FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          April 24, 2006

NORTHWESTERN ANNOUNCES OUTSTANDING SENIORS OF 2006

Nine members of the Class of 2006 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be honored as Outstanding Seniors at the Special Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 29.

            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:

            Julie Case of Marland will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education. A transfer from Northern Oklahoma College, Case has been active in Cardinal Key Honor Society, Student Oklahoma Education Association and the color guard with marching band. She also was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She has received academic scholarships, taught Sunday school/children’s church and taught in a day care center.

            Lesli Cinnamon of Garber graduated in December with a degree in biology. At Northwestern, she was an officer in Delta Zeta sorority and Red & Black Scroll Honor Society. She was a member of the Student Government Association (SGA), Cardinal Key Honor Society, dorm council and intramural basketball. An honor roll student, she received a number of academic scholarships, was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and tutored math students.

            Valerie Curry of Enid is completing a bachelor of arts degree in speech and theatre. She was a member of Red & Black Scroll Honor Society, Alpha Psi Omega, Pi Kappa Delta, Castle Players and University Democrats. She was active in numerous university theatre productions, including The Crucible, Harvey and A Doll’s House. She also taught 6-8-year-old children in the Northwestern children’s drama camp. Also at Saturday’s ceremony, Curry will receive the T.C. Carter Award for highest grade point average and the John F. Kennedy Award from the SGA.

            Jennifer Lakely, originally from Guymon, graduated in December with a degree in early childhood education. She earlier had completed a bachelor of arts in social studies at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. She now is a fourth grade teacher with the Beaver Public Schools. She served as president of Northwestern’s Student Oklahoma Education Association (SOEA) chapter and was vice president of the state SOEA. She also was a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma.

            Tim Lauderdale of Woodward will graduate with a degree in mass communications. He has served as a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador, a Ranger Connector for freshmen students and a cheerleader. He was a member of Leadership Northwestern and served as vice president of Cardinal Key Honor Society and was a committee chair with SGA. He also was a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Society of Professional Journalists, Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association and Spanish Club. He was named to Who’s Who and the honor roll.

            Dedrianne “Dee Dee” Miller of Waynoka will graduate with a degree in mass communications. She was a three-year member of the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors, a member of the inaugural President’s Leadership Class and selected to Leadership Northwestern. She was active in Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and Cardinal Key Honor Society. She was a Ranger Connector and volunteered for Special Olympics, Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life and Alva Summit for Youth.

            Diana Smith of Enid graduated in December with a degree in E-commerce. She earlier graduated with an associate’s degree from Northern Oklahoma College. She has worked for the Department of Human Services since 1999. Smith, who is visually impaired, has been named as the Outstanding Oklahoman with a Disability and honored at the state capitol. She also is one of this year’s recipients of the T.C. Carter Award for highest grade point average.

            Jennifer Stone of Elk City will receive a bachelor’s degree in biology. She was an officer with the Biology Club and also was a member of Cardinal Key Honor Society, Red & Black Scroll and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was named to Who’s Who and the National Dean’s List and volunteered with the American Red Cross and Project Hope. She also will receive the T. C. Carter Award. Stone has been accepted to the University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center to complete a master’s program in dietetics.

            Jocelyn Sweeden of Shattuck is completing a degree in mass communications. At Northwestern she has been an officer with Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, served as president of the Panhellenic Council and president of the senior class, named to Who’s Who and the National Dean’s List. Sweeden is a member of Leadership Northwestern and served as a Ranger Connector. She also is a member of Red & Black Scroll, Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association, Cardinal Key Honor Society and Society of Professional Journalists.

-NW-

Back to News Page