National Teacher of the Year Coming to OSU to Celebrate Teaching

National Teacher of the Year Kathy Mellor of Rhode Island will highlight the 15^th Annual Celebration of Teaching April 4 at OSU. Mellor’s talk is titled, “Personal Connections: Enhancing Professional Relationships, Collaboration and Success” and is scheduled at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Theater. The talk is free and open to the public. The annual celebration is an opportunity for Oklahoma’s outstanding classroom teachers and their students to meet the National and State Teachers of the Year, former Oklahoma Teachers of the Year and others who are dedicated to education. Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Susan Illgen, a kindergarten teacher at Grove Elementary School, will present the keynote address during the luncheon and awards presentation. Others taking part in the luncheon program include College of Education Dean Pamela Fry, Assistant State Superintendent of Schools Ramona Paul, Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry and numerous past Oklahoma Teachers of the Year.  The celebration is sponsored by OSU, the College of Education, Education Outreach, Oklahoma Teachers of the Year Organization, and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. For more information, call 744-8933 or (800) 765-8933 or visit http://www.okstate.edu/education/celebration

Report Says State Support of Higher Education Dropping Drastically

A report released by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education says state colleges and universities remain below the national average in funding per student. According to the report, Oklahoma’s per-student funding is $852 less than the national average. It also says that state support has decreased dramatically since 1996 when taxpayer dollars funded 62 percent of institutional budgets. In FY2005, state support dropped to only 50.3 percent. Part of the difference has been made up with tuition increases.  Even with higher tuition, a college education is still a great investment. The report says a college graduate will earn an average of $1 million more than a high school graduate over a lifetime and is less likely to be unemployed. You can get lots of good information in this report called “Key Indicators of Accountability 2004” at http://sysres.osrhe.edu/%7Eoeis/Report%20Card/Report%20Card.htm

Open Forums Scheduled to Help Pick New Student Union Director

The OSU community is invited to meet and help evaluate candidates for the position of OSU Student Union Director. Forums for the following candidates are scheduled in the Student Union.

·        Leah Barrett, director of the Boise State University Student Union, Wednesday, March 30, 1:30 p.m., Sequoyah Room

·        Mitchell Kilcrease, director of the University of Wisconsin Student Union-Eau Claire, Friday, April 8, 10 a.m., Oklahoma Room

·        Thomas Rufer, director of the University of Arkansas Student Union, Tuesday, April 12, 10 a.m., Case Study I.

Resumes will be available at the door. Everyone is invited.

CEO Day April 6 at OSU

Two OSU business graduates who now lead successful companies will return to campus Wednesday, April 6, to share their experiences with students and the campus community. The third annual Spears School of Business CEO Day features David H. Batchelder and Link Newcomb. The two will visit business classrooms and participate in an afternoon question-and-answer forum that is free and open to the public. The “Critical CEO Issues Forum” is set for 2-3:30 p.m. in the OSU Student Union Theater.  Batchelder, a Bartlesville native and ’71 accounting graduate, held various executive positions with Mesa Petroleum Company, including chief operating officer. He later founded Relational Group, a company that includes a financial advisory firm, a private equity firm and an investment management firm.  Newcomb, originally from Elk City, graduated in 1984 with an M.S. in accounting.  Since 1999, he has served as chief operating officer of Oakley, a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer products known for innovative designs. For more information, call 744-8617 or email  at spears-info@okstate.edu 

OSU SportLines

·        Wrestling Heavyweight National Champion Steve Mocco was recently named the top collegiate wrestler in the country. At 37-0 this season, Mocco will receive the Dan Hodge Trophy at the OSU Wrestling Banquet on April 7.  Mocco is the first Cowboy to receive the trophy in the history of the award. 

·        Softball is competing in the Border War series doubleheader in Fayetteville, Ark. today against Tulsa at 3 p.m. and Arkansas at 5 p.m.  Last year, the Cowgirls defeated Arkansas, but dropped to Tulsa. 

·        Cowboy Baseball faces Arkansas-Little Rock at 7 p.m., Tuesday and 4 p.m., Wednesday in Stillwater.

·        Women’s Tennis plays the University of Tulsa today at 2 p.m. in the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa.

Suggestions, questions and comments about OSU SportLines should be sent to sheila.dohmann@okstate.edu

For more OSU Sports go to http://www.okstate.com/