Fall-Winter 2015
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THE OFFICIAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY >> FALL/WINTER 2015 $6.5M in gifts lead capital campaign IMPRINTS | 1 Message from the President Dear Friends: Greetings from your university. As I write never been higher on campus. this, the foliage on all three of our campuses The new student housing unit at the corner is scattering and the end of an incredible, of Lewis and Garrison is on schedule to welcome transformative semester is already upon us. its first student residents in the fall of 2016. It will I know that many of you participated in the be named after Dr. Isabel Cobb, a graduate of the various homecoming activities in late October. Cherokee National Seminary who is recognized as From the BancFirst Homecoming Street Party the first woman physician in Indian Territory. “Dr. fireworks through the Emerald Ball, each activity Belle” was selected by a vote of current student was exciting and well attended due to the hard residents and approved by our governing board. work of many students, volunteers and staff Last year at this time, we were in the early members. planning stages of the Preserve our Past, ENSUre I heard numerous positive remarks throughout Our Future campaign. In this edition of Imprints, the weekend, but perhaps the most rewarding you will see the tremendous success we are already came from our Distinguished Alumni honorees. experiencing in the first phase of the campaign. After the breakfast in our home on Saturday These results are a powerful endorsement of the morning, Rep. Earl Sears, Chief Bill John Baker, campaign’s four focus areas: student scholarships, Dr. Kelly Bailey and Mr. Darrell Sullenger strengthening faculty, new and revitalized facilities shared spontaneous, heartfelt and at times tearful and enhancements in athletics. comments about what the weekend meant to them. With a working goal of $20.925 million, this I wish all of you could have heard the wonderful campaign is our opportunity to enhance the legacy things they said about our NSU family. we inherited from those that came before us. And, Many of you were able to be a part the first in a time of declining state support, the need has performance by a major recording artist at the never been greater. NSU Event Center. Josh Turner’s Emerald As Penny and I look ahead to the beginning Ball appearance has proven that this facility has of our fifth year of service to NSU, we are more what it takes to be a venue for future regional grateful than ever for friendships we have forged at entertainment events. There were so many this great university. Please stay in touch. highlights from the various homecoming events. Please take a moment to enjoy the pictures and Sincerely, read the stories that capture the excitement. And, it’s not too early to mark your calendars for Homecoming 2016 on Saturday, Sept. 24! I’m pleased to report that the new RiverHawks Wellness Center (“The Fit”) is now open and has been incredibly well-received by our students and Dr. Steve Turner, President the NSU community. We have already signed up many new members and interest in fitness has ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT / Barbara Abercrombie ‘93 NOMINATING, SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS CHAIR / Andrea Tucker ’05 & ‘09 VICE PRESIDENT / Gilbert Hall ‘81 MEMBERSHIP CHAIR / Michael Turner ’91 & ‘98 PAST PRESIDENT / Stephen Highers ‘05 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI SERVICES / Daniel Johnson ‘91 EVENTS CHAIR / Michael Bolding ‘01 SECRETARY / Meggie Froman-Knight ‘12 EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD NSU PRESIDENT / Steve Turner Carol Ann (Shackelford) Barkley ‘78 Harlan Guthrie ‘95 Bill White ‘76 DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT / Peggy Glenn ‘90 Richard Carter ‘63 Anna Knight ’86 & ‘93 Lewis Wilson ‘72 FUTURE ALUMNI NETWORK PRESIDENT / Darien Ball ‘18 John Cox ’85 & ‘89 Justin Lindsey ’92 & ‘95 2 | IMPRINTS Becky Gore ‘91 Jessica Roberts ’10 & ‘13 THE OFFICIAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY FALL/WINTER 2015 FEATURES >> CHEROKEE NATION GIFTS $4M TO BENEFIT SEMINARY HALL 4 COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & HEALTH PROFESSIONS RECEIVES $2.5 MILLION GIFT 5 NSU ROBOTICS ACADEMY EMPOWERS HAITIAN TEACHERS, STUDENTS 16 EMERALD BALL 2015 18 ALUMNI HONOREES 20 DEPARTMENTS >> ALUMNI NEWS 6 Gray earns Legacy Scholarship Rozell Scholarship recipients named Future Alumni Network (FAN) Profile SNAPSHOTS 8 NEWS 12 Co-chairs announced for NSU capital campaign RiverHawks Wellness Center opens New student housing pays tribute to first woman physician in Indian Territory Northeastern receives state award for undergraduate research Emerald ball performance by Josh Turner, multi-platinum Campus security upgraded with 911Shield country music star, netted funds for NSU scholarships. NSU listed in Mosaic Top 25 NSU, Oklahoma Historical Society celebrate 150th anniversary of Civil War’s end Special Education offers new minor NSU Dean joins ACHE board of directors Northeastern students, faculty win OSTCA awards IMPRINTS MAGAZINE PRODUCED BY THE NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Accreditation earned for three counseling degrees OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Students join Severinson for performance Lights On. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & EDITOR / Jennifer Zehnder Passing the Crown. EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS / Cami Highers ’05, Vanessa Mancao Career Services offers career exploration course PHOTOGRAPHY / Pete Henshaw ’12, Carrie Moore '13 , Mike Cambiano ‘16, Strong named to Education Advisory Committee Tristan Ortery ‘17 Oklahoma Arts Council selects Thompson for task force NEWS EDITOR / Jennie Loucks FEATURES EDITOR / Khara Persad Symposium on the American Indian slated for April 11-16 CONTRIBUTORS / Jennie Loucks, Vanessa Mancao, Khara Persad, Cedrique Flemming CLASS ACTS 26 LAYOUT & DESIGN / Jeff Snodgrass ’99 ATHLETICS 30 This publication was printed by Western Printing Company Inc. and issued by Northeastern State University as authorized by House Bill 1714. 1,350 copies were printed; the total cost was $2,220. This institution, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a ON THE COVER >> veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to, admissions, employment, Fireworks light up the sky at the BancFirst Homecoming Street Party. financial aid, and educational services. Photo credit: Pete Henshaw IMPRINTS | 3 Cherokee Nation gifts $4M to benefit Seminary Hall Contribution will protect historic and iconic symbol of education for generations to come Nearly 130 years ago, 1,500 Cherokee officials and area technologies and learning environments. residents watched as the first cornerstone was laid at the newly “The generosity of the Cherokee people and their commitment rebuilt Cherokee Female Seminary, which had been destroyed by to higher education have come together in an unprecedented way,” fire at its original location a year earlier. Today, that iconic building said NSU President Steve Turner. “Seminary Hall has been and represents the oldest structure on what would eventually come to will continue to be a symbol of courage, hope and determination. be known as Northeastern State University. Baker’s leadership continues to have a tremendous impact, not On Dec. 2, Cherokee Nation officials committed $4 million only on NSU, but on the entire state.” to ensure Oklahoma’s historic and iconic symbol of education, The Cherokee Nation gift provides the necessary resources Seminary Hall, will be preserved and celebrated for generations to to preserve, renovate and repurpose Seminary Hall. The iconic come. structure will become a multipurpose building that will showcase its cultural lineage, provide a modern classroom experience for students and house administrative departments. A highlight of the project will be a museum, which will be guided by expertise from the Cherokee Nation and the university. Cherokee Nation Businesses is funding the effort to further its mission of preserving Cherokee culture and history. Through its cultural tourism efforts, the tribe’s holding company recently restored another Tahlequah landmark, the Cherokee National Capitol, and operates three local Cherokee Nation museums. The largest contribution to date raises the bar for the university’s “Preserve Our Past, ENSUre Our Future” campaign, which aims to raise $20.925 million in campaign investments by focusing on four project areas: opportunities for students, strengthening Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker, Oklahoma the faculty, new and revitalized facilities, and enhancements in Secretary of State Chris Benge and NSU President Steve Turner athletics. were joined by Cherokee Nation Tribal Council members, NSU faculty, staff, students and community members in the foyer of the historic hall for the presentation of the gift. “Seminary Hall is a powerful unifier of the university, the city of Tahlequah and the Cherokee Nation,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said. “It reminds all of us every single day that the partnership between the tribe, the school and the community is anchored in advancing quality education and making it accessible to our citizens. “When our Cherokee leaders where first removed to this part of the country, they made a moral decision to invest in the future of our people through education. Despite the trauma of removal and starting over, the tribe allocated half of its overall budget to erect the seminary school and fund its mission. Today, we honor our Cherokee ancestors by making this investment for the generations to follow.” Seminary Hall currently houses the College of Liberal Arts administration, faculty and classrooms. It serves more than 1,700 students. The daily activities of a busy college campus have taken its toll on this 126-year-old building. Additionally, the 19th century building is not equipped for 21st century 4 | IMPRINTS College of Science & Health Professions receives $2.5 million gift Gregg Wadley and Dr.