Aerospace medicine expert honored at OSU Arts and Sciences Gala

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Four people standing together wearing formal attire with name tags on their chests, in front of an American flag and another flag. — Dr. Richard Jennings, third from left, recently was named the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University. From left, he is shown with Kelsey Williams, an English major from Stillwater, who received the Oxford Clarendon Press Scholarship; Peter M.A. Sherwood, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Christy Milliken, an economics and English major from Edmond, Okla., who is a recipient of the prestigious U.S. Fulbright Scholarship.

The College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University recognized aerospace medicine expert Dr. Richard T. Jennings as its distinguished alumnus on April 11 in Stillwater.

Jennings, who graduated with a bachelor’s in pre-medical science in 1971, serves as residency director of the University of Texas Medical Branch/NASA-Johnson Space Center aerospace medicine residency program.

“When I came to OSU, I fashioned my own liberal arts degree,” Jennings told an audience of more than 230 at the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development. He commended several of the college’s 24 departments, including philosophy, religion and English.

“Each department was very helpful, making it easy to research and write about what I loved, which was space,” said Jennings, who since his childhood in Tipton, Okla., had dreamt of an aerospace career.

Jennings stressed the importance of learning foreign languages.

“I had one major deficit in my education, and that was that I took no foreign languages,” he said. “In a very international world, I eventually learned that was a big mistake.”

His final message to students: “Never underestimate the importance of a liberal arts degree, as it makes life a lot better since life is much more than just putting money on the table.”

Jennings practiced obstetrics and gynecology for eight years in Stillwater before starting an aerospace medicine career.

The college awarded over 60 scholarships and awards, recognizing about 200 students, including its Top 10 Seniors and national scholarship recipients.

The Top 10 Seniors are:

Evan Black, a public relations and Spanish major from Stillwater, studied in Argentina, Mexico, Ireland and England. She will attend graduate school focusing on international relations.
Starla Blackwell, a candidate for triple degrees in economics, philosophy and political science from Oklahoma City, will attend graduate school at OSU and study international agriculture.
Kassidy Conway is an interior design and public relations major from Durant, Oklahoma. She will work full-time as a marketing assistant and graphic designer for the OSU Student Union Marketing Department following graduation.
Edward El Rassi, a chemistry major from Stillwater, was the Dan Wesley Outstanding Junior in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2007 and was a Niblack Research Scholar. He will attend medical school at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Megan McGuire, a public relations major from Ardmore, Oklahoma, will study abroad in Italy and Greece this summer before pursuing a career in public relations.
Christy Milliken is an economics and English major from Edmond, Oklahoma. She is the recipient of the prestigious U.S. Fulbright Scholarship that will take her to Indonesia as an English teaching assistant for the next year. Upon returning, she plans to attend law school.
Michael Reel, a political science major from Oklahoma City, will work for the law firm of Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens, P.C., before attending Oklahoma City University School of Law.
Tanner Tebow, a sports broadcast journalism major from Lamont, Oklahoma, completed internships with television stations KWTV and KOTV. He plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.
Jessica Ward is a political science and public relations major from Perry, Oklahoma. She has served as a U.S. House of Representatives intern for Congressmen Tom Cole and Dan Boren. After graduating, she will pursue a public relations and political science career.
Joshua Ward is an Edmond, Oklahoma, cell and molecular biology major. He is a three-time Lew Wentz Foundation Research Scholar. He will pursue his master’s in applied biological anthropology at the University of Cambridge in England.

The College also recognized Kelsey Williams, an English major from Stillwater, for receiving the Oxford Clarendon Press Scholarship. He is one of 50 American students to receive a full-ride scholarship.

“The College of Arts and Sciences Honors and Awards Banquet provides an opportunity to recognize the achievements of outstanding students, staff and faculty of the college,” said Karen Smith, senior academic counselor for the College of Arts and Sciences at OSU. “It provides just one example of why the College’s community of scholars is so well-regarded across the Oklahoma State University campus.”