SPRING/SUMMER 2007 VOLUME 51, NO. 1 DEPARTMENTS 2 President’s Message 4 University Update 16 Focus on Alumni 19 Focus on Athletics 40 In Memory page 7 FEATURES 7 Stars Among Roses Ringing in the New Year in Pasadena 12 Stars in Their Eyes OCU Students Learn from Alums in the Big Apple 21 Honor Roll of Donors The Ones Who Make a Difference page 12 FOCUS Spring/Summer 2007 Tom McDaniel FOCUS • 2501 N. Blackwelder • Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1493 President, Oklahoma City University Focus is produced semiannually by the Communications and Marketing and Alumni Departments for alumni, parents, and Art Cotton Editor Christine Dillon friends of Oklahoma City University. E-mail alumni news to Vice President for University [email protected] and any story ideas to [email protected]. Advancement Writers Leslie Berger Check out Oklahoma City University at www.okcu.edu. Rich Tortorelli Sandy Cotton Oklahoma City University pledges to recruit, select and promote Senior Director of Development diversity by providing equality of opportunity in higher education Designers Issei Aoyama for all persons, including faculty and employees with respect to hiring, Vicki Patterson Lechelle Calderwood continuation, promotion and tenure, applicants for admission, enrolled Senior Director of Communications students, and graduates, without discrimination or segregation on the Kevin Miller and Marketing grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Photographers Issei Aoyama Jeanne Short Director of Alumni and Planned Giving The Vice President for Student Affairs, located in Room 205 of the Special thanks to the Oklahoma Clara E. Jones Administration Building, telephone (405) 208-5831, Centennial Commission Jacque Fiegel ‘76 coordinates the university's compliance with titles VI and VII of the President, OCU Alumni Board Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT These are exciting times at October. Our new student residence hall, located men’s wrestling got off to great starts in their Oklahoma City University. Our on the site of the old Frederickson Field House and inaugural seasons. Learn more about athletics on dream of having a seminary on our tennis courts, will house its first occupants this fall. pages 19 and 20 of this magazine. campus is beginning to materialize. Its amenities rival those found at any university in Please note a special part of this issue of FOCUS Starting this fall, we will establish America and is a proud addition to our existing hous- Magazine. Starting on page 21, you’ll find a list of on our campus the Saint Paul School ing. The final project in progress and one in which the people and organizations that make Oklahoma of Theology at Oklahoma City our family takes great pride, the Tom and Brenda City University the shining success it is – these folks University. In an exciting show of McDaniel University Center, is almost complete and deserve our thanks for helping begin the renaissance confidence, the Oklahoma United will be dedicated this fall. we enjoy today. As you glance through the list, if Methodist Conference voted to Our spring undergraduate commencement was you see a familiar name, pick up the phone or drop support this wonderful endeavor something special. An honorary degree was awarded them an email to let them know how much we all at its annual meeting held at OCU to a renowned American composer and songwriter appreciate what they have done for Oklahoma City in May. The university’s partner- from Oklahoma, Jimmy Webb, who performed at the University! It is only with this support that we ship with Kansas City, Mo.-based ceremony. He was introduced by OCU’s former Miss continue our tradition of attracting great students. Saint Paul School of Theology will America, Jane Jayroe Gamble, who also delivered an In closing, I welcome six new members to our create an extension site to provide inspiring commencement address. Webb and Jayroe- Board of Trustees. They are: improved access for Oklahomans Gamble were high school classmates from Laverne, l Tricia Everest, President of Oklahoma Lawyers seeking to study for the ministry Oklahoma. for Children without leaving the state. Our Our athletics program has introduced two new l Gary Homsey, prominent Oklahoma attorney mission as Oklahoma’s United sports, sculling and women’s wrestling. Head and co-chair of the Seize the Moment campaign Methodist university is to provide wrestling Coach Archie Randall has signed 33 girls for OCU LAW students with quality instruction from ten states across the country. Head rowing l Ann Hoover, founder of Hoover Protocol that encompasses scholarship and Coach Mike Knopp recently introduced sculling to & Etiquette Center, and chair of the advisory service. Seminary classes fit squarely his program with the goal of becoming an Olympic board of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music within that mission. training center in the sport. The Oklahoma City l Clara Luper, educator and Civil Rights leader Construction on several impor- University Head of the Oklahoma Regatta continues l John Richels, President of Devon Energy tant projects is nearing completion. to grow. This year it will again include collegiate l Bob Ross, President and CEO of the Inasmuch Our new Ann Lacy Softball Field racing, and will also take place alongside the USA Foundation and the Ethics & Excellence in is under construction on the north Rowing World Challenge, which will showcase Journalism Foundation side of the Freede Center and will top international rowing talent from the most We are pleased and proud to add these six be completed this summer. On the competitive teams in the world as they prepare distinguished and dedicated individuals to south side of the campus, another for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Night racing, Oklahoma City University’s leadership team. significant project is underway. The inaugurated for the nation at our regatta last year, Each one shares in our fundamental beliefs in Edith Kinney Gaylord Center has will again take place under the lights. Both events the importance of community involvement and undergone a complete renovation are part of the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Regatta servant leadership. Their willingness to share in and has been expanded to house all Festival, October 11-14. this vision is an inspiration to all, especially me. of the Ann Lacy School of American Stars athletics, in a record-breaking year, captured Dance and Arts Management under NAIA National Championship titles in men’s basket- Sincerely, one roof. It will also be finished this ball, men’s and women’s golf and softball and our summer and a grand opening cel- rowers garnered two championships at the renowned ebration is being planned for early Dad Vail Regatta. Our women’s volleyball and 2 fOCUS fOCUS 3 UNIVERSITY UPDATE Jane Goodall Addresses numerous books and more than Record Audience a dozen films have been made Kristin Chenoweth and A capacity crowd was on hand about her work. Goodall’s lecture Kelli O’Hara Headline Birdwell Benefit in April to hear Dr. Jane Goodall, captivated her audience. A post- world renowned scientist, bring lecture book signing lasted until Broadway headliners Kristin her lecture entitled “A Reason nearly 1 a.m. Previous lecturers Chenoweth and Kelli O’Hara were for Hope” to Oklahoma City in the Distinguished Speakers among the stars returning home University as part of the school’s Series have included Judy Collins, March 30 for a musical tribute to Distinguished Speakers Series. Wilma Mankiller, Eli Wiesel, Florence Birdwell, their renowned Rabbi Harold Kushner, Oklahoma City University voice Brian Greene, Archbishop teacher. Birdwell was the guest of Desmond Tutu, Helen honor at “Starry Night,” a benefit Thomas, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., concert at the Civic Center Music Jonathan Kozol, Robert F. Hall celebrating a half-century Kelli O'Hara, Florence Birdwell, and Kristin Chenoweth Kennedy Jr., George Will, of teaching excellence. Proceeds Anne Simon, Sister Helen from the evening will establish an endowed faculty chair in her the university. Oklahoma City Oklahoma City University Prejean and Morris Dees. Adds New Degree Programs name. Tribute co-chairs were University led the state with Inaugural Clara Luper Miss Oklahoma 2007 Makenna Smith Richard Sias, Lou Kerr, and Jane a 96% pass rate. The state’s The university’s board of Scholars Graduate Jayroe-Gamble. The event featured average pass rate for the same trustees has approved a new from Oklahoma City Miss OCU Crowned performances by the Oklahoma exam is 87%. Of the 26 OCU Law Bachelor of Science in research University Miss Oklahoma, Three City Philharmonic and by Birdwell graduates who sat for the bar and data analysis and a new The first group of OCU Students Finish in students, including Kristin exam in February, 25 passed. Bachelor of Music in church music. Top 10 at Pageant Oklahoma students to earn Chenoweth, Tony Award winning OCU LAW has devoted special The music degree program college educations through Miss Oklahoma City University singer/actress and Sony Classics attention to guiding its graduates replaces a Bachelor of Arts in a scholarship honoring one Makenna Smith was crowned recording star; Kelli O’Hara, two- through the bar exam process. sacred music track. Mark Belcik, of the state’s premier civil Miss Oklahoma this summer. She time Tony Award nominee; Lara associate dean of OCU’s Wanda rights leaders graduated was among three OCU students Teeter, Tony-nominated for “On L. Bass School of Music, said the in May from Oklahoma who finished in the pageant’s Your Toes”; John Sawyer, member new degree ties in with an added City University.