I love sharing good news about the impact the people and programs of the University Center have on our community. This month I want to celebrate several ways the UC is serving and strengthening Ponca City and surrounding areas.
· Students earned degrees! In May, 29 UC students completed college degrees. From our partner school Northern Oklahoma College, 18 students completed associate degrees with a wide variety of majors. From our partner school Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 10 students completed bachelor’s degrees, and 2 students completed master’s degrees. Most of the graduates plan to enter (or continue in) the local workforce or continue their education. They will make an impact on our community!
· Enrollment is up! Comparing the last several fall semesters, from fall 2023 to fall 2025, student enrollment increased by 24% and credit hours increased by 26%. Our goal is to increase by another 5% for fall 2026. Comparing spring semesters for the same school years, from spring 2024 to spring 2026, enrollment increased by 39% and credit hours by 42%. Keep sending us your students! We love to help them reach their educational goals.
· Nurses honored! The UC nursing students are part of NWOSU’s BSN program. The department announced several awards at their pinning ceremony on commencement weekend, UC/NWOSU Nursing Instructor Sarah Martin and BSN student Courtney Koeppen both received awards. Sarah was the recipient of the annual DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators. Courtney received the Doris Wagner-Ferguson Outstanding Senior Award. The nursing students and staff at the UC are leaders in the NWOSU nursing program.
· The geese are gone! They were beautiful, but it is helpful they decided it was time to move along. If you experienced them firsthand know exactly what I am talking about!
· In-person classes increased! The UC is unapologetically a distance learning facility. However, we celebrate every time in-person instruction occurs. This past school year, Dr. Dalana Hawkins taught fall and spring government classes to full classes of 30 students. She is returning to do the same for the 2026-2027 school year. Several nursing classes have in-person instructors assigned to the UC, and some education classes are taught from the UC several times throughout the semester. Bron Briggs serves as the University Center’s Academic Advisor, but he is also an adjunct instructor for NOC, teaching 6-9 hours a semester. This year he taught two of his classes from the UC in both fall and spring. The UC’s in-person instruction is growing.
· More scholarships awarded. Over the past several years, the University Center Foundation has significantly increased scholarship awards to UC students. A few years ago, they awarded approximately $20,000 per school year, then increased to $40,000 per year, and last year they awarded just shy of $100,000 in scholarships to UC students. If fundraising goes well, the Foundation plans to continue this level of awards in the future.
· Stem Academy is in session! At the beginning of July when this article is published, we will be half-way through the Summer STEM Academy. This program for students K-8 has expanded from 6 classes of robotics with 70 students to 27 classes in a wide range of STEM disciplines with 320 students. The goal of the Academy is to foster curiosity through fun, engaging experiences in a wide range of STEM fields.
As it has for almost 30 years, the University Center continues to make positive impacts on the students, families, businesses and organizations of Ponca City.
Keep learning!