Connection - April 2024

Connors State Men’s & Women’s Basketball Make Deep Postseason Runs to End 2023-2024 Campaigns

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

April 2024

FEATURE

CAMPUS LIFE

Connors State College Hosts 77th Annual Aggie Day Connors State Community Gathers to Watch Solar Eclipse Connors State Hosts Annual Interscholastic Competition for AreaWide Schools

ADMINISTRATION PRESIDENT Dr. Ronald S. Ramming VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Chris McBeath

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Connors State Men’s & Women’s Basketball Make Deep Postseason Runs to End 20232024 Campaigns

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EDUCATION

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Connors State Student Awarded Nigh Public Service Scholarship

VICE PRESIDENT FOR FISCAL SERVICES Mike Lewis

SPOTLIGHTS

CONNECTION CONTRIBUTORS

ATHLETICS

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Student Spotlight: Josie Correll Alumni Spotlight: Marty Darnell

Connors State Tops NEO in Inaugural A&M Classic Connors State Shotgun Sports Compete at ACUI Nationals Connors State eSports Athletes Earn Academic All-America Honors

Dr. Krystle Lane Derotha Rivenbark Matthew Harmon Marty Darnell Josie Correll Haley Hilton

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Cover Photo: Connors State Students Walk in Muskogee Christmas Parade

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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 Men’s & Women’s Basketball Make Deep Postseason Runs to End ‘23-’24 Campaigns The 2023-24 basketball season will be remembered as one of the most successful in Connors State College history. Both the Cowgirls and Cowboys put together fantastic seasons, highlighted by major individual achievements and deep runs in postseason play.

The Cowgirls were led by Releford's scoring and rebounding, along with Samantha Shanks' 9.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game from the point guard position.

Freshman PaShonnay Johnson also made a big impact this past year, contributing 14.6 points per contest.

In February, Brayden Hubbard and Hatiana Releford accomplished the rare feat of scoring their 1,000th career points.

Hubbard, from Tulsa, OK, became the 12th Cowboy to reach 1,000 points on February 3rd against NOC-Tonkawa. The sophomore averaged 24.9 points, 2.4 assists and 10.6 rebounds per game this season. Releford, a 5'11" guard/forward, joined the elite Cowgirl scoring ranks as well against NOC-Tonkawa while averaging 19.9 points, 1.8 assists and 11.7 rebounds.

On the men's side, Hubbard's dominance was complemented by Donyae May's 12.0 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.0 rebounds as the floor general. Freshman Buddy Hammer Jr. chipped in 13.9 points and 7.1 boards per game, while electrifying crowds with his athletic playstyle.

Several Cowboys and Cowgirls received individual accolades throughout the season, including Region 2 Coach of the Year wins for both Coach Fisher and Coach Muse. For the men, Hubbard and May were both named to the All-Region

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FEATURE

team of the year. For the Cowgirl’s, Releford and Shanks received All-Region team of the year selections as well.

Hubbard and Releford also earned NJCAA All-America honors, being named to the first and third teams respectively.

Throughout the regular season, both teams dominated the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference, claiming titles before going on to cut down the nets as Region 2 tournament champions in Muskogee.

For the Cowgirls, it was their first trip to

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FEATURE

the NJCAA Women's National Championship since 2009. Ultimately, their season would come to an end in the first round, losing to Southern Idaho.

The Cowboys saved their best for last with a remarkable four-game run at the NJCAA Men's National Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas as the #19 seed. They knocked off #3 Salt Lake and host #11 Hutchinson to improbably reach the Final Four. Down 18 points in the national semifinal, the gritty Cowboys never stopped fighting and gained a late lead before ultimately falling to Triton College, 87-84 in a heartbreaker.

Thanks to clutch performances, coaching milestones, and passion, the 2023-24 season further cemented Connors State's status as a national program.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Connors State College Hosts 77th Annual Aggie Day Connors State College recently hosted its 77th annual Aggie Day interscholastic competition. Over 2,500 students from more than 200 schools, 4-H clubs, and FFA chapters across six states attended the event to compete in 17 career development contests.

"Aggie Day is a long-standing tradition at Connors State, and it continues to grow," said Dr. Ron Ramming, President of Connors State College. "This competition provides a valuable opportunity for agricultural students to put their learning into practice and compete against their peers."

The daylong event featured a range of contests, including livestock judging, entomology, environmental science, and

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and nursery/landscape management.

Students demonstrated expertise in areas like soil and water conservation, rangeland management, and food science.

Silo FFA took home the Grand Sweepstakes award, while the Morris FFA Chapter earned the Reserve Grand Sweepstakes title. Westville FFA, Edmond FFA, and Byng FFA rounded out the top five in the overall competition.

Coordinating the event required extensive support from the entire Connors State community. But, Connors State is already looking ahead to next year's Aggie Day competition, set for April 3, 2025.

CAMPUS LIFE

Connors State Community Gathers to Watch Solar Eclipse On the afternoon of Monday, April 8th, 2024, a celestial event of cosmic proportions took place - a total solar eclipse swept across the United States.

While the path of totality narrowly missed the Connors State College campuses in Warner and Muskogee, the CSC community still experienced 98% coverage of the moon over the sun.

gathered on the lawn of the Warner campus, in awe as as the phenomenon transformed the mid-afternoon into an eerie twilight.

Thanks to CSC Campus Life, attendees were provided free certified solar viewing glasses, so that everyone could safely observe the eclipse without risking eye damage.

Students, faculty, staff and local residents

Connors State Hosts Annual Interscholastic Competition for Area-Wide Schools Connors State College's Warner campus welcomed 15 high schools for the 35th annual Academic Interscholastic Competition on March 7th.

In Division 1 for smaller schools, Dewar HS placed 1st, Gore HS 2nd, and Quinton HS 3rd.

For the larger Division 2 schools, Preston HS won 1st, Wagoner HS took 2nd, and Morris HS finished 3rd.

The daylong event celebrates academics and gives students a chance to see Connors State College, while competing with their high school’s academic teams.

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EDUCATION Connors State Student, Jeremy “Seth” Brown Awarded Prestigious George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship Connors State College student Jeremey "Seth" Brown has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship.

This scholarship, established by the 1999 Oklahoma Legislature, provides opportunities for outstanding students preparing for careers in public service.

The Nigh Scholarship is highly competitive, with each college and university in Oklahoma nominating just one student per year. Recipients must demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to public service.

"Seth is truly deserving of this honor," said Derotha Rivenbark, Director of Connors State College’s President’s Leadership Class. "He is a fantastic student and person, and has a passion for serving his community. I think it’s these traits that make him an ideal Nigh Scholar."

Brown, is currently enrolled full-time at Connors State College. His commitment to making a difference in his community made him an ideal candidate for the Nigh Scholarship.

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As part of the scholarship, Brown will participate in seminars on public service offered by the Nigh Institute. The $1,000 award is granted annually to a new group of promising public servants.

The George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship continues to attract the state's top students to careers in public service. Connors State is proud to have Brown represent the institution as a Nigh Scholar.

For further information regarding the George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship, contact the Nigh Institute at the University of Central Oklahoma.

SPOTLIGHTS Student Spotlight: Josie Correll (Cleveland, NC)

For Josie Correll, a sophomore at Connors State College, the decision to attend CSC was driven by her passion for rodeo and a desire to find a supportive community far from her hometown of Cleveland, North Carolina.

"Being so far from home, I wanted to go somewhere that I felt like I had a family, with mine being so far away," said Correll.

"Connors has really become a home away from home for me."

Correll also credits Connors State's renowned equine program and welcoming campus community for helping her thrive during her time in Oklahoma. "The equine program here is incredible, and I've been able to explore

my passion for horses alongside my other academic and leadership pursuits," Correll added.

Josie, a general agriculture major, is heavily involved on campus as a member of the Aggie Club and the Connors State Rodeo team. She has also taken on a leadership role within the college's President's Leadership Class, serving as co-Vice President. After completing her studies at Connors State, Correll plans to further her education at Oklahoma State University, where she will major in Agricultural Communications. Her longterm goal is to pursue a career in the agricultural industry, in the realm of communications or marketing.

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SPOTLIGHTS

Alumni Spotlight: Marty Darnell (‘85) Marty Darnell looks back fondly on his time as a Connor's State student and baseball player in the mid-1980s. A standout pitcher, he pitched in the 1985 regional game that sent the Connors squad to the Junior College World Series under Coach Keith.

"I have so many great memories - the teammates, the atmosphere," Darnell said. "It was special playing with future Connors’ Hall of Famers like Jeff Turtle and Baine Brooks."

After Connors, Darnell continued his baseball career at Kansas State University in the Big 8 conference. Behind the plate was a familiar batterymate - Turtle.

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Darnell finished his degree at Northeastern State in 1989. He now resides in Chouteau with his wife Cindy, married 36 years. They have two sons, Tanner and Conner.

For over three decades, Darnell has worked in the printing business. He currently serves as General Manager at Western Printing Company in Tulsa.

"My time at Connors was invaluable," Darnell said. "The lessons I learned teamwork, creating a strong support system - helped me greatly in life and in my career.”

ATHLETICS

Connors State Tops NEO in Inaugural A&M Classic The inaugural edition of the A&M Classic was a memorable one for the Cowboys, who defeated Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 12-2 at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. The highly anticipated matchup took place on April 3rd. Connors State got off to a fast start, scoring 2 runs in the first inning.

"Our guys were locked in from the start," said Connors State head coach Perry Keith. "They embraced the opportunity to play on this stage."

Connors State continued to pull away, adding 6 runs in the 6th. NEO scored 2 runs through 4 hits, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cowboys' offensive onslaught.

to overcome the Cowboys' offensive onslaught. Joseph Gutierrez had himself a day to remember at the plate, going 3-for3 with a RBI, and a few walks to go with it.

First baseman Wally Diaz drove in 5 for the Cowboys, and Twine Palmer earned a win on the mound, giving up just 1 run in 7 innings.

The inaugural A&M Classic was made possible through support from the Western Bank of Oklahoma and OSU/A&M Regent Jimmy Harrel and his wife Marilyn. Connors State and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M worked closely with the Tulsa Drillers to ensure a successful event.

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ATHLETICS

Connors State Shotgun Sports Compete at ACUI Nationals Competing in Division IV, the Cowboys and Cowgirls put together an impressive overall showing, highlighted by a 3rd place finish in the ACUI Division IV High Overall (HOA) Team competition. The team also claimed the ACUI Division IV National Super Sporting Team title.

In individual events, several Connors State shooters earned top placements. Braden Chambers shot his first college 100 in Skeet and finished 10th in the Men's Class AA division. Luke Spradlin took 1st place in Mens Class C Skeet, while teammate Tommy Thew landed in the Top 10 of Mens Class B Skeet. Karlie Weir also cracked the Top 10 in Womens Class C Skeet.

Notable individual standouts included Gunnar Casey finishing in the Top 10 of Mens Class C Double Trap, Thew earning a Top 10 finish in Men's Class B Double Skeet alongside Weir, and Thew taking 3rd place in Men's Class C Super Sporting.

Teammates Wayne Gleese and Luke Spradlin also placed in the Top 10 of Mens Class C Super Sporting.

Connors State continues to be a competitive force in the sport. To learn more about the program, visit their Facebook page.

Connors State eSports Athletes Earn Academic AllAmerica Honors Connors State College is proud to celebrate the academic achievements of eSports student-athletes Evan Borges and Zahayfa Hummingbird. Both Borges, from Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Hummingbird, from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, were named NJCAA Academic All-Americans for their excellence in the classroom.

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To earn this distinction, Borges and Hummingbird had to not only excel on Connors State's eSports team, but also demonstrate a commitment to their studies and maintain an outstanding grade point average.

PHOTOS

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PHOTOS

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PHOTOS

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CONNORS STATE COLLEGE 700 COLLEGE ROAD WARNER, OK 74469

The Connors State Cowgirls celebrate after a home run in their April matchup with NOC-Tonkawa in Warner