January 2012
ECU #2 IN THE STATE StateUniversity.com has ranked East Central University No. 2 in Oklahoma for campus safety. The website ranks colleges and universities for campus safety on a scale that accounts for severity of a crime as well as frequency of crime.
REPS THOMSEN AND HILLIARD HONORED BY OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS
Dr. Glen Johnson, OSRHE Chancellor, presents the 2011 Distinguished Service Award to Rep. Todd Thomsen (top left) and Rep. Wes Hilliard (bottom left) in recognition of the legislators’ continued support of higher education. Also pictured is ECU President John Hargrave.
TERRY W. WEST ADDRESSES ECU’S FALL GRADUATES
Shawnee attorney Terry W. West, a graduate of Francis High School who attended ECU in 1956 and 1957, addressed 217 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 92 candidates for master’s degrees during the fall commencement ceremony. RUSO Regent Connie Reilly also addressed the graduates on behalf of RUSO.
CAREER DISCOVERY DAY
LT. GOV. JEFFERSON KEEL TO DELIVER WATKINS LECTURE
Chickasaw Nation Lt. Gov. Jefferson Keel will deliver the Watkins Lecture in the Estep Room in the University Center on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
He will discuss the National Congress of American Indians, which he serves as the national president. Keel is a 1978 graduate of ECU and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2008.
State Sen. Susan Paddack, ECU, the Pontotoc Technology Center and the Ada Jobs Foundation hosted a Career Discovery Day at ECU – My Future, My Career, My Responsibility - for all eighth grade students in Pontotoc County. This pilot program exposed hundreds of students to jobs in the area and to the skills required for a career. The idea for the program was sparked by a visit to the state capitol.
NOBODIES OF COMEDY
Described as “the funniest comics you’ve never heard of,” a touring talent showcase of young comedians will perform at 7:30 p.m on Jan. 26 in the Ataloa Theatre.
Tickets are on sale now for $18. In addition 150 student tickets are available for $5.75 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets may be purchased online at tickets.ecok. edu or reserved by calling the theatre’s box office at 580-5595751.
HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
On Jan. 17 ECU celebrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day by hosting a dinner in his honor. Winners of the MLK Essay Contest and the Spirit of MLK Service and Leadership Award were announced.
JOHNSON RETURNS TO ECU
Raymond Johnson returns to ECU as the interim vice president of administration and finance. Johnson served as vice president of fiscal affairs at ECU from April 2000 until his retirement in June 2003. He worked part-time from Oct. through Dec. 2005. He then served full-time from Jan. 2006 - March 2007.
CLEET RECEIVES NEW CAR
Dr. Steve Turner (second from right), former vice president for finance and administration at ECU, hands over the keys to a 2011 Dodge Charger to Steve Emmons, executive director of CLEET. Also shown are Jeff Coble (far left) and Bill Bullard, CLEET law enforcement driver training instructors, and Cassie Holloway (far right), administrative assistant for ECU’s Tribal Police Training Program and the Campus Law Enforcement Technical Assistance Program. The vehicle was funded through a grant awarded to ECU by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and will be used for law enforcement driver training at CLEET. The grant proposal was written by Turner and ECU faculty member Sonya Hensley as part of a partnership agreement with the BIA, CLEET and ECU.
ADDICTION, RECOVERY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD JAN. 19-20 AT ECU
An Addiction and Recovery Conference to be held Jan.19 and 20 at ECU will focus on current issues, trends and strategies in the field of substance abuse and offer information on addiction recovery, treatment and prevention.
The workshop will be presented by ECU’s Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction & Recovery.
STATE ARTISTS’ ‘24 WORKS ON PAPER’ EXHIBITION
A traveling exhibition of works by living Oklahoma artists will be open to the public through Jan. 31 in ECU’s Pogue Art Gallery.
The exhibition, “24 Works on Paper,” is a collaboration between Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC). It is traveling the state for a full year, bringing original, contemporary Oklahoma artwork to viewers in communities large and small.
ECU alumni Scott Johnson of Holdenville and Paul Walsh of Roff are two of the 24 artists from eight Oklahoma cities selected for the exhibit by Dr. Louise Siddons, the 2011 guest juror and an assistant professor of American, modern and contemporary art at Oklahoma State University.
ECU PROFESSOR RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AWARD
The Oklahoma Society of Environmental Health Professionals (OSEHP) presented the Environmental Health Professional of the Year Award to ECU associate professor Dr. Patrick Bohan during its annual meeting in Oklahoma City.
MOLLY SHI BOREN SCHOLARSHIP
Congratulating Andy Roller (center) of Tecumseh, ECU’s first recipient of the Molly Shi Boren Centennial Scholarship, are Dr. Christine Pappas (left), coordinator of ECU’s Department of Political Science and Legal Studies, and Phyllis Danley, executive director of the ECU Foundation Inc. The scholarship honoring Boren, an ECU graduate, is designed to be awarded to a freshman and continue until the recipient graduates if certain qualifications are met. Roller, a 2003 graduate of Collinsville High School, plans to earn a degree in political science at ECU then go to law school at the University of Oklahoma to study environmental law.
R. BURL HARRIS SCHOLARSHIP
Congratulating Tamra Albritton (second from right), ECU’s first recipient of the R. Burl Harris Legal Studies Centennial Scholarship is Dr. Christine Pappas, Phyllis Danley and Jan Harris, widow of the late Burl Harris. The scholarship honoring Harris, an ECU graduate, attorney and one of the founders of the ECU Foundation was designed to assist a student pursing the field of legal studies.
STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Area Teachers of the Year pose with the 2012 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Kristin Shelby of Hollis (front row, center) at the Marvin Stokes Endowed Lectureship at East Central University. Recognized at the lectureship were Cherina Brown (front row, from left), Moss Schools; Debra Blackwood, Stratford Schools; Shelby; Tisha Martin, Latta Schools; Shawna Harrison, Ada Schools; and (back row, from left) Spencer Cody, Allen Schools; ECU President John Hargrave; Dr. Brenda Walling, dean of the ECU College of Education & Psychology; and Chris Elliott, Byng Schools.
ECU PERFORMS AT NEW QUARTER LAUNCH
Performing at the official launch ceremony in November of the new quarter honoring the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur was the ECU Clarinet Ensemble. The ensemble performed “Chickasaw Fanfare,” a piece director Michael Whitworth composed for the ceremony, as well other ceremonial music and pieces from its fall concert. The quarter is the 10th coin in the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters Program. Its reverse side depicts the area’s scenic Lincoln Bridge which was dedicated in 1909.
VETERANS DAY DOOR WINNER
Students in a Social Work II class flank Kathy Baker (center left), switchboard supervisor at ECU, and switchboard operator Sherry Brady (center right), the winners of a Veterans Day door decorating contest at ECU. Class members organized the contest to honor veterans and currently serving military personnel. Judging was based on originality, patriotism and creativity. Baker and Brady decorated their door with photos of family members, some of whom are current members of the military.
STUDENTS VISIT LEXINGTON CORRECTIONAL CENTER
Inside Out “Outside” students from ECU and “inside” students, inmates at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center, gather to discuss topics related to the criminal justice system. ECU is the only university in Oklahoma offering the Inside Out Prison Exchange program in which offenders begin to see themselves and their previous actions through the eyes of the public, and the students gain a new perspective about the inmates who participated in the class.
ECU Mission
East Central University’s mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area, East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.
BREAK YOUR BAND OUT OF THE GARAGE
A class on how to be in a band, start your own band or improve your band’s performance will begin Jan. 23 at ECU.
The class, part of ECU’s Community Education Program, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23, Jan. 30 and Feb. 6. The cost is $40. An informal jam session will follow each class.
Congratulations to the ECU Fall Sports Teams!
The Learfield Sports Director’s Cup recently announced that ECU currently ranks 22nd in the nation - highest of any university in the Great American Conference
Cross Country #11 Nationally
Women’s Soccer #1 Great American Conference Football #3 Great American Conference
SAVE THE DATE:
FRANC
D’AMBROSIO
Feb. 28
7:30 p.m.
Ataloa Theatre
Hallie Brown Ford
Fine Arts Center
Admission - $18
UPCOMING EVENTS
All month 1/19/2012 – 1/31/2012
Art Show - 24 Works on Paper Pogue Art Gallery, HBFFAC
1/19/2012 & 1/20/2012
BWI Addiction & Recovery Conference, 8 a.m.
1/26/2012
Nobodies of Comedy, 7:30 p.m. Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC
2/2/2012 -2/10/2012
Art Show - Selections from the Permanent Selection Pogue Art Gallery, HBFFAC
2/2/2012
Women’s Basketball vs. Ouachita Baptist 5:30 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
Watkins Lecture, 7 p.m., Estep, UC
Men’s Basketball vs. Ouachita Baptist 7:30 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
2/4/2012
Women’s Basketball vs. Henderson State 2 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
Men’s Basketball vs. Henderson State 4 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
Baseball vs St. Gregory’s, double-header 1 p.m., baseball field
2/14/2012 -2/16/2012
Art Show - Interscholastic Show Pogue Art Gallery, HBFFAC
2/14/2012
Interscholastic Meet
Chocolate in the Afternoon 2-4 p.m., 2nd floor, Danley Hall
2/16/2012-2/19/2012
Cabaret, 7:30 p.m., Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC
2/16/2012
Women’s Basketball vs. Southern Arkansas 5:30 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
Men’s Basketball vs. Southern Arkansas 7:30 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
February 2012
HIGHER EDUCATION DAY AT THE CAPITOL
ECU Administrators and students met with legislators on Feb. 21 at Higher Education Day at the State Capitol. A PowerPoint presentation highlighted ECU alum Bill Anotubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation.
ECU junior Nikki Dickerson of Mustang spoke on the house floor about her educational journey.
CONSTRUCTION ON ECU’S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS TAKES SHAPE
Concrete walls are going up on the $10.65 million, 62,000-squarefoot facility that will house the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business and the ECU Conference Center.
Feb. 28
7:30 p.m.
Ataloa Theatre
Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center
Admission - $18
ECU ACCOUNTING STUDENTS PROVIDING FREE TAX RETURN ASSISTANCE
Students in ECU’s School of Business are participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program again this year to provide free assistance to individuals with basic tax returns, particularly those with low and fixed incomes. The national program is supported by the Internal Revenue Service.
The VITA site opened Feb. 6 at a new location, 1001 N. Country Club Road, where the former Carl Albert Indian Health Facility was located. April 12 will be the last day the assistance will be available.
ECU’S PI SIGMA ALPHA RECEIVES GRANT
Youth-Led project addresses childhood obesity, encourages healthy lifestyle in Ada as part of Global Youth Service Day
Lacie Law a senior Legal Studies major at ECU was awarded a $500 UnitedHealth HEROES Grant from YSA (Youth Service America) and UnitedHealth Group. One of 282 grants awarded nationwide, Lawson’s project “Dance Revolution” will encourage students at the Ada Boys and Girls Club to lead more active lifestyles by learning dance steps.
CHOCOLATE IN THE AFTERNOON
Phi Delta Kappa continues the tradition and sponsored Chocolate in the Afternoon in honor of President’s Day. Faculty, staff and students had a chance to taste-test all the wonderful chocolate delicacies and visit with the campus presidents.
ECU HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS FOR AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Tiger Connection, Interscholastic Meet, Disability Services Transition Workshop, District Choral Contest, Pauls Valley High School Day, East Central Oklahoma District Honor Bands, ECOHBA and Regional OJAS have all taken place the past few weeks.
TRANSFER OFFICE HITS THE ROAD
ECU’s Transfer Enrollment Office will be taking several faculty and staff members to Eastern Oklahoma State College’s campus on Monday, March 5. The group will raise awareness about how easy it is to transfer to ECU.
ECU STUDENTS TIE FOR FIRST
ECU’s Business Policy & Strategy class recently competed in an online game business simulation. The game is part of the class experience and combines all the business skills into the game. Student teams in Dr. Peterson’s class finished in the top 100 in several categories this past fall. Team “Amazing” finished in a first-place tie in the global rankings.
DECKER PLACES THIRD IN ‘TEXAS TWO STEP SWING’
Congratulations to Stephen Decker, a member of the Tiger speech and debate team at ECU, placed third in After Dinner Speaking in the “Texas Two Step Swing” at Tarrant County College in Hurst, Texas. Decker, a sophomore legal studies major at ECU, earned his third trophy of the season in that event.
ALUMNI REUNION
The Political Science/ Legal Studies Alumni Reunion was held on Saturday, Feb. 18. ECU alums had the opportunity to reminisce and share stories.
FOSTERS MAKE A DONATION
Kyle and Kendall Foster are the first alums to contribute to the “Circle of Annual Giving” scholarship campaign. Their donation will go toward the newly established Political Science Public Service Scholarship.
2012-13 ECU ALUMNI BOARD:
Tiffany Grant ‘07 - President
Sam Caton ‘09 - Vice President
Pat Fountain ‘80 - Secretary
Tommy Vass ‘88- Treasurer
Lance Allee ‘03
Jesse Allen ‘09
James Brown ‘75
Jill Clark ‘10
Robyn Elliott ‘02
Hillary Farrell ‘00
Chris Feiler ‘80
Kyle Foster ‘09
Ronda Martin ‘82
Gerald McAlister ‘83
Barbara Miller ‘09
Ray Nicholas ‘83
Tori Petete ‘08
Beth Vezina ‘79
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE SUCCESS
The ECU Alumni Association recently held a membership drive and as of mid-February it has received 229 new and renewing members - more than a 300 percent increase in annual membership. It’s not too late to join. Contact the Alumni Office to join todayalumni@ecok.edu
‘BOOKS R US’ SCHOLARSHIP FUND
This spring, in celebration of its 42nd anniversary, the ECU Foundation launched an internal campaign to start a scholarship fund to help students purchase books. Just $42 from 100 employees will raise $4,200 to help ECU students purchase books.
NEW ECU SCHOLARSHIP HONORS
DR. RANIYAH RAMADAN
A scholarship honoring Dr. Raniyah Ramadan, a promising research scientist from Ada who passed away last July at age 34, has been established at ECU.
The scholarship was established at the ECU Foundation Inc. by the Ramadan family through the Dr. Raniyah Ramadan Foundation. Her father, Dr. Tawfik Ramadan, provides campus health services for ECU students, and her mother, Siham Ramadan, is an ECU graduate. Three of her five siblings also are ECU graduates.
ECU GRADUATE WINS NATIONAL ACTE TEACHER OF YEAR AWARD
ECU alum Cindy Adams of Sulphur, an instructor of business and information technology at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center in Ardmore, has been named the 2012 National Teacher of the Year by the Association for Career and Technical Education.
ECU CELEBRATING BLACK HERITAGE MONTH
An Evening of Celebration Banquet, Comedy Show and Dance was held Feb. 17 at ECU as part of Black Heritage Month.
The banquet recognized the trailblazing ECU students who were the first African-American athletes on ECU teams. Honorees include: retired Air Force Col. David Bass, a two-time All-American basketball player and member of the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame; Rollins’ roommate, Dr. Jimmie V. Scales; baseball player Dr. Donnie Nero, the retired president of Connors State College; bowling team member David Bush and varsity basketball player Dr. Teresa Washington. Pictured is Jackie “Tex” Rollins receiving an award from Rev. Walter Whitney. Pictured below that is Dr. Teresa Washington.
ECU ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT THREE ON FEB. 25
Three new members will be inducted into the East Central University Athletic Hall of Fame at halftime of the ECU men’s home basketball game with Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 25. That trio includes former women’s basketball star Stormy Griffith, ex-football standout Terry Summers and Ron Miller, former head softball and assistant football coach.
The ceremony will take place at halftime of the 7:30 p.m. men’s game. The women’s game will tip off prior to that at 5:30 p.m.
JAY WILKINSON, SON OF LEGENDARY OU FOOTBALL COACH BUD WILKINSON, VISITS WITH THE ECU FOOTBALL TEAM
Jay Wilkinson, in a roundabout way, carries on his late father’s legacy as far as communication is concerned.
Jay was on the East Central University campus on recently, along with friend, former OU player under Bud Wilkinson, ECU supporter and Ada resident Charlie Mayhue. Jay articulated his speaking skills with the Tiger football team in a brief but effective meeting at the Pat O’Neal Strength and Conditioning Center. He outlined three major points in encouraging the ECU squad.
LIFE OF AN ATHLETE
ECU is taking a proactive approach to fighting addictions by implementing the Oklahoma Life of an Athlete program. The program was made available through the Brandon Whitten Institute, the Whitten-Newman Foundation and F.A.T.E.
ECU athletes began the semester with an interactive online training for athletes about the impact of alcohol and other drugs on athletic performance.
ECU Mission
East Central University’s mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area, East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.
PARKER ETHICS LECTURE
A former ECU professor spoke at the annual Parker Ethics Lecture. Dr. Thom Balmer discussed vulnerability and decision-making issues for elderly clients and customers in business environments. The Parker Ethics Lecture is sponsored by ECU’s Oscar L. Parker Center for the Advancement of Ethical Standards in Business and Society and the ECU Student Chapter of the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium.
ECU PROFESSORS JUDGE MICROBIOLOGY PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCE
Dr. Terry Cluck and Dr. Charles Biles, professors of biology at East Central University, were among 52 active researcher-educators who judged student presentations in microbiology recently at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in St. Louis, Mo.
ADDICTION, RECOVERY CONFERENCE HELD AT ECU
An Addiction and Recovery Conference, presented by ECU’s Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction & Recovery, focused on current issues, trends and strategies in the field of substance abuse and offered information on addiction recovery, treatment and prevention.
Reggie Whitten, pictured above, founder of the Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction & Recovery at ECU, discussed common conceptions and misconceptions of substance abuse and addiction before the first session, “Current Drug Trends.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
2/25/2012 -3/16/2012
Art Show - John Cox, Pogue Art Gallery, HBFFAC
2/25/2012
Women’s Basketball vs. Southeastern 5:30 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
Men’s Basketball vs. Southeastern 7:30 p.m., Kerr Activities Center
Understanding Israel Seminar 8:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Dorothy Summers Theatre
2/28/2012 & 2/29/2012
ECU District Choral Contest, All Day, HBFFAC
2/28/2012
Franc D’Ambrosio
7:30 p.m., Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC
Softball vs USAO, double-header 2:00 p.m., Softball Field
2/29/2012
Veterans Town Hall Meeting 4:00 p.m., Estep, UC
3/1/2012
University Choral CMS Concert 7:30 p.m., Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC
3/2/2012 & 3/3/2012
College Music Society Regional Conference All Day, HBFFAC
3/3/2012
Softball vs SOSU double-header 1:00 p.m., Softball Field
3/4/2012
Softball vs SOSU double-header 1:00 p.m., Softball Field
3/5/2012 & 3/6/2012
Women’s Golf, Oak Hills Country Club, Ada
3/6/2012
Softball vs Truman State double-header 12:00 p.m., Softball Field
3/8/2012 – 3/10/2012
OK Junior Academy of Science & OK State Science and Engineering Fair
3/8/2012
University Chorale Concert 11:45 a.m., First Baptist Church
Midwinter Band Concert
7:30 p.m., Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC
April 2012
10 MORE YEARS!
The Higher Learning Commission announced that ECU’s next comprehensive evaluation for reaccreditation will be in 2021-2022. No further commission follow-up is required. They also approved the expansion of distance education up to 100 percent of total degree programs, including the addition of the Master of Education in Library Media Specialist.
PORTER TO GIVE SPRING COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Microsoft Executive David Porter has been named ECU’s 2012 Distinguished Alum and will address ECU’s graduates on May 12 at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
President Hargrave and Provost Anderson were recently asked to present at the annual HLC conference in Chicago.
DR. RANIYAH RAMADAN SCHOLAR ANNOUNCED
The Ramadan family recently announced the first recipient of the Dr. Raniyah Ramadan Scholarship. Dr. Tawfik and Siham Ramadan congratulate Tobey Hatton, a pre-dental student from Pauls Valley.
‘WORLD’S OLDEST’ SUCCESSFUL FEMALE MOUNTAIN CLIMBER SPEAKING AT ECU
Dr. Carol Masheter will be the speaker for ECU’s fourth annual Louise Young Diversity Lecture on April 18 at 7 p.m. in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.
Masheter is the second oldest woman in the world to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the world’s oldest woman, as of last month, to successfully climb the Seven Summits, the highest points on the world’s seven continents. She will talk about her challenges, among them her fear of heights, and her successes. Admission is free.
TIM GREEN ALL-SPORTS GOLF CLASSIC
The 6th Annual Tim Green All-Sports Golf Classic will be Monday, April 23, at the Oak Hills Golf & Country Club in Ada. The 4-person scramble has two flights beginning at 8:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dr. Gil Morgan will give a demonstration around noon. Registration is open – www.alumni.ecok.edu.
Porter earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance in 1987 from ECU. As corporate vice president of retail stores for Microsoft, Porter oversees the company’s development and investment to create a premium retail experience for customers around the world through the growing channels of Microsoft’s brick and mortar stores and online presence.
EVENING OF HONORS & RECOGNITION
An Evening of Honors & Recognition will be held on Friday, April 27, at 6 p.m. in the Stanley P. Wagner Ballroom.
Please join us as we recognize the 2012 distinguished honorees and the 2011 centennial endowments. Honorees include: Distinguished Former Faculty, Dr. Don Kellogg; Distinguished Former Faculty, Dr. Carlotta Lockmiller; Distinguished Family, The Zimmerman Family; Distinguished Alumnus, David Porter; Distinguished Service, Frank Crawford & Mike Crawford; and Distinguished Philanthropist, Harland & Shirley Stonecipher.
Ticket are $30 per person and $50 per couple. Contact Catie Caton at catncat@ecok.edu or 580-5595611. RSVP deadline is April 20.
CONGRESSMAN COLE VISITS CAMPUS
Congressman Tom Cole met with ECU administrators this month. President Hargrave shared all the wonderful successes including the construction of the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business and ECU Conference Center. Cole took time to participate in signing one of the structure’s beams with the ECU business faculty at the construction site.
ALUM REUNIONS ANNOUNCED
The ECU Alumni Association hosted the first reunion for the 2012 year in Dallas.
ECU Alum Chanette Reed-Marshall, spends time looking through old yearbooks.
Mark your calendar for upcoming reunions: Friday, June 8 - Tulsa Reunion; Saturday, Aug. 11 - OKC Reunion; AND Friday, Aug. 17 - Ada Reunion. For complete details visit www.alumni.ecok.edu.
SPAGHETTI DINNER & SHOW
Alpha Gamma Delta will hold a Spaghetti Dinner (donated by Macaroni Grill) Fundraiser for diabetes research on Sat., April 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Grace Christian Fellowship Church (behind Star Skate). The entertainment will begin at noon and will feature the ECU Gospel Choir, Allen Cindall and many more. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children (3-12).
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO MEDIATE
Early Settlement Mediation Program at ECU is seeking volunteer mediators. Learning how to help people resolve conflicts and move on with their lives can be very rewarding, according to a group of volunteers who do just that. A two-day training session for mediators has been set for May 3 and 4 in Shawnee. There is no cost for the training, and additional training dates may be available. For more info, call 580-559-5674.
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM HOSTS 5K
The Vision Bank President Leadership Program announced their upcoming event - “Fun for Life 5K” to benefit Pros for Africa will be held on Saturday, April 21, at 7 a.m. at the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. Individual cost is $30 and ECU students are free. For more information email jeslcoa@email.ecok.edu.
MASONER WINS FIRST PLACE
Chancellor Glen Johnson congratulates ECU student Mark Masoner. Masoner’s project on GIS Analysis for Optimal Site Selection of a New Fire Station won first place at Research Day at the Capitol. The project studied the best location for the City of Ada to construct a new fire station.
NEW SUMMER CAMPS
ECU is proud to announce four new summer camps. Russian Summer Institute, June 10-29 (Grades 9-12); Coding Theory, Risk Analysis and Other Mathematical Pursuits, June 11-15 (Grades 10-12); ECU Explorations in Computer Science and Robotics Summer Academy, June 17 - 22 (Ages 14-18); and Oklahoma Business Week, July 8-13 (Grades 10 & 11). For more information visit www.ecok.edu/ce.
JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT
Students from across the state journeyed to ECU this spring semester. ECU hosted several state competitions including the District Choral Contest, Okla. Junior Academy of Science & Okla. State Science & Engineering Fair, OSSAA State Band Contest, First United Awards and R. Darryl Fisher Creative Writing Contest.
ECU IS MILITARY FRIENDLY
A certificate held by President John Hargrave recognizes ECU as a 2012 Military Friendly School for hosting several programs that specifically serve and/or address the needs of military service members, veterans and their families. G.I. Jobs magazine presents the award annually to the top 20 percent of institutions embracing these students.
2012-13 FINE ARTS SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE MAY 1ST
12 PRODUCTIONS
12 GALLERY EXHIBITS
JUST $140 tickets.ecok.edu
ECU HOSTS ADVANCE SCREENINGS
A sneak preview of the sixth season of “Art in the TwentyFirst Century,” the only prime time national television series focused exclusively on contemporary art, was offered in early April. ECU’s Art Department screened the programs in partnership with Art21 as part of its Access ’12 initiative.
PI A PROFESSOR
STUDENTS VISIT KC
ECU art students explore Kansas City during a recent field trip. Students express themselves next to the Block wing of the Nelson-Atkins gallery. The sculpture is by Rodin.
To celebrate Math Awareness month ECU’s Math Club gave everyone the opportunity to PI a Professor. Students lined up to PI Dr. Brad Jessop (one of the volunteers). All proceeds went to the House of Hope here in Ada.
SCISSORTAIL WRITING FESTIVAL
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey and recent Indiana poet laureate Norbert Krapf visit with attendees at the seventh annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival. More than 50 regional published and emerging authors read and discussed their work at ECU this month.
ALL NATIONS POW WOW
The ECU Native American Student Association co-hosted the All Nations Pow Wow held at ECU this year. Hundreds of people attended the festivities. Arts & crafts, food, music, dancing and contests were enjoyed by all.
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEGAL STUDIES REUNION
Several graduates from the political science and legal studies programs reunited to reminisce and learn about department enhancements and to visit the campus again.
GOAL EXCEEDED!
The ECU Foundation announced it has exceeded its fundraising goal for the 42 for ECU! Campus Campaign! A total of $5,854 was donated for the “Books R Us” Scholarship Fund. The first 10 donors were invited to eat pizza with President Hargrave.
ECU RUNNERS EXCEL AT COWTOWN RACES
ECU’s cross country programs were proudly represented at the Cowtown Races. ECU’s head cross country coach Steve Sawyer won the half marathon and senior Armando Saldivar was runner-up.
Alums Kolin Styles and Koby Styles were victorious in their respective races. Kolin won the Cowtown Marathon and Koby took top honors in the ultra-marathon 50k race.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET
The Ada Area Chamber of Commerce honored several individuals and businesses at the banquet. ECU’s Continuing Education Department received the Community Impact Award. The majority of individual awards were given to ECU Alums. Harland and Shirley Stonecipher, who recently donated millions to construct the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, were honored for Lifetime Achievement. Barbara Miller was cited as Ambassador of the Year and Jenny Cypert was named Volunteer of the Year.
ECU FACULTY MAKE NEWS
Linscheid Library Academic Friends hosted Dr. Robin Murphy, assistant professor of English and languages, at ECU. She discussed her book “How Social Trauma Affects How We Write: Post 9/11 Rhetorical Theory and Composition Pedagogy,” and a chapter she co-wrote for another book about counterculture icon Joss Whedon.
Dane Scott, assistant professor of chemistry, has been awarded an OK EPSCoR Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) to perform bioenergy research in laboratories at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University this summer. He will research Catalysts for Biofuel Production from Cellulosic Materials.
Dr. Robert Greenstreet, professor of communication studies, has been honored by the Central States Communication Association Argumentation & Forensics Interest Group for his work as a professional director of forensics and communication scholar. Greenstreet is the only person honored in the history of the association.
Dr. Dianne Watson- Maile, professor of family & consumer sciences, recently attended the Oklahoma Association of Family and Consumer Sciences State Conference where she received the Lea O’Toole Research and Innovation Award for excellence in research and development of the FCS profession.
D.C. INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
Twelve ECU students spent spring break in Washington, D.C. They viewed a Supreme Court oral argument, toured the White House and Capitol and interned with members of Congress.
EXTREME MAKEOVER
ECU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team, along with other ECU students and several community partners, are in the midst of an extreme makeover at Willard Elementary School. The SIFE Team has led an effort that has resulted in more than 250 man hours being contributed to the project. Utilizing a $2,000 grant from the Lowe’s Educational Foundation and working with Lowe’s Store 1749 in Ardmore, students are working hard to improve the already great conditions for Willard students.
TOBACCO FREE CAMPUS
On Feb. 6, 2012, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed Executive Order 2012-01 which prohibits the use of any tobacco product on any and all properties owned, leased or contracted for use by the State of Oklahoma, including but not limited to all buildings, land and vehicles owned, leased or contracted for use by agencies or instrumentalities of the State of Oklahoma.
Furthermore, the executive order states that implementation shall be achieved no later than six months from the date (Feb. 6, 2012) of that order.
Dr. Katrica Pierson, assistant vice president for academic affairs, was recently selected to serve Peer Corps as a reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. After extensive training she will travel to other universities throughout the country to help conduct evaluations one to two times per year.
ECU will fully comply. The effective date for our campus to be tobacco free is Aug. 1, 2012.
As always, East Central University continues to seek to provide a safe, healthy learning environment for faculty, staff and students.
June 2012
SPEAKER DESIGNATE OF THE HOUSE
VISITS ECU
T.W. Shannon (third from left), speaker-designate of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, poses with area legislators and higher education leaders Thursday at ECU. Shannon was invited to ECU to meet and speak with community leaders. With Shannon are state Rep. Todd Thomsen (from left) and state Sen. Susan Paddack, both of Ada, Chancellor Glen D. Johnson of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, Regent Connie Reilly of the Regional University System of Oklahoma and ECU President John Hargrave.
ECU PROFESSOR & ADA COUNCILMAN
Municipal Judge Jim Kemp (right) swears in new Ada City Council Member Dr. Guy Sewell (left) and new vice mayor Shane Sweeney at a city council meeting. Sewell is a professor of environmental health science at ECU and is now the Ward 4 representative.
JESSICA
BOLES NEW ECU VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION
Jessica A. Boles, the former vice president for fiscal affairs at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, is ECU’s new vice president for finance and administration.
Boles, who managed large construction projects at NEO and oversaw $20 million in renovations after floods devastated the campus in 2007, was NEO’s assistant vice president for fiscal affairs and controller from February 2005 until October 2008 when she was named vice president.
ECU students and employees Thunder Up on ECU’s mall to support the OKC Thunder before Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
ECU ADDS “GREEN” VEHICLES TO FLEET
When it was time to replace vehicles at ECU electric and compressed natural gas (CNG) were at the top of the list.
Two electric vehicles and one CNG vehicle were selected to replace the traditional vehicles. Electric and CNG vehicles are more environmentally sound and provide an alternative to gasoline-burning vehicles.
STATE REGENTS RECOGNIZE ECU, ADA JOBS FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP
Ann Miller (second from left, front row) of the Ada Jobs Foundation holds a plaque recognizing the AJF for its partnership with East Central University to further the education of Oklahoma’s workforce. With her at the presentation are Rick Wetherill (front row, from left), ECU executive director of continuing education and community services; Bridget Forshay, ECU small business specialist; Raymond Johnson, ECU interim vice president for finance and administration; and (back row) Dr. Glen D. Johnson, chancellor, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb; and Dave Lopez, state secretary of commerce and tourism.
ECU’S EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS CLINTON, GEORGE, WARREN
President Hargrave (left), Provost Anderson and Dean Walling (right) congratulate ECU’s 2012 Educators Hall of Fame Inductees. Bronson Warren (accepting on behalf of his mother Mattie Warren), Grace George and Dr. John Clinton, all graduates of ECU, were inducted into ECU’s Gene and Evelyn Keefer Educators Hall of Fame on June 19.
The Educators Hall of Fame is sponsored by Janice Diamond and Paul Keefer, the children of Gene and Evelyn Keefer, to recognize ECU-prepared educators at any level who have made a significant contribution to the field of education.
WILBURN SMITH REMEMBERED AS ENTREPRENEUR
The late Wilburn L. Smith, a former president and sales manager of Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc., was recognized posthumously as the Entrepreneur of the Year at ECU’s annual Leonard Limes Endowed Lecture in Entrepreneurship.
In addition, a $250,000 gift to ECU from Smith’s wife, Carol, will be formally accepted to create the Wilburn L. Smith Center for Entrepreneurship inside the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business. The center will be a focal point of the school, permanently affixing Smith’s name with his mentor, Stonecipher.
EVENT HELD FOR NIKKI STONECIPHER SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Golfers convened at Oak Hills Golf & Country Club for the seventh annual Nikki Stonecipher Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Scramble. Proceeds from the scramble go directly to a fund established at the ECU Foundation Inc. in Nikki Stonecipher’s name. Nikki and her parents, Brent and Tina Stonecipher, were killed in a tragic plane accident on July 24, 2005.
EVENING OF HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Distinguished Former Faculty
Dr. Don Kellogg & Dr. Carlotta Lockmiller
Distinguished Alumnus Distinguished Family David Porter The Zimmerman Family
Distinguished Distinguished Service
Philanthropist Frank Harland & Crawford Shirley and Stonecipher Mike Crawford
2011 CENTENNIAL ENDOWMENT
Dr. Tim Green - Education
Bob Bennett - Fine Arts
Bill & Betty Ely Parham - Accounting
Mick Cowan - Accounting
Duane Godwin - Memorial Athletic
Weber/Raper - Athletic
President Emeritus Bill & Sondra Cole - Biology
Glenn Watson - Graduate Accounting (not photographed)
Molly Shi Boren - Legal Studies (not photographed)
ALUMNI REUNIONS ANNOUNCED
Mark your calendar for upcoming reunions: Saturday, Aug. 11 - OKC Reunion; AND
Friday, Aug. 17 - Ada Reunion. For complete details visit www.alumni.ecok.edu.
ECU GRADUATE WINS TOP HONOR
Dr. Betsy Ballard, a 1973 ECU graduate, has received a prestigious Medal for Excellence award from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence as an outstanding educator in Oklahoma’s public schools.
Ballard was one of five state educators receiving $5,000 cash prizes and glass “Roots and Wings” sculptures designed by the late Oklahoma artist Ron Roberts.
SUMMER CAMPS UNDERWAY
ECU hosts many camps during the summer. Youth of all ages from across the state find their way to Ada. The 2012 summer camps have experienced tremendous growth compared to last summer. Some of the July camps include Oklahoma Business Week, Cheerleading, Basketball, Upward Bound and the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy.
PI A PROFESSOR DONATION FROM ECU
Staff members at the House of Hope in Ada (at left) accept a check for $150 from members of the ECU Math Club. The club raised money for the organization by offering ECU students and faculty the opportunity to “PI a Professor” with whipped cream “pies” during Math Awareness Month. Thirteen faculty members volunteered as targets for 123 pies. Additional donations rounded the total to $150. Representing the House of Hope are Georgiana Sullivan (from left), Lori Bickerstaff and Rachel Miller, with Math Club officers Alyssa Eickenhorst, president; Janne’ Klassen, vice president; Laura Asaro, public relations; and Heather Gaddy, secretary.
WORKSHOPS, INFO AVAILABLE AT VETERANS & MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
Rita Aragon, Oklahoma’s secretary of veterans and military affairs and a retired Air Force major general, spoke at the Veterans & Military Appreciation Day program at ECU.
The Bill S. Cole University Center was packed all day with workshops and information for veterans and their families.
NATIVE AMERICAN ACADEMIC SERVICES PROGRAM HELPS KEEP STUDENTS IN SCHOOL TO COMPLETE DEGREES
It’s been a year since ECU began its own Native American Academic Services program to ensure that Native American students stay in school and complete their degrees. So far, the results have been encouraging, but its director wants more students and families to be aware that ECU has an oncampus liaison for students.
“The goal of ECU’s program is to serve 18 percent of ECU’s enrollment – Native American students –both in and out of the classroom in order to make sure their college careers are a success,” said Renee Hogue, ECU’s director of Native American academic services. That means providing cultural learning experiences as well as academic services for those students.
ECU BEAM SIGNING BY WILLARD SCHOOL KIDS
Students from Willard Grade Center line up earlier this spring to sign their names on a beam that will be installed in ECU’s new business school and conference center which can be seen in the background.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Local grade center students learn about solar panels during the Ada Water Festival/Earth Day Celebration at ECU. The City of Ada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center jointly sponsored the event for K-12 and ECU students.
FREE ‘GREEN JOBS’ TRAINING
Free training to qualify for “green jobs” in building thermography and photovoltaic system design was held during May and June at ECU and the Kiamichi Technology Centers in McAlester, Idabel and Atoka.
VISIT TO RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
Students recently returned from ECU’s annual trip to Russia and Ukraine. The group of nine visited Kiev, Chernobyl, Crimea and Moscow. The group stands next to a Alexander Pushkin statue.
BILES STUDIES ABROAD A SEMESTER
Josiah Biles has returned to Ada after completing a semester in Caceres, Spain. He studied at the University of Extremadura in Caceres, ECU’s partner University. The program was called CEPE: Cursos de Espanol Para Extranjeros ( Spanish Classes for foreign students).
“Studying in historic Caceres was the best thing that could have happened to me in terms of my Spanish education. I arrived in Spain with some knowledge of grammar and vocabulary but had little speaking ability. However, after three months of immersion and study, I left able to communicate with the Spanish-speaking world. And to me, that is invaluable,” said Biles.
OVAA HELD AT ECU
Professionals from across the state attended the third Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy at ECU. OVAA is an intensive week-long course of study for victim advocates, service providers, law enforcement professionals and social service providers who work with crime victims.
The OVAA is modeled after the National Victim Assistance Academy offered through the Office for Victims of Crime. The comprehensive curriculum is based on a recent needs assessment that was conducted after the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General was awarded a federal grant from OVC to develop Oklahoma’s academy.
CLAMPITT’S BOOK FINALIST FOR JEFFERSON DAVIS AWARD
A book by Bradley R. Clampitt, assistant professor of history and Native American studies at ECU, was one of three finalists for the 2011 Jefferson Davis Award sponsored by the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va.
Clampitt is the author of “The Confederate Heartland: Military and Civilian Morale in the Western Confederacy,” published by the Louisiana State University Press.
D.J. LAFON HONORED
Artist D.J. Lafon, shown in a photo taken while he was chair of ECU’s Art Department from 1964 to 1984, will be honored in a retrospective exhibit of his work this summer in the Pogue Gallery in ECU’s Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The exhibit opened on June 5 and continues through August 31.
Lafon died in Norman last January at age 81. The paintings and prints in the show were selected from the Lafon family’s private collection.
2012-13 FINE ARTS
