AlumNews

OC Podcast: Rwanda Initiatives

Ann talks to Dr. Nathan Mellor and Dr. Brian Bush about the exciting initiatives of OC and OC’s Academy of Leadership and Liberty to work with and learn from the country and people of Rwanda. 

This week on the OC Podcast, Ann talks to Dr. Nathan Mellor, Vice President of Community Engagement at Oklahoma Christian and Dr. Brian Bush, Managing Director of OC’s Academy of Leadership and Liberty. 

For those unaware, there are many exciting initiatives on the Oklahoma Christian University campus to bless and be blessed by the country of Rwanda and its people. Many members of the OC community have taken their different gifts and used them to raise money and awareness for the country of Rwanda. 

Links to the initiatives mentioned in the podcast are as follows:

• Wishing Well - a student-led organization dedicated to bringing clean drinking water to Africa
• Rwanda Outreach and Community Foundation
• Peace through Business-Rwanda - training Rwandan businesswomen
• Rwandan Presidential Scholars - 30 Rwandan students studying on the OC campus

Listen to the interview to learn more about what is going on in our own backyard and how you can get involved.

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OC Podcast: Apple Campus Representative

Tune in to hear Ann talk to the new student Apple Campus Representative,  Emily Spirek. 

Always a leader in educational technology, OC is making the transition to be an Apple campus.  Beginning this summer, incoming students will be issued a MacBook and have a choice between an iPhone or iTouch.  One of the benefits to being an Apple Campus is that one of our students has the opportunity to be a student campus representative for Apple. 

After the interview process, junior graphic design major Emily Spirek was chosen as the OC student Apple Representative. 

Hear her talk about the different services she will be providing for the OC campus, as well as other benefits she foresees as OC becomes an Apple campus.

To learn more about the transition to Apple, go to www.oc.edu/apple. 

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Experienced police captain leads security

By Aaron Askew from The Talon:

From a former Army background, Larry Fields joins Oklahoma Christian University as the new Head of security.

Fields attended Claremore Military Academy and later earned his Bachelors Degree at the University of Central Oklahoma (then known as Central State).

He served in the active army as 2nd Lieutenant and did an overseas tour with the Army Security Agency. In 1974, he became a part of the Bethany Police Department and retired from there as Police Captain.

He then had a variety of jobs from working security at Bethany General Hospital to serving as a patrol officer for Oklahoma Christian, and working for the state as a criminal investigator at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The previous head of security, Fred McGinn, served Oklahoma Christian for nine years before he decided to retire in order to spend time with his family.

At this time, Fields was then offered the chance to come back to Oklahoma Christian as head of security.

Fields said he feels very lucky to have been given this opportunity.

“Fred McGinn put in nine long years and did an outstanding job and I feel very fortunate to have been selected to replace him,” Fields said.

Fields said he hopes to change the look of security at Oklahoma Christian.

“I want our security to be proactive rather than reactive. We are not here to punish, chastise or argue with students. This is an outstanding university and we want to offer every available protection we can to keep it that way,” Fields said.

Fields also said the great faculty, staff and students make him want to work even harder to keep the campus safe.

“The students are my number one priority and we are here to serve them,” Fields said.

Sophomore Lynn Ashby said she does feel safe on campus but does get frustrated at security sometimes.

“They never unlock the music building on Saturday mornings like they are supposed to and there have been times when myself and others have had to wait outside for like an hour waiting for them to get there to let us in,” Ashby said.

Fields said it can be frustrating that security sometimes gets portrayed in a negative way.

“Unfortunately we aren’t always seen as the good guy,” Fields said.

He asks everyone to just remain kind, courteous and obey the laws that have been set for the state of Oklahoma and for the university.

Fields encourages everyone who drives on campus to slow down and take heed of their own responsibility. Fields also wants to encourage everyone on campus to be aware of the lost and found.

“Security makes a very concentrated effort to get any property turned in to them to its rightful owner. We want to return lost items to people as soon as possible. However after a significant amount of time the items are donated,” Fields said.

Fields wants to remind everyone on campus that security is available for contact 24 hours a day, seven days a week and to never hesitate to inform them of any kind of safety hazard. Security can be reached at 425-5500.

Recent publications by academic leaders

The academic leaders of Oklahoma Christian serve as role models and teachers both on our own campus and within their disciplines.  Recently both Dr. Allison Garrett, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Phil Lewis, Dean of the College of Professional Studies, published academic works. 

Allison D. Garrett & Robert Garis, Leveling the Playing Field in the Pharmacy Benefit Management Industry, 42 Valparaiso Law Review 33-80 (2007).

Phillip V. Lewis, “Of Heroes and Managers,” in David Wesley Whitlock & Gordon Dutile (eds.), A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2008), 79-83.

Congratulations on your recognition, and thank you for representing OC as an institution of both higher learning and higher calling.

Schools for Schools surpasses goal

The Oklahoma Christian University chapter of Schools for Schools sent a check to the Invisible Children headquarters last week for $15,136.14, surpassing their original goal of $10,000.  This means that among all of the Schools for Schools chapters, OC ranks first in our cluster and fifth overall.  Fundraisers included weekly chapel collections, merchandise sales, and a fundraising dinner, among other things. 

When asked about her involvement with Schools for Schools, OC senior and Schools for Schools campus coordinator Megan Potter gave this statement:

The Invisible Children documentary was shown on OC campus once or twice before I had never got a chance to see it. I was excited to hear that they were coming back to OC and I was finally going to get to see what everyone was talking about. After watching the documentary, I was so sad and shocked to see that children in Africa were suffering and scared for their lives. They had to leave their families and homes to hide. I couldn’t believe that this footage was so recent. We were quickly given hope when they told us about the Schools for Schools program. In the middle of October we began our first fundraising event to raise awareness and let the OC students see what we were trying to do and give them ways to get involved whether it be actually helping with the planning of events to raise money or donating out of their own pockets to help this cause. Schools for Schools helps children all over Africa get a better education. This program raises money to buy books, build new classrooms and buildings, provide African mentors for the children, etc. 

When I heard about the Schools for Schools program I knew that Oklahoma Christian needed to be one of the many schools throughout the United States that was involved in helping children in Africa receive a better education. I fell in love with this program and its overall goal and knew that we needed to get involved. We got a passionate team together and started brainstorming. How could we raise $10,000? We knew it would be hard and it would take a lot of work but those kids are worth it.

OC has a mission statement that I have heard time and time again, but I never really understood its true value until now. “Higher learning, higher calling,” means that OC is more then just college. We are a body of believers that strives to be light to this world and to ultimately glorify God in all that we do. The Schools for Schools program was just another way to display that students on this campus have a real passion for God and making a difference in this world. Children in Africa happen to be the focus this time. Most of us that were involved in this program are upperclassmen and we hope it has made a big enough impression on the other students at OC that they will continue to stay involved in this impacting program for years to come.

The campus community is proud of the accomplishments of our students in spearheading this effort and the entire area for responding with generosity and compassion as they have. 

To learn more about the Gulu Sr. Secondary School in Northern Uganda, click here.

To learn more about Schools for Schools, see how much money the Oklahoma Christian community has raised, or donate online, click here.

English department receives honors

Submitted by Dr. Cami Agan:

For the sixth consecutive year, the OC students of the Rho Mu chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the national English Honors Society, have been accepted to present their work at the national conference, held this year on March 5-9 in Louisville, KY. Ten students, the most ever accepted, will be attending. For the sixth year, every student who applied to present work at the national conference was accepted, suggesting an outstanding pool of creative and analytical thinkers in the Lang and Lit dept.

Here are the students accepted, along with the titles of their work(s):

Paul Mitchell, accepted for creative and scholarly works: “My Engendered Mysticism” (Poetry); and “Liminality in the ‘Bare Island’: Theatre as Utopia through Shakespeare’s Tempest” (Paper)

Becka Farr: Excerpts from “At the Time…” (fiction)

Victoria Masten: “Without Shoelaces” (Short story)

Taylor Walling: “White Boy Pubescence: Covered in Blues” (poetry)

Kate Long; from Suburban Streets and Secrets (Creative Non-fiction); For the Somebodies – (Poetry)

Rebekah Folger: Tolstoy’s Realism in Anna Karenina (paper)

Marcie Tunnell: “Desdemona: the Whole Woman.” (paper)

John Barker: Fathers and Sons: Developing a Sense of Individuality in Gilead (paper)

Taylor Boston: Grendel’s Status as an Idealized Enemy in Beowulf (paper)

Amy Hardin: Gilgamesh and the Immortality of Art (paper); excerpts from Deconstructing the Coffee House (fiction)

And, in a related event, Paul Mitchell, our Sigma Tau Delta President, has had both a poem and a scholarly paper accepted for publication by the national honors society, one in the Review, and one in the Rectangle. Paul is one of our finest students, and it seems the faculty reviewing student submissions for publication agree:

The titles of his works are: In the Review, “The Net of Viewing: Cassandra and the Audience of Agamemnon” and in the Rectangle, “From Pittsburgh to Portland: A Love Poem”.

Please join me in congratulating these exceptional students. They will represent OC and our rigorous standards very well, as always.

Faculty achievements and presentations

The Oklahoma Christian University faculty have been busy presenting across the country and representing the university. The following are a sample of their recent accomplishments. 

Dr. Lee Anne Paris, web/reference librarian, gave 2 presentations last year:  “Navigating the New Information Landscape: Library Web Sites, Wikis, Blogs, and Mashups” at Christian Scholars Conference 2007 (Rochester, Michigan) and “Usability Studies for Library Web Sites” at Christian College Librarians 2007 (Abilene, Texas).

Randy Heath, Associate Professor of Physical Education, traveled with a delegation of physical education professors to China in December.

Jennifer Bryan, Associate Professor of Mathematics, is taking four undergraduate mathematics and mathematics education majors to the 10th Annual Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics.

Dr. John Maple, chair of the Department of History & Political Science, was interviewed on Fox Crossroads in December regarding the Roman Empire.

Dr. Al Mikell, Associate Professor of Biology, was interviewed by Fox news in December about clean drinking water in Africa.

Gail Nash, Assistant Professor of English, will present a case study at the conference on International Writing Across the Curriculum in Austin in May.

Dr. John Harrison, Professor or New Testament and Ministry, gave an interview with Channel 5 News last week for a story on the Prosperity Gospel that will air.

Dr. Dudley Chancey, Associate Professor of Youth Ministry, directed Winterfest in Gatlinburg, TN (14,000 teens) and in Arlington, TX (5,000 teens).

Dr. Loren Gieger, Professor of New Testament, revised a Greek Workbook for students. 

Dr. Bob Carpenter, Professor of Missions, directed the World Mission Workshop in October.

Dr. Curt Niccum, Associate Professor of New Testament, located and photographed in London a previously unknown Ethiopic manuscript of the Book of Acts.

Dr. Richard Wright, Assistant Professor of Bible, had an essay published in December on “Plutarch on Moral Progress” in Passions and Progress in Greco-Roman Thought, ed. John T. Fitzgerald. Routledge, 2007.

We are proud of our faculty for representing Oklahoma Christian University and embodying the motto, “Higher Learning, Higher Calling.” 

TeamOC Fitness Initiative

Oklahoma Christian University is unveiling a new initiative to encourage fitness and wellness, TeamOC.  The goal of TeamOC is to create opportunities and educate the campus about the discipline and benefits of fitness.

One of the challenges TeamOC poses to the community is to participate in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on April 27.  Last year, the OC community entered over 180 participants, including the fastest marathon relay team. 

The goal this year is to have 300 participants from TeamOC in the OKC Memorial Marathon.  Events include the full marathon, half marathon, relay team (five members), and a fun run/walk. 

Visit the TeamOC website to register and find resources for improving your health.

Beloved Professor Passes Away

From President Mike O’Neal:

We are very sad to report that this community has lost a very good friend and colleague.  Tony Alley won the victory just a few minutes ago, and now he is in the care of our loving heavenly Father.  Tony demonstrated for all of us exceptional courage and faith as he faced the reality of his mortality.  Many of us have been blessed to watch and pray for him as cancer gradually took its toll on this vibrant and servant life.  As late as last Friday he was asking what he could still do for his friends and students at OC. 
Please be praying for Priscilla, Ryan, and Elise. 

Memorial Service

The memorial service for Tony will be at the Edmond Church of Christ, this Friday, January 18, at 10 a.m. 
Those of you on campus may be aware that we have begun a new tradition by flying the Oklahoma Christian University flag at half-mast upon the death of a member of the OC faculty, staff, students, or trustees.  It will remain at half mast through the memorial service. 
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers that gifts may be made in Tony’s honor for the Dr. Tony Alley Computer Design and New Media Library Collection at the Beam Library at Oklahoma Christian University by either purchasing a book from Tony’s Amazon.com wish list at www.oc.edu/tonysbooks , or making a gift to the library for that purpose.
The University will be seeking additional ways to honor the legacy of this beloved member of our family.

If you’d like to leave a message for the campus community or the Alley family, click “Comments” below.

Click here to read a C4D Cafe interview with Tony Alley.

Click here for a feature page on Dr. Alley from his publisher, Thomson Delmar Learning. This page includes comments from Tony and links to some of his students’ modeling and animation work.

Click here for an audio interview with Dr. Alley after he and three OC students attended an international computer graphics conference in 2006.

Click here to view a special article on Dr. Alley featured in OC’s 2005 View.

Click here to read a feature on Dr. Alley featured in the November 2007 issue of the Edmond Outlook.

Click here to read a the kind words of remembrance from the computer animated graphics community, 3D Attack. 

Click here for a photo gallery of Dr. Alley.

Click here to donate to the Dr. Alley Memorial Fund.

OC Guest Speaker on OETA

This video is an excerpt from the Dec. 17, 2007 broadcast of Writing Out Loud, an OETA program of the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers. The interview was conducted during Ms. Robinson’s visit to OC’s campus for the 3rd annual McBride Lecture in Faith and Literature, co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the Oklahoma-Scholarship Leadership Program of the State Regents for Higher Education. This video is courtesy of Writing Out Loud.

For more information about the McBride Center click here.

OC Podcast: Schools for Schools

This week Ann interviews Chelsea Jones, campus coordinator of Schools for Schools, a non-profit group to aid students in war-torn Northern Uganda.  Listen to learn what is being done and how you can get involved.

One of the greatest legacies of Oklahoma Christian University is its spirit of servitude and compassion.  One great example with a strong presence on the OC campus is the Schools for Schools program, which aids children suffering from the effects of civil war in Northern Uganda.  Schools for Schools was birthed from the Invisible Children documentary, which highlighted the horrific and dangerous conditions children live with in the midst of war. 

Chelsea Jones, a senior elementary education major, is the OC campus coordinator for Schools for Schools.  To date they have raised over $5000 and have a goal to raise $10,000 by February 1st to benefit specifically Gulu Senior Secondary School.  Listen to this week’s OC Podcast to hear Chelsea talk about the Schools for Schools program and how you can get involved. 

To learn more about OC’s involvement in Schools for Schools, click here.

To learn more about Gulu Senior Secondary School, click here. 

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OC Podcast: Ethics Symposium

This week Ann speaks with Elaine Kelly, professor of accounting, on the importance of ethics in the work place.  This week OC will be hosting the J.J. Millican Ethics Symposium featuring Sherron Watkins, Enron whistleblower.

This week’s OC Podcast features OC Professor Elaine Kelly speaking on the J.J.Millican Ethics Symposium.  Mrs. Kelly has taught accounting classes in the business department for over 15 years.  Consistent with OC’s philosophy to integrate faith and integrity into every facet of learning, the Ethics Symposium teaches the importance of character in the work place.  Friday, December 7 at 7:30, the J.J. Millican Ethics Symposium will host Sherron Watkins, the former vice president of Enron Corporation who, in August 2001, alerted then-CEO Ken Lay to accounting irregularities within the company.  Her difficult decision to stand for integrity and honesty serves as an example to others who may one day find themselves in the same position. 

For more information or to RSVP for the Sherron Watkins speech, please click here. 

To learn more about the School of Business Administration, click here. 

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Western Village Academy Book Drive

The Oklahoma Christian University Beam Library staff has kicked off the 2007 Book Drive campaign for Western Village Academy—Open the World of Possibilities for a Child.

The Oklahoma Christian University Beam Library staff has kicked off the 2007 Book Drive campaign for Western Village Academy—Open the World of Possibilities for a Child. “Reading is a wonderful way for children to be exposed to a world of possibilities beyond their current frame of reference,” says OC library director Tamie Willis. The library at Western Village has an unusual philosophy. To paraphrase the principal, Peggy Brinson, if the students check out a library book and don’t bring it back, it’s not an issue. It’s more important that they have a book at home to read. Because of that, there is a constant need to replace the library books. The books provided through the OC Book Drive are a wonderful way to continue putting books into the hands of students.

A Christmas tree located in the OC library lobby has gift tag ornaments with names of books chosen by the librarian at Western Village that can be purchased for the campaign. The books can also be purchased in honor of a loved one, including a book plate identifying who donated the book, the name of the honoree, and that it was purchased through the OC Book Drive. Every time a student opens up one of the books, they will see that it was provided through the generosity and care of the OC community.

Student Jacob Smith donated a copy of Stand Back Says the Elephant, I’m Going to Sneeze in memory of his grandfather.  Smith says, ““I remember every time I would visit my grandfather when I was younger, he would always have me and my cousins sit in his lap in his big lazy boy recliner and read us this story.  He passed away when I was 8 years old, but the memory of that book and him reading it to me and my cousins will always be with me.  I hope some children can enjoy this book as I did when I was growing up.”

The project continues a relationship between Western Village and OC that goes back more than nine years. Currently a mentoring program takes OC students to the Western Village campus to mentor children one day a week.

The drive will run until Dec 14 and all books must be paid for at the time of selection.

For more information about the book drive or to purchase a book contact Tamie Willis at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit the OC library.

Western Village Academy students with books from the book drive of 2006. 

OC Podcast: OC History Project

On this week’s OC Podcast, Ann talks to Dr. Stafford North, director of the OC History Project. If you’re listening to our podcast or reading this web entry, then you are a part of the OC Community— whether alumni, faculty and staff, current students, or friends of the university.  Dr. North is collecting information for both a book to be debuted at Homecoming 2008 and also the permanent archives.  Visit the OC History Project’s website, and share your experiences to be recorded as the legacy of Oklahoma Christian.  There are categories that cover the gamut of experiences, so visit and add your own.  http://www.oc.edu/historyproject

On this week’s OC Podcast, Ann talks to Dr. Stafford North, director of the OC History Project.  No one is more qualified than Dr. North to collect and record a history of Oklahoma Christian University, as he has been such an integral part of and witnesses to many changes on campus. 

If you’re listening to our podcast or reading this web entry, then you are a part of the OC Community— whether alumni, faculty and staff, current students, or friends of the university.  We share a vested interest in the heritage and future of Oklahoma Christian. 

Dr. North is collecting information for both a book to be debuted at Homecoming 2008 and also the permanent archives.  Visit the OC History Project’s website by clicking here, and share your experiences to be recorded as the legacy of Oklahoma Christian.  There are categories that cover the gamut of experiences, so be sure to visit and add your own. 

OC History Project

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Tell us what you thought about homecoming

Now that another OC Homecoming is behind us, the Alumni Office would like your feedback to help us evaluate this year’s festivities.

Alumni: Click here to take a short 10 question OC Homecoming survey written specifically for you.

Students: Click here to take an even shorter OC Homecoming survey written specifically for you.

If you have questions, please contact the Alumni Office at 405.425.5110 or via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

OC Podcast: OklaHomecoming 2007

Welcome back to the OC This Week Podcast, returning after a brief hiatus.  This week Ann interviews Michael Mitchell, Director of Alumni Relations about this year’s OklaHomecoming events, November 8-10.  This year promises to be full of activities and opportunities for reconnecting with friends and memories that mean so much. 

For a complete schedule, to purchase tickets, or for information on specific reunions, click here to visit the OklaHomecoming website.  Also be sure to sign up on Eagle Connect 2.0 to take advantage of all the resources your alumni office offers you!

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OC center takes on new Enterprise

By Jim Stafford
The Oklahoman

When Enterprise Square USA shut down its brand of interactive free enterprise education on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University in 2000, officials declared it would reopen after undergoing a renovation.

Nearly seven years later, plans for a $6 million renovation have emerged that will transform Enterprise Square into a completely repurposed facility that will serve the university and the community in myriad ways.

The new 65,000-square-foot Enterprise Square will be the academic center for Oklahoma Christian’s School of Business, provide faculty and administrative offices, art gallery and exhibit space and a home to the university’s Academy of Leadership & Liberty.

The new Enterprise Square also will showcase Oklahoma Christian’s collection of 224 pieces of original art called America’s Call to Freedom, donated by Sam Ingram.

“We want to honor the purpose to which Enterprise Square was originally birthed,” said Mike O’Neal, president of Oklahoma Christian. “Many benefactors came alongside Oklahoma Christian University and wanted to partner in Enterprise Square.

“What we have said in its rebirth is we want to be faithful to the teaching of free enterprise, liberty and leadership, things that are consistent with that original mission.”

Although more than $1 million already has been raised for the renovation, no timeline has been set for the reopening, O’Neal said.

The university will kick off a capital campaign in October to raise the remaining $5 million needed for construction, said Nathan Mellor, executive director of the Academy of Leadership & Liberty and an assistant professor in Oklahoma Christian’s business administration school.

“The amount of excitement about what this could be and the opportunity this has given us to reconnect with people here in the city has been phenomenal,” Mellor said.

More than two dozen Oklahoma City business and civic leaders serve on the board of the Academy of Leadership & Liberty, O’Neal said.

The new Enterprise Square — it is dropping the “USA” — will be redesigned with a new second-floor west entrance, a second floor skylight to open the building to natural light, 12 new classrooms, 65 offices and a small auditorium. It will have a coffee shop, deli and student center in what was once known as the Hall of Giants. The building will gain 5,000 square feet for better use of existing space.

Construction time is estimated at 12 months from the start date, Mellor said.

“The building itself is structurally a fantastic building,” he said. “We’re trying to integrate the mission of the building to be both academic and nonacademic.”

Enterprise Square USA was a victim of changing technology and the inability of administrators to keep it updated.

“Although in the last few years it became woefully obsolete, in the first few years we believe it was something that was a source of great pride,” Mellor said.

Oklahoma Christian has saved some of the interactive games that were used in the original Enterprise Square USA museum, which drew more than 600,000 school children and hosted presidents and giants of industry. Both Presidents Bush walked its halls, as did retailing icon Sam Walton of Wal-Mart and airline innovator Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines.

The new Enterprise Square will be open to the public and school children for tours, although it won’t offer the interactive technology, Mellor said.

Although it is no longer open, the place still draws visitors who ask to see it, including a woman who recently stopped by and asked for a memento for her son who toured the museum when he was 8 years old and today is a stockbroker on Wall Street.

“There isn’t a week that goes by that there isn’t somebody coming to Enterprise Square, now six years after it closed,” Mellor said. “We had a school bus that stopped last week and (the people) asked, ‘Can we just walk through?‘”

IT Services receives recognition for Web page

A portion of Oklahoma Christian University’s Web site recently received high praises for its effectiveness. A national technology association selected the site http://stats.oc.edu as a “Site to See” for the third quarter of 2007.

The Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA) addresses voice, data and video communication needs for 800 institutions of higher education and 2,000 communications technology professionals in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. ACUTA selected OC’s site based on its content delivery, timeliness, ease of use, accessibility, and graphic appeal, according to Beth Chancellor, chair of the ACUTA Web Site Recognition Task Force.

The topic for this quarter’s competition was “Dashboards.” OC’s Information Technology Services maintains an impressive dashboard on its site, displaying the status of the organization in a user-friendly way. By glancing at this Web page, a visitor can track the status of various functions on campus, such as the number of VPN connections each day or the amount of e-mail traffic.

ACUTA will feature the university’s Web page at http://acuta.org after Sept. 1. The association will also recognize OC’s achievement in the September or October issue of ACUTA e-News and at ACUTA’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas next summer.

Vienna becomes a classroom this summer

A group of Oklahoma Christian University students traveled across Europe this summer in order to acquire college credit and an experience of a lifetime.

The 16 students from Oklahoma Christian and Cascade College, OC’s branch school in Oregon, began by spending five days in London. Next, the group flew to Vienna, Austria, where they took up residence in Schloss Neuwaldegg, an 18th century castle in the western part of the city that OC rents for study abroad students and other visitors.

“I thought Vienna was different than some of the other cities because it had not been taken over by tourists,” OC sophomore Alyssa Beekman said. “I still saw people doing their daily grocery shopping and kids getting out of school. In Vienna, it was easier to blend in because not everything was touristy.”
For the next seven weeks, the students split their time between living like citizens of Vienna, listening to class lectures, visiting museums and historical buildings, attending operas and ballets, and traveling outside Austria. The program allows participants to travel with a train pass around the entire continent of Europe.

Shawn Jones, academic dean and Bible professor from Cascade College, sponsored the trip along with his wife, Nancy. Jones says he witnessed the academic, personal, social and spiritual growth that resulted from the students’ time in Europe.

“Their worldview is greatly expanded,” he said. “History becomes more than textbooks and pictures. It is an absolute thrill to see the maturation of our students in such a short period. They are blessed to be in a setting that gives them significant life skills.”
While this program, along with Latin American Studies, gives students six to eight credit hours, other study abroad programs during the fall semester allow students to earn 12 to 16 hours of credit. Vienna Studies and Pacific Rim Studies both send groups of approximately 30 students around the globe. Ibaraki Exchange is a long-term program concentrating on full immersion of a smaller number of students in the schools and in the culture of Japan and Korea.

“Traveling abroad is definitely worth the experience,” OC senior Stephen LupPlace said. “When we first left Oklahoma, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never even been out of the country before and yet there I was, flying to Great Britain. The moment we got off the plane we hit the ground running.”

To view pictures of the students’ travels, click here.

The Streak Continues

The OC chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national collegiate history honor society, has been awarded the Nels A. Cleven Best Chapter Award in Division I (universities with 3000 and fewer students) for the 2006-2007 year.  This was OC’s 12th straight Best Chapter Award, 4th straight in the elite category, and 13th overall.

OC announces Graduate Business School

The Master’s of Business Administration program at Oklahoma Christian University has grown to more than 200 students since its beginning in 2000. The program will now be housed in the newly named Graduate School of Business.

“Our primary goal is to provide an MBA program worthy of a premier private business school,” Ken Johnson, chair of the Graduate School of Business, said.

Johnson, previously known as the MBA director, set several objectives for the graduate program. In order to provide student feedback, an MBA student council will be elected to meet with him once a month. Also, a refurbished area will provide better opportunities for graduate students to study and work on projects. An expanded alumni council and new assistance for students in career and personal success will also be added to the current operations of the program.

The undergraduate school of business, which has been a part of Oklahoma Christian since the 1950s, will remain the same. Currently, 260 students are enrolled in accounting, business administration, finance, management and marketing degrees.

Clarifying the difference between the undergraduate and graduate business schools will eliminate any confusion with the programs. It also emphasizes the MBA program’s success since its inception.

“We welcome this important recognition of our graduate program,” Phil Lewis, Dean of the College of Professional Studies said. “The MBA has made a difference in the future of OC, and Ken Johnson and his staff are making a difference in the lives of our graduate students every day. Our graduates are likewise making a difference in their companies.”

The Graduate School of Business holds monthly information sessions. The next information session is August 7. There are six entry points during the year for prospective students. An orientation for the fall semester will be held on August 13 for students who have been accepted into the program.

Pitch Pipe Pro interviews McKinzie about New Reign

Gary Moyers, former head of Acappella ministries and worship minister at Golf Course Road Church of Christ, interviewed OC’s own Wes McKinzie for his a cappella music podcast “Pitch Pipe Pro.”

Wes, OC’s Director of Athletic Marketing, sang with the Acappella Vocal Band before he began his studies at Oklahoma Christian. McKinzie now sponsors OC’s a cappella singing group, New Reign.

They discuss OC’s New Reign latest album, and Wes’s life after singing with AVB.

50,000 Books for Oklahoma Children

FirstBook.org, a non-profit that provides books to children in low-income communities nationwide, is holding a contest where one state will receive 50,000 books for at-risk children.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma is in 35th place.

To help, all you have to do is click here to visit the contest website and “vote” for your favorite childhood book. You can vote one time each day through July 31.

Help spread the word and get books into the hands of Oklahoma children. Remember to vote every day.

John Hermes promoted to Chief Technology Officer

Oklahoma Christian University recently advanced John Hermes to the position of Chief Technology Officer from his former role as computer and network services director.

With his new title, Hermes will lead all university technology, network services, support and administrative computing functions. Hermes will also work with the administration to provide the best leadership and reporting structure for the North Institute for Teaching and Learning, which helps faculty enhance student learning.

Oklahoma Christian University recently advanced John Hermes to the position of Chief Technology Officer from his former role as computer and network services director.

With his new title, Hermes will lead all university technology, network services, support and administrative computing functions. Hermes will also work with the administration to provide the best leadership and reporting structure for the North Institute for Teaching and Learning, which helps faculty enhance student learning.

According to Executive Vice President Alfred Branch, Oklahoma Christian chose Hermes for this position because of his 12 years of experience at the university, good relationships with faculty, staff and students, decision-making skills and ability to manage complex projects.

Branch also stated the importance of selecting someone with financial and business insight.

“Hermes has demonstrated the ability to lead cost-efficient initiatives without sacrificing quality. He also demonstrates the ability to effectively manage a large operational budget,” Branch said.

Hermes received a master’s degree in telecommunications management from Oklahoma State University.

He will work with Branch, Vice President of Academic Affairs Allison Garrett and President Mike O’Neal to interview candidates for vacant North Institute positions.

Alumnus co-writes book to benefit future ministry

On May 30, OC alumnus Howard Vanover was spotlighted in The Oklahoman. Vanover, along with Scott Sheets, wrote a children’s book to raise funds for a downtown Oklahoma City ministry:

Vanover, an Oklahoma Christian University graduate, said his part of the literary partnership was to infuse the simple story with a powerful yet easy-to-understand biblical message. In the book, Bully the Bat boasts that he is more important to America’s favorite pastime than his cohorts, Gary the Glove and Bobby the Baseball. Gary the Glove teaches him a lesson about the downfalls of pride by chronicling the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon whose royal authority was temporarily taken away by God because of the ruler’s arrogance.

The biblical King Nebuchadnezzar and a fictional character named Bully the Bat have much in common.

Both need a lesson in humility, and they find it in “A Day at the Ballpark” (Tate Publishing, $9.99), a children’s book written by two metro businessmen.
Scott Sheets of Edmond and Howard Vanover of Oklahoma City created the book as a fundraiser for a downtown Oklahoma City ministry the two hope to offer one day. Recently, they learned that it has become part of the library at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Pa.

This is heady stuff for two modest men simply looking for a way to raise money for ministry.

The men are franchise owner/agents of a Land Star Global Logistics expedited freight business. Both are active in their respective churches — Sheets at Crossings Community Church and Vanover at Oakcrest Church of Christ. Both men are married and fathers.

Sheets said the two often talk about their Christian faith as they run their business and have discussed an idea for a youth ministry. The pair said they would like to offer a downtown ministry similar to recording artist Michael W. Smith’s Rocketown in Nashville, Tenn. That ministry offers a skate park, coffee bar and concert venues as a safe, alcohol-free and drug-free environment for youths. Summer camps, after-school classes, other classes and programs are also featured.

Sheets said he and Vanover want to see the same type of ministry created for area youths, but they have been seeking a way to help fund it.

“We’d really like for kids to have a place to go, a clean, safe place to go. We want kids to grow up in the right setting,” Sheets said.

He said the pair prayed about the financing, and the idea for a children’s book series came to him less than 24 hours later, in the middle of the night.

“I got the idea for the books, came to work, and we started writing stories,” Sheets said.

Within days of searching for a publisher for the first book in their “The Wannabe Kids” series, the men found Mustang-based Tate Publishing, which agreed to publish “A Day at the Ballpark.”

Sheets said the book is geared to elementary school children. It is relatively short and includes a word search and coloring page at the end.

Vanover, an Oklahoma Christian University graduate, said his part of the literary partnership was to infuse the simple story with a powerful yet easy-to-understand biblical message. In the book, Bully the Bat boasts that he is more important to America’s favorite pastime than his cohorts, Gary the Glove and Bobby the Baseball. Gary the Glove teaches him a lesson about the downfalls of pride by chronicling the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon whose royal authority was temporarily taken away by God because of the ruler’s arrogance.

“This book is about humility and knowing that everyone is important,” Vanover said.

Future books include a book about shoes that the men said may be of interest to young girls, a book about an in-line skate and one about a scooter.

Both authors said the books are designed to instill godly character in young people.

“I think they’re getting such mixed messages from different sources: TV, movies, school,” Vanover said.

Sheets agreed.

“It’s so hard to keep kids on the straight and narrow. The world is really in sad shape,” he said. “Adults can learn just as much as the kids. The book is written for kids, but the meaning is for everyone.”

Vanover said a great example of a young person with godly character was Justin Blake Tiderman, 11, who died May 17 when he and his father, Michael, were killed in a car crash returning home from a baseball game.

Vanover said he is a family friend of the Tidermans and attended church with them for many years. He said he and Sheets would have dedicated the baseball book in memory of young Justin had the book not already been published.

“He exemplified the character, the core Christian values that we are talking about,” Vanover said.

Vanover said the recurring theme in each of the books is “With God, you can be anything you want to be.”

“We really believe that,” he said. “We just want to share that and get that message out there.”

By Carla Hinton
Religion Editor, The Oklahoman

Accounting Club Wins Campus Competition

In a statewide competition of college accounting departments, Oklahoma Christian University received a $1,000 grant on behalf of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). 

“It is quite an honor to have won, because we were up against 11 other schools across the state, most of which are larger than us and have more established Accounting Clubs,” Lauren Kelso, accounting club president, said.

OSCPA created the campus competition in order to make educators and students aware of the valuable benefits and services the organization offers. According to OSCPA’s Web site, this newly-created competition ran throughout the school year, from fall to spring. The participating school earning the most points won.

In a statewide competition of college accounting departments, Oklahoma Christian University received a $1,000 grant on behalf of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). 

“It is quite an honor to have won, because we were up against 11 other schools across the state, most of which are larger than us and have more established Accounting Clubs,” Lauren Kelso, accounting club president, said.

OSCPA created the campus competition in order to make educators and students aware of the valuable benefits and services the organization offers. According to OSCPA’s Web site, this newly-created competition ran throughout the school year, from fall to spring. The participating school earning the most points won.

To earn points, OC students and professors completed a variety of low-committal tasks, including inviting OSCPA Fellow Members or representatives to accounting club meetings, participating in recognition programs like Outstanding Accounting Student, linking to the OSCPA Web site and more.

“When we learned about the competition, we immediately started working to fulfill the requirements even though we knew we were competing against much larger schools,” accounting club vice president Dacia Earles said.

OC’s accounting club began in 2006 and already boasts 25 members, more than 50 percent of accounting majors.  Elaine Kelly, accounting professor and faculty sponsor, says she thought entering this competition would be an important goal for the club to achieve.

“I think sometimes student-led organizations lack motivation and organization. It helps them to have some kind of objective in mind,” Kelly said. “I thought it would help us to have a definition of what we wanted to do this year. I also wanted to encourage our students who are accounting majors to become more involved with OSCPA, because they are going to be accountants someday.”
Students did just that in their effort to do well in this competition. As accounting club president, Kelso acted as a liaison between OC and the Oklahoma Society of CPAs. The club also invited CPAs to speak at their meetings throughout the year.

Earles and club member Audrey Gordon planned an internship night where accounting firms visited the campus to encourage students to apply for internships.
The competition process was not an easy one, both for students and for the Oklahoma Society, but Kelly says the officers worked hard to fulfill the requirements.

“This was the OSCPA’s first year to hold the competition so it was a learning process for all of us,” Kelso said. 

As a result of the win, OC’s accounting department received $1,000 to award for scholarships, purchase books or software or anything else the department chooses to do.

“I was extremely surprised and delighted when I found out we won,” Kelly said.

Although Kelly does not know how the prize money will be used, she has high aspirations to win next year’s competition, which will include an award of $5,000.  With the combination of those prizes, she hopes the accounting club can travel to New York City for a CPA conference. The club also plans to incorporate high school visits to their goals next year. They will talk to classes and encourage high school students to consider accounting as a major.

“I am eager to start fulfilling the requirements for next year’s competition,” Earles said. “I know we can do it!”

Swing for Scholarship 6/23/07

Tulsa-area OC alumni, save the date for golf and fun with fellow OC friends and alumni on Saturday, June 23, 2007!

All Tulsa area OC alumni and friends are invited to take part in the second annual "Swing for Scholarship" golf tournament at La Fortune Park Public Golf Course in Tulsa (Click here for directions).

The event, hosted by the Tulsa chapter of the Oklahoma Christian Women's Association (OCWA) and the OC Green Country Alumni Chapter, is a fundraiser for scholarships for OC students from the greater Tulsa community.

Teams will compete in a four person scramble to win several great prizes, including a chance to win a $10,000 hole-in-one prize.

The entry fee for the tournament is $55 per player and includes a golf cart, a bucket of range balls, green fee, lunch, and a chance to win other great prizes. Tee off is at noon with a hamburger lunch at the clubhouse at 11 a.m.

Call your friends and register your team today at www.oc.edu/swing. Payment is due the day of the tournament or can be sent in advance to:

Please make all checks payable to Oklahoma Christian University.

The deadline to register is June 15. For more information, contact the OC Alumni Office at 405.425.5110 or via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Alumna judges national competition

On Friday, May 18, OC Alumna, Claudette Hudelson (‘52), was mentioned in the news for her work judging a national high school piano competition. Below is a quote from the article, which appeared in the Muskogee Phoenix newspaper:

National Guild of Piano Teachers piano auditions were held recently at Muskogee Public Library. Claudette Hudelson of Broken Arrow served as adjudicator.

Hudelson is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City and received her master of music education degree in piano pedagogy from University of Oklahoma in Norman. She is an active adjudicator for Oklahoma Music Teachers Association on the local and state level, and for National Guild of Piano Teachers. She is nationally certified in piano, piano pedagogy, and theory through Music Teachers National Association.

Read more…

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Faith calls us to make a difference

The following article, by Patty Miller, was published in The Edmond Sun on April 30 about OC faculty and staff members, Bryan and Holly Hixon:

‘Faith calls us to make a difference’

EDMOND - For Bryan Hixson and his wife, Holly, sharing their lives through service and mission involvement just comes naturally.

The Hixons are on the faculty at Oklahoma Christian University, a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Bryan is the director of Educational Technology at OC, and Holly is a professor of chemistry, and they are both members of Quail Springs Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.

They have spread their faith by visiting 11 countries including Germany, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Bulgaria, Estonia, Russia, Portugal, Belgium and more recently Rwanda. They plan to return to the central African region in August for an initial three-year mission commitment.

“I am excited that I will be fulfilling my passion of service and missions,” Bryan said. “I understand that I don’t know it all and will need God at every turn, but I am excited to know that God can use both my gifts and weaknesses in this environment to make a kingdom difference.”

The following article, by Patty Miller, was published in The Edmond Sun on April 30 about OC faculty and staff members, Bryan and Holly Hixon:

‘Faith calls us to make a difference’

EDMOND - For Bryan Hixson and his wife, Holly, sharing their lives through service and mission involvement just comes naturally.

The Hixons are on the faculty at Oklahoma Christian University, a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Bryan is the director of Educational Technology at OC, and Holly is a professor of chemistry, and they are both members of Quail Springs Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.

They have spread their faith by visiting 11 countries including Germany, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Bulgaria, Estonia, Russia, Portugal, Belgium and more recently Rwanda. They plan to return to the central African region in August for an initial three-year mission commitment.

“I am excited that I will be fulfilling my passion of service and missions,” Bryan said. “I understand that I don’t know it all and will need God at every turn, but I am excited to know that God can use both my gifts and weaknesses in this environment to make a kingdom difference.”

The Hixsons will travel to Rwanda with their two daughters, 8-year-old Alexis, and 3-year-old Grace.

They will be going as administrators of facilities and projects. The facilities include a church/hall, school and community center.

“The school has its own board. They are utilizing the facilities as a partner project of this effort,” Bryan said, “but we in no way will run the school. We will serve with the church, but will not ‘run’ the church.”

One focus of their ministry efforts is to improve education for the people there.

“One goal of our ministry efforts in the Community Center of the Christ’s Church Rwanda buildings is to create an Educational Outreach Center,” Holly said.

“Bryan and I have been blessed to have skills in teaching several subjects, including computer skills, chemistry, earth science and conversational English through the gospels of Luke, John and the books of Acts and Romans.”

Two million dollars is in the process of being raised to purchase facilities in the Capitol of Rwanda through the ROC Foundation. Through support, prayers and hard work, the ROC Foundation hopes to become a beacon of hope and strength to the people of Rwanda.

“With the purchase of facilities we hope to minimize the use of time, resources, risk and effort that can be better utilized sharing hope, healing hearts and saving souls,” Bryan said.

This is the first time in four years that missionaries have been allowed to come into Rwanda to minister.

“God has granted us a season of favor in Rwanda and we can either deny God and sit on our hands, or we can walk through the doors He has opened and bless a nation with the love of God,” Bryan said.

It only has been 13 years since the genocide in Rwanda took place.

“In 1994 the world did nothing, our nation did nothing, the church did nothing, and we did nothing as thousands upon thousands died daily in one of history’s worst-recorded genocides,” Bryan said.

By teaching the community to help themselves the family hopes to bring to them help they will be able to draw upon for a lifetime.

Among other things, Holly plans to use her chemistry background to teach the people how to make a hand sanitizer out of banana peels and other natural resources commonly found in Rwanda.

“We have before us a huge challenge but with the at challenge comes a vast opportunity to bless the people of Rwanda with the love of God through the service of man,” Bryan said. “Faith calls us to make a difference.”

World Mission Workshop coming to campus

By Kellie Olive
Staff Writer for The Talon

This fall, the campus will be teaming with Christians from around the country all with one common in theme “Every tribe every tongue.” Oklahoma Christian hopes to not only to participate in educating missionaries, but also to give them a broader view of service to the world through hosting the World Mission Workshop.

The workshop will be a three day event consisting of guest speakers, missions based classes, musical entertainment and mission’s films. One of the most innovative parts of this year’s workshop will be the “Global Chartroom”, where those interested will have the chance to sit down with missionaries from the field and ask them questions. This opportunity presents a firsthand look at the life of a missionary.

By Kellie Olive
Staff Writer for The Talon

This fall, the campus will be teaming with Christians from around the country all with one common in theme “Every tribe every tongue.” Oklahoma Christian hopes to not only to participate in educating missionaries, but also to give them a broader view of service to the world through hosting the World Mission Workshop.

The workshop will be a three day event consisting of guest speakers, missions based classes, musical entertainment and mission’s films. One of the most innovative parts of this year’s workshop will be the “Global Chartroom”, where those interested will have the chance to sit down with missionaries from the field and ask them questions. This opportunity presents a firsthand look at the life of a missionary.

There is a lot of work to be done between now and October, including making accommodations to house and feed the 900 students that will participate. The students and faculty optimistically anticipate hosting WMW.

“I’m looking forward to having all the other college students here on campus, and to interact with missionaries and other students interested in missions,” Peter Cariaga said.

Bob Carpenter, who is not only a mission’s professor, but has also participated in many workshops in the past sais that “It’s amazing to see the people your age thinking about missions.“Carpenter looks forward to “helping the students look beyond their country to other places around the world.”

Through the WMW, students develop a more international perspective and learn what it takes to go into the mission field, as well interact with those who have gone before them. Yet it’s not so much what the students do when they get to the workshop, but what they will take with them into their future.

“I hope to come away from this event with a clearer sense of what God is doing in the world through various mission works, and also to see how he is preparing the next generation to continue spreading the good news through actions and words,” Cariaga said.

Erik Tryggestad, Assistant Managing Editor for the Christian Chronicle, never took advantage of doing mission work while in college, but says that one of the most impressive things about Oklahoma Christian is that “you’re hard-pressed to find people who haven’t been out of the country.”

While not every student at Oklahoma Christian will participate in the classes for the WMW, there are other ways to assist including volunteering to host a student, helping with physical preparations, and simply interacting with those visiting and helping them find their way around the campus.

“During this workshop we just need people to be aware that they will have many visitors trying to find their way, and to be willing to not just point them in that direction but go with them and tell them right where they need to go,” Carpenter said.

Although the theme of this year’s workshop is “Every tribe every tongue” the number one goal is to inspire these students to help make a difference by stepping out of their comfort zones and sharing the word of God with the world.

Drs. Varner move to new positions

By Jill Newell
Staff Writer for The Talon

Oklahoma Christian University’s next vice president of academic affairs will have big shoes to fill. Current vice president, Jeanine Varner, and her husband, English professor Paul Varner, have accepted positions at Abilene Christian University in Texas. 

Abilene Christian selected Jeanine Varner as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a tenured professor of English. Paul Varner will also assume a position as visiting Professor of English.

Though Varner became a professor in 1987, her time at Oklahoma Christian began much earlier as a student.

“I love OC and I always will. It’s a hard move to make and it is a good opportunity for Paul and me, but my goodness we’ll miss this place. It’s been an incredible blessing,” Varner said.

By Jill Newell
Staff Writer for The Talon

Oklahoma Christian University’s next vice president of academic affairs will have big shoes to fill. Current vice president, Jeanine Varner, and her husband, English professor Paul Varner, have accepted positions at Abilene Christian University in Texas. 

Abilene Christian selected Jeanine Varner as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a tenured professor of English. Paul Varner will also assume a position as visiting Professor of English.

Though Varner became a professor in 1987, her time at Oklahoma Christian began much earlier as a student.

“I love OC and I always will. It’s a hard move to make and it is a good opportunity for Paul and me, but my goodness we’ll miss this place. It’s been an incredible blessing,” Varner said.

During the 1996-1997 academic year her role changed again as Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Varner has created many memories and friends during her time with the university, including several with the students. She says she feels privileged to have known and loved so many. 

“I’ve gotten to celebrate, have fun, teach and study with students that are delightful people to have stayed in touch with for a long time,” Varner said.

In addition to relationships with students, Varner maintains relationships with faculty as well.

“I’ve treasured getting to work alongside wonderful faculty who are dear friends, my best friends. That has been a huge source of personal as well as professional satisfaction. There are just so many wonderful people that I have gotten to work alongside,” Varner said.

Though the position of VPAA has posed challenges, Varner holds onto lighter memories as well.

“When you’re working [as] hard as we do in our administrative world, it’s really important and fun to be able to laugh yourself silly every now and then, and we do,” Varner said.

Some of those “silly” times even came from fellow administration.

“I suspect there I can’t imagine having a Neil Arter who comes up here and bangs on my window at night to scare me. He got to where he would bring students with him to watch, and he could walk through the ivy without making any noise so it would totally catch me off guard,” she said, with a laugh. “Those kinds of shared experiences develop over a long period of time, and that will just take time.”

The recently finalized decision to move to Abilene brings mixed emotions.

“I’m really excited about it, but it’s heart-wrenching,” Varner said.

Though the Varners have a few connections at Abilene Christian, the transition will still be difficult. Varner, however, said she felt at home when she visited the campus for her interview.

Abilene Christian is undoubtedly fortunate to be gaining such an accomplished individual, as her 20 years of service her attest. Varner is proud to have had the chance to work alongside faculty and help them develop and utilize their talents, which she considers the central part of her work.

“That has been a huge privilege and responsibility. I know that I’ve had the chance to watch people develop professionally and personally, and that’s wonderful. It may be the same kinds of thing, in some ways, as watching students develop, although you don’t typically have students for 20 years. We try to avoid that,” Varner said.

She has faced many obstacles in her 20 years of service to the university but has managed to overcome and learn from them.

“I always try to make the most of every hour and every dollar. There are frustrations, but I do believe we have become a stronger university,” Varner said.

She has faced dozens of ideas each year that are great opportunities but lacked time and funding to accomplish them all. The challenges kept her occupied throughout her time at the university.

“I’ve never ever [for] one single minute been bored. Honestly, until you think about that in a career of 20 years, I think that says a lot about the university. There’s just so much to do. The work is work that matters, and that is an amazing blessing. It really is; I love it,” Varner said.

Although Abilene Christian is a sister school to Oklahoma Christian and the missions of the two institutions are similar, she realizes they have many differences from Oklahoma Christian.

“It’s a lot larger and thus, I think it may be more challenging to try to get to know students and faculty. [It] will be an adjustment to get to know people in the way that I’ve enjoyed here,” Varner said.

She says she will miss everyone and plans on returning to Oklahoma Christian often.

The Oklahoma Christian community has reaped many benefits from Varner’s time on campus and she will undoubtedly be missed.

Faculty, staff receive awards

By Kellie Olive
Staff Writer for The Talon

There are many different components that make up a successful university; a good administration, great degree programs, and a mindset focused around students needs. However, putting aside all the main factors, one thing that all great universities have in common remains, and that is a dedicated faculty and staff.

President Mike O’Neal created the Second Mile program in the fall of 2003 not only to encourage faculty and staff to do their best but to also recognize teachers that go the extra mile in working with students. After the program began, it did not take long for teachers to take the initiative in becoming an even bigger impact in their students’ academic lives.

By Kellie Olive
Staff Writer for The Talon

There are many different components that make up a successful university; a good administration, great degree programs, and a mindset focused around students needs. However, putting aside all the main factors, one thing that all great universities have in common remains, and that is a dedicated faculty and staff.

President Mike O’Neal created the Second Mile program in the fall of 2003 not only to encourage faculty and staff to do their best but to also recognize teachers that go the extra mile in working with students. After the program began, it did not take long for teachers to take the initiative in becoming an even bigger impact in their students’ academic lives.

“The award is for faculty and staff and was created to recognize the people who go far above and beyond the call of duty in service to students,” Dan Lovejoy, coordinator for the Second Mile program, said.

It is not only teachers who can be nominated to receive this award. Staff members can be nominated as well for having put forth an effort to make sure that the wants and needs of each student are met, and that the Oklahoma Christian University mission is carried out.

Winners of last year’s award, Mickey Banister and Debbie Newberry, are two people on the Oklahoma Christian campus that the students know all well. Banister, the campus Registrar, encounters almost every student comes at some point in their time at the university. It was Banister’s openness and willingness to help any student that made him a prime candidate to receive the Second Mile award last year.

“Receiving the award was a complete surprise,” Banister said. “I just feel like my job is to help individuals on this campus whenever it is within my power to do so.”

As for administrative assistant Debbie Newberry, her service to Oklahoma Christian has become a significant part of the university.

Newberry holds both the Psychology and Family Studies and the History and Political Science departments together, while displaying an attitude that is calm and collected as well as helpful at all times. It is her combination of organization and humor that made her a shining example of a Second Mile faculty member.

Almost every student at Oklahoma Christian has been greatly impacted by the effort faculty and staff put forth. It is through programs like the Second Mile that teachers are not only encouraged but recognized for their hard work and endless pursuits in helping each student achieve their dreams of success.

Important study for the churches of Christ

In a combined effort to better understand the spiritual development and lives of teenagers in churches of Christ, several Christian colleges and universities will be working together to conduct a study this upcoming summer. The study will include questions designed to elicit data from churches of Christ about:

1) The number of young people who no longer attend a congregation of the churches of Christ after graduating from high school and leaving home;
2) The divorce rate among those growing up in these congregations; and,
3) How many are now involved in church leadership or service roles.
4) How and whether attendance at Christian colleges and universities impacts those statistics. 

The study will include:

A survey of the 19,000 students attending the twelve participating schools;
A survey of the people who graduated from these schools in the past ten years;
A survey of campus ministry leaders and Christian students attending state-supported schools;
A study of over 1,000 local congregations.

The surveys of students and alumni are being conducted by the twelve participating schools while the survey of campus ministry leaders and students is being conducted by Dr. Flavil Yeakley, a Harding University Bible professor who is directing this research project.  However, the largest and most important part of this study will require the cooperation of church leaders throughout the nation. For more information about this study, click Read more… below.

Churches of Christ in the United States are often classified with evangelical churches when national statistical studies of religious groups are conducted.  Our fellowship needs valid up-to-date information from just our churches about:

1) The number of young people who no longer attend a congregation of the Churches of Christ after they graduate from high school and leave home;
2) The divorce rate among those growing up in these congregations; and,
3) How many now have any kind of church leadership or service roles.
4) How and whether attendance at Christian colleges and universities impacts those statistics. 

Several Christian colleges and universities are cooperating in a groundbreaking research project to better understand the spiritual development and direction of our teenagers lives. This study includes:

A survey for the 19,000 students attending the twelve participating schools;
A survey of the people who graduated from these schools in the past ten years;
A survey of campus ministry leaders and Christian students attending state-supported schools;
A study of over 1,000 local congregations.

The surveys of students and alumni are being conducted by the twelve participating schools.  The survey of campus ministry leaders and students is being conducted by Dr. Flavil Yeakley, a Harding University Bible professor who is directing this research project.  However, the largest and most important part of this study will require the cooperation of church leaders throughout the nation.

In early June, congregations throughout the nation will receive surveys requesting information about the congregation’s high school graduates over the past ten years.  They will be asked to list these young people - but only for purposes of calculating totals.  The names of these young people will not be reported - just the totals in response to four questions:

What did these young people do about continuing their education beyond high school?
What is the present religious affiliation of these young people?
What is the present marital status of these young people?
How many of these individuals presently have any church leadership or service roles?

We want church leaders to know that this is a legitimate study that can provide valuable information and we encourage congregations to cooperate in this study.

The Christian colleges and universities participating in this study include:  Abilene Christian University, Cascade College, Faulkner University, Freed-Hardeman University, Harding University, Heritage Christian University, Lipscomb University, Lubbock Christian University, Magnolia Bible College, Oklahoma Christian University, Southwestern Christian College, and York College. 

There is a second phase of this study directed by Dr. Tom Milholland at Abilene Christian University.  He will be using data from a nation-wide survey of college students developed by UCLA.  This survey compares attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors of entering freshmen and graduating seniors in order to study the influence of the college experience.  Dr. Milholland will focus on a comparison of young people at Christian colleges and universities with students at state-supported schools who identify “Churches of Christ” as their religious affiliation.

Both parts of this study are being funded by the Christian Higher Education Foundation.

For more information, please contact Dr. Flavil Yeakley at Harding University, or Dr. Mike E. O’Neal, President of Oklahoma Christian University, who currently serves as President of the Foundation.

Making a difference in Rwanda

Bryan and Holly Hixson along with their daughters, Alexis, 8 and Grace, 3, will be dedicating three years to live and work in Rwanda.

The family was featured, along with OC student Alex Tulikumwenayo, in a recent news story on FOX 25.

To watch the piece, click “Read more…” below.

Bryan and Holly Hixson along with their daughters, Alexis, 8 and Grace, 3, will be dedicating three years to live and work in Rwanda.

The family was featured along with OC student Alex Tulikumwenayo in a piece on FOX 25.

Hixsons dedicated to Rwanda

OC faculty and staff family, Bryan and Holly Hixson along with their daughters, Alexis, 8 and Grace, 3, will be dedicating the next three years of their life to live and work in the country of Rwanda.

The couple will leave their jobs at OC this summer and help with the administration of ROC Foundation facilities that include a church, school, and community center. In addition to those duties, they hope to create an educational outreach center where they will offer teacher training, seminars, and workshops. The Hixsons hope to be in Rwanda by August 1. To see more about the Hixson’s work, see their web site.

The family was recently featured along with OC student Alline Kabbatende in a piece on Channel 5. To view the video, click “Read more…” below.

Bryan and Holly Hixson along with their daughters, Alexis, 8 and Grace, 3, will be dedicating three years to live and work in Rwanda.

The couple will leave their jobs at OC this summer and help with the administration of ROC Foundation facilities that include a church, school, and community center. In addition to those duties, they hope to create an educational outreach center where they will offer teacher training, seminars, and workshops. The Hixsons hope to be in Rwanda by August 1. To see more about the Hixson’s work, see their web site.

The family was featured along with OC student Alline Kabbatende in a piece on Channel 5.

Oklahoma Community Orchestra to perform at OC tomorrow night

The Oklahoma Christian University Department of Music invites you to attend a performance by the Oklahoma Community Orchestra on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m.

This concert will be presented in Oklahoma Christian’s Judd Theatre (to see a campus map, click here).

This final concert of the Oklahoma Community Orchestra season, under the direction of Dr. John Fletcher, will feature Wagner’s “Rienzi” Overture, Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town,” a medley of selections from John Williams’ film music, and will also include winners of Oklahoma Community Orchestra’s second annual Young Artist Competition. First-place competition winner Angelika Machnik will perform the first movement from Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in b minor, and runner-up Anna Starzec will perform the first movement from Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G.

For more information, please call the OC Music Department at 425-5530, or visit the Oklahoma Community Orchestra website at www.okorchestra.org.

Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Children under age 13 will be admitted free of charge. Tickets are available at the door. OC students, faculty, and staff are admitted free of charge with their OC ID.

The Oklahoma Community Orchestra is the “orchestra-in-residence” at Oklahoma Christian University. Several OC students, alumni, and faculty perform in the orchestra. Support for this performance has been provided, in part, by the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This week in the Talon - 03/02/07

A standing feature in AlumNews, “This Week in the Talon” features a select group of stories from OC’s student newspaper. Whether it’s been five or fifty years since the last time you picked up a paper copy of OC’s student newspaper, we hope you’ll enjoy this small glimpse of what’s going on at OC through the eyes of our current students.

To read any of the articles listed below, simply click on the title of the article that you want to view.

Ibaraki students visit campus
Grading system proposed
Survey results reveal plagiarism on campus
Lewis, Plato and Freud
Fitness center receives new equipment
Shakespeare festival nears
Career fairs provide students with more job security after graduation
International student numbers grow at OC
Alpha Chi convention unites students
Camp counselors recruited for summer
Delta Gamma Sigma climbs to first place in standings

This week in the Talon - 2/16/07

A standing feature in AlumNews, “This Week in the Talon” features a select group of stories from OC’s student newspaper. Whether it’s been five or fifty years since the last time you picked up a paper copy of OC’s student newspaper, we hope you’ll enjoy this small glimpse of what’s going on at OC through the eyes of our current students.

To read any of the articles listed below, simply click on the title of the article that you want to view.

Substance abuse class available on campus
Senior projects to end college experience
Invisible children campaign visits
Spring break offers mission trip options
Embracing expression
The Snapshot
Give me my diploma, please
Students serve at Capitol Hill
OC student leads Honduras VBS
Mark Thompson joins OC faculty
Delta hosts basketball charity event
Students serve on Philippines mission
Opportunities emerge with Let’s Start Talking
Eagles defeat John Brown 70-64 in last home game
School prepares to break ground for baseball
Lady Eagles stay focused on first place with comeback win
Eagles suffer sixth loss at home to Southern Nazarene University
Track teams win five events
Lady Eagles defeat John Brown 66-45 on senior night

Condolences to the Karl King family

Oklahoma Christian University extends our deepest sympathy to the family of Karl King (‘78) who passed away after suffering a heart attack on Thursday, February 8, 2007. Karl is survived by his wife Darla (‘77), two daughters Kari (01) and husband Ira Lockwood (‘03) and Kaci and husband Mikel Hoppman. Also, one grandson, Zaden Kael Lockwood. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on February 17, 2007 at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, OK.

3 things alumni can do for OC in February

If you’re interested in helping OC’s Nursing or Engineering Program, click “Read more…” below. The Nursing Program is looking for experienced nurses that might be interested in adjunct teaching at OC, and the Engineering Program is looking for alumni across the country to help them by conducting a simple market research survey with high school students.

Help the Nursing Program by Identifying New Nursing Faculty

Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics cite more than one million vacant registered nurses positions by the year 2010. The cause of these vacancies is due to the high demand for nursing care and the loss of the current nursing force due to retirement. Further compounding the overall nursing shortage is the increasing deficit of qualified nursing faculty. A recent study conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing cited an insufficient number of faculty members as one cause of turning away qualified applicants.

Please be on the look out for those current nurses who express an interest in teaching. Most nurses start their teaching career in an adjunct clinical role which entails supervising a group of students in the clinical area.  Teaching in an adjunct clinical setting is a wonderful way to “try-out” teaching before committing to graduate school and completing the required education - masters in nursing. If you know experienced nurses that might be interested in teaching opportunities at OC, have them fax their resume’ to the OC nursing department 405-425-1925. For questions or more information, call 405-425-1920.

Help the School of Engineering by Conducting Market Research

The School of Engineering is currently working to develop a targeted marketing campaign that will increase the number of students who consider OC’s engineering program. One of the key steps in this campaign is understanding how prospective students perceive OC’s engineering programs so that the University can more effectively promote those areas that are strengths of the program but that are either not known to potential students or are perceived as weaknesses. To accomplish this goal, the School of Engineering is seeking alumni at churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Oregon, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico who would be willing to work with their local youth minister or youth group leaders to conduct a short written survey. This easy, but very important, task will greatly enhance the University’s ability to recruit future engineering students.

The School of Engineering will provide the materials for the survey and alumni will be responsible for working their local youth group leadership to get 5-10 minutes at the end of a class period to conduct the survey. If you would like to help the University better understand how students in different geographies perceive OC’s engineering program, please contact OC Engineering Professor Pat Smith at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details. Please respond by February 16, 2007.

Help the Library by Shopping at the Annual Library Book Sale

Each year, the library has a book sale to raise money for new books and other expansions. Weather permitting, this year’s sale will be held from Saturday, February 3 through Wednesday, February 7, 2006, in the library lobby. All hardback books are $2 and paperback books are $1 with all proceeds going to benefit the Tom and Ada Beam Library. If you love to read or if you simply cherish the fond memories you have of time spent in the library when you were a student and want to give something back, this sale is for you.

Mourning Adam Langford

Our hearts are breaking at news we received Wednesday morning. The following is a message from the Jinja, Uganda missions team regarding the tragic loss of missionary and OC alumnus Adam Langford and his Ugandan co-worker Moses Kimeze.  During his time at OC, Adam was popular and well-loved by students and faculty alike. Adam was the brother of OC alumni Ben and Jon Langford. He will be deeply missed. The Langford family has asked us to set up an online condolence book for those who wish to leave a note of comfort.  You may leave condolences in the “Comments” section below.

On January 16th our team experienced a tragic loss when Adam Langford and Moses Kimeze, one of our primary leaders, died as a result of a vehicle accident.  They and their driver were hauling coffee beans from Mt. Elgon for the redemptive business at the Source Cafe, when the tire blew and the vehicle lost control before going down a 75 foot cliff.  All three were immediately found in the truck; Adam died instantly in the crash while Moses and the driver were knocked unconscious.  Moses died a few hours later in a nearby hospital while the driver seems to have survived.

We covet and seek your prayers in this overwhelming loss.  Pray that God’s presence will be among Adam’s family, friends, and team in their grief and as they travel to be together.  Pray that God’s presence and provision will be with Moses’ family and the many people his life touched, but especially his wife Irene and three children - Rachel, Tyler, and Zach.  Pray that God will be present among all of the churches in America and Busoga who are mourning the loss of Adam and Moses, two faithful servants of Jesus Christ.  Share God’s presence with each other.

Moses will be buried at his home on January 18th.  Adam’s funeral is being arranged for the following week at his home church, Memorial Church of Christ in Edmond , OK . 

Click here to view the KSBI news story on Adam and his mission.

Alumni band releases “Hall of Giants” CD

The Matt Stansberry Band (MSB) comprised of OC alumni: guitarist Matt Stansberry, bassist Denver Greene, and drummer Ben Tinius will be releasing their “Hall of Giants” CD on February 10th at a CD release party in downtown Oklahoma City.

The “Hall of Giants” CD release party will be a highlight for Oklahoma’s music scene in 2007.  Hall of Giants, the follow-up release to the acclaimed The World Goes Up, is made up of six original and diverse tracks.

Beginning on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University, then as a local band that has circled around the OKC scene, MSB has grabbed attention not just in Oklahoma, but in other states and cities including: St. Louis, Ft. Worth, Austin, Abilene, Dallas, College Station, and all the way to Hollywood.

For more information about the location and time of the “Hall of Giants” CD Release Party and/or the band visit the Matt Stansberry Band’s website at www.mattstansberryband.com.

Eagles scrap past OBU, 71-67

Oklahoma Christian University’s men’s basketball team knocked off No. 17 Oklahoma Baptist University 71-67 here Thursday night (Jan. 11) to improve to 2-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play and 8-5 overall.

OC senior Charles Baldwin’s three-pointer just 56 seconds into the contest foreshadowed things to come. Baldwin finished the half with 20 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc and 8-of-12 shooting overall.

Oklahoma Christian University’s men’s basketball team knocked off No. 17 Oklahoma Baptist University 71-67 here Thursday night (Jan. 11) to improve to 2-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play and 8-5 overall.

OC senior Charles Baldwin’s three-pointer just 56 seconds into the contest foreshadowed things to come. Baldwin finished the half with 20 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc and 8-of-12 shooting overall.

OC and OBU fought through three ties and three lead changes in the opening stanza. OC took its largest lead of the half when Baldwin connected on a three at the 3:13 mark, putting the Eagles ahead 32-25. OC led 36-32 at intermission.

In the second half, Mike Fraser’s dunk put OBU back on top 42-41 with 15:49 left. But OC responded when freshman Jason Taylor cleaned up his own miss at the 14:24 mark to put the Eagles ahead 44-43.

OC extended its lead to the largest of the game when Tanner Hazelbacker buried a three pointer from the top of the key at the 9:32 mark to make the score 53-45.

OBU clawed back within two at 57-55 off Julius Hurd’s basket with 3:38 left. But Eagle senior Keith Harris answered with two three-pointers in a one-minute span to keep the Bison at bay.

OC converted 6-of-8 free throws in the game’s closing minute to secure the 71-67 victory.

Baldwin finished with a game-high 24 points while Harris added 19, including 6-of-6 shooting from the foul stripe.

Taylor posted the first double-double of his collegiate career with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Fraser, the SAC’s leading rebounder, led the Bison with 18 points and 19 rebounds. OBU fell to 8-5 overall and 1-2 in SAC play.

The Eagles’ and Lady Eagles’ doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13 at Northwestern Oklahoma State has been postponed due to the ice storm that hit the state on Friday. The games have been rescheduled to Monday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Unless the weather causes further postponements, OC’s next games will be at USAO in Chickasha on Thursday, Jan. 18. The women’s game will tip at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 8 p.m.

Click here to hear a postgame interview with Coach Dan Hays.

The Kim Gaither Memorial Endowment

Dr. Kim Gaither’s legacy lives on at OC through the students she taught, her son who attends here, and the memories of colleagues who cherished her servant heart, wit, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Kim left a legacy of Christian fatih, leadership, and service to OC. Her friends and family have chosen to honor her legacy by establishing a permanent fund to support science education at Oklahoma Christian.

Now you can be part of Kim’s legacy. Click the links below to read about Kim, her fund, or to give a secure online gift now (gifts can be one-time or monthly).

About Kim
About the Kim Gaither Fund
Give to the Kim Gaither Memorial Endowment

Texas Finals Feast

OC students from Texas were treated to a night of great fun this past Sunday night as they gathered on the second floor of the Mabee Learning Center for Texas Finals Feast. For the past four years, the Alumni Office has been throwing this party the Sunday night before finals begins to give students a chance to relax, hang out together, and enjoy some great food. The event, which is free to students, is paid for each year by gifts from OC’s North Texas Alumni Chapter

From 8 to 10 p.m. students enjoyed a traditional Texas spread of chicken wings, quesadillas, chips and queso, cookies, punch, and hot apple cider. While they were eating, students were serenaded by the sweet sounds of “The Yellow Rose of Texas” and several holiday classic hits.

In addition to providing food for the event, the North Texas Alumni Chapter also provided giveaways in the form of several $15 gift certificates to Starbucks, Sonic, AMC Theaters, and Chili’s. While everyone was excited by all the giveaways, Christmas came early to six lucky students who received $30 gift cards to Texas Roadhouse Grill, Olive Garden, and Red Lobster.

The Alumni Office would like to extend a very special thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a great success!

If you’d like more information about how you can host a Finals Feast party (or an event like it) for OC students from your home state, please contact the Alumni Office at 405.425.5110 or via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Click here to view more pictures from the party.

Three things alumni can do for OC

1. Nominate Prospective Students for OC’s Christian Leadership Scholarship (CLS)

Alumni are invited to nominate students who are considering being a part of Oklahoma Christian University’s freshman class in the fall of 2007.  The Christian Leadership Scholarship is for first-time college students (likely current high school seniors) who demonstrate leadership abilities, service to church, school and community, and involvement in preparation for church service within the churches of Christ.  The scholarship award equals $1,000 per year.

Upon a student’s nomination, OC will contact the student with an invitation to apply for the award.  The student will be asked to submit letters of recommendation and an essay describing his or her leadership and service abilities and how he or she will utilize those qualities at Oklahoma Christian.

The deadline to nominate a prospective student for the CLS award is January 15, 2007.  The student will have one month (February 15) to submit the required documents.  Ten students will be selected as Oklahoma Christian University’s 2007 Christian Leadership Scholars. 

Oklahoma Christian University will keep the name(s) of those providing nominations private.
Nominate students online at www.oc.edu/cls.  Please submit one form for each student you recommend.

2. Hire OC Graduates

When an Oklahoma Christian University graduate applies to your organization, you will notice a strong candidate with an excellent academic base, tied with a solid ethical background. If you are seeking those qualities in your employees, then look no further. OC has over 2000 students with more than 70 majors to choose from.

Not in a position to hire? You can help by posting your organizations current openings on our website, recommend recruiting at OC, mentor a student or start an internship program at your office. You can also recommend someone by offering a letter or reference and making sure to spread the word throughout your organization. 

The OC Career Services Department has several different methods for recruiting and you don’t have to be in Human Resources to take part in it.  We offer On-Campus Interview Days, Lunch-N-Learns, an Online Job Database, Informational Booths, Career Fairs, Informational Sessions, Mock Interviews, On-Campus Advertising and much more!

If you are interested in learning more about recruiting OC students and graduates, please contact Sara Barnett, Director of Career Services at 405.425.5960 or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

3. Nominate Alumni for the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award

Oklahoma Christian University is accepting nominations for its 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award to be awarded at the annual Alumni Association banquet on November 9, 2007.

Nominees should be graduates or former students of Oklahoma Christian who have made outstanding achievements in their profession or who have made significant contributions to the church, the community, or to Oklahoma Christian University.

If you know someone who is worthy of this honor, please contact Michael Mitchell in the Office for Alumni Relations at 405.425.5110 or via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

New Music and Movie Download Service

Current OC students can now get free, legal music downloads from www.ruckus.com

Oklahoma Christian University, in partnership with OneNet and the Oklahoma State Board of Regents, has established an agreement with Ruckus, Inc. (www.ruckus.com) to provide a free LEGAL music downloading service to all Oklahoma Christian University students. The Ruckus music library contains over 1.5 million tracks of music!

The free basic service allows students to download music for personal use on a Windows computer.  For a fee, Ruckus also offers the ability to burn to CD or transfer to mp3 player, access to hundreds of movie titles, and access to many current and classic television series.

Faculty, Staff and Alumni can also have access to an account, for music downloads only, at a discounted rate of $8.99/month.

This Week in the Talon

A standing feature in AlumNews, “This Week in the Talon” features a select group of stories from OC’s student newspaper. Whether it’s been five or fifty years since the last time you picked up a paper copy of OC’s student newspaper, we hope you’ll enjoy this small glimpse of what’s going on at OC through the eyes of our current students.

To read any of the articles listed below, simply click on the title of the article that you want to view.

Former student joins theater faculty
100 years of division: Restoration heirs seek to restore cooperation among members
Coryell serves as County Administrator
OC student balances school, business
OC plans for further library improvements
OC alumna has mission
Students spread cheer
Fariss breaks school record

Sunday Night Live Area-Wide Worship

The Alumni Office invites all alumni in southwest Oklahoma to join us for the Sunday Night Live area-wide worship service on Sunday, December 3 at the Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha followed by a trip to the Festival of Lights for hot chocolate and caroling.

The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with an informal time of congregational singing and fellowship, worship at 4:30, and a FREE pizza dinner immediately following worship.

After dinner, everyone is invited to the Festival of Lights Park to view the lights and sing Christmas carols. FREE hot chocolate will be provided by the Southern Oaks Church of Christ.

Alumni Dine with Lady Eagles Soccer Team

The Lady Eagles Soccer team enjoyed a meal with alumni and friends at the Corporate Cafe Coffee House and Restaurant following their loss to Concordia at the NAIA National Tournament in Olathe, Kansas. Over 60 people showed up for the event, which was sponsored by OC’s Kansas City Alumni Chapter.

The Lady Eagles ended their season with a 17-2-2 record, the best in program history. It was OC’s third national tournament appearance in five years.

Alumnus mentioned in Sports Illustrated

On Monday, November 13, the Ad-In, Ad-Out section of Sports Illustrated Magazine mentioned OC alumnus, Chris Young (‘00), who was recently honored as the national winner of the United States Tennis Association and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Community Service Award:

The USTA/ITA Community Service Award honors an ITA coach for significant contributions in developing community-based tennis programs through community centers, schools, parks, community tennis associations, inner city, suburban or rural programs. The USTA/ITA Campus Recreation Award honors an ITA coach who has done an outstanding job implementing recreational tennis programs on campus in an effort to grow tennis participation.

On Monday, November 13, the Ad-In, Ad-Out section of Sports Illustrated Magazine mentioned OC alumnus, Chris Young (‘00), who was recently honored as the national winner of the United States Tennis Association and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Community Service Award:

The USTA/ITA Community Service Award honors an ITA coach for significant contributions in developing community-based tennis programs through community centers, schools, parks, community tennis associations, inner city, suburban or rural programs. The USTA/ITA Campus Recreation Award honors an ITA coach who has done an outstanding job implementing recreational tennis programs on campus in an effort to grow tennis participation.

This year’s national winners were selected from a group of USTA Sectional winners determined this fall. This awards program, which began in 2003, was open to over 2,000 ITA head and assistant coaches at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College levels.

Young, who is also the award winner for the USTA/Missouri Valley Section, is in his third season as Director of Tennis for the men’s and women’s programs at WSU. He has spent countless hours working to promote tennis in the Wichita area with fresh, new programs and events throughout the entire year. Just a few of the numerous programs he has been a part of include: tennis carnivals, fundraising and promotion for wheelchair tennis, a successful pro-am with his WSU programs at a local club, use of ball kids at home matches, clinics and speaking engagements with local high school coaches and hosting several city and high school tournaments at the WSU tennis complex.

Read more…

Book drive to benefit Western Village Academy

The Oklahoma Christian University library staff is heading up the first annual “Share the World of Possibilities - Give a Book,” campaign to benefit students of Western Village Academy beginning Monday, Nov 27. To find out more about the campaign and how you can help, click on the link below.

The Oklahoma Christian University library staff is heading up the first annual “Share the World of Possibilities – Give a Book,” campaign beginning Monday, Nov 27.

The drive will benefit Western Village Academy in Oklahoma City.

A Christmas tree located in the OC library lobby will have gift tag ornaments with the names of books that can be purchased for the campaign. Individuals and groups can select one or more books from the tree to purchase.

“Reading is a wonderful way for children to be exposed to a world of possibilities,” OC library director Tami Willis said.

The project continues a relationship between Western Village and OC that goes back more than eight years. Currently the Western Village mentoring program brings OC students to the Western Village campus to mentor children one day a week.

The drive will run until Dec 18, and all books must be paid for at the time of selection.

For more information about the book drive or to purchase a book contact Tami Willis at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit the OC library.

OC This Week 10: Greg Gillham

Dan Lovejoy interviews Greg Gillham, international Programs Admissions Counselor.

Dan Lovejoy interviews Greg Gillham, international Programs Admissions Counselor.

Show Notes:
Greg’s trip to China, Korea, and Japan
About Greg
Advantages OC offers to international students
Reaching international people in our communities
What is culture stress/culture shock and how can we help people who are experiencing it?
Greg’s perspective on what makes OC special
Visiting South Korea during the North Korea crisis
Greg’s visit to Japan. The Mito “Eagle Bash” and observations about Japan.
Greg’s feelings about working at OC
Closing

“Mystery” by Oklahoma-based band “Waiting on One” from the Podsafe Music Network.
International Admissions at Oklahoma Christian

iTunes

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3 things alumni can do for OC this holiday season

1. Shop UShopOC.com for Christmas Presents

The Holidays are upon us and while students are preparing for finals, you can support OC by visiting our newly launched online spirit store, UShopOC.com. You’ll find high quality OC hats, Nike Dri-Fit polo shirts, onesie’s for infants (sorry… no adult sizes yet), OC Fossil Watches, and much more.

There’s something for everyone and we invite you to do your Christmas shopping for all of the Eagle fans in your life online at UShopOC.com.  When you purchase something from UShopOC.com, you’ll be giving a great gift and supporting the University with the proceeds.

2. Become an OC Associate and Give the Gift of Scholarships

While you’re thinking about Christmas, why not think about giving the gift of scholarships to current OC students? If you’re interested in helping fund OC scholarships, the perfect way to do that is by becoming an OC Associate. For a one time gift of $1000 ($600 for graduates of the last seven years) to OC’s general scholarship fund, you can become an OC Associate and help our students have a more affordable Christian education.

To show our appreciation for your gift, all OC Associates receive two complimentary tickets to the Associates Banquet on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This gala event is a special night of entertainment and high-class fun for all the OC Associates from around the country.

This year’s key note speaker at the Associates Banquet is Ken Blanchard, motivational speaker and bestselling author of The One Minute Manager, Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time, and Who Moved My Cheese.

For more information about the OC Associates program and how you can give the gift of scholarships to OC students this holiday season, contact the Advancement Office at 405.425.5094 or via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

3. Refer New Students

Each year the OC admissions office sends out recruiters to churches and schools across the United States and beyond in search of the best and brightest high school students. While sixteen admissions counselors working fifty-two weeks a year cover several thousand miles recruiting hundreds of talented new students to OC, they can’t be everywhere and meet everyone. That’s why alumni involvement in new student recruiting is so important.

If you know high school students that OC’s admissions counselors should be talking to, fill out our prospective student referral form and let us know. After you’ve referred a prospective student, the admissions office will send them the information they need to learn more about what makes Oklahoma Christian such a special place to pursue their undergraduate education!

Deciding where to go to college is one of the most important decisions young people make, and we’d hate for them to make that decision without considering all that an OC education has to offer. Click here to refer new students to Oklahoma Christian University.

OC This Week 9: John Fletcher in Vienna

Dan Lovejoy interviews Dr. John Fletcher, who, along with his wife Cynthia, is sponsoring the Vienna Studies program this semester. Also sound-seeing tours from Croatia and St. Michael’s church in Vienna.

Dan Lovejoy interviews Dr. John Fletcher, who, along with his wife Cynthia, is sponsoring the Vienna Studies program this semester. Also sound-seeing tours from Croatia and St. Michael’s church in Vienna.

Links:
OC’s Vienna Studies Blog for Fall 2006
Photos from the Fall ‘06 Vienna Studies Students
The Fletcher family at a soccer game

iTunes

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“Operation Lift” Fundraising Kickoff

The Oklahoma Christian University administration and the Student Government Association (SGA) are working toward the goal of installing an elevator to provide easy access from the first floor to the second floor of the Davisson American Heritage (DAH) Building for our students and faculty with disabilities.  SGA kicked off their fundraising for this worthy cause during Homecoming 2006.

The Oklahoma Christian University administration and the Student Government Association (SGA) are working toward the goal of installing an elevator to provide easy access from the first floor to the second floor of the Davisson American Heritage (DAH) Building for our students and faculty with disabilities.  SGA kicked off their fundraising for this worthy cause during Homecoming 2006, “Homecoming on the Range.”

SGA plans to get the entire student body involved in giving during the “Random Acts of Kindness” week they are promoting on November 14—17 and would love to have alumni support during that time.  To support this cause, send a donation noting “Operation Lift” to the following address:

ATTN: Student Government Association
Oklahoma Christian University
PO Box 11000
Oklahoma City, OK 73136

The proposed elevator is estimated to cost $30,000.  Another device to provide wheelchair access down the steps in the DAH auditorium will cost $20,000. 

For any questions, contact Meredith Wright at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

Acappella video features alumni

The singing group Acappella, whose members include OC alumni Allen Brantley and Zac George, has released a new video that is available online.

Including Allen and Zac, 12 OC/Cascade College students have been a part of Acappella Ministries either before or after their time at Oklahoma Christian. The others are Rodney Britt, Will Coleson, Michael Forehand, Steve Maxwell, Wes McKinzie, Robert Orr, Max Plaster, Chet Sweet, Denise Sweet and Bret Testerman.  Click “Read More” to see the video.

The singing group Acappella, whose members include OC alumni Allen Brantley and Zac George, has released a new video that is available online. Click “play” below to see it.

Including Allen and Zac, 12 OC/Cascade College students have been a part of Acappella Ministries either before or after their time at Oklahoma Christian. The others are Rodney Britt, Will Coleson, Michael Forehand, Steve Maxwell, Wes McKinzie, Robert Orr, Max Plaster, Chet Sweet, Denise Sweet and Bret Testerman.

Trick-or-Treat Night at OC

Faculty, staff, and alumni children definitely found more treats than tricks as they roamed the hallways of OC’s five women’s residence halls on Thursday, October 26 for the OC Trick-or-Treat night.

The annual event is sponsored by the OC Office of Residence Life and provides a fun, safe, and candy-laden environment for the children of OC’s faculty and staff, while also giving local alumni a chance to reconnect with the campus.

Click here to view more pictures of the event.

OC grad named head coach at Tennessee

On Tuesday, October 24, Tennessee’s Knoxville News Sentinel ran a story about former OC tennis player and alumnus, Sam Winterbotham (‘99), who has recently been hired as the men’s tennis coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers:

Tennessee men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton announced Tuesday that former University of Colorado head coach Sam Winterbotham (pronounced Winterbottom) has been hired as the Volunteers head men’s tennis coach.

“We are excited about Sam joining our staff as our new head men’s tennis coach,” Hamilton said. “His success at Baylor and Colorado provide a great foundation for his work at the University of Tennessee. In particular at Colorado, he resurrected a program and improved the team’s performance in every facet on and off the court.”

Winterbotham played collegiately at Oklahoma Christian University from 1995-98. He was the 1996 Rolex NAIA National Singles Champion and was ranked nationally as high as No. 1 in singles and No. 4 in doubles. Winterbotham graduated in 1999 with a degree in Marketing.

Read more…

Baseball alumnus makes local paper

The sports section of the Monday, October 16 issue of the Sterling, Colorado Journal Advocate profiled an OC graduate, Ronnie Deck (‘98), who has recently been hired as the assistant baseball coach and sports information coordinator at Northeastern Junion College in Steriling, CO. Also mentioned in the article is Bryan Shepherd (‘99), who is the head baseball coach at Northeastern:

When Northeastern Junior College set out on a mission to find an assistant baseball coach who would also be able to oversee sports information for the college’s athletic program, more than one person was a bit skeptical about the possibilities. After all, combining these two levels of expertise - communication and coaching - is a pretty big order for a small employment market like Sterling. But lo and behold, a great candidate stepped up to the plate.  Ronnie Deck is now on deck. Hired in late August, he fills the role of coordinator of sports information for the Plainsmen and Plainswomen athletic programs and is also an assistant men’s baseball coach to Bryan Shepherd.

Although only a few decades old, this Lawton, Oklahoma native has arrived in Sterling following seven years of professional baseball in the minor leagues preceded by an impressive collegiate playing career that resulted in a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. It doesn’t matter if he is pressing a ballpoint pen to the paper making notes for his next sports story, or evaluating what talent is left in the bullpen, he is passionate about both.

“I came here to help Shep win a championship,” Deck says with a candid honesty about him. “I’ve had so much respect for that guy since I met him at OC that I couldn’t turn down the chance to work for him. If he were coaching in Siberia and had an assistant’s job for me, chances are I would be there.”

Read more…

Three things alumni can do for OC this month

While there are several ways you can support your alma mater, there are three ways that the Alumni Office would like to highlight in this issue of AlumNews.

The first way you can support OC is by helping us recruit prospective students. Each year the OC admissions office sends out recruiters to churches and schools across the United States and beyond in search of the best and brightest high school students.

While sixteen admissions counselors working fifty-two weeks a year cover several thousand miles recruiting hundreds of talented new students to OC, they can’t be everywhere and meet everyone. That’s why alumni involvement in new student recruiting is so important.

1. Refer New Students

Each year the OC admissions office sends out recruiters to churches and schools across the United States and beyond in search of the best and brightest high school students. While sixteen admissions counselors working fifty-two weeks a year cover several thousand miles recruiting hundreds of talented new students to OC, they can’t be everywhere and meet everyone. That’s why alumni involvement in new student recruiting is so important.

If you know high school students that OC’s admissions counselors should be talking to, fill out our prospective student referral form and let us know. After you’ve referred a prospective student, the admissions office will send them the information they need to learn more about what makes Oklahoma Christian such a special place to pursue their undergraduate education!

Deciding where to go to college is one of the most important decisions young people make, and we’d hate for them to make that decision without considering all that an OC education has to offer. Click here to refer new students to Oklahoma Christian University.

2. Give to the Annual Fund

While you may have received a call this month from a current OC student asking you to give money to OC’s annual fund, you might not know exactly what the annual fund is. Simply stated, money pledged to the annual fund is used to help fund general scholarships for current OC students.

While the financial impact of the annual fund is meaningful because it helps reduce the price that our students pay for an OC education, the biggest impact of the annual fund is the way it affects OC’s alumni giving percentage. As you know, U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review annually tout Oklahoma Christian as one of the top universities in our region. Besides the quality of OC’s academic programs and campus life, another factor in those rankings is the percentage of alumni that give to their alma mater.

The great thing about alumni giving percentage as an indicator of quality is that the size of the gift is not nearly as important as the message it sends to the world. By making a gift of any size to OC’s annual fund, you increase OC’s alumni giving percentage and tell the world that you support OC’s mission to transform lives for Christian faith, leadership and service. By helping increase OC’s alumni giving percentage, you help increase OC’s standings in our national rankings and add value to your degree. While you know that your OC education was first class, think how much more valuable your degree would be if OC was the top ranked university in its category!

3. Come to Homecoming

Oklahoma Christian’s homecoming celebration is a great time for alumni to reconnect with each other and the university. The Alumni Office has planned an exciting weekend of fun family-friendly activities for you and your family. Join us this year at the Alumni Banquet on Friday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. as we honor Frank Davis as our Distinguished Alumnus and Dr. Jim Wilson as our Distinguished Honorary Alumnus. For more information on all that’s been planned for homecoming weekend, click here.

OC This Week 8: Dr. Robert Pinsky

This week we’re cross-posting OC This Week with The OC Distinguished Speakers’ Series podcast. Featured in this podcast, Dr. Robert Pinsky, three-time Poet Laureate of the United States, delivering the Annual McBride Lecture for Faith and Literature.

This week we’re cross-posting OC This Week with The OC Distinguished Speakers’ Series podcast. Featured in this podcast, Dr. Robert Pinsky, three-time Poet Laureate of the United States, delivering the Annual McBride Lecture for Faith and Literature.

If you have suggestions for OC This Week, call Dan at 800.877.5010, or email Dan at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Next week we hope to have a sound-seeing tour from Vienna.

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OC alumnus honored by Purdue University

Oklahoma Christian University Alumnus and Trustee, Richard Lawson (‘66) and his wife, Pat (‘67), were recently honored by Purdue University at the dedication of the new Lawson Computer Science Building located on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana:

Richard Lawson, a software industry executive who received his master’s degree in computer science from Purdue in 1968, and his wife, Pat, gave $4.7 million, the largest single private contribution to the $20 million building.

“This facility offers a superior environment to prepare students to lead the field,” Richard Lawson said. “Graduates will go on to be faculty and researchers at internationally recognized organizations, as well as leaders and innovators in industry and government. Computer science is an important component of all disciplines, and embedding it into the larger Purdue environment is extremely valuable. The benefits will not be confined to computer science, but will extend beyond into all fields of study.”

Read more…

In 2004, the Lawsons gave 4 million shares of Lawson Software stock to OC. Valued at almost $30 million, the Lawson’s gift was one of the largest single gifts ever made to Oklahoma Christian University.

This Week in the Talon

A standing feature in AlumNews, “This Week in the Talon” features a select group of stories from OC’s student newspaper. Whether it’s been five or fifty years since the last time you picked up a paper copy of OC’s student newspaper, we hope you’ll enjoy this small glimpse of what’s going on at OC through the eyes of our current students.

To read any of the articles listed below, simply click on the title of the article that you want to view.

Vocational ministry fulfilling for students with wide range of interests

Circle K raises funds for Westwood Day School

OCWA members celebrate 50 years of service

Students participate in rowing competition

Dispelling cultural myths

New Reign to open for Acappella

New document affirms graduate expectations

OC This Week 7: John Osborne

This week Dan interviews John Osborne, Director of International Programs

This week Dan interviews John Osborne, Director of International Programs.

Links:
OC’s Blogs
Yves Mujyambere’s blog
Vienna Studies Fall ’06 - http://www.oc.edu/vienna
PacRim Studies Fall ’06 - http://www.oc.edu/pacrim
International Programs at OC - http://www.oc.edu/international
International Admission

Music:
From the Podsafe Music Network @ music.podshow.com, freshsunday with their single, Hollywood.

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Trick or Treat Night in the OC Dorms

Bring your family and enjoy a safe night of trick-or-treating in the women’s residence halls on Thursday, October 26th. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. in front of Gunn-Henderson Hall and lasts until 8 p.m.

The Alumni Office will be on hand to take free portraits of you and your little ones, so be sure to wear your best costume.

Bring your family and enjoy a safe night of trick-or-treating in the women’s residence halls on Thursday, October 26th. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. in front of Gunn-Henderson Hall and lasts until 8 p.m.

The Alumni Office will be on hand to take free portraits of you and your little ones, so be sure to wear your best costume.

OC First Friday - October 13

Attention all Oklahoma Christian University alumni, friends, faculty, and staff. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the next OC First Friday at 11:30 a.m. on October 13 at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City.

Attention all Oklahoma Christian University alumni, friends, faculty, and staff. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the next OC First Friday (SECOND FRIDAY EDITION) at 11:30 a.m. on October 13 at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Petroleum Club is on the 35th floor of the Chase Building at 100 N. Broadway Ave. Parking is available inside the Santa Fe parking garage located at the corner of Robert S. Kerr and E.K. Gaylord. For a map of the area showing both the Petroleum Club and the parking garage, click here.

Mart Green, founder and CEO of Mardel Christian Stores and Every Tribe Entertainment, will be the featured speaker.

Every Tribe Entertainment (ETE), a full feature-film production company, has released two films since it’s inception in June 2002. ETE’s first release, Beyond the Gates of Splendor, told the powerful story of the tribe in Ecuador that speared five missionaries in 1956 and the hope that has followed the tragedy. The film won the Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival and Audience Favorite Documentary Award at the Palm Beach Film Festival. In January 2006, ETE also released End of the Spear, an action adventure-drama based on Beyond the Gates of Splendor.

The cost for lunch, payable at the door, is $15 and guests are welcome. Please click here to register online if you plan to attend.

If you have any questions please email or call Michael Mitchell at (405) 425-5110.

We hope to see you at the Petroleum Club for OC First Friday (Second Friday Edition) at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 13.

OC This Week 6: Dr. Mike O’Neal

Welcome to the “OC This Week” podcast, produced by the OC Marketing Office. This week’s “OC This Week” features an interview with Dr. Mike O’Neal, President of Oklahoma Christian University. Dr. O’Neal looks back at the past four years and discusses many other important topics with Dan.

This week’s “OC This Week” features an interview with Dr. Mike O’Neal, President of Oklahoma Christian University. Dr. O’Neal looks back at the past four years and discusses many other important topics with Dan.

Dr. Mike O’Neal Interview

• What has OC accomplished in the last four years?
• How do you define leadership?
• How can faculty, staff, students, and alumni help the university?
• The OC Covenant
  • How does it advance OC’s mission?

• International Programs

  • Ibaraki Christian University
  • Rwandan Presidential Scholars program

• Diversity on campus

• How has your personal faith helped you lead the university?

• The OC Graduate

• How can the university serve the church during times of disagreement?

• What is your message to parents who are considering sending the children to college in the new few years?

• If the Lord wills, what do the next four to five years hold?

• Contact

  • .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
  • 405.425.5100

• Upcoming Events

  • Fall Visit/Freshman Fanfare - Sept. 29 and 30
  • McBride Center Lecture - Oct. 5
  • Homecoming - Nov. 3 and 4

Music: Fresh Sunday - “Melody Sings.” from the Podsafe Music Network @ music.podshow.com.

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OC This Week 5: Ken Johnson and Mickey Cowan

Welcome to OC’s brand new “OC This Week” podcast, produced by the OC Marketing Office. This week’s “OC This Week” features an interview with Ken Johnson, director of graduate business studies, and Mickey Cowan, associate professor of accounting. Johnson and Cowan sit down with Dan Lovejoy to discuss OC’s MBA Program.

Welcome to the “OC This Week” podcast, produced by the OC Marketing Office. This week’s “OC This Week” features an interview with Ken Johnson, Director of Graduate Business Studies, and Mickey Cowan, Associate Professor of Accounting. Johnson and Cowan sit down with Dan Lovejoy to discuss OC’s MBA Program.

Ken Johnson and Mickey Cowan Interview

• What’s special about OC’s MBA Program?
• What accounts for the MBA growth?
• Ethics in business
• How does OC address students from different faith groups? Would people from other religious backgrounds feel comfortable in the program?
• How are employers receiving the OC MBA? Is it helping alumni find jobs and get promotions?
• OC MBA Flexibility
• Laptop policy
• Adjunct faculty
• MBA Contact Information
  • MBA Website
  • OC Website Click on Fast Track MBA
  • Quick App
  • Information sessions once a month
  • 405.425.5562

Music: Oklahoma Christian Jazz Ensemble - “Chicken” (Pastorious).

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This week in the Talon

A standing feature in AlumNews, “This Week in the Talon” features a select group of stories from OC’s student newspaper. Whether it’s been five or fifty years since the last time you picked up a paper copy of OC’s student newspaper, we hope you’ll enjoy this small glimpse of what’s going on at OC through the eyes of our current students.

To read any of the articles listed below, simply click on the title of the article that you want to view.

Interior Design Students Build Dream Home

Eagles Turn Heads After Downing Ranked Opponents

New Science Labs Constructed

Mentoring Project to Connect Generations

Nursing Program’s First Year Underway

Tau Sigma Competes

Library Renovated

Exchange With Korea Introduced

OC names Eck Planned Giving Director; Mitchell becomes Alumni Director

Stephen Eck, Director of Alumni Relations, has been named Director of Planned Giving, a new position at Oklahoma Christian University. Eck will oversee the University’s efforts to educate and assist alumni and friends in structuring financially creative tax and estate planning techniques.

Michael Mitchell, Coordinator of Alumni Relations, has assumed Eck’s current responsibilities as Director of Alumni Relations and will oversee the University’s comprehensive efforts to reach out to and connect with alumni.

Stephen Eck, director of alumni relations, has been named director of planned giving, a new position at Oklahoma Christian University. Eck will oversee the university’s efforts to educate and assist alumni and friends in structuring financially creative tax and estate planning techniques.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Stephen’s qualifications to lead this important initiative,” John deSteiguer, vice president of advancement, said. “He has done a terrific job in alumni relations and I’m confident he will bring that same strategic thinking and enthusiasm to this new position.”

“This is a great opportunity for me to do something I really love and that is working closely with our alumni and friends,” Eck said. “Financial planning can be very intimidating to anyone who does not have a financial background. I look forward to assisting our alumni and other friends in this important area.”

Eck has experience as a registered investment advisor with Goostree Financial Group of Overland Park, Kan. During that time he held Series 7 and Series 63 Securities licenses and advised clients in asset allocation, retirement planning, charitable giving techniques and tax strategies.

He graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1992 with a bachelor of arts in Bible and also holds an associate of arts degree from York College. He completed his master of business administration from MidAmerica Nazarene University in 1998 and is currently attending law school.

In 2000, Eck left Goostree Financial group and he and his family moved to Portland, Ore., where he served as director of institutional advancement for Cascade College, OC’s branch campus. They moved to Oklahoma City in 2004 when he assumed the role of director of alumni relations at Oklahoma Christian. Eck, his wife, Megan, and children, Elijah and Meredith, worship at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond.

Michael Mitchell, coordinator of alumni relations, will assume Eck’s current responsibilities. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 2004 with a bachelor of business administration and from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in higher education administration in 2006. Mitchell, who also has experience in banking and real estate, served as a residence hall director at Oklahoma Christian from 2003-2006 and was named to his most recent position with the University earlier this year. 

“Michael Mitchell brings a level of focus and educational training to the role of alumni relations that the university has never had before,” deSteiguer said. “Michael is the first person to hold this position with specific training in higher education administration. We all look forward to strengthening and growing our alumni relations efforts, and connecting in even more relevant ways to our former students under Michael’s leadership.”

“OC’s administration and board of trustees have elevated alumni relations to an institutional priority and I’m excited about the prospects of continuing to build bridges between the University and its alumni,” Mitchell said. “Over the past few years, the Alumni Office has made significant strides in reconnecting, engaging and strengthening the university’s alumni base. Our fall homecoming weekends have been revitalized and we are encouraged to see larger numbers attending all of our on- and off-campus events. The formation of the National Alumni Council, with volunteer alumni leaders from across the country, has invigorated our dialogue with our former students and now provides a vital link to the University. The Family Fun Night program, which has brought thousands of local alumni and their children back to campus the last three years, has grown into another annual tradition that our alumni eagerly anticipate. The alumni relations office has taken, and continues to take, several steps toward improving and increasing the number of communications going to and from our alumni through VISION, AlumNews, the Eagle Connection website, and many other means.

“The opportunity to lead a program that plays such a critical role in supporting OC’s mission of transforming lives for Christian faith, leadership, and service is all at once exciting and humbling for me. Our alumni are a vital part of the university’s future and without their involvement, it will be virtually impossible for us to continue to provide an affordable, top notch Christian higher education.”

OC This Week 4: Michael Mitchell

Listen to OC’s new “OC This Week” podcast, produced by the OC Marketing Office. This week’s “OC This Week” a homecoming preview with Michael Mitchell, the new director of Alumni Relations.

Welcome to the “OC This Week” podcast, produced by the OC Marketing Office. This week’s “OC This Week” features an interview with Michael Mitchell, the new Director of Alumni Relations. Mitchell gives listeners a homecoming preview.

Michael Mitchell Interview

• What was your previous role at the university?
• What are you doing in your new role?
• When is Homecoming?
  • November 3 and 4

• What’s planned?

  • Schedule of Events

• Where do you register?

  • Click here to register starting October 1

• Vision Magazine

  • Call the Alumni Office at 405.425.5110 to get your copy

• “OC This Week”

  • Dr. Robert Mitchell
  • Dr. Thomas Shaw
  • Neil Arter and Linda Fly
  • Dr. Tony Alley

• OC This Week Contact Information

  • .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
  • 405.425.5127
  • Skype: danlovejoy

Music: Oklahoma Christian Chorale - “Te Deum” (Haydn). Used with permission.

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Attention Past Band Members

The Music Department is forming an Alumni Band for the Homecoming basketball games on November 4 and all past members are invited to participate. By taking part, you’ll get to see old friends and find out whether or not you can still play your instrument. The Music Department is hoping to have a band of 100 or more, and don’t worry, there won’t be any challenges or chair tests. 

The band will be performing the “Alma Mater”, “Fight Song”, stand favorites, and some of your favorite new rap hits.  If you were ever part of the Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, or Sweat Band, you are invited.

There will be a run-through of the songs at 9:00 am on Saturday November 4 in the band room.  If you’re interested, please RSVP by contacting Pattie Groves in the music office at (405) 425-5530 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Heath Jones (405) 425-5518 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). There is a $5 cost for shirts so that everyone matches.

Alumni designs to appear on hit ABC show

OC alumni Amanda Cain, Sharon Hinds and Katie Isenberg will see their design skills put to work when the new season of ABC’s hit reality show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, premieres on September 17.

The three OC grads are all employed at Bella Rose by Chateau in Oklahoma City. Each received a bachelor’s degree in interior design and worked as an intern for Chateau before being hired full-time after graduation.

Bella Rose is a design manufacturer that sells exclusively to the trade industry. Bedding and accent pillows from the company’s line will be their contribution to the lucky family’s new dream home.

The special two-hour episode will begin at 6 p.m. central time and will feature the Llanes family. The Extreme Makeover team will help this blind man and his family whose members are either legally blind or deaf.

Bella Rose’s products can be purchased locally in Oklahoma City at high-end retailers such as Bruno’s Home Furnishing, Lifestyles and Kern’s. To find out more visit their Web site at www.BellaRoseByChateau.com.

Return of baseball program underway

Oklahoma Christian University students may want to get out and buy some peanuts and crackerjacks and get ready to root, root, root for the home team because the Oklahoma Christian campus is bringing back its baseball program after a five year hiatus.

For the student who loves the smell of pine tar and dirt and just does not feel at home without a cheek full of sunflower seeds, the latest addition to the Oklahoma Christian athletic department could not have come sooner.

“There’s just no sport quite like baseball,” senior Conrad Prugh said. “It just doesn’t seem quite right to not have such a great, entertaining, competitive game as a part of this campus. I just wish it would have been here sooner so that I could’ve had a chance to play for the team.”

Oklahoma Christian University students may want to get out and buy some peanuts and crackerjacks and get ready to root, root, root for the home team because the Oklahoma Christian campus is bringing back its baseball program after a five year hiatus.

For the student who loves the smell of pine tar and dirt and just does not feel at home without a cheek full of sunflower seeds, the latest addition to the Oklahoma Christian athletic department could not have come sooner.

“There’s just no sport quite like baseball,” senior Conrad Prugh said. “It just doesn’t seem quite right to not have such a great, entertaining, competitive game as a part of this campus. I just wish it would have been here sooner so that I could’ve had a chance to play for the team.”

Students and faculty agree with Prugh, not only those working in the athletic department, but past Oklahoma Christian players who are still involved with the university.
Science professor Mike Gipson competed for the Oklahoma Christian baseball program from 1962 through 1966. At that time the program was hardly an afterthought in comparison to sports like basketball.

“I was a basketball player primarily and although we had a scholarship for that, we acted like it was for baseball too,” Gipson said. “But really we were just playing because we wanted to keep the program going and we enjoyed playing.”

Gipson, who experienced the state of the program during his time in school, when crowds consisted primarily of parents and girlfriends, is excited for the future of the Oklahoma Christian baseball program.

“I think that bringing baseball back will add a lot of atmosphere to the campus during the spring,” Gipson said. “If it attracts the crowds like it is supposed to it will be great.”

And that is exactly what new coach Chuck White intends for the program. Besides strengthening the athletic program as a whole, White also has high hopes for the effect the new program will have on the student body as well.

“When baseball was still on campus the baseball players always played a real big part in the school itself,” White said. “And I think that baseball will bring back a level of student involvement, bring new kids to campus, as well as an excitement for the freshness of a new start to something.”

White plans to establish that excitement amongst students on campus first before looking outside of campus to begin building his team.

“My plan right now is to have a meeting for any of the guys on campus who have an interest in playing baseball for Oklahoma Christian,” White said. “I want to bring them in and let them know the expectations of the program. Let them know that this is not going to be a participation program, but a competitive program.”

White intends to hold the meeting within the next two to three weeks and will be announced on campus for interested students.

The current step in the ongoing process to bring back baseball to the Oklahoma Christian campus is one of fund raising. White along with Oklahoma Christian athletic director Dewayne Hall and others have been touring Oklahoma, and the surrounding states presenting “road shows” to promote the return of the baseball program.

“We just completed a three day tour where we were in Tulsa on a Monday, then in Bricktown the next day, and at the ball park in Arlington,” White said.

“The following day where we were doing fund raising presentations to alumni and friends of the university and really just anyone who has interest in supporting Oklahoma Christian baseball.”

Fund raising will be extremely pivotal to the success of the program and the hopes White has for the possible improvements and benefits the program could bring to Oklahoma Christian.

“Building a quality facility is not free and it is not cheap,” White said. “But we want to build a quality facility for our athletes, and also to use outside of our program to host events from which revenue would come to supplement our budgets.”

Any baseball fan knows the seventh inning stretch song lyric: buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks. I don’t care if I ever get back.

Apparently Oklahoma Christian did care if they ever got back and the men and women who have worked to implement the return of the program are glad they’re back.

“When the program was taken away most people couldn’t believe that it was happening,” White said. “But in a community like this where we love our baseball, its great to have it back.”

Students travel the globe for mission trips

Students at Oklahoma Christian University attend mission trips every year across the globe. These trips not only affect the people being helped, but the students doing the work.
Senior Joe Thurman found that his medical mission trip was a reminder of the blessings in his life.

“It makes you appreciate so much more the opportunities we have to do things of this sort,” Thurman said. “Ninety-nine percent of the rest of the world’s population does not have the opportunities that we as Americans have.”

Senior Melody Merrill spent three weeks doing mission work in Brazil and shares in Thurman’s desire to remember the blessings she has been given.

Students at Oklahoma Christian University attend mission trips every year across the globe. These trips not only affect the people being helped, but the students doing the work.
Senior Joe Thurman found that his medical mission trip was a reminder of the blessings in his life.

“It makes you appreciate so much more the opportunities we have to do things of this sort,” Thurman said. “Ninety-nine percent of the rest of the world’s population does not have the opportunities that we as Americans have.”

Senior Melody Merrill spent three weeks doing mission work in Brazil and shares in Thurman’s desire to remember the blessings she has been given.

“I felt God blessing me by seeing the less fortunate and those of a different culture worshipping Christ serves as a reminder that there are Christians everywhere,” Merrill said. “The language barrier didn’t stop the love that flowed between us and that really stuck in my brain. Working with the kids was the most rewarding.”

During her six week stay in Rwanda, senior Alex Volpe said she was able to work with the Rwandan students now attending Oklahoma Christian.

“I’m very excited that they’re here,” Volpe said. “They’re very smart, open, and friendly, so they should adjust well.”

Although many mission opportunities present themselves in America, junior Casey Thompson sees that the opportunities in Australia present a greater need.

“There are fewer churches in Australia than America, and there is just more access to church in America,” Thompson said. “In any given American city there is an abundance of churches available to the citizens in need. In Australia, there were three at most in our area.”

Merrill looks forward to returning to continue her mission work and build relationships.

“I just love the people, they are so open and it’s like they want to know you because you’re there from a different place,” Merrill said. “They are open about religion and will speak freely. Opposing beliefs don’t create conflict like it would in the states.”

Thurman has also considered doing local mission work and recognizes the need for mission work everywhere.

“I love doing mission work, but sometimes I wonder why I’m spending so much money going else where, when people are in need here,” Thurman said. “But going to Nigeria motivates me to help less-fortunate people here. Once you go to a country and do something, you learn from it and can use it to help others back home.”

OC offers career services to students

Oklahoma Christian University students have already begun to plan for that day after graduation when they have to begin life outside of college. The students who have used Oklahoma Christian’s Career Services Department may find that transition a bit easier.

Sara Barnett began building the Career Services Department in August 2005. One year later, she is working to connect employers with students and make students aware of the assistance that is available to them.

Oklahoma Christian University students have already begun to plan for that day after graduation when they have to begin life outside of college. The students who have used Oklahoma Christian’s Career Services Department may find that transition a bit easier.

Sara Barnett began building the Career Services Department in August 2005. One year later, she is working to connect employers with students and make students aware of the assistance that is available to them.

“We want to create a service to not only benefit students and the faculty, but also alumni, local employers, nation-wide employers, and our community as a whole,” Barnett said. “We’ve been working on it for a year, and we’re getting there.”

Career Services helps students determine in what direction they want to steer their career with the DISCOVER program. They also offer assistance with resumes and advise students on how to handle interviews well.

“We have a number of services for students,” Barnett said. “We assist in career assessment, career exploration, resume and cover letter critiques, help preparing for interviewing, salary negotiation, assist in finding internships, part- and full-time work. We also assist faculty members with in-class presentations and workshops. We have on campus interviews and on campus recruiting as well as lunch-n-learns.”

Career Services is responsible for arranging for companies to have representatives on campus both to meet interested students and sometimes to conduct interviews for a position.
Companies that have events scheduled for this year include Ernst & Young, Tinker Engineering, Hallmark Management, Dell, Chesapeake Energy, and Petra Industries.

“We have a lot more interest from employers this year because they worked with us last year and they are coming back because they are pleased with our students,” Barnett said. “We have quite a number of employers that are interested in coming to recruit our students, and they are not for full-time graduating seniors. There are also entry-level positions, senior-level positions that our MBA students are receiving, internships, and part-time opportunities.”

These companies are looking for employees from a variety of majors and will be on campus at different times throughout the semester. Sometimes the employers will conduct interviews and some will hold Lunch-N-Learn Informational Sessions. The Lunch-N-Learn sessions give students a chance to meet representatives from the companies and a free lunch is provided.

The Career Services office is also in a new location this year that is more convenient for students. The new office is on the second floor of Gaylord Hall.

“Now that we are in a new location there has been a lot more traffic, and because we have been working on creating awareness for the last year we have a lot more students that are aware of career services,” Barnett said.

Barnett already has several on campus events planned for the coming months and is working on more events for the rest of the year. Many of the employers that will be visiting campus to recruit are scheduled to come in the next two months.

“Working here, I’ve seen how heavily recruited and sought after Oklahoma Christian students are,” Barnett said. “The majority of the students I work with are employed before they graduate. Employers are learning that they have to start early to recruit. All of our recruiting is in September and October, and employers are interviewing for not only December graduates, but April graduates as well,” Barnett said. “They have learned that if they don’t come early, they will miss the good students.”

Some students are just now discovering the resources available to them in Career Services. Many are excited about the help that they will have in finding a job after graduating from Oklahoma Christian.

“I had heard a little about the program but I don’t really know much about it,” sophomore Roxanne Maloy said. “I think it will be a good thing if it is more advertised and made more accessible to students.”

Arts and Sciences College launches initiative program with three areas

The College of Arts and Sciences plans to begin an initiative program for students and staff early in September. The program consists of continuing the Community Literacy Program, an AIDS awareness day, and another function not yet decided.

The Community Literacy Program, started in April 2006, uses students and staff to teach English to the Oklahoma Christian University employees.

“The pilot project was just members of our house keeping staff. But we want to expand it to maintenance, cafeteria, just anyone on campus who wants to improve their English,” said English professor Gail Nash.

The program started by Nash, English professor Deborah Klein, and Language and Literature Department Chair Scott LaMascus, just received grants from the Oklahoma City Community foundation, the Bowers foundation, and Oklahoma Christian. Due to the new grants, the literacy program will now stretch to four locations across the Oklahoma City area. One will be at the Lighthouse, while the others are still being decided.

The College of Arts and Sciences plans to begin an initiative program for students and staff early in September. The program consists of continuing the Community Literacy Program, an AIDS awareness day, and another function not yet decided.

The Community Literacy Program, started in April 2006, uses students and staff to teach English to the Oklahoma Christian University employees.

“The pilot project was just members of our house keeping staff. But we want to expand it to maintenance, cafeteria, just anyone on campus who wants to improve their English,” said English professor Gail Nash.

The program started by Nash, English professor Deborah Klein, and Language and Literature Department Chair Scott LaMascus, just received grants from the Oklahoma City Community foundation, the Bowers foundation, and Oklahoma Christian. Due to the new grants, the literacy program will now stretch to four locations across the Oklahoma City area. One will be at the Lighthouse, while the others are still being decided.

The College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Lowry worked with Nash to create a proposal.

“We wanted to do something about this. We began to work, she [Nash] created a proposal, we presented it to the administration, and here we are,” Lowry said. “This is going to be so much. We want people to know who all the people are who work on campus. We want people to be able to talk to them by name, and we want them to feel like they can talk to us.”

Students are already involved in the program. Junior TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) major and student coordinator Amy Hardin taught in the program this summer.

“I had the beginners. They had just learned their ABCs when I started working with them. By the time I finished they were working on filling out applications and everyday tasks that they are going to do,” Hardin said.

Both Nash and Hardin encourage students and faculty to get involved.

“We want to try and get whoever wants to be involved, involved. We will send out announcements and posters and have people sign up,” Nash said.

There are opportunities to work both on and off campus this year. The program is looking for a large number of student and faculty helpers.

“Most of our volunteers this summer were through Circle K so we had a lot of biology majors and teachers. It’s diverse, anybody can do it,” Hardin said. “The way it’s set up you don’t have to know any Spanish; the book is really self explanatory.”

Not only is Nash looking for students to get involved, but Dean of Students Neil Arter is as well. Arter is head of the activities taking place on World AIDS day, December 1. He currently works with World Vision, a Christian relief organization.

“Last April I was at a conference and heard a presentation about this organization. I contacted them and have been working with them since then,” Arter said. “Rwanda’s First Lady had a passion to help people who were affected with AIDS or whose lives were impacted. What we are going to use this for is to bring awareness, and secondly to hopefully raise some money to send back and help her efforts.”

Arter plans to get individual names of people affected by the disease to pray for on World AIDS day. This will make it more personal for everyone involved.

“We want to raise awareness and then see what students do with that information,” Arter said.

Junior Jenny Gray has spent two summers in Tanzania, Africa, and believes this program is very important to Oklahoma Christian’s campus and outreach.

“AIDS in Africa is such a big problem. I’ve seen first hand how many kids don’t have parents because they have died from AIDS. Kids of a problem the disease is. They just think of what it is in America. In Africa it’s everybody. It’s normal people with normal families.”

Lowry, who is head of the initiative program, is still searching for a third component. The event will take place second semester and could possibly be about alcohol poisoning awareness.

“It’s one idea we’re talking about. Our college may come up with something we feel more strongly about. But if we thought that this was something we could all get behind to do, absolutely,” Lowry said.

Through all this the message of the initiative program is the same. Get involved with helping the community and the world.

“It’s about to take place and it’s going to be big,” Lowry said.

Former student Matthew Sloan injured on routine mission during deployment to Iraq

OC student Jill Ball’s eyes brim with tears as she recalls her emotions when her fiancé, currently stationed in Iraq, told her that a roadside bomb exploded, significantly injuring him. She says nothing prepared her for the phone call she dreaded since his deployment in April.

Specialist Matthew Sloan, Ball’s fiancé and a former Oklahoma Christian University student, received injuries from an Improvised Explosive Device while performing a route sweep with his Army unit in July. Sloan says something felt different about his routine mission that day.

“Something in my gut was telling me to keep alert,” he said. “All was going routine when a drop of sweat had rolled in my eye, causing me to take my eyes away from the road and to wipe my eye with my hand. Before I could do anything short of that, an explosion occurred on the side of the road.

OC student Jill Ball’s eyes brim with tears as she recalls her emotions when her fiancé, currently stationed in Iraq, told her that a roadside bomb exploded, significantly injuring him. She says nothing prepared her for the phone call she dreaded since his deployment in April.

Specialist Matthew Sloan, Ball’s fiancé and a former Oklahoma Christian University student, received injuries from an Improvised Explosive Device while performing a route sweep with his Army unit in July. Sloan says something felt different about his routine mission that day.

“Something in my gut was telling me to keep alert,” he said. “All was going routine when a drop of sweat had rolled in my eye, causing me to take my eyes away from the road and to wipe my eye with my hand. Before I could do anything short of that, an explosion occurred on the side of the road.

“The explosion blew me back, hitting the rear of the turret, and knocking my glasses off my face. Not knowing what in the world had happened, I tried to regain my bearings. It took me a while to realize I had taken some shrapnel.”

Sloan explained that by having his head down and his arm raised, his arm received the majority of the damage instead of his face. Also, the new protected vehicle Sloan rode in when the explosion occurred gives Ball another reason to be grateful.

“They had just gotten up-armored Humvees, which are the most protection you can have out there. [Sloan] said that if they hadn’t been in those, there probably would have been some deaths, and he probably wouldn’t have his legs,” Ball said.

Despite everything that could have gone wrong, Ball tries to remain positive and not dwell on the possibilities.

“It wasn’t something I needed to think about because he was okay. It didn’t happen,” she said. “It could’ve been a lot worse. It could’ve been more people, and it could’ve been a fatality. And there are so many more people who have lost loved ones and family over there. Yes, he may have some long-term damage. It’s minor, and he’s alive.”

Ball still admits how difficult it is to have a fiancé serving overseas.

“It’s really nerve-racking. I worry a lot anyway, so I worry a lot more,” she said. “And that’s probably not good for my health, and not good for my hair. I’ll probably start showing gray soon.”
Josh, Sloan’s brother and a recent Oklahoma Christian graduate, experienced a wide spectrum of emotion upon hearing the news of his brother’s injuries.

“The worst part about it is not being able to see [Matt]. There are times when we’re able to talk, but sitting face to face makes all the difference in the world,” Josh said. “Also, his American life is put on hold for awhile…he’s taken out of school, postponed wedding plans, fishing trips cancelled, petty arguments don’t happen, the kind you laugh about later, it’s the little that add up that affect you most.”

Sloan continues to heal, but has no feeling in portions of his hand and fingers from nerve damage. Eventually, he will receive the Purple Heart, a military combat in recognition of his injuries.
“Every day I am reminded of how much the Lord had watched over me and the other guys in the truck with me. So much went wrong that turned out so right. It’s hard for me to think of them as a coincidence, but more as a miracle,” Sloan said. “My life has changed from that instant.”

Josh Sloan, Specialist Sloan’s brother and recent Oklahoma Christian graduate says the news overwhelmed him.

“My stomach felt like it dropped right out of my body, and I felt very empty,” he said. “Worry was my named emotion. I guess the ‘older brother’ in me kicked in.”

Oklahoma Christian Ranked Top 10 in West

Oklahoma Christian University (OC) has been named a top 10 “Best Comprehensive College” in the West by U.S.News and World Report’s 2007 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” This is the eighth consecutive year that U.S. News has ranked Oklahoma Christian in the 16-state western region’s top 10, and the 14th consecutive year the university has earned national recognition in the rankings that are studied by future college students and their parents.

“Obviously we’re very pleased to be ranked in the top 10 again,” Dr. Mike E. O’Neal, president, said. “This is a real tribute to the commitment to excellent faith-based higher education by our faculty, staff, alumni, donors and other supporters. We have certainly been blessed with outstanding faculty and students who are committed to our mission of transforming lives for Christian faith, leadership and service.”

Oklahoma Christian University (OC) has been named a top 10 “Best Comprehensive College” in the West by U.S.News and World Report’s 2007 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” This is the eighth consecutive year that U.S. News has ranked Oklahoma Christian in the 16-state western region’s top 10, and the 14th consecutive year the university has earned national recognition in the rankings that are studied by future college students and their parents.

“Obviously we’re very pleased to be ranked in the top 10 again,” Dr. Mike E. O’Neal, president, said. “This is a real tribute to the commitment to excellent faith-based higher education by our faculty, staff, alumni, donors and other supporters. We have certainly been blessed with outstanding faculty and students who are committed to our mission of transforming lives for Christian faith, leadership and service.”

OC, which recently received a maximum 10-year renewal of its comprehensive accreditation, has been aggressively upgrading its curriculum, faculty and facilities over the past several years and has been rewarded with record enrollment the past two years. Another record enrollment is anticipated this fall. More than 75 percent of OC faculty members now hold terminal degrees in their field. A new Bachelor’s degree program in nursing also begins this fall. 

The campus is experiencing a complete makeover, starting with a $34 million student housing and renovation program that has just been completed. Also underway is a renovation of the university’s science facilities. Ground will be broken soon for the new Lawson Commons that will transform the campus, featuring a pavilion, clock tower and extensive landscaping. 

“The real measure of our success is the achievement of our students,” O’Neal said.  “Graduates from our School of Business Administration have achieved the highest pass rate on the CPA examination of all of Oklahoma’s universities for four consecutive years. For the past two years, 100 percent of the students from the language and literature and science departments who applied to graduate or medical schools have been accepted.”

Oklahoma Christian, a private, four-year comprehensive university ranked in the top 10 in the 16-state Western region by U.S. News & World Report, offers degree programs in more than 60 fields of study in three colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Biblical Studies and the College of Professional Studies. The university also offers two graduate degree programs in Biblical Studies in addition to one- and two-year Masters of Business Administration programs. For more information about Oklahoma Christian, log on to http://www.oc.edu.

Three Things You Can Do For OC in September

In the last issue of AlumNews we told you about the need for alumni to be involved in the new student recruiting process at OC. If you missed that issue, you can view it by clicking here.

In keeping with our theme of getting alumni involved in the new student recruiting process, we want to provide you with a short list of things you can do in the month of September to get prospective students interested in attending OC next fall.

1. Volunteer to send encouraging letters to a list of 25 prospective students who’ve expressed interest in attending Oklahoma Christian University. The alumni office will provide you with a template of the letter that you can customize, print, sign, and mail to a list of prospective students that we’ll also provide.

2. Volunteer to call 25 prospective students to congratulate them on their decision to apply to OC and ask them if they have any questions about the University that you can answer. The alumni office will provide you with a list of prospective students and their phone numbers.

3. Click here to add quality students to the admissions mailing list. Did a local student make the paper for some spectacular academic or extracurricular achievement? ADD THEM TO OUR MAILING LIST!!! Is there a talented student in the youth group at your church? ADD THEM TO OUR MAILING LIST!!! Did your son, daughter, or one of their best friends score perfect on the ACT or SAT? ADD THEM TO OUR MAILING LIST!!! Regardless of the reason, if you know high school students that the OC Admissions Office should be talking to, ADD THEM TO OUR MAILING LIST!!! After you’ve added them to the mailing list, the admissions office will send them the information they need to learn more about what makes Oklahoma Christian such a special place to pursue their undergraduate education!

To help out with any of the above opportunities, click here.

“Kids” of All Ages Enjoy Family Fun Night

Over three hundred and fifty people gathered on campus on Friday, August 25 for the last of two summer Alumni Family Fun Nights sponsored by Bob Moore Saturn of Edmond.

Families were treated to a free barbeque dinner, a concert by Lighten Up, inflatable toys, pony rides, and an outdoor showing of Over the Hedge. Several prizes, including an iPod nano, tickets to Frontier City, a year’s worth of Oil Changes from Bob Moore Saturn, and several OC baseball t-shirts were given out during the evening’s festivities. The event offered OC alumni and friends from around the greater Oklahoma City area a chance to spend an affordable and family-friendly evening together on campus.

The Office for Alumni Relations would like to thank Bob Moore Saturn of Edmond, Swadley’s Bar-B-Q, Frontier City, and the men of Delta Gamma Sigma for helping make Family Fun Night such a great success.

For more pictures of Family Fun Night, click here.

Former U.S. Poet Laureate to deliver McBride Lecture

Dr. Robert Pinsky, a best-selling poet, author, translator and humanities leader for the nation, will deliver the 2006 McBride Lecture.

The free lecture will be on The Life of David, Pinsky’s 2005 study of King David of I and II Samuel. The lecture, the second-annual in the McBride Lecture series, is Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Oklahoma Christian University’s Gaylord University Center.

A book-signing reception will follow Pinsky’s lecture. The former U.S. poet laureate also will spend Oct. 6 on campus, interacting with OC students and providing a workshop for students from all Oklahoma universities.

“Oklahoma Christian University and the McBride Center are so pleased to host Dr. Pinsky for this exciting program of events,” said McBride Center director Scott LaMascus, a professor of English at Oklahoma Christian. “Pinsky is well known as a poet and his outstanding service as the ‘nation’s poet.’ His tenure as poet laureate was marked by high-profile advocacy of poetry enjoyed by millions of ordinary Americans.”

Dr. Robert Pinsky, a best-selling poet, author, translator and humanities leader for the nation, will deliver the 2006 McBride Lecture.

The free lecture will be on The Life of David, Pinsky’s 2005 study of King David of I and II Samuel. The lecture, the second-annual in the McBride Lecture series, is Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Oklahoma Christian University’s Gaylord University Center.

A book-signing reception will follow Pinsky’s lecture. The former U.S. poet laureate also will spend Oct. 6 on campus, interacting with OC students and providing a workshop for students from all Oklahoma universities.

“Oklahoma Christian University and the McBride Center are so pleased to host Dr. Pinsky for this exciting program of events,” said McBride Center director Scott LaMascus, a professor of English at Oklahoma Christian. “Pinsky is well known as a poet and his outstanding service as the ‘nation’s poet.’ His tenure as poet laureate was marked by high-profile advocacy of poetry enjoyed by millions of ordinary Americans.”

Pinsky’s reputation is built on his many volumes of poetry and on two verse translations: the best-selling translation of Dante’s Inferno and his translations of Czeslaw Milosz. He is a professor of English at Boston University.

Pinsky told the Chicago Sun-Times, “David was a many of multiplicities, both admirable and deplorable. He was resource in his disguises and masterful in his lies, like Odysseus or Shakespeare’s Prince Hal. He was a hero and a scoundrel, a leader and an artist, a great general and a great poet. So when Jonathan Rose, the editor of the series, suggested I tackle this subject, I was both terrified and challenged. I also knew he had offered me something formidable – a real plum.”

LaMascus said Pinsky’s lecture will “concern a book which delves beyond the ‘Sunday school David’ into the character of a king who was a brave lad, slew a giant and was a titanically-flawed man. Pinsky’s study grasps at a character in God’s story who is both poet and warrior, a murderer and a ‘man after God’s own heart.’”

“How do these apparent contradictions work? What do they mean?” LaMascus asks. “In reconciling those materials from I and II Samuel, Pinsky draws not only on the biblical record, but upon legend and the midrashic traditions, too. The result is an outstanding and revealing study of David as a key figure in God’s plans.”

The McBride Lecture is the first initiative of the McBride Center for Faith and Literature, an endowment to champion the humanities at Oklahoma Christian. Author Kathleen Norris was the featured guest for the inaugural lecture last year.

This second-annual lecture is made possible by a partnership grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of the humanities. OHC joins with local organizations to fulfill its mission to “encourage the life of the mind, creating lifelong learning through reflection and discussion of literature, history, philosophy, and more.” OHC is the designated agency for the National Endowment for the Humanities in the state of Oklahoma.

“I’m so delighted to be working with OHC leaders David Pettyjohn, Anita May and the many others at OHC on the staff and in the board. OHC plays an important role in bringing high-quality speakers and programs to Oklahoma,” LaMascus said. “We are grateful for their generous funding to help the McBride Center bring national leaders to campus and to Oklahoma.”

McBride Center donors, friends of Bailey and Joyce McBride, and Pinsky fans are invited to attend a benefit reception at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 in the Gaylord University Center (President’s Dining Room). For more information or to RSVP, call 405.425.5330 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The suggested donation is $25 per person.

For more information about the McBride Center, go to www.oc.edu/mcbridecenter.

The Class of 2010 has Landed

Oklahoma Christian alumni, faculty, staff and current students helped welcome the class of 2010 to campus on August 19 by assisting the newest Eagles move into their dorms. Despite facing temperatures over 100 degrees, volunteers eagerly carried boxes, bags and anything else they could grab from cars, trucks and trailers and moved it up to the student’s new living quarters. To help fight the heat, volunteers also passed out ice cold bottled water to the new students and parents as they made the countless trips back and forth from the rooms to the cars.

OC would like to give a big thanks to everyone who volunteered for making this year’s move-in day such a big success for our incoming freshmen! We would like to extend special thanks to Associate Dean of Students, Jeff Bennett (’70), for organizing the move-in efforts, the men of Delta Gamma Sigma for several much-needed volunteers, Citizens Bank of Edmond for providing the water, and Jacque Boone (’98) owner of Watermark Massage in Oklahoma City for the free chair massages she provided to the new students, their parents and the great volunteers.

New Reign in St. Louis

New Reign, OC’s student acappella group, performed “God Bless America” before a St. Louis Cardinals’ major league baseball game. For more information, click here.

Alumni Chapters Send Off Incoming Freshmen in Style

In what is quickly becoming one of the University’s best off-campus traditions, OC alumni in the North Texas and Kansas City areas were the first people to welcome a group of prospective students into the OC family again this year at two great events earlier this month.

The North Texas event, “Eagle Exit” was hosted at the home of Mark and Susie Jackson in Fort Worth. “Eagle Exit” featured a delicious hamburger cookout, a performance from OC’s musical comedy group Lighten Up, and the awarding of $13,500 in scholarships. The crowd was also entertained by the stage antics of North Texas Alumni Chapter president, Russ Bartee.

The “Summer Sendoff” in Kansas City, was held at the plaza branch of the KC public library. In addition to several alumni and incoming freshmen, recipients of the 2005 Kansas City Alumni scholarship attended and took part in a rousing rendition of the OC version of the Match Game officiated by the KC Alumni Chapter president, Ryan Day. All of the incoming freshmen and current students received gift certificates to Edmond restaurants to help soften the blow of their upcoming departure from their beloved hometown BBQ.

Both events were attended by several alumni, current students, incoming freshmen, and a handful of prospective students. The Alumni Relations Office would like to thank all the people who helped make these events such a great success. If you’d like to learn more about hosting a similar event for new and prospective students in your hometown, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 405.425.5120 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Oklahoma Christian Needs Your Help

Are you looking for a way to get involved and make a difference at OC? Are you interested in meeting new and prospective students? If so, then the Oklahoma Christian Office for Alumni Relations is looking for you! In addition to all the wonderful things the admissions office is doing to get the best and brightest students on campus, we also need alumni to help introduce and recruit students to our beloved University. What better way to get students excited about OC than to have the alumni who have actually lived and experienced OC life involved in the process!

If being actively involved in the recruiting process at OC sounds interesting to you, consider becoming an Alumni Admissions Ambassador. As a proud graduate of Oklahoma Christian, you have the opportunity to be the university’s best ambassador in the communities where you live, worship, and work. The admissions office needs your help to identify and recruit quality high school students in geographically diverse areas across the country and around the globe.

Ambassadors are needed who will help with the recruiting process by writing letters and calling prospective students, representing OC at college fairs, hosting send off parties for incoming freshmen in their regions, bringing prospective students to campus for a visit, plus so much more. If you would prefer doing something a little more behind the scenes, you can refer high quality students 24/7 using our simple online form. For more information about the Alumni Admissions Ambassador program and a more complete list of ways that you can be involved with the work at OC, click here.

Avanelle Baird to Speak at Ladies Day Event

Oklahoma Christian’s Distinguished Honorary Alumna, Avanelle Baird, will speak at the Onalaska Church of Christ’s Ladies Day event on Saturday, September 9, in Onalaska, Texas.

Baird will speak on the topic of “Redemption Leads to Serving.” The event, which includes lunch and lots of fellowship, will begin at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts with the program beginning at 9 a.m.

To RSVP call 936-646-5198 or 936-646-3517 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Register Today for the August Family Fun Night

Mark your calendars for Friday August 25 and make plans to attend OC Family Fun Night, sponsored by Bob Moore Saturn of Edmond.

A free cookout, an inflatable obstacle course, pony rides, a great family-friendly film, and a concert from OC’s own parody band, “Lighten Up,” are just some of the many exciting and fun activities to look forward to. Best of all, thanks to a generous sponsorship from Bob Moore Saturn of Edmond, it’s all FREE!

The cookout begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Thelma Gaylord Forum just north of the Branch Biblical Studies Center and is followed immediately by “Lighten Up” at 7:45 and a showing of “Over the Hedge” at dusk.

Families that register online at www.oc.edu/familyfun by August 24 will be entered into a drawing to win a free iPod Nano to be given away at the next Family Fun Night.

This will be a great evening of fun for the whole family… so grab the kids, bring your lawn chairs or blankets, and come early to get a good seat!

You must be present to win the iPod giveaway.

McBride Center seeks help meeting October goal

Following the 2005 McBride Lecture, a donor impressed with the importance and potential of the lecture series provided an anonymous $50,000 Challenge Gift to the endowment of the McBride Center for Faith and Literature. 

“We have until October 5, 2006 to take fullest advantage of this generous and thoughtful gift,” said Scott LaMascus, professor of English and McBride Center director. “Many alumni and friends already have responded to the challenge, but we have a ways to go to meet the goal. We need new gifts and pledges now to meet this goal just two months away. The result will be a marvelous thing for the McBride Center.”

For every dollar in new pledges, gifts, or accelerated pledges to the McBride Center donated before McBride Lecture, the Challenge Gift donor will give $1 up to $50,000 until McBride Lecture 2006. “This Challenge Gift provides a one-to-one match and makes an outstanding time to make a one-year pledge or payroll deduction to the McBride Center - so that your $25 is worth $50 to the McBride Center, $100 becomes $200, $1,000 becomes $2,000,” said LaMascus.

“Of course, meeting this Challenge Gift will be a great help as the McBride Center expands its influence and finds new ways to champion the humanities on campus and in our community,” LaMascus said. “But the real joy of seeing the McBride Center grow, for me, is seeing how many alumni have felt the transformative power of Bailey and Joyce McBride on this campus, on their lives, and on the Kingdom. The McBrides are beloved and always have focused on relationships,” he said.

To donate to the Bailey and Joyce McBride Center for Faith and Literature simply click here now and choose McBride Center from the “select fund area” drop-down menu.

The first initiative of the McBride Center, the annual McBride Lecture, was inaugurated October 3, 2005, by bestselling author Kathleen Norris. The 2006 McBride Lecture will be delivered October 5 at 7 p.m. by Robert Pinsky, former U.S. poet laureate.

Update on OC’s Nursing Program

OC’s New Nursing Program

OC’s new nursing program has received overwhelming interest from the healthcare community and prospective students alike.  To date, nearly 100 students have enrolled, including 25 upperclassmen.  Since receiving the Oklahoma Board of Nursing approval in March of this year, large scale efforts, including several renovations to Vose Hall, have been undertaken this summer to get the nursing program ready to launch on July 31.

Initial efforts have focused on securing qualified faculty and support personnel for the new program.  Linda Fly was named the Director of Nursing for the new program in early summer.  Fly brings a wealth of experience in the nursing profession as well as a broad range of roles in nursing education.  Two full time experienced faculty members, Kay Elder and Beth Scott have also been hired.  Elder, a 1979 graduate of Oklahoma Christian, comes home to OC from Northwestern Oklahoma University in Alva.  Prior to coming to OC, Scott was a full time faculty member at Redlands Community College in El Reno. Karen Hudson has also been hired to serve in the role of administrative assistant to the nursing department. 

For more information, contact the nursing program directly at 405.425.1920 or feel free to stop by their office the next time you are on campus.

OC signs academic cooperation pact with Korea Christian University

Oklahoma Christian University (OC) President Dr. Mike O’Neal announced today that OC has signed an agreement with Korea Christian University (KCU) that will result in the exchange of faculty, students and administrators between the two schools. He is heading a delegation from OC that is visiting a number of cities in Asia to develop similar agreements with additional universities.

“This agreement is a result of the growing interest in Asia among our students and faculty,” O’Neal said.  “Although we have had an academic exchange program for more than 30 years with Ibaraki Christian University in Japan, and a few more limited relationships with other international universities, the KCU agreement is the first of many new relationships we plan with quality universities around the globe.” 

The delegation is also visiting Shanghai, China, laying the groundwork for developing long-term relationships with three important universities there.  The group will also meet with officials at universities in Beijing, Xian, Wuhan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

“The agreement with Korea Christian University marks an important initiative in OC’s internationalization of its educational experience,” O’Neal said.  “To prepare our students for a global economy, we must provide opportunities for students and faculty to experience learning overseas, to study on our campus with students from around the world, and to have the curriculum reflect the changing world environment.”

The agreement with KCU calls for each university to invite administrators, professors and/or students from the other school to visit for short-term study and travel programs during the academic years of 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and/or 2009-2010.  Two full tuition scholarships per year will be awarded to qualified students from each university for an exchange of up to one academic year.  Exchange visitors may visit classes, attend public and university events and confer with their counterparts.  Each group will be responsible for its travel and living expenses.

Alumni Volunteers Needed on August 19

The Oklahoma Christian University Class of 2010 will be moving to campus soon, and alumni volunteers are needed to provide a warm welcome and some “serious” muscle power as members of the Eagles We-Haul Moving Team. Join us as we help new students move their “stuff” from the parking lot to their dorm rooms from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 19.

Not only will this be a great opportunity to welcome new students to campus and show them first hand what it means to be a part of the OC family, but it will also be a fun time to reconnect with old friends and reminisce about what life used to be like in the dorms. A gourmet donut breakfast at 8:30, a picnic lunch, and plenty of ice cold bottled water will be provided for volunteers.

If you plan to be a part of this fun day, click here to sign up so we know how many legs, arms, and backs to expect. If you have any questions or if you’d like to organize a team of volunteers from your church or reunion year, please contact the Alumni Office at 405.425.5120 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

We hope you will consider taking part in this great opportunity to give back to your alma mater.

OC to renew baseball program

Oklahoma Christian University will renew its tradition-rich baseball program for the 2008 season.

Oklahoma Christian first played intercollegiate baseball from 1960 to 2001. The Eagles were a perennial playoff team under former coach Max Dobson and placed third in the 1972 NAIA College World Series.

Chuck White, a second baseman for the Eagles under Dobson, will be OC’s head baseball coach. The 1976 OC graduate coached baseball and softball at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., before returning to Oklahoma Christian as director of athletic operations in 2004.

“I am humbled to follow in Coach Dobson’s footsteps as we renew the baseball program,” White said. “I want to help bring back the tradition of baseball that was here in the past. I want baseball to be an ambassador for the university – a quality program that our alumni, supporters and campus community can be proud of.”

Oklahoma Christian has partnered with The Benham Companies on plans for a new baseball facility. Construction will begin in the fall. The new stadium is conceived as a first-class facility with lights and other amenities that will make it an attractive venue for night games and for state, regional and national tournaments. A campaign to fund the new stadium already is in full swing.

“Intercollegiate baseball is an integral part of OC’s athletic tradition. We’re excited about what a positive this is for the university from both an athletic and student recruiting perspective,” Athletic Director DeWayne Hall said. “Our goal is to be competitive as soon as possible. With his ties to our past success and his ability to bring out the best in student-athletes, Chuck White is the right choice to lead the rebirth of our program.”

Click here for more information about baseball’s return to Oklahoma Christian.

OC alumna named dean of enrollment and marketing

Risa Forrester has been promoted to Dean of Enrollment and Marketing at Oklahoma Christian University (OC). She will be responsible for admissions, new student recruitment and marketing.

Forrester, whose most recent position was director of admissions and marketing, began her career at OC in 1996 as an admissions counselor.

“Oklahoma Christian has enjoyed record enrollment over the past two years and Risa’s contributions, particularly in our new student admissions work and the award-winning print and advertising materials, have been a major factor,” said Alfred C. Branch, executive vice president. “Undergraduate enrollment has grown 21.4% since the fall of 2003 and total enrollment topped 2000 students for the first time in the university’s history last fall.”

“Under her leadership, the marketing staff has been recognized nationally for the admission’s VIEW magazine, parent VIEW magazine and various marketing campaigns,” Branch said. “She has a passion for Christian higher education and a passion for her alma mater.”

Forrester holds a bachelor of arts in communication degree from Oklahoma Christian and a master’s in education, student affairs, from Azusa Pacific University. Forrester, her husband, Tim, and son, Cal, reside in Edmond and are members of the Westwood Church of Christ.

Director for Foundation Relations Opening

Oklahoma Christian University is currently seeking applicants for its Director for Foundation Relations position.

The Director of Foundation Relations will focus on uncovering and researching grant opportunities; cultivating relationships with granting organizations; working with the faculty and staff to prepare compelling grant applications for the University’s priority projects; and managing the foundation-related stewardship process.

To view the complete job description, click here.

For consideration, please send resume and references to:

John deSteiguer, Vice President for Advancement
Oklahoma Christian University
P.O. Box 11000
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100
Telephone: (405) 425-5094
Facsimile: (405) 425-5090
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OC First Fridays (Tulsa)

Oklahoma Christian University and the Oklahoma Christian Green Country Alumni Chapter present OC First Fridays (Tulsa), a series of quarterly luncheons designed to give alumni and friends of the university an opportunity to hear from various speakers of note from around the greater Tulsa area. The OC First Friday (Tulsa) program was created with two goals in mind: to engage our greatest asset, our alumni, in important issues affecting the quality of life in Oklahoma and to provide an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with each other and the university in a professional setting.

The first OC First Friday (Tulsa) is scheduled for July 7, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. at the Summit Club at 15 West 6th Street in downtown Tulsa and will feature Donald E. Walker, President and CEO of Arvest Bank Tulsa.

Don is a 1974 graduate of the University of Arkansas and began his career with Arvest in 1978 as a Loan Officer. In 1984 he was appointed President and CEO of First National in Siloam Springs, Arkansas until 1991 when he was appointed President and CEO of Bank of Bentonville.  He remained President in Bentonville until his move to Tulsa in 1998.  Don is very involved in many civic organizations.  He currently serves as Co-Chairman of the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial.  He is an active member of the Arkansas River Master Study Plan. Don is currently serving as Chairman of the Community Betterment Committee of the Tulsa Metro Chamber.  Don believes that, “the investment in our Education System is essential to keeping our children and grandchildren in the area, as well as, attract new jobs.” 

The cost for lunch, payable at the door, is $16 and guests are welcome. In order to provide an accurate count to The Summit, we ask that you please register online if you plan to attend. If you have questions please email or call Bob Petre directly at (918) 455-9470. The registration deadline is July 5, 2006.

2006 Strategic Plan

The 2006 - 2007 Oklahoma Christian University Strategic Plan is now available online at http://www.oc.edu/president/documents.aspx. Dr. O’Neal’s 2006 Self-Evaluation can also be viewed on that page.

Oklahoma Christian, a private, four-year comprehensive university ranked seventh overall in the 16-state Western region by U.S. News & World Report, offers degree programs in more than 60 fields of study in three colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Biblical Studies and the College of Professional Studies. The university also offers two graduate degree programs in Biblical Studies in addition to one- and two-year Masters of Business Administration programs.

Record Crowd Attends Family Fun Night

Over a thousand people gathered on campus on Friday, June 23 for the first of two summer Alumni Family Fun Nights sponsored by Bob Moore Saturn of Edmond.

Families were treated to a free hamburger cookout, a concert by Lighten Up, a perfect Oklahoma summer sunset, and an outdoor showing of the Chronicles of Narnia. Despite showers earlier in the day, the weather was perfect by 6:45 when the first guests started to arrive and remained perfect throughout the evening.

While children took turns on the inflatable obstacle course, rock wall, moon bounce, and pony rides, adults caught up with friends and got a sneak peak under the hood of Saturn’s new convertible roadster, the Sky.

The next Family Fun Night will take place on August 25 and will feature a showing of “Over the Hedge.” Families that register online at www.oc.edu/familyfun by August 24 will be entered into a drawing to win a free iPod Nano to be given away at the next Family Fun Night.

For more pictures of Family Fun Night, click here.