100th SPRING COMMENCEMENT THREE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES WORLD CUP OUTREACH SUMMER 2014 MAGAZINE A PUBLICATION OF OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY BISON BASEBALL CELEBRATES HISTORIC SEASON PAGE 16 OBU MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014 1 2 SUMMER 2014 OBU MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 3 1912 COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Words of William H. Butler, Member of OBU’s First Graduating Class. 4 100th COMMENCEMENT 2014 Marks OBU’s 100th Spring Commencement 5 GRADUATES OF THE 100th CLASS Five Outstanding Senior Award Recipients 8 OBU 2020 A Glimpse at the Journey to Reach OBU’s Strategic Vision STREET PRAYER 10 STAVROS GROUNDBREAKING With the help of a Brazilian Baptist translator, New Facility Underway for College of Nursing Allie Preston, left, and Kenzi Bice, players on OBU’s 12 CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE soccer team, pray with two boys after telling them the Residential Village; Mathena Center; Cafeteria story of Jesus. Later that evening at an outdoor worship service near Ceará-Mirim, Brazil, Kenzi and Allie gave the 14 ON BISON HILL boys their first Bibles. The young women were part of Hobbs Award; Retirees; Faculty/Staff Awards; Bison Coffee the OBU team’s mission trip to Brazil. 16 BASEBALL’S HISTORIC SEASON Coach Bobby Cox and His Team’s 2014 National Ranking 18 LADY BISON SOCCER IN BRAZIL î World Cup Outreach 20 ATHLETICS Learfield Cup; Football Schedule; Coach Mastin Award; Track Wrap Up 22 PROFILE IN EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS Glen Redding Jr.; Ray Ballew; Ryan Abernathy; Susan Wooten 26 ALUMNI NEWS Homecoming and Tailgating Save the Dates 27 ALUMNI NOTES Future Bison; Marriage; Class Notes; Obituaries IMB PHOTO BY LINA WHITE IMB PHOTO BY LINA OBU MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT OBUmagazine SUMMER 2014 | VOLUME 9, NUMBER 2 OBU MAGAZINE STAFF Editor In 1912, nine OBU students gathered at Dr. R. Stanton Norman First Baptist Church, Shawnee, to receive Managing Editor their diplomas during the first OBU Spring Paula Gower Commencement. On Friday, May 16, 2014, Writers I had the distinct honor of congratulating Lane Castleberry, Kenny Day, Ray Fink 293 graduates as they crossed the stage in Art Director Raley Chapel during OBU’s 100th Spring Chele Marker-Cash Commencement. Many years have passed and Photographer numerous students have earned OBU degrees William Pope since that first commencement ceremony, but View OBU Magazine Online www.okbu.edu/magazine one thing hasn’t changed: our graduates continue Contact OBU Magazine to carry the distinction of having studied at a Christ-centered institution steeped [email protected] in a tradition of academic excellence since its founding. 405.585.5410 Throughout the years, we have sought to instill within our students an honest UNIVERSITY awareness of themselves and the world around them, to encourage them to ADMINISTRATION President strengthen their commitments to Christ, and to nurture within them a heart to Dr. David W. Whitlock care and a spirit to attempt great things that will make their world a better place. Provost and Executive Vice President for Campus Life On the following pages, you’ll read about some of our May 2014 graduates, Dr. R. Stanton Norman progress taking place on OBU’s Vision 2020, and groundbreakings and Executive Vice President for Business and Administrative Services improvements that are transforming our campus. Randy L. Smith Vice President As you read these exciting stories, you will be blessed to see what our University for University Advancement community is accomplishing as we strive together to live worthy of the high Will Smallwood calling of God in Christ. Exciting things are ahead for our beloved University. CONTACT INFORMATION We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of today as we lay the (area code 405) Academic Center .....................585.5100 groundwork for the achievements of tomorrow. God bless OBU.¾ Admissions ..............................585.5000 Alumni ....................................585.5413 Business Office ........................585.5130 Campus Ministry .....................585.5700 Career Services ........................585.5260 Mabee Learning Center ...........585.4500 President’s Office .....................585.5801 David Wesley Whitlock Residential Life ........................585.5253 OBU President Student Development ..............585.5250 Student Financial Services .......585.5020 Switchboard ............................275.2850 University Advancement ..........585.5412 University Communications ....585.5410 OBU Magazine is published by the Marketing and Communications Office, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma. It is mailed to nearly 33,000 alumni, parents and friends of OBU throughout the country and world. To change your mailing address send an email to [email protected]; write OBU Magazine, OBU Box 61275, 500 West University, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804; or call 405.585.5413. In compliance with federal law, including the provision of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Oklahoma Baptist University does not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, military service, or genetic information in its administration of educational policies, programs, or activities, its admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic or other university administered programs, or employment. 2 SUMMER 2014 OBU MAGAZINE Celebrating OBU’s 100th Graduating Class Reflecting on the message of the first commencement is a powerful reminder of the history of this great university. We are facing the future difficulties that those as never before; the world coming later do not have to is a field of labor opened meet. We would rather help SFirst to us. It is ours to add to lay a firm foundation for Commencement Address its betterment and worth. those who succeed us than by William H. Butler From this day forward new to enjoy the conveniences Member of the first graduating class and graver responsibilities of a well-established school. rest upon us, and we Whatever misgivings must lay aside our college others may be, we expect privileges and pleasures this University to grow in Ladies and Gentlemen: to apply ourselves to our power and influence. She life’s work. But we do represents a people tested The class of 1912 extends not shrink; we accept the and tried, and they have to you a most cordial increased responsibilities never been found wanting; welcome. with cheerfulness, realizing she represents the largest that with them come Christian denomination in Today we stand in the greater opportunities for the state, and is destined place for which we have rendering loving service to to become one of the been striving throughout mankind. great universities of the our college career. We Southwest. When this WILLIAM H. BUTLER SENIOR PHOTO are glad because we are We are proud of our institution becomes well now realizing what at one peculiar petition. Our class, established, as we know time was only an ideal. nine in number, come she will, we shall pride “Pioneers in This is the day of all days from seven different states. ourselves upon being the any sphere to us. We look back over Like the citizenship of this first class to go out from her our college life without great new state; we are sacred walls. always regret and with a profound cosmopolitan. But the class have to face feeling of appreciation for has done its work without As the years come and go, those who have in any way a jar; so far as I know our Alma Mater will remain difficulties rendered us assistance. It harmony has prevailed enshrined in our hearts, that those is true some of our college and today we are a united wreathed with glory, and days have not been so whole; nothing can ever the fondest memories of her coming later pleasant; discouragements sever the ties of loyalty and will ever cling to us as we have assailed us; transitory friendship that have bound lovingly linger upon scenes do not have disappointments have come our lives together. We take of bygone days and familiar to meet.” our way; but, realizing that pleasure almost to the point faces – close companions of ‘persistency is genius’ we of pride, in the thought that our earlier years endeared to moved on, until now we we are the first graduating us by many a tie. are the recipients of the class of the Baptist blessings of this hour. We University of Oklahoma. Again we bid our friends shall always hold in happy welcome. remembrance the yesterdays Pioneers in any sphere – WILLIAM H. BUTLER of our school years. always have to face OBU MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014 3 TH “Good disciples have friends who are good disciples,” he said. “We build on each other’s strengths. Jesus didn’t send the disciples out alone, he sent them out in groups.” He likened this to friends who hold students accountable and roommates who wake each other up when they have an exam. “Good disciples must also be willing to step outside their comfort zones,” he said. “How will you engage a diverse world if you are only willing to live in your own world? OBU students, like disciples, are risk takers, and if you didn’t want to be challenged, you should have stayed home.” He also shared that good disciples DR. BRAD JETT never stop asking questions, and they have their preconceptions challenged. CHALLENGED TO NURTURE Graduates a “lifelong passion for learning,” “Being a good disciple, like being a 293 OBU students received their good OBU student, is hard,” he said. degrees during OBU’s 100th Spring “Of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be Encouraged Commencement Friday, May 16. hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Being hard is what makes it to Step In academic regalia, OBU’s graduating great.” seniors took their symbolic final walk Outside across campus passing through rows “Good OBU students like good of faculty members before reaching disciples never ask the question ‘what’s Their Raley Chapel’s east steps, filing into going to be on the test?’ ” he said.