Connection: Volume 8, Number 4

A Publication of Connors State College

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C ON NO R S S TA TE C OL L EG E WARNER CAMPUS 700 College Road Warner, OK 74469

INSIDE THIS ISSUE V O L U M E

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THREE RIVERS PORT CAMPUS 2501 N 41st St E Muskogee, OK 74403

ADM I NI STRATI ON PRESIDENT Dr. Ronald S. Ramming VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Dr. Janet Wansick VICE PRESIDENT FOR FISCAL SERVICES

FEATURE

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Commencement • Alumni Reunion

COMMUNITY

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Azalea Festival • Painting WISH Chili & BBQ Cook-Off

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Meet Remer, Ayers, Rock & Hiseley • Grady, Todd Retire • Employee Recognition Awards • Thompson on Board • Hildebrand Israeli Speaker

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Connors Pins New Nurses • PTK Induction Ceremony • PTA Service Learning Project

ATHLETICS

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All-Region, Golden Glove Cowboys • Cowgirls Sign • Cowboys Drafted to MLB, Named All-American • Jones, Roy, Coulter Sign • Golf Tourney

CAMPUS LIFE

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Mike Lewis

CONNEC TI ON LAYOUT & DESIGN Stacy Pearce CONTRIBUTORS Cindy Anderson Wayne Bunch Zadie McElhaney Stacy Pearce Dr. Anita Thompson Rochelle Vanover

COWBOY FAMILY

EDUCATION

Ag Banquet Honors 100+ • Herriman Addresses OSRHE • Sodexo

SOCIAL

MEDIA

#CONNORSSTATE

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youtube.com/ connorsstatecollege

instagram.com/ connorsstate

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, 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. 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 and issued by Connors State College as authorized by the Director of College and 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.

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FEATURE

Connors State College Graduates More Than 400 During the 2018 Spring Commencement Ceremony Connors State College recently celebrated its 109th graduating class, awarding more than 400 certificates and degrees.

“Each spring, Connors State College celebrates the hard work and determination exemplified by our graduates,” said Kwanna King, CSC Registrar. “Each year I am amazed by the number of graduates who participate in our once per academic year event, and I am more amazed of the number of degrees and/or certificates we award during each academic year. Each awarded degree reinforces CSC’s motto of ‘Building futures one at a time, since 1908.’”

The Commencement Ceremony was held May 11, 2018, at the Muskogee Civic Center. Oklahoma State Senator, Roger Thompson, was the keynote speaker and presented admirable words to the graduates.

“When you believe in yourself you succeed better, because hours that are spent questioning, hours that are spent doubting, and hours that are spent fearing can be given over to working, exploring and living. We all need to experience life,” Thompson said. “There is a big, bright, beautiful world out there to discover.”

Jake Lawson, the 2018 Faculty of the Year, proudly led the procession

carrying the college mace, which is embedded with CSC history.

Connors President Dr. Ron Ramming was Master of Ceremonies for the evening, while Student Government Association President Kelton Wiggins, and Dr. Trudy Milner, a member of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents, both welcomed the crowd and offered congratulations to the graduates.

To watch the commencement ceremony in its entirety go to the Connors State Facebook page, and to learn more about the many degree options go to connorsstate.edu.

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Alumni and Friends Return for Induction and Reunion On Saturday, April 28, 2018 Connors State hosted its annual Alumni & Friends Hall of Fame Induction and Reunion. More than 90 alumni, friends, staff and students attended the event held in the A.D. Stone Student union on the Warner Campus.

“The reunion is such an enjoyable time for former students to reconnect and share stories and memories. We also enjoy having the opportunity to show off our beautiful campus and also recognize some of our most accomplished alumni,” said Dr. Anita Thompson, Executive Director of the

Connors State Foundation.

Each year at the event the CSC Alumni & Friends organization inducts former students into the Connors State College Alumni Hall of Fame.

Dewey Grigsby, Paula Hiseley and Pat Pack were this year’s honorees. Frank Klucevsek, president of the Alumni & Friends organization, served as the master of ceremonies.

Jake Lawson was recognized as the CSC Faculty Member of the Year, while Leonard Wood and John Denny were also recognized for their many years of service as outgoing board members

of the Alumni & Friends organization.

Other prominent alumni and friends of the college attended to support the inductees, catch up with old acquaintances, and meet with faculty and students. Students from the President’s Leadership Class provided tours of campus and reminded alumni of one of the most important reasons for their organization-raising funds for the Alumni and Friends Scholarship.

This year the organization supported three students with some of the largest scholarships currently available at Connors State.

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COMMUNITY

PLC Float Takes First in Azalea Festival Parade Competition Members of the President’s Leadership Class worked countless hours to build a float for Muskogee’s annual Azalea Festival Parade.

The Azalea Festival brings thousands of citizens and visitors to the

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community each year to see the multitude of azalea plants in Honor Heights Park throughout their blooming season late each spring.

To reflect this year’s parade theme of “A Day In the Park,” the

students chose to design their float based on the animated movie “Up.” The students’ hard work was rewarded by winning 1st place in the Non-Commercial Category of the parade’s float competition.

Student Groups Volunteer to Paint WISH Shelter A collaboration between several student organizations helped a local non-profit agency freshen their facilities earlier this semester. The Student Government Association, Social Sciences Club, Business Club,

and Phi Theta Kappa volunteered to assist in re-painting rooms of a local women’s shelter operated by Women In Safe Homes (WISH). The students and their faculty advisors were able to secure donated paint and supplies

and completed two residential rooms, and helped to create a meditation room for residents. Plans are being made for the organizations to return to the WISH House to work on future projects together.

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CSC Team Participates in Annual Chili & BBQ Cook-Off Connors State College participated in the Muskogee Exchange Club’s Annual Chili & BBQ Cook-Off held during the Azalea Festival each year.

A cold snap didn’t deter almost 100 teams from entering the competition.

Logan Nero and Megan Duvall from the Office of Recruitment coordinated the effort and enlisted the help of Albert Tucker from the college’s IT department.

Tucker moonlights at his own BBQ

food truck business and was eager to help prepare and serve his famous brisket chili along with a number of other barbequed items.

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COWBOY FAMILY Raven Remer, Staff Raven Remer, Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, has been a part of the Cowboy family four years and says that Connors is the best place to work because it offers so many opportunities and connections.

Remer is from Vian, OK, where she lives with her husband Robert, and their three daughters Natalie, Lili and Rosslyn. During the summer, her favorite activity is to hop on the back of her husband’s Harley and sight-see Oklahoma, she said.

Remer chose to work at Connors because she was looking for a career, not just a job, she said. When Remer first began at CSC, she was a financial aid clerk, and enjoyed dealing with students on a daily basis. Once she was moved to Academic Affairs, she lost the face to face interaction with the students but says she is just as big, if not bigger, of an advocate for

the students in her current role.

“I work with professional, caring people who make students a priority every day,” Remer said. “We believe in each other and that student dreams, aspirations, and goals can happen here at Connors State College.”

Remer believes CSC is a great place for students to receive the college experience in a smaller setting. CSC better prepares the student for transitioning to larger university life, she said.

“Working at CSC has made me want to go back to school to finish my degree,” Remer said. “I’ve always known how important educations is, but I always had a ‘reason’ not to go back and finish. Working at CSC has propelled me to stop making excuses and get back in it to finish it. If I hadn’t started working here, I honestly would not have even entertained the idea of finishing my college degree.”

Ashtyn Ayers, Student Ashtyn Ayers is a sophomore Pre-Nursing major from Muskogee, OK. As a child Ashtyn had a dream of being a waitress or a Walmart checker, but those plans quickly changed when her great grandmother was admitted into the hospital.

“My great grandma spent the last two weeks of her life in the hospital and I was by her side every minute of the day,” Ayers said. “That was the deciding factor to change my career to nursing.”

After graduating from Connors, Ashtyn plans to attend the CSC Nursing Program to obtain a Registered Nurse Degree.

“Upon graduation of RN school, I want to receive both my Bachelors and Master’s Degree and move to Bethany, OK, to work at the Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital before going on to get my Nurse Practitioner

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license,” Ayers said. “My ultimate goal is to be a Nurse Practitioner in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a children’s hospital.”

Ayers said she chose Connors State College for various reasons, one being she accepted a scholarship to be in the President’s Leadership Class, where she served as the treasurer.

“The greatest impact that Connors has had on me is allowing me to serve in the President’s Leadership Class because of the lifelong friendships that I have gained, the connections with administrators and the opportunities for us to be involved on campus,” Ayers said.

Along with the role of being the PLC treasurer, Ashtyn also served as SGA secretary, a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, a George Nigh Leadership Academy Scholarship recipient, and is a student worker for

CSC Student Life and Activities. During her freshman year, Ashtyn was also given the Human Anatomy Award and Human Physiology Award and was on the President’s Honor Roll.

“In one short year, the impact that Connors has had on me is surreal,” Ayers said.

Lynett Rock, Faculty Lynett Rock, Math and Science Division Chair and an instructor at Connors State College, obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in Engineering Physics, her Masters of Science at Oklahoma State University in Physics, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Social Foundations from OSU. “It is never too late to begin a new path,” Rock said. “Just because I have a career I love, I still haven’t decided what I want to be when I grow up. I am hoping to be done with my dissertation by Spring 2019.”

Rock said she started at CSC because she wanted to make a difference in her hometown. Teaching at Connors has given her the freedom to volunteer in the community and give back, she said.

Rock teaches Pre-Calculus, Algebra,

Trigonometry, Calculus I & II, Physics I & II, Statistics, and has taught developmental mathematics and general physical science in the past.

“Connors has given me a job that I love and people that I enjoy to work with every day,” Rock said “Getting paid to teach is the perfect place for me to be. I get to help explain math and have fun at the same time.”

As if working full time at CSC, going to school and raising three children, Scarlet, Tyler and Harrison was not enough of a time commitment, Rock decided to learn how to run barrels, she said.

“I like to joke that my horses are also Connors graduates because they were trained as part of the equine program here on campus,” Rock said.

Rock said she believes in Connors and that the instructors have a large impact on students’ lives, this is why

all three of her children have enrolled in classes at CSC. This fall, Rock’s last child will be taking classes at Connors.

“My children are my greatest accomplishment,” she said. “Raising relatively normal children is hard, but I like to think that my kids rock.”

Paula Hiseley, Alumna Paula Hiseley graduated from Warner High School in 1976 and earned a scholarship in music to Connors State College. After a successful music experience as part of an opening act for several famous groups, she received her Associate of Arts in Music in 1978. After graduating from Connors, she attended Northeastern State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Music Education in 1981.

After graduation she married Pete Hiseley, a math teacher and coach.

Following her husband’s career, she taught in six different school districts – Ketchum, Chouteau, Jay, Pawhuska, Vinita, and full circle back to Warner for her 35th year of teaching. At three different school district she was voted “Teacher of the Year,” including Chouteau, Pawhuska, and Vinita. She has a firm belief that music can help

all students learn.

She has been the leader in each community by creating and implementing an annual fine arts festival showcasing students; taking students to perform as opening acts at Branson for fifteen years, having dozens of students qualify for Oklahoma All-State Honor Choir and even one student qualify for National Honor Choir. Besides teaching in public schools, she has taught private voice and piano lessons; accompanied Church Choirs, directed church children/youth choirs, led worship at women’s ministry events in Oklahoma and Missouri, and has sung in a Christian trio.

Hiseley was recently recognized for her achievements by being named as a 2018 inductee to the CSC Alumni & Friends Hall of Fame.

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Grady, Todd Honored During Retiree Reception Prior to commencement exercises on May 11, Connors State College faculty and staff gathered to honor those employees who will be retiring at the end of this academic year. This year’s retirees have contributed a total of 33 years of service to the College.

Dr. Gary Grady, Division Chair for Social Sciences and Instructor of Psychology, will be retiring having dedicated 11 years of service to the students of Connors State.

“Dr. Grady’s students knew that he always had their best interest and their future success in mind.

His passion for students and their goals, his love of his profession, and his commitment to Connors

will be greatly missed. I’m excited that he will continue on with us as an adjunct instructor, and I’m sure our students are,” said Robin O’Quinn, Assistant Vice President for Academic Afffairs.

Sherry Todd, Administrative Secretary for Nursing, also will be leaving the institution, having served 22 years on staff.

“Someone will replace Sherry in her position, but they will never fill her shoes,” said Joyce Johnson, Division Chair for Nursing.

Connors retirees are honored with a brick, engraved with their name and years of service, placed in the Veterans Plaza on the Warner campus.

Connors Recognizes Outstanding Employees Connors State College honored some of its best and brightest employees for their service to the campus community during the 2018 Employee Recognition Awards.

Employees reaching milestone anniversaries with the institution were presented a recognition pin and a small stipend by CSC President Ron Ramming.

“As I often say, I would put our faculty and staff up against those from any institution. I am appreciative of the effort and dedication each of you put into helping our students succeed,” said Ramming.

This year two additional awards were added to recognize the contributions of our student workers and

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adjunct faculty. Layna Grue, a Welch, OK sophomore and student worker in the Human Resources department, was recognized with the Student Employee Impact Award, while Muriel Saunders received the Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award.

Sherry Todd, who is retiring as the Administrative Secretary for Nursing, received the Support Staff Impact Award. Mike Jackson, Dean of Students, earned the Professional Staff Impact Award, while the Connors State College Libraries received the Distinguished Recognition Award for a department/division.

Jake Lawson, Equine Program Director and Head Rodeo Coach, was named the 2018 Faculty of the Year.

Thompson Named to Regional Board Oklahoma members of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) elected Dr. Anita Thompson, Executive Director of the Connors Development Foundation, to serve a two-year term as the Oklahoma State Director of the District IV CASE Board of Directors.

CASE is a membership association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster public support

of education.

Thompson will join the 21- member volunteer board which serves colleges, universities and independent schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. She has been a member of CASE for 11 years where she has served as Awards Chair, District Communications Chair, Membership Chair and Board Secretary, in addition to a previous stint as Oklahoma State Director. CASE volunteers produce a 3-day professional development conference each year with an average attendance of 500. Thompson has been active on the planning teams of these events, serving as both Logistics Chair in 2008 and 2016, as well as Program Chair in 2018.

Hildebrand Serves as a Guest Lecturer for Israeli Ministry of Agriculture On May 26, 2018, Nolan Hildebrand, Connors State College judging coach, traveled to Israel with Dr. Blake Bloomberg, Oklahoma State University judging coach, to serve as a guest lecturer for the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. His goal was to educate the elite cattle producers in Israel about the proper beef cattle selection.

During his time in Israel, Hildebrand visited many cow-calf operations, feedlots and commercial herds located in the Golan Heights region of Israel. The discussions were focused around the appropriate cattle selection methods, depending on the production being performed.

Hildebrand also had the opportunity to help the Israeli Agriculture Extension Agents begin to develop their own beef grading system.

Hildebrand and Dr. Bloomberg were accompanied by four Israeli Extension Agents and over 30 various Israeli

cattle producers, during the five day visit. The chosen cattle producers were some of the largest producers in Israel.

“My favorite part of the trip was visiting with the different cattle producers,” Hildebrand said. “The Israeli’s English speaking skills were a lot better than I anticipated so the language barrier was not that bad at all. It was cool to see the older cattlemen asking questions and wanting to change the way they selected and utilized their cattle after meeting with us. They were extremely nice people and very hospitable. One of the producers took us to their restaurant where our table overlooked the Sea of Galilee. I had one of the best steaks I had ever eaten that night. I ate with great company, and had an extraordinary view of the Sea of Galilee. It will be a dinner I will never forget.”

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EDUCATION Connors State Pins New Nursing Graduates Connors State College celebrated the graduation of 21 new nurses in a pinning and candle lighting ceremony held May 11, 2018, in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Warner Campus.

Graduates were pinned by a faculty, staff, family member or friend of their choice, and provided with a Bible courtesy of the Gideon’s International Auxiliary and a pink rose courtesy of Saint Francis Health Systems.

“The ceremony signifies the student’s official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses,” said Joyce Johnson, Division

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Chair for Nursing & Allied Health. “The ceremony is rich with symbolism. It is the right of passage which can be traced all the way back to the twelfth century.”

The modern ceremony dates back to the 1860’s, when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition for her diligent service to the injured during the Crimean War. To share the honor, she in turn presented a medal of excellence to her brightest graduates. By 1916, the practice of pinning new graduates was standard

throughout the United States, and Connors follows this practice.

Johnson began the ceremony by welcoming the audience, made of supportive family, friends, faculty, staff, and administrators. Retiring Administrative Secretary for the Nursing Division, Sherry Todd was recognized for her 22 years of service to Connors. Stephanie Cook gave the invocation, while student speakers Chris Bodfish and Lindsay Wallace gave prepared remarks about the classes’ journey together, followed by the benediction by Bodfish.

Phi Theta Kappa Induction On April 24, the Connors State College Mu Chi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa inducted 21 new members in a spring ceremony held in the Nursing

and Allied Health Auditorium on the Muskogee Three Rivers Port Campus.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society. Membership is limited

to students in the top two percent in academic standing for their respective institution.

PTA Service Learning Project Aids Kelly B. Todd Center Students from the Physical Therapy Asssistant Program, a partnership between Connors and Indian Capital Technology Center, took part in a service learning project this spring for the Kelly B. Todd Neuromuscular Center in Muskogee. This project reflected curriculum focused on service, volunteerism, and advocacy.

The Kelly B. Todd Center is a not for profit clinic serving children with

neuromuscular conditions, a patient population that is underserved with appropriate clinics in the region.

Patients come from a wide region to receive services.

The center also maintains various medical equipment, such as standing frames, walkers and adaptive seating that can be loaned to families. This becomes critical for those who have a child who may have grown out of their

equipment, but are not within the window for insurance to replace it yet, or perhaps insurance doesn’t cover the cost.

The PTA students weeded flower beds, replaced mulch, and sprayed for weeds around the fence line and in the parking lot. They also cleaned all the clinic’s windows inside and out, cleaned bathrooms, and disinfected and sorted therapy toys.

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ATHLETICS Six Cowboys Named All-Region, Three Earn Golden Gloves Connors State placed six players on the All-Region II Team and three Cowboys earned Golden Glove Awards this season.

Connors’ Logan Gragg was named the Pitcher of the Year and was joined by outfielder Luis Pelayo, designated hitter Colton Burgess, catcher Tony Hrynkiw, infielder Carson Johnson and pitcher Brandon Goldston on the All-Region squad.

Gragg (5-0) threw 42 innings, struck

out 52, and walked 11 for an earned run average of 1.29 during the regular season.

Pelayo hit for a .474 average, which included four home runs, five triples, 19 doubles and 74 runs-batted-in.

Burgess averaged .418 at the plate, including 21 home runs to lead the Cowboys, two triples, 11 doubles and 79 RBIs to pace the Cowboys.

Hrynkiw hit for a .380 average with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

Johnson hit .452 for the Cowboys including two home runs, 11 doubles and collected 51 RBIs. Goldston on the hill posted a 7-0 record in 54 innings, striking out 42 and walking 22, posting an earned run average of 3.67.

Those named Golden Glove recipients were pitcher Ty Callahan, third baseman Jake Northern and left fielder Luis Pelayo.

Logan Gragg

Luis Pelayo

Colton Burgess

Tony Hrynkiw

Carson Johnson

Brandon Goldston

Ty Callahan

Jake Northern

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Two Cowboys Drafted by MLB, Two All-Americans Two Connors State College Cowboys were taken in the Major League Baseball Draft: centerfielder George Bell in the 13th round to the San Francisco Giants and Nick Starr in the 19th round by the Cincinnati Reds.

Bell hit .360 in 57 games for the Cowboys and had a .969 fielding percentage last season.

Starr, who played for the Cowboys two years ago, was drafted out of Southern Arkansas University. While at Connors State, during his sophomore year he posted a 3-3 record on the mound with a 4.38 earned run average in 18 appearances with three saves.

This past season at Southern Arkansas University, Starr was 2-2 on the hill with a 3.77 ERA in 18 appearances. He struck out 46 with 15 walks in 31 innings.

Connors State baseball players Colton Burgess (pictured opposite), infielder sophomore from Salina, OK, and Luis Pelayo (pictured opposite), outfielder from Oranjestad, Aruba, were named members of the All – American first team for Division 1 Baseball by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

These two additions bring the total All-Americans produced by the CSC baseball team to an impressive 39.

Burgess blasted 26 home runs and hit for an average of .437 with 91 RBI’s, Pelayo hit .469 with 5 home runs and 78 RBI’s for the Cowboys who won a conference championship and finished the year 49-9 “All of these guys had an outstanding season and great careers at Connors State,” said Cowboys Head Coach Perry Keith.

George Bell

Nick Starr

Golf Tourney Raises Funds for Athletic Scholarships A team from Harrison Tires won the sixth annual Connors State College Athletic Department Golf Scramble on June 2nd at Cobblestone Golf Course.

Second place was Fisher Team 1 and third place was captured by the Ken Hayes team. Twelve teams participated in the tournament.

“It was a great success. We appreciate everyone who took part in the tournament to support our student athletes,” said Bill Muse, Athletic Director.

All proceeds from the tournament benefit CSC athletic scholarships.

In other competition at the tournament, Spencer Smyth was the winner of the closest to the pin competition and Dr. Stuart Woods won the longest drive.

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Jones Signs to Play Ball at Arkansas Connors State men’s head basketball coach Bill Muse and University of Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson announced that Cowboys’ Mason Jones has signed with the Razorbacks.

Jones joins the Razorbacks after finishing his freshman season as a Cowboy where he averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The 6-5 guard started 25 of 35 games last season, including each of the final 23 contests. Jones finished in double figures in scoring 28 times, including nine 20-point games and two 30-point efforts.

“With Mason coming to Fayetteville, we feel like we landed a perimeter player who brings all the attributes we embrace in our program,” said Anderson.

“He is an outstanding student, a person of character and has great

basketball IQ. He is really skilled, can score the basketball, rebounds and plays with an edge. Mason comes from a great family and we look forward to having him join our program this summer.”

In a win over Eastern Oklahoma State College, Jones led the Cowboys with 33 points, going 12-of-20 (.600) from the floor, including 8-of-11 (.727) from behind the arc.

On the season, he shot 51.5 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from deep and 77.4 percent from the free throw line.

Jones recorded four five-assists games and pulled down 10-plus rebounds nine times, including a season-high 18 against Redlands Community College where he also had a season-high six assists. He tallied nine double-doubles last season.

Roy Signs with University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin Darius Roy has signed to play basketball for University of MilwaukeeWisconsin Panthers.

“Excited to have Darius join our Panther Family,” UWM head coach Pat Baldwin said. “Darius brings a great amount of maturity, toughness and a great competitive spirit to our team. He has already competed at the DI level, so he knows what it takes to win at a high level. In addition, Darius adds a great ability to score and make plays for his teammates. He has all of the winning qualities we covet for our team.”

Roy helped lead the nationallyranked Cowboys to a 31-4 record and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NJCAA National Basketball Tournament after earning the No. 12 national seed in the event.

The 6-foot-2 point guard from

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Lawton, started all 35 games, directing an offense that put up 90.3 points-pergame on the season. He averaged 12.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 48 percent from the floor, 41 percent from threepoint range and 76 percent from the free throw line.

He posted season-highs of 26 points, collected as many as 11 rebounds in a game and handed out as many as 11 assists – including 9 or more on six occasions while also finishing the campaign with over twice as many assists (194) as turnovers.

The Lawton native attended Eisenhower High School as a prep and played at Mercer University as a freshman, where he appeared in 18 games for the Bears.

Three Cowgirls Sign Basketball Letters-Of-Intent Connors State Cowgirls head coach Jamie Fisher announced earlier this month that three Cowgirls have signed national basketball letters-ofintent, DeAuja Thompson (left), Lauren Godbold (center) and Mikia McDonald (right).

Thompson, 6-0 forward from Columbus, Ohio, has signed with Xavier University; Lauren Godbold, 5-8 guard from Mansfield, Texas, is joining Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., and Mikiah McDonald, 5-11 post from Roland, Okla., has signed with Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Okla.

Thompson, who was a transfer from Howard College, averaged 16.6 points per game for the Cowgirls last season, connecting on 41.4 percent from the floor (196-473) and 70.6 percent from the free throw line (48 of 68).

Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an NCAA Division I school and is a member of the Big East Conference. Xavier head coach Brian Neal posted a 10-20 record last season.

Godbold averaged 6.8 points for the Cowgirls when she became eligible to play in the second semester. She connected on 40 percent from the

field (38-95) and 69.2 at the line (18-of-26).

Central Methodist is an NAIA Division I program and is coached

by Mike Davis, where he guided the program into the NAIA National Tournament.

McDonald averaged 9.8 points, shooting 42.3 from the field (94-222) and 63.6 percent at the free throw line (70-110) last season.

Southwestern Christian is a NAIA Division I school and is a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. Head coach Mark Arthur finished with a 14-19 mark last year.

Bishop Coulter signs with Midwestern State University Midwestern State University head coach Nelson Haggerty has announced the signing of 6-7 forward Bishop Coulter from Atoka, Okla. to a national basketball letter-of-intent.

Midwestern State is located in Wichita Falls, Texas, and is a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference.

Coulter who transferred to Connors from Ranger College, in Ranger, TX,

averaged 11.4 points per game. His scoring played a major role in leading the Cowboys to a 31-4 record and a fifth consecutive Oklahoma Junior College Athletic Conference championship and the Elite Eight of the NJCAA National Tournament.

Coulter shot 68.8 percent from the floor (165-240) and 61.8 percent at the free throw line (34-55) last season.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Connors State College Recognizes 101 Students at the Division of Agriculture Awards and Recognition Banquet On April 25, 2018, Connors State College recognized 101 students at the Division of Agriculture Awards and Recognition Banquet in the CSC Agriculture Hall of Fame on the Warner Campus. The banquet acknowledged students for their successful application in the Agriculture Division at CSC. Austyn Fuss, a sophomore in Animal Science and a Division of Agriculture award winner, welcomed the honorees and thanked them for their attendance.

The banquet kicked off with dinner, a slideshow, and entertainment from Agriculture Ambassador, Sophia Akuna.

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“It is exciting to be able to recognize so many of our outstanding students with such a wide range of awards,” said Debby Golden, CSC Agriculture Division Chair. “These young adults study hard and compete harder. They put forth their very best and it shows.

Working with this group of students has been very rewarding.”

The students at the banquet were recognized in one of the following ways: Cowboy Horizon Award, Sophomores of Significance, Agriculture In Stills Photography, Design Contest, Aggie Western King of the Ring, the Boot award, All Division Team Members, Graduates

of Distinction, Agriculture Legacy, Newman Civic Fellow, National Beef Ambassador, college activity involvement, and through involvement during the banquet.

“The CSC Agriculture Department is a great department for any student,” said Brooklyn Herriman, a Division of Agriculture award winner and the Student Government President.

“There are endless opportunities for students of all backgrounds. I am excited to see what the new school year will bring for the Division of Agriculture, and I am also excited to see all the new faces who will help make the division what it is.”

HERRIMAN ADDRESSES OSRHE Newly elected Student Government Association President Brooklyn Herriman had the recent opportunity to address the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. She shared the benefits she has experienced in her first year as a recipient of the Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship and encouraged the regents to continue to advocate for the program for future Oklahomans.

SODEXO Sodexo Food Service, Connors’ campus dining partner, started a new initiative that rescued over 200 pounds of food this year by donating extra food to local non-profits and senior centers. Sodexo General Manager Andy Bonczyk hopes to increase the number this upcoming year. Pictured are Bonczyk, his team and Dean of Students, Mike Jackson.

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CO N N ORS ST A T E C O LLE G E 700 College Road | Warner, OK 74469

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CONNORSConnors STATE COLLEGE State College recently celebrated its 108th graduating class awarding more than 350 certifi-

The Connors State spirit squad utilized time between National cates and degrees on Friday, May 5, 2017.

Tournament games by reading with the children at the Hutchinson Community College Childcare Center. WWW.CONNORSGIVING.COM/RECONNECT 20 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 4