Gary England will share personal stories, discuss scientific developments in the field of meteorology and show powerful images of Oklahoma's weather this Tuesday, September 21, at 7 p.m. at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Fine Arts Center in Weatherford.

The evening presentation is free and open to the public.

Gary England, director of meteorology at KWTV-Oklahoma City (News 9), is recognized worldwide as an authority on severe weather. He is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including two Emmys, the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and the Governor's Humanitarian Award.

A native of Seiling, England is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and meteorology. He began a distinguished career in meteorology in 1965 and joined KWTV (Oklahoma City), the local CBS affiliate, in 1972 where he serves as the station's chief meteorologist. In 1981, Gary England became the first person in history to use Doppler radar for direct warnings to the public. England is also credited with the development of ‘First Warning', an automated severe weather computer warning system, and ‘Storm Tracker', an automated severe weather tracking and projection computer system, both in use nationwide. 

His career and expertise has garnered special recognition on national and international televised programming, from National Geographic and the Discovery Channel to documentaries airing in Australia, Canada, Japan and Great Britain. And his notoriety offered him a cameo appearance in the opening scene of Steven Spielberg's move, Twister, and he also served as a consultant for the film. England has authored several books, including his autobiography, Weathering the Storm: Tornadoes, Television, and Turmoil.  Recognized for continued excellence, Gary England and his weather team received the National Edward R. Murrow Award (in 2009) for Best in the Nation in the category of "Breaking News/Weather" among all large television markets.

For more information about Tuesday's event, please contact Jason Dupree, head of public services, SWOSU Libraries, at (580) 774-3031 or email jason.dupree@swosu.edu.

SWOSU faculty member Madeline Baugher (left) was recently named program coordinator for the NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium (OSGC). Baugher has been very active in support of NASA-related programs and recently helped (from left) Kandi Archer, Lindsay Porter and Connie Lokey obtain internships with the Johnson Space Center. Here the group is pictured in front of Vehicle Assembly Building where space shuttles are assembled.

Madeline Baugher, director of the computer science program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, has been appointed program coordinator for the NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium (OSGC).

The appointment was made by Dr. Victoria Duca Snowden, director of OSGC and NASA EPSCoR.

Baugher, a faculty member in the Department of Accounting, Computer Science, and Entrepreneurship at SWOSU, was appointed SWOSU institutional representative to OSGC by Provost Dr. Blake Sonobe in 2007.  In this role, she coordinated the campus NASA scholarships and fellowships and took the programs into the community through OSGC-sponsored internships at the Stafford Air & Space Museum as well as Hudson Technology and Precision Design.

She also developed successful NASA grant awards which benefitted a broad spectrum of participants in different programs, including a robotics course for students within the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College; Brad Bryant's Introduction to Technology course where the students use a weather balloon to launch satellites they have built; the Technology Department's FIRST Tech Challenge event which brought over 300 high school students to Weatherford to participate in a robot competition; and the Physics Department students who are participating in Spectroscopy research under the guidance of Dr. Wayne Trail and Dr. Tony Stein.

Through Baugher's efforts, three SWOSU students were selected by the Johnson Space Center for semester-long internships which is the first step for potential full-time employment with NASA.

"Both SWOSU and the community will continue to benefit tremendously from Baugher's passion for the students and NASA," Snowden said. "But now in her position as project coordinator, all the OSGC affiliates and other universities across the state will benefit as well from her passion."

Baugher will work closely with the lead office at the University of Oklahoma and with Dr. Andrew Arena at Oklahoma State University in the implementation of projects that will connect faculty and students across Oklahoma with NASA centers and research. 

"The ultimate goal is to bring these opportunities into the state that will not only benefit the researchers but will also contribute to the state's economic development in aviation and space related industries," Snowden said.

Established by Congress in 1988 and implemented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (also known as Space Grant) contributes to the nation's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics enterprise by funding research, education, and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based Space Grant consortia. These consortia administer programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The consortia's 820 affiliates include 531 academic institutions and 80 businesses. Other partners include state and local government agencies, other federal agencies and nonprofit organizations. SWOSU is an affiliate member of the OSGC whose membership includes eight universities, two academic centers, two informal science museums, two industry and two government organizations across the state.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Jamie Novey, director of the Upward Bound program, recently received fourth year funding for a four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $378,592. 

The award provides cost-free services for 76 students from eight western Oklahoma high schools to participate in Upward Bound, which is a program that includes monthly meetings and on-line tutoring during the school year and also academic, social and cultural activities through the summer. The program is for college bound 9^th, 10^th and 11^th graders.

Upward Bound is geared towards students from low-income families and first-generation college students (those whose parents did not graduate from college). Students who participate in the program receive tutoring, ACT Prep, personal and career counseling, and assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications.

The eight participating schools are: Anadarko, Burns Flat-Dill City, Carnegie, Clinton, Elk City, Ft. Cobb-Broxton, Watonga and Weatherford.

For more information about Upward Bound, please contact Novey at (580) 774-7129.

Roxann Clifton, director/instructor of the Medical Laboratory Technician Program at SWOSU-Sayre, was elected president of the American Medical Technologists during the group's recent national convention, and she also received the Silver Service Award as Medical Technologist of the Year-one of the highest awards conferred upon a member of the AMT.

The nonprofit American Medical Technologists is a professional membership/certification association that represents over 46,000 individuals in allied health care. Established in 1939, AMT provides certification services and programs to allied health professionals to enhance their professional and personal growth. 

Clifton was certified as a medical technologist by the AMT in 1982 after graduating with an associate's degree in health technology from Sayre Junior College.  She went on to complete a BS degree in biology and a MEd with a concentration in biology from SWOSU. 

As a member of the Oklahoma State Society of AMT, she has served as editor, board chair, vice-president and president.  She was elected to the national AMT Board of Directors in 2005.  At the national level she has previously served as secretary and vice president before being elevated to the post of president during this year's annual meeting in Las Vegas (NV).

Clifton has been honored as the Oklahoma State Society Technologist of the Year.  In the 11 years she served as editor of The Sooner Scope, the AMT National level has honored Clifton with 10 editing awards including "Editor of the Year".  Other honors have included Distinguished Achievement Award, Exceptional Merit and Pillar Award.

Five SWOSU students each won $500 scholarships this past Saturday at Parent's Day activities on the Weatherford campus. Area businesses made possible the scholarship giveaway.

Winners were:

• Senior Valerie Stewart, daughter of Ron and Gina Stewart of Elk City, signed up at Uptown Marketplace
• Freshman Robin Humphreys, daughter of Mary Humphreys of Thomas, signed up at Factory Connection
• Junior Matthew Griffith, son of Al and Sany Griffith of Terlton, signed up at Kelley Jewelers
• Freshman Ethan Buchanan, son of Tommy and Jeanna Buchanan of Amber, signed up at Tautfest Furniture & Appliances
• Senior Sierra Goodwin, daughter of Diana Goodwin of Geary, signed up at Kelley Jewelers

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity is a recipient of the Most Improved Chapter Award from the national office.

The award is for the 2009-10 academic year activities.

The SWOSU chapter is one of only four chapters across the United State and Canada to receive this distinction. SWOSU will be featured in The TEKE magazine and on the TKE website www.tke.org.

The TKEs are an active fraternity on the SWOSU campus and one of five fraternities involved in the SWOSU Greek Council. The fraternities are joined by three social sororities.

As part of the Constitution Days Celebration at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a candidate's forum will be held in conjunction with Professor Dan Brown's  Federal Constitution class this Wednesday, September 15, at 2 p.m. on the Weatherford campus.

The event is open to the public and will be held in Room 208 of the Old Science Building.  The event is sponsored by the Collegiate Activities Board.

Candidates scheduled to attend or send representatives are:

Governor

Mary Fallin - sending a representative

Jari Askins - sending a representative

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Janet Barresi - sending a representative

Richard E. Cooper

District Judge

Doug Haught

Richard Phillips

County Commissioner

Jim Powers Jr.

Lyle Miller

Chaired by CAB member Keenan Haught of Elk City, the event is designed to make candidates and what they stand for more accessible and real to college students.

"Sometimes students don't get involved enough in politics," Haught said. "We all need to know who we are voting for and why. Our elected officials enforce and interpret the Constitution on our behalf and we need to know who they are and what they think."

The SWOSU Constitution Days celebration runs from September 13 - 17 and will feature a giant Constitution in the lobby of the Stafford Center for all to sign and distribution of pocket Constitutions by the Dean of Students' Office.  The local DAR Chapter will be assisting with this outreach.

Throughout the week, there will be a display in Stafford Center of artwork and essays by Weatherford Public School students related to the Constitution.  CAB will award a pizza party to the winning class from each school.

Everyone is welcome at all events. For more information contact Haught at 580-799-1678 or haughtk@student.swosu.edu, or Dean of Students Cindy Dougherty at (580) 774-3767 or studentdean@swosu.edu.

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An impressive display of 2,977 flags is stationed just south of the Thomas P. Stafford Center on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus in Weatherford. The SWOSU chapter of College Republicans arranged the flags in honor of the lives lost in the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York City. CR President Alicia Marquis said the display will remain through the weekend and the public is invited to stop by and view the display. 

The Dan Band-a comedy band that has performed in such movies as The Hangover, Old School and Starsky & Hutch-will open the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Panorama series this Tuesday, September 14, on the Weatherford campus.

That event is at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center on the SWOSU campus.

Advance tickets are $10 for SWOSU students, faculty/staff and emeriti; $15 for others; and $20 for all tickets at the door.  The event is for mature audiences only.

The Dan Band is currently on tour and performing in huge cities across the country, such as Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles and more. After their performance at SWOSU on September 14, they perform in Dallas and Houston later that week.

Tickets are available at the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office, Room 205 of the Administration Building, and at the SWOSU Business Office, Room 109 of the Administration Building. Tickets can also be purchased with a credit card by calling (580) 774-3019.

Additional information about the Panorama series is available by calling the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office at (580) 774-3063. To see the entire Panorama lineup for 2010-11, go to:  http://www.swosu.edu/news/releases/2010/2010-07-15a.asp

Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a popular choice for students as SWOSU's official enrollment numbers show a 5.3% increase compared to one year ago.

And, more impressive are the freshmen and graduate numbers on the Weatherford and Sayre campuses. SWOSU shows an 8.8% increase in first-time freshmen this year and a 31% increase in graduate enrollment.

"When it comes down to it, students and parents are noticing SWOSU for its quality academic programs," SWOSU President Randy Beutler said. "We continue to boast our 15 nationally-accredited academic programs-most among Oklahoma's regional universities."

SWOSU's 2010 enrollment is the largest since 2004. There are 5,399 students enrolled at SWOSU compared to 5,127 in 2009. In 2004, there were 5,426 students.

SWOSU's residence halls are also full. A total of 1,019 students are living on campus during the 2010 fall semester.

"We are delighted to see the growth," Beutler said. "SWOSU is a quality institution that students can attend for a great value. We continue to look for ways to save money to keep the educational experience more affordable for our students."

SWOSU started classes on August 18. The semester will end on December 17. The 2011 spring semester begins January 5.

SWOSU College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Doug Ried (third from left) will serve as project leader for the United States on a $140,000 grant that will compare/study pharmacy practitioners clinical activities in Europe and the United States. Celebrating the award are (from left): Lori Gwyn, director of sponsored program at SWOSU; SWOSU President Randy Beutler; and SWOSU Provost Dr. Blake Sonobe.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford has been funded for a two-year project that will compare/study the current state of clinical activities of pharmacy practitioners in Europe and the United States.

SWOSU College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Doug Ried will serve as project leader for the United States and received the $140,000 grant that will start in October of this year. The grant was announced by the Education Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency.  

The goals of the project are to serve as a baseline for change and harmonize the practice between the countries with the goal of extending/sharing these skills with other European countries and the international community.  The project will present a document containing recommendations for a set of minimum clinical competencies that will serve as a starting point for the United States, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The EU project leader is Dr Laura Sahm, faculty member of pharmacy at the University College Cork (UCC), Ireland.

Weatherford Art Walk takes place this Saturday, September 11, in conjunction with Parent's Day activities at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

An art exhibition, drawing workshop, concert, children's art and recreation events, and poetry readings are scheduled during the day.  The event is sponsored by the Weatherford Arts Council, SWOSU, City of Weatherford, Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Kevin Collins said a free drawing workshop will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon in the SWOSU Main Street Building, 210 W. Main Street. The workshop is open to everyone.

Two SWOSU bands will perform concerts. At 12 noon at the Main Street Gazebo, the SWOSU Community Band will be featured followed at 1 p.m. by the SWOSU Jazz "A" Ensemble.

Children's arts and recreational events will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Broadway Street between Main and Franklin Streets.

Collins said the art exhibition by emerging artists will take place from 1-4:30 p.m. in the SWOSU Main Street Building, 210 W. Main Street. And, poetry readings will take place from 3-4 p.m. at The Cup in downtown Weatherford.

SWOSU has a variety of other events taking place during Parent's Day activities with a tailgate party/BBQ dinner planned from 5-6 p.m. just south of Milam Stadium. The SWOSU football game vs. West Texas A & M will follow at 6 p.m. For more information, check the SWOSU website at www.swosu.edu.

For additional information about the Weatherford Art Walk, contact Collins at (580) 774-3735.  

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students Corey Comer (left) of El Reno and Kyle Reed of Skiatook were recently awarded the 2010 SWOSU College of Professional and Graduate Studies Scholarships for the Parks and Recreation Management Department. Comer is a senior majoring in park law enforcement and minoring in multidisciplinary studies.  He recently finished an internship with the Canadian County Sheriff's Office and plans to pursue a career in law enforcement upon graduation. Reed is a senior majoring in parks and recreation management and minoring in wildland fire management. Reed is currently employed by SWOSU at Crowder Lake University Park and the Cedar Canyon Adventure Program. He plans to pursue a career with the National Park Service after graduation.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students (front) Ivan Martinez of Carnegie and Dani Merchant of Weatherford and (back) Tana Turney of Cherokee are recipients of Dean's Scholarships for Kinesiology during the 2010 fall semester. Martinez and Merchant received $400 undergraduate scholarships, while Turney received a $245 graduate kinesiology scholarship. Martinez is a senior majoring in health and physical education, and Merchant is a senior majoring in exercise science.

Two SWOSU faculty-Dr. Brian Campbell (left) and Dr. David Esjornson (far right) were recent VIP guests at the Johnson Space Center in Houston in an attempt to secure science and education grants for SWOSU.

Sigma Sigma Chi social sorority at SWOSU is teaming up with Friends for Life and Maurices for a "Rescues and Runways" event that will benefit the Friends for Life Animal Group.

The event will be an adoption drive/runway show. Sigmas will model clothing and will be escorted by furry friends up for adoption through Friends for Life. Local businesses and organizations will donate items for a silent auction that will start at Maurices on September 11.

The Rescues and Runways event will be held on Saturday, September 25, at 11 a.m. at Maurices in the Weatherford Shopping Center.

Kayla DeWitt of Sigma Sigma Chi said area residents who can not get a pet are invited to sponsor one or donate items for the auction.

Sigma Sigma Chi is also sponsoring a garage sale on September 11 from 7 a.m. until 12 noon at 711 N. State Street. DeWitt said there will be a variety of items. 

Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Sayre students and employees are enjoying a newly-renovated chemistry lab and work is underway on another major project that will convert a classroom into an interactive video classroom.

The chemistry lab in the Alexander Building has been remodeled into a state-of-the- art facility that will house classes in geology, biology and chemistry.  Dr. Jim James, dean of the Sayre campus, said the renovated lab will increase the kinds of experiments the students can perform and greatly enhance their educational experiences.  

Another project that will assist students is the classroom conversion to an interactive video classroom.  The ITV courses remain very popular on the Sayre campus and work is expected to be completed sometime during the current fall semester.

Other recent improvements include automatic exterior door openers being installed on many of the campus buildings.

An informational meeting is planned for Sunday, September 12, for the 3rd annual Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen Pageant.

The pageant is for girls ages 13-17 and is open to any girl in the state of Oklahoma. The info meeting is planned for 3 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center Skyview Room.

Lacey Russ of Cordell won last year's Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen Pageant and then went on to win the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant and just recently won the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant. 

Debbie Brown, director of the teen and Miss SWOSU pageants, said all girls are invited to the info meeting. Entry deadline for the pageant will be October 17.  The teen pageant is limited to the first eight contestants that sign up. The pageant will be held on November 13 on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford.

The mission of the teen pageant is to provide an opportunity for Oklahoma's young teenage ladies to compete in a first-class teen scholarship pageant and to encourage them to continue pursuing their talents, become positive influences in their communities and develop into mature, responsible women of the highest morals and integrity.

The entry fee is $125. To be eligible, girls can not turn 18 before July 31. The contract and entry forms are on the Miss SWOSU website at www.swosu.edu/students/miss-swosu/index.asp and then click on Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen.

For more information about the pageant, call Brown at (580) 774-3063.

An informational meeting for the Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant is coming up Thursday, September 9, on the Weatherford campus.

All SWOSU students who would like to participate in the November 13 pageant are invited to attend the meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Skyview Room of the Memorial Student Center on the SWOSU campus. Information will be available for potential contestants.

The pageant is open to all full-time female students enrolled on the Weatherford or Sayre campuses with a grade point average of 2.5 or above. There is no entry fee and sponsorships are not necessary. Entry deadline for the pageant is October 7.

The Miss Southwestern Pageant is an affiliate of the Miss Oklahoma/Miss America Scholarship Pageants. Sarah Simpson of Elk City is the current Miss SWOSU.

For more information, call pageant director Debbie Brown in the Public Relations & Marketing Office at (580) 774-3063.

Who can keep their hands on a car the longest?

Zeta Phi plans to find out when the social sorority hosts the contest on Thursday, September 9, to raise money for the sorority's rush activities.

The winner of the contest will win two VIP tickets to The Dan Band concert at SWOSU on Tuesday, September 14, and a gift certificate for dinner at a local restaurant. The winner will get to meet and visit with members of The Dan Band. 

Catherine Kahn said participants will compete to see who can keep their hand on the car the longest while standing or squatting (no sitting). The contest begins at 6 p.m. near the clock tower. Sign-up begins that evening at 5:30 p.m. Entry fee is $10.

Rules for the contest will be given to all the contestants once they have their hands on the car.

For additional information or to sign up, call Kahn at 580-334-5705 or Gabby Cloer at 405-473-9381.

Parent's Day activities will be held Saturday, September 11, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Among the scheduled activities during the day are a pancake breakfast, tailgate party, art shows in downtown Weatherford and at SWOSU, and SWOSU football. Also, SWOSU students will have the opportunity to win one of five $500 scholarships that will be given away.

The scholarships are made possible by 35 participating businesses (see below). Students or family members can register for the scholarship drawings throughout the day at participating businesses. The winners will be announced at halftime of the 6 p.m. football game.

A tailgate party/BBQ dinner, sponsored by the SWOSU Alumni Association, will be held from 5 - 6 p.m. just south of Milam Stadium. Everyone is invited. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Burton House on the SWOSU campus or can be purchased at the party/dinner.

The pancake breakfast will be held from 8-10:30 a.m. in the Memorial Student Center University Grill. The fundraising event is sponsored by the SWOSU men’s basketball team. Cost is $5 for the all-you-can-eat breakfast, consisting of pancakes, ham steak, coffee and juice. Tickets are available from team members, the SWOSU Athletic Office and will be available at the door.

SWOSU is hosting an art show from 3-5 p.m. in the SWOSU Art Building. Admission is free. Also, the Weatherford Arts Council is hosting its 2nd annual Weatherford Art Walk in downtown Weatherford. The event will take place throughout the day. The art walk will feature an exhibition of artworks in all visual media.

The evening ends with the football game featuring the SWOSU Bulldogs as they entertain West Texas A & M University. Game time is 6 p.m.

Additional information about the events is available by calling the SWOSU Alumni Association at (580) 774-3267.

Parents/students can register at the following businesses/sponsors: The Aquarium; Benchwarmer Brown’s; Cummins, Pontiac, Buick, GMC; Kelley Jewelers; The Kloset; Downtown Diner; Nabors Shoe Center; Caulkins Conoco; Ratcliffe’s Textbooks; King’s Gifts and Flowers; Tautfest Furniture & Appliances; More than Medicine; Uptown Market Place; The Medicine Shoppe; KWEY AM/FM Radio; The Factory Connection; It’s All About Moi; University Bookstore; and Southwest Auto Parts.

Also, Sears Dealer Store; Comfort Inn & Suites; The Jiffy Trip; O’Reilly’s Auto Parts; Pizza Hut; Miss Trudy’s Past & Present; Weatherford Public Library; Taco Mayo; Laundry Boutique; Zeva’s Restaurant; Action Sports; Mazzio’s; The Cup; Mayan Sun; Heapin’ Helpin’s; and Casa Soto.

Chris Parton, a senior in the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Industrial and Engineering Technology Department in Weatherford, served as a summer intern at Johnson Space Center in Houston and has been asked to continue the internship during the current 2010 fall semester.

Parton is working in the Center Operations Directorate under the mentorship of Susan Hulsey, director of the Geographic Information Systems section under the Planning and Integration Office. Geographic Information Systems are computer systems that manage data but include spatial analysis. 

Parton worked on two projects during the summer that will allow NASA personnel to work more efficiently and in improved security conditions, according to SWOSU faculty member Madeline Baugher who works with the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium, which funds the internship.

  The reigning Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen and Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ of Cordell is crowned Miss America Outstanding Teen at Saturday night's (August 28) Miss America Teen Pageant in Orlando (FL).   

The reigning Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen and Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ of Cordell won the title of Miss America Outstanding Teen at Saturday night's (August 28) Miss America Teen Pageant in Orlando (FL).

Russ won a $30,000 scholarship by winning the title. In addition, she won a $500 preliminary award in evening gown competition and a $500 advertising award. Russ performed a piano solo that was a combination of Bach's Prelude XXI and Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique and spoke of her platform P.U.R.E. Excellence.

Russ, who represented the state of Oklahoma as Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University Outstanding Teen in Weatherford, won the title at the Linda Chapin Theater in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Russ, a senior at Cordell High School and the daughter of Todd and Khristy Russ, won the Oklahoma title this past June at the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Other top finishers at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant were: first runner-up, Miss Alabama Scarlett Walker; second runner-up, Miss Georgia Camille Sims; third runner-up, Miss Washington Victoria Renard; and fourth runner-up Miss Virginia Courtney Jamison.

Debbie Brown, director of the Miss SWOSU Pageants, attended the pageant on Saturday night. Russ won SWOSU's pageant in November 2009 and then won the Miss Oklahoma title. It was only the second time for SWOSU to host a teen pageant in conjunction with the Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant.

"This is such an honor for Lacey as well as western Oklahoma," Brown said. "The SWOSU pageant board is elated at what has happened in such a short period of time. We are excited about the opportunities that Lacey will have in representing SWOSU, Oklahoma and America."

Brown said the Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageants provide opportunities for young women to further their education, and the board is gearing up for the 2010 pageants on November 13 on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford. Informational meetings are planned September 9 and 12. For additional information, call the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office at (580) 774-3063.

An art exhibition entitled “5 to 9 Group” will be held during the month of September at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Seven artists will participate in the exhibition including Dixie Erickson, Carolyn Faseler, E.K. Jeong, Jean Keil, Bill Munsell, Betty Wood and Nick Wu.

The exhibition is located in the Art Building Gallery. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

An opening reception is planned September 11 from 3:30-5 p.m. Also that day, free workshops will be held including a printmaking workshop by Betty Wood from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. and a drawing workshop by Nick Wu from 3:30-5 p.m.

For additional information, contact the SWOSU Art Department at (580) 774-3756.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University is accepting float entry forms for the 2010 homecoming parade on Saturday, October 16, in downtown Weatherford. The theme for this year is “A SWOSU Tribute to Duke.”

Forms can be picked up and returned to the SWOSU Public Relations and Marketing Office in Room 205 of the Administration Building; the SWOSU Institutional Advancement and Alumni Office; or American Insurance Group located at 301 N. Washington. Deadline for entries is Monday, October 11.

Floats will be judged on the basis of originality, design and quality of construction, mechanics, application of theme, and in comparison to other float entries. Cash awards will be given to the first, second and third place winners. Prizes are $1,300, $800 and $500 respectively. The float competition is open to anyone.

For more information regarding the SWOSU Homecoming Parade, please contact the Public Relations and Marketing Office at (580)774-3063.

Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ (right) and Miss Kentucky Laura Jones tied for the preliminary evening gown award at the first night of competition at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando (FL). Russ is the reigning Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen.

Things are starting out right for Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ who tied for the preliminary evening gown award in the first night of competition at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando (FL).

Russ, who is representing the state of Oklahoma as Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University Outstanding Teen, won a $500 scholarship as she tied for the evening gown award with Miss Kentucky Laura Jones.

The Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant continues through Saturday night (August 28) at the Linda Chapin Theater in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Russ, a senior at Cordell High School and the daughter of Todd and Khristy Russ, won the Oklahoma title this past June at the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Russ won the title of Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen at the 2009 pageant. It was only the second time for SWOSU to host a teen pageant in conjunction with the Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant.

SWOSU junior Erika Christner of Enid was recently selected as a Brad Henry International Scholar. She is one of only six students selected for the honor and is spending the 2010 fall semester in Wales. Pictured with Christner is SWOSU President Randy Beutler.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University junior Erika Christner of Enid is one of six students from Oklahoma’s regional universities that were designated Brad Henry International Scholars and is spending the fall semester participating in an international study abroad program at Swansea University in Wales.

The study program was established by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in June 2008. The State Regents provide a $10,000 stipend and academic credit for these programs are awarded by Oklahoma regional universities.

Christner is studying mathematics with minors in history, statistics and Spanish at SWOSU. After graduation, she hopes to earn her master’s in education so she can teach English and math in the United States and around the world. Christner was a 2008-09 Distinguished Freshman Scholarship recipient and is a member of the Black Student Association.

Other students selected were: Summer Hill, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah; Christina Isom, East Central University, Ada; Aleshia Richardson, Langston University, Langston; Tori Strecker, Cameron University, Lawton; and Valorie Vernon, Rogers State University, Claremore.

“These students possess the academic talent, dedication to service and the leadership skills that makes them highly qualified for this program,” Chancellor Glen D. Johnson said. “Through this program, they will learn the importance of succeeding in a global economy. We will look forward to these students returning home and sharing with their campuses what they have learned.”

Southwestern Oklahoma State University will offer a country line dancing activity beginning Friday, September 3, in the Wellness Center on the Weatherford campus.

The cost is $60 per person and registration is now open. The eight-week Continuing Education activity, which is being taught by Tina Barnes, is designed for anyone who is interested in having a fun time while increasing their fitness level, coordination and range of motion. The activity is extremely low impact and for people of all fitness levels. No workout attire is required.

Country Line Dancing will meet every Monday and Friday night from 5:15-6:15 p.m. in Wellness Center 143 and conclude on December 10. For more information about the class or to register, please contact Berva Pool at berva.pool@swosu.edu or at (580)774-7012.

Two huge concerts are coming up in western Oklahoma this September and SWOSU students have a chance to win VIP tickets to the Bret Michaels concert.

SWOSU students who purchase The Dan Band tickets (event is Sept. 14 at SWOSU) before this Thursday, August 26, have the opportunity to win 2 VIP tickets ($150 value) to the Bret Michaels concert on Friday, September 17, at the Lucky Star Casino in Clinton.

The 10th person to bring their Dan Band ticket by the SWOSU Public Relations and Marketing office this Thursday, August 26, will win the Bret Michaels VIP tickets. The office is open 8-12 and 1-5.

The Dan Band will perform in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center on Tuesday, September 14, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the SWOSU Panorama Series. Tickets are $10 for students/faculty and $15 for others if purchased in advance. Tickets are available in the PR and Marketing office in Room 205 of the Administration Building or in the SWOSU Business Office.

What are these SWOSU students doing? They are showing SWOSU football spirit by wearing the 2010 Milam Madmen T-shirts, which feature a creative "bulldog facemask" this year. Modeling the shirts are (front with shirt over his head) Adam Davidson; second row from left-Britnee Goure, Cailyn Russell and Cody Sims; back from left-- Jamie Rice, Cody Climer and  Garrett Boyer.

The 2010 Milam Madmen t-shirts are now available at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Named for SWOSU's Milam Stadium, this year the shirts have a creative twist. The shirts have a "Duke the bulldog disguise" on the underbelly of each t-shirt. The "bulldog facemask" has created a popular t-shirt, according to SWOSU Dean of Students Cindy Dougherty.

Wearing a Milam T at any home football game gets the student a free drink compliments of Collegiate Activities Board (CAB.) Also, there are special Milam Madmen giveaways at all home games. 

"The home opener is "Swat the Hornets" night and each "Madman" will get a fly-swatter-paddle-n-ball," said CAB Director Cody Sims. "And one lucky SWOSU student wearing a Milam shirt from any year will win an iPad at halftime of the Thursday night (August 26) game here at SWOSU."

CAB will also give away a wii at the Parent's Weekend game on September 11.  Only SWOSU students with ID are eligible to win.

To purchase a t-shirt, stop by the SWOSU Dean of Students Office in Room 211 of the Stafford Center on the SWOSU campus.

Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ, also known as Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University Outstanding Teen, is heading to Florida.

The Cordell product will represent SWOSU and the state of Oklahoma at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando (FL) on August 23-28.

Russ, a senior at Cordell High School and the daughter of Todd and Khristy Russ, won the Oklahoma title this past June at the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant. 

Russ won the title of Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen at the 2009 pageant. It was only the second time for SWOSU to host a teen pageant in conjunction with the Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant.

Russ will compete in interview on August 23, which is also the day of her 17^th birthday. Then on August 24, she will compete in evening gown and on-stage question competitions. Her active wear will be featured on August 25. Her talent competition is schedule for August 26. The finals are Saturday night, August 28.

Debbie Brown, director of the SWOSU pageants, said area residents can send gifts, cards and letters but no flowers. She can receive these daily by sending to: Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ, c/o Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando FL 32819-8122.

A softball tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held Saturday, August 28, at Acme Brick Park in Clinton.

The "Batting for the Cure" tournament is hosted by Sigma Sigma Chi social sorority at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Kayla DeWitt of SSC said there will be cash prizes for the winners. The event is a 3-game round robin and single elimination tournament. Cost to enter is $10 per player (12-player minimum) and a $10 fee per game umpire fee. All proceeds will go to Relay for Life.

The tourney begins at 9 a.m. at Acme Park, located at 600 S. 28^th Street in Clinton. For additional information, contact Cailyn Russell at (918) 557-7919.

SWOSU GOLD Program Cadets (from left)  Nicklas Woodring, William Morse and Danny Huddleston, along with faculty sponsor Glen Waggoner recently completed a community service project at the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford. The cadets cleaned and polished various exhibits in anticipation for General Thomas P. Stafford's 80th birthday celebration that is planned for September 17-18 at the museum.

Cadet William Morse works on one of the airplanes.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Army National Guard continue to offer a Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford.

The purpose of the program is to develop future officers, who will be federal-recognized commission officers, and to offer SWOSU students a minor program in tactical leadership.

Glen Waggoner, faculty member at SWOSU, said some of the core values of the Guard-such as integrity, community service, leadership and service above self-further enrich the academic experience of SWOSU students. Waggoner said the GOLD program not only develops young leaders for the National Guard but young leaders for the corporate world.

The GOLD program is a minimum of four semesters with no weekend drills. The program is designed to be a four-year program with exceptions made for military experience, civilian education and combat leadership.  For military students who complete the program, they become Second Lieutenants.

The GOLD program office is located in Room 310 of the Stafford Center.  For additional information, contact Waggoner at (580) 774-6033.

The Southwestern Oklahoma State University Organizational Fair, sponsored by the Student Government Association, is coming up this Thursday, August 19, on the Weatherford campus.

Area businesses, places of worship, student organizations/clubs and others will have booths at the fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. just outside the Memorial Student Center. 

The Organizational Fair is held during the Dawg Days celebration, welcoming 5,000 students back to campus. 

Area singers are invited to join the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Community Chorus in Weatherford.

The chorus is comprised of area residents as well as SWOSU students and faculty. Director Daniel Farris said there are no auditions and no fees to pay. He welcomes anyone who would like to participate in singing classical music.

Rehearsals are Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in Room 101 of the Music Building, located just northwest of the Fine Arts Center on the SWOSU campus. The first rehearsal is August 23. Farris said the chorus will sing Franz Josef Haydn's St. Nicholas Mass in the fall and the second part of Handel's Messiah in the spring. 

The SWOSU Community Chorus will prepare for a concert that will be November 22 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center on the SWOSU campus.

For more information or to join, e-mail daniel.farris@swosu.edu or call 580-774-3208.

Weatherford's chapter of the American Association of University Women will have its first meeting of the 2010-11 year on Saturday, August 21, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Conference Center.

AAUW membership is open to all individuals who have completed a college/university degree (associate, bachelor's, master's or doctorate). Current college students are eligible for student affiliate membership. The AAUW Weatherford Branch meets once a month, September through April, to conduct educational, community service and social activities.

The August AAUW meeting will include a brief program, food and fellowship. Faye Henson, AAUW/OK state co-president, will give an update on AAUW current events and will share information from the AAUW National Convention.  Plans and ideas will also be shared for upcoming programs.

A light brunch will be provided by meeting hostesses: Lisa Appeddu, Debbie Brown, Laura Endicott, Patsy Parker and Cindy Foust.

For more information about AAUW, call Appeddu, membership chair, at 774-3148 or Brown, AAUW president, at 774-3063.

Several activities are planned for SWOSU students by the New Student Orientation Office during Dawg Days on the Weatherford campus.

The first is a freshman event, The Starting Block.  It will be held this Saturday, August 14, from 6-7 p.m. in the Wellness Center. The freshmen will meet with their Orientation Leader (OL) and their freshman orientation class as a group.  They will do icebreakers and get to know each other as they talk about all of the activities for the night and upcoming events for Dawg Days. 

Following The Starting Block from 7-10 p.m. will be Project Blue. This event will also be held at the Wellness Center. Project Blue gives both freshmen and upperclassmen a chance to get plugged in to campus life beginning after Move-In Day, which takes place earlier that day.  

Events to be held at Project Blue include:  rock wall climbing, spray-on tattoos, video game tourney, inflatable games, digital pictures, picture frame decorating, free food, dancing, 3-on-3 basketball tourney, carnival type games, massages, prizes and more! Collegiate Station will give t-shirts to the first 100 students at Project Blue.

Shelby Unruh, coordinator of the NSO office, said giveaways include gift cards from Benchwarmer Brown's, Braum's, Casa Soto, Downtown Diner, Fastlane, Heapin' Helpins, iTunes, Maurices, McDonald's, Nabor's Shoe Center, Pizza Hut, Sonic, Subway, The Cup, Vinicio's and Wal-Mart.

SWOSU Collegiate Activities Board will be giving away a flat screen TV, microwave and a ToyWatch.

This event is sponsored by NSO with help from MidFirst Bank, Collegiate Station, SWOSU Alumni Association, SWOSU Collegiate Activities Board, SWOSU GOLD Program (National Guard), SWOSU Wellness Center Staff, and the University Bookstore (Follett).

The Orientation Leaders will offer campus/building tours on Monday, August 16, at 5:30 p.m.  The students will meet on the front steps of the Stafford Building and become more familiar with the buildings and the locations of their classes. This event is for freshmen and transfer students.  It is also open to any other student interested in becoming more familiar with SWOSU. Unruh said it is helpful if the students bring the most updated copy of their class schedule.

For more information about The Starting Block, Project Blue or tours, contact the NSO Office at 580.774.3233 or at orientation@swosu.edu. For additional Dawg Day activities check the online calendar at http://www.swosu.edu/calendar.

Move-in day to the residence halls is Saturday, August 14, and several offices will be open from 1-5 p.m. to assist students and parents even though some of the offices will be open all day. Those open from 1-5 include: Admissions, Auxiliary Services, Bookstore, Bursar, CAB, Campus Safety, Career Services, Counseling, Dean of Students, Financial Aid, Health Services, Human Resources, NSO, Physical Plant, Registrar, Residence Life and Wellness Center.

High school seniors during the 2010-11 school year have the opportunity to get a jump-start on their college careers at Southwestern Oklahoma State University with free tuition for six hours of college courses during both the fall and spring semesters.

The tuition waiver is made possible by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

SWOSU is extending the tuition waiver for seniors who choose to enroll concurrently at either the Weatherford or Sayre campus beginning with the upcoming 2010 fall semester. Juniors who meet certain academic requirements can also enroll in concurrent courses but juniors do pay tuition and fees.

Todd Boyd, director of enrollment management at SWOSU, said concurrently enrolled students must meet the minimum requirements set by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Students must have a minimum of a 20 on the ACT, or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and rank in the top half of their graduating class. 

Students are responsible for their own fees, class materials and books. Students should contact their high school counselor for approval. Additional information is available by calling SWOSU's Admissions and Recruitment Office in Weatherford at (580) 774-3782 or in Sayre at (580) 928-5533.

Students planning to enroll for the upcoming 2010 fall semester should do so as soon as possible since classes begin August 18.  Students interested in the 2011 spring semester should contact the SWOSU Admissions & Recruitment Office for enrollment procedures.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Dawg Days 2010 is underway on the Weatherford campus.

Many events and activities are planned for SWOSU students. A booklet containing various information about Dawg Days as well as other activities is available online at: http://www.swosu.edu/resources/pubforms/DisplayMedia.aspx?pid=871

A variety of activities is planned for Dawg Days at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. The organizing committee designed a "Go Green" Dawg Days t-shirt to go along with the theme "Return, Recycle, Renew." Modeling the t-shirt are SWOSU students (front from left) Adam Davidson, Natalie Day, Jacob Fuller and Cody Sims and (back from left) Jennifer Fischer and Britnee Goure. The shirts are available for $5 in Stafford Center 214. To check out a list of all Dawg Days activities, go the SWOSU website at www.swosu.edu .

From the looks of this picture, it's time for the SWOSU students who serve as New Student Orientation leaders to get back to class. SWOSU classes start August 18 on the Weatherford and Sayre campuses. The NSO leaders have been assisting over 900 new freshmen who will begin classes at SWOSU this fall.  

Southwestern Oklahoma State University will host the last New Student Orientation session for high school seniors this Friday, August 13, in the Fine Arts Center on the Weatherford campus.

SWOSU fall classes begin August 18.

The orientation sessions offers students the chance to meet current SWOSU students and new freshmen, visit and enroll with a faculty advisor within the major they have selected and have all their questions answered. They may also take campus and residence hall tours.

Students need to bring photo identification and their final high school transcript (if they have not done so), any college transcripts with concurrent hours, and any other additional paperwork, such as, AP test scores, updated ACT scores, and health forms.

Families are also invited to attend the Family Orientation that runs concurrently with the student orientation.  Both sessions begin at 9 a.m. The families meet in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom to hear presentations from the offices of Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Health and Counseling Services, Violence Prevention, Auxiliary Services, Campus Police, Dean of Students and Assessment (testing).

If families plan to bring younger siblings to the session, NSO provides an area to entertain them called the Dawg Zone. Youngsters can color and make crafts, use Wi-Fi laptops, watch movies and play Nintendo wii.

Any student who attends NSO on August 13 may move into the residence halls that day. They may check in to the residence hall they were assigned no earlier than 2 p.m.

Students may register for freshman orientation by calling New Student Orientation at 580.774.3233 or by going online at www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso and clicking on "Register for Orientation."

The Amazing Race stars Jet and Cord McCoy will be keynote speakers for a gathering of  Southwestern Oklahoma State University freshmen and transfer students on Tuesday, August 17, on the Weatherford campus.

The McCoys, who have become quite famous because of the CBS reality show, are both SWOSU graduates. They are coming back to SWOSU to be part of the university's Mass Orientation that will take place from 2-4 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.

Shelby Unruh, coordinator of the New Student Orientation program at SWOSU, said Mass O is required for all freshmen and this year transfer students are also being invited. Plus, 300 free tickets are available for other SWOSU students and area residents who would like to attend. The tickets will be available starting August 6 in the NSO office, located in Room 209 of the Stafford Center.

Unruh said freshmen and transfer students will be receiving a postcard in the mail along with a ticket.

Both Jet and Cord were stars of the SWOSU rodeo team during their years at SWOSU. Both earned their degrees from SWOSU in 2003. They finished most recently as runner-up in the 16^th season of The Amazing Race. Over 10 million households across the United States watched the show's finale.

The McCoys were widely considered the show's fan favorites for their integrity, humor and character.

Both Jet and Cord are active in the rodeo circuits. Jet has earned five world championships from the International Pro Rodeo Association and is a 12-time International Finals Rodeo qualifier, while Cord is a four-time Professional Bull Riding World Finals qualifier and a 2005 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier.

Tickets for the first Panorama event of the school year at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford are now on sale.

That event is a performance of comedy band The Dan Band on Tuesday, September 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center on the SWOSU campus.

The Dan Band has appeared in such movies as Old School, Starsky & Hutch, and lately The Hangover.

Advance tickets are $10 for SWOSU students, faculty/staff and emeriti; $15 for others; and $20 for all tickets at the door.

Tickets are available at the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office, Room 205 of the Administration Building, and at the SWOSU Business Office, Room 109 of the Administration Building. Tickets can also be purchased with a credit card by calling (580) 774-3019.

Additional information about the Panorama series is available by calling the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office at (580) 774-3063. To see the entire Panorama lineup for 2010-11, go to: http://www.swosu.edu/news/releases/2010/2010-07-15a.asp

Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford has announced both the President's and Dean's Honor Rolls for the 2010 summer semester.

An undergraduate student who earns all A's in 6 or more hours during the summer semester qualifies for the President's Honor Roll. There were 224 students who were named to the President's Honor Roll.

There were 112 students on the Dean's Honor Roll after completing 6 semester hours of undergraduate work with a grade point average of 3.5 ("B") or higher, with no grade lower than a ("C").

PRESIDENT'S HONOR ROLL

ARKANSAS

• ALMA-Lucas Adam Folkerts;
• BENTON-Keith L. Richardson;
• GREENWOOD-Jessica Marie Ward;
• SPRINGDALE-Sandra Souvannachak.

CALIFORNIA

• LOMA-Jessica Weigand;
• VISTA-Marion Long.

GEORGIA

• DULUTH-Nicolas Vladimir Ramon;
• LAWERENCEVILLE-Alysia Marie Drake. 

KANSAS

• SALINA-Lauran Janelle Randall;
• WINFIELD-Samara Shanae Fields.

MISSOURI

• CARL JUNCTION-Patrick Munselle Kelley; 
• MOUNT VERNON-Dakota Benton Brown;
• NIXA-Christina Renae Leffert.

OKLAHOMA

• AFTON-Jerrod Caloway Frost;
• ALEX-Frances DeNasia Williams;
• ALINE-CLEO-Jeremy Shane Jeffries;
• ALTUS-Steven Mark Brandon; Luis A. Pantoja;
• ANADARKO-Christine Nicol Barnhart;
• APACHE-Michele G. Perdasofpy;
• ARAPAHO-BUTLER-Allison Shea Bichsel;
• BALKO-Joshua Scott VanDeburgh;
• BLAIR-Eddie Doug Williams;
• BESSIE-Gy Mac Bennar;
• BINGER-Tabitha Ann Adams;
• BROKEN BOW-Lindsey Haylene Timbes;
• BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY-Robin Cheyene Coldiron; Sarah Mae Strobel;
• CANUTE-Megan Marie Malloy; Shannon Lee Margerum;
• CASHION-John Sheldon Noriega;
• CHEYENNE-Nikole Lynn Freeman;
• CHICKASHA-Jeanna Beth Smith;
• CLINTON-Jessica J. Acosta; Alison Ann Griffin; Theodore Harry Hammond; Ryan Scott McCullough; Kristy Renee Walker; Haley Jerae Wilson;
• CORDELL-Christopher M. Cochran; Kenneth Rae Gregory Jr.; Lauren Elyse Kehl;
  
• CORN BIBIE ACADEMY-Adrian ReNea Huiatt;
• COWETA-Andrew Mark Hayes;
• DEER CREEK-LAMONT-Brent Lee Moore;
• DEWEY-Elizabeth Ann Knauss;
• DIBBLE-Zachary Lynn Howe;
• DUNCAN-Tony Dea Alvarado;
• EDMOND-Kathleen Louise Epps; (Deer Creek) Teresa Jayne Ezersky; (Memorial) Cameron M. Sisco;
• ELGIN-Marcy A. Pye;
• EL RENO-Nicholas C. Brown; Christina Marie Elliott; Tanner Scott Holsted; Erin L. Lembke; Jaclyn Alise Rhoades;
• ELK CITY-Reanna Rachelle Barker; Landry P. Brewer; Darcy Gwen Kuczajda; Shilo D'vawn Leatherman; Adam Tyler McCown; Jill Anne Royer; Shawna D. Ward-Seelbach; Theresa Jean Sellers; Janel Lee Spitz; Valerie Ann Stewart; Erin Desiree Willson;
• EMPIRE CONS-Jonathan Kyle Null;
• ENID-Michael William Dawson; April Tinnea Heitfeld; (Chisholm)-Marie Kay Telinde;
• FORT COBB-BROXTON-Dalton Shane Holdge; James Leonard Ratliff;
• FORT GIBSON-Bobby Allen Pearce;
• FREDERICK-Nicole Leann Ensley;
• GEARY-Jennifer M. Maib;
• GUTHRIE-Michael Lee Moore; Amanda Kay Young;
• HAILEYVILLE-Dean Floyd O'Nesky;
• HAMMON-Gini Aliece Smith;
• HINTON-Mindi Dawn Shepherd;
• HOBART-Nicole Ann Beamon;
• HOLDENVILLE-Alex Scott Sherry;
• HOMINY-Sheila Gail Smith;
• HYDRO-EAKLY-Courtni Michel Covington; Travis L. Johnson; Jennifer Jaree Pettijohn; Britini Michelle Root; Sara Ward Spain; Kelsi Lynn Tapper;
• JENKS-John Alan Thompson;
• KINGFISHER-Jessica Share' Dean; Dawson Lynne Kester;
• KONAWA-Zachery E. Williams;
• KREMLIN-Angie Lanae Albert;
• LAWTON-Rhogena Marie Harmon;
• LEEDEY-Donny Joe Smith;
• LOCUST GROVE-Carol S. Anderson;
• LOMEGA-Chelsey Lea Scheffler;
• LOOKEBA-SICKLES-Terri Lynn Kardokus; Janelle Catric Lawrence;
• MANGUM-Kylie B. Gahagan; Anduril White; Sarah Ann Yount;
• MCALESTER-Desiray J. Cannon; 
• MCLOUD-Brandy Nicole Best;
• MERRITT-Jennifer Gwen Fuchs;
• MIDWEST CITY-Melody D. Clanton;
• MINCO-Cynthia  R. Reed; Melissa Sue VonTungeln;
• MOORELAND-Kyrstin Michelle Bowers;
• MOUNTAIN VIEW-GOTEBO-Savanah Rose Dirickson; Jessica Lane Flinn; Chrisalyne Pearl Hagood;
• MULDROW-Jordan Rae Folkerts;
• MUSTANG-Wendy Lee Jones; Hannah Laine Otto; Gwendolyn Lucille Ramon; Lyndsay Dyan Rothman;
• NINNEKAH-Trent Anders Boesen;
• NORMAN-(North) Jamie Christine Brock;
• OKARCHE-Maria Elizabeth Baca;
• OKEENE-Taylor Dawn Heckart;
• OKLAHOMA CITY-Kindra Ann Dunivan; Cynthia Kerubo Momanyi; Fidelia Nabi Nkwain; Eric Scott Taylor; Kimberly Darlene Walker; (Capital Hill)-Michael Edward Hisey; (Northwest Classen)-Duyen My Thi Pham; (Putnam City)-Ashland Julieann Jordon; Joice Mary Jose; Stephanie Marie Roach; (Putnam City North)-Babak Allahyar; (Putnam City West)-Beverly Elaine Rupert; (Western Heights)-Nicole Dione Goettsch; Tiffany Nicole Pope; (Westmoore)-London Marie McCarthey; Jasmine Elise Turner; Megan Nicole West; Sean Wayne Wright;
• OLUSTEE-Jessica Joan Brown;
• OOLOGAH-TALALA-Angela Dawn Edwards;
• OWASSO-Andrew Kelly Hatch;
• PRAGUE-Cayla Dale Blocker;
• ROLAND-Melissa Maxine Nichols; 
• SALLISAW-Caitlin JoElle Harwell;
• SAYRE-Danielle Nicole Bennett; Cody Lee Carnahan; Keeley Ann Reeves; Valerie Ann Sheffield; Kara Marie Shrader; 
• SEILING-Kimber JoAnn Bohard;
• SENTINEL- Dalton Fry; Dillon Ross Corbin; Risa B. Ridling; Pamela Joanne Sarver;
• SHARON-MUTUAL-Clint E. White;
• SHATTUCK-Kahle Brendon Young; 
• SILO-Cherry LaCreta Bowen; 
• STILLWATER-Robert Lee Gholson; 
• SULPHUR-Shiloh Caleb Butts;
• TAHLEQUAH-Kelli Lynn Bennett;
• TALOGA-Kimberly Jo Clayton;
• TECUMSEH-Julia N. Griggs;
• THOMAS-FAY-CUSTER-Monica Ranae Miller; Rebecca Rose Miller; Meghan Elizabeth Zoschke;
• TIPTON-Hannah E. Gray;
• TISHOMINGO-Scotty Ray Black;
• TULSA-Patrick K. Kariuki; (Memorial)-Tuong-Lan Pham Nguyen;
• TUTTLE-Miranda Jo Claypool;
• UNION CITY-Erica Lynn Benda; Sara Beth Morrison;
• VALLIANT-Mecynda Sue Worley;
• VANOSS-Brian Andrew Hinkle;
• WALTERS-Ashley Elizabeth Palmer;
• WEATHERFORD-Kraig Joshua Bartel; Elizabeth Eden Beam; Amy Machel Beck; Michael Shawn Black; Booker Chase Blakley; Eric Damien Brockelman; Melina G. Bryant; Richard Wayne Eisenhut; Meredith Lee Hansard; Jonathan Robert Hansen; Annie Jett Hartwig; Daniel Ray Hibbert; Katrina Lynn Honeycutt; Lynae Leeanne Ingram; Emily Michelle Kelly; Omar Faruk Khan; Jordan L. Mahan; Anthony Lee Laws; Adam Chase Lockstone;  Kristofer D. Richardson; Teresa L. Russell; Michael K. Schafer;
• WOODWARD-Leah Michelle Cox; Breann Nicole Robinson; Chris Kyle Thornton; Joshua Lee Wise;
• YARBROUGH-Andrea Christine Kaiser;
• YUKON-Cheryl Lynn Abla; Sheridan M. Hoskins; Rebekah Lynn Hull; David C. Mathew.

TEXAS

• ALEDO-Mindy Leigh Herb;
• AUSTIN-Ronald C. Flemmings;
• CARROLLTON-Minh Thu Ho;
• CEDAR HILL-Rebecca-Anne Hope Nelson;
• CLEBURNE-Michael Scott Stewart;
• DALLAS-Kristine Nguyen; (South Oak Cliff) Samuel D. Burnett III;
• LUMBERTON-Kenneth D. Hare;
• SHAMROCK-Jessica Faye Egner;
• STERLING-Chireen Michel Bradshaw;
• TEXARKANA-Damian Darsha Henderson.

INTERNATIONAL

• CAMEROON-Claudia Mbombouh N. Nkeih; Mbiminah Nkeih;
• ZAMBIA-Mweene Kabunda.

DEAN'S HONOR ROLL

ALABAMA

• TUSCALOOSA-Terica S. Daniels.

ALASKA

• EAGLE RIVER-Abram James McMahan.

KANSAS

• AUGUSTA-Karli Samantha Visor;
• TRIBUNE-Jentri Kae Hahn.

MICHIGAN

• LEROY-Sara A Goodenow.

NEVADA

• CARSON CITY-Murvel Ray Thornton.

OKLAHOMA

• ALTUS-Kelsey Jane Haught; Serenna Nicole Hitter; Caitlyn Blair Southall;
• ARAPAHO-BUTLER-Holly A. Collins; Billy Benton Gilbert;
• ARNETT-Brittney Nicole Davis;
• BINGER-ONEY-Joey Clayton Adams; 
• BOISE CITY-Brock Skyler Oyler; 
• BUFFALO-Kelsey Jordan Orange; 
• BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY-Cory Ann Manuel;
• CANTON-Rachel Lauren Robinson;
• CANUTE-Todd Vincent Kamphaus;
• CASHION-Ashley N. Rush;
• CLEVELAND-Chelsea Renee Crown;
• CLINTON-Kurshell Nicole Brown; Tonia LouAnn CeKander; Kathryn Eliza Cometsevah; Dianna Marie Fair; Lucero Flores; Ulanda Maria Gonzalez; Korrina L. Olguin;
• CORDELL-Ashton Elizabeth Ellis;
• CORN BIBLE ACADEMY-Farren Brooke Evetts; Shawna L. McCoy;
• DOVER-Travis James Bernhardt;
• DUNCAN-Paul Randal Grimes;
• EDMOND-(North)-Erica V. Aven;
• ELDORADO-Denonda Lea Ashurst;
• EL RENO-Kari Jane Bollinger; John Wesly Scarritt;
• ELK CITY-Breanna Kay Little; Martin Eduardo Lopez Jr.;
• ENID-Chaz Averill Chambers;
• ERICK-Kaley Dianne Davis;
• FAIRVIEW-Matt Alan Day;
• FORGAN-Mario Alberto Nunez;
• GOTEBO-Kathy Lynn Wedel;
• GUTHRIE-Erin M Walker;
• HARRAH-Felicia Ann Raihl;
• HENNESSEY-Jonathan J. Eason;
• HINTON-Joshua P. Buxton;
• HOLLIS-Jaimala A. Robinson;
• KEYES-Kelsey Danae Lowe;
• LOOKEBA-SICKLES-Jeffrey Wade Bilyeu;
• MADILL-Zack Langdon Broderick;
• MIDWEST CITY-Bryan Bao Dinh; Kimberly Phan Nguyen;
• MORRIS-Jessica Nicole McChesney;
• MOUNTAIN VIEW-GOTEBO-Eric Joe King;
• MUSTANG-Melody Hope Abraham; Sini Babu; Rebecca Lynn Hilterbran; Tori Lynn Joyner; Nissymol Anu Kuruvilla; Kelrena D. Smith;
• NOBLE-Tyler Wayne Solomon;
• OKEENE-Starla Dawn Bernhardt; Kathleen Anne Crook;
• OKLAHOMA CITY-Helene Zelee; (Classen)-Tiffany Bich Le; (Star Spencer)-Melia Natasha Moore; (Western Heights)-Khoi Van Phan; Dana Lynn Russ; (Westmoore)-Ha Trieu; Phuong Ngoc Vu;
• OOLOGAH-TALALA-Jessica Annie Zucksworth;
• PIEDMONT-Cameron E. Collins;
• POTEAU-Ashley Marie Collins;
• SAPULPA-Sondra M. Nabozny;
• SAYRE-Kayleigh Lurena Brown; Shalene Marie Shaw;
• SEILING-Travis Wayne Daugherty;
• SENTINEL-Mason Dane Holman;
• SNYDER-Susie Leigh Hinckley;
• TAHLEQUAH-Teresa A. Hayes;
• TECUMSEH-Jenny E. Braziel;
• THOMAS-FAY-CUSTER-Melissa Pray;
• TULSA-(Bishop Kelley)-Jennifer Elisabeth Prater; (Thomas A. Edison)-Toni Nichole Trim;
• TURPIN-Amanda Jean Becker;
• WAPANUCKA-Ryan Reed Williams;
• WEATHERFORD-Derek Michael Hartman; Chase Marshall Hunsicker; Philip Albert Hunsicker; Brian A. Johnson; Grace Mae Keyes; Vonda LaDene Krautlarger; Richard Vincent Maul; Denise Ndifor Mbarika; Gabriel E. Pray; Vergil Lee Roper Jr.; Jessica Marie Stewart;
• WYNNEWOOD-Tracy Lamon Smith;
• YALE-Travis B. Wolff;
• YUKON-Rachel Katherine Boster; Tina M. Imhoff; Tyler Warren Rogers.

TEXAS

• DALHART-Whitney Leigh Lang;
• FORT WORTH-Liana Marie Elliott;
• MIAMI-Nakita Daniel Derr;
• MUENSTER-Leah Catherine Gassett;
• SAN ANTONIO-Danielle Anise Nelms;
• TRINITY-Justin Hunter Hayes.

INTERNATIONAL

• NEPAL-Nanjila Chhetri;
• SOUTH KOREA-Youngwook Jung.

Among the SWOSU delegation that attended the recent National Phi Beta Lambda conference in Nashville, Tennessee are (front from left): Sara Thomas, Weatherford; Heather Leach, Owasso; Kelsey Boone, Vici; and Sa'Vana McDannald, Vici.  Back from left:  Dalton Holdge, Fort Cobb; Advisor Dr. Tami Moser, Blake Bustin, Elk City; Advisor Dr. Patsy Parker; and Kelsey Zybach, Briscoe (TX).

Three Southwestern Oklahoma State University students finished in the Top 8 of business-focused contests at the recent Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nearly 1,700 future business leaders from across the United States attended the conference and competed for cash prizes and recognition.

SWOSU student Kelsey Zybach of Briscoe (TX) received eighth place in Financial Analysis and Decision Making; Sa'Vana McDannald of Vici received eighth place in Sales Presentation; and Heather Leach of Owasso received eighth place in Public Speaking.

Other SWOSU students who attended the national conference were:  Kelsey Boone, Vici, competed in Future Business Executive and Sports Management and Marketing; Blake Bustin, Elk City, competed in Contemporary Sports Issues; Dalton Holdge, Fort Cobb, competed in Accounting Principles and Business Law; and Sara Thomas, Weatherford, competed in Justice Administration.  

SWOSU's PBL chapter funding was provided by the PBL members' fund-raising projects, SWOSU's Collegiate Activities Board, Dr. Nancy Penner, Great Plains National Bank of Elk City, Iochem Corporation of Oklahoma City, and the Everett Dobson School of Business and Technology.

"The national conference is a great experience for the SWOSU students-they have the opportunity to expand their network of contacts and compete on a national level," said Dr. Patsy Parker, assistant professor of the SWOSU School of Business and Technology.  Dr. Parker has served as advisor to SWOSU's PBL chapter for 10 years.

Dr. Muatasem Ubeidat (center), associate professor in the SWOSU Biological Sciences Department in Weatherford, conducted research this summer with research members (from left): Christa Feasley, Jennifer Johnson, Chris Schafer, Yuechi Xu, Chris West, Hanke van der Wel, Dongmei Zhang and Zhou Wang.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Dr. Muatasem Ubeidat, associate professor in the SWOSU Biological Sciences Department in Weatherford, were recently awarded a $14,500  INBRE grant from the National Institutes of Health through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. 

Dr. Ubeidat's project titled "Genetic Analysis of O2-Signaling Using the Amoebazoan Dictyostelium as a Model" supports biological research at SWOSU.  He conducted experiments this summer in the laboratory of Dr. Chris West at the Biomedical Research Center at OUHSC in Oklahoma City. The mutagenesis experiments were to identify the genes to generate loss-of-function mutants that overcome the shortage of O2 (hypoxia) by forming fruiting body with spores.

Studies have suggested that at least 10 genes are involved in transducing the signal to allow the slugs to culminate and form a fruiting body.  The short-term goal is to identify additional predicted genes to expand mechanistic understanding of pathway function in Dictyostelium. In the long term, Ubeidat anticipates the identification of key genes that are similar in pathogenic organisms such as T. gondii, the organism that causes toxoplasmosis in cats and humans.  These genes can be used as drug targets for potential treatment of such infections.

The research opportunity award by NIH-INBRE helped Ubeidat establish research collaboration with Dr. West and OUHSC.

A send-off celebration is planned for Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford on Tuesday, August 10.

The come-and-go event is open to everyone and will be held from 5-7 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom on the SWOSU campus.

Russ, a senior at Cordell High School and the daughter of Todd and Khristy Russ, is the current Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen who won the Oklahoma title this past June at the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant.  Russ heads to Orlando (FL) for the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant August 24-28.

Debbie Brown, director of the Miss Southwestern Scholarship Pageant Board which is sponsoring the celebration, said the August 10 event will also be a Children's Miracle Network fundraising event.  People who attend the celebration can have their picture made with Russ for $10 and all proceeds will go to the Children's Miracle Network.

Russ won the title of Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen at the 2009 pageant. It was only the second time for SWOSU to host a teen pageant in conjunction with the Miss SWOSU Scholarship Pageant. Brown said it has been exciting to have a state title winner in just the second year of the pageant's existence. Area students have already been inquiring about the 2010 pageant which will be held November 13 on the SWOSU campus.

A total of 155 students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University completed requirements for either associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees this summer on the Weatherford and Sayre campuses.

Students who complete their degrees include:

ARKANSAS

• FAYETTEVILLE-Louis Lancaster , B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship.

CALIFORNIA

• ONTARIO-David Weaver, M.Ed. in Non Certification Parks & Recreation Management.

KANSAS

• GARDEN PLAIN-Jerrod Hunt, M.Ed. Non Certification Sports Management.

MAINE

• SOUTH PARIS-James Libby, B.B.A. in Finance.

OKLAHOMA

• ALTUS-Brayden Baker, B.B.A. in Management; Kelly Bryce, B.B.A. in Management; Katherine Coats, B.S. in Chemistry; Mack Powers Jr., M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Kacie Walker, B.S. in Elementary Education; ALVA-Amanda Isenbart, Master of Music Performance;
• ANADARKO-Christine Barnhart, B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science;
• BARTLESVILLE-Brent Dugger, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• BETHANY-Holly Vonderohe, M.Ed. in Non Certification Parks & Recreation Management;
• BLAIR-Jiminy Davis, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• BROKEN ARROW-Jennifer Naramore, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• CANUTE-Steven Toelle, B.S. in Psychology;
• CARNEGIE-Jessica Flinn, B.B.A. in Finance;
• CHELSEA-Kellie Hibbard, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CHEROKEE-Travis Lyon, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CHICKASHA-James Sutteer, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CLAREMORE-Kerri Garroutte, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Denise Kimblern, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Sharre Rader, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Shauna Rinearson, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CLINTON-Allison Bichsel, B.S. in Health Care Administration; Alison Griffin, B.B.A. in Accounting; Elizabeth Justice, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Phyllis Smith, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies;
• COPAN-Jerry Werts, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CORDELL-Janiece Rizzi, B.S. in Exercise Science; Holly Wiyninger, Bachelor of Social Work;
• COVINGTON-Matthew Bolz, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• DEWEY-Thad Dilbeck, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• DUNCAN-Shanessa Smith, Bachelor of Social Work;
• EL RENO-Andrew Palmer, B.B.A. in Management; Lorenzo Robinson, B.S. in Psychology; Paulette Sanders, Bachelor of Social Work; Loraine Weekley, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• ELK CITY-Jayme Chester, M.B.A. in Business Administration; David Miller, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• ENID-Douglas Seely, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Nathan Sullivan, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;  
• ERICK-Heather Mayfield, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• FLETCHER-Bobby Gantt, B.B.A. in Accounting;  
• FORT COBB-Elizabeth Knauss, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• GEARY-Allison Helm, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• GOODWELL-Mark Rutlege, M.Ed. in Non Certification Sports Management;
• GOULD-Jason Miranda, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• GRANITE-Brenna Teel, B.S. in Health Care Administration;
• HINTON-Jessica Burris, B.S. in Health Sciences; Christopher Sutton, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship;
• HOBART-Nicole Beamon, B.S. in Health Care Administration;
• HOOKER-Roy Henry, M.Ed. in School Counseling;
• HYDRO-Sylvia Servinm, B.B.A. in Finance; Charles Turner, M.Ed. in Non Certification Sports Management;
• KINGFISHER-Kara Hicks, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• LAWTON-Claudia Beckner, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Lauren Gladden, B.S. in Athletic Training; Alexandra Zukerman, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• LEEDEY-Kent Quattlebaum, B.S. in Parks And Recreation;
• LOOKEBA-Oralia Rodriguez, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; 
• MANGUM-Kelli Kyle, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• MARLOW-Lucia Duncan, B.S. in Nursing;
• MCALESTER-Jonathan Collins, B.A. in Chemistry;
• MCLOUD-Amanda Carter, B.B.A. in Marketing; Michael Visnieski, M.Ed. in Non Certification Parks & Recreation Management;
• MIDWEST CITY-Ryan McAdory, B.A. in Criminal Justice;
• MINCO-Teresa Langford, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; G. Tanae Rodriguez, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• MOORE-You Bang, B.S. in Nursing; Jennifer Flores, B.S in Biological Sciences; Britnee Goure, B.S. in Health Care Administration; Scott Petete, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Michael Utesch, Master of Music Education;
• MOUNTAIN VIEW-Michele Charles, M.Ed. in English Secondary Education;
• MUSTANG-John Hannon, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Allison Smith, B.A. in Spanish;
• MUTUAL-Terri Hopper, M.Ed. in School Counseling;
• NORMAN-Jonathan Demotto, B.A. in Chemistry; Mikel Hunt, B.A. in Communication Arts;
• OKARCHE-Kristina Annuschat, B.B.A. in Finance;
• OKLAHOMA CITY-Christopher Bell, M.B.A. in Business Administration; Ronnie Bogle Jr., M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Donald Braxton, M. S. in Management; Lindsay Compton, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Carolyn Erickson, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; John Erickson, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Michael Hisey, B.S. in Nursing; Sheridan Hoskins, B.A. in Chemistry; Rayanna Hosokawa, B.S. in Health Sciences; Anna Hristova, B.S. in Nursing; Faidat Ipaye, B.S. in Health Sciences; Tyler Powell, B.S. in Exercise Science; Whit Pyron, M.Ed. in Non Certification Parks & Recreation Management; Callie Spikes, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Christopher Twyman, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Megan West, B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science; Yee Wong, B.S. in Health Sciences; Sean Wright, Bachelor of Music Performance-Orchestra and B.S. in Engineering Physics;
• OLUSTEE-Riley Drury, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• OWASSO-Andrew Hatch, Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental; Tony Sappington, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Lora Steidley, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• PONCA CITY-Pamela Almack, Master of Music Performance; Dalana Hawkins, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• PURCELL-Anne Beck, M.Ed. in Social Sciences Secondary Education;
• RANDLETT-Ashley Palmer, B.S. in Exercise Science;
• RUSH SPRINGS-Tarence Ballard, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• SKIATOOK-Heath Selcer, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• TALOGA-Angela Gore, M.Ed. in School Counseling;
• TECUMSEH-Enid Hennen, Bachelor of Music Performance-Orchestra; Kayla Nieman, B.S. in Athletic Training;
• THOMAS-Meghan Zoschke, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• TURPIN-Gary Wallace, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• WALTERS-Amanda Desadier, Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental;
• WATONGA-Seasha Green, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Shannon Grimes, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Winona Youngbird, B.A. in Criminal Justice;
• WEATHERFORD-Susannah Awopeju, B.A. in Political Science; Kurt Beason, B.S. in Health Sciences; Tobey Beer, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Brandon Bell, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Jeffrey Bilyeu, B.S. in Health Sciences; Booker Blakley, B.B.A. in Marketing; Amanda Bradley, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Bradley Bryant, M.S. in Management; Melaine Campbell, M.Ed. in Reading Specialist; Passion Cooper, B.B. A. in Marketing; David Creason, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Lora Creekmore, B.B.A. in Management; Walker Dupree, M.B.A. in Business Administration; Teresa Humphreys, B.A. in Criminal Justice; Philip Hunsicker, B.A. in Communication Arts; Sharon Lawrence, B.S. in Health Sciences; Tina Nassir, M.Ed. in Non Certification Social Sciences; Blain Perkins, B.S. in Health and Physical Education; Sara Puett, B.A. in Social Sciences Education; Kristofer Richardson, B.B.A. in Accounting; Sharla Rose, B.A. in Spanish; John Scarritt, Bachelor of Music-Elective Studies and Bachelor of Music Performance-Orchestra; McKenzie Talcott, M.Ed. in Non Certification Sports Management; Richard Wilson, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• WOODWARD-Renae Kraft, B.A. in Chemistry;
• YUKON-Candace Benda, M.B.A. in Business Administration; Kristina Green, M.Ed. in Educational Administration.

OREGON

• THE DALLES-Greg Schaffeld, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship.

TEXAS

• AMARILLO-Brady Long, B.B.A. in Management;
• DALLAS-Kristine Nguyen, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• LUMBERTON-Kenneth Hare, B.S. in Parks and Recreation;
• VERNON-Randall Hinojosa, B.A. in Chemistry;
• WICHITA FALLS-Samantha Dobson, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• WYLIE-Jenna Sprague, B.S. in Elementary Education.

INTERNATIONAL

• BELGRADE-Dusan Radojicic, M.S. in Management;
• ZAMBIA-Aashka Desai, M.B.A. in Business Administration;
• ZIMBABWE-Carl Densem, M.B.A. in Business Administration.

SWOSU Associate Professor Dr. Tim Hubin (left) of the chemistry and physics department in Weatherford received second year funding for a research project on fighting various diseases. One of his student assistants is SWOSU student Courtney Garcia of Altus.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford received a second year of funding as a collaborating institution with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center from a biomedical research grant through the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (OK-INBRE).

SWOSU Associate Professor Dr. Tim Hubin received the $128,899 grant, which is administered through the National Institutes of Health. His project is entitled "Development and Screening of Transition Metal Complexes as CXCR4 Antagonists-INBRE FY10". 

The research will focus on blocking the CXCR4 chemokine receptors found on the surface of immune cells. CXCR4 is involved in a number of disease states, including HIV, inflammatory diseases and cancer metastasis.  Dr. Hubin and his students synthesize and characterize transition metal complexes that have shown the ability to bind to and block, or antagonize, the CXCR4 receptor, preventing it from carrying out its normal role in these diseases.  Dr. Hubin collaborates with other researchers in England and Belgium on this research.

The grant, in part, supports scientific research that enhances the professional and scholarly development of faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions. The program allows students first-hand experience working in biomedical research laboratories. Dr. Hubin will serve as a mentor to guide undergraduate students into the exciting world of scientific research.

Dr. Jason Johnson (second from left), professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, was recently awarded a $33,043 research grant from the National Institutes of Health through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Among those on hand were (from left): SWOSU President Randy Beutler; Dr. Lori Gwyn, director, SWOSU Office of Sponsored Programs; and SWOSU Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Blake Sonobe.

Dr. Jason Johnson, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, was recently awarded a $33,043 INBRE grant from the National Institutes of Health through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center for basic research.

Dr. Johnson's project, entitled "Allosteric Mechanisms of Synchronization with the Triad GATs," supports biomedical/biochemical research at SWOSU, exposing students to core techniques in recombinant DNA technology, protein expression and purification, enzyme kinetics, and steady-state/time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.  

Specifically, the project aims to unravel the mechanisms of communication driving the coordination of multiple active sites within the amidotransferase family of enzymes.   Ultimately, knowledge of such structure/function relationships will facilitate the further development of anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-parasitic pharmaceuticals based on their control, according to Johnson.

SWOSU students will soon return to campus for the beginning of classes on August 18, and the SWOSU Greek Council planned a year of great events at their annual summer retreat held July 25 in Weatherford. Surrounding Sorority Council President Vanessa McCool of Perry and Fraternity Council President Corey Jones of Broken Arrow are members of the council, which will host the 5th Annual Dawg Days Oozeball Tournament (mud volleyball) August 15-18 at the SWOSU outdoor volleyball courts. At the tournament on the 15^th, the council will announce the 2010 Greek man and woman of the year. For a full listing of upcoming events, see the Dawg Days calendar on the SWOSU web at www.swosu.edu.

Dr. Lori Gwyn is the new director of the office of sponsored programs at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Gwyn replaces Anita Blankenship, who recently retired from SWOSU.

Gwyn earned her doctorate and master's degrees in chemistry from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She is also a graduate of SWOSU where she received her Bachelor of Science in chemistry. Gwyn is a Newkirk High School graduate.

Before coming to SWOSU, she served as a chemist at Danlin Industries Corporation in Thomas and served four years as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

The office of sponsored programs promotes and facilitates scholarly activity at SWOSU by supporting and administering all activities involving extramural (external) and intramural sponsored programs. In 2009, the office coordinated $6.5 million in various activities.

Gwyn's office is located in Room 201 of the Administration Building.

SWOSU student Murve Thornton of Carson City (NV) works in the Collegiate Activities Board organic garden that has been a student project this summer on the Weatherford campus. Among the products the students have grown include radishes, onions, peas and squash. The students have also grown flowers designed to keep insects away.

The students used shredded cardboard for mulch, which has created cooler ground temps, holds water very well and is economically beneficial.  The garden is located at the SWOSU Athletic Complex on Caddo Street next to the baseball and soccer fields.  

A total of 848 high school seniors have enrolled for the 2010 fall semester at SWOSU as part of the New Student Orientation Program on the Weatherford campus.

The 2010 freshmen class number has already exceeded the 2009 freshmen class final number of 814 freshmen.

SWOSU is offering one more enrollment opportunity for high school seniors who are planning to attend SWOSU this fall. The session is August 13 and classes begin August 18. Students must apply and be accepted to SWOSU before they can attend an enrollment session.

For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso/ or contact New Student Orientation at (580) 774-3233 or orientation@swosu.edu

Thirty high school students attended the Summer Science and Mathematics Academy July 11-23 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

The academy, funded by SWOSU and a grant from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, was for high ability sophomores, juniors and seniors. The purpose of the academy is to expose students to the close relationship between science, mathematics, technology and society. And, the program is designed to motivate the participants to pursue higher education and careers in science, mathematics and technology.

The students studied academic science units offered in biology, chemistry, geology, space science, health, physics, mathematics and computer science. The students also participated in laboratory activities, field experiences and a problem-solving competition. Additional enrichment activities were scheduled throughout the academy.

Participants in this year's academy were: ALTUS-Christopher McMahon; ARAPAHO-Nicole Meyer; CLAREMORE-Tyler Jones; COLLINSVILLE-Merrisa Jennings; COVINGTON-Harley Adams; COYLE-Jarred Bross, Perry Flannigan, Magnus Scott; EDMOND-Patrick Bender, Akshat Desai, Victoria Mooers, Meghna Singh; ERICK-Adele Smith; GARBER-Angela Heitfled; LONE WOLF-Adam Coffey; MERRITT-Sarena Ezzel; MOORE-Ashley Sowder, Johnathan Tran; NEWCASTLE-Mason Bigham; NORMAN-Timothy Corbly; OKLAHOMA CITY-Delano Usiukiewicz; PLAINVIEW-Ziying Lei; RIPLEY-Emily Cooper, Karen Willson; SHAWNEE-Paris Van Dyne; STILLWATER-Lisa McKelvey; TULSA-Nancy Ha; VERDIGRIS-David Doshier; WATONGA-Chad Mathis; YUKON-Katy More.

The Southwestern Oklahoma State University Organizational Fair, sponsored by the Student Government Association, is coming up Thursday, August 19, on the Weatherford campus.

Area businesses, places of worship, student organizations/clubs and others will have booths at the fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. just outside the Memorial Student Center.  The Organizational Fair is held during the Dawg Days celebration, welcoming nearly 5,000 students back to campus. 

A booth reservation form is available in the offices of Public Relations & Marketing and the Dean of Students. The form is also on the SWOSU website calendar on August 19. The form can be faxed to (580) 774-3034 or delivered to Room 211 in the Stafford Center. 

Deadline for reservations is August 14 at 5 p.m.

SWOSU student Desiray Cannon of McAlester was one of only 18 undergraduates who received the Sidney A. McNairy Jr. Student Travel Award at the recent 3^rd Biennial National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) in Bethesda, Maryland. She received the award from Dr. Charles Irvin of NISBRE.  Pictured at the podium is Dr. Sidney McNairy, Jr., who is director of the Division of Research Infrastructure and associate director of the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health. 

Dr. Tim Hubin, associate professor in the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Chemistry and Physics Department, and his research student Desiray Cannon of McAlester recently presented their research at the 3^rd Biennial National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Hubin's poster, "Transition Metal Complex CXCR4 Antagonists as Anti-Metastatic Agents," was chosen as one of 11 featured posters in the cancer section of the meeting.

Cannon's poster, "Does Ring Size Matter?  Cyclen Based CXCR4 Antagonists," was one of 11 featured posters in the immunology and infectious diseases section.  Cannon was one of only 18 undergraduates awarded the Sidney A. McNairy Jr. Student Travel Award, consisting of $1000 and an engraved plaque.  Recipients were selected based on rating and peer review of submitted abstracts. 

Featured posters were presented in special sessions for each section and were chosen by a panel of peer reviewers based on abstracts submitted prior to the meeting.  Over 400 presentations were made by researchers from 23 states and territories receiving INBRE funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Cult phenomenon The Dan Band, theatrical stage production DRUMline Live, acrobatic troupe Peking Acrobats and adventurer/author Aron Ralston create a show-stopping 2010-11 Panorama series at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Panorama Committee Chairman Brian Adler said the organizing committee is very excited about the lineup with The Dan Band kicking off the series in September. Dates for the events are:

The Dan Band has caught America's attention with performances in the movies Old School, Starsky & Hutch, and lately The Hangover. Lead singer Dan Finnerty performed his infamous rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart in Old School and stole the ending of The Hangover with his hilarious performance of Candy Shop at Tracy and Doug's wedding reception. The Dan Band is playing to sold-out crowds on its national tour, "The Still Hungover Tour."

Area residents and students will be in for a treat on October 18 when DRUMLine Live brings black marching band tradition to the theatrical stage at SWOSU. DRUMLine Live is an international tour featuring a cast of 39 members from some of the most outstanding marching band programs across the southern United States.  

Peking Acrobats are coming back to SWOSU as part of its gala 25^th Silver Anniversary North American Tour, which will also feature The Women's Peace Orchestra of China. The Peking Acrobats have performed to two sold-out audiences at SWOSU during previous visits, and this year's performance will once again feature some of China's most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists and gymnasts.

The final Panorama event of the 2010-11 year will be a March 3 talk by Aron Ralston. Most people know him as the mountain climber who was pinned by a half-ton boulder for nearly a week and finally escaped by amputating his right forearm with a dull pocketknife. His best-selling book is Between a Rock and a Hard Place. In his presentation, Ralston tells his story and explains why his incident was the greatest gift of his life.

Tickets for The Dan Band go on sale August 1.

Ticket prices are the same for all events except the Ralston talk, which is free. Advance tickets for the other three events are $10 for SWOSU students, faculty/staff and emeriti; $15 for others; and $20 for all tickets at the door. All events begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center on the SWOSU campus. 

Tickets will be available at the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office, Room 205 of the Administration Building, and at the SWOSU Business Office, Room 109 of the Administration Building. Tickets can also be purchased with a credit card by calling (580) 774-3019.

SWOSU's Panorama series has been bringing outstanding events to the Weatherford campus since 1991. Panorama is partially supported by an endowed lectureship sponsored by SBC.

Additional information about the Panorama series is available by calling the SWOSU Public Relations & Marketing Office at (580) 774-3063.

Attending the OCPRA awards banquet in Tulsa were SWOSU employees (from left) Brian Adler and Debbie Brown, both of the public relations & marketing office; Kyle Wright, graphic designer/photographer; and Anjana Patel, web designer.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University recently won the most awards among all Oklahoma colleges and universities at the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association state conference held July 11-13 at Post Oak Lodge near Tulsa. 

SWOSU won 12 awards, edging out the University of Oklahoma and Noble Foundation, which each won 11 awards.  The University of Central Oklahoma won 10 awards followed by Northeastern State University's nine to round out the top universities.

The statewide competition featured over 400 entries in 31 categories of competition, recognizing outstanding work produced by OCPRA professionals in public relations, development, audio-visual communications, publications, design, periodicals, writing, photography, sports and alumni programs.

SWOSU entries that won awards were:   

First Place

• Events/Promotions - Kyle Wright for "SWOSU Saturday"
• Admissions Viewbook - Todd Boyd, Shamus Moore and Rebecca Manney for "iSWOSU"
• Digitally Enhanced Photography - Kyle Wright for "Destiny"
• Traditional Photography/Sports - Cody Roper for "Just in Time?"
• Traditional Photography/General - Kyle Wright for "One Last Memory"

Second Place

• Poster Design - Kyle Wright for "Football Poster: This Is Our House"
• Featurette Writing - Brian Adler for "Even Duke the Mascot Needs to Learn!"
• Traditional Photography/Sports - Cody Roper for "When Dawgs Fly?"

Third Place

• Traditional Photography/General - Kyle Wright for "Autumn's Glow"

Honorable Mention

• Campaigns - Debbie Brown and Brian Adler for "SWOSU Items for Your Business"
• Campaigns - Kyle Wright for "2009-10 This is Our House, Sports Campaign"
• Bright Ideas - Brian Adler for "Best Joke Contest"

SWOSU Art Department Assistant Professor E.K. Jeong stands by some of her works at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles (Metro St. Louis), MO. Her works will be on display through August 20.

SWOSU Art Department Assistant Professor E.K. Jeong recently opened her solo exhibition at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles (Metro St. Louis), MO.

The exhibition, featuring works in mixed media (ink, paint, fiber, clay, canvas, and wood) was awarded to Jeong as part of her prize for the "Best of Show" award she received at the Foundry's Paperwork IV competition in 2008.

The exhibition can be viewed until August 20 at the Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Centre, in St. Charles, MO.​

STATEMENT FROM:
Jack Lassiter, Chancellor, University of Arkansas at Monticello
Robert  C. Brown, President, Arkansas Tech University
John Hargrave, President, East Central University
David Burks, President, Harding  University
Charles Welch, President, Henderson State University
Rex Horne, President, Ouachita Baptist University
Larry Minks, President, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
David Rankin, President, Southern Arkansas University
Randy Beutler, President, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

The presidents, chancellors and directors of athletics from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas Tech University, East Central University, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southern Arkansas University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University held a meeting in Russellville, Ark., today to discuss the possibility of forming a new NCAA Division II conference.

Our ongoing discussion is producing positive results as we analyze the feasibility of creating a new conference that would reduce the amount of missed class time by our student-athletes and reduce our operating costs.

We found during the course of our meeting that we have similar concerns and that we are like-minded in our approach to intercollegiate athletics.

Regardless of the final results of these discussions, our athletic schedules for the 2010-11 academic year will not be affected.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Department of Music will host its 55th annual Band Camp July 11-16 on the Weatherford campus, and the camp is expected to draw a near capacity of 500 students.

The SWOSU Band Camp is open to students who have completed grades 6-12.  Registration will be in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center lobby this Sunday, July 11, from 1-4 p.m.

Over 60 experienced and talented music directors from across the region will assist camp director Dr. Keith Talley and other SWOSU music faculty in teaching classes and rehearsals at the camp.

The camp will consist of five concert bands, two jazz ensembles and over 30 elective classes. Conducting the concert bands will be: Honor Band, Dr. Stephen Gage, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio; Symphonic Band, Bryan Myers, Mustang; Concert Band, Jim Parham, Stratford, TX; Cadet Band, Danny Bell, Idabel, TX; and Prep Band,  Roger Sharp, Mustang.         

The final concert for the camp will take place on Friday, July 16, at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium.  Admission is free, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.        

For more information, visit the SWOSU music camp website at www.swosucamps.com or call the SWOSU Music Camp Office 580-774-3296.

While many middle school aged students are spending their summer days at the local pool, those participating in the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford are escaping the heat by diving into a fun, two-week adventure in math and science.

Former astronaut and camp founder Dr. Bernard Harris and ExxonMobil have partnered since 2006 to provide the two-week residential camp free of charge to underserved middle school students at 30 college campuses across the United States, including SWOSU.

The camp will be held July 11-23. Harris will actually be at SWOSU on opening day when he addresses campers, family members and press this Sunday, July 11, at 7 p.m. in Stafford Center Room 104. The public is invited to attend.

Wayne Trail, director of the camp at SWOSU, said about 50 campers from across Oklahoma will delve into relevant topics such as sustainability, energy, clean water and robotics as they learn about exciting career opportunities available to them through science, technology, engineering and math.

"ExxonMobil is committed to engaging the next generation of creative minds, thinkers and developers who will keep the United States competitive," said Suzanne McCarron, president of ExxonMobil Foundation. "By partnering with Dr. Harris, we are able to reach talented students and provide them with an experience that could lead them to pursue a career in math, science, engineering or technology."

Campers are taught by university faculty, attend daily classes in natural science, engineering, mathematics and technology and enjoy activities including classroom study, experiments, individual and team projects, weekly field excursions and inspirational guest speakers. As part of their educational experience, the campers also work side by side with engineers and other professionals who are accomplished in their chosen technology related careers.

"SWOSU is honored to once again host the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp," Trail said. "Not only are we providing these students with two fun-filled weeks on our campus and offering many students the unique opportunity to experience a college campus for the first time, we are investing in our community by encouraging the next generation of innovative problem solvers."

Campers will also participate in an "ExxonMobil Media Day," which will be held Thursday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m. in the SWOSU Conference Center, located at the corner of Seventh and Davis Streets in Weatherford. The public and press are also invited to the event.

For more information, please visit the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp website, www.theharrisfoundation.org

Several faculty members in the Department of Language and Literature at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford had poems, critical articles and books accepted for publication. 

Dr. Cynthia Pena's Spanish textbook Antología del poema en prosa en Hispanoamérica will be available this fall.

The anthology Poetics of Song Lyrics, forthcoming from the University of Mississippi Press, will contain Dr. Jill Jones's article "Country Music Lyrics: Is There Poetry in Those Twangy Rhymes?"  She has also signed a contract with Edwin Mellen Press to write a short book on Netta Syrett and Women's Education in 19^th Century England.

Dr. Helen Maxson's essay, "The Balance between Self and Other in Allusions of Wendell Berry: A Contemporary Response to Nick Adams, Ike McCaslin, and Huck Finn," has been accepted for publication by CEA Critic.

Dr. Kevin Collins published an article in Studies in the Literary Imagination entitled "An Earlier Frontier thesis:  Simms as an Intellectual Precursor to Frederick Jackson Turner" and another in The Simms Review entitled "The Mountain Tramp:Tselica; A Legend of the French Broad: With an Eye on the Horizon." 

Dr. Viki Craig's non-fiction essay which appeared in the University of Oklahoma's Blood and Thunder was nominated for the journal's grand prize. The article is entitled "They Also Serve Who Stand and Wait."

Fred Alsberg read his poetry at The Depot in Norman, at the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture 31^st annual meeting, and at Weatherford Public Library. 

Dr. Kelley Logan published two poems, one in Sugar Mule and one in an Oklahoma anthology.

And, Dr. James Silver edited two editions of SWOSU's literary magazine Westview.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and Sayre will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit October 4-6 by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

All universities governed by the NCA are required to have visits at least once every 10 years.

SWOSU is seeking comments from the public about SWOSU in preparation for its reaccreditation evaluation by the HLC/NCA. Federal regulations regarding higher education require that accrediting agencies allow for public comment on the qualifications of those institutions under consideration for accreditation.

SWOSU has been accredited by the HLC/NCA since 1949. SWOSU's accreditation is at the first professional doctorate degree level and includes degree sites at various other locations within Oklahoma. The visiting team will review the institution's ongoing ability to meet the HLC/NCA's Criteria for Accreditation.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding SWOSU to:

Public Comment on Southwestern Oklahoma State University
The Higher Learning Commission
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago IL 60602

Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Complaints will not be considered in this process. Comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the person providing the comments. Comments will not be treated as confidential.

All comments must be received by September 3, 2010.

Among the SWOSU students serving as orientation leaders at New Student Orientation sessions are (from left) Mooreland senior Kelly Lockhart, Piedmont junior Kadie Davis and Lomega junior Summer Stebens.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University will host a New Student Orientation session for high school seniors on Thursday, July 22, in the Fine Arts Center on the Weatherford campus.

This will be the next-to-last session for high school seniors who plan to attend SWOSU. The final one is August 13, and SWOSU fall semester classes begin August 18.

Each of the orientation sessions offers students the chance to meet current SWOSU students and new freshmen, visit and enroll with a faculty advisor within the major they have selected and have all their questions answered. They may also take campus and residence hall tours.

Students need to bring photo identification and their final high school transcript (if they have not already mailed in), any college transcripts with concurrent hours, and any other additional paperwork, such as AP test scores or updated ACT scores.

Families are also invited to attend the Family Orientation session that runs concurrently with the student orientation.  Both sessions begin at 9 a.m. The families meet in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom to hear presentations from the offices of Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Health and Counseling Services, Violence Prevention, Auxiliary Services, Campus Police, Dean of Students and Assessment (testing).

If families plan to bring younger siblings to the session, NSO provides an area to entertain them called the Dawg Zone. Youngsters can color and make crafts, use Wi-Fi laptops, watch movies and play Nintendo wii.

Students may register for freshman orientation by calling New Student Orientation at 580.774.3233 or by going online at www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso and clicking "Register for Orientation."

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Alumni Association at Weatherford hosted its 17th annual SWOSU Alumni and Friends Golf Classic on June 26 at Silverhorn Golf Course in Oklahoma City.

Winners in the University Flight were Tony Louthan, Joel Paden and Garret Smith, all of Weatherford; and Doug Kaiser, Edmond.  Finishing second was the team of Bret Matlock, Garrison Mendoza and Louie Mendoza, all of Clinton; and David Balezentis and Bill Kuslieka, both of Tulsa.  Third place winners were Ray Kuykendall, Farmers Branch, Texas; Delbert Mahan, Wichita Falls, Texas; Richard Hasley, Oklahoma City; Charlie Hillis, Las Vegas, N.M.; and Ron Polston, Frisco, Texas.  Fourth place winners were Terry Nichols, Elk City; Dub Cromwell, Bedford, Texas; Don Wilson, Hobart; and Bob Hunnicutt, Coppell, Texas.

In the alumni flight, top winners were Mike Muncy, Oklahoma City; Chad Ramirez, Weatherford; Dale Davis, Marlow; Sy Freeman, Clinton; and Charles Porter, Hutto, Texas.  Finishing second were Everett Baker, Yukon; Steve Baker, Elk City; Jack Roberts, Apache; and Jim Mogg, Hydro. Winning third place were Jason Redd and Roger Redd, both of Elk City; and Billy Joe Kamphaus and Ryan Ommen, both of Weatherford.  Finishing fourth were Kyle Kilhoffer, Jackie Garrett, Pete Stover and Darrel Hood, all of Elk City.

In the blue and white flight, the first place winners were Ed Garrison, Yukon; Gehrig Garrison and Bill Garrison, both of Ardmore; Pat Dunn, Weatherford; and Jerry Blevins, Hot Springs Village, Ark.  Second place winners were Mark Lantz, Broc Helleyman and Jerry Ulrich, all of Clinton. The third place winners were Gaylen Adams, Oklahoma City; Jim Mitschke, Owasso; LeRoy Neeley, Overland Park, Kan.; and Jerry Eden, Elk City. Fourth place winners were Tommy O'Hara, T.D. O'Hara, Richard O'Hara and Chris Shelby, all of Paden. 

Winning teams won $400 for first place, $300 for second, $200 for third and $100 for fourth place.

In the various contests, closest to the pin on hole number 6 was Joel Paden of Weatherford; hole number 8, Mickey Geurkink, Medford; hole 12, Zach Enterline, Tulsa; and hole 14, Dale Davis, Marlow. Longest drive winners on hole 3 and 16 were Garrett Smith of Weatherford and Bill Kuslieka of Tulsa, respectively. Each won $25 gift certificates. 

Many of the 104 golfers in attendance also attended a Friday night reception with guests/spouses. The reception was held in the Oklahoma City Bricktown area.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Department of Music will host it first-ever Marimba Camp July 6-9 on the Weatherford campus.

The Marimba Camp is open to students who have completed grades 9-12. Students will participate in sessions focusing on technique, musicianship, history and literature as well as attend marimba recitals of SWOSU faculty and students.

Directors of the camp include SWOSU Professor of Percussion Dr. David Bessinger and Jeremy Parr from Moore.

Registration will be in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center Lobby on Tuesday, July 6, from 8-10 a.m. Late registrations and walk-ins will be accepted.

For general information on all SWOSU music camps, go to the SWOSU Department of Music summer camp website at www.swosucamps.com or contact the SWOSU Music Camp Office at 580-774-3296.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education finalized Thursday to raise tuition and fees at Southwestern Oklahoma State University by 5.47% for the 2010-11 school year on the Weatherford campus.

All regional universities across Oklahoma were approved for similar increases.  

SWOSU's tuition/fee rate per credit hour will go up from $137 an hour for undergraduate, in-state tuition to $144.50 per hour on the Weatherford campus. At the Sayre campus of SWOSU, tuition and fees will be $139.50.             

SWOSU President Randy Beutler said this is the first increase in tuition/fees in two years. SWOSU's situation is a little different this year as State Regents had earlier approved a $6 mandatory fee per credit hour for music and student activities as well as the new event center that will be built on the Weatherford campus. The actual tuition rate at SWOSU will only increase $1.50 per credit hour. The two figures combined equal the increase of $7.50 per credit hour on the Weatherford campus. Students on the Sayre campus will not pay the $5 fee for the event center. 

"This is just a slight raise in tuition in comparison to the budget cuts we have sustained," Beutler said.

SWOSU has experienced a decline in state revenues of 6% during the past and upcoming school years. It could have been worse, according to Beutler, but with the support of Governor Brad Henry and area legislators, the impact to higher education was minimized.

The first-year president at SWOSU said the university continues to be frugal with taxpayer dollars and trying not to overburden the tuition-paying student. The university has not filled several open administrative positions and continues to look for ways to save money.

"SWOSU continues to boast 15 nationally-accredited academic programs-most among Oklahoma's regional universities-and we'll strive hard to continue keeping SWOSU as the top academic regional university in Oklahoma," Beutler said. "We know SWOSU is also one of the most affordable universities in the state. But, we must be mindful that we have certain accreditation standards which we must continue to meet in order to stay competitive and those issues often include financial considerations."

In order to help students, SWOSU continues to offer financial aid help to students to help with financing their college education. Over 70% of SWOSU students received more than $30 million in financial assistance this past year, according to Jerome Wichert, director of the SWOSU Student Financial Services Office. He said his office is open Monday through Friday each week to visit and help students with their needs.  

Southwestern Oklahoma State University art students (from left) Michael Miller of Weatherford, Martin Lopez of Elk City and Kyle Johnson of Woodward recently received an Award of Merit and cash prize at the Fiberworks 2010 Exhibition in Oklahoma City. The students started the winning art in a SWOSU class taught by (right) E.K. Jeong.

The collaborative artwork of Southwestern Oklahoma State University art students Martin Lopez of Elk City, Michael Miller of Weatherford, and Kyle Johnson of Woodward recently received an Award of Merit at the Fiberworks 2010 Exhibition in Oklahoma City.

Their work, entitled "Novae," was constructed entirely of recycled materials.

Fiberworks showed only half of the approximately 148 works that were submitted by professional and amateur artists throughout Oklahoma. Only eight of the 148 works received an Award of Merit, an honor that comes with a cash prize.

According to Lopez, the title of the piece, "Novae," reflects both its appearance - three separate, yet related spheres that might resemble heavenly bodies - and the fact that supernovae "recycle" themselves by forming new stars from the materials of dying stars.

 Lopez, Miller and Johnson began the project with classmates in ART 3013, International Green Design, under the direction of SWOSU Assistant Professor E.K. Jeong. After the semester ended, the three artists expanded the class project into the prize-winning work of art.

"Novae" can be viewed until July 17 at the IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan, in Oklahoma City.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Dr. Andrea Holgado, assistant professor in the biological sciences department in Weatherford, recently received a $229,767 grant from the National Science Foundation for scientific research. SWOSU students will assist in the research. Celebrating the award are (front from left): Anita Blankenship, director of the SWOSU Office of Sponsored Programs; student Melanie Graham, Carnegie; student Kassandra Guthmueller, Purcell; student Erica Benda, Union City; student Carissa Fischer, Weatherford; and student Taylor Baxter, Broken Arrow. Back from left-Holgado; student Maggie Yoder, Thomas; student Tanner Wheeler, Weatherford; student Tyler Hardin, Broken Arrow; student Angela Edwards, Oologah; Dr. Blake Sonobe, SWOSU senior vice president and provost; and Dr. Joseph Maness, chair, SWOSU Department of Biological Sciences. 

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Dr. Andrea Holgado, assistant professor in the biological sciences department in Weatherford, recently received a $229,767 grant from the National Science Foundation for scientific research. 

Dr. Holgado's project titled "Modulation of Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis in C elegans FY10" will enhance and promote career development, education and community outreach.

This continuing grant is a four-year grant from NSF for a total amount of $698,835. Holgado is working with co-principal investigator Bing Zhang, assistant professor in the zoology department at the University of Oklahoma.

The research for the grant will primarily be conducted by undergraduate students enrolled at SWOSU.  This project will not only represent an exceptional opportunity for SWOSU students to experience this unexplored scientific world but will also assist in increasing the acceptance rate of graduates pursuing careers in research and professional schools.

The hypotheses and predictions proposed in this research will be conducted in a newly-designed Cell Biology laboratory course, where students are exposed to novel research ideas and will be able to speculate the molecular bases of neurobiology. The course will enable students to become skilled at experimental design and research execution, reinforcing data analysis and quantitative abilities, evaluating hypothesis and communicating findings. 

Students will translate their knowledge in neuroscience to local communities participating in "brain awareness" week and neuroscience presentations at local schools.

For more information about this project, contact Dr. Holgado at (580)774-3230 or andrea.holgado@swosu.edu .

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Department of Music will host its 22^nd annual Middle School Band Camp June 27-30 on the Weatherford campus.

The Middle School Band Camp is open to students who have completed grades 5-7. Students will participate in one of four concert bands and take elective classes taught by outstanding band directors from the area.

Directors of the four concert bands include: David Toelle, Enid; Steve Smith, Cordell; Will Brewer, Canadian, TX; and Bryce Victory, Canadian, TX.

Registration will be in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center lobby this Sunday, June 27, from 1-4 p.m.  Camp director Dr. Keith Talley said late registrations and walk-ins will be accepted.

The final concert for the camp will take place on Wednesday, June 30, at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium.  Admission is free, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

For general information on this camp and all SWOSU music camps, go to the SWOSU Department of Music summer camp web site at www.swosucamps.com or contact the SWOSU Music Camp Office at 580-774-3296.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is hosting a multi-family garage sale this Saturday, June 26, at 1212 Birch Street in Weatherford to raise funds for SWOSU scholarships and charity donations.

The garage sale featuring a large selection of items begins at 8 a.m. and will end at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited.

The AAUW is also seeking donated items, which can be dropped off at the 1212 Birch Street house starting on Wednesday.  For more information, contact Darla Davenport at (580) 774-3071 during the day or (580) 774-0318 in the evenings.

Weatherford Kiwanis Club President Barbara Jones (left) and SWOSU Support Personnel Organization President Melanie Fast wrestle for the Bulldog Bleed-Off Trophy as part of a blood drive challenge coming up Monday, June 28, on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford. Wondering who will win is Oklahoma Blood Institute Western Oklahoma Director Rick Story.

In a tug-of-war for bragging rights, the Weatherford Kiwanis Club and SWOSU employees have challenged each other to a "bleed off" during an Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drive that is open to the public on Monday, June 28, on the Weatherford campus.

The blood drive will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Wellness Center.

The competition will be to see which group gets the greatest number of pints drawn for the size of their group. When someone donates blood, they will be asked if they are giving on behalf of Kiwanis or the SWOSU Support Personnel Organization.

"Southwestern Oklahoma State University does such good work with our blood drives that the Oklahoma Blood Institute created the ‘Bulldog Bleed-Off' Trophy," said Rick Story, OBI director for western Oklahoma. 

Cindy Dougherty, dean of students at SWOSU and drive coordinator, said the OBI reports they currently have only three days blood supply on hand and with the holidays coming up,  that simply is not enough.  The Weatherford Kiwanis Club and SWOSU are hoping for a big turnout to help the OBI.

"This drive matches the goals of Kiwanis because we are here to help kids and others in the community. This is a way we can reach out and help the greater community," said President Barbara Jones. "We also have a current Kiwanis member who is a transplant survivor so we think of and honor him with this drive."

SWOSU Support Personnel Organization President Melanie Fast said the university does not have as many students on campus like the fall and spring semesters, so area residents are encouraged to attend this blood drive to help out.

If the Kiwanis Club wins the challenge on June 28, their name will be inscribed and the trophy will be housed at Weatherford's BancFirst.  If the SWOSU Support Personnel Organization wins, the trophy will be in the SWOSU Registrar's Office.  

Dougherty said the real winner is the Oklahoma Blood Institute and the people who will benefit from the donated blood.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University continues to be a popular choice for incoming freshmen as 754 high school seniors have enrolled for the 2010 fall semester at SWOSU as part of the New Student Orientation Program on the Weatherford campus.

Todd Boyd, director of admissions and recruitment, said freshmen enrollment continues to run significantly higher than at the same time in 2009.

"People continue to select SWOSU as their college choice," Boyd said. "Students and parents like that we have 15 nationally-accredited academic programs-most among Oklahoma's regional universities-and are impressed with our facilities. The Wellness Center, renovated Student Center and the soon-to-be-built Event Center are positive and popular additions to the campus."

SWOSU is offering two more enrollment opportunities for high school seniors who are planning to attend SWOSU this fall. Enrollment dates are July 22 and August 13.

Students must apply and be accepted to SWOSU before they can attend an enrollment session. Each of the enrollment sessions offers students the chance to meet current SWOSU students and new freshmen, visit and enroll with a faculty advisor within the major they have selected, and get all their questions answered.

For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso/ or contact New Student Orientation at (580) 774-3233 or orientation@swosu.edu

Area children are benefiting from a reading course this summer at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.  The children are under the direction of 18 SWOSU students enrolled in Dr. Ann Russell's summer course-Diagnostic Practices in Teaching Reading.  Children participating include (front from left): Casen Falasco, Yolanda Esparza, Brooke Barker, Emma Coats, Sophia Rodriguez and Jonny Gomez. Second row from left-Laura Esparza, Emma Boyles, Braylee MeGee, Kaylie Esparza and Brooklyn Morris. Third row from left-Chris Hall, Brayden Boyles, Riley Ingram and Alex Rodriguez. Back row from left-Tre Rodriguez, Brennan Wilson and Bryler Atchley.  Not pictured is Alexis Lee.

Several area children are benefiting from a summer reading program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

The children have an opportunity to boost their reading skills under the direction of 18 SWOSU students in Dr. Ann Russell's senior level course-Diagnostic Practices in Teaching Reading. The SWOSU students engage in service learning as they instruct students in reading.  Russell said the program builds success in motivating an enjoyment of reading, and many children return several years in a row to participate in it.

Dr. Russell has been associated with the program for 24 years, but the program has been in existence for many more years than that.  Enrollment in the program begins after spring break each year, and the class usually fills up quickly.  The program is well supported by area teachers and administrators who help refer participants in grades 1-6.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University has received an $18,500 grant to help with the second Regional FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition coming up later this year.  Madeline Baugher (center) is investigator of the grant. Also pictured are Anita Blankenship, director of the SWOSU Office of Sponsored Programs, and Dr. Blake Sonobe, senior vice president and provost at SWOSU.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University has received an $18,500 grant for student fellowships and supplies and support for future regional robotics competitions.

The partnership award was from the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium and the University of Oklahoma.

SWOSU's School of Business and Technology is planning to host its second Regional FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Competition in December of 2010.   For this event, high school teams design, build and program a robot to compete as a team against other high school robot teams. 

Each year the "game design" in which the robots compete changes.  The game for 2009 was named Hot Shot and involved robots shooting wiffle balls into one of three goals for various points.  Winners at the regional competition are eligible for national competition. 

More information about the next regional competition at SWOSU is available from Madeline Baugher at madeline.baugher@swosu.edu or Brad Fitzgerald at brad.fitzgerald@swosu.edu. 

The FTC project will implement the Oklahoma Space Consortium higher education objective to use NASA mission-based programs to demonstrate the integrated education applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for use in student learning activities.

Baugher, instructor in the Department of Accounting, Computer Science and Entrepreneurship, is the principal investigator for the grant.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Dr. Robbie McCarty (center) recently received $12,320 from Altus Public Schools for a joint effort between SWOSU and Altus to provide a mathematics/science partnership program. The program is geared for K-8 math and science teachers. With McCarty is (left) Anita Blankenship, director of the SWOSU Office of Sponsored Programs, and Dr. Blake Sonobe, senior vice president and provost at SWOSU.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Dr. Robbie McCarty recently received funding from Altus Public School in the amount of $12,320 for a joint effort between SWOSU and Altus to provide a mathematics/science partnership program.

McCarty, associate professor in the SWOSU Department of Chemistry & Physics in Weatherford, said the funding will be used, in part, to host a summer institute and year-round activities for K-8 grade teachers for the mathematics/science partnership program called “Prairies and Ponds: Playgrounds for Science Investigations”. The program is funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Education/U. S. Department of Education in conjunction with Altus Public Schools.

MSP Prairies and Ponds: Playgrounds for Science Investigations is a year-long program intended to improve science education in public schools. By attending the professional development institute, 40 of western Oklahoma’s K-8 grade teachers will be able to increase content knowledge, update teaching methods, and create standards-based mathematics and science lessons.

Dr. McCarty attended an intensive Brain, Mind, and Education Workshop at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to pursue the collaboration opportunities. For additional information regarding this institute program, contact Dr. Robbie McCarty at robbie.mccarty@swosu.edu or at (580)774-3265.

Oklahoma will be represented in the Miss America Pageants by Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ (left) of Cordell and Miss Oklahoma Emoly West of Edmond. Russ won the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant representing Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Miss SWOSU Sarah Simpson won several awards at the Miss Oklahoma Pageant including the Miss Congeniality Award, non-finalist award and a $1,000 SWOSU Scholarship.

Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ of Cordell won the title of Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen at Miss Oklahoma Pageant activities in Tulsa, and Miss SWOSU Sarah Simpson of Elk City also won several awards at the Miss Oklahoma Pageant held June 12.

Russ will now represent SWOSU and the state of Oklahoma at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant August 24-28 in Orlando, Florida.

Russ, who will be a senior at Cordell High School this fall, won the Oklahoma title among 33 contestants and also a $2,500 cash scholarship. She also won the Academic Award and Interview Award among the contestants.

In the Miss Oklahoma competition, Simpson won the Miss Congeniality Award and $400, a $350 non-finalist award and a $1,000 SWOSU Scholarship.

Other finalists in the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant were first runner-up Miss Oklahoma City Heather Rassmussen; second runner-up Miss Edmond LibertyFest Sarah Staats; third runner-up Miss Oklahoma City University Madison Pride; and fourth runner-up Miss RiverWalk Emily Elkins.

Russ, who won the SWOSU competition this past November, wowed the audience with her piano solo combining the styles of Bach and Beethoven’s flair in Bach’s “Prelude XXI” and Beethoven’s “Sonate Pathetique.” She impressed the judges in the interview session with her platform issue: P.U.R.E. Excellence, encouraging a commitment to a lifestyle of purity. .

Lacey Russ

Miss Southwestern Oklahoma State University Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ of Cordell won the title of Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen late Friday night (June 11) at the Miss Oklahoma Pageant in Tulsa.

Russ will now represent SWOSU and the state of Oklahoma at the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant August 24-28 in Orlando, Florida.

Russ, who will be a senior at Cordell High School this fall, won the Oklahoma title among 33 contestants and also a $2,500 cash scholarship.

Other finalists in the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant were first runner-up Miss Oklahoma City Heather Rassmussen; second runner-up Miss Edmond LibertyFest Sarah Staats; third runner-up Miss Oklahoma City University Madison Pride; and fourth runner-up Miss RiverWalk Emily Elkins.

Russ, who won the SWOSU competition this past November, wowed the audience with her piano solo combining the styles of Bach and Beethoven’s flair in Bach’s “Prelude XXI” and Beethoven’s “Sonate Pathetique.” She impressed the judges in the interview session with her platform issue: P.U.R.E. Excellence, encouraging a commitment to a lifestyle of purity.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s Milam Stadium on the Weatherford campus has new artificial turf, which has prompted area residents to inquire if they can still walk/exercise at the stadium.

SWOSU Athletic Director Todd Thurman said walking/running is still permitted and encouraged.

Due to the new turf, some changes have taken place, including:

*It is requested that everyone stay off the artificial turf unless permission is granted from the administration

*Pets are not allowed in the stadium

“The turf project is a big investment by the university, and we want to protect our facilities,” SWOSU President Randy Beutler said. “We know a lot of citizens like to walk at the stadium, and we want everyone to know that they are welcome to continue exercising at the stadium.”

For additional information or questions, call the SWOSU Athletic Office at (580) 774-3068.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment number, which is a factor in determining state funding, is up 13.4% this summer, according to official numbers released from the office of President Randy Beutler.

SWOSU’s head count enrollment for the 2010 summer is 2,018 for both the Weatherford and Sayre campuses.

On individual campuses, Weatherford has 1,758 students. The Sayre campus has 260 students taking courses this summer.

Enrollment continues for the fall semester on both the Weatherford and Sayre campuses. The first day of classes is Wednesday, August 18. Additional information is available by contacting the Registrar’s offices on both the Weatherford and Sayre campuses or checking out the SWOSU website at www.swosu.edu.

Daniel R. Archer is the new registrar at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Archer replaces Bob Klaassen, who is retiring June 30 after working 31 years at SWOSU.

Archer came to SWOSU from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City where he served as academic advisor and international advisor since 2006.

He also served one year as records supervisor at OSU-OKC. Prior to that, Archer worked as admissions/credentials clerk and registration clerk at Oklahoma City Community College.

He served as 2009-10 president of the Oklahoma Academic Advising Association. He and his wife, Lindsay, currently live in Oklahoma City. Archer is a 2000 graduate of Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City.

“I’m excited to be here,” Archer said. “I am enjoying the continuity and collaboration across campus and look forward to working at SWOSU.”

Dr. Bonnie Borshay Sneed, director of choral activities at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, has been appointed Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Southwest Division of the American Choral Directors.

Sneed will serve a seven-state region and will help collegiate colleagues better prepare their choirs in terms of music and quality literature. She will also be active with the region’s collegiate honor choir activities and help select music for others to consider for their programs.

Sneed will serve the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Sneed is an associate professor of music at SWOSU.

Bradley Jennings and Sonya Roper were selected by Southwestern Oklahoma State University students as Administrator and Staff of the Year, respectively, at SWOSU. Not pictured is Dr. John Hayden who was selected Faculty of the Year.

Dr. John Hayden, Bradley Jennings and Sonya Roper are the winners of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Brandy Awards for 2010.

The Brandy Awards are to honor the faculty, administrator and staff of the year and were chosen by SWOSU students for the 2009-10 year awards. All three winners received a traveling Brandy Award.

Hayden was chosen SWOSU Faculty Member of the Year. He is a professor in the Department of Social Sciences. He is in his 18th year at SWOSU.

Roper is Staff Member of the Year and is administrative assistant in the SWOSU Registrar’s Office. Roper has been an employee at SWOSU since 1984.

Jennings is the Administrator of the Year. He is Stewart Hall supervisor in SWOSU Residence Life. He is in his first year as full-time employee at SWOSU.

The recognition program is sponsored by the SWOSU Collegiate Activities Board.

Sarah Simpson

Elk City and Cordell girls will represent Southwestern Oklahoma State University at the Miss Oklahoma Pageant, which is June 5-12 in Tulsa. 

Sarah Simpson of Elk City won the title of Miss SWOSU last fall on the Weatherford campus and will be among 43 contestants competing for the Miss Oklahoma title, while Lacey Russ of Cordell will represent SWOSU in the Miss Oklahoma Outstanding Teen Pageant. Russ won the Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen title this past fall and will be among 33 contestants vying for the state title.

Simpson is a junior at SWOSU majoring in business administration. She will compete in the Sigma group at Miss Oklahoma. For her talent on Thursday evening, she will sing Miley Cyrus' "The Climb."

She will also compete throughout the week in other preliminary competitions including interview on Tuesday morning, on-stage question and evening wear on Tuesday night, and swimsuit on Wednesday evening. The finals will be Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Mabee Center in Tulsa. The winner of the pageant advances to the Miss America Pageant.

Simpson's platform issue is breast cancer awareness.  

Lacey Russ

Russ, who will be a senior at Cordell High School, will compete in the Omega group. Her interview is on Wednesday and her active wear/evening gown competition is Thursday. Her on-stage question and talent competition is on Friday. Russ will play the piano combining the styles of Bach and Beethoven's flair in Bach's "Prelude XXI" and Beethoven's "Sonate Pathetique." Her platform is P.U.R.E. Excellence, encouraging a commitment to a lifestyle of purity.  

The teen pageant finals will be held on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Mabee Center.

Also accompanying Simpson to this year's pageant will be 11-year-old Andrae' Cook and 6-year-old Maggie Hooper, who are Oklahoma Stars for the Miss SWOSU Pageant. The Oklahoma Star mentoring program is designed to expose girls ages 6-11 to outstanding young women as role models. The two will appear with Miss SWOSU at the evening wear competition on Tuesday night, will lunch with Simpson on Thursday, and lunch with Miss Oklahoma on Friday. 

Cook is the daughter of Doug and Kim Cook of Weatherford and attends West Elementary School in Weatherford. Hooper is the daughter of Wesley and Annie Hooper of Mountain View and is in first grade at Mountain View-Gotebo.

SWOSU's annual pageants in 2010 will be November 13 on the Weatherford campus.

SWOSU student Erica Benda of Yukon and Brandy the Bulldog will be helping high school seniors who attend the June 14 New Student Orientation at SWOSU. Benda, who is majoring in chemistry, is a second-year orientation leader on the Weatherford campus.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University will host a New Student Orientation session for high school seniors on Monday, June 14, in the Fine Arts Center on the Weatherford campus.

Other sessions for high school seniors who plan to attend SWOSU are planned July 22 and August 13.  SWOSU fall classes begin August 18.

Each of the orientation sessions offers students the chance to meet current SWOSU students and new freshmen, visit and enroll with a faculty advisor within the major they have selected and have all their questions answered. They may also take campus and residence hall tours.

Families are also invited to attend the Family Orientation that runs concurrently with the student orientation.  Both sessions begin at 9 a.m. The families meet in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom to hear presentations from the offices of Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Health and Counseling Services, Violence Prevention, Auxiliary Services, Campus Police, Dean of Students and Assessment (testing).

If families plan to bring younger siblings to the session, NSO provides an area to entertain them called the Dawg Zone. Youngsters can color and make crafts, use Wi-Fi laptops, watch movies and play Nintendo wii.

For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso or contact New Student Orientation at 580.774.3233 or orientation@swosu.edu.

A 7 foot high by 14 foot wide tapestry celebrating western Oklahoma is now complete and available for exhibits in Oklahoma.  The tapestry is currently stationed at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. The tapestry has nearly 300,000 warp-and-weft crossings and took volunteers nearly one year to complete. The public art project can be reserved by calling the SWOSU Art Department at (580) 774-3756 or contacting E.K. Jeong at ek.jeong@swosu.edu.

Summer classes begin this Wednesday, June 2, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and Sayre.

The summer semester continues until July 29.

Bob Klaassen, registrar on the Weatherford campus, said the university has online enrollment available through the SWOSU website (www.swosu.edu), so enrollment can be completed at any time. In order to use the online enrollment system, a student must already be fully admitted to the university and have no unresolved issues related to their enrollment. 

Students can enroll in person by stopping at the registrar's office on either the Weatherford or Sayre campuses. Additional information is available by calling the Weatherford office at (580) 774-3777 or the Sayre campus at (580) 928-5533.

Students can also enroll for the 2010 fall semester that starts August 18.

Office hours for the registrar's office on the Weatherford campus are 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Office hours on the Sayre campus are 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Summer is a time when youth enjoy their camps, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University has 42 summer camps taking place this year on the Weatherford campus.

A wide variety of camps are planned, ranging from music/arts to athletics to science/math.

A complete listing of the summer camps is available on the SWOSU web site at www.swosu.edu/resources/2010-summer-camps.pdf. Additional information is available by calling (580) 774-3782.  

Upcoming camps are:

Universities throughout Oklahoma are facing budget cuts this year and in an attempt to save tax dollars, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus at Sayre will be going to a four-day work week this summer on a trial basis.

SWOSU Dean Jim James said Sayre campus employees will work 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays starting June 1 and continuing through August 6. Employees will take a 30-minute lunch break each day. No Friday classes are currently held on the Sayre campus, so James wanted to try the four-day work week.

"In these tough economic times, the university looks to cut costs and be more efficient but still provide all the services required by our students," SWOSU President Randy Beutler said. "This trial work schedule on the Sayre campus will allow us to examine possible cost savings and plan for the future."

The change does not affect the SWOSU campus in Weatherford, which will remain on the normal Monday through Friday schedule. The Weatherford campus does have Friday classes.

Several other universities across the state of Oklahoma have been doing a four-day work week during the summer for several years.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University with campus locations in Weatherford and Sayre is well-known for its 15 nationally-accredited academic undergraduate programs, but many people are not aware of SWOSU’s well-respected graduate school programs.

Two of the programs in the Everett Dobson School of Business and Technology include the Master of Business Administration degree, which is the fastest-growing degree program on campus, and the Master of Science in Management.

The MBA program has grown from five students in Spring 2009 to 40 students during this past spring semester, while the MS program has grown from four students in 2009 to 30 students during the 2010 spring semester.

Marci Grant, director of graduate programs in the School of Business & Technology, said the growth is the result of several factors. She said the SWOSU College of Professional and Graduate Studies is determined more than ever to reach out and recruit students both internally and from area communities. Grant said promotion of the program and spreading the word to prospective students have influenced the growth. The economy is also a factor with people returning to school to advance their knowledge and skills so they can obtain jobs.

The MBA degree at SWOSU is a great fit for all who have a business undergraduate degree, according to Grant. The MBA is an internationally-recognized degree and can lead to a fast track to success and top salaries. The MS (Management) is well-suited for all students who aspire to hold managerial positions but do not have a business degree. The MS in Management gives a student more growth potential in their chosen field and shows employers that they have the specific knowledge and skill set that will qualify them for advanced employment opportunities. Students who are pursing the MS (Management) degree may also choose specific disciplines to pursue, such as accounting, computer science, finance, management, marketing or technology.

There are three different ways that students may be admitted to the MBA or MS degree programs at SWOSU: the student’s undergraduate GPA; GMAT test scores; or a portfolio application. Classes are offered during days and evenings as well as online, so classes are available to best meet students’ schedules.

SWOSU also offers graduate programs in education, music, park law enforcement and psychology.

Enrollment for the fall semester is underway now, so students can apply today. Anyone interested in learning more about the MBA and M.S. degrees can get more information by contacting Grant at marci.grant@swosu.edu or by phone at (580) 774-7050.

The Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma has donated $100,000 to Southwestern Oklahoma State University to establish the SWOSU Masonic Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series on the Weatherford campus. A check presentation was recently held at SWOSU. Attending included (front from left): Jim Waites, SWOSU; Fred Austin, Masonic Charity Foundation (MCF) board member; SWOSU President Randy Beutler; John Logan, executive director, MCF; Bob Davis, MCF board member; and Dr. Blake Sonobe, SWOSU. Back from left—Taylor Bettie, SWOSU student and Mason; Dr. Jared Edwards, SWOSU faculty and Mason; Jonathan Anzaldua, SWOSU student and Mason; Nolan Lawless, SWOSU student and Mason; David Altland, SWOSU and Mason; Brian Adler, SWOSU; Joshua Buxton, SWOSU Student Government Association President and Mason; Troy Woods, Mason; Charles Rucks, Worshipful Master of Western Star Lodge; Tom Fagan, SWOSU; Dr. Ken Rose, SWOSU and Mason; Carl Tripp, Senior Warden of Western Star Lodge; and Charles Webster III, SWOSU student and Mason.

The Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma has donated $100,000 to Southwestern Oklahoma State University to fund an academic enrichment series on the Weatherford campus.

The endowment gift to the SWOSU Foundation was given by the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma and will help establish a speaker series on the SWOSU campus. The SWOSU Masonic Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series will bring scholars with national or international prominence to the campus to share current research.

The gift was celebrated May 20 at a reception on the SWOSU campus hosted by SWOSU President Randy Beutler.

Masonic Charity Foundation Executive Director John Logan of Edmond said the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma is proud to present this $100,000 gift.

“Freemasons have been proponents of public education since our country was founded,” Logan said. “We are very aware of the outstanding job done by the regional universities in our state and we want to assist them in their efforts.”

Logan said President Beutler’s vision of establishing the SWOSU Masonic Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series is a wonderful use of the funds. Interest income from the endowment will be used to bring speakers to the campus for the benefit of students and area residents. A committee will be formed to determine the speakers each year.

“We are confident the earnings of this endowment will enhance not only the academic experience for the students but also enrich the community of Weatherford and the surrounding area,” Logan said.

Oklahoma has over 231 Masonic Lodges and over 25,000 members, who contributed over $14,000 every day of 2009 to charitable and educational causes. The Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma was named the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation of the Year by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Freemasonry is not a charity; although it promotes charity in its members. It is a fraternity designed to teach morality and ethics and train good men to make themselves of service to themselves, their families and their communities. Freemasonry is not a religion, but it teaches its members to be active in their chosen faith. Freemasonry subscribes to no partisan politics, but it teaches its members to be active in civic concerns.

“We are so appreciative of this gift and thank the Masons for their support of SWOSU,” Beutler said.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Department of Music will host it 37th annual Choral Camp June 20-23 on the Weatherford campus.

The SWOSU Choral Camp is open to students who have completed grades 6-12. Registration will be in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center lobby on Sunday, June 20, from 1-3 p.m.

Camp director Bonnie Sneed said senior high campers will learn the 2010-2011 Oklahoma Music Educators Association All-State audition music with the help of camp faculty.

Junior high campers will sing selections from the Western Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma and All-OCDA Junior High Choir audition music.

For more information on the choral camp and general information on all SWOSU music camps, contact the SWOSU music camp office at (580) 774-3296 or visit the music camp website at www.swosucamps.com.

Area residents are encouraged and invited to attend a celebration of the completion of a huge western Oklahoma tapestry on Thursday, May 27, on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus in Weatherford. 

The year-long project has resulted in a 7 foot high by 14 foot wide tapestry that will be traveling to cities across western Oklahoma. The project, directed by E.K. Jeong, was woven by the hands of many volunteers.

The free come-and-go celebration will be held from 12 noon until 5 p.m. in Room 415 of the SWOSU Art Building. Jeong encourages everyone to stop by and view the tapestry.

“The huge tapestry now projects its final image, the result of nearly 300,000 warp-and-weft crossings,” Jeong said. 

The public art project will be available for cities to display. Any organization or city that is interested in hosting the tapestry exhibit should contact the SWOSU Art Department at (580) 774-3756 or Jeong at ek.jeong@swosu.edu.

Don Dowling of Frisco (TX) (second from right) has been named the 2010 Outstanding Alumnus of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in Weatherford. He was honored during the college's recent awards and white coat ceremony held on the SWOSU campus. Others pictured with Dowling include (from left): Gary and Susan Tigert (Don's sister); wife Barbara; and Patti Harper, alumni development officer for the SWOSU College of Pharmacy.

James O. Spoon (right) of Sand Springs has been named the 2010 Outstanding Alumnus of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in Weatherford. He was honored during the college's recent awards and white coat ceremony held on the SWOSU campus. With Spoon is Dr. Doug Ried, dean of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy.

Don Dowling of Frisco (TX) and James O. Spoon of Sand Springs have been named the 2010 Outstanding Alumni of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in Weatherford.

They were honored during the recent SWOSU College of Pharmacy Awards and White Coat Ceremony held on the SWOSU campus.

The Outstanding Alumnus award is presented each year to an individual demonstrating exceptional support of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy and outstanding personal achievements in the profession.

Dowling was raised in Rush Springs and graduated from the SWOSU College of Pharmacy in 1956. He soon joined Wyeth Laboratories where he spent 43 years, starting out as a territory manager and ending up as executive national sales director at the Wyeth/Ayerst home office. He has spent the past seven years as a pharmacist at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children in Dallas, Texas.

Spoon is a graduate of Miami High School and a 1975 graduate of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy. He is a lifetime member of the SWOSU Pharmacy Alumni Association. He is active in civic affairs in the Sand Springs community and has been very involved with state-wide pharmacy organizations. He has served as president of the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association and Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy.

One of Southwestern Oklahoma State University's sister universities, Dong-A University in Busan, South Korea, is extending an invitation to three SWOSU students to participate in the Korean Summer Session (KSS) from July 5-17 this year.

KSS is a cultural and language program that is designed for the students to experience an exotic new environment, learning about the Korean culture and meeting international students from around the world.  The program includes special lectures, Korean Language classes, field trips and various cultural activities sponsored by Dong-A University and Busan City.

The program is free of charge except the round-trip airfare to Busan.  The deadline for applying is May 31 and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. University credit is an option, according to Dr. Radwan Al-Jarrah, dean of the SWOSU College of Arts and Sciences.

For application materials and more information, contact Dr.  Al-Jarrah at 580-774-7152, 580-330-0696, or radwan.aljarrah@swosu.edu.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Steven Ray (right), technology specialist in the SWOSU Distance Learning Department, recently received a travel grant through the Higher Education Telecommunication Association of Oklahoma (HETA) in the amount of $1,800.  The grant, in part, funded the travel of Ray to the recent ITC Conference in Ft. Worth, Texas.  The conference centered on topics like course development, new technologies for course delivery, and solutions other institutions use for challenges faced in distance education. With Ray is SWOSU Provost Blake Sonobe.

Dr. Bob Blackburn (left), executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, was inducted into Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on May 8 as part of SWOSU's Commencement on the Weatherford campus. SWOSU President Randy Beutler presents Blackburn with a plaque. Blackburn was guest speaker at the SWOSU ceremony.

Long-time Artesia (N.M.) pharmacist and businessman Lowell M. Irby (right) was inducted into Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on May 8 as part of SWOSU's Commencement on the Weatherford campus. SWOSU President Randy Beutler presents Irby with a plaque. Irby was guest speaker at the SWOSU ceremony.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy seniors were recently honored at a graduate recognition ceremony held on the Weatherford campus. All seniors were awarded their Doctor of Pharmacy hoods. Various senior awards were also presented to outstanding students. Among the students receiving awards included

(from left): Anita Patel, Yukon, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award; Stoney R. Pride, El Reno, $500 McKesson, Inc. Scholarship; and Brett J. Whitehead, Mustang, Eli Lilly and Company Achievement Award.
(from left): Sarah J. Propp, Slaton TX, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award; Kristina D. Wood, Canyon TX, ASP Outstanding Senior Recognition Award; and Megan L. Roberts, Midland TX, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award.
David L. Cannon, Lone Grove, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award; and Lena M. Truong, Ardmore, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award.
(from left): Rebecca G. Stodieck, Ft. Worth TX, OSHP Award; and Asmini A. Mohanlal, Arlington TX (Lamar), College of Pharmacy Recognition Award.
(from left): Melinda D. Le, Oklahoma City (Westmoore), College of Pharmacy Recognition Award; and Megan N. Atchley, Oklahoma City (Westmoore), College of Pharmacy Recognition Award.
(from left): MaKinzie R. Carey, Perry, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award; and Jessica L. Collum, Perkins-Tyrone, Mylan Excellence in Pharmacy Award.
(from left): LeAnn Parent, Spiro, Merck & Company Award; and Elizabeth E. Hanover, Warner, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award.
(from left): Lori K. Freno, Weatherford, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award; and Brian D. Hamburger, Weatherford, Facts & Comparison Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication.
Donnie L. Hodge of Broken Arrow, Teva Pharmaceuticals Outstanding Student Award.	Jason B. Rivera of Choctaw, OPhA Membership Award.
Jennifer K. Cropp of Cortez CO, Merck & Company Award.	Swathi H. Krishnaprasad of Edmond, College of Pharmacy Recognition Award.
Sara J. Miller of Lindsay, Keller Family Memorial Scholarship.	Rachel N. Ingram of Springfield MO, Darla Russell Sykes Memorial Scholarship.
Jennifer L. Bennett of Waynoka, SW College of Pharmacy 2010 Outstanding Graduate.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy faculty Dr. Carrol L. Ramos (left) and Dr. Thomas W. Davis were named Teachers of the Year for 2009-10 by the senior pharmacy students. The awards were presented at the recent senior graduate recognition ceremony held on the Weatherford campus. Davis was the award recipient for the Department of Pharmacy Practice, and Ramos was the winner for the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

A total of 965 students has been named to honor rolls at Southwestern Oklahoma State University for academic work during the 2010 spring semester on the Weatherford campus.

There were 411 students named to the President's Honor Roll. An undergraduate student who earns all A's in 12 or more hours during a semester qualifies for the President's Honor Roll.

There were 554 students on the Dean's Honor Roll. An undergraduate student who completes 12 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher with no grade lower than "C" qualifies for the Dean's Honor Roll.

Named to the 2010 spring semester lists were:

PRESIDENT'S LIST

ARKANSAS

• SILOAM SPRINGS-Courteney Anne Harrald;
• SPRINGDALE-Sandra Souvannachak.

CALIFORNIA

• SANTEE WEST HILLS-Jonathan Douglas Darby.

IDAHO

• SWEET-Klingback Brit Edmondson.

ILLINOIS

• MONTICELLO-Kari C. Seibert.

KANSAS

• LIBERAL-Amy Kristine Janzen;
• MANHATTAN-Hannah Margaret Feeley;
• SOUTHWESTERN HTS-Kayla Donn Argo.

KENTUCKY

• ELIZABETHTOWN-Rachel Lyn Langley.

MAINE

• POLAND-Jessica L. Bilodeau.

MICHIGAN

• LEROY-Sara A Goodenow.

MISSOURI

• MOUNT VERNON-Dakota Benton Brown.

NORTH DAKOTA

• DICKINSON-Tasha Lynn Steinbach.

NEBRASKA

• GERING-Joel M. Barrett.

NEW MEXICO

• RUIDOSO-Steven Chase Stroud.

OKLAHOMA

• ALTUS-Danielle Marie Cordell; Diana Michelle Flood; Amanda Lee Gould; Jonathon Scott Lamb; Daniel Battles Moran; Luis A. Pantoja; Dayna L. Robinson; Micah Paul Webb;
• ALVA-Mark Alan Smithey;
• APACHE-Jackson Cash Lusk;
• ARAPAHO - BUTLER-Madison Schrae Cabaniss; Lori Lyn Shaddon; Kayla L. Shepherd;
• ARNETT-Chelsey Lee Taylor;
• BARTLESVILLE-Rod Aaron Lancaster;
• BATTIEST-William Marshall Burkham;
• BENNINGTON-Debra Erin Michel DeWalt;
• BETHANY-Chad Michael Thurman;
• BETHEL-Jace Michael Johnson; Taylor Raeann Smith;
• BLAIR-Eddie Doug Williams;
• BLANCHARD-Jacob Aaron Fuller;
• BRAY-DOYLE-Melissa Louise McKinley;
• BRISTOW-Ying Lin;
• BROKEN ARROW-Samantha Marie Lull; Rachel A. Van Der Hagen;
• BUFFALO-Jordan Wells Hudson;
• BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY-Wendi Madge Carter; Elissa Luise Saunders; Issac Ray Schneberger; Kiley Jo Wilson;
• CANTON-Lisa Nicole Chain;
• CANUTE-Nathan Lee Merz;
• CARNEGIE-Crystal Renea Harmon; Bryce D. Marshall; Angela Rachelle Morgan;
• CENTRAL-Kaitlyn Annette Arwood; Kayla Ray Benton;
• CHICKASHA-John Allen Merritt; Cassie Michilli Stanley; Kayla Rachelle Wallis;
• CHOCTAW-Kadee J. Carter; Lea Ann Williams;
• CIMARRON-Craig Daniel Hobson; Crystal Leigh Kluver;
• CLAREMORE-Drew Evan Mangrum; Brooke Lauren Rice;
• CLEVELAND-Chelsea Renee Crown; Heather Dawn Moffitt;
• CLINTON-Kayla Elizabeth DeWitt; Jeffery Nathan Lamborn; Krystal Dawn Marshall; Jenny Neziroski; Lacey Wynn Pool; Kenna Elizabeth Ringo; Dinora Roldan; Amy B. Thompson; Phillip Brent Tucker;
• CORDELL-Brandt Adam Arganbright; Dekota Kyle Baker; April Lynn Duggan; Whitney Cole Finch; Jentry Lea Howell; Lauren Elyse Kehl; Holly Faye Wiyninger;
• CORN BIBLE ACADEMY-Kirby Ray Anderson; Angela Danette Dyck; Erin Denise Funk; Lane Jacob Gossen; McKenzie B. Smith; Gloria Semitha Yapsawaki;
• COWETA-Andrew Mark Hayes;
• CRESCENT-MegAnn Brooke Johnson;
• DAVIS-Kaitlin Marie Harrison;
• DEER CREEK-David James Ezersky;
• DEER CREEK-LAMONT-Brent Lee Moore;
• DRUMMOND-Kari Ruth Watkins;
• DUNCAN-Houston Kyle Johnson;
• EDMOND-Jillian Emily Brown;
• EDMOND OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-Nathan J. Troester;
• EDMOND NORTH-Nathan Kyle Beattie; Myong Rang Han;
• EDMOND SANTA FE-Stephen Patrick Day;
• EDMOND MEMORIAL-Meghan Elizabeth Haftman; Elizabeth B. Howard; Cameron Michael-Al Sisco; Tuong-Lan Pham Nguyen;
• EL RENO-Kolby James Bollinger; Nicholas C. Brown; Addelaine Nichole Gill; Lindy J. Harper; Caleb William Koos; Jaclyn Alise Rhoades; Jacob Leon Rhoades; Caleb T. Roberts;
• ELGIN-Nancy Ann McCarthy;
• ELK CITY-Megan Marie Alspach; Keenan Phillip Haught; Kelly Lynn Hayes; Sarah Ann Hill; Martin Eduardo Lopez Jr.; Lindsay Michelle Marks; Montana Colton Matheson; Adam Tyler McCown; Garrett Cole Stevenson; Amy Jo Szedeli;
• ENID-Blake Andrew Boily; Chelsea L. Dupus; Brooke Diane Gibson; April Tinnea Heitfeld; Brandy Lynn Terry;
• FAIRVIEW-Zachary John Burrell; Chad Austin Eldred; Whitney Paige Hamar; Zachary L. Pembrook; Baxter Colton Stewart; Jordan Taylor Stewart;
• FARGO-Kristian Joel Webb;
• FORGAN-Kodie Layne Carter; Ashley Nicole Underwood;
• FORT COBB-BROXTON-Dalton Shane Holdge; Chelsea Nicole May;
• FREDERICK-Nicole Leann Ensley;
• GEARY-Pamela Jean Bingham;
• GOODWELL-Kelsi Lain Peterson;
• GRACEMONT-Lindsey Jo Williams;
• GRANDFIELD-John Mason Bryan; Matthew Lynn Ebner;
• GRANITE-Sarah Nell King;
• GUTHRIE-Erin M. Walker;
• GUYMON-Alejandra S. DeSantiago; Javier Jesus Witt;
• HAILEYVILLE-Dean Floyd O'Nesky;
• HAMMON-Emily Lynn Coppock; Caleb Ryan Flick;
• HARRAH-Felicia Ann Raihl ;
• HEAVENER-Jonathan Glenn Stripling;
• HENNESSEY-Nathan Dean Stotts;
• HINTON-James Luke Chalfant; Billie (Nikki) Nicol N. Noa; Jessica Lyn Pool;
• HOBART-Joshua Kent Adkinson; Emillee May Baker; William Lee Blackwell; Dara Rachelle Quintero; Reggy Kent Yount;
• HOLDENVILLE-Alex Scott Sherry;
• HOLLIS-Brenna Jean Cary; Brittany R. Orr;
• HYDRO-EAKLY-Kassidy Lynn Burchett; Holly Rebecca Johnson; Mary Louise Retherford; Sara Ward Spain; Courtni Michelle Tapper;
• INOLA-Dana Marie Welch;
• JENKS-Thomas G. Shehan; John Alan Thompson;
• KEYES-Ryan Wade Coleman;
• KINGFISHER-Kara Nicole Hicks; Wil Andrew Markus; Tia Nicole Newton; Nikki Richelle Wilczek; Timothy Douglas Winans;
• KONAWA-Zachery E. Williams;
• KREMLIN-HILLSDALE-Bethany Dawn Schmidt;
• LAWTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-Enjema Ngum Tanifum;
• LAWTON EISENHOWER-Julie Marie/Parke Hoover; Amber M. Nobert; Janet Avanti Vazquez;
• LAWTON HIGH-Lauren A. Gladden;
• LAWTON MACARTHUR-Lacie Nicole Keplinger;
• LEEDEY-Jordan Taylor Vanderwork;
• LINDSAY-Cash Armstrong Cooper;
• LOMEGA-Matthew James Stangl;
• LONE WOLF-Morgan Tyler Gould; Dori Ann Lientz;
• LOOKEBA-SICKLES-Vanessa Gail Franklin; Connie Nichole Lokey;
• MADILL-Kathleen Anne Wilburn;
• MANGUM-Brandon James Norris; Sarah Ann Yates;
• MARLOW-Andrew Gib Reed;
• MCLOUD-Brandy Nicole Best; Amanda Denise Carter;
• MIDWEST CITY CARL ALBERT-Kristyn Negail Shawver;
• MINCO-Trevor Cade Brownen; Gina Lea Hacker; Melissa Sue VonTungeln;
• MOORE-Sean Michael Ivins;
• MOORELAND-Kyrstin Michelle Bowers; Tucker Gene Heglin; Kelly Jo Lockhart;
• MOUNDS-Janna Renee Shehan;
• MCLOUD MOUNT SAINT MARYS-Ellen F. Ferrell;
• MOUNTAIN VIEW-GOTEBO-Jessica Laine Carpenter; Savanah Rose Dirickson; Dylan Cooper Frizzell; Tammy Michelle Hooper; Jillian Dianna Martin;
• MUSTANG-Tracy Renee Bowlware; Staci Erin Campbell; Amanda Hope Cook; Larry Don Crouch; Hollie Rae Giles; Hannah Laine Otto; Lauren Michelle Patton; Gwendolyn Lucille Ramon; Linda Melissa Tran; Karena Suzanne Van Horn;
• NAVAJO-Sheena Brooke Williams;
• NEWCASTLE-Shelby Taylor Burk;
• NINNEKAH-Trent Anders Boesen;
• NORMAN HIGH-Justin Daniel Silkwood;
• NORMAN NORTH-Ashlie Nicole Stacy; Jeremy Alan Weimer;
• OKARCHE-Maddie Shea' Crossley; Jordan Rae Wofford;
• OKEENE-Amanda Marie Benham; Mathew Lee Benham; Amy R. London;
• OKLA BIBLE ACADEMY-Allyson Lohrenz Doane;
• OKLAHOMA CITY-Kristi Tafv Larney; Heather Elane Parten;
• OKLAHOMA CITY CLASSEN-Tiffany Bich Le;
• PIEDMONT-Tresa Eileen Igou; Breanna Marie Miller;
• PRAGUE-Jonna Lynn May;
• PURCELL-Kassandra L. Guthmueller; Kelli Dawn Simon;
• PUTNAM CITY-David Alan DeLoera; Crystal M. Mars; Victoria Kathryn Nichols;
• PUTNAM CITY NORTH-Babak Allahyar; Caroline Amanda Burnett; Jennifer Dawn Curtis; Theresa Mong Dang; Kristyn Nicole Hobbs; Heather Rachelle Hoock; Sharon Denise Lawrence; Danielle P. Saunders; Anna Nhu Hoang Vu;
• PUTNAM CITY WEST-Huy Tuan Do; Cynthia Sabrina Ezzell; Christopher Grant Twyman;
• QUITMAN-Meggan Michelle Rother;
• RUSH SPRINGS-Cody Allen Sims;
• SAYRE-Danielle Nicole Bennett; Mallory Ashton Henson; Matthew Shane Mohr; Brook Lee Plummer; Shalene Marie Shaw; Valerie Ann Sheffield; Kristin Paige Winn;
• SEMINOLE-Candise Dawn Warren;
• SENTINEL-Eli Thomas Grant; Cal Joseph Humphrey; Makenzie D. Mecham;
• SHATTUCK-Kahle Brendon Young;
• SHAWNEE-Tanner Fleet Rush; Chad A. Thomas;
• SKIATOOK-Ashton Wayne Fletcher; Kyle W. Reed; Terry A. Reed;
• SNYDER-Amy Elizabeth Hyde;
• SPERRY-Jared Paul Parker;
• STILLWATER-Loza Dejene; Robert Lee Gholson;
• TAHLEQUAH-Ashton Lee Hix;
• TALOGA-Heather Marie Daily; Stefanie Shay Ward;
• THOMAS-FAY-CUSTER-Toni Lea Bowman; Loura Lea Lumpkin; Micah Emily Mathis; Colby Garrett Payne; Kayla Renee Rice; Blair E. Switzer; Bonita Jo Wingard;
• TIPTON-Dianna Ruth Puente;
• TISHOMINGO-Scotty Ray Black;
• TULSA EAST CENTRAL-Lan Ngoc Nguyen;
• TULSA UNION-Keri Lynn Glidewell; Jessica Leigh Metevelis; Allyson Jo Votruba;
• UNION CITY-Kelli Delynne Monroe;
• VANOSS-B. Andrew Hinkle;
• VERDEN-Felicia L. Johnston;
• WALTERS-Erica Shea Edwards; Taylor Elyse Potter;
• WANETTE-Gena Joyce Reese;
• WASHINGTON-Pamela Kaye Winchester;
• WASHITA HEIGHTS-Thomas Joseph Bryant; Courtney S. Hinz; Mandy Marie Horn; Janita Salcido; Kayla Dawn Yandell;
• WATONGA-Tyler John Bailey;
• WEATHERFORD-Brittni Lana Albrightson; Juliana Renee Bell; Nathan Paul Blackmore; Eric Damien Brockelman; Jonathan Paul Brooks; MacKenzie Lea Carder; Tera Janae Cheaney; Carissa Dawn Curtis; Katrina Jewel Detherow; Shelley Renee Engle; Kaleb Mark Fischer; Brent Ferguson Fivecoat; Emily Holland Garrison; Jonathan Robert Hansen; Garren Keith Harms; Brittney Nicole Harper; Rebecca Dawn Hawkins; Shannon Nicole Hawkins; Kayla Mae Heger; Rafael Armando Herrera; Jakob Jennings Hertzel; Daniel Ray Hibbert; Cynthia Gail Hodge; Alina Marie Holt; Lynae Leeanne Ingram; Hai T. Kixmiller; Jordan L. Mahan; Heather N. Matz; Ty Allen Mays; Melissa Dawn McCulley; Sean Daniel Millspaugh; Katrina Annette Nichols; Amy Deen Outhier; Ahwan Pandey; Blain Michael Perkins; Dixie June Purdon; John Edward Rogers; Teresa L. Russell; Michael K. Schafer; Kayla Renee Schmidt; Tyler M. Shadid; AudreyAnn Shephard ; Logan Reuss Sides; Amy Elizabeth Sparks; Shana Renee Stephenson; Lacey Leigh Strunk; Hali Lynn Thornhill; Nicholas E. Thurman; Taylor Reed Wilcox; Kelly Michelle Wilson; Tatyn CeCe Woody;
• WESTMOORE-Brett Andrew Dickson; Kevin Joe Hyde; London Marie McCarthey; Emilie Elizabeth  Miller; Abigail T. Ntreh; Jasmine Elise Turner; Emilee Anne Walker;
• WOODWARD-Amanda Brooke Boyd; Tyler Garrett Powell;
• WYNNEWOOD-Melissa Jo Turner;
• YUKON-Natalie Dawnel Bennet; Rachel Katherine Boster; Kristi K. Novak; McKenzie L. Smith; Casey E. Turner; Hillary Pearson Wells;
• YUKON SOUTHWEST COVENANT-Amanda Nicole Cord.

TEXAS

• ALEDO CHRISTIAN-Mindy Leigh Herb;
• AMARILLO BUSHLAND-Jorja Lee Hammond;
• BORGER-Tyler Dean Maxwell;
• BRISCOE-Kelsey B. Zybach;
• COLLEYVILLE-Nikolas Allen Stajduhar;
• CARROLLTON-Minh Thu Ho; Phuong B. Phan;
• CEDAR HILL-Rebecca-Anne Hope Nelson;
• DALLAS-Kristine Nguyen;
• FORT WORTH-Elizabeth Walto Dumbauld; Avery ElizabethLe Karnes; Philip Julian Maucieri;
• FRISCO-John W. Patterson;
• KATY CINCO RANCH-Alta Criselda Benner;
• LEWISVILLE-Esther Chioma Okoro;
• MIAMI-Rachelle Marie Dougherty;
• PAMPA-Margaret Sue Camden;
• PLANO-Jenna C. Sprague;
• RANDALL-Cameron Deshae McChesney;
• ROWLETT-Andrew Preston Johnson;
• SULPHUR SPRINGS-Tara Renee Gibby;
• TRINITY-Kristen Leigh Kaufman;
• VAN-Alyssa Rae Fisher.

INTERNATIONAL

• KENYA-Nancy N. Mwangi;
• NEPAL-Niva Dangol; Aashish Gurung; Samjhana Kunwar; Preeti Lamsal;
• SOUTH KOREA-Yeo Ju Park;
• TAIPEI-Hsiao-Jung Lin;
• TAIWAN-Ai-hsuan Liu;
• VIETNAM-Trang Minh Tran.

DEAN'S LIST

ALASKA

• EAGLE RIVER-Amanda K. Keiffer; Abram James McMahan.

ARKANSAS

• FORT SMITH-Jessica Marie Ward;
• GRAVETTE-James Harold Austin;
• SPRINGDALE-Ryan Joseph Salsbury; Sarah Ling Souvannachak.

CALIFORNIA

• CHAFFEY-Jonathan Lloyd Weaver;
• CYPRESS-Sterling Jay Williams;
• FALL RIVER MILLS-Clifford Edmund Bernal;
• LAKE FOREST-Sean C. Gordon;
• MCARTHUR-Jessica Lynne Vigil;
• SAN BERNARDINO-Terrence D. Humes.

COLORADO

• LONGMONT-Sarah Elizabeth Badgett ;
• PUEBLO WEST-William Gregor Schwartze;
• WALSH-Baran Chase Ausmus.

IDAHO

• CALDWELL-Holly Elizabeth Weston.

KANSAS

• BURLINGTON-Emily Beth Renyer;
• DERBY-Elizabeth Ann Sommerfeld;
• EL DORADO-Melissa Lynn Stanfield;
• MANHATTAN-Laura Kathleen Feeley;
• OLATHE-Kayla Michelle Bader;
• ULYSSES-Chris M Russell;
• WAMEGO-Amber Nichole Straub;
• WICHITA-Andrew C. Truong;
• WINFIELD-Chance Emory Alquest.

MISSOURI

• BOLIVAR-Todd R. Nix;
• CARL JUNCTION-Patrick Munselle Kelley; Caleb Stephen Morey;
• CASSVILLE-Patrick Logan Whitley;
• KANSAS CITY-Kara Diane Connelly.

NEBRASKA

• BROKEN BOW-Laura Ann Tierney;
• GERING-Amy Jo Barrett.

OHIO

• AMHERST-Kimberly Jean Beight.

OKLAHOMA

• ADAIR-Nathan Cord Colwell Jr;
• AFTON-Jerrod Caloway Frost;
• ALTUS-Kelly Lynn Bryce; Allison Irene Clason; Henry Edward Cowan; Aaron Michael Daniels; Corbin Blake Dickerson; Breanna L. Farley; Serenna Nicole Hitter; Stephanie E. Loague; Jessica Davied Madl; Shannon R. Shaver; Laci Jo Vianco; Justyn Keath Williams; Robert Wise Wolfe;
• AMBER-POCASSET-Stephanie Juanette Ast; Samantha Lee Shell;
• ANADARKO-Kylee Michelle Sullivan;
• ARAPAHO - BUTLER-Allison Shea Bichsel; Holly A. Collins; Stella Corrinne Collins; Billy Benton Gilbert; Jessica Dawn Parker; Adam Steven Richardson; Ashley Rae Rodriguez;
• ARNETT-Kiley Marie Holloway;
• ATOKA-Jamie Dianne Pilkington;
• BARTLESVILLE-Max Eugene Burchett; Bennett Riddell Jackson; Rachel Christin Rickards;
• BEAVER-Samuel Garrett Engelman; Irene Paulina Lopez; Joshua A. Malone; Travis Levi McLemore; Kirby Don Smith;
• BETHEL-Derek Brandon Rowe; Emily Nicole Smith;
• BIG PASTURE-Shelby Cherie Josefy;
• BINGER-Tabitha Ann Adams;
• BOISE CITY-Brock Skyler Oyler;
• BRIDGE CREEK-Raelyn Nicole Williams;
• BROKEN ARROW-Justin Edward Andes; Ann Louise Gammenthaler; Tyler A. Hardin; Jennifer Elizabeth Naramore;
• BROKEN BOW-Lindsey Haylene Timbes;
• BUFFALO-Leobardo Rios;
• BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY-Tanya Nicole Hiss; Katie M. Kennemer; Carlie Brooke May; Kate A. Patton; Casey Schneberger;
• BUTLER-Chris Allen Kauk;
• CALUMET-Garrett A. Eaton;
• CANTON-Joanie M. Cavett; Jessica Marie Hook; Abby Gail Kenrick;
• CANUTE-Passion Camille Cooper;
• CARNEGIE-Kara Kay Cooper; Jace Craig Ewalt; Jacqueline Mammed Hainta; Skylar Edward Horton; Brock Nathaniel Marshall;
• CASHION-Ashley N. Rush;
• CEMENT-Jayme Renae Turner;
• CENTRAL-Justin Eugene Arwood;
• CHEROKEE-Kelsie Rae Chace; Kurtis D. Eckhardt; Jacklyn Tobi Highfill;
• CHEYENNE-James D. Burns;
• CHICKASHA-Deven Marie Brandt; Krystle Lanae McCrackin; Amanda N. Parr; Macy Renee Powell; Brianna S. Richardson; Jeanna Beth Smith;
• CHOCTAW-Steven Rodell Stone;
• CLAREMORE-Amy Lu Sova; Aaron Joshua Sunday;
• CLAREMORE SEQUOYAH-Alexandria L. Foster;
• CLINTON-Colby Aaron Archer; Nicolas Joseph Barton; James Lynn Boone; Randi Nicole Carpenter; Jacquelyn Fran Converset; Garett Shayn Daubenspeck; Stefanie Robin Edgar; Ashlee Leigh Fry; Karen Lynn Garland; David L. Goree; Alison Ann Griffin; Deedra Beth Hall; Chrisara Emily Halsey; Theodore Harry Hammond; Pamela Jane Hough; Justin Jamal Jefferson; Jacob Walter Lamborn; Joel Rene Marquez; Celeste N. McComas; Catherine C. Ringo; Hilda Rodriguez; David Bryan Simpson; Melissa Danette Thompson; Kristy Renee Walker; Haley Jerae Wilson;
• COLLINSVILLE-Colton Bradley Turnbull; Kristen Elizabeth Whaley;
• COMANCHE-Elizabeth Ann Medlen;
• CORDELL-Kent Randel Abernathy; Cody Ray Ainsworth; Jessica Ann Findley; Kalyp J. Oliver; Amber Rianne Rich; Kenneth C. Trent; Michael A. Wiest;
• CORN BIBLE ACADEMY-Carlin Wayne Dyck; Farren Brooke Evetts; Reid Allen Gossen; Adrian ReNea Huiatt; Andrew Blake Kern; Miracle S. Nata Yapsawaki;
• CYRIL-Tyrone Lewis Turner;
• DALE-Justin Dean Welcher;
• DEL CITY-Matthew T. Green;
• DEWEY-Elizabeth Ann Knauss;
• DIBBLE-Anthony John Bertolozzi;
• DOVER-Stacy Kay Matthews;
• DUKE-Clayton Michael Darby;
• DUNCAN-Whitney Michelle Bruton; Kimberly Noelle Butler; Errick Ronnell Claud; Mark Lee Kendall; Stacy Everett Thornton;
• DURANT-Jarryd Blayne Mathews;
• EDMOMD MEMORIAL-Lindsey Allison Tilk;
• EDMOND NORTH-Gabrielle Elizabeth Kinser;
• EL RENO-Corey J. Comer; Erin L. Lembke; Buck E. W. Lorenzen; Jamie A. Rhoades; Lorenzo Roy Robinson; Paulette N. Sanders; Chandon Charles Vieweg; Corey Wade Waller;
• ELK CITY-Reanna Rachelle Barker; Matthew Patrick Boyett; Blake Kyle Bustin; Jennifer S. DeGarmo; Brady Harl Hargis; Alyssa Beth Hefner; Breanna Kay Little; Desaree Layne Lovelace; Jazmin Celeste Ortiz; Melissa Lynn Smith; Valerie Ann Stewart; Steven Kyle Toelle; Lauren Nicole Turner; Shawna Dia Ward-Seelbach;
• ENID-Garrick Alexander Friesen; Taylor A. Ging; Marques Alan Odom;
• ENID CHISHOLM-Matthew Ryan Owings;
• ERICK-Heather Luella Mayfield;
• FAIRVIEW-Kendra Rayleen Griffin; Kaleb S. Kemp; Erica Jay Lawrence; Lacey Marie Stewart; Jason Bruce Wallace; Caitlin Victoria Wieden;
• FORGAN-Kenan Leroy Denten;
• FORT COBB-BROXTON-Heather Nicole Holdge; James Leonard Ratliff; Brennan Michael Sebastian; Brooke Lynn Tyson;
• FORT SUPPLY-Cherice Kylynn Logan;
• FREDERICK-Jade M. Cope; Christopher Douglas Hayes; Courtney Gayle McElroy; Jonathan Charles Stone; Ryeland Michael Wilhite;
• GEARY-Jake Elliot Davidson; Jennifer M. Maib;
• GERONIMO-Ivan Martinez;
• GRACEMONT-Katelyn Miranda Smith;
• GRANITE-Marilynn Kay Lankford;
• GROVE-Wendy Renee' Slater;
• GUYMON-Justin Lee Booth; Breck Dean Burkhart;Tyler O. Mattocks;
• HAMMON-Riley William McCallay; Austin Destry Orgain; MacKenzie Jo Shepherd;
• HARDESTY-Adam Christopher Wood;
• HARTSHORNE-Jessica Ann Barnhill;
• HENRYETTA-Tony Benjamin Gustin; Vinit H. Patel;
• HINTON-Nicole Marie Amzycki; Dena Marie Blaine; Joshua P. Buxton; Andrew Will Mosley; Jeremy Paul Moxley; Elizabeth Ann Smith;
• HOBART-Nicole Ann Beamon; Michelin Ann Butler; Krista Gaye Chain; Sara Denise Elkins;
• HOLLIS-Delene Nicole Gonzalez; Daniel I. Luna;
• HYDRO-EAKLY-Courtland Aaron Lane; Kelsea Danae Lee; Michael Derek Miller; Mandy M. Teerlink;
• JENKS-Shannon Nicole Derrevere;
• JONES-Jordan Daniel Cotter; Rachel E. Tucker;
• KELLYVILLE-Grant Alan Wresche;
• KEYES-Kelsey Danae Lowe;
• KINGFISHER-Jessica Denise Gomez; Dawson Lynne Kester; Antonio J. Rodriguez; Morgan Danielle Thomas;
• KREMLIN-HILLSDALE-Diana Lynn Schultz;
• LAVERNE-Kasha LaRae Burdge;
• LAWTON EISENHOWER-Emily Marie Scott;
• LAWTON HIGH-Sara Bethany Bradlau; Stephen Alfred Thornburg;
• LAWTON MACARTHUR-Kayla Mae Gray; Kayla Joann Hart; Colton Dayne Rainey;
• LEEDEY-Cinda Nathalie Hammack; Donny Joe Smith;
• LEXINGTON-Kori Dawn Ellison;
• LIBERTY -Brittany Nicole Scott;
• LOMEGA-Arlie Jack Collins;
• LONE GROVE-Larry Travis Kitchens;
• LONE WOLF-Jill Dawn Floyd; Casey Dawn McKay;
• LOOKEBA-SICKLES-Jeffrey Wade Bilyeu; James Matthew Dixon; Terri Lynn Kardokus; Kara Dawn Shepherd;
• MADILL-Zack Langdon Broderick;
• MANGUM-John Christopher Merritt; Nicholas Chase Parker;
• MANNFORD-Megan Ann Sherwood;
• MARIETTA-Krystal Dianne Floyd;
• MCALESTER-Jon-Andrew Martin;
• MEDFORD-Paige Noelle Hagerman;
• MEEKER-Tiffany Nichole Crum;
• MERRITT-Tina Rae Price;
• MIDWEST CITY-Jessica Nicole Borm;
• MIDWEST CITY CARL ALBERT-Carrie Marie Boothe;
• MILLWOOD-Antuanya Santaro DeBose;
• MINCO-Kinsey Georgiann Chester; Mallory Diane McMullen; Lindy Brooke Morrison; Michael Mason Morrison; Cynthia R. Reed; Jacob Frederick Rice; Jamie Leigh Rice; Mark Daniel Whalen;
• MOORE-William David Roberson;
• MOORELAND-Michael Duane Elsey; Jordan Tyler Prather; Gary Lee Thrash;
• MORRIS-Jessica Nicole Stewart;
• MOUNTAIN VIEW-GOTEBO-Lindsey Paige Bottom; Jessica Lane Flinn; Chrisalyne Pearl Hagood; Justin Dave Law; Amy Loucinda Osmond; Sheryl Lynn Setzer;
• MULDROW-Jordan Rae Folkerts;
• MUSTANG-Sini Babu; Jeremy Leighton Benson; Michael Brent Bishop; Laurie Morgan Brady; Beth Christian Copeland; Allen Matthew Deak; Natalie Nicole Hopper; Stephen David Myers; Cassie Rene' Roberts; Soumyamol Sunny; Gintu Thomas; Sheba Mariam Thomas; Jennifer Sue Woodard;
• NAVAJO-Courtney Dawn Garcia;  
• NEWALLA-Michela Britta Alexander;
• NEWCASTLE-Jennifer M. Sandwell;
• NORMAN-Daniel R. Houk; Kayla Elaine Warner;
• NORMAN NORTH-Jamie Christine Brock;
• OKARCHE-Kristina Lynn Annuschat; Trevor Grey Beebe;
• OKEENE-Kathleen Anne Crook; Taylor Dawn Heckart; Ashley Marie Roever;
• OKLA BIBLE ACADEMY-Emma Kataryn Grosz; Kristen Ann Koepping; Matthew David Stogsdill;
• OKLAHOMA CITY-Fidelia Nabi Nkwain; Matthew Ryan Parten; Karsten T. Smith;
• OKLAHOMA CITY SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY-Joshua W. Tennison;
• OKMULGEE-Braxton Kyle Huckabee;
• OLUSTEE-Kandice R. Croft;
• OWASSO-Scott Michael Branch; Tera Jordin Santistevan; Tanner R. Volz;
• PAWNEE-Jamie Anne Franks;
• PIEDMONT-Jamie Rachelle Utt;
• PONCA CITY-Amber E. Anderson; Lindsay Johanna Hertzog;
• POND CREEK-HUNTER-Glenn Christian Flock;
• PRAGUE-Sara R. Christoff;
• PURCELL-Amanda Blake King;
• PUTNAM CITY-Elna Noel Daniel; Jocelin Lopez; Tisha K. Mathew;Stephanie Marie Roach; Mekha Susan Thampi; Luke Scot Walker;
• PUTNAM CITY NORTH-Phuong (John) Duy Bui; Nyema J. Elliott; David William Freeman; Ashley Thomas; Glennda Deighann Tiller; Yee S. Wong;
• PUTNAM CITY WEST-Melody Denise Elder; Matthew Kyle Hall ; Kelly Danielle Williams;
• REYDON-Travis Tate Hickey;
• RINGLING-Bonnie C. Farris; Mary Jane Farris;
• RUSH SPRINGS-Cody Ray Walker;
• SALLISAW-Caitlin JoElle Harwell; Vickie Ranae Hopf;
• SAND SPRINGS-Amber Danielle Leslie; Chelsey Erin McVay;
• SAYRE-Kayleigh Lurena Brown ; Cody Lee Carnahan; Karla Virginia Chaparro; Keeley Ann Reeves;
• SEILING-Travis Wayne Daugherty;
• SENTINEL-Gregory Jay Britton; Desirae Dawn Corbin; Laura Lee Deaton; Alyssa Jean Holt; Pamela Joanne Sarver; Tanner Kyle Schantz;
• SHATTUCK-Sarah Nicole Johnson;
• SHAWNEE-William Daniel Chapman;
• SOUTH COFFEYVILLE-Karli Nichole Burch;
• STILLWATER-Robert Scott Bennett; Willy Yi Qu; Jonathan Keith Willett;
• SULPHUR-Shiloh Caleb Butts; Laura Ann Randolph;
• TALOGA-Jeannie Lynn Adair; Tara Dale Richardson;
• TECUMSEH-Jenny E. Braziel;
• THOMAS-FAY-CUSTER-Vicki E. Abernathy; Beverly Jo Aiello; Janae Lynn Chittum; Tara Jo Eschenbacher; Gerald Andrew Greening; Lacey Leanne Haskett; Dakota James Marsh; Laci Denea McSperitt; Larry Cole Pickens; Charissa Joy Zoschke; Deanna L. Zoschke; Elijah David Zoschke; Jonathan E. Zoschke;
• TIPTON-Kyle Scott Abernathy; Hannah E. Gray;
• TULSA BERRYHILL-Bow Thomas Buckner;
• TULSA BISHOP KELLEY-Corey Daniel Creider; Abigail Marie Lybarger;
• TULSA B.T. WASHINGTON-Jamere Antwane King;
• TULSA UNION-Jessica Rae Murphy; Caitlin Nicole Shannon;
• TURPIN-Rafel Hamilton Alvarez;
• TUTTLE-Sara Rene Harwell; Ryan Lee Hendrickson;
• VERDEN-Shelby M. Ortiz;
• VERDIGRIS-Bethany MacKenzie Dargel;
• VICI-Kelsey Nicole Boone; Zachary August Key;
• WALTERS-Ashley Machelle Abbe; Amanda Deann Desadier;
• WASHINGTON-Jacob Daniel Heck; Rebecca Rae Smith;
• WASHITA HEIGHTS-Chance Dalton Fleming; Matthew Kenneth Fleming; Danielle N. Merchant;
• WATONGA-Ciara DeShawn Nitzel; Allen M. Owens;
• WAUKOMIS-Cody James Gragg; Bethany N. Hess; Zachary K. Hess; Cory Dan Williams;
• WAYNE-Kayla Ann Brakefield ;
• WEATHERFORD-Whitley Jean Adams; Elizabeth Eden Beam; Tad William Bennett; Brandon Carl Burr; Whitney A. Chambless; Barlin Chaves; Silas Harold Dodgen; Ebekah Ebai; Richard Wayne Eisenhut; Gwynne Lucille Evans; Carissa M. Fischer; Kaisa Rene' Fischer; Brittany Nicole Fite; Jara DeRae Griffin; Aryn Machelle Hamilton; Mandy Danice Hayes; Katie Elizabeth Henry; Amanda Michelle Hibbert; Teresa Marie Humphreys; Clayton Allen Johnson; James Travis Jones; Kevin Don Kelley; Andrew James Killgore; Beatriz Adriana Lopez; Hector Lopez; Amber Michelle Lowder; Alicia Rae Marquis; Richard Vincent Maul; Aaron Nicole McDonald; Hunter Lee McDonald; Christopher Parton; Tuan Q. Phan; Brandon Kyle Phillips; Loni Gail Prairie Chief; Amanda Nicole Ricks; Christopher Tod Robinson; Jordan David Russell; John E. Saluke; Hayley Ty Schaffer; Ingrid Lynn Simmons; Keagan Jeffrey Smith; Angeca LeLyn Sparger; Ethan McCaleb Sperle; Evan Duncan Taylor; Vanina Toffessi-Tcheuyap; Tanner Joe Wheeler; Auri Rachelle White; Brice C. Winters; Enie Mambo Zama;
• WESTERN HEIGHTS-Valerie Joan Gulikers; Khoi Van Phan; Dana Lynn Russ;
• WESTMOORE-Britnee R. Goure; Amy Michelle Mouser; Darryl Emeka Okeke; Long Hai Tran;Hannah Beth Vanover; Veronica Ann Wilson;
• WOODWARD-Eryn Andrea Brooks; Michelle Katherine Collins; Ricky Duane Frech; Tyler Wilson Hughes; Laura Anne Matthews; Leah Michelle Radke; Breann Nicole Robinson; Nathan James Treadaway;
• YUKON-Melissa Jayne Banks; Ricky L. Garver; Nicole A. Haun; Kati Lynn Hoskins; Dakota Preston Jones; David Kyle Kifer; Mbiminah Nkeih; Sarah Elizabeth Schmitt;
• YUKON SOUTHWEST COVENANT-Zachary Michael Haigh; Samuel Adam Karns.

TEXAS

• ADRIAN-Kelbi Shawn Arfsten;
• AZLE-Emily Marie Walter;
• BEDFORD-Alexander Kaide Li;
• BONHAM-Rozlyn M. Austin;
• BORGER-Elizabeth N. Austin;
• CANADIAN-Jessica Laurel Kidd;
• CLEBURNE-Michael Scott Stewart;
• DALHART-Whitney Leigh Lang; Curry Allen Read;
• DECATUR-Lauren R. Smith;
• EAGLE PASS-Hiralkumar Govindb Patel;
• FOLLETT-Amber Dawn Bell;
• FORT WORTH-William Travis Rose;
• LEWISVILLE-Raiza Diora Coston;
• MCKINNEY-Amber N. Higginbotham;
• MT. VERNON-Lucas Robert Stewart;
• NEW CANEY-Nadalin Christin Mendoza;
• NORTH GARLAND-Chuong Khang Nguyen Le;
• PARIS-Brittany Nico Strickland;
• POTTSBORO-Jake Tyler Scott;
• QUANAH-Caleb Thompson Bursey;
• RICHLAND-Stacia Rachelle Briggs;
• ROCKWALL-Anna Christine Anderson;
• SACHSE-Elyse Ashley Berta;
• SPUR-Megan Kathleen Willis;
• STERLING-Chireen Michell Bradshaw;
• STRATFORD-Craig Henry Kautz;
• WICHITA FALLS-Samantha Jae Dobson; Tanya Dawn Harrelson; Torin RL Howard; Ashton Barrett Rose.

INTERNATIONAL

• AFRICA-Quinlan Dion DeWindt;
• NEPAL-Nanjila Chhetri; Najuma Maharjan; Anup Shrestha; Merina Shrestha;
• SOUTH KOREA-Hana Lee;
• TAIPEI-Chen-Yi Li;
• TAIWAN-Wei-Ting Chen; Tzu-Chuan Wei;
• ZAMBIA-Dora N. Kabunda; Arpita Gunvantbhai Patel.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and Dougherty Forestry Manufacturing in Hinton were recently recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for their innovative collaboration that furthers the education of Oklahoma's workforce. Representatives from the two were honored at a recent reception. Representing DFM was Marshall Dougherty (second from right) and on hand from SWOSU were Center for Economic and Business Development employees (from left) Dr. Marvin Hankins, Doug Misak and Lisa Snider as well as SWOSU President Randy Beutler.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford was among 22 institutions throughout the state recently recognized for their innovative collaborations that further the education of Oklahoma's workforce.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education's Economic Development Grant for the Partnership Recognition Program is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses and to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents' Economic Development Grants.

Dougherty Forestry Manufacturing in Hinton has partnered with SWOSU's Center for Economic and Business Development and its Oklahoma Small Business Development Center to create a company that is continuously providing innovative solutions for farmers, ranchers and government agencies.

Needing a solution to better clear trees and brush, the Dougherty brothers-Patrick and Peter-developed a tractor-mounted saw they dubbed the Turbo Saw. After local success and recognition as a Journal Record Innovator of the Year in 2004, DFM began developing and offering new products. The company now offers nine products within their successful Turbo Saw line.

The SWOSU CEDB has worked diligently with DFM to secure financing, and the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance has helped DFM source materials and utilize state incentives. Sales of Turbo Saw products have doubled each year since the company's inception. DFM will hire more workers to keep up with the rising product demand after the planned facilities expansion.

Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for tuition waivers to employees of the partnering businesses, internships for current students of the institutions to work at the partnering businesses, faculty externships with the partnering businesses, and/or enhancement of the partnership with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.

"To improve Oklahoma's future, we need higher education and businesses to develop successful partnerships and training programs. Through these partnerships, students receive hands-on, career-related experiences and better preparation for college," said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. "With these partnerships in place, Oklahoma can better train future employees and strengthen its position in the global marketplace."

Southwestern Oklahoma State University has 36 summer camps taking place this year on the Weatherford campus.

The camps for youth range from athletics to music/arts to science/math.

A complete listing of the summer camps is available on the SWOSU web site at www.swosu.edu/resources/2010-summer-camps.pdf. Additional information is available by calling (580) 774-3782.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University summer semester classes in Weatherford and Sayre begin on Wednesday, June 2.

Bob Klaassen, registrar on the Weatherford campus, said the university does have online enrollment available through the SWOSU website (www.swosu.edu), so enrollment can be completed at any time. In order to use the online enrollment system, a student must already be fully admitted to the university and have no unresolved issues related to their enrollment. 

Students can enroll in person by stopping at the registrar's office on either the Weatherford or Sayre campuses. Additional information is available by calling the Weatherford office at (580) 774-3777 or the Sayre campus at (580) 928-5533.

Late enrollment continues through June 3. The summer semester at SWOSU concludes on July 29.

Students can also enroll now for the 2010 fall semester that starts August 18.

Office hours for the registrar's office on the Weatherford campus are 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Office hours on the Sayre campus are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Six SWOSU faculty members were awarded promotions, and seven faculty members received tenure at a recent meeting of the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Regents. 

SWOSU President Randy Beutler said the changes are effective for the 2010-11 academic year.

The following faculty members were approved for advancement in rank:

From Associate Professor to Professor                                                          

• Dr. Arden Aspedon, School of Allied Health Sciences
• Dr. Mary Aspedon, Department of Education
• Dr. Nancy Williams, College of Pharmacy

From Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

• Dr. David Bessinger, Department of Music
• Dr. Kevin Collins, Department of Language and Literature
• Dr. Rahmat Talukder, College of Pharmacy 

The following faculty members were approved for tenure:

• Dr. Kevin Collins, Department of Language and Literature
• Dr. David Esjornson, Department of Chemistry and Physics
• Dr. Tim Hubin, Department of Chemistry and Physics
• Ms. E.K. Jeong, Department of Art
• Dr. James Silver, Department of Language and Literature
• Dr. Rahmat Talukder, College of Pharmacy
• Dr. Nancy Williams, College of Pharmacy

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Department of Education recently honored its outstanding students with awards during a ceremony on the Weatherford campus. Students were recognized for efforts during the 2009-10 school year. Receiving awards included

(from left): Jordan Mahan, Weatherford, Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship; and Brittany Fite, Weatherford, Wilbur and Goldie Hays Memorial Scholarship.
(from left): Kristin Winn, Sayre, Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship; Gabriel Winn, Sayre, Janzen/Jarvis Scholarship; and Valerie Sheffield, Sayre, Burcham Sisters Scholarship.
(from left): Dana Russ, Rocky, Burcham Sisters Scholarship; and Molly Murray, Clinton, W.D. and Bess Hibler Scholarship.
Allison Roye, Hartshorne, W.D. and Bess Hibler Scholarship.	Brook Plummer of Sayre, Delta Kappa Gamma Education Grant.
Janelle Lawrence of Lookeba-Sickles, Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship.	Pamela Sarver of Sentinel, Phi Delta Kappa Scholarship.
Tarrah Ahdokobo of Mountain View, Kathy Dick Simpson Memorial Scholarship.	Kati Hoskins of Yukon, Shirley Ann (Lee) Pugh: A Pugh Family Pioneer Award.
from left): Rebecca Smith, Washington, Kathy Dick Simpson Memorial Scholarship; and Tyler Solomon, Noble, Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship.
Kathryn Davis of Piedmont, Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship.	Ryanne Woodard of Leedey, Standifer and Ona Keas Scholarship.
Kelbi Arfsten of Hereford TX, Janzen/Jarvis Scholarship.

SWOSU program participants in a new graduate program designed for commissioned law enforcement officers recently attended a course field exercise at Quartz Mountain Nature Park. Among those attending were (front from left):  SWOSU Associate Dean Dr. Chad Kinder; Shawn Wright, OSBI; Kelly Matthews, OK Probation and Parole; Scott Smith, OK Probation and Parole; and Dean Taylor, Oklahoma State Parks. Standing from left-course instructor CD Perkins; Nick Conner, Oklahoma State Parks; Bryan Burch, Clinton P.D.; Matt Ousley, Clinton P.D.; Kyle Bridges, Weatherford P.D.; R.J. Ellis, Weatherford, P.D.; Dustin Jarnigan, Weatherford P.D.; Michael Rizzi, Weatherford P.D.; Nick Rizzi, Weatherford P.D.; Aaron Gray, Hydro P.D.; Barry Hardaway, Oklahoma State Parks; and course instructor Vince Sidders.

A new graduate degree program designed specifically for commissioned law enforcement officers has been initiated by the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Parks and Recreation Management Department in Weatherford.

Chad Kinder, director of the department, said the degree is a Master of Education in Parks and Recreation Management with an emphasis in Parks and Wildlife Law Enforcement.

The program is being offered in cohort style with a mixture of compressed format weekend and online courses. The officers take each class together, completing the program in one calendar year.

There are 17 program participants in the first class. All class members are currently serving as law enforcement officers from a number of agencies. These include the Weatherford, Clinton and SWOSU Police Departments, Oklahoma State Parks, Oklahoma Probation and Parole, U.S. Forest Service and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. 

Program participants just completed their first semester of study. Most program courses are taught by adjunct instructors from several different agencies. Course instructors have included Dr. Jim Davis and Bill Justice of the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Tactical Team; John Bridges, training officer for Yukon Fire, Police and EMS; CD Perkins, park manager and ranger, Oklahoma State Parks; and Vince Sidders, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement. Instructors scheduled for the summer and fall semesters include Lt. Steven Cornell, Oklahoma Highway Patrol; and Dr. DeWade Langley, director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Kinder said demand for the program has been encouraging. Plans are underway for forming a second group of master's degree candidates for the 2010-2011 academic year. Those interested in entering the program can contact Kinder at (580) 774-3291 or chad.kinder@swosu.edu.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's School of Business & Technology recently held its annual honors reception on the Weatherford campus to recognize outstanding students in the school. Among the students winning awards were

Haley Wetzel, Lawton (MacArthur), Outstanding Student in Accounting and Marseda Garrison Memorial Scholarship. With Wetzel is Joe Merchant of Weatherford who presented the Marseda Garrison Scholarship on behalf of the western Oklahoma chapter of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs. The group established the scholarship in memory of Garrison who recently passed away.	Daniel Luna of Hollis, Frank Polk Memorial Scholarship.
(from left): Niki Sawatzky, Weatherford, Outstanding Student in Accounting; Cody Roper, Weatherford, Dean’s Recommendation; Brandon Burr, Weatherford, Outstanding Student in Engineering Technology & Jerry and Shawn Grizzle Award; Lynae Ingram, Weatherford, Baird, Kurtz & Dobson Award; and Sara Thomas, Weatherford, Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award.
(from left): Lisl Scheuerman, Elk City, Dean’s Recommendation; Garrett Stevenson, Elk City, Outstanding Student in Management; and Tina Price, Elk City (Merritt), Outstanding Student in Information Systems and Dr. Albert H. Gabriel Memorial Scholarship.
from left): Laci Brewer, Clinton, First National Bank & Trust of Elk City; Kortney Fieselman, Butler, Jerry & Shawn Grizzle Award; Rachel Colvin, Clinton, Oklahoma Society of CPAs & K.B. Cornell Memorial Award; and Andrew Kern, Cordell (Corn Bible Academy), Dean’s Recommendation.
(from left): Jessica Flinn, Mt. View-Gotebo, Outstanding Student in Finance Award; and Dalton Holdge, Fort Cobb, Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award.	(from left): Whitney Campbell, Sentinel, Outstanding Student in Entrepreneurship; and Eli Grant, Sentinel, Baird, Kurtz & Dobson Award.
(from left): Kelsey Zybach, Briscoe TX, Chesapeake Scholars and Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award; Craig Kautz, Stratford TX, Computer Club Award; and Rachelle Dougherty, Miami TX, Western Oklahoma Bankers Association Award.
Amanda Carter of McLoud, Outstanding Student in Marketing.	Matej Mrkic of Croatia, Ethel Grace Heinrich Wilson Memorial Award..
(from left): James Burns, Cheyenne, Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award; and Shannon Collins, Cheyenne, Western Oklahoma Bankers Association Award.
Rodney Keck of Fairview, Dean’s Recommendation. Presenting the award is Dr. Les Crall, associate dean of the School of Business and Technology.
(from left): Kelly Lockhart, Mooreland, Chesapeake Scholar; and Kyrstin Bowers, Mooreland, Chesapeake Scholar.
(from left): Sa’Vana McDannald, Vici, Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award; and Kelsey Boone, Vici, Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award.
Jeremy Weimer, El Reno, Dean’s Recommendation.	Allyson Doane, Meno (Oklahoma Bible Academy), Chesapeake Scholar.
Heather Leach, Owasso, Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference Award.	Evan Jarrett, Visalia CA, K.B. Cornell Memorial Scholarship.
Bryan Wilkes, Moore (Westmoore), Chesapeake Scholar.

SWOSU student government leaders recently met with Oklahoma Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson (third from left) at the offices of the State Regents for Higher Education. Among those in attendance were  (from left): Associate Provost Dr. Cindy Foust; Nolan Lawless, SWOSU student and past president of the Oklahoma Student Government Association;  Joshua Buxton, incoming SWOSU Student Government Association president; President Randy Beutler; and Angela Foust, past president of the SWOSU SGA.

Among those involved in an Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) grant for scientific research, led by Dr. Andrea Holgado (second from left), are (from left): Melanie Graham, Carnegie; Ariana Eakle, Stigler; Tyler Hardin, Broken Arrow; Dana Poling, Oklahoma City (Putnam City North); Erica Benda, Union  City; and Carissa Fischer, Weatherford.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor Dr. Andrea Holgado was recently awarded an Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) grant for scientific research in the amount of $135,000. 

Holgado, who teaches in the SWOSU Biological Sciences Department in Weatherford, has a project titled "Molecular analysis of membrane trafficking and fusion" that is intended to provide SWOSU with state of the art equipment and supplies for neuroscience research, stipends for students engaged in this type of research and travel funds to attend international conferences and scientific meetings.  These funds will be used to advance the understanding of communication between neurons in health and disease. 

Specifically, the awarded research will investigate how brain cells communicate using a simple microscopic worm called C. elegans. Findings from this research can easily uncover new strategies for the treatment of neurological disorders. 

For more information about this project contact Dr. Holgado at (580) 774-3230 or andrea.holgado@swosu.edu .

Receiving congratulations for being one of three Oklahoma students to receive an Oklahoma NASA Space Grant internship is SWOSU student Chris Parton (second from right). SWOSU representatives with Parton are (from left): faculty member Madeline Baugher, President Randy Beutler and Provost Blake Sonobe.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University student Chris Parton of Weatherford is one of three Oklahoma students to receive an Oklahoma NASA Space Grant internship at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  

Parton, who is majoring in engineering technology, will join 150 other students from 50 participating schools around the nation in the NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program from June 1-August 6. Program projects are research projects that have been developed by NASA engineers and scientists specifically for undergraduate researchers.  

Parton will work in the area of geographic information systems.  He will perform various tasks such as verifying and mapping research data, space utilization database updates, and historic preservation of records. 

The Oklahoma NASA Space Grant internship is made possible through a special partnership between the Johnson Space Center and the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium.   This partnership provides funding for undergraduate students to take part in a paid, full-time position related to their field of study.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Biology Club and Beta Beta Beta recently held their annual honors banquet on the Weatherford campus. Scholarships and awards were presented to outstanding biology students at the end-of-year ceremony.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students in Weatherford were recently inducted into Beta Beta Beta honor society during an honors banquet on the Weatherford campus. Among those inducted were (front from left): Assistant Professor Dr. Jimena Aracena; Melanie Graham, Carnegie; Tyler Shadid, Weatherford; Chase Stroud, Ruidoso NM; and Tera Santisteven, Owasso. Back from left—Ellen Ferrell, Shawnee; Assistant Professor Dr. Andrea Holgado; Rafel Alvarez, Turpin; Dana Poling, Oklahoma City (Putnam City); and Logan Howard, Canton.

Among those receiving awards are (from left): Bonnie Farris, Ringling, Jerry and Shawn Grizzle Scholarship; Pam Moreno, Texhoma, Jerry and Shawn Grizzle Scholarship; Ellen Ferrell, Shawnee, Otis King Memorial Scholarship; Tera Santisteven, Owasso, Otis King Memorial Scholarship; and Chase Stroud, Ruidoso NM, Otis King Memorial Scholarship.

Among those receiving awards are (from left): Erica Benda, El Reno, Dr. John and Shirley Huser Scholarship; and Carissa Fischer, Weatherford, Ryan Peters Memorial Scholarship.

Among those receiving awards are (from left): Hannah Feeley, Manhattan KS, Arthur Shuck Outstanding Freshman Biology student; Mercedez Bernard, Granite, Charles G. Torbeck Student Service Award; Tyler Shadid, Weatherford, Charles G. Torbeck Student Service Award; Maggie Yoder, Thomas, Hobart Landreth Research Award; Rye Wilhite, Frederick, Audubon Henry Neff Pre-Professional Award; Whitney Wichert, Pampa TX,  Audubon Henry Neff Pre-Professional Award and TriBeta Outstanding Senior Biology Student Award; and Kassandra Guthmueller, Purcell, TriBeta Outstanding Senior Biology Student Award.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduates have an additional picture opportunity during graduation weekend.

Graduates can pose by the new bulldog sculpture on the Weatherford campus. The new bronze bulldog, which is approximately 4 feet tall and 5 feet long, is located just south of the clock tower.

The sculpture was designed and built by Frank Moran of Weatherford. The SWOSU Alumni Association Board of Directors organized the project, which was made possible by Jim Andrews and E. Vann Greer Andrews of Edmond who generously donated money to cover the entire cost of the $30,000 project.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Department of Chemistry recently honored its outstanding students at a banquet held on the Weatherford campus. Receiving honors for the 2009-10 academic year included:

Ashton Kos, Hugo, Cronin Scholarship.	Allyson Votruba, Tulsa (Union), Bobby Gunter Freshman Chemistry Award.
Cory Campbell, Lawton, Osborne Scholarship.	Courtney Garcia, Altus (Navajo), Neparko Family Chemistry Scholarship.
Desiray Cannon, McAlester, Cronin Scholarship.	Issac Schneberger, Burns Flat-Dill City, Castleberry Scholarship.
Joshua Marquette, Owasso, Cronin Scholarship.	Jonathan Walker, Cheyenne, Castleberry Scholarship and ACS Analytical Chemistry Award.
Kayla Wallis, Chickasha, Harold M. White Organic Chemistry Award and Scholarship; and Neparko Family Chemistry Scholarship.	Katherine Coats, Altus, Undergraduate Research Award.
Kevin Wilson, Guthrie, Dan Dill Inorganic Chemistry Award.	Lianna Mueller, Ringwood, John and Jacqueline Ludrick Scholarship.
Michael Macon, Weatherford, Outstanding Organic Chemistry Student Award.	Natalie Simpson, Spearman TX, Cronin Scholarship.
Rachel Rickards, Bartlesville, Neparko Family Chemistry Scholarship.	Starla Bernhardt, Okeene, Cronin Scholarship.
Tarrah Ahdokobo, Mt. View, Earl Reynolds Scholarship.	Travis Bernhardt, Dover, Stuart Burchett Analytical Chemistry Scholarship and Rolan V. Decker Outstanding Biochemistry Student Award.

Approximately 930 Southwestern Oklahoma State University students are eligible to walk through the university's commencement at 10 a.m. this Saturday, May 8, at Milam Stadium in Weatherford.

Students who completed or will complete bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees after the 2009 fall, 2010 spring, 2010 summer and 2010 fall semesters are eligible to participate in the ceremony.

An informal reception will be held in the Wellness Center from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Graduates, parents and friends are welcome to relax and visit.

If commencement cannot be held at Milam Stadium because of inclement weather, four separate exercises will be held in two different buildings on the SWOSU campus. An announcement to use the alternative plan will be made on local radio stations and posted on the SWOSU website and the SWOSU hotline number (580-774-3225).

The alternative schedule is:

• 10 a.m.-College of Pharmacy-Fine Arts Center
• 11:45 a.m.-College of Arts and Sciences-Fine Arts Center
• 1:30 p.m.-College of Professional & Graduate Studies-Rankin Williams Fieldhouse (Includes School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, School of Allied Health and School of Nursing)
• 3:15 p.m.-College of Professional & Graduate Studies-Rankin Williams Fieldhouse (Includes School of Business & Technology and Graduate Studies-Master's Degrees.)

If the alternative plan is used, the Wellness Center will be open from 8 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. to provide coffee and a place for family and friends to gather while waiting for the appropriate ceremony.

Dr. Bob Blackburn and Lowell M. Irby will be inducted into the SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and will be the featured speakers at this year's SWOSU Commencement.  Blackburn is executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, and Irby is a long-time successful pharmacist/businessman in Artesia, N.M. 

Southwestern Oklahoma State University physics alumni, students, staff and friends recently attended the 29^th annual Physics Spring Banquet on the Weatherford campus. SWOSU students who won honors at the banquet include:

Cal Humphrey, Sentinel, Sigma Pi Sigma inductee, Outstanding Mid-classman in Physics and J.R. Pratt Scholarship winner.	Jonathan Brooks, Weatherford, Outstanding New Physics Club member.
Justin Silkwood, Norman, J.R. Pratt Award and graduating with honors.	Michael Moore, Guthrie, Physics Alumni Scholarship winner.
Michela Alexander, Oklahoma City (Christian Heritage), Sigma Pi Sigma Inductee and Chesapeake Scholarship winner.	Wil Markus, Kingfisher, Arthur McClelland Memorial Scholarship winner.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's psychology program recently honored several of its outstanding students on the Weatherford campus. Among the students receiving awards for the 2009-10 year included:

April Arthur of Mill Creek, Gary H. Gilliland Outstanding School Psychology Student Award.	Kalee Childs of Ringwood, Psychology Scholarship Award.
From left: Janet Vazquez, Lawton (Eisenhower), Jim Blagowsky Memorial Award, Harold H. Budde (Exceptional Achievement in Academics); Dana Welch, Inola, Harold H. Budde (Exceptional Achievement in Academics); and Melissa McCulley, Weatherford, Harold H. Budde (Exceptional Achievement in Academics).
Kari Watkins of Drummond, Robert S. Tyler Award (Outstanding Psychology Student).	Janis Gonzales of Altus, 4.0 GPA Recognition Certificate and Outstanding School Psychometry Student Award.
Rebekah Bray of Chickasha, 4.0 GPA Recognition Certificate and Outstanding School Counseling Student Award.	Caleb Scoville of Watonga, Outstanding Community Counseling Student Award.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's College of Pharmacy recently held its annual honors and awards convocation on the Weatherford campus. Awards were presented to outstanding students in the college. Among the SWOSU students receiving awards included:

Amy R. Brueggen, Kingfisher, $1,000 Reinhaus Family Foundation Scholarship.	Mandy D. Hayes, Weatherford, $800 Brewster Family Scholarship.
Gina L. Hacker of Minco, $1,000 50th Anniversary Excellence in Pharmacy Scholarship.	Jessica R. Casselman of Okmulgee (Preston), $1,000 SW Pharmacy Alumni Association Scholarship.
Minh T. Ho of Carrollton TX, $250 Robert Sapp Memorial Scholarship.	Meredith L. Hansard of Lubbock TX, $500 Jerry D. McWilliams Memorial Scholarship.
Nikolas A. Stajduhar of Colleyville TX, Pharmacists Mutual Book Award.
Jake T. Scott of Pottsboro TX, $800 Albert Eaton Memorial Scholarship.	Kayla R. Patrick of Wichita Falls TX, $500 OPhA Auxiliary Award.
From left: Sini Babu, Mustang, $1,000 Ina G. Black Memorial Scholarship; and Gwendolyn L. Ramon, Mustang, $800 Albert Eaton Memorial Scholarship.
Front from left: Sondra M. Nabozny, Sapulpa, $1,000 Jim Lett Family Practice Grant; Rachel van der Hagen, Broken Arrow, $2,000 Walgreen Diversity Scholarship; Jennifer E. Prater, Broken Arrow (Bishop Kelley), $1,200 Albert Ross Pharmacy Scholarship; and Kristin L. Daniels, Sand Springs, $1,000 Donald R. Masse Memorial Practice Grant. Back from left—Tuong-Lan P. Nguyen, Broken Arrow (Memorial), $700 Norman E. Foster Memorial Scholarship; Andrew M. Hayes, Coweta, $1,200 Susan Bookout Memorial Scholarship; Corey D. Creider, Broken Arrow (Bishop Kelley), $250 NACDS Foundation Pharmacy Partners Scholar; Blake Poulter, Owasso, $1,000 Walmart Company Scholarship; Carter C. Simmons, Tulsa (Berryhill), $800 Neparko Family COP Scholarship; and Silas H. Dodgen, Sand Springs, $250 NACDS Foundation Pharmacy Partners Scholar.
From left: Andrew C. Truong, Wichita KS, $400 Clyde Miller Memorial Scholarship; Matthew R. Parten, Wichita KS, $1,000 CVS Pharmacy Scholarship; Emily B. Renyer, Burlington KS, $1,000 Walmart Company Scholarship; Jonathan R. Hansen, Wichita KS, $1,000 Edward C. Christensen Memorial Scholarship; and Laura K. Feeley, Manhattan KS, $900 B.G. Keller Jr. Scholarship.
From left: Sarah B. Bradlau, Lawton, $800 Brewster Family Scholarship; Emily M. Scott, Lawton (Eisenhower), $1,000 Fred Mehew Memorial Scholarship; Matthew C. Sample, Lawton, $2,500 Irby Family Practice Grant; and Amber M. Nobert, Lawton (Eisenhower), $1,000 Jim Lett Family Practice Grant.
From left: Meghan E. Haftman, Edmond (Memorial), $250 Rho Chi Scholarship; Brent L. Moore, Edmond (Deer Creek), $1,000 SW Pharmacy Alumni Association Scholarship; Alex M. Cobb, Oklahoma City (Deer Creek), $500 Billy G. Wells Scholarship; and Lindsey A. Tilk, Edmond (Memorial), $1,000 Jerry & Margaret Hodge Practice Grant.
From left: Khoi V. Phan, Oklahoma City (Western Heights), $700 Floyd S. Ulrich Memorial Scholarship; Teresa Nguyen, Oklahoma City (Putnam City North), $1,000 CVS Pharmacy Scholarship; Brent O. Williams, Oklahoma City, $1,000 Irby Family Practice Grant; and Duyen M. Pham, Oklahoma City (Northwest Classen), $900 W.D. Strother Memorial Scholarship.
From left: Jasmine E. Turner, Oklahoma City (Westmoore), $1,000 Walter L. Dickison Memorial Scholarship; Lezlie A. Raiden, Oklahoma City (Westmoore), $500 Oklahoma County Pharmaceutical Association Scholar; and Long H. Tran, Oklahoma City (Westmoore), $500 W.A. “Tate” Taylor Memorial Scholarship. Not pictured is Ha Trieu, Oklahoma City (Westmoore), $2,500 Irby Family Practice Grant.
From left: Shelley R. Engle, Sarcoxie MO, $1,000 SW Pharmacy Alumni Association Scholarship; Patrick L. Whitley, Cassville MO, $250 NACDS Foundation Pharmacy Partners Scholar; Katelyn M. Deak, Greenfield MO, $1,000 Walter L. Dickison Memorial Scholarship; and Cassandra L. Robertson, Mt. Vernon MO, $1,000 Harold Burton Practice Grant.
From left: Jessica N. Borm, Choctaw (Midwest City), $700 Cindy Toal Memorial Scholarship; Donald B. Casey, Harrah, $1,000 Reinhaus Family foundation Scholarship; Chad A. Thomas, Shawnee, $600 Wayne Bearden Memorial Scholarship; and Brandy N. Best, McLoud, $1,200 Albert Ross Pharmacy Scholarship.
From left: Luis A. Pantoja, Altus, $1,000 Joseph J. Schwemin Scholarship; Joseph M. Forcucci, Altus, $1,250 Secundum Artem Compounding Scholarship; and Sarah A. Yates, Mangum, $250 NACDS Foundation Pharmacy Partners Scholar.
From left: Augusta E. Wyatt, Fayetteville AR, $400 H. David Bergman Scholarship; Tony B. Gustin, Ft. Smith AR, $800 Harold Burton Memorial Scholarship; and Sandra Souvannachak, Springdale AR, $500 Charles & Elizabeth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship.
From left: Michael C. Pilkington, Silo, $2,000 Abbott Family Scholarship; Scotty R. Black, Tishomingo, $1,200 Baucum Family Practice Grant; and Amanda N. Campo, Durant, $1,000 Edgeman Family Scholarship.
From left: Jeanna B. Smith, Chickasha, $800 Dr. Gary Russi Endowed Scholarship; and Danica J. Brown, Chickasha, $1,200 Baucum Family Practice Grant.
From left: Juan M. Rosales, Clinton, $1,000 CVS Pharmacy Scholarship; and Michyla L. Adams, Clinton, $1,200 Velma Eaton Memorial Scholarship.
From left: Megan M. Swayze, Freedom, $1,000 Walmart Company Scholarship; and Marisa A. Tolson, Waynoka, $500 Perkey Family Scholarship.
From left: Justin L. Booth, Guymon, $1,000 Pharmacists Mutual Scholarship; and Andrea C. Kaiser, Guymon, $1,000 Jerry & Margaret Hodge Practice Grant.
From left: Teresa A. Hayes, Tahlequah, $1,000 Reinhaus Family Foundation Scholarship; and Shannon R. Gower, Tahlequah, $1,250 Secundum Artem Compounding Scholarship.
From left: Robert L. Gholson, Stillwater, $2,000 PharmcareOK Scholarship; and Travis B. Wolff, Yale, $1,000 Jerry & Margaret Hodge Practice Grant.
Elizabeth R. Barnhart, Eufaula, $2,500 Irby Family Practice Grant.	Christina A. Shipman of Tuttle, $1,200 Baucum Family Practice Grant.
Kristin A. Basler of Leedey, $1,200 Amy Switzer Jones Memorial Scholarship.	Jordan R. Folkerts of Muldrow, $900 H.F. Timmons Scholarship
From left: Mylinh T. Nguyen, Norman, $1,000 CVS Pharmacy Scholarship; and Jeremy S. Parks, Norman, $2,000 Irby Family Practice Grant.
Kenneth W. Bailes II of Stratford, $500 Michael A. Brown Memorial Scholarship.
Whitney D. Kautz, Arthur City TX (North Lamar), $400 Tarrant County Pharmacy Association Scholarship.	Melissa N. Terrell of Amarillo TX, $1,000 CVS Pharmacy Scholarship.

Dr. Henry Kirkland (second from right), a biology professor from 1972-1996 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, was recently honored by Dr. Wade and Sarah McCoy (right) of Oklahoma City with a scholarship endowment in Kirkland's name with the SWOSU Foundation in Weatherford. A reception was held for former students and colleagues at the Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City and among those attending was (left) SWOSU President Randy Beutler.

Dr. Henry Kirkland, a retired biology professor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, was recently honored by Dr. Wade and Sarah McCoy of Oklahoma City who established a scholarship endowment in Kirkland's name with the SWOSU Foundation in Weatherford.

A reception was held at the Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City where more than 100 of Kirkland's former students and colleagues gathered to hear the inspiring story of Dr. Kirkland, who taught at SWOSU from 1972-1996. Former students from Booker T. Washington High School of El Reno, El Reno High School and SWOSU were in attendance.

Wade McCoy, who is a doctor at Gilbert Medical Center in Bethany, and Sarah started the F.K. "Skeet" Carney and Dr. Henry Kirkland Jr. SWOSU Biological Sciences Scholarship to honor Kirkland's involvement in the McCoy's lives as a professor and mentor. Carney is mentioned in the official name because he was a pharmacist who took a chance and employed Kirkland when he was a child. Kirkland was deeply affected by the generosity shown to him as a young man by Carney and used that to inspire others as a noted educator. Many of Kirkland's students became the indirect recipients of Carney's influence.

"Since Sarah and I are both alumni of Southwestern, we have fond memories and a sense of gratitude toward the university," McCoy said. "Though many professors had a strong influence on us, Dr Henry Kirkland impacted our lives in a way that changed our futures forever. The story of Skeet Carney and Dr Kirkland is too important to let it be forgotten. This scholarship is one way to insure the story of giving will live on."    

The scholarship will be awarded to a biological sciences or pre-health student at SWOSU.

To contribute to this endowment or for additional information about the scholarship, contact Nicole Boyles, director of planned giving at SWOSU, at (580) 774-3267. 

Fifteen high school seniors have been selected to the President's Leadership Class for 2010-11 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

They are:

Chelsea Ankney Clinton, OK	Blaine Boyd Weatherford. OK
Taylor Boyd Weatherford, OK	Karlea Brooks Guymon, OK
Samantha Carson Elk City, OK	Rachel Denison Idabel, OK
Jennifer Fischer Weatherford, OK	Kimes Gilbert Oklahoma City (Southmoore), OK
Cord Gothard Velma-Alma, OK	Kody McKay Rush Springs, OK
Quynh Phi Oklahoma City (Southeast), OK	Chase Pickering Oklahoma City (Westmoore), OK
Will Robinson Canton, OK	Taler Sawatzky Weatherford. OK
Whitney Weems Kingfisher, OK

Each of the class members will receive a $1,000 scholarship, room scholarship and enrollment in a leadership class that will be offered exclusively to PLC students. During the second year, students receive a $1,000 scholarship, an end-of-semester educational trip to Washington, D.C.; and enrollment in the PLC course. During the third and fourth years of the program, students serve as mentors for the first and second year PLC members and serve in campus leadership roles, university activities and possible internships. Students may be eligible for continuing scholarships. 

SWOSU President Randy Beutler said the PLC is a four-year program offered by SWOSU to recognize outstanding leadership qualities and to encourage students in their participation as SWOSU campus leaders and future leaders in Oklahoma. The program is designed to assist in promoting and developing effective academic, social and leadership skills. This is accomplished through direct participation in campus activities, seminars, guest speakers, recruitment and alumni efforts.

SWOSU offers 15 nationally-accredited academic programs-the most among Oklahoma's regional universities. SWOSU has two campus locations and offers nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a doctorate in pharmacy. Additional information is available at www.swosu.edu.

SWOSU Residence Life Department recently planted a Shumard Oak tree just south of the Memorial Student Center in honor of retired SWOSU President John Hays (center), who is surrounded by residence life advisors and SWOSU employees. Chad Martin, director of the department, said the RAs and student residents wanted to do something that would be long-lasting on the SWOSU campus. 

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students start finals on April 29, so SWOSU President Randy Beutler and other administrators/staff are hosting a traditional free late-night pancake breakfast on Wednesday night, April 28, on the Weatherford campus.

The free breakfast is held from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight in the Memorial Student Center. This is always a popular event for students on the night before the beginning of spring semester finals.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast is hosted by the SWOSU administrators/staff who fix and serve the meal.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University student Hollie Giles of Mustang recently represented SWOSU at the George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship Academy in Oklahoma City. Giles is congratulated by SWOSU President Randy Beutler.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University senior nursing student Hollie Giles of Mustang recently attended the George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship Academy in Oklahoma City.

Giles was the SWOSU representative to the academy and received a $1,000 scholarship to attend the five-day event. Students met with many state leaders, prominent business leaders and academic scholars and visited several places around the State Capitol area.

The academy was established by the state legislature in 2000 to honor the Nighs for their contributions to public service. Universities in Oklahoma are allowed to send one representative from each campus to the academy.

Five Southwestern Oklahoma State University alumni are currently serving as presidents of Oklahoma colleges and universities.  They are (from left):  Dr. Terry Britton, Rose State College; Dr. James Utterback, Seminole State College; Randy Beutler, SWOSU; Randy Cumby, Western Oklahoma State College; and Dr. Roger Stacy, Northern Oklahoma College. The five were at a recent meeting in Oklahoma City.

A total of 566 high school seniors have enrolled for the 2010 fall semester at Southwestern Oklahoma State University as part of the New Student Orientation Program on the Weatherford campus.

SWOSU is offering three more enrollment opportunities for high school seniors who are planning to attend SWOSU this fall. Enrollment dates are June 14, July 22 and August 13.

Students must apply and be accepted to SWOSU before they can attend an enrollment session. For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso/ or contact New Student Orientation at (580) 774-3233 or orientation@swosu.edu

The Student Government Association at Southwestern Oklahoma State University will have its awards banquet this Tuesday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom.

At the banquet, the current SGA officers will be honored and the newly-elected officers will take over leading the student body at SWOSU.

New officers are: president Josh Buxton, vice president Allison Lee and treasurer Rachelle Dougherty. Outgoing officers are president Angela Foust, vice president Tyler Rogers and secretary John Saluke.

SGA will also be honoring the most outstanding faculty member, organization and community business.

Everyone is invited. Tickets are $5 at the door.                

Taipei Municipal University of Education (TMUE) in Taiwan, one of Southwestern Oklahoma State University's exchange program sister universities, is offering SWOSU students free accommodations and job opportunities for students interested in a one-year academic exchange.

Dr. Radwan Al-Jarrah, who heads up the exchange program at SWOSU, said TMUE offers courses that require little or no knowledge of the Chinese language skills. The courses are taught by United States/ European educated faculty members using English/Italian/German/French textbooks.

Al-Jarrah said scholarships are also available from the Ministry of Education for foreign students to support their study in Taiwan.

"This is a unique opportunity for any student who might be interested in spending one year in the exchange program," Al-Jarrah said.

Currently, four TMUE students are at SWOSU as part of the exchange program agreement.

For more information, interested students should contact Al-Jarrah at 580-774-7152 or radwan.aljarrah@swosu.edu  or Dr. Sophia Lee at 580-774-3218 or sophia.lee@swosu.edu.

Approximately 478 students from Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford will complete requirements for bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees after the 2010 spring semester.

Convocation will be Saturday, May 8, at 10 a.m. at Milam Stadium on the Weatherford campus. Students who will receive their degrees include:

ALASKA

• ANCHORAGE-Jeremy Ratliff, Doctor of Pharmacy.

ARKANSAS

• DELIGHT-Jase Johnson, B.S.in Parks and Recreation;
• SPRINGDALE-Ryan Salsbury, B.B.A. in Marketing; Stephanie Souvannachak, B.S. in Health Sciences.

CALIFORNIA

• UPLAND-Kendahl Moore, M. Ed. in (Non-Certification) Sports Management;
• VISALIA-Evan Jarrett, B.B.A. in Finance.

ILLINOIS

• CARY-Damian Smith, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• MONTICELLO-Kari Seibert, B.S. in Nursing.

KANSAS

• HUTHINSON-Rebecca Downs, M. Ed. in Educational Administration;
• JUNCTION CITY-Billie Mack, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• LIBERAL-Nikki Nosekabel, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Two Dimensional Studio;
• OXFORD-Kadee Carter, B.S. in Special Education;
• PLAINS-Amanda Harden, Doctor of Pharmacy.

MAINE

• POLAND-Jessica Bilodeau, B.S. in Health and Physical Education;
• SOUTH PARIS-James Libby, B.B.A. in Finance.

MICHIGAN

• LEROY-Sara Goodenow, B.S. in Special Education.

MISSOURI

• MOUNT VERNON-Brittney Bennett, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• SPRINGFIELD-Rachel Ingram, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CALHOUN CITY-Ashley Adams, B.B.A. in Marketing.

NEBRASKA

• GERING-Amy Barrett, B.B.A. in Management.

NEW MEXICO

• TAOS-Gina Taulman, B.S. in Health Sciences.

NORTH CAROLINA

• KING-Thomas Merritt, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship;
• LAURINBURG-Nikolas Faulk, B A. in History.

OKLAHOMA

• ALTUS-Sara Chambers, B.S. in Nursing; Danielle Cordell, B.S. in Computer Science; Erica Edwards, B.S. in Nursing; Amanda Gould, Bachelor of Social Work; Michael House, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Park Johnson III, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Kodie Keenum, B.S. in Athletic Training; Jonathon Lamb, B.A. in History Education; Luis Maldonado, B.B.A. in Management; April Nelson, B.B.A. in Management; Dayna Robinson, B.A. in Communication Arts; Leticia Sanchez, M. Ed. in Educational Administration; Laci Vianco, B.A. in Criminal Justice; Ryeland Wilhite, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• ARAPAHO-Jessica Carpenter, B.S. in Health Care Administration; Rachel Howell, B.S. in Athletic Training;
• ARDMORE-Jennifer Taylor, B.S. in Psychology;
• ARNETT-Bradley Jennings, B.S. in Technology Education; Robyn Taylor, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• ATOKA-Jamie Pilkington, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• BEAVER-Travis McLemore, B.A. in Criminal Justice;
• BEGGS-Mindy Smith, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship;
• BETHANY-David DeLoera, B.S. in Nursing;
• BINGER-Debra Toho, B.S. in Organizational Leadership; Amber Wilson, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• BIXBY-Jessica Metevelis, B.S. in Nursing;
• BOISE CITY-Gary Tuell, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• BRISTOW-Matthew Morgan, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• BROKEN ARROW-Keri Glidewell, B.S. in Nursing; Donnie Hodge, Doctor of Pharmacy; Jennifer Naramore, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• BROKEN BOW-Sara Bond, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• BUFFALO-Erik Hudson, Doctor of Pharmacy; Kent Wilkerson, B.A. in Chemistry;
• BURNS FLAT-Renee Klassen, B.A. in Political Science; Timothy Williams, B.S in Park Law Enforcement; Kiley Wilson, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• BUTLER-AudreyAnn Shephard, B.S. in Nursing;
• CALUMET-Lana Garcia, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Diane Pardew, M.S. in Community Counseling;
• CANTON-Kirby Smith, B.S. in Park Law Enforcement;
• CANUTE-Margaret Camden, B.S. in Elementary Education; Jimmy Gordon, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Nathan Merz, B.A. in History Education; Bernice Walker, B.S. in Psychology;
• CARNEGIE-Crystal Harmon, B.S. in Elementary Education; Bryce Marshall, B.B.A. in Management; Micheal Willis, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• CARTER-Questa Williamson, B.B.A. in Finance;
• CASHION-Dustin Stein, B.S. in Athletic Training; Chad Tichenor, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CHEROKEE-Megan Williamson, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CHESTER-Baxter Stewart, B.A. in Communication Arts;
• CHEYENEE-James Burns, B.B.A. in Finance; Tyler Swartwood, M.S. in Management;
• CHICKASHA-Jerry Bray Jr., M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• CHOCTAW-Jonathan Pearson, Doctor of Pharmacy; Jason Rivera, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CLAREMORE-Samuel Shell, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CLINTON-Nicolas Barton, B.B.A. in Management; Lonnie Burns, M.S. in Community Counseling; Brent Carlson, B.S. in Industrial Technology; Rachel Colvin, B.B.A. in Accounting; Garrett George, B.B.A. in Management; Deedra Hall, B.A. in Art Education; Jacob Lamborn, B.S. in Computer Science; Lacey Pool, B.B.A. in Finance; Lori Shaddon, B.S. in Nursing; Kayla Shepherd, B.S. in Elementary Education; Micaela Suitor, B.A. in Communication Arts; Phillip Tucker, B.S. in Athletic Training; Tina Zweiacher, B.S. in Parks and Recreation;
• COALGATE-Christopher Bradley, M.Ed. in (Non-Certification) Social Sciences;
• COLLINSVILLE-Staci West, B.S. in Health Sciences; Kendal Wolfe, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• COLONY-Mandy Horn, B.S. in Early Childhood Education;
• CORDELL-Whitney Campbell, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship; April Duggan, B.S. in Exercise Science; Ashley Elwell, B.B.A. in Management; Daniel Lundy, B.S. in Engineering Physics; Slade Nightengale, B.B.A. in Finance; Janiece Rizzi, B.S. in Exercise Science; Michael Wiest, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• CORN-Carlin Dyck, B.B.A. in Finance; Courtney Hinz, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Shanleigh Kelly, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Kyle Schmidt, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• COWETA-Ean Miller, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CUSTER CITY-Toni Bowman, Bachelor of Social Work;
• DAVIS-Summer Smith, B.S. in Early Childhood Education;
• DRUMMOND-Drewry Hughes, M.Ed. in (Non-Certification) Parks and Recreation Management;
• DUNCAN-Tyler Brack, B.B.A. in Marketing; Whitney Bruton, B.S. in Health Sciences; Shanessa Smith, Bachelor of Social Work;
• EDMOND-Carissa Abernathy, M.B.A. in Business Administration; Jillian Brown, Bachelor of Social Work; Jessica Collum, Doctor of Pharmacy; Stephen Day, B.S. in Exercise Science; James Jones, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Swathi Krishnaprasad, Doctor of Pharmacy; Preston Kysar, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Jordan Richison, B.A. in Communication Arts; Holly Roper, Doctor of Pharmacy; Jamie Wood-Smith, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• EL RENO-Glenda De Santis, M.Ed.in Art; Cynthia Ezzell, B.B.A. in Finance; Addelaine Gill, B.S. in Nursing; Lindy Harper, B.S. in Elementary Education; Lauren Hudson, B.S. in Health Sciences; Zachary Kamm, B.S. in Computer Science; Wessley Lamoreaux, B.S. in Engineering Physics and Mathematics; Buck Lorenzen, B.S. in Park Law Enforcement; Rowdy Nelson, B.S. in Psychology; Stoney Pride, Doctor of Pharmacy; William Tate, Doctor of Pharmacy; Corey Waller, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Dennis Wallin, B.B.A. in Management; Andrea Williams, B.B.A. in Finance;
• ELGIN-Amanda James, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Nancy McCarthy, B.S. in Nursing;
• ELK CITY-Micaela Bounds, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Brady Hargis, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Sarah Hill, B.S. in Psychology; Steven Houdek, B.S. in Psychology; Daniel Moran, B.A. in English Education; Tina Price, B.S. in Information Systems; Joshua Priddle, B.A. in Chemistry; Garrett Stevenson,. B.B.A. in Management; Amy Szedeli, B.S. in Special Education; Prasad Udwadia, B.S. in Information Systems; Candise Warren, Bachelor of Social Work; William Warren, B.A. in Criminal Justice; Jered Williams, B.A. in History; Tiffany Wood, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• ENID-Michael Dawson, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Chelsea Dupus, B.S. in Health Sciences; Brooke Gibson, Bachelor of Social Work; Taylor Ging, B.B.A. in Accounting; Megan Lee, B.S. in Health Sciences; Kari Watkins, B.S. in Psychology;
• ERICK-Chester Davis, B.S. in Industrial Technology;
• FAIRVIEW-Caitlin Wieden, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Stacy Wilcox, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• FLETCHER-Nicholas Pardon, B.A. in Chemistry; Cody Sullivan, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• FORGAN-Kodie Carter, B.S. in Nursing;
• FORT COBB-Shelly Rogers, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• FREDERICK-Andrea Klein, B.S. Health Information Management;
• GAGE-Linda Schroeder, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• GEARY-Ashley Price, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• GLENPOOL-Bonnie Winfrey-Woodruff, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• GOTEBO-Jillian Martin, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Amy Osmond, Bachelor of Social Work;
• GOULD-Jason Miranda, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• GRACEMONT-Lindsey Williams, B.S. in Nursing;
• GRANITE-Rodney Hawkins, B.B.A. in Accounting; Sarah King, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• GUTHRIE-David Ezersky, B.S. in Nursing; Erin Walker, B.S. in Health Care Administration;
• HARRAH-Tiffany Crum, B.S. in Health Sciences; Katheryn Mussyal, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• HEADRICK-Sheena Williams, B.A. in English Education;
• HENNESSEY-Adam Stewart, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• HENRYETTA-Kelly Furer, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• HINTON-Nicole Amzycki, B.S. in Special Education;  Kamela Brookshire B.B.A. in Management; Glenn Flock, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Sara McLoud, M.Ed. in Reading Specialist; Christopher Sutton, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship;
• HITCHCOCK-Lacey Scheffler, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• HOBART-Emillee Baker, B.S. in Nursing; Julie Funkhouser, M.Ed. in (Non Certification) Parks & Recreation Management; Lauren Gimlin, Doctor of Pharmacy; Morgan Gould, B.B.A. in Accounting; Dori Lientz, B.A. in English; Valerie Standerfer, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship; Reggy Yount, B.A. in History Education;
• HOLLIS-Brittany Orr, Bachelor of Social Work; Kendon Wood, B.S. in Parks and Recreation;
• HOOKER-Stephanie Sides, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studio;
• HUGO-Deborah Capers, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• HYDRO-Robert Barger, B.S. in Park Law Enforcement; Zachary Brooks, B.S. in Park Law Enforcement; Kristyn Hobbs, B.S. in Nursing; Courtland Lane, B.S. in Park Law Enforcement; Billie (Nikki) Noa, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Three-Dimensional Studies; Melissa Turner, B.A. in Art Education; Shelby Unruh, M.B.A. in Business Administration;
• JENKS-Sarah Carlock, B.A. in English;
• KEYES-Ryan Coleman, B.S. in Parks and Recreation;
• KINGFISHER-Kara Hicks, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• LAVERNE-Jillian Bartow, B.S. in Psychology;
• LAWTON-Melissa Blundell, Doctor of Pharmacy; Amber Easton, Doctor of Pharmacy; Lauren Gladden, B.S. in Athletic Training; Lacie Keplinger, B.S. in Nursing; Jessica Pillow, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• LINDSAY-John Edwards, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• LONE GROVE-David Cannon, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• LONE WOLF-Marilynn Lankford, Bachelor of Social Work;
• LONGDALE-Kristi Larney, B.S. in Nursing;
• LOOKEBA-Vanessa Franklin, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• MADILL-Takara Hawkins, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Kathleen Wilburn, B.A. in History Education;
• MANGUM-Marilyn Cayot, B.B.A. in Accounting; Brandon Norris, B.A. in Criminal Justice; Nicholas Parker, B.S. in Engineering Physics;
• MARIETTA-Krystal Floyd, B.S. in Exercise Science;
• MARLOW-Kayla Benton, B.S. in Special Education; Lucia Duncan, B.S. in Nursing; Melissa McKinley, B.S. in Exercise Science; Randall Pemberton, B.A. in Communication Arts;
• MCALESTER-Jonathan Collins, B.A. in Chemistry; Hailee McDaniel, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• MCLOUD-Michael Visnieski, M.Ed. in (Non Certification) Parks & Recreation Management;
• MIDWEST CITY-Jennifer Elam, B.S. in Health Sciences; Henok Ermias, B.S. in Mathematics and B.S. in Chemistry;
• MILL CREEK-Jessica Gross, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• MINCO-Jacob Rice, B.B.A. in Finance;
• MOORE-Phong Duong, Doctor of Pharmacy; Britnee Goure, B.S. in Health Care Administration; Mary Grace Maliel, Doctor of Pharmacy; Ana Sirbu, B.S. in Nursing;
• MOORELAND-Michael Elsey, Bachelor of Social Work; Gary Thrash, B.S. in Industrial Technology;
• MOUNTAIN VIEW-Julie Hoover, B.S. in Nursing
• MUSKOGEE-Wanda Warrior, M.Ed. in Elementary Education;
• MUSTANG-Kevin Atwell, B.S. in Industrial Technology; Staci Campbell B.A. in Communication Arts; Lauren Patton, B.S. in Elementary Education; Kristopher Wermy, M.Ed. in (Non Certification) Parks & Recreation Management;
• NEWCASTLE-Toby Blair, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• NORMAN-Sara Miller, Doctor of Pharmacy; Justin Silkwood, B.S. in Engineering Physics and Mathematics; Kayla Warner, B.A. in English;
• OKAY-Clayton Myers, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• OKEENE-Paige Nault, B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science;
• OKLAHOMA CITY-Megan Atchley, Doctor of Pharmacy; Juliana  Bell, B.S. in Nursing; Marissa Davila, B.S. in Health Sciences; Joni Dillard, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Lori Freno, Doctor of Pharmacy; Rayanna Hosokawa, B.S. in Health Sciences; Kevin Hyde, B.S. in Exercise Science; Courtney Jakubik, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Robert Kilhoffer, B.S. in Health Sciences; Stephen King, Doctor of Pharmacy; Michael LeMaster, Doctor of Pharmacy; Anthony Montgomery, B.S. in Information Systems; Abigail Ntreh, B.S. in Chemistry; Anita Patel, Doctor of Pharmacy; Chi Pham, Doctor of Pharmacy; Phuc Pham, Doctor of Pharmacy; Quy Pham. Doctor of Pharmacy; Lynn Spurlock, B.S. in Nursing; Cory Summers, B.S. in Industrial Technology; Hillary Wells, B.S. in Nursing; Robert Wilson, B.S. in Recreation Leadership;
• OKMULGEE-Barrett Hamm, Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental;
• OOLOGAH-Daniel Pruett, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• OWASSO-Amanda Hatch, B.S. in Psychology; Andrew Hill, B.B.A. in Marketing;
• PERRY-Makinzie Carey, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• PIEDMONT-Traci Cassingham, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Matthew Fleming, Doctor of Pharmacy; Tresa Igou, B.S. in Nursing; Justin Mussyal, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Whitney Sawatzky, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• PRAGUE-Jonna May, B.A. in Communication Arts;
• PURCELL-Joshua Adkinson, B.A. in History; Kassandra Guthmueller, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• RINGWOOD-Jonathan Larsen, B.S. in Computer Science;
• ROCKY-Paula Giblet, Bachelor of Music-Elective Studies;
• SALINA-Carl Coats, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• SALLISAW-Vickie Hopf, Bachelor of Social Work;
• SAYRE-Jade Maddoux, B.S. in Health Sciences; Matthew Mohr, B.S. in Health and Physical Education; Jodie Santangelo, M.Ed. in Early Childhood Development; Kelsey Wynn, B.B.A. in Finance;
• SHAWNEE-Justin Welcher, B.S. in Engineering Technology;
• SNYDER-Amy Hyde, B.S. in Nursing; Amy Rowlings, B.B.A. in Management;
• SPIRO-Leann Parent, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• STILLWATER-Maddie Crossley, B.S. in Nursing;
• SWEETWATER-Mallory Henson, B.S. in Elementary Education;
• TALOGA-Natalie Bennett, B.S. in Special Education; Heather Daily, B.S. in Nursing; Nikki Stidham, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship;
• TECUMSEH-Kayla Nieman, B.S. in Athletic Training;
• THOMAS-Kelby Jinkens, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Bonita Wingard, B.S. in Nursing;
• TIPTON-Dianna Puente, B.A. in History Education;
• TULSA-Bow Buckner, B.B.A. in Finance; James Dunn, Doctor of Pharmacy; Nicole Evans Taylor, Doctor of Pharmacy; Josh Gilley, Doctor of Pharmacy; Heather Leach, B.B.A. in Marketing;
• TURPIN-Rasonya Flynt, M.Ed. in Reading Specialist;
• UNION CITY-Clark Brown, Doctor of Pharmacy; Caleb Wilkerson, B.B.A. in Marketing;
• VICI-Kelsey Boone, B.B.A. in Management;
• WALTERS-Ashley Abbe, B.B.A. in Marketing; Taylor Potter, B.S. in Health and Physical Education;
• WARNER-James Bliss, M.Ed. in Educational Administration;
• WATONGA-Winona Youngbird, B.A. in Criminal Justice;
• WAUKOMIS-Bethany Hess, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• WAURIKA-Danielle Eck, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• WEATHERFORD-Kyle Abernathy, B.B.A. in Marketing; Vacilio Anaya Jr., B.S. in Health Care Administration; Olga Asante, M.S. in Management; Kurt Beason, B.S. in Health Sciences; Nathan Blackmore, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design; Amanda Bradley, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Stacia Briggs, B.S. in Nursing; Janet Brown, B.A. in English; Benjamin Claussen, B.B.A. in Finance; Lindsay Compton, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Amanda Cook, B.S. in Health Information Management; Michelle Crawford, B.B.A. in Management; David Creason, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Lora Creekmore, B.B.A. in Management; Melissa Custer, B.S. in Parks and Recreation; Katrina Detherow, B.A. in History Education; Angela Dyck, B.S. in Elementary Education; Jackie Edmondson, M.S. in Management; Matthew Fleming, B.S. in Health Sciences; Erin Funk, B.S. in Elementary Education; Emily Garrison, B.A. in Communication Arts; Jill Gomez, B.B.A. in Management; Brian Hamburger, Doctor of Pharmacy; Garren Harms, B.S. in Nursing; Brittney Harper, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Michelle Hartman, M.Ed. in School Counseling; Timothy Hawkins, B.A. in Spanish; Danae Heavener, B.B.A. in Management; Kayla Heger, B.S. in Nursing; Thomas Helt, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Ryan Henson, B.S. in Psychology; Cynthia Hodge, B.S.in Nursing; Tyler Hughes, B.B.A. in Management; Teresa Humphreys, B.A. in Criminal Justice; Tember Hursh, B.S. in Health Sciences; Clayton Johnson, B.S. in Park Law Enforcement; Courtney Johnson, M.Ed. in School Psychometrist; Miles Johnson, B.S. in Psychology; Phillip Kitchen, B.A. in Criminal Justice; Eddy Lepatio, B.S. in Computer Science; Carey Lewis, Doctor of Pharmacy; Daniel Lively, B.B.A. in Finance; Hector Lopez, Bachelor of Music Performance (Orchestra); Desmond Madden, M.Ed. in Art; Dustin Marks, B.S. in Industrial Technology; Lindsay Marks, B.S. in Nursing; Heather Matz, B.S. in Health Information Management; Cameron McChesney, B.A. in Communication Arts; Nadalin Mendoza, B.A. Communication Arts; Tanya Mosier, M.S. in School Psychology; Tina Nassir, M.Ed. in (Non Certification) Social Sciences; Parfait Nkonomo, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Matthew Owings, Bachelor of Social Work; Ahwan Pandey, B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science; Heather Parten, B.S. in Elementary Education; Hiralkumar Patel, B.B.A. in Accounting and B.B.A. in Finance; Harriet Pereira, M.S. in Management; Brandon Phillips, B.S. in Information Systems; Alejandro Pinon, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Dana Poling, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Jacob Pool, B.S. in Mathematics; Jessica Pool, B.A. in English Education; Jarrod Poulson, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Jacob Rhoades, B.A. in History Education; Kayla Rice, Bachelor of Social Work; John Rogers, B.S. in Nursing; Meggan Rother, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Michael Royse, B.S. in Athletic Training; RaNae Ryan, B.B.A. in Accounting; Elissa Saunders, B.S. in Nursing; Niki Sawatzky, B.B.A. in Accounting; Hayley Schaffer, B.A. in Communication Arts; Diana Schultz, B.A. in Communication Arts; Thomas Seidel, B.S. in Engineering Technology; Samantha Shell, B.S. in Psychology; Michael Smith, B.A. in Communication Arts; Amy Sparks, Bachelor of Social Work; Ray Tate, B.S. in Biological Sciences; Evan Taylor, B.S. in Nursing; Kristian Webb, B.S. in Health and Physical Education; Haley Wetzel, B.B.A. in Accounting; Derek Wheeler, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies; Erin Wildrix, B.B.A. in Accounting; C. Wilson, B.S. in Mathematics; Kelly Wilson, B.S. in Special Education; Brice Winters, B.B.A. in Management; Kayla Yandell, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Miracle Yapsawaki, B.S. in Nursing;
• WELLSTON-Jason Peace, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• WOODWARD-Amanda Boyd, B.S. in Early Childhood Education; Renae Kraft, B.A. in Chemistry; Laura Matthews, B.S. in Nursing; Bryce White, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• YUKON-April Arthur, M.S. in School Psychology; Sara Brox, Doctor of Pharmacy; Zackary Burkhalter, B.A. in History; Hollie Giles, B.S. in Nursing; Jamie Hilterbran, M.Ed. in (Non Certification) Sports Management; Kristin Kelley, M.Ed. in Educational Administration; Jessica Limestall, B.A. in Communication Arts; Stephen Myers, B.A. in Communication Arts; Carine Ndeh, Doctor of Pharmacy; Kristi Novak, B.A. History; Judy Philip, Doctor of Pharmacy; Laura Porter, B.B.A. in Management; Jacqueline Thatcher, Doctor of Pharmacy; Linda Tran, B.S. in Health Sciences; Carlon Tschetter, B.A. in Communication Arts; Brett Whitehead, Doctor of Pharmacy.

OREGON

• THE DALLES-Greg Schaffeld, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship.

TEXAS

• AMARILLO-Bradley Dickson, B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship;
• ANGLETON-Ashton Garrett, B.S. in Athletic Training;
• ARLINGTON-Bradley Leeper, B.B.A. in Management; Asmini Mohanlal, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• BEDFORD-Kristen Kaufman, B.B.A. in Marketing; Talite Sika, B.S. in Mathematics; James Vei, B.B.A. in Management;
• BORGER-Elizabeth Austin, B.A. in Communication Arts and B.A. in English; Michael Galloway, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CANTON-Ashleigh Myers, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• CANYON-Kristina Wood, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• FLOWER MOUND-Raiza Coston, B.S. in Nursing;
• FORT WORTH-Elizabeth Dumbauld, B.S. in Nursing; Philip Maucieri, B.A. in Communication Arts; Rebecca Stodieck, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• FRISCO-John Patterson, B.A. in Communication Arts;
• IRVING-Eddie Walton, B.S. in Parks and Recreation;
• KATY-Alta Benner, B.S. in Nursing;
• MIDLAND-Megan Roberts, Doctor of Pharmacy;
• PAMPA-Whitney Wichert, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• PLANO-Daniel Stefanovic, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• QUANAH-Caleb Bursey, B.S. in Health Sciences;
• RICHARDSON-Bizuayehu Kebede, B.A. in Chemistry; Stephanie Kneedler, B.B.A. in Management;
• SPRING-Juston Festervand, B.S. in Parks and Recreation;
• SULPHUR SPRINGS-Tara Gibby, B.B.A. in Marketing;
• VERNON-William Burkham, B.S. in Exercise Science;
• WEATHERFORD-Clarke Hale, M.Ed. in (Non Certification) Sports Management;
• WHEELER-Shanna Horton, Bachelor of Music Therapy-Vocal/K.

INTERNATIONAL

• KENYA-Nancy Mwangi, B.B.A. in Accounting;
• NEPAL-Sukriti Aryal, B.B.A. in Accounting; Samjhana Kunwar, B.S. Health Information Management; Preeti Lamsal, B.S. Health Information Management; Dipesh Pokhrel, B.B.A. in Finance; Anup Shrestha, B.S. in Health Sciences; Merina Shrestha, B.B.A. in Management;
• VIETNAM-Trang Tran, B.B.A. in Finance;
• ZAMBIA-Arpita Patel, B.S. in Health Sciences.

Junior nursing students (from left) Emily Coppock, Kassi Kilhoffer, Jessica Barnhill and Jade Wyre offered a booth on safe hand washing skills for children at the 2^nd annual Kid's Fest held recently on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus in Weatherford.  There were activities for all ages at the event organized by the SWOSU-Western Early Childhood Association-Student Organization.

The Model United Nations class at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford recently enjoyed a lunch meeting at the Oklahoma State Capitol with Oklahoma Secretary of State Susan Savage.

The Model United Nations class at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford recently enjoyed a lunch meeting at the Oklahoma State Capitol with Oklahoma Secretary of State Susan Savage.

Secretary Savage invited the SWOSU delegation when she recently attended an event at SWOSU.

The luncheon was a culmination of seven months of hard work by the SWOSU delegation, which represented Pakistan at the Midwest Model United Nations in St. Louis earlier this year. During that time, the delegates researched both the country of Pakistan and the issues that were being debated at the conference as well as learning parliamentary procedures under which the conference is conducted.

The keynote speaker at the conference was Dr. Esther Brimmer, assistant secretary of state for International Organizations Affairs at the State Department.

SWOSU delegates were successful in passing 11 of the resolutions they sponsored, and Caitlin Harrell was appointed to the MMUN staff for next year.

The SWOSU delegation was made up of the following students: William Blackwell, Kolby Bollinger, Alyssa Chapman, Caitlin Harwell, Fidelia Nkwain, Arpita Patel, Kajal Patel, Angela Reyes, Christopher  Robinson, Courtni Tapper and Jessica Vigil.

Model United Nations class is held every spring semester at SWOSU, and enrollment is in progress now. Class begins the first week of September. For further information about the MUN class, please contact Ambassador Kenneth Tillett at 580-774-7134 or kenneth.tillett@swosu.edu. 

Even Duke the Bulldog will be around when SWOSU hosts its next New Student Orientation program. With Duke is SWOSU student and orientation leader Candace Sutton of Hinton.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University will host a New Student Orientation session for high school seniors this Wednesday, April 21, on the Weatherford campus.

Other sessions for high school seniors who plan to attend SWOSU are planned June 14, July 22 and August 13.

Each of the orientation sessions offers students the chance to meet current SWOSU students and new freshmen, visit and enroll with a faculty advisor within the major they have selected and have all their questions answered. They may also take campus and residence hall tours.

Families are also invited to attend the Family Orientation that runs concurrently with the student orientation.  The families meet in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom to hear presentations from the offices of Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Health and Counseling Services, Violence Prevention, Auxiliary Services, Campus Police, Dean of Students and Assessment (testing).

If families plan to bring younger siblings to the session, NSO provides an area to entertain them called the Dawg Zone. They can color and make crafts, use Wi-Fi laptops, watch movies and play Nintendo wii.

For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso or contact New Student Orientation at 580.774.3233 or orientation@swosu.edu.

A man who would have taken a bullet for six American presidents will address Southwestern Oklahoma State University-Sayre graduates on Friday, May 7.

Hobart resident Louis B. Sims, a 20-year veteran of the Secret Service-the organization assigned to protect the president of the United States-will deliver the 2010 SWOSU-Sayre commencement address at 7 p.m. at the Sayre High School auditorium. 

Born and raised in Hobart, Sims once attended SWOSU in Weatherford on a partial athletic scholarship.

After spending three years as a special agent for Army Intelligence, Sims joined the Secret Service in 1961 where he served six U.S. Presidents-John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

Some of Sims' most vivid memories include President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Secret Service protection beginning for presidential candidates immediately after Robert Kennedy's assassination in 1968, three trips to Vietnam during the war to set up security for the vice president and others, and the Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon's resignation in 1974. 

During the Nixon years, Sims oversaw the White House taping system.  This led to his testifying before Judge John J. Sirica-the U.S. District Court chief judge who presided over the Watergate trials-regarding the method of recording and storage of the infamous Watergate tapes. 

"Watergate did not affect me one way or the other," Sims said.  "I was in no way embarrassed.  I simply testified in Federal Court of what I knew, and that was it.  Emotion was very seldom involved in my work or my decisions."

Shortly after Nixon's successor, Gerald Ford, was sworn into office, Sims was promoted to Chief of International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) for the United States where he spent 4 ½ years.  Sims was later transferred to the Office of Inspection of Secret Service, where he remained until his retirement in 1981.

Sims came out of retirement to serve as director of corporate security and vice president of corporate services for the Pennzoil Company until he retired again in 1996 and returned home to Hobart with his wife, Gwen.    This retirement was brief, because Sims accepted a post with the EEX Corporation, where he remained until his permanent retirement in 2002.

Sims serves on the Hobart Economic Development Authority, the Kiowa County Industrial Authority and the Hobart Main Street Board. He also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Space Authority Board and is the chairman of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum Board. Sims is also a member of the Kiowa County Hall of Fame.

A proud western Oklahoman, Sims never considered his small-town background an obstacle.  After so many years away, Sims is glad to be back home in Hobart.

"For me, I never thought twice about it, just went with a very positive attitude that I could go anywhere or do anything that anyone else could," Sims said. "After you've spent your career doing all of those things and being in all of those places, it's absolutely wonderful to return to your roots and give back to your community." 

SWOSU's new Duke sculpture is located just south of the clock tower. 

 
Despite rainy conditions, a dedication ceremony was held April 17 on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford. Donors Jim Andrews and E. Vann Greer Andrews of Edmond are shown in the front center.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University now has an impressive bulldog sculpture on the Weatherford campus.

A dedication ceremony was held April 17 for Duke, the new bronze bulldog, which is approximately 4 feet tall and 5 feet long and located just south of the clock tower.

The sculpture was designed and built by Frank Moran of Weatherford. The SWOSU Alumni Association Board of Directors organized the project, which was made possible by Jim Andrews and E. Vann Greer Andrews of Edmond who generously donated money to cover the entire cost of the $30,000 project.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University's annual Blue-White spring football game will be played this Monday, April 19, in an unusual setting.

The game is set for 7 p.m. at Weatherford High School. It is being held there because of the ongoing artificial turf project at Milam Stadium. Head Coach Dan Cocannouer is excited about the upcoming switch to turf.

"The turf will be awesome," Cocannouer said. "Our players won't be as affected by poor weather conditions, and our field will look so much better."

For Monday's game, the Bulldog team has been divided into two separate squads that will square off in a scrimmage that will conclude this year's spring practices. The public is invited to attend the game, and admission is free.

Dr. Bob L. Blackburn and Lowell M. Irby are being inducted into Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame during the 2010 Convocation on the Weatherford campus.

Blackburn is executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, and Irby is a long-time successful pharmacist/businessman in Artesia, N.M.

Both Blackburn and Irby will be honored at the May 8 SWOSU Convocation on the Weatherford campus and will be the featured speakers. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Milam Stadium on the SWOSU campus.

Bob Blackburn, a native Oklahoman, has served as executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society since 1999. He joined the OHS in 1980 as editor of The Chronicles of Oklahoma and became deputy director for agency operations in 1990.

Blackburn is a 1973 graduate of SWOSU where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Oklahoma State University. Blackburn grew up in Edmond and graduated from Putnam City High School in 1969.

Blackburn published several articles and his first book while still in graduate school and has since written or co-authored 18 books and numerous articles, journal entries, and screen plays. He is a steady source of historical information to the media and has appeared numerous times on the History Channel.

He was instrumental in planning and building the Oklahoma History Center, a 215,000 square foot museum and research center. Blackburn has served on numerous national and regional boards and committees, including the Western History Association, the Oklahoma Association of Professional Historians, the AIA, and Leadership Oklahoma City.

His hobbies are reading, running, carpentry, landscaping and golf. He is married to former State Representative Debbie Blackburn and they have one son, Beau, who is a professional photographer in San Diego, California.

Lowell M. Irby is a 1955 graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he obtained his B.S. degree in pharmacy. He was honored by the SWOSU College of Pharmacy in 1999 as its "alum of the year."

In 1958, Irby opened Lowell's Pharmacy in Artesia, N.M. and he, along with sons Kirk and Wade, continue to operate the business. Irby also has an oilfield well service and trucking business and is the primary stockholder and board member of Western Bank of Artesia.

Irby was a walk-on member of the SWOSU football team in 1951. He became a starter by the second game and earned his letter that season. Irby jokes that his football career ended after one season when he discovered that he could not pass Botany lab by cutting class to go to football practice. While at SWOSU, Irby worked various jobs including assistant to the house mother at Neff Hall, lab assistant and he drove a school bus for Weatherford Public Schools.

Irby has been involved in so many activities at the local and state levels. He was recognized by the New Mexico School Board Association for having served on a N.M. Board of Education longer than anyone else. He has served 34 consecutive years on the Artesia Board of

Education. Over the years, he has also been very involved with the New Mexico Pharmacist Association. He, along with two other pharmacists, helped reorganize the association into the powerful lobbying force that it is today.

He and his wife, Norberta, have been married for 49 years. They have three sons and one daughter. Oldest son L. Kirk and youngest son T. Wade are both graduates of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy. His brother, Dillard, is also a SWOSU pharmacy graduate. Lowell and Norberta have long been involved with SWOSU, and they have provided numerous scholarship opportunities for many students at SWOSU.

SWOSU student Brett Baker and assistant professor Dr. Douglas Linder presented research on H2O Proton Dissociation Energies of Zn(II) Complexes at the recent 55th annual pentasectional meeting of the American Chemical Society held in Norman.

Student Crystal Mars and Dr. Curt Woolever presented their research on Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV) for the Detection of Barium from Oil Well Water.

Several SWOSU Department of Chemistry and Physics faculty participated in the recent 55^th annual pentasectional meeting of the American Chemical Society held in Norman.

Dr. Curt Woolever, Dr. Douglas Linder, Dr. Timothy Hubin and Dr. David E. Martyn all presented research at the meeting.  The faculty were assisted by various SWOSU students. Presentations included: 

• Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV) for the Detection of Barium from Oil Well Water by Crystal Mars and Dr. Curt A. Woolever
• H₂O Proton Dissociation Energies of Zn(II) Complexes by Brett Baker and Dr. Douglas Linder
• Bio-Coordination Chemistry: Transition Metal CXCR4 Antagonists by Amy N. Cain, Orry C. Birdsong, Kimberly D. Roewe, Courtney D. Garcia, Desiray J. Cannon and Dr. Timothy J. Hubin
• Phenylamine Functionalization of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes by Logan D. Howard, Shelby C. Josefy, Natalie C. Simpson and Dr. David E. Martyn

The meeting held in Norman was attended by people in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. The meeting consists of all areas of chemistry including: analytical/physical, biochemistry, organic,   inorganic, & chemical education. Symposia in Biofuels, NMR, X-Ray Crystallography, Nanotechnology, Pharmacology/Natural Products and the Oklahoma Structural Biology Nexus were part of the program.

A total of 396 high school seniors have already enrolled for the 2010 fall semester at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Just over 200 attended the second session of the New Student Orientation program held April 13 on the Weatherford campus. 

SWOSU is offering four more enrollment opportunities for high school seniors who are planning to attend SWOSU this fall. Enrollment dates are April 21, June 14, July 22 and August 13. 

Students must apply and be accepted to SWOSU before they can attend an enrollment session. Each of the sessions offers students the chance to meet current SWOSU students and new freshmen, visit and enroll with a faculty advisor within the major they have selected, and get all their questions answered.

For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/admissions/nso or contact New Student Orientation at (580) 774-3233 or orientation@swosu.edu

Students in general ecology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University will present posters this Monday through Friday, April 19-23, in the Memorial Student Center on the Weatherford campus.

Faculty sponsor Dr. Peter Grant said the theme of the posters, biodiversity, was chosen to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22, and the United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. The public is invited to view the posters and admission is free.

SWOSU students participating include:

Grant said biologists estimate that there may be 8 to 14 million species of organisms in the world but only about two million have been described so far.  Many of these species are facing threats that have caused them to be listed as either threatened or endangered.  In the United States, 1,324 species are listed as either endangered or threatened by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 17 of which occur in Oklahoma.  The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation lists an additional five species as threatened or endangered.

There are many threats to biodiversity including habitat loss or degradation, over-exploitation, invasive species, human disturbance, pollution, natural disasters, changes in native species dynamics, incidental mortality, disease and persecution.

Grant said many scientists have published data supporting how diverse ecosystems help to maintain an environment that supports life on earth.  The benefits of biodiversity include air and water purification, detoxification, decomposition of wastes, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, regeneration of soil fertility, biological control, pollination and ecosystem resistance to perturbations (for example drought).

The SWOSU chapter of Phi Beta Lambda won an impressive group of awards at the recent state competition of PBL held in Norman. Pictured with some of the awards are SWOSU students (from left) Heather Leach, Owasso; Kelsey Zybach, Briscoe TX; Kelsey Boone, Vici; and Sa'Vana McDannald, Vici.

Students of Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Everett Dobson School of Business and Technology in Weatherford recently won 10 first place awards at a recent Phi Beta Lambda statewide competition held in Norman.  

The SWOSU chapter received first place in Public Relations and second place in the Outstanding Chapter category for Oklahoma. 

Students winning awards at the 2010 PBL conference are:

"Simply the Best" was the theme for 2010 state conference and SWOSU participation was partially funded by SWOSU student fees.  Dr. Patsy Parker and Dr. Tami Moser are advisors of the local chapter and accompanied the students on the trip. Dr. Patsy Parker was also recognized for her 10 years of service to PBL.

 PBL is the collegiate division of the national association Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc.  

Kids Fest 2010 is planned this Saturday, April 17, from 1-4 p.m. at the Wellness Center on the campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Kid's Fest 2010 is a free family event for children (babies to age 8) and parents/grandparents/siblings, according to Kim Kelly of the SWOSU Department of Education.  Everyone is invited, and there will be free food and games.

The event is sponsored by the SWOSU-Western Early Childhood Association-Student Organization. Kelly said there will be lots of door prizes and helpful materials that will benefit families.

"The SWOSU students have been working hard to make this an enjoyable event," Kelly said.

Due to last year's success, many other programs volunteered to assist WECA this year. Also helping will be the SWOSU Social Work Student Organization, SWOSU School of Nursing, Sigma Sigma Chi sorority, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, SWOSU Pom Squad and others.

For more information, contact Kelly at (580) 774-7115 or kimberley.kelly@swosu.edu.

SWOSUPalooza 11 is coming up this Thursday, April 15, on the Weatherford campus and will feature great music, numerous contests and giveaways, and free food/drinks.

The indoor event will take place from 6-11 p.m. in the SWOSU Wellness Center.  Featured bands this year are "Red Dirt" artists Johnny Cooper and the Bart Crow Band. Tickets are $5 if purchased before the event. All tickets at the door are $10.

According to SGA representative Rachelle Dougherty, other performers will be Delvin, Ruffcutt, Theatre Breaks Loose and Miss SWOSU Sarah Simpson. Contests include 101.9 The Twister's SWOSUPalooza Back with a Bang Road Trip Contest.

SWOSUPalooza is coordinated entirely by the SGA. The theme this year is "Back with a Bang," and the corporate sponsor is Kelley's Jewelers.

Tickets are available at the Student Government Association Center, the Public Relations and Marketing office in Room 205 of the Administration Building, and at the SWOSU Business Office.

The schedule for the bands is:

6:00 p.m.                                 Delvin

6:45 p.m.                                 Ruffcutt

7:30 p.m.                                 Theater Breaks Loose

8:00 p.m.                                 Sarah Simpson (Miss SWOSU)

8:15 p.m.                                 Johnny Cooper

9:30 p.m.                                 The Bart Crow Band

Earth Day is coming up April 22, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University students are organizing a variety of activities on the Weatherford campus.

Activities will actually start on the evening of April 21 with a drum circle and storytelling from 7 p.m. until 12 midnight at the SWOSU Clock Tower.

On April 22, there will be tours of the campus organic farm facility located at the athletic complex near the soccer and baseball fields.  The students refer to the garden as "COFFEE" for the "Campus Organic Farm Facility & Earthen Enterprises."  Vans will be shuttling visitors from the clock tower cul-de-sac on the hour and half hour beginning at 12 noon.

At the Memorial Student Center, there were will be:

• Hand crafted displays
• Hand crafted jewelry and environmentally friendly earth day t-shirts for sale
• Recycled plastics weaving project
• A buffalo corralled in the southwest lawn of the Student Center....the buffalo is from the Cheyenne Arapaho tribal herd and is the "eternal earth symbol" for most of the Plains tribes
• Padobe/papercrete workshop
• A tree planting
• Native American music/dance provided by the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal College
• Garb-artwork contest and workshop

Students wanting to show original ‘garb art' are welcome to get information in the office of the Dean of Students Office, Stafford Center 214. The garb art contest will be judged at 3 p.m. by Bradley Jennings with $50, $25 and $10 gift cards as prizes.

SWOSU student Murv Thornton said a solar hot dog fry will be held beginning at 12 noon and throughout the afternoon. Students will be cooking hot dogs with a solar-powered parabolic fryer.

Students will also be helping that day with the Weatherford Clean Parks Campaign.

The Southwestern Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra will be in concert this Tuesday, April 20, on the Weatherford campus.

The 8:15 p.m. concert will be in the Fine Arts Center lobby. The public is invited and admission is free.

The orchestra is conducted by Dr. Robert Chambers.  The Southwest Youth Strings will join the ensemble, performing Telemann's Suite in A-minor and conducted by faculty member JoAnne Rogers.  The second selection, a spirited overture, is The Russian Sailors' Dance by Gliere.

Three hallmark concerti will be performed by outstanding soloists from the orchestra. Graduate student Diane Pihulic of Lawton will perform Mozart's Flute Concerto in G-major. Graduate assistant Pam Almack will expressively perform Elegie by Gabriel Faure. The concert will conclude with a brilliant rendition of Mendessohn's Violin Concerto, featuring the symphony's concert master, Jaymes Kirksey, senior music major from Oklahoma City.

For additional information, call the SWOSU Music Department office at (580) 774-3708.

A dedication ceremony will be held this Saturday, April 17, for the new bulldog sculpture on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus in Weatherford.

The public is invited to the 11:30 a.m. ceremony just south of the clock tower. A reception will follow in the Burton House. 

Duke, the bulldog, is a bronze sculpture that was designed and built by Frank Moran of Weatherford. The SWOSU Alumni Association Board of Directors has organized the project, which was made possible by Jim Andrews and E. Vann Greer Andrews of Edmond, who generously donated money to cover the entire cost of the $30,000 project.

The bulldog is approximately 4 feet tall and 5 feet long.

Jim Waites, vice president for institutional advancement and head of the SWOSU Alumni Association, said he believes alumni and visitors are going to be impressed with the new Duke sculpture. He expresses appreciation to everyone involved in the project.

Two Southwestern Oklahoma State University students are determined to help the organization Love 146.

Love 146? It is simply an organization that aims to end child sex slavery and human trafficking.

It is an organization that is not well known in Oklahoma but many around the SWOSU campus in Weatherford are starting to find out about it because of the efforts of Kara Shrader of Sayre and Jennifer Osborn of Chickasha. The two are organizing a 5K run/walk this Saturday, April 17, with all proceeds benefiting Love 146. 

Registration for the run/walk will begin at 8 a.m. at the YMCA of Weatherford.  People can register on the day of the race. The race will begin at 9 a.m. at Sand Plum Trail in Rader Park of Weatherford. There will be shuttles to take runners/walkers from the YMCA to Sand Plum Trail.

Cost is $35 for adults, $20 for SWOSU students, $18 for senior citizens and $12 for children under 12. Registration forms are available at the SWOSU Wellness Center, Dr. Melinda Burgess' office in Psychology Room 126, by calling Shrader at (580) 729-1700 or Osborn at (405) 779-0988.  They are hoping for at least 50 runners/walkers.

Shrader said most people in the United States are not aware that this massive worldwide industry averages a $9.5 billion profit. Love146 focuses on education and direct intervention efforts as well as contributing and nurturing a growing abolition movement. People can learn more about Love146 at the site's website love146.org.

Donations are welcome and the two SWOSU students would love to see a big turnout for the fight against something as heartbreaking as child sex slavery and exploitation that is taking place right here in Oklahoma, the United States and across the world.

The SWOSU spring choral concert is Thursday, April 22, and will feature the Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus and Chamber Choir.

The three choirs will perform at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center lobby on the SWOSU campus. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

The Men's Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Bonnie Sneed, will perform a variety of repertoire from different periods, including the Renaissance, Romantic and Modern eras. The choir will be joined by instrumentalists Tyler Paul and Hector Lopez for a fun arrangement of "I heard it through the Grapevine." Kristy Talley will accompany the choir on piano.

The Women's Chorus, directed by Joyce Adams Curtis and accompanied by Karena Van Horn, will begin with "Jerusalem Luminosa," based on a 15^th century text.  This will be followed by an arrangement of the spiritual "A City Called Heaven" by Paul Carey and another selection by Carey entitled  "The White Rose"  conducted by graduate assistant Amanda Hughes with  Jaymes Kirksey, violinist. The Women's Chorus portion of the concert will conclude with "Salut Printemps" by Claude Debussy. Guest pianist is Sneed and soloist is Hughes.

The Chamber Choir, under the direction of Daniel Farris, will perform a variety of literature from the Renaissance to the 20^th Century.  The choir will begin with Rossini's "La passeggiata", featuring SWOSU faculty member Dr. ChihChen Sophia Lee on piano. They follow with two of Gustav Holst's folksongs, I love my love and My sweetheart's like Venus, and then Orlando di Lassus's Cum essem parvulus. The final portion of the program will be a performance of Wilhelm Stenhammar's Tre Körvisor, which are three Danish texts that Stenhammar set in the Swedish nationalist style of which he was a pioneer.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor Dr. Eric Paul (right) receives congratulations from SWOSU Provost Dr. Blake Sonobe for receiving an $18,000 NASA EPSCoR research initiation grant. The objective of the grant is to open doors to a radical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of latent viral infections.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Dr. Eric Paul, assistant professor in the SWOSU School of Allied Health, have received an $18,000 NASA EPSCoR research initiation grant.

The grant, entitled "Use of microRNA to reduce the effects of herpesvirus reactivation during space flights," is from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

The purpose of the grant is to provide different insights to treatment of latent viral infections such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can cause diseases such as hypertension and strokes.  Paul said space flights expose astronauts to tough environments and these stressors take toll on the human body, especially the immune system. Immune "dysregulation," in combination with high-energy radiation exposure, can cause the reactivation of latent viral infections including CMV.

Paul said microRNAs have shown to be involved in the regulation of the immune response and play a role in human response to viral infection. The objective of the grant is to find the microRNAs that are involved in the latency of CMV, which would open the doors to a radical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of latent viral infections.

For more information regarding the grant, please contact Dr. Paul at 580-774-3228 or by email at eric.paul@swosu.edu.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students are presenting the children's production of The King of Hearts is Lonely this Thursday and Friday, April 15-16, on the Weatherford campus. Starting time each night is 7:30 p.m. in the SWOSU Hilltop Theatre. Call the box office to reserve tickets at (580) 774-6046. The office is open Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. Seating is limited. Tickets for adults are $5, non-SWOSU students are $3, and admission is free for individuals with a valid SWOSU ID. SWOSU students involved in the production are (front from left): Eryn Brooks, Woodward; and Kayla Argo, Plains KS. Second row from left-Eric Martin, Weatherford; Rachel Langley, Elizabethtown KY; Bethany Dawn Schmidt, Enid; Matt Ebner, Grandfield; Morgan Long, Fort Worth TX (Heritage Christian); Emma Brown, Clinton; Casey McKay, Lone Wolf; Sara Molnar, Fay; and Dakota Jones, Yukon. Third row from left-Tyler Powell, Woodward; J.J. Witt, Guymon; Dylan Chappell, Yukon; Tanner Fisher, Calumet; Dayna Robinson, Altus; and Cody Carnahan, Sayre. Back row from left-Eva Zitterkob,Weatherford; and Riley McCallay, Hammon. Not pictured is Ashley Howard, Fort Worth TX.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University Theatre will present the completely student-driven production titled The King of Hearts is Lonely this Thursday and Friday, April 15-16, on the Weatherford campus.

Written by SWOSU student Tyler Powell of Woodward and directed by SWOSU student Dayna Robinson of Altus, the children's production focuses on the King of Hearts who is trying to find something or someone to make him happy. Meanwhile, the Queen of Diamonds is trying to steal the King of Hearts' heart candies and take over Heartdom. The journey that Jester and Jack take the King on to find happiness will please audiences of all ages-both young and young at heart, according to SWOSU instructor Steve Strickler.

 The production times are 7:30 p.m. each night in the SWOSU Hilltop Theatre. Call the box office to reserve tickets at (580) 774-6046. The office is open Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. Seating is limited. Tickets for adults are $5, non-SWOSU students are $3, and admission is free for individuals with a valid SWOSU ID.

Nikki Noa, a senior from Hydro at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, is having her senior show starting April 12 and continuing through April 24. 

Her show is an installation called "Spherical."  An installation is a site specific, three-dimensional work designed to transform the perception of a space.  

Noa's show will be located at the SWOSU Art Department Gallery.  The opening reception is Monday, April 12, from 6-8 p.m. with refreshments provided.  Admission is free and open to the public.

"I decided to do an installation instead of a traditional senior show because I wanted to do something to show what this department is really about," Noa said.   I would like to express thanks to the SWOSU Art Department for their support, my fellow classmates for their many hours of hard work, and especially to EK Jeong, my advisor, for her tireless help and a "gentle" nudge to guide me in the right direction."

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University student Carissa Fischer (center) of Weatherford receives congratulations from Dr. Gary Wolgamott for winning the John C. Johnson Poster Award competition at the recent regional convention of Beta Beta Beta (Tri Beta), a national biological honor society. Also pictured is Dr. Andrea Holgado, faculty sponsor of Fischer’s poster and presentation. Wolgamott, who is associate dean of the SWOSU School of Allied Health, is the immediate past national president of Tri Beta.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University student Carissa Fischer of Weatherford won the John C. Johnson Poster Award competition at the recent regional convention of Beta Beta Beta (Tri Beta), a national biological honor society.

Fischer, with research assistance by Melanie Graham and under the direction of Dr. Andrea Holgado, presented a research poster entitled, "VSM-1 is a v-SNARE master protein that limits exocytosis."

The poster and presentation was selected as the first place winner. By winning the award, Fischer qualifies for a travel grant to pay her registration and travel expenses to make her research presentation at the National Tri Beta Convention being held May 19-22 at Fort Lewis College in Durango (CO).

The recent regional convention was held at the University of Oklahoma Biological Field Station at Lake Texhoma. The Delta Sigma chapter of SWOSU was represented by Fischer, Holgado and Dr. Gary Wolgamott, immediate past national president of Tri Beta.

The regional convention is a showcase of undergraduate research presented by students from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

The Al Harris Library at Southwestern Oklahoma State University is celebrating National Library Week April 11-17 by supporting the national campaign of READ with a poster exhibition of SWOSU faculty who support benefits and value of reading.

Jason Dupree, head of AHL public services, said the library will host a talk on the favorite books of faculty, staff and students on Wednesday, April 14, at 3 p.m. and these favorite books will be showcased in a library display.

Throughout the week, students can enter a chance to win a prize giveaway for the best excuse contest. Dupree said the library is looking for the most creative excuses for why library materials are late.

The library will kick off a week-long Earth Day-Reduce Your Carbon Footprint campaign ending on April 22 when all episodes of the Discovery Channel's series Planet Earth will air throughout the day in the News Room. To end National Library Week on Friday, anyone can pick up a bag of popcorn at the front desk to munch on as they head to class or sit down to study.

"Libraries are the heart of every community and our library helps our community thrive," Dupree said.  "At our library, people of all backgrounds come together for student meetings, lectures and programs, to do research with the assistance of a trained professional by using our Ask a Librarian service, to get help writing a paper, or simply find a quiet place to study."

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. 

For more information, visit the Al Harris Library at SWOSU, call 774-3031 or see the library's web site at http://www.swosu.edu/library. 

Writer Diane Glancy will deliver a presentation at the 18^th Annual Westview Writers' Festival this Monday, April 12, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

The festival starts at 7 p.m. in the Conference Center, located at the corner of Seventh and Davis Streets, on the SWOSU campus.

Glancy has won numerous awards for her prolific writings in fiction, poetry and drama.  Lately, she has devoted much of her energy to the making of films. In her works, she draws from her unique perspectives as a person of Cherokee and English-German descent. Glancy will read from some of her work, speak about her experiences as a writer, and show a short clip of a film currently in production. She will also take questions from the audience. 

SWOSU Assistant Professor Jim Silver said the public is invited and admission is free. Refreshments will be provided. For additional information, contact Silver at (580) 774-3242.

A regional climbing competition is planned Saturday, May 1, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Wellness Center rock wall in Weatherford, and the event will have over $5,000 in prizes. 

The competition is open to anyone and will include divisions for men and women with separate classes for beginner, intermediate, advanced and open. Morgan McNeill said beginner levels are designed for people who have never climbed on rock walls.

Entry fee is $15 and no early registration is required. The competition starts at 9:30 a.m.

McNeill said a SWOSU Iron Palm Pull-Up Contest is also planned that evening at 6 p.m. If a person did not compete in the climbing competition, the entry fee is $5.

At 6:30 p.m., Chuck Fryberger's new film Core will be shown. McNeill said the film shows an international cast of the sport's most dedicated athletes and is a study in the landscapes and lifestyles that define the sport.

"Get ready to see every detail of some of the nastiest pieces of rock ever climbed," McNeill said.

All events are being sponsored by Redbull. There will be free Redbull and a free late lunch will be served during a competition intermission.

"Come join us for the biggest climbing competition in the state or just hang out and enjoy the movie," McNeill said.

Celebrating a $26,817 grant to help increase awareness of organ and tissue donations are (from left) Southwestern Oklahoma State University Provost Dr. Blake Sonobe, Director of Sponsored Programs Anita Blankenship, Nursing Instructor Tamra Weimer, School of Nursing Chair Barbara Patterson and President Randy Beutler.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Nursing Instructor Tamra Weimer have received a $26,817 grant for its "Increasing Awareness of Organ and Tissue Donation through Education" program.

The award is from the Oklahoma Organ Donor Education & Awareness Program Advisory Council through the Oklahoma State Department of Health. This is SWOSU's third year of grant funding for the awareness program.

The program has given senior nursing students at SWOSU the opportunity to enroll in an elective course, titled "Increasing Awareness of Organ and Tissue Donation Through Education."   The primary project for this third-year grant is for SWOSU student nurses to present the developed program to other Bachelor of Science nursing programs in Oklahoma to encourage development of this elective course work at their respective institution.

Also, SWOSU student nurses will take this educational program to local high schools to offer a school-based educational program on organ and tissue donation. The first program was started at Weatherford High School two years ago. Then, last year, the nursing students went to Thomas High School, Clinton High School and Western Technology Center. This year they plan to be at Hydro-Eakly High School and El Reno High School.

The effort by Weimer focuses on professional development that increases awareness of donation by providing the tools for an open discussion.  For more information regarding organ and tissue donation, contact Weimer at 580-774-7007 or by email at tamra.weimer@swosu.edu.

Favorite books of SWOSU students, faculty and staff are being sought by the Al Harris Library on the Weatherford campus.

In celebration of National Library Week, the library is sponsoring an exhibit and book discussion featuring the favorite books. Employees and students are asked to submit the "My favorite book is..." form on the library's website at http://www.swosu.edu/library/forms/favoritebook.asp by Monday, April 12.

Linda Pye said the favorite books will be displayed as part of the National Library Week exhibit at the Al Harris Library. All participants will be invited to a book discussion on Wednesday, April 14, at 3 p.m. in the library's Instruction Room to talk about their favorite books.

For more information, contact Pye at (580) 774-7021 or linda.pye@swosu.edu.

A new events center will be built at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Weatherford voters approved a penny sales tax extension to finance various projects, and one of the projects that will be supported is the new events center, which will be built just south of Milam Stadium on the SWOSU campus.

The 75,000 square foot center with a seating capacity of 4,000 will be available for both community and university groups for athletic events, conferences, trade shows, tournaments and more. The center will also serve as the new home for the SWOSU men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball squad.

"We at SWOSU are obviously very excited," said SWOSU President Randy Beutler. "This is a bold move by the Weatherford citizens to support a great, new venue for large community events. This will be a tremendous benefit for Weatherford and SWOSU."

Beutler said planning and construction will start as soon as possible.

Weatherford voters approved the center with 62.9% voting "yes." 

Travis Bernhardt of Kingfisher, shown receiving a citation from state Rep. Mike Sanders, was selected to represent Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Research Day held recently at the State Capitol. Twenty-one undergraduate students representing 15 Oklahoma colleges and universities presented competitive research posters to the State Legislature and the public during this annual event sponsored by Oklahoma EPSCoR, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the National Science Foundation. This event is designed to bring awareness of the outstanding research taking place in Oklahoma's colleges and universities. Bernhardt's research focused on therapeutic cancer treatment.

Two classes at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the Friends For Life Animal Society are working together to host a golf tournament to raise funds to build a new animal shelter in western Oklahoma.

Putts for Paws is a four-person golf scramble planned for Saturday, April 17, beginning at 8 a.m. at Sugar Creek Canyon Golf Club in Hinton. Everyone is invited to play.

The two SWOSU Everett Dobson School of Business & Technology classes-Event Management and Sales Skills & Management-allow students to get hands-on experience with this type of activity. The students are working hard to put on a successful event, according to SWOSU Assistant Professor Dr. Tami Moser.

Cost is $300 per team and there will be two prize flights. Cost includes greens fees, golf cart, breakfast and lunch. For additional information, contact Moser at (580) 774-3069.

Friends for Life have a 10-acre site south of Clinton and are raising money to construct a sanctuary on the site. The purpose of the organization is to provide a caring, safe and loving environment for abused and abandoned animals.

Eleven Oklahoma high school and college students including Southwestern Oklahoma State University student Caroline Burnett of Oklahoma City (Putnam City North) have been named Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The group, chosen from a pool of 85 statewide applicants, will spend eight weeks this summer working side-by-side with senior medical researchers at OMRF in Oklahoma City.

Burnett is one of only five university students selected for the program.

"While much has changed about science since this program began at OMRF 55 years ago, young people remain innately curious and eager to explore the complexities of how the human body functions," said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. "We look forward to their arrival and the energy they bring to our laboratories."

As Fleming Scholars, the students will complete research projects on various topics, including autoimmune disease, cancer biology and heart disease. For most, the program offers a first look at research outside a classroom and opens doors to a wide range of career options. Scholarships include a $3,000 stipend.

Since 1956, more than 450 gifted Oklahoma science students have taken advantage of this one-of-a-kind program to complete a medical research project in a real-world laboratory. Many have gone on to become physicians and scientists.

The 2010 Fleming Scholars are:

• Toby Bothwell, Oklahoma City, Westmoore High School
• Caroline Burnett, Oklahoma City (PC North), Southwestern Oklahoma State University
• Bob Cail, Edmond, University of Oklahoma
• Peter Clark, Norman, University of Texas at Austin
• Paul Gorbsky, Edmond, University of Michigan
• Jasmine Htoon, Edmond, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
• Jennifer James, Edmond, Baylor University
• Teresa Le, Oklahoma City, Westmoore High School
• Alexander Mann, Norman, Norman High School
• Dipika Mohan, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
• Halee Patel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics

Miss SWOSU Sarah Simpson (second from right) and Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ, along with Oklahoma Stars Whitney Sullivan (second from left) and Andrae' Cook, will be attending Miss Oklahoma Contestants' Day this Saturday, April 10, in Tulsa.

Miss SWOSU Sarah Simpson of Elk City and Miss SWOSU Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ of Cordell, along with two Oklahoma Stars, will be attending Miss Oklahoma Contestants' Day this Saturday, April 10, in Tulsa.

All titleholders across Oklahoma will perform the talents that they will be showcasing during Miss Oklahoma Week later this summer. Their talents will be judged and the winner of the Miss Oklahoma Competition will receive $500 cash, and the winner of the teen competition will win $250 cash. 

Simpson will sing The Climb for her talent and Russ will play her piano interpretation of Bach's Prelude XXI and Beethoven's Sonate Pathetique.

Miss SWOSU Pageant Director Debbie Brown said the contestants will be selecting their placement for the week of Miss Oklahoma. There are 43 Miss Oklahoma contestants and 34 Teen contestants.

Accompanying Simpson and Russ will be Oklahoma Stars Andrae' Cook and Whitney Sullivan, both of Weatherford.  Both girls are 5^th graders at West Elementary School.  Cook is the daughter of Kim and Doug Cook of Weatherford. Her hobbies are dance, art and cheer. Sullivan is the daughter of Steven Sullivan of Weatherford and Vanessa Shinault of Elk City. Her hobbies are horseback riding and drawing.

Advance tickets are on sale for SWOSUPalooza 11 that is scheduled for Thursday, April 15, on the Southwestern Oklahoma State University campus in Weatherford.

Featured artists this year are "Red Dirt" artists Johnny Cooper and the Bart Crow Band, according to SGA representative Rachelle Dougherty. Other performers will be Delvin, Ruffcutt, and Theatre Breaks Loose.

SWOSUPalooza is coordinated entirely by the Student Government Association. There will be contests and giveaways as well as free hot dogs and drinks.

Advance tickets are $5 for the event that is being held from 6-11 p.m. in the Wellness Center on the SWOSU campus. All tickets at the door will be $10. Tickets are on sale at the Student Government Association Center, Public Relations and Marketing Office in Room 205 of the Administration Building and at the SWOSU Business Office.

The theme this year is "Back with a Bang," and the corporate sponsor is Kelley's Jewelers.

The performance order of the bands for SWOSUPalooza 11 is:

• Delvin