Dec
10
Sooners Take Flight
On Saturday October 17, 2015 the University of Oklahoma’s Max Westheimer’s airport had its 9th annual Aviation Festival. This event is an open house of the aviation department, along with pilots and business’s from around the region. They bring in planes for the public to see. There were tours of the air traffic control tower as well as a children’s hangar put on by Sooner Flight Academy.
I had the opportunity to volunteer for the event and represent the aviation department. It was a fantastic experience to see Norman residents and OU students get up close and personal to planes and helicopters. Children were even able to climb in the cockpits and experience what a pilot sees. The University even brought the Sooner Schooner out so kids could take pictures! Many other departments came to show off, like the police K9 unit, the National Weather Center, and even the U.S. Army. It was incredible to see the Norman community come together and have OU be the center of it all!
I have been part of the OU culture for 4 years now, and I love how diverse it is. Not many other universities can say that they have their own airport. Especially one that has a festival where anyone can come and see the Norman and OU community come together to celebrate aviation. I encourage all OU students to come to the next festival to see how awesome just one small part of the University is!
Anthony Losole
Aviation Management
Coppell, TX
Dec
8
When I think of the word college, the next thing that pops into my mind is money. Tuition, housing, and other basic expenses add up quickly. If an individual struggles financially, they could be compared to a broke college student. It is just how the world envisions college- a money pit. I always knew growing up that college would be a large investment, and probably my most expensive investment in life. Of course earning a higher degree of education is worth every penny, but it is hard to come up with the kind of money one needs to pay for college.
I am an Energy Management major at the University of Oklahoma. This major and the field it leads to perfectly fits my talkative and outgoing personality. The Energy Management Student Association (EMSA) is full of wonderful people I have learned from in many ways. EMSA has also given me more opportunities than I could dream of as a student- one of those opportunities being scholarship interviews. Because of my partition in the program, I was given the opportunity to speak in front of 50+ individuals from the Oil & Gas field that wanted to give away money to deserving students. Luckily, the group saw something in my story- I was awarded several scholarships from different companies. The total was astounding and really helped ease my mind of fiscal responsibilities.
I had no clue what doors would open for me the day I decided to major in Energy Management. It was one of the best decisions I have made to date because of the amazing things the program has helped me accomplish with their support. I am a proud Sooner and a proud EMSA member. These scholarships have helped me a great deal considering I am an out-of-state student and This is just a simple example of ways that the University of Oklahoma can help students to gain the skills and education regardless of their fiscal struggles. There are many scholarships that are offered through specific colleges, degrees and programs whether it is through your local community or through the University.
Peyton Brougher
Class of 2018
Energy Management/ Finance
Houston, TX
Dec
3
Growing up in the Balkans at the time and place where I did shaped me in a different way that outsiders sometimes struggle to understand. I was always very attached to my family, my friends, my identity and the things that are valued in my culture. In general, I always loved being home and when I took the decision to come to OU, I had was nervous. I knew I was going to struggle being away from home. When I arrived, I had to get used to different types of food, people, culture and most importantly, being far from my family and friends.
At first I thought that everyone would notice my accent and would treat me differently because of it. I struggled with the idea of being called out in class or making mistakes when speaking. I was afraid of having people think that I do not belong here. Even before coming to OU, I decided to live on the international floor in the residence halls my Freshman year and I am glad I did. I was able to meet people from around the world who were on the same boat as I was, and made the transition to getting used to a place like this one a lot easier. Most importantly, I felt welcomed in Norman. The hospitality of people in Oklahoma is far beyond what I could have imagined. People are always willing to offer a warm smile when walking past them on the street. They are there for you if you need help and are always polite. I was also very glad to find out that they were interested in my culture rather than alienating me because of it.
As time passed, the more and more I fell in love with the University. I love OU for all different opportunities that are offered, whether it is different classes, clubs or even go study abroad opportunities. Additionally, the professors are very helpful and attentive if you are struggling in their class. The concept of professors having office hours is one of the things I appreciate the most about the course culture here. The staff is polite and genuinely wanting to help you be successful.
I could have never imagined to feel at home other than where I grew up, but OU proved me wrong. One of the biggest OU traditions is attending a football game. Everyone is united and focused when watching it, where we all feel like a part of one big Sooner family. This is one the special experiences with a special meaning, and it would be difficult to find it somewhere else. I am thankful for all of the experiences and opportunities I encountered here, so I just want to say thank you to everyone for being part of my life & OU journey.
Magdalena Gea Vidovic
Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Economics
Dec
2
As soon as the countdown clock reached August 1, Midwest City High School valedictorian Adrienne Peak took the first step toward her future.
Peak, an Oklahoma State Regents Scholar, submitted her application to the University of Oklahoma in early August. The following month she received her official admission packet in the mail. The envelope, a colorful print of Memorial Union clock tower against an Oklahoma evening sky, represented the culmination of hard work, dedication and family support.
A month after receiving her acceptance letter, the Peak household received a knock on the door. Much to Peak’s surprise, OU had one more delivery for her: a gift that was years in the making.
Planting the Seed
Joining the Sooner Family is a truly unique experience for every OU student. Peak, thanks to her father, grew up on tales of his college years in Norman. His experience and stories spoke vividly to her.
“It’s been my dream school since I was six,” she said. “My Dad always talked about how much fun he had and such great times, and I decided that sounded great to me.”
Robert Peak already was proud of his daughter, but her decision to attend his alma mater brings him a great deal of joy and pride.
“I must admit, as an alumnus and former Leadership Scholar, I have had a tremendous amount of influence promoting my alma mater,” Peak’s father said. “I am extremely proud of my daughter carrying on the tradition of attending of the University of Oklahoma. Adrienne has obtained an outstanding scholastic record all on her own.”
Sowing the Field
The goal of being accepted into to her “dream school” stayed with Peak throughout junior high and into high school. She became the leader and captain of her school’s Academic Team, served as parliamentarian of the National Honor Society, and even led the trumpet section in the Midwest City High School band.
Despite a busy schedule, Peak also volunteered for the local chapter of Rotary International and spent two years as a volunteer at Science Museum of Oklahoma. It was there that Peak grew fond of science and math, which sparked her desire to major in engineering.
“Everything is good in engineering, so I just want to see where it takes me,” Peak said. “OU has one of the best engineering programs in the country. It’s insane how good it is, and it’s really close to home.”
Reaping the Harvest
Eager to join the next fleet of women in engineering at OU, Peak stayed driven to achieve her collegiate dreams. She credits her classmates at Midwest City High School for spurring her on to achieving those goals.
“There are so many smart kids in my school, and I just think ‘I’ve got to be as good as they are,’” Peak said. “There is no excuse for me not to be that good.”
Just like the recognition of talent, dedication and hard work Adrienne sees in her classmates, the University of Oklahoma took the chance to congratulate and reward her for those very same qualities.
On a crisp October day during fall break, a team from the university showed up at Peak’s Midwest City home. Crimson and cream balloons waved in the wind next to a large scholarship check that was carried inside, along with smiles, cupcakes and greetings from one Sooner generation to another.
We’re so glad to welcome Adrienne Peak to the University of Oklahoma next fall. Adrienne applied, have you?
Dec
1
Never in a million years would I have thought I was going to be a 5th year Senior. I thought that I was going to be a graduate of the Class of 2015 but boy, was I wrong. Halfway through my Junior year, I took a Supply Chain Management class just for fun and ended up falling in love with the course work. This resulted in adding a double major to my existing Energy Management degree and effectively pushing back my graduation date one more year. I never expected to be a 5th year, but I ended up becoming one anyway.
Well halfway through my 5th year, I can safely say that this has probably been one of the best years of my life. While last year, I had to participate with all my friends who were participating with their “lasts” on campus. I kept in mind that “Hey! I actually have one more of these.” Fast-forward to my 5th year and I get to participate in all the things with that my friends went through last year with some experience under my belt. My “Last First Day of Class”, my “Last First Football game”, everything has been such a surreal experience.
I wanted to make my 5th year the year that I did everything that I wanted to do, but haven’t gotten the chance to do. I became President of an organization, I joined new organizations, made more friends, networked with more faculty and made my experience during this 5th year the best that it could be and its only a quarter of the way through! I also made my 5th year, the year of spontaneity. A few weeks back, my friends and I decided to head down to enemy territory and visit The Austin City Limits Music Festival and I can safely say that was probably the best weekend of my life with some of my closest friends (I cried during Drake). I also just came back from a fun (but slightly depressing) OU/TX weekend and made some more memories as well.
Future Sooner, if you’re weary about taking that extra Fifth year, do not worry. This point in college, you’ve already made your friend groups, already found your faculty mentors, and you pretty much already get the gist of how campus works. You get to have that “one more chance” in college and believe me, I am taking advantage it right now. OU has been place that I have grown into the man I have become today and getting that one more shot at college is yet another exciting year to grow as an individual. If you have to, take that extra year because “With 5th year, comes wisdom.”
Bunty Patel
Energy Management/Supply Chain
Class of 201(6)
Wilburton, Oklahoma
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