Cortney Hicks Receives CORD Award

We shared Justin’s CORD story earlier this week, read Cortney’s story below!

Cortney Hicks, graduate in Educational Leadership Studies: College Student Development

Recent OSU graduate and Stillwater resident, Cortney Hicks, received the OSU CORD this past spring. She graduated with a Master’s of Science in Educational Leadership Studies with an emphasis in College Student Development.

Hicks has served 450 community service hours as an OSU graduate student. Many of her hours were spent volunteering with the Stillwater Church of Christ, Service-Learning Volunteer Center Ambassadors, OSU Communications Networking Expo, and the Stillwater Family YMCA Operation Weight Loss program.

Hicks said that she was most proud of the outcomes that have resulted from her involvement and coordination with the local YMCA and OSU Expo.

“It’s impressive what a small group of people can accomplish if they’re passionate and dedicated. Both of these programs have become sustainable programs that I hope will continue to positively influence others for a long time to come.”

Her experiences at OSU have positively impacted her personal growth in empathy, communication skills, time management, leadership skills, and understanding of others, she said. Hicks advised her fellow and future students to start serving.

“OSU offers students numerous opportunities to get connected, start serving and become leaders,” she said.

“College life is an adventure – get on the right path by seeking service opportunities and challenges. Eventually, you’ll realize that you’re becoming the person you always hoped you would be.”

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Chelsea Muncil Receives CORD Award

Earlier this week, we shared Laurel’s CORD story. Read Chelsea’s story here!

Chelsea Muncil, Graduate in Marketing

Chelsea Muncil, recent OSU Marketing graduate and Sugar Land, TX, resident, received the CORD this past spring.

Muncil has served 409 community service hours as an OSU undergraduate.  Many of her hours were spent with Relay for Life, Up Til Dawn, Payne County Youth Shelter, Children’s Miracle Network, Stillwater Humane Society, EbenGroup, and the Ronald McDonald House.

Her experiences with each of these organizations helped her gain awareness about the world around her and improve her time management, communication and leadership skills.

OSU provides students with multiple ways to participate in events and activities, she said.

“Serving helps build character and responsibility throughout college,” Muncil said.

“I am proud to wear orange to any event in which I am serving.”

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Laurel Tegland Tree Receives CORD Award

Laurel Tegland Tree, Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine

Recent OSU graduate and Akron resident, Laurel Tegland Tree, was honored for her commitment to community service by receiving OSU’s honorary service CORD. Tree was recognized along with 21 other CORD recipients. Tree graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.

Tree has served 332 community service hours as an OSU graduate student.  Many of hishours were spent volunteering with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stillwater Domestic Violence Services, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, Oklahoma State Fair, Alpaca Blastoff, American Association of Ruminant Practioners, and Boy Scouts of America.

“Serving as an OSU student is just an extension of who I am, but OSU has assisted me as I have reached for lofty goals that would be impossible without the service of others around me,” Tree said.

“Thanks to OSU for helping me become who I have dreamed I could be!”

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Jessica Strickland Receives CORD Award

Earlier this week we shared Mika’s CORD story, read Jessica’s here!

Jessica Strickland, Graduate in Human Development & Family Science

Jessica Strickland, recent OSUHuman Development and Family Science graduate and Muskogee resident, received OSU’s honorary service CORD this past spring.

As an undergraduate, Strickland spent most of her service hours with the American Red Cross, OSU Homecoming, Fairview Baptist Church, Relay for Life, Payne County Youth Shelter, City of Stillwater, Children’s Miracle Network, and Up til Dawn.

Strickland is ready to begin a career in the human services field because her service experiences have helped prepare her for the field, she said. She is excited to dedicate even more time to helping others, she said.

As a volunteer, she became more outgoing and confident in interpersonal interactions and public presentations.

“Whether initiating a conversation with an adolescent at PCYS or contacting a donor for the Red Cross, my experiences have greatly increased my communication skills,” she said.

“I cannot express how much I have enjoyed my time at OSU,” Strickland said.

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Mika Starbuck Receives CORD Award

This week we’re sharing CORD stories from Mika and Jessica. Read Mika’s below!

Mika Starbuck, Graduate in Hotel & Restaurant Administration

Recent OSU Hotel and Restaurant Administrationgraduate and Elk City resident, Mika Starbuck, received the CORD this spring. Starbuck has served 565 community service hours as an OSU undergraduate.  Many of her hours were spent serving as the co-director of Performers on the Rise, which focused on helping autistic children.

Her service experiences helped her gain an understanding of what helping others looks like, how it makes those served feel, and satisfaction in her work, she said.

“I began to become thankful for such humbling experiences that allowed me to see that serving others changes attitudes, perspectives, can really make a difference in not only others’ lives, but in my life as well,” Starbuck said.

Starbuck plans to continue to volunteer throughout the rest of her life, because engaging in community service is a way of life, she said.

“Some of my service memories are my favorite ones of being at OSU.”

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Chelsea Skidgel Receives CORD Award

Earlier this week we shared Zach’s CORD story, read Chelsea’s story below!

Chelsea Skidgel, Graduate in Business

Recent OSU Business graduate and Pawnee resident, Chelsea Skidgel,received OSU’s honorary service CORD. Many of Skidgel’s service hours were spent volunteering with a local youth group through hosting dinners, assisting with a Valentine’s Day Banquet, remodeling the youth room, and supervising youth in service projects.

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Zach Rowell Receives CORD Award

This week our featured CORD recipients are Zach and Chelsea S. Read Zach’s story here!

Zach Rowell, Graduate in Physical Education

Recent OSU Physical Education graduate and Elgin resident, Zach Rowell, was honored for his commitment to community service by receiving OSU’s honorary service CORD. Rowell was recognized along with 21 other CORD recipients.

Rowell has served more than 1,000 community service hours as an OSU undergraduate.  Many of his hours were spent volunteering with the Fellowship for Christian Athletes coaching at the Stillwater Junior High School, and participating in the Harvest II food drive.

His most meaningful service activity as an OSU student was the Black-Out Texas game, from which he learned to work with large-groups of people and act as a liaison between charities and donors.

“By volunteering, I have gained respect for self, confidence, poise, gratefulness, and power of love,” Rowell said.

“I didn’t realize how much of an impact I was able to make until I saw smiles with desperate eyes.”

Rowell plans to continue volunteering with FCA, Harvest II and any other activities that he learns about. He advised other current and future college students to start volunteering.

“It is a great opportunity to find yourself and you will be surprised at how you will want to do more,” he said.

“Serving subtly makes you realize how much people take for granted, and helping others actually helps you more.”

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Nash McQuarters Receives CORD Award

We just shared Rachel’s story, read Nash’s CORD background below!

Nash McQuarters, Graduate in Sociology

This spring, recent OSU Sociology graduate and Tulsa resident, Nash McQuarters, received OSU’s honorary service CORD.

McQuarters has served more than 450 community service hours as an OSU undergraduate.  Most of his hours were spent volunteering with A Pocket Full of Hope, a state-funded, non-profit organization that that helps youth develop life skills through music, theatre, dance and photography.

“While volunteering with A Pocket Full of Hope, I gained skills such as organization, event-planning, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving techniques, along with many performance skills,” McQuarters said.

“Many of the different skills that I have learned in this program are ones that will help me in the future, no matter what my career is.”

McQuarters plans to pursue a career that focuses on youth mentorship. The experiences he has gained as an OSU student have not helped him, but will also help youth he works with in the future, he said.

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Rachel Mattox Receives CORD Award

This week we’re highlighting the accomplishments of Rachel Mattox and Nash McQuarters. Read Rachel’s story now!

 

Rachel Mattox, Graduate in Early Childhood Education

Mattox, a recent OSU Early Childhood Education graduate and Yukon resident, received the CORD this spring. Many of her hours were spent with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as an officer, youth mentor and team-building activities coordinator.

Her service experiences at OSU and through FCA have helped her grow and become the person she is today, she said.

“I believe that serving is an important thing that helps the person serving, just as much as it does those who we are serving,” Mattox said.

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Justin Lollman Recieves CORD Award

Our featured CORD recipients for this week are Justin and Rachel. Read Justin’s story here!

Justin Lollman, Graduate in Political Science

Justin Lollman, a recent OSU Political Science graduate and Waukomis resident, received the OSU CORD this past spring. Lollman has served 468 community service hours as an OSU undergraduate.  Many of his hours were spent volunteering with Legal Aid, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the OSU American Sign Language Club.

Each of his service experiences helped him develop valuable interpersonal and communication skills, he said.

“My service experience while at OSU was an invaluable aspect of my college education. I learned not only how to work collaboratively with individuals from different backgrounds, but also how to employ my personal skills and strengths within a team setting.”

One of his most meaningful experiences was serving with Legal Aid as a file clerk and office assistant, he said. His experiences there led him to reevaluate many of his life goals and allowed him to see the world from a new perspective, Lollman said.

“Working with Legal Aid not only sparked my interest in the law, but inspired me to serve as an advocate for underrepresented populations. Next year, I plan to attend the University of Virginia, where I will pursue a degree in law.”

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