Connection - February 2025

Connors State College Celebrates Annual All-School Homecoming

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

CONNORS STATE COLLEGE WARNER CAMPUS 700 COLLEGE ROAD WARNER, OK 74469 THREE RIVERS PORT CAMPUS 2501 N 41st St. E MUSKOGEE, OK 74403

February 2025

FEATURE

CAMPUS LIFE

Connors State College NAACP Celebrates Black History with "Triple Six Eight" Program CSC Show Team Wraps Up 2024-2025 Season (by Macey McCoy) Division of Ag Hosts Annual Aggie Homecoming

ADMINISTRATION PRESIDENT Dr. Ronald S. Ramming VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Dr. Chris McBeath VICE PRESIDENT FOR FISCAL SERVICES Mike Lewis

SPOTLIGHTS

Student Spotlight: Sam Fisher (Lindsay, TX) Alumni Spotlight: Hunter Harris (‘03)

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ATHLETICS

Cowgirl Basketball Builds Momentum Heading Into Postseason (by Taylor Moore) CSC Dance Team Shines at National Championship in California Debut Spring Sports Underway in Warner

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS Jake Lawson

CONNECTION CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Krystle Lane Derotha Rivenbark Matthew Harmon Macey McCoy Taylor Moore

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Connors State College Celebrates Annual All-School Homecoming

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Cover Photo: The 2025 CSC Homecoming Queen & King, Grace Riley (Oktaha) and Elyjah Brooks (Tulsa).

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Connors State College in compliance with 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, nation 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. In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, crime statistics for both the Warner and Muskogee campuses may be reviewed at http://connorsstate.edu/asr. This publication was printed by Connors State College as authorized by the Director of College & Community Relations. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination or endorsement is intended by Connors State College.

FEATURE

Connors State College Celebrates Annual All-School Homecoming

by CSC Communications & Marketing

Connors State College crowned its 2025 Homecoming royalty during a rescheduled ceremony held on February 22 in Melvin Self Fieldhouse. Grace Riley (Oktaha, OK) and Elyjah Brooks (Tulsa, OK) were named Homecoming Queen and King during the halftime festivities of the men's basketball game against NOC-Tonkawa.

provided a welcome celebration for the CSC community after navigating the challenges posed by the recent winter weather. The event continued Connors State's annual homecoming tradition and helped spur the Cowboys to a 65-51 victory.

The long-anticipated event had been originally scheduled for the previous Thursday but was postponed due to inclement winter weather that affected the region. Despite the delay, students, faculty, and alumni gathered to celebrate the annual tradition.

Riley and Brooks were selected from a competitive field of candidates from various campus organizations and academic departments. The coronation ceremony took place at center court during halftime.

The rescheduled homecoming festivities

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CAMPUS LIFE

Connors State College NAACP Celebrates Black History with "Triple Six Eight" Program

by CSC Communications & Marketing

The Connors State College NAACP Freedom Fighters hosted their annual Black History Program on February 25, 2025, at the Dr. Nero Fine Arts Building on the Warner Campus. This year's program centered around the theme "Diversity in Love & Unity; The Triple Six Eight."

outstanding contributions to the college and community.

The event featured several speakers including Angie Lane, Director of the Bursar Office at CSC, who delivered the themed address, and Alan Gordon, Principal of Warner Elementary School, who served as the main speaker. The Warner High School Choir, directed by Shelly Beck, performed multiple selections throughout the program, including the Black National Anthem "Lift Every Voice."

A highlight of the celebration was the special recognition of the 2025 Freedom Fighters of the Year: Dr. Lynett Rock, Mrs. Christina Connor, and Sergeant Blane Newfield. Each honoree was acknowledged for their

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The program also included participation from several CSC NAACP members, with Antonio Gonzalez, Vice President of CSC NAACP, delivering the welcome address, and Samantha Brewer, CSC NAACP Ambassador, offering the opening prayer.

CAMPUS LIFE

Sir Patrick Davis, Founding President of CSC NAACP, presented the special awards, including announcing the winner of the annual Black History Coloring Contest.

The CSC NAACP chapter holds historical significance as the first established NAACP chapter in Warner, Oklahoma, and the first NAACP Auxiliary on the Warner campus. If you want to learn more about the CSC NAACP Freedom Fighters and their upcoming activities, contact Rev. Carneta Cooper, Advisor to the CSC NAACP chapter. The Freedom Fighters welcome new members and community support as they continue their mission on campus and throughout the Warner community.

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CAMPUS LIFE

CSC Show Team Wraps Up 2024-2025 Season

by Macey McCoy (Freshman - Beggs, OK)

As the 2024-2025 season comes to an end for the Connors State College Show Team, they can’t help but look back at the successful year that they have had; in and out of the arena.

The show team comes in a week before school starts to get to know each other, and start working on their cattle for the show year.

Most already know how to handle cattle, others showed other species in high school.

By the end of their first week, everyone knew what to do, and acted like they had been showing cattle their whole life.

It's a lot different joining a team rather than showing by yourself. As a team member, you have the comfort of knowing there's always someone to support you when needed, something the show team discovered very quickly. With the guidance of their coach, Stetson May, they not only learned how to get along, but how to become leaders, work hard, and develop teamwork.

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The show team was able to travel to 6 different shows this season. These shows took the team from Warner to Oklahoma City, Dallas, Tulsa, Fort Worth, and Mississippi; often traveling back-to-back weekends. It can get tiring traveling so much, especially with 11 head of cattle. But the team didn’t mind. In all their days of travel, they were able to have a Grand Division Champion Bull (Dallas, TX) and Grand Division Champion Heifer (Tulsa, OK) in a few shows.

Traveling is always fun, but the show team always looked for more than that. They sought out to prove that they can work hard, represent their college well, and also carry on their agriculture industry. When asked about her outlook about the show season, Addison Turner (Morgan, UT) stated, “Never hope for more than you work for it.” As the team went along their season, they not only hoped for good shows, but worked as hard as they could to get those Grand Division places.

Being able to travel, continue their livestock showing career, and working within the agriculture industry, are not the only things the members will be able to use in their future endeavors. Being able to have those connections, good memories, and impacts they made on people's lives are what they will get to carry on for a very long time.

CAMPUS LIFE

The show season may be over, but the team still has plenty to do around campus and their community. Campus events, working around the farm, and breaking new show calves are what lies ahead for them. Some are graduating this year, but for the ones coming back, along with new showmen, will look forward to next year!

Division of Ag Hosts Annual Aggie Homecoming

by CSC Communications & Marketing

Connors State College's Division of Agriculture continued a beloved campus tradition with its annual Aggie Homecoming celebration on February 4th. The event serves as a preliminary competition to determine which agricultural students will represent the division at the upcoming All-School Homecoming festivities.

Head rodeo coach Jake Walker served as master of ceremonies for the evening, guiding contestants through a series of questions designed to showcase their quick thinking.

Prenny Prenovost and Wyatt Jackson earned the titles of Aggie Homecoming Queen and King respectively. The newly crowned royalty earned the honor of representing the Division of Agriculture at CSC's All-School Homecoming.

The annual event highlights the strong sense of community within CSC's agricultural programs while maintaining a tradition that has become an important part of campus life in Warner.

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SPOTLIGHTS

Student Spotlight: Sam Fisher (Lindsay, TX)

by Macey McCoy (Freshman - Beggs, OK)

Sam Fisher, a sophomore from Lindsay, Texas, chose Connors State College for its small-town atmosphere and tight-knit community, reminiscent of her hometown in Texas.

Fisher has fully embraced campus life at CSC, joining several agricultural and academic organizations. As a member of the CSC Show Team, she travels across multiple states representing Connors in competitive exhibitions. Her commitment to agriculture extends to her active participation in Connors Collegiate Cattlewomen, where she collaborates with fellow female students passionate about the cattle industry.

Fisher continues to build her agricultural expertise through her involvement in the Aggie Club, where she networks with students and professionals across various agricultural disciplines. Beyond her agricultural focus, her academic excellence has earned her membership in Phi Theta Kappa, the

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international honor society for two-year colleges, demonstrating her dedication to scholarly achievement alongside her extracurricular activities.

After graduating from Connors, Fisher plans to attend West Texas A&M to pursue a degree in Agriculture Education. Her goal is to inspire and encourage younger generations of students by showing them different perspectives of the agriculture world.

"My Ag teacher Mrs. Lee opened my world in so many ways in the agriculture world and show world," Fisher shares. "She is one of the many reasons I would like to be part of the ag teaching world."

To prospective students considering Connors State College, Fisher offers this advice: "If you are looking for a small-town atmosphere, you have found it. The classes are very good at Connors, and there are so many different activities to do, you will never get bored."

SPOTLIGHTS

Alumni Spotlight: Hunter Harris (‘03)

by CSC Communications & Marketing

Hunter Harris began his athletic journey at Metro Christian Academy. His high school career was marked by outstanding performances in both football and baseball, with his baseball prowess leading the Patriots to their first state championship in school history. Harris's talent earned him numerous accolades, including First Team All-Metro, First Team All-State, Tulsa Worlds Co-Player of the Year, The Oklahoman's All-State Team, and the prestigious Oklahoma Jim Thorpe Player of the Year award. These achievements set the stage for his remarkable collegiate career at Connors State College, where he would further cement his legacy as an exceptional athlete.

At Connors State, Harris quickly became a standout player for the Cowboys' baseball team. As a two-year starter, he earned AllRegion and Region All-Tournament team honors, showcasing his abilities His exceptional performance culminated in being named a 2003 NJCAA All-American, a testament to his impact at the national level.

Harris's defensive skills were particularly

noteworthy, earning him the National Easton Defensive Player of the Year award, a prestigious recognition of his fielding excellence. His leadership and performance were instrumental in guiding the Cowboys to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. Following his stellar career at Connors State, Harris continued to excel at the University of Texas. There, he earned Big 12 First Team All-Conference honors, contributing significantly to the Longhorns' two Big 12 Championships. His college career reached its pinnacle with a second-place finish in the College World Series in Omaha, NE. Today, Hunter resides in Tulsa with his wife Diana and their twin boys, Jack and James. He serves as a Regional Philanthropy Officer for the American Red Cross, demonstrating his commitment to community service off the field. Harris's induction into the Connors State College athletic Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to his exceptional athletic career, his contributions to the college's baseball program, and his continued dedication to making a positive impact in his community.

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ATHLETICS

Cowgirl Basketball Builds Momentum Heading Into Postseason

by Taylor Moore (Sophomore - Owasso, OK)

Going into the 2024-2025 basketball season, expectations were set low, with a new coaching staff and a team of almost all new faces. Challenges began to arise before region play had even taken off, with a small roster and injuries happening in preseason, the team turned to picking up players who had experience at basketball, from other oncampus activities such as PLC and crosscountry. Take Freshman Harlie Chesser (Warner, OK) as an example, Chesser began her career at Connors State running for the cross-country team and taking part in PLC activities, but as her first semester carried on, she found herself to be adding Connors State Women’s basketball player to her list of extracurricular activities.

coaching style, his response was “my coaching style is competitive and honest.” Thompson has a strong passion for the game and likes to convey that into his coaching by selecting players who play hard and are willing to do what it takes to compete at a high level. He describes his team as “adaptive”, stating they’ve had a lot of things happen this season such as injuries, roster changes, and adding an assistant coach mid-preseason, which all were factors in the team taking timescale to come together.

Although Coach Jaylen Thompson didn't have much time to put together his roster, he has done an excellent job at taking the handful of girls he’s got and turning them into a competing team. When asked about his

Now with all the pieces coming together, the Cowgirls are starting to buckle down and are looking for a run at postseason play. As Coach Thompson says, “our best basketball is ahead of us.”

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...competitive and honest

ATHLETICS

CSC Dance Team Shines at National Championship in California Debut

by CSC Communications & Marketing

The Connors State College Dance Team made history at the 2025 USA Collegiate Championship in Anaheim, California, on February 15-16, bringing home multiple awards in their first-ever appearance at this prestigious competition.

In an impressive national debut, the team claimed first place in the 2-Year College Co-Ed Show Cheer Intermediate division, establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the collegiate dance scene.

Their success continued with a second-place finish in the Pom competition and third place in the Hip-Hop category.

Head Coach Clint Maxcey expressed pride in the team's performance. "These students worked incredibly hard to prepare for this

competition. To come to Anaheim for the first time and perform at this level is a testament to their dedication and talent."

The journey to California was an adventure in itself as the team road tripped across the country, building team chemistry along the way. For many team members, this marked their first trip to California and their first experience competing on a national stage.

The CSC Dance Team's impressive showing at the USA Collegiate Championship adds to a growing list of accomplishments for Connors State athletic programs this academic year, highlighting the college's commitment to excellence both in Oklahoma and on the national stage.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Spring Sports Underway in Warner

by CSC Communications & Marketing

Connors State College's spring sports season is officially underway as both the baseball and softball teams have kicked off their 2025 campaigns. Expectations are running high following impressive performances from both programs last year.

The Cowboys enter the season looking to build on last year’s success, having claimed a share of the regular season conference championship last year. Head Coach Perry Keith’s squad features a mix of returning talent and promising newcomers as they aim to make a deeper postseason run this spring.

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Meanwhile, the Cowgirls have begun their season with even loftier goals after an outstanding 2024 campaign that saw them capture the Region 2 title and advance to the NJCAA World Series. Under the leadership of third-year Head Coach Bobby Foreman, the team is focused on returning to the national stage and improving on last year's performance.

To keep up with the Cowboys and Cowgirls throughout their spring seasons, you can follow the teams on Facebook or visit connorsathletics.com.

PHOTOS

Photos by Taylor Moore (Sophomore - Owasso, OK)

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PHOTOS

Photos by Macey McCoy (Freshman - Beggs, OK)

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PHOTOS

Photos by Matthew Harmon (CSC Communications & Marketing)

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CONNORS STATE COLLEGE 700 COLLEGE ROAD WARNER, OK 74469

CSC Basketball’s Edwin Daniel (#32) celebrates with DJ Dormu (#14) following Dormu’s game-winning shot to beat NEO A&M 78-75 on January 30th.