FALL/WINTER 2018 Page 9 Page 16 Page 20 HOW NSU IS HELPING CENTER FOR WOMEN'S STUDIES FACULTY MENTORS MAKE NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS GETS NEW HOME LEARNING PERSONAL THE OFFICIAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY STANDING WITH U.S. VETERANS NSU connects those who've served Page 18 Imprints FALL/WINTER 2018 | 1 Homecoming honors OPENING The 2018 alumni honorees were recognized during homecoming weekend. From left are President Steve Turner, Future Alumni Network President Cheyhoma SHOT Dugger, Distinguished Alumna Dr. Pamela Thurman, Distinguished Alumna Lisa Johnson Billy, Outstanding Young Alumnus Ashley Stephens, Alumni Association President Andrea Tucker and Alumni Association Director Danny Johnson. Read the stories of this year's honorees starting on page 22. 2 | Imprints FALL/WINTER 2018 Imprints FALL/WINTER 2018 | 3 Graduate College THE OFFICIAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE BY THE NUMBERS OF NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Produced by the Northeastern State University Office of Communications & Marketing Northeastern State University’s Graduate College strives EDITOR-IN-CHIEF to maintain a standard of excellence in graduate Katie Barton education by offering quality programs that are relevant and responsive to the needs of the communities served MANAGING EDITOR / by the institution. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Jennifer Zehnder master's ASSOCIATE EDITOR degree Carrie Moore '14 & '17 programs are EDITORIAL ASSISTANT available. Cami Highers ’05 24 accelerated programs allow PHOTOGRAPHY high performing Northeastern Pete Henshaw ’12 State University undergraduate Carrie Moore ‘14 & ‘17 students an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the Mallory Semrow '21 baccalaureate and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. CONTRIBUTORS 10 Don Vieth campuses host graduate classes. LAYOUT & DESIGN 10 Jeff Snodgrass ’99 online programs 3 are offered. graduate assistantship + The name Imprints is derived from the opportunities hundreds of leaves stamped into the are available. sidewalks of NSU. Like the imprints of 70 the leaves, all alumni have left a lasting impression on the NSU community, and hopefully the university has had a similar Average lasting impression on each alumnus and alumna. This publication is designed to class size: students keep alumni up to date with the campus 10.5 community, because even after they’ve Average age graduated their imprint remains. Every program Imprints, an exclusive benefit of Alumni of student: emphasizes the value Association membership, is published in the of practical application. fall and spring. This publication was printed by Western Printing Company Inc. and Scholarships are issued by Northeastern State University as authorized by House Bill 1714. 1,450 copies were printed; the total cost was $2,280. This available in every institution, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education program. Amendment Act of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 34 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 veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. 4 | Imprints 4 | Imprints FALL/WINTER 2018 Welcome PRESIDENT’S LETTER Dear Friends: Greetings from your university. I hope this By the end of this year, we expect to be in issue of Imprints finds you and yours well. the early implementation phases of our As I write this, memories of this year’s new Physician Assistant program based on homecoming weekend are still fresh on our Muskogee campus. Key staff members my mind. I hope you were able to attend are already in place, carefully guiding and join in the festivities. If you were not, the university through the complex we missed you. We also missed something accreditation process that will ultimately else—falling leaves! But, Mother Nature result in much-needed physician assistant is finally putting the foliage on display and graduates to serve our state. the campus has never been lovelier. The assets for the NSU Foundation are the In this issue of Imprints, we feature highest in our history, as were the number several pictures and inspiring stories from and value of scholarships awarded. In homecoming. I especially recommend addition, as we approach the end of the the articles on the 2018 alumni honorees. fourth year into our $25 million Preserve Reading about their backgrounds, college our past, ENSUre Our Future campaign, experiences and incredible personal we already have commitments totaling accomplishments is inspiring. You will over $22.4 million. also learn about the dedications of our With the 2018 election finally behind new veteran students lounges (one in us and much improved state revenue Tahlequah and one in Broken Arrow) projections for the budget year ahead, I and the dedication of the NSU Center for am as confident as I have been in several Women's Studies—now located in the years that our leaders will find a way to Woods House on Seminary Avenue. restore the higher education budget cuts We started the fall semester with a we have had in recent years. Please let our very pleasant surprise for our new and state leaders know that our students are returning students—a complete makeover counting on them in the session ahead. of historic Town Branch Creek! Thank you for your continued support of In an unprecedented collaborative effort your alma mater. that included the Army Corp of Engineers, Cherokee County, the City of Tahlequah, the Grand River Dam Authority and Tahlequah Public Works, NSU staff worked Sincerely, to clean up a major portion of Town Branch Creek and NSU’s Beta Pond. Residents, visitors and students are enjoying the results every day. NSU has entered into a unique partnership with Broken Arrow High School and Tulsa Dr. Steve Turner, President Community College that provides students the opportunity to graduate from high school with a diploma and an associate degree. The student can then transfer to NSU as a college junior. All courses will be offered on our Broken Arrow campus. Imprints FALL/WINTER 2018 | 5 Imprints | 5 Contents FALL/WINTER 2018 DEPARTMENTS 8 | et cetera Accounting student receives national scholarship Anton named COE dean Speech-Language Pathology clinic opens on BA campus Campaign encourages on-time graduation NSUOCO receives state-of-the-art laser Trippet Foundation receives 1909 Society Award Emerald Ball sets record for funds raised Professor creates Spanish video game Save the Date: 2019 Sequoyah Institute Shows 9 | Talking Points Learn how the Northern Saw-whet Owl Project is changing what we know about this species. 11 | In a Few Words What is the best book you've ever read? 13 | Q&A with a FAN Get to know Taylor Lloyd, a member of the Future Alumni Network. Fall colors surrounded the Bacone House on NSU's Tahlequah campus this semester. 14 | In Focus See what’s been happening at NSU the last few months. 16 28 | Class Notes CENTER FOR WOMEN'S STUDIES Catch up with your old classmates. How NSU is striving for a better, brighter future for women. 30 | Sports 18 Meet NSU’s new tennis coach Soccer coach hits 100 wins CONNECTING VETERANS Soccer player makes history New veteran lounges created to help students succeed. Women’s golf team wins preview Championship ring returned 20 BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Faculty mentors individualize learning. ON THE COVER Heathermarie Brown is a U.S. Navy veteran and NSU student who is 22 able to take advantage of the newly DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI opened student lounges designated for veterans on both the Broken Arrow and Get to know the 2018 NSU Homecoming honorees. Tahlequah campuses. 6 | Imprints 6 | Imprints FALL/WINTER 2018 Alumni DIRECTOR’S LETTER Arm in arm Each year NSU has been led soundly through Northeastern State some very challenging times as University and our of late, especially considering the cross-state rivals in State’s consistent drawback of Edmond compete support for higher ed. Wonderful in football for people continue to do great work ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS the President’s providing a quality educational EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Cup. This year’s experience for today’s students. game was the PRESIDENT To Bill Huddleston’s point though, the competitive bout Andrea Tucker ’05 & ‘09 you would expect for a storied rivalry investment of the alumni community like ours with the University of Central can further propel our university VICE PRESIDENT Oklahoma—at least through the first forward into a future that makes Jessica Mugg '10 & '13 15 minutes. Things got away from us all affiliated with NSU swell with in the final three quarters. Suffice pride. Give your alma mater your EVENTS CHAIR it to say, it’s a President’s Cup clash endorsement by recruiting future Carol Ann Barkley '78 we’ll be anxious to quickly forget. students, or by networking with and mentoring current students, or by GOVERNANCE CHAIR If you happened to catch the audio investing with your financial support. Becky Gore ‘91 broadcast of the game, you might have heard an impassioned editorial As we close out the fourth year of our MEMBERSHIP CHAIR from RiverHawks football play-by- five-yearE NSUre Our Future capital Gilbert Hall '81 play announcer Bill Huddleston in campaign, Northeastern has benefitted the waning minutes of the game. from hundreds of alumni and friends AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR who have committed to help advance Lewis Wilson '72 In reflecting on the game, the the mission of the institution. We season and the state of the football have achieved 90 percent of our DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI SERVICES program, Bill shared the following $25 million campaign goal, but still Daniel Johnson ‘91 & '18 inspiring message that extended have plenty of progress to make in beyond the context of football: this final year of the campaign.