TONIGHT, WE HONOR 150 GIFTED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, AND FIVE OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE CELEBRATE THE EXCELLENCE OF THE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.

THEY'RE THE PRIDE OF OUR PRESENT THE HOPE OF OUR FUTURE.

NOW FROM TULSA, WE PRESENT THE 33RD ANNUAL ACADEMIC AWARDS BANQUET.

WELCOME OUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES, SCOTT THOMPSON.

NEWS ANCHOR OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE TRUSTEE AND A FATHER OF TWO ALUMNI.

[APPLAUSE] I'M MOST PROUD OF THAT LAST THING.

THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS WHO ACHIEVED SO MUCH, AND THE TEACHERS WHO GUIDED THEM AND SHOWN PATIENCE AND SHOWN THEM THE WAY FROM PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH OUR FINE UNIVERSITIES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE VERY VERY PROUD OF YOU.

IT WAS JUST LAST YEAR, HOLLY AND I WERE SITTING WHERE YOU ARE, AS PROUD PARENTS WITH JACK, AND FOUR YEARS EARLIER, WITH WILL.

I KNOW HOW EXCITING IT IS TONIGHT AND HOW PROUD YOU ARE, I HOPE YOU RELISH IN THAT.

AND ENJOY EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF TONIGHT, IT'S DEDICATED TO YOU, AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.

THAT'S WHY WE DO IT FOR YOU.

I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS BANQUET IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN OUR STATE.

BECAUSE, IT ABSOLUTES REMARKABLE LEADERS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO HAVE GONE THE EXTRA MILE WITH SERVICE TO OTHERS, THE CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND PASSION FOR LEARNING.

THEIR EXAMPLE ENCOURAGES EACH OF US TO INSPIRE EXCELLENCE IN OUR OWN LIVES.

THE THEME OF THE BANQUET IS "SHOOT FOR THE STARS".

TO PREPARE THE STUDENTS FOR UNIMAGINED CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES THE FUTURE HOLDS, WE CAN'T IMAGINE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE BANQUET IS THE FLAG SHIP FOR THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE, AND ONLY ONE OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THIS FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS YEAR ROUND IN ITS WORK TO RECOGNIZE AND ENCOURAGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE'S NO OTHER ORGANIZATION LIKE IT IN OKLAHOMA.

OUR FOUNDATION IS INSPIRING TEACHER TO SAY ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCES IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELDS.

THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE WORKS TOGETHER WITH COLONIAL WILLIAMSBERG, TO BRING AMERICAN HISTORY TO LIFE.

OUR INITIATIVE, PROMOTES THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MENTORING PROGRAMS, AND THROUGH OUR OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOUNDATION NETWORK WE HAVE BUILT ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST NETWORK OF GRASS ROOT SUPPORT WITH LOCAL SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS.

IT'S INSPIRING, I HAVE TO TELL YOU AT OUR TRUSTEE LUNCHEON IN SEPTEMBER.

IT'S REMARKABLE OF THE STORIES YOU HEAR THERE, THE WORK THE FOUNDATION DOES IN THE INSPIRING AND IT MAKES ME PROUD TO SERVE ON IT.

THROUGH DAVID BOREN, AND OUR TRUSTEES AND DONORS, IT'S MADE A LASTING IMPACT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE VALUE WHAT THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO, AND INVEST IN THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

NOW THE ALL STATERS, THIS IS THE EXCITING PART.

WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED THROUGH THE MOST RIGOROUS COMPETITION ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

WE RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND THEIR TEACHER GUESTS.

PRESENTING OUR STUDENTS WITH ACADEMIC ALL STATE MEDALLIONS IS 1996 ALL STATE ALUMNI, DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRANT SERVICES FOR THE YWCA IN TULSA.

AND 1990 ALL STATER, A CIVIL ENGINEER.

AS THE ALL STATERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE.

UNTIL ALL HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED.

PLEASE WELCOME THE BEST OF THE BEST, YOUR OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC ALL STATERS FOR 2019.

HELLO, FROM MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL, AND MY TEACHER DPES IS ANY ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M ANNA, AND MY GUEST IS MY CHEMISTRY TEACHER, AND MY COUNSELOR.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY TEACHER, REID ALLEN.

>> MY GUEST IS MY MATH TEACHER.

>> I'M KATIE, AND MY GUEST THIS EVENING IS MY HISTORY TEACHER AND HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR.

>> ANY NAME IS KAITLYN LONG, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT ARE MY AP LITERATURE TEACHER AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, MR.

HOLLAND.

>> MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY LATIN TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY TEACHER AND COACH, MR.

JEFF MAYS.

>> MY NAME IS BETSY, AND MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY FORMER BAND DIRECTOR.

>> MY NAME IS ERIKA, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY HISTORY TEACHER AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

>> HI I'M ROGER, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY EUROPEAN HISTORY CAPSTONE AND GOVERNMENT TEACHER, MR.

MICHAEL HORN.

>> MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT IS MY CALCULUS TEACHER.

>> HI, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER JOY EDWARDS.

>> MY NAME IS REID, AND TONIGHT MY TEACHER GUEST IS BIOLOGICAL TEACHER.

AND MY AG TEACHERS.

>> HI I'M PAYSON.

>> MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY SCIENCE TEACHER.

>> I ATTEND YUKON HIGH SCHOOL, OR ATTENDED AND MY GUESTS ARE MY LOVELY PARENTS, THEY'RE MY BEST TEACHERS.

>> MY GUESTS ARE MY AP BIOLOGY TEACHER, JONATHAN WHEELER.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY AMERICAN HISTORY PROFESSOR.

>> MY A NAME IS GABRIEL BARBER, MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY AP CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

>> MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY MOTHER AND ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M OLIVIA PORTER.

MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY SPANISH TEACHER.

>> MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY ROBOTICS TEACHER.

>> I'M HAYDEN, MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT IS MY PHYSICS TEACHERS MR.

DAVENPORT.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M THADDEUS AND MY TEACHER GUEST IS MY CALCULUS TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST IS MY AP GOVERNMENT TEACHER.

>> I'M QUINCY COLLINS AND MY GUEST TEACHER TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER.

I'M HARPER, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY CALCULUS TEACHER.

MRS.

PHILIPS.

>>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M ASHLYNN, AND MY GUEST IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M JOSH, MY GUEST TEACHER TONIGHT NATHANIAL.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY SCIENCE TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH TEACHER.

>> I'M CASEY ANDERSON, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS BRIAN MONTGOMERY, AND MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT IS MY HISTORY TEACHER.

KENNETH MCQUEEN.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT ARE ORIENTATION STRUCTURE, FEY MILLER, PRINCIPAL LYNN CRAIG.

>> I'M MATTHEW THOMAS, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ROBOTICS INSTRUCTOR.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY FORMER ART AND ENGLISH TEACHER, MICHELLE MATTHEWS.

>> I'M ZACHARY PERRY, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY AP CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS TEACHER.

>> I'M JULIE, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY BAND DIRECTOR, SEAN OKELLY.

>> MY GUEST IS MY SCIENCE TEACHER.

ELIZABETH SMITH.

>> I'M CHLOE HART, AND MY SGES MY ENGLISH TEACHER, CARROLL OSWALD.

>> I'M FROM DIAMOND HIGH SCHOOL, MY GUESTS TONIGHT ARE MY PHYSICS TEACHER AND HER HUSBAND, AND MY PRINCIPAL MR.

RANDY WILLIAMS.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY PREK TEACHER.

>> I'M FROM SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL, MY GUEST IS MY ROBOTICS TEAM MENTOR.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH TEACHER.

I'M KELLY ASHER, AND MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ACADEMIC COACH.

>> MY GUEST IS MY SPANISH TEACHER.

>> I'M TOBY, AND MY GUEST IS MY CHEMISTRY TEACHER AND SCHOOL COUNSELOR, JORDAN.

>> I'M -- MY GUEST IS -- HENRY.

>> I'M MICHAEL, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

>> I'M COLLEEN, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER, MRS.

LAUREN.

>> I'M GRACE, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS ANY TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE ADVISOR.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST THIS EVENING THE KATIE DONOHUE, BY AP HISTORY TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY AMERICAN LITERATURE TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS MARGARET, MY GUEST THIS EVENING IS ANY ENGLISH TEACHER, JEN WARD.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY -- TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST IS MY HISTORY TEACHER, RANDALL BRICKS.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER, MRS.

DICKSON.

>> MY GUEST IS MY SCIENCE TEACHER OF FOUR YEARS.

>> MY GUEST TO WANT IS MY AP SPANISH TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS ANDREW TRUE.

AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY AP CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

>> MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT INCLUDE COURTNEY DAVIDSON, JOHN -- >> I'M DYLAN AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY AP UNITED STATES HISTORY TEACHER.

>> I AM DILLON, MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY JOURNALISM AND ONLINE NEWS THE TEACHER, MRS.

KELLY TAYLOR.

>> I'M KYLER.

AND MY GUEST IS MY BAND DIRECTOR.

>> MY GUEST TEACHER TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH SPANISH TEACHER.

>> I'M CASSIDY, AND MY TEACHER GUEST IS MS.

TURNER, AND MY BIOLOGY TEACHER.

>> I'M REGAN, AND MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT ARE MY AP CHEMISTRY TEACHER, AND MY AP PSYCHOLOGY TEACHER.

>> I'M HEIDI, AND MY TEACHER GUEST IS MS.

NEIL.

>> MY NAME IS ALEX, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH TEACHER, MS.

BUSH, AND PRINCIPAL.

>> MY GUEST TEACHER TONIGHT IS MY PHYSICS PROFESSOR.

>> I'M ADAM, AND MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER, JULIE ADAMS.

>> HELLO, MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT IS MY MATH TEACHER AND ACADEMIC COACH, MS.

CINDY BAILEY.

>> MY GUEST TO WANT IS MY PHYSICS TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS GRACE MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT IS LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE TEACHER.

>> MY GUEST TONIGHT IS MY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

>> I'M EMILY MILLER.

MY TEACHER GUEST TONIGHT ARE MY PIANO INSTRUCTOR, AND MY FOREVER TEACHER, MY MOM SUSAN MILLER.

>> I'M SAM, AND I'M FROM STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL, MY GUESTS ARE THE AMAZING ENGLISH TEACHER, AND MY MOM AND MATH TEACHER.

ONCE AGAIN, YOUR 2019 CLASS OF ACADEMIC ALL STATERS.

>>> ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL FROM THE FOUR CORNER OF OKLAHOMA, FROM ROBOTICS, TO PHYSICS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'LL TOUCH THE LIFE OF A CHILD AND WHAT AGE.

I HOPE YOUR HEARTS ARE BURSTING WITH PRIDE.

OUR -- OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 100 ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS!

WE NOW TURN TO THE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS.

EACH RECIPIENT WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.

IN ADDITION, EACH HONOREE WILL RECEIVE AN ETCHED GLASS ROOTS & WINGS SCULPTURE, LIKE THOSE YOU SEE AT THE FRONT OF THE STAGE.

WITH THE CREATION OF THIS PIECE, RON ROBERTS HONORED THE STATEMENT, “THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE SHOULD GIVE OUR CHILDREN: ONE IS ROOTS AND THE OTHER IS WINGS.” PRESENTING OUR MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS THIS EVENING ARE FIVE ACCOMPLISHED ACADEMIC ALL-STATE ALUMNI WHO ARE LEADERS IN MUSIC, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LAW, EDUCATION AND ENGINEERING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR FIRST AWARD PRESENTER THIS EVENING IS A 1995 ALL-STATER AND COMPOSER, WHOSE AWARD-WINNING MUSIC HAS RANGED FROM SOLO SONGS TO WORKS FOR FULL ORCHESTRA.

PLEASE WELCOME - FROM REGIS UNIVERSITY IN DENVER -- MUSIC PROFESSOR LORETTA NOTARESCHI.

WHEN CATHY ADAMS BEGAN HER CAREER 30 YEARS AGO AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SHE DISCOVERED EARLY ON THAT STUDENTS LEARN TO DEVELOP RESILIENCE NOT FROM SUCCESS, BUT FROM DEALING WITH THEIR STRUGGLES AND FRUSTRATION.

TODAY, CATHY IS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT PIEDMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE SHE TEACHES SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND BULLYING PREVENTION.

MRS.

ADAMS WORKS DIRECTLY WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN EMPATHY, GOAL SETTING AND COPING SKILLS, OFTEN INCORPORATING LITERATURE IN HER LESSONS.

SHE HAS CREATED SEVERAL SMALL GROUPS TO MEET STUDENTS' NEEDS, FROM THE COOL KIDS CLUB, WHICH TEACHES ANGER MANAGEMENT, TO GOOD GRIEF, A GROUP FOR CHILDREN MOURNING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

RECOGNIZING THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES THAT MANY CHILDREN FACE - FROM HAVING AN INCARCERATED PARENT TO LIVING IN POVERTY - CATHY LEADS HER SCHOOL'S EFFORTS IN TRAUMA-INFORMED INSTRUCTION.

SHE HAS ALSO LAUNCHED TWO MENTORING PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH EXTRA ACADEMIC AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

A 2018 OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST, CATHY ADAMS IS A MASTER AT TEACHING CRITICAL SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAT WILL HELP STUDENTS BECOME HAPPY, RESILIENT ADULTS.

>> IS IT OKAY TO FEEL MAD OR ANGRY SOMETIMES?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> CHILDREN TODAY ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE, PRESSURE FROM THEMSELVES, PRESSURE FROM FAMILY TO DO THEIR VERY BEST, ALWAYS SUCCEED, BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE.

>> THOSE STUDENTS NEED EMOTIONAL NEEDS MET FIRST BEFORE MEET THE ACADEMIC NEEDS.

THAT'S WHERE MS.

ADAMS WILL DEPO ABOVE AND I DON'T HAPPENED TO -- GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP THE STUDENTS.

>> SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO SHARE MY FEELINGS WITH OTHERS.

>> SHE TAUGHT US GOOD STRATEGIES, WHICH I USE A LOT NOW.

I'VE LEARNED HUNDREDS OF STRATEGIES, IT'S REALLY COOL.

>> THERE'S A MAILBOX THEY CAN SLIP A NOTE IN, AND MRS.

ADAMS WILL COME AND GET THEM.

>> SHE HAS A RULE IF IT'S A FRIEND PROBLEM SHE WAITS TWO WEEKS IF IT'S NOT SOLVED, SHE'LL GET YOU AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT WITH YOUR FRIEND.

>> SHE HAS THAT SPIRIT ABOUT HER, SHE HAS A CALM DEMEANOR.

AND I THINK THAT KIDS INSTANTLY KIND OF FEEL CONNECTED TO HER.

>> THE STUDENT COUNCIL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THEY COME OVER TO OUR SCHOOL AND THEY WORK WITH OUR FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS.

IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE NO IDEA A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES IN THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WELL.

>> A LOT OF THE KIDS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE FROM SINGLE PARENTS OR STRUGGLE IN THE SUBJECT.

COMING OVER AND TALKING TO THEM ABDOMEN LIFE LESSONS OR WHATEVER, IT SHOWS YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT ON ANYONE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE RECIPIENT OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY TEACHING, FROM PIEDMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CATHY ADAMS!

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU TO THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE AND ITS DONORS FOR MAKING THIS AWARD POSSIBLE.

I'M HONORED TO WORK FOR PIEDMONT PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS - WHO WERE MY FIRST TEACHERS - FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.

IMAGINE A CAREER WHERE EACH DAY YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT A CHILD'S LIFE; WHILE TEACHING CRITICAL SKILLS AND INSTILLING IN CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMONSTRATING EMPATHY, TOLERANCE AND COMPASSION FOR EVERYONE.

I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DAILY FOR 30 YEARS AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND SCHOOL COUNSELOR.

I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVIDING ALL MY STUDENTS WITH THEIR PERSONAL TOOL BOX FULL OF SELF-ESTEEM, RESILIENCE, CONFIDENCE AND THE DESIRE TO DISCOVER THEIR TALENTS.

EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE FEW CAREERS WHERE YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN POSITIVELY CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF A STUDENT'S PATH IN LIFE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH RE-TEACHING A LESSON, UTILIZING A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE OR BEING THE TEACHER A STRUGGLING STUDENT KNOWS WILL BE THERE TO LISTEN, SUPPORT AND GUIDE.

I TEACH CHILDREN EMPATHY, BULLYING PREVENTION STRATEGIES, CAREER EXPLORATION AND THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS.

ASSISTING TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS DEALING WITH A TRAGEDY, HELPING PARENTS STRUGGLING WITH FAMILY ISSUES, TEACHING COPING SKILLS TO ALLEVIATE THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA OR ANXIETY OR CELEBRATING A STUDENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BOTH BIG AND SMALL, ARE THE MEANS THROUGH WHICH I SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY BUILD A FOUNDATION OF THOSE ESSENTIAL TOOLS THAT WILL HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.

EDUCATION IS A BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS CHILDREN TO THIS AMAZING, EVER-CHANGING WORLD THAT WILL BE THEIR FUTURE.

I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT BRIDGE AS A TEACHER AND COUNSELOR IN OKLAHOMA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT PRESENTER THIS EVENING IS A SOUGHT-AFTER SPEAKER, LEADERSHIP TRAINER AND CULTURAL ENTREPRENEUR.

HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF PARADIGM SHIFT, A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FIRM IN MUSKOGEE.

PLEASE WELCOME 2000 ACADEMIC ALL-STATE ALUMNUS JERROD MURR.

[APPLAUSE] THE GREAT AUTHOR F. SCOTT FITZGERALD ONCE WROTE THAT THROUGH LITERATURE, YOU DISCOVER THAT YOUR LONGINGS ARE UNIVERSAL LONGINGS, THAT YOU ARE NOT LONELY AND ISOLATED FROM ANYONE.

THAT YOU BELONG.” AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT LAWTON EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL, MICHELLE CHURCHWELL INSPIRES STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A LASTING LOVE FOR LITERATURE AND TO SEE IT AS A MIRROR FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

MS.

CHURCHWELL MAKES LITERATURE COME ALIVE BY READING ALOUD TO HER STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE TEARS, THE LAUGHTER AND THE STRUGGLES OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND NAVIGATE DIFFICULT PASSAGES TOGETHER.

SHE MODELS THE POWER OF LITERATURE TO CONNECT US ALL.

MS.

CHURCHWELL ALSO CONNECTS STUDENTS TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH IKE IGNITION - A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT MATCHES FRESHMEN WITH UPPERCLASSMEN FOR LEADERSHIP LESSONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

TOGETHER THE STUDENTS HAVE RAISED MORE THAN $100,000 AND DONATED MORE THAN 700 SERVICE HOURS TO FIGHT HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT MANY OF THOSE IKE IGNITION MENTORS ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

AS A TEACHER AND PROGRAM ADVISER, MICHELLE CHURCHWELL IS EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO USE THEIR VOICES FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE.

>>> I DECIDED WE'LL READ OUT LOUD, THAT WAY I KNOW THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING IT AND READING IT.

>> WHEN SHE READS TO YOU IN CLASS, IT PUTS YOU IN THE STORY SO MUCH BETTER WHEN SHE HAS THE ENTHUSIASM THAT THE CHARACTER OF THE BOOK HAS, IT MAKES YOU ENJOY THE BOOK SO MUCH MORE.

>> THEY'RE LEARNING THERE'S A PEG WORLD OUT THERE -- BIG WORLD OUT THE THERE, OTHER THAN THEIR SELF AND THEIR PHONE.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE DISTRACTED BY SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE'S TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS IN THE WORLD.

SHE KNOWS THAT BOOKS AND LITERATURE CAN BRING US BACK DOWN TO EARTH SO TO SAY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.

>> I THINK THAT THE PASSION THAT SHE HAS IS RUBBING OFF ON THE KIDS IS REALLY JUST BLEEDING OUT THROUGH THE WHOLE SCHOOL.

SO, HER CARING HEART IS INFLUENCING KIDS TO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER, THAT'S CREATING MORE AND MORE KIDS CARING OF THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AS WELL.

>> SHE MAKES IT REAL.

HUNGER IS A REAL THING, AND BY HER BEING CONCERNED AND SHE'S ALWAYS THERE DOING EVERY ACTIVITY WITH THEM.

>> HE GAVE ME LEADERSHIP, HONOR, EMPATHY.

AND MADE ME BUILD THAT SKILL WHERE I CAN TALK TO ANYONE, AND EXPRESS MY FEELINGS.

I WALK AROUND SCHOOL WITH MY HEAD HELD HIGH, I HAVE A FAVORITE TEACHER WHO'S BY MY SIDE.

>> I LOVE MY STUDENTS.

I TELL THEM THEY'RE THE REASON I COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

THERE ARE SOME KIDS THAT REALLY GO AN ENTIRE DAY, SOME AN ENTIRE WEEK WITHOUT SOMEONE TELLING THEM THAT THEY'RE SPECIAL AND LOVED.

I HOPE THEY KNOW THAT.

ED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2019 OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SECONDARY TEACHING, FROM EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL IN LAWTON, MICHELLE CHURCHWELL.

[APPLAUSE] I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME I WASN'T SURROUNDED BY BOOKS.

I ALSO CAN'T REMEMBER MY MOTHER EVER TELLING ME NO WHEN I WOULD ASK HER TO READ TO ME.

WE MAY HAVE READ DON'T FORGET THE OATMEAL 10 TIMES THAT DAY, BUT MY MOTHER WAS NEVER TOO BUSY, NEVER BORED BY THE BOOK.

THE SPINE OF THE BOOK MAY HAVE BEEN CRACKED OR EVEN STRIPPED, BUT EVERY SINGLE TIME WE OPENED THE BOOK, SHE WAS AS EXCITED AS IF IT WAS THE FIRST TIME.

FROM THE BEGINNING, I EQUATED READING WITH NURTURING, SECURITY, AND MAYBE A SNACK.

MY MOTHER WAS MY FIRST TEACHER, AND ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS THROUGHOUT MY TIME AS A STUDENT IN OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SHE IS THE INSPIRATION FOR MY TEACHING.

MY FAVORITE DAYS AT SCHOOL ARE THE DAYS THAT MY STUDENTS AND I CAN JUST READ—NO TEST PREP, NO PACKETS OR POWERPOINTS, NO PRESSURE—JUST READING.

NOT ALL OF MY STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP TO READING THAT MY MOTHER SO CAREFULLY CULTIVATED IN ME.

MANY STRUGGLE WITH READING AND DON'T HAVE SOMEONE AT HOME WHO CAN SPEND THE TIME TO BRING THEM TO GRADE LEVEL, LET ALONE FOSTER A LOVE OF LANGUAGE.

FOR AT LEAST THE 50 MINUTES THEY ARE WITH ME, I STRIVE TO RECREATE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT MY MOTHER AND MY TEACHERS CREATED FOR ME, ONE IN WHICH THE CONTENT COMES ALIVE AND THEIR WORRIES TAKE A BACK SEAT.

I CAN ASSURE YOU I AM NOT THE EXCEPTION; I AM ONE EXAMPLE OF THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO ARE CREATING ENGAGING AND NURTURING SPACES FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.

I AM A PRODUCT OF OKLAHOMA TEACHERS, AND I THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR EXAMPLE.

THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY—MY HUSBAND, MY CHILDREN, MY MOM AND MY DAD—FOR YOUR CONSTANT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

I TREASURE YOU ALL.

AND LASTLY, THANK YOU TO MY STUDENTS FOR ALLOWING ME THE HONOR OF BEING YOUR TEACHER.

THE MAGNITUDE OF THAT HONOR IS NOT LOST ON ME.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT AWARD PRESENTER THIS EVENING IS A 1987 ALL-STATE ALUMNA AND A PARTNER WITH THE LAW FIRM OF MILLER & JOHNSON IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

SHE IS A CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE MID-DEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION AND PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE.

PLEASE WELCOME JAMI RHOADES-ANTONISSE.

[APPLAUSE] THE BEST LEADERS INSTILL IN PEOPLE A HOPE FOR SUCCESS AND A BELIEF IN THEMSELVES.

SINCE JOINING MID-DEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS SUPERINTENDENT IN 2015, DR.

RICK COBB HAS BROUGHT HOPE AND OPTIMISM TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND RALLIED THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRICT.

DR.

COBB IS A MAN WHO LISTENS TO LEAD.

WHEN HE BEGAN PLANNING FOR A MUCH-NEEDED BOND ISSUE, HE SOUGHT INPUT FROM STUDENTS FIRST, THEN REACHED OUT TO TEACHERS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL VOICES WERE INCLUDED.

WHAT RESULTED WAS THE LANDSLIDE PASSAGE OF A $130 MILLION BOND ISSUE TO RENOVATE ARTS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES, AND IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY, TECHNOLOGY, TRANSPORTATION AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.

DR.

COBB'S INCLUSIVE AND CARING LEADERSHIP STYLE HAS HELPED THE DISTRICT TO BECOME A STATE LEADER SERVING STUDENTS WHO FACE TRAUMA AND HELPED MID-DEL TEACHERS AND FAMILIES FEEL SUPPORTED DURING LAST YEAR'S HISTORIC TEACHER WALK OUT.

AS THE AUTHOR OF THE POPULAR BLOG, OK EDUCATION TRUTHS, RICK COBB HELPS SHED LIGHT ON THE MANY OBSTACLES FACING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BRINGS HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO EDUCATION SUPPORTERS STATEWIDE.

>>> MY LEADERSHIP STYLE IS TO BE INCLUSIVE.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT HAVING A BOND ELECTION IN 2016, IT ACTUALLY STARTED WITH A CONVERSATION WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S ADVISORY BOARD, THAT'S THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT.

>> IT MEANS SO MUCH THAT HE WANTS TO HEAR OUR OPINION AND HE REALLY CARES WHAT WE THINK.

AND WHO WE ARE AS INDIVIDUALS.

FOOTBALL STADIUMS ARE ADDED TOO, THOSE ARE THE PLACES THAT PEOPLE FROM OTHER SCHOOLS COME TO.

AND ET REALLY -- IT REALLY HELPS DEFINE HOW WE SEE OUR SCHOOL AND THE PRIDE WE HAVE IN IT.

KNOWING WE HAVE THESE AMAZING FACILITIES, AND HE WOULD GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS ALWAYS WAS, IS THIS RIGHT FOR KIDS?

EVERY DECISION IS BASED ON WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE KIDS AT THE MOMENT AND THE FUTURE STUDENTS.

>> IT'S AMAZING TO GET BEHIND THE SCHOOL BUS AND SEE THAT THANK YOU, SO INSPIRATIONAL, HE SAID, LET ME THANK THE COMMUNITY EVERY TIME THEY SEE A BUS.

>> I LOVE MY JOB IS DIFFERENT EVERY DAY.

THERE ARE NO TWO DAYS ALIKE.

MY JOB HAS PURPOSE.

>> WE WERE AT THE CAPITAL MARCHING FOR OUR TEACHERS, AND IT REALLY SHOWED US THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH POWER AND IF WE CAN UNITE TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE THE UNIMAGINABLE.

>> MY 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER GOT TO WALK BESIDES HIM FOR PART OF THE WALK, TO SEE HER HOPE FOR THE FUTURE WAS IN HIS HAND.

>> THERE WERE PEOPLE LINED UP ALL THE WAY OUT OF THE CITY, ONE OF THE FIVE BEST DAYS I'VE HAD SINCE BEING SUPERINTENDENT.

>> BEING SIDE BY SIDE, SWEATING WITH US, IT WAS SO MUCH -- INSPIRING, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT YOU CAN BE A LEADER WITHOUT BEING ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE.

>> THERE'S JUST THIS LIGHTNESS ABOUT OUR EDUCATORS, IN OUR BUILDING.

THEY HAVE HOPE.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK OUR DISTRICT HAS NEEDED FOR SO LONG.

PLEASE WELCOME THE RECIPIENT OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, SUPERINTENDENT OF MID-DEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DR.

RICK COBB!

[APPLAUSE] AS PUBLIC EDUCATORS, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE PEOPLE BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AS TEACHERS, THAT REFERS TO OUR STUDENTS.

WE FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY NEED, AND WE MATCH THAT INFORMATION WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.

WE TEACH THEM.

WE ASSESS HOW WELL THAT'S WORKING, AND WE ADJUST.

ADMINISTRATORS STILL HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING AND GROWING.

WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT WITH THE ADULTS AROUND US.

AS A STUDENT, I HAD SEVERAL TEACHERS WHO BELIEVED IN ME MORE THAN I BELIEVED IN MYSELF, NOT TO MENTION A MOTHER AT HOME - WHO WAS ALSO A TEACHER - BELIEVING IN ME.

I GREW UP EXPECTING THAT, SHELTERED ENOUGH THAT I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNIVERSAL.

I KNOW NOW THAT IT'S NOT.

WHAT SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY TO ME, HOWEVER, IS THAT FROM THE TIME I STARTED MY TEACHING CAREER IN 1993, I HAD A PRINCIPAL, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE, AND THEN AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, AND THEN A SERIES OF SUPERINTENDENTS WHO ALL INVESTED THEIR TIME IN MAKING ME BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D LEAVE THE CLASSROOM.

I'VE HAD THE BLESSING, HOWEVER, TO HAVE LEADERS WHO WOULD TAP ME ON THE SHOULDER AND TELL ME I SHOULD TRY TO STRETCH MYSELF.

THE 100 ALL-STATERS HERE TONIGHT REACHED THIS POINT, NOT BY COLORING INSIDE OF THE LINES AND REPEATING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.

YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, BELIEVED IN YOU - THE UNIQUE YOU - NOT SOME COOKIE-CUTTER.

YOU SHOULD FIND WHAT FEEDS YOUR SOULS AND PURSUE IT FIERCELY.

WE ALL SHOULD!

I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAREER, STILL CHASING WHAT FEEDS MINE.

AS YOU START COLLEGE, FAMILIES, CAREERS, OR WHATEVER COMES NEXT FOR YOU, I HOPE YOU'LL ALWAYS PROTECT THE SPACE IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOUR PASSIONS BELONG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU FIND HAPPINESS, AND THE ENERGY TO MAKE PEOPLE BETTER EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU TO THE FOUNDATION, TO MID-DEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO MY FAMILY.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] I HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO PAT HIM ON THE BACK.

THAT WAS GREAT, CONGRATULATION TO ALL OF YOU.

BEFORE WE PRESENT OUR MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AT THE HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL, WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT FOR YOU.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA FOR BEING A PART OF TONIGHT'S CEREMONIES.

THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE IS OKLAHOMA'S OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AND HAS BEEN THE STATE'S PREMIER ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

EACH YEAR, 270 STUDENTS ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE STATEWIDE AUDITION PROCESS IN THE VISUAL, LITERARY, AND PERFORMING ARTS TO STUDY WITH NATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS DURING A TWO-WEEK, INTENSIVE ACADEMY HELD AT QUARTZ MOUNTAIN.

DREAMS COME TRUE THERE.

THAT'S THE MAGIC OF THE PLACE.

THERE IS NO MORE FITTING TRIBUTE THAN TO HAVE THIS OUTSTANDING GROUP OF TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS HERE TO HELP US SALUTE OUR 2019 ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS AND MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE RECIPIENTS.

COMING TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS AFTERNOON TO REHEARSE THIS PIECE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA, LED BY CONDUCTOR JOSÉ LUIS HERNANDEZ, FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF SISTEMA TULSA, PERFORMING THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN BY ELMER BERNSTEIN.

[APPLAUSE] AND NOW WE CONTINUE WITH THE PRESENTATION OF OUR OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS.

PRESENTING OUR NEXT AWARD IS A 1999 ALL-STATE ALUMNA WHO IS EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEACH FOR AMERICA IN TULSA.

PLEASE WELCOME OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE TRUSTEE LESLIE DAUGHERTY.

[APPLAUSE] BEFORE HE JOINED THE FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, DR.

WAYNE LORD WAS LIVING THE LIFE THAT MANY FORENSIC SCIENCE STUDENTS DREAM OF.

DURING HIS 21-YEAR CAREER WITH THE FBI, DR.

LORD HELPED DEVELOP THE AGENCY'S EVIDENCE-RESPONSE TEAMS AND WAS CHIEF OF THE FBI BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS UNIT, HELPING EXPLORE THE MOTIVES OF REAL-LIFE CRIMINAL MINDS.

DR.

LORD ADVISED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION IN VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATIONS AND EVEN SERVED AS A CONSULTANT ON THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING FILM “SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.” TODAY, AS A PROFESSOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY AT UCO, DR.

LORD IS DOING WHAT HE LOVES BEST - SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES WITH A NEW GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

DR.

LORD UTILIZES SMALL-GROUP PROBLEM-SOLVING AND REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS TO HELP STUDENTS PUT THEORY TO PRACTICE.

HIS INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF UCO'S CENTER FOR WILDLIFE FORENSIC SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION - AN EMERGING FIELD TO PROTECT ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES.

DR.

LORD'S PASSION FOR TEACHING AND MENTORING - COMBINED WITH HIS EXPERTISE AS AN INVESTIGATOR - HAVE HELPED PLACE UCO'S FORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTE ON THE MAP.

I WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE FROM THE FBI, I HAD A WONDERFUL CAREER.

I BEGAN THE LOOK FOR OPTIONS, WHERE I COULD PASS ON SEMILY MY -- ESSENTIALLY MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO OTHERS.

>> HIS CAPABILITY, HIS KNOWLEDGE COULD LAND HIM A LEADING ROLE IN MOVIES, AND TV SERIES, TO WRITE STORIES.

IT COULD BE LUCRATIVE, A LOT OF FUN, BUT THAT'S NOT HIS PASSION.

HIS PASSION IS WORKING WITH STUDENTS.

>> HIS REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES, AND JUST THE VOLUME OF CASES HE'S WORKED, IS SO INVALUABLE.

THINGS YOU COULD PUT IN A TEXTBOOK BUT TO STAND IN A ROOM WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THAT REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON THAT.

>> THE STUDENTS ARE IN AWE.

OF WHAT HE'S DONE.

BUT HE'S NOT THE KIND OF PERSON THAT PUBLICIZES THAT.

WITH DR.

LORD YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S A DONE IN HIS LIFE.

HIS GREATEST JOY, AND GREATEST HAPPINESS COMES FROM SEEING STUDENTS SUCCEED.

>> THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT DAYS IN A PERSON'S LIFE ARE THE DAY THEY'RE BORN AND THE DAY THEY DISCOVER WHY.

WHAT WE REALLY DO HERE IS WE TRY TO SHOW THEM THE WHY.

>> HE'S TOUCHING THESE STUDENTS AND PREPARING THEM TO BECOME CRIME FIGHTERS.

AND DOING A TERRIFIC JOB.

>> I HAVE NOT BEEN IN HIS CLASS BUT I AN IMAGINE HIS CLOSS BEFORE -- CLASS BEFORE -- THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

THE FIELD KNOWLEDGE AND OTHER WORK IN TERMS OF BIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, AND SKRIEM FIGHTING CAN SHE -- CRIME FIGHTING, I WISH I WAS HIS STUDENT.

>> THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON THE PLANET AND TO DEMONSTRATE TO THEM, IT'S THEIR DIVERSITY, THEIR INDIVIDUAL UNIQUE GIFTS THAT MAKE THEM VALUABLE.

THEY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.

AND WE HOPE THAT ROLE INVOLVES VERY VERY GOOD SCIENCE AND A LIFELONG MASTERY OF THINGS INTELLECTUAL.

PLEASE WELCOME THE RECIPIENT OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN REGIONAL UNIVERSITY & COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHING, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, DR.

WAYNE LORD!

[APPLAUSE] GOOD EVENING, YEARS AGO I WAS PARTICIPATING IN A CONFERENCE SIMILAR TO THIS, AT THE FBI ACADEMY IN VIRGINIA.

IN RESPONSE TO ACCOLADES CONCERNING HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ALEX HALEY, THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF ROOTS, IS CREDITED WITH STATING: “WHEN YOU SEE A TURTLE SITTING ATOP A FENCE POST, YOU CAN BE PRETTY DARN SURE HE DID NOT GET UP THERE BY HIMSELF”.

TONIGHT, I AM CLEARLY THAT TURTLE.

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE A DISTINGUISHED CADRE OF HIGHLY TALENTED, DEDICATED AND FREQUENTLY UNCELEBRATED UCO COLLEAGUES FROM THE W. ROGER WEBB FORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTE, THE COLLEGE OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCES, THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND ELSEWHERE.

TOGETHER WE STRIVE DAILY TO MOTIVATE, GUIDE, MENTOR, AND TRANSFORM OUR EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS IN APPLYING THEIR UNIQUE GIFTS AND TALENTS TO THE PRACTICAL, LIFE-LONG PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE, THE DEVELOPMENT RICH, INFORMED AND PURPOSEFUL LIVES, AND TO INSTILLING IN THEM A PASSION FOR SERVICE TO OTHERS.

FEW THINGS IN LIFE ARE MORE PROFESSIONALLY INSPIRING OR PERSONALLY GRATIFYING.

ROOTED IN INNOVATIVE EMERGING SCIENCE AND THE UNYIELDING PURSUIT OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.

MY HIGHLY TALENTED GRADUATES SERVE THE CITIZEN OF OKLAHOMA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS, THE NATION AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

AND WE ARE SO VERY VERY PROUD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THEIR DEDICATION.

WHEN I REFLECT ON THE FOUNDATIONAL INSPIRATION THAT UNDERLIES THE EDUCATIONAL PROWESS AND PHILOSOPHY OF WHAT WE DO, IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTE AND ELSEWHERE, I HEAR THE TIMELESS WORDS OF A PLAY WRITE, THOSE WORDS ARE ECHOED BY PRESIDENT KENNEDY IN 1963.

AND LATER BY HIS BROTHER ROBIN IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

IN ESSENCE SAID THIS.

SOME PEOPLE SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE, AND THEY ASK WHY.

WE HOWEVER SEE THINGS AS THEY'VE NEVER BEEN AND WE ASK WHY NOT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF COLLABORATIVELY GUIDING THE STUDENTS ENTRUSTED IN MY MENTORSHIP IN THE DISCOVERY OF THEIR PASSIONS, AND THEIR PURPOSE.

CONGRATULATIONS ALL STATE SCHOLARS ON YOUR INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT, THANK YOU FOUNDATION, THANK YOU FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, AND GOD SPEED YOU ALL THIS EVENING.

[APPLAUSE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR FINAL AWARD PRESENTER TONIGHT IS A 1997 ACADEMIC ALL-STATE ALUMNA WHO OVERSEES MORE THAN EIGHTEEN-HUNDRED SYSTEM ENGINEERS AS AN OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR RAYTHEON MISSILE SYSTEMS IN TUCSON.

PLEASE WELCOME AWARD-WINNING AEROSPACE ENGINEER YOLANDA MACK.

[APPLAUSE] IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT SCIENTISTS STUDY THE WORLD AS IT IS, WHILE ENGINEERS CREATE THE WORLD THAT HAS NEVER BEEN.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, KEITH STEVETT, A PROFESSOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, IS HELPING PREPARE STUDENTS TO HELP CREATE CITIES OF THE FUTURE.

DR.

STEVETT LEARNED EARLY IN HIS CAREER THAT THE BEST WAY TO TEACH ENGINEERING IS TO PRESENT THEORETICAL INFORMATION IN ADVANCE - OFTEN THROUGH INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS - SO THAT CLASS TIME CAN BE USED FOR ROBUST DISCUSSION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING EXERCISES.

DR.

STEVETT USES A DESIGN-BUILD-TEST APPROACH IN HIS LAB CLASSES TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO PHYSICALLY ENGAGE WITH ENGINEERING CONCEPTS.

THEY BUILD SELF-PROPELLED BOATS, CREATE POTABLE WATER OR DESIGN WASTE-WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS.

DR.

STEVETT LIKES TO SAY HE'S NOT TEACHING PROBLEM SOLVING.

HE'S TEACHING PROBLEM SOLVERS.

WHILE DR.

STEVETT'S COURSES ARE AMONG THE MOST DEMANDING, THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE MOST HIGHLY PRAISED BY OU STUDENTS.

KEITH GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO GET TO KNOW HIS STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LEARNING STYLES AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS.

THROUGH HIS PATIENT MENTORING, KEITH HELPS STUDENTS ENGINEER THE FUTURE OF THEIR DREAMS.

>> MOST STUDENTS DON'T KNOW HOW THE WATER IS TREATED.

IF THE STUDENTS CAN GET TO THE SITE, TALK TO THE OPERATORS, AND LEARN AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING, THEY HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THE DESIGN THEY'RE MAKING.

READING ABOUT IT, TEXTBOOK, AND DOING CALCULATIONS ABOUT IT, AND GOING OUT AND SEEING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IN REALITY, BRINGS THE CONCEPTS TO LIFE IN A WAY.

KEITH IS A MASTER AT DOING THAT.

>> I THINK HE ENJOYS CHALLENGING STUDENTS.

HE DEFINITIVELY TAKES AN INTEREST IN PUTTING IT ON US TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE SOMETIMES.

>> BUT THE STUDENTS I'VE TALKED TO IN HIS CLASSES, LOVE HIS CLASSES, IT HAS TO DO WITH HE'S SO PASSIONATE AND SO EXCITED THAT IT MAKES IT EASY TO LEARN FROM HIM.

>> KEITH'S TEACHING DEALS WITH CONCEPTS THAT CAN AT TIMES BE HARD TO TRACK, HE ROSHGZ HARD TO -- WORKS HARD TO BRING PRACTICAL ANALOGIES THAT STUDENTS CAN HOLD ON TO.

>> UNFORTUNATELY ONE YEAR I DID THAT IN A NEW LECTURE HALL, I RAN OUT THE BACK, CAME AROUND TO THE FRONT AND THE DOOR WAS LOCKED.

IT DIDN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.

>> I THINK HE'S PROBABLY THE MOST PASSIONATE PROFESSOR I'VE EVER HAD.

JUST HIS CARING PHILOSOPHY AND JUST HOW HE ALWAYS THAT HAS STUDENT IN MIND CONSISTENTLY IN HIS TEACHING.

>> THESE ARE THE STUDENTS BUILDING THE BUILDINGS I STAND IN, THE DRIJZ I DRIVE OVER, AND THE WATER TREATMENT THAT IS I DRINK FROM.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THEM.

>> WE'RE LOOKING TO SUSTAINABLE WAY TO TREAT WASTE WATER, HIS KNOWLEDGE, HIS EXPERIENCE IN THAT ENGINEERING TREMENDOUSLY IMPROVES.

I DON'T KNOW -- TAKE HIM TO MEET MY FAMILY, AND YOU KNOW -- PLEASE WELCOME THE RECIPIENT OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITY TEACHING, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, DR.

KEITH STREVETT!

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, DOCTOR MACK.

I'M HUMBLED TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS AWARD, LET ALONE BE THE RECIPIENT.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED, INDIRECTLY, THAT EUREKA MOMENT.

THAT MOMENT IN STUDENTS' EYES IN RESPONSE TO A CONCEPT THAT HAS SOLIDIFIED.

EUREKA, ATTRIBUTED TO ARCHIMEDES, WAS SHOUTED WHEN THE CONCEPT OF BUOYANCY SOLIDIFIED IN HIS MIND.

BACK THEN, IT WAS ABOUT THE KING'S GOLD; BUT NOW IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.

IT'S ABOUT OUR STUDENTS REALIZING THAT THEY ARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROBLEM SOLVERS AND TOMORROW'S INNOVATORS.

THESE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE.

IT'S SAID THAT “TEACHING TODAY, TOUCHES TOMORROW,” BUT AS EVERY TEACHER KNOWS, WE ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF AN EVEN GREATER GIFT.

THE GIFT OF THESE STUDENTS IN OUR LIVES.

AS I LOOK AT THE ACADEMIC ALL-STATE STUDENTS HONORED TONIGHT; I SEE OUR TOMORROW AND IT IS FULL OF WONDER, AMAZEMENT AND ADVENTURE.

I WANT TO THANK THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE FOR THIS HONOR.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY WIFE, STACY AND MY CHILDREN: ANTHONY, THERESA, CATHERINE, MARY AND DOMINIC, FOR ENDURING MY MANY LATE NIGHTS AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND NEVER GIVING UP ON ME.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] .

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS TONIGHT.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.

NOW OUR BANQUET KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

WHO'S AN ENGINEER, EDUCATOR, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT, AND FORMER WIDE RECEIVER.

HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP, RECEIVED ALL ACADEMIC HONORS.

HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE DETROIT LIONS IN THE COLLEGE DRAFT TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

BUT A HAMSTRING INJURY -- AND LASHLT THE DALLAS COWBOYS.

AND HIS INTEREST IN MATH AND SCIENCE LED HIM TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WHERE HE RECEIVED A MASTERS DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE ENGINEERING.

NASA FIRST RECRUITED HIM TO SERVE IN THE RESEARCH CENTER TO CREATE OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS.

AFTER FACING SET BACKS, HE WAS CLEARED TO TRAVEL TO SPACE TWICE.

ABOARD THE ATLANTIS, THERE HE LOGGED MORE THAN 565 HOURS IN SPACE, AND PLAYED THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE RESEARCH LAB FOR THE SPACE STATION.

WE HAVE A LOVELY DISCUSSION HERE OF PASSING OVER MID AMERICA AT NIGHT.

IT'S A MARVELOUS -- TO TALK TO HIM.

HE WAS LATER APPOINTED -- TASK FORCE, HE RETIRED FROM NASA IN 2014, AND RETIRE DOESN'T CATCH IT, YOU MAY ALSO BE FAMILIAR WITH HIM FROM HIS TELEVISION APPEARANCES.

HE'S HOST OF THE LIFETIME SERIES, CHILD GENIUS, AND THE DOG WHISPERER AND TOP CHEF.

HE'S THE AUTHOR OF "CHASING SPACE".

I'M PLEASED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES ARE RECEIVING A COPY OF HIS BOOK.

PLEASE JOIN IN WELCOMING OUR DISTINGUISHED KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND THE ONLY MAN IN THE NASA JUMP SUIT, LELANT MELVIN.

[APPLAUSE] .

>> THANK YOU SCOTT, IF I CAN STILL FIT IN IT, I CAN WEAR IT.

WHEN I CAME HERE YESTERDAY, I ASKED THE DRIVER IF HE HAD BEEN IN A TORNADO BEFORE.

HE'S BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND HE SAID NO.

SO TODAY I'M HEARING THESE WARNING SOUNDS IN MY HOTEL ROOM, WAIT A MINUTE, ARE WE ABOUT TO BE IN A TORNADO?

SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN I THINK.

ALMOST ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK THE FOUNDATION FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF EXCELLENCE.

THE ALL STATERS, WINNING THE AWARDS AND THE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AND THE EDUCATES DOING THE SAME IS WHAT MAKES OUR NATION GREAT.

WE SANG THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, AND I THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME, GIVEN EVERYTHING SO WE CAN BE PREIMMINENT, AND EXCELLENT AS A NATION, AS A CIVILIZATION.

AND I THINK BACK 50 YEARS AGO, IN JULY, WHEN WE HAD TWO MEN WALK ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON.

I WAS 5 YEARS OLD.

I WAS THE KID WHO WAS STANDING BY THE TELEVISION SET, HOLDING THE RABBIT EARS, SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE IN HERE.

AND I WAS LIKE THE ANTENNA ENGINEER, ADJUSTING THE SIGNAL SO MY PARENTS AND SISTER COULD SEE THE TRANSMISSION.

TAKING PLACE ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.

WHEN PEOPLE AFTER THAT LANDING, ALL THE KIDS THE NEXT DAY ASKED ME, IF I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT.

I SAID, FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN'T SEE THE LANDING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

SECONDLY, WHEN I DID SEE THE IMAGES, I SAID I DIDN'T SEE SOMEONE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME, SO I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT GUY.

AND I LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN, LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, MY MOM AND DAD SCHOOL TEACHERS, FOR THE EDUCATORS IN HERE, I UNDERSTAND THE THINGS YOU GO THROUGH TO INCITE AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF EXPLORERS.

AND I ALSO KNOW THE FOUNDATION DOING TO INSTILL THE EXCELLENCE IN OUR EDUCATORS, YOU CAN'T INSPIRE UNLESS YOU'RE INSPIRED YOURSELF.

THAT'S A CRITICAL THING THAT I SAW IN MY PARENTS WHEN THEY RECHARGED THEIR BATTERIES EVERY SUMMER, TO ENSURE THEY COULD GIVE THEIR KIDS THE BIT OF HOPE, THE BIT OF INSPIRATION THE NEXT PSYCHOLOGICAL YEAR.

SO I'M THIS KID IN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA NOT THINKING OF WALKING ON THE MOON, BUT PICKING UP A TENNIS RACKET, BECAUSE FIVE BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET WHERE I GREW UP, THERE WAS A VERY FAMOUS TENNIS PLAYER, OR TWO OF THEM.

ONE BY THE NAME OF ARTHUR ASHE, WHO TRAINED WITH DR.

JOHNSON.

DR.

JOHNSON WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOCTOR TO IMMIGRATE THE HOSPITAL I WAS BORN IN.

HE WAS NOT A GREAT TENNIS PLAYER, BUT A GREAT MOTIVATOR, AND HE TAUGHT ARTHUR ASHE, AND GIBSON HOW TO PLAY TENNIS.

MY DAD SPOKE OF HIS EXCELLENCE, DISCIPLINE, HIS ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE 60S, WHEN ALL THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING.

AND STILL BE ABLE TO WIN ON A TENNIS COURT.

THAT'S WHO I WANTED TO BE.

I STARTED TAKING TENNIS LESSONS.

I STARTED HITTING THE BALL INTO THE SERVICE COURT BUT HIT IT IN TWO INCHES IN FROM THE LINE.

THAT'S WHAT HE HAD TO GO AT THAT TIME, TO ENSURE A BALL ON THE LINE WAS NOT CALLED OUT.

I PLAYED AND AN I PLAYED AND I PLAYED.

WHEN I WAS 5, THIS MOON LANDING HAPPENED, BUT WHEN I WAS 6 AND I WAS 7, I WAS HITTING A TENNIS BALL.

WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD, MY MOTHER READ TO ME THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD.

SHE SAID, I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN.

SHE PULLS THE BIGGER ENGINE OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

AND ANOTHER BOOK IT WAS IN MY LIBRARY WAS CURIOUS GEORGE.

THE MAN IN THE YELLOW HAT.

I WOULD GET IN TROUBLE MANY MANY TIMES.

MY PARENTS GAVE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY THE RIGHT TO HAVE A HAND IN MY DEVELOPMENT AT ANY TIME THEY WANTED.

AND I EXPERIENCED THAT HAND MANY MANY TIMES.

BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN MY MOTHER GAVE ME THE AGE APPROPRIATE NONOSHA CERTIFIED CHEMISTRY SET.

AND I CREATED THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPLOSION, LIBERTYING FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, BURNING A HOLE IN HER CARPET.

NOW MY PARENTS WERE EDUCATORS.

THE CARPET WE HAD WAS VERY NICE AND I HAD JUST DESTROYED IT.

THIS 5'2 WOMAN WAS WINDING UP TO GIVE ME THE TRUE HAND IN MY DEVELOPMENT.

BUT THAT ONE MOMENT, OF THE LIBERATION OF THE CHEMICALS IN FIRE AND SMOKE, IT DID SOMETHING TO ME.

IT ACTIVATED MY BRAIN.

IF YOU COULD LOOK IN MY EYES AFTER THAT INTERVENTION, YOU CAN SEE I WAS TRULY ENGAGED IN LEARNING.

I KNEW WHAT IT METROPOLITAN -- MEANT TO BE A SCIENTIST.

THAT'S WHAT PROPELLED MY CURIOSITY IN SCIENCE.

THE NEXT SUMMER MY FATHER DROVE A BREAD TRUCK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY.

AS A TEACHER MY DAD DID MANY DIFFERENT JOBS, HE PLAYED IN A BAND, I WAS HIS ROADIE.

AND THIS SUMMER, I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO IN THE BREAD BUSINESS.

THE TRUCK DROVE IN, AND IT SAID DISAGREED ROLLS ON THE -- BREAD AND ROLLS ON THE SIDE OF IT.

I'LL BE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, HANDING OUT BREAD.

MY DAD HAD A VISION FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

HE TOLD ME THAT THIS TRUCK WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE OUR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.

I SAID, DAD, I CAN READ ON THE SIDE OF THIS THING.

OVER THE SUMMER WE REWIRED THE ENTIRE TRUCK.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.

WE BUILT BUNK BEDS THAT FLIPPED DOWN MY FATHER MADE THE CURTAINS FOR THE WINDOWS.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MY FATHER HAD THE TRUCK PAINTED THAT I COULD SEE THE VISION FOR WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS FAMILY.

OVER THE SUMMERS WE DROVE TO THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, TO MYRTLE BEACH.

WE USED THIS RV TO TRANSPORT OURSELVES TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

I COULDN'T SEE IT BECAUSE OF THE LABELING ON THE SIDE OF IT.

ALL STATERS AS YOU GO OUT ON YOUR JOURNEY, AS YOU LOOK AT COLLEGES, AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS MYRIAD OF EXPERIENCES WILL TAKE YOU TO THIS NEXT LEVEL, WILL HELP YOU RISE, NEVER FORGET THAT THE LABELING IS SOMETHING YOU CAN CHANGE.

THAT YOU CAN PAINT OVER, AND TRANSFORM THE THING THAT WAS PURPOSE FOR ONE THING TURNED INTO ANOTHER.

SO AFTER THAT SUMMER OF LEARNING THAT A BREAD TRUCK CAN BE A CAMPER, I HAD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THING.

I WAS AN ENGINEER, A SCIENTIST, AND A BIT LATER ON INTO HIGH SCHOOL, I TOOK A LIKING TO CALCULUS AND CHEMISTRY, OBVIOUSLY.

AND IF I HAD MY TEACHER HERE AS MY GUEST, IT WOULD BE MY CALCULUS TEACHER, AND MY CHEMISTRY TEACHER WHO ACTUALLY CAME TO MY FIRST SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH, AND SCREAMING MY NAME AS WE WALKED OUT THE INTO THE VAN TO GO TO THE SHUTTLE.

NASA ADMINISTRATOR AT THE TIME, DANIEL GOLDEN'S WATCH, THE HUBBELL SPACE TELESCOPE WAS DEPLOYED, BUT WHEN IT WAS, IT HAS THE VISION, THE MIRROR THAT WAS GROUND, GROUND INCORRECTLY TO THE POINT EVERY IMAGINE THAT CAME BACK, WAS BLURRY.

CONGRESS WAS UPSET.

THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WAS UPSET.

ON HIS WATCH HE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIX THE TELESCOPE THAT WASN'T DESIGNED TO BE FIXED WITH BULKY GLOVES AND ASTRONAUT SUITS.

BUT THEY FIGURED IT OUT.

THEY CHANGED THE OPTICS.

THEY ADDED NEW INSTRUMENTATION, AND THE FIRST IMAGE WAS CALLED AN EAGLE'S NEST NEBULA.

A NURSERY WHERE STARS ARE BORN, 7,000 LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH.

ONE LIGHT YEAR IN HEIGHT.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST THING THAT HUBBEL SAW.

DANIEL GOLDEN GAVE ME THIS IMAGE TO SAY I NEVER GAVE UP ON IT, I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU.

AND THEN THE NASA ADMINISTRATION ASKED ME TO GO TO WASHINGTON, DC FROM HOUSTON TO WORK IN EDUCATION.

THEY WANTED ME TO HELP INSPIRE STUDENTS TO NOMINATE THEIR TEACHERS TO BECOME ASTRONAUTS.

WE ACTUALLY HIRED THREE EDUCATORS WHO ALL FLOWN INTO SPACE, SOME DID SPACE WALKS, ONE JUST CAME BACK FROM SPACE SIX MONTHS AGO.

HE LIVED IN SPACE FOR SIX MONTHS.

HE CALLED ON MY CELL PHONE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

IT'S AMAZING.

I HAVE THE RECORDING.

I'M IN WASHINGTON, TRYING TO GET TEACHERS NOMINATED TO BE ASTRONAUTS.

AND I GET A PHONE CALL FROM MY BOSS.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK IS COUNTYING UP?

HOW FAR?

ONE MINUTE.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND DID AN ILLEGAL U TURN, AND DROVE BACK, I KNEW ALL MY FRIENDS WERE GONE.

I WAS DISPATCHED TO DAVID BROWN'S PARENTS HOME TO CONSOLE DAVID'S FATHER AND MOTHER.

THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, THAT HE JUST LOST HIS SON, AND ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC ACCIDENTS THAT'S BEEN SEEN IN SPACE.

I GOT TO THE HOME, I HUGGED HIS MOM, SHE HAD TEARS IN HER EYES, I WALKED TO HIS FATHER WHO'S IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND I REACHED DOWN AND HUGGED HIM, AND HE TURNED AND LOOKED AT ME, AND SAID, MY SON IS GONE, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO BRING HIM BACK.

BUT THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY WOULD BE IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO FLY INTO SPACE, TO HONOR THEIR LEGACY.

HE'S THINKING ABOUT THE LEGACY OF HIS SON AND CREW ON THE NIGHT OF THIS ACCIDENT.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HONOR THEM.

I'VE BEEN TOLD I WOULD NOT FLY IN SPACE BY THE FLIGHT SURGEONS WHO GIVE ME THAT ABILITY BY SIGNING OFF OR NOT.

WHEN I'M READY TO GO BACK TO HOUSTON, I GET A CALL TO VISIT THE CHIEF OF ALL THE FLIGHT SURGEONS.

RICHARD WILLIAMS SAYS TO ME, I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU, AND I BELIEVE IN YOU.

HERE'S A WAIVER FOR YOU TO FLY INTO SPACE.

AND I FLY BACK TO HOUSTON AND PRESENT THE WAIVERS TO DOCTORS, AND SOON AFTER THAT I GET ASSIGNED TO A MISSION.

EVERYONE ASKS THE QUESTION, WHEN YOU'RE SITTING ON MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF FUEL MADE BY THE LOWEST BIDDER, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

FOR THOSE THREE AND A HALF HOURS, I WAS PREPARING MY THINGS TO BE READY TO GO.

GOING OVER PROCEDURES.

BUT THE LAST HOUR I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT DAVID BROWN'S FATHER SAID.

WE MUST HONOR THE LEGACY, AND I STARTED THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING I WOULD DO TO BE PERFECT TO HONOR THAT.

THREE, TWO, ONE, LIFT OFF, WE'RE SHAKING, RATTLING, MY HEAD IS MOVING SO FAST THAT ALL OF THE SCREENS ARE BLURS.

AND AFTER ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPACE.

SIX AND A HALF MINUTES LATER THE MAIN ENGINES CUT OFF, I'M FLOATING NEXT TO THE WINDOW AND LOOK OUT AT THE CARIBBEAN OCEANS, AND SEE ALL OF THESE COLORS I CANNOT DESCRIBE.

I SEE 32 DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE THAT EXHAUST MY ABILITY TO DEFINE WHAT I'M SEEING.

IT'S MAGICAL.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.

AND MY JOB IS NOW TO INSTALL THIS COLUMBUS LAB, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, USING THIS SKILLS THAT I HONED ON A VIDEO GAME.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN I GOT THIS ASSIGNMENT, THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY WAITED TEN YEARS TO GET THIS INSTALLED.

I WAS IN MISSION CONTROL, WITH ABOUT TEN GERMAN FLIGHT CONTROLLERS, AND THEY HAD BEEN WAITING, AND THEY WERE HIGH FIVING ME, AND CHEST BUMPING ME, THIS IS GREAT.

YOU'LL INSTALL OUR BABY.

I WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM AND ONE GUY STOPPED ME AND SAID, WE'VE BEEN WAITING TEN YEARS, DON'T SCREW IT UP.

AND AS I MOVE THE HAND CONTROLLERS, AND MOVE THE LAB CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE SPACE STATION, THE MOTION JUST STOPS.

AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND I SEE THIS GERMAN FLIGHT CONTROLLER SAY, I KNEW HE WOULD SCREW IT UP.

ONE PULL AND THE HAND CONTROLLER IS NOW DOCKED TO THE SPACE STATION, AND EVERYONE IN EUROPE IS LIKE LELAND.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS MY AHA MOMENT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT CHANGED ME FOREVER.

PEGGY WHIT SON IS FIRST FEMALE COMMANDER, INVITED US TO THE RUSSIAN SEGMENT TO HAVE DINNER.

YOU BRING THE VEGETABLES, WE'LL HAVE THE MEAT.

WE FLOAT OVER WITH THE BAG OF VEGETABLES, AND I GET TO THE SERVICE MODULE, AND I CAN SMELL THE SMELLS OF MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN.

THE FOOD IS WAFTING THROUGH MY NOSE, IT'S WARM, PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATING AROUND THE TABLE, SOME ARE FLOATING, SOME ARE ON IT, SOME BELOW IT.

BUT THEY'RE THERE.

AND WE'RE HAVING THIS MEAL WITH PEOPLE WE USED TO FIGHT AGAINST.

RUSSIANS AND GERMANS, AT 17,500 MILES PER HOUR, GOING AROUND THE PLANET EVERY 90 MINUTES, SEEING A SUNRISE AND SUNSET EVERY 45 MINUTES.

THIS WAS THE MOMENT I FLEW OVER MY HOMETOWN AND I LOOKED DOWN, THINKING MY PARENTS ARE PROBABLY HAVING MEAT LOAF.

MY MOM LOVED IT, I LOVE IT, AND MASHED POTATOES.

AND THEN FIVE MINUTES LATER OVER PARIS.

AND LEO IS LOOKING DOWN ON HIS HOMETOWN.

WE WERE SEEING THE WORLD IN A FLASH OF AN EYE, AND DOING IT WITH PEOPLE WE USED TO FIGHT AGAINST.

THIS IS WHEN I HAD THE COGNITIVE SHIFT IN MY BRAIN.

THE OVERVIEW EFFECT, AND YOU FEEL CONNECTED TO EVERYONE AS WE GO AROUND THE ENTIRE PLANET.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO BRING BACK AS AN ASTRONAUT.

OF THE 452 AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS, OUR JOB IS TO BRING THAT BACK, SO THAT EVERY STUDENT IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS PLANET.

THE KNOWLEDGE THESE INCREDIBLE TEACHERS AND PARENT HAVE GIVEN THEM AND THE WONDERFUL FOUNDATION THAT'S MADE THESE THINGS POSSIBLE.

WILL PROPEL THEM ON, TO CHANGE NOT THE WORLD BUT THE UNIVERSE.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE, SO INSPIRED TO SEE THE WORK OF WHICH YOU DO TO SHOW YOUR BEST WHAT THEY CAN DO, AND WHAT THEY CAN BE.

I THINK THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO RAISED THEIR HAND THAT SAID THEY WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT EARLIER TODAY.

MY TALL FRIEND WHO'S GOING TO THE AIR FORCE.

I HOPE YOU MAKE IT.

I WANT YOU TO WEAR THIS SUIT.

I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE MOON, GO TO MARS.

I WANT YOU TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

AND THAT'S FOR EVERY STUDENTS IN HERE.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

DR.

LORD YOU SAID THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF YOUR LIFE IS THE DAY YOU WERE BORN, AND DAY YOU FIGURE OUT WHY.

FIGURE OUT WHY RATHER THAN LATER, AND SO THE DAY ON THAT JOURNEY, YOU KNOW -- LIKE CATCH THE PASS IN THE END ZONE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE, GOD SPEED IN YOUR JOURNEY, AND THANK YOU OKLAHOMA FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, LELAND MELVIN, FOR THAT MARVELOUS REMINDER OF POSSIBILITY.THAT EVERY JOURNEY BEGINS WITH EXPLORATION.

YOU BELONG TO AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB, ONE OF A HANDFUL OF HUMANS WHO HAVE HAD THE ASTOUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO PEER AT OUR PLANET FROM THE HEAVENS THIS BEAUTIFUL, TINY BLUE SPHERE, CIRCLING IN A VAST SEA OF DARKNESS.

YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION MADE YOUR JOURNEY'S POSSIBLE.

AND ALL JOURNEYS HAVE A STARTING PLACE.

IT WAS PRESIDENT KENNEDY CALLING TO YOU, THOUGH YOU COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IT, NOR COULD HE, ON THAT SULTRY SEPTEMBER DAY IN 1962 AT RICE UNIVERSITY, WHEN HE CHALLENGED THIS COUNTRY'S BRIGHTEST MINDS, AND STEADIEST HEARTS, TO TAKE US TO THE MOON, BECAUSE, THE PRESIDENT SAID, THE VAST STRETCHES OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE UNANSWERED AND THE UNFINISHED STILL FAR OUTSTRIP OUR COLLECTIVE COMPREHENSION.

AND SO WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON, HE SAID.

WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON IN THIS DECADE AND DO THE OTHER THINGS, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD.

BECAUSE THAT GOAL WILL SERVE TO ORGANIZE AND MEASURE THE BEST OF OUR ENERGIES AND SKILLS.

BECAUSE THAT CHALLENGE IS ONE THAT WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT, ONE WE ARE UNWILLING TO POSTPONE AND ONE WE INTEND TO WIN.

AND SO WE DID.

THE CHALLENGES OF THE 1960S HAVE GIVEN WAY TO THOSE OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

SOME ARE FAMILIAR, OTHERS BRAND NEW.

A NEW GENERATION OF AMERICANS IS TASKED WITH CONFRONTING THEM, AND OVERCOMING THEM.

AND THE STUDENTS WE HONOR HERE TONIGHT, AND WHO GATHER ON THIS STAGE ONE LAST TIME THIS EVENING, AND THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHO NURTURED THEIR CURIOSITY AND STEERED THEM TO SELF-REFLECTION, FROM OKLAHOMA'S TINIEST CROSSROADS TO ITS BUSTLING CITIES, STILL ANSWER THAT CHALLENGE THAT ECHOES ACROSS THE DECADES FROM THAT FOOTBALL FIELD AT RICE UNIVERSITY.

THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, AS OKLAHOMA ALL-STATE SCHOLARS, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT.

THEY CHOSE HARD.

THEY ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.

BECAUSE WHEN OTHERS WERE WILLING TO SETTLE, THEY ASKED INSTEAD .. “WHAT IF?” “WHY NOT?” “HOW?” “WHEN?” “IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?” “COULD IT BE?” “IMAGINE IF?” NEVER STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.

NEVER LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

YOU'RE READY TO SHOOT FOR THE STARS.

READY FOR LIFTOFF FROM THIS STAGE TONIGHT.

3-2-1 .. AND AS YOUR PLUME OF DISCOVERY ARCS ACROSS THE HEAVENS OF YOUR FUTURE, WE'LL BE HERE ON THE GROUND, WATCHING YOU SOAR, WATCHING YOU CROSS THE HORIZON, ROOTING FOR YOU, WITH SUPREME CONFIDENCE, AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

NOW, AS WE END THE EVENING, WON'T YOU STAND, AND JOIN IN SINGING THE COUNTRY'S MOST MARVELOUS STATE SONG.

YOU KNOW THE WORDS, OKLAHOMA.

GOOD NIGHT, HAVE A LOVELY EVENING.

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