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In this photo, Seminole State College GEAR UP students (pictured left to right) Korbyn Finch of Maud, Hailey Mack of Varnum and Raygan Lee of Wetumka pose for a photo after visiting the United State Capitol Building during their trip to Washington D.C. for the Youth Leadership Summit.

SSC GEAR UP Students Attend Leadership Summit in D.C.

Josh Hutton

Three Seminole State College GEAR UP students were selected alongside other students from across the United States to attend and participate in the 2024 Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) during the annual National GEAR UP conference July 21-24, in Washington D.C.

YLS’ theme this year was “Diplomacy Beyond Borders: Inspire, Connect, Transform.” The students learned how to be an efficient leader and have healthy leadership skills. The students were able to network with a diverse group of young adults and discuss the unique obstacles they had overcome to get where they are today.

The SSC GEAR UP participants included Korbyn Finch from Maud, Raygan Lee from Wetumka, and Hailey Mack from Varnum.

The three GEAR UP students and the GEAR UP staff also enjoyed an educational preconference. The places visited included Boston and Salem, Massachusetts, Newport, Rhode Island and New York City. Participants attended Wicked on Broadway, walked the Salem Witch Trial Trails and the Freedom Trail in Boston. They also visited several national monuments and toured Brown University, Harvard University and New York University.

In this photo, Local students exit the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Center on the Seminole State College campus during a High School Visit Day at SSC on Nov. 8, 2023.

Concurrent Enrollment at SSC Helps Students Earn College Credit While Keeping Costs Down

Josh Hutton

There is still time for high school juniors and seniors to enroll in concurrent classes at Seminole State College before the fall semester begins on Aug. 19, with late enrollment open until Aug. 23. Concurrent enrollment helps students earn college credit hours before their high school graduation.

According to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 15,382 students participated in concurrent enrollment across the state last fall. Nearly 77% of those students completed coursework at a community college.

“Concurrent enrollment at Seminole State College offers numerous benefits for high school students,” Director of Enrollment Management Edith Cathey said. “From cost savings to a smoother transition into college life, SSC provides a supportive environment for students to begin their higher education journey.”

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In this photo, pictured left to right, Director of Communications Josh Hutton, Director of Community Relations Kim Pringle and Web and Multimedia Coordinator Brooks Nickell pose for a photo with the two awards they received at the 2024 Oklahoma College Public Relations Association annual conference in Tulsa.

SSC PR Team Wins Awards at State Conference

Josh Hutton

The Seminole State College Public Relations team was honored with two awards at the annual Oklahoma College Public Relations Association conference, held from July 14-16 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa.

Director of Communications Josh Hutton and Web and Multimedia Coordinator Brooks Nickell took home an award in the Special Publications category for their work on SSC’s 2023 Annual Report. Nickell shot and edited photos and Hutton wrote the copy and designed the publication.

“The Annual Report highlights campus events, student life, academic programs, the institution’s finances and the achievements of our students, faculty and staff. It’s always a major undertaking, but after it has been compiled, it’s always amazing to see what our campus community can accomplish in the span of a year,” Hutton said.

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In this photo, SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell welcomes athletes across all sports to campus in the fall of 2023.

SSC Student-Athletes Earn NJCAA Academic Honors

Josh Hutton

Fifty-eight student-athletes and six athletic teams at Seminole State College have been recognized for their academic achievements this year by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The NJCAA Academic All-American Student Athlete Awards are divided into the three groups based on grade point average – First Team requires a 4.0 GPA, Second Team requires a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99, and Third Team requires a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79.

“Our students’ dedication to excellence both in the classroom and on the field exemplifies the core values of Seminole State College. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and perseverance,” SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell said.

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In this photo Newly appointed Regent Teresa Burnett (right) is sworn in for a seven-year term on the SSC Board of Regents by her husband, Brad Burnett (left), at the meeting on July 18.

New Regent Sworn in at SSC Board Meeting

Josh Hutton

The Seminole State College Board of Regents swore in a new member, selected officers and approved a policy revision at their meeting on July 18.

The meeting commenced with the formal swearing-in of new Regent Teresa Burnett. The oath of office was administered by her husband, Brad Burnett, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Oklahoma Baptist University and former Associate Vice President of Student Financial Services at the University of Oklahoma.

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In this photo, SSC agriculture alumni and Oklahoma State University graduate student McKenzie Sheldon takes participants bird watching as part of the Outdoor session.

SSC Summer Camps Create Memorable Experiences for Kids

Josh Hutton

Seminole State College’s Kids on Campus summer camps attracted dozens of students who participated in a wide range of sessions. This year’s camps ran from June 24-27 and July 8-11. Over the two weeks, kids participated in 82 individual sessions with themes such as Fun Fitness, Outdoor, Art, Clay, Lego and STEM.

This is a portrait of Jessica Isaacs.

Isaacs Named Dean of Instruction at SSC

Josh Hutton

Professor of English Jessica Isaacs has been named the new Dean of Instruction at Seminole State College, effective July 15, 2024.

Isaacs has worked full-time at Seminole State College for the past 22 years. She has served as the Division Chair of the Language Arts and Humanities Division and played a pivotal role in the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in both 2020 and 2010.

“We have so many great opportunities for growth at SSC. As a senior faculty member in this new leadership role, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned, to support faculty any way I can and to help our students succeed,” Isaacs said.

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In this photo Seminole State College Director of Enrollment Management Edith Cathey (right) assists Madalyn Douthit (left), of Seminole, as she completes the scholarship application.

SSC Extends Scholarship Application Deadline Following FAFSA Delay

Josh Hutton

Seminole State College has announced an extension of the scholarship application deadline for the Fall 2024 term to July 31, 2024. This decision follows the delay in the availability of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which has impacted many students’ ability to complete their financial aid applications on time.

The extended deadline provides prospective and current students additional time to apply for scholarships amid uncertainties caused by the FAFSA delay. The 2024-25 FAFSA was initially delayed due to a massive overhaul of the application, as required by Congress. As of June 21, the percentage of FAFSA completions by 2024 high school graduates was down 11.8 percent versus the class of 2023 at the same time last year, according to the National College Attainment Network.

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Posing for a photo are SSC employees who attended the national “Element451: Engage Summit” in Raleigh, North Carolina (pictured left to right) are Davis Kappele, Academic Advisor; Melanie Rinehart, Vice President of Finance, Grants and Enrollment; Edith Cathey, Director of Enrollment Management; Madisen Potter, Recruitment Specialist; and Caitlin Brown, Online Degree Navigator.

SSC Staff Receives National Training

Josh Hutton

Members of the Seminole State College enrollment management team attended the national “Element451: Engage Summit” in Raleigh, North Carolina this week. The group received training on the specialized Customer Relations Module (CRM) software, which SSC uses for their recruitment, marketing and communication efforts. They also learned about ways to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to better engage with, support and conduct outreach to current and prospective students. SSC employees (pictured left to right) are Davis Kappele, Academic Advisor; Melanie Rinehart, Vice President of Finance, Grants and Enrollment; Edith Cathey, Director of Enrollment Management; Madisen Potter, Recruitment Specialist; and Caitlin Brown, Online Degree Navigator.