SWOSU Press Release

Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University Oklahoma Aspiring Educators Association (SWOSU OAEA) hosted its inaugural initiation and cording ceremony on April 22. The event recognized both newly initiated members and current student teachers for their involvement in the organization and their ongoing commitment to the education profession.

As a local chapter affiliated with the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) and the National Education Association (NEA), the ceremony represented a meaningful milestone in each member’s preparation for a career in education.

Four students were formally initiated into the organization and received pins symbolizing their membership: Jasmyn Hermann, Tarah Wiese, Bailey Shaw, and Krista Pendergraft.

Ten student teachers were honored with graduation cords and small gifts from OEA in recognition of their time in the classroom and their contributions as future educators. Those honored included Denim Holman, Bailey Everett, Karly Brooks, Uriel Luna, Alison Ward, Libby Gregston, Cielo Barrera, Jeston Laney, Lisa Ray, and Gabrielle Spieker.

Dr. Veronica Aguiñaga and Mrs. Tia Blanchard assisted in coordinating and presenting at the ceremony.

The SWOSU OAEA is a pre-professional organization for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in education. Through its affiliation with OEA and NEA, the organization connects members with over 3.2 million education professionals nationwide and nearly 35,000 in Oklahoma. In addition to professional development in areas such as resume writing, classroom management, and cooperative learning, the chapter organizes local activities including a Back-to-School Watermelon Feed, Spring Ice Cream Social, Homecoming Parade Book Giveaway, Outreach to Teach projects, and community service events like Angel Tree sponsorships.

For more information about the SWOSU Department of Education and student organizations such as OAEA, visit https://www.swosu.edu/education/index.php.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.