OSU Press Release
Philanthropist of the Year and others to be honored during free event on Sept. 2
(STILLWATER, Oklahoma, Aug. 27, 2020) — The Women for OSU Symposium is moving to a virtual format for this year. Through the generosity of multiple sponsors, the symposium will be free for all OSU alumni, students, staff and friends.
From 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 2, the virtual symposium will offer inspiration drawn from the impact and philanthropy of the Women for OSU community as the event honors 2020 Philanthropist of the Year Helen Hodges and 12 outstanding student scholars.
This year’s scholars and their hometowns are:
- Emily Alexander, Canadian, Texas
- Lauren Anderson, Enid, Oklahoma
- Patricia Bear, Henryetta, Oklahoma
- Jonathan Foster, Edmond, Oklahoma
- Jillian Gore, Pryor, Oklahoma
- Jaden Kasitz, Wichita, Kansas
- Johna Pulliam, Catoosa, Oklahoma
- Allison Stuckey, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Megan Wong, Edmond, Oklahoma
- Rachel Millea, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Megan Perez, Guthrie, Oklahoma
- Madison Slawson, McAlester, Oklahoma
Those watching the virtual event will also hear from Dr. Tererai Trent, an OSU alumna and humanitarian.
Oprah Winfrey named Trent, recognized as one of the world’s most acclaimed voices for women’s empowerment and quality education, as her “favorite guest of all time.” Rooted in humble beginnings, Trent grew up in a cattle-herding family in rural Zimbabwe and was forced to marry at age 11. In 1998, she, her then-husband and their five children moved to Oklahoma so she could pursue an education at OSU. With the help of Oklahoma State professors, she escaped her abusive marriage and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and master’s degree in plant pathology. She met her current husband at Oklahoma State. Trent was also recently named a recipient of the 2019 Ferguson College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni Award.
Trent is an educator, motivational speaker and an award-winning author for her book, The Awakened Woman — Remembering & Reigniting Our Sacred Dreams. Trent also serves as a United Nations Global Ambassador of Education and Peace and continues to lead the global charge in the fight for quality education for all children and for women’s rights.
Those interested in watching the 2020 Women for OSU Symposium can tune in at OSUgiving.com/Women from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 2.
For further questions about Women for OSU and this year’s symposium, contact Michal Shaw, the program’s director, at mshaw@OSUgiving.com.
About the Oklahoma State University Foundation
The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.
About Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 34,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 100 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 275,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.
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