MOVINGmountains WITH NSU SCHOLARSHIPS “She will look back on this when she is an adult and see what I have accomplished and hopefully move her own mountains.” CONTENTS NSU Foundation 2015 Annual Report FEATURES 3 A Message from the NSU President 4 NSU Foundation Board of Trustees 5 NSU Foundation Executive Director’s Letter 6 NSU celebrates the re-dedication of the Circle of Excellence Plaza 8 Nowicki Scholarship helps non-traditional students succeed 10 New NSU scholarship to benefit single parents 12 Lindorfer Scholarship reduces financial strain for OCO students 14 Snodgrass welcomed as 2016 Battenfield-Carletti Distinguished Lecture Series speaker 15 NSU expected to implement a new Physician Assistant program in 2017 16 Moving mountains with NSU scholarships 18 Scholarship quotes 20 2015 Honor Roll of Donors 24 Financials 25 NSU Foundation growth 26 Endowments 28 Annually funded scholarships & programs 30 Memorial benches 31 Ways to give On Cover: NSU scholarship recipient Northeastern State University Holi Fest 2015 Ain Scott with his 11-year-old daughter, Rain. Students dance and throw colored powder during the Indian Student Association’s Holi Carnival A MESSAGE FROM THE NSU PRESIDENT Dear Friends: I want to offer a sincere “thank you” to those of you who made financial contributions to Northeastern State University in 2015. Through your generosity, the NSU Foundation’s total assets grew to almost $25 million, enabling us to award a record amount of scholarship support of nearly $735,000 to our deserving and appreciative students. For reference, in 2012, total assets were $16.7 million. Your support comes at a critical time in the state’s history. When comparing our state appropriation for fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2016, the appropriation has been reduced by $4,722,187 (12.73%). Since January 1, 2016, we have been impacted by four revenues failures, two in the General Revenue Fund and two in Oil Gross Production. Our cuts since January 1 are $3,423,366 (9.56%). As you have heard and read through multiple media reports, Oklahoma will have $1.3 billion less in revenue to appropriate in FY 17. The cumulative effects of these cuts is forcing NSU to eliminate open positions, reduce course offerings, and impede our ability to stay current with classroom technology. Although the state’s financial situation is bleak, the zeal of NSU faculty and staff to provide a rigorous educational experience and outstanding student services has not been diminished. Our students remain optimistic about their future. They realize that, for most citizens, a bachelor’s degree is the catalyst to wealth attainment and long-term quality of life. This report includes “their story.” I trust that you will carefully read each account of what a scholarship means to them. As I have met with graduates/donors over the past year, I have been blessed and inspired to hear “your story” of what a degree from NSU means to you. How it changed your life and the lives of those you love and those who love you. Regardless of when you graduated from NSU, or when your parent(s) or grandparent(s) attended NSU, “your story” IS the NSU story. This institution connects us all in very positive and tangible ways. And, we would not be able to serve the region, state, and the international student population without your support. Let me conclude this letter on a major positive note. You may recall that we announced Preserve our Past. ENSUre Our Future. The Campaign for Northeastern State University in January, 2015. Our initial working goal was established at almost $21 million. Due to an institution- wide effort, and through the sacrificial giving and pledges of so many donors, we raised almost $13 million in year one of a five year fundraising campaign. Thank you! A new chapter of the NSU Story is being written, I sincerely hope you will continue to be part of it. Sincerely, Dr. Steve Turner, President www.nsugiving.com | 918-458-2143 | 812 N. Cedar Ave. | Tahlequah, OK 74464 3 NSU FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair Vice Chair Secretary/Treasurer Lynna Carson Larry Dotson Mike Fine Larry Adair Denise Roddy Darrell Sullenger Stilwell, OK * Tahlequah, OK * Tulsa, OK + Stilwell, OK # Tulsa, OK + Tulsa, OK + Jim Gore James Howard William Langley, Jr. Gary Parker Wellon Poe, Jr. Patty Skinner Pryor, OK + Ponca City, OK * Stilwell, OK # Muskogee, OK # Oklahoma City, OK * Tahlequah, OK * * Term Expires 2017 # Term Expires 2018 + Term Expires 2019 The Northeastern State University Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation formed exclusively to Dan Sullivan Maurice Turney Gregg Wadley Craig Winters support NSU. Claremore, OK + Tahlequah, OK * Oklahoma City, OK * Tulsa, OK + NSU DEVELOPMENT STAFF Peggy Glenn Robin Johnson Erin Feller Ethan Hayman Daniel Johnson Meggie Froman-Knight Cami Highers Shawna Stanley NSU Director of Assistant Director of Development Officer Development Officer Director of Alumni Coordinator of Information Coordinator of Stewardship Secretary Development Financial Services Services and Special Events and Annual Giving 4 Northeastern State University Foundation | 2015 Annual Report NSU FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER When the Aswan High Dam was being constructed on the Nile River in the 1960s, these two temples were in the floodplain of the newly-created Lake Nasser. To save these ancient structures, a multinational team of archaeologists, engineers, and skilled construction workers cut the entire complex into stone blocks averaging 20 tons, and reassembled them on higher ground. Amazingly, it took just four years, from 1964 to 1968. Since then, an airport and businesses catering to tourists have sprung up around As you’ll read in this 2015 Annual Report for Abu Simbel. the Northeastern State University Foundation, scholarships and other private donations A college education is a similar undertaking. help our students and our university “move It takes about four years, requires a lot of mountains.” Many of our students work planning and hard work, and when complete, multiple jobs, take care of their families, and translates into an economic driver for our deal with nearly unimaginable hardships, region. Like Abu Simbel, the impact of our from unexpected medical emergencies to graduates will be seen for generations. natural disasters, and from food insecurity to homelessness. Yet they persevere and do their Through your donation to the NSU best academically, because they know that Foundation, you are part of the team that higher education “moves mountains” within helps our students move mountains. And with our economy and our society. your continued support, the Foundation and University will move our own mountain by I recently traveled to the Middle East to fulfill reaching the $20.925 million working goal a lifelong dream of exploring the pyramids, for the most ambitious fundraising campaign tombs of pharaohs, and ancient cities in in our institution’s history. The campaign Egypt and Jordan. The highlight of my trip is appropriately named, “Preserve our Past. ended up being a lesser-known site that I had ENSUre Our Future.” We look forward to never heard of: Abu Simbel, located near the sharing more about this campaign in the Sudaneese border. Abu Simbel is a temple coming year. complex carved into a sandstone mountain that was originally built around 1300 B.C. by the Pharaoh Ramesses II to commemorate his successful battle against the Hittites in Syria. “The highlight of my trip ended up being a lesser-known site that I He also constructed a second temple nearby to Peggy Glenn (’90), MPP, JD had never heard of: Abu Simbel, located near the Sudaneese border.” honor his favorite wife, Nefertari. Executive Director, NSU Foundation www.nsugiving.com | 918-458-2143 | 812 N. Cedar Ave. | Tahlequah, OK 74464 5 NSU celebrates the re-dedication of the CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE PLAZA For the past 50 years, Northeastern State University has honored faculty members who are selected by their peers to be added to the NSU Faculty Circle of Excellence. These faculty were nominated among many by students and colleagues for their contributions in teaching, research and service. This year, NSU’s Council of the NSU Faculty Association and receive this honor was Hattie Propst during the academic year of the NSU Foundation celebrated the honorees, past and present, 1964-1965. during the re-dedication of the Circle of Excellence Plaza on Peggy Glenn, director of development and executive director of April 22. the NSU Foundation, stated that the NSU Foundation provides perpetual funding for the Circle of Excellence awards. They Three faculty members are selected each year from three provide $2,500 per award recipient. different areas—teaching, research and service. “The recipient may receive the funds directly or choose to deposit There have been over 90 recipients with the most recent being the monies in a program account at NSU for use on books, a Dr. Dilene Crockett, Dr. Sapna Das-Bradoo, and Dr. Christopher conference, or other program-related expenses.” Flavin in 2016; Dr. Kathi McDowell, Dr. Joseph Ahlander and All honorees have their name on a brick that has been installed in Tom Rink in 2015; Dr. Mark Paulissen, Dr. Christine Hallman the new plaza on the southwest side of the John Vaughn Library. and Dr. David Lewerenz in 2014; and Dr. Mike Wilds, Dr. Kevin For more information, please visit Wang and Dr. Tiffany Maher in 2013. The first faculty member to www.nsuok.edu/CircleofExcellence. www.nsugiving.com | 918-458-2143 | 812 N. Cedar Ave. | Tahlequah, OK 74464 7 Nowicki Scholarship helps non-traditional students succeed “That was when we decided that if we could ever help non-traditional students in our situation in the future, we certainly would.” Hard work, determination and diligence are telltale traits of a student destined for success.