Four women will be honored at the Oklahoma City University Awards of Excellence Dinner
Linda Garrett, Cathy Leichter and Connell Branan talk on Parties Extra! about the The Societies of Oklahoma City University Awards of Excellence Dinner.
OCU Awards of Excellence winners honored at a party
Jeanne Hoffman Smith, Judy Love and Barbara Cooper enjoy the party in the Love home. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).
Judy and Tom Love were hosts for the Societies of Oklahoma City University 2012 Awards of Excellence Honoree Reception. It honored this year’s award winners: Linda Rodgers, Dulaney-Browne Library Society Award; Jane Thompson, Kirkpatrick-Petree Music & Performing Arts Society Award; Connell Sullivan Branan, Norick-Hulsey Gallery Society Award, and Tricia Everest, OCU Societies Distinguished Philanthropist Award.
The buffet table featured crystal vases filled with bouquets of white orchids set on a beaded gold tablecloth, flanked by tall crystal hurricane candle holders. Dips, various cheeses, tenderloin rolls, mini ham sandwiches, vegetables trays and cookies and brownies were served to the guests who were committee members, community leaders, former award winners and OCU dignitaries.
Guests included Jan and Robert Henry, Linda and Steve Garrett, Ann Alspaugh, Lori and Dodge Hill, Jeanne Hoffman Smith, Ann and Bob Gilliland, Cheryl Browne, Miki and Jim Farris, Jeanette and Dick Sias, Jane Jayroe and Gerald Gamble, Jane Harlow, Billy Bowden, Polly and Larry Nichols, Berta Faye Rex, Lois and John Salmeron, Karen and Rob Luke, Connell and Cliff Branan, Linda and Bill Rodgers, Jane and David Thompson, Barbara Cooper, Kathy and Russ Walker,Brenda McDaniel, Cheryl and Tom Hewitt, Lela and Mark Sullivan, Gennie and Bob Johnson and Carol and Mac Troy.
The Awards of Excellence event is Feb. 25 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club and honors outstanding volunteer community women. Linda Garrett is chairman and Karen Browne is vice chairman. There 84 community leaders who have received these awards since 1988. Cathy Leichter is president of the OCU Societies and Ann Alspaugh is OCU board liaison.
The event provides OCU scholarships.
OCU President Robert Henry and Cathy Leichter greet guests as they arrive.
Russ Walker, Mac Troy and Brenda McDaniel talk at the party.
Gerald Gamble and Jane Jayroe Gamble, Miki and Jim Farris were at the event.
David Thompson and Dodge Hill were at the OCU Societies reception for 2012 honorees. Thompson’s wife, Jane, was one of them.
Karlie Harmon and Oklahoma City University host academic seminar in Singapore
Dr. C. Chong, Jane Jayroe Gamble, Jan Henry, Robert Henry, Eric Kuan, Karlie Harmon, Gerald Gamble, Dr. R.Theyvendran were at the seminar in Singapore. (Photo provided).
Karlie Harmon, Director of International Mass Communication programs for Oklahoma City University, is home from Singapore where she hosted an academic seminar “Mass Communications In A New Media World”. She also attended the OCU’s graduation ceremony at the Ritz Carlton and celebrated with a Sunday brunch at Raffles Hotel.
Featured speakers at the seminar were OCU President Robert Henry and OCU Trustee Jane Jayroe Gamble. Gerald Gamble also attended and is also a trustee.
This is the 20th year for the program from which 2500 students have received bachelors and masters degrees in mass communications programs. OCU partners with the Management Development Institute of Singapore. Harmon taught the first mass communications class that was offered in Singapore and has been going four times yearly since then. This was the first mass communications program in Singapore and is the only American mass communications program there and in the region.
Inaugural activities honor new Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry
President Robert Henry and Jan Henry had a busy week at OCU. (Photos by David Faytinger.)
One of the activities surrounding Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry’s inauguration was a dinner in the Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center on the campus. Author and opinion columnist for the New York Times David Brooks was the speaker. He talked on “ Liberal Arts for the Social Animal” and he also signed his newest book “The Social Animal.” A reception was held following his talk at Wilson House.
The inauguration ceremony for Robert Henry was held at 10 a.m. on April 6. President Henry greeted guests in the Leichter Room right after the ceremony. There was also a performance of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” in the Burg Theater in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center with a reception at Wilson House. “A Moveable Feast featured a variety of student performances and exhibits across the campus. Students celebrated the president’s birthday during the week. There was also a symposium in the OCU Meinders School of Business and other lectures.
Another activity corresponding with President Robert Henry’s inauguration was the opening of the Kramer School of Nursing. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial Maquette by Glenna Goodacre was dedicated. LaDonna and Herman Meinders were honored.
Gary Homsey, Ann Lacy, Steve Agee attended events at OCU.
Oklahoma City University Awards of Excellence women honored at luncheon
Annie Bohanon, Dr. Jan Henry, Karen Luke, Kris Frankfurt were at The Coach House for the luncheon. (Photos by David Faytinger).
The Societies of Oklahoma City University members honored 2011 Awards of Excellence honorees at a luncheon at The Coach House. Hostesses were Annie Bohanon, Kris Frankfurt, Karen Luke and Polly Nichols.
Honorees were Jeannette Sias, Oklahoma City University Distinguished Philanthropist Society Award; Jenny Love Meyer, Kirkpatrick-Petree Music and Performing Arts Society Award; Julie Hall, Dulaney-Browne Library Society Award; Lori Hill, Norick-Hulsey Gallery Society Award.
Speakers were Kirk Hammons, Awards of Excellence event chairman, and Cathy Leichter, Societies President. Linda Garrett is co-chairman of event.
After presenting diamond star pins to the new honorees, one was given to Society member Berta Faye Rex who lost hers in a house fire.
Among those at the event were Judy Love, Linda Lambert, Kay Goebel, Jill King, Ann Alspaugh, Cheryl Browne, Barbara Brou, Miki Farris, Annie Bohanon, Meg Salyer, Jeaneen Naifeh, Ann Johnstone, Kathy Walker, Gene Barth, Jan Henry, Joan Gilmore, Vicki Gourley, Dannie Bea Hightower, Nancy Ellis, Beth Tolbert, Berta Faye Rex, Sue Ann Hyde, Ann Felton and Rita Moore.
Honorees were Julie Hall, Lori Hill, Jeanette Sias.
Entertaining…with style
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Bill and Pam Shdeed pose with Brenda and Tom McDaniel during a reception honoring Kelli O’Hara in Oklahoma City. The party, hosted by the McDaniels and Shdeeds was in the McDaniel home on the Oklahoma City University campus. Over 100 people attended the party. “An Evening of Song” was a celebration for major supporters of the school. (Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman).
Brenda and Tom McDaniel have hosted many events, formal and informal, during President Tom McDaniel’s nine years at Oklahoma City University. They have invited students weekly for dinner in their home at Wilson House. They have honored dignitaries, alumni, guest speakers and their Miss America graduates with parties at the university. Pam and Bill Shdeed ( Bill Shdeed is chairman of OCU’s Board of Trustees) have also assisted with entertaining by having many OCU events in their home.
“One of the highlights of our tenure of nine years has been the way the four of us have had such fun showing the importance of Oklahoma City University to our city. Entertaining our students and our friends has given us an opportunity to show off this great university that we all love so much,” Brenda McDaniel said. Tom McDaniel retires on July 1.
Judge Robert H. Henry and Kelli O’Hara speak during a reception honoring Kelli O’Hara in Oklahoma City on April 10, 2010. O’Hara entertained Oklahoma City University supporters with “An Evening of Song” at Kirkpatrick Auditorium on the campus. Judge Henry will be the next President and CEO of OCU. (Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman).
Oklahoma City University’s Awards Dinner set for February 20th
Judy Love, Brenda McDaniel and Cathy Leitcher talk about Oklahoma City University’s Awards of Excellence Dinner.
Oklahoma City University Societies members were hosts for Awards of Excellence honorees’ party

Pam Shdeed and Polly Nichols were at the party in the home of Jeaneen and Bob Naifeh. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).
Jeaneen and Bob Naifeh were hosts for The Societies of Oklahoma City University 2010 Awards of Excellence Honorees’ reception. Jeaneen Naifeh is a former honoree.
The hosts used a lovely cutwork tablecloth and a crystal vase filled with roses, hydrangeas. Excellent food, by Larry Brannon, was served in silver bowls and on trays.
Star brooches were presented to the honorees: Miki Farris, Brenda McDaniel, Barbara Brou, Helen Wallace. Joan Kirkpatrick will be honored posthumously.
Everyone was talking about the upcoming dinner and awards program which is set for February 20 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
Guests included Karen and Rob Luke, Judy and Tom Love, Nancy and Bob Ellis, Pam and Bill Shdeed, Gene and Ed Barth, Kaye and Ed Cook, Kris and Bill Frankfurt, Polly and Larry Nichols, Barbara and Paul Brou, Bill Wallace, Miki and Jim Farris, Brenda and Tom McDaniel, Cathy and Kurt Leitcher, Joan and Al McLaughlin, Vicki and Leland Gourley, Jeanne Hoffman Smith, Dannie Bea Hightower, Jane Jayroe and Gerald Gamble, Ann Johnstone, Jane Harlow, Billy Bowden, Kirk and Royce Hammons.

Kirk Hammons, Jeaneen and Bob Naifeh, Judy Love talk at the party. (Photo by David Faytinger).
The Oklahoma City University Societies members view plaques in OCU’s Claire Jones Administration Building

One of the plaques at Oklahoma City University’s Claire Jones Administration Building. This one honored Linda Garrett. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).

These plaques hanging on the wall were in honor or Lou Kerr and Linda Kennedy Rosser.
A Provost Holiday Reception was held on the campus of Oklahoma City University in the Claire Jones Administration Building.
Hosts were members of The Societies of OCU and Provost Bernie Patterson. The Provost invited all the members of the OCU Societies for a viewing of the honoree plaques which hang in the administration building.
The placques, dated from 1988-2009, were given at the Awards of Excellence Ball and the former Mardi Gras Ball.
The 2010 OCU Societies Awards of Excellence is Feb. 20 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. Judy Love is chairman; Kirk Hammons is co-chairman, and Cathy Leichter is Societies President.

Gene Barth and Judy Love view plaques at the reception.
Author John Grisham visits Oklahoma City

A Cocktail reception was held in the home of Pam and Bill Shdeed to honor author John Grisham who gave a public lecture on the Oklahoma City University campus the next day.
Grisham was in town to help raise funds and awareness as OCU LAW begins its effort to establish a program addressing wrongful convictions. He talked about his non-fiction book, “The Innocent Man,” which recounts the saga of the wrongful conviction and ultimate exoneration of two Oklahomans, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz. Based on his experience writing this book, Grisham has become dedicated to supporting programs throughout the nation to identify and correct wrongful convictions.
Co-hosts were Brenda and Tom McDaniel, Gay and Lawrence Hellman, Julee and John W. Coyle III, Vicki and Mack Martin.

Pam Shdeed, Barbara Paul, John Grisham, Bill Paul enjoy the party in the Shdeed home. (Photo by David Faytinger).














