University mourns loss of Mike McDonald

Mike McDonald passed from this life shortly after 8 p.m. on Monday, December 22, following a valiant battle with cancer. Mike, the university's vice president for alumni relations, was an extraordinary inspiration to the OC community. He will be deeply missed.

We express great sadness for his wife Kathy and for the McDonald family, who have been left behind, and for the rest of us who knew and loved him. But we may be comforted by the fact Mike is no longer suffering any pain. He is at peace and his eternity is certain - we look forward to reuniting with him someday in Heaven.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

This passage describes very well Mike's life and the example he lived for us. Please pray for Kathy and for Mike's family as they grieve their loss while celebrating his life.

Funeral services were held Friday, December 26, at the South Yukon Church of Christ in Yukon, Okla. Burial services were at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Edmond.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that anyone desiring to make a memorial contribution direct it to the Mike McDonald Scholarship Fund at Oklahoma Christian University. You can send your contribution to: Oklahoma Christian University Alumni Relations, P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100. Or give online here. Make sure to type "McDonald" in the designation line.

Mike recently was named "Outstanding Professional Fundraiser" by the Oklahoma chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The organization feted Mike for his courage, determination and stamina during his battle with cancer.

Sudbury honored with Doctor of Divinity degree

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Dec. 19, 2003 - Oklahoma Christian University bestowed Dr. John Sudbury with the honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity, during the university's Winter Commencement ceremonies Friday.

Sudbury's honor was among the highlights of the commencement exercises, which saw 74 bachelor degree candidates, 19 degree candidates from OC's Fast Track MBA program and two degree candidates from OC's Master of Arts in Ministry program receive their diplomas. U.S. senator Don Nickles delivered the commencement address.

"Your years here at Oklahoma Christian have prepared you to go into this wonderful world. Enter the world with dignity," Sudbury told the graduates upon accepting his honorary degree. "I encourage you to keep your faith in Jesus and do your best in whatever you do."

Because of Sudbury's lifelong service to his family, to the church, to the community, to the world at large, and to God, he is a worthy candidate for the university's highest honor.

Sudbury's professional career took him beyond the borders of his native Texas, from coast to coast in the United States, but his passion for teaching the Gospel took him around the world. He earned a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of Texas. His business career with Conoco led him to California, Connecticut, New York City, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. In California, he was assistant general manager for a Conoco joint venture in the field of nuclear fuels. During his tenure in Pennsylvania, he served as vice president in the Research Division of Conoco Coal Development Company.

Following his distinguished career with Conoco, John returned to Houston to work with Eastern European Mission, where he served as president for 14 years. He also served as an elder at the Bammel Road Church of Christ at this time, and was the driving force in leading the congregation to expand their mission program.

Sudbury's passion for Christ and His church strengthened his desire to spread the Gospel throughout Eastern Europe. He has made numerous trips to the former Soviet Union and established a congregation that has now become the center for teaching others to learn English by using the Bible. He was in Berlin when "the wall" came down and was one of the first to walk through with Bibles. He has helped raise funds for Bibles for Russia, which are distributed through the Eastern European Mission facility in Vienna.

Oklahoma Christian has been blessed in so many ways through the influence of this godly man. Not only has Sudbury been generous financially, he has shown a great concern for the spiritual welfare of the university. He serves on the university's Purpose Committee, where his guidance and influence have been especially helpful.

After 34 years of service on Oklahoma Christian's Board of Trustees, Sudbury was honored by the board in February 2003 with the honor of Life Trustee, in recognition of his many years of service and his love for Christian education.

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University web site supports year-end giving

Now you can make your year-end gift to Oklahoma Christian online, up until midnight on December 31, 2003. OC's Information Technology Services recently finalized the secure, encrypted web pages that allow donors to make gifts with the click of a mouse.

"This is a great tool for our donors who want the convenience of online giving coupled with the latest security technology" said John deSteiguer, Vice President for Advancement. "We're excited about developing our web presence and proving more of our services online."

Online giving is the latest of advancement web site enhancements, which have included extensive planned giving information to help donors understand estate planning and ways they can maximize the impact of their gifts to the university.

OC's Advancement web site can be found here: http://www.oc.edu/giving
You can give a gift to the university here: http://www.oc.edu/givenow

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OC center sponsors H.S. essay contest

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Dec. 17, 2003 - Oklahoma Christian University's American Citizenship Center and the Oklahoma Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will sponsor a statewide essay contest for high school students on the subject of an individual or event dealing with the Revolutionary War or the making of the Constitution.

Cash awards and plaques will be presented at the state level, and the winning essay will be entered in a national competition for scholarship awards from the Sons of the American Revolution.

For more information, contact Pendleton Woods, American Citizenship Center, Oklahoma Christian University, P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100.

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OC elects three to Board of Trustees

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Dec. 15, 2003 - Oklahoma Christian University has elected three community and business leaders to its Board of Trustees, bringing the number of board members serving the university to 27.

Named to the board are: Jim Ketcherside of McPherson, Kansas, retired president of Farmers Alliance; Phillip Roe of Nashville, Tenn., senior vice president of finance and chief accounting officer at Vanguard Health Systems; and Don Ziegler of Wichita, Kansas, vice president and partner in Ziegler Electric, Inc.

"We are excited to have these men agree to devote more of their time and resources to support Oklahoma Christian," said Dr. Mike O'Neal, Oklahoma Christian University president. "They each are respected and successful in their fields, and will be wonderful additions to our Board of Trustees. We especially are pleased to now have board representation from Kansas. The university has sought qualified trustees from that state because we draw so many students from there."

Ketcherside built Farmers Alliance from a small property casualty company into a leading regional provider. Though retired, he remains a valuable part of the company, consulting for other insurance companies on behalf of Farmers Alliance in the area of fixed income investing. A graduate of Washburn University, he serves as a deacon at McPherson Church of Christ. He and his wife Norene have three grown children. Their son, Kasey, is a former OC employee.

Roe, a 1980 Oklahoma Christian graduate, is a founding management investor of Vanguard Health Systems, serving in his current role since the company's inception in 1997. He coordinates all external and internal financial reporting in addition to various management and commercial banking activities for Vanguard, which owns 16 hospitals in Arizona, California, Illinois and Texas. A deacon at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood, Tenn., Roe and his wife, Melissa, have three children: Jennifer, Luke and Savanna.

Ziegler is a successful entrepreneur who is president of Ziegler Resources, Inc., in addition to his leadership roles with Ziegler Electric, Inc. A 1980 Oklahoma Christian graduate, he serves as a deacon at East Point Church of Christ in Wichita. He is and his wife, Patrice, have two children, both of whom currently attend Oklahoma Christian. Jennie is a senior and Bryan is a sophomore.

"I'm looking forward to working with Jim, Phillip and Don as fellow board members," said Don Millican, chairman of the board from Broken Arrow, Okla. "They will enhance the board's effectiveness in helping Oklahoma Christian's administration grow the university in both influence and in its quality academic programs."

The purpose of Oklahoma Christian University is to educate its students for Christian service and leadership. The Board of Trustees works to assure the purpose of the university is efficiently and effectively fulfilled by setting broad policy, and monitoring and evaluating the work of the university's administration. In addition to the 27-member Board of Trustees, 12 "Life Trustees" also lend their counsel and expertise to the university.

Oklahoma Christian, a private, four-year comprehensive university nationally ranked as a top-10 institution 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 graduate degree programs in Biblical Studies and Business Administration.

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Sen. Nickles to speak at commencement

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Dec. 11, 2003 - For 95 Oklahoma Christian University students, next Friday marks a turning point in their lives as they will walk across the stage to receive their diplomas at the university's winter commencement ceremony.

U.S. Senator Don Nickles will deliver the commencement address at the Dec. 19 ceremony, which begins at 2:30 p.m. in Hardeman Auditorium on the OC campus.

Commencement will include 74 bachelor degree candidates from OC's three colleges - arts and sciences, biblical studies, and professional studies. Also included in the graduation exercises will be 19 degree candidates from OC's Fast Track MBA program and two degree candidates from OC's Master of Arts in Ministry program.

"The students in this class came from all over the United States and from abroad. We pray that their time here at Oklahoma Christian has prepared them to make a difference in their respective communities and to help change the world for the better in their diverse career fields," said OC president Dr. Mike O'Neal. "We have been blessed to have them as students and we look forward to welcoming them back to campus time and time again as alumni."

Oklahoma's senior senator and budget committee chairman, Nickles began his career in public service with his election in 1978 to the Oklahoma State Senate, where he served two years. In 1980, Nickles was elected to the U.S. Senate, eventually becoming the first Oklahoma Republican ever elected to a fourth term in 1998.

Nickles and his wife, Linda, were born and raised in Ponca City. They have four children.

Students and their families will have the opportunity to enjoy several activities leading up to the commencement ceremony. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with a commencement rehearsal, followed by college receptions at which students will receive their graduation rings. Separate baccalaureate luncheons for both the undergraduate and graduate degree candidates will take place at 11:30 a.m.

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