Campus Updates - 2018 Collection

Campus Update January 2018 VINTAGE VIOLINS SHOWCASED AT ECU Music lovers were treated to an up-close and personal experience at ECU with two priceless and museum-quality violins, thanks to Oklahoma Heritage Bank and Dr. Darryl Fisher, chairman for the Board for OHB. The event, “The Legendary Violins of Stradivarius and Guarnerius” on Dec. 1, featured two violins from Cremona, Italy – the Lenora Jackson Stradivarius (1714) and the ‘Sloan’ Guarnerius del Gesu (1742), played by Dr. William Sloan and Susanne Woolley. Professor Judy Sloan accompanied on the piano with John Emery on the violincello.

DR. PIERSON SPEAKS AT TWO WOMEN’S EVENTS ECU President Katricia Pierson, the university’s first female president, spoke during the Women’s Club Lecture on Nov. 14. She also spoke at the Oklahoma Women in Higher Education Fall 2017 Luncheon, along with other women presidents from universities and colleges from across the state.

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JOHNSON NAMED NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT ECU Al Johnson, an assistant offensive line coach for the recent Orange Bowl champion Wisconsin Badgers, has been named the new head football coach of the Tigers. Johnson will be the 19th head coach in ECU history and just the fourth since the Tigers joined the NCAA ranks in 1997. Johnson (middle) poses with ECU Director of Athletics Dr. Jeff Williams (left) and former All-American Tyler Jack at a meet-and-greet event at J.D.’s Cafe in Ada. Johnson will appear at another public event on Friday, Feb. 2 at Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill in Oklahoma City prior to ECU NIght at the Oklahoma City Thunder game.

FORD NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Amy T. (Garcia) Ford, a 1996 ECU alum who has spent almost 11 years as ECU’s assistant vice president and director of communications and marketing, has been called upon to restore ECU’s Office of Institutional Advancement. Ford will oversee the offices of Advancement, Alumni Relations and Communications & Marketing, all with the underlying mission to increase awareness and enhance external relations to advance ECU.

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Campus Update January 2018

PICKENS DELIVERS LOU WATKINS LECTURE Rusty Pickens, an ECU computer science graduate and Chickasaw Nation citizen, presented the Lou Watkins Lecture on Nov. 10. He spoke on using technology in political campaigns and government. Pickens served at the U.S. Department of State as the senior advisor for digital platforms where he implemented cloud computing solutions which empower a 21st-century public diplomacy strategy. The lecture was held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting.

ECU STUDENTS PRESENT AT NATIVE AMERICAN SYMPOSIUM Two ECU English majors – Sidney Lewis and Daniel Bonar – presented insightful papers at the recent 12th Native American Symposium, a professional academic conference held at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. Lewis presented “Steady as a Beating Drum,” and Bonar presented “Accidental Preservation,” which discussed indigenous language phonetics.

SHOWTIME PERFORMS NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM ECU Showtime performed Night at the Wax Museum on Nov. 9-10 in the Dorothy I. Summers Theatre. The story focused on wax figures bringing history to life, literally.

MEMORY OF ECU ALUM HONORED The memory of early childhood educator Tina Hope Davis was recognized as Donna Cox and LaDona Hill, of Tina’s Legacy Committee, presented a $21,000 check to Buffy Lovelis, of the ECU Foundation, Inc.. The donation establishes a Centennial Endowment Scholarship. Davis, who passed away in 2015, attended ECU and earned her bachelor’s degree in education in 1984 and later earned her master’s degree in special education.

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ECU TEAMS UP WITH PAWS FOR ANIMAL WELFARE ECU and the Pontotoc Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) announced its receipt of a new $1,553.89 grant from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America. The new grant will support the daily operations of PAWS so they can continue their efforts to help local shelter pets thrive as they continued their journey to finding forever homes and families.

STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH, WELLNESS FAIR Approximately 250 ECU students, along with faculty and staff, took part in the ECU Kinesiology Department’s Health, Wellness and Safety Fair. The fair included fitness tests and was sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation, Seminole Nation and U.S. Mental Health Counseling Services.

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Page 3 MOCK TRIAL TEAM PLACES THIRD AT OU ECU’s College Mock Trial Team took third place during the University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Invitational held recently at the OU College of Law. The competition featured 10 teams from various universities in the region. The ECU team was fourth and advanced to the semifinals in which it competed with the University of Arkansas.

Campus Update January 2018 ALPHA CHI, PI SIGMA ALPHA CONDUCT INDUCTION CEREMONIES ECU’s chapter of Alpha Chi, a College National Honor Society, conducted its induction ceremony on Nov. 14. New members were inducted into ECU’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, a Political Science Honor Society, on Nov. 15.

CIFUENTES TO INTERN FOR FLORIDA CONGRESSWOMAN ECU double-major Diego Cifuentes is going to do an internship for U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida, representing the 27th District which encompasses most of Miami and Coral Gables) in Washington D.C., while earning 15 hours of college credit. Cifuentes is a native of Miami and a current resident of Pauls Valley.

Cifuentes is pictured here with Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina elected to Congress and who will retire later in 2018.

SARITA KC AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP Sarita KC, a master’s student in ECU’s Water Resource Policy and Management degree program, has been awarded a scholarship from the Oklahoma State Environmental Health Professionals.

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Campus Update January 2018

ECU STUDENTS PRESENT PAPERS AT LANGUAGES, LINGUISTICS CONFERENCE ECU English majors Avery Stevens, of Ada, and Karina Tarpey, of Seminole, presented papers at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Undergraduate Language and Linguistics Conference on Nov. 11. Stevens’ paper was entitled “The Rhetoric of Reason in Religious Context: Forgiveness as a Necessary Limit on God.” Tarpey’s essay was entitled “The Advantages of Reading Thirteen Reasons Why Through a Transaction Lens.”

ECU SOCCER PLAYERS EARN AWARDS Five Tiger soccer players received Great American Conference recognition for the 2017 season.

Sophomore defender Alyssa Butler was named to the All-GAC First Team and earned United States Soccer Coaches All-Central Region Third Team accolades. Other ECU honorees included junior Chloe Hull (GAC Second Team and GAC Elite Scholar-Student Athlete), sophomore Alexis Castillo (Second Team), sophomore defender Lizette Carreon (Honorable Mention) and senior Deanna Rudasill (GAC Elite Scholar-Student Athlete).

KEENAN PLACES FOURTH IN INFORMATIVE SPEAKING Ashley Keenan, a sophomore computer science major at ECU, recently took fourth place in Informative Speaking at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Keenan is president of the ECU Tiger Speech and Debate team. The tournament, which included debate and other individual events, was attended by representatives from 25 other universities.

CLYMER CAPTURES SCIENCE AWARDS Maranda Robin Clymer, an ECU physics major from Ada, won Best Undergraduate Paper and the Outstanding Undergraduate Oral Presentation Award for Physical Sciences at the 106th Technical Meeting of the Oklahoma Academy of Science Collegiate Academy Awards for 2017. Gunner Parent, Josh Hardage, Billy Andrew and a group of ECU students each won awards in their respective categories.

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BRAY REPRESENTS ECU, GAC AT NATIONAL FORUM Charles Bray recently represented ECU and the Great American Conference at the NCAA National Leadership Forum, Nov. 16-19, in Washington D.C. A member of the Tiger football team, Bray was one of few student-athletes from across the country to attend the forum.

TIGER FOOTBALL PLAYERS HONORED Five ECU football players picked up Great American Conference postseason awards led by running back Ontario Douglas, who was named GAC Freshman of the Year. Junior Trinity Benson was named to the All-GAC Second Team as a receiver. Gathering honorable mention accolades were sophomore tight end Dilland Gardner, senior offensive lineman Spencer Damm and junior safety Justin Hayden. Douglas was also named to the D2CCA All-Region Second Team.

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Campus Update January 2018

BRANCH GAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK ECU senior Devon Branch was named Great American Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 4 after averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds in the Tigers’ two road wins at Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello. She shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range for the two games and was 13-of-16 from the free-throw line.

STEVENS STUDYING ABROAD IN FRANCE ECU junior English major Avery Stevens is studying abroad this spring at the University of Limoges, a sister institution of ECU, in Limoges, France through ECU’s Go Global…

Study Abroad program. Stevens is planning to study the French culture and language.

CANNON HONORED BY GAC ECU senior men’s basketball player Brett Cannon was named Great American Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 18.

He registered only the second triple-double (13 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists) in GAC history in the Tigers’ 118-79 home victory over Southwest Adventist on Dec. 15. He also had 14 points, five rebounds and nine assists a day later against Dallas Christian.

CHORALE RANKED 25TH WORLDWIDE The ECU Chorale was recently ranked in a tie for 25th place in the Mixed Chorus Division by Interkultur, the largest organizer of amateur choir contests in the world. Annually, Interkultur ranks the top 1,000 choirs in the world that compete in various categories. The ECU Chorale tied with a choir from Latvia. Only four other choirs from the U.S. were ranked higher than ECU.

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ECU PLACES FIRST IN VOTING REGISTRATION For the fourth year in a row, ECU was honored for its civic engagement after tying for first place in the Oklahoma Campus Compact 2017 Voter Registration Contest. ECU tied with Southwestern Oklahoma State University for first place in the Equality Division (institutions with enrollment of 3,001-7000 students) at 6.8 percent.

Pictured in the photo are: (from left to right) Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Glen D. Johnson; Dr. Christine Pappas, professor and chair of ECU’s Department of Political Science and Legal Studies; ECU President Dr. Katricia Pierson and OSRHE Board Chair Ronald H. White.

RAMADAN SYMPOSIUM CONDUCTED Outstanding professionals from the neuroscience field were on hand for the Sixth Annual Raniyah T. Ramadan Symposium on Jan. 24. The symposium featured presentations from Dr. Holly Van Remmen, Dr. Michael Stout, Dr. Hibah Awwad and ECU student Hannah Taff. The symposium is held in honor of the late Raniyah T. Ramadan, a neuroscientist.

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Page 6 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS VISIT CAMPUS More than 300 high school seniors from the area on campus for Senior Day on Nov. 7, as they received a preview of ECU. Participants were able to explore the campus degree options, finanical aid and organizations.

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATED AT ECU ECU celebrated Veterans Day with a ceremony on campus, Nov. 10. The vent included a flag-raising ceremony and short presentation

by Dr. Richard Putnam, a Vietnam veteran and former ECU professor.

MEEKS PRESIDENT OF NAVUB PROGRAMS ECU’s Veteran Upward Bound Director Mary Meeks was recently named president of the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound (NAVUB) programs. ECU’s VUB Program was recently approved for $1,452,450 grant for five years ($290,490 per year). The Veterans’ Upward Bound is a federally funded grant program designed to provide supportive services to military service members and veterans in an effort to ensure successful entry or re-entry and completion of a post-secondary program of study.

GARCIA RECEIVES AWARD FROM OPSA Sarah Garcia, dean’s secretary in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, received the Sandra Mace Service Award from the Oklahoma Political Science Association.

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Campus Update January 2018 DR. RUTLEDGE RECOGNIZED AS AAPT FELLOW Dr. Carl Rutledge has been recognized as a Fellow in the American Association of Physics Teachers. It was one of many awards achieved by Rutledge at ECU. He was named Adolph Linscheid Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2004 and received ECU’s Teaching Excellence Award for 1998-99.

PHYSICAL PLANT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE QUARTERLY AWARDS Retiree Bob Anderson, groundskeeper, along with Employee of the First Quarter, Angela Sliger, administrative assistant; and Employee of the Second Quarter Bill Boyd, carpenter, were honored at the ECU Physical Plant’s annual Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 17.

Each person was recognized for their dedication to ECU.

Happy New Year!!! www.ecok.edu

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Campus Update January 2018 2017 Fall Commencement Photos

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Campus Update January 2018

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Campus Update February 2018 ECU TAKES CENTERSTAGE AT THUNDER GAME The East Central University Chorale performed the National Anthem prior to the Oklahoma City-New Orleans Pelicans NBA game on Feb. 2 in Oklahoma City. A reception for alumni and friends was also held at “Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill” prior to the game.

New ECU Head Football Coach Al Johnson and his staff were in attendance to greet everyone.

ALUMNI GET TOGETHER FOR REUNIONS IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND DENVER ECU Alumni Reunions were recently conducted in Oklahoma City and in Denver, Colorado. In the top photo is a group alums at the event held at Toby Keith’s in Oklahoma City and in the bottom photo is a group at the reunion in Denver.

Two more alumni gatherings are scheduled and both will be held in June. One is set for Tulsa on June 8 while another will be held in Oklahoma City on June 22.

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TWENTY STUDENTS INVOLVED IN HIGHER ED DAY AT STATE CAPITOL Twenty ECU students attended Higher Education Day on Feb. 13. The trip was supported

by ECU President Katricia Pierson who joined the students for part of the day.

The students took tours of the Oklahoma Judicial Center and met with members of the Court of Criminal Appeals and the the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Judge David Lewis, of the Court of Criminal Appeals, met with the students. They also went across the street to the Capitol and met with Representative Todd Thomsen and State Senator Greg McCortney, who represent the Ada area in the legislature.

STUDENT APPLICATIONS ARE UP AT ECU The ECU Office of Admissions is pleased to announce that applications to ECU were up by a considerable count on Feb. 1, 2018 over the same time period of 2017. Applications are still being accepted. For information call 580-559-5276 or go online to fill out an application at ecok.edu/apply.

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Campus Update February 2018

EXCEPTIONAL EXCEL SCORE FOR ECU STUDENT BURTON ECU student Corey Burton, of Beggs, received an exceptionally high score on his Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel 2016 Exam and has been declared Oklahoma’s champion.

He is now eligible to compete in Certiport’s 2018 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, June 13-15, 2018. His birthday is on June 14.

TIGER BASKETBALL PLAYER HONORED

BY HERO SPORTS ECU’s Camron Talley was named HERO Sports Division II Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 16-20 as he scored a combined 67 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out eight assists and recorded eight steals in three games for the Tigers. In a win over arch-rival Southeastern, he tallied 44 points, three rebounds, four assists and seven steals while shooting 83.3 percent from the floor, 88.9 percent from 3-point range and nailed all six free shots.

BENITEZ GETS NIGH PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP A son of immigrants and the first in his immediate family to attend college, sophomore Alexis Benitez, of Healdton, is pursuing a degree in political science and legal studies and was recently named the winner of the 2018 George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship, an award presented to college students who are preparing for careers in public service.

McCANE ACCEPTED TO VETERANS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM ECU Veterans Upward Bound participant Jerry McCane, who has served in the Marines, was accepted into the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at Oklahoma State University. This rigorous learning and development opportunity is for disabled veterans and those who distinguish themselves in their military service. Only 25 veterans from across the nation were accepted for the program.

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ECU THEATRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS CRIMES OF THE HEART The ECU Theatre Department presented Crimes of the Heart, Jan. 25-27, in the Chalmers Herman Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The production was directed by ECU student Margie Beck as a senior project. Shelby Davis (left) played Meg Magrath and Annabelle Elliot played Babe Magrath Botrelle.

ECU EMPLOYEES ATTEND CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE WEBINAR ECU employees took part in a customer service/service excellence webinar in the Estep Multimedia Room on Feb. 15. The 45-minute webinar touched on the effects of recruitment and retention of students.

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Campus Update February 2018

EDUCATION STUDENTS OUT IN THE FIELD THIS SPRING These ECU education students are honing their teaching skills out in the field at various area schools this semester.

THREE MUSIC DEPARTMENT CONCERTS UPCOMING The ECU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will be holding their Midwinter Concert on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The ECU Music Department will also present the 12th Annual ECU Faculty, Students and Friends Composer Concert on Monday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. The Jazz Ensemble Concert is set for Sunday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre. All three concerts are free.

DR. SUKHOLUTSKAYA RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD ECU’s Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya received a prestigious national-level award for excellence in post-secondary teaching from the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages on Feb. 2 in Washington, D.C. Sukohultskaya, who has been a part of the AATSEEL since 2001, is director of Russian Studies and ECU’s Global Education program.

CAREER EXPO BEING CONDUCTED ON FEB. 28 A Career Expo, hosted

by ECU’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, is being conducted from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 28 in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center. The event is open to all ECU students and those in the community.

EIGHTH GRADE DISCOVERY DAY HELD Area eighth graders learned about careers and ECU at Eighth Grade Career Discovery Day on Jan. 31 in the Chickasaw Business Conference Center.

DRUG FREE COALITION CONDUCTS GALA The Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition hosted its Second Annual Red Ribbon Winter Wonderland Gala on Feb. 9 in ECU’s Stanley Wagner Ballroom. The event featured a meal, silent auction, entertainment and community awards. The PCDFC was created as a substance abuse coalition in 2009 to address critical local concerns.

Mark Your Calendars for Founder’s Day on Thursday, March 29

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Campus Update February 2018

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CAMPUS UPDATE Pierson’s Perceptions

The past year has been a remarkable adventure. I have met many students, alumni and friends of East Central University as I have traveled throughout the region. We have many entrepreneurs, world travelers, artists, business owners and amazing professionals we call alumni.

It is inspiring to hear their stories. In their stories, I kept hearing a similar message the education they received while at ECU helped them attain a life well-lived.

As it is springtime, a time of renewal and hope, we look forward to our future and the possibilities it brings. Looking forward, the university has several initiatives underway, such as a major strategic plan, which will advance our ability to continue graduating remarkable individuals.

April 2018

EVENING OF HONORS AND RECOGNITION SET FOR MAY 11 ECU’s Evening of Honors and Recognition is set for Friday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center. Distinguished alumni to be honored include: Michael Brown, Janice Gray and Craig Scheef. Dr. Bill Chapman will be presented with the Distinguished Former Faculty Award. Dr. Darryl Fisher will receive the Distinguished Service Award and the Floyd/Allen Family will be honored as the Distinguished Family.

The ECU Foundation, Inc. will also be recognizing 2016 and 2017 Centennial Endowments. They include the Charles and Lila Acker Centennial Computer Science Endowment, Cottingham/Ross Centennial Graduate Education Endowment, Jon Arrasmith Centennial Memorial Endowment, Colton Calaway Centennial Memorial Endowment, Wayne Cobb Centennial Endowment, Tina Hope Davis Centennial Endowment, Wes Watkins Water Resource Policy and Management Centennial Endowment and Leadership Murray County Class XII Centennial Endowment.

To register or for sponsorship information visit alumni.ecok.edu/event/ EOH2018 or contact Kacy Clark at kclark@ecok.edu or 580-559-5587.

Craig Scheef

Michael O. Brown

Janice Gray

I’m happy to be East Central University’s president and look forward to the future with you.

Thank You for Supporting ECU! Dr. Katricia Pierson President East Central University

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Dr. Bill Chapman

Dr. Darryl Fisher

Floyd/Allen Family

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Page 2 ECU CELEBRATES FOUNDER’S DAY ECU celebrated Founder’s Day on March 29 with free t-shirts and snacks along with performances by the band, cheerleaders and pom squad. Short speeches were also delivered by ECU President Katricia Pierson, new head football coach Al Johnson and Gavin Burl, president of the ECU Student Government. ECU was founded in 1909 as East Central State Normal School.

C3 GOLF TOURNEY SET FOR MAY 21 Entries are being accepted and sponsorships are available as the Commitment to Championships Campaign (C3) Golf Tournament is set for Monday, May 21, at the WinStar Golf Club in Thackerville. The C3, created by the ECU Foundation, Inc., is a catalyst to transform ECU football into a dominant program in the Great American Conference. The format for the tournament is a four-person scramble with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. To register go online at www.alumni.ecok.edu or call 580-559-5655 more more information.

SCIENCE, ENGINEERING FAIR AT ECU Hundreds of junior High and high school students were on campus April 5-6 for the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair in Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

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Campus Update April 2018 LEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM RECOGNIZED TWICE ECU’s Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Program has been named as the Best in the State of Oklahoma by paralegaledu.org and it has been ranked fourth nationally for Best Paralegal Studies Degrees by collegechoice.net. The program prepares students for their first job as a paralegal or to advance in their current paralegal role. The four-year course of study provides a strong, liberal arts foundation with a focus on analytical and communication skills applicable to a variety of legal environments, from law offices to corporate legal departments to government agencies to nonprofits and more.

PARKER ETHICS CENTER RECEIVES COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD ECU’s Oscar L. Parker Center for the Advancement of Ethical Standards in Business and Society received the Community Impact Award in the Education Category at the 2018 Oklahoma Ethics Awards Consortium at the Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City. Founded in 1988, the Oscar L. Parker Center facilitates outreach to members of ECU and the community with the sole purpose of promoting ethics education and ethical behavior on campus and in the community. With a small budget, no staff and limited resources, the center promotes ethics through several channels including luncheons, lectures and workshops open to the community. Receiving the award was Dr. Michael Scott, director of the Parker Ethics Center.

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Campus Update April 2018 SOCIAL WORK MONTH PROCLAIMED ON CAMPUS ECU President Katricia G. Pierson proclaimed March as “Social Work Month” on campus. The theme was entitled “Social Workers: Leaders, Advocates, Champions,” as the ECU social work program hosted a self-care training that same day to honor those hard-working social workers in the community by teaching them how to better take care of themselves.

DR. HADA RECEIVES SERVICE AWARD Dr. Ken Hada, professor of English and languages at ECU, was presented with the Glenda Carlile Distinguished Service Award at the 29th Annual Book Awards for his efforts in founding and directing the annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival. Hada is also a 2018 finalist in the 29th Annual Oklahoma Book Award Competition in the poetry category for Bring an Extry Mule.

NICHOLSON-WEIR CONTRIBUTES TO ONLINE EXHIBIT Rebecca Nicholson-Weir, ECU assistant professor of English and languages, has contributed to “Making Modernism,” an online exhibit of archival materials from the Newberry Library, Chicago’s Independent Research Library since 1887. The exhibit was created by the National Endowment for the Humanities Institute participants, which includes Nicholson-Weir. Her exhibit involves two letters from March, 1937, written by anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston to writer, editor and literary critic Harry Hansen.

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Page 3 MOSELEY EARNS PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP Through Princeton University, ECU student Elsa Moseley has been offered a highly-competitive fellowship to teach English and international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, one of the top diplomacy schools located in Beijing. Additionally, Moseley has been selected for a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in South Korea. The Fulbright Scholar Program is under the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

ELLIS PICKED FOR UNIQUE FELLOWSHIP ECU junior Melissa Ellis is one of only 10 college students from across the country to be selected for a Native American Journalism Fellowship. Ellis, who is pursuing a degree in accounting, will participate in the Native American Journalist Association (NAJA) year-long endeavor, which includes a conference in Miami, Florida in July.

STUDENTS GO TO D.C.; BURL DOES INTERNSHIP ECU student Gavin Burl recently did a special internship with the President Barack Obama Foundation in Washington D.C. As a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, a political science academic honor society, Burl recently traveled with 12 other ECU students and three faculty members to Washington D.C. to attend the Pi Sigma Alpha National Conference. To boot, he along with fellow ECU student Anna Wood were the only two students able to go to the U.S. Supreme Court to observe some oral arguments.

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Page 4 BENITEZ SPEAKS AT OSRHE MEETING ECU student Alex Benitez shared the positive impact higher education has made in his life during a March meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Pictured are: (left to right) ECU President Katricia G. Pierson, OSRHE Chancellor Glen D. Johnson, Benitez and Regents Chair Dr. Ronald H. White.

ECU’S HARGIS PASSES CTP EXAM ECU student Kendall Hargis recently learned that she passed the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) examination, one of the premier certifications in the fields of accounting and finance. The CTP certification requires those sitting for the exam to demonstrate mastery of knowledge domains pertinent to corporate treasury management.

TALLEY FIRST-TEAM ALL-GAC FOR MEN’S BASKETBALL ECU men’s basketball sophomore Camron Talley was named to the 2017-18 All-Great American Conference First Team while teammates – junior Da’Rion King and senior Brett Cannon – were honorable mention selections. Talley averaged 16.2 points while shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point land for the Tigers. King and Cannon sported 12.4 and 9.4 scoring averages, respectively.

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Campus Update April 2018 ECU DUO HONORED FOR GAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Senior Devon Branch and junior Lakin Preisner were All-Great American Conference honorable mention award winners for the 2017-18 season. Branch averaged 14.6 points for the season while Preisner averaged 13.6. Statistically, Preisner led the NCAA Division II ranks nationally in free-throw percentage at 95.6, converting 65-of-68 attempts.

FILER WINS 3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE AT UTA INVITATIONAL Junior Larry Filer, of the ECU track and field team, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:51.79 at the 2018 Bobby Lane Invitational at the University of Texas-Arlington on March 24.

ECU STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH DAY AT STATE CAPITOL Several ECU students participated in Research Day at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. The event is designed to showcase the outstanding research being conducted at Oklahoma’s colleges and universities in the areas of science (including social science), technology, engineering and mathematics. Students are nominated by their institutions’ leadership to participate in the prestigious event. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is one of the sponsors.

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Campus Update April 2018 NURSING STUDENTS TRAIN IN MOCK DISASTER ECU nursing students participated in a mock disaster training at Mercy Hospital in Ada on March 15. The disaster was the aftermath of a damaging tornado. The nursing students worked alongside actual first-response professionals in learning the procedures in rescue and recovery efforts.

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EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT PRESENTS AWARDS Students from ECU’s Department of Education and Psychology received awards at their 2018 Spring Awards Luncheon on March 30. Scholarship and achievement awards were presented at the event as 2017-18 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Finalist Dr. Laura Smith, of Byng Schools, was the keynote speaker.

NEW BUSINESS SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED Fourteen ECU business students have been announced as Class of 2018 Scholar Leaders by the ECU Stonecipher School of Business. They are: Kamryn Akers, Brayden Battershell, Daniel Christensen, Cullen Edens, Chance Hogstad,Yashna Khadgi, Allison Maurer, Braden Prewett, Hunter Ross, Kacee Schier, Brooklin Schwabe, Heather Swan, Abbie Winchester and Chloe Tyler. The program is geared toward junior and senior business majors who demonstrate academic excellence and are looking for a way to better themselves through student engagement and cultural enrichment. In order to be a part of the Business Scholar Leaders program, students must have a minimum 3.5 grade-point average, be able to volunteer for special projects and participate in the Dean’s Leadership Council.

STUDENTS EXPERIENCE LAW DAY ON ECU CAMPUS Justice Noma Gurich, of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and Chickasaw Nation District Judge Dustin Rowe, an ECU alumnus, were the featured speakers as Law Day was conducted on campus last month in Foundation Hall. The event also included a networking luncheon in which ECU students met with the speakers, local attorneys, judges and ECU faculty. Scholarship award winners were also recognized.

STUDENTS INITIATED INTO ALPHA CHI There were 71 ECU students initiated into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society during a ceremony in March. Alpha Chi which is comprised of the top 10 percent of juniors and seniors at ECU. Students must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average to join. The objective of Alpha Chi is to promote and recognize superior scholarship and those elements of character which make scholarship effective for service.

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Page 6 GREEK WEEK CELEBRATED WITH GAMES, ACTIVITIES Greek Week was celebrated on campus, April 2-6,as fraternities and sororities participated in numerous activities, including chariot races, Greek Family Feud, Greek Lip Sync and other Greek games.

A banquet was also held.

FRESH CHECK DAY HELD AT ECU A mental health check in with interactive booths, free food and prizes was conducted on the University Center Lawn on March 6. The event was sponsored by the Student Counseling Center, Housing and Residence Life, Student Government Association Executive Board and the ECU Active Minds Chapter. ing research being conducted at Oklahoma’s colleges and universities in the areas of science (including social science), technology, engineering and mathematics.

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Campus Update April 2018 AUTHORS, READING ENTHUSIASTS ATTEND SCISSORTAIL FESTIVAL Fifty-seven authors and hundreds of attendees converged on the ECU campus for the 13th Annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival, April 5-7. Each author made a presentation during the three-day event. Awards were presented to high school students in the R. Darryl Fisher Creative Writing Contest.

SUMMER PELL GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE Enrollment for the summer 2018 semester is underway and ECU is excited to announce that Pell Grant eligible student can receive up to 150 percent their award. If ECU students qualified for Pell in the 2017 Fall and 2018 Spring semester and are enrolled in at least six hours for the summer, they may use Pell Grant to help fund summer enrollment. For more information, contact the ECU Financial Aid Office at 580-559-5243.

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CAMPUS UPDATE Pierson’s Perceptions

It was an outstanding 2017-

2018 school year here at East Central University. With another commencement season in the books, it’s a great feeling to reflect on the successes of our students not only on a local, regional and state basis but on a national level. We had students do undergraduate research and internships at various universities across the country and many participated in statewide and national competitions and achieved successes along the way. That’s a credit to not only the students’ diligent work, but the preparation made thanks to the hard work of faculty and staff on this campus.

It has been an honor to serve as your president for nearly a year and a half. I’m happy to be a leader at a higher-learning institution which cares greatly about its students. Indeed, a high volume of scholarship opportunities, gifts from our many alumni and supporters of ECU, allow our students to graduate with little or no debt. Thanks for your unwavering commitment to build on our successes.

Thank You for Supporting ECU! Dr. Katricia Pierson President East Central University

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June 2018

GRAY, BROWN ADDRESS CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION DURING SPRING 2018 EXERCISES ECU alums Janice Gray and Michael O. Brown addressed graduate candidates during ECU’s 2018 Spring Commencement Exercises on May 12 at the Kerr Activities Center. Bachelor’s degrees were conferred to 431 students while 131 more achieved master’s degrees. Janice and her busband established their own CPA frm in Norman while Brown is a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, the Premier Association of Financial Professionals.

ECU CELEBRATES AN EVENING OF HONORS AND RECOGNITION Te Floyd-Allen Family received the Distinguished Family Award during ECU’s Annual Evening of Honors and Recognition on May 11. Te Distinguished Alumni Awards went to Janice Gray, Michael O. Brown and Craig Scheef. Te Distinguished Former Faculty Award went to Dr. Bill Chapman, and Dr. R. Darryl Fisher was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Te ECU Foundation, Inc., also recognized the 2016 and 2017 Centennial Endowments. See more photos on page 6.

BUSINESS SCHOLARS VISIT ALUMS, TAKE TOURS IN SEATTLE A group of ECU business scholar leaders had the opportunity to go to Seattle in May to visit and tour with ECU alums David Porter, of Microsof, along with Kevin Turner, former COO of Microsof and founder/CEO of Forward Progress Ventures, LLC, and John Gaines. Te students were able to tour the facilities and listen to the wisdom of several leaders from the business world.

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Page 2 ECU MAKING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE A series of town hall meetings conducted on the ECU campus, were designed to plan the future, including program developments and budget decisions, along with aligning the goals of the entire university. ECU formed a Strategic Planning Committee composed of community members along with ECU faculty, staf and administration. Te team is charged with developing a new strategic plan that will outline the university’s goals and projects for the next three to fve years.

PRESIDENT PIERSON SPEAKS WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ECU President Katricia Pierson talks with Rof High School students and their parents at an event entitled “Making College a Reality,” hosted by Oklahoma Heritage Bank and ECU alumnus Dr. R. Darryl Fisher.

MILITARY, VETERANS HONORED WITH SPECIAL DAY Area veterans and military personnel were honored during Military Appreciation Day, hosted by the ECU Veterans Upward Bound Program, on May 17. Attendees were able to visit vendor tables, learn more about veteran services and listen to speakers, including World War II Veteran and 92-year-old Milton Courtney.

Campus Update June 2018 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE PART IN JUNIOR DAY High School juniors packed the Ataloa Teatre while experiencing college for a day on April 20 during Junior Day. Attendees were able to listen to a welcome from ECU President Katricia G. Pierson, hear a Distinguished Professor Lecture, receive a complimentary lunch, play carnival games and take a campus tour.

MORE THAN 500 FIFTH GRADERS ATTEND ADA WATER FEST ECU’s Oka’ Institute hosted the 15th Annual Ada Water Fest on April 19 at ECU’s Centennial Plaza. Te purpose of the event was to teach elementary school students about the importance of water to individuals and to our community. More than 500 area ffh graders participated in both visual demonstrations and hands-on activities, along with exploring 16 water-related topics at diferent stations.

SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS CONDUCTED ON ECU CAMPUS Hundreds of youth have come to campus this summer for a series of camps, including Oklahoma Business Week, a Robotics Camp and various athletic camps for basketball and football. More camps are expected throughout the remainder of the summer.

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Campus Update June 2018 ALUMNI REUNION SET FOR JUNE 29 IN OKC The ECU Alumni Association is hosting an Oklahoma City Area Alumni Reunion on Friday, June 29, beginning at 6 p.m. at TapWerks Ale House, 121 E. Sheridan, in Oklahoma City. Members and non-members of the ECU Alumni Association are welcome. Online registration is available at alumni.ecok.edu/OKC2018.

For more information contact Ashia Hillman at ahillman@ecok.edu or 580-559-5651.

WARD MAKES PRESENTATION AT DAVINCI AWARDS CEREMONY Amy Ward, director of ECU’s Social Work Program, made a presentation during the “Spotlight on Creativity” segment at the DaVinci’s recent awards ceremony. Ward developed an innovative method of enhancing social work students’ learning experiences as well as brought together several departments across campus into a collaborative academic setting. Ward was named a 2017 winner of the prestigious DaVinci Fellow Award.

FIRST WATER RESOURCE POLICY STUDENTS GRADUATE ECU’s new Master in Water Resource Policy and Management Program celebrated its frst-ever graduates during ECU’s recent commencement exercises. Seven students participated in the ceremony. Tose honored included: Tifany Postoak, Ada; Sarita KC, Nepal; Oscar Loza Hoyos, Oklahoma City; Tifany Maddox, Ada; Kevin Blackwood, Ada; David Roland, Ada and Taylor Hunter, Stratford.

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Page 3 STUDENTS PRESENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS AT CONFERENCE Several ECU students and faculty made presentations at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond in April. Making presentations were: Conner Anderson, Joshua Hardage, Carly Heitland, Matthew B. Henry, Sam Howard, Sidney Lewis, Jonathan Lucas, Elsa Moseley and Dr. Jennifer McMahon, professor of philosophy and English.

STUDENTS INITIATED INTO NEW CHAPTER OF CHEMISTRY HONOR SOCIETY Ten ECU students were initiated into the Nu Gamma Chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, a chemistry honor society. Te 10 include: Stephanie Annette Crawford, Rabeka Jae Lashbrook, Abigail Carolina Linares, Michaela Marie Lombardi, Madison Beth McNeil, Haley Lynn Perez, Aljan Ranjit, Cassie Richardson, Destiny K. Schlicher and Ryan Tomas Scott. Te event also included the installation of the new chapter, including the granting of its charter and the presentation of the society’s coat of arms and installation of the frst ofcers.

GHOSH CAPTURES GEORGE NIGH AWARD Srijita Dia Ghosh was named the winner of the 2018 George Nigh Award at ECU. Te award is named in honor of George Nigh, the former governor of Oklahoma and ECU alumnus.

Te four other fnalists for the highly-competitive honor were Allyson Gregory, Darby Heard, Sidney Lewis and Elsa Mosley.

Page 4 BUSINESS STUDENTS ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN LOVE’S CUP ECU business students had yet another year of success, competing in the Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup and capturing several awards. Te Love’s Cup is a statewide competition, hosted by Innovation to Enterprise (i2E), that stimulates the real-word process of researching a market, writing a business plan and pitching to potential investors. ECU students Mackinsey Archer, of Choctaw, and Johnathan Harrington, of Holdenville, placed third in the Small Business Division.

Te pair also won the Product Category Interview.

Archer was also awarded the $5,000 Paulsen Award Scholarship. ECU’s Louden Johnson, of Wayne, was the Small Business IBM Pitch Winner. Starla Cooper was the IT/App Category Interview winner and received $1,000.

SIX ACCOUNTING STUDENTS EARN OSCPA SCHOLARSHIPS Six East Central University students received $11,250 in scholarships from the Oklahoma Society of Certifed Public Accountants. Tose six earning scholarships included Alexis Row with the Retha Duggan Scholarship and Ryan Jolly with the Rick Kells Scholarship. Te other four scholarship winners were Brooklin Schwabe, Kendall Hargis, Shelby O’Dell and Yashna Khadgi. Of the $25,250 awarded from the OSCPA, the $11,250 fgure accounted for 44.5 percent of the scholarship dollars ofered statewide. Te scholarship number was six out of 15 (40 percent) going to ECU students.

Campus Update June 2018 EMPLOYEES HONORED FOR RETIREMENT, YEARS OF SERVICE ECU faculty and staf were honored at an Evening of Employee Recognition. Honored included those who achieved awards, those who are retiring and those who have longevity at the university.

C3 GOLF TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS FOR TIGER FOOTBALL Roary the Tiger posed with some of the participants in the C3 (Commitment to Championships Campaign) Golf Tournament on May 21 at the WinStar Golf Club in Tackerville. Proceeds from the event went to the ECU football program for player equipment, recruiting expenses, team travel, retention incentives for coaches and expenses associated with postseason play.

GAGE NAMED NEW HEAD COACH FOR ECU BASEBALL PROGRAM Lloyd Gage, who spent this past season as pitching coach at Seminole State College and the previous seven as an associate head coach at Murray State College, is the new head baseball coach for the Tigers. Gage helped Seminole State to a 44-11 record this spring, along with helping the Trojans capture an NJCAA Division I, Region II championship. At Murray State, he was part of four conference championships, two regional titles, two district crowns and two trips to the NJCAA Division II World Series.

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Campus Update June 2018 PREISNER CLAIMS NATIONAL FREE-THROW PERCENTAGE CROWN ECU women’s basketball player Lakin Preisner won the 2017-18 NCAA Division II Statistical Title for Free-Trow Percentage.

She hit 65-of-68 attempts (95.6 percent) for the season while averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds.

SOFTBALLER EWY NAMED THIRD TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA ECU sofball infelder Mariah Ewy was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-America Division II Sofball Tird Team.

Ewy, who has a 4.0 grade-point average in biology, was also named to the Academic All-District 7 Sofball Team along with Tiger teammate and catcher/ outfelder Breecia Crawford, who has a 4.0 GPA in physics.

Ewy and Crawford were also named Great American Conference Elite Scholar-Athletes as each just completed their junior seasons for the Tigers.

TIGER SOFTBALL PLAYERS PICK UP GAC POSTSEASON AWARDS Five Tiger sofball players received GAC postseason recognition.

Tird baseman Catherine Barrera was named to the All-GAC Second Team while freshman pitcher Jacey Henry, senior frst baseman Alissa Taylor, junior shortstop Mariah Ewy and senior outfelder Claresha Clemons received honorable mention accolades. Pictured is Catherine Barrera.

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Page 5 TRACK-CROSS COUNTRY STAR LARRY FILER NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA TEAM ECU’s Larry Filer was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-America Men’s Track/Cross Country Second Team and for the second year in a row to the All-District 7 Academic Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Filer, who just completed his junior year, has a 4.0 grade-point average and was named ECU Scholar Athlete of the Year.

FIVE TIGERS CAPTURE ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS FOR TRACK Five ECU track athletes earned All-GAC recognition in seven events this past spring. Sophomore Dilland Gardner won the discus and placed third in the shot put. Teammate and junior Larry Filer fnished second in both the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000-meter race. Senior Kevin Matthews won the 800 meters. On the women’s side for ECU, senior Michaela Lombard took third in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and freshman Yvette Felix ended up ffh in the 10,000 meters.

TWO TIGER BASEBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE POSTSEASON HONORS Two ECU baseballers – Cale Ridling and Bryce Dimitrof - earned postseason recognition from the Great American Conference. Te sophomore Ridling was selected to the Second Team as an outfelder while the senior Dimitrof picked up an honorable mention award as a shortstop. Pictured here is Cale Ridling.

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Campus Update June 2018

SCENES FROM SPRING COMMENCEMENT, EVENING OF HONORS

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CAMPUS UPDATE Pierson’s Perceptions It’s always an exciting and busy time at the start of fall classes each year. We are pleased with the opening of our new residence building on campus, ChokkaChaffa’ Hall, named in honor of the Chickasaw Nation and our Native American heritage on campus. It is filled to capacity and we look forward to many years of amazing and top-notch living arrangements for our students.

My calendar has been wonderfully busy with a variety of activities. I have had the pleasure of speaking with numerous groups of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and civic and community members. I’m extremely pleased with the feedback we receive from all these groups. It’s something we can receive, apply and build on in making ECU an even better student-centered university.

As we roll along, we’re excited about the many activities in weeks and months to come, especially Homecoming on Oct. 26-27.

As always, we look forward to catching up with our alumni and friends. We look forward to a great school year and see the mounting successes and achievements of our students and employees.

Thank You for Supporting ECU! Dr. Katricia Pierson President East Central University

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September 2018

NEW RESIDENCE FACILITY CALLED CHOKKA-CHAFFA’ HALL In honor of the partnership with the Chickasaw Nation, ECU’s new residence facility is now called Chokka-Chaffa’ Hall.

Chokka-Chaffa’ is the Chickasaw word for family. Literally translated ‘house-one,’ the term is a metaphor for the Chickasaw concept of family which includes all of those that live under one roof being of one family – whether they are blood kin or not.

The 40,000-square foot building opened in August and has been filled to capacity.

DR. CAROL LINDER NEW PROVOST/VP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Dr. Carol Linder joined the administration at ECU on July 2 as provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I believe in the mission of regional universities and the opportunities for all students to succeed. Students attending ECU can get an exceptional education that is affordable and often closer to home,” Linder said. “With our small class size and numerous support services, students develop close relationships with faculty and staff that benefit them during their college career and prepare them for the future.”

ROCKIN’ ROARY IS HOMECOMING THEME FOR 2018 Mark your calendars for Oct. 26-27 as ECU celebrates homecoming. The theme for this year is Rockin’ Roary. The homecoming parade is set for Saturday, Oct. 27 at noon and the football game is at 4 p.m. A longer list of special events will be announced soon.

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Campus Update September 2018

OKA’ INSTITUTE CONFERENCE SET FOR OCT. 2-3 The 2018 Oka’ Institute Sustainability Conference will take place on ECU’s campus Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 2-3, in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center. The conference brings together leaders in science, agriculture, oil and gas, economics, public policy and more as they gain new strategies for sustainable water resource management. For more information call 580559-5968.

2018 ALUMNAE MOSELEY ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FUND Elsa Moseley, a 2018 grauate, is appreciative of the education she received at ECU and has immediately shown it with the establishment of an International Studies Fund through the ECU Foundation, Inc. Moseley achieved her degree from ECU this past spring and recently left for China to participate in the “Princeton in Asia Fellowship” program in which she is set to teach English and international relations at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

“STEP OUT OF THE DARKNESS” EVENT HELD AT ECU A day of prevention and recovery was the focus as “Step Out of the Darkness” took place on Sept.

8. The event was sponsored by ECU’s Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction and Recovery and the Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition.

A prayer march was conducted from the Pontotoc County Courthouse to the Centennial Plaza on the ECU campus. A rally with information, music, food and other activities was held at the Kerr Activities Center.

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE DINNER HELD The ECU President’s Circle conducted a progressive dinner. The President’s Circle is a group of individuals and businesses who provide targeted support for the advancement of ECU. This important group provides the university and president with access to non-designated funds that can be used to enhance educational experiences.

ECU ALUMNUS WINS EMMY AWARD ECU alumnus Brent Snider, a photojournalist with KOKI-TV FOX23 News in Tulsa, was recently presented an Emmy Award by the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Snider was honored for his work concerning Oklahoma’s response to relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey in South Texas last year.

A native of McAlester, Snider studied mass media at ECU. ECU ALUMNUS WINS HALF-MARATHON Former ECU cross country runner Juan Pacheco, of Mexico, won the 41st Annual America’s Finest City Half Marathon recently in San Diego, California. He posted his personal-best time of one hour, five minutes and 37 seconds in the 13.1-mile race.

Pacheco earned all-region honors and was second individually in the Great American Conference Meet as a senior for the Tigers in 2015.

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Campus Update September 2018 NEW FACULTY FOR 2018-2019 New ECU faculty for the 2018-2019 posed for a group photo on Aug. 16 in front of the Sterling L. Williams Center prior to the start of fall classes.

The new faculty members include: Dr. Nicholas Meyers, Dr. Sanjiv Jha, Megan Donelson, Dr. Zhaohui Su, Tonnie Scott, Dr. Jace Vickers, Eric Howard, Misty Gray, Sarah Engel, Amanda Kashwer, Dr. Mark Felts, Waynette Nell, Deborah Kifer, Mike Maxwell, Dr. David Thornton and Jason Diduch.

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NEW CHEMISTRY HONOR SOCIETY ESTABLISHED A Nu Gamma Chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, a Chemistry Honor Society, has been launched at ECU. Dr. Charles Crittell, professor of chemistry at ECU, called the first meeting to order on May 11 with the installation of the new chapter, including the granting of its charter and presentation of the society’s coat of arms, induction of the charter members of the chapter and the installation of the first officers. Initiated as ECU’s first 10 members were: Stephanie Crawford, Rabeka ECU’S PI SIGMA ALPHA CHAPTER Jae Lashbrook, Abigail Linares, Michaela LomRECOGNIZED bardi, Madison McNeil, Haley Perez, Aljan RanECU’s Pi Sigma Alpha jit, Cassie Richardson, Destiny Schlicher and is the recipient of the Ryan Scott.

One of the Best Chapter Awards in the coun- ECU STUDENT SERVES AS LEGISLATIVE try for 2017-2018. Pi INTERN IN D.C. Sigma Alpha is the Na- ECU student Ditional Political Science ego Cifuentes, a Honor Society. The award recognizes chapters native of Miami, which are particularly active in their departments Florida and resiand exhibit high levels of energy and creativity in dent of Pauls Valfurthering the goals of the honor society. Ryleigh ley, spent the 2018 Cooper, ECU chapter president, is pictured here spring semester with U.S. Representative Tom Cole. as a legislative intern for U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida, representing SIX ECU STUDENTS GO TO RUSSIA the 28th District which encompasses most of Six ECU students - Tanner Miami and Coral Gables). Pictured with CifuentSheffield, Hannah Barnes, es is Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Kate Carlin, Danielle Brecheen, actor/entertainer Richard Gere.

Leonard Feeney and Joshua Jordan - went to Russia this STUDENT TEACHERS FOR FALL 2018 summer and attended the 20th ECU student Central Association of Russian teachers for the Teachers of America Conference. Sheffield de- 2018 fall semester livered a paper entitled “A Comparison to So- pose for a group laris (1972) by Andrei Tarkovsky and the 2002 photo prior to getAmerican Remake.” ting out in the field.

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Campus Update September 2018

BURTON TAKES NINTH ON NATIONAL EXCEL EXAM ECU student Corey Burton took ninth place on the Excel 2016 Exam at the Certiport 2018 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) United States National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia this summer. Burton qualified for the national competition by virtue of an exceptionally high score on his Excel 2016 Exam and was declared Oklahoma’s champion earlier this year. Burton is a double major in business administration management and instrumental music performance.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM RECEIVES GAC SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD The ECU women’s basketball team received the 201718 Sportsmanship Award from the Great American Conference. The winner of the GAC Team Sportsmanship Award is chosen by league officials and coaches based on a point system. The honor is the fifth for an ECU athletic squad since the program started in 2012.

SOCIAL WORK STUDENT ON STATE BOARD ECU Social Work Student of the Year and double-scholarship winner Rebekah Byrd has achieved a position to represent undergraduate students of Oklahoma. A native of Tulsa, Byrd is serving as BSW Student Representative for the Oklahoma Chapter of the 2018 National Association of Social Workers Board of Directors. Byrd, who is in her final semester at ECU, is a social work major and a services to the deaf minor. Byrd is pictured with Shelley Bailey, Amy Ward and Destany Schafer-Morgan.

MAURER WINS HENRY SCHOLARSHIP ECU student Allison Maurer, of Goldsby, Oklahoma, is the recipient of the Brad Henry International Scholarship as selected by the State Board of the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education. By virtue of being named a Brad Henry International Scholar, Maurer will spend the 2019 spring semester studying at Swansea University in Wales, United Kingdom.

MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM NABS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD The ECU men’s basketball squad was one of 188 teams from NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA to earn a National Association of Basketball Coaches’ 2017-18 Academic Excellence Award. The award recognizes outstanding academic achievement by a team with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better for the 2017-18 season. The Tigers have been honored with the Team Academic Excellence award for the past two seasons.

TIM GREEN ALL-SPORTS GOLF CLASSIC A SUCCESS The Tim Green AllSports Golf Classic was held on Aug. 27 at the Oak Hills Golf and Country Club. The tournament is a fundraiser for the ECU Department of Athletics. The tournament is named in honor of the late Dr. Tim Green, former ECU director of athletics and teacher of undergraduate and graduate courses in reading methods at ECU.

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Campus Update September 2018

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TIGERS CLAIM FIRST FOOTBALL VICTORY OF THE SEASON The ECU Tigers claimed their first football victory under new head coach Al Johnson with a 29-27 home decision over Arkansas-Monticello on Sept. 15. ECU forced UAM into six turnovers, including a 30yard interception return for a touchdown by Jamil Young in the fourth quarter. Dilland Gardner caught the TD pass in this photo.

HULL NAMED GAC GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK ECU senior Chloe Hull was named Great American Conference Goalkeeper of the Week for Sept. 18 after the Tigers registered a 2-0 victory at Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 13. Hull made four saves in that match for the shutout victory. It lifted her season record to 2-2 with a 1.05 goals-against average.

FILER NAMED GAC RUNNER OF THE WEEK ECU senior Larry Filer was named Great American Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week on Sept. 19 after a seventh-place finish at the 8k Missouri Southern Stampede on Sept. 15.

Filer clocked in at 25:16.3. The finish was the best by a GAC runner at the meet as the Tigers finished 10th out of 27 as a team.

ECU’S ANNA MORA HONORED BY GAC AS RUNNER OF THE WEEK ECU junior Anna Mora was voted Great American Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week after finishing sixth individually at the 5k Missouri Southern Stampede on Sept. 15 with a time of 17:47.1. It was the best finish at the meet by a runner from the GAC. ECU claimed eighth place in the team standings. There were 34 teams competing. Mora also registered a seventh-place finish at the University of Central Oklahoma Land Run earlier this season.

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DUNSON SELECTED AS GAC DEFENDER OF THE WEEK ECU junior Kariss Dunson was named Great American Conference Soccer Defender of the Week for Sept. 18 after helping the Tigers earn a 2-0 win at Eastern New Mexico. Dunson was part of a defensive unit which limited ENMU to seven total shots, four on goal. Dunson also fired off three shots of her own in a 2-1 overtime loss to Angelo State.

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Campus Update September 2018 Opening Week Activities for 2018 Fall Semester

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CAMPUS UPDATE Pierson’s Perceptions

As you look through this issue of Campus Update, I ask you to consider the diversity found in the stories. We celebrated our Native American heritage and partnership with Chickasaw Appreciation Day and the naming of our new residence hall Chokka-Chaffa’.

We hosted a delegation from China who would like to develop programming with ECU and perhaps bring more students from China to our campus. We heard from students who have just completed study abroad experiences. We recognized the 50th anniversary of ECU’s first African American Student Organization. The university’s mission, “to educate and empower students to understand and transform our world,” requires our thoughtful and intentional focus on ensuring we are diverse and inclusive of all people. I hope your heart swells with pride when reflecting on the history and legacy of our alumni and seeing who our current students are.

Dr. Katricia Pierson President East Central University

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November 2018

ECU SHOWS APPRECIATION FOR CHICKASAW NATION Residents of the Chickasaw Nation and its employees were treated to free admission to ECU’s home football game against Henderson State on Oct. 13. Chickasaw students were able to tour campus during Chickasaw Nation Appreciation Day activities earlier in the day.

PRESIDENT PIERSON RECEIVES TWO HONORS ECU President Dr. Katricia G. Pierson celebrated with alums and family members as she was honored at the “50 Making a Difference” Gala for 2018 by The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year Program on Oct. 11.

She was has been selected to serve on the 2019 Nominating Committee for the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees.

This committee is responsible for recommending a slate for open trustee positions.

ALUMS & PRESIDENT TEAM UP TO RECRUIT STUDENTS Dr. Darryl Fisher, ECU alumnus and Oklahoma Heritage Bank Chairman, sponsored a dinner for high school students and their parents in the Byng School District. The dinner and discussion is a platform for the recruitment of students to ECU. Pierson has also spoken at Stratford and is scheduled to speak other schools in the area.

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Campus Update November 2018

THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND CONTESTS The Bron Warren Tigerpalooza Marching Band Contest, Little Dixie Choral Contest and Chalk Drawing Contest brings in thousands of high school students to the ECU Campus each fall. This gives these high school students a taste of college life at ECU.

ECU RECEIVES $40,000 GRANT A $40,000 grant has been awarded to ECU’s Social Work Program to facilitate simulation labs through the Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program. The labs are designed to bring together students from disciplines such as social work, criminal justice, nursing and legal studies. Students work in mock multi-disciplinary teams to deal with real-life, complex issues. Amy Ward (pictured) is director of the program.

HUNDREDS ATTEND ECU SENIOR DAY Hundreds of high school seniors were on campus for Senior Day in which potential ECU students learned about the university, its programs and took tours of the campus.

ANNUAL OKA’ INSTITUTE CONFERENCE A SUCCESS ECU’s 2018 Oka’ Institute Sustainability Conference was a success. The conference had a new feature, “Water Innovation and Technology on the ECU Centennial Plaza.” It was the third year for the conference. The Oka’ Institute effects positive change for water issues.

DELEGATION FROM CHINA VISITS ECU A delegation from the Hunan University Law School in China as well as the “Association of the Belt and Road Legal Service” recently visited ECU. ECU President Dr. Katricia G. Pierson and Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya, director of ECU’s Global Education Program, met with the delegation and discussed ways in which enrollment from China to ECU could be increased.

ANNUAL ECU FOUNDATION MEETING Members of the ECU Foundation Board pose for a picture as they met for their annual meeting on Oct. 16 at the Oak Hills Golf and Country Club in Ada.

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Campus Update November 2018

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HONORING ECU ALUM ROD RICHARDSON ECU will honor fallen ECU Football player, Rod Richardson (’76) on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the ECU vs SE football game. Rod was a war hero who served our country for nearly three decades as a United States Marine.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER SET FOR NOV. 19 The Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner 2018, hosted by ECU’s Human Services Club, will take place on Monday, Nov. 19, at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex, located at 1710 N. Broadway, in Ada. Everyone is welcome to the event free of charge. Doors open at 4 p.m. and mealtime is from 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. or while supplies last. Donations may be made to the Human Services Club in care of the ECU Foundation.

Pre-game will showcase the new memorial and honor Rod Richardson with a special Flag Raising Ceremony, and the Richardson family will be recognized at halftime.

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ECU SHOWTIME PERFORMS TRIBUTE TO MUSICAL OKLAHOMA! ECU’s song and dance troupe Showtime presented a salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Oklahoma! in the Dorothy I. Summers Theatre on Nov. 2-3.

The musical was in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the show’s premiere on Broadway.

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CHOKKA-CHOFFA’ OPEN HOUSE HELD ECU employees and students attended the Chokka-Chaffa’ Open House for the university’s newest residence facility in September.

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Campus Update November 2018

LINSCHEID LIBRARY HAS NEW DIGITAL HUMANITIES LAB ECU’s Linscheid Library has opened a new Digital Humanities Lab on the second floor. The lab includes 13 Apple computers with media creation and editing software, a 3D printer and a large format printer. The computers can also be used to access online Native American language learning software for users that register through the Humanities Education Research Center (HERC) Office. The lab will enable students and faculty to complete interdisciplinary research projects that combine technology and the humanities.

SHEFFIELD PRESENTS AT FOREIGN LANGUAGE CONFERENCE ECU student Tanner Sheffield, of Ada, presented a paper at the Fall Conference of the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teacher Association (OFLTA) that took place recently in Moore. The paper was on “Solaris: Tarkovskiy versus Soderbergh,” based on Sheffield’s research the previous six months.

FILER EARNS THIRD GAC RUNNER OF THE WEEK AWARD ECU cross country runner Larry Filer has earned three Great American Conference Runner of the Week awards this season.

His latest came in the Oklahoma ECU WINS VOTER REGISTRATION Baptist University Invitational CONTEST FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT TIME when he finished fourth overall For the fifth straight time, ECU out of 116 participants. His effort helped the Tihas set a standard in voter gers to a second-place team finish in the meet. registration. ECU won the Equality Division for institu- STUDENTS ENJOY FALL CARNIVAL tions of enrollment for 3,001- ECU students enjoyed 7,000 during the Oklahoma the annual Fall Carnival Campus Compact Voter Reg- with games, food and fun istration Contest. ECU’s win- on the mall in front of the ning percentage was 10.5, Bill S. Cole University. which outdistanced second-place Northeastern State, which registered a 4.1.

GO GLOBAL STUDY ABROAD FAIR CONDUCTED “THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR” ECU students parECU Theatre presented ticipated in the Go “The Government Inspector,” Global Study Abroad Oct. 11-13, in the Chalmers Fair on Oct. 4 in the Herman Theatre of the Hallie Estep Multimedia Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. Center.

Students The comedy was directed by were able to see exECU professor Dr. Richard hibits from partner universities from abroad, lisGroetzinger and assisted by ten to student speakers and view a performance graduate student Margie Beck of Ada. from ECU Showtime.

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Campus Update November 2018 ECU STUDENTS ATTEND CAREER EXPO ECU students converged to the Memorial Student Union Ballroom on Sept.

26 for the ECU Career Expo. The event exposes students to businesses, companies and graduate schools as post-graduate options.

ECU NOW HAS AAUP

The new ECU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) conducted its first event on Oct. 11.

The event was a public forum focused on the university’s new strategic plan, featuring guest speaker Dr. Ken Andrews, acting dean of the ECU College of Health and Sciences and chair of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT HONORED FOR ENHANCED LIGHTING Members of the ECU Student Welfare Committee honored Darryl Overstreet, Blaine Rose and Max Abrego, of Facilities Management, for their recent outstanding service with the committee’s campus safety lighting project, particularly with enhanced lighting in the rock garden area. Pictured are Overstreet and Rose.

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IT’S TIME! 2019 SPRING ENROLLMENT Monday, Nov. 5 Honors & Student Support Services Tuesday, Nov. 6 Graduate Students and Seniors Wednesday, Nov. 7 Juniors & First-Time Transfer Enrollment Thursday, Nov. 8 Sophomores Friday, Nov. 9 Continuing Freshmen Monday, Nov. 12 First-Time Freshmen Tuesday, Nov. 13 Concurrent Students

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Campus Update November 2018 A Flashback to Homecoming 2018

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