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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

 

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Months before you graduate from high school, this less than loved question emerges, “What is your major?”  For me, I felt unqualified to answer this. I had only left the country once and been to about 5 states. How in the world was I supposed to choose my life’s occupation?

Did you know that the average college student changes their major six times. SIX TIMES. That is not an OU average, that is a U.S average and for some incoming college students, that can be scary. For me, I was highly involved with a business marketing organization in high school so naturally I believed that this was going to be my life’s calling. It was familiar, it was comfortable and thus it was for me. Walking into my first business prerequisite course though I realized that maybe what I thought business was was not for me. It took a 27 on an exam (this means I failed the class). This also means that chocolate chip pancakes at Cate Restaurants became my diet to equip freshman Breanna to change her major.

I was crushed.

I felt as if my life’s dreams and plans had been torn a part I had no idea what I would do. What I did believe though was that if I did not enjoy my college classes that I may not enjoy my career. Luckily though, I was introduced to OU’s Major Exploration.

Major Exploration gave me the opportunity to explore what other majors were offered at OU. OU has over 150 degree programs. Coming to college I was aware of approximately five of them. While comforting myself with chocolate chip pancakes, I sat under a tree crying. With every delicious bite of pancakes I answered an question on the Major Exploration survey.  After I finished the survey, I set up an appointment with a Major Exploration Coach. This is when I met Jaime, and Jaime gave me confidence. Jaime walked me through my strengths and weaknesses. She went over my results and showed me what my top ten job compatibilities were.

Now, I do not believe in living your life based off online surveys; unless buzzfeed counts. This survey was able to help me narrow down my interests and ideas for potential majors. Through Major Exploration, I was able to open my eyes to the endless possibilities when it came to other majors and departments. This is how I found Public Relations. PR has developed into everything I wanted out of business marketing including classes that I genuinely enjoyed.

I highly encourage you, if you are a current college student or a prospective one, to go to Major Exploration. EXPLORE your major, EXPLORE your university, EXPLORE the resources that are offered. I encourage you to find something you enjoy because you never know; your major could be here and you just might not know it.

Breanna Bober

Edmond, OK

Public Relations/ Women’s & Gender Studies

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The Oklahoma Memorial Union is said to be the heart of campus. If the Union is the heart of campus, then I consider the Union Programming Board (UPB) the heartbeat. At the root of it all, this was where I found my home on campus. UPB is known for hosting numerous events at the Union that cater to a diverse group of students, but UPB is something else for me. UPB established a home for me at The University of Oklahoma. 
Starting out as a freshman, the landscape of a university with a student population larger than my hometown was intimidating. I heard testimonies from many people that the key to finding a home in college was to get involved. Right from the get-go, I decided to get involved with UPB after hearing a pitch from a member at a Coca-Cola social. I attended the first meeting and I was immediately immersed in the craziness that was UPB. The lasting moment that sealed the deal was my interaction with the then-Vice President. She introduced herself and made the effort to get to know me. During every subsequent encounter with her, she remembered my name and the things we talked about.  
The interaction set the tone that I currently associate with UPB – home. Every meeting, every event, and every time I walk into the Union, I feel at home. I always see familiar faces when I am at an event. I see the faces that made me stay in UPB as a freshman. Throughout my first year as a member, I went from having little campus involvement to being very involved. The people there made the effort to keep me feeling welcomed. They also gave me the opportunity to be break out of my shell and develop useful skills that transferred to my other involvement.
Two years later, I am a junior serving on the exec for UPB my second time. In the past two years since my general member days, I was able to use the confidence and creativity UPB equipped me with to create an event. I got to bring quality to UPB’s photography and cement my name as a photographer on campus. I gave the “media director” position the renaissance it needed. UPB was able to serve as a stepping stone for my other campus involvement. After gaining confidence as a campus leader, I was able to apply to and participate in Camp Crimson as a small group leader.
While I was able to benefit from the organization, I do not see that as the only thing I got out of it. I think back to my freshman year whenever the then-Vice President reached out to me and made me feel like family. Developing interpersonal connections is actually a huge part of being on exec. I was able to do the same with many of the members that I worked with. One member specifically comes to my mind. She was someone who expressed interest in photography, so I gave her a position as a photography lead. In the year that followed, I got to watch her gain confidence in being a campus leader, change the organization’s photography, and become a close friend of mine. This is one prominent example that shows how much I put into an organization and its members, as a result of what the organization gave to me as a freshman. 
Of course, the main purpose of UPB is to provide free and diverse programs in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. I have discovered that there is so much more to this.
Internally, UPB engages students, encourage leaders, and enriches lives. The “3 E’s” is what made this student organization a home for me. It provided events for me to do nearly every Friday night, it allowed me to develop my own leadership skills, and lastly, it made my college experience worthwhile. For people looking for a place to get involved in, then I hope my story encourages them to check out UPB and the other student organizations that campus offers.

 

Francis Phan 
Class of 2017 
Psychology major 
Mustang, OK
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Norman has been my home for the past four years, and it will continue to be for the next two. It’s a great city and the community is active in supporting our student body and the events/fundraisers we are constantly putting on. I have truly cherished the impact both OU and the Norman communities have had on me. What is even better is that every year in April I get to spend one Saturday, with the bulk of the student body, saying thank you to the amazing communities because of The Big Event.

The Big Event is OU’s official day of community service. Last year over 5,000 students signed up to volunteer to give back to the communities that have shaped us so much. The Big Event sends the students to organizations and non profits to help them with anything they need. It could be repainting the outside of a church to picking up trash along the parks in Norman. It is a special/unique opportunity to see how grateful the organization are that The Big Event has impacted.

I have played an active part in The Big Event since freshman year because of the chance it creates for me to say thank you to the community that had welcomed me in for these few years of my life. I do not believe anyone achieves anything without help; furthermore, being from a small town in Southwest Oklahoma, I know how impactful a community influence can be (even if others do not realize it themselves). It is important to be appreciative of the help and support we get in our lives, and it is more important to give back when the opportunities arrive. The Big Event is that opportunity for me to show thanks to the community that has shaped me these past four years. I am just as appreciative of The Big Event’s commitment to provide the opportunities to respond in gratitude as I am to the communities themselves!

Cameron Lohman

Duke, Oklahoma

Health and Exercise Science

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As a freshman, I came to OU not knowing anyone. Going to college was the first time I would be away from my family. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Upon my arrival to the university I was warmly welcomed by a plethora of campus organizations during the first weeks of the college career. The Black Student Association was one of those organizations that greeted me with a warm welcome. At this time I had no idea how much of an impact this organization would have on me.

As my collegiate career began, I found myself drawn to programs and events the Black Student Association put on. I quickly sought the opportunity to get involved and took on a position as the Secretary for the Freshman Action Team, umbrella organization of the BSA. After taking on this position, not only did I find my niche on campus, but I also found a family within the organization.

Now serving as the president of the Black Student Association as a senior, I look back and can confidently say that taking part in the BSA was one of the best decisions I made for my collegiate career. Throughout the years within BSA, I have gained essential leadership skills, soft skills, life long friendships, and larger networking opportunities. On the other end of the spectrum, my involvement with the BSA has allowed me to also give back to the OU community, as well as the community at large. Because of my experience as a first year student and the impact the organization had on shaping my collegiate experience, I make it a point every year to mentor at least four younger students. I have learned simple encounters can change the outcome of one’s entire experience, just as it did mine. When coming to campus, it is importance to put yourself out there. While trying out new clubs and organizations you could eventually find a home for the next four years. That is something you do not want to miss out on!

 

Naome Kadira

Major: Accounting – Senior 2016

Hometown: Garland, TX

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image1Have you ever held a human heart in your own two hands? Unless you’re an cardiac surgeon or a student in the health fields at OU, the answer is probably no. The University of Oklahoma’s health programs give students the opportunity to lean about the human body in incredible depth as we are able to study human cadavers in Human Anatomy lab. This course gives students a hands on experience in dealing with human bodies that we will eventually be working with in our future careers. OU has one of the most impressive and extensive cadaver labs in the country and as a current student in the Human Anatomy lab, I am so grateful to be able to learn this much even before applying to graduate programs.

Starting a future in the health fields can be a very rewarding choice for students but it can also be a very intimidating one. That first step towards becoming a nurse, physicians assistant, occupational therapist, or any other healthcare professional is made so much easier with the help of OU’s incredible faculty, staff, and department heads who offer incredible support and advice throughout this journey. Students are guided through course advising but are given incredible independence in choosing elective courses and in which semesters specific classes will be taken. With the help and guidance of individual course professors and advisors, students are set on the right path towards achieving their goals.

In my experience as a pre-health student, I have certainly had my doubts and worries about the course load that I was getting myself into. Over the past four semesters I have passed the bulk of my course work including all of my general education credits, letting me be able to take more profession-focused courses. Thanks to the variety of labs, depth of educational resources, and highly skilled professors and teaching assistants that the University of Oklahoma has to offer, my successes in the health sciences are setting me well on my way to my future career as a health professional.

Monica Strauch

Junior

Health and Exercise Science Major, Pre-Occupational Therapy

Spanish Minor

Oak Park, California

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Upon arriving at OU I exhibited all of the signs of a freshman walking onto campus for the first time. I had new clothes, a big smile, and of course, lofty aspirations as a Micro-Biology major. However, like a lot of young pre-med students, I found myself bounced out of the major by a formidable foe, Chemistry. After having, what I thought to be my perfect plan of becoming a doctor was cut short. I had to find another major. To set out on this mission, I decided to pick something I loved and to pick a minor that I was passionate about. After a period of soul searching, I set my eyes on a degree that I not only was passionate about, but a degree that could make a difference in the world.

The major I chose was International Studies, but more importantly a Non-Profit Organizational Studies minor. Not only was I welcomed into the program with open arms, but also I embraced the program right back. Not only was this new major going to involve something that I love, helping people, but it was also going to allow me to learn by experience. Immediately after the major change, I joined the NLSA, or Non-Profit Leadership Student Association and began to attend the meetings. I was wonderfully surprised by the community feel of the club/program, but also by the hands-on activities in which I could participate. In class I was “starting” a non-profit and learning the ins and outs of managing volunteers, etc., and at my club meetings I was engaging in volunteer activities, networking with local non-profit professionals, and learning valuable lessons from speakers from across the state.

Overall, I believe that my change in major was one of the best things that has happened to me since being at OU. I found a community that fit me better than my first choice, and I was embraced by not only the Non-Profit family at OU, but the Sooner family as a whole across campus. Coming to college, a lot of people end up switching majors and nearly having a panic attack at not knowing what the future may hold. But at OU, there are new opportunities around every corner, and new passions to grab a hold of everyday. Through the loss of my pre-med dream, a new passion was born. My new major and minor fit me as a person much better than my previous choice, and I could have only found my real passion through my experiences at OU.

Logan Banfield

Tulsa, Oklahoma

International Studies/Non-Profit Studies

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My name is Daniel Smith and I am a junior at the University of Oklahoma studying Finance. There are great opportunities offered at OU that supports students and other national organizations. My experience through my major has given me the chance to be involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This semester nineteen other students and I started a company called OklaCozy through the IBC program in the Price College of Business. IBC stands for Integrated Business Core which gives business students a chance to gain expertise knowledge of managing a company while creating and selling a product throughout the OU and Norman community.

Through the Integrated Business Core (IBC) program, my core group created OklaCozy. Our responsibilities include developing, financing, marketing, and selling our product. This teaches us the business process first hand. On top of that, we get the privilege of picking two philanthropies to support. We are giving our time and service at the OK Kids Korral located in Oklahoma City, a place of lodging for pediatric cancer patients and their families; and then all proceeds from our product go directly toward making children’s dreams come true through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We were given a wish child named Elizabeth Lansdale, she is a four year old suffering from leukemia and her dream was to go to Disney World. Oklacozy is committed to helping kids like Elizabeth make their dreams come true!

Our product this year are OU blankets. The blankets have consist of a one-of-a-kind OU themed design. These blankets are 100% polyester, machine washable, with one side having a furry texture, and the other having a fleece texture, allowing you to pick your preference of softness. These blankets have a unique design that our company created and that you cannot find anywhere else. My experience through IBC has been an incredible hands-on learning experience that has equipped me for my future career in the business field. This is just one of many degrees and programs that

If at all interested in possibly purchasing either of our product to help the children of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, follow the link below to learn more about our company and to purchase your very own blanket!

https://com776.wordpress.com/welcome-to-oklacozy-2015/

Follow the link below to learn more about our company and to purchase your very own blanket!

https://com776.wordpress.com/welcome-to-oklacozy-2015/

 

Daniel Smith

Junior, Finance

Edmond, OK

 

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How cool is it that a student in the Price College of Business can receive college credit for donating to charity? This semester, I have the opportunity to take part in the 20th Anniversary of the Integrated Business Core program within the Price College of Business. This program allows groups of 20 students to develop their professional skills, as well as the ability to fulfill social responsibilities to the community. With the creation of my company’s one-of-a-kind, Oklahoma-inspired sweatshirts, all proceeds of our product go to our charity of choice, Hearts for Hearing. This non-profit organization works to help the children and adults of Oklahoma with varying degrees of hearing impairments by providing speech therapy classes, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and much more. In addition to our monetary donation, my company also has the opportunity to donate our time to LoveWorks Leadership in Norman. LoveWorks Leadership is an after-school program, designed to aid middle schoolers in the discovery of their passions and the potential to live into their dreams through tutoring, life skills training, and leadership development.

Though I am only halfway through the semester, I’ve already sensed a change in my own passions and dreams. Through the mentorship of LoveWorks and the monetary donations to Hearts for Hearing, I have a new sense of appreciation and vision for my own life. I’m thankful for Price College and its dedication to teaching and providing real world experiences, while allowing students to contribute to our surrounding communities.

Overall, our company goal is to raise $11,500 to Hearts for Hearing, and donate over 1,200 hours of service to LoveWorks over the course of the semester. Through a charitable donation of $35, you can help my company reach its goal and help children all over Oklahoma! For more information about our cause and to view our products, feel free to visit OklahomApparel.wordpress.com !
Bailey E. Brougher

BBA Energy Management/Finance
Houston, TX
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Every one joined hands and tightly squeezed them in anticipation, knees were shaky and hearts were beating faster and faster. There is nothing like physically seeing a year of hard work pay-off in a matter of seconds.  The large block letters were raised high in the air to spell out S O O N E R T H O N and slowly but surely they dropped to reveal the total amount raised by OU’s campus.

When I first arrived on campus it was a whirlwind of opportunity. I wanted to experience a little bit of everything to find a place that I could call home. I had heard of Soonerthon through casual conversation, posts on social media and friends who had previously been involved, but being a freshman I still didn’t fully understand what it was.  I heard the tagline, “FTK, For The Kids” and knew it was something that I had to get involved because of my love for mentorship and working with younger kids. Soonerthon is a 12-hour dance marathon and is also known as OU’s official philanthropy. The money raised through this organization benefits Oklahoma’s children through the Children’s Hospital Foundation and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. I was Team Captain for another organization and with that title came the responsibility of being paired with a Miracle Family from the hospital. My job was to introduce them to my organization, host a couple events with them and show them what the Sooner family is all about.  This is where I found my “why” and it was all because of Maddison, a 12-year old inspiration.

Before meeting her, I learned that she has Tetralogy of Fallot, which consists of four major defects within her heart and severe defects which affect her lungs, causing pulmonary hypertension. I would have never guessed anything was wrong with her because she was still spunky, sweet and had a contagious joy that shined to those around her. But eventually I learned of all the procedures that are still unable to relieve the high pressures in her lungs, and how eventually she will have to undergo a heart and lung transplant to prolong her life. Getting to know Maddison was the highlight of my freshman year and continues to be every year. She taught me a lot more than I could ever put into words and more than I could ever thank her for. From a couple chords on the guitar all the way to how important it is to live abundantly and love unconditionally. She has now become one of my best friends, role models, and a girl I can always rely on to enjoy Starbucks with. She has sparked my passion for CAC Soonerthon and has deepened my love for this cause. From Team Captain, to working on Family Relations Executive Committee, to now being Vice Chair of Relations; she is the reason why I have fallen in love with this cause.

But CAC Soonerthon is more than just an organization, it is a way to celebrate life and celebrate those around. It is about the miracle families who come for a part of those twelve hours to be showered with love from the Soonerthon family and forget, even if it’s for a couple of hours, that they are not different from any other child.

The letters of Soonerthon slowly drop to reveal the number $5 6 1 , 2 6 8 . 15.     We stand 12 hours to honor the nurses and doctors who stand on their feet for 12 hours during a shift. We stand 12 hours to represent the 12 months we spend fundraising. We stand for the kids who can’t. I stand for Maddison because that means that she can be treated right in Oklahoma close to her family and home. CAC Soonerthon became my home because of miracle children like Maddison and because the University of Oklahoma continually redefines what the Sooner family is and what it is able to accomplish.

 

Christina Newcomb

Reno, Nevada

Advertising/ Human Relations

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