Beautification Program

Dear SWOSU Alumni Beautification Program Contributors:

Since you’ve stepped forward and taken a vital part in our Alumni Association’s Beautification Program, I’d like to bring you up to date on how your participation has made such a difference on campus. 

I’m proud to inform you that we are proceeding quite well in our landscaping across the entire campus now.  To recap our progress, in 2003, the Alumni Assn. and the Foundation boards funded the landscaping around the Administration, Old Science buildings as well as added 25 trees to the campus.  In 2004, we totally renovated the Al Harris Library’s landscaping and added another 25 trees to the campus.  That was quite the undertaking as we had to remove several large old shrubs that had a lot of damage on top but had roots to China.  All three of these buildings have a wonderful fresh look to them.  The Administration Building’s landscaping has matured quite nicely over the last 2 ½ years and is really beautiful now. 

When we launched our matching program, it was a wonderful success which has enabled us to move forward more quickly with massive landscaping renovations throughout the campus.  In early 2005, several stand-alone beds throughout campus were planted.  Over the summer, I had plans drawn up for the rest of the beds on the campus, put them up for aggressive bidding and awarded the beds to two local landscapers. 

From last fall and into January, we have planted most of the landscaping in over 10 existing beds around the Pharmacy Annex, the Campbell Building, the Industrial Tech Rock Building, the gym entrance as well as the four dorms.  We will be finishing out these beds in April and May.  We also intend on reviewing the entire campus during this time to detail everything out.  We want to do this up right so that impact is significant and everyone will be very proud of it.

I must mention that Rick Skinner, Physical Plant Director, and his wonderful crew have worked very hard with the landscapers on this project, doing most of the work themselves.  Our plans also include some type of watering system in each bed and mulching, in which Rick and his crew has done a superb job.

I’m very happy to say that our August 2005 brochure is still bringing in a few contributions each month.  We will be encouraging student organizations to partner with us this spring and will send notices to those who have made pledges.  We have stretched all of your contributions and our matching funds as far as we possibly can without compromising the quality of the landscaping. 

When we get the landscaping totally finished, we will concentrate on fulfilling our goal of planting 150 new trees on campus.  We’ve planted 40 hardwood trees and about 10 evergreen trees so far, but would still like to plant the remaining 100, with half of them on the north side of Davis were there are very few trees at all.  The park benches will be the last to be added to the campus grounds.

Too many times you never get to hear what has happened with your contributions and you only hope that you’ve helped to make a difference.  Well, I want each and every one of you to know that you, in partnership with your SWOSU Alumni Association, have made a significant difference on campus!

Dr. John Hays and our Alumni Development Office have received numerous compliments on our massive Beautification Program.  Regents, faculty, students and visitors alike are taking notice and are expressing their comments as well.  If you live in Weatherford, you’ve probably seen the work in progress.  For those of you who don’t live in Weatherford, I’d like to invite you to visit the campus during Homecoming this fall.  We believe you’ll like what you’ll see!

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me directly at 405-720-0736 or contact Brandi Gateley in our Alumni Development Office at 580-774-3267.

Thank you so much for becoming part of
SWOSU Alumni Association’s
“Focus on the Future”!!!

Linda Kay Jones
SWOSU Alumni Association
President