Students in the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) President’s Leadership Class (PLC) recently toured the Oklahoma State Capitol Building. The tour was led by State Representative Anthony Moore (HD57-Clinton) who serves as Chairman of the Committee on Higher Education & Career Tech and who has been elected Speaker Pro Tempore-elect, the second-highest ranking officer in the House.

Moore and his staff, led by Legislative Assistant Dee Lemon, provided the SWOSU PLC students with a detailed briefing on state government and the lawmaking process.

Following the tour, the SWOSU PLC students were joined by Moore at a dinner at VAST restaurant in the Devon Tower.

At the dinner, the SWOSU PLC students had the opportunity to interact with SWOSU PLC donors; Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Regents Connie Reilly, Tom Kupiec, and Susan Winchester; Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Jim Winchester; and a large group of generous SWOSU alumni and friends who have supported the SWOSU PLC’s mission including:

Southwest Distributing founder L.R. Sights

Kevin & Cindy Wolters

Mike North, ’80, & Marilyn Flinchum

George Cohlmia, ’74, & Karla Cohlmia

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) Chancellor Emeritus Glen D. Johnson & Melinda Johnson

Blue Sky Bank President Jarred Jones

Great Plains Bank President Cody Parker, ’07, & Ashlea Parker, ‘09

Arrow Marketing & Media Founder Lexi Smith, ‘03

Jonna Kauger Kirschner

The dinner was generously hosted by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. Board of Trustees. Trustees Stephen Nelson, ’00, and Jerrad Richards, ’14, were present. SWOSU President Dr. Diana R. Lovell and members of her Cabinet including Provost Dr. Joel Kendall, Vice President for Student Services Dr. Adam Johnson, and Vice President for Administration & Finance Ms. Lori Boyd, ’97 & 2017 Distinguished Alumnae.

SWOSU PLC students were honored to be joined for the dinner by featured speaker Gentner Drummond, the Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma. A seventh-generation Oklahoman, Drummond shared valuable insights on leadership and achievement. Drummond related stories of his service in the First Gulf War and of his work as a rancher, lawyer, and banker along with his tenure as Oklahoma’s Attorney General.

The SWOSU PLC is a four-year leadership program for top SWOSU students. The program was founded in 2006. Each year, approximately 15 of SWOSU’s top entering freshmen are selected to be PLC Scholars. Each scholar is awarded a scholarship and receives four years of leadership training that fosters both intellectual and personal growth. PLC develops SWOSU students into mature individuals who will have a profound understanding of leadership and its responsible application within organizations, communities, and society.

For more information, please visit www.SWOSU.edu or call the SWOSU Office of the President at 580-774-3766.