Oklahoma achievers: SWOSU students win awards; UCO students win at conference

Staff reports
·3 min read

SWOSU students win Reach Higher Program Awards

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students were recently honored with Reach Higher Awards at the Everett Dobson School of Business and Technology spring awards ceremony.

Award winners:

  • Jennifer Nightengale, of Foss — $1,000 Reach Higher scholarship

  • Abigail Ulery, of Yukon — $1,000 Reach Higher scholarship

  • Rhiannon Calfy, of Temple — Outstanding student in the Reach Higher program.

"The Reach Higher adult-friendly degree completion program through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education encourages adults who have earned some college credit to successfully complete their degrees." said Todd Wiggen, coordinator of SWOSU’s organizational leadership program.

The Reach Higher Organizational Leadership Program is currently accepting students for the 2022 fall semester. For more information, email Todd Wiggen at todd.wiggen@swosu.edu or at leadership@swosu.edu.

UCO students win 2022 Oklahoma Collegiate Public Relations Association Awards

The University of Central Oklahoma marketing, public relations, graphic design and communication professionals from across campus took home 21 awards at the awards ceremony at the Oklahoma Collegiate Public Relations Association Awards annual conference.

The association provides networking and professional development opportunities to staff working in public relations and associated fields at Oklahoma’s public and private colleges and universities. UCO’s winning entries included five Grand Awards, six Excellence Awards, seven Achievement Awards and three Honorable Mentions.

Winning first-place Grand Awards were:

  • Craig Beuchaw, Sarah Ward, Lauren Bieri and KT King — University Communications, Special Publications, “Designed for Impact”

  • Michelle Lewis — Campus Enterprises, Digital Advertising — UCO OSSAA State Esports Championship Advertisement

  • Kristen Merritt, Hannah Horan, Kandace Taylor, Lauren Akins, Sydney Richardson and Twin City Knitting — Office for Advancement, Campaign, Sock CampaignBrian Alexander, Craig Beuchaw, Kristen Merritt, Kandace Taylor and Sydney Richardson — University Communications and Office or Advancement, Shoe String, What’s Your Buddy Broncho Persona?’ Quiz.

Winning second-place Excellence Awards:

  • Michelle Lewis — Campus Enterprises, Poster Design, Sports, UCO Housing Hype Athletics Schedule

  • Sarah Ward, Craig Beuchaw and University Communications Staff — University Communications, Magazine, "Old North Magazine Spring 2022"

  • Brian Alexander — University Communications, Cover Design, "Women Who Inspire"

  • Michelle Lewis — Campus Enterprises, Logo Design, UCO Housing Hype Logo

  • Lauren Bieri — Photographic Services, Traditional Sports Photo, “Safe!”

  • Michael Wallo — University Communications, Bright Idea, UCO Welcome Center Window/Mall Graphics

Winning third-place Achievement Awards were:

  • Brian Alexander, Craig Beuchaw, Kristen Merritt, Kandace Taylor, Sydney Richardson and Hannah Horan — Office for Advancement and University Communications, Direct Mail Piece, "Central’s First-Time Donor Postcard"

  • Sarah Ward, Craig Beuchaw and University Communications Staff — University Communications, Magazine, "Old North Magazine Fall 2021"

  • Michelle Lewis and Chelsea Ratterman — Campus Enterprises, Before and After, UCO Esports Minor Brochure

  • Kandace Taylor — Office of Advancement, Full Length Feature, Human Interest, Lost and Found: "Central Alumnus Reunites with Class Ring Missing for 50 Years."

  • Kyla Carter — University Communications, Sports Writing, "An Unmatched Duo"

  • Brian Alexander, Craig Beuchaw, Kristen Merritt, Kandace Taylor, Sydney Richardson and Hannah Horan — University Communications and Office for Advancement, Square Peg, UCO Advancement Sticker Postcard

Honorable Mention

  • Craig Beuchaw, Lauren Bieri, KT King and Sarah Ward — University Communications, Viewbook, UCO Mini Viewbook.

  • KT King — Photographic Services, Traditional Photo, "Sister Act"

  • KT King — Photographic Services, Digitally Enhanced Photo, "Moon Rises over Old North"

To learn more about the association, go to www.ocpra.org.

UCO professors awarded grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awards a $149,943 grant to University of Central Oklahoma faculty members Kanika Bhargava, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Human Environmental Sciences, and Sanjeewa Gamagedara, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at UCO.

The grant, titled "Developing and Applying Functionally Bioactive Pulse Prebiotics as Novel Food Ingredients," will be used to develop functional food products from pulses, which are edible seeds of plants in the legume family.

"This grant will increase the research and teaching capacity of the food science program at UCO,” Bhargava said. Students will have the opportunity to work on this research project and create new ingredients from pulses.

For more information, go to www.uco.edu/ceps.

To be considered for this column, please email achievement announcements and photos to DLindauer@Oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Achievers: OSU students awards; UCO students win big at conference