Southwestern
Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) recently hosted a luncheon
featuring Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE)
Chancellor Sean Burrage and Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker-elect Kyle Hilbert.
The
luncheon was held at SWOSU’s Pioneer Event Center at Weatherford
and was generously sponsored by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. SWOSU Food
Services served the meal.
Over
100 community leaders, public officials, and SWOSU alumni and friends
joined members of both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature for the
gathering—legislators present included:
Speaker-elect
Kyle Hilbert
Speaker
Pro Tempore-elect Anthony Moore
Representative
Stacy Adams
Representative
Nick Archer
Representative
Mike Dobrinski
Representative
Toni Hasenback
Representative
Dick Lowe
Senate
Appropriations Committee Chairman Chuck Hall
Senator
Darcy Jech
Regents
from OSRHE as well as the A&M, Regional University System of
Oklahoma (RUSO), and Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) Boards of
Regents were present along with the presidents of SWOSU, Cameron
University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU), Northern
Oklahoma College, Panhandle State University, the University of
Science & Arts of Oklahoma, Redlands Community College, and WOSC.
Following
remarks from Speaker-elect Hilbert, Chancellor Burrage discussed the
2025 OSRHE Legislative Agenda and workforce development strategy and
legislators provided commentary and context. The event marked
Burrage’s first public address delivered as Chancellor.
During
the program, SWOSU President Dr. Diana R. Lovell inducted SWOSU
alumni Anthony Sammons and Will Robinson into the SWOSU Presidential
Order of Merit.
SWOSU
President the late Dr. John Hays established the Order in 2004—it
is the highest honor in the personal gift of SWOSU’s chief executive.
Induction into the Order is reserved for individuals who have shown
outstanding achievement on the state, national or international
level, in the arts, sciences, business, industry, the professions,
sports, social service or public service. This recognition represents
recognition of significant distinction that a member of the SWOSU
family has attained.
Sammons,
a 1997 SWOSU graduate, serves as Director of Fiscal Staff for the
Oklahoma Senate. Robinson, a 2015 SWOSU graduate, serves as Deputy
Director of Fiscal Staff for the Oklahoma Senate. Both were lauded by
the legislative leaders present for their dedication, talent, and
commitment to public service.
“Anthony
Sammons and Will Robinson do all Oklahomans a great service in the
Oklahoma Senate, and and here at their alma mater we celebrate them
for representing their fellow Bulldogs with integrity,
professionalism, and class,” said Lovell.
Following
adjournment of the luncheon, Hilbert and Burrage toured the
construction site of the Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for
Pharmacy & Rural Health before departing the SWOSU campus.
For
more information, please visit www.SWOSU.edu or contact the SWOSU
Office of the President at president@swosu.edu.
