STATE magazine - Spring 2026

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Cowboy family,

When we launched The Code Calls comprehensive campaign last fall with the ambitious goal to raise $2 billion, we were also making a promise to ourselves and to the world that the Cowboy Code is not something we simply talk about; it’s something we live.

Across Oklahoma, I see that promise in action every day.

I see it in our faculty connecting discovery to real-world impact. I see it in our OSU Extension network, which is strengthening communities and solving problems in all 77 counties in Oklahoma. And I see it in our students, who are dreaming as big as the sky, giving their all and cultivating lives of meaning and purpose.

That is the power of the Cowboy Code in action. It’s a core part of our identity, but it also belongs to every Oklahoman who believes in hard work, integrity and helping their neighbor.

You will see that spirit reflected throughout this issue of STATE magazine. There are stories in these pages that remind us who we are, stories that highlight how we show up for each other in our darkest moments, how we are delivering crucial services across the state and how we, as Cowboys, continue to serve and inspire others.

We also celebrate Outstanding Seniors, whose leadership already reflects the kind of impact they will make, and recognize the ongoing contributions of our Outstanding Young Alumni.

At OSU, our land-grant mission calls us to serve the entire state. And when The Code Calls, Cowboys answer. I’m so grateful and proud to be on this journey with you, and I look forward to all we’ll continue to accomplish together.

Go Pokes!

DR. JIM D. HESS OSU President osupres@okstate.edu

STATE OF THE WEATHER | The Inside OSU team interviewed Val Castor and his wife, Amy, who are members of the Cowboy family and storm trackers for KWTV News 9. Watch the video here: okla.st/castor

OSU BRAND MANAGEMENT

Megan Horton | Associate Vice President of Brand Management

Lance Latham | Chief Communications Officer

Erin Petrotta | Chief Marketing Officer

Casey Cleary | Associate Director of Marketing Strategy

Jeremy Davis | Associate Director of Multimedia

Shannon Rigsby | Associate Director of Public Information

Andrew Breshears | Associate Director of Web Strategy

Hayley Hagen | Assistant Director of Digital Communications Kinsey Garcia and Kara Peters | Administrative Support

Codee Classen, Cody Giles, Stephen Matthews and Alyssa Scattergood-White | Design

Natalie Cox, Jeff Hopper, Page Mindedahl and Sydney Trainor | Editorial

Chris Ensor, Phil Gahagans, Kaitlyn Henry and Karolyn Moberly | Marketing Adam Hildebrandt and McKinzie McElroy | Multimedia

Ellie Piper, Eric Priddy and Elizabeth Rogers | Photography

William Hoback and Kendall Nodorft | Social Media

Kurtis Mason | Trademarks and Licensing

Greg Bartlett, Kaitlin Little, Sarah Lyon, and Chance Parker | Web

Dave Malec | Design Editor

Jordan Bishop | Managing Editor

Mack Burke | Editor-in-Chief

Department of Brand Management | 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024 405-744-6262 | okstate.edu | statemagazine.okstate.edu | editor@okstate.edu | osu.advertising@okstate.edu

OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Scott Eisenhauer | Chair

Taylor Shinn | Vice Chair

Kurt Carter | Immediate Past Chair

Dr. Ann Caine | President

Jake Wilkins | Vice President of Business Development

David Parrack | Vice President of Finance and Operations

Les Austin, Thomas Blalock, Zach Burrow, Susan Crenshaw, Ben Davis, Deedra Determan, Jonathan Dodson, Dr. Sonja Hughes, Brian Krafft, Chris Moody, Elizabeth Nickles, Krista Roberts, Dr. Cecilia Robinson-Woods, Stacy Schauvliege, Baloo Subramaniam, Matt Waits and Susanne Wasson | Board of Directors

Will Carr, Katie Dragoo, Bailee Kirby, Libby Ray and Addie Wagner | Marketing and Communications

OSU Alumni Association | 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078 | 405-744-5368 | okstatealumni.org | info@okstatealumni.org

OSU FOUNDATION

Bryan Begley | Chair

Blaire Atkinson | President

Robyn Baker | Vice President and General Counsel

Dawn Barnard | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Ty Ropp | Vice President of Development

Pam Guthrie | Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Melanie Davis | Senior Associate Vice President of Information Strategy

Courtney Wolfe MacNelly | Senior Director of Advancement Operations and Chief of Staff

Blaire Atkinson, Bryan Begley, Craig Boelte, Brian Callahan, Bryan Close (Honorary), Eddy Ditzler, Kayleen Ferguson, Jennifer Grigsby (Honorary), Spencer Haines, Robert Keating, Shelly Lambertz, Lindel Larison, Greg Massey, Ross McKnight (Honorary), Gail Muncrief, Bill Patterson, Tiffany Sewell-Howard, Teri Shaffer, Terry Stewart, Melinda Stinnett, Beverly Walker-Griffea, Carl Wiese and Darton Zink | Trustees

Bryanna Freer, Samantha Hardy, Jennifer Kinnard, Aubrey Layton, Chris Lewis, Estefania Martinez, Amanda Mason, Heather Millermon, Michael Molholt, Grant Ramirez and Benton Rudd | Marketing and Donor Experiences OSU Foundation | 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 800-6224678 | OSUgiving.com | info@OSUgiving.com

STATE magazine is published three times a year (fall, winter, spring) by Oklahoma State University, 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by the Department of Brand Management, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, and is mailed to current members of the OSU Alumni Association. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $50. Call 405-744-5368 or mail a check to 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 740787043. To change a mailing address, visit okstatealumni.org/update or call 405-744-5368. Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, the director of equal opportunity/Title IX coordinator is located at 201 General Academic Building and can be reached at 405-744-1156 or by visiting EEO.OKSTATE.EDU.

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the vice president of OSU Brand Management, was printed by Slate Group at a cost of $2.20 per issue: 31,349. | April 2026 | Copyright © 2026, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

From the classroom to the campus landscape, to research labs and boardrooms, four Cowboys embody the Cowboy Code through leadership, service and character.

Pages 54–63

Outstanding Seniors

Meet 23 OSU students whose leadership sets them apart for the impact they’ll definitely make as Cowboys.

Connecting the Dots

New coach Eric Morris is rebuilding the Cowboy football roster by prioritizing trust, culture and connection.

Outstanding Young Alumni

A new award from the OSU Alumni Association honors Cowboys under 40 for professional excellence and community impact.

Hall of Fame

The OSU Alumni Association honors four Cowboys whose lifetime achievements, leadership and service left a lasting impact.

A Time to Heal

OSU is transforming downtown Tulsa into an Academic Medical District through major public‑private partnerships.

House Call

OSU Veterinary teams bring expert care and hands‑on student training directly to Oklahoma farms and ranches.

What Endures

Twenty‑five years later, OSU honors the 2001 plane crash victims through scholarships that carry forward their legacy.

you covered OSU grad Bennett Upton applies the Cowboy Code to biomedical research, tackling global

Growing Impact

HORIZON SCHOLARS ATTRACTS 15 DONORS AMID 2,300 APPLICATIONS

The Horizon Scholars program, set to welcome its first cohort of incoming freshman scholars to Oklahoma State University in the fall, is already making a significant impact.

Launched last year, the program now boasts $15 million in commitments from 15 donors, underscoring OSU’s mission to expand access and opportunity for high-achieving students. Program interest has surged, with about 2,300 students nationwide applying for Horizon Scholars scholarships.

“The Horizon Scholars program is about more than scholarships,” OSU President Jim Hess said. “It’s about opening doors and creating pathways for students to thrive. The enthusiasm from donors and students demonstrates the power of investing in education and the future of Oklahoma.”

In the spirit of The Code Calls campaign, the program was designed to attract exceptional in-state and out-of-state students by providing renewable scholarships, leadership development, experiential learning opportunities and an academically rigorous experience. The Horizon Scholars program also looks to select student leaders whose character aligns with tenants of the Cowboy Code.

OSU hopes to award 100 students annually by recruiting 20 donors to complete funding for the Horizon Scholars program.

FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON

COWBOY COUNTRY POLAR PLUNGE SUPPORTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS OKLAHOMA

$15M IN SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS

15 DONORS

2,000+ APPLICANTS NATIONWIDE

The 2026 Cowboy Country Polar Plunge took place Feb. 21 at the Colvin Recreation Center’s outdoor pool. The event helps support more than 12,400 Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes statewide. Despite 54-degree temperatures, 150 participants took the plunge, raising $25,160 through registration fees and donations.

GATHERING SUPPORT

Gather Round

OSU EVENT BRINGS THE COWBOY FAMILY TOGETHER TO SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

Oklahoma State University’s Gather Round event brought the Cowboy community together March 24 at Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City to raise awareness for student mental health and wellness.

Hosted by OSU benefactors Karen and Mark Mitchell, the event emphasized the growing need for mental health resources on college campuses and featured remarks from OSU leaders, including President Jim Hess and First Cowgirl Angela Hess.

“When you walk the Cowboy way, you never walk alone,” Dr. Hess said. “If students are struggling emotionally or mentally, it becomes much harder for them to thrive in the classroom or in life. That’s why student mental health and wellness is one of our top priorities.”

Cowboys Care is an initiative that promotes connection, support and stigma reduction.

“Gatherings like this remind us that support is about relationships, not just resources,” Angela Hess said. “When we show up for each other, we build a campus where students don’t just survive challenges, they thrive through them. That’s what Cowboys Care is all about.”

Learn more about the program and how you can make a difference at okla.st/CowboysCare.

Campus Connection

BECKNER STRENGTHENS

OSUPD THROUGH STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND OUTREACH

In his first year as chief, Michael Beckner has focused on listening to students and the campus community to strengthen engagement, transparency and trust within the Oklahoma State University Police Department.

“When I first got here, the biggest thing we learned is that students really wanted to be a part of the police department and have a say,” Beckner said.

A 30 -year law enforcement veteran, Beckner has overseen expanded outreach, including 51 student engagement events and the launch of a monthly student safety committee.

Sophomore agriculture communications major Ashlyn Ballard said those efforts have changed her perspective.

“I went to the Cocoa and Conversations event they had at the Student Union a few weeks ago, and it was refreshing to see officers with smiles on their faces,” Ballard said.

Beckner now requires officers to participate in at least one engagement activity each semester.

“The biggest thing is getting out of the car more and actually having conversations,” he said.

Beyond Stillwater, Beckner said OSUPD has built relationships with agencies connected to OSU’s Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa and the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, working closely with Cherokee

“The

biggest thing is getting out of the car more and actually having conversations.”

Michael Beckner, OSUPD Chief

Nation emergency management officials.

“This (campus) is a city within a city,” Beckner said. “On any given day, you’ve got 30,000 people in a small area, and you don’t see major crime. That’s because of our officers.”

COWBOYS CARE VIDEOS NORMALIZE MENTAL HEALTH

DISCUSSIONS AT OSU

Through honest, personal conversations, OSU’s Cowboys Care video series is helping normalize discussions around mental health and reminding students they are not alone.

Hosted by First Cowgirl Angela Hess, the series features candid discussions with members of the Cowboy family, including her son, John, and OSU Hype Man Les Thomas, as they share their mental health journeys, the importance of vulnerability and the role of support systems.

The videos reinforce OSU’s commitment to student well-being by encouraging connection, reducing stigma and highlighting the campus resources available to help students thrive. By sharing real experiences, Cowboys Care aims to empower students, faculty and staff to speak openly, seek help when needed and support one another.

Scan the QR code below to watch the series.

Protecting OSU

MCLAGAN STEPS INTO CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY ROLE

Oklahoma State University has named Marjorie McLagan as chief information security officer, where she will provide strategic leadership for the university’s information security and cybersecurity programs.

“Cybersecurity is foundational to everything we do at OSU,” said Jason Ramsey, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the OSU System. “As we advance research, serve students and support Extension programs in all 77 counties, protecting our data and infrastructure isn’t just an IT priority; it’s essential to fulfilling our land-grant mission. Marjorie brings exactly the strategic expertise we need to safeguard our university community and the Oklahomans we serve.”

McLagan brings more than 20 years of experience in information security, including service with the

U.S. Air Force and leadership roles at Oregon State University.

“Marjorie has built an impressive track record of strengthening cybersecurity programs in complex, mission-driven organizations,” said Charles McCann, Oklahoma State’s interim chief information officer.

“I’m excited to join Oklahoma State University and contribute to protecting the systems and data that support such important work,” McLagan said. “Universities are unique environments. We need robust security to protect research and student information, and we also need to enable the open collaboration and discovery that drive innovation.”

OLLI AT OSU: MAJOR MILESTONE, DISCOUNT PRICING

YEARS AT OSU

As the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026, the program is expanding access and launching a recruitment drive.

While designed primarily for adults 50 and older, OLLI welcomes learners of all ages to explore noncredit courses without exams or grades. Under new director Dr. Robin Fuxa, OLLI is evolving to support a multigenerational membership.

“The ability to nurture our curiosity and creativity at every age is vital to individual well-being and a thriving community,” Fuxa said. “When people ask ‘What is OLLI?’, I tell them it’s where truly topnotch learning opportunities meet genuine friendship.”

To reduce financial barriers, OLLI has introduced 50% membership discounts for OSU retirees and for current or retired educators, first responders and military service members.

Contact olli@okstate.edu to receive email newsletter announcements about special pop up classes.

Faculty Excellence

SINGH EARNS BIG 12 FACULTY OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION

Oklahoma State University Regents Professor Dr. Raj Singh has been named a Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award honoree, recognizing excellence in teaching, research and scholarly leadership. Singh is a faculty member in the School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering and a National Academy of Engineering member.

“Dr. Singh’s work reflects the core of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s mission, advancing cutting-edge research while preparing students to solve real-world challenges,” said Dr. Hanchen Huang, dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. “His selection as Big 12 Faculty of the Year highlights the caliber of faculty at Oklahoma State University and the impact they have locally, nationally and globally.”

Singh was selected as OSU’s honoree for his contributions to materials science research and his dedication to student mentorship.

“I am surprised, delighted, humbled and grateful to the selection committee and those responsible for their support for this most prestigious recognition and award,” Singh said.

“The best part of my job is to help educate the best possible engineers and impart knowledge of the discipline of materials science and engineering. I want to encourage students in the engineering field to be curious, persevering, creative, inventive and passionate about their field. Never forget to be curious and inventive. It should be a lifelong pursuit.”

College of Education and Human Sciences senior Juan Lopez was named the 2025 Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier of the Year after competing in the Oklahoma Best Warrior Competition and advancing to the Region V Best Warrior Competition, where he placed third among soldiers from six states.

The multi- day competition pitted participants against rigorous physical and mental challenges, including interviews, obstacle courses and weapons assessments.

“It was just so impactful, being able to put my effort into something like this and getting such a great payoff, especially because I was training on my own for the most part,” Lopez said.

Lopez was meritoriously promoted to sergeant and awarded the Army Commendation Medal. A dietetics major, he applies his academic background to support fellow soldiers’ performance and readiness.

“Having knowledge in nutrition enables me to help my soldiers fuel and perform better when we are doing exercises,” Lopez said.

Lopez plans to pursue a master’s degree at OSU this fall while serving in the Oklahoma National Guard.

Designed to Last

WATCH: OSU GRADUATE SHAPES A LEGACY IN GOLF COURSE DESIGN

When Randy Heckenkemper earned his landscaping degree from Oklahoma State University, he envisioned a career designing sports complexes. Instead, his path led him to shaping some of the most well‑known golf courses across Oklahoma and beyond. Today, tens of thousands of golfers enjoy the fruits of his labor each year.

Scan the QR code below to watch how an OSU education helped turn an unexpected opportunity into a lasting legacy in course design.

NURSING AROUND

OSUIT nursing students practice clinical skills in a simulation lab.

Flawless Results

OSUIT NURSING ACHIEVES PERFECT NCLEX PASS RATE OVER FOUR YEARS

Graduates of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s nursing program have achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX- RN) for four consecutive years, according to program leadership.

All OSUIT nursing graduates passed the exam in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

“NCLEX is the licensing test that allows you to actually practice as a nurse,” said Jodi Campbell, OSUIT assistant dean for health sciences and director of nursing. “You are not a registered nurse until you have passed the NCLEX.”

Campbell said tracking overall pass rates demonstrates program quality and graduate readiness.

“It’s a marker of the quality of our program and the quality of our instruction,” she said.

She credited the success to dedicated faculty support.

“We have an incredibly dedicated and cohesive faculty group that is very student-focused and student-friendly,” Campbell said. “We do everything we can to work with the students and adjust where we can.”

Next-Generation Training

ADVANCED IMAGING

TECHNOLOGY STRENGTHENS

OSU‑OKC SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM

Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City has expanded its cardiovascular sonography program with new state - of-the -art ultrasound equipment designed to prepare students for today’s health care environments.

The program recently added two ultrasound machines equipped with cardiac strain imaging, a technology widely used in cardiology clinics to detect subtle changes in heart function.

“These new systems are equipped with cardiac strain imaging, an advanced imaging tool that allows sonographers

Renewed Space

RENOVATION ENHANCES

OSU‑TULSA AUDITORIUM

The Oklahoma State University-Tulsa Auditorium in North Hall is undergoing a more than half-million- dollar renovation to restore and revitalize the 376 -seat venue, with construction scheduled for completion this fall.

The auditorium serves as a premier space for campus,

to measure how well the heart muscle moves and functions during each heartbeat,” said Karen Bubb, department head of the cardiovascular sonography and radiologic technology programs.

Bubb said the technology can often identify changes before problems become visible on standard exams.

The program also received an upgraded physiologic testing system used to evaluate blood flow and circulation.

corporate and community events, hosting everything from lectures and seminars to talent shows and film festivals.

“We want the best, updated, modern facilities for our campus and our community to utilize — and that means some construction as we grow,” said Craig Freeman, OSU -Tulsa vice provost and dean of the College of Professional Studies. “You’ve probably seen a lot of construction on campus in the past couple years, and that’s a good sign. We’re growing, improving and investing back in our classrooms and

“These machines help us determine not just the blood flow, but the physiology — how it works, how the blood flow affects the patient’s legs and arms,” Bubb said.

She noted the equipment supports early detection of disease and ensures students are trained to current industry standards.

“We try to keep up with industry standards,” Bubb said. “If hospitals and clinic settings are using it, we try to teach the students how to do it.”

event spaces so they can continue to be appealing and serviceable for years to come.”

Updates to the 30 -year- old space include new flooring, paint, lobby and restroom improvements, and new seating with built-in desk space to support classroom and community use.

While renovations continue, the auditorium is unavailable for events. Community members may contact tulsa.events@okstate.edu for alternate space options.

Planting Seeds

NEW OSU VARIETY IS THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF WHEAT

From the mat to the field, the debut of a new wheat variety highlights the competitiveness and grit that define Oklahoma State University. Headed to market this fall, it may be OSU’s most widely adapted wheat release since Duster in the early 2000s.

“This variety will compete on the farm at the highest levels of yield potential,” said Dr. Brett Carver, wheat genetics chair and Regents professor in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.“I could have just as easily called it ‘Heavyweight’ because if it was a wrestler, that is the weight class it would compete in. Currently, we don’t have any other varieties with this level of yield competitiveness and straw strength to keep them standing in the field under typical Oklahoma conditions in June.”

This heavyweight theme inspired giving experimental line OK20708 the commercial name Wyatt, in honor of former OSU wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson, a 2025 NCAA Division I national champion and Dan Hodge Trophy winner. During USDA-supported trials, Wyatt ranked among top yielders across the Southern Great Plains and consistently outperformed several competitive OSU varieties.

Carver announced the variety’s release at the Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. meeting in Oklahoma City in February. OGI partners with OSU’s Wheat Improvement Team to market and distribute OSUdeveloped varieties.

“OSU Agriculture is committed to developing wheat varieties that give producers the strength, resilience

ATTRIBUTES OF THE WYATT VARIETY:

• Very large kernel size with acceptable test weight and strong milling quality

• A high yield ceiling with excellent straw strength and intermediate height

• Average protein content

• Moderately strong adult plant resistance to stripe rust

DR. BRETT CARVER

Wheat Genetics Chair and Regents Professor in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

and performance they need to stay competitive,” said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “Each new release reflects years of research and a dedication to delivering exceptional varieties.”

ENDARRA 81: A NEW ERA FOR OSU TURFGRASS

A name rooted in strength, endurance and the land now represents one of OSU’s most ambitious bermudagrass varieties to date. Endarra 81, now entering commercial production, combines exceptional drought resistance with deep, resilient roots, positioning OSU’s Turfgrass Improvement Team to introduce a variety designed specifically for homeowners.

“Our turfgrass team continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, not only strengthening the economic vitality of Oklahoma’s green industries but also addressing one of the most urgent challenges facing communities across the country — water conservation,” said Dr. Scott Senseman, associate vice president of OSU Ag Research.

The name reflects the variety’s purpose: Indarra, a Basque word

• Moderate resistance to leaf rust, with fungicide application being necessary within environmentally challenged conditions to maintain kernel size and yield

• Moderately strong resistance to barley yellow dwarf

• Intermediate resistance to tan spot

• Good grazing tolerance and yield recovery from grazing

• Variable baking quality with slightly below average dough strength

• Moderate susceptibility to Septoria nodorum blotch and Septoria tritici blotch under severe pressure

• Low tolerance to suboptimal nitrogen applications

meaning strength; Endara, meaning endurance; and tierra, the Spanish word for land.

“Patience is important for many things, especially for plant breeding,” said Dr. Yanqi Wu, Regents professor in plant breeding and genetics in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. “We developed the parents, then we made crosses, did initial screenings, worked in the greenhouses and then went out into the field for evaluations. It all took time.”

That time paid off. Endarra 81 delivers unmatched drought resistance through a dense, deep root system.

“This grass is extremely droughtresistant,” said assistant professor and OSU Extension turf specialist Dr. Mingying Xiang. “This is exactly what society needs.”

OUR STUDENTS DON’T WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITY.

They

Create it.

They know what they want and come here to accomplish it: stable careers shaping patient care, protecting communities, fueling a growing creative economy or leading across industries that drive Oklahoma forward.

Each College of Professional Studies student brings a unique history of jobs, training and education. Specialists work one-on-one to translate expertise into college credit and connect coursework to experiences that open doors.

Every class is designed with intention to transform time, effort and credits into real progress toward a fulfilling career. For professionals in the making and professionals on the rise, we’re transforming opportunity into outcomes.

Beefing Up

Beef Center of Excellence key to securing future of beef industry

STORY MANDY GROSS | PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA

Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.

The iconic American marketing campaign, launched in 1992 to promote beef consumption, captured the attention of audiences nationwide.

Today, Oklahoma State University is capturing the beef industry’s attention by launching the Beef Center of Excellence, a cross-disciplinary effort uniting experts from across the beef

supply chain to drive innovation, sustainability and profitability for cattle producers.

“The Beef Center of Excellence represents a bold step forward for OSU Agriculture and for the producers we serve,” said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “By bringing together world-class expertise, cutting-edge research capacity and a deep commitment

to hands-on learning, we’re building a collaboration that will drive innovation, recruit top talent and secure the future of the beef industry for generations to come.”

With beef production contributing more than $3 billion annually to the state’s economy and ranking Oklahoma fourth in the nation for the number of beef cattle, the industry remains one of the most powerful economic

engines driving rural communities in Oklahoma.

Supported by an advisory board, a director and endowed chairs in areas such as artificial intelligence, beef cattle economics and rangeland management, the Beef Center of Excellence, a cornerstone of the university’s broader Animal Excellence initiative, will fund impactful research and outreach.

“Creating the Beef Center of Excellence is a way to put a stake in the ground and say that Oklahoma State is going to be great

at thinking about the broader cattle and beef industry,” said Robert Hodgen, president and CEO of King Ranch Inc. and member of the advisory board. “By having this, we can attract even more great students from around the world who want to focus on making a great-tasting product that’s nutritious for the consumer and grown in a sustainable manner.”

Not only is this initiative attracting the attention of top executives, but it is also drawing

the attention of beef producers across the state.

As fourth-generation farmers and ranchers, Beef Center of Excellence advisory board members Tracie and Eric Chapman and their family operate approximately 15,000 acres of rangeland and 2,000 acres of wheat, maintaining around 800 cows, along with 1,500 stocker cattle, in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

“I believe the Beef Center of Excellence is essential to the future and long-term stability of the

THANK YOU TO THE CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE BEEF CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ADVISORY BOARD

Individuals: Tracie and Eric Chapman, Chapman Ranch

Vanessa and Ford Drummond, F.F. Drummond Ranch

Jamae and Mike Frey, Frey Angus

Aimee and Ben Hale, Western Livestock Auctions

Kari and Robert Hodgen, King Ranch

Gaye and John Pfeiffer Jr., Pfeiffer Angus Farm

Roxanne and Barry Pollard, Pollard Farms

Martha and Mark Shaw, IGNITE Veterinary Solutions

Mary and Rob Shuey, Consultant for the U.S. meat and livestock industry

Corporate: Merck Animal Health

CORTEVA Agriscience

Oklahoma Beef Council

Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association

*Members as of April 1, 2026

ranching industry,” Eric Chapman said. “It is critical that agriculture continues to evolve by embracing new technology, innovation and sound economics. Doing so ensures the next generation sees ranching as both viable and rewarding, encouraging them to carry on this important way of life.”

Chapman said it is vital to keep ranching and farming at the forefront, so they remain sustainable and attractive for young people who may wish to continue their family operations.

“Oklahoma State University provides an ideal environment to incorporate the Beef Center of Excellence, helping prepare future leaders in agriculture,” he said. “Continued support and advancement of these programs will ensure the industry stays on the right path for generations to come.”

In addition to the Beef Center of Excellence, OSU Agriculture is committed to modernizing OSU’s animal teaching and research units. OSU remains one of the few universities with operating units for all food animal species and is nationally recognized for the superior quality of livestock, teaching and research, all within proximity to OSU’s main campus.

OSU Agriculture seeks private philanthropic support for capital improvements. A master plan is currently being developed, assessing each unit and the critical infrastructure needs, advancing experiential learning and research capabilities to enhance human, animal and environmental health.

“Our first meeting of the Beef Center of Excellence Advisory Board earlier this year set important momentum as we identified the leadership qualities needed in a director and began planning strategic investments that will benefit the beef industry

for years to come,” Lusk said. “There is still time to be part of this foundational effort as we continue recruiting board members and establishing endowed chairs.”

Learn more about the Beef Center of Excellence and how to get involved, or contact Ashley Ewbank, director of development with the OSU Foundation, at aewbank@osugiving.com or 405-332-6595.

ANIMAL TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNITS

Charles and Linda Cline Equine Center

Ferguson Family Dairy Center

Sheep and Goat Center

Swine Research and Education Center

Purebred Beef Center

Willard Sparks Beef Research Center

TO SEE THE IMPACT OF GIVE ORANGE 2026, VISIT: GIVEORANGE.ORG ON APRIL 7-8, THE CODE CALLED THE COWBOY FAMILY TO SUPPORT OSU STUDENTS, FACULTY AND PROGRAMS THROUGH GENEROSITY. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL AND MAKING THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN THE BRIGHTEST GIVE ORANGE YET.

Before John Blair ever stepped into a University Health Services exam room at

Oklahoma

State

University,

he was marching across campus with a tuba strapped to his shoulders.

In 1986, the Clayton, Oklahoma, native joined the Cowboy Marching Band as a freshman. OSU was already a family tradition. His father and siblings were graduates, so Stillwater felt like home long before Blair arrived as a student.

After one year, though, Blair left OSU and returned to southeast Oklahoma to help care for his father. He enrolled in paramedic school, launching what became a 30-year career in emergency medicine.

“It all comes down to relationships,” Blair said.

That mindset carried him from ambulance rides to serving as ER director at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center when it became a Level 1 trauma center. He later moved into the medical industry, relocating to Virginia for two decades.

Stillwater, however, never loosened its grip. When his daughter, Hayley, was choosing a college during the uncertainty of COVID-19, OSU “just felt right,” Blair said. His son, Ben, followed.

A visit during Homecoming turned into a home purchase, and the Blairs returned to the community that first shaped them.

After industry shifts during the pandemic, Blair went back to school, earning his master’s in nursing and passing his advanced practice registered nurse exam in December.

Now, he sees 18 to 20 students a day at UHS, treating everything from flu cases to fractures.

“I think Stillwater takes care of its students,” Blair said. “It’s one of the friendliest towns. You just kind of fall in love with it when you get here.”

For Blair, the Cowboy Way is simple: build relationships, serve others and show up when you’re needed.

“I never would have dreamed I’d end up working here,” Blair said. “But I’m grateful I did.”

2025–2026

The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association honored 23 students with the 2025-26 OSU Outstanding Seniors Award. This award recognizes students who distinguish themselves through academic achievement, campus and community involvement, academic, athletic or extracurricular honors or awards, scholarships and work ethic during their time at OSU. After reviewing the students’ applications, the Alumni Association Student Awards Committee met with 48 of the OSU Seniors of Significance who were announced in November 2025 and selected 23 for this prestigious honor. NOTE: An asterisk (*) denotes students who are Alumni Association members.

LENNA ABOUZAHR

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Electrical and Computer Engineering

ERIN BARNARD

Edmond, Oklahoma Human Development and Family Science: Child and Family Services

CASSIE BAUER

Frisco, Texas

Biology (Pre-Medicine)

Abouzahr served as president and vice president of the Society of Women Engineers. She was a Tau Beta Pi Scholar, a member of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s engineering honor society and Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society. She was a W.W. Allen Scholar and a volunteer for the CEAT Student Council.

Barnard served as a volunteer for the Ruff Riders and as a program partner for Opportunity Orange. In 2025, she held an internship at Bethany Children’s Health Center. Barnard was a horse leader at Turning Point Ranch and served as vice president of training in the College of Education and Human Sciences ambassadors.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree and work in the electrical power and energy industry.

Bauer served as a facilitator for the Presidential Leadership Council and was a College of Arts and Sciences Student Council member. She was a Freshman Research Scholar and completed and received the OSU Honors College General Honors Award. Bauer was accepted into the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine 3+1 medical school program.

After graduation, she plans to attend school for occupational therapy after taking a gap year.

After graduation, she plans to continue pursuing her passion for health care in the physician assistant program at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

ADDISON BROWNING

Blanchard, Oklahoma

Biology (Pre-Medicine)

ASHLYN CALDWELL*

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Management Information Systems and Data Analytics

Browning studied as a liaison between the U.S. and Australian business markets, traveling internationally to support medical clinics and public health outreach. She participated in undergraduate research studying Fragile X syndrome. Browning was recognized as an Ideal Graduate and started her eyewear donation project, Change of Vision.

After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in ophthalmology, medical ethics and preventive health care.

Caldwell served as president of the Women in Technology society. She is a recipient of the General Honors Award and was a LeadHERship Spears fellow. She held three internships in software development and product analysis. Caldwell earned her Creative Opportunities for Reasonable Development (C.O.R.D.) to wear at graduation.

REBEKAH CLEARY*

Choctaw, Oklahoma

Elementary Education

TREVOR FRIESEN

Edmond, Oklahoma Management, Marketing and International Business

EMMA GARCIA

Carrollton, Texas

Elementary Education

Cleary maintained her spot on the President’s Honor Roll and completed her undergraduate certificate in special education. She served as the student director of fundraising for the College of Education and Human Sciences. Cleary was a research presenter at a national conference and served two terms as CEHS Student Council president.

She is currently in the 4+1 graduate program. After she graduates with her master’s in business analytics and data science, she plans to work as a data scientist or data analyst.

Friesen was involved in many organizations, including the Student Government Association, the OSU Student Foundation and the Honors College. He was an OSU Institutional Nominee for the Truman, Gates and Marshall Scholarships. Friesen participated in internships with JPMorgan Chase and Phillips 66 and in international exchanges with the Honors College.

Following graduation, she will be returning to her elementary school alma mater. She will support the introduction of special education to Oklahoma Catholic schools.

Garcia was a co-leader for the OSU Love Does Club and an OSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry Hospitality team leader. She served as a College of Education and Human Sciences ambassador and held a student internship in the OSU Excellence in Collaborative Experimental Learning program. Garicia also participated in the NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium STELLAR program.

After graduation, he plans to return to JPMorganChase as an analyst in New York City.

After graduation, she plans to return to the Dallas area and pursue a teaching position at the upper elementary level.

SOPHIE HAWKINS

Arlington, Texas

Mechanical Engineering

AMANDA HESS

McLean, Texas Accounting

ADDY IRWIN

Wauconda, Illinois Entrepreneurship

TATUMN KENNEDY*

Meeker, Colorado

Biosystems Engineering: Environment and Natural Sciences

SYDNEY MARTENS

Fairview, Oklahoma

Marketing: Communications Management and English

Hawkins served as chapter president and mentorship chair for the Society of Women Engineers. She also served on the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Student Council. She was a research assistant at the Center for Integrated Building Systems and volunteered at the GearUp! Fundraiser administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Hess was the December Orange Gown Graduate for the Spears School of Business and was named a Top 5 Senior in the School of Accounting. She was a member of Spears Scholar Leaders, the Economics Society and the Academic Integrity Panel. She served as president of the honor society, Beta Alpha Psi and represented OSU at conferences across the United States.

She is a W.W. Allen Scholar and plans to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge after graduation, before returning stateside to work in sustainability.

Irwin was accepted into the Entrepreneur Scholars Program and served as president of the Entrepreneurship Club. She served as the youngest on the board of advisors for INCubator, an entrepreneurial startup program for high schoolers. She also started Spark Aero, her aircraft part business, and won the 2024 Pitch and Poster Competition.

Since graduating in December, she has begun pursuing her Master of Accounting degree at OSU and will then join Ley, Gifford and Farr.

Kennedy served on the Ferguson College of Agriculture Student Council. She studied abroad in Peru, which opened her eyes to new cultures, perspectives and possibilities. She has participated and helped continue the tradition of America’s Greatest Homecoming. Kennedy was also a McKnight Scholar and served as a mentor for this program in recent years.

Since graduating, she has enjoyed expanding her knowledge in the aerospace industry through her career while also managing social media platforms for golf accounts as a side business.

During her time at OSU, Martens worked as a social media intern for the OSU Hockey Team and a digital media intern for OSU Brand Management. She served as president of Alpha Omicron Pi. Martens was also an OSU Unified Special Olympics Partner. She served as a Spears Scholar Leader and had the opportunity to study abroad in Malaysia and Singapore.

After graduation, she plans to continue her education at OSU in pursuit of a master’s degree in biosystems engineering with a focus in water resource management.

After graduation, she plans to work in social media or marketing within the sports and entertainment industry.

AVERY MCINTYRE*

Edmond, Oklahoma

Political Science

McIntyre was a member of the Omega Phi Alpha, a service sorority. She was also a member of the Henry Clay Student Congress and the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. McIntyre attended the Harvard Kennedy Public Policy and Leadership Conference and was a Truman Scholarship institutional nominee.

After graduation, she will take a gap year to manage state Rep. Trish Ranson’s 2026 re-election campaign through the midterms before preparing for graduate school, where she will pursue a master’s in public policy and a juris doctorate.

DUSTIN MEADOWS

Paradise, Texas

Physiology and Biology (Pre-Medicine)

KAYLEE MORRIS*

Moore, Oklahoma

Landscape Architecture

Meadows was awarded the Outstanding Senior in Physiology Award. He was a McKnight Scholar and a member of the McKnight Leadership Program. He was a part of leadership in the Best Buddies Organization and volunteered as a coach for a Stillwater Area Sports Association little league team. Meadows was also named Mr. OSU as a sophomore in 2024.

After graduation, he will be attending Texas Tech University Medical School in Lubbock.

Morris was the recipient of the Oklahoma American Society of Landscape Architects Student Honor Award for excellence in design and served as the president of their OSU student chapter. She completed a summer internship with EDSA Inc. She served as a resident assistant for OSU and conducted research in trauma-informed design.

MADISYN MYERS*

Omega, Oklahoma Human Nutrition (Pre-Medicine)

PARKER PERRY*

Keyes, Oklahoma Political Science

Myers was named a Top Ten Freshman Woman. She was a Wentz Research Scholar, a Freshman Research Scholar and the College of Education and Human Sciences Freshman Researcher of the Year. She was a recipient of the Women for OSU Student Scholarship and is the founder and CEO of Beef for the Bank, a nonprofit organization that works to fight food insecurity.

After graduation, she plans to begin her career in landscape architecture and actively pursue professional licensure.

Perry was a Wentz Research Scholar and a Freshman Research Scholar. She was an Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Academic Scholar and had the opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. She volunteered as a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. Perry was also a founding member of the Wishes for Water Foundation.

After graduation, she plans to attend medical school with the dream of practicing primary care in her hometown.

After graduation, she plans to take a gap year and ideally pursue the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain and attend law school in the fall of 2027.

JAI SIMPSON

Tulsa, Oklahoma Architecture

REGAN LESLIE SMITHWICK*

Miles, Texas

Animal Science

ABIGAIL REANNE STEELHAMMER*

Oklahoma City Animal Science (Pre-Veterinary)

CHARLEY VAN NEWKIRK*

Weatherford, Texas

Multimedia Journalism

MEGAN WILKIE

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Human Development and Family Science: Child and Family Services

Simpson attained the Dean’s Honor Roll all four years. He connected Inventure and the Terrance Crutcher Foundation during his internship, working in schematic and design development stages. Simpson traveled to Asia for a study abroad program. He participated in design competitions at the National Organization of Minority Architects and worked for over four years with Tulsa Responds.

Smithwick was a member of the McKnight Scholars Leadership Program. She was named a Top Ten Freshman and participated in the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter. Smithwick served as a student ambassador for the Ferguson College of Agriculture and volunteered for the Stillwater Area Sports Association and the Sunnybrook Christian Church Sensory Room.

After graduation, he hopes to move to a walkable city and focus on architecture that focuses on affordable housing, urban infill and community-based projects.

Steelhammer attained a minor in applied music and was a member of the first OSU choir to compete internationally. She served as the herd manager for the OSU Polo Team and as a supplemental instruction leader and student tutor. She organized the “Animals and Engineering Fair” in collaboration with the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation and Kirkpatrick Foundation.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a professional degree in law with the goal of becoming an oil and gas attorney.

Van Newkirk served as president of the Student Leadership Council, leading initiatives to support the School of Media and Strategic Communications. She worked as a multimedia intern for OSU Brand Management. Van Newkirk was selected as a member of the 2025 Homecoming Royalty Court and served as an in-game host for Cowboy baseball.

She was accepted as an early admission student to the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, where she plans to attend after graduation to eventually become an equine veterinarian.

Wilkie was a member of the Honors College. She participated in the George Kaiser Family Foundation Summer Impact Program as an intern in the summer of 2025. She is a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society and the Order of Omega. Wilkie is also a student victim advocate for 1is2 Many organization and served on the Varsity Revue Executive Team.

After graduation, she plans to begin her career in broadcast journalism as a multimedia journalist or lifestyle reporter.

She plans on taking a gap year before moving on to start graduate school and hopes to one day open a dance studio for individuals with disabilities.

Happy Campers

PhilanthroPete powers access to life‑changing camp experiences

On the final day of the Summer Geoscience Research Experience (GEO -REx) Camp, proud parents, faculty mentors and alumni gather as high school students present their research.

Just a few days earlier, many of them had never studied microscopic marine organisms preserved in deep - sea sediments or used Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) imagery to map volcanic lava flows.

Now, after a week on the Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater campus, they can confidently explain their experiments and why their work matters.

For Tracy Quan, director of outreach for the Boone Pickens School of Geology and organizer of GEO -REx, those moments reflect the camp’s purpose.

“The campers are always highly focused on their experiments and

eager to explain what they’re doing, which shows that they’re learning,” Quan said.

Across the state, at Cowboy Aphasia Camp, voices overlap as laughter and stories fill the room.

People living with the language disorder of aphasia gather at OSUTulsa each morning alongside graduate students studying communication sciences and disorders. Some words come slowly. Others arrive all at once.

“So many words are flying that you might not guess some of the people have aphasia,” said Karen Copeland, organizer of Cowboy Aphasia Camp.

Although these two camps serve very different communities, they share a common thread. Both exist year after year thanks to sustained donor support through PhilanthroPete, OSU’s crowdfunding platform that helps keep dozens of programs across the university growing and accessible.

For GEO -REx, PhilanthroPete support makes participation possible. The camp was created to introduce high school students to geoscience — a field many would not otherwise encounter in their coursework. Through hands - on, immersive experiences, GEO -REx exposes students to a range of geoscience topics and careers while demonstrating how the field connects to real -world challenges.

Thanks largely to donors, the campers’ meals, dorm stays, supplies and research experiences are fully covered, removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent students from participating.

“We aim to introduce geoscience to high school students regardless of their level of resources,” Quan said.

Now in its fifth year, GEO -REx is helping shape the Boone Pickens School of Geology’s future. Several former campers are currently enrolled, or soon will be, as geology, geophysics or environmental geoscience majors at OSU, showing how early exposure can open doors students may not have known existed.

At Cowboy Aphasia Camp, donor support is equally essential. Aphasia is most often caused by stroke or other neurological injuries. While recovery can continue for

years, insurance - covered therapy often does not. The camp helps fill that gap by creating a space where communication, confidence and connection can continue to grow.

The camp also provides graduate students with hands - on clinical experience grounded in a life-reaching approach to therapy.

“It’s always rewarding to see people with aphasia become the real teachers for our graduate students and for the graduate students to stretch their wings as soon - to - be speech pathologists,” Copeland said.

PhilanthroPete funding covers most Cowboy Aphasia Camp expenses each year, keeping costs low for participants while supporting meals, therapy materials and clinical supervision. Over time, the camp has served more than 75 campers and trained more than 150 graduate students.

Donor support also allows the program to evolve, including a new

Caregiver Day this year that gives families a space to connect, learn and support one another.

The impact of both camps extends well beyond a single week. Students discover new career paths, people with aphasia regain confidence and connection, and families experience lasting communication gains, all made possible through sustained PhilanthroPete donor support.

“On behalf of the people with aphasia who attend, and the students who work with them, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Copeland said.

Quan echoes that gratitude.

“I hope that we’ve conveyed to donors how critical their support is to the camp and what their donations allow us to do,” she said.

The Code Calls. For more information on how to make an impact through PhilanthroPete, visit philanthropete.osugiving.com.

CONNECTING THE

It’s been over 100 years since dietitian Lenna Cooper became the first person credited with claiming breakfast as the most important meal of the day.

New Oklahoma State University football coach Eric Morris may not be channeling Cooper, but he has made the morning meal a cornerstone of an offseason program designed to help a roster of mostly strangers turn into a cohesive football team.

In an era of transient players, coaches and even conference membership, Morris is a connector at a time when it is most needed.

“Building trust is one of the most important things in any organization,” Morris said from his still bare-bones office atop Boone Pickens Stadium well into his fourth month in Stillwater.

“You must be very intentional in building a culture and

favorite things to do on a day-today basis.”

Thus, “The Breakfast Club” was born.

“We have our coaches eat with different members of our roster twice a week,” Morris said. “That way, our defensive line coaches are sitting down with running backs, and our offensive line coaches eat with the defensive backs. People who really aren’t spending a lot of time together have breakfast together.

“I have always thought that tough teams win football games. This is an extremely physical, violent sport, and if you go to war on Saturdays with your brothers, you are willing to sacrifice for one another. That’s an element I think gets lost nowadays with the portal. I enjoy spending time with these kids, and we are very intentional around here about making sure we

Unlike any coach in recent or even ancient OSU football history, Morris arrived in Stillwater as a tried-and-true head coach with two program flips already under his belt — at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio and at the University of North Texas in Denton. OSU is not his maiden voyage, and in his mental briefcase is a list of his accomplishments and missteps. His philosophies have been sharpened by real-world experiences gained by sitting in the big chair.

“My first head coaching job was at a small place in Incarnate Word,” he said. “It was a place where I could make mistakes without being under the magnifying glass all of the time, and it allowed me to grow and learn and get a feel for how to be a better leader.”

He was a fast learner. In four years at UIW, he was named

with few accomplishments into the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. And then, he made what might be considered a unique career move. Instead of setting sights on his next head coaching gig, he became the offensive coordinator at Washington State University under coach Jake Dickert, who is now the head coach at Wake Forest University.

“It was probably one of the most valuable things I have done in my career,” Morris said. “It was my first time working with a defensiveminded head coach. It helped me see coaching from a different mindset, especially during practice. They (Washington State) set up drills that were designed to make the defense successful. And I saw that build confidence in the defense.

“Even though I call the plays, I want the defense to be successful, and I want those times to be celebrated because playing great defense allows you to win championships.”

Morris, of course, cut his teeth as a player and assistant coach on the Texas Tech University tree, playing under and working for the likes of Mike Leach, Kliff Kingsbury, Dana Holgorsen and Kevin Sumlin as part of some of the most prolific offenses in NCAA history.

The experience at WSU led Morris to the head coaching position at UNT, where the threeyear stay resulted in a turnaround that followed a path similar to that of UIW. His first team in Denton was 5-7. His last team in 2025 may have been the best in that school’s history, winning 12 games, making a push for the College Football Playoff, playing for the American Athletic Conference championship and finishing No. 24 in the final

“BUILDING TRUST IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN ANY ORGANIZATION. YOU MUST BE VERY INTENTIONAL IN BUILDING A CULTURE AND CREATING TRUST IN BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS. AND IT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.”

ERIC MORRIS COWBOY FOOTBALL COACH

Associated Press poll — a first for the Mean Green.

The turnaround in Denton led to Morris reuniting with former TTU deputy athletic director Chad Weiberg, now the vice president and director of OSU Athletics. The new coach has the assignment of righting a ship that had suddenly and quickly taken on water.

The link to Weiberg was an underpublicized but important element for Morris.

“It was important knowing who you were going to work for and what their leadership styles were,” he said. “Once I got into deeper conversations with Chad and Reid (Sigmon, deputy athletic director), I think it became more evident that we were on the same page in so many different aspects of getting this place built back up to what it was just a short time ago.”

IN THE BEGINNING

Some would argue that no one has a busier life than a college football coach. The exception might be the college coach with two jobs.

Just before Thanksgiving, OSU announced Morris as the 25th head coach in school history. He was a rising star whose name kept

popping up in connection with numerous job searches in a year marked by ridiculous churn at the highest level of the sport.

Meanwhile, in Denton, UNT was in the midst of a season that was historic by its normal standards. North Texas was an offensive machine, drawing national headlines in a season that saw every Mean Green game become bigger than the previous.

But Morris and Weiberg had taken the drama out of things early — first agreeing on a contract that would make Morris the new Cowboy in charge, while also agreeing that as long as UNT was in playoff contention, Morris would remain coaching the Mean Green.

“This (transition) was a little out of the ordinary because when I took the other two jobs, I was able to transition my mind right away,” Morris said. “I was able to move to Incarnate Word immediately and have my sole focus on Incarnate Word. The same thing with North Texas. I was able to fly in on the same day, get to Denton and really start hammering away.

“This time was different. Usually, staff is the most important thing to me, and nowadays, with the transfer portal, there is roster transition, so this one was a little

bit different. And we were still playing football and competing for a conference championship with the chance to make the College Football Playoff.”

Weiberg said Morris’ desire to finish the season with his team is indicative of why OSU hired him.

“The timing of these transitions are never great,” Weiberg said. “But he wanted to see things through with his team, with his players. It further cemented everything we thought we were getting with him.”

Although he wanted to work both jobs for as long as the Mean Green were in CFP contention, it didn’t mean it was easy.

“There were a lot of late nights as far as game planning and doing things I would normally be doing for North Texas,” Morris said. “But the recruiting aspect switched to Oklahoma State. I spent a lot of time digging into the current roster and figuring out who I needed to retain, and also trying to familiarize myself with the financial piece, getting the books for this place and seeing where we

were from the financial aspect. The good news is that I pretty much brought everyone with me, so it was huge to have Raj and Steve start working through the roster, the portal and how we were going to manage high school recruiting.”

Raj Murti serves as the squad’s general manager, and Steve Keasler is the special assistant to the head coach. Both men manage the all-important business side of Cowboy football.

After North Texas fell to Tulane University in the AAC game, Morris turned his focus full time to OSU while most of the North Texas staff remained in Denton to coach the Mean Green to an eventual victory over San Diego State University in the New Mexico Bowl.

“That phase was tough for me,” Morris said. “I was up here three or four weeks by myself while everyone else stayed in Denton for the bowl. It was an important piece for us — for North Texas to win its first bowl game since 2013.

“It was lonely in this building for the first couple of weeks. It’s a

great space, and I was walking up and down the empty hallways. It wasn’t always a great feeling when you are a new leader of a program of this magnitude. It was a wide array of emotions. I was extremely happy to have this opportunity and to be able to move my family to a place like Stillwater.

Morris and his wife, Maggie, have two sons, Jack and George. They were all still in Texas.

“They say it’s lonely at the top, and I definitely felt that because there were so many moving parts and everything was happening so fast,” Morris said.

A NEW HOME

Just months into his new gig at OSU, Morris is still becoming acquainted, from the inside, with OSU. And he likes what he sees.

“The people are so friendly and nice and want to help you any way they can,” Morris said. “It’s been really refreshing for me and my family just to see how genuine the people are and how much

they want to help. There are some people who see a small town as a negative. It was one of the biggest positives for my family. We get the small town feel while also being able to coach and compete on a national stage.”

The national stage starts in Stillwater, which is something that Morris not only understands but is excited to embrace.

“The football team at Oklahoma State is such a powerful thing for this campus,” he said. “I have seen it at so many different stops. It drives activities for students, and it creates so many experiences they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

He’s talking about building connections — lifetime connections for students to their alma mater because he is a connector.

It was his connection to Weiberg that helped him land in Stillwater. Connections with his family are the centerpiece of his life. Connecting with his players is his favorite part of being a college football coach.

He sees connecting his Cowboy football team with OSU students and the local community as not just necessary, but as a critical piece of program building.

And it all starts with a good breakfast.

See an expanded version of this article in the spring 2026 issue of POSSE magazine.

This new award, presented by the OSU Alumni Association, recognizes alumni of the Cowboy family who are ages 40 or younger who have distinguished themselves through their profession and the betterment of their community while serving as champions of Oklahoma State University. Learn more about the honorees at okstatealumni.org/oya .

“OSU really taught me to work hard, aim high, stay grounded, and those are the principles that I live by.”

“I’m very grateful for the education I received here but also for the opportunities that the campus provided to put myself out there and to try new things.”

“I give everything back to OSU. My life would not be what it is today without it.”

“Anytime we have the opportunity to be ambassadors for the university, it is incumbent upon us, as alumni, to show that love and encourage others to give back.”

’09 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS EDMOND, OKLAHOMA ’16 VETERINARY MEDICINE

’16 COMPUTER ENGINEERING HIGHLANDS RANCH,

“Being a first-generation college student, every step along the way was a brand-new journey for me.”

“I use the Cowboy Code daily to help inspire me to dream bigger and go beyond what I thought I could.”

’09 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS LINDSAY, TEXAS

“I’ve been given a lot throughout my life, and OSU is a place that gave a lot to me.”

Leah M. Roper

“I think of the Cowboy Code as embodying something that already exists in the culture at OSU. It’s who we are and what we are doing in all aspects of life.”

Dr. Darnell Smith

“I learned from great leaders at OSU. They invested in me and saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. I learned the foundation of great success is about pouring into others, but do things intentionally, with a lot of purpose, with passion and compassion.”

“Anything I have achieved is related to those lessons I learned here at OSU.”

Christy Tapps

“The Cowboy Code has instilled in me skills that I use every day in my leadership role — listening to people first, treating them with dignity and owning those hard decisions even when it’s tough.”

Saluting Service

OSU partners with Folds of Honor to expand scholarship support for veteran families

STORY GRANT RAMIREZ | PHOTOS BRUCE WATERFIELD AND PROVIDED

The military always honors the code that no one gets left behind. And it isn’t just limited to the battlefield.

Oklahoma State University and Folds of Honor have partnered to support the Honor Ribbon Program, expanding scholarships for qualified OSU students who are spouses and children of fallen or disabled U.S. service members and first responders.

This initiative helps close funding gaps for eligible OSU students, building upon Folds of Honor’s existing support. A transformational commitment from Folds of Honor kickstarts the effort, reinforcing one of OSU’s goals to “fund the unfunded” and create life-changing opportunities.

Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided approximately $2.6 million in scholarships to more than 560 OSU students. This

partnership will allow OSU to reach even more students with an opportunity to pursue their education without financial barriers.

“This expanded partnership reflects the very heart of Oklahoma State University’s mission,” OSU President Jim Hess said. “We are committed to providing access and opportunity for all, and this collaboration with Folds of Honor allows us to honor

GROUP EFFORT | OSU leadership, Folds of Honor representatives and scholarship recipients gathered to announce the partnership at the Jan. 11 Bedlam wrestling match.

those who have sacrificed for our country.

“Together, we will open doors for students who embody resilience and courage.”

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney is the Folds of Honor CEO and founder. The Stillwater High School graduate and Oklahoma Air National Guard veteran said he is proud to team up with OSU.

“While we have provided nearly 73,000 academic scholarships nationwide since our inception, the need remains great,” Rooney said. “Until every qualified applicant receives the opportunity for a lifechanging education, our mission continues. We are humbled that we can assist Oklahoma State students who need and desire our help.”

Every gift to the Folds of Honor Scholarship Fund at OSU strengthens this effort and helps OSU serve more students. Donor support ensures that families who have sacrificed for the nation’s safety and freedom receive the

educational opportunities they deserve.

OSU junior Travis Moore is one student who has been impacted by a Folds of Honor scholarship.

His father, Harold N. Moore, is a 10-year Air Force veteran who left the service before Travis was born. Because of him, Travis has maintained a strong military presence throughout his life. They frequently go together to meet veterans Harold served with and visit military bases — including the first base where he was stationed in England.

The younger Moore always envisioned following in his dad’s footsteps and enlisting himself, but that plan ended when he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 16.

“Throughout my life, my father has kept me connected to his service and taught me to be thankful for those who are serving and have served,” Moore said. “Since the military wasn’t in

my cards, I decided to reach for a different way to serve and give back to others.”

A lifelong OSU fan, Moore decided to come to Stillwater and pursue a degree in health care administration. He dreams of working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, another positive way to serve veterans and the military since he’s unable to enlist.

The Folds of Honor scholarship is pushing Moore closer to that goal.

“It is an honor to receive the Folds of Honor scholarship,” Moore said. “It’s a huge boost to reaching my goal of graduating as a Cowboy from OSU. The opportunity to reduce my college debt so I can start a career of serving others without a burden is something I am truly grateful for.”

The Code Calls. To support students like Moore and make a gift to the Folds of Honor Scholarship Fund at OSU, visit OSUgiving.com/foh

ALUMNI

T he Oklahoma State University Alumni Association honored four new members of the OSU Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Feb. 13 in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Roger Cagle, Rick Muncrief, John W. Smith and Dr. James B. Wise all received the university’s highest honor. The award celebrates outstanding lifetime achievement in society and professional life.

Visit okstatealumni.org/hof to watch the induction video for each honoree as well as the full ceremony.

ROGER Cagle

In 1965, Roger Cagle, co-valedictorian from Heavener, Oklahoma, earned an academic scholarship to Oklahoma State University, but withdrew to join the Marine Corps.

He returned to OSU, juggling classwork with roles as a teaching assistant, a Veterans Affairs Office staff member, an OSU Development Foundation assistant director and a father. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1973 and his MBA in 1975.

His career began at Exxon USA with Controller Ed Story. Together, they ventured to Superior Oil and restructured its financial systems. Roger and his wife, Cindy, met at Superior and married in 1988. They joined a team founding a new company, which was sold in 1991, opening the door to adventure.

The Cagles joined Cindy’s parents in Panama aboard their 60-foot trimaran, Beachouse. They sailed eight days to the Galapagos Islands, then 21 days across Pacific waters to remote atolls. They bartered their fishing gear for fresh food and interacted with islanders and global travelers. Interspersing travel with work, they collaborated on several ventures before sailing from Cape Town, South Africa, to the Caribbean in 1996.

With Story, they assembled international assets and founded

SOCO International in 1997. The Cagles relocated to London, steering SOCO’s initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. For over two decades, they conducted business worldwide, unlocking asset potential and returning value to shareholders from projects in Mongolia, Russia, Thailand, Tunisia, Vietnam and Yemen. Roger was a non-executive director and chairman of several Londonlisted energy and minerals companies.

In 2018, the Cagles retired to the Texas Hill Country, forming the High Cs Ranch, which evolved into a haven for native wildlife, longhorns and exotic creatures. Their son calls the ranch home, and their granddaughter lives nearby in Kerrville.

Whilst in London, the Cagles established their family foundation to facilitate philanthropy. In 2014, their gift established the CAGLE Center, empowering the Spears School of Business with global outreach. CAGLE has awarded over $450,000 in scholarships and hosted more than 3,400 students on transformative international journeys.

Roger, an Alumni Association life member since 1985 and Heritage Society member, was inducted into the Spears Hall of Fame, and recognized as both a Distinguished MBA Alumni and a top 100 for 100 years alumnus.

“What makes Oklahoma State a special place is that the school doesn’t try to make you a certain college graduate. In my view, they allow you to expand your horizons and, with the faculty and staff’s dedication, they allow you to be the best that you could want to be.”

ROGER CAGLE

RICK Muncrief

Rick Muncrief graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering technology.

Muncrief is the former president and chief executive officer of Devon Energy. He was named CEO upon the merger of Devon and WPX Energy, where he previously served as CEO and chairman of the board. Before joining WPX in 2014, he served as senior vice president of operations and resource development of Continental Resources Inc.

From 1980 to 2007, he served in various technical and leadership capacities with ConocoPhillips and its predecessor companies, Burlington Resources, Meridian Oil and El Paso Exploration.

He is currently on the board of directors of Williams Companies and serves on the compensation and management development committee and the environmental, health and safety committee. Muncrief serves as vice chair of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum board in Oklahoma City and is a board member of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in Baltimore. He also serves on the energy committee of the Dallas Federal Reserve, is a member of the AllAmerican Wildcatters and serves on the board and executive committee of the OKC Chamber of Commerce.

Muncrief is a former member of the American Petroleum Institute board of directors and executive committee and has been named the 2025 recipient of API’s Gold Medal Award. He is a past chairman and director of the American Exploration & Production Council, where he received the inaugural American Energy Vision Award. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Texas Oil and Gas Association.

Muncrief serves on several advisory committees at his alma mater, including The Code Calls Executive Campaign Board, the Hamm Institute of American Energy, and the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute. He was recognized as a distinguished alumnus and was inducted into the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Hall of Fame.

He and his wife, Gail, also support various areas across campus, including endowing the Rick and Gail Muncrief Executive Director position for HPNRI.

They currently reside in Edmond, Oklahoma, and are the parents of two grown children and four grandchildren. The Muncriefs are active in their church, are both huge sports fans and enjoy their farming and ranching operations near Elk City, Oklahoma.

Muncrief is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“When people talk about culture, it’s sometimes a buzzword for people. But for Oklahoma State University, it’s reality. The two greatest assets we have are people and this wonderful culture.”

RICK MUNCRIEF

JOHN W. Smith

John W. Smith graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1988.

Over a six-year span that began while he was a student, Smith was the world’s top wrestler. He won consecutive world championships from 1987 to 1992, including gold medals at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

Smith accepted the head coaching position at OSU in 1992 and led his alma mater to five NCAA team titles in 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, coaching 33 NCAA individual champions.

The Cowboys brought 21 team conference tournament championships, two Big 12 regular season titles and 132 individual conference titles back to Stillwater. Smith saw 153 of his wrestlers earn All-American recognition. Additionally, Smith coached Alex Dieringer and Steve Mocco, who were awarded the Hodge Trophy — the country’s top collegiate wrestling award. Five of Smith’s wrestlers at OSU also made their way to the Olympic Games, including medalists Jamill Kelly and Coleman Scott.

Smith was recognized as the National Wrestling Coaches Association

Coach of the Year in 1994 and 2003 and was a 15-time selection as his conference’s coach of the year. In 1990, Smith was the first wrestler to claim the James E. Sullivan Award as America’s Outstanding Amateur Athlete and became the first American ever chosen as the Master of Technique and Wrestler of the Year by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA).

In 1992, Smith was presented with the Amateur Athletic Foundation World Trophy, becoming the first North American wrestler to do so. A 2003 inductee into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a 1997 inductee into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Smith was recognized as one of the 100 greatest Olympians of all time at the 1996 Atlanta Games. That same year, Smith was inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Honor.

He coached the U.S. at the Senior World Championships four times and was named the 2017 USA Wrestling Women’s Co-Coach of the Year.

In 1995, Smith married Toni Donaldson. The couple has three sons — Joe, Sam and Levi — and two daughters — Isabelle and Cecilia. Smith is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“I love gold medals, and honestly, this is the best one I’ve ever worn. I’m so thankful to have wrestled in Gallagher Hall and to have been a coach in Gallagher-Iba Arena.”

JOHN W. SMITH

DR. JAMES B. Wise

Dr. James B. Wise graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1957.

After graduating, he became the university’s second alumnus to attend the prestigious Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore. He graduated at the top of his class in large part due to the preparation his OSU education provided.

Wise transformed the field of eye care during his trailblazing career as an ophthalmologist. In 1976, he invented laser trabeculoplasty, a groundbreaking procedure used to treat glaucoma, an eye disease that can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. His innovation is still used to treat hundreds of millions of people worldwide and continues to impact lives nearly five decades later. Across his decorated career in ophthalmology, he authored 34 publications and lectured in more than a dozen countries, earning numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the field.

Beyond medicine, Wise has made a profound impact on Oklahoma’s agricultural community. In 2010, he purchased Stillwater Milling Company

to keep it from being sold to a corporate entity and preserve its local integrity. Under his leadership, the mill — Oklahoma’s largest cattle feed producer — has seen major improvements in capacity, efficiency and product quality.

His commitment to OSU is equally remarkable. After their animals received exceptional care at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Wise and his wife, Elizabeth, made a $2 million gift to establish the James and Elizabeth Wise Endowed Chair of Veterinary Ophthalmology. Their gift supports innovative research and education within the College of Veterinary Medicine, advancing OSU’s land-grant mission and ensuring top-tier eye care for animals across the state.

Wise has also been a generous supporter of the Edmon Low Library, scholarships, the Wildlife Care Fund and more.

Wise’s legacy is defined by his relentless curiosity, transformational achievements and unwavering dedication to giving back to the university that shaped his path.

He is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“After I returned to Oklahoma, I wanted to give back to OSU. I chose the library. The library is vital to the university. My OSU education was a big factor in my success in life, and I would encourage all of you to give back to your university.”

DR. JAMES B. WISE

LEADING CALL

THE EXECUTIVE CAMPAIGN BOARD BEHIND OSU’S $2 BILLION COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN

The Code Calls, Oklahoma State University’s $2 billion comprehensive fundraising and branding campaign, isn’t just about raising dollars; it’s about raising expectations for what’s possible.

It’s about bringing the OSU community together to provide lifechanging opportunities for every student and ensure no Cowboy walks alone. It’s about showing the world what it means to be a Cowboy by supporting the next-generation and making a difference in our communities across Oklahoma and beyond.

When OSU set its sights on this historic goal, it called on leaders who shared that same bold vision to drive the charge.

Well before The Code Calls’ public launch last year, the members of its Executive Campaign Board were already answering — laying the foundation for OSU’s most ambitious campaign ever.

“Each of our Executive Campaign Board members embody the very best of the Cowboy family,” OSU Foundation President Blaire Atkinson said. “They lead with humility, consistently follow through and are committed to the success of our university and students. They bring a remarkable depth of experience and perspective, and we are so grateful for their leadership.”

This select group of philanthropic leaders play an essential role in shaping and advancing the campaign through high-level guidance and serving as public ambassadors — asking every member of the Cowboy family to join them and invest in the OSU’s future. Much like the campaign itself, the board members are rooted in the Cowboy Code and driven by a powerful belief in OSU:

1. Joe Eastin (`92 business administration), the co-founder, chairman and executive chairman of the board of ISN Software Corporation.

2. Jessica Begley (`95 family relations and child development), a board officer for the U.S. Pain Foundation, and Bryan Begley (`94 mechanical engineering), the co-founder of private investment firms 1901 Partners and ZBI Ventures.

3. Gina Bridwell (`79 elementary education), an OSU Foundation Board of Governors member, and Tucker Bridwell, president of Mansefeldt Investments.

4. Angie Callahan (`93 elementary education), a former teacher and versatile professional, and Brian Callahan (`94 accounting), president and CEO for ISN Software Corporation.

5. Julie Connelly (`99 management information systems

and MBA), the former vice president of ISN Software Corporation.

6. Kayleen Ferguson, an OSU Foundation Board of Trustees member, and Larry Ferguson (`75 animal science), the former chairman, president and CEO of Schreiber Foods.

7. Joe Hall (`83 civil engineering), an OSU/A&M Board of Regents member and owner and CEO of Joe D. Hall General Contractors.

8. Shelly Lambertz (`88 organizational administration), executive chairman for Continental Resources, and Gant Lambertz, a real estate investment manager.

9. Gail Muncrief (`80 home economics), an OSU Foundation Board of Trustees member, and Rick Muncrief (`80 petroleum engineering technology), the former president and CEO of Devon Energy.

10. Jamie Zink (`98 management information systems), a board member of Gaining Ground, and Darton Zink (`94 accounting), the president and CEO of Zeeco Inc.

11. Barry Sanders, former OSU running back, 1988 Heisman Trophy winner and living football legend.

12. Billie McKnight (`73 business) and Ross McKnight (`71 agriculture), served as co-chairs of OSU’s $1.2 billion Branding Success campaign.

KEEPERS

OF THE CODE

Honoring the Cowboy Code, answering the call

JOE EASTIN

KAT GARDNER-VANDY

JOHN LEE

BENNETT UPTON

The

Cowboy Code.

Seven principles that have come to define what it means to be part of the OSU family.

They aren't just words. For thousands of OSU alumni, faculty, staff and students, they're fundamental pillars of their character and identity.

You'll find the Code alive in professors who show up for their students no matter what time it is, in orange-blooded entrepreneurs who bet everything on a dream, in public servants who do the unglamorous work because they believe it matters. Across industries, time zones and life stages, the thread of the Cowboy Code connects us all.

This is a collection of those stories highlighting how different members of the Cowboy family are making a difference in their own corners of the world. They don't all look the same. But spend enough time with each of them, and the family resemblance becomes impossible to miss. When The Code Calls, Cowboys answer.

JOE EASTIN KEEPER OF THE CODE

WE HAVE A PASSION TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT, EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD.

Joe Eastin doesn’t talk about success as something achieved alone.

He talks about it as something built together over time, with intention, character and a responsibility to those who come next.

That belief took root during his time at Oklahoma State University, where Eastin, who graduated in 1992 in business administration, said the most lasting lessons weren’t confined to the classroom.

“Character is what you do when no one’s looking,” he said, noting that OSU reinforced values he carried into his career: doing what’s right, working hard, showing mutual respect and understanding the power of collaboration. Those principles, he said, helped launch his life beyond college and continue to guide it decades later.

Today, Eastin is the executive chairman and board chair of ISN Software Corporation, a company he cofounded in 2001. He embodies what it means to be a keeper of the Cowboy Code not only through his

generosity, but also through his deep commitment to involvement.

For him, supporting OSU is about leaving the institution — and the world — better than he found it. Education, he believes, is the catalyst.

“With our young people, giving them a hand up and any guidance that we can, it’s only going to continue the betterment of what we’ve built so far,” he said, echoing President Jim Hess’ reminder to “leave the ladder down for the next person.”

That philosophy comes to life through the Eastin Center for Career Readiness, one of the initiatives he is most proud of. Eastin saw a gap in higher education: students practice endlessly for exams, performances and competitions, yet rarely practice for their careers.

He and his wife, Monica, established the center to change that, to equip students with professional competencies and confidence as they prepare for what comes next. Looking ahead, Eastin hopes career readiness

becomes a formalized, widespread part of higher education, with OSU serving as a model.

As chair of the Executive Campaign Board for The Code Calls fundraising campaign, Eastin sees the Cowboy Code as inherently collective.

Every line, he points out, begins with “we.” It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t require unanimous agreement, only a shared commitment to work together.

“It takes a village,” he said. “The accomplishments are truly endless when collaborating with others."

If there’s one line of the Cowboy Code that resonates most with Eastin, it’s the call to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Difficult times test resolve, he said, but staying focused on character and purpose is what defines the journey.

For Eastin, giving isn’t limited to dollars. It’s time, energy and presence — proof that being part of the Cowboy family means showing up, again and again, for those who will follow.

“WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, GIVING THEM A HAND UP AND ANY GUIDANCE THAT WE CAN, IT’S ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE THE BETTERMENT OF WHAT WE’VE BUILT SO FAR. REMEMBER TO LEAVE THE LADDER DOWN FOR THE NEXT PERSON.”

KAT GARDNER-VANDY

KEEPER OF THE CODE

BEING A COWBOY ISN’T IN OUR CLOTHES, IT’S IN OUR CHARACTER.

The College of Education and Human Sciences’ Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy wears many hats, and being a Cowboy is second only to her deeply rooted Choctaw Nation heritage.

A geologist, planetary scientist and private pilot, Gardner-Vandy is an associate professor in the School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation.

The cornerstone of her research is understanding how people view themselves as scientists and seeking ways to get more individuals into earth and space science and aerospace careers.

“The reality is that everyone is a scientist!” she said.

Gardner-Vandy said the more people realize that science careers — and STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] careers in general — are in their grasp, the more folks will enter the greater STEM workforce.

The Cowboy Code is threaded within the curriculum she teaches, and she asks students in her Aviation/Aerospace Ethics course to dig into the Code and decide how it reflects their own virtues.

As an aviation and space professor, Gardner-Vandy says she’d be remiss to not acknowledge that ‘We dream as big as the sky’

—

“You bet we do! Cowboys look up at that beautiful blue sky and say, “I can go there!” and then make it happen.” But ‘Being a Cowboy isn’t in our clothes, it's in our character’ is the tenant of the Code she most leans on.

“Everyone has a mental image of a cowboy’s clothing: boots, jeans and a ten-gallon hat. I love that this tenant moves us past that and focuses on a cowboy’s character: steadfast and hardworking, strong yet compassionate, full of integrity, and respectful of land, animals and people,” Gardner-Vandy said. “This tenant moves us to focus on making decisions with integrity, even when no one else does.”

It is easy for Gardner-Vandy to embody the Cowboy spirit because she believes it aligns closely with her values as a member of the Choctaw Nation.

“The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s motto is faith, family and culture. As a Choctaw citizen, I have a responsibility to my people and culture,” she said.

“... This same beautiful responsibility extends to my Cowboy community. I have a responsibility to my state and the land and sky that brought me up as a child. I hope I never lose the passion to keep moving the state of Oklahoma forward.”

STORY KIRSI MCDOWELL |

PHOTO ELLIE PIPER

“I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MY STATE AND THE LAND AND SKY THAT BROUGHT ME UP AS A CHILD. I HOPE I NEVER LOSE THE PASSION TO KEEP MOVING THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FORWARD.”

JOHN LEE KEEPER OF THE CODE

“FOR 15 YEARS, I’VE BEEN BLESSED TO SERVE WITHIN THE COWBOY FAMILY, FOR THE COWBOY FAMILY, AND FOR FUTURE COWBOYS. THE CHALLENGES, CONNECTIONS, AND EXPERIENCES HAVE ALL BEEN REWARDING, BUT THE IMPACT ON OTHERS IS WHAT I VALUE MOST.”

Oklahoma State University Landscape Services director John Lee has built his career around cultivating more than just green spaces; he’s helped shape the experience of campus itself.

His work reflects a commitment to excellence, teamwork and pride in place, all rooted in his deep connection to OSU.

A Ponca City, Oklahoma, native and 2006 graduate, Lee returned to Stillwater after running his own landscape contracting business, bringing hands-on expertise and a personal investment in the university’s future. Nearly 15 years into his tenure, including the past four as director, he now leads a team responsible for maintaining and enhancing one of the most recognized campuses in the country.

That recognition is backed by results. OSU’s Landscape Services team earned the Green Star Grand

Award for Large Campus from the Professional Grounds Management Society in both 2019 and 2024, marking OSU as home to one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses.

Lee’s leadership has also earned individual recognition. He was awarded first place in OSU’s 2025 Distinguished Service Awards, an honor that highlights staff members who demonstrate exceptional dedication and create a lasting impact on the university community. Selected through a competitive nomination and review process, the award underscores Lee’s role in elevating the experience of students, faculty, staff and visitors alike.

Overseeing nearly 70 fulltime employees, Lee manages teams across design, installation, maintenance, sustainability and operations. Together, they care for more than 700 acres of campus grounds, ensuring every space, from major landmarks to everyday walkways, contributes

to a welcoming and cohesive environment.

“Working for Oklahoma State University is so much more than fulfilling the needs of a job description. For 15 years, I’ve been blessed to serve within the Cowboy family, for the Cowboy family, and for future Cowboys. The challenges, connections, and experiences have all been rewarding, but the impact on others is what I value most.

“At OSU, we have pride in place. We know that when we display our best, we attract and keep the best. The beauty of OSU’s award -winning campus does exactly that — it creates a unique, special environment that invites others to join a place of excellence, to join our Cowboy family.”

Through thoughtful design, consistent care and a teamfirst approach, Lee continues to cultivate a campus that reflects OSU’s spirit, which is both nationally recognized and deeply felt by those who call it home.

BENNETT UPTON KEEPER

OF THE CODE

WE DREAM AS BIG AS THE SKY.

Oklahoma State University biochemistry and molecular biology graduate Bennett Upton’s story is a great example of the Cowboy Code in action and what’s possible when values and vision align.

The Gates Cambridge scholar finalist is now bound for England, where he'll spend his doctoral years chasing answers to one of medicine's most stubborn puzzles — a virus that quietly inhabits more than half the world’s population.

Upton hopes his research work — under the mentorship of the University of Cambridge’s Dr. Colin Crump — will help better understand the triggers of the herpes simplex virus, which affects over 3 billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The virus is a common infection that can cause painful blisters or ulcers and is spread through skin-to-skin contact. Current medications can treat symptoms but cannot cure the infection.

“HSV is one virus that uses mechanisms to evade the detection of our intrinsic immune system,” Upton said. “It’s really interesting to study viruses like this. What can we do to understand them and find a way to fight back?”

The Frisco, Texas, native said that the fight doesn’t end in the lab, noting that testing and treatment for viruses like HSV can be inaccessible to the communities that need them the most, especially those in developing countries.

After he completes his doctorate, Upton said he would love to find a balance between academia and providing direct aid to those that need help the most.

“What makes me happy is creating a community of people around me and being able to help my community,” he said. “If I’m going to other countries, I’d be helping other people’s communities, and that is an intrinsic motivator for me. It’s something that I’m very excited and passionate about doing.”

“WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY IS CREATING A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE AROUND ME AND BEING ABLE TO HELP MY COMMUNITY.”

A TIME TO HEAL

OSU ACADEMIC MEDICAL DISTRICT UNITING CARE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

Change is coming to downtown Tulsa. And the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is the catalyst.

Through a series of public and private partnerships with federal, state and local governments as well as nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, OSU-CHS is helping transform the southwest corner of the state’s second-largest city into the Academic Medical District.

OSU has had a presence in downtown Tulsa for decades with the OSU Medical Center, one of the largest osteopathic teaching hospitals in the country, which is currently undergoing a major expansion.

Now, with the additions of the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center set to open this year and the Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center on track to open in 2027, this area of Tulsa will become the center of patient care, research and medical education in northeast Oklahoma.

OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens said the Academic Medical District represents a transformational investment in the future of health care, medical education and research for the state.

“With the expansion and modernization of the OSU Medical Center alongside the opening of the new VA hospital and psychiatric care center, we are creating a comprehensive, patient-centered continuum of care unlike anything our state has seen,” Dr. Stephens said.

These projects will not only elevate the level of care available to patients across Oklahoma, but they will also significantly expand clinical training opportunities for OSU’s medical students, residents and fellows.

“By growing our residency programs and rotation sites within this Academic Medical District, we are strengthening our ability to train the next generation of physicians while directly improving health outcomes for the communities we are proud to serve,” he said.

James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center

Lawmakers, leaders, stakeholders and supporters celebrated the ownership transfer of the new James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center on Nov. 11, 2025 — Veterans Day.

The veterans hospital project was made possible by a publicprivate partnership between Oklahoma State University, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Hospital in Tulsa (VHiT) LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation.

The $181.4 million project was funded through the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016, or CHIP IN, as well as $70 million in community and donor support.

The state of Oklahoma donated the land and the former KerrEdmondson buildings to OSU to repurpose them for the VA hospital. This approach created efficiencies that allowed the project to be completed at roughly half the square-foot cost of similar new construction VA projects nationwide.

“By partnering with local, state and federal governments, the VA, and philanthropic organizations, OSU continues to live up to its founding mission of training physicians and others to meet the health care needs of Oklahomans,” Stephens said. “I’m so proud this hospital, the cornerstone of the OSU Academic Medical District,

will serve those who have served our country.”

A Veterans Day ceremony commemorated the ownership transfer of the facility from VHiT and OSU to the VA, which will complete the 273,000-squarefoot, 58-bed hospital and begin accepting patients this summer.

“Whether an Oklahoma veteran receives services in this hospital or not, the facility was built with one thing in mind — every veteran walking in or driving by will know that this community values their service. The quality of this facility reflects the level of dignity and honor that their service deserves,” said Courtney Knoblock, director of Veterans Hospital in Tulsa LLC and vice president of the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation.

Kimberly Denning, medical director of Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System, said they currently serve 65,000 veterans

“I’m so proud this hospital, the cornerstone of the OSU Academic Medical District, will serve those who have served our country.”

Johnny Stephens OSU-CHS PRESIDENT

living in Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma.

“Today’s VA is innovative and modern, and as health care advances, we are keeping pace with those changes,” Denning said.

“The James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center is the future of the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. We look forward to serving the veteran population bringing health care to where they are.”

Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center

Set to open in 2027, the Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center will be the product of an unprecedented public-private partnership for better mental health in the Tulsa area.

The new 106-bed facility will replace the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health, doubling the number of beds currently available, and will feature a 24-hour crisis response urgent recovery center.

The $90 million center represents a partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), OSUCHS, the city and county of Tulsa as well as several philanthropic organizations led by the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation.

To help fund the hospital, Oklahoma legislators provided $38 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding while private donors and governmental partnerships covered the remaining costs.

“The Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center is a true publicprivate partnership, and the best version of one. It will be a stateowned asset made better by private support and strong local partnerships,” said Bill Major, executive director of the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation. “Mental health care is especially worth investing in to improve the lives of Oklahomans and return people

to wholeness. The new psychiatric hospital, located next to the OSU Medical Center, will expand and deepen experiential learning of our medical students in Oklahoma.”

Stephens said his vision is that the university will be the undisputed leader in mental health services and patient care.

“OSU Medicine’s physicians, health care professionals, residents and medical students are eager to work with our partners at ODMHSAS to treat

patients and make a difference in their lives through mental health services,” Stephens said. “Building strong partnerships has become a hallmark of OSU. This center wouldn’t be here without the dedication of so many people working toward the same goal — bringing care to those who need it most.”

The Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center is expected to add up to 50 new residency spots for medical students. It will double the number

of beds available to patients, reducing mental health-related emergency department visits, incarcerations and homelessness.

OSU Medical Center Expansion

The final piece of the Academic Medical District is the improvement and expansion of the OSU Medical Center, the cornerstone of the development.

OSU Medical Center, the 556,000-square-foot hospital, was

founded in 1943 and is the teaching hospital associated with the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In March 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the estimated $200 million expansion project. Two smaller buildings were demolished to make room for the 180,000-squarefoot expansion that will include eight new, teaching-focused surgical suites, a medical research lab, expanded café, a receiving dock with a connected warehouse and an airbridge connecting the OSU Medical Center to the VA hospital.

To better accommodate both patients and employees, a new 1,000 space parking garage on the OSUMC site was completed in 2025.

For the expansion, OSUMC received $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, $30 million in legacy capital funding from the state of Oklahoma and a $30 million Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Legacy Grant.

The grant award reflects the land-grant mission — to provide access to excellent health care while training future physicians to serve rural and underserved Oklahomans.

“This support will enhance our ability to deliver first-rate care, improve patient experiences and support our mission of training future physicians for rural Oklahoma,” said Finny Mathew, OSUMC president.

JAMES MOUNTAIN INHOFE VA MEDICAL CENTER

Square footage:

273,000

Beds: 58

Cost: $181.4 million

Residency spots: Up to 50

Expected Completion: Summer 2026

OKLAHOMA PSYCHIATRIC CARE CENTER

Square footage: 140,000

Beds: 106

Cost: $90 million

Residency spots: Up to 50

Expected Completion: Summer 2027

OSU MEDICAL CENTER EXPANSION

Square footage: 180,000

New surgical suites: 8

Other improvements: biosciences research and clinical trials facility, clinical support spaces, expanded café, skybridge to VA hospital

Cost: $200 million

Expected Completion: Summer 2028

HOUSE CALL

For livestock owners, the work is never finished.

Before daylight breaks and long after it fades, there are always calves to check, horses to feed and herds to protect. Illness doesn’t wait for business hours, and neither does the responsibility of caring for those animals.

Before the sun rises over Stillwater, Oklahoma State University ambulatory veterinarians and fourth-year students load a mud-splattered ambulatory truck for another day in the field. Veterinary medicine has no boundaries. It does not end at 5 p.m., wait for the next business day or remain confined within the walls of a clinic.

The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine ambulatory service has been assisting Stillwater and surrounding communities for decades.

Drs. John Gilliam, clinical professor in food animal production medicine and field services; Myriam Jimenez,

assistant professor in food animal production medicine and field services; Jason Anton, clinical assistant professor in production medicine, field services and extension; Lionel Dawson, professor in theriogenology with and emphasis in production animal theriogenology; and Chase Whitfield, clinical associate professor in equine medicine and field services, are at the forefront of the ambulatory service.

The ambulatory service delivers comprehensive veterinary care to equine and food animal patients, bringing clinical expertise directly to farms and ranches. The team provides services such as herd health programs, including calf processing, pregnancy diagnosis, and disease outbreak prevention and investigation. In addition to routine care, OSU veterinarians provide diagnostic imaging and treatment for individual animals.

“We offer a full range of food animal medicine services, ranging from care of sick individual

“We offer a full range of food animal medicine services, ranging from care of sick individual animals to production work with groups of animals.”

DR.

JOHN GILLIAM

CLINICAL PROFESSOR IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION MEDICINE AND FIELD SERVICES

animals to production work with groups of animals,” Gilliam said. “We also offer fertility evaluation and artificial insemination, just to name a few.”

Transporting large groups of animals is often impractical, making on-farm care essential to delivering high-quality herd health services. An ambulatory model allows veterinarians to evaluate

and treat animals in their own environment, which is especially beneficial when investigating disease concerns or assisting producers with management decisions. Seeing conditions firsthand provides critical insight that cannot be replicated in a hospital setting.

Since joining the service, Jimenez has expanded and strengthened its small ruminant, alpaca and swine offerings.

“The service allows large animal patients to receive care at their farm, which allows for more animals to be seen, and alleviates the stress of being hauled,” Jimenez said.

Recently, the college added a full-time equine ambulatory veterinarian to better serve the equine industry in Stillwater and surrounding communities. The addition allows Whitfield to focus more closely on the needs of our equine owners.

The service provides comprehensive equine veterinary care, including wellness exams, dental exams and floats, castrations, lameness evaluations and joint injections, prepurchase exams, advanced medical exams and consultations and neurologic evaluations.

In addition, Whitfield offers on-farm ultrasonography and radiography, upper airway and gastric endoscopy, shockwave therapy and orthobiologic joint therapy to diagnose, treat and manage lameness and other performance-related conditions.

“In addition to routine care, it is beneficial to provide emergency service on the farm to help patients and clients when they need you most,” Whitfield said.

Placing veterinarians in the field is helping combat the ongoing shortage of rural veterinary practitioners and strengthening

access to care in underserved communities.

“The addition of our new ambulatory trucks and mobile, expandable chute/corral system allows us to provide services to clients who don’t have, or have inadequate facilities,” said Dr. Jerry Ritchey, interim dean of OSU CVM.

Serving the community is one of the many benefits the service provides. Having an ambulatory service is vital for educating students as it gives them the chance to experience real-world scenarios and think outside the box.

“Having the opportunity to work in on-farm environments before they leave school is invaluable,” Gilliam said. “Students also learn valuable critical thinking and client communication skills.”

The ambulatory service provides students with hands-on experience

beyond the clinic walls, immersing them in real-world rural practice. This training is vital to the college’s mission of addressing the ongoing shortage of veterinarians in rural communities.

“I am so grateful to the producers who let us learn on their animals,” said Katelyn Massersmith, a fourth-year veterinary student. “During this rotation, I felt like an actual doctor and was able to sharpen my skills. Because of this service, I feel more confident.”

The food animal and equine ambulatory service continues to expand, strengthening the CVM’s ability to serve farmers and ranchers across the state. With new resources and additional faculty, the program is enhancing access to high-quality veterinary care and ensuring producers in

rural communities receive the support they need.

“Ambulatory medicine is where our mission meets the road — literally,” said Dr. Julia Montgomery, department head of veterinary clinical sciences. “Our growing ambulatory programs ensure that no corner of Oklahoma is beyond the reach of OSU veterinary expertise — and I could not be prouder of the direction we are heading.”

MCGEE EMILY

SOPHOMORE | SOCIOLOGY DAVENPORT, OK

SCHOLARSHIPS:

• Richard James Family Foundation Scholarship

• Randy Chamberlain Memorial Endowed Scholarship

IMPACT SPOTLIGHT

E mily McGee wasn’t even going to apply.

McGee, an Oklahoma State University sophomore, didn’t take a traditional path to Stillwater. After graduating from high school, she chose to serve in the military as a chance to get away from home and grow. A few years later, she had her daughter, Raven, and all her priorities changed.

A college education had always felt distant, but now it seemed completely unattainable. McGee began to doubt her own potential.

It took a conversation with her mentor a few months before leaving the Marine Corps to challenge her mindset. She decided to take the chance.

“I applied to OSU and told myself that if I was accepted and received enough financial aid to make it possible, I would go,” McGee said. “Thankfully, both of those dreams came true, and it changed my life.”

Being a Cowboy fills McGee with an indescribable sense of pride every time she steps on campus. She grew up

cheering on OSU and has passed that on to Raven, 4, who is now Pistol Pete and Bullet’s biggest fan.

Still, managing life as an OSU student and mom hasn’t always been easy.

During her first semester, McGee struggled to find herself. She felt selfish for taking money and time away from her family, and she worried she had made a mistake.

She had great admiration for her sociology professor, Dr. Farshid Jahanshahi, because of her passion and decided to confide in her. Jahanshahi took time to sit down with McGee to share her own story, harsh truths and inspiring words.

Once again, a mentor set McGee on the right track.

“I was on the verge of dropping out because I felt so lost, but that conversation made me feel seen in a way I never had,” McGee said. “Dr. Jahanshahi gave me the courage and motivation to keep going, and I'm so incredibly grateful for her wisdom and time. And she’s continued to always make herself available.”

“I

never would've imagined I would be where I am today. At times, my education felt completely unattainable, but now every semester increases my confidence and ambition. Being supported at OSU has taught me that my dreams are attainable and worth chasing, no matter how big.”

EMILY MCGEE

To McGee, it’s the people who make OSU special. She has built a great community through the OSU Military Affiliated Organization, professors and friends, making it truly feel like home. Raven even attends preschool on campus at the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Lab. Her scholarships have made that all possible allowing her to attend school full time while still supporting her daughter.

“My scholarships grant me the opportunity and stability to change my future for my family,” McGee said. “Knowing that others believe in me enough to invest in my future motivates me to keep going even on my hardest days. I hope I'm able to pay it forward in a way that uplifts my community.”

A sociology major, McGee wants to make a difference by helping people who struggle with addiction.

That developed from a young age as she watched friends and family grapple with substance abuse. It gave her the empathy and understanding that drives her desire to help others.

McGee’s life goal is to help change that narrative around addiction by creating a supportive environment where people can heal and grow stronger while being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

There will be more twists and turns on that path, but she’s proud of the route she’s taken.

“Our paths change because we change,” McGee said. “Every detour and closed door will shape you into someone who understands others in unique and beautiful ways.

“I want my daughter to grow up seeing empathy turned into action and pain turned into purpose.”

The Code Calls. To learn how you can make a difference in the lives of students like Emily, visit OSUgiving.com

How 10 lives continue to shape OSU 25 years later

STORY PAGE MINDEDAHL | PHOTOS ELLIE PIPER, ERIC

|

Sculpted by Harold T. “H” Holden, this piece, titled “We Will Remember,” captures a quiet moment of reflection, honoring resilience and remembrance at Oklahoma State University.

On Jan. 27, 2001, a plane carrying 10 members of the Oklahoma State University men’s basketball program and athletics support staff crashed in Strasburg, Colorado, while traveling home from an away game.

All 10 people on board were killed, sending shockwaves through Stillwater and beyond.

Classes paused.

Games stopped.

A university mourned.

A quarter century later, the date continues to drift further into the past, but the Cowboy family continues to keep its promise that the 10 lives lost are not forgotten.

For OSU, remembrance has never been passive.

Scholarships established in honor of those who died continue to support students, extending the impact of the individuals lost that day into classrooms, careers and lives across campus.

In the months following the crash, families, alumni, friends and fans sought a way to honor lives defined by mentorship, service and commitment to others. The result was a series of endowed scholarships, each carrying a name, a story and values meant to endure.

Those scholarships were not designed to look backward. They were created to invest in future students whose paths would be changed because others once believed deeply in education, teamwork and opportunity.

Today, those investments continue to change lives.

In recent years, students receiving these scholarships often arrive at OSU with little personal connection to the events of 2001. Many were not born. Yet through the scholarship process, they learn they are part of something larger than themselves — beneficiaries of

a legacy rooted in resilience and generosity.

Stephen Howard understands that connection from multiple perspectives.

Howard, now director of marketing and communications for the Spears School of Business, spent six years working directly with OSU men’s basketball as the program’s sports information director. Today, he is also a graduate student, receiving the Kendall Durfey Scholarship, established in honor of one of the 10 individuals lost in the crash.

Durfey was a television and radio producer and engineer for OSU. Working with the Cowboy Radio Network was his dream job.

“Aside from the financial support, it’s the impact that stays with you,” Howard said. “It’s more about what it represents than anything else.”

During his time with Cowboy basketball, Howard sat at the desk once used by Will Hancock, one of the victims of the crash and a fellow media relations colleague. The desk was a daily reminder of the individuals whose absence still shaped the program’s culture.

In the months and years following the crash, families, alumni, friends and fans sought a way to honor lives defined by mentorship, service and commitment to others. The result was a series of endowed scholarships, each carrying a name, a story and a set of values meant to endure.

“When you sit in that chair, you’re reminded every day of what happened,” Howard said. “You don’t forget it. And you don’t take it lightly.”

Howard said that sense of responsibility extends to the classroom.

“Every assignment I turn in, every project I take on, it’s not just about me,” he said. “It’s about carrying on someone else’s name and honoring that legacy.”

That responsibility is also felt by Serg Thomas, a graduate assistant in athletics communications and the primary media contact for OSU softball. Thomas is earning his master’s degree in mass communications while receiving the Will Hancock Scholarship.

Thomas first learned about the scholarship by seeing previous recipients honored and reading about Hancock in the media

workroom, where a plaque lists the names of past scholarship recipients.

“It’s a really cool honor and tradition to carry on his legacy,” Thomas said.

For Thomas, the scholarship carries both pride and accountability.

“It gives me some pressure — good pressure — to make sure that I fulfill his legacy,” he said. “It’s something I don’t take lightly.”

That influence shows up daily in his work.

“I see Will’s face everywhere around the office,” Thomas said. “One of the things I took away when I learned about him was how uplifting and cheerful he was, and that’s something I try to carry into my work, being someone people can trust and want to be around.”

The scholarships support students across disciplines and

“This was a promise the university made, to never forget those names and to keep them alive. These scholarships do exactly that.”

STEPHEN HOWARD DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

backgrounds, reinforcing that the loss affected the entire university. Each award carries a responsibility to remember and to carry forward the principles the honorees embodied.

Over 25 years, the cumulative impact has grown quietly but steadily. Hundreds of students have received financial support tied to this moment in OSU history, going on to become educators, professionals, leaders and advocates within their communities. Their successes form an unbroken line from tragedy to purpose.

For Karen Hancock, Will Hancock’s wife and OSU’s senior woman administrator for athletics, that continuity is both personal and profound.

The Will Hancock Scholarship was established in the months following the crash, as donations made in his honor were redirected into lasting support.

“We knew immediately we wanted it to go to a student working in the media relations office,” Karen said. “Will had the heart of a teacher. He understood

how important it was to help young people find their way.”

Over the years, Karen has watched recipients grow into professionals, building careers across collegiate athletics and beyond.

“It represents a legacy for Will and for our family,” she said. “Hopefully it inspires others to help where they can and to pay it forward.”

She credits OSU Athletics, particularly the communications staff, for carrying the responsibility with care.

“They take issuing the scholarship very seriously,” Hancock said. “It means a lot that people remember with intention.”

For the university, the anniversary serves as both reflection and reaffirmation of stewardship. Through continued funding and intentional remembrance, the institution has ensured the legacies attached

to these scholarships remain personal and present.

“This was a promise the university made — to never forget those names and to keep them alive,” Howard said. “These scholarships do exactly that.”

The passage of time may have softened the immediacy of grief, but it has also sharpened perspective, revealing how a tragic end can beget a hopeful beginning — one defined not by loss alone, but by how a community chose to respond.

When asked what each recipient would want to say to their scholarship’s namesake, both Howard and Thomas said they believe none of what followed would come as a surprise.

“I don’t think Kendall would be surprised at all by how Oklahoma State wraps its arms around its people, especially during adverse times,” Howard said. “I think he would be proud of the

KEEPING THE PROMISE

The Remember the 10 scholarships have directly supported 368 students, awarding a total of $580,000 in scholarship support.

OSU community for the way it has embraced the families and made remembering the 10 such an important part of Cowboy basketball.”

“Will wouldn’t be surprised by how much Oklahoma State continues to care,” Thomas said. “The support here doesn’t fade, the loyal and true have stayed, and honoring those lives still matters deeply.”

For Howard, the message would ultimately be gratitude.

“If I had the opportunity to speak to Kendall, it would be a thank you, for the inspiration and the example he set,” Howard said. “We see it as our obligation and our duty to keep their memory and legacies in mind as we go about what we do every day.”

“After thanking Will, I would make sure he knows he’s not forgotten,” Thomas said. “He set an example for our entire office with his positive spirit and uplifting personality, and that’s a legacy we all strive to uphold.”

In classrooms and offices across campus, the legacy of the Ten continues to grow, not just through monuments and pictures, but through new stories made possible by these scholarships.

Classes have continued.

Games are still played.

But a university remembers.

New Life Members

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

*An asterisk designates life members who joined as OSU students.

Daniel Aanerud

Brianne Abbott*

Kaylie Adams*

Drew Alexander, '88

Mallory Alford

Brock Allen, '98

John Allevato

Toby Anderson, '97

Wayne Anderson, '68

Zane Apple*

Samuel Armentrout*

Megan Armstrong, '06

Beau Armstrong*

Laith Atwood*

Gunnar Aune, '25

Candace Austin, '10, '20

Chase Austin*

Josue Baeza

Morgan Baker*

Corey Baker*

B'Elanna Isabelle

Balarbar*

Myles Barber*

Jayden Barbere*

Katie Bardwell*

Gloria Barrett

Angelina Barrow*

Jessica Bates

Antonio Battaglia, '23

William Baze, '23

Preston Beadles*

Drew Beattie*

Jared Begemann, '10

Sarah Begemann, '13

Samantha Begnaud*

Zac Berger*

Lilyanne Berry*

Joel Birdwell, '96

Makenzie Blake*

Jonathan Blatt*

Matthew Bocox*

Carley Bolding*

Ryan Booth

Stacy Boothe, '93

Stacey Brace, '04

Maddie Bradford*

John Bradley, '87

Parker Bradley*

Reagan Brandenburg*

Terry Bridgwater, '89

Travis Brown

Krista Brown*

Ryan Brunton, '98

RanDea Bryant*

Virginia Buller*

Betsy Bumgarner, '96

Drew Burbank*

James Burchett, '84

Scott Burk, '87

Chris Burk, '89

Keith Burlison, '87, '89

Chad Burnam

Tessa Burnam

Clay Burtrum, '95

Brent Butcher, '09

Ella Butler*

Carter Cagle*

Ronald Cannefax, '67

Milo Cantrell*

Vail Cargo*

Caden Case*

Katie Castellano

Perry Castonguay, '81

Abigail Cates, '20, '22

Jacqueline Chavez*

Sharon Chesbro, '64

Delana Chipman, '83

Evan Cichon*

Cade Claggett*

Caden Clanton*

John Cline*

Dawson Cobb*

Mark Cochran

Lauren Coker*

John Collison, '99

Tamra Connor, '86, '88, '06

Austin Cook*

Jill Cook, '04

Andrew Cooper*

Ed Corr, '85, '86

Lauren Courtney*

Harlan Cox*

Rachel Cox

Rayne Cranford*

Dana Crawford, '87

Hunter Crawford*

Caleb Crossman*

Jackson Crum*

Chet Cundiff, '93

Mildred Curtindale*

Kahleen Dabbs*

Becky Daniel, '72

Mackinsey Darrough*

Gabby Davidson, '25

Susan Davis, '76

Erik De La Cruz*

Katie Dillon, '25

Kate Dillon*

Steve Dinwiddie, '80

Sarah Douglas*

Alesa Downing

Lily Downing*

Kevin Dubberstein, '93, '94

LaDonna Due

Daniel Dugan, '23, '25

Alyssa Durham*

Jami Eddings, '12

Elizabeth Eddleman*

Kentasia Edwards, '25

Debra Endress, '79

Sarah England*

Brok Estes*

Aidan Evano*

Parker Falling*

Chris Faulkner, '73, '78

Emily Fayard, '25

Monica Ferris*

Mackenzie Fields*

Jared Fimple, '18

Jason Finnegan, '97

Sharon Flaspohler, '90

Lydia Franklin*

Greg Franklin, '80

Harrison Frazier*

Mackenzie Frech, '23

Kilyn Fredrickson*

Meghan Freeman, '08, '10

Miki Friedman, '84

Darrel Fry, '67

Sandy Fry, '67

Kadence Gage

Destiny Gammill, '23

Parker Gerl*

Pat Gerlach

Steve Giles, '88, '91

Andy Gillentine, '80

Samantha Gillespie, '17

Ty Girouard*

Drew Glass*

Hannah Goble

Terry Golay

Adrian Gomez, '24, '24

Denise Gonzalez

Morales, '25

Aurora Goodnight*

Amelia Goodrich*

Jade Goodson, '23

Brad Gordon, '03

Kodie Gough*

Jordan Graves, '16, '25, '25

Eli Greenlee*

Tracey Gregg-Boothby, '98

Luke Gregoli

Laci Gregory, '02

Donald Grimes, '54, '56

Samantha Guernsey*

Mason Hackler

Anthony Haiduk*

Rory Hale*

Doug Hallenbeck, '02

Dalton Hammons*

Harley Handle*

Ava Hardin, '25, '25

Rhonda Harlow, '94, '20

Seth Harrington, '07

David Harris, '88

Avery Harris, '24, '24, '25

Shayde Harris*

Mary Hawkins

Jonah Hawkins*

Jenn Haxton, '92, '99

Caroline Haydon*

Renee Heflin, '82

Nancy Henslee, '94, '13

Michael Henson*

Justin Herlan, '24, '24

Ally Hernandez*

Bree Herrold*

Rudy Hershberger, '25

Christian Hill

Jaston Holder*

Thess Holloway*

Mitzi Holloway, '92

Ashlee Holmquest*

Jacob Hood*

Collier Houston*

Marie Howard, '87

Cara Hubenett*

Trevor Hudgeons, '03, '05

Brooke Hudspeth, '09

Parker Huizinga*

Baili Hulet

Rilee Hunter*

Alex Ihrig*

Brianna Iler*

Matt Ivory, '93

Addison Jackson*

Ari Jackson*

Caleb Jackson*

Grace Johnson*

Charley Johnson*

Hailey Johnson*

Hannah Johnson*

Landon Jones, '04

Lisa Jones, '83, '89

Sammer Kalidy*

Caroline Karlik*

Malcolm Keenan

Keenan*

Bryce Keirn*

Ashley Keller

Katherine Kiesling*

Shelly Kilian, '79

Jaden Kindt*

Kylar King*

Riley Kirkman*

Lesley Knowles, '99

Rodney Knowles, '00

Josslyn Koitz*

Charlotte Koske, '63

Emma Kruska*

Tom Lackey, '83, '85

Emily Lake*

Kahle Lambert*

Stephanie Lambert, '14

Joshua Lambert*

Rick Lane, '77

Aurora Lane*

Michael Lappin, '78, '81

Reanna Lawhead

Kaylea Lawley

Maisyn Lay*

James Lee, '04

Zander Leffel*

Berhanu Legesse, '72

Max Liles*

Hannah Lindeman

Steven Long, '75

Kaylee Lovekamp*

Caitlyn Lovell*

Anita Luetkemeyer, '91

Julie Luper*

James Lynch*

Ky Lynn*

Anna Manfredi*

Lexie Marick*

Jacob Marick*

Chris Marroquin*

Noah Marsh*

Emma Grace Mashburn*

Taylor Mason*

Chase Mason*

Cole Maxson*

Roxanne Maynard, '97, '24

Matthew McCarn, '11

Kaye McCarty

Sean McClure*

Ty McCorkle*

Brooke McCoy*

Paige McDaniel*

Elizabeth McEndoo*

Kale McGuire

Remington McGuire*

Kaitlyn McKinley

Macy McSparrin*

Amber Meeker*

Paige Menezes, '20

Noah Metcalf*

Madison Metzger*

Steve Meyer, '79, '82

Hunter Meza*

Baylee Micari*

Teresa Miller, '02

Avery Miller*

Lindsay Millis*

Bryson Mills*

Kristi Mitchell, '98

Paisley Mitchell*

Chris Moody, '94

Heidi Moore*

Jeff Moore, '82

Kip Moore, '61

Katarina Morales

Carma Mornarich, '95

Mason Morrison*

Johnnye Morton, '81

Martin Muck, '91

Brayden Murphy*

Megan Murray*

Karley Myers, '24

Alexandra Myers*

Austyn Neely*

Patrick Nelson*

Michelle Nenoff, '99

Jim Neumann, '87

Libby Neurohr, '04

Charlotte Nickles

Nathan Niehoff*

Trinity Nix*

Mary Nodine*

Kaylee Norwood*

Kevin O'Hair, '78, '80

Avery Oglesby

Martins Ologolo*

Phoebe Olvey*

Jett Ors*

Scott Osler, '97

Emily Owen*

Tyler Owen*

Kevin Owens

Sarah Parrack

David Parrish, '75

Riley Patrick, '25

Gracie Patzkowski*

Jessica Pearce*

Dalton Pemberton*

Jacob Pempin

Joey Perkins

Parker Perry

Alli Perry*

Alesia Petersen*

Lauren Pever*

Jerry Pfeiffer

Justin Phelps, '91

Krystina Phillips, '07

Regan Pilgrim, '21

Brant Pittman*

Justin Pittman*

Melinda Powell, '76

Edd Pritchett, '92

Kinley Proctor*

Belle Pugh

Haven Purcell

Megan Quickle, '09, '12

Sonny Rains

Cassidy Raley, '24

Audrey Rasmussen*

Phillip Raulie*

Mark Reel, '74

Zachary Reid*

Donna Rhyne

Elizabeth Richardson, '09

John Ricketts, '18

Bob Rives, '55

Prissy Rives

Devin Roberson*

Paige Roberts, '25

Brian Roberts, '01

Lauren Roberts, '01

Zachary Robinson, '13

Andrew Robinson*

Chad Rockwell, '14

Cole Roddy*

Joy Rogers, '91, '94

Vernon Rosamond Jr., '70

Kaitlyn Rose*

William Rowden, '64

Nick Rowland*

Payne Roye*

Karsyn Rudd*

Ben Runyan*

Ryan Ruston*

Kyle Rutledge, '93

Leanne Saunders Jones, '01

Jorja Scherler

Karen Schieber, '04

Taylor Schildge*

Rick Schmigle, '80

Patti Schmigle, '80

Kierstyn Schroeder*

Ryan Shannon, '22, '22

Debbie Sharp, '94

Craig Shelton, '78

Jackson Shofner, '25

Lew Shuster, '09

Caitlin Sigala*

Evan Simons*

Evan Sims*

Donald Sizemore*

Eric Skinner*

Seth Slane

Rylee Smith*

Spencer Smith*

Michael Smith*

Jacob Smith*

Ethan Smith*

Ben Somers*

Sarah Southward*

Justin Spellins*

Tracy Spencer

Jacob Staggs*

Tyler Steele*

Bailey Steele*

Lisa Steelhammer, '91

Mikalena Stephens, '07

Jackson Stephens*

Gregg Stewart, '08, '10

Ethan Stobbe*

Layne Storckman*

Collin Stringer*

Lily Stuckey*

Isabella Summers*

Lacy Sumner*

Krista Svendsen, '21, '25

Taylor Sweeney, '16

Isaac Szlichta*

Mike Taberski, '06

Seth Taylor*

Evan Taylor*

Shannon Taylor, '94

Carol Tershak, '82

Kylie Thomas*

Bob Thompson, '63

Morgan Thompson*

Hayden Thompson*

Terri Threlkeld

Abbie Thumudo*

Peyton Tinsley*

Annika Tinsley

Taylor Travis*

Eliza Truel

Mack Turley, '56

Chenoa Turtle*

Chloe Tyler*

Sunday Ubokudom, '82

Lukas Urbane*

Alexis Utley*

Charley Van Newkirk*

Luke Vardeman*

Abbigayle Vargas

Ethan Vaughan*

Kodie Vega*

Debbie Vera, '79

Jacob Vincent*

Rhian VonWiller

Jason Wade, '05

Ann Walker, '73

Rickey Walker, '74

Katy Walters, '94

Jason Webb, '00

Stephanie Weems*

Della Wehrenberg*

Hayley Weikle*

Erica Wells-Kleman*

Linda Wendel, '67

Tracy Westfahl, '90

Kateri Wewers

Brooklyn Wheeler*

Addison Whisenhunt*

Brayton Whiteley*

Ethan Whiteman*

Carter Whitfield*

Jake Wilkins, '16

Addison Willey*

Gracie Williams, '21

Max Williams*

Mary Kate Wilson, '97

Hayden Wilson*

Cade Wilson, '00, '04

Kirbi Wilson*

Faith Wood, '25

Henry Wright*

Emmah Wright*

Emmakate Wright*

Stacie Wrobbel, '91

Derek Wrobbel, '91

Ed Young, '85

Evan Zeleny*

Fly Like Eagle an

Wauhillau LaHay was born to Joseph and Annie (Russell) LaHay on July 14, 1906, in Claremore, Indian Territory.

LaHay, much younger than her older siblings, John, Margaret and Helen, had the most unique first name in the family. In the Cherokee language, Wauhillau (pronounced wau-HILL-er) was the masculine term for eagle. Her father and grandfather were lawyers and served the Cherokee Nation as judges and treasurers.

The LaHay family was listed on the Dawes Rolls for the Cherokee Nation. Wauhillau was the only one of her immediate family to be left off the rolls, as she was “born too late.” LaHay’s mother was born in Scotland, and her father’s heritage included Cherokee, French and Scottish ancestry. While LaHay’s genetic inheritance was an American blend with only a portion of Cherokee DNA, she was Cherokee in spirit.

The LaHays moved from Claremore to Muskogee in 1908, where her father continued to practice law until he died in 1911, when Wauhillau was only 4. At 15, she began working for the Muskogee Daily Phoenix, graduated from Muskogee Central High School in 1924, and enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College that fall, majoring in journalism.

At that time, OAMC was attracting and recruiting talented news writers from across the state. Classmates included Walker Stone, who would later serve as editor-inchief of the Scripps-Howard

Newspaper Alliance from 1953 until 1969. Paul Miller, who arrived in 1925, was selected as president and chairman of the Associated Press, as well as CEO of the Gannett Corporation. LaHay would also excel in journalism and communications positions in newspapers, radio and commerce later in her life.

A member of Kappa Alpha Theta, she wrote for the college newspaper and yearbook. She immersed herself in several extracurricular activities while working part time as a student clerk in the chief clerk’s office. LaHay was features editor for the 1926 yearbook and participated in several “queen” contests to raise funds through paid votes to benefit college publications and celebrations. She would be a queen attendant at the 1925 May Day festival — the fall gridiron queen contest that year — and was very active and popular across campus.

After her sophomore year, LaHay returned to Muskogee to help support her mother by working as the advertising manager for the Durnil Dry Goods Company. She soon returned

to work at the Muskogee Daily Phoenix, where she was named society editor. In July 1927, she was elected in Pawhuska to serve as queen of the Society of Oklahoma Indians Convention for 1928. LaHay then moved to Oklahoma City to begin working as a reporter and columnist for the Oklahoma Publishing Company.

Within a year, LaHay became popular statewide. The Oklahoma City Times agreed to sponsor her flying lessons. It provided the funds to support this effort in exchange for roughly 35 articles for the paper describing the trials, tribulations and excitement of her pilot training. She would be one of the first three women to make this attempt in Oklahoma.

LaHay chronicled these episodes from March through May in 1929, becoming known as the “Times Flying Girl.” After earning her wings, she would lead a flying tour of Oklahoma that summer, accompanied by several pilots in various aircraft. LaHay also reported on the dramatic aviation expansion in Oklahoma at that time. New airports were added across the state, and existing

ones expanded as aviation was promoted for economic growth and traveling convenience. Aircraft construction, flight training and aviation management were all considered significant investments to the future well-being of Oklahoma City and the state.

While working at the Oklahoma Publishing Company from 1928 through 1941, LaHay served as a reporter and social columnist for the Oklahoman and Times. She was introduced to the new medium of radio, developing programming and working as a broadcaster for WKY. It was one of the first radio stations in the country, after Oklahoma Publishing purchased it in 1928. An early assignment was an interview with visiting Prince Wilhelm of Sweden in 1928. When first introduced to the handsome prince, the 22-year-old reporter temporarily lost her composure and stated, “Oooh, hello prince!”

In 1937, she crossed paths with Walter Cronkite while he served as a play-by-play analyst for the University of Oklahoma football games broadcast on WKY.

In December 1941, LaHay was appointed radio editor at the Chicago Sun. She would also work at radio stations in Cincinnati; Kansas City, Missouri; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Denver during and after World War II. In July 1946, she was named radio publicity director and charged with radio, television and press publicity for N.W. Ayer and Company Inc. in New York City.

After moving to the East Coast, there were some who discouraged her from talking about her Native American heritage. She responded in a 1952 Collier’s Weekly article titled, “Smile When You Call Me Pocahontas,” expressing pride in her heritage.

In 1953, LaHay was named a promotional director at Kenyon

and Eckhart, an advertising agency in NYC that represented highprofile corporations, including Kellogg, Ford Motor Company, Pepsi and the Ed Sullivan Show. LaHay’s client list included Peggy Lee, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and the German Shepherd that starred as Rin Tin Tin.

LaHay returned to journalism in 1963, working for Scripps-Howard newspapers in Washington, D.C. She became the first woman appointed to the governing board of Scripps-Howard Broadcasting and stayed with the company until she was named an emeritus member in 1980. During this time, she developed friendships with Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford, traveling extensively with the first ladies, while also covering influential women and the spouses of many major

political candidates. LaHay was a bridge partner with Lady Bird and was invited to both the White House and LBJ Ranch, while also attending press parties and blacktie dinners.

LaHay led a small group of female reporters who met with President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office on March 11, 1971, for refreshments and conversation. This was only three weeks after a new tape-recording system was installed in the Oval Office, thus preserving this meeting for posterity and future discussions in which the president would participate.

In 1973, LaHay was named president of the Washington Press Club, becoming the first woman and first Oklahoman to serve in this role. With only white male members until 1955, the WPC didn’t allow female members until

1970. Pat Nixon would introduce her at the luncheon when she assumed this role, and LaHay would introduce Betty Ford the following year, when her term was completed. Pat Nixon would visit her in the hospital and later invited her to stay overnight in the White House, but President Nixon resigned before this visit could be arranged. When Betty Ford heard of the situation, she extended an invitation for a night in the White House.

The Queens’ Room of the White House was reserved for LaHay on the night of Sept. 30, 1974, after enjoying dinner with the first family. The Queens’ Room, named for the seven queens who had stayed there, was located on the second floor. During the Ford Presidency, LaHay attended blacktie state dinners for King Hussein of Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Italian President Giovanni Leone. One of the last events LaHay attended at the White House was the Christmas party held in 1975.

LaHay returned to the OSU campus many times and was the featured speaker at the School of Journalism and Broadcasting’s Theta Sigma Phi dinner in 1972. Known for her charm and wit, LaHay described her job covering important women in government and met with journalism classes during the week.

She would be listed in the Who’s Who in America and named to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. LaHay left Washington, D.C., in the late 1970s for retirement in Colorado, where she died in her sleep on March 24, 1992, at 85. Her body was returned to Oklahoma and buried at Muskogee’s Greenhill Cemetery near her parents and siblings.

Cowboys in the Capitol

The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association would like to recognize and thank the 2026 Capitol Cowboys. These Oklahoma state representatives and senators are also OSU alumni, parents and supporters helping to serve the needs of students and the university at the State Capitol.

COWBOYS IN THE HOUSE

Steve Bashore, Miami

Trey Caldwell, Faxon

Mark Chapman, Broken Arrow

Amanda Clinton, Tulsa

Eddy Dempsey, Valliant

Mike Dobrinski, Okeene

Scott Fetgatter, Okmulgee

Emily Gise, Oklahoma City

Jim Grego, Wilburton

David Hardin, Stilwell

Toni Hasenbeck, Fletcher

Ellyn Hefner, Oklahoma City

Kyle Hilbert, Bristow

Derrick Hildebrant, Catoosa

Brian Hill, Mustang

Molly Jenkins, Coyle

Mike Kelley, Yukon

Dell Kerbs, Shawnee

Mark Lawson, Sapulpa

Mike Lay, Jenks

Dick Lowe, Amber

Anthony Moore, Clinton

Carl Newton, Cherokee

Kenton Patzkowsky, Balko

John Pfeiffer, Orlando

Trish Ranson, Stillwater

Cindy Roe, Lindsay

Jim Shaw, Chandler

Jay Steagall, Yukon

Danny Sterling, Tecumseh

Ron Stewart, Tulsa

Judd Strom, Copan

Tammy Townley, Ardmore

Dillon Travis, Maramec

Jonathan Wilk, Goldsby

Max Wolfley, Oklahoma City

COWBOYS IN THE SENATE

Michael Brooks, Oklahoma City

Bill Coleman, Ponca City

Jo Anna Dossett, Tulsa

Todd Gollihare, Bristow

Regina Goodwin, Tulsa

Grant Green, Wellston

Randy Grellner, Cushing

Brian Guthrie, Bixby

Chuck Hall, Perry

John Haste, Broken Arrow

Brent Howard, Altus

Darcy Jech, Kingfisher

Julia Kirt, Oklahoma City

Lonnie Paxton, Tuttle

Roland Pederson, Burlington

Aaron Reinhardt, Jenks

Jack Stewart, Yukon

Continue your Cowboy legacy at Oklahoma State University with a flexible and affordable online graduate degree or certificate. With career-ready options in high-demand fields and access to student support services, it’s easy to see why OSU Online is the best online college in Oklahoma.

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Remember the 10 25th Memorial

Cowboys gathered in Strasburg, Colorado, to honor the 10 members of the OSU men’s basketball program who died in a plane crash there 25 years ago.

CHAPTER LEADER

Jane Snovel, Lincoln County OSU Alumni Chapter

Jane Snovel, president of the Lincoln County OSU Alumni Chapter, knew by kindergarten she wanted to study animal science.

Raised in Duncan, Oklahoma, and a graduate of Norman High School, Snovel came from a family rooted in pharmacy and geology. Still, her passion for animals and education led her directly to Stillwater.

At OSU, Snovel fully embraced campus life and hands-on learning. She worked in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, assisting with reproductive physiology research at the dairy farm while also feeding cattle and caring for calves.

Snovel went on to break barriers in the animal health industry, becoming the first female veterinary pharmaceutical sales representative in Oklahoma. Her career has spanned sales, teaching, volunteer work and advocacy, including work

with autistic individuals and people with dementia.

“I love getting to work with animals and people every day,” Snovel said. “It keeps me sane.”

A longtime promoter of OSU, Snovel previously served as president of the Lincoln County OSU Alumni Chapter before moving out of state. When she returned, she found the chapter no longer active. Determined to change that, she helped re-establish the chapter and now serves as its president once again.

“There are so many alumni in this area that want to get involved,” Snovel said. “Starting the chapter back up just made sense.”

LINCOLN COUNTY OSU ALUMNI CHAPTER BY THE NUMBERS

1,426 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

120 MEMBERS

131 CURRENT OSU STUDENTS

30 MILES FROM STILLWATER

Today, Snovel is focused on reconnecting alumni, supporting students and strengthening OSU’s presence in Lincoln County through watch parties, fundraising and programs like Bound for Stilly.

“I promote OSU anytime I can,” she said.

ALUMNI POPULATIONS

154,759

35,528 5,000-9,999 2,500-5,999 1,000-2,499 500-999

UNDER 500

Hall of Fame

Current Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame members join the festivities at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center to celebrate the 2026 inductees.

61,988

25,906

267,340

60,783

52,294

41,244

29,603

22,946

Los Angeles

OSU alumni and fans in Los Angeles bring the gameday energy to their Cowboy basketball watch party.

6,711

4,020

3,212

Student Network

Students cheer on Cowboy basketball and spend time with residents at Legacy Village of Stillwater.

OKC Metro

Thunder Up! Cowboy family members in Oklahoma City cheer on their hometown NBA champions as the Thunder faces off against the Pistons in a regular-season contest.

» TOTAL RAISED: $220,000

» ATTENDEES: 172

» FROM SIX LIVE AUCTION ITEMS: $53,500

» FROM 87 SILENT AUCTION PACKAGES: $22,759

» COMMITTED FROM 34 SPONSORS: $121,000

» DONATIONS MADE AT THE EVENT: $52,650

North Texas

Generous donors and guests gather at the 21st Brighter Orange of North Texas, where a spirited evening of live and silent auctions helped raise a record number of scholarship funds.

Bedlam Basketball Brunch

OSU alumni and fans gather at OKC Tap House before heading to the Paycom Center to cheer on the Cowboys and Cowgirls.

Kansas City

Answering the call to service, Kansas City Cowboys give back at their annual Heart to Heart International Service Project.

Cleveland/McClain Counties

Cowboys in Cleveland and McClain counties gather for strikes and support at their Bowling for Scholarships event.

Comanche County

Community-minded fans in Comanche County launched their first Cowboys and Claus Corral, raising donations for Family Promise and the United Way Toy Drive.

1951

Donald Peters, ’51 agricultural economics, a 2007 recipient of the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award, celebrated his 100th birthday this year.

1959

Charles Heller, ’59 civil engineering, ’60 master’s civil engineering, recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Following a career as an engineer, academic, CEO and venture capitalist, he has written four books and is working on the fifth.

1969

Chester Floyd Willey, ’69 industrial engineering and management, ’70 master’s in industrial engineering, continues working at 80 with his company, Chet Willey Associates. He and his wife, Angel, are spending half the year in Panama.

1972

R.L. Bullock, ’72 radio/ television/film, has retired after a successful career in broadcasting and communications. He worked on productions and wrote a short story adapted for a film starring Randy Travis and Ernest Borgnine.

1973

Michael Turner, ’73 civil engineering, attributes building one of the world’s largest pre-clinical drug safety lab-animal management systems to his OSU degree’s focus on problem-solving. He said he cannot think of a better degree.

1983

Mary J. Steichen, ’83 finance and management, owns and operates the Cherokee Strip Company, a curated antique store in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She also owns a small farm to carry on the Silvertop Farm family legacy.

2018

Rebecca (Wall) Rhoades, ’18 sociology, will forever be grateful for the time she spent at OSU. It has opened doors and put her on the path to law enforcement and loving what she does.

1985

Henry Ross, ’85 marketing, and Allison Ross, ’87 nursing, have established an endowed scholarship at OSU-Oklahoma City supporting firstgeneration college students entering health care fields.

2019

Harley Dee Thomas Jr. Ed.D, ’19 aerospace administration and operations, ’20 master’s aviation and space, ’22 applied educational studies, completed his fifth year as an adjunct instructor at OSU-Tulsa in aviation management.

Tammi (Hicks) Didlot, ’88 organizational administration, can’t believe it’s been over 35 years since college. She is hopeful for the next adventure serving the State of Oklahoma as a senator for District 24.

’50s

Robert L. Rives, ’55 journalism and broadcasting, and Prissy Rives, ’55 business, met at then-Oklahoma A&M College on a Sunday morning for a date to church and just observed their 70th wedding anniversary in June 2025. Donald House, ’56 electrical engineering, misses his old classmates and turned 91 this year.

’60s

Claude “Arthur” Rickets, ’61 management, is still working and ranching.

1990

David B. Jordan, ’90 hotel and restaurant administration, was elected to the Littler 2026 board of directors. Littler is the world’s largest employment and labor law practice.

He and his wife have three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The couple has been married for 65 years.

Charles W. Gay Jr., ’62 forestry, ’64 master’s in plant and soil science, is enjoying retirement after 30 years with Utah State University.

Shelagh M. Curtin, ’64 zoology, is living in Virginia with her husband, daughter and youngest grandson, who plays varsity football and soccer at his high school. Her grandson is looking at universities to attend and may play sports in college.

1991

Douglas A. Putman, ’91 biochemistry, recently published his first novel and is feverishly working on the follow-up. Keep an eye out for an OSU Easter egg in the new world he has created!

Vaden Winfred Morgan, ’69 animal science, ’76 master’s in agricultural education, retired after 40 years of teaching in Tupelo and Stonewall Science Department.

’

70s

Gerry Pinkston, ’71 secondary education, ’82 higher education, had the honor of being the grand marshal for a Fourth of July parade in Edmond, Oklahoma, this year and is serving as the University of Central Oklahoma Emeritus Faculty Association President for 2026.

1974

Edwina Trout, ’74 elementary education, received her Ph.D. from OSU in 1994. She retired from owning Partners in Peak Performance, a small consulting firm, in 2022. She is learning to play chess and the French horn.

Dionna (Dickey) Cameron, ’94 aviation sciences, published a children’s book, “Fishin’ & Lemonade,” and released it on Amazon.

1978

David L. Alaback, ’78 mechanical engineering, Lloyd Alaback, ’51 industrial engineering, spent 34 years at American Airlines. He, wife Linda (Lippert) Alaback, ’81 journalism, have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Michael D. Toews, ’98 entomology, ’01 masters of entomology, was named the associate dean for extension in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia.

1978

Franklin L. Williams, ’78 civil engineering, and Debbie (Walters) Williams, ’78 design, celebrated their 47th anniversary. They met at St. John’s Catholic Student Center and live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2008

Joe Donarumo, ’08 construction management, joined Skiles Group as senior vice president, client development. He brings more than 19 years of construction experience to the firm specializing in health care projects.

1979

Tommie A. Freeman, ’79 agricultural engineering, is retiring after 45 years in oil and gas exploration. He is excited to move on to volunteering, being a PaPa and taking RV trips.

2012

Carson Horn, ’12 agricultural communications, was inducted into the Public Relations Society of America’s Arkansas Chapter Board of Directors. He serves as a resource and advocate for ethical public relations.

1979

Nancy Sitler, ’79 nutritional science, has been living her best life after retiring from 30 years as a child nutrition director at Sapulpa Public Schools. She has been keeping busy as the house director for Alpha Delta Pi at OSU.

2015

Drew D. Chancey, 15 accounting, ’25 MBA, has founded Chancey CPA PLLC, a fully virtual accounting firm on a mission to provide top-tier, high-impact accounting and client advisory services to nonprofit organizations.

Thomas Sosbee, ’72 political science is retired, enjoys golf, trivia and attending OSU athletic events. He is single, has two children and one grandchild.

John Taylor McGinnis, ’73 secondary education, ’79 master’s in health education and promotion, is living in Tulsa playing golf every day and enjoying spending time with his four grandchildren and wants to congratulate the OSU men’s cross country team on its national championship.

Connie V. (Beasley) Sheridan, ’64 elementary education, had two

grandsons graduate from OSU and loves returning to Stillwater to attend football games and events. She is now active in the East Texas OSU Alumni Chapter.

Anne Marilyn Payne, ’75 secondary education, is a retired teacher and counselor. Her son, Thomas, lives with his wife, Kristi, and their two daughters in League City, Texas, and her son, Timothy, is the director of a museum in New York City. He lives with his wife, Rachel Horowitz.

’80s

Judith Irene Kail, ’81 psychology, retired from the North Dakota Department of Vocational Services in 2013 and moved to Oklahoma. Her spouse works at OSU, and she thanks God for surviving heart failure in 2025.

’90s

David C. Unruh, ’95 finance, enjoyed his birthday in November and is enjoying retirement. Sherri Marie Carr, ’98 master’s in hospitality administration, was honored by the American

Bar Association Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service with the distinction of being on the ABA Free Legal Answers Pro Bono Honor Roll as a Pro Bono Leader in 2025.

’00s

Terry Sherman, ’07 computer science, ’14 geographic information systems, is an application developer for the state of Oklahoma, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, dedicated to Service Oklahoma.

’10s

Nicholas Emenhiser, ’12 political science, moved back to Tulsa to lead affordable housing development efforts for Mercy Housing, the nation’s largest affordable housing developers and manager. He is honored to partner with local foundations and Mayor Monroe Nichols. Christian J. Cowart, ’14 English, along with three others, was elected a new partner at Bell Nunnally, where he represents clients in matters involving trademark, patent, copyright and trade secret issues.

IN MEMORY ’20s

Jordyn Romine, ’20 strategic communication, graduated from Leadership Native Oklahoma, and is a recipient of the NextGen Under 30 award, is a member of Shawnee Forward Leadership Class 39 and was recently elected to serve as the American Indian Chamber of Commerce OKC Chapter Treasurer. She applies the Cowboy Code to her everyday life and has found success in that.

Friends

Dow Wise, the Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton Legacy Foundation, is currently working on publishing a second book: “Truthful Pete Says: Remembrances of The Original Cowboy.” This book is based on Frank Eaton’s newspaper column from 1950-56.

Renee M. Roberts and her husband, Charles, have two sons, Joshua and Caleb Turner, and two stepchildren and six grandchildren whom they love very much.

William Stanley Atherton, ’56 petroleum engineering, died in his home on Feb. 25, 2026. He was 92. He was born on April 12, 1933, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Atherton graduated from high school in Joplin, Missouri, and put himself through then-Oklahoma A&M College. He began his career with Core Laboratories Inc., working along the Texas Gulf Coast and South America. Having been in the ROTC in high school and college, Atherton later served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, rising to the rank of second lieutenant. From 1960-64, he operated his own petroleum reservoir engineering company in Trinidad, West Indies. Upon returning to the U.S., Atherton co-founded A&M Food Services Inc. with his longtime business partner and best friend. Under their leadership, the company grew to become the largest Pizza Hut franchise nationwide. He was also the founder of Taco Hut Inc. and would go on to participate in over 300 varied businesses. In 1964, Atherton married the love of his life, Delores Ann Hinkle. Together, they raised two sons and one daughter. He always considered his family to be his greatest accomplishment. Atherton took great joy in mentoring others, sharing his wisdom and creating opportunities for those around him. He had many passions, including fishing, bird hunting, ranching, aviation and traveling with family and friends. Atherton’s philanthropic legacy continues through The W.S. and Ann Atherton Foundation. His life was so rich with wonderful experiences and stories that in 2021, at the urging of family and friends, he self-published a book chronicling his life’s journey, “From the Oil Patch to Pizza,” preserving his stories for those closest to him and generations to come. Atherton’s life was defined by hard work, vision, integrity, generosity and devotion to family and friends.

Jacqueline Henson Eubank, ’80 journalism, died on Oct. 23, 2025, in Houston. She was 67. Eubank was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was the only child of Betty Lou McCary Henson and Jack Thomas Henson. She married Monty Eubank, ’78 business administration, in August 1979. After graduating from Edison High School in Tulsa, Eubank attended Oklahoma State University and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Shortly after marrying Monty, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and she completed her degree at the University of New Mexico. In 1982, the Eubanks moved to Houston, where they have lived ever since. Her greatest joy came from being a mother to her only child, Marissa. Throughout her life, Eubank was an active participant in various philanthropic and volunteer organizations, including VICTORY Houston Inc., which raises money to support cancerrelated initiatives in the Greater Houston area, Houston Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Market and Memorial Women’s Club.

Joseph “Brud” Anthony Gorman Jr., ’75 engineering technology, ’84 master’s occupational education, died on Oct. 29, 2025, in Northwest

Arkansas. He was 74. Born and raised in Yardley, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 15, 1951, he was the son of Joseph Anthony Gorman Sr. and Ruth Johnson. Gorman began his lifelong career in fire protection at just 15 as a volunteer firefighter. He pursued his education in fire and emergency services at Rowan Tech in Salisbury, North Carolina, before attending OSU. He taught at IFSTA in Stillwater and served at fire departments in Phoenix; Concord, New Hampshire; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Plano, Texas; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Texas City, Texas; and Lockhart, Texas. Gorman’s work as an awardwinning fire chief reflected his deep commitment to protecting others and mentoring those who served alongside him. After retiring, he chose to move to Arkansas to be close to his children and grandchildren. He was a proud and loving father to Ryan Gorman and his wife, Emilie, and Ainsley Sumpter and her husband, Garrett, and an adoring grandfather to Karis, Knox, Callaway, McCollum, Kimbel and Connley. He is also survived by his wife, Lee Gorman, and his sisters, Sharon Palmer and Pat Lowder. Gorman never met a stranger; his easy laugh and big personality left a mark wherever he went. Some of his happiest moments were spent in the backyard teaching his grandkids to play baseball and cheering on his children in their many successes.

Julie Ann Franklin Hitt, ’74 secondary education, ’83 master’s curriculum and instruction, of Heavener, Oklahoma, died on June 16, 2024. She was 72. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Russell D. “Ike” and R. Lorraine Franklin on Jan. 11, 1952. Hitt grew up in Sapulpa and graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1970. She was a career Oklahoma public school teacher who taught secondary English and Spanish and served as an elementary reading specialist. She taught in the Perkins-Tryon, Sapulpa and Jenks school districts and for 19 years at Poteau High School. Hitt loved OSU and followed Cowboy athletics with a passion. She was a great storyteller with a good sense of humor who loved to share memories of her family.

Deanna Hagedorn Kanady, OSU Alumni Association Life Member, died on Sept. 2, 2025. She was 62. She was born in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 9, 1962, and then moved to Houston with her parents. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1981. Kanady attended and graduated from the University of Texas-Austin in 1986. She met the love of her life, Mark Kanady ’86 BSA Marketing, in 1987 at Prudential Insurance when they became co-workers. They were married in 1990. The Kanadys moved to Flower Mound, Texas, in 2004 with her job at Liberty Mutual Insurance. She had a very successful career in insurance claims and then as a leadership trainer with Liberty Mutual. She and Mark retired together in 2022 and enjoyed boating and their lake house at Lake Texoma; volunteering; traveling; and attending both Texas and Oklahoma State football games in their retirement years. The Kanadys have an endowed scholarship in the Spears School of Business.

Merna Jo Hart Robinson, ’53 elementary education, died on Nov. 18, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 94. She was born on March 22, 1931, to Wilma Capps Hart and Johnie E. Hart in Coweta, Oklahoma. Robinson graduated from Henryetta High School in 1949 and then earned a degree in education from thenOklahoma A&M College in 1953.

Robinson met her husband of 64 years, Dave, while attending college, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She stayed active with KKG, serving as treasurer of the Stillwater alumni club. She participated with many organizations during their 52 years in Stillwater, including PEO, an investment club, several bridge groups, and Meals on Wheels, as well as being a member of Stillwater First United Methodist Church. The Robinsons enjoyed antiquing and extensive travel, including camping throughout the U.S. and vacationing in many foreign countries. They faithfully followed their beloved OSU teams, and Robinson especially loved attending basketball games. Along with being a loyal and true Cowboy as an alumna, she worked many years for OSU in the Grants and Contracts Financial Administration department. She was preceded in death by her husband, David W. Robinson, who was a professor of forestry at OSU for 29 years.

Jerry Norval Slack, ’65 sociology, died at his home on Jan. 12, 2025. He was 82. Born on April 7, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was the son of James and Lucille Slack. He grew up in Tulsa and graduated from Central High School, spending his early years working as a caddy. Slack was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and played with the Cowboys as a walk-on for the golf team. From there, he earned his master’s degree in regional and city planning from the University of Oklahoma. Later in life, he focused on pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a golf course designer, completing a special golf course design program at Harvard University, after which he joined Ochsner-Hare & Hare, a prominent landscape architecture and planning firm in Kansas City. Slack finally brought his dream to fruition when he launched his own golf course design and land planning firm in Tulsa. In 1990, he married Anita Bahle. They shared a life full of adventure, travel and mutual interests. Slack built golf courses in several states nationwide while earning national recognition and various awards. He contributed greatly to the First Tee project at Mohawk Park Golf Course. Slack was instrumental in getting Drillers Stadium moved from the fairgrounds to the historic Greenwood District in downtown Tulsa. In coordination with others, he drew up an urban concept plan which he presented to community leaders and used in a yearslong tenacious effort to help build political will to bring about the move. Slack never wanted to retire and never quit pursuing projects.

Julia (Judy) Ann (Betchan) Weinkauf died on Dec. 4, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 84. Born on Jan. 9, 1941, in Lucien, Oklahoma, Weinkauf was the oldest child of Alma Grace (Caudle) Betchan and Jack Edward Betchan. Growing up on a farm in rural Oklahoma was arduous. Everyone in the family had to contribute. At 11, Weinkauf‘s responsibilities included cooking meals for her family, changing flat tires and carrying tubs of water to the home for laundry and bathing. In 1956, she met her husband, Donald Gene Weinkauf, who lived on a neighboring farm. Judy and Don married on March 22, 1957. Their family grew with the addition of their daughter, Donnita, in November 1957 and son, Douglas Kirk, in January 1960. Weinkauf often referred to herself as “a child raising children.” In 1980, the couple formed Weinkauf Petroleum, which Kirk now leads. Don and Judy had a true partnership: her hard work and belief in him made it possible for him to succeed in the oil and gas industry, and his support and trust in her allowed her to pursue her passions and effectuate change in their community and beyond. Weinkauf was first drawn to safety advocacy after her younger sister, Sue, suffered critical injuries in a car accident. As president of Tulsa County’s Bellaire Extension Homemaker’s Council, she led a traffic safety campaign that installed seatbelts at vehicle inspection checks, installed streetlights and highway information signs, and affixed reflector tape on hundreds of elementary school children’s bicycles. The campaign beat 33,000 entries from around the country to win a “best traffic safety program” award sponsored by the Allstate Foundation. Her work in safety extended beyond Oklahoma. She was the first woman to be elected chairman of the National Safety Council’s board in 1992. Some of her other notable projects include leading a seatbelt education campaign

funded by the Department of Transportation that reached more than 11 million people and organizing an initiative to promote the manufacturing of furniture safe for children under a grant from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Weinkauf was named an honorary alumni of OSU’s College of Human Sciences in 1991. She valued education and provided college tuition to several OSU students through the Donald G. and Julia A. Weinkauf President’s Distinguished Scholarship.

Oliver Ilan West, Jr., ’66 psychology, died on Jan. 24, 2023. He was 78. Born May 16, 1944, in Oklahoma City, he was raised in an Army family. West graduated from Leavenworth High School, participating in the JROTC program. He married and had two daughters: Angela and Amber West. His career included a tour in Vietnam, serving in the Americal Division at Chu Lai. He earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Texas-El Paso. While serving as the assistant chief of staff services for the 13th Support Command, West met the love of his life, Kathryn Walker. They married in 1986. In 1987, he retired from military service. The Wests moved around but yearned to return to Leavenworth, where they dove into the purchase and restoration of a historic property, ultimately turning it into The Pot Rack. West loved the team at TPR, and he made so many friends, including little customers that he watched grow up. He completed numerous half and full marathons and 100mile bike rides. He loved being with and supporting his wife more than anything in the world. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Henry Leavenworth Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the American Legion Post 23. He volunteered in the community, enjoyed working at Greenwood Cemetery and cleaning up 3-Mile Creek.

Dr. Clinton Tyler Purtell died on March 9, 2026. He was 50. He was born Oct. 2, 1975, in McAlester, Oklahoma. His parents were both pastors, a calling that led the family to travel throughout the state during his youth. Eventually, they were called to serve a church in Lexington, Oklahoma, where Purtell finished high school, graduating in 1994. It was there that he met the love of his life, Amber Leigh Grider. The couple married on June 27, 1998. Purtell was the first student in Oklahoma to participate in dual-credit enrollment. He began his higher education journey at Oklahoma City University, where he studied international business and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1997. He earned his master’s degree in 2001 from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and later completed certificates through the Northwestern Kellogg Program in 2011. In 2020, he earned his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Purtell worked at the University of North Texas in several capacities, including serving as director of the McNatt Institute of Logistics Research and as a professor of professional practice. While at UNT, he founded and directed the ACE Flight Camp, a hands-on program that gave young people the opportunity to experience cutting-edge aeronautics firsthand. In recent years, Purtell joined the faculty at OSU, and he and his family moved to Stillwater. There, he continued teaching subjects such as supply chain management and worked closely on projects with military and NASA applications. He founded the Supply Chain Club at OSU and was deeply proud of its officers, students and the program itself. He was a great researcher and publisher. He published Phantoms, BATNAs and Negotiation Power, the Pitch, and many, many more. He was on the board of the PhD Project (1994), helping with mentoring and supporting students of minority. He also had many

awards, including Outstanding Professional Track Researcher (UNT), Faculty of the Year (UNT), Executive Scholar (Northwestern University), OSLEP Scholar (OU), Graduate Scholar (National Center for American Indian Economic Development), and many, many more. He lectured at numerous international institutions, including Harvard, Oxford and INSEAD. He also traveled to and conducted business and managed various company divisions in more than 30 countries across the globe. Outside of academia, Purtell’s greatest joy was his family. He cherished his children and supported them in all their endeavors, which often meant most of his free time was spent traveling to and from softball, baseball and football games, and even coaching his son’s little league football team, the Vikings. Traveling was a beloved family tradition, they all looked forward to a summer vacation in Gulf Shores, Hot Springs, Cape Cod, Broken Bow, a cruise to Mexico, and many, many more adventures. He loved to host family game nights and movie nights every week. He loved to hunt and enjoyed spending time outdoors with his son, Chip, and his father-in-law, Harry Grider. His family described him as an intelligent man who always “just knew.” He enjoyed country music, country tribute acts, old school rock, old school rap and new school rap, always appreciated a fine cigar, stargazing, and liked surprising people with his ability to speak Mandarin, and occasionally French. A big tradition every Halloween was dressing up, where Clinton went above and beyond on costumes with his family. Purtell was a beloved husband, father, friend and educator who will be dearly missed.

U.S. Air Force Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, a 2025 graduate of the Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business MBA

program. He was among six U.S. airmen killed on March 12 when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. He was 33. An Alabama native and graduate of Auburn University, Klinner served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and was assigned to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron of the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham. Klinner completed his MBA at OSU in December 2025. Faculty and staff in Spears Business remembered him as a dedicated student whose leadership reflected integrity, empathy, and a deep commitment to family. Although he did not attend commencement in person, Klinner remained engaged with the program while balancing military service and family life.

Dr. Daniel Joseph Burba, DVM, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, died on March 18, 2026. He was 65. Born on Feb. 2, 1961, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Burba was the beloved son of Matchie Chester Burba and Mona Gardner Travis. Burba’s journey in veterinary medicine began at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his doctorate in 1986. He completed an internship in large-animal surgery at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and went on to complete his residency in equine surgery in 1990. Burba joined the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine after his training but later returned to OSU, where he served as professor of equine surgery and led the McCasland Professorship in Biomedical Laser Surgery. During his time at OSU CVM, he also served as the department head of Veterinary Clinical Services. Burba’s extraordinary leadership and courage were especially evident during the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He organized emergency efforts for displaced animals, established large-animal treatment operations, and led veterinarians from across the

country through dangerous, uncertain conditions, even assisting with aerial missions. His dedication to the care of animals and the education of those who serve them was unwavering and inspirational. Throughout his distinguished career, Burba earned numerous professional accolades and the respect of his peers. He touched the lives of many wherever he went-always remembered for his kindness, steady presence and warm smile. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, esteemed colleague, mentor and friend. Burba’s generous spirit and lifelong dedication made a lasting impact on the veterinary community and beyond. Outside of his professional life, Burba found great joy in the life he built with his family. He loved his land, took pride in caring for his horses, and enjoyed traveling, spending time with his loved ones, and showing his horses. He found peace on his tractor, tending to the property he cherished. These simple, meaningful moments reflected the same dedication and care that defined his life’s work. Burba’s legacy is one of service, knowledge and kindness. He will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched: his family, friends, colleagues and the many students and professionals fortunate enough to learn from him.

BIRTHS

Tori Jae (Morgan) Martin, ’13 industrial engineering and management, ’15 master’s in business administration, and Andrew Timothy Martin, ’14 mechanical engineering, welcomed Archie Joe Martin on Nov. 16, 2025. Both Archie and his brother, Brady Franklin Martin, were born abroad in Papua New Guinea and Australia. The family recently moved back to Texas and is excited to experience the Cowboy family spirit!

Reid Denver Archie Eden Brooks Kit

Jacquelyn Lane, ’17 chemical engineering, and Michael Anderson welcomed their first child, Eden Joy Anderson, on Sept. 30, 2025. She is one happy baby and loved cheering on the Cowboys from her home in New York City.

Sarah Bildstein Wanzer, ’15 sports media, ’17 master’s in mass communications, and Kyle Wanzer, ’16 construction management technology, welcomed Brooks Warren Wanzer on Dec. 23, 2025, weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 22 inches long. Both parents, along with his furry brothers, Bean and Bourbon, are so excited that Brooks is here!

Gavin R. Boone, ’19 finance and ’20 MBA, and Brittany T. Boone, ’18 microbiology, cell and molecular biology, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Kit Boone. She was born on Feb. 1, 2025, and is a fifth-generation OSU Cowgirl! She attended her first football game at 9 months old and loved cheering on the Cowboys and seeing Bullet.

Natalie Scott Stinchcomb, ’16 strategic communication, and Trent Stinchcomb, ’16 management, are excited to announce the arrival of Reid Nicholas Stinchcomb. Reid was born on Dec. 1, 2025, and is the younger brother to Patrick. Both parents, all four grandparents and great-grandpa Glen Stinchcomb graduated from OSU, making Reid and Patrick fourth-generation Cowboys!

Clarissa Roenne, ’21 agribusiness, and her husband, Jack Roenne, welcomed Denver Reese Roenne on Dec. 23, 2025. Denver is already sleeping soundly in her favorite color, orange!

Arron Lozano, ’23 and ’26 engineering and technology management, and his wife, Whitney Lozano, welcomed their third baby, Eila Faye Lozano, on Oct. 6, 2025. Eila has two siblings: June, 9, and Noah, 3. She was born ready to cheer on the Pokes!

Maura Loyola Dunn, ’17 marketing, and Matthew Dunn, ’18 geography, were married on Dec. 7, 2025, in Oklahoma City. Pistol Pete joined in during La Vibora de la Mar, a Mexican wedding tradition.

Delaney Nicole (Nisbett) Litle, ’19 accounting, ’21 master’s accounting, married Jacob Alexander Litle, ’19 finance, ’20 master’s accounting, on Sept. 6, 2025, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. As season ticket holders, the couple purposefully picked a weekend when there wasn’t a home game because they refuse to miss a game, even for their wedding.

Emily Modglin, ’19 mechanical engineering, and Hillary (Heitt) Modglin, ’20 natural resource ecology and management, were married on Sept. 27, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the beautiful Philbrook Museum. The couple met at OSU in 2019.

Top honors, three years running.

For the third time in three years, OSU Center for Health Sciences received a No. 1 ranking from U.S. News and World Report. Among all medical schools in the nation, more of our graduates are practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas, or medical deserts. At OSU, our medical students stand for what matters — impacting the health of Oklahomans who need it most is our mission, and we’re proud to meet it.

TO OUR GENEROUS 2026 WOMEN FOR OSU SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS

including presenting sponsor Bank of Oklahoma, student experience sponsor One Heartbeat Foundation, as well as our platinum sponsors Kayleen Ferguson, Traci Jensen, Elizabeth Nickles and Dianne Humes, and Suzanne Wade!

Congratulations to the 2026 Philanthropist of the Year Amy Mitchell, our four Partnering to Impact grant recipients and our 17 outstanding student scholars. For continued coverage of the 2026 Symposium and the latest Women for OSU updates — including next year’s speaker — be sure to follow @OSUFoundation on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn, or visit OSUgiving.com/Women.

| 4.17.26 | A nighttime