pioneer newsWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE COLLEGE

news@wosc.eduWednesday, March 26, 2014 Volume 15, Issue 26

By: Emily Smith

Beloved Western Mascot Turns 5 Years OldApril 4, 2014 marks the

fifth birthday of everyone’s favorite WOSC student, Pioneer Guy. Western’s iconic mascot enrolled at the college many years ago but his current incarnation, Pioneer Guy, was created due to an unfortunate turn of events that left the previ-ous version of Western’s all-around student, lost in the hallowed halls of the insti-tution.

The history of Western’s mascot started in 1971, while Western was still known as AJC and students voted on the selection of a mascot for the college. Donna Clancy won the contest for choosing the name Pioneers. Her rea-

soning was, “Because Pioneers like my grandmother pio-neered and settled Oklahoma.” Later in 1973, Western Art Instructor from 1967 to 1983, Dorothy Maffry, was com-missioned to create a caricature of the pioneer that later appeared on various college publications. “Altus Al” was Maffry’s rendering of the icon. By 1978, the Pioneer mas-

Twenty-seven business and higher education partner-ships throughout the state were recently recognized as in-novative collaborations that further the education of Okla-homa’s workforce.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Economic Development Grant for the Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award is designed to highlight suc-cessful partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses and to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents’ Economic Develop-ment Grants.

Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for tuition waivers to employees of the partnering business-es; internships that enable current students of the institu-tions to work at the partnering businesses; faculty extern-ships with the partnering businesses; and/or enhancement of the partnerships with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.

“Oklahoma’s colleges and universities are enhancing our state's economic future by strengthening partnerships with business and industry, ensuring our academic pro-grams continue to align with the needs of business in each region of the state. Through these partnerships, students receive hands-on, career-related experiences and broader preparation for college,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “These partnerships with business make vital contributions

Western’s Library Reprises “Poetry Slam”

State Regents Recognize Institution, Business Partnerships

Western’s Library (LRC) will host another evening of original poetry and reading at its second Poetry Slam, April 22, 2014 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the LRC’s lounge. Participants may read a favorite poem or submit an origi-nal work for the competition. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded for original entries. Door prizes and light refreshments will also welcome guest to the LRC.

A distinguished panel of judges comprised of Ida Fay Winters, President of the Great Plains Literacy Council and Kristin Balko , Great Plains Literacy Council mem-ber and Charles Cuthbertson, Western English Instructor will adjudicate the original works submitted for the con-test. Former Oklahoma Poet Laureate, Eddie Wilcoxen, will emcee the event and present a special poetry reading of his own.

Those submitting original poetry for the competition

to Oklahoma’s economic growth through investments in education, research, job training and service.”

Western has a long-standing partnership with Great

cot, “Wes Western”, became a part of the new activities or-ganized by the Office of Student Services along with the college cheerleaders and the Pioneer Dolls.

Pioneer Guy, the mascot’s current and official title, was named in 2009 after a campaign sponsored by the WOSC Alumni Association. The campaign aimed to reinvigorate the mascot’s image with a costume redesign and new name. Students voted on what the beloved Western rep should be called. He was christened Pioneer Guy.

Reagan Felker was the Director of Alumni and Devel-opment at the time. He says, “I got the idea that it would be a great project for the Alumni Association for the year. The cheerleading coordinator loved the idea so, the Alum-ni Association took on the project.”

Stacey Shive Cox, Alumni Board Member and 1983 Western graduate, sketched a design for the proposed cos-tume for Pioneer Guy and Facemakers, Inc. tailored the costume. The Alumni Association funded the project with the help of contributions from its members and Glen Win-ters of Jackson County Farm Bureau, who agreed to pro-vide the balance of the costume cost. Pioneer Guy, as he is known today, emerged from this cooperative.

Pioneer Guy’s Birthday will be celebrated April 4, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Pioneer Point, the student recre-ation area, at the college. Students, Western staff, alumni and patrons are invited to join the party and give three cheers for the Guy. Cupcakes and punch will be served and a birthday raffle be held for party goers.

Though there isn’t a college rodeo scheduled for this weekend, the WOSC Rodeo Team still has a full sched-ule planned for the upcoming days. March 28, 29 and 30 mark the 3rd annual “Aaron and Ed’s Rumble on the Red” high school rodeo at the Great Plains Stampede Arena. Over the span of three days, high school contestants from Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado will come together to compete for the coveted “Rumble on the Red” trophy belt buckles and all around trophy saddles. This event has become one of the “must attend” events for high school rodeo contestants in Oklahoma, Texas, and sur-rounding states, and one which the WOSC Rodeo Team is proud to be a major factor in its production.

“Aaron and Ed’s Rumble on the Red” is a tribute to the memory of Aaron Custer and Ed Drury whose lives were taken in a tragic car accident in the early fall of 2011. From the events of the last two years, it has been documented that the 1,000 people that visit Altus for this event have spent $80,000 while in town. Yet, though that amount is significant to the community, most important is the fact that through the generosity of sponsors and trailer raffle tickets sales, $90,000 was given back to youth in Oklaho-ma and Texas in 2013. These dollars advanced their educa-tions, which was the major goal of the Custer and Drury families in creating this memorial rodeo.

As mentioned, the WOSC Rodeo Team helps to pro-duce this rodeo and also the open team roping, breakaway roping, tie down roping, and goat tying jackpots that take place Friday and Saturday evenings. The team has also been busy selling $100 raffle tickets to win a Hughes Stock Trailer or $8,000, which is the major fund raiser of Aaron and Ed’s Rumble on the Red and is made possible by the many generous donors in our community. The drawing will be held Saturday evening and the winner need not be present to win.

Rodeo fans are welcome to attend the high school rodeo at the Great Plains Stampede Arena to watch high school age competitors compete in the usual rodeo events along with the added events of girls pole bending and goat tying. Admission is $5. The events will begin at 10 a.m. on Sat-urday and 9 a.m. on Sunday and continue throughout the day. Spectators are invited to attend the Cowboy Church Service at 8 a.m. Sunday morning in the grand stands. A live and silent auction of items donated by local businesses will also be held. For more information or to purchase trailer raffle tickets please visit www.rumbleonthered.com or call Emily Smith at 580-481-0915.

Are You Ready to “Rumble on the Red?”

The 2009 sketch of the proposed costume de-sign for Pioneer Guy's new look was created by WOSC Alumni Association Board Member and West-ern graduate,1983, Stacy Shive Cox. Facemakers, Inc. tailored the costume that became today's Pio-neer Guy.

Lori Sherman, for ACMI House will speak at Western Oklahoma State College's library, the Learning

Resources Center, Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Her address will be in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The event is free

and open to the public.

Front Row are: Debra Morris, GPRMC Director of Emergency, Critical Care & OP Infusion Services; Kristy Greer, WOSC Director of Nursing; Corey Lively, CEO, GPRMC; Laura Kurzendoerfer, GPRMC Chief Nursing Officer, Back Row: Chrystal Overton, WOSC Dean of Technical Education; Lisa Greenlee, WOSC Vice President for Academic and Student Support Services; Jeri Dulaney, WOSC Dean of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Phil Birdine, WOSC President.

should send their work to the LRC Director, Suzanne Rooker by April 13. Poetry can be emailed to her at su-zanne.rooker@wosc.edu. Participants may also sign-up and make poetry submissions in person at the LRC during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The following winners were announced in the first Po-etry Slam November 7, 2013. Those winning with their original works in the student category were: First Place, Sharlotte Hightower

with “ The Definition of a Southern Man”; Second Place, Cindy Mercer with “My Life, My Fears, My God”; Third Place was Mikayla Jo Balderas with “ACross Perspective”. Winners in the non-student category were: First Place, Matthew Moran with “Just Let Me Go”; Second Place was Dawn Vachon with, “Santa Substitutes” and Third Place was Betsy West with “Love’s Exchange”.

Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) in Elk City. Western opened an additional nursing location in Elk City in 2006. At that time, GPRMC´s board of trustees commit-ted funds to support Western through the endowed chair program. Over the years, the medical center has provid-ed adjunct nursing faculty as well as a building to house the nursing program. GPRMC recently sold the existing building and provided the school with a new location on GPRMCs campus, across from the hospital. It provides classroom, office, computer lab and clinical skills lab space for Western at no cost. This updated facility provides an excellent learning environment for the students and facul-ty. The desire of this partnership is to provide well-trained, highly educated registered nurses to meet the health care needs of southwest Oklahoma.

Executive Leadership for Western Oklahoma State College and Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City attended the OSRHE Business Partnership Excellence Awards at the Oklahoma History Center March 13, 2014. The college and the hospital have partnered since 2006, when Western opened a nursing site in Elk City. At that time, GPRMC´s board of trustees committed funds to sup-port Western through the endowed chair program. Over the years, the medical center has provided adjunct nursing faculty as well as a building to house the nursing program. Currently, Western’s nursing site is located in the Pat Wall Professional Building, adjacent to GPRMC.

March 24 - May 2, 2014Only non-perishable food items (canned and boxed goods) are needed.

Collection buckets are located next to John Phelan’s o�ce, HLC 147, & the info desk.