude 36 is being showcased at several sporting venues, including Columbia Country Club in Maryland.

PHOTO / STEVE McCORMICK

Transition Complete Facilities with Latitude 36 installed FedEx Field (Washington Redskins) LP Field (Tennessee Titans) Philadelphia Eagles practice field Baltimore Ravens practice field University of Virginia track, football and baseball fields Columbia Country Club (Chevy Chase, Md.)

Cavaliers’ sports fields aren’t the only venues turning to Latitude 36. Jim McHenry, sales manager for Oakwood Sod Farm in Delmar, Md., and one of the producers of the grass, says there’s been strong interest from operators of golf courses and athletic facilities.

Golf courses like the finer texture and cold tolerance of the variety, he says, while athletic facilities appreciate its aggressiveness and wear tolerance.

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McHenry says athletic facilities are converting to Latitude 36 because of its traffic tolerance, while golf course operators are discovering the grass is a great fit for driving-range tees. The grass can recover from divots in a week to 10 days.

“I think the popularity of Latitude 36 will continue to grow, especially as people become more familiar with it,” McHenry says.

The fact that Latitude 36 is gaining notice nationally is a good indication researchers did their jobs well, Martin says.

“It’s very important the intended audience is confident enough to install and use Latitude 36. That means that not only did we do our job and assess the market correctly, but also that the market is accepting the product,” Martin says.

Mike Woods, interim vice president, dean and director of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, says Latitude 36 is another variety in a long line of high quality products developed by OSU’s turfgrass research program.

“The program has a strong history of success as evidenced by the high-profile national and international venues that use its products,” Woods says. “We’re proud of these accomplishments and look forward to continued cutting-edge research.”

Riviera, an OSU-seeded Bermuda grass, was used on two baseball fields at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as on the infield at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

Latitude 36 is yet to be used on campus in Stillwater, in part because none of the variety is ready for harvest from farms within the state. The first sod should be available from Oklahoma-based producers later this year.

Other OSU-developed varieties are used on campus.

Another OSU variety, Patriot, and Riviera are in the new Athletic Village practice facility. Patriot eventually replaced Riviera on the Reynolds Stadium infield. Patriot is also on the home field of the Philadelphia Eagles, the practice fields of the Indianapolis Colts, the Purdue University football field and the Chesapeake Energy Green Roof Sports field in Oklahoma City.

Come early or stay over for the WVU-Oklahoma State Game . . . and discover the hidden treasures and once-in-alifetime experiences in the epicenter of Appalachian culture. Our extraordinary land of natural beauty; high country and mirrored lakes are gifts that we call “Almost Heaven.” But here’s the secret: a wealth of Appalachian culture waiting to be discovered.

You’ll find out-of-the-way artists’ workshops and galleries to score special souvenirs, like the local potter who grows her own herbs and presses them into clay to complete her signature dishware, or Allegheny Treenware, where wooden kitchen utensils are made by “spooners” while you watch.

Slow down the pace and spend your day on the Mountaineer Country Wine Tour. You’re bound to run into friendly people, eager to share their stories and learn about yours.

Dynamic nightlife will give you a true taste of our local music and farm-to-table dining experiences. We look forward to sharing our Mountaineer Spirit with you.

Visit MountaineerCountrySports.com for

>> Greater Morgantown Municipal Airport, Just Minutes from the Stadium >> Accommodations within Walking Distance to the Stadium >> Area Videos

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.com

Ward

lived for students

After three decades of delivering laurels such as the Golden Baloney Award, alumnus’ scholarship ensures his legacy continues to inspire.

In the Tulsa, Okla., neighborhood where Jeff Stewart was raised, he didn’t know of any college graduates.

He didn’t even consider pursuing higher education until his junior year at East Central High, when he took a class where the teacher wore silly costumes and rewarded correct answers by serving cookies out of a bedpan.

What Stewart learned in Pat “Weird” Ward’s 1975-76 chemistry class helped him find the path to a 1982 OSU electrical engineering degree and his current position of technical fellow at a global security and aerospace company.

“He taught us chemistry, but what he really taught us was that there will be people smarter than you, which just means you have to work harder,” Stewart says. “I am where I am today because he and another teacher of mine did everything they could to help me succeed.”

Ward taught at East Central from 1959 to 1987, utilizing humor and unpredictability because he believed it helped students learn and retain information. He proudly bore the nickname “Weird” Ward while doing things such as wearing a conductor’s hat or safety goggles with eyeballs on the front.

His final lesson was about generosity. After living so frugally that

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a “new” shirt was a $2 thrift-store purchase, he died from lung cancer on Feb. 13, 2013, leaving approximately $300,000 to OSU for science scholarships.

“When he was alive, he taught me that I could be successful if I tried hard enough,” Stewart says, his voice cracking with emotion. “Then when he died, he taught me that it’s not about yourself. ‘Do something for someone else — someone you’ll never meet.’”

Consuela Reinhart has a similar story. Ward supported her dream of becoming a veterinarian, even as some of her family said she could never make it in college.

“He would say, ‘Forget about that.

You’re special,’” Reinhart says. “He was very, very encouraging and supportive of everyone. He would tell us all we could do whatever we put our minds to. It was a blessing to have been his student. Who knows where I would have ended up if it hadn’t been for his encouragement?”

She has been a veterinarian since earning her doctorate of veterinary medicine at OSU in 1994, which followed a 1990 OSU physiology degree. When she learned of Ward’s estate gift, she was inspired to establish a veterinary scholarship.

“He taught us so much and has continued teaching us through his

death,” Reinhart says. “Pat Ward will live on forever. None of us will forget him.”

2-room school to a 2-Time OSU graduate Raymond Patrick Ward was born Oct. 10, 1936, in Lindsay, Okla. His first eight years of formal education came in a two-room country school where the teachers were his parents, Margaret and R.A. Ward. Because he skipped fifth grade, he was only 16 when he accepted a football scholarship at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Okla.

“A lot of people might look down on us for having gone to a country school, but we got a really good education from our parents,” says Ward’s sister, Louanne Ward Trueblood. “But it would have been really hard for our parents to send him to college if he hadn’t had that scholarship the first two years.”

Ward transferred to OSU, completing a natural science degree in 1958 and a master’s in secondary education the following year. His first employment interview was at East Central, where he was hired to teach chemistry, general science and physics. As the school grew, his focus became solely chemistry.

He saved much of his modest income, empowering him to endow

the Patrick, Margaret and R.A. Ward Scholarship Fund. It will provide six awards of more than $2,000 each for OSU students in life and physical sciences.

“He used to buy OSU football season tickets, but then he decided to give that money to the library instead,” Trueblood says. “I didn’t even know he was establishing these scholarships until he passed. I am so happy that he did that and honored our parents this way.”

Laughing students, learning students Ward ensured his classroom was an entertaining environment. He filled it with unique decorations such as Elom, a scarecrow whose name came from reversing the word mole.

The Weird Duck was a drinking bird toy that sat in a different location each day. The Golden Baloney Award was a spray-painted sausage link on a fork mounted on a base.

He wrote a funny or inspirational quote on the board daily. Sometimes they were both, such as, “Ignorance: The only thing more expensive than education.”

He nicknamed students often by rhyming, such as Jodie “Miss Toadie” Larsen Nida. Sometimes they carried a deeper meaning, like his calling Reinhart “Strongheart” in recognition of her determination.

“He always treated his students like he could see how we’d be 10 or 20 years down the road, not the bunch of skinny, long-haired goodfor-nothings we were then,” Stewart says. “He treated us like we were going to be something.”

His classroom was a place where incorrect answers were “rewarded” with low-calorie, high-fiber cookies, and the teacher might substitute a broom for his trusty wooden pointer.

Pop quizzes became “interrogations” and major exams were “days of judgment.” Those who did well found celebratory cartoons scribbled on their papers. A sleeping student would be jolted awake by Ward jumping at them while wearing strange

sunglasses or a tie-dyed lab coat.

“People did not skip his class,” Reinhart says. “You just never knew what was going to happen, or what he was going to set on fire.”

He thought of his students as family, which was why even decades later he could recall their nicknames, names and graduation years — often in that order.

“He never failed to make everyone feel as if they were important,” Nida says. “He attended every class reunion that he knew about, and he was always thrilled to hear what people had been doing for the past 20 or 30 years.”

A special teacher Many of his students progressively realized how much Ward taught them, and not just by coming in early, staying late and working out new ways to explain lessons.

“In college, I took a tough, weedout chemistry class and got an ‘A’ using Ward’s notes,” Stewart says.

“You think you were just messing around, but he taught us chemistry.”

Reinhart adds, “He taught you how to think deeper and trust yourself. He gave you the tools to figure things out, which helps with all different areas.”

Ward took pride in doing everything he could to prepare students for college success. His letter of recommendation helped Nida earn a scholarship at OSU, where she

completed a 1979 accounting degree.

After a 15-year accounting career, she became an award-winning suspense novelist.

She kept in touch with Ward until the end, and helped arrange his memorial according to his wishes.

“The Oddfather” had left money and instructions for the “Weird Wake,” which required attendees to wear orange. Cookies were served out of a shiny steel bedpan as beakers bubbled over with orange goo. Ward had kept copies of every reference letter he had written for students, and they were distributed to those who attended.

Trueblood listened as people credited her brother with helping them mature from teenagers into successful adults. She had often seen Ward try to deflect such sentiments even as he was unable to conceal how much they meant to him.

“When people would say things like, ‘You changed my life,’ he always responded, ‘Oh baloney. I was just doing my job,’” Trueblood says. “He saw it as just living his life, but it inspired people. I taught for 15 years, and I know he was doing a lot more than just a job.”

Jac o b L o n g a n

For more information or to contribute to the Patrick, Margaret and R.A. Ward Scholarship Fund, contact the OSU Foundation’s Jana Duffy at 405-945-6705 or jduffy@OSUgiving.com.

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RYAN MOEHLE

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OSU honors military veterans by helping them earn a degree.

STORY BY MATT ELLIOTT

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY PHIL SHOCKLEY

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Ten years ago, Nick Swaim was trying to stay alive in Iraq.

A participant in the March 2003 invasion, the Marine was part of an engineering battalion that ferried ammunition and supplies to other troops spearheading in to Iraq. He endured everything from falling mortar rounds to a violent sandstorm and attacks on his unit by Iraqi soldiers.

“The first tour, I almost died more,” Swaim says.

“Every day, there’d be a firefight. Every day, you’d be trying to complete another mission. … The second tour was much more ‘I’ve got a real good chance of dying,’ but I didn’t.”

After participating in campaigns such as the pacification of the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah in 2004, Swaim was discharged in 2005. He ran his own business for a while in Nashville, Tenn., and overcame a terrifying bout with posttraumatic stress disorder before returning to OSU in 2009 to get his education at age 27. He graduated in 2012 with a degree in physical education. With his OSU degree as his foot in the door, the next enemy he’ll take on is childhood obesity, something he hopes to fight by becoming a PE teacher.

A Land-Grant Mission As a land-grant university, OSU has a strong link to the military. OSU is one of more than 70 land-grant universities established by the 1862 Morrill Act that initially required teaching military tactics. Military education at OSU was compulsory until 1965, when the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges ended the requirement.

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photo provided

After two tours in Iraq, Nick Swaim, right, went back to college with students many years his junior and graduated in 2012 with a degree in physical education.

Those who work with students — These days, a big part of OSU’s militarylargely staff with the registrar’s office and related work lies in serving veterans or their others — describe veterans as a group dependents when they’re college students. with a unique set of needs. Staffers workMuch of that is in working with the ing with OSU’s student vets develop a Department of Veterans Affairs to get bond with them. students their GI Bill benefits. OSU offi“They want to succeed,” says Barnes. cials believe that since the Iraq War began “They want to get their degrees, and they in 2003, about 3,000 veterans or their want to continue to contribute to society.” dependents have used the benefits while Veterans also come to OSU for attending the university. Such benefits were special outreach courses, such as the accessed around 900 times in 2013 alone.

Riata Center’s Veterans Entrepreneurship When universities began seeing more Program in the Spears School of Business. veterans returning from service and seekThe program, for disabled vets looking ing college educations, says Paula Barnes, to start or improve a business, has had an assistant registrar who leads OSU’s efforts to help vets use their benefits, many about 170 students since it began in 2010.

February’s class had 41 members.

— including OSU — weren’t prepared “I like to think that now we as a to meet their needs. Universities didn’t university are on the forefront, being understand how to work with vets, and aggressive, and trying to do things that the GI Bill hadn’t been updated to reflect will help our veterans succeed on this modern higher education costs. campus,” Barnes says.

Things have improved, especially with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Barnes says. Also, Oklahoma Regents have adopted policies making it easier for veterans to restart their educations once they return from service.

other guard members from across the U.S. He missed stretches of classes for training.

No one knows what student vets go He was having trouble focusing when he through better than Ryan Moehle. A was in class and was flunking two of them. veteran himself, Moehle is a specialist for He withdrew from school.

VA student services in the registrar’s office.

“I don’t think they’d seen a lot of He meets with veterans or their depenpeople called up to combat,” Moehle says. dents to whom they’ve transferred their “It’s nothing against the university. That benefits, to help manage their benefits for point in my life was pretty stressful. A an education. lot of things happened right at that time “I love helping them because I know frame. School was taking a back burner what that service member has been to everything else. It was extremely hard through or the sacrifice they’ve made, but to focus. … Nobody really it’s also a challenge, too,” Moehle says. understood what I was “Not only do we have the sometimes onergoing through.” ous policies of the VA, but the sometimes He shipped off to difficult-to-work-through ones of OSU Kuwait in January 2003 as well, and sometimes those create a and, after the invasion, scenario that’s difficult.” worked security for missile Moehle, who grew up on a dairy farm batteries before joining an outside Enid, Okla., joined the Army engineering battalion north National Guard after high school to pay of Baghdad. The battalion for college at OSU. He reported for basic ended up doing what he training on Sept. 11, 2001. He became called “regular infantry part of Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Brigade jobs,” kicking down doors Combat Team, which last saw combat and arresting suspected action during the Korean War. insurgents during nighttime Moehle did not expect to end up in a raids. No one was killed, war. Combat wasn’t what guard members he says, although a few did. Their commitment took a few weekwere wounded. ends a year. He started his classes the spring after basic training, double-majoring in agricultural economics and accounting.

To his shock, he was called up the following November in the midst of his classes, along with more than 650,000 Not Just a Job

“I have friends now who are struggling from things we did and saw,” he says.

Moehle returned to the U.S. in July 2003.

His wife, Rachel, had moved with their 17-day-old son, Jake, to her parents’ place in Chandler, Okla. Before Iraq, he had planned to join his family’s dairy business once he graduated. But that business had failed.

His in-laws helped with expenses and babysitting while he and his wife went back to school. They got their degrees in continues

,

“ It was extremely hard to focus. Nobody really understood what I was going through.”

—Ryan Moehle

RYAN MOEHLE photo provided

photo / phil shockley

ABOVE: Ryan Moehle holds his son, Jacob, for the first time after being reunited with his wife, Rachel, at a welcome home from Iraq ceremony for the Army National Guard in Moore, Okla., in 2003.

Ryan Moehle, center, hangs out with fellow troops while in Balad, Iraq, in 2008.

RIGHT:

photo provided

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2006. Moehle graduated with a bachelor’s in leisure services management, and his wife earned a degree in early childhood education. Making ends meet was still tough. He had a part-time job working security at a dairy company. His wife was trying but couldn’t get a job teaching in Chandler. His deployment money bought them a house, and they scraped by with help from family.

“They’re more responsible,” he says.

“A lot of veterans have similar stories,” says Barnes, Moehle’s supervisor. “If they “They know what benefits they have. And don’t have strong family support like Ryan they come in here with an expectation that we know that, too.” did, it can be hard.”

Eventually, a job as an oil company wire-line operator allowed Moehle to Focus Forged in the Crucible make ends meet. He wanted to pursue Nick Swaim, 32, came to OSU in 1999 his master’s, so he took a job in 2009 in as an aerospace engineering major, but the OSU’s 4-H Club program. Two years later, Sand Springs, Okla., native’s education Barnes hired him at the registrar’s office.

RIGHT: Nick Swaim sits on a ledge outside one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces in Iraq.

Swaim participated in some of the worst fighting of the modern era, including the battles for Fallujah in 2004.

BELOW RIGHT: Nick Swaim poses for a photo with his sister after graduation from Marine Corps boot camp. He started at OSU in 1999 but left for the Marines after a close friend died in a car crash the next year.

NICK SWAIM photos provided

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Until he was hired, Barnes says, many student veterans thought the staff helping them with their benefits couldn’t relate to their experiences.

Moehle, who had three kids at home, had joined the Air National Guard for its technical education program. Shortly after his hiring with the registrar, he returned to Iraq for three months to lead a maintenance crew for jet fighters.

He finished a master’s in the spring.

His thesis was on how veterans perform academically in college compared with other students. While he hasn’t found them to have better grades, they have other attributes that set them apart.

would be curtailed by a tragedy. During the spring 2000 semester, he was in a car wreck that killed his best friend.

“Once I healed up, I ended up going to the Marine Corps just to kind of get away.

I’d always wanted to do it, anyway.”

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred while Swaim was in boot camp. At the end of boot camp, he slogged through a 50-mile hike, sleeping on the ground and fighting ambushes during the Crucible, which Marines must pass before they can graduate.

Swaim became a combat engineer, part of the groups that help with logistics, deliver supplies, find mines and build bridges.

When the U.S. invaded Iraq, he was assigned to a support battalion that convoyed ammo and other materials to the troops.

“While you’re doing that, the fight is right in your backyard, because the Iraqis are trying to stop that push of ammunition,” he says.

During his 10-month tour, Swaim’s group got caught in the worst sandstorm the region had seen in decades. Visibility was only a few feet. They were setting up a camp in the middle of Iraq’s massive southeastern desert when they had to hunker down.

“That was the worst 24 hours of my life,” he says. “I thought we were going to drown in sand.”

The group was ordered to man a justbuilt sand berm with their heavy machine gun, keeping watch as the storm beat on them. Nobody could breathe. They put shirts over their faces. They had one bottle of water. Their goggles didn’t work and sand blew in around them, cutting their eyes to the point that they were bleeding.

“We didn’t have a meteorologist or the Internet, or anybody saying when this was going to end,” Swaim says. “It was just hell.”

There also was supposed to be a large force of Iraqi soldiers nearby and headed their way.

After about 25 hours, the storm slackened. A large group of men emerged from the desert. Swaim and the others got nervous, wondering if they were the Iraqi soldiers. They checked their weapons, concerned sand had clogged the works.

“We were about ready to start shooting them with our machine guns, and one of our guys that was furthest to the right, he goes, ‘Wait, wait, wait. … Let’s give them a minute.’ It ended up being a group of men shepherding their camels.”

Swaim’s second tour ended in 2004.

He thought about re-enlisting, but chose to go back to school. He tried restarting school in California while he taught gymnastics. He later went to Nashville, where he started a tutoring franchise.

He left that job in 2009 and returned to Oklahoma State.

He struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. “There were days I couldn’t get up. You get dreams and flashbacks,” he says. “You can’t breathe.

You’re anxious. You feel like you’re going to die every second.”

He tried to fight it with exercise and medication. He drank too much. He says every now and then it comes back, but it’s not as bad as it used to be. He thinks time healed it.

“What really helped me was when I found out that the symptoms I had were not going to kill me,” Swaim says.

When the time came to start back at Oklahoma State, he was relieved. He was more focused. Classes were a cinch. He made friends.

“We had a good time,” Swaim says. “It was almost more fun than my first time I was in Stillwater.”

He graduated in 2012 and worked for about a year with the Tulsa Boys Home in a substance abuse treatment program. At press time, he was weighing job offers for PE teaching positions. He hopes to use his OSU degree to fight childhood obesity as part of another, bigger goal.

“All I’ve wanted has been three things,” Swaim says. “I’ve wanted to serve my country, my community and eventually, when I get married, my family.”

Helping Vets Climon Mock was home from Desert Storm, working at a railhead in Fort Hood, Texas. He had made it back without a scratch from the United States’ first major conflict since Vietnam.

Then, he took a wrong step while offloading a train and twisted his knee.

The burning, knife-like pain was a blown out anterior-cruciate ligament. Surgery repaired the ACL, but the Montgomery, Ala., native had some choices to make.

The 10-year veteran sergeant could retire and get a sizeable severance package or stay and risk re-injury. He took early retirement.

Disabled, Mock had to make ends meet. He tried some direct-marketing ventures such as Amway but nothing panned out. He set up a party equipment rental business, Courtesy Rental Center, specializing in bounce houses. The business, run out of his home, pretty much only broke even.

Over the years, he tried his hand at other things. Nothing seemed to work out. He moved around, taught school for a while, endured a divorce, got his bachelor’s degree in business, sold a business and lost his second wife to breast cancer.

In 2011, he was living with his two sons in Lawton, Okla., using savings and substitute teaching to pay his bills and expenses. He again looked toward the equipment rental business, but could not find any openings. He decided to restart his equipment rental business and learned of

OSU’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Program.

He figured that could be the wings his business needed to get off the ground.

The program is an intense series of workshops, discussions and mentorship opportunities to help vets jumpstart their businesses. There’s a pre-course portion that includes developing business concepts through online discussions with classmates and entrepreneurship experts.

That’s followed by an eight-day stay in Stillwater, featuring workshops in business ownership from professors and business leaders. The participants then get 10 months of support and mentorship from business leaders.

“Don’t look at what the other guys are doing. Don’t copy the other guys. Be innovative,” says Mock, recounting the courses’ lessons. During the 10-month mentorship, he received invaluable help from Tulsa-based management consultant Dick Rubin.

“It almost felt like it was his personal venture,” Mock says. “Any questions I asked, he made it like it was as if the money was coming out of his pocket.”

“I believe the greater the risk, the greater the return.”—Climon Mock Since the course, Special Events Amusement has taken off. He has bought out most of his competitors. His selfservice model is low cost, and his website is easily updated. With seven to 10 clients per week, he can afford an office and warehouse space. He hopes to expand his company and become a full-service event planning service with two locations in Oklahoma and Texas.

“I believe the greater the risk, the greater the return,” he says. “How I put that in perspective is one of the things that I learned from the program. You’ve got to know what kind of venture you want to have.”

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Making Way For Life at The Ranch

L

ife at The Ranch, for some, is a getaway of sorts with rolling countryside and trees swaying in the Oklahoma breeze. For others, like OSU alumni Wes and Lou Watkins, it’s home.

Nestled beside Lakeside Golf Course in Stillwater, the acreage once owned by the former U.S. representative and his wife is accessible via a discreet road that is easy to miss.

“When you pull in here and you drive under those trees, across the little bridge, all of a sudden your worries are a little bit less,” says Lou Watkins, who serves on the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents.

The same route will soon lead the way to the future home of Stillwater’s only nonprofit continuing-care retirement community, The Ranch. Epworth Living, which manages The Ranch, bought the 55 acres in May, paving the way for the $70 million retirement community.

“This town holds a special place in my heart,” says Epworth Villa CEO John Harned, an Alumni Association life member with a 1990 bachelor’s and 1991 master’s in accounting. “This was a partnership of philosophical views and doing the right thing for Stillwater. The hard work of so many has led to something that will revolutionize aging services in the community.”

Even though the Watkinses had several potential buyers for the land in past years, they believed there was a reason to wait. The couple had every intention of living in their home for life until they saw a need in Stillwater.

“At The Ranch, life can be more peaceful and less complicated,” says Lou Watkins, who earned a 1964 bachelor’s in political science and a 1965 master’s in secondary education from OSU.

“When you pull in here and you drive under those trees, across the little bridge, all of a sudden your worries are a little bit less.”

— Lou Watkins “You can do more things, be around people who have the same interests. It’s that interaction with friends and loved ones that keeps you young and healthy.

We see that happening at The Ranch,” she says. “We built this home, and we’ve used every inch of it. We built it to live the rest

of our lives. We bought long-term health care so we have people who can come in and take care of us, but we couldn’t keep up the whole place — 55 acres. At our age, you just can’t keep it up.”

The idea behind The Ranch is to free up residents’ time so they can do the things they want to do rather than the things the have to do. It will feature 120 independent-living apartments and 20 cottages, 48 assisted-living apartments, 20 memory-care apartments, 19 skilled-nursing beds for long-term care and 20 shortterm rehabilitation beds. At full capacity, the community will be home to about 250 residents. Fine dining, resort-style services, maintenance and housekeeping will be available onsite.

“We encourage residents to have a vibrant and active lifestyle at The Ranch,” Harned says. “The campus will be a beautiful place that people can call their home for life. It will include a clinic, fitness center and wellness activities.”

Until construction ends, the Watkinses plan to live in a southwest Stillwater home. Wes Watkins, who earned a 1960 bachelor’s in agricultural education and a 1961 master’s in educational administration from OSU, says he’s not only hoping to meet a long-term need for others in the community, but also hopes to provide the best possible care for his bride of 50 years.

“I’m hoping and praying we’ll have many years down the road together, but if not, I hope it’ll all be great for Lou. She’d be entertained and get to do all the things she wants to do,” he says.

The Ranch will also feature a convenience store, bank, two restaurants, a barber and beauty salon, hobby zones, a chapel, library, nature trails, and a wellness and fitness center.

RENDERING PROVIDED BY EPWORTH VILLA

A view of the proposed main building at The Ranch in Stillwater

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“We’ve been active and had fun all of our lives,” Lou Watkins says. “I don’t want that to stop just because I’m getting older. I think that’s what this organization offers you. It’s a way to continue life with a little bit of help.”

Pioneer Club Epworth Living has developed a partnership with The Ranch’s Pioneer Club members. By giving Epworth Living a $1,000 refundable deposit, members get to review the site plan and decide the model of their home, including various features and views. Once 100 people have placed their 10-percent deposit, construction can begin.

“With Epworth Living Community’s solid reputation and values, this is a winwin for the community of Stillwater,” Harned says.

“Stillwater has some high-quality retirement places, but they don’t have all the stages older people need,” Lou Watkins says. “There is no facility in this city that welcomes people in as an active, healthy, involved, independent adult and takes a resident all the way through if assisted living is needed.”

The Watkinses celebrated their golden anniversary last summer. As they celebrated one milestone in their life, they are preparing to transition into a milestone of another — leaving their home and making way for The Ranch, where they will soon return and call home.

“We’re at a stage where we can feel we can downsize, but it’s not going to be easy,” Wes Watkins says. “I commuted back and forth from Washington, D.C., for 20 years. With the rat race in D.C., it’s always so great to be able to come home and have a peaceful place to be. It’s really been a place of home, rest and relaxation.”

Lou Watkins adds, “Life can be hard for many people, and you would hope that at the end of your twilight years, maybe it won’t be so hard. Our hope is to take people from all diverse parts of life and bring them together as a family. I think that is the message of The Ranch.”

For more information about Epworth Living at The Ranch, visit theranchliving.org or call 866-463-6726.

“It’s always so great to be able to come home and have a peaceful place to be.”

— Lou Watkins

Former U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins and his wife, Lou, pose at the future site of The Ranch, a planned nonprofit continuing-care retirement community.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE RANCH

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A Giving Triangle OSU alumni connect through love, animals and scholarship.

BY D E R I N DA BL A K E N E Y

One is a pioneer in the field of veterinary The Veterinarian: medicine. The second is a generous philanthropist. The third is the recipient of a scholarship connected to the first two.

Meet John B. Hays; his stepdaughter, Jennifer Grigsby; and Rachel Vazquez.

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John B. Hays

He is soft-spoken and smiles easily. It’s easy to see why people welcomed Hays into their homes to treat their pets. In fact, before retiring in 2012, Hays treated the small animals of up to four generations of owners during a 40-year career.

Hays earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine from OSU in 1972. Following graduation, he became a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps, serving two years active duty and four years as a reservist.

While stationed in Nebraska, Hays often rode on calls with a veterinarian who operated a mobile small-animal clinic.

“I decided this type of veterinary medical practice appealed to me,” Hays says.

“I would be my own boss. For less than $10,000, I would be able to start my business. At that time, to set up a veterinary clinic would run from $150,000 to $200,000, and I didn’t have that much money.”

Hays picked up a used van and spent his free time overhauling it.

“The van had to have side doors that opened out because a sliding door would have been too noisy and might frighten a sick or nervous patient,” he says. “While on base, I met a team of Navy Seabees.

They could build anything, so I asked

When I grow up, I want to be, A real he-man and go to sea.

Or maybe I would like to be, A movie star, on tv.

Or if I was just a little brighter, I might turn out, to be a writer!

But since I have so many a pet, I reckon I should be a vet.

I could take care of dogs and cats, And maybe even baby rats.

I love to watch the fishes play, And to watch the cows eat hay.

I reckon I should be a vet, And take care of every pet.

— 11-year-old John Hays, Jan. 6, 1960

them to build cabinets for the inside of the van where I could keep my veterinary medicine supplies, equipment, etc. … The cabinets lasted 40 years.”

After his military service, Hays and his family settled in Oklahoma City, where he established the Mobile Pet Clinic — the first mobile veterinary small-animal clinic in the southwest U.S. “When I started, I also worked as a relief veterinarian for an established practice,” he says. “If I received a call, I would wait until my lunch hour to visit the client.

I did this about the first year until I had time to build my own client base.”

Hays distributed 100 announcements when he established the practice, but most

photo / greg quinn

When I Grow Up

John B. Hays people learned about his services by word of mouth.

“Clients picked me because they knew who I was, how much I would charge and how I worked. My prices were middle of the road. I didn’t have any employees to pay. I just needed to make enough to take care of my family,” Hays says.

He always wanted to be a veterinarian.

He even wrote a poem, “When I Grow Up,” about it in grade school. His sister recently returned the poem, dated Jan. 6, 1960, to him after keeping it for decades.

“What I like most about veterinary medicine is the animals,” Hays says. “I would treat any small animal — lizards, ducks, turtles, dogs, cats — it didn’t matter. Of course, over the years, I made some dear friends. I was in their houses, in their lives. I knew how they lived and how they treated their animals.”

Hays is considered a veterinary medicine pioneer because of his innovative practice, which was recognized in such publications as McCall’s, Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma City Times and The Oklahoma Journal.

Others, including people near and dear to him, also noticed his dedication and successes. His stepdaughter, Jennifer Grigsby, and her husband, Steve Grigsby, surprised him with a gift that will keep giving for many years to come.

“I married Jennifer’s mother when Jenny was 15. She told me I ruined her life,” Hays says. “We were married until my wife passed away 16 years later.

During that time, Jennifer and I grew closer. We tease each other about being the wicked stepfather and wicked stepdaughter. I love her dearly, and we remain close even though I am now married to Carolyn, whom Jennifer also adores.” continues

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Grigsby is senior vice president, treasurer and corporate secretary at Chesapeake Energy Corp. She is a 1991 OSU accounting graduate, and her husband is a 1992 electrical engineering alumnus. They believe in giving back.

“Steve and I were thinking about ways to contribute to the Branding Success campaign,” Grigsby says. “When the Pickens Legacy Scholarship Match was available where cash gifts could receive two-to-one matching, it was an easy decision to direct gifts we were contemplating to endowed scholarships.”

The Grigsbys had already established a scholarship honoring Jennifer’s father, Gary Reid, who played third base for OSU’s baseball team in the early 1960s.

Jennifer also established the Grigsby Family Endowed Scholarship in the School of Accounting. That left Hays as the remaining OSU-graduate family member to honor for support through her college years.

“We made the dona-

photo / genesse photo

photo / gary lawson

The Philanthropist: Jennifer Grigsby

tions to OSU before the year-end. I didn’t know how to communicate to John what we had done and since it was the holiday season, I wrapped a certificate showing that a scholarship had been established in his name,” Grigsby says. “I knew he would be confused when he opened it on Christmas Eve and that it would take a bit of explaining, but I grossly underestimated how touched he would be. By the time I finished explaining, everyone was in tears.”

The certificate is framed and prominently hangs in Hays’ home office along with his poem.

“This scholarship is just one way we can bring attention to an OSU alum who changed the landscape of his profession,” she adds. “John was the first housecall, small-animal veterinarian in this entire region of the country. He was one of a kind, and now there are countless veterinarians with identical practices all over the country. We are so proud of the quality of graduates that OSU produces … not only in terms of their knowledge and technical skills, but also their maturity and leadership.”

The Recipient: Rachel Vazquez The Dr. John B. Hays Endowed Scholarship for Veterinary Medicine was awarded for the first time in April.

The recipient is Vazquez, formerly of Nashville, Tenn. John and Carolyn Hays, and Jennifer and Steven Grigsby spoke with Vazquez during the 2013 awards banquet weeks before

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Vazquez completed her doctorate of veterinary medicine.

As long as she can remember, Vazquez has loved taking care of animals. She also likes art and design. As a high school sophomore, she chose to pursue science over art.

“After graduating with my DVM degree, I joined the Companion Animal Clinic in Oklahoma City,” Vazquez says.

“I treat mainly small animals, and I hope to see some exotics such as birds, reptiles and pocket pets as well.”

The young veterinarian is truly grateful for the Dr. John B. Hays Endowed Scholarship.

“Scholarships mean a great deal. No matter the amount, it all helps and means I have to take out that much less in student loans,” Vazquez says.

“I enjoyed meeting Dr. Hays and his family,” she says. “His example shows me not to be afraid or let anything hinder me from following my dreams and becoming a great veterinarian providing excellent service. Perhaps one day I will be able to return the blessing of a scholarship to future deserving students.”

“Rachel is very professional, sweet and personable,” Hays says. “I was very pleased with the committee’s recipient choice. I hope future recipients are able to benefit from it and achieve their goals.”

“The intangible impact of the many scholarships that will be generated over the years by this single endowment is really the return on our investment that we are most proud of,” Jennifer Grigsby says. “And to think that our gifts will triple in size one day thanks to the generosity of Boone Pickens is very exciting, too.

“I hope future recipients will appreciate their scholarship and want to ‘pay it forward,’ giving back to OSU as we gave for them. I also hope that they will want to know more about Dr. Hays, who he was and how he moved the veterinary medicine profession forward.”

Hays has this to offer recipients of the scholarship that bears his name: “The big thing is do no harm. If I didn’t know how to do something, I didn’t do it. The other thing is to treat people like you would like to be treated. If you do that, it will work out well for you.”

T H A N K YO U OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences students are pursuing a higher-quality education civic leaders recently recognized as OSU in Tulsa Icons. These supporters came together in May a biennial celebration of the ways OSU in Tulsa benefits from their leadership and generosity.

“In addition to raising funds to benefit students, we recognized the achievements of four extraordinary civic leaders who have made significant contributions to the quality of life and education in Oklahoma,” says Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences. “Icons were selected place and for their support of our university.”

for your dedication to a brighter orange future.

Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences, and his wife, Billie, stand in the middle of the 2013 Icons for OSU in Tulsa honorees. The four Icons are, from left, Tom McKeon, Ed.D., Tulsa Community College president who earned his doctorate from OSU; B. Frank Shaw, D.O., 2007 Oklahoma Osteopathic Association’s Doctor of the Year and past president of Regional Chamber and former speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; and Jim Halligan, Ph.D., former OSU president and current Oklahoma state senator.

Discover your orange passion at

OSUgiving .com *Scan the QR code with your smartphone or call 800.622.4678 to learn more

of

A Matter

Chemistry

Couple allows aspiring chemists a chance to thrive.

J

oy Kerfoot calls her husband Mr. Soap Suds. His colleagues nicknamed him Mr. Detergent.

These days, OSU chemistry students refer to the 1949 alumnus as benefactor after Oliver Carl Kerfoot and his wife provided money for the Oliver C. and Joy P. Kerfoot Endowed Scholarship.

Now retired, Carl Kerfoot’s research lab at Conoco was at the forefront of creating environmentally friendly household products. He and his partners hold 26 patents pertaining to the manufacture and use of synthetic detergent chemicals.

As a child in Arkansas, Kerfoot was enamored with chemistry.

“The idea of being able to convert one substance — a molecule — into another substance was very exciting and intriguing to me,” says the native of Pocahontas, Ark. That interest led Kerfoot to Oklahoma A&M, where he majored in chemistry and minored in math. He spent hours in a lab filled with what is now considered rather makeshift equipment in the old chemistry building.

His favorite chemistry professors, Otis C. Dermer and Ernest M. Hodnett, encouraged the young man’s hypothetical experiments.

photo / phil shockley

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Ponca City residents Carl and Joy Kerfoot provided $75,000 to endow the Oliver C. and Joy P. Kerfoot Endowed Scholarship benefiting chemistry students at OSU. It qualifies for $112,500 from the estate of T. Boone Pickens through the Pickens Legacy Scholarship Match. When fully endowed, it will produce $9,375 per year in student support.

Carl and Joy Kerfoot endow a chemistry student scholarship that will provide nearly $9,500 annually in student support.

“Back then, there were only Bunsen burners and very little fancy equipment,” he says. “What was best was being allowed to spend an entire semester just trying to make something work.”

After college, Kerfoot served in the Army during the Korean War, working in a medical laboratory in Cape Cod, Mass., before being sent to a similar job in Tokyo.

In 1952, he went to work for Conoco in Ponca City, Okla. Kerfoot was one of the earlier researchers hired in the Conoco Chemicals Division, which later became Vista Chemical Co., and eventually Sasol Chemical Co. Kerfoot and others in Conoco’s chemicals division became the first to develop a biodegradable laundry and dishwashing detergent material and the process for making it.

“When the issue of environmentally friendly chemicals arose around the world, Conoco Chemicals was the first company to develop and offer for sale a biodegradable detergent raw material,” he says.

Kerfoot traveled around the world — Japan, Thailand, India and Europe — to promote the new detergent chemical. And Joy Kerfoot, a nurse by profession, joined her husband on many of his journeys.

“That was his bailiwick and his claim to fame,” she says.

In 1991, Kerfoot retired. He and Joy remain in Ponca City.

They have two children: Robert, a 1980 OSU alumnus, and Karen, a University of Central Oklahoma graduate.

They have two grandchildren and two great-grandaughters, 8 and 3, who keep them busy and young at heart.

“I look back on my career with much fondness,” he says. “It more than met my expectations and goals, which I had set out in the beginning.

“What more could one ask?”

LO R E N E A . R O B E R SO N

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“The genesis of our Pipeline Integrity Program came from workforce demand.”

PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY

— OSUIT President Bill Path

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OSUIT’s Pipeline Integrity Program addresses an industry need.

OSUIT has created the Pipeline Integrity Program to meet an industry need. From left are OSUIT student John Carns; instructor Mike Pierce, engineering technologies assistant division chair; student Brandie Brown; and student David Klutts.

On the average day, most Americans give little thought to the energy pipelines operating near their homes, businesses and highways. On the other hand, the safety and efficiency of our nation’s aging pipeline infrastructure and finding skilled workers to maintain it is a top concern for the energy-transportation industry.

Most of the pipelines in the United States are approaching 40 years old. Even the best designed and maintained ones require careful monitoring and upgrades.

It’s a complex energy distribution network more than 2.5 million miles long. The system transports about 65 percent of our country’s crude and refined oil products and nearly all of the natural gas.

Materials and construction defects, corrosion and cracking, mechanical damage, device failures and malfunctions, weather-related damage, soil erosion, earthquakes and many other factors can compromise a pipeline’s integrity.

Recognizing an opportunity to serve the public, OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee launched a unique program to address the need for skilled pipeline technicians, culminating in an Associate in Applied Science degree in pipeline integrity technology.

“The genesis of our Pipeline Integrity Program came from workforce demand,” OSUIT President Bill Path says. “We have a long history of listening and responding to industry needs in the development of our programs and their curriculums because we see employers as our clients and collaborative allies in the educational process.”

Pipeline integrity management assesses and mitigates risks in order to reduce the likelihood and consequences of harmful

incidents. The federal Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to adopt regulations on integrity management.

Strict government regulations and concerns about human and environmental safety, national security and energy supply reliability have led the pipeline industry to strive for a zero-fault integrity standard. At the same time, transportation companies report a persistent shortage of trained pipeline, corrosion and engineering technicians.

As a large portion of the current workforce nears retirement, industry leaders must replace and increase the number of qualified personnel to install, operate, maintain, repair and manage pipelines.

Through OSUIT’s program, graduates will develop skills, knowledge and experience in pipeline design, damage assessment, corrosion control, government regulations and integrity management.

Joining with industry leaders such as TD Williamson, MESA Corrosion, Chesapeake Energy, Devon, ConocoPhillips, Atmos Energy, Center Point Energy, DCP Midstream and Willbros Engineering, OSUIT’s Pipeline Integrity Program strives to lead the way in developing the next generation of pipeline professionals.

“The employment outlook for students trained in pipeline technology, safety, corrosion control and federal regulations is unparalleled,” says Mike Pierce, OSUIT engineering technologies assistant division chair. “Our graduates will be in high demand and trained in a career field with outstanding growth and income potential.”

R. Kris Hooper

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Come back to Stillwater, a place where you spent some of the best times of your life, and enjoy the best years of your life.

Introducing The Ranch, Stillwater’s only community providing a full range of senior living options. This beautiful new development, sponsored by Epworth Living, will include your choice of well-appointed cottages and apartments, a world-class clubhouse, fine dining, fitness center, and so much more.

Located on 55 acres in north Stillwater, The Ranch will be an exceptional place that combines a vibrant, active lifestyle with easy access to quality, on-site health care and the many benefits of living near the OSU campus – lectures, performances, plays, sporting events and more. And with the peace of mind afforded by the Life Care plan, you can relax and enjoy it all.

Reservations have begun! To reserve your future home, please speak with one of our counselors at 405-743-2990 or toll free at 866-463-6726. For a limited time, we will continue taking fully refundable deposits for priority reservations through the Pioneer Club.

Endorsed By

www.theranchliving.org 1329 South Western, Stillwater, OK 74074

New Life Members A lifetime connection to America’s Brightest Orange

Lonnie Becker, ’59

Don Brothers, ’59, ’61

Bruce Beckman, ’64

Jessie Brothers, ’11

Bill Beierschmitt, ’67, ’72

Betsy Brown, ’05

Vicki Beierschmitt, ’68

Hal Brown, ’84

Jeffery Belczak, ’01

Kathy Brown, ’84

Barbara Bellatti, ’64, ’68

Audrey Brown-Edwards, ’57

Lawrence Bellatti, ’66, ’69 Kevin Benham, ’90 Clayton Bennett Hank Bennett, ’11 J. C. Bennett, ’76 Megan Bennett Jim Bentley, ’85, ’87 Chad Bergman, ’98 Kristina Bergman, ’98 Darrell Berlin, ’55, ’58 Grace Berlin

The OSU Alumni Association would like to recognize the second half of individuals who are now connected for life to Oklahoma State University through their new life memberships purchased in 2012.

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a life member at orangeconnection.org/life or call 405.744.5368.

Katy Baker, ’11 Newton Baker, ’69 Randall Baker, ’95, ’06 Eric Ballard, ’95 Shelley Ballard, ’95, ’98 Alta Barker L.D. Barker, ’63, ’65 Misty Barker, ’11 Amber Barnes, ’98 Brandon Barnes, ’96

Kris Acree Troy Acree, ’86, ’90 Ben Aggus, ’96 Jo Ahrberg, ’78 William Ahrberg, ’78, ’81 Christina Albert, ’12 Jimmy Albert, ’79 Patricia Albert Steve Albert, ’67, ’92 Valorie Albert Mary Alcorn, ’89 Betsy Alexander, ’87 Marcy Alexander, ’80 Timothy Alexander, ’87 Alyssa Allen, ’05 Amy Allen, ’96 John Allen, ’74, ’77 Kelli Allen, ’92 Roger Allen, ’69, ’71 Sue Allen, ’72 Susan Allen, ’73 Thomas Allen, ’92 Zachary Allen, ’05 Gary Allison, ’70 Mary Ann Allison, ’75 Walter Almon, ’77, ’83, ’10 Charles Alward Jr., ’66 Coleen Alward, ’71 Brad Anderson, ’88 Darrell Anderson, ’67, ’76 Gene Anderson, ’55 Janet Anderson, ’55 Kathryn Anderson, ’69, ’75 Kim Anderson, ’74, ’76, ’80

Ladona Karen Anderson, ’73 Mark Anderson, ’85

Matthew Barnes, ’97, ’99 Billy Barnett, ’89 Debra Barnett, ’89

Matthew Archambo, ’98

Faye Barnett, ’64

Myah Archambo, ’06

Stan Barnett, ’76

Barbara Archer, ’57

Bart Bartholomew, ’78

Denise Armstrong, ’10

Terry Bartholomew, ’78

Jonathan Arps, ’03

Brent Bartlett, ’08

Kathryn Arps, ’05

David Bash Jr., ’57

Charles Asbill, ’59, ’73

Everett Bates, ’09

Dirk Ashbaugh, ’09

Vicki Bates, ’11

Amber Atteberry, ’07

Jerry Baysinger, ’95

Chad Atteberry, ’07

Heather Beadles, ’95

Brandi Badgett, ’99, ’01

Justin Beadles, ’94

Mark Badgett, ’98, ’00

Thomas Beall, ’84

John Bailey, ’85

Casey Beaty, ’04

Joshua Baker

Jacqueline Berryman, ’06, ’12 Riter Berryman, ’08, ’12 Dually Bertholf, ’00, ’05 Darcy Bevill, ’06 David Bevill, ’07 Jesse Bierig, ’01 Stacy Bierig Todd Bilby, ’99, ’01, ’05 Ed Bivins Jr., ’72 Amos Black III, ’67, ’69 Ann Blackman Maske, ’59 Ernie Blair, ’86 Michelle Blair, ’90, ’08 Julie Blanchard, ’83 Wayne Bland, ’75 Don Bliss, ’54, ’73 Dayna Boggs, ’96 James Boggs, ’96 Tammy Bollenbach, ’00 Bo Bollinger, ’82 Brendon Bond Jr. Rena Bond Brenda Bose, ’82, ’85 Jim Bose, ’60, ’62, ’66 Kevin Boss, ’12 Cora Boyd

Brenda Brunk, ’93 Jeremy Brunk, ’94, ’03 Charles Bryant, ’74, ’78 Victoria Bryant Kristie Buratti, ’00 Tony Buratti, ’98, ’00, ’03 Harold Burkhart, ’65, ’67, ’69 Michael Burnett, ’82 Sharon Burnett, ’98 Michael Burns, ’64, ’66, ’69 Emma Butterbaugh Jack Butterbaugh, ’70 Jerry Butterbaugh, ’69 Joy Butterbaugh Scott Buzzard, ’77 Robin Byford, ’81, ’82 Ryan Cambern, ’97, ’99 Brooke Campbell, ’04 Colin Campbell, ’06 Joseph Cantrell Sr., ’55, ’57 David Carnes, ’86 James Carpenter, ’67, ’70, ’74 W. Paul Carradine, ’88 Richard Carrington Jr., ’75 Teresa Carrington, ’75 Patrick Carroll, ’73 Rodney Carver, ’91 Michael Cataldo, ’75, ’77 Pamela Cataldo, ’77 Ray Catalino Itsared Chanjarean, ’08 Michael Charbeneau Suzanne Charbeneau David Chavez, ’83 Amanda Chisum-Price, ’95

Donald Boyd, ’70

Gary Chronister, ’75, ’80, ’93

Donna Boyd, ’66, ’74, ’84

Stacy Chronister, ’04, ’08

Bill Boykin Jr., ’83, ’96

Amy Claflin, ’03

Toni Boykin

Cory Claflin, ’02

Del Boyles, ’69, ’71

George Clark, ’85

Jennifer Brake, ’94

Jeffrey Clark, ’07

Lisa Brandon

Tim Clark, ’88, ’91

Russell Brandon, ’93

Norvell Clarke

Keith Brawdy, ’77 Carol Brewster

Frances Clegg-Ferris, ’64, ’73, ’98

Herschel Brewster, ’75

Eulalia Click, ’75, ’76

Chip Broaddus, ’11

Joel Click, ’76

Justin Brooks, ’01, ’06

Pat Clifton, ’64, ’71

Laurie Brooks, ’96

Sherry Collier, ’74

Patrick Brooks, ’69, ’72

Maxie Combs, ’12

Paula Brooks, ’69

Lynn Conard, ’80, ’83

Tony Brooks

Lori Conger, ’88

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Carey Conley, ’85

Mark Dickerson, ’74, ’76

Glenn Floresca, ’81

Mary Ann Gregory, ’83

Hunter Herron, ’92

Ross Conley, ’83

Chase Dickinson, ’10

Cogie Fodge

Steven Gripe, ’10

Erin Hickey, ’97

Travis Conley, ’08, ’10

Patrick Dickinson

Emily Ford, ’11, ’12

Randall Griswold, ’72

Diane Hicks

Blake Connelly, ’03

Jenna Dickson, ’11

Lou Ann Forman, ’84

John Groendyke, ’66, ’69

Glen Hicks, ’68

Lydia Connelly, ’01

Jessica Dilbeck, ’12

Terry Forst, ’76

Gene Grove Jr., ’92

Brad Hildabrand, ’77, ’79

Mike Conner, ’86, ’90

Burniece Dillard

Arlen Foulks, ’05

Lagina Grove, ’94

Richard Hill, ’81, ’82

Shelly Conner

Jack Dillard, ’55

Bill Francis II, ’84

Brad Gungoll, ’75, ’79

Terry Hinshaw, ’62, ’63

Trace Conner, ’92

Aaron Dixon, ’98

Eugene Franklin, ’95

Leah Gungoll, ’75, ’80

Bill Hite, ’87

Donis Cook, ’77

Barbara Dobson, ’73

Jake Frederick, ’01

Garet Guthrie, ’02

Lee Holcombe, ’57

Harlan Cook Jr., ’71

Douglas Dodson, ’64, ’81

Shannon Frederick, ’01

Dason Gwartney, ’96

Curtis Holdridge II, ’67

Robert Cook, ’75

Angela Doyle, ’08

Lee Freeman, ’85

Kyle Hadwiger, ’82

Margaret Holdridge, ’67

Bryan Coons, ’01

Jennifer Doyle, ’02

Gigi Frieling, ’97

Jack Haines, ’67

Tabron Holloway, ’06

Sarah Coons

Jonathan Doyle, ’02, ’06

Emily Friend, ’10

Tami Halcomb, ’83, ’87

Clay Holt, ’09

Jim Corbett Jr., ’81

Sandra Drummond, ’87

Eric Friend, ’07

Aimee Hale, ’94

Christina Horn

Sherri Corbett, ’81

Laura Duffy, ’09, ’11

Mark Fritze, ’80

Ben Hale, ’93

George Horn Jr., ’77, ’80

Gary Corey

Marcus Duffy, ’11

Melinda Fritze, ’82

Allison Haley, ’09, ’12

Gerald Horn

Terra Corey, ’88

Wesley Dunbar, ’89, ’93

Kevin Fruendt, ’95

Doug Hall, ’74, ’76

Jolynn Horn, ’78, ’86

Gregory Cotton, ’95

Jared Dunn, ’05

Marion Fry, ’96, ’98

Edward Hall, ’73

John Horschler, ’76

Krista Courson, ’83

Theresa Dunn, ’05

Colony Fugate, ’96, ’00

Janet Hall, ’89

Jeremy Horwitz, ’98

Dara Courtright, ’09

Jessica Dvorak, ’11, ’12

David Fugate, ’95

Kathy Hall, ’74

David Houston, ’75, ’79

Jan Courtright, ’80

Justin Dvorak, ’11

Karen Gaber Patel, ’07

Kimberly Hall, ’85

Denise Houston, ’74

Crystal Cowan, ’07, ’09

Michele Dykstra, ’92

Javier Gamarra, ’81

Matt Hall, ’88

Karen Howell, ’92, ’95

Kim Cowherd, ’76

Joe Eastin, ’92

Lynn Gamarra, ’86

Kevin Halstead, ’94

Rodney Howell, ’94, ’96

Sue Cowherd

Nicole Easton, ’07

Glenda Gatz, ’91

Andrew Cox, ’11

Todd Easton, ’03, ’05

Cale Gee, ’05

Jason Hamilton, ’80, ’84, ’90

Barbara Howell Roewe, ’83, ’86

Jim Cox, ’78, ’05

Sara Easum, ’12

Peggy Geib, ’02

Julie Hamilton, ’81

Leslie Hoyt, ’83

Clairissa Craige, ’12

Billy Eddleman, ’66

Gilbert Gibson, ’54, ’58

Bill Handy, ’08

Dawn Huckaby, ’84

Jennifer Crater, ’11

Judy Edmonson, ’74

Melanie Giles, ’95, ’02

Shelli Handy, ’90, ’93

Steven Huckaby, ’81

Pamela Crawford

Richard Edmonson, ’73, ’77

Ashley Gillaspie, ’07

Karen Hanks, ’80

Billy Huggins, ’89

Billy Croll, ’76, ’79

Steven Eilers, ’12

Christopher Gillaspie, ’07

Edward Hanlon Jr., ’83

Charlotte Hughart, ’72, ’77

Lizz Croll, ’12

Cindy Eimen, ’81

Stanley Gilliland Jr., ’84

Megan Hannah, ’11

Carol Hughes, ’90

Alexander Cross, ’03, ’04

David Eimen, ’83

Damara Giusti, ’04, ’07

Steve Hannah, ’78

Cynthia Hughes, ’83

Joshua Crouch, ’01

Karen Elizondo, ’70

John Giusti, ’02, ’04

Teresa Hannah, ’81

Dan Hughes, ’89

Matthew Crowell, ’12

Matthew Engelman, ’05

Robert Gleichman, ’88

Dennis Hughes, ’77, ’79, ’83

Lori Culver, ’79, ’81

Shannon Engelman, ’05

Shelly Gleichman, ’84

Carla Hardzog-Britt, ’83, ’87

Stan Culver, ’83

Francis Epplin

Carl Glencross, ’85

Sean Harkin, ’09, ’12

Sandra Huhnke

Amy Cumpston, ’84

Maryellen Epplin, ’92

Dana Glencross, ’82, ’86

Garland Cupp

Ann Ervin, ’72

Matthew Glenn, ’03

Penny Cupp

Christine Erwin-Jimenez, ’02

Matthew Glenn, ’01

Christopher Evans

Jennifer Glimp

Teresa Danne, ’73 William Danne, ’73, ’75 Kirk Darnell, ’89 Aneta Davis, ’71 Tiffany Davis, ’12 Deborah Dean, ’01 Jacque Dean, ’74, ’77 Roy Dean, ’94, ’96 Mike Deaton Monte Decker, ’82, ’84 Sherry Decker, ’82, ’85 Diane Delbridge, ’86 James Delbridge, ’80, ’81 Pamela Denker, ’80 Randy Denker, ’79 John Denneny, ’78, ’81 Kay Denneny, ’77, ’79 Akilla Desai, ’05 Amit Desai, ’03, ’05 Darrell Devers, ’61, ’63, ’72 Jovette Dew, ’89, ’01, ’10 Lee Ann Dickerson, ’74

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Joannah Evans, ’97

Dale Glimp, ’84

Julia Evans, ’07

Amber Godfrey, ’03, ’05, ’08

Julie Evans, ’91

Stuart Godfrey, ’02, ’06

Kellye Eversole, ’79, ’83

Kay Goforth, ’74

Emily Fairchild, ’09, ’12

Ronald Goforth, ’74

Bill Fanning, ’79, ’90

Beverly Goode, ’80

Denise Fansler, ’92

Kenny Goodman, ’79, ’86

Eileen Faulkenberry, ’01, ’03

Matt Gorsuch, ’01, ’11

Thomas Faulkenberry, ’02

Linda Graham, ’70

Cloyann Fent, ’68, ’84 Lynn Fent, ’68, ’73 Ann Fenton, ’69 Gleed Fenton, ’68, ’69, ’94 Laura Fenton, ’92, ’95 Luke Ferrell, ’00 Abbie Field, ’10, ’11 Raymond Fields, ’79 Bart Fischer, ’03, ’04 Karalyn Fischer, ’06 Becky Fleming, ’85

Kimberly Graham, ’02 Marion Graham, ’70 Eric Graheck, ’02 Eric Grant Charles Gray, ’86 Gay Greene Larry Greene Cameron Greenhagen, ’92 Joe Greenhaw, ’83 Shannon Greenhaw, ’82 Jack Gregory, ’82

Sam Harp, ’78, ’82 Sheila Harp, ’78, ’85 Kimberly Harris, ’95 Renee Harris, ’64 Travis Harris, ’12 Wesley Harris, ’64, ’65 John Hart, ’92 Kelly Hart, ’81 Stacy Hart, ’95 Jason Harvey, ’93, ’95, ’97 Melanie Harvey, ’02 Tara Hasenpflug, ’07, ’11 Cynthia Hawk, ’00 Ross Haxton, ’10 Angela Hayes-Boucher, ’88, ’99 Jami Haywood Mark Haywood, ’81 Linda Hazelwood Lonny Hazelwood Carlyn Heinrichs, ’89, ’92 Dale Heinrichs, ’91 Linda Helbach, ’70, ’96 Morris Helbach, ’70 Thomas Henderson, ’71 Aaron Hensley, ’09

Raymond Huhnke Jay Hunt, ’85 Lynn Hunt Tom Hunter Vance Hunter, ’85 Annie Hurst, ’12 Daniel Hurst, ’09 Pamela Hurst, ’91 Shawn Hurst, ’92 Jacey Hyde Stephanie Hyder, ’88, ’08 Rusnani Idrus, ’99, ’04 Sarah Jackson, ’92 Chris Jacobi, ’94 Debbie Jacoby, ’80 Steven Jacoby, ’80, ’92 Stephen Jahns, ’77, ’78 George James, ’88 John James, ’83 Keely James, ’83, ’85 Leo Jardot, ’75, ’78 Matt Jeffery, ’03 John Jeffrey, ’90, ’93 Mark Jennemann, ’81 Susan Jennemann, ’81 Mark Jennings, ’06

Barby Jobe, ’86

Cheri Kruse, ’92, ’94

Janan Martin

Samantha Moery, ’00, ’04

Melissa Patocka, ’05, ’09

Becky Johnson

Minyen Ku, ’07

Jerry Martin, ’94

C. Ann Moffat, ’70

Dawn Patterson, ’92

Bob Johnson, ’11

Gail Kuehn, ’77

Mel Martin, ’84

Stanley Moffat, ’68

Patrick Patterson, ’07, ’09

Brent Johnson, ’88, ’92

Richard Kuehn, ’79

Jerry Mason, ’94, ’97

Ronald Molitor, ’01

Richard Patterson, ’89

Gayle Johnson, ’73

J. C. Kunneman, ’60

Jess Matlock, ’02

C. J. Montgomery, ’77

Nate Pattillo, ’09

Jerrod Johnson, ’04

Janyth Kunneman

LaTisha Matlock

Amanda Moore, ’07

Kimberly Paul, ’92

Laura Johnson, ’09

Samuel Laboy Alvarado, ’70

Jacob Mayer, ’11

Sue Moore, ’76

Nathan Paul, ’92

Carol Morgan, ’72

Jared Pawelka, ’02, ’06

Gail LaGrone, ’68

Amanda McBroom, ’01, ’06 Timothy McCay, ’99

Phillip Morgan, ’72, ’75, ’85

Amanda Payne, ’04

Vern McCollough, ’76, ’78

Ruth Morris

Billie Payne, ’63, ’69

Michael McConnell

Jeanette Morton, ’59

Donald Payne

Christopher McCoy, ’04

Jenny Moxley, ’80

Lynn Peacher, ’69

Kelly McCracken, ’01, ’09

Phillip Mulder Jr., ’78, ’81, ’84

William Peacher, ’69, ’72

Gail Muncrief, ’80, ’82

Kristin Pearce

Rick Johnson, ’74 Christopher Jones, ’08 Jena Jones, ’84 Judy Jones, ’66, ’87 Ken Jones Kevin Jones, ’99 Kelly Jordan, ’93 Petrina Joslin, ’87 Traci Jovanovic, ’84 Vladan Jovanovic Diane Judy, ’83

Steve LaGrone, ’68, ’75 Kim Lampman, ’85 L. Suzanne Lane, ’76 Steven Lane, ’75, ’78 James Langston, ’02 Hutch Laxton, ’98, ’99 Dustin Layton, ’01 Lee Leeper, ’75 Tracie Leeper, ’78

Jennifer McCulley, ’93 Mark McCulley, ’92 Betsy McCune, ’02, ’05 Linda McElligott, ’89 Alexis McGehee, ’11

Rick Muncrief, ’80 Julie Muret, ’08 Kyle Muret, ’08

Christopher McGehee, ’11

Kristen Myers, ’09 Zachary Myers, ’08

Grady Lembke, ’95

Deana McHoul-Welter, ’94, ’96

Pat Nault, ’80

Abner Lemert, ’56, ’58

Brent McIntyre, ’06

Kelly Naumann, ’03, ’06

Ashley Leonard, ’12

Charlie McKee, ’71, ’75

Monica Neely, ’94

Coleta Lewis, ’62, ’69, ’80

Susan McKee, ’72

Josh Neikirk, ’03

William Lewis, ’84

Max McKnight, ’86

Alex Nelson III, ’05

Grant Ley, ’88, ’95

Kandi McKown, ’68, ’73

Beth Nelson, ’69

Stephen Libby, ’79

David McMahan, ’69

Cheryl Nelson, ’88

Kean Liew, ’02, ’09

Diann McMahan, ’77

Curtis Nelson, ’87, ’89

Kadi Lillis, ’12

Patricia McMahan, ’69

Jordan Nelson, ’11

Eric Lindaman, ’06

Don McMahon, ’90, ’93

Robert Nelson, ’69, ’73

Meredith Lindaman, ’05

Donna McMahon, ’93

Janie Nickles

Brook Lindsay, ’02

Clayton McMartin II, ’88

Bobby Ninman, ’99

Winston Lindsay IV, ’01

Melissa McMartin, ’87

Casey Ninman

Caroline Linehan, ’61

Michael McMillan, ’95

Joe Noble, ’84

John Linehan, ’61, ’70

Terry McMillan, ’87, ’90

Cara Noltensmeyer, ’07

Arica Lingerfelt, ’99, ’07

Jessie McMullen, ’00

Courtney O’Brien, ’99

Charley Lingerfelt Jr., ’00

Rhonda McMurtrey, ’83

Jenna O’Daniel, ’12

Renee Lingo, ’87, ’90

Martin McNeil, ’81

Jeffrey O’Dell

Mithin Krishnamurthy

Stan Lingo, ’87, ’89

Kevin McNutt, ’12

Paula O’Dell, ’87

Rajesh Krishnamurthy, ’00, ’11

Jennifer Lissonnet, ’02

Kristin McPhail, ’91

Christina O’Neill, ’06

Patrick Lissonnet, ’03

Lynette McReynolds, ’01

Deana Oberle

Bob Kropp, ’70, ’72, ’75

Sterling Little, ’83, ’84, ’86

Sherri Meaux, ’82

Michael Oberle, ’93, ’95

Susan Kropp, ’72

Jeri Lollis

Rex Mennem, ’95, ’97

Larry Odom, ’70

Lindsey Long, ’02

Melissa Meridith, ’01

Cara Ogle, ’05

Mary Lopez

Eldon Merklin

Nicholas Oglesby, ’12

Jeffrey Lorah

Janet Merklin

Kristin Oliver, ’94, ’97

Tracy Lorah

Janet Meshek, ’77, ’87

Karl Oltmanns

Brent Loy, ’63, ’65, ’67

William Meshek, ’81

Brent Opfer, ’08

Phyllis Luebke, ’57, ’61

Nancy Meyer, ’64

Kara Opfer, ’09

Gary Lundberg, ’83

Tim Meyer, ’64

Tim Ownbey, ’96

Katherine Luton

Aaron Meyers Jr., ’66, ’67

Veronica Ownbey

Larry Luton, ’62

Michael Miles, ’71, ’74

Jim Parker, ’64

Regina Lyons, ’91

Amanda Miller

Kayla Parker, ’08

Omar Mahmood, ’02

Amy Miller

Risa Parker, ’76

Patrick Mahoney

Bobby Miller, ’78, ’85

Lindsay Parks, ’03

Mary Maitlen, ’93, ’10

Kyle Miller, ’11

Phillip Parks, ’01

Andy Malnar, ’00

Rickey Miller, ’07

Gary Parli, ’68, ’84

Jo Ann Manke, ’80

Suzanne Miller, ’81, ’90

John Parrish, ’80

Kevin Manke, ’81

Kara Miller-Karns, ’00, ’09

Robert Parrish, ’12

William Markley, ’03, ’12

Kelly Minihane, ’02, ’04

Lindsay Parsons, ’06, ’09

Billy Martin, ’83

Lindsay Missel, ’10

Ryan Patel, ’07

Gregory Judy, ’84 Brian Kay, ’94 Ross Keener, ’93 Tina Keener, ’93 Susan Kemp, ’86 David Kerr, ’85, ’00 Scott Kilgo, ’91 Julie Kimbrough-Smith, ’00 Kade Kincannon Chris Kinder, ’84 David King, ’97, ’04 Annette Kinzie, ’75, ’80 Kent Kinzie, ’75 Mark Kirkpatrick, ’78 Darci Klick, ’00, ’04 Douglas Kliewer, ’87, ’91 David Knebel, ’68, ’72 Dave Kniffin Jennifer Knox, ’04 Doris Krebs, ’01

Barney Lehmbeck Jr., ’67 Brennan Leighton, ’11

Adam Pearce, ’05 Jesse Pearson, ’78 Mindy Pearson, ’78, ’80 George Pease III, ’81 Jackie Pease Christy Pendergrass Michael Pendergrass, ’05 Michele Persson, ’94, ’99 Scott Persson, ’96 Anne Peterman, ’04 Nicholas Peterman, ’06 Kassandra Pfeiffer Clark Phillip Jr., ’77 Alice Phillips, ’54 John Phillips Melissa Phillips, ’74 Priscilla Phillips, ’05 Tisha Philpot, ’08, ’09 Kathy Pierce, ’84 Larry Pierce, ’82 Cheryl Poe, ’71 Joe Powell, ’86 Kim Powell Charles Powers Jan Pregler, ’75 Mike Pregler, ’75 Faye Presnal, ’66, ’73 Glade Presnal, ’66, ’80, ’85 Gerald Pribil, ’74 Jacob Price, ’98, ’01 Laura Price, ’00 Henry Primeaux Jane Primeaux Patricia Privett, ’47 Rex Privett, ’49 Marcy Pryor, ’89 Scott Pryor, ’85 Ashley Pugh, ’12 Kristen Purcell, ’11 Teresa Randall, ’83, ’02, ’11 Deborah Reddout, ’88 Mike Reddout, ’85 Ryan Redgate, ’94, ’96 Kyle Reeder, ’81, ’83 Mechell Reeder, ’90 Scott Reeder Kimberly Reeds, ’01, ’05

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Jacob Regier

Sue Seymour, ’83

Martha Strecker

Kelly Vest, ’84, ’87, ’94

Robbin Willis, ’88

Tina Regier, ’02

Karl Shackelford

Jami Striegel, ’96, ’98

Gena Vogt, ’82

Trent Willis, ’05

William Remy III, ’82, ’84

Karla Shackelford, ’88

Karli Stroh, ’07

Bonnie Voth, ’02

Nancy Willson, ’73, ’86

Garth Renfrow, ’04

Linda Shackelford

Jerry Stumbo, ’96, ’97

Clarence Voth, ’68

Barry Wilson, ’70

Vickie Renne’, ’89, ’91

Larry Shaw, ’69, ’70

Kristin Stumbo, ’94

Carol Wagar, ’64, ’67, ’80

David Wilson, ’99, ’06

Erin Renollet, ’04

Jacob Shell, ’12

Susan Stunkel, ’82

Paul Waldowski, ’81, ’87

Diane Wilson, ’84

Jeremy Renollet, ’07

Shari Sheppard, ’71

Wayne Sutton Jr., ’86

Paula Waldowski, ’81

Gary Wilson, ’89

Robert Resnick, ’82

Terry Sherman Jr., ’07

Larry Swales, ’71, ’72

Carole Walker, ’57

Jodie Wilson, ’94

Trina Resnick, ’82

Karen Sherwood, ’96

Waukita Swales

Steven Walker, ’04

Kathy Wilson, ’70

Dan Reynolds, ’82

Paul Sherwood, ’95, ’99

Greg Swango, ’82, ’83

Anthony Wallace, ’84, ’94

Sean Wilson, ’84

Caleb Rice, ’08

Kami Shipman, ’08

Dustin Tackett, ’00, ’10

Jennifer Wallace, ’84

George Winters, ’80, ’83

Keith Richard, ’96

Shannon Shipman, ’06

Dacheng Tang, ’01, ’03

Laura Winters

Stephen Ridenour Jr., ’12

Bret Shoemake, ’09

Sloan Taylor, ’00, ’01

Earlene Walls Gathright, ’65, ’90

Ryan Riffer, ’96, ’01

Alan Shryock, ’78

Jack Tefertiller

Marc Waltrip, ’80

Craig Wooten, ’90, ’94, ’98

Mitzi Riggs, ’92

Ruthie Shurtz, ’72

Renee Tefertiller

Jaclyn Riley, ’01

Sharon Simmons, ’55, ’68

Lynn Tegeler, ’88, ’03

Michael Riley, ’03

Ernest Simpson, ’83

Richard Tennille, ’60, ’67

Brian Roberts, ’88

Vicki Simpson

Debbie Terlip, ’76, ’12

Mandy Roberts, ’99

Matthew Skaggs, ’05

Jim Terlip, ’76

Britt Robertson, ’10

Melissa Skaggs, ’06

Mark Terpening, ’75, ’77

Breean Robinson

Kyle Slagell, ’12

Sonya Terpening, ’77

Michael Roewe, ’90

Charlie Smades Jr., ’02, ’11

Dick Terrell Sr., ’56

Emily Ronck, ’12

Christina Smades

Todd Terrell, ’84

Robert Roper, ’68

Steve Smalling, ’92

Erik Terry

Sharon Roper, ’67, ’72

Gary Smeltzer, ’64

Jennifer Terry, ’98

Julie Ross-Martin, ’85

Linda Smeltzer, ’64

Rocky Thacker Jr., ’87

Debra Rounds

Amy Smith, ’09

Amber Thomas, ’00

Kenny Rounds, ’81

Bill Smith, ’63

Patricia Thomas, ’75, ’82

Jack Royce, ’68

Catherine Smith, ’74, ’79

David Thompson

Karen Rummel, ’92

Connie Smith, ’67

Sarah Thompson, ’09

Linda Wegener, ’72

Randy Rush, ’00

David Smith, ’66

Steven Wegener, ’73, ’74

Maggie Russell, ’58

Eileen Smith, ’59, ’70

William Thompson, ’72, ’74, ’79

Lance Welch, ’92, ’94

Rodney Sailor, ’85

Gregory Smith, ’99, ’04

Bill Thoni, ’84

Bob Wells, ’91, ’97

John Saltsman, ’91

Jennifer Smith, ’05, ’09

Lori Thoni

Ryan Welter, ’93, ’96

Reasha Saltsman

Neil Smith, ’06

Justin Thormodsgard, ’98

Robin Wenk, ’85

G. O. Sanders, ’67

Sandra Smith-McKnight, ’85

Derek Thralls, ’07

Margaret Weppner, ’73, ’79

Greg Tippett, ’04, ’05

William Weppner, ’70, ’75

Norm Smola, ’61

Shilo Tippett, ’04, ’06

Tamara West, ’12

Paula Snelson, ’11

Mallory Toles, ’08

Daniel Wheeler

Steven Snelson, ’11

Marc Tower, ’95, ’05

Chelsea White, ’09, ’12

Jefferson Sanders, ’85 Lidia Sanders Bill Sawatzky, ’73 Cynthia Sawatzky, ’73, ’84 Aulena Scearce Gibson, ’55

Barbara Sorenson, ’73

Rhonda Tower

Kyle Wanzer Craig Ward Jr., ’98 Kent Ward, ’04 Wendy Ward, ’96, ’98 C. Amanda Ward-Neikirk Kristin Ware, ’03 Emily Warner, ’70, ’72, ’89 Cody Watkins, ’01 Tammy Watkins Brett Webb Darrylyn Webb, ’90 Dan Webber Jr., ’88, ’93 Shanna Weber, ’10 Beverly Wedel Mike Wedel, ’70

Christopher White, ’04 Kevin White, ’00, ’05

Teresa Schauer, ’93

Russ Sorenson, ’73, ’80, ’00

Christy Schellenberg, ’05, ’06

Kayla Southern, ’82 Mary Stack, ’82

Michael Schiesel, ’03, ’07

Howard Stacy, ’84

Cathy Schillinger, ’97, ’03

Bob Stafford, ’70

Whitley Tracy, ’12

Warren Whitsel, ’75

Melanie Schilt, ’94

Jackie Stafford

Alexis Treece, ’11

Carol Wicksted

Cory Schneberger, ’03

Kim Stansell, ’79

Tamara Tricoli, ’76

James Wicksted

Meredith Schneberger, ’04

Candis Stanton, ’02

Tena Trotter, ’86

Linda Wight, ’70

Thomas Schneider, ’12

Dustin Stanton, ’97, ’02

Brytnee Tucker, ’12

Monty Wight Jr., ’67

Mike Schram, ’88, ’97

Jeremy Stapley, ’03

Kent Tunnell, ’72, ’75, ’91

Catherine Wilhm, ’79, ’81

Michelle Schwandt, ’06

Robert Stawski, ’00

Robert Tuttle, ’48, ’53

Jerry Wilhm III, ’79, ’81

Travis Schwandt, ’05

Richard Stedry, ’83

Alan Tye, ’62, ’63

Gale Wilkerson, ’66

Carson Scott, ’59, ’70

Donna Steele

Paula Tye

Dennis Williams, ’74

Jim Seifried, ’74

Mike Steele, ’78, ’98

Quinton Underwood, ’96

Edwin Williams, ’61, ’65

Donald Selvey, ’72

Jeffrey Steichen, ’04, ’08

Tera Underwood, ’95

Jim Williams, ’80

Sharon Selvey

Marylynn Steichen, ’05

Colette Van Bodegom, ’03

Joe Williams, ’65, ’67, ’75

Kanagaraj Selvraj, ’02, ’04

Jerome Sterling, ’02

Jill Varner, ’05

Lynne Williams

Necia Seward, ’03, ’06

Donald Stoops Jr., ’93

Nicholas Varner, ’06

Melanie Williams, ’74

Wyatt Seward, ’07

Mary Straka, ’04 Al Strecker, ’71

Vaughn Vennerberg II, ’76, ’12

Sue Williams, ’84

Greg Sexton, ’84

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Chester Tracy, ’67 Pat Tracy

Patricia White, ’70 Peggy White, ’74 Natalie WhiteRenfrow, ’02, ’04

Johnny Willis, ’87

Stan Woodward, ’84 Kris Wooten, ’90 Michael Wright, ’71 Pamela Wright, ’88, ’10 Terry Wright, ’88 Smith Wycoff, ’61 Jim Wynn, ’74, ’76 Alex Yauk, ’11 Hannah Yauk, ’11 Stuart Yelton, ’80 Teresa Yelton Krista Zachariae, ’00 Michael Zahler, ’78, ’80 Shane Zerr, ’96 Mark Zulkey, ’85, ’90, ’91 This list does not contain individuals making payments on a life membership.

Once a COWBOY Always a COWBOY The Student Alumni Association is a program designed to enhance the OSU experience for students. Membership provides students a variety of benefits, exclusive opportunities and is their Connection for Life to all things ORANGE. Help strengthen the Cowboy Family by educating OSU students you know about this great program.

Learn more about the Student Alumni Association at orangeconnection.org/saa.

As a member of the Student Alumni Association, students can enjoy: • Free Student Alumni Association T-shirt, given out annually • Student Member Orange Ball Car Decal • Local and National Merchant Discounts, providing 10-30% off • Monthly e-newsletters full of important campus information and events • Leadership opportunities Connections for Life 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 tel 405.744.5368 | fax 405.744.6722 info@orangeconnection.org | orangeconnection.org

Inspiring Change Great things happen when people self lessly work together.

One example is Women for Oklahoma State University, whose influence grows each year.

Women for OSU held its fifth annual symposium April 4 to recognize philanthropists who give enthusiastically without seeking recognition. Philanthropist of the Year was Sue Taylor, and student scholarship recipients were Marti Going, Alysa Hooper, Hannah Langley, Rebekah Sook and Chris Stockton. Pat Knaub, who led the organization’s establishment, received a special Founder’s Award.

The sold-out event at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center featured keynote speaker Holly Robinson Peete, an actress, activist, author and philanthropist. In 1996, Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, established the HollyRod Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to improve the quality of life for individuals and families living with autism and Parkinson’s disease.

Sue Taylor

Philanthropist of the Year

Sue Taylor’s philanthropic attitude earned her 2013 Philanthropist of the Year. She is an Enid community leader, supporter of many causes, homemaker and OSU alumna.

“I guess I just like to help people,” Taylor says. “I’m a crusader for women and I’ve been fortunate to be in a position that I can help others when I see a sincere need.”

Taylor’s involvement with the College of Human Sciences began as a child attending OSU’s Child Development Laboratory. She studied at Oklahoma A&M from 1948 to 1950 before putting her academic career on hold to raise four children with her late husband, OSU alumnus John Taylor. She returned to school in 1980, completing a child development and family relations degree

in 1984 by commuting from Enid. She was named to both Omicron Nu and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.

She was director and secretary of Enid Publishing Co., which published the Enid News and Eagle, and Enid Radiophone Co., which operated stations KCRC-AM and KNID-FM. Since 1964, Taylor and her husband have supported their alma mater through the OSU Foundation, where both have been trustees and governors. Among their most significant gifts are establishing the College of Human Sciences’ first professorship in 1990, endowing four President’s Distinguished Scholarships, providing for the creation of Taylor’s Dining Room in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, becoming founding partners of the Distinguished Chef Scholarship Series, and providing a lead gift for Karsten Creek Golf Course.

She chaired the 1989 Greater University Fund, was an executive board member for Human Sciences Associates and the first vice president of the college’s alumni organization.

“Not only has Sue shared her treasure, but she has also been generous with her time and talent,” says Stephan Wilson, dean of the College of Human Sciences.

“Her legacy of philanthropy to the College of Human Sciences and OSU is a perpetual one providing benefits to students and faculty for years and years to come.”

Women for OSU is a diverse group of women, both alumnae and friends, who inspire leadership through their support of OSU. Sponsored by the OSU Foundation, the group is led by a council with an established history of giving to the university.

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Student Philanthropists of the Year

The five student philanthropists were surprised to hear the $2,000 scholarship they thought they would receive had been increased to $5,000.

“Women for OSU has made great strides in our efforts to enhance philanthropy and leadership at OSU, and this has helped significantly increase our resources,” says Trish Houston Prawl, chair of the organization. “We decided it was time to boost the size of these scholarships so that they reflect how much of an honor it is to be chosen out of the countless students at this university who help others through their time, service and efforts to raise money for various organizations.”

All five student honorees pointed to their mothers as their philanthropic role models.

Marti Going, a multimedia journalism junior, views philanthropy as giving part of yourself to improve the quality of life for someone else. The Pryor native is a reporter for The Daily O’Collegian, and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and adult special education. She was a 2012 President’s Honor Roll student and received the Top Multimedia Production Junior Award.

“I went into journalism because I began to see different areas that needed to be changed in my community,” Going says. “I hope that by informing a community I can promote change.”

Alysa Hooper is a human development and family science freshman with a passion for working with children.

She is involved in Community Action Ministries, Teen Advisors of Norman, Cornerstone Kids’ Ranch and several other organizations.

“I also volunteer at the OSU Child Development Lab, and I love it,” says Hooper, a Norman native. “It gives me the opportunity to work with different kids and invest in their lives.

It’s a cool thing.”

Hannah Langley, a biochemistry and molecular biology junior, shares a passion for working with children. She organized

From left, Rebekah Sook, Alysa Hooper, Chris Stockton, Marti Going and Hannah Langley and participated in numerous events benefitting the Children’s Miracle Network and volunteered at several hospitals, among taking part in many other philanthropic activities.

“Awards like this not only reassure that I’m doing something right with my philanthropy, but it makes me want to do more and really exemplify what Women for OSU means through my philanthropy work,” says the Winfield, Kan., native.

Rebekah Sook is a biochemistry and molecular biology freshman from Midwest City. She is active in Cru, The Biochemistry Club and the Pre-Health Club. Sook volunteers with Feed the Children, Oklahoma Food Bank, Mission Arlington, i-Go Youth Ministries and numerous other organizations.

“Philanthropy is a way of life for me,” Sook says. “I have been taught to treat others better than you would want to be treated yourself.”

Chris Stockton, a Duncan native, is a management and accounting sophomore.

He is the first male recipient of the Women for OSU scholarship. He volunteers with Pencils of Promise and Toys for Tots as well as being a national fraternity executive member, dance marathon finance director and OSU Top Ten Freshman.

“I love philanthropy,” Stockton says.

“It’s absolutely my passion in life. I try to do a lot of things to help people.”

Pat Knaub and Kirk Jewell

Founder’s Award

In addition to honoring outstanding philanthropic achievements, OSU Foundation President Kirk Jewell announced that for the first time there would be a special Founder’s Award recipient. Honoree Pat Knaub was surprised as she took the stage. Jewell thanked her for her leadership and vision, which were instrumental in getting Women for OSU where it is today.

Knaub was dean of the College of Human Sciences for 17 years before retiring in 2007. She saw an opportunity to inspire giving through discovering a person’s passion. The group’s original vision and commitment created Women in Philanthropy, now known as Women for OSU. Bett y Thompson

To learn more about Women for OSU, or to view photos and video highlights from the symposium, visit OSUgiving.com/women.

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Cowboys for a Cause Cowboys and Cowgirls are coming together and dedicated to giving back.

The OSU Alumni Association created Cowboys for a Cause, a national community service initiative as a way for OSU alumni to serve their local communities.

Cowboys for a Cause hosted 21 service projects in April. More than 280 alumni contributed nationwide.

“Our first year was a huge success,” says Haley Brorsen, chapter relations coordinator. “We were pleased and excited with the turnout.”

The service events were an opportunity for alumni chapters to serve the university, the Alumni Association and local communities.

“Some chapters were already involved with their community,” Brorsen says. “We decided to take their idea and expand on it.”

Brorsen says chapters could pair with established local organizations or join with a national nonprofit to help promote the events.

The Cleveland County Chapter spent a Saturday at Mission Norman serving homeless families, cleaning the facility,

Northwest Arkansas Chapter members volunteered with the Gold Rush 5K to support Bentonville Public Schools on May 3.

Cleveland County Chapter members volunteered with local nonprofit Mission Norman on April 20.

Houston Chapter members helped renovate the Johnson Elementary School playground on April 6.

In Tennessee, Memphis Chapter members prepared and served dinners for their local Ronald McDonald House on April 4.

In Iowa, the Des Moines Chapter helped move the Amanda the Panda grief center into its new home on April 13. The group was recognized as the Most Improved Chapter for 2012-13.

North Texas Chapter members like Jonathan Hufnagel, right, visited with patients at the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas on April 10. The chapter was named Large District Chapter of the Year outside of Oklahoma for 2012-13.

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restocking food shelves and cleaning the yard — all while wearing America’s Brightest Orange.

“Our Cowboys for a Cause project was very successful,” Cleveland County Chapter President Lynne McElroy says. “We felt as if this was a positive experience enabling us to give back to the community.”

The Stephens County Chapter hosted a twilight walk in support of Sexual Awareness Month. The chapter joined with the local women’s shelter and several businesses in town.

Seventy people walked a mile and listened to Stephens County District Attorney Jason Hicks talk about sexual assault and domestic violence.

Besides Cowboys for a Cause, chapters stepped up with drives for recent Oklahoma tornado victims.

“We hope to aid as many causes and organizations as possible because we know our Oklahoma State family have huge hearts and willing hands when it comes to neighbors in need,” Stephens County Chapter President Laura Goldring says.

For more information about Cowboys for a Cause, visit orangeconnection.org/cfac.

Tulsa Chapter volunteers assisted with the Little Light House of Tulsa Garden Party on April 20 to benefit the Little Light House development center for children with special needs. From left, Tulsa Chapter board members Steve Jacoby, Lance Fuller and LouAnn Smith visit with a child at the center. The chapter was also recognized as the Large District Chapter of the Year in Oklahoma for 2012-13.

An orange contingent of Pittsburg County Chapter members participated in Ryan’s Run on April 6 to support the Child Advocacy Center in McAlester. The chapter was also recognized as the Small District Chapter of the Year in Oklahoma for 2012-13.

Stephens County Celebrates the Legacy Oklahoma State alumni are finding their old Cowboy boots and returning to their Cowboy roots with the Stephens County Chapter leading the charge. The re-established chapter is striving to spread the Cowboy tradition to future generations.

Laura Goldring, a 2003 elementary education graduate and the Stephens County Chapter president, is largely responsible for the chapter’s resurrection.

Goldring knew a chapter existed when she left home for Stillwater in 1999, but she hadn’t heard of recent chapter events or involvement within the community.

Determined to connect with alumni and attend watch parties, Goldring kicked off the process for rebirth in 2012.

“There was nothing here so I contacted the OSU Alumni Association,” Goldring says.

In its first big event, the chapter paired with the Duncan Chamber of Commerce for the Stephens County OSU Legacy Night. About 45 people attended the April 18 event at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center with food and games for families and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Alumni

continues

The Stephens County Chapter presented its inaugural True Cowboy award at its April 18 event. From left, Chapter President Laura Goldring, OSU Alumni Association President Larry Shell, True Cowboy honoree Donald Creel, True Cowboy honoree Velma Ketchum, Lee Ann Sellers (daughter of the late John Fisher), Chapter Vice President Zac Pogue, Pistol Pete, Chapter Treasurer Eric Hennan and his daughter, Ainsleigh.

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and their families, honorees and supporters also got to spend time with Pistol Pete.

Goldring says chapter officers wanted to create a way to honor some of the most-deserving Cowboys in the county. They established the True Cowboy award, which highlights individuals who show deep passion, pride and loyalty to OSU. The inaugural honorees were Don Creel, Edwin and Velma Ketchum, and the late John Fisher.

All proceeds from Legacy Night went to the Stephens County Chapter Scholarship Fund, which awards a yearly scholarship to a deserving student in the county. Goldring says she would like to see that grow.

“I’d like to be able to offer a scholarship to each of our area high schools,” she says.

The president also wants chapter involvement and attendance to continue to rise. With more than 1,100 alumni in the county, the chapter is one of the fastest growing in Oklahoma.

“What I love about our chapter is that we try to have something every month and be consistent with what we are doing,“ Goldring says.

Legacy Night is also intended to educate current or prospective students about OSU. Goldring says she hopes those students experience a little of OSU at home before and after they graduate.

“I want prospective students to know they can be a part of he OSU family outside Stillwater,” she says. “When they graduate and have their degree, there is a place for them to come back to with just as much OSU spirit.”

Goldring says chapter involvement has made her even prouder to be an OSU alumna, and having a local chapter makes OSU a little closer to home.

“I think it really makes OSU real to people in Stephens County,” she says.

“You can touch it. You can feel it. You can experience it.

“A lot of people go to college, but not everyone goes to OSU,” Goldring says.

For more information about the Stephens County OSU Alumni Chapter, visit orangeconnection.org/stephenscounty or email stephens@orangeconnection.org.

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Chapter Awards Program In the last two years, more than 50 alumni chapters and watch clubs have been added to a growing list of OSU supporters that have been gathering together across Oklahoma and around the nation since 1905.

That growth prompted the OSU Alumni Association to develop a way to reward the groups for their continued hard work and dedication to promoting America’s Brightest Orange.

The Chapters Awards Program, which launched July 1, 2012, distributes points to chapters for their efforts in alumni engagement, event hosting and reporting. It has been a big success among the Alumni Association’s 100-plus chapters and watch clubs.

“The Chapter Awards Program definitely got Pittsburg County fired up,” says Pittsburg County Chapter President Mary Ellen Keeter. “We could not have been successful without the 24/7 help from Pam Davis and her chapters team.”

With 750 chapter and watch club events this year, the Alumni Association’s Leadership Council Chapters Committee chose four Chapter of the Year honorees.

The awards were given to in-state and out-of-state chapters in small and large districts. Large districts have more than 2,000 alumni.

North Texas and Tulsa won Large District Chapter of the Year honors, and Small District Chapter of the Year awards went to Kansas City and Pittsburg County.

“We consider ourselves a small chapter, so this is certainly a big honor,” Keeter says. “We’ve been committed, worked hard, and seized every opportunity to spread America’s Brightest Orange in southeastern Oklahoma.”

Former Kansas City Chapter President Mike Richards says he believes the group has been successful despite the odds.

“Virtually all of the other successful chapters are located in OSU hotbeds of Oklahoma and Texas,” Richards says.

“We have to work harder because we are still not a well-known entity in the Kansas City area. While we have been very

successful in increasing the size and quality of our chapter events, we still have less of a body of OSU alumni to draw from.”

Newcomer of the Year went to the Southeast Virginia Chapter, and the Cheyenne, Wyo., Chapter earned honorable mention. The Most Improved Chapter was the Des Moines, Iowa, Chapter, and the Chicago Chapter received honorable mention.

Chapters can receive rewards in July from the Alumni Association if they acquire enough points during the fiscal year. Points are based on the submission of chapter meeting minutes and sign-in sheets, promoting mobile check-ins, attending chapter leader training and more.

From left, Ryan Humphrey, Jake Halverson, Parker Patton and Keiton Page visit at the Kansas City Chapter’s Big 12 Tournament Dinner on March 13.

The chapter was named Small District Chapter of the Year outside of Oklahoma for 2012-13.

Chapters must make submissions to the Alumni Association within two weeks of the event to receive points.

The Pistols Firing award requires 20 points, and chapters receive custom photos and features on their Alumni Association chapter webpage. The Orange Power honor is for 40 points, and the chapter is given credit toward OSU merchandise. Chapters receive a chapter flag when reaching the highest level, Loyal & True, which requires a total of 80 points.

Chapter of the Year is awarded to a chapter that goes over and beyond expectations and earns a minimum of 80 points. The chapters selected will receive a chapter flag, special recognition in STATE magazine and OrangeBytes plus additional benefits.

The Chapter Awards Program is popular among competing chapters. It’s

not just the rewards keeping the chapters motivated, some say, it’s fun to keep up with the other chapters and how many points they have.

“There’s nothing better than a little friendly competition to get everyone excited,” North Texas Chapter President Travis Moss says.

Even though the Chapter Awards Program is just taking off, chapters already think the program is essential to growth of alumni programs.

“It is incredibly important for all chapters to collaborate and communicate with and through the Alumni Association office in Stillwater,” Moss says. “The awards program has been a creative way for the Alumni Association to engage more dynamically with all of the various chapters.”

More than two dozen OSU alumni and fans turned out for the Southeast Virginia Chapter’s Heart of Dallas Bowl watch party on January 2. The group was named New Chapter of the Year for 2012-13.

Chapters are excited to be involved with the Chapter Awards Program and competing for Chapter of the Year.

“Getting qualified for the award was a goal we set our sights on not really knowing if we could make it,” Kansas City Chapter President Robert Williams says. “Reaching that goal was a great achievement for the chapter, and regardless of winning or not winning Chapter of the Year, it’s something we know we can achieve and compete for every year.”

For more information about the Chapter Awards program or joining an alumni chapter, visit orangeconnection.org/chapters or call 405-744-8837.

Upcoming Events Join an OSU alumni chapter near you to celebrate OSU and connect with Cowboys in your area. For the most current event listing, visit orangeconnection.org/chapters or scan the QR code.

Aug. 30

Golf Tournament Houston Chapter

Aug. 31

Texas Kickoff Classic Pregame pep rally at Reliant Center

Sept. 7

OSU @ UTSA (discounted member tickets available)

Sept. 11

Board Meeting OKC Metro Chapter

Sept. 14

OSU vs. Lamar (discounted member tickets available)

Sept. 17

Board Meeting Tulsa Chapter

Sept. 19

Reception with First Cowgirl Ann Hargis Cleveland County Chapter

Sept. 20

Monthly Meeting Stephens County Chapter

Sept. 21

Pawtoberfest Pikes Peak Chapter

Sept. 28

OSU @ West Virginia (pep rally and tailgate in Morgantown)

Sept. 28

Third Annual Mini Golf Tournament Cleveland County Chapter

Sept. 29

JDRF Manhattan Walk NYC Chapter

Oct. 5

OSU vs. K–State

Oct: 6

Pistol Pete’s Birthday at the Zoo OKC Metro Chapter

Oct. 14–19 Homecoming 2013: ‘Branding A Brighter Orange’ Oct. 18–19 Black Alumni Society Reunion and Scholarship Weekend Oct. 18–19 Army ROTC Alumni Chapter Reunion Weekend Oct. 19

OSU vs. TCU

Oct. 26

OSU @ Iowa State

Oct. 28

Golf Tournament at Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine North Texas Chapter

Nov. 2

OSU @ Texas Tech

Nov. 9

OSU vs. Kansas

Nov. 9

Distinguished American Indian OSU Alumni Award Reception

Nov. 16

OSU @ Texas

Nov. 23

OSU vs. Baylor

Dec. 5

McAlester Main Street Christmas Parade Pittsburg County Chapter

Dec. 7

OSU vs. OU

S t o r i e s by K at i e Pa r i s h

Dec. 13–14 Commencements Dec. 15

Holiday Harbor Cruise Orange County Chapter

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Phillips 66 presented a $500,000 check to OSU in April. Representing the corporation are two OSU alumni: Ann Oglesby, general manager of Phillips 66 Lubricants (second from the left); and Dan Gilliam, manager of internal audit at Phillips 66 (far right).

Accepting on the university’s behalf are OSU President Burns Hargis (far left) and OSU Foundation President Kirk Jewell.

T H A N K YO U Phillips 66 is one of OSU’s strongest corporate partners, employing more of our graduates than alumni from any other institution. This energy manufacturing and logistics company has always generously invested in OSU’s future. The most recent example was a $500,000 gift in April to support scholarships, faculty, programs and facilities. By building a strong pipeline at Oklahoma State, Phillips 66 is able to recruit those who will help us all prosper both now, and in the future.

THANK YOU, Phillips 66, for your dedication to a brighter orange future.

Discover your orange passion at

OSUgiving .com *Scan the QR code with your smartphone or call 800.622.4678 to learn more

’40s Jack Reeve, ’48 mech eng, and his wife, Katherine, ’48 sci, celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. Jack is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Eugene Gutierrez, ’49 ind arts ed, is 91 years old and still doing pushups daily.

Morris Neighbors, ’49 sec ed, is currently on his 50th year of residency in Skiatook, Okla., and recently received the Skiatook Chamber of Commerce award for Pioneer Family of the Year. Morris has 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and is planning on attending the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

’50s Richard Davis, ’50 agron, still lives in Tyler, Texas. He oldest son moved back to Dallas and his grandson was married in 2013, and he now has a great-granddaughter.

Charles Lupsha, ’50 ento, and his wife, Jo, are enjoying living in America’s Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown in Virginia.

Nancy Peevey, ’51 elem ed, has three daughters, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Edward Blevins, DVM ’52, retired from the practice of veterinary medicine. He and his wife, Helen Blevins, have three children who all graduated from OSU as did their second grandchild, Sarah Blevins, ’13 int’l bus.

Robert Walton Sr., ’52 dairy sci, M.S. ’56 dairy sci, received a lifetime achievement award from the Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association. Robert also received the Distinguished Leadership Award for the U.S. Holstein Association in 2012.

Jacque Fowler, ’54 sec ed, has two granddaughters who attend OSU, Anna Robinson, ’16, and Lindsay Fowler, ’15.

Joseph Jeffrey, ’54 an sci, has seven grandchildren who have graduated from OSU and number eight is a sophomore this year.

Bob Smith, ’54 pol sci, is chief judge of the trial court for Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

Andrew Chu, ’55 arch, retired as principal architect from Fluor Corp. in 1994 with 26 years of service. He and his wife, Rachel, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July 2013.

Artie Birdsong, ’61 bus ed, and his wife, Donna Birdsong, ’62 hum sci, have been married for 53 years.

Two of their sons, Jeffery, ’89 pol sci, M.S. ’90 pol sci, and Russell, ’87 forestry, are OSU graduates and one son, Brady, is an OU graduate.

Jean Dunn, ’61 elem ed, recently retired after teaching first grade for 48 years. Jean is enjoying traveling and being with family and friends.

John Reynolds, ’57 nat sci, continued his 53 years with L-3 Communications and received his consultant contract.

Marlin Glass, ’61 pers admin, is serving his second term as an Oklahoma State Regent for Higher Education. He and his wife, MaryBeth, have two children, Rob, ’84 mgmt, and Jennifer, ’87 child devel.

Roberta Robinson, ’57, has been retired for 18 years after working 27 in the classroom. She still wears orange and “coaches” from the couch.

James Kienholz, ’61 bus, continues to work at The Banker’s Bank in Oklahoma City as the senior vice president of marketing.

Arthur Bieri, ’58 sec ed, is redoing one of his books, A Squirrel’s Dilemma, with animal cartoons. Arthur is also starting a library system for Stillwater Public Schools.

Sam Lloyd, ’62 bus, is pleased to announce the publication of his seventh book, Respectful Relationships: The Positive Approach To End Conflict and Harassment.

Charles Heller, ’59 civil eng, M.S. ’60 civil eng, is currently on a book tour for his award-winning memoir, Prague: My Long Journey Home, which included a stop at OSU.

Patty Wright, ’63 DHM, retired from Oklahoma Cooperative Extension in 2003. Patty and her husband, Keith, have two sons, Todd, ’91 hist, MBA ’92, and Matt, ’94 mgmt, and six grandchildren.

’60s Charles Collins, ’60 zoo, retired from USDA/ARS in 2003. Charles is currently working as the executive director of Catfish Farmers of Arkansas.

Elaine Cox, ’60 bus ed, M.S. ’62 bus ed, is a long-term substitute teacher and serves on several committees for the Carroll Independent School District in Texas. Elaine has also served on the Southlake Parks Board for eight years.

Billy Oney, ’60 mech power tech, and his wife, Jean Oney, attended the 75th anniversary of the OSU School of Fire Protection in October 2012 in Stillwater. The couple also hosted a barbecue dinner for 20 members of the school’s combat challenge team in Keller, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2012.

Dr. Johnyce Alders, ’61 soc sci, received her doctorate of medicine from the University of Texas.

Terry Beals, DVM ’64, and his wife, Retha, were awarded the Bill Pennington Award for conservation/ stewardship at the Arbuckle-Simpson Nature Festival in Tishomingo, Okla., on April 27.

Jan Smith, DVM ’64, practiced veterinary medicine and ranched for 39 years in Texas. Jan is retired and moved to Colorado in 2003.

Carolyn Ames, ’65 HEECS, is enjoying retirement and spending time with family.

Henry Ray, ’65 sec ed, and his wife, Janet Ray, ’63 bus ed, are both retired teachers from Lawton Public Schools.

John Welch, ’65 hist, completed five years as the stated supply pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfax, Mo. John also completed two years as commander of the Moila Shrine Legion of Honor.

Gilbert Asher, ’66 elect eng, became fully retired on April 26, 2013, after a long career in the aerospace and transportation industries as an

engineer and project manager. Gilbert and his wife, Jane, are enjoying life and freezing their butts off in Erie, Pa. William Plummer, ’66 fin, and his wife, Gail Plummer, sold their company in December. They serve on boards at SMU and Baylor Health Care and help the Tonkawa, Okla., school system. They love to travel and spend time with their eight grandchildren.

Sheron Smith, ’66 exec sec admin, and her husband, Alan, moved to Kansas to operate their ranch. Sheron enjoys living out with the cows and calves on a daily basis.

Darlita Blanc, ’67 elem ed, returned to work as a counselor on the Navajo Reservation after being retired for two years.

Richard Crowder, Ph.D. ’67 ag econ, was named the C.G. Thornhill Professor of Agricultural Trade by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Richard has spent time with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as the U.S. chief agriculture negotiator. He currently serves on the board of directors of Neogen Corp. and Smithfield Foods, and serves on the board of trustees of the Farm Foundation.

Benelle Reeble, ’68 hum sci, traveled extensively in Europe and Asia.

Benelle ran two marathons to end world hunger and practices meditation with an international organization.

Marilyn Butler, ’69 hum sci, retired after 38 years of teaching family and consumer sciences. Marilyn welcomed a new granddaughter, Lakyn, to join grandsons Hayden and Kyle.

’70s Mary Patterson, ’70 journ and broadcast, became re-acquainted with and married a junior college sweetheart, Roger Patterson, after the death of her husband, Dale H. Roberts. Mary also wrote a book of poetry, What Do I Do Now? Poems for Those Left Behind.

Kirk Beard, ’71 inter des, has retired and is living in Santa Fe, N.M. Jill Steeley, ’71 ed, was awarded the Medal for Excellence in elementary teaching by the Oklahoma

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Foundation for Excellence. In 2012, Jill was a national finalist and the Oklahoma winner for the Sam Kirk Award, highlighting her work with special education students.

Jane has been selected as a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and won district teacher of the year in the Coweta Public School District.

Chapter Leader Profile:

Randy Freeland, ’72 ag econ, continues to work for the Payne County Master Gardeners as well as working in and around the house since his retirement. Randy enjoys living in Stillwater and attending sporting events and activities on campus. Randy and his wife, Bonnie, have four grandchildren who they hope will follow the “orange” trail to Stillwater.

One of the OSU Alumni Association’s most active chapters has a leader who once sported crimson and cream.

New York City Chapter President Emily Fuhrman grew up in Chickasha, Okla., but she and her family moved to Stillwater when she was 12.

“Being born an OU fan that close to Norman, I was sad to move to the same town that housed ‘the other university,’” Fuhrman says. “After several years in Stillwater and interacting with the culture that I now consider home, I realized there was no better fit, and I never considered another university.”

Fuhrman began her OSU career as an undecided freshman, but after taking an introductory course in design, housing and merchandise, she quickly discovered her calling.

“I always had a huge interest in fashion,” Fuhrman says. “In high school, my speeches in speech class involved runway shows. As interested as I was in fashion, it seemed like an unachievable career path, almost like trying to be a rock star.”

While at OSU, Fuhrman was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and served as president of the College of Human Sciences Ambassadors.

“I tried to get my hands in as much as I possibly could,” Fuhrman says. “I also served as a peer minister of my church, St. John University Parish.”

Fuhrman originally planned on focusing on merchandising but was mistakenly placed with Diane Limbaugh, the adviser for apparel design.

Limbaugh asked her what was holding her back from choosing apparel design.

“I explained to her that I was horrible at drawing,” Fuhrman says. “She convinced me to stick with it because Ralph Lauren still traces his croquis. I decided that if Ralph Lauren could trace, so could I. The rest is history, and I can safely say I am where I am in my career right now because I was serendipitously connected to her.”

Harold Hosey, ’72 elem ed, has retired from his life dedicated to teaching. Harold was the superintendent of schools in Emporia, Kan., for two years and in Dodge City, Kan., in 1997.

Michael Childers, ’73 ag ed, is happy to announce he is a 12-year liver transplant survivor.

Rick Hunter, ’73 zoo, was named a 2013 Face of Technology by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council to recognize his efforts as president and CEO of Food Technology Service Inc., which owns and operates an irradiation facility in Mulberry, Fla. Helen Price, ’73 phys ed, is the director of operations at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla. Her husband, David, ’74 acctg, is retired from being the accounting manager for Oklahoma City.

Roger Walker, ’73 mech eng, and his wife, Susan, celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. They have a 2-year-old grandson. Roger works for AERA Energy but hopes to retire soon and ride his motorcycle more.

Kevin Patrick, ’74 ind eng & mgmt, M.S. ’76 ind eng & mgmt, and his wife, Catherine Patrick, ’74 elem ed, became proud grandparents last July and are enjoying their new role in life.

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Emily Fuhrman

Fuhrman made her way to the Big Apple after graduating from OSU in 2004 with a degree in design, housing and merchandising with an option in apparel design and production, and a minor in merchandising.

“Initially, it was just for the experience of moving to the big city and was a move that I thought would only last a couple of years,” Fuhrman says. “Eight years have passed, and I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon.

There is so much opportunity here, and I’m in a pretty good place to grow professionally.”

Fuhrman is the design and production manager for Leota, a contemporary dress line.

“Everything is manufactured in New York City, so it’s rare and wonderful to manage the entire production process first hand,” Fuhrman says.

To connect with OSU alumni, Fuhrman helped found the Alumni Association’s New York City Chapter.

“I’m proud to say I am one of the founding members of the NYC Cowboys, along with a group of amazing leaders who had a vision for creating a little piece of Stillwater and OSU in Manhattan,” Fuhrman says. “A group of us had always wanted to organize a more formal chapter, and then a very loyal and true alumnus, Mike Callaham, moved to the city and paved the way to make it a recognized chapter. Once we found the Stillwater Bar and Grill in Manhattan, the group exploded.”

Fuhrman previously served as secretary of the chapter and understands what it takes to be a chapter leader.

“Being the chapter leader this year was just a natural next step,” Fuhrman says. “It has been incredibly fulfilling to see the growth we’ve experienced over the last four years.”

Although she has no plans to move back to Stillwater, Fuhrman enjoys visiting Orange Country and feeling like she’s back home.

“I think what sticks out to me the most, being so far from home, are the people that make the community so warm and friendly,” Fuhrman says. “I was on campus during Homecoming to receive a Rising Star Award from the College of Human Sciences, and everyone at the college gave me the warmest welcome. I knew I was back home.

“It’s amazing every time I come home, there is something new to see,” Fuhrman says. “It’s a beautiful place, and I’m proud to call it my alma mater.”

K r i s t e n M c C o n n au g h e y

Susan Thomas, ’74 DHM, and her husband, Mike Thomas, are happy to announce their first grandson, Richard Rhodes Taylor, was born on Oct. 26, 2012.

Cynthia Nally, ’75 soc, has a daughter, Erin Kathleen Nally, who graduated this May with honors.

Dee Richardson, ’75 Eng, lives in Oklahoma City and teaches eighth grade at Heritage Hall. Dee loves OSU and attends basketball games at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Jennifer Brown, ’76 hum sci, is enjoying retirement by traveling and cheering on the Pokes at every opportunity.

Jane DeBord, ’76 an sci, purchased her latest farm northeast of Arcadia, Okla. Jane is having the time of her life, with the exception of her college years, doing what she loves. Jane’s son Chase lives in Tomball, Texas, where he teaches band in the Klein school district of Houston.

DeeAnn McAffrey, ’76 sec ed, retired from teaching at Warner High School in Oklahoma after 33 years.

DeeAnn has two daughters and three beautiful grandchildren.

Brian Renegar, DVM ’76, is in his seventh year as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Curtis Goulding, ’77 ag econ, and Nancy Goulding, ’77 sec admin, spent a large part of 2012 in Australia but are now back in Kansas City. Curt is the senior vice president of global sales for INTL FCStone Inc., where he has worked for 31 years. Nancy manages the household and is a frequent traveler with Curt on overseas trips.

Elizabeth Burns, ’78 journ, is the principal of Childers Middle School in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Orland Lee, Ph.D. ’78 acctg, is a proud OSU alumnus — always in orange! He started back at college at the age of 50 and finished all three degrees at OSU after that. Orland will turn 90 on Oct. 2.

Thomas Black, ’79 an sci, is employed by Bama Cos. Inc. in Tulsa.

Gary Reynolds, ’79 journ, is the program director at Cumulus Media Networks in Dallas.

’80s Greg Burns, ’80 an sci, and his wife, Cheryl, have four children, including two OSU grads, Mitchell, OSUIT ’08 diesel & heavy equip tech, and Garett, ’13. Allison is transferring to OSU in fall 2013 and Ann Mary is a junior at Broken Bow High School in Oklahoma.

Mark Courtright, ’80 a c c tg, a n d Kathy Courtright, ’80 elem ed, welcomed Steven Mark Courtright into the world on Oct. 25, 2012. Steven is the son of Kale Courtright, ’08 mktg, and Savannah Courtright.

Deborah Fuhrmann, ’80 acctg, retired from full-time employment and is doing independent contracting on a part-time basis.

Curt Kelsey, ’80 ag econ, is the owner of Kelsey Chevrolet Buick GMC in Purcell, Okla.

Robert Rothe, ’81 mktg, works for Lone Star restaurant supply.

Paula Barnes, ’82 hum sci, and her husband, Warren Barnes, ’81 chem, are excited to announce the marriage of their son, Robert Barnes, to Erin Hill Barnes.

Angela Beatie, ’82 bus ed, is currently teaching seventh and eighth grade math at Town and Country School in Tulsa. Angela is married to Brian, ’83 mgmt, and the couple has two children, Kyle and Daniel, a senior at OSU majoring in wildlife ecology and management.

Tom Franz, ’82 acctg, and his wife, Jeany, ’80 acctg, celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their firm TJ Franz & Associates.

Kristine Mayo, ’82 inter des, and her husband, DeWayne, have three grandchildren, Mia, Myles and Kaia.

Melissa Jones, ’83 gen tech, has been elected to the Texas CASA board of directors. The board governs

the statewide nonprofit organization that provides training, technical assistance and funding for court-appointed volunteer advocates who speak up for abused and neglected children.

Robert Burton, ’84 ind eng & mgmt., and his wife, Charlotte, ’83 hlth, tailgate at the southwest corner of Athletic and Hester — come see us. Go Cowboys!

Andy Deck, ’84 chem eng, accepted a position as CEO of Midmar Gas in Midland, Texas, but he and his wife, Becky, plan to keep their season football tickets.

Catherine Otey, ’85 trade & indus ed, recently joined Clearedge Filtration, an international manufacturer of filtration and screening products as customer service manager.

Cara Rogers, ’85 RTVF, is heading a team of telecommuters to create and distribute Authenticity for Women magazine, which began distribution summer 2013.

William Thomas, ’85 acctg, is retiring from the U.S. Army Reserves after 36 years of continued service and two service tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. William earned various awards, including the Bronze Star Medal.

Marti Troy, ’86 pol sci, recently completed four years of service in Iraq. Marti spent two years as a senior rule of law adviser with the U.S. Department of State, then as a deputy chief of party with the USA ID funded access to justice program.

Richard Holly, ’88 pol sci, was named chief accounting officer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the nation’s largest association of early childhood professionals.

Lisa Wingate, ’88 eng, will release her 20th novel, The Prayer Box, on Sept. 1.

Carol Bridges, Ph.D. ’89 philo, retired after 35 years as a professor at East Central University in Ada, Okla.

Carol was inducted into the University of Oklahoma School of Social Work Hall of Fame in June.

Nancy Dunlap, M.S. ’89 HEECS, retired in January 2010 from the OSU extension service. Nancy is enjoying traveling with her husband and dog, Toodles.

’90s Paul Beck, ’90 an sci, M.S. ’93 an sci, received the Early Career Achievement Award from the American Society of Animal Science for his work with beef cattle nutrition and management in July 2012. Paul is married to Melissa Beck, ’92 an sci.

Tim Jackson, ’90 bus admin, has been named the vice president of information technology at NORDAM in Tulsa.

Donna DeWitt, ’91 mech eng, just started at the Crosby Group in Tulsa as director of operational excellence and quality.

Trey Griffin, ’91 mgmt., owns KCG3 Roofing Sales. His wife, AJ, was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in April 2012. The couple has two children, Alex, 14, and Reagan, 12.

Rhonda Heiser, ’91 HRAD, is so happy for her twin brother, Ron Newlin, who is getting married in October.

Orange will definitely be included in the wedding.

Kelley McGuire, ’91 journ, now works at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation as director of development.

Col. Mike Seiler, ’91 av sci, is the commander, 376th Expeditionary Operations Group, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic. Seiler is a command pilot with more than 5,250 hours in military aircraft and 480 combat hours in numerous operations.

Amy Adair, ’93 couns & student personnel, received her Associate of Applied Science in nurse science from OSU-OKC in 2007. Amy has one child, Allyn Jewel Adair, born Jan. 3, 2011.

Jodi Hackler, ’93 a c c tg, M .S . ’94 acctg, has been promoted to vice president of ethics and compliance for NORDAM in Tulsa.

Patrick McConnell, ’93 fin, works as the Total Environment human resources manager. He and his wife, Jessica, have two daughters and another future Cowboy expected in December.

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Sandy Caldwell, M.S. ’94 stats, became the president at Reedley College in California.

Jondra Rupp, ’01 mgkt, is working as an oil and gas revenue auditor for the state of Alaska.

Crystle Fisher, ’04 math, was married to Mark Fisher, ’08 geog, on June 1, 2013.

William (Bill) Matthews, ’94 pol sci, and his wife, Carolyn are happy to announce their daughter, Millicent, was born in August 2012. She joins George, 5, and Beatrice, 3. Bill is still a partner with Foulston Sefkin in Wichita, Kan.

Ryan Patten, ’01 sec ed, became the freshmen counselor at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City in July.

Brent Howard, ’04 ag econ, opened his own practice in Altus, Okla., specializing in tax law, business and estate planning.

Carter Keairns, M.S. ’95 geol, is currently working for Lewis Energy in San Antonio, Texas. He received his doctorate from Texas Tech University in 2000.

Mary Bandy, M.S. ’96 curr and instr, is living in Stillwater as a retired teacher, but working for St. Paul’s schools in professional development.

Mary has two sons living in Dallas, four grandsons and one granddaughter who are all OSU fans.

Charles Nelson, MBA ’96, is the executive director of administration and purchasing at Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group.

Jeramie Tidwell, ’98 mktg, and his wife, Brenda Tidwell, ’97 therap rec, recently moved back to Stillwater. Jeramie works for Kinnunen as an outside sales rep for industrial safety supplies. Brenda works as a dental hygienist. Their three kids, Carson, 11; Avery, 8; and Drew, 2, are already OSU fans!

’00s Brian Appleberry, ’00 acctg, and his wife, Cody, are happy to announce their son, Bryson Ryder Appleberry, was born on Sept. 5, 2012. Bryson weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Lindsay Lindstrom, ’00 MIS, and her husband, Eric, ’13, welcomed their son, Jack Robert Lindstrom, on May 30, 2012.

William Little, ’00 fire & emerg mgmt admin, is excited to announce he’s getting married to Allison on May 11.

Nancy Winchester, M.S. ’00 eng, has relocated to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, as Chevron Canada’s new Atlantic Canada adviser, reporting to the general manager for Atlantic Canada operations. She is still searching for at least one other Cowboy in the region for watch party opportunities.

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Amber Mayes, ’04 biochem and molecular bio, and her husband, Brandon Mayes, ’05 bio sci, recently purchased their second practice, Premier Eyecare of Edmond.

Emily Steele, ’01 elem ed, married Jimmy Steele in March 2012 in Napa Valley, Calif. Emily works for Edmond Public Schools as the assistant principle of curriculum and instruction.

Samantha Bawden, ’02 bus, got engaged to Brent Pearce. The couple plans to be married Nov. 10.

Samantha returned from her second tour in Afghanistan in March 2012 and started a job at FAA Credit Union in August 2012.

Jeff Boyer, DVM ’03, and his wife, Jenni, are expecting baby number two this December. Their first son, Callaway, turned age 2 in August.

Mike Mlynek, ’03 zoo, and his wife, Jennifer Mlynek, ’04 elem ed, welcomed new Cowgirl Maryiah Michelle Mlynek to the family. Maryiah joins older sister Emmary Ellen and brother Jayden Michael.

Kim Oats, ’03 journ and broadcast, and her husband, Josh, welcomed the newest addition to their family, Corbin Oats, who was born in July 2012.

Brooke Clifton, ’05 mktg, is a senior staf f landman at XTO Energy in Fort Worth, Texas. She married Cameron on July 5, 2012, and th e c o u p l e we l comed their first son, Cameron Quinn Clifton, on Oct. 5, 2012. Cameron weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 22 inches long and is already a Cowboys fan!

Nicole Jarvis, ’05 HDFS, and her husband, Brandon, have two boys, Brady and Wyatt, and one more expected in October.

Amanda Orrell, ’05 inter des, and her husband, Dustin Orrell, ’03 soc, are building the Oklahoma City St. Jude Dream Home. They are excited to be involved with such a wonderful organization.

Ramee Staerkel, ’05 an sci, would like to announce her niece, Synthia Rae Semrad, was born on June 11, 2013.

Josh Quillin, ’03 ag ed, M.S. ’09 ag ed, and his wife, Ashley, ’07 elem ed, announced the birth of their son Daniel Baron Cooper Quillin. Daniel was born Feb. 20, 2012.

Lynn Smith, ’03 couns & student personnel, lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is the manager of case management and community support at Lookout Mountain Community Services.

Adam Bohl, ’04 agribus, and his wife, Rachel Bohl, ’07 ag leader, welcomed their first child, Lauren Don Bohl, on Sept. 23, 2012.

Alisha Call, ’04 journ and broadcast, is happy to announce her son, Reid Call, was born on Nov. 30, 2012.

a special appearance by Pistol Pete at their wedding reception.

Matthew Robertson, ’05 fin, and his wife, Jennifer, ’06 acctg, are happy to announce their daughter, Sutton Catherine Robertson, was born on Nov. 14, 2012. Sutton weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and was 18.5 inches long. Sutton joins Grandpa Bob Sepulvado, M.A. ’02 eng tech mgmt, and Uncle Bryce Sepulvado, expected ’14 petro geol.

Robert Thomas Taylor Jr., ’05 chem eng, and Melisa (Boelens) Tay lor, ’02 MIS, would like to announce Ethan Thomas Taylor was born on Feb. 1, 2013. Only 2 days old, Ethan watched his first OSU game wearing OSU gear when the Cowboys defeated Kansas on the road.

Tiffany Dowell, ’06 agribus, recently accepted a position as assistant professor and extension specialist at Texas A&M. Daniel Castell, ’07 mech eng, passed his exam and is now a registered professional engineer.

Quatie Jorgensen, ’07 ag econ, and Kody Jorgensen, ’10 an sci, welcomed their first child, Kuwayah Jorgensen, on March 9, 2012.

Kristie Hartle, DVM ’08, married Dustin Hartle on Oct. 16, 2012. Kristie opened Mobile Veterinary Hospital of Tulsa in August 2012.

Mandy Parks, ’08 ag, and her husband, Joshua Parks, ’06 agribus, founded their own real estate appraisal service.

Blair Rhea, ’05 apparel merchandising, married Joshua Rhea, ’04 bus mgmt., on July 1, 2012, in Tulsa.

The couple was introduced by Blair’s ZTA sorority sister, who happens to be Josh’s little sister, while attending OSU. They started a relationship when their paths unexpectedly crossed at the 2010 Cotton Bowl. Josh proposed two years later at the 2012 Fiesta Bowl. Blair surprised Josh with

Skyler Robinson, ’08 ag comm, and her husband, Chris Robinson, are happy to announce their son, Caleb Christopher Robinson, was born on Feb. 13, 2012.

Lauren Smith, ’08 hist, recently published a paranormal romance, Blood Moon on the Rise.

Okiomah Ujiro, ’08 mgmt, married Nike Falaye during a ceremony in Houston on March 2, 2013. More than 800 guests attended the event.

Thomas Ames, ’09 arch, accepted a job as an architectural designer at Arquitectonica in Los Angeles.

Thomas Powers, ’09 ed psych, received an OGSE certification on his teaching certificate.

Shanna Skimbo, ’09 phys ed, has been named the partnership coordinator for the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA. Shanna will relocate from Washington, D.C., to Tulsa.

Andre Storey, ’09 mgmt, graduated with a master’s in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, in 2012. Andre was then promoted to director of population health management at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System.

’10s Brady Brewer, ’10 acctg, received his master’s in agricultural economics from Kansas State University. Brady is teaching entry-level agricultural economics and upper-division agricultural finance while obtaining his doctorate degree at Kansas State.

Keep Us Posted Alumni Association members may submit information to be published as a classnote online and in STATE magazine based on availability of space. Announcements that are incomplete (such as marriage/union and birth announcements without spouse/partner information) or older than a year may not be considered for publication.

Clearly print your information and mail to Class Notes, 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078. Information can also be emailed to info@orangeconnection.org or submitted online at orangeconnection.org/update.

A L U M N U S /A L U M N A

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Cezanne Barrios, ’11 bio sci, and her fiancé, Alexander Rowland, ’11 bus admin, announced their little Poke, Harrison Bradford Rowland, was born on March 29, 2013. Harrison weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 inches long.

Michael Orcutt, ’11 soc, recently became a police officer in Broken Arrow, Okla. His wife, Chelsey, ’12 acctg, is a financial analyst at ConocoPhillips in Bartlesville, Okla.

Austin DeMarco, ’12 land arch, is the owner of Shape Landscape in Tulsa.

Austin Sutton, ’12 mech eng tech, is working as a mechanical engineer for GE Oil & Gas in Oklahoma City.

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Randi Semrad, ’13 elem ed, and her husband, James, announced their daughter, Synthia Rae Semrad, was born on June 11, 2013. Synthia is a fifth-generation Cowgirl and can’t wait to attend football and basketball games.

Friends & Supporters Cathy Cowan began a new business in February featuring pure botanical and FDA approved clinical skin care. It launched nationally March 2013 into the social-selling industry.

Betty Henthorn and her husband have retired but have fun attending OSU football games and weekend basketball games.

In Memory Bert Cole, ’46 agron, M.S. ’46 agron, died May 15, 2013, at his home in Altus, Okla. He was 92.

While at OSU, Bert played for the Cowboy football team that won the 1946 Sugar Bowl.

From 1942-45, he served as a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II and was shot down over Yugoslavia. He was listed as missing in action for six months. He was protected by Yugoslavs, resulting in his return home.

He was married to the former Willie Gazaway and is survived by his six children, 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He donated nearly 26 gallons of blood in his lifetime. He and his wife were life members of the Alumni Association.

Hadley Meinders, ’47 agron, M.S. ’49 agron, died on April 20, 2013, in Tulsa. He was 90. Hadley was born in Okarche, Okla., and his family moved to Yukon, Okla., when he was young. He attended school in Yukon and was active in the FFA, where he raised Duroc hogs, Buff Orpington chickens

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and a Jersey cow. Hadley attended Oklahoma A&M College from 1941-43 and 1946-49. He joined his brothers, Harvey and Wesley, at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He served in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet in World War II. Hadley married Lois Marie Schroeder on Sept.

7, 1958, in Okarche. Throughout his life, Hadley was an avid OSU Cowboy fan. He loved attending sporting events with his family, and he rarely missed a home football or basketball game.

George Gerards Jr., ’49 ag econ, died Feb. 11, 2013, on his 90th birthday.

George was born Feb. 11, 1923, in Kennewick, Wash., and served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. William (Bill) Lava Rude, ’50 mech eng, died Sept. 17, 2012. He was 87. Bill was born in Iola, Kan., on April 14, 1925, and attended school in Parsons, Okla. After graduation from Parsons High School, he joined the U.S. Army Air Force. When he was discharged, he began school at Parsons Junior College, where he met his future wife, Jean Marie Ledbetter. They continued their education at Oklahoma A&M. After graduation, Bill went on to work for Sheffield Steel in Kansas City, Mo. Dolores Edmiston, ’51 bus ed, died on July 17, 2012. She was 82.

She was married to Edward Edmiston, ’51 an sci, for 58 years before her death. Dolores is also survived by six children, 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Four of her children graduated from OSU, and her husband calls them an “OSU family.”

Donald Iverson, ’51 arch, died on April 14, 2013. He was 87.

Donald was born Feb. 5, 1926, in Tulsa.

Don was active in Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout from Troup 37 in May 1941. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1944, then proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Don attended the University of Tulsa before graduating from OSU. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at both Tulsa and OSU. He went to work for John Zink Co. in 1951 and retired as a senior sales consultant after 43

years. Don was a longtime deacon at First Christian Church in Tulsa and a member of the Double Ring Saturday School Class.

Lawrence Jernigan, ’52 bus & public admin, died on Nov. 28, 2012, in Athens, Texas. He was 88. Lawrence was born on Oct. 7, 1924, in Tulsa, Okla., to Jessie Shue and Charles Jackson Jernigan. He worked as a terminal manager for Jones Truck Lines in Tulsa and Dallas until his retirement in 1989. Lawrence was a devoted volunteer at Lakeview Elementary School for more than 15 years. He was also a member of the Texas Bluebird Society where he initiated a bluebird trail by building and maintaining nearly 100 bluebird boxes in the Tool and Seven Points area.

Lawrence is survived by his three daughters, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Marc Francis Fontaine, Ph.D. ’54 chem eng, died Jan. 24, 2013. He was 86. Marc received his bachelor’s in 1950 and master’s in 1951 in chemical engineering from Louisiana State University, where he also met his wife, Dorothy. The couple was married in August 1949 and enjoyed 63 years together. Marc worked as a research chemical engineer at Texaco for 40 years in supervisor and management roles where he mentored many young engineers along the way.

Margaret McCann Horvath, ’70 bus admin, died on Oct. 23, 2012, surrounded by her family. She was 65.

Margaret was born Jan. 13, 1947, in San Antonio, Texas. Her family soon moved to Houston where she spent her childhood. Margaret met her lifelong partner, Richard Horvath, in 1971 and they were married a year later.

Richard M. Rogers, M.S. ’71 ento, died April 20, 2013, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 65. Richard was born in Shawnee, Okla., where he graduated high school in 1966. In 1970, he married Elizabeth Ann Carpenter in Shawnee. Richard was an entomologist, motivational speaker, trainer and a member of the OSU Alumni Association.

Robert (Bob) Davis, ’74 forestry, died March 23, 2013, in Fayetteville, Ark. He was 61. Bob was born Aug. 7, 1951, in Stillwater and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1969.

Bob met his future wife, Judy, ’74 bus, his sophomore year at OSU, and the couple had two children, Megan and Jason. Bob served 20 years as an Army engineer officer and earned

the rank of lieutenant colonel at the time of his retirement.

Keith Flanagan, DVM ’78, died on April 3, 2013, in Aventura, Fla. He was 64. Keith was born April 6, 1948, in Texhoma, Okla., and graduated from Texhoma High School in 1966. He married Jan on Aug. 2, 1979. Keith attended Panhandle State University before moving to Stillwater. Keith spent the two years after graduating OSU serving as a captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps as group veterinarian for the 5th Special Forces Group in Fort Bragg, N.C. Lonnie Boeckman, ’82 mech power tech, died on April 10, 2013, due to complications after heart surgery.

He was 58. Lonnie was born Jan. 19, 1955, in Okeene, Okla., and graduated from Okeene High School. The 7-foot, 4-inch center played basketball for four years under coach Guy Strong. Following graduation, he returned to Okeene where he owned and operated Farmers Service Station until his death.

OSU celebrates the state of Oklahoma The state of Oklahoma is about progress, family and hard work.

And OSU is a driving force behind the state, imparting to its students the values of diligence, community and leadership while fostering scholarship and economic development.

In turn, Oklahomans send more of their students to school in Stillwater each year.

OSU is focused on bright minds, brighter futures and the brightest world for all.

The Energy, Optimism and Determination of Paul Miller The distinguished journalist’s career took root at Oklahoma A&M.

Story by David C. Peters, OSU Library Photos courtesy of OSU Special Collections

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With nearly 320 million barrels of oil produced in the three decades before 1930, Osage County, Okla., was the center of an American energy boom.

During these flourishing times, an energetic young man named Paul Miller grew up and graduated from Pawhuska High School in the spring of 1925.

On Oct. 30, 1925, the first newspaper article in The Daily O’Collegian with a Paul Miller byline described the plans of the freshman class to clean up the campus to host returning alumni, family and other visitors. Sophomores joined the freshmen in the Homecoming preparation, but the cooperation was only temporary.

The student Senate failed to recognize Miller’s pep squad and spirit group. Without a charter, the group couldn’t meet on campus, announce meetings in the college paper or hold elections.

Previous actions would be invalid, and future plans would need to be canceled. Miller stated, “…we do not want to be so easily erased from the roster of Aggie organizations,” and the group moved off campus and continued to meet.

In early December 1925, Miller became the assistant sports editor of the campus newspaper. Miller’s first article as assistant sports editor was about a local sports celebrity, Bobby Vincent, Several months later, Miller landed — some might say with who had developed a popular following as a lightweight boxer his own boom — on the campus of Oklahoma Agricultural and after graduating from OAMC in the spring of 1925.

Mechanical College in Stillwater.

Miller introduced a regular column, “Valley Views.” The Miller was born on Sept. 28, 1906, in Diamond, Mo., the college had been admitted to the Missouri Valley Conference the oldest child of James and Clara (Ranne) Miller. His father was a year before. Miller provided the latest sports “dope” on conferDisciples of Christ minister who served congregations in southence teams, coaches, facilities, games, rules and controversies. west Missouri, Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma.

At the end of February 1926, Most of Paul’s school years were spent in Oklahoma. At age Miller was named sports editor.

15, Paul won a national editorial writing competition, and as a When breaking news occurred, he senior he took first place in a similar contest conducted by the could cover the distance from his University of Wisconsin. In high school, he began working as a fraternity house on Hester to the reporter at the local newspaper. As a senior, he edited his high office in a couple of minutes. One school newspaper, which won first-place awards in two 1925 colleague measured the distance as state competitions.

“225 Miller strides.”

As part of an Oklahoma A&M recruiting effort, Miller was Miller also made time for one of 12 Oklahoma high school newspaper editors invited to other extracurricular activities. the first annual Gridiron Banquet on May 6, 1925, in Stillwater.

Miller tried out for and made the Miller met C. Walker “Red” Stone, The Daily O’Collegian freshman basketball team. He editor, who also recruited Miller to become a pledge of Kappa also participated on The Daily Sigma fraternity. Miller and Stone remained friends for the rest O’Collegian team against the of their lives.

Redskin staff in a hunting contest Paul Miller with writer and — 10 points for a possum, seven An Energetic Freshman poet Carl Sandburg playing per squirrel, five per rabbit and golf on June 22, 1931. At Miller was in motion from the moment he arrived at OAMC. three per crow. In March, Miller the time, Miller was workHe was elected president of the freshman class and was instrucompeted in the pairs’ category of ing at Oklahoma A&M for mental in forming a freshman pep squad and spirit organization. the college horseshoe contest and President Henry Bennett, In 1925, freshman students were required to wear beanies. A joined the Ag-He-Ruf-Nex pep and and Sandburg was a guest sophomore “vigilance committee” was charged with enforcement. spirit squad. of the college.

Miller complained that freshmen, especially those in fraternities, Miller also entered several were not wearing their beanies on campus, and the sophomores events in the annual athletic week, were at fault due to their lack of enforcement. Miller expressed winning the punting contest. He averaged a foot more than 54 his criticism in the pages of The Daily O’Collegian. yards with three punts, beating the top football letterman by “Paul Miller doesn’t like it? Well, starting next year, he will almost 8 yards. have three years to protest against it,” retorted vigilante head On May 18, 1926, Miller was initiated into Kappa Sigma. He Houston Overby. The animosity between freshman and sophoalso joined Theta Nu Epsilon, a semi-secret society of student more classes would continue throughout the year. leaders attempting to influence student publications, the student In October, Miller became organizations editor for the 1926 Senate and men’s Panhellenic Council. The society had some Redskin yearbook. That same month, he was placed in charge faculty support as Ed Hadley, head of college publications and of publishing the newly created weekly State High School Sport Miller’s mentor, was a member.

News, an OAMC recruiting effort aimed at high school athletes. continues

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As the spring semester drew to a close, Miller edited 146 hometown news stories of 1926 graduates, providing information about OAMC and distributing the accounts to community newspapers. Miller also edited a weekly agricultural news service clipsheet that was distributed to state news outlets.

After classes ended, Miller returned home in June and went back to work for the Pawhuska Daily Journal Capital.

A Busy Sophomore

A Life in Journalism On May 29, 1927, Miller was named editor of the Okemah Daily Leader. Hadley, part owner of the Okemah paper, hired Miller to replace the previous editor who left for a job at the Tulsa Tribune. Miller withdrew from the college at the end of his sophomore year.

Miller edited the Daily Leader for 15 months before he moved with his family to Norman, Okla., after his father became executive secretary of the Oklahoma Christian Churches Conference. In fall 1928, Miller enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and joined the staff of the Oklahoma Publishing Co. in Oklahoma City.

Miller returned to campus in September 1926 with the same energy he had as a freshman, but there had been some changes.

Hadley had resigned, and Theta Nu Epsilon’s influence was being challenged.

He became an editor of the sports section for the 1927 Redskin, edited the humor pages and continued as the sports editor of The Daily O’Collegian. Miller was also active in the College Press Club, and he had returned to the publications offices in Old Central with increased responsibilities. During the fall and winter, Miller covered the conference champion football team and an undefeated wrestling team.

But Miller also wanted to play sports, and in December 1926 he made the varsity basketball team. After the holidays, he resigned as The Paul Miller joined the staff of The Daily O’Collegian in Daily O’Collegian sports 1926. Miller, top row second from left, is pictured here editor to devote more time to with other staff members. basketball practice and his studies.

Miller couldn’t stay away from journalism for long. On Feb. 1, 1927, he was named acting managing editor of the college Paul Miller in his paper. The paper’s editor was caught up in a Theta Nu Epsilon football uniform scandal and resigned. The managing editor was promoted, and at Pawhuska High Miller took his place.

School in 1924.

On March 29, Miller became The Daily O’Collegian managing editor. Four days later, the board of publications announced the candidates for the 1927 spring elections.

Miller and his previous sports editor, Otis Wile, would compete for the editor’s job. Wile was a junior and a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Miller’s friends purchased advertisements in the college newspaper. Wile’s friends distributed $200 worth of free cigarettes, chocolate candy and phonograph records. It was the most hotly contested editor election in decades.

When the final votes were tallied, Miller had received 860 to Wile’s 884.

Miller’s friends had warned he wouldn’t return to campus in the fall without a job. The editor position was one of the highest-paid student positions at the college. Miller had four younger sisters and one younger brother, and he was on his own financially.

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In June 1930, Miller returned to Stillwater to work for OAMC President Henry Bennett in the new Department of Information and Service.

Miller was named director a short time later and became responsible for college news releases, distribution of college news articles and responses to requests for feature articles to appear in Oklahoma periodicals and newspapers.

He resigned in March 1932 and took a position with The Associated Press in Columbus, Ohio.

“But don’t think I shan’t be hopelessly homesick back there. I’ve lived in Oklahoma 18 of my 25 years. I’ve been in contact with friends in Stillwater since I came here as a freshman seven years ago. Boy, I’ll miss this place! This is the finest bunch of boys and girls in the country — and don’t forget to put that down,” Miller said during an interview his last week in Stillwater.

That first year in Ohio, Miller met his future wife, Louise Johnson, women’s editor for the Columbus Journal. The couple would have four children. Miller finished his graduation requirements by mail and received his Bachelor of Science degree from OAMC in May 1933.

Miller would work in AP bureaus in Ohio, Missouri, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York before being named chief of AP’s

Washington, D.C., bureau in 1942. In 1947, Frank Gannett hired Miller as his executive assistant. That same year, he returned to Stillwater to deliver the spring commencement address. Miller was named president of Gannett Co. a decade later. In 1958, he became a first vice president with AP. He was chairman of the AP board from 1963 to 1977.

Miller’s friend and fraternity brother, C. Walker Stone, would become editor-in-chief of Scripps-Howard Newspapers. Miller’s opponent for The Daily O’Collegian’s editor position, Otis Wile, worked as a sports writer and columnist for many years as well as the director of sports publicity in the OAMC/OSU Athletic Department for 27 years.

Miller’s generosity led to the journalism building on campus being named in his honor in 1976, and the annual Paul Miller Lecture Series began in 1988. The Special Collections and University Archives reading room in the OSU Library was named in his honor, and Miller’s personal papers were donated to the library, where they serve as a wonderful reminder of his remarkable life and career. Miller died on Aug. 21, 1991, in West Palm Beach, Fla., after suffering a stroke.

For more information on Paul Miller, visit the library’s digital collection on the newspaperman at www.library.okstate.edu/scua/ collect/miller3.

Paul Miller, fifth from left, withdrew from Oklahoma A&M after his sophomore year and became the new editor of the Okemah Daily Leader.

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The Stories of STATE Across

2. Maintaining and repairing these is important for energy supply

8. The Pioneer Woman

18. J.J. McVicker was an acclaimed painter and __________

10. Hays finished ninth in this roping event

22. Stillwater-born, New York-based artist

11. Where Paul Miller was born

24. Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year

1. Lee Redick’s nickname

3. Haas’ stew recipe 4. Latitude 36 is this variety of grass

15. Stephens County alumni event 19. Fundraising campaign surpassed $1 ______ 20. A _______ Affair in Tulsa

5. Name of OSU drive to help tornado victims

21. Established in 1862, this required the teaching of military tactics

12. These bronze items are presented to faculty and donors of endowed chairs

27. Happening in October

6. Weird Ward used it as a cookie-serving dish

23. OSU professor known to Chopra

28. Nestled next to golf course

7. Opens in downtown Stillwater in October

13. Student Alumni Board creates these

29. Larry Shell is retiring from this

9. Doel Reed Center visiting artist

16. Tended to those injured by tornado (last name)

Down

17. A study of this sheds new light on evolution

1. Dr. John Hays operated this type of vet clinic

12. Carl Kerfoot’s nickname 14. KOSU aired his tornado reports

1 4

25. Engineers _______ Borders 26. Last name of NYC Alumni Chapter president

2

3

5

6

7

8 9 10

11

12 13

14

15 16

Answers online at statemagazine.okstate.edu

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