the week-long program. Since 2008, Four Star Leadership has welcomed 206 American high school students from 42 states and 32 international students.
The Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars’ Conference calls together scholars from a wide variety of disciplines to develop research and reflect on the integration of scholarship and faith. Bible professors John Harrison, Charles Rix and Jim Dvorak (95) presented while Jim Baird (78) served on a panel. Phil Lewis, dean of OC’s College of Professional Studies, also was a panelist, while Assistant Professor of Business Dan Sorensen was a presenter. Assistant Professor of Communication Barrett Huddleston (01) and graduate students Robert Davis and Freddie Lorick, Jr., also presented.
OC HONORS STUDENT EARNS INSTITUTE INVITE
President John deSteiguer, General Tommy Franks, Karl Rove and John C. Goodman with the Four Star Leadership award winners.
OC ADDS THREE NEW TRUSTEES OC announced the addition of Curt Shumard, Dr. Michael Walker and Shannon Wilburn to its Board of Trustees. “We are honored to add the combined wisdom, leadership and spiritual vision of these three accomplished executives to our Board of Trustees,” President John deSteiguer said. “Each of them has impressive experience leading organizations through growth while excelling in their service to clients and partners.” Shumard, a 1985 OC graduate with a management degree, is vice president of Medical Doctor Associates in Norcross, Ga. He also serves on the board of Predisan, an international Christian nonprofit organization that serves Honduras. He and his wife Sandra, also an OC alum, have three sons: Luke, Travis and Jesse. Dr. Walker is administrative director and a psychologist at the North Texas Pain Recovery Center in Arlington, Texas. He also is an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of North Texas, and he serves as the consulting psychologist for the Kennedale Fire Department. The 1976 Oklahoma Christian grad has been a member of OC’s National Alumni Council since 2011. He is an elder at Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ in Arlington. Wilburn is co-founder and CEO of Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc., the nation’s leading children’s and maternity consignment sales event. In less than nine years, the company has established 132 franchises in 25 states. Its total sales were more than $23 million in 2012. She is married to Mitch Wilburn, the preaching minister at Park Plaza Church of Christ.
OC SCHOLARS PRESENT AT CONFERENCE Once again, OC was honored to have faculty and students present at the 2013 Christian Scholars Conference.
The Oklahoma Policy Institute accepted OC student Tyler Parette into the first Summer Policy Institute in August. Forty-five of the top undergraduate and graduate students in the state gathered to discuss Oklahoma policy issues and prepare for their future studies and careers. One of the institute’s panels included OC business professor Ken Miller, who serves as Oklahoma’s state treasurer, and OC board chair Don Millican, who serves on the OPI board. Parette, an honors student from Coweta, Oklahoma, serves on OC’s Honors Advisory Council and is a member of OC’s chapter of the national political science honors society.
PR STUDENT WINS NATIONAL AWARD Jessica Estrada, a senior from Duncanville, Texas, recently won a Zenith Award in one of the top national public relations contests for undergraduate students. Estrada is an officer in OC’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. She interned at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas over the summer. “Jessica is one of our most dedicated and conscientious students,” said Josh Watson, assistant professor of communication. “We are not surprised that her work was recognized as the best among her peers across the nation.” This is the second straight year an OC student has received one of the seven awards at the national competition. Last year, Joshua Richardson won the award for PR Writing.
OC PSYCHED ABOUT AWARDS Four OC psychology students won awards at the Great Plains Students’ Psychology Convention in Missouri. Seniors Natalie Nalley and Suzanna Sawyer won first place against almost 200 other students for their research study, “The Effects of Strategic Self-Presentation and Social Comparison on Social Disability.” OC psychology students Deni Cowan and DaShae Dunbar received second place in their division for their study, “Music and Cognition: The effects of sad or happy music and duration on recall.”
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