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.
Oklahoma Christian professor to serve on national panel
After years of testing students in reading, writing and math for the Nation’s Report Card, the National Assessment of Educational Progress will incorporate technological literacy into the test. 
Oklahoma Christian University journalism professor Philip Patterson was selected to serve on the panel.The panel’s work will shape the National Assessment of Educational Progress test from 2012 to 2027.
This will be the first time technological literacy will be evaluated on The Nation’s Report Card. Patterson said he is excited to help assess such a crucial matter.
“If schools know that tech literacy will be tested, they are more likely to teach it,” he said in a news release. “That means colleges get the benefit of better qualified students, as well.”
During the next 18 months, Patterson will make trips to Washington to help evaluate current and proposed assessment models with the committee. The committee consists of technology experts, engineers, teachers, scientists, business representatives and state and local policymakers. The committee will determine how to evaluate whether children are comfortable with and objective about the use of technology.Patterson said one of the reasons he was selected was because of Oklahoma Christian University’s reputation for graduating technologically literate students. In 2001, university officials offered wireless Internet throughout campus and a free laptop to every student who was enrolled full time.The university also offers free iPhones.
Eat chili to help students
The University of Oklahoma School of Art and Art History will host a chili cook-off fundraiser from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Lightwell Gallery, 520 Parrington Oval, in Norman.
Chili will be sold in ceramic bowls made by art students. Cost is $15 for chili in a bowl or $8 for chili not in a ceramic bowl. The bowls are dishwasher and oven safe.
Money raised through the event will go to student scholarships.
For more information, contact David Akbaran at (405)325-2691 or dakbaran@ou.edu.
Northeastern State University announces interim optometry dean
TAHLEQUAH – Lynn Cyert has been named interim dean of the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.
Cyert assumes the position with 28 years experience at the college.
She has been a professor of optometry at NSU since 1981 and pediatric clinic chief since 1986.
During her tenure, she has served as associate dean for Academic Affairs twice and also as interim dean of the college of optometry during a previous transition. Cyert replaces George Foster who retired in December after 11 years of service.
Prior to teaching at NSU, Cyert was assistant professor in physiological optics at the New England College of Optomery in Boston, and assistant professor of psychology at Ithaca College in New York.
OCU benefit set for Saturday
The Oklahoma Wizards League and Oklahoma City University will host Mistletoe Masquerade at 5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 17) in the campus ballroom,
The event will feature performances from seven bands, an auction and refreshments.
Cost is $35 for adults and $15 for children. Proceeds will benefit the Harry Potter Alliance, a nonprofit organization that helps raise awareness about genocide, poverty, AIDS, discrimination and global warming by relating these issues to the Harry Potter series.
For more information, go to www.thehpalliance.org.
Teacher of the Year to speak at OCU
Oklahoma City University will have its fall commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. Dec. 19 in the university’s wellness center, 2501 N Blackwelder.
Heather Sparks will be the featured speaker. Sparks is the 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year recipient and an OCU graduate. She teaches mathematics at Taft Middle School.
In 2007, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Also during the commencement, Jacque Fiegel and Cathy Leichter will be given the Oklahoma Servant Leader Award.
Fiegel is president of the university’s alumni association and Leichter volunteered with various fundraising projects.
ORU Scholarships
Oral Roberts University will offer 25 full scholarships and other partial scholarships for the fall 2009 semester. “We are looking for well-rounded students who have already started to excel as a whole person. Then we can provide them with the education they need to realize their full potential,” Mart Green, chairman of the ORU Board of Trustees, “Like a basketball coach wants to find the best basketball players for the team, we want to find the best whole-person students to attend ORU.”
To be considered for the Whole Person Scholarship, a freshman or transfer student must be nominated by a school, church, or community leader or a member of the ORU faculty staff, or alumni. Nominees who are selected will be invited to campus for a Scholarship Day Competition Jan. 23 or Feb. 27, 2009.
For more information or to nominate a student, see wholeperson.oru.edu.
Nader to speak in Tulsa
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader will speak about Oklahoma’s ballot access law and the current presidential campaign at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium.
“Open the Debates” is the theme of Nader’s remarks, which reflect the Nader and vice presidential candidate Matt Gonzalez campaign’s call for inclusive, democratic presidential debates.
Nader will also address
OSU-Tulsa is located at 700 North Greenwood Avenue, near I-244 and Detroit Avenue. For more information, contact the Nader campaign at 202-471-5833.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College honors first graduates
Congratulations to the first graduating class of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College!
Last week, 13 students graduated from the college that shares the Weatherford campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Above are a couple photos from the event. The first photo shows College President Henrietta Mann and 2008 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College Princess Cristina “Cricket” Yellowman. In the next one, John Haumpo receives a stole, Pendleton blanket,
Good luck to them all!
