Author Josh Hutton

Pictured: Freshmen members of the Seminole State College President’s Leadership Class pose for a group photo during a reception at the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum on Aug. 21.

SSC Announces New President’s Leadership Class

Josh Hutton

Seminole State College has selected 21 freshmen students for Class XVI of the President’s Leadership Class. PLC is a two-year scholarship program created to help students develop leadership skills and provide personal and professional growth opportunities.

The freshmen met for an orientation session at the College prior to the start of classes. They, along with their parents, attended a reception held at the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum on Monday, August 21, where College administrators and Eileen Castle, the Executive Director of the museum, spoke.

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Osage History Brought to the Stage at SSC

Josh Hutton
Pictured: Performers are shown on stage during the Osage ballet “Wahzhazhe” on Aug. 15 in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium.

The Seminole State College Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions federal grant program hosted the Osage ballet “Wahzhazhe” on Aug. 15 in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium.

Pictured: A crowd of students, faculty, staff, and more, watch the Osage ballet “Wahzhazhe” on Aug. 15 in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium.

Students, employees and community members enjoyed the performance, which depicts more than 400 years of the tribe’s history. Following the event, attendees had the opportunity to meet with the ballet dancers.

SSC Kicks Off Academic Year with Week of Welcome Events

Josh Hutton
Pictured: Assistant Professor of Agriculture Wendy Rich (center) welcomes two students in Tanner Hall.

As students arrived for their first day of class on Aug. 14, Seminole State College faculty and staff greeted them, helped them find their classrooms and passed out goody bags. Pictured: Assistant Professor of Agriculture Wendy Rich (center) welcomes two students in Tanner Hall.

Pictured: Students stand in line for free cotton candy during Welcome Week.

SSC Campus and Activities annual Welcome Week programming included free cotton candy for students to begin the week.

Pictured: SSC students pose in front of the Scoops ice cream truck during welcome week.

Welcome Week continued with ice cream provided by the Scoops Ice Cream Truck on Aug. 16. Other Welcome Week activities included cupcake decorating, pen engraving, a free movie night at Strother Cinema, a pop-up gameshow and free fair-style food to conclude the event.

Pictured: SSC President Lana Reynolds speaks with over 170 students at an athletic orientation held in the Raymond Harber Field House on Aug. 15.

SSC President Lana Reynolds speaks with over 170 students at an athletic orientation held in the Raymond Harber Field House on Aug. 15. The College’s sports teams heard from coaches, administrators and staff about goals for the upcoming year, as well as campus resources.

SSC Welcomes Campus Residents on Move-In Day

Josh Hutton
(Pictured) Students and parents are shown moving furniture into the dorm rooms.

Seminole State College welcomed campus residents, their family and friends on Move-In Day on Aug. 11. Students gathered their belongings and settled into their dorm rooms in the Roesler and Seminole Nation Residential Learning Centers. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 14.

Olivia Sander (right) lends a hand as incoming freshman Jaylee Friend (left) of Prague moves into her dorm.
Olivia Sander (right) lends a hand as incoming freshman Jaylee Friend (left) of Prague moves into her dorm.

SSC President’s Leadership Class Embarks on Scavenger Hunt

Josh Hutton
(pictured) Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Amanda Estey welcomes the incoming freshman of the Seminole State College President’s Leadership Class at an orientation event on Aug. 11.

Seminole State College welcomed the incoming freshman class of President’s Leadership Class students at an orientation event on Aug. 11. Students were welcomed by SSC staff and administrators, including Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Amanda Estey (pictured).

Pictured (back row, left to right): Joriana Johnson of Wewoka, Charity Hair of Seminole, Jesse Jones of Tecumseh, Cooper Hamilton of Tahlequah, Jordan Long of Moss, Alex Harper of Coweta, Easton Guest of Sperry, Daylan Saxon of Seminole, Cole Giard, Piedmont and (front row, taking the photo) John Mahalik of Carrolton, Texas, pose for a selfie.

To help new students familiarize themselves with the campus, PLC students participated in a scavenger hunt. Pictured (back row, left to right): Joriana Johnson of Wewoka, Charity Hair of Seminole, Jesse Jones of Tecumseh, Cooper Hamilton of Tahlequah, Jordan Long of Moss, Alex Harper of Coweta, Easton Guest of Sperry, Daylan Saxon of Seminole, Cole Giard, Piedmont and (front row, taking the photo) John Mahalik of Carrolton, Texas.

SSC Prepares for Fall Semester with Employee In-Service Event

Josh Hutton
Seminole State College faculty and staff pose for a group photo.

Seminole State College hosted its annual in-service event for all full-time employees on Aug. 9 in preparation for the fall semester, beginning Aug. 14. This year’s theme was “Together We Grow.”

In this picture, SSC President Lana Reynolds welcomes employees to the colleges annual in-service event.

SSC President Lana Reynolds welcomed employees, discussed accomplishments of the last year and talked about upcoming campus events.

In this picture, Captain Dalton Jackson, of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Police Department, speaks to SSC employees about campus safety and what steps to take in an active shooter situation.

Captain Dalton Jackson, of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Police Department, spoke to SSC employees about campus safety and what steps to take in an active shooter situation.

SSC GEAR UP students Benjamin Foster (left) and Mandy Primeaux (right) attended the Youth Leadership Summit in San Fransisco, California, from July 16-19.

SSC GEAR UP Students Attend Youth Leadership Summit

Josh Hutton

Two Seminole State College GEAR UP students were selected to attend the 2023 Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) in San Francisco, California, from July 16-19.

The two students, Benjamin Foster of Prague and Mandy Primeaux of Wewoka, joined 150 of their peers from across the country at the summit. The students and GEAR UP staff were able to experience and tour many cultural and historical sites, including San Francisco’s Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Prison, the Golden Gate Bridge and more.

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SSC’s Concurrent Enrollment Aids High School Students’ Higher Education Journey

Josh Hutton
Abby (left) and Hannah (right) Ridley, of Tecumseh, earned both their high school diplomas from The Academy of Seminole and their associate degrees from Seminole State College in May of 2023. Enrollment is still open at SSC with classes set to begin Aug. 14.
Abby (left) and Hannah (right) Ridley, of Tecumseh, earned both their high school diplomas from The Academy of Seminole and their associate degrees from Seminole State College in May of 2023. Enrollment is still open at SSC with classes set to begin Aug. 14.

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. 14, with late enrollment open until Aug. 18. Concurrent enrollment helps students earn college credit hours before their high school graduation.

“We place tremendous emphasis on partnerships with local high schools, ensuring that our concurrent students receive the necessary resources and support to thrive academically,” Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bill Knowles said. “With concurrent enrollment, high school students can effectively prepare for their future goals while earning valuable dual credit.”

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SSC STEM Faculty Attend Symposium on Addressing the Needs of Variable Learners

Josh Hutton
Seminole State College STEM Division Chair and Associate Professor of Mathematics Emily Carpenter (left) and Assistant Professor of STEM Melissa Bryant (right) attended the ninth annual CAST UDL Symposium from July 31 to Aug. 1 in Denver, Colorado. UDL, or Universal Design for Learning, is a framework for addressing the educational needs of diverse and variable learners. The goal of UDL is to eliminate inequities in education. Carpenter and Bryant’s attendance and professional development at the event was made possible through the SSC Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI) federal grant program.

Seminole State College STEM Division Chair and Associate Professor of Mathematics Emily Carpenter (left) and Assistant Professor of STEM Melissa Bryant (right) attended the ninth annual CAST UDL Symposium from July 31 to Aug. 1 in Denver, Colorado. UDL, or Universal Design for Learning, is a framework for addressing the educational needs of diverse and variable learners. The goal of UDL is to eliminate inequities in education. Carpenter and Bryant’s attendance and professional development at the event was made possible through the SSC Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI) federal grant program.