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COVER STORY
The Big Day: John deSteiguer inaugurated as president
Pomp, gifts, speeches and regalia. That’s what makes up inaugurations for new university presidents. At Oklahoma Christian, prayer, scripture and blessing were added to the big day. Along with Poptarts and ping-pong.
Bonus Content: Watch a video recap of President deSteiguer's Inauguration
Bonus Content: More videos, including past-presidents' Chapel talks
HONOREES
Legacy Award: McBrides lead with loving example
As Bailey and Joyce McBride receive the Legacy award at Homecoming, we are grateful they made OC home back in 1966. With his adoring bride and young family, Bailey set out on a track that took him from his faculty post to academic dean, vice president, provost, director of the Institute for Learning, and the first director of OC’s acclaimed Honors Program.
Legacy Award: Norths point people in right direction
Stafford and Joanne North’s legacy to their family and to Oklahoma Christian can be summed up in two words: Be There. The “there” is heaven, of course, and it’s where they want all of us to be.
Distinguished Alumnus: McMillon making a difference
Few Oklahoma Christian graduates have received as many honors as distinguished professor of Bible Lynn McMillon. He will be recognized as the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus at this year’s Homecoming. McMillon graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1963, joined OC as a faculty member in 1966 and later served for 13 years as dean of the College of Biblical Studies.
Distinguished Alumnus: Cail known for laughter, love
James Cail has been called a living legend at Oklahoma Christian. A popular and humorous professor of psychology, Cail will be honored as one of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni at this year’s Homecoming. Cail retired in 2003 after teaching for 31 years.
Missions Award: Devotion down under in Australia
Kent Hartman’s “Missions Minute” closes a Chapel service at Oklahoma Christian every week. It’s a continuation of a love of missions nurtured at Oklahoma Christian years ago for Kent (77) and his wife Nancy (Price 77), Dale (74) and Sheila (Dodgen 74) Hartman, Charlie (72) and Debbie (Kelly 73) Powell, and Tony (78) and Betty Keesee.
Distinguished Young Alumni: Adams, Norton building bright futures
On a hot September day, a parent walks through the doors of Wil Norton's small classroom, wanting to know “what’s up” with her daughter, who is on in-school suspension. It’s a different chapter of the same story just down the hall for Henson Adams. He sits at a graffiti-covered desk in a room with broken window panes, discussing a student’s work with a parent.
Honorary Alumna: Honorary grandmother embraced by OC
She’s the honorary grandmother to our new president, so wouldn’t it be nice to make her an official Eagle, too? Oklahoma City philanthropist Josephine Freede will be named an honorary OC alumna at Homecoming. Her generous support of Oklahoma Christian is reflected in our campus landscape with the Freede Centennial Tower.
Bonus Content: Watch this year's opening Chapel/Convocation, with Jose Freede leading the Pledge of Allegiance
TOP STORIES
The First Mom: Mary Jo saw son’s leadership abilities early on
When “John R” and his little sisters, their spouses, and the nine grandchildren get together, you can count on a few laughs, a few pranks and a lot of fun. “They are still my little kids,” said Mary Jo deSteiguer about her children, including “John R,” better known as OC president John deSteiguer.
The First Lady: Building relationships among Darla deSteiguer’s priorities
Darla deSteiguer is balancing many roles this fall. Wife, mother and estate planning lawyer are just a few of the many titles she will juggle in addition to her role as first lady.
OC opens new Texas Office
Building on its strong Texas student and alumni bases, Oklahoma Christian University recently opened an office in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
The Texas office, on the sixth floor of Las Colinas Tower One at 201 East John Carpenter Freeway in Irving, serves as a local hub for student recruiting, church relations, fundraising and alumni outreach.
Bonus Content: Watch Alan Phillips' video greeting from the new Texas Office
ALUMNI IN ACTION
Susie Jackson builds ties with fellow grads
“It’s a love story about OC.” That’s how Susie (Patterson) Jackson describes her involvement with her alma mater. Since graduating from OC in 1979, she’s spent her post-OC years teaching kindergarten, serving children with disabilities, and reaching out to OC alumni, students and future students.
OC alum enjoys NBA Finals
OC basketball fans may know Clinton Corley as one of the school’s best play-by-play announcers in recent years ... or as the sideline reporter for OC’s game telecasts on statewide cable. Fans of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder may not know him, but they know his behind-the-scenes work for Thunder Broadcasting, where he serves as a video photographer and editor.
Alum wins Emmy award
OC alumnus Lucas Ross won an Emmy Award for his work on the “2 Movie Guys’ Intergalactic Holiday Showdown.” The show, produced and directed by Ross and fellow “movie guy” Ryan Bellgardt, won in the “Arts/Entertainment - Program/Special” category at the Heartland Emmys.
Underserved kids make music thanks to OC alumnus
Scott Filleman, a 2005 OC graduate, is doing a tremendous work in his role as band director at Santa Fe South Schools in Oklahoma City. He took a band that began with no budget and just a few working instruments in 2007 and built it into a program with more than 300 student musicians.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Memorial honors 9/11, OKC victims
OC is the only site in the world outside of New York City to have survivor trees from the Murrah Building and the World Trade Center side by side.
The university dedicated the new memorial in April. The area is located just west of the Mabee Learning Center.
Bonus Content: Watch the survivor tree dedication ceremony
U.S. News ranks OC among region's best universities
Oklahoma Christian honored for community service
OC history students win national award for 17th straight year
OC adopts Google Apps for Education
SPORTS NEWS
OC accepted into NCAA Division II membership process
The NCAA has approved Oklahoma Christian University’s application to start the three-year membership process for entry into Division II. If all goes well, OC could be a full NCAA Division II member by the 2015-16 academic year. OC will compete as a member of the Heartland Conference, a Division II league with member schools in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Bonus Content: Watch the video announcing OC's NCAA candidacy
NAIA membership ends with another national tennis championship
In 2003, Kris Miller’s Eagles captured the men’s tennis national championship to give OC its first team title in any sport. 2012 brought an encore performance, delivering OC’s last-ever NAIA championship. The national title bumped OC’s all-time team total to five, including men’s golf in 2009 and 2011 and men’s cross country in 2011.
Bonus Content: Watch the celebration
Tom Heath Field at Lawson Plaza under construction
Construction is moving quickly on a new on-campus softball stadium that will be completed next year.
Ricky and Kelly Lawson provided the seven-figure anchor gift for the stadium, which will be named “Tom Heath Field at Lawson Plaza.”
Bonus Content: Watch the highlights of the groundbreaking ceremony
- Bonus Content: Listen to Rhein Gibson on The Sports Animal
OC Ranks in national top 10 for Academic All-Americans
Miller named as Oklahoma Christian's 5th cross country coach
PHOTO FEATURES
Chorale Reunion
Dr. Ken Adams directs the 50-piece professional orchestra that accompanied the Chorale on Karl Jenkins’ “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.”
Bonus Content: Watch a video tribute to Dr. Ken Adams
Committed to fitness, community
John deSteiguer, Kinney Bryant (76), Greg Wedel, Valari (Boker 82) Wedel, Mike O’Neal, Judy Boker, Sue Wedel, Mack Wedel, and Neil Arter (90) at the groundbreaking for the Eagle Trail.
Bonus Content: Watch the groundbreaking ceremony for the Eagle Trail
Associates Dinner
Lee Allan Smith at the OC Associates Dinner.
Oklahoma lieutenant governor Todd Lamb led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Bonus Content: Watch a recap of the 2012 Associates Dinner
Honors Summer Academy
Emily Brooks, Mckinsey Smith, Morgan Brown and Dr. Peter Patton.
Kevin Kopac and Dr. Eric Phelps (99).
Bonus Content: Watch a video recap of Honors Summer Academy
Global Reunion
Missionaries-in-residence Kent (77) and Nancy (Price 77) Hartman helped OC host the seventh-annual Global Reunion camp for families with “Third Culture Kids” (children from military and missionary families who have lived all or most of their lives outside the United States). This year’s event brought 80 participants to OC’s campus from 19 different countries.
Bonus Content: Watch a video from the Global Reunion Camp
First Week Follies
Assistant Professor of Bible Dr. Charles Rix earned a standing ovation with his outstanding performance of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 at First Week Follies.
Executive Vice President Dr. Bill Goad (79) and Vice President for Advancement Kent Allen (79) entertained the crowd with the classic “Carnac” routine.
Bonus Content: Watch videos from this year's show
Hawk Nelson Concert
A concert by Hawk Nelson capped the eventful Inauguration Week. OC made quite the impression on the Christian recording artists; one of the members said the campus felt like home ... and one of the other members called it his favorite concert since he became the group’s lead singer.