It might be virtually but the 51
st annual SWOSU Jazz Festival will still take place this year.
According to school officials, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University event in Weatherford will not feature any visiting artists or bands due to COVID-19 but the festival will still be swingin’ online with free concerts on Thursday February 11, and Friday February 12.
Headliner for this year’s event is Texas drummer Stockton Helbing and his bandmates pianist Josh Hanlon and bassist James Driscoll.
The trio will present a livestream concert at 7 p.m. on February 11.
On February 12, the day will start with Helbing providing free masterclasses. In addition to his drum set masterclasses, there will be three members of the New York City-based DIVA Jazz Orchestra on hand to give jazz directing, saxophone and trombone classes. Drummer Sherrie Maricle is the leader of that band.
By News Director Jared Atha
Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma voted to conduct interviews with 15 candidates for president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University with campus locations in Weatherford and Sayre.
The regents met Friday (January 29) in Edmond.
RUSO Executive Director Sheridan McCaffree said zoom interviews will be done with the 15 during the first part of this month with the list narrowed for in-person interviews to be conducted when the regents meet again in late February in Weatherford.
The selection process started with 83 candidates that applied for the position currently held by SWOSU President Randy Beutler, who is retiring June 30.
By News Director Jared Atha
It was announced recently that the Board of Trustees of Northfork Electric Cooperative have found a successor to replace their retiring general manager.
In a press release it was announced that after a three-month search, Brent Meador will replace Scott Copeland who is retiring after nearly 29 years at the co-op.
Co-op officials said extensive investigations into the experience of potential candidates were held, but after three rounds of interviews it was ultimately Meador’s qualifications that led to his hiring. He is no stranger to NFEC, having served on the Board of Trustees for four years before resigning that position and taking the helm as General Manager/Chief Financial Officer.
NCPA January 26, 2021
Former NCPA President Lonny Wilson passed Monday, Jan. 25. Wilson, who lived in Edmond, Okla., served as CEO of Pharmacy Providers of Oklahoma from 1989-2018 and was NCPA president in 2011-2012. A graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Wilson received numerous awards in his career, including the Southwestern Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy Outstanding Alumni Award in 1990 and the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award in 2012. Wilson received the prestigious NCPA Calvin J. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. “Every pharmacy owner benefited from the life of Lonny Wilson,” said Bill Osborn, NCPA president, 2018-2019. “Lonny worked tirelessly for our profession through his local, state and national ties. He’s the guy you always wanted on your side. He was proud of our profession and his work at PPOk. The only thing he was prouder of was his family.” Lonny Wilson’s son, Justin Wilson
By News Director Jared Atha
Southwestern Oklahoma State University with locations in Weatherford and Sayre has announced that it will name the university’s first Parks & Recreation Management endowment in honor of the late Dr. Ken Rose.
A native of Clinton, Rose completed his undergraduate studies at SWOSU in 1967 and earned his master’s degree, also from SWOSU, in 1970. He earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1980. Rose was a committed scholar and an expert on SCUBA diving who conducted extensive research on the effects of hyperbaric pressure on divers and the psychological factors impacting diver performance.