Seminole State College Educational Foundation Trustee and Vision Bank President and CEO Steve Bagwell (left) recently donated several prints of artwork by Kelly Haney and other items to SSC. SSC Talent Search Advisor Damaris Haney (center), the daughter of Kelly Haney, and President Lana Reynolds (right) accepted the donation on behalf of the College. The items donated were part of the late Bill Horne’s private collection. In addition to Haney’s work, the donated items included prints from artist George Montgomery, famous for his depiction of the American West, and a headdress that was gifted to Horne by Haney in the 1970s. Horne, Bagwell’s father-in-law, was a member of the Vision Bank Board of Directors and an honorary Chief of the Methodist Indian Mission of Oklahoma. Haney served as a State Representative, a State Senator and Chair of the Appropriations committee – as well as in tribal government. The Enoch Kelly Haney Center on SSC’s campus carries his name as a tribute to his efforts to bring funding to the College. The donated works of art will be displayed in the Haney Center alongside many other pieces by the artist.
Seminole State College Professor of Government Jeffrey Christiansen speaks to students, faculty, staff and community members at an event honoring Presidents’ Day at the College on February 16 in the Utterback Ballroom. This year’s presentation was titled “Dwight D. Eisenhower: Solider and Statesman,” and focused on the 34th president’s early life, military service during the Second World War and his time in the Oval Office.
The Seminole State College Board of Regents approved a resolution to support the current law regarding firearm restrictions on college campuses and ratified the naming of the Trojan home baseball field at their meeting on Feb. 15.
During her report to the Board, President Lana Reynolds discussed campus events, personnel changes, progress on the Wellness Center Construction project and legislative activities.
The Seminole State College Educational Foundation received the David L. Boren Community Achievement Award at the Seminole Chamber of Commerce’s recent annual banquet in recognition of the economic impact their Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex had on the community of Seminole during 2023. The award was presented on Feb. 6 at the Utterback Ballroom on the College’s campus.
The award is bestowed upon individuals or organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to community service and engagement. The award also honored the Foundation’s longstanding efforts to raise funds for scholarships and campus capital projects and its operation of the SSC Rural Business and Resources Center, which provides economic development to communities throughout the College’s service area.
Several members of the Board of Trustees of the Seminole State College Educational Foundation were present at the Seminole Chamber banquet to share in the honor given to their organization for its positive impact on the community. Trustees pictured (left to right) are: Jim Hardin, Roy Sisco, Lance Wortham, Chris Moore, Billy Norton and Mark Schell.Continue reading “SSC Educational Foundation Honored with Community Award”→
December 2023 graduates of the Seminole State College nursing program recently achieved a 100 percent pass rate on their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
The NCLEX is an exam used to determine if recently graduated nursing students are safe to practice. Nurses are required to pass the NCLEX to earn licensure and legally practice nursing. In 2022, the Oklahoma Board of Nursing reported that the average pass rate of the NCLEX in the state was 78.67 percent, while the national average was 79.93 percent.
“We are so proud of the hard work and determination of these students,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said. “Our nursing faculty equip our graduates with the knowledge, skills and values they need to provide high-quality care to their patients.”
A large delegation of campus and community leaders representing Seminole State College attended Higher Education Day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday, Feb. 8. The event, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE), is held annually to demonstrate the value and importance of higher education in the state.
Seminole State College sophomore Ryan Carlisle, of Arapaho, attended the Nigh Institute Leadership Academy held in Oklahoma City Feb. 3-6.
Carlisle joined college students from across the state for the four-day academy. Over the course of the event, Carlisle and his peers volunteered at the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, enjoyed an OKC Thunder game, toured the Oklahoma City National Memorial, visited the Bob Funk Ranch and experienced the First Americans Museum.
The Seminole State College President’s Leadership Class spent time learning from the leaders at the Boys and Girls Club of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Students went through a typical afternoon at the Club to prepare to volunteer with children who attend on a weekly basis.
Charity Hair, Seminole, and Holden Bradford, Oklahoma City, face off in an enthusiastic rock, paper, scissors battle royale while their teams cheer them on waiting for their turn.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) held a regular meeting at Seminole State College (SSC) on Feb. 1. The meeting was part of the OSRHE’s ongoing effort to visit and learn more about the state’s public colleges and universities. SSC President Lana Reynolds greeted the Regents and made a presentation on the college’s history, academic initiatives, community impact, partnerships, athletics and opportunities for students.
SSC Student Government Association President Benjamin Parker, of Shawnee, spoke with the state regents about his experiences at the college. Pictured (left to right) OSRHE Chair Jack Sherry, Parker and Oklahoma State System of Higher Education Chancellor Allison Garrett.
Seminole State College hosted area colleges at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Southeast Oklahoma Legislative Briefing at Pete’s Place in Krebs on January 26. SSC attended the event with a delegation of state legislators.
SSC President Lana Reynolds welcomed attendees to the event and introduced Chancellor Allison Garrett of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
In her remarks, Chancellor Garrett discussed the importance of higher education in improving the economy and business climate of the state. The State Regents are requesting $1.1 billion in state funding for FY25, which reflects an increase of $122.4 million or 12.2% over the FY24 appropriation of $1 billion.
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education Chancellor Allison Garrett presents the proposed budget and speaks about the economic impact of higher education at the Southeast Legislative Briefing in Krebs on Jan. 26.
Chancellor Garrett gave a summary of the budget request to attendees of the event. The State Regents are requesting $9.5 million for FY25 to fund the Inspired to Teach program and expand concurrent enrollment.
Public higher education’s budget request also includes strategic investments that align with Oklahoma’s projected workforce demand in STEM and healthcare and focus on increasing adult degree completion. The State Regents seek $41.5 million for critical workforce development initiatives, including funds to increase enrollment and graduation in STEM disciplines, expand nursing education program and medical residency capacity to address the
state’s shortage of nurses and doctors, and provide additional scholarships for adult students nearing completion of a college degree or pursuing an industry-recognized micro-credential or certificate.
The proposed budget also seeks $71.4 million in to fund performance-based institutional allocations to address operational needs, address rising risk management costs, strengthen college access and academic success services for students, and fund strategic collaborations and shared services to drive long-term efficiencies across the state system.
State Representative Danny Williams (R-Seminole), Representative Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee) and Representative Danny Sterling (R-Tecumseh) attended the event on behalf of SSC.
Others representing Seminole State College at the event were President Leadership Class students sophomore Dalton Fowble, of Wellston; freshman Olivia Stevenson, of Shawnee; freshman Daylan Saxon, of Seminole; and freshman Jaylee Friend, of Prague; SSC Regents Chair Kim Hyden and Bryan Cain; SSC Educational Foundation trustees Jim Hardin, John Hargrave, Executive Director of the Avedis Foundation Dr. Kathy Laster, Rhonda McKee and Mark Schell; community supporters Seminole City Manager Steve Saxon and Lisa Saxon; SSC employees President Lana Reynolds, Director of Community Relations Kim Pringle and Communications Coordinator Josh Hutton.
The event was attended by delegations representing Carl Albert State College, Connors State College, East Central University, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Seminole State College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
