Teaching, Research, Extension
Successful Alumni Matt Waits, CEO of SST Software, delivered the afternoon’s first talk. The alumnus explained agriculturalinformation management, which utilizes data from across the world to increase farming efficiency. Alumnus David Woods and Brent Douglas are the CEO and president of GiANT Partners. They covered
LeAnn Yadon
What Are You Working For? U.S. Army veteran Heather Gomer is CEO and co-founder of Advanced Flight Training Solutions at the Sundance Airpark in Yukon, Okla. She credits OSU’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Program with giving her the knowledge and confidence to succeed. She asks people to consider if they are passionate, or “pensionate” — working just to reach retirement. “Think about your most valuable asset: time,” Gomer says. “You’ll never get this time back. Your days could be short. So do what you love now instead of working for something you will love tomorrow.” She adds, “Those of you who are pensionate instead of passionate, why? Is it self-doubt? Self-doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”
Singing, Strumming, Drumming Three musical acts performed. Seniors Cori Duke, a singer, and guitarist Chance Borger played two songs before intermission. The event restarted with the stage-rattling return of the student group called Malaysian 24 Seasons Drum, which had opened the 2012 edition of TEDxOStateU. The closing act was the Salmak Ensemble, which performs traditional Persian music. JAC O B L O N G A N
PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY
Five faculty and staff members spoke about their efforts related to OSU’s land-grant mission. Dr. Kayse Shrum, president of the Center for Health Sciences, highlighted the university’s work to combat Oklahoma’s physician shortage (see Page 32). Toby Nelson, an assistant chemistry professor, explained his research on organic solar panels to energize plastic rechargeable batteries. Victoria Rowe Berry, director of the OSU Museum of Art, discussed the transformation of the historic Stillwater post office into the Postal Plaza Gallery (Page 116). Back-to-back speakers covered OSU’s work with pets. Veterinarian Lara Sypniewski explained her acupuncture practice at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Then Lorinda Schrammel, who works in the human resources office, unveiled OSU’s pet therapy program (Page 44). She brought the program’s first two dogs, Evie and Charlie, onto the stage.
leadership and becoming significant through a heart for insignificance. Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, recounted the organization’s development. “I really believe a community is built on how individuals deal with challenges and take advantage of opportunities,” the alumnus says. “We believe that each of us, by doing that, can make a difference.”
PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY
recycling fossil-fuel pollution to improve concrete’s strength and stability. Zach Barbeau, a mechanical and aerospace engineering senior, is a member of the Space Cowboys studentbased research team. He explained the group’s work on developing next-generation spacecrafts that utilize inflatable materials.
Toby Nelson
Emcees: J. Bryson Baker SPEAKERS: Matt Waits, LeAnn Yadon, Kayse Shrum, Evan Woodson, David Woods and Brent Douglas, Ali Asmari, Bob Blackburn, Heather Gomer, Zach Barbeau,Toby Nelson, Lee Easton, Lara Sypniewski, Lorinda Schrammel, Jennifer Mayo, Victoria Rowe Berry, Jason Wetzler PERFORMERS: Cori Duke and Chance Borger, M24D, Salmak Ensemble VIDEO UPDATES: Rand Elliott, Alyssa Peterson, Victoria O’Keefe
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