Aerospace medicine expert honored at OSU Arts and Sciences Gala
Thursday, April 24, 2008
More than 200 students recognized at annual banquet.
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 important 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 world
that is very international 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
embarking on a career in aerospace medicine.
The College awarded more than 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 will study international
agriculture.
Kassidy Conway is an interior design and public relations major from Durant, Okla.
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, Okla., 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, Okla. 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, Okla., 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, Okla. She
has served as a U.S. House of Representatives intern for Congressmen Tom Cole and
Dan Boren. After graduating, she will pursue a career in public relations and political
science.
Joshua Ward is a cell and molecular biology major from Edmond, Okla. He is a three-time
Lew Wentz Foundation Research Scholar. He will pursue his master’s degree 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 the 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.” To learn more visit,
cas.okstate.edu .