Environmental attorney endows cash award for OSU political science student
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Paul Bohannon, 1972 OSU political science graduate
(STILLWATER, OK. June 3, 2008) – The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Foundation announced today the establishment of the Bohannon Award for Excellence by Paul Bohannon, a 1972 OSU political science graduate and partner at Andrews Kurth LLP law firm in The Woodlands, Texas.
The annual $600 cash prize award was fully funded at $15,000 by Bohannon, a Del City, Okla., native, whose intent was to give back to his university while recognizing one student each year that exemplified the same traits and qualities that have navigated him through a successful career.
“I made my way through school on many small scholarships while also working,” Bohannon said. “I wanted the recipient of this award to receive a larger cash amount than I could endow through a scholarship and be able to use the money for something other than tuition and fees.”
Dacia Brooks, a senior political science major from Bray, Okla., is the first recipient of the Bohannon Award for Excellence in Political Science rewarded to a student who has achieved excellence in the study of political science at OSU.
“I used the award to help pay off my car, easing the burden of my monthly payments,” Brooks said. “It’s easier to focus on school when you’re not working so much. I’m so grateful for alumni who help support students like me.”
After graduating from OSU, Bohannon attended law school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and graduated in the top three percent of his class. After 15 years of trying cases independently in Roswell, NM, and Midland, Texas, Bohannon moved to Houston where he joined Andrews Kurth LLP in the early 1990s.
Today, Bohannon concentrates on environmental trial work and has negotiated and enforced more than $1 billion in environmental insurance policies for chemical, pipeline, and oil and gas operations.
Additionally, Bohannon owns and operates Cranks, Rooters and Fans, a sports entertainment and business center he established in 2005 out of his love and collection of baseball relics.
“Paul’s generous endowment of an award for excellence is an important and valuable contribution that enables us to recognize the performance and potential of a full-time junior or senior majoring in political science,” said Dr. James Scott, head of the OSU political science department. “Such contributions from engaged alumni, like Paul, are vital to our efforts to support and reward our students for their academic achievements, and helps us to recruit students to our campus and our program.”
The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.
For more information on the OSU Foundation, access our Web site at www.OSUgiving.com or call 405-385-5100.