RSU welcomed local companies, organizations and industries to promote their business, job availability, volunteer opportunities and more to students at the 2024 Big Tent Day event Wednesday, Aug. 21. The event took place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center on the RSU campus in Claremore. The annual event is free to students and participating businesses and exhibitors.
RSU Awards Scholarships at CHS Game
RSU awarded $1,000 scholarships to two students Sept. 6 during the Bartlesville vs. Claremore football game. RSU Interim President Dr. Mark Rasor presented the awards to Bartlesville student Ashlyn Moss (pictured, right, BHS cheerleader) and Claremore student Cameron Johnson (pictured, left of Hunter the Hillcat).
Student Athletes at Elementary Schools
Rogers State University student-athletes welcomed back the students of Catalayah, Claremont, Roosa, and Westside Elementaries on Tuesday, Aug. 20, for their first day of class. The event has become an annual tradition for Rogers State Athletics, as they line the front of each elementary school to welcome back the students on their first day.
A key element has been added to RSU’s new chemical engineering program with the hiring of its new program director.
Dr. Alexander “Alex” Lopez has been selected to head up RSU’s chemical engineering program. Lopez will also serve as head of the Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
In December 2022, it was announced that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education voted to approve a chemical engineering program at RSU – the first engineering degree to be offered at the university.
Classes for the degree were first offered in the fall 2023 semester, but with cohorts now advancing in their studies, the hiring of a program director was the next planned step in the program’s expansion.
“The key feature I want students to know about this (chemical engineering) program is its personalized approach,” Lopez said. “Many universities offer world-class experiences with state-of-theart equipment in large complexes, but these perks often come with large class sizes and limited access to faculty – typically requiring students to work for their benefit through academic research.
“Our goal is to put student interests first and empower them to succeed and pursue their desired career within the chemical engineering profession,” he said.
A Claremore High School graduate, Lopez earned his bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. After graduation, he became a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Colorado-Boulder and later joined the faculty at the University of Mississippi.
Lopez said he learned of RSU’s new chemical engineering program through an informal conversation with a colleague, who asked if he might know of any viable candidates to be the program director.
“I told him that I’d grown up in Claremore,” he said, “and it piqued my interest, so I looked into it. I didn’t want to seriously consider applying if the university wasn’t serious about the program because chemical engineering requires a lot in terms of resources and
commitment from the university.”
Lopez said he later returned to Claremore to meet with RSU’s Academic Dean Dr. Susan Willis and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Richard Beck and was struck by their commitment to the program.
“I was impressed not only with the faculty’s desire and determination for the program’s success, but also by the interest of the students in the mock class I held,” he said. “There were 20 students that attended. To have that kind of a student turn out for a class they didn’t have to go to and for which they got no academic credit spoke to me that there was a high interest. I was very pleased with my findings when I visited campus.”
Following this, Lopez submitted his application, went through the interview process, was hired during the spring 2024 semester and has been on campus in his new role since earlier in July.
“This will be a successful program, and for it to achieve the level of success we’re expecting, collaboration between the department, the university, and local industry is essential,” he said. “Together, we must design and implement degree pathways that equip students for success in the modern chemical engineering industry.
“The field is vast and rapidly evolving,” he continued. “With the advancement of AI and machine learning, along with the growing demand for chemical engineering expertise in energy, biotechnology and environmental sciences, there is a significant opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the region and the state of Oklahoma.”
Academic Dean Dr. Susan Willis is excited for Lopez to join the faculty and lead the chemical engineering program.
“Dr. Lopez has excellent chemical engineering education experience,” Willis said. “He is originally from Claremore, so he’s very excited to build a quality program here and he has local knowledge to build partnerships as we develop a top chemical engineering program in northeast Oklahoma.”
Claremore Native Named RSU Chemical Engineering Program Director
RSU
Nursing at Saint Francis
Through an innovative partnership with Saint Francis Health System, Rogers State University’s nursing program has expanded the number of students admitted each semester.
At the time of admission into the nursing program, students may indicate a campus preference, either RSU’s main campus in Claremore or the Saint Francis extended campus located inside Saint Francis Hospital at 6161 S. Yale in Tulsa.
All accepted students attend their first semester of the nursing program at RSU’s Claremore campus regardless of campus preference. If the student is seated at the Saint Francis campus, the second, third and fourth semesters of nursing school are delivered at the Saint Francis extended campus.
Saint Francis Hospital renovated a 6,000-square-foot area within the hospital which houses a state-of-the-art simulation center and
Kelsi Fields ’23
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
classrooms designed to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals. The new simulation center includes four high-fidelity simulation suites designed to replicate Saint Francis inpatient rooms. The suites include medical/surgical nursing, critical care, labor and delivery, trauma and pediatrics settings complete with sophisticated manikins that simulate breathing, sweating, talking and even giving birth. The suite includes additional spaces for task and skills training, along with future plans for virtual reality simulations.
Beginning their second semester at the SFH extended campus, students attend all clinical rotations at a Saint Francis Health System facility. Lab and simulation facilities are located and utilized at the Saint Francis extended campus as well. Classroom content is delivered via videoconferencing software from the Claremore campus to Saint Francis classrooms. An in-classroom nursing instructor is present in every class session at Saint Francis to facilitate technology and student learning.
“The nursing program did an excellent job preparing me for the nursing field. The professors were great at explaining aspects I didn’t fully understand. I felt very encouraged and supported in my journey at RSU.”
Fields encourages RSU students to remain curious, engage with their coursework, and prioritize active learning.
“Use your resources in your field of study. My advisor was so helpful my last semester when I was deciding on what job to accept. She helped me realize where I’d be a good fit. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Rogers State University’s communications and marketing team members took home several awards from the 2024 Oklahoma College Public Relations Association’s (OCPRA) Awards Competition. Held Monday, July 15, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa, the awards ceremony took place during OCPRA’s annual Summer Conference.
The Rogers State University team won two Grand Awards (first place), one for the ROAR Guidebook (in the Special Publications category) and the other for the ROAR logo (in Logo Design). The guidebook, designed to be used in conjunction with ROAR Days at RSU (RSU Orientation, Advising and Registration), and the ROAR logo were both designed by RSU graphic designer Randy Riggs.
RSU Assistant Director of Admissions Jordan Brown and Campus Visits and Events Coordinator Natalia Sumner were instrumental in collaborating with Riggs on the ROAR guidebook and were also credited on the guidebook’s award, conceiving of the idea and providing the text content for the publication.
Riggs also won an Achievement Award (third place) for Print or Digital Advertising for the RSU Bartlesville Digital Billboard, and Honorable Mention (fourth place) for the RSU Admissions Holiday Card, both in the Design category.
Additionally, RSU communications and marketing Writer/Editor Tom Fink won four awards in the writing category, including Honorable Mention in Best Headline for “RSU Professor’s Lecture at Dinosaur Symposium a ‘Roaring’ Success” and Achievement Award in Best Headline for “Bass Fishing Club Hooks Students.” Fink also won Honorable Mention in Full-Length Feature – Human Interest (stories more than 1,000 words in length which profile a subject in an emotional way) for “From Africa to Oklahoma – Tanzanian Native Follows His Dreams to Rogers State University,” and Achievement Award in News Writing – Under 250 Words for “Denim Day Observed at RSU to Educate, Support Sexual Violence Survivors.”
RSU’s communications and marketing team includes Kenny Day, director; Kelli Fields, web marketing coordinator; Randy Riggs, graphic designer; and Tom Fink, writer/editor. The team is highly collaborative and works together daily on multiple projects and content, helping one another to promote the success of the university.
“I’m so proud of the work our team does every day to tell the RSU story, to show prospective students why they should consider Rogers State, and to share about the impact RSU has made in the lives of our alumni, in our community, and in our state,” said Kenny Day, director of communications and marketing. “It is humbling for our work to be honored by these awards and for the quality of our work to be recognized among so many other colleges and universities around the state of Oklahoma.
“I am privileged to be part of a team with so much experience, skill, and expertise, and I am thrilled to see them recognized for their outstanding work,” he said.
OCPRA is a statewide organization comprised of communications and marketing professionals from public and private colleges and universities across the state. The annual competition features schools of all sizes competing in various categories relating to college and university communications and marketing. The 2024 OCPRA Awards Competition included 662 entries from 24 institutions in 47 categories, such as design, events and promotions, photography, web and social media, and writing. This was the 32nd year for the statewide contest.
The RSU communications and marketing team’s mission is to protect, advance, and manage the university’s brand image; support and advance the university’s mission and strategic plan through communication strategies; maintain clear and open communication channels with all university constituencies; provide marketing and communications leadership and support for student recruitment and fundraising; and maintain clear, open, and proactive relationships with all media outlets.
RSU Communications and Marketing Team Wins Eight Statewide OCPRA Awards
Buoyed by the largest single gift in its history, donors to the Rogers State University Foundation provided a record $5,584,090 in gifts in fiscal year 2024, according to preliminary figures. Final audited totals will be approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in September.
“It was an amazing year for the Foundation, which translates into more private support for RSU and its students,” said Nick Harris, board chair. “The strong belief of our donors, coupled with the work of our development and alumni staffs, has provided the Foundation with the flexibility to provide a wider scope of support for scholarships, program support and capital projects.
“I am privileged to be a part of a talented and dedicated group of individuals who serve on the Board of Directors and provide the leadership necessary to help RSU be the best it can be,” added Harris.
The Foundation received 1,605 contributions from 548 individual donors, including 259 first-time donors, and provided more than $1.9 million in scholarship and program support to RSU students, faculty and programs.
In May, the Cherokee Nation contributed $4 million to support the construction of the Center for Science and Technology. The gift was the largest in Foundation history.
“Our alumni and friends believe in the mission of Rogers State, and we are grateful for that support,” said Dr. Mark Rasor, interim president of RSU. “Each year RSU confers degrees on approximately 700 students, and almost all of them were impacted by gifts given to the Foundation.
“Most of those graduates stay close to home to work and live,” said Rasor. “When you invest in RSU, you invest in the future of our communities.”
Going forward, the Foundation will play a key role in securing final funding for the Center for Science and Technology (CST), a new $30 million facility that will become the home of many RSU programs in science, technology, and engineering.
“The CST is a game-changer for RSU and the economy of this region as it will allow us to recruit, retain and graduate more students to work in many of Oklahoma’s most critical occupations,” said Steve Valencia, vice president for development. “We want students to be able to study close to home and eventually work in the jobs of today and tomorrow. Construction of the CST will allow us to offer these academic programs and make RSU a first-choice university for higher education.
“We are about 90 percent to the finish line in funding for the CST, but we will need help from our alumni and friends to get there.”
State Invests $10 Million for Center for Science and Technology
The goal of building a new Center for Science and Technology at Rogers State University took a big step closer to reality June 14 when House Bill 2928 was signed into law, appropriating $10 million of state funds to the project.
A new facility to house RSU’s growing science, technology and engineering programs has been needed to replace the current Loshbaugh Hall. Built in 1955, it is no longer large enough to accommodate enrollment and is plagued with a number of structural and maintenance issues.
After two years of advocacy, the legislature agreed to help fund the project. The process began in the Senate, where Sen. Ally Seifried of Claremore, vice chair of the Senate Education Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee, worked to gather support.
“Nothing is easy at the State Capitol, especially when we are talking about dedicating large amounts of money to a certain project,” Sen. Seifried said. “However, in keeping with Oklahoma’s continued efforts to grow opportunities for students in STEM-related fields, I deeply believe in the worthiness of this project. This new science and technology building will help students learn and become fully equipped to meet the workforce demands of the future.”
Hillcats took over downtown Claremore Thursday night, Aug. 22, at the “Hillcats Take Main” event for Food Truck Thursday in conjunction with Welcome Week 2024.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Claremore’s Lilac District, Rogers State University students, athletes, alumni, faculty and staff converged on downtown Claremore for an evening of fun and community engagement during the food truck event.
Food trucks, inflatables, a dunk tank, and yard games, including cornhole and more, were part of the evening’s festivities, with several RSU departments on-hand to give away RSU swag and promotional items, while interacting with the public as goodwill ambassadors.
Welcome Week is an annual event during the first week of the fall semester, with various activities taking place each day. This year, the week included a movie on the DCTC patio, free snow cones for students, a Bingo night, and more.
Hillcats Take Over Downtown Claremore at Food Truck Thursday
RSU Director of Academic Enrichment Dr. James Ford
Named
NCHC 2024 Fellow
Dr. James Ford, professor and interim department head for English and Humanities, as well as director of Academic Enrichment at Rogers State University, has been named a fellow by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).
This prestigious distinction celebrates Ford’s contributions not only to NCHC, but more widely to honors teaching, learning, scholarship and leadership in higher education.
“The award recognizes everything the students and faculty at RSU have accomplished in Honors the past 20 years,” Ford said. “I love honors, and I love working with our students. I am so proud of the program we have built, and it’s great that we have been able to contribute to honors education nationally as well.”
NCHC is an association of undergraduate honors programs, colleges, directors, deans, faculty, staff and students.
Individuals chosen as NCHC fellows are selected through rigorous peer review after careful consideration of state, regional and national honors leadership; generous participation in honors conferences; scholarly contributions to honors education; involvement in local and national honors professional development activities; evidence of outstanding honors teaching; consulting and other services to improve honors programming at varied institutions; and other important considerations that help single out individuals who have made a significant difference in the reputation and influence of NCHC and honors education across the nation.
“Each year, NCHC honors those who have contributed to the success of the National Collegiate Honors Council, the regional honors councils, and honors education as a whole,” said NCHC President Eddie Weller. “Their service has been instrumental in the successes of people across the country. Together, the fellows make up the backbone of honors education.”
The National Collegiate Honors Council will honor Ford at the 59th annual conference Nov. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri.
RSU Bartlesville Senior Reflects on Woolaroc Internship
To plan for his future, RSU senior Sam Anderson went back to the past.
Over the summer semester, Anderson served as an intern at Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville.
Woolaroc is a world-class art museum and 3,700-acre wildlife preserve located southwest of Bartlesville, originally serving as the ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips. According to Anderson, his appreciation for the museum long preceded his interest in pursuing a career in history or museums.
“Growing up in Bartlesville, I’d been to Woolaroc several times over the years, and I always loved it – every time. It’s such a remarkable museum,” Anderson said. “As I got older, I became more and more interested in becoming a museum director myself, so in addition to majoring in general history, I sought out museum internships. Woolaroc made the most sense, since it’s right here in Bartlesville.”
Anderson told RSU Bartlesville Campus Director Ronda Riden-Wilson about his interests, and she said an internship at Woolaroc was the fruition of a long-planned partnership with the museum.
“Samuel is a brilliant student who has always had a passion for history,” Riden-Wilson said. “When speaking with him and knowing about his desire for an internship, I knew the exceptional opportunity for him would be Woolaroc.”
With Riden-Wilson’s help to facilitate discussions between Anderson and Woolaroc Director Shiloh Thurman, Anderson experienced an internship that began in early June and lasted through the final week of July.
“There weren’t any ‘typical’ days. My duties and what I did were never really repetitive,” Anderson said. “Basically, I shadowed Mr. Thurman as he went about his duties at the museum, learning about the art, how it was acquired, about Mr. Phillips, some of the programs with which the museum is involved, and things you would never think about –how humidity affects the collection, for example, or testing some of the taxidermized displays for arsenic as – at certain times – arsenic was used in taxidermy, so there’s a process for getting rid of that. It was extremely informative, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity. It really validated my desire to be a museum director.”
Anderson’s final week of the internship was spent helping with Woolaroc’s KidsFest, an event that features arts and crafts, games, live music, inflatables and more.
Following graduation in May 2025, Anderson said he plans to either look for a job or start working toward his master’s degree.
Rogers State University and RCB Bank have reached an agreement on a five-year, exclusive naming rights partnership that brands the school’s softball and baseball facilities as RCB Bank Sports Complex.
This announcement further solidifies the long-standing partnership between RSU and RCB Bank.
“Rogers State University and its athletics programs are important components in the high quality of life enjoyed by residents of Claremore and the surrounding region,” said Roger Mosier, chief executive officer and president of RCB Bank. “As more people come to this area both to visit and to live, showcasing the RCB Bank brand through this partnership is an important part of our growth strategy.”
The naming rights agreement is the first for an RSU athletic venue.
“We are thrilled with the commitment made by RCB Bank to strengthen their relationship with our students, alumni and fans,” said RSU Interim President Dr. Mark Rasor. “This partnership sends a strong message about the bright future of Rogers State University.” Previously known as the Diamond Sports Complex, RCB Bank
Sports Complex is undergoing improvements that will position the softball and baseball fields as some of the best in NCAA Division II.
An artificial playing surface is being installed on the softball field and the baseball field will see the infield and foul areas converted to artificial turf. An indoor practice facility for several RSU teams is also in the planning stages.
Both teams have enjoyed success in recent years with the Hillcats softball team winning the Division II National Championship in 2022.
In addition to serving as the home of RSU’s softball and baseball programs, RCB Bank Sports Complex is regularly used by area high schools for tournaments and festivals.
RCB Bank Sports Complex seats 1,200 fans for baseball and 800 for softball. The centerpiece of the facility is a 7,790 square-foot, twostory building positioned between the playing fields that includes concession areas, separate press boxes for baseball and softball, coaches’ offices, and a donor suite with indoor and outdoor seating.
RCB Bank Enters into Naming Rights Agreement for Athletic Complex
Mota Journeys from
Brazil to the Hill, Earning RSU Nursing Degree
Maria E. Mota, or “Duda” as she is known to her friends and family, graduated from Rogers State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May. Graduating from the RSU nursing program is a significant achievement, as it marks the beginning of a rewarding career dedicated to helping others.
Originally from Curitiba, Brazil, Mota came to RSU in 2019 to study nursing and immerse herself in a different culture. By living and studying on campus, she interacted with people from diverse backgrounds, broadened her studies, and fostered personal growth.
“RSU went above and beyond to prepare me for the workforce. They not only connected me with highly skilled professionals in my field of study, but they also provided me with invaluable hands-on training and learning experiences in clinical settings,” Mota said. “For first-time students, I highly recommend taking advantage of the various events and activities organized by RSU. Even if you don’t live on campus, these events are a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow students and meet new people.”
Not only did she earn her degree in nursing, but she also found love by meeting her fiancé, Brent Dickey, who is a recent graduate from RSU’s MBA program and came to Claremore from California on a baseball scholarship in 2019. Mota credits RSU for playing such a significant role in both her personal and academic life.
“I am beyond thankful for all the opportunities and support RSU has given me, allowing me to achieve my dreams of becoming a nurse here in the United States. Through RSU, I not only achieved my professional goals but also allowed me to meet some of my closest friends, my fiancé, as well as some incredible people who made this dream possible.”
Mota will soon begin her career as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit RN at Saint Francis Children’s Hospital in Tulsa. Working in the NICU requires exceptional skill, compassion, and dedication, and Mota’s background in nursing from Rogers State University prepared her well for this role. With a contagious passion for nursing, she looks forward to making a positive difference in the lives of newborns and their families.
RSU Studies-at-Large Course Students Visit Paris, Spain
Nearly 20 Rogers State University students finished the spring 2024 semester off campus. Very, very off campus.
From May 18-30, students in Dr. James Ford’s studies-at-large course spent nearly two weeks overseas, studying European culture and history firsthand in a unique learning experience. Ford is professor of and interim department head for English and Humanities at RSU. He also serves as the director of the university’s Honors Program.
“We took 17 students and spent four and a half days in Paris and Barcelona, and about three and a half days in Madrid, spending the weeks studying the countries’ art and culture, their history, where they began, where they are today, and how that connects to the rest of the world and even things happening today at Rogers State University,” Ford said.
Participating students included Jon Biersdorfer, Luke Biersdorfer, Kaylee Blair, Ian Busking, Moriah Chambers, Gracelyn Dill, Baylor Downing, Jessica Hollingshead, Emma Kelley, Tori McAllister, Bryce Pogue, Sidney Roland, Ashleigh Ross, Yuvia Salvidar, Terran Schornick, Avery Thomason and Teagan Thurston.
While in Europe, RSU students were joined by RSU Brad Henry International Scholar recipient Shelbee Base of Tuttle, who is spending a semester studying at Swansea University in Wales.
“We had a pretty amazing trip overall,” Ford said. “We had dinner in the Eiffel Tower – kind of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience, so that was great. We took tours of the Louvre and Orsay Museums in Paris, we toured the Picaso Museum in Barcelona, we ate at the world’s oldest restaurant in Madrid, we went boating in a park in Madrid and engaged in several cultural events to just see how people in those cities live.” Although not part of the planned activities, while in Europe, Ford took a handful of students to the Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert in Madrid.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
BLOOD DRIVE
10 AM | Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center | 2nd Floor
KARAOKE
6 PM | J. Farley's
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
FAIREST ON THE HILL
7 PM | Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center Patio | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT
7 PM | Bushyhead Fieldhouse | RSU ID REQUIRED
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
RSU MEN’S SOCCER VS. OUACHITA BAPTIST
7 PM | Soldier Field Tickets are $6.00 | CARD PAYMENTS ONLY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
HILLCAT HACKER
11 AM (Lunch) 12 PM (Shotgun Start)
ALUMNI SOCCER GAME
7 PM | Soldier Field | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
HOMECOMING DANCE
8 PM | 320 on Main downtown | RSU ID REQUIRED
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
ALUMNI/FAMILY PARTY TAILGATE 11 AM | Bushyhead Parking Lot
HOMECOMING MEN’S SOCCER GAME VS. HARDING
1 PM | Soldier Field | Coronation at halftime Tickets are $6.00 | CARD PAYMENTS ONLY
20 YEARS OF HONORS REUNION
5 PM | Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center | Ballroom Drinks, dinner and trivia Get your HOCO ’24 T-shirt at Thursday night’s game or Saturday at the tailgate!
