Highlights through the years
2008
Burns and Ann Hargis begin serving as President and First Cowgirl of OSU
March 10, 2008
Burns Hargis greeted the campus on his first day as president with a video message discussing his plans to work closely to continue to transform lives through OSU’s land-grant mission of instruction, research and outreach. He becomes only the second OSU graduate to lead the university. Oliver S. Willham was the first, serving from 1952 to 1966. Burns and Ann Hargis greeted campus members throughout the day and held an afternoon reception.
OSU student named Truman Scholar
March 25, 2008
OSU President Burns Hargis was among several who surprised biosystems and agricultural engineer junior Cortney Timmons with the news she is a Truman Scholar. Timmons is the 15th OSU student to receive the scholastic honor, which includes a $30,000 scholarship. OSU was designated as Oklahoma’s first Truman Honor Institution in 2000.
Oklahoma family honors Hargis with $1 million endowed chair
May 07, 2008
The Rainbolt family of Oklahoma City honored Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis with a $500,000 gift to establish an endowed chair within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The chair will be valued at $1 million, thanks to a dollar-for-dollar match by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
Boone Pickens makes historic $100 million academic gift
May 21, 2008
A crowd of more than 3,000 people gathered on the south library lawn for the announcement of a $100 million academic gift to endow faculty chairs and professorships from alumnus T. Boone Pickens. The gift, the largest single academic donation to a university or college in Oklahoma, is eligible for a dollar-for-dollar state match and is a matching gift incentive for OSU donors. Burns Hargis said, “This gift launches us on our way to achieve big dreams and will ignite a bold vision of a new era in land-grant universities.”
OSU receives $57 million gift to create world-class entrepreneurship program, boost athletics
June 26, 2008
In an event at the Student Union, OSU announced a gift of $57.2 million from alumni Amy and Malone Mitchell 3rd to create an entrepreneurship program within the Spears School of Business and provide significant support for the university’s athletic programs. Once fully matched by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education as well as T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, the gift’s total cumulative academic and athletic impact will be $123.2 million.
OSU-Stillwater campus goes tobacco-free
July 01, 2008
Prompted by a Student Government Association recommendation, and supported by faculty and staff, Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus banned tobacco use as part of its efforts to become the healthiest campus in America. “This is an important step in creating a healthier, cleaner and more attractive campus,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “I applaud our students, faculty and staff for bringing this important issue forward.”
900 OSU donors provide $66.8 million in private funding for endowed faculty posts
July 02, 2008
In an incredible demonstration of loyalty and support, OSU announced approximately 900 individuals, companies and foundations donated $66.8 million over a six-week period to create a multitude of endowed faculty positions that will touch nearly every college and campus. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the total impact of the historic initiative will be $333.6 million.
New parking garage opens, provides 1,100 additional parking spaces
August 18, 2008
With the start of the new academic year, OSU took a major step to alleviate campus parking with the opening of the new Monroe Street Parking Garage. Located at the corner of Monroe and Hall of Fame, the public garage added 1,100 new parking spaces to the Oklahoma State campus. The garage is conveniently located at the Mutli-Modal Transportation Facility.
Pickens makes $63 million gift; OSU on schedule to complete west end zone
October 27, 2008
T. Boone Pickens, the noted oil and gas industry leader and philanthropist, announced he had contributed an additional $63 million to Oklahoma State University for the completion of the football stadium that bears his name and its west end zone, which will provide significant additional seating and house Cowboy football operations, including top tier locker room, weight and training facility, dining facility, meeting rooms and more.
Oklahoma State pioneer Nancy Randolph Davis honored by state
December 12, 2008
Nancy Randolph Davis, the first black student to enroll at OSU, was honored with the Oklahoma Human Rights Award at the State Capitol. Davis enrolled at Oklahoma A&M in 1949 while already teaching high school and earned her master’s in 1952. Davis died in 2015. Burns Hargis said, “She believed strongly in the power of education and her courage and persistence paved the way for countless African-American students. Mrs. Davis was an inspiration to people of all races. She will be missed.”