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This year, donors provided:

• Costumes for the 130-person Star Dance Company for the Holiday Spectacular, replacing costumes that were more than two decades old. Because of the size of the company, an update to the finale was cost-prohibitive without a donation. The new finale had rave reviews.
• Sound design software for arts management students to use for Star Dance Company productions, preparing them for jobs on the technical side of the entertainment industry
• A digital camera for the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment to market shows, recruit students with engaging photos and videos, and train students on the latest equipment, preparing them for all aspects of the entertainment industry
• Professional development to keep professors on the cutting edge of the industry while also connecting with prospective students and the dance community 

This year, donations to the College of Health Professions have purchased dozens of pieces of equipment鈥攁 knee injection model, an ear exam simulator, and more鈥攖hat each help students practice skills repeatedly on models so they鈥檙e ready to treat people. 

鈥淪imulation gives the students the opportunity to practice a scenario or a skill in a safe environment where they can do things they might not get to do in an actual clinical site,鈥� said Dean Gina Crawford. Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, and nursing students all collaborate in the simulation lab to address a variety of health scenarios.

This year, donors provided:

• A two-day study tour with all expenses paid for more than 24 students to visit multiple financial companies in Dallas
• Travel expenses for the ethics team and data analytics team to compete in regional and national competitions
• Sponsorship for students to visit remote parts of Alaska and help residents file income taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program

This year, donors provided:

• Film equipment to allow students to learn current technology and realize their creative visions
• Rings and a celebration for the esports Overwatch 2 team that won the NECC Navigators National Championship
• Support for psychology, biology, and English students and the speech and debate team to travel to regional and national conferences and competitions, resulting in a slew of presentations and wins
• Funding for national and local artists to exhibit in the Nona Jean Hulsey Art Gallery on campus

This year, donors provided:

• Competition travel for moot court teams, providing students with practical experience
• Support for students鈥� bar exam preparation
• Scholarships
• A range of clinics, including the Innocence Project, a business startup clinic, and more. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great for the students because they鈥檙e getting real-world experience, but it鈥檚 also impacting the real world,鈥� said Dean David Holt. 鈥淭he eviction clinic has broad reach and is preventing hundreds of people every year from getting evicted. The American Indian Wills Clinic has helped well over 1,000 tribal members across the state.鈥�

This year, donors provided:

• Masterclasses with luminaries including Native American storyteller Mike Pasetopah, stage director and executive director of the Susan Smith Blackburn prize Leslie Swackhammer, playwright Matt Cox (鈥淧uffs鈥�), and LA talent agent Craig Holzberg
• Travel to China for eight students to represent the U.S. at the World Theatre Education Alliance. Dean Mark Parker said this partnership redefines theater for students. 鈥淓very student describes it as life-changing. They perform for other countries and see theatre from a perspective they never imagined.鈥� 

This year, donors provided:

• Funding for dozens of masterclasses with guest artists, giving students the chance to learn from industry greats 
• Emergency scholarships for students in need
• Flexibility for the school to take advantage of unplanned opportunities, such as a prestigious invitation to a national flute conventionFunding for dozens of masterclasses with guest artists, giving students the chance to learn from industry greats 
• Emergency scholarships for students in need
• Flexibility for the school to take advantage of unplanned opportunities, such as a prestigious invitation to a national flute convention

Ron Norick

鈥淲hen I enrolled at OCU in 1960, my educational skills were less than average, and if I was going to be successful, I would need guidance. That help came to me through Dean Willis Wheat, the Business School dean. He not only mentored me, but he cared about me as a person. I graduated in 1964 from the Business School, making the dean鈥檚 honor roll, which in 1960 would have seemed impossible. Because of his kindness, Dean Wheat and I became lifelong friends, talking often until his passing. The small class sizes and the individual attention given to not only me but to all students by the professors is OCU鈥檚 strongest asset.

鈥淢y mother and grandmother were both artists and appreciated the professors for their skills but realized the art school at OCU needed to be replaced for the benefit of the staff and students. Because of their love for the graphic arts, that鈥檚 the reason the Norick family has always supported OCU鈥檚 art school.鈥�

Adam Ryburn

鈥淚 give to help defray the costs for students. I鈥檓 a first-generation college student. I know it鈥檚 harder nowadays to get financial aid from the federal government. We鈥檒l get students we鈥檙e trying to recruit who don鈥檛 have the means themselves, and without scholarships, it鈥檚 tough to get them to come here. If we had more in our scholarship fund鈥攊f we could give out a lot more鈥攚e could guarantee students would be here. That's why I give.鈥�

A fixture at nearly every OCU game, match, or meet, Paul and Kim Sanders love seeing鈥攁nd hearing from鈥攖he student-athletes they support. Each varsity team benefits from the Sanders鈥� annual financial contributions, but they also serve as OCU鈥檚 biggest fans. The small-school setting and rich athletic tradition are a perfect mixture of personal connections and shared celebrations. 鈥淲e enjoy providing support, not only through our donations, but also just being at their events,鈥� said Kim, a 1969 School of Business graduate. 鈥淧aul especially enjoys visiting with them, and we always feel closer reading so many wonderful notes of thanks and the in-person thanks we get.鈥�