Focus Magazine Spring 2016

FOC US SPRING 2016

ALUMNI MAGAZINE of OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY

OKCU.EDU

RISING RANKS

CHARTING SUCCESS

THREE-PEAT

OCU receives nods as a top regional university, best value, and more.

Nursing professor makes the impossible possible for students through the decades.

Top-ranked cross country runners claim NAIA national title.

Stars

IN THE CITY SERVING WHILE LEARNING

CONTENTS Robert Henry, President Kent Buchanan, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

ADMINISTRATIVE CABINET Jim Abbott, Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Leslie Berger, BA ’02, Senior Director of University Communications Joey Croslin, Chief Human Resources Officer Jason Foreman, Acting Assistant Provost Gerry Hunt, Chief Information Officer Catherine Maninger, Interim Chief Financial Officer Charles Neff, BA ’99, MBA ’11, Vice President for University-Church Relations Marty O’Gwynn, Vice President for University Advancement and External Relations Casey Ross-Petherick, BSB ’00, JD ’03, MBA/JD ’03, General Counsel Kevin Windholz, Vice President for Enrollment Management

ALUMNI RELATIONS Cary Pirrong, BS ’87, JD ’90, Director of Alumni Relations Mike Slack, BA ’07, MA ’12, President, Alumni Board

EDITORIAL STAFF Leslie Berger, BA ’02, Senior Director of University Communications Rod Jones, MBA ’12, Editor of FOCUS and Associate Director of Public Relations Kim Mizar, Communications Coordinator April Marciszewski, Art Director of FOCUS and Senior Graphic Designer

WRITERS Terry Phelps, Professor of English Rich Tortorelli, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

PHOTOGRAPHER Josh Robinson, Photographer/Videographer

FOCUS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1493 (405) 208-7000 Story Ideas: focus@okcu.edu Alumni News: alumni@okcu.edu FOCUS is produced semiannually by the Communications and Alumni departments for alumni, parents, and friends of Oklahoma City University.

Oklahoma City University pledges to recruit, select, and promote diversity by providing equality of opportunity in higher education for all persons, including faculty and employees, with respect to hiring, continuation, promotion, and tenure, applicants for admission, enrolled students, and graduates, without discrimination or segregation on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

The Chief Human Resources Officer, located in Room 108 of the Clara E. Jones Administration Building, telephone (405) 208-5075, coordinates the University’s compliance with titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Printed on recycled paper.

ON THE COVER

COMMUNITY SERVANT-LEADERSHIP Increasingly, Oklahoma City University students spend their internships serving at local charities and nonprofits, equipping them with job skills, making connections, and helping lift up the community.

PAG E 7 Cover: Alanna Ball, psychology junior, said: “Students really enjoy giving back to the community, and it shows.

A lot of my friends—no matter what major they are— they’re doing something to help others.” Above: Jami Rae Renwick interns at the Dale Rogers Training Center. Right: Ali Wonderly has gained insight into the industry she wants to work in at her Lyric Theatre internship.

Photos by Josh Robinson

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

Enabling Tenor Talent to Flourish

11

A Life of Creative Writing

12

Meeting His Musical Fate: Singer Chose OCU; Now, the World

14

‘Days of Our Lives’ Exec Blazes Trails 16 Broadway Superstar Helps Raise Money for Children’s Theatre

17

Mission: Help Build a High School

22

OCU Puts on the Ritz for Supporters

29

President’s Message Letters University Update Alumni Athletics Class Notes In Memory

1 2 3 14 20 23 26

Stay Up-To-Date Between Issues: okcu.edu // Read the Archives and Extra: okcu.edu/focus

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Graduating into Lives of Service In just a few weeks we will celebrate commencement and send the Class of 2016 across the globe to fulfill their roles as servantleaders, scientists, artists, healthcare providers, public servants, lawyers, and businessmen and women. Whichever career paths our graduates pursue, we will ask them to remember the lessons they have lived and learned at Oklahoma City University and to use them in serving the world around us.

Service-learning has been a core component of the OCU curriculum for more than a decade. During this semester, more than 400 students are enrolled in 28 courses centered on servicelearning. These include arts management, biology, dance, education, English, management, mass communications, music, nursing, religion, Spanish, and theatre courses where students, through class projects, work to serve local organizations and area residents who are in need.

In this issue you will see various examples of our students, employees, and alumni in service to others. You will also discover exciting new plans that are underway to further engage our arts and sciences students with nonprofit organizations in the Oklahoma City community. Our leadership in the Petree College of Arts and Sciences is building partnerships with a variety of nonprofit agencies and creating internship opportunities for students to allow them to gain valuable career-oriented experience while addressing some of our community’s greatest needs. I look forward to our expanded work in the community and our collaboration with area nonprofit organizations.

I hope you will join us to learn more about the exciting developments at Oklahoma City University during AllAlumni Weekend April 22–24. For event details, visit okcu.edu/alumniweekend.

In closing, I would like to share the charge we will give to our graduates at commencement this May: To know scientifically to understand humanistically, to explore artistically, and to act morally: “Do[ing] all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,

President Robert and Dr. Jan Henry (at left), along with Sandy and Stewart Meyers (at right) pose with alumna and Broadway star Kelli O'Hara following a benefit concert supporting the Meyers Theatre for Young Audiences.

Photo by Jerry Hymer, Hymer Photography

Florence Birdwell, legendary OCU professor emerita of voice performance, shakes hands with President Robert Henry shortly before being hooded. Interim Provost Kent Buchanan (center) assisted in awarding Birdwell the honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degree at her Spanish Cove Retirement Village residence March 19. Photo by Ann Sherman

At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”

—Attributed to John Wesley, founder of Methodism (1703–1791) Best regards, ROBERT AND JAN HENRY okcu.edu // 1

LETTERS

A Belize Point of View

From Bird Woman to Bird Lady

GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT HENRY!

It was life-affirming to see the spread devoted to phenomenon Florence Birdwell in the current FOCUS (Fall 2015 issue). Fun to see the attribution of “The Bird Lady” given her, when back in the day (1970s) we all referred to her affectionately as the “Bird Woman.” I enjoyed my contact with her as a voice student and then over a 10-year-plus association during her one-woman shows as stage manager, confidant, and photographer. She has said that my live available light photography of her first concert in 1979 was inspiration for her to continue her concerts, where she practiced through her performances what she taught. A point of interest is her student Lara Teeter—who now teaches and prepares his students for Broadway in Missouri—was her first Tony-nominated student with the 1983 Broadway production of “On Your Toes.” It’s only appropriate that she progressed from “Flo” to a more professional “Florence,” back in the day, and it’s no wonder she has progressed from The Bird Woman to The Bird Lady. Love my association with OCU.

I just wanted to send you a quick thank you for your generous contribution to our mission trip!

Thinking back, we fit probably two weeks’ worth of activities into one week, while still having time to play with the neighborhood kids in our down time! Not a single moment was wasted, and I loved every second of it.

It was amazing getting to know the staff at Camelote camp and the youth at the Methodist high school and Marla’s girls home.

Many of the children we spoke with mentioned that they wanted to be tour guides after high school. Many of us thought that was an odd thing to strive towards, but we found out why when we went on the cave tubing excursion. Belizeans are genuinely proud of their country and its history and wildlife, and our guide was enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of Belize with us.

I truly feel like we got to know Belize as a country through our conversations with the people we met at the work site/high school, at Marla’s, at camp, and during our trips to the zoo and cave tubing. This trip opened my eyes and heart to mission work and was my first—but most definitely won’t be my last!!

Thanks for helping make this experience one that I won’t soon forget. Prez Henry, you’re the best!

Kind regards, BROOKE CRUTCHFIELD [Editor’s note: A group of 11 students and three family members went on a mission trip to Belize in January. See the story and photos on page 22.]

TERRY ZINN B.A. Theater 1971

Converging to Learn DEAR PRESIDENT HENRY,

In Gratitude ROBERT,

I am grateful for our friendship … and your outstanding leadership in the state, on the bench, and at OCU. We have miles to go before we sleep, but in the meantime please enjoy some Oliver Sacks life philosophy.

With love, respect, and appreciation,

MT (MIKE TURPEN)

I wanted to thank you for funding my trip to the National Student Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., last semester. I cannot truly express of how beneficial the experience was of attending the forum. I have made wonderful connections with Congress, leaders of small businesses, and students alike, all thanks to your generosity and SGA (Student Government Association) for funding the trip.

Thank you again for making my trip possible!

Sincerely, AVERY HANSON

2 // FOCUS Spring 2016

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Students Participate in Study Abroad Video Project OCU students shared a threeday digital storytelling blitz as part of a European UnionA still from the film “Home 2.0” by student Anna Nguyen. sponsored project called “StoryA,” a gathering of stories from young adults around the world for presentation at a conference in Capetown, South Africa, this spring. Students made videos about their experiences living and learning overseas.

StoryAbroad is a grant-funded partnership of educators in the European Union who invited a small group of additional participants from Brazil, South Africa, and the U.S. to foster a more global dialogue regarding the use of digital storytelling to study the experiences of youth living and learning in other countries.

The U.S. contributions are coming from students at UC Berkeley and OCU as a result of English professor Dr. Brooke Hessler’s digital storytelling collaborations with Berkeley-based StoryCenter.

Film production major Ashley Kinard and marketing major Anna Nguyen served as deputy facilitators. Students made stories about experiences in London, Budapest, Cyprus, and Iran.

Hessler, assisted by Nguyen and Kinard, organized the videomaking events.

Savvy Scholars Two Oklahoma City University students received $5,000 Gilman Scholarship awards to help fund their spring 2016 study abroad programs. Amy Smith and Jennifer Treloggen were each awarded $5,000 scholarships.

Smith, a political science major and American Indian Scholar, is spending the 2015-16 academic year in Dakar, Senegal, through the nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization CIEE. Her coursework includes French and Wolof languages and development studies.

Treloggen, a sophomore business major, Honors student and Chesapeake Scholar, was awarded a scholarship to spend the spring semester at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Amy Smith in Japan. Treloggen spent her senior year of high school in Japan on a Rotary International Scholarship and will continue her study of Japanese this spring while also completing business course work in Beppu City, Japan.

The prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, received more than 2,900 applications, and more than 800 Jennifer Treloggen students were offered awards to study abroad and participate in international internships.

The program aims to diversify the students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go. The greater international understanding prepares students for leadership roles.

Photo by Josh Robinson

Students Bridge Art, Music The School of Theatre’s lighting design students presented their final projects on the SkyDance Bridge in downtown Oklahoma City in December. The projects were paired with original soundtracks by the Bass School of Music’s composition students.

Students in the upper-level lighting course “Museum, Fashion, and Special Event Lighting Design” created original works for the bridge, which crosses a busy section of I-40 next to downtown.

The class explores the transferable skills that students learn in the course of study in theatrical lighting design.

STUDENT LIFE ABROAD: okcu.edu/storyabroad // 3

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Studies: OCU Ranks Among America’s Best U.S. News & World Report again has ranked Oklahoma City University among the best colleges in the country. The list has OCU ranked No. 23 in the Best Regional Universities in the West category, the highest rank of Oklahoma universities in this category and two places higher than last year.

OCU was also named to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s list of the Top 300 Best College Values of 2016. OCU earned a spot on the magazine’s list of 100 best values in private universities. The University’s ranking was 10 places higher than a year ago, from 73rd in the country up to 63rd out of 224 total schools considered.

Along with the regional overall list, OCU is also on the U.S. News West regional universities A+ Schools for B Students list and is ranked No. 20 for Best Regional University for Veterans in the West, the highest ranking in Oklahoma.

Schools on the A+ Schools for B Students list are noted for accepting outstanding applicants whose scores are not “A.” The colleges and universities included in the list see great potential in these students and help them achieve their goals.

U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on various factors including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, faculty resources, student selections, financial resources, and alumni giving.

Kiplinger assesses value by measurable standards of academic quality and affordability.

Other recent University honors include: • One of the best colleges in the West according to The Princeton Review (PrincetonReview.com). In its website profile on OCU, The Princeton Review stated that students describe the college

PRINCETON REVIEW “Big enough to have exciting things happen all the time but small enough so you see people you know and don’t feel overwhelmed”

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as a “close-knit community” and provides them with the resources to “accomplish as much as possible.” “Undergrads love OCU’s size which translates to, ‘big enough to have exciting things happen all the time but small enough so you see people you know and don’t feel overwhelmed,’” the review added.

Military Friendly Schools list by Victory Media, which honors the top colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students to ensure their success on campus.

A Best Western Regional University by College Choice. OCU at No. 33 was the only university from the state on the list.

The rankings are based on surveys of college freshmen on what is most important to their college decision.

The U.S. News & World Report listed the Meinders School of Business as having one of the Best Online Graduate Business Programs (non-MBA) in the country for the second year in a row. The school is ranked 22 in the country, the highest in Oklahoma.

The Physician Assistant program was awarded accreditation by the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission.

National Jurist magazine preLaw included the OCU School of Law on its list of the best schools in the government category.

Schools are named based on curricular offerings, employment placement, student debt, starting salary, and LRAP programs.

The School of Theatre was named the best theatre college in Oklahoma by OnStage.

Montessori Masters

President Robert Henry and Kim-Bao Young, vice president for administration at NTUNHS, toast an agreement to create a Montessori Early Childhood Education program in Taiwan. Photo by Rod Jones 4 // FOCUS Spring 2016

OCU and the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taiwan entered into an agreement to create a master’s degree program in Montessori Early Childhood Education.

Under the agreement, the universities will jointly operate the program in Taiwan with academic and administrative support. The courses will be taught in English.

OCU faculty will travel to Taiwan each year to teach. Charlotte Wood-Wilson, director of the Montessori Teacher Education program at OCU, said the agreement will benefit childhood education on both sides of the Pacific.

“There is a great amount of interest in the Montessori Program throughout all of Asia,” Wood-Wilson said.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

April Nelson speaks during the dedication ceremony for her portrait in the Hall of Queens.

Photo by Rod Jones

Queen April Joins the Royalty A portrait of April Nelson, an OCU alumna who competed in the 2015 Miss America pageant as Miss Louisiana, was added to the Hall of Queens during a ceremony in October.

Nelson was third runner-up and won the talent preliminaries at the Miss America pageant in September. She graduated in May with a Bachelor of Music in musical theatre and was Miss OCU in 2012.

The Hall of Queens is in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.

Sewing Hope Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2014, visited OCU in October to discuss her efforts to help young girls rescued from the notorious and brutal warlord Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army.

Nyirumbe is the director of the Saint Monica Girls’ Tailoring Center in Gulu, Uganda.

The school helps the girls learn life skills to support themselves and their families through such trades as sewing and cooking.

She and the school are the subjects of the documentary “Sewing Hope,” narrated

by Oscar Award-winner Forest Whitaker.

Nyirumbe, a member of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, has had Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe is applauded close encounters with LRA following the announcement of her guerrillas, including some honorary doctorate in the Petree Recital Hall. Photo by Leslie Berger instances that nearly led to her demise, while helping victims of the conflicts raging in Uganda.

Her story is captured in the documentary and in a book of the same name co-written by Oklahoma City attorney Reggie Whitten.

Her Time magazine profile stated, “For girls who were forcibly enlisted as child soldiers, Sister Rosemary has the power to rekindle a bright light in eyes long gone blank.”

Nyirumbe received an honorary doctorate from OCU during her public presentation. Find photos and a video of one of her presentations at OCU on the Focus Extra Web page: okcu.edu/focus/extra.

Photo by Josh Robinson

Caring Partners OCU has partnered with Duncan Regional Hospital to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the hospital beginning in fall 2016.

The hospital will provide up to 15 scholarships annually for students who enroll in the program and agree to work at DRH following graduation. Qualified students can complete the program in two years.

Jay Johnson, president and CEO of Duncan Regional Hospital, said the program will address an ongoing need for baccalaureateprepared nurses at the hospital.

“We are excited about this partnership to bring the highly respected OCU BSN degree to a community like ours,” Johnson said.

A member of the OCU faculty will reside in Duncan to teach classes and labs. The program will also use an innovative Polycom Communications online platform so students in Duncan will be able to participate and interact with classes in Oklahoma City in real time.

WATCH SISTER ROSEMARY: okcu.edu/focus/extra // 5

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

‘Broadway’s golden girl’

Photo by Leslie Berger

Broadway Star Honored Musical theater star Kelli O’Hara received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during a ceremony in November. O’Hara won the Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical last year for her role in Broadway’s “The King and I.” She earned her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and opera from OCU in 1998.

“I just always wanted to do what I’m doing so badly. This is above and beyond what I would ever need, just like that other thing,” O’Hara said, referring to her Tony Award. “You don’t know what to dream for and hope for when you’re just wanting to do it. If you hold onto that, and never forget that, you will win—your heart will remain peaceful.”

OCU President Robert Henry presented the doctorate, noting O’Hara’s accomplishments.

“As we say here at OCU, if you’ve got it, flaunt it,” Henry said.

Lauded as “Broadway’s golden girl and luminous star” by The New York Times, O’Hara is a six-time Tony Award nominee for her performances in “South Pacific,” “The Pajama Game,” “The Light in the Piazza,” “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” and last year for “The Bridges of Madison County.”

Film and television credits rank among her experiences, and she has released two solo albums, “Wonder in the World” and “Always.”

6 // FOCUS Spring 2016

Hollywood Actress Talks Business Oscar-nominated Hollywood actress Mary McDonnell and her husband, Broadway actor and University of Southern California instructor Randle Mell, worked with theater students at Oklahoma City University in February. They conducted a master class and question-and-answer session, offering advice to students about building and sustaining a career in the performing arts.

McDonnell is a two-time Oscar-nominated actress who Photo by Josh Robinson is known for her character portrayals in both period and present-day screen roles. Her breakout film role was as Stands with a Fist in “Dances with Wolves.”

McDonnell has starred in several television shows including her current role as Captain Sharon Raydor in “Major Crimes.”

Summer Tour of Germany Offered OCU modern languages Professor Emerita Christiane Faris is hosting a guided tour of her home country of Germany July 14–28.

The trip includes visits to sites relevant to two of her books, a memoir of growing up in Germany during World War II titled “The Nicest Nazi” and a collection of interviews titled “Voices from a World at War.” Other sites on the itinerary include the Czech Republic and historical locations as Germany prepares for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Lutheran Reformation.

For more information, call Sunshine Travel Service at (405) 9488642 or (800) 522-5809, or email snshinetv@aol.com.

Faris, born in Berlin during Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship, lost her family home to bombing during the war. She came to the U.S. in 1968. She is a recipient of the German Cross of Merit.

Keep up with the latest news at Oklahoma City University! Enter your email address or update your contact information at okcu.edu/update

City Connection WHERE STUDENT INTERNSHIPS

&

THE COMMUNITY’S NEEDS MEET

Rachel Williams unearths a bank teller window in the archives of the Oklahoma History Center. Photo by Josh Robinson

BY KIM MIZAR

areas, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue,” Doherty said. She is interested in how to train women to be competitive with men in the workplace. She said the center was an excellent Students in Oklahoma City University’s Petree College of Arts and place to see the economic side of philanthropic work for the Sciences are seizing new opportunities to couple the University’s community. tradition of academic excellence and servant-leadership with Hope Risher, a music senior and psychology minor, worked with internship opportunities that serve the local community. the Oklahoma Mental Health Association on their TEEN Screen Melissa Hakman, associate professor, chair, and director in the program. The program is designed to reach middle and high Psychology Department and Child Advocacy Studies Training school students to educate them on the signs of mental health issues Program, teaches the Psychological Internships course, which pairs including depression. students with internships in their field of study.

Risher sees an immense need for these services. “There needs to “This allows the students to decide what they want to do and be more information and education for kids about mental health,” make connections in their field,” Hakman explained. she said. “We need to break the barrier.”

Sarah Cason, a psychology junior and child Psychology junior Alanna Ball works with advocacy studies minor, recently completed Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma City. She an internship at The CARE Center, an provides recommendations for matching mentors interdisciplinary child advocacy center that A textbook doesn’t play with children, and has even become a mentor conducts forensic interviews with abused herself. She also volunteers at the Oklahoma children and adolescents. Cason was part of a out in the real world Eating Disorders Association in her spare time. multi-disciplinary team at the center, helping the way this does. This “All of this has let me have hands-on with intake forms and organizational tasks, and practical application works. experience, and I’ve realized I can relate to observing interviews with children. Each child teens,” Ball explained. who is interviewed goes home with a stuffed —MELISSA HAKMAN English and history senior Rachel Williams animal and a “brave pack,” a bag of goodies such Psychological Internships professor is interning at the Oklahoma History Center, as pens, coloring books, and Silly Putty. working in both library and museum archives. She “This part was my favorite because those kids said the internship is giving her a chance to decide need to know how brave they are,” Cason said. if she wants to pursue museum or library studies in graduate school.

Jamie Rae Renwick, a psychiatric nursing senior, is the first Williams participated in OCU’s Study Abroad program two OCU student to intern at the Dale Rogers Training Center, the years ago in Rome, where she was able to assist with artifact oldest and largest community vocational training and employing conservation. She said the experience ignited her love and interest center for people with disabilities in Oklahoma. The center in library and museum archives. partners with businesses around Oklahoma City to employ 11,000 Carol Jasak, Williams’ supervisor at the Oklahoma History people with disabilities annually.

Center, has been encouraged by the dedication and professionalism The special needs program was developed years ago and is like a exhibited by OCU students. “I always know that I am going to get home to the workers as they take vocational classes and learn about a quality intern who isn’t just looking for class credit, but who is personal responsibility and workplace behavior. hungry for knowledge,” she said.

Renwick plans to move back to her native Canada in May when Theatre and mass communications junior Ali Wonderly is she graduates and enter a graduate psychiatric nursing program. interning at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, where she is gaining “I had no idea how to get an internship,” she said. “Professor experience in the business of performing arts. She is working Hakman works tirelessly to find the right location that will be for the theatre in public relations, marketing, social media, and beneficial.” online communications.

Tamara Doherty, a psychology junior and economics minor, “I love the business of Broadway, and I want to be a part interned at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, conducting a of that community in either marketing production or theatre research project that examines women in nonprofits. management,” Wonderly said.

“The first time I saw how psychology can be applied to other 8 // FOCUS Spring 2016

Jami Rae Renwick (center, in blue) works with people with disabilities in the vocational services division at the Dale Rogers Training Center. Those served at the center receive training and employment “so they are able to learn and contribute in their own individual way,” Renwick said. She and other staff members “assist the participants by helping them achieve their individual goals, as well as work-related expectations that push them to increase their independence.” Photo by Josh Robinson

Wonderly’s OCU connections helped her obtain the internship.

“Lyric Theatre staff know the OCU community and the reputation of the theatre department,” she explained. Her supervisor is alumna Allie Sheaks Tabberer, BFA ’12.

“That adds extra incentive for me to do well so future interns can have this same opportunity,” Wonderly said.

Oklahoma City University faculty and staff not only expound

the importance of community involvement, but also encourage their students to actively participate in ways that interest them and help them network in the fields they are pursuing.

Hakman’s Psychological Internships class is comprised of select students who are qualified for advanced study and approved by their academic departments to work in a community organization or program relevant to their course of study. Each student also okcu.edu // 9

We want to connect alumni with interns and be known as Oklahoma City’s laboratory of learning.

—AMY CATALDI Petree College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean

Ali Wonderly is learning marketing skills for her industry at her Lyric Theatre internship, putting “all of the skills and techniques I learned in the mass comm department directly to use, creating content for social media and online marketing,” she said. She has also experienced the professional theatre industry firsthand and seen parts of the production process for the first time. “The Broadway community is a family I can’t wait to be a part of in some capacity, and working for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma has given me an opportunity to take a peek inside a small piece of that world.” Photo by Josh Robinson

creates a résumé and completes a mock interview. Participants are evaluated by faculty mentors and receive critical feedback.

“A textbook doesn’t play out in the real world the way this does,” Hakman said. “This practical application works. The students are gaining skills they will need to succeed in their chosen fields.”

Petree College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Amy Cataldi and Professor Bob Spinks, director of the Nonprofit Leadership Program, have a vision for their students to serve the community through nonprofits that provide much-needed human services. They are designing a program to give students a heightened awareness of 10 // FOCUS Spring 2016

community citizenship, coupled with real-life experiences that set them apart from other potential job applicants in their chosen field.

“We would like to move to a funded semester of internship, ideally,” Cataldi said.

This allows students to become competitive by applying their skills and abilities as well as building their portfolio. She added that students who are engaged and involved in the community have a vested interest in the future of Oklahoma City. “We want to connect alumni with interns and be known as Oklahoma City’s laboratory of learning,” Cataldi said.

GIVING

Endowed Scholarship Honors Tenor Grad, Cultivates Talent Schafer Remembered as Bright Light who Strove for Perfection Michael Schafer, second from left, graduated from OCU in 2014. Photo provided by Jillian Schafer

BY LESLIE BERGER

A new music scholarship has been established at Oklahoma City University in memory of Michael Schafer, BM ’14.

Schafer’s parents, Eddie and Rochelle Schafer, and a host of family and friends established the endowed scholarship to benefit students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance who sing first tenor and have a GPA of at least 3.5.

Schafer was a talented musician with a gifted tenor voice who had a love for conducting. He passed away in June 2015 after a battle with cancer.

Bass School of Music Dean Mark Parker remembered Shafer as a purpose-driven student.

“We worked very hard to recruit Michael to OCU,” Parker recalled. “We wanted him here. I thought he was going to be a special student. Once he started school, we all realized that he was in fact a very special student. Michael was a bright light, every day.

His love of music, his talents, his drive, and his sense of purpose radiated from within him. He was a positive influence on all of us.”

Randi Von Ellefson, director of choral activities at the Bass School of Music, said Schafer distinguished himself as a brilliant singer and gifted musician. “Michael was one of the most outstanding students I have ever been blessed with during my 35plus years of teaching. His energy, enthusiasm, positive spirit, and of course, his pure talent impressed me.”

He said Schafer was one of very few freshmen he invited to sing with the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church Choir.

“He was dedicated to the choral program and was a wonderful friend to me,” Von Ellefson said. “He wasn’t always patient with his peers who didn’t sight read music as well as he did, but his peers loved him for his engaging personality and kindness in leadership.

He truly was a servant-leader. He is regularly remembered by friends and faculty who knew him and loved him at OCU and by members of Chapel Hill who often comment on the impact he made in their lives. He was a rare combination of talent, intellect, and loving soul. I believe that our loving God relishes Michael in

the heavenly choir—even correcting long-time members of the Angel Choir. That would be Michael!”

Schafer’s parents expressed their desire to help future OCU students accomplish their dreams while honoring Michael and his passion for music.

“As a family, our love for Michael and OCU caused us to want to honor Michael with a music scholarship at OCU that would help other students live the dream and accomplish their goals and desires,” said Eddie Schafer, Michael’s father. “Michael used music as one way to express his love for people. He used music as a ministry. He always worked hard and gave his best whether singing or conducting. He expected the best from those with whom he performed. He encouraged others to do their best. Truth be known: He demanded perfection in himself and others. We hope and pray that the recipients of this scholarship will follow Michael’s example.”

“Michael’s love for music began when he joined the afterschool choir in elementary school,” said his mother, Rochelle Schafer. “He continued his pursuit of music in high school where he participated in school musicals; sang with the Chordsman, a men’s quartet; and was selected as the student director. During his four years of high school, he made All-State Choir twice, his junior year as a Bass I and his senior year First Chair Bass II. “His love for barbershop was evident when he joined the Vocal Majority as a high school senior. Jim Clancy called Michael ‘Moses’—he was a force to be reckoned with.

“Michael had a passion for music and strived for excellence in his chosen field. Because of a generous OCU scholarship, Michael was able to attend OCU where his passion for music flourished. He was asked to join the Chapel Hill Methodist Church choir, which opened up many doors of service and ministry.

“He was a caring young man with a big voice and a bigger heart.

It is our hope that this scholarship will help other deserving young tenors achieve their goals as musicians.”

For more information about the scholarship, contact Judy Reyes-Henderson, director of development, at (405) 208-5435 or jareyeshenderson@okcu.edu. okcu.edu/give // 11

GIVING

‘Purity of English Speech’ Guides Writer mentally stimulating for me and a wonderful way to meet residents and learn about their many There are many ways to show gratitude. One lasting accomplishments. I have loved every minute of the way is to establish something that gives others work involved in every issue—assigning stories, the benefit of an education, thereby helping them badgering writers, editing, proofreading, and doing become successful in a career they love. whatever needed to be done.”

For Mary Clary Sargent, class of 1935, creative Her life is itself right out of a storybook. The writing was her scholarly, professional, and Oklahoma City native followed her sister, Katherine passionate pursuit that she hoped to share with (Kay) Clary Corinth, to OCU. Corinth, a 1931 future generations. She honed graduate, shared her younger sister’s a skill for writing as a student love for the University. She served as at Oklahoma City University, a trustee of the University from 1991 an education she credits for her to 1997.

I have loved every exemplary career as a writer Corinth was also a prolific of books, magazine stories, professional writer and had a long minute of the work newsletters, and other ways career with Seventeen magazine as an involved in every people put thoughts onto pages. editor. The two sisters were co-writers issue—assigning During a recent visit to on several book projects. campus, her closest relatives Corinth moved to New York to stories, badgering Claudia and Jack Stephens said attend a fashion school to learn about writers, editing, Sargent’s favorite course at OCU the business side of the industry. She was Purity of English Speech, became an assistant to a vice president proofreading, and which she credited with guiding of the Neilson Company during doing whatever her well for 80 years.

World War II, a post traditionally held Sargent passed away in 2014 by a man. needed to be done. at the age of 102 and worked as As with college, Sargent followed —MARY SARGENT a writer all the way to the end her older sister to New York eight ’35 of her life. Her last project, a years after graduating. She lived in neighborhood newsletter for her Salvation Army-sponsored housing for retirement village near Augusta, Ga., was ready to girls, a charity she graciously supported later in life. go to press just before she died.

She worked for a law firm, then landed a job at Time The front page of the Autumn 2014 Brandon Wilde magazine in the personnel department.

Journal carries a story she wrote announcing the end Through her sister, she met her future husband, of the newsletter she helped create soon after moving David, a member of the senior scientific staff on the to the retirement community 22 years before. “A Manhattan Project. David later worked for Johnson Last Goodbye” included this paragraph: & Johnson. He was an avid tennis player and won “Now I say goodbye as editor of the Brandon several trophies, from his time on the college varsity Wilde Journal. When you read this, it may be at my team at Columbia University throughout much of retirement or it will be my obituary, whichever his adult life. is appropriate. By writing this I have prepared in The Sargents would stay in the New York City area advance for either occasion.” throughout their marriage, living in Westfield, N.J. And later: Mary Sargent developed a knack for entertaining “After having been editor for more than 20 years, through throwing parties at her home. When her I regret saying goodbye. The work was always sister, Kay, was approached to write party books,

BY ROD JONES

‘‘

A selection of Sargent's published books.

12 // FOCUS Spring 2016

GIVING

The estate

of Mary Clary Sargent established an endowed chair in creative writing at Oklahoma City University with a gift of $1,075,000.

It is called the Katherine & Mary Clary Chair of Creative Writing in the Petree College of Arts and Sciences.

Sargent was well-qualified to help due to her proven expertise.

They started with 12 small books on different themed parties, published by Hallmark in 1965.

They followed them up with “All About Entertaining: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Fabulous Social Life” in 1966.

The “All About Entertaining” book was, as the title suggests, a comprehensive how-to guide that covered nearly any question that could possibly arise on the topics of etiquette and party planning. It was named a Book Club selection. Many portions were purchased for reprint in McCalls and Bride’s magazines.

While on the bookstore promotion trail, a store manager wondered aloud why there wasn’t a book about manners for teen boys. The sisters decided to fill that void with “Male Manners: The Young Man’s Guide” in 1969.

An editor asked Sargent to write a book about dieting. In a previous issue of FOCUS magazine, she described her research as “spying”: “I told the editor I didn’t know a thing about diet but would see what I could learn. The book was to be written for Diet Control Centers and marketed through them. I thought attending their classes would provide insight to the dieting problems people face and the answers they seek in their quest to lose weight.

“I visited the classes, acting as if I were interested in joining.

Since I wasn’t overweight and I thought they might find my curiosity odd, I would go to a different class each time to avoid questions. I would make mental notes, then jot down what I’d found out when I returned home, regaling Dave with stories of my spying.”

The result of her research was “Slim Forever,” published in 1975.

Sargent developed a hobby in rug making. As with previous interests, she learned enough about the craft to publish a book.

“The Hook Book” was released in 1977, later republished as “Basic Rug Hooking” and updated one more time for a third edition in 1990.

In all, she wrote, co-wrote, or was the ghost writer of seven

Sisters Katherine (Kay) Corinth and Mary Sargent appear on the back of their book “All About Entertaining." Photo by Fred Keesing

published books, not counting the 12-book series for Hallmark.

Her relatives said she enjoyed living in New Jersey—and, after David’s death, her 22 years in Georgia — but respected her Oklahoma roots. Sargent was always learning new things and teaching others. Through her estate gift, she will enable OCU to keep teaching others for generations to come.

“Those of us in the Petree College of Arts and Sciences are extremely grateful for and quite humbled by this very generous gift,” said Interim Dean Amy Cataldi. “It is incredibly fulfilling to know that our graduates carry their OCU education, experiences, and memories with them during their life’s travels. This endowment gives back to the University and guarantees for others, both faculty and students alike, creative writing opportunities that will undoubtedly hold their enduring impressions.”

ESTATE PLANNING STORIES: okcu.edu/give // 13

ALUMNI

Tenor Sets Sights on International Career

BY ROD JONES

First he wanted to conduct choirs. Then he discovered his voice and began to sing opera. No matter what he would ultimately do for a living, J. Warren Mitchell, MM ’10, knew it would have something to do with music.

“I’ve been singing since I was 8 years old,” Mitchell said. “A lot of things came naturally. I had good pitch and could sing in tune.

Without taking lessons, I taught myself how to play the drums and piano by ear.”

Mitchell performed at his church and in his high school choir in Montgomery, Ala., before attending college at Auburn University, knowing he still had some things to learn in order to build a career out of his passion.

“I was determined that I was going to have an international career as a choral conductor, and I was fiercely blazing a trail to accomplish just that,” Mitchell said.

He looked at graduate programs around the country and decided on Florida State University, in part because of a well-known choral conductor there. However, a trip to a choral directors’ convention in St. Louis changed his mind. There, he met Oklahoma City University conducting and choral music education professor Judith Willoughby.

“She told me, ‘I’m in choral music heaven at OCU,’” he recalled.

“I was invited to audition. When I got out of the Oklahoma City airport, I could tell this was a big city that still had some comfortable, small-town aspects. It seemed to be what I was looking for.”

While working on a master’s degree in choral conducting, he found himself in the studio of voice professor Jeffrey Picon, a fellow tenor.

14 // FOCUS Spring 2016

ALUMNI

Alumnus J. Warren Mitchell conducts choral music at Harding Fine Arts Academy in Oklahoma City. Photos by Josh Robinson

“I remember going to his studio voice class and asking if he Mitchell appeared on the “ZDF” television morning news show, would listen to me sing and let me know what he thought about which he described as the German version of “Good Morning my voice. After listening to me sing he told me, ‘You have a America.” He said he was recognized one day outside of his hotel beautiful instrument, but you have much more sound in you.’ I by a busload of tourists who had seen his performance on television, decided I would embark on this journey of discovery with him and and his Facebook inbox “blew up” with messages from opera lovers began to have lessons with him,” Mitchell said. from all over Germany.

Those lessons paid off with several national “Germany was very good to me,” he said. “It gave awards and opportunities to sing in some me the confidence in knowing that my training at renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall in OCU could sustain me against opera competitors New York City. from all over the world.”

It gave me the His accomplishments have included an Mitchell won the Kammeroper contest this year, invitation by the Richard Tucker Music too, meaning he’ll travel to Germany this summer to confidence in knowing Foundation to audition for the Sara Tucker perform in Puccini’s opera, “Tosca!” that my training at Study Grant; the Metropolitan Opera His conducting accomplishments are also National Council Auditions Young Singer impressive. Mitchell conducted a young men’s chorus OCU could sustain Encouragement Award (2011), two-time district and served as coordinator of education and school me against opera finalist (2012-13) and a second-place finish partnerships with the Canterbury Choral Society (2012); acceptance as a fellow into the 2013 Youth Choruses in Oklahoma City at the urging of competitors from Music Academy of the West Summer School conducting professor Willoughby. all over the world. & Festival in Santa Barbara, Calif.; being one Mitchell played a role in establishing a culture and of four singers (and the only tenor) chosen to attitude of musical excellence at Harding Fine Arts participate in the annual “The Song Continues” Academy in Oklahoma City, where he currently master class with world-renowned soprano Marilyn Horne in conducts the choral music program. “My work with my students Carnegie Hall. stems from my belief that students that have music, or any exposure The most impressive feat came last year when out of 450 to the fine arts, tend to perform better in the classroom and go singers worldwide, he won the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg on to find success in life. I’m thankful that I had a mother that International Opera Competition in Germany, which earned him a believed in this and pushed me to participate in several different role in Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” in the famous Rheinsberg castle. ensembles as a child.”

His performance was noticed by a particularly distinguished He hopes to leave a foundation for success when he pursues his member of the audience—the German president. He was invited singing career. Mitchell recently recorded an album titled “The to return to perform for the president and first lady in Berlin at the Aria Album” and plans to return to Germany soon to focus on Bellevue Palace in celebration of the Kammeroper’s 25th anniversary. building an international career singing opera.

‘‘

A MUSICIAN’S LIFE: facebook.com/liricotenore // 15

ALUMNI

’Days of Our Lives’ Exec Reflects on OCU as Career Proving Ground

BY KIM MIZAR

Greg Meng, BM ’79, used what he learned at OCU to propel him to the top of his field.

“OCU was very important for me because of the discipline it instilled. It was such an incredible environment to literally live and breathe music all year long,” Meng said.

After graduation, he moved to Colorado to study piano at the Aspen Music Festival with noted artist and teacher Brooks Smith, the artist teacher in residence at the University of Southern California. Smith encouraged Meng to pursue graduate study at USC. After moving to Los Angeles, Meng also enrolled in classes at UCLA’s School of Film & Television extension program, where he discovered his passion for television, entertainment, and production.

“At OCU I started with a love of piano, but that led me to a bigger passion. During my time there, I learned not to limit my passion,” he said. Soon after, Meng was accepted into the highly sought-after NBC Page Program, which exposed him to the entertainment business.

Meng credits his work ethic and commitment to excellence to his time at OCU. “I would say that anyone who has made it into and is going through the programs at OCU, they already have the discipline and drive to succeed in this industry,” he said. “John Aniston once told me that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

After several years at NBC, he became manager of business affairs administration, responsible for tracking daytime programs’ talent and production staff. This served as his introduction to “Days of Our Lives” and the Corday Productions team that he joined in 1989. A trailblazer and a visionary on “Days,” Meng has served as co-executive producer since 2011 and has won two Emmy Awards.

He has been executive in charge of production for more than 17 years. He is also senior vice president of Corday Productions. “I’m most proud of being a part of this daytime genre and getting to feel and hear and see how important it is to the fans,” he said.

Along with his lasting endeavors in production, Meng recently added “best-selling author” to his résumé, having penned three books—“Days of Our Lives 45 Years: A Celebration In Photos,” “Days of Our Lives: Better Living,” and a New York Times bestselling book, “Days of Our Lives: 50 Years.”

Fans had the opportunity to meet Meng and his cast members as they toured the U.S. and Canada on a record-breaking booksigning tour. The interest in the 50th anniversary book brought fans out in the thousands, selling out books at each signing. In “Days of Our Lives: 50 Years,” a section titled Unsinkable Women details the strong female characters fans have grown to expect from 16 // FOCUS Spring 2016

Two-time Emmy Award-winning co-executive producer of “Days of Our Lives,” Greg Meng, BM ’79. Photo courtesy of Meng

STAR-STUDDED See more photos of Meng and the ‘Days’ crew at okcu.edu/focus/extra the show. Meng said his favorite unsinkable character is Marlena.

“She came to the show when women were breaking into roles of being more than a teacher or a nurse,” he said. “She was a psychologist and a rock. She represents career and family, but she has also overcome some incredible odds.”

Meng lives and works in Los Angeles, where he continues to be an essential part of the Corday family and NBC’s longest-running scripted series. “‘Days’ is family now. I am planning to stay here.”

EVENTS

O’Hara Performs at Benefit Broadway superstar and Oklahoma City University alumna Kelli O’Hara performed at an event in February to benefit the Meyers Theatre for Young Audiences. “An Evening with Kelli O’Hara” was held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

O’Hara won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical last summer for her performance in “The King and I.” She has had an additional five Tony Award nominations for her work, has been nominated for Grammy awards twice, and has appeared in film and television shows.

OCU is working to establish an endowment to support the Meyers Theatre. The fund will provide resources to sustain annual theatrical and musical theater performances for young people and will add a creative outlet for new works.

The program is the result of a decade’s worth of work by Sandy and Stewart Meyers, who brought the Kennedy Center’s Touring Theatre for Young Audiences performances to Oklahoma until it was discontinued in 2012.

Clockwise from top left: Alumna Kelli O’Hara performs a selection of show tunes.

Stewart and Sandy Meyers, who have worked to sustain children’s theatre, present Savannah Shelton and her grandmother, Ann Larson (not pictured), with a prize weekend trip to New York, featuring tickets to see O’Hara on Broadway in “The King and I.” The OCU Men’s Chorus performed at the event. Judy Love, Anne Gray, and Duke and Linda Ligon were among more than 600 people in attendance.

Photos by Jerry Hymer, Hymer Photography

NURTURING IMAGINATION: okcu.edu/meyers // 17

CATEGORY

Nursing Professor Denise Burton in a Kramer School of Nursing lab.

Photo by Josh Robinson

BY TERRY PHELPS

W

hen asked about her Kramer School of Nursing colleague Denise Burton, Dia Campbell-Detrixhe says, “I can probably write a book over all of her accomplishments, selfless acts of kindness, and dedication to her work, the RN-to-BSN program, her colleagues, her students, members of the OCU community, and community at large.”

The most recent of many accomplishments by Burton in her three decades with OCU has been creating and chairing the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, designed to address the severe shortage of nurses with BSN degrees.

18 // FOCUS Spring 2016

Burton has given presentations at national conferences on her work with rural nurses, as well as her research into retaining aging nursing faculty. She also has made national presentations on Camp Wildfire for children with spina bifida. She recently received the Friends of Children Award from the Institute for Child Advocacy.

She has served with Kid’s Place, a community agency that provides comfort through play therapy to grieving children; the Red Cross; a mission team in Rio Bravo, Mexico; the ChoctawNicoma Park Board of Education; Even Start literacy program; and many other organizations, as well as countless OCU groups.

Burton received the OCUSERVES Service-Learning Award four times and the OCU Exemplary Teacher Award in 2001. The KSN Student Nurses Association selected her as the Outstanding Faculty Member in 2002, and she has been included in “Who’s Who in American Nursing.”

In her 25th year at OCU in 2010, Burton was asked to give a speech about the history of the nursing school. Unknown to her, the real purpose of having her at the podium was to honor her with an endowed scholarship in her name, benefiting students

Left and above: Burton smiles and dances with children who have spina bifida at Camp Wildfire in 2005. Photos courtesy of Denise Burton

interested in pediatric and rural nursing.

In Burton’s classes, laughter is common and welcome. In her Child Health class, where students were always “wrapped so tight” before or after taking exams, Burton came up with a transition from exam to teaching. She’d cue up the music, and they’d all do the chicken dance. “It loosened everyone up and set up teachable moments,” she says.

Campbell-Detrixhe says Burton’s “strong work ethic and commitment to the profession of nursing are demonstrated daily as she arrives to work early and often stays late, the last to leave the office. She is a strong leader, a team player, and a delightful and thoughtful individual.”

This praise is echoed by colleagues and former students. KSN Dean Lois Salmeron says: “Denise is one of the strongest facilitators, negotiators, and caring faculty that KSN has. She is so valuable because of her long history with the nursing program. … All of her students have the greatest respect of her.”

In the RN-to-BSN program she created and coordinates, faculty go on the road to teach in rural communities. Burton teaches at OCU and in Oklahoma City, Ardmore, and Lawton. She soon will teach in Duncan.

KSN clinical instructor Nelda Hobbs says, “Denise is so passionate about nurses reaching their potential that she has worked tirelessly to develop an RN-toBSN program.” Hobbs counts herself as a nurse who once thought an advanced degree was unattainable.

“In 2003, I was talking to Denise and she started telling me about her program,” Hobbs says. “I was so disillusioned from previous rejection, I told her I had already tried and I couldn’t get my hopes up. She said, ‘Wait, Nelda, have I got a deal for you.’ After 10 minutes of listening to her explain her program, I had the sense of hope that I had been looking for since 1980. The design of the program and her excitement for me convinced me I could finally fulfill my dream. Today I have a master’s degree in nursing that would not have been possible without Denise Burton.”

Hobbs took Burton’s pediatrics class in 1978, Burton’s first semester to teach.

“Denise was so scared at the responsibility she had undertaken. She tells the story of standing with her back to the class, writing on the chalkboard and stopping mid-word and silently screaming and thinking to herself, ‘What am I doing?’ The students had no idea of her apprehension. What we did see was a kind, caring, compassionate teacher who treated us in a gentle, open way. We loved Denise! She delighted in our success and in seeing us develop a compassion for pediatric nursing.”

Another colleague and former student, Clare Delane, says: “Denise leads quietly, thoughtfully, and fairly. If she is in the building, her door is open. She is one of the most accessible leaders I’ve ever encountered. She recognizes and acknowledges the accomplishments of our students and of our team.”

Cherlynn Bowlan, a master’s student, says, “She is always smiling and exudes the perfect mixture of happiness and calm; she just has a way of putting you at ease.”

Bowlan credits Burton for pursuing graduate study at OCU. “I can still remember that daunting first day of orientation when I confessed my concerns of having to pass the NCLEX exam the same week classes started. Professor Burton smiled and told me it was going to be OK, and I could tell she meant it. And you know what? She was right. I passed that exam and continued to have the best year of my academic career!”

Former student Tammy Franklin at Mercy Hospital in Ardmore recalled worrying about going back to college after many years, but she says Burton “put every anxiety I experienced to rest.”

Another former student, Cecelia Beisner, now an assistant professor of nursing, says, “Her compassion in nursing and scholarship has helped many students achieve goals they never thought they could achieve.”

KSN colleague Diana Blackmon praises Burton’s mentoring: “When I started full-time at KSN, Denise was assigned to me as my supervisor and mentor. She showed me the ropes of being a faculty member at KSN. She has always been the biggest cheerleader for me and other new faculty. She encouraged me throughout my doctoral studies, especially when I would have a case of writer’s block. She has a dry sense of humor and is always quick to laugh at herself and with others when we catch each other getting too serious.”

Blackmon also extols Burton’s teaching: “I have never met anyone who loves to teach as much as Denise does, and she is one of the best teachers I have ever met.

Her students are always engaged in her classes and often seek her counsel about future nursing career endeavors. She keeps six RN-BSN faculty with vastly different personalities working together and 125 students advancing toward their BSNs. She is one of the finest teachers I know and the finest person I have ever met.”

KRAMER NEWS: facebook.com/okcukramer // 19

ATHLETICS

Stars Cement Elite Status with Third Straight Cross Country Title

Photo by Jim Abbott

national titles. The Stars tallied 78 points to 168 points for national runner-up Saint Mary (Kan.).

Other NAIA programs to three-peat were Adams State (Colo.) in 1979–81 and 1983–89; Lubbock Christian (Texas), 1990–97, Life (Ga.), 1998–2001; and Virginia Intermont, 2004–06.

Oklahoma City captured its 60th national championship in all sports. OCU won a national championship for the 23rd year in a row to continue a streak that dates to 1993–94.

Four Stars became all-Americans: Bahreini, Mountford, Mackenzie Wahpepah-Harri, and Michael Vercoe-Curtis. OCU coach Conor Holt reeled in NAIA coach of the year for the third consecutive time.

Bahreini took his third all-American nod with his third top-15 finish for OCU. The senior from Edmond, Okla., grabbed third place with a time of 24 minutes, 15.1 seconds. He was a four-time national meet qualifier, earning OCU’s first NAIA Championships berth.

Mountford collected fifth place and became a two-time allAmerican. Wahpepah-Harris picked up his third all-American honor.

OCU had the best combined men’s and women’s finish among the programs in the NAIA Championships. The Stars were sixth in the women’s meet.

OCU Wrestlers Take National Titles

Folch Joins Professional Golf Ranks

Natalia Hinojo, Becka Leathers, and Cody Pfau of OCU snagged individual titles in the Women’s College Wrestling Association Championships Feb. 13 at Abe Lemons Arena.

The second-ranked Stars finished as national runner-up with 190.5 points on the strength of nine all-Americans. OCU finished as WCWA runner-up for the fourth time.

Other Stars placing were Margaret Douma, the 143-pound runner-up; Cassidy Jasperson, who took fourth place at 123 pounds; Shelby Morrison, who snatched fourth at 116; Rachel Archer, the fifth-place individual at 116; Monica Mason, who grabbed seventh at 191; and Rachel Young, who picked up eighth at 136.

Pfau, ranked No. 1 at her weight, won her second consecutive 109-pound WCWA championship by pinning Breonnah Neal of King (Tenn.) in 4:35. Pfau, a junior from Parachute, Colo., took tournament outstanding wrestler, WCWA wrestler of the year and TheMat.com wrestler of the week.

Pfau won the U.S. Senior Nationals in December in Las Vegas, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials April 8–9. With their WCWA Championships performances, Douma, Hinojo and Morrison qualified for the Olympic Trials.

OCU alumna Elia Folch has turned professional on the Ladies European Tour Access Series.

Folch earned status on the developmental tour to the Ladies European Tour with her finish in Lalla Aicha Tour School Final Qualifying on Dec. 18-22 at Amelkis Golf Club & Samanah Country Club in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Originally from Barcelona, Spain, Folch fell short of full status on the Ladies European Tour by one stroke.

In 2012-14, Folch posted two individual runner-up finishes in the NAIA Championships, two Sooner Athletic Conference individual championships and five tournament titles for Oklahoma City. She was a two-time first-team all-American, all-tournament in the NAIA Championships and SAC player of the year.

Folch helped OCU win two national titles and two conference crowns. In the 2014 national tournament, Folch buried a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole to force a playoff in which the Stars prevailed. Folch graduated from OCU with her business administration degree in 2015 after spending a season as a student assistant coach for the Stars.

BY RICH TORTORELLI

Arya Bahreini and David Mountford turned in top-five showings to fuel Oklahoma City University’s third consecutive NAIA men’s cross country championship Nov. 21 in Charlotte, N.C. No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City became the first NAIA program since Malone (Ohio) from 2007–09 to capture three consecutive

20 // FOCUS Spring 2016

ATHLETICS

Van Aswegen to Join NAIA Hall of Fame Tyrone Van Aswegen, BSB ’04, the 2002 NAIA men’s golf individual champion, has been chosen for induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Van Aswegen became a three-time all-American and led the Stars to their first four national championships from 2000-04. He earned his PGA Tour card for the third consecutive year with his fifth-place finish in the Web.com Tour Championship in October. He finished 34th in the Web.com Tour priority ranking.

Van Aswegen collected his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour on Feb. 20 in the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Through a promotion, a fan at the tournament from Waukesha, Wis., won a mortgage-free year because of Van Aswegen’s ace.

At OCU, Van Aswegen recorded seven victories as a Star. As a senior, Van Aswegen took five of his wins and paced the NAIA with a 70.73 stroke average. Along with the individual national title, Van Aswegen earned NAIA player of the year as a sophomore. He graduated with a degree in business administration from OCU. He became the first former Star to get a PGA Tour card.

Van Aswegen joined 10 individuals with OCU ties to become an NAIA Hall of Famer. He will be the fifth former OCU athlete to gain the highest honor the NAIA can bestow.

Photo by Hugh Scott

Cheung Plays in Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship The Stars’ Matthew Cheung finished tied for 39th in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Oct. 4 at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong.

Cheung, a junior from Brisbane, Australia, finished 13 strokes behind tournament winner Jin Cheng, who won a spot in The Master’s in the process.

Cheung moved into 11th place after 36 holes by equaling the low round of the day with a 64 on Oct. 2. Cheung represented Hong Kong in the 2014 World Amateur Team Championships.

Cheung took NAIA and Golf Coaches Association of America all-American nods for the second time each in 2014–15. Cheung also picked up all-NAIA Central Region, CoSIDA academic all-American, CoSIDA academic all-district and academic all-Sooner Athletic Conference as a sophomore. He earned alltournament in the NAIA Championships as a freshman.

OCU NAIA Hall of Fame Inductees Kyle Blaser

Men’s Golf

Coach

2012–13

Denney Crabaugh

Baseball

Coach

2006–07

Brian Harvey

Men’s and Women’s Soccer

Coach

2009–10

Ted Ledbetter

Baseball

Athlete

2012–13

Keith Lytle

Baseball

Meritorious Service

2013–14

Jeff Maack

Baseball

Athlete

2010–11

Phil McSpadden

Softball

Coach

2007–08

Freddy Sanchez

Baseball

Meritorious Service

2011–12

Chris Schroder

Baseball

Athlete

2013–14

Tyrone Van Aswegen

Men’s Golf

Athlete

2015–16

Athletics Food Drive Tops 20,000 OCU athletics demonstrated holiday spirit with another record number of food items for Skyline Urban Ministry in its annual Christmas food drive in December.

OCU student-athletes collected 20,181 non-perishable food items to help feed the hungry of the community—8,185 more than last year’s record total.

The OCU athletics annual food drive has piled up 70,027 food items over the past nine years.

OCU’s men’s soccer team brought in the most items, with 6,000. An unprecedented seven OCU teams exceeded 1,000 items.

All the food gathered benefited the food resource center at Skyline Urban Ministry in Oklahoma City. The OCU athletic department enlisted the aid of several OCU campus departments as well as its fans to contribute to the effort.

Skyline Urban Ministry is a mission outreach of the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Bahreini Competes in U.S. Olympic Trials Arya Bahreini from OCU posted a 38th-place showing in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials marathon Feb. 13 in Los Angeles.

Bahreini clocked a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 18 seconds. Galen Rupp won the event with a time of 2:11:12.

Bahreini, a senior from Edmond, Okla., became the youngest qualifier in the field at 22 when he met the qualifying standard Jan. 3 in the Jacksonville Bank Marathon.

Bahreini is a six-time NAIA all-American in cross country and track & field. He is the two-time defending marathon champion.

OCU SPORTS UNIVERSE: ocusports.com // 21

MISSION TRIP

Left: OCU team members with hosts Joey and Heather Barrs and Ethel Middleton and her children. Right: Brooke Crutchfield and Brade Bradshaw snap a quick selfie with missionary host Joey Barrs and two children from the village. Photos by Charles Neff and Brooke Crutchfield

Students Take to Belize for Mission Projects

BY KIM MIZAR

Students from Oklahoma City University constructed part of a high school in Belize during the winter break. The Rev. Dr. Charles Neff, vice president for university-church relations, lead a group of 11 students and three family members to Belmopan, Belize, Jan. 2–9. The students, ranging from freshmen to graduate students, vary in their respective fields of study.

“Our primary mission was to help construct the second floor of the Belmopan Methodist High School,” Neff said. The team mixed and hauled concrete by hand, sifted sand, bent and tied rebar to make support columns, and assisted with other jobs as needed.

The team also purchased 100 pounds each of rice, beans, and flour and repackaged them in two-pound bags for distribution to the villages surrounding Belmopan. The team visited Marla’s House of Hope, a girls home, where team members helped the girls with homework, played volleyball, and exchanged stories about life in their respective countries.

In addition to the mission projects, the team attended worship services at the Belmopan Methodist Church, visited the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich, attended classes at the Methodist High School, toured the Belize Zoo, visited Belize City, and finished the week with a jungle zip line and cave tubing adventure.

Due to a generous $5,000 grant from the United Methodist Woodworth Estate, the trip cost was minimal for students.

Participants included Rachel Bachhofer, Brade Bradshaw, Brooke Crutchfield, Lauren Huntley, Katey McMahan, Nathan Moelling, Kourtney Pierce, James Stryhal, Abby Treadway, Hope Wiggs, and Kelsey Ricks. Family members who attended were Dana and Julie McMahan and John Neff.

22 // FOCUS Spring 2016

Top left: Graduate student Kelsey Ricks removes excess concrete to make way for a new column.

Top right: Freshman Abby Treadway has a close encounter at the Belize National Zoo. Left: Brade Bradshaw, Nathan Moelling, and Hope Wiggs float through Xibalba, the Mayan Underworld.

CLASS NOTES 1958 Full Circle Bookstore hosted a signing session for author LaDonna Kramer Meinders (BM ’58, MBA ’86, DHL ’96) and her book, “What Would You Do If A Kangaroo …,” illustrated by Betty Walls Boyd (’56).

1962 Windle Turley (BA ’62), founder of the Turley Law Firm, received the Award for Private Practice during Southern Methodist University’s law school Distinguished Alumni Awards in Dallas.

1967 Charles Hunter (BA ’67), who scored 1,319 career points and grabbed 584 rebounds to help lead the Chiefs to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Hunter was selected in the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics in 1966.

1974 Demetra George Mustafoglu (’74) performed a concert during a gala for her U.S. State Department Cultural Diplomacy Award.

1979

1986

Elizabeth Hayden (JD ’79), a retired district court judge in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District, received the Fidelis Apparitor Award from the College of Saint Benedict.

Shawn Churchman (BM ’86) performed in and was stage director for the Tulsa Opera’s production of the children’s opera “Twice Upon a Birthday.”

1981 The Tulsa World featured Susan Powell (BA ’81) in its “Way Back When: Today in History” series for her 1980 win in the Miss America pageant.

The Macon Symphony Orchestra in Georgia announced the appointment of Gerald Steichen (BM ’86) as music director.

Rev. David Edwards (BA ’86) was the keynote speaker for Louisiana College’s commencement ceremony in December and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Theology.

1982

Garvin A. Isaacs (JD ’74) was sworn in as the Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors president.

Trustee Phil Busey’s (BA ’74, JD ’77) company, Delaware Resource Group, was named one of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. for the 11th straight year by Inc. magazine.

Karri Atchley (’82) has performed the role of Soap Star in “Menopause the Musical” since 2008, including on national tours, Canadian tours, at the Cape Playhouse and Harrah’s Las Vegas.

This spring, Atchley will be joining the “Survivor Tour” of the show benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation.

1984 Janie Simms Hipp (JD ’84) founded the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

1989 Rick Kelly (BSB ’89) was named vice president of Oklahoma Network Operations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma.

1990 Nicholas Pournader (BA ’90) was named to the board of directors for the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance.

Bruce Poon (MBA ’90 through OCU’s Hong Kong program) recently finished his final weeks as a linguist on a task force for the People’s Liberation Army in Australia (pictured left, above).

CONNECT WITH YOUR CLASSMATES: okcu.edu/focus/extra // 23

CLASS NOTES 1991

Edmond Memorial High School and Cimarron Middle School Orchestra Director David Koehn (BME ’99) was named an Exemplary Teacher by the Oklahoma Music Educators Association.

Tom Bates (BA ’91), who was a longtime assistant in the Oklahoma attorney general’s office, was named Governor Mary Fallin’s special adviser on child welfare and Pinnacle Plan implementation.

Kristin Chenoweth (BM ’91, MM ’93, DHL ’13) launched the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2015–16 Songbook Series with a concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Chenoweth also hosted the “Broadway at the White House” Thanksgiving special. She was featured on the cover of the winter/spring issue of Elevate magazine.

Douglas Northup (JD ’91) was named a 2016 Benchmark Litigation—Litigation Stars in Arizona.

1993 Chris Harrison (BA ’93, DFA ’15) hosted the Miss America pageant televised live on ABC. 1994 Laura Hayes (BS ’94) was named Teacher of the Year for Northeast Elementary in Owasso, Okla.

Third-generation farmer Rodney Albert (MBA ’94) was honored in the nation’s capital

by Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the Legacy Award for conservation.

Jennifer M. Grigsby (MBA ’99, Distinguished Alumni ’14) was named CFO for Ascent Resources.

John Gall (BS ’99) was appointed boys director of coaching at FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.

1995

2001

Rick Endicott (MBA ’95) was named CEO of YMCA of Lawton.

Cody Lowry (BA ’01) became director of strategic partnerships for J2 Design Partnership in Philadelphia.

1997 Molly Stockley (BA ’97) was named to the list of the Most Influential Women in Arizona.

1998 Marcel Wilson (BPA ’98, Distinguished Alumni ’12) and Kevin Wilson (’96–’98, Distinguished Alumni ’12) choreographed and premiered a newly developed show, “Sequins & Feathers” on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas.

Adrienne (Haddock) Gall (BA ’98) was appointed elementary curriculum and programs director at Lewisville Independent School District in Texas.

Stephanie Kammer (BPA ’98), a dance instructor and choreographer at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts High School, was the head choreographer for the Miss Universe pageant.

Kelli O’Hara (BM ’98, DHL ’15) performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. O’Hara also hosted the countdown special for the season six premiere of “Downton Abbey” on PBS. She was named the Broadway.com Star of the Year.

1999 Freddy Sanchez (’99-’00) announced his retirement from professional baseball on his 38th birthday.

24 // FOCUS Spring 2016

2002 Kyle Dillingham (BM ’02) was the featured performer in the Canterbury Choral Society Christmas show.

2003 The Dalai Lama joined a performance by music theater alumni Kinnie Dye (BM ’03) and T.J. Moss (BM ’03) with their band The Yes Team during a Forum on Geopolitics event at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. Alice Iddi-Gubbels (BA ’03, Distinguished Alumni ’14) was featured in Metro Family magazine’s Real Moms of the Metro series.

Chip Abbott (BPA ’03), Kim Faure (BPA ’10), Paige Williams (BPA ’09), and Ben Lanham (BPA ’13) joined the national tour of “Cinderella.”

2004 Business alumnus Bob Cehelnik (MBA ’04) is vice president of business development for CASECO Manufacturing, an automotive body accessory manufacturer.

Mrs. India America 2009 Brintha Gardner (MBA ’04) visited campus during Homecoming 2013. Gardner is pictured with President Robert Henry and Alumni Board Past President Jeff Riles.

CLASS NOTES Two OCU alumni were in the “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” show on the CMT network: Sarah Gourley Idziack (’04) and Amy Leonall (BPA ’15).

2005 Romy Owens (MLA ’05) was one of the artists featured in “The Secret Life of the City” art exhibition in the Invited Artists Gallery in downtown Oklahoma City’s Underground.

2006 Bat-Or Kalo (BM ’06) represented the Topeka Blues Society in the solo/duo competition of the 32nd International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.

The Oklahoman ran a feature story about music alumna Sarah Neely (BME ’06) and her marching band at Edmond Santa Fe High School.

2007 Keith Hines (BM ’07) was a cast member in the national touring production of “Jersey Boys.”

Erin McCracken (BM ’07) played the title character in the Westchester Broadway Theatre production of “Always Patsy Cline.”

Dance alumna Gabrielle Ruiz (BPA ’07) guest stars in the CW network show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

2009 Manna Nichols (MM ’09) and Belinda Allyn (BM ’12) were in the cast of the Broadway musical “Allegiance.”

2010 Elijah Coronis (BS ’10) was named a comprehensive gift officer for DePauw University in Indiana.

(BFA ’13) founded unMasqued Theatre in Texas, which presented a touring production of “Wasteland.”

Hannah Rable (BM ’12) was cast in “The Monster Who Ate My Peas” children’s musical.

Aarika Trabona (BFA ’10) starred in Theatre Tulsa’s production of “A Chorus Line.”

2013

Herbert Sim (BA ’10), founder of WardrobeTrendsFashion, won two awards at the 2015 Asian Media Awards.

Lauren Shaffer (BA ’13), art teacher at Horizon Intermediate Center in Mustang, was the school’s 2014-15 teacher of the year.

Tasha Sargent (BA ’10) was named a 2015–16 Religion Communicators Council Handa Fellow in Interreligious Communication.

Brides of Oklahoma magazine named Brittany Attaway (BA ’13) one of the top wedding planners in the state in its January issue.

Andrea Howland-Myers (BM ’10) was featured as a guest soloist in the concert “An Evening of French Songs” at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina.

2011 Maren Weinberger (BM ’11) participated in the Glimmerglass Opera Festival as a young artist and met Tony Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz.

2012 Stephen Clark (MM ’12) is one of Tulsa Opera’s five studio artists for 2015–16.

Ty Fanning (BFA ’12) and Drew Feldman

2014 Britnee Byers (BPA ’14) played Mrs. Potiphar in a national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Theresa Rowley (BM ’14) was in the cast of the national touring production of “Annie.”

2015 Alex Johnson (BS ’15) is a production assistant with the visual effects department for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.”

Emily Webster (BS ’15) was honored as the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Missouri Chapter’s person of the year.

MORE CLASS NOTES: okcu.edu/focus/extra // 25

IN MEMORY George Jerold Vaclavek

Robert L. Reed

APRIL 3, 1 926 – JA N . 1 7, 2 0 16

– J ULY 18 , 20 15

George Jerold Vaclavek, 89, of Oklahoma City, passed away on Jan. 17, 2016. Vaclavek was the groundskeeper for Oklahoma City University for 19 years and taught horticulture for many years.

Vaclavek was born April 3, 1926, in Chicago, Ill., to Paul J. Vaclavek and Josephine (Fencl) Vaclavek. He had three brothers. He never married.

Vaclavek enlisted in the Army in 1944 and served honorably during World War II as a canoneer. He saw combat in the Southern Philippines and Luzon for which he received a Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, three Overseas THE FIRST OKLAHOMA Service Bars and a Good Conduct HORTICULTURAL Medal.

SOCIETY’S HONOREE FOR Vaclavek was the first recipient OUTSTANDING MEMBERS of the Oklahoma Horticultural Society’s award for outstanding members on Feb. 6, 1999, after which the award was named “The George J. Vaclavek Award.” He also served on the society’s board of directors for many years and was an emeritus member of the board.

Vaclavek loved collecting art, figurines, and unique glassware and protecting hurt and endangered birds. His passion was horticulture, to which he devoted many years of his life, professionally and personally.

A memorial service was held at the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel at OCU.

Former Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management professor Robert L. Reed died July 18, 2015.

Reed specialized in teaching rhythm tap and was the artist-in-residence of the dance school. He also taught other styles including lyrical, Latin, soft shoe, waltz, clog, military, funk, and others.

Reed studied under tap master Maceo Anderson, an original member of the Four Step Brothers tap group.

Reed was with Riverdance as dance captain and toured as a principle with Incognito in Europe. Reed was a featured artist at the Peg Leg Bates Resort and toured with Cab Calloway. He opened for such luminaries as Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, Redd Foxx, Cher, HE OPENED FOR SUCH the Smothers Brothers, and LUMINARIES AS SAMMY David Hasselhoff.

DAVIS JR. AND JERRY LEWIS. Reed appears in the critically acclaimed Peg Leg Bates documentary “Dancing with the Peg.” He hosted his own television show, “Robert Hall,” in Japan, which featured Quentin Tarantino and Brittany Spears as guests.

Reed went on to establish his own school in St. Louis, the Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Institute. The school hosts the world-class St. Louis Tap Festival each summer. Three of his students formed the St. Louis Hoofers, which reached the semifinals on “Star Search.”

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay declared July 30, 2005, as Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Day.

Auda Marie Thomas

allowed children to experience academic learning through the creative arts. Arts Explosion students attended all performances of the Oklahoma City University Children’s Theatre from 1979 until 2010. The preschool also offered classes in Parenting with Love and Logic. Arts Explosion closed its doors in May 2010, having graduated more than 600 students with excellent results in academic success. Thomas was a 50-year member of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, an affiliate of Music Teachers National Association. At the national level, she served for nine years on the national executive board. In addition, she served as chair of the MTNA High School Performance Auditions, as national coordinator of the performance auditions and composition competitions for all grade levels, as the South Central Division Elementary Music Coordinator and High School Competition chair. She served on the OMTA State Executive Board for more than 40 years and served as State President for four years. One of her most lasting legacies was continuing the State Achievement Auditions, which were instituted

by OCU’s Dr. Clarence Burg. Thomas retired as Audition Chair in 2014 after having served in the position for 40 years. In 1987, the OMTA Executive Board presented Thomas with the Honorary Life Membership for her dedicated work. In 2004, she was named a MTNA Foundation Fellow. In 2014, she was named a Distinguished Alumna of the Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University.

Thomas served for 34 years as organist and choir director at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Harrah. She continued to run a thriving piano studio until her illness prevented her from continuing.

M AY 6, 1 94 3 – JA N . 27, 20 16

Auda Marie Thomas, 72, of Harrah, Okla., a noted musician and educator, was born May 6, 1943, in Enid. She was the daughter of Aude E. and Beatrice R. Thomas. She passed away Jan. 27, 2016, in Oklahoma City after a courageous battle with cancer.

A nationally certified teacher in piano, theory, and music education, Thomas’ passion for music began as a young child and continued through the completion of several degrees. She studied piano with Dr. Clarence Burg at Oklahoma City University from 1962–63 and continued for many summer sessions. She earned her undergraduate degree in music from Southwestern State College in 1965, a graduate degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1967, and a degree in pastoral ministry from Newman College in Wichita, Kan. Thomas joined the faculty at Russell Babb Elementary School in Harrah in 1966 as an elementary music specialist, where she built a program that was used as a model for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Her inspiration for many of her innovative programs was a result of workshops for gifted and talented students offered at Oklahoma City University, including the Cemeral Music Project. Thomas instituted the Gifted and Talented Program at Harrah Public Schools in 1970. Her program was named one of the 10 outstanding elementary school music programs in the U.S. by Music Educators National Conference.

In August 1979, she opened Arts Explosion, an academic preschool program that

26 // FOCUS Spring 2016

IN MEMORY

James Bass JULY 3 , 1 93 8 – SE PT. 26 , 2 0 15

James Carter (Jim) Bass, 77, died on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. Bass served on the Oklahoma City University Board of Trustees for 17 years and was an alumnus of the OCU School of Law. Born in Durant on July 3, 1938, Bass graduated from El Reno High School in 1956 and the University of Oklahoma with a degree in accounting in 1960. After serving in the Army as a first lieutenant at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind., for two years, he attended Oklahoma City University for law school, graduating in 1966. He joined his father-in-law, A. Francis Porta, in his law firm in El Reno.

A member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, American Bar Foundation, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and American College of Trial Lawyers, he was also active in the Canadian County Bar Association.

Honored throughout his distinguished career, he was named an El Reno Distinguished Alumni and Best Lawyer in Oklahoma City and America. He also was a founder of American Heritage Bank.

Active in his community, Bass served on the governing boards of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where he had chaired the executive

AN EL RENO DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AND A “BEST LAWYER” IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND AMERICA

committee, and Oklahoma City University. He was a former member of the El Reno City Council and the Park View Hospital Authority board of trustees. A parishioner of All Souls Episcopal Church of Oklahoma City, Bass was also a member of El Reno Amity Club and Economic Club of Oklahoma.

Bass is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kay Porta Bass; daughter, Ginny Bass Carl of Oklahoma City; her husband, Peter Carl; and children, Collin James Groves, Houston, and Rachael Catherine Groves, Norman; and son, Michael Porta Bass, of Oklahoma City; his wife, Paige Stratton Bass; and children, Samuel Porta Bass and Sarah Catherine Bass. He is also survived by his brothers, Jerry David Bass of Edmond; his wife, Abby Bass; and children, Whit Bass of Oklahoma City; his wife, Kelli Bass; and children, McKenzi Bass and Sophia Bass; Katie Bass of Tampa, Fla.; and John A. (Andy) Bass of Edmond; his wife, Linda Bass; and son, A. Gabriel Bass of Edmond; his wife, Candy; and son, Andy Bass.

Memorial contributions may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation at 825 N.E. 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 or omrf.org.

Ellen Ireland Fultz

Robert Travis Ayers

M AY 19, 1 924 - J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 15

OC T. 28 , 1977 – N OV. 16, 20 15

Ellen Ireland Fultz, 91, passed away in Sun City, Ariz., after many years of suffering with a rare blood disease called olser-weber-rendu. She was born in Fairfax, Mo., on May 19, 1924.

Fultz gave lectures and demonstrations on art at Oklahoma City University.

Shortly after her birth, Fultz’s family—consisting of her father, Harvey; mother, Mary; two brothers, Emerson and Tuffy; and three sisters, Evelyn, Hope, and Betty—moved to Douglas, Wyo. After graduating from Douglas High School, Ellen moved to Casper for work, where she met Jim Fultz, who was in the oil field business. The Fultzes moved several times, including to Sterling, Colo.; Denver; Drayton Valle, Alberta, and Calgary, Canada; and finally to Oklahoma City. As her husband, Jim, traveled a lot in his business, Ellen Fultz decided she wanted to be a painter and work with oil paint. She studied under Joan Maron LaRue of Tucson, Ariz., Vladine Stihi of Santa Fe, N.M., and Sergie Bongarte of Rexburg, Idaho.

Ellen Fultz became well-known and famous in her work. She participated in major art shows—including the Crown Center Hallmark Hall of Fame in Kansas City, the Dallas 500, and more—and many shows in the southwest. Flowers were her favorite subject, although she also painted landscapes, street scenes, and various rural scenes such as oil derricks, windmills and barns. She served on the Oklahoma Art Board. Her paintings hung in the State Capitol building and the Governor’s mansion. She judged the art section of the Wyoming State Fair for several years. Fultz won more than 200 blue ribbons signifying best in show or first place. Her paintings were handled by the Norma Wilkes Gallery in Oklahoma City, one of the top art galleries in the state.

Robert Travis Ayers, 38, of Oklahoma City, died tragically in a one-car crash on I-40 near Flagstaff, Ariz., on Nov. 16, 2015. He was returning from a visit to his sister and her husband in California. Ayers attended Oklahoma City University and was the son of OCU alumnus Richard Ayers (BA ’72), a United Methodist minister.

Ayers was born on Oct. 28, 1977, in Oklahoma City to Carol Ann Dennis and William Richard Ayers. As a United Methodist minister’s family, they lived in Weatherford, Okla.; Walters, Okla.; Holdenville, Okla.; Atlanta; Tulsa, Okla.; and Oklahoma City. Ayers graduated from Heritage Hall High School in 1996. He attended OCU and graduated from Tulane University with majors in philosophy and Spanish. Ayers also obtained certifications in the culinary arts and pastries.

Ayers loved New Orleans culture, where he was a sou-chef with the Brennan Restaurant group. He was listed in multiple local culinary and cooking magazines and featured on the local news.

Ayers learned to make African hand drums and played the drums with various musicians and in drum lines, as well as several New Orleans establishments prior to Hurricane Katrina. He was once the featured artist at The House of Blues in New Orleans and marched with various groups in the Mardi Gras parades.

He had a passion for traveling the world, cooking, music, hunting and poetry.

The love of his life was his 10-year old son, Rowan Blue Ayers, whom he aptly referred to as “Mini Me.” ONCE THE FEATURED ARTIST AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES

SUBMIT MEMORIES: Email focus@okcu.edu // 27

IN MEMORY Prince Spencer

Duayne Hatchett

O C T. 3, 1 91 7 – O C T. 29, 20 15

MAY 12, 1925 – SE PT. 7, 20 15

Prince Spencer, 98, died peacefully at a hospital in Las Vegas with his family by his side.

Spencer was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Dance from Oklahoma City University.

Spencer, the “one step brother” as he was called by Redd Foxx, began dancing with The Four Step Brothers more than 50 years ago. Also known as the Eight Feet of Rhythm and America’s Greatest Dance Team, the Step Brothers presented fast rhythm taps, acrobatics, boogie woogie, jitterbug style, splits, and flash tap dancing that electrified audiences all over the world.

Spencer was one of the early innovators of the acrobatic tap style. His work spanned several decades. He spent 39 years with The Four Step Brothers and 18 years as manager for Redd Foxx. He also worked as an actor, dancer, tap solo artist, and emcee. He was an annual speaker in Las Vegas for Black History Month, which highlighted the much-improved working conditions for African American performing artists. He showed videos of the acts, reminisced, and shared humorous stories.

Spencer was honored for his work as an outstanding artist in tap in St. Louis and Las Vegas and received an award from Tradition In Tap in New York City and a Flo-Bert award.

Wilbur Duayne Hatchett, a prolific sculptor and painter whose artwork reflected a constant drive to experiment and a profound curiosity about the world around him, died in Buffalo, N.Y. He was 90.

Hatchett taught print-making at Oklahoma City University from 1950–54.

By the time Hatchett arrived in Buffalo in 1968 to begin his 24-year tenure as the head of the University at Buffalo’s sculpture program, he already had developed a large and varied body of work ranging from prints influenced by the socially conscious work of Diego Rivera to sculptures fused together from found objects he salvaged from junk yards.

In Buffalo, Hatchett quickly became an integral part of the art community, showing in dozens of exhibitions and expanding his already-substantial repertoire to include abstract paintings created with homemade tools and elaborate art-making devices. He was the subject of a 2009 retrospective in the Burchfield Penney Art Center, which covered 60 years of his work.

The systems Hatchett invented for his work included various custommade trowels and miniature rakes with peculiarly spaced teeth and a massive homemade version of a harmonograph, a device used to create Spirograph-like drawings in complex, parabolic patterns.

Hatchett was born in pre-Depression Shawnee, Okla., in 1925. After a stint in the Air Force during which he trained to be a fighter pilot, Hatchett studied art and design at the University of Oklahoma, according to an essay by his son David Hatchett posted on the Burchfield Penney website. After his time at OCU, he taught sculpture at Tulsa University from 1954–64 and Ohio State University from 1964–67.

Hatchett’s work was the subject of dozens of solo and group exhibitions throughout his career. His work most recently was seen locally during a 2013 exhibition featuring work by his sons David and Dana Hatchett in Indigo Art.

C LASS O F

C LASS O F

1 940

Audrey Presnall 1 949

Nelda J. Latham Rommie E. Terrell Edward A. Boydston 1 950

C.L. Thompson Wadad H. Rotzinger 1 952

John C. Platt 1 955

Glenn W. Hogg 1 956

Oscar G. Anderson 28 // FOCUS Spring 2016

CLASS O F

1 95 7

Lloyd W. Kirtley Wayne B. Parker 1 95 8

Richard A. Sellers 1 959

Marion L. Kordic Carol H. Carney Paul E. Degraffenreid Robert D. Dillman 1 9 60

Glenn W. Hogg Dean A. Kidd 1 9 61

William H. Payne

CLASS O F

1 9 6 2

Donald E. Balaban 1 9 6 6

Ina W. Faulkner James C. Bass Donald L. Pope 1 9 67

William W. Trice 1 9 6 8

Anna I. Kidd Charles E. Flynn 1 9 69

John W. Meikle Donald R. Selvy

CL ASS OF

1 972

Robert G. Fuller Merle K. Garrette Charles W. Lane Joseph E. Robertson 1 973

James A. Hyde Stephen R. Soutee 1 974

Ernest F. Kulka 1 979

John A. George 1 9 83

Richard B. O’Connor

1987

Gloria Weatherall 1988

James R. Harris Donald L. Jackson 1991

Barbara A. Smith 1996

Dana J. Delluomo 1999

Minchun Wilson 2007

Ronald E. Wilson 2012

Sonya L. Patterson

CELEBRATIONS

President’s Partners is OCU’s annual giving recognition society showcasing the generosity of alumni and friends who contribute $1,000 or more annually. Donors can make one or several gifts throughout the year to reach these levels of giving. Members enjoy fellowship and entertainment with other benefactors at the annual Holiday Gala.

Top row , left to right: The American Spirit Dancers performing in “A Christmas Fantasy Ball,” choreographed by Jo Rowan, are Ashley Wallace, Anna Gilday, Prisca Lynch, Emma Gassett, Shelby Ward, and Elayne Seynaeve. Arden Walker and Liza Clark sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/White Christmas” with The Angel Stars. Middle row: Cheree and Dennis Jeter, President Robert and Dr. Jan Henry, and Herman and LaDonna Meinders attend the annual thank-you celebration for OCU’s top donors. Students Ian McGee and Caroline Stella perform a Shakespearean adaptation of “Who’s on First?”

Bottom row: Jerry and Charlette Perryman, Bishop Robert and Dee Hayes, and Justice Yvonne Kauger enjoy the festivities. Photos by Jerry Hymer, Hymer Photography JOIN THE SOCIETY: okcu.edu/presidentspartners // 29

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

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2501 N. Blackwelder Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73106

PERMIT #2384 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK