Spring 2003

36 Pages·2004·1.22 MB·English

by  Allison Bastian

Spring 2004
Oklahoma City
University’s
GEAR-UP program and the university’s Art Cluborganized an effort
to beautify the campus by painting over graffiti on the wall surrounding the construction
site for the Wanda L. Bass Music Center. Art majors from Professor Bruce Macella’s
graphic design class supervised the project. Education majors from Professor Linda Hibbs’s class volunteered to help. Students from
Coolidge Elementary School did much of the painting under the supervision of students from John Wesley High School, who participated
as a service-learning project. Three of the school teachers involved with the project were alumni: Lora Hawkins-Carter,‘01 Bachelor of
Fine Arts in studio art and ’03 Master of Education (now pursuing a Master of Criminal Justice Administration at the university); James
Cobb,’03 Master of Liberal Arts; and J.L. Dye Jr.,’03 Bachelor of Science in elementary education. (photographs by Ann Sherman)
Features Focus Magazine
Editor
Robert K. Erwin
Designer
Allison Bastian
Focus on
Writers
Jim Abbott Robert K. Erwin
Mary Jane Alexander Lindsey Hoyt
Christine Berney Melissa Milligan
Heidi Centrella Matthew Randall
Sandra Dean Trevite Willis
Photography
Christine Berney Ann Sherman
Ashley Griffith Virginia Felton
President of Alumni Board
Drew Williamson ’90
Oklahoma City University has
President of Law School Alumni Board
always been a place where M. Joe Crosthwait Jr. ’74
people learn to show
Focus Magazine
leadership in service to the 2501 N. Blackwelder
community. Work is now Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1493
underway to have every degree
If you have items for “Through the Years,”
at the university offer some e-mail them to Robert K. Erwin at
[email protected]. Please include your
service learning component. degree name and year of graduation.
4
pg. Focus Magazineis interested in the personal
and professional triumphs of Oklahoma City
University alumni. Notices of candidacy for
office are excluded by policy.
Focus Magazineis a publication produced by
the University Relations Department for alum-
20 ni, parents, and friends of Oklahoma City
An inauguration to remember
University. Send items of potential interest to
the magazine’s readership to the addresses list-
The inauguration of Tom J. McDaniel as the university’s ed above or call [phone].
sixteenth president Check out Oklahoma City University
on the internet at www.okcu.edu.
Oklahoma City University provides equality of opportuni-
ty in higher education for all persons, including faculty
and employees, with respect to hiring, continuation,
Departments promotion, and tenure, applicants for admission,
enrolled students, and graduates, without discrimination
or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion,
2 FROM THE PRESIDENT 25 UNIVERSITY UPDATE national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, sexual
“What is a servant leader?” – The buzz on events and people orientation, or veteran status.
a scholarship essay contest for campus-wide The vice president for administration and finance,
located in Room 402 of the Clara E. Jones Administration
high school students Building, telephone [phone], coordinates the
34 SPORTS UPDATE university’s compliance with titles VI and VII of
10 FEATURED FACULTY MEMBER Stars shooting toward championships again tAhme eCnidviml Renigtsh tosf A1c9t7 o2f, 1th9e6 4R,e Thiatblei lIiXta otifo tnh eA Ectd oufc 1a9ti7o3n, the
Mostafa Moini Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age
36 THROUGH THE YEARS Discrimination in Employment Act.
Alumni achievements and activities
18 ALUMNI NEWS
News from and about the Oklahoma City
40 IN MEMORIAM
University alumni associations
President’s Message
Oklahoma City University has persevered through
wars, economic downturns, and all the vagaries of life that ninety-nine
years can present. I believe the weaving of education and faith to pro-
duce servant leaders, has been the ‘true north’ on the compass of this
institution, and that we will persevere through the ups and downs of
our next century by holding to our vision.
As a private, United Methodist affiliated university, we work to help
our students become effective leaders in service to their communities. In the
last year we began in earnest the work of building service to the community into all
of our curricula so that whatever degree you get from the university, it will have
some service learning component. This issue of Focus Magazine features service
learning and details our plans and achievements.
To underscore our commitment to servant leadership, I’d like to invite you to
encourage any high school juniors or seniors you know to participate in our inaugu-
ral Servant Leadership
I’d like to invite you to encourage any
Scholarship Competition.
high school juniors or seniors you know to
Students should write 750
participate in our inaugural Servant words on the topic, “What does
Leadership Scholarship Competition. servant leadership mean to
me?” The deadline for submis-
sions is May 31. The winner’s essay will be printed in a future issue of Focus
Magazine and they will receive a $1,000 scholarship.*
For people to do the right thing, they need good examples. I believe Oklahoma City University
is producing a new set of examples of servant leadership every December and May.
Sincerely,
Tom J. McDaniel
President
* Addition of this scholarship to other awards cannot exceed the price of tuition, as it is a tuition
discount rather than a cash award.
2 Focus Spring 2003
Dean Joins List of University Family
Members Honored by Governors
In November, School of Music Dean Mark Parker joined a distinguished
list of Oklahoma City University alumni, faculty, and trustees who
have been recognized at the annual Governor’s Arts Awards.
Parker has championed excellence in music Smith (1999), Dr. Wanda L. Bass and John E. and
performance and education for more than Eleanor Kirkpatrick (1994), Ann Simmons
two decades, specializing in international Alspaugh (1991), and Lou Kerr (1988). Alumni
outreach and linking the academic and profession- recipients include Bert Seabourn (1980-81) and
al arts worlds. He has conducted the Oklahoma Kelly Haney (1978).
City University Symphony Orchestra since 1990 Other awards in the series have gone to alumni
and has been dean of the or trustees, including: the
School of Music since 1995. George Nigh Mayor’s Award –
“Your
“Your contributions have Ron Norick (1990), Marilyn
enriched and enhanced the Douglass Memorial Award –
contributions
cultural environment of Dr. Wanda L. Bass (1981),
Oklahoma,” said former Gov. Lifetime Service Award –
have
Frank Keating. John E. Kirkpatrick (1977),
Parker received the Arts and enriched and and Special Recognition –
Education Award, which has Kelly Haney (1992).FM
previously been awarded to Jim enhanced
Halsey, former arts manage-
ment faculty member (1998), the cultural
Peggy Payne, former music fac-
environment of
ulty member (1995), and
Florence Birdwell, voice
Oklahoma,”
instructor (1985).
The Governor’s Arts Award said former
has been presented to no
more than five honorees each Gov. Frank
year since 1975. Two univer-
sity employees have previous- Keating.
ly received it: Patrick
Alexander, executive director,
Office of Institutional
Advancement (1987), and Dr.
Ray Luke, former music faculty member (1978).
Several current and past trustees also have been
recipients: Ray Ackerman (2000), Jeanne Hoffman
Focus Spring 2003 3
SERVICE LEARNING:
the university’s mission manifested
Learning to Serve:
the OCUSERVESspring 2002 pilot program
“Oklahoma City University has this peculiar message to all students:
the meaning of life is service.”
Story and photographs by – Eugene Antrim, Oklahoma City University President (1923 – 1934)
Christine E. Berney
W
ALKINGINTOCECILYMCCULLEY’SCROWDEDSECONDGRADECLASSROOMATWHEELER
For more information Elementary School, a bilingual (English/Spanish) school in the Oklahoma
about Service City Public School system, you wouldn’t think there was room for one more child, let
Learning, visit alone the two students from Oklahoma City University she welcomes every Friday.
www.okcu.edu/ocuserves/ When Oklahoma City University studentsJennifer Burns,junior information technolo-
gy major and Spanish minor from Carrollton, TX, and Stefanie Kimbro,criminal justice
graduate student from Lawton, OK, walk in, the class greets them with a chorus of “hel-
los” and “holas.” Burns and Kimbro helped with classroom activities and tutored children
as part of their Latin American Civilization course at Oklahoma City University.
Above, senior education “They’ve had a wonderful impact on the students,” McCulley said. “They’re great role
major Neal Eason, of Gage, OK,
working with a Eugene Field models.”
Elementary School student Latin American Civilization,taught by Dr. Donna Hodkinson, was one of three OCUSERVES
pilot courses offered at the university in spring 2002 that incorporated a service learning com-
ponent. In addition to learning about the culture and history of Latin America in the classroom,
students also spent time in the Oklahoma City Latin American community at places like
Wheeler Elementary and the Latino Community Development Center.
4 Focus Spring 2003
Right, junior information technology major
organization called TEEM
Jennifer Burns tutoring a Wheeler Elementary
School student (The Education and
Employment Ministry)
Below, The Blackwelder Group working on
video project for TEEM that provides training to
unemployed and under-
employed persons in areas
like cosmetology, comput-
er maintenance, and food
service.
“We hit the jackpot
with Oklahoma City
University,” said TEEM’s
chosen receive a stipend. Funding for executive director, Don Vaught, who
the service learning pilot program praised The Blackwelder Group students
stipends was provided by the Kerr for their dedication, professionalism,
Foundation. Subsequent stipends have and creativity. Vaught estimated the pro
been funded by the Vivian Wimberly bono video saved TEEM up to $15, 000
Center for Ethics and Community in addition to giving them a compelling
Service, for which Davies is director. educational and fundraising tool.
“Books and videos only provide a Although community service has always The Blackwelder Group handled the
two-dimensional look,” said Hodkinson. been a part of the ministry of Oklahoma entire project from start to finish, said
“Service learning, on the other hand, City University – indeed prominently Harmon. They wrote the script, shot the
gets students out into the community included in the university’s mission state- video, and edited the raw footage into
where they can put theory into practice. ment – the institution has recently become the finished product, which had its
They use Spanish in authentic conver- more intentional about adding a service debut at a community luncheon hosted
sation with native speakers,” Hodkinson learning component to courses across the by TEEM on April 19, 2002.
explained. “They listen and observe.” curricula. “The main goal of any service “We walked away from the semester
learning component is to increase the not only with a grade,” said broadcasting
(cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) value of the educational experience for the major Joy Groth,of Choctaw, OK, “but
students,” said Davies. “Service Learning with the satisfaction one gains from being
Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies,dean of the Wimberly is not forced volunteerism but an opportu- involved in the community.”
School of Religion and Graduate nity to make practical applications of the
Theological Center, serves on the task theory learned in the classroom.” (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1)
force responsible for reviewing service
learning proposals and selecting those to (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) Students in Dr. Sharon Brickman’s educa-
be implemented each semester – a num- tion course, Diagnosis and Correction of
ber that has grown from the three Students in Mass Communications Reading Difficulties, worked with second
OCUSERVESpilot courses in spring 2002 Department Chair Karlie Harmon’s upper- and third graders at Eugene Field
to five service learning courses in both fall division course, The Blackwelder Group, Elementary School, a magnet school for
2002 and spring 2003. put the skills they learned in the classroom children at risk for academic failure. Twice a
All full time faculty members may sub- to work in the community by producing a week for six weeks, they met with individual
mit proposals. Those whose courses are corporate video for a nonprofit, faith-based students, first assessing their reading skills
“
Although distractions flocked around her like a hive of honeybees,
Quantisha was able to conquer multiple subtractions…
She was so happy
whenever she completed a problem correctly… My face lit up as she yelled, ‘Teacher!
Teacher! Look what I did!’” – Student Jennifer Burns writing in her journal about a student at
Wheeler Elementary who she tutored in multiple subtractions
Focus Spring 2003 5
using various methods, including standard- work there, instituting an improved Introduction to Creative Writing/
ized tests and informal reading assess- token economy system that has had a Poetry Workshop
ments, then planning and preparing reading positive effect on the work behavior of Dr. Elaine Smokewood
lessons matched to each child’s reading the center’s clients. Students participate in poetry writing
ability and interest. workshops for residents at Epworth Villa
“One-on-one is absolutely the best English Department Senior Seminar Retirement Community, working one-on-
way,” said Brickman. “You see a big dif- Dr. Elaine Smokewood one with residents, and designing and
ference in the children’s attitude toward Students participated in a writing work- teaching lessons.
reading.” shop for residents of Epworth Villa
Retirement Community, helping them Spanish Civilization
write memoirs and autobiographies. Dr. Donna Hodkinson
Continuing the work they did in fall 2002,
Continuing to Serve: Intermediate Spanish advanced Spanish students serve as class-
Dr. Mark Griffin room volunteers, teaching Spanish at
fall 2002 and spring
Students spent time each week tutoring Gatewood Elementary School, where there
2003 courses immigrant Spanish speakers and working is no designated Spanish teacher.
with women’s and seniors groups at a
“...to prepare them to become effective variety of Oklahoma City sites, including Universal Self-Care Requisites III:
leaders in service to their communities.” the Latino Community Development Activity and Social Interaction
– from the Oklahoma City Center and the Oklahoma City Denise Burton and Nancy Gibson
University mission statement Metropolitan Library System. Junior nursing students complete a portion
of their clinical requirements by planning
B UILDINGONTHESUCCESSOFTHE Spring 2003 and implementing a weekend camp for chil-
OCUSERVESpilot program, dren, ages seven to eighteen, with spina bifi-
Oklahoma City University now offers five Economics of Poverty da. The camp is coordinated with the Spina
service learning courses each semester – Dr. Kevin Simmons Bifida Clinic at the University of Oklahoma
from a wide range of schools and depart- As an experiential way of learning about Health Sciences Center Children’s Hospital.
ments. the underlying causes of poverty, stu-
dents spend six weeks of the semester
Fall 2002 volunteering at Skyline Urban Ministries
in Oklahoma City. Once a week, the The Many Facets
Advanced Cost Accounting whole class meets to share their volun-
of Service
Dr. Jacci Rodgers teer experiences.
Master level students worked with local
businesses to define, analyze, and suggest Honors Composition II: Visual Rhetoric “Service is the rent that you pay for
solutions to cost accounting- based prob- Dr. Brooke Hessler room on this earth.”
lems. In cooperation with the collections – Shirley Chisholm, first
manager and curator of the Oklahoma African-American woman
Advanced Spanish Conversation City National Memorial, students serve elected to the US Congress
Dr. Donna Hodkinson as “virtual archivists,” helping to build
Students developed their Spanish conver- an online archive of artifacts that have E VERYDAY, INMANYWAYS,OKLAHOMA
sational skills while serving as classroom been collected at the bombing site. City University students, faculty,
volunteers and tutors at bilingual Students assist in selecting, interpret- and staff continue to uphold the tradition
Gatewood Elementary School. ing, photographing, and writing about of community service, in and out of the
the artifacts in order to help visitors classroom. Here are some of the ways we
Behavior Modification gain a deeper understanding of the touch the surrounding community:
Dr. Dennis Jowaisas memorial. “The opportunity to develop
Students visited the Dale Rogers Training this partnership through OCUSERVES Annual Children’s Concert
Center, which serves neurologically dam- and to pilot it with the Honors stu-
aged children and adults in Oklahoma dents has been great. It’s inspiring Working to create an interest in and
City. Two students have continued their work,” said Hessler. appreciation of music for Oklahoma City’s
6 Focus Spring 2003
GEARUP volunteer Lora Carter
School of Music “Instrumental Petting Zoo.”
Public Schools in programs
designed to provide incentives
for pursuing a college education.
Last fall, Lora Carter,education
graduate student from Oklahoma
City, worked with students at
Douglas High School on a variety
of art projects, including a mural
Food Bank Donations at the school. “I taught them art tech-
and Labels for Education niques, but I also taught them how to
cooperate with each other,” said Carter.
Over the holidays, and
throughout the year, various Habitat for Humanity Shack-athon
university groups take up
collections for the communi- Oklahoma City University’s Habitat for
ty. This fall, OCULEADSstu- Humanity Chapter raised $1,100 at its
dents collected canned food third annual Shack-athon fundraiser last
for the Regional Food Bank, November. Participants paid a $50 fee to
youth, the School of Music hosts an and the university’s Student Oklahoma build their shacks on the campus quad,
annual children’s concert for students Education Association collected labels and then stayed in them overnight. Teams
from the Oklahoma City Public School box tops to help Eugene Field Elementary earned points (and money) through
system. “We play to fifth graders who School buy much needed equipment and
will be making a decision whether or classroom materials. Sodexho, the universi- Habitat for Humanity volunteers at Shack-athon
not to start an instrument next year,” ty’s dining service, also collects canned food
explained Dr. Matthew Mailman, direc- at the holiday season.
tor of bands. After the spring 2002
concerts, members of the university’s GEAR UP
Wind Philharmonic were stationed
around the recital hall and lobby for Oklahoma City University GEAR UP
an “instrument petting zoo.” Students (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness
were encouraged to handle and play all for Undergraduate Programs) staff, which
sorts of instruments, ranging from the includes students, faculty, and alumni,
flute to the tuba. works with students in the Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Service Project
This summer, grade nine through twelve youths will serve the community through a weeklong urban
mission experience, the Oklahoma City Service Project. The project is a partnership between Oklahoma
City University students, faculty, and staff; Volunteers in Mission; Project Transformation; and youth and
their sponsors from across the region.
Volunteer work will include construction and renovation projects in the Oklahoma City area and working with
college students to lead enrichment programs for inner city children. Oklahoma City University students will
provide leadership, training, and support. There will also be opportunities for worship and reflection.
For more information, contact Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, Director of the Vivian Wimberly Center for Ethics
and Community Service at [phone] or [email protected].
Focus Spring 2003 7
Clockwise, from left: Stars for Schools, Camp Wildfire,
Light the Campus, Asian Health Fair
games and the popular People’s
Choice competition. All profits go
toward the construction of a univer-
sity-sponsored Habitat house.
Kramer School of Nursing
For six years, the nursing school has
sponsored Camp Wildfire,an outdoor Light the Campus
camp for children with spina bifida. Junior lems, as well as hearing tests and mam-
nursing students and faculty sponsors mography. Building on the success of the 2001 inaugural
Nancy Gibson and Denise Burton collabo- event, the second annual Light the Campus cel-
rate with staff at Children’s Hospital to School of Law ebration in November 2002 brought even more
provide boating, fishing, basketball, pet holiday cheer to the Oklahoma City community.
therapy, and much more for children who The Volunteer Legal Centerlets law stu- (See page 12 for details.)
otherwise would have no opportunity for a dents work with pro bono attorneys in a
summer camp experience due to their community setting, assisting low-income OCULEADS
severe physical limitations. The camp has clients. Saturday morning clinics are held
grown from eleven campers its first year to in churches and community centers near A scholarship and leadership program
eighteen last year. campus, and provide consumer debt coun- designed for freshmen who have demonstrat-
seling; eventually they should address ed excellent leadership potential in high
Nursing professors Glenda Bell and many areas of civil law. school, OCULEADSparticipates in several
Alison Severns took a group of twenty- service projects each year, including volun-
four students, nurse practitioners, and Oklahoma Lawyers for Children teer work at St. Luke’s United Methodist
translators to Rio Bravo, Mexico in win- (See story, facing page.) Church and for Habitat for Humanity.
ter 2002. The group saw some 400
patients in two remote sites and at the Let’s Pretend Players Petree College of Arts and Sciences
Volunteers in Missionclinic. This year’s Speakers Bureau
mission trip will be to Chiapas, Mexico, Professor Judith Palladino, chair of the
in May. Petree College of Arts and Sciences In fall 2001, the Petree College of Arts and
Speech and Theatre Department, writes Sciences launched a speakers bureau, pro-
This year’s Asian Health Fairsaw and directs theater presentations per- viding college level presentations to area
more than 180 families from the com- formed at elementary and secondary high school classes. A number of arts and
munity. Nursing students, translators, schools. She also creates a teacher sciences faculty and staff have participated,
and community health care providers resource packet with information and including Denise Binkley, teacher education
offered free services, including screen- activities correlated to Oklahoma City certification specialist, who spoke to seniors
ing for cholesterol, diabetes, glaucoma, Public School’s core curriculum. at Norman High School on the topic of stu-
respiratory problems, and spinal prob- dent success; former Associate Dean Mark
8 Focus Spring 2003