Service & Sacrifice
The OCU Theta Delta chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity held a Cross Awards banquet for five alumni for their lifetime of service to the fraternity. The Cross Award is named for the symbol of the fraternity, denoting service and sacrifice. Pictured are Nic Drago (BPA Dance 鈥�03), Mark Kelly (BS Business 鈥�77), Herman Meinders (HDCS 鈥�89), Stan Sewell (BS Business 鈥�68) and Terry Zinn (BA Speech Theatre 鈥�71).
1950s
The Muskogee Phoenix featured Lola Hall (BA 鈥�52, BA Competency Based Degree Program 鈥�94) and her career as a pioneer in broadcast journalism.
1960s
The 91看片n featured 80-year-old Terry Baransy (BA Journalism 鈥�62) and his plan to run in his 206th marathon in remembrance of the 91看片 City bombing.
Four-time PGA major champion Susie Maxwell Berning (BSB Business 鈥�64) was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
1970s
Travel 91看片 featured Leona Mitchell (BM 鈥�71, HDM 鈥�79) on its Music Trail, an initiative that highlights successful 91看片n musicians.
Late restaurateur Greg McGill (BA 鈥�72) was featured in the Tulsa World for his contribution to the 91看片 City area鈥檚 restaurant scene.
Harry Van Camp (JD 鈥�74) was appointed as a co-chair of DeWitt鈥檚 Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group.
The Andalusia Star-News in Alabama and the Albany Herald in Georgia featured Rick Rescorla (JD 鈥�75) and his heroics in evacuating people from the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks.
David Greenwell (BSB Accounting 鈥�76), CPA, became the 62nd inductee into the 91看片 Accounting Hall of Fame.
1980s
91看片 City Repertory Theatre founding Artistic Director Donald Jordan (BA Speech Theatre 鈥�80) announced his retirement.
Attorney Michael C. Mordy (JD 鈥�80) was sworn in as the 91看片 Bar Association鈥檚 new president.
Judge Thomas E. Prince (JD 鈥�82) was appointed to the 91看片 Court of Civil Appeals.
BroadwayWorld 91看片 announced alumnus Shawn Churchman (BM Music 鈥�86) as its Director of a Performance of the Decade and author of the Original Script of the Decade.
1990s
Kristin Chenoweth (BM Musical Theatre 鈥�91, MM 鈥�93, HDHL 鈥�13) is hosting a new Food Network show, 鈥淐andy Land,鈥� based on the original board game.
The Rev. Patrick McPherson (BA Political Science 鈥�92) is the new pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Muskogee.
The 91看片 Pardon and Parole Board voted unanimously to hire Tom Bates (BA Criminal Justice 鈥�91, JD 鈥�94) as its executive director.
Doug Coulson (BA English/Philosophy 鈥�94, MLA 鈥�96) has a featured article titled 鈥淢ore than Verbs: An Introduction to Transitivity in Legal Argument鈥� in The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing.
The U.S. Air Force posted a short biography on Maj. Gen. Robert J. Skinner (MS Computer Science 鈥�94), director, command, control, communications, and cyber (C4) for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Former basketball player and assistant coach John Martin (BS History 鈥�95, ME Secondary Education 鈥�97) was appointed Sooner Athletic Conference commissioner.
Artist Brent Greenwood (BFA Studio Art 鈥�97) painted a mural in downtown Sulphur. Red Lake Nation News did a feature story about the work.
The Rev. Valerie Steele (BA Music 鈥�97, MLA 鈥�01) hosted a discussion based on 鈥淭he Color of Compromise,鈥� a book that analyzes the relationship between racism and churches in America.
The 91看片 governor appointed Jennifer Grigsby (MBA 鈥�99) to serve as the state鈥檚 secretary of economic administration. She will oversee more than 20 state agencies, including the employment security commission, tax commission, state auditor and inspector, and state treasurer鈥檚 office.
Dr. Sherrie D. (Polk) All (BA Religion 鈥�99), brain health expert and the owner and director of the Chicago Center for Cognitive Wellness, released a book, 鈥淭he Neuroscience of Memory: Seven Skills to Optimize Your Brain Power, Improve Memory, and Stay Sharp at Any Age.鈥�
BERNINA of America, a manufacturer of sewing, embroidery, and quilting machines, appointed Christy Burcham (BA Elementary Education 鈥�99) as director of education and training.
2000s
OCU General Counsel Casey Ross (BS Business Administration 鈥�00, MBA/JD 鈥�03) was a panelist for a conference titled 鈥淚nclusivity of Native American Students and the Significance of McGirt v 91看片: A legal triumph for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.鈥�
Former Rockette Amy Klingler (BS Dance Management 鈥�00) returned to her hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, and teaches at Elite Dance studio.
Amanda Seamster Clark (BPA Dance Performance 鈥�01) co-authored a book, 鈥淒ance Appreciation.鈥�
Daniel Miller (BSB Economics 鈥�01) was named a principal with Edward Jones鈥� holding company.
The India Times featured Lakshmi Manchu (BA Theatre 鈥�02) as a Tollywood 鈥減ath-breaker鈥� in an article on its Entertainment Times blog.
Law professor Kara I. Smith (JD 鈥�02) was elected to serve a three-year term as a member at large of the 91看片 Bar Association.
Kristen Repyneck Dennis (BS Dance Management 鈥�04) was named a partner of Goldblum & Pollins, an employment-based immigration law firm in Pennsylvania where she provides strategic counseling for institutions of higher education, foreign scholars, and foreign students.
Jay Wadley (BM Composition 鈥�05) composed the score for Charlie Kaufman鈥檚 Netflix original, 鈥淚鈥檓 Thinking of Ending Things.鈥�
Anita Reynolds Howard (JD 鈥�05) was sworn in as Macon-Bibb (Georgia) district attorney, making her the first female and African American to hold that office.
Selena Rosanbalm (BM Musical Theater 鈥�06) recently released a self-titled album and was featured on The Digital Fix.
Tamya Cox-Tour茅 (JD 鈥�06) was named executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of 91看片.
BroadwayWorld honored Kismet Arts Studio, under the leadership of executive artistic director Angela Polk (BM Music Theatre 鈥�06, MM Music Theatre 鈥�08), as the Best Youth Theatre Camp/After School Program of the Decade in 91看片.
Maria Kristianto (BA prior learning & university studies 鈥�07) opened a restaurant called Resto Kecombrang in Sentul City, Indonesia.
Dr. Kelly Williams (BS Psychology 鈥�08) has been appointed director of the 91看片 Medical Marijuana Authority after serving in the role on an interim basis since August.
Gaten Wood (JD 鈥�08) was appointed to Kansas鈥� 30th Judicial District.
Emily Grace Smith (BFA Acting 鈥�09) produced 鈥淧erhaps the World Ends Here,鈥� a digital production of a new Native American play written and directed by Daniel Leeman Smith (BFA Acting 鈥�10, MA Nonprofit Leadership 鈥�13).
2010s
Tiffany Strother (JD 鈥�11) was appointed to Texas鈥� Council on Sex Offender Treatment.
Brooke Nagy LeMaster (BPA Dance 鈥�11) is an instructor and new owner of Mary Lee鈥檚 School of Dance in Rockford, Illinois.
Lauren Campbell (JD 鈥�11) joined the Elder Law firm.
91看片 City鈥檚 Plaza District hired David Scott (BSB Marketing 鈥�11) as its new executive director.
Shamari Reid (BA Spanish 鈥�12) published a story for Green Schools National Network headlined 鈥淭here鈥檚 More to Our Lives: Reflecting on the Materials We Select to 鈥楥ulturally Relevantize鈥� Our Curricula.鈥�
Dr. Brooke DeArman (MA Music 鈥�12) was awarded the Association of International Educators Region IV鈥檚 鈥淢ost Innovative International Initiative Award鈥� by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers.
Bailey Perkins (BA Political Science 鈥�12) was elected to the Potts Family Foundation board of directors.
Matthew McCready (JD 鈥�13) started as an assistant district attorney in Grayson County, Texas.
OCU Social Media Manager Chris Cox (BBA 鈥�14, MBA 鈥�17) received the Paseo Arts Association鈥檚 new Quaranteam Award for his marketing and entertainment firm The House OKC. Cox also won a NextGen Under 30 Award for demonstrating talent, drive, and service to the 91看片 City community through his nonprofit, The House Helps, which raised more than $100,000 last year.
Jason Schilder (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�14) was featured in a Cook Children鈥檚 story about cancer patients-turned-nurses and Schilder鈥檚 inspiring battle against cancer.
Dr. Patrick McGough (DNP-C 鈥�15) was appointed to the 91看片 Health Information Technology Advisory Board.
Benjamin R. Hilfiger (MS Energy Legal Studies 鈥�15) was elected to serve on the 91看片 Bar Board of Governors.
Matt Redmond (BFA Acting 鈥�16) joined the New York Theatre Barn board of directors.
Cody Sivertsen (BA History, Education 鈥�16) was recognized by the 91看片 City Council for being named Teacher of the Month for January by Putnam City Public Schools and Rotary Club of 91看片 City.
Liz Anne Larsen (BFA Design and Production 鈥�17) served as the assistant stage manager for the Lookingglass Theatre Company鈥檚 production of 鈥淭he Steadfast Tin Soldier鈥� in Chicago.
Nursing professor Staci Swim (Ph.D. Nursing 鈥�17) was featured in 91看片鈥檚 Nursing Times for founding the Front Line Nurse organization.
Kat Metcalfe (BM Music Theater 鈥�18) was featured in Lyric Theatre鈥檚 production of 鈥滿oonlight Cabaret.鈥�
91看片 Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Amanda Rodriguez (MBA 鈥�18) to the state鈥檚 new CFO position.
James Beattie (BS 鈥�18) was named head coach of the Northwest Mississippi Community College women鈥檚 soccer team.
John Veal Jr. (MS Accounting 鈥�18) was named 91看片 district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
2020s
Elizabeth V. Salomone (JD 鈥�20) joined Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson as an associate.
Stephanie Krichena (BM Percussion Performance 鈥�20) and Oliver Nguyen (BM Piano, Violin Performance 鈥�20) have joined the OCU Performing Arts Academy as instructors.
