Southern Nazarene University holding Peer Learning Network session
Rita Murray will speak at the Peer Learning Network session from 8 to 11 a.m. Feb. 12 at Southern Nazarene University’s Brown Building Lecture Hall, 6729 NW 39.
Murray is the chief executive officer of Performance Consulting Group, an energy services company that specializes in implementing cost-efficient energy infrastructures.
The lecture is free for members of the Peer Learning Network and $40 for nonmembers.
Tim Henley
College Women’s Leadership Program
Undergraduate women attending Oklahoma colleges and universities are encouraged to apply for a five-day summer leadership program designed to encourage women to consider careers in politics and public service. Oklahoma women attending out-of-state institutions also are eligible for the program.
The eighth annual National Education for Women’s (N.E.W.) Leadership Institute, designed to encourage women to consider careers in politics and public service, is scheduled May 19-23 at the University of Oklahoma Norman.
Sponsored by OU’s Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, N.E.W. Leadership is part of a national training network created by the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University. Participants will gain skills in community organizing, public speaking, leadership, team building, negotiation and conflict resolution.
“They also will meet Oklahoma women office holders, public administrators and local activists, spend time at the Oklahoma Capitol and attend a reception celebrating female political leaders,” says Katie Fitzgerald, program director.
About 30 undergraduate women from diverse backgrounds will be selected for this year’s program. Students interested in politics and leadership are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 5. An online application and additional program information are available at the N.E.W. Leadership Web site, www.ou.edu/carlalbertcenter/leadership.
Paint the Town Black and Gold
Cameron University students are working with Lawton-area businesses to “Paint the Town Black and Gold.” Fort Sill and Lawton-area businesses will be asked to demonstrate their support of Cameron in a variety of ways: by flying a CU flag, offering discounts for CU students, distributing athletic schedules and event information, selling CU merchandise, and participating in Spirit Fridays by encouraging their staff members to wear Aggie apparel or black and gold.
“We have an amazing university,” said Lawton junior Julianne Moini. “We want to give everyone in the community an opportunity to show their Cameron pride, whether they’re an alumnus, member of the faculty, student or community member.”
For more information, call Jennifer Holland, dean of student services, at 580-581-2244.
Oklahoma Christian University names honors program director
Oklahoma Christian University announced Scott LaMascus will serve as the honors program director during the 2009-10 academic year.
LaMascus taught in the university’s language and literature department the past 10 years.
“He will bring tremendous experience as well as a great love for OC and its students to this new role,” Allison Garrett, vice president for academic affairs, said in a news release.
LaMascus also will serve on a committee that will review the structure of the university’s honors program.
Tim Henley
Oklahoma Christian University announces partnership with Project Impact
“This was our first financial seminar and we were very fortunate to have space to meet in,” executive director Terrene Bell said in a news release. “We can really do a lot more when we have help from the community.”
The university agreed to provide meeting space for the organization and donate two laptop computers to help the children with their technology training.
The children will also receive free admission to the basketball games, and members of the Kappa Sigma Tau club will serve as their mentors.
Project Impact combines mentorship with technology training, cultural awareness and economic empowerment,
Students voluntarily apply for admittance into Project Impact and churches and state agencies recruit participants.
Tim Henley
OSU-OKC is holding a military seminar
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City will have College Veterans Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22 on the third floor at the student center, 900 N Portland Ave.
The guest speaker will be William H. Brown, of Oklahoma City Veterans Center’s Global War on Terrorism Outreach.
Brown will speak about the services offered to veterans to help them have a smooth transition from military life to civilian life.
Participants also will learn about the G.I. Bill and earning college credit for military services.
For more information, call Loretta Hatchett at 945-8692.
Inauguration/First Day at OU
News of inauguration events Tuesday at the University of Oklahoma had been slow because school had been out for winter break. But word has arrived of a few watch parties on campus that have just been organized. Anyone wanting to check out the inauguration of President Barack Obama while visiting OU can consider:
* A watch party sponsored by Native American Studies inside Ellison Hall, 633 Elm Ave., scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
* A free viewing of inaugural activties at Meacham Auditorium inside the Oklahoma Memorial Union, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
* Inauguration watch party in the Hall of Fame Room inside Gaylord Hall, 395 W Lindsey St., also starting at 10:30 a.m.
– By Staff Writer James S. Tyree
2009 K20 Winter Institute
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the ninth annual K20 Winter Institute, which will bring people from education, government, business, and non-profit agencies together to examine and discuss ways to prepare students for the modern and future workplace.
The institute is scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the new Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 2501 Conference Drive, in Norman. It’s open to anyone from any discipline who is interested in learning about advances in education.
Participants can attend any number of 60 sessions, and the registration cost including lunch is $25. To register, see the session titles and schedule, or for any other information, visit http://k20winterinstitute.com or call 325-1267.
– Staff writer James S. Tyree
Oklahoma Christian will hold grant workshop
Oklahoma Christian University will host the Grants8manship Training Program from March 16-20 in the Gaylord Student Center on the OC campus.
“With tight state and federal funding, we must acquire the skills to compete for limited resources,” Jo Griffin, the university’s foundation and corporate relations director, said in a news release.
The cost is $895 for the workshop tuition and one year of membership benefits and services from the Grantsmanship Center.
The workshop helps grant seekers learn how to properly search for grants, write proposals and negotiate with funding sources.
Registration is limited to 30 participants. For more information, call 425-5119 or (800) 421-9512.
Oklahoma Christian University counselor to appear on Food Network
By Tim Henley, staff writer
Matt Johns had no problem consuming 1,500 calories in a single meal. Multiple trips to a local fast food restaurant were an essential part of his daily routine.
When the Oklahoma Christian University admissions counselor tipped the scale at 242 pounds last January, he knew it was time to make a lifestyle change.
Johns, 25, gradually eliminated fast food trips from his routine and started exercising regularly. Four months later, he weighed 225 pounds.
He heard representatives from the Food Network were having casting call interviews to select someone who was willing to have their weight loss documented. Johns attended the interview in May, and he was selected.
“They said I was the only one who didn’t cry in the audition, and they wanted someone upbeat,” Johns said.
The crew filmed Johns’ weight loss journey from the end of May through the beginning of August as his weight dropped from 225 to 206 pounds.
They filmed him at home, followed him to work, documented his fitness routine and zoomed in on every calorie he swallowed.
The footage will be featured on the show “My Life in Food,” which airs 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 on the Food Network.
The episode also will highlight Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett’s weight loss initiative, which challenged residents to lose a million pounds.
Johns said losing the weight wasn’t the hardest part of the process. He said maintaining the weight loss has been the biggest obstacle.
“It’s difficult to keep it off because it’s difficult for me to change my lifestyle and not go to fast food restaurants as much,” he said.
Since the cameras disappeared, Johns lost 10 more pounds. He now weighs 196 pounds.
