Wimberly School of Religion
& Graduate Theological Center

STUDENT SUCCESS

Current Students

Oklahoma City University Honors students and five faculty members presented work at the 44th annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Washington, D.C., last week. The conference theme was “Honors in the Global City.” Professor Brooke Hessler and her students presented “Face Masks and Broken Glass: Curating a Global Archive for the OKC Memorial,” Professor David Pasto and his students presented “Integrating Theatre and Science,” Professors Virginia McCombs and Regina Bennett presented “Honors Connections to Campus-Wide Reading Program,” Professor Jonathan Willner was on a panel for “Student Learning and Development Outcomes in Undergraduate Research” and three students presented their posters. Religion students attending the conference were Clinton Keller,who is a Sophmore doing a double major in Religion/Ethics and History/Social Science, Jason Blakeburn who is a Bishop Scholar majoring in Religion/Philosophy/Ethics/Speech, and Joanna Chenoweth also a Bisohp Scholar, who is a double major in Religion and English/Humanities.




Each year, Oklahoma City University presents the Bishop’s Scholar Award to deserving students as a part of its effort to identify and support academically advanced United Methodist youths who are committed to careers in Christian service to The United Methodist Church.

The Bishop’s Scholar Award provides up to the full cost of tuition for four years.

The 2009 recipients are: Clay Diers of Coppel, TX; Arianna Harmon of Broken Arrow, OK; and Julie Smith of Cypress, TX.

Clay Diers loves everything about youth ministry. He says that he enjoys organizing mission trips, recruiting adult volunteers, and he likes eating pizza way too often - all esential attributes of a youth minister. Clay and his family are long-time, active members of the First United Methodist Church of Coppel, Texas. Their pastor, Rev. Dennis Wilkinson, says of Clay, "He loves God, he feeds on the community of faith for his spiritual growth, and he's willing to 'make it happen' for other kids." Clay's leadership in the youth group was recognized by being invited to attend the National Youth Workers Convention as a student. He already feels at home at OCU. On his first visit a couple of years ago, he said that he had been on the campus only a few minutes when he told his day, "this is it." His "high tolerance for pizza" will serve him well.

Boston Avenue UMC-Tulsa member Arianna Harmon has dreamed big since the age of 5 when she was certain she was destined to become a Supreme Court justice. That soon changed to President of the United States, then fighter pilot. While appreciating each of those paths, she discovered that her true passions were music and ministry. This is reflected in the recommendation of her pastor, Dr. Mouzon Biggs, Jr., where he noted her participation in Chapel Choir as a soprano and soloist, in the role of "Laurie" in the Boston Avenue Youth performance of "Oklahoma!" and in her participation in the interfaith camp, Anytown U.S.A. Her Youth Director, Audra Fogle, appreciates Arianna's comfort and grace in exercising leadership and her dedication to growing in faith. As a former Bishop's Scholar, Audra is especially proud of Arianna's award.

The call to youth ministry began in the eight grade for Julie Smith. She has certainly lived out that calling at Cypress United Methodist Church in Cypress, Texas, through participation in mission trips, Disciple Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, and the youth praise and worship band. She also has volunterred at Camp Barnabus, a camp for children with disabilities and their siblings. Julie is a top student at Cy-Fair High School throuch which she has been active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Environmental Club, PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership), and the varsity wrestling team, of which she served as captain. Her pastor, Rev. Jerome Brimmage, seems to capture the spirit and energy of this young woman when he writes, "Julie is truly a young leader within our congregation and wherever she goes."

Alumni

Esther Grabow, a 2009 OCU Winberly School of Religion graduate from Claremore, Oklahoma, received a full scholarship with stipend to study at Boston University.

Tyler Kirk, a 2009 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Guymon, Oklahoma, received the Prichett Scholarship plus a full scholarship with stipend to study at Boston University's School of Theology at Emory University, where he will begin his studies towards his Master of Divinity degree.

Brandon Blacksten, a 2008 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Norman, Oklahoma, received the Turner Fellowship for a full scholarship to Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Blake Huggins, a 2008 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Stilwell, Oklahoma, received a full tuition scholarship to attend Boston University School of Theology.

Michael Slack, a 2008 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has started teaching for 'Teach America'.

Rebecca Yount, a 2007 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Owasso, Oklahoma, is working as the Youth Outreach Services Marketing Coordinator at The Mental Health Association in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also a part-time Youth Director at Saint Paul's United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kevin Hall, a December, 2006 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Tulsa, Oklahoma, received a full tuition scholarship to Illif School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.

Rev. Linda Harker, a 1993 graduate of the Wimberly School of Religion, serves as District Superintendent of the Muskogee District of the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Mary Lou Eastmond, a 1991 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from the Master of Arts in Religion program, is Serving as Associate Pastor at Corwn Heights UMC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,

Julie Dowler, a 1990 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate has enrolled in Vanderbilt's PhD program in religion and personality.

Rev. T. Scott Keneda, a 1988 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate is now serving as senior pastor at Prague UMC in Prague, Oklahoma.