OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma State University students took center stage at the State Capitol on Wednesday.
Hundreds of OSU alumni, students and supporters filled the halls to speak with legislators to advocate for the nation’s preeminent land-grant institution at Capitol Cowboys — an annual event hosted by the OSU Alumni Association for the Cowboy family to create awareness and share their passion for OSU with state legislators.
“At OSU, our students come first in everything we do, and it’s an honor to be with so many of them today. As the largest higher education system in Oklahoma, OSU is making an impact,” said Dr. Jim Hess, OSU president and alumnus. “The U.S. News just ranked our Center for Health Sciences No. 1 in the percentage of graduates serving in medically underserved areas, and the Spears School of Business was named the top MBA program in Oklahoma.”
More than 75 alumni and approximately 100 current OSU students visited with elected officials, emphasizing OSU’s vital role in their lives and the importance of higher education in Oklahoma.
Gov. Kevin Stitt, a 1996 OSU alumnus, encouraged students to achieve their goals.
“When God puts a dream in your heart, there’s nothing that you can’t accomplish. You set pathways and find people who can help you achieve your goals. You work hard and you get your education, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to,” Stitt said. “And that can happen in Stillwater, Oklahoma.”
The event included a pep rally in the Capitol Rotunda with Pistol Pete and the OSU Spirit Squad and Pep Band. Speakers included Hess, Stitt, and OSU Alumni Association President Ann Caine — all OSU graduates.
“OSU is striving to produce the Ideal Graduate,” Dr. Caine said. “Our students here today are gaining firsthand experience being engaged citizens.”
The Ideal Graduate initiative develops specific competencies for students during their time at OSU, empowering them to serve as impactful leaders in their communities and careers. OSU recognizes the significance of professional preparedness, engaged citizenship, ethical leadership and personal responsibility in shaping well-rounded individuals.
“Capitol Cowboys is important to me because we have the chance to advocate for higher education and make a difference on a statewide level,” said AnnaClaire Arterbury, strategic communications major. “For our campus in Stillwater, we advocated for our veterinary medicine program and the construction of a new hospital to support our students and the region.”
Hess also highlighted the need to support Oklahoma’s next generation of veterinarians.
“Veterinarians safeguard our livestock and secure our food supply,” Hess said. “But we’re up against bold investments in teaching and hospital facilities in states around us. Because of this, one key message you’ll hear today is that we must invest in facilities that attract teaching talent and keep Oklahoma students in the state in order for Oklahoma to continue leading in agriculture and food production.
“By working together, we can get it done. Because that’s how we make sure that OSU continues to fulfill our vital mission of serving all Oklahomans and preparing the next generation of leaders for our state.”
Six OSU students were recognized on the House and Senate floors: Aubrey Ruffin, Lauren Dixon, Mandy Lawson, Brian Musau, Dean Hamiti Jr. and 2nd Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson. Track and field sprinter Musau and wrestlers Hamiti and Hendrickson were recently crowned NCAA champions.
