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Outstanding Alumni
2007 Oustanding Graduates
SHELDON RUSSELL
Russell majored in English education and taught in the Ponca City
public schools for four years while working on his master’s
degree and doctorate at Oklahoma State University. After completion
of his program as a reading specialist, he taught two years at the
University of Louisville, then at the University of Central Oklahoma.
During his academic career, Russell authored 25 professional articles
and co-authored a text. He retired as professor emeritus from UCO
in 2000.
Russell always maintained an interest in creative writing and has
published four novels. The first, a suspense novel titled Empire,
was published in 1993. Two historic frontier novels followed: The
Savage Trail and Requiem at Dawn, which was a finalist for Western
Writers of America’s best original paperback award.
In 2006, Dreams to Dust: A Tale of the Oklahoma Land Rush was released
by the University of Oklahoma Press. It has been recognized as an
official Oklahoma Centennial project and won the Langum Prize for
excellence in American Historical Fiction for 2006. Dreams to Dust
also was selected for the Oklahoma Book Award 2006 by the Oklahoma
Center for the Book.
Russell currently lives in Guthrie where he and his wife Nancy,
a sculptor and artist, own and operate the Double Starr Studio and
Gallery.
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JIM SEEGER-NEWBY
Seeger-Newby is mobility director with Newby-Vance
Mobility (at the John Vance Auto Group) in Guthrie. He developed
and implemented an Inclusive Business Model (IBM) designed to serve
the transportation and driving-related mobility needs of individuals
with disabilities including children with special transportation
needs and adults with special transportation and/or driving-related
needs.
He has developed and implemented business initiatives that include
establishment of “one-stop” mobility and automotive
service, staff training, operation agreements and liaison with manufacturers.
His company became the first automobile dealership in Oklahoma to
market, modify and service accessible vehicles for people with disabilities.
Seeger-Newby established a second IBM site at Hatfield Chevrolet
in Columbus, Kan., and was the first multi-franchise “Big
Three” auto group in the nation to implement comprehensive
mobility and automotive sales and services to also include DME Medicare
Service for power chairs, electric scooters and related peripherals.
In addition to his degree from Northwestern, Seeger-Newby earned
a master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center and a doctorate from Gallaudet University in Washington,
D.C.
Through the years, Seeger-Newby has served as executive director
of the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, superintendent of Schools
for Watts, chief of staff of the Oklahoma State Department of Education
and assistant state superintendent.
A native of Gate, Seeger-Newby is married to Dr. Linda Wilson. They
have four children: Jennifer of Broken Arrow, Marcus of Guthrie,
Andrew of Golden, Colo., and Steven of Lewisville, Colo. Other family
includes brother Dan of Gate, brother Tom of Enid and his late sister
Linda Elwood of Mooreland.
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MICHAEL RAUH
Rauh is an Alva native who earned a degree in accounting and economics
at Northwestern, where he was an active member and past president
of Phi Beta Lambda. He received a master’s degree in accounting
from Oklahoma State University and in 2005, received the Distinguished
Alumnus from Industry award from there.
Before joining Kerr-McGee in 1981, Rauh worked at Conoco in Ponca
City and Arthur Young Public Accounting in Tulsa. At Kerr-McGee
he had served in various capacities until his retirement in 2006
as vice president and corporate controller.
He is a member of the American Petroleum Institute Accounting Committee,
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Oklahoma Society
of Certified Public Accountants and Financial Executive Institute
where he served as past president of the Oklahoma City chapter.
Other civic involvements include 16 years on the Oklahoma Christian
School’s board of directors (including being a past chairman),
the Edmond Soccer Club and the boards of the Oklahoma Soccer Association
and Frontier Country Soccer Association.
Rauh’s other interests include hiking, fishing, gardening
and bicycling.
He and his wife Sue (Class of 1972) live in Edmond and have four
children: Jay, an environmental consultant for Weston Solutions
in Chicago; Chris, an English teacher in Rockford, Ill.; Laura,
a student in the OU Health Sciences School of Physical Therapy;
and Sally, a freshman at Edmond Memorial High School.
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CAMEE SMITH
Smith is from Turpin and upon graduation from Northwestern, returned
to her hometown to teach fifth and sixth grade science. She also
serves as an assistant with the track and girls basketball teams
at both the fifth-sixth grade and high school levels.
She currently is working toward a master’s degree in guidance
counseling (K-12) at Northwestern. Her brother Clay is a senior
at Northwestern.
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2007 Outstanding Seniors
Thirteen
members of the Class of 2007 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University
will be honored as Outstanding Seniors at the Northwestern Foundation’s
Special Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 28, in the Student
Center Ranger Room.
To be selected as an Outstanding Senior, students
must show campus and/or community involvement, have a cumulative
grade point average of 3.5 or better, have completed at least 60
hours at Northwestern, never have been subject to
academic or disciplinary action and show the promise of future achievement.
Each recipient receives a plaque and a $100 savings
bond.
Those selected, listed alphabetically, and a brief
summary of their activities are:
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| Benjamin Bowers of Enid will graduate
with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He earned
an associate degree at Northern Oklahoma College prior to attending
Northwestern. He has participated in Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor
Society and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He is one of the recipients
of the T.C. Carter Award for the graduating senior(s) with the highest
cumulative grade point average. |
| Kiersten Brown of Enid will graduate
with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She has
served as a resident assistant in South Hall and been named to the
president’s honor roll. She was selected to Who’s Who
Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She was a member
of Red & Black Scroll Honor Society and received several academic
scholarships. |
| Ricki Cinnamon
of Garber will receive a bachelor of science degree in biology with
a minor in chemistry. She has been a member of Delta Zeta sorority,
Fryer Hall Dorm Council and Student Government Association. As a freshman,
she was a member of the President’s Leadership Class and later
served as a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador. She was the recipient
of an Oklahoma Regents Scholarship throughout her four years of school.
She has been accepted to the School of Pharmacy at the University
of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. |
| Jennifer Drees of Medford will graduate
with a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry.
At Northwestern, she has been active in South Hall Dorm Council, intramural
sports, Red & Black Scroll Honor Society and Biology Club. She
was named to Who’s Who and has served as a tutor for college
students and a mentor for a first grade student. She recently completed
a 12-week internship at Share Medical Center. |
| Hannah Feuerborn of Dewey will receive
a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish.
She has been a member of Spanish Club, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society,
Chi Alpha campus ministry outreach and eXtreme Impact, also a campus
ministry outreach. She received the Chesapeake Energy Scholarship
and is a member of the Leadership Northwestern class. |
| Lindsay Headlee of Alva will graduate
with a bachelor of arts degree in English education. She is a founding
member of Northwestern’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta International
English Honor Society, and a member of Lambda Iota Tau Literature
Honor Society. She was the recipient of the Geraldine Burns Award
for Excellence in English Studies given by the Oklahoma Council of
Teachers of English. |
| Drew Lancaster of Ponca City will graduate
with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. He is a member of the
Northwestern Student Nurses Association and the National Student Nurses
Association. He was named to Who’s Who and has received several
academic scholarships. In addition to his regular classes, he has
received other education at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville
and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. |
| Pravaran Mahat of Kathmandu, Nepal,
will graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in political science.
He served as a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador and was named to Who’s
Who. He was a member of Red & Black Scroll Honor Society, University
Democrats, Sigma Tau Delta, Lambda Iota Tau and the International
Student Association, serving as president in 2006-07. |
| Derek Moore of Anthony, Kan., will
receive a bachelor of science degree in biology. He has been accepted
to the A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Mesa,
Ariz. During his time at Northwestern, he was active in intramural
sports, Castle Players and Cardinal Key Honor Society. He was a Northwestern
Scholar Ambassador and member of Leadership Northwestern. In addition,
he has been a volunteer emergency medical technician in Harper County,
Kan. |
| Paula Nevius of Enid will graduate
with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She was an honor
graduate of Northern Oklahoma College. She was secretary of the Northwestern-Enid
Student Council and president of the Northwestern-Enid Psychology
Club. Nevius is founder and board member of HOPE In Oklahoma, a gynecologic
cancer education and support program. She has had articles published
in Family Circle and Redbook magazines among other publications. |
| Christin Phelps of Houston, Texas,
will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She
has been a member of the soccer team, serving as co-captain in 2006,
and was academic all-American in 2005 and 2006. She also has been
named to the all-region VI team and the all-Sooner Athletic Conference
team. She has been a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador, a member of
Cardinal Key Honor Society and named to Who’s Who. She also
is a recipient of the T.C. Carter Award. |
| Helena Plett of Okeene will graduate
with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She is
co-founder and president of Northwestern’s Students Against
Destructive Decisions (SADD), president of the Northwestern Scholar
Ambassadors and co-founder and treasurer of the Northwestern Art Society.
She was a resident assistant and member of Red & Black Scroll
and Cardinal Key honor societies and Leadership Northwestern. She
is a recipient of the T.C. Carter and John F. Kennedy awards. |
Michell Thomason of Lahoma will
receive a bachelor of science degree in mathematics education. She
has been a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador and served as president
of the Math Club. She also was a member of SADD and Red & Black
Scroll honor society. She has been a volunteer math tutor and a
volunteer at Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse in Enid. She also
is a T.C. Carter Award recipient. |
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