Features Focus Magazine Editor Robert K. Erwin Designer Allison Bastian Writers Mary Jane Alexander Robert K. Erwin Chris Doyle Kathy Leidy Sandra Dean Steve Wedel Photography Mary Jane Alexander Ann Sherman Ashley Griffith President of Alumni Board Cary M. Pirrong, pg.4 ’87 Bachelor of Science, ’90 Juris Doctor Focus Magazine 2501 N. Blackwelder Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1493 Focus Magazine is interested in the personal and professional triumphs of Oklahoma City University alumni. If you have items for “Through the Years,” e-mail them to Robert K. Erwin at [email protected]. Please include your degree name and year of grad- uation. “Through the Years” is included in the fall and spring issues only. For the most recent update, check online at www.okcu.edu on the alumni pages. (Note: Candidacy for Oklahoma City University has the nation’s best record for a office notices are excluded by policy.) private universitys inhe producing Miss Americais… Organization Focus Magazine is produced by the universi- ty relations department for alumni, parents, state and national titleholders. Only one university rivals us and friends of Oklahoma City University. in the number of Miss Americas who were students – Send items of potential interest to the maga- zine’s readership to the addresses listed University of Mississippi. Whether or not you follow the above or call (405) 521-5818. pageants, you have to wonder: what’s that all about? Check out Oklahoma City University on the internet at www.okcu.edu. Oklahoma City University provides equality of opportuni- ty in higher education for all persons, including faculty and employees, with respect to hiring, continuation, Departments promotion, and tenure, applicants for admission, enrolled students, and graduates, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT 11 THANKS! national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, sexual 2002-03 was a remarkable year. In this 2002-03 Donors orientation, or veteran status. special “annual report” issue, we reflect The vice president for administration and finance, on our successes and thank those located in Room 402 of the Clara E. Jones Administration 19 2002-03 IN REVIEW Building, telephone (405) 521-5029, coordinates the whose generous contributions make university’s compliance with titles VI and VII of those sucesses possible. the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education 28 IN MEMORIAM Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. On the front cover: OCU President Tom J. McDaniel and the new Miss Oklahoma, Kelley Scott, a student in the Meinders School of Business’s Master of Science in Accounting program. (photograph by Ann Sherman) President’s Message Excitement is building. The countdown has begun. In September, a year from now, Oklahoma City University will celebrate its cen- tennial. The past year has seen tremendous changes take place on campus. Major construction projects are almost complete, and more are about to start, including a Centennial Plaza creating a wonderful, new entry to campus. In this issue of Focus Magazine, we want to take time to reflect on some of the successes of the past academic year and thank the many gener- ous individuals, corporations, and foundations that made those successes possi- ble through donations to OCU during 2002-03. The feature story looks at the amazing success of our students in the Miss America Organization. In August, I had the privilege of officially welcoming the new Miss Oklahoma, Kelley Scott, back to campus for the unveiling of her portrait. Kelley is working on a Master of Science in Accounting from the Meinders School of Business. She is on the Dean’s and President’s honor rolls, and is the treasurer for her sorority. We are very proud of her. This month, OCU’s three former Miss Americas – Jane Jayroe, Susan Powell, and Shawntel Smith – will We want to take time to reflect on some cheer her on in Atlantic City, N.J., at the Miss America Pageant. of the successes of the past academic year and thank the many generous individuals, U.S. News & World Report has corporations, and foundations that made again this year listed Oklahoma those successes possible through donations City University in the top tier of our peer institutions in its ranking to OCU during 2002-03. of “America’s Best Colleges.” We begin this year with enrollment up, a balanced budget, and our best credentialed fresh- man class in recent memory. I look forward to our centennial year with confidence. If you have not visited campus lately, please come see us soon. There are always a variety of fantastic events – athletics, exhibitions, lectures, performing arts – something is bound to be right for you. I look forward to seeing you. Sincerely, Tom J. McDaniel 2 Focus Summer 2003 News Rhodes Scholarship state finalist • Undergraduate Fellow for the Next stop, Harvard, Mass. Fund for Theological Education • Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges • commencement junior mar- Julie Conrady, ’03 Bachelor of Arts in shal • Theta Alpha Kappa Certificate of Merit for Leadership • religion, has been accepted to Harvard National Dean’s List (three years) • OCU President’s Honor Roll University to pursue a Master of Divinity. (twice) • Vice-President’s Honor Roll (four times) • Bishops’ Scholar Conrady is from Edmond, Okla. • Hope Center of Edmond Teen Volunteer of the Year • Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation intern • officer in United Methodist Student Fellowship, Theta Alpha Kappa Religion Honor Fraternity, “My main interests are theology, the Blue Key International Honor Fraternity, Kappa Phi Christian Hebrew Bible, and ancient civilizations. Women’s Service Club, OCU Association of Computing Machinery, I've wanted to go to Harvard since sev- and OCU Student Ambassadors • member of Alpha Chi National Julie Conrady enth grade, although I initially applied Honor Society, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, OCU Ecumenical for the fun of it. There are many cool Council, Religion Major Luncheon Planning Committee, OCU aspects to their divinity school, mainly the extremely flexible Honors Program, and Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honors Society • curriculum, the diversity of students and faculty, the Center member of New Covenant United Methodist Church in Edmond, for the Study of World Religions, and the ability to take classes Okla., and volunteer for Walk to Emmaus (including youth lay at other seminaries in Boston as well as any class offered at director for a Chrysalis weekend, the highest position given to any- Harvard University. What I most want other students to under- one under twenty-two years old) • volunteer service, including stand is that through Oklahoma City University, my dreams tutoring, work with homeless and abused children, as well as proj- ects with Boys and Girls Club, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, came true, and so can their dreams.” FM Tornado Relief, and YWCA Mark your calendar! Distinguished Speakers Series Helen Thomas “Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President.” 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2003 Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center NW Twenty-seventh Street and Florida Avenue “Our job is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.” Photograph courtesy of Speakers Worldwide, - Helen Thomas, regarding the role of the press Helen Thomas was a member of the UPI Press Corps covering the White House from 1960 to 2000. She holds the distinction of having traveled around the world with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush. Since 2000, she has continued to cover the White House for Hearst Publications. Termed by her colleagues the “First Lady of the Press” and the “Grand Inquisitor,” Thomas has a reputation as a relentless journalist, and for tenacity. Come be comforted or afflicted by this impressive woman privileged to have had “a ringside seat to instant history.” Focus Summer 2003 3 University trustee and Miss America 1967 Jane Jayroe Gamble (See interview, p. 7.) Photograph by Ann Sherman 4 Focus Summer 2003 The Miss America Organization’s Amazing Legacy at Oklahoma City University by Robert K. Erwin, director of university relations n 2006, Oklahoma City University’s relationship I with the Miss America Organization will turn fifty. LaDonna Kramer Meinders (See sidebar, page 6.) became Miss Oklahoma 1956 while at OCU. Since then, our stu- dents have won thirty more state and three national titles. JUNE’S MISS OKLAHOMA COMPETITION was typical. Six OCU students participated: Chelsea Cain, dance management freshman from Duncan; Jessica Eckert, mass communica- tions sophomore from Claremore; Leah Ledbetter, mass communica- tions senior from Oklahoma City; Focus Summer 2003 5 Brooke Haley, mass communications senior from Pryor; Kelley Scott, accounting master student from Claremore; and Sarah Reed, dance freshman from Edmond. Scott was crowned Miss Oklahoma 2003. (See interview, p. 8.) Haley made the top five. LaDonna Not just another pretty face Miss America Pageant judges look for an obvi- Kramer Meinders ous commitment to community service, academic ’58 Bachelor of Music achievement, and talent as a spokesperson. Final ’86 Master of Business Administration scoring is based on interview (40 percent), talent ’96 honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (30 percent), and appearance (30 percent). Miss Oklahoma 1956 The non-profit Miss America Organization is the world’s largest single source of scholarship aDonna Meinders grew up on a farm near Loyal, Okla. She is an funds for young women. This year, it offered L accomplished musician and private instructor. She and Ellen more than $30 million in scholarships. OCU Jayne Wheeler, ’67 Master of Arts in Teaching and former OCU music provided the 2003 Miss Oklahoma Pageant over instructor, had a successful duo piano concert career; its highlight came in $53,000 in tuition college scholarships.