Halligan Hall of Scholars to be rededicated

Friday, April 26, 2013

 The Halligan Hall of Scholars will be rededicated at Oklahoma State University today. The hall was established to recognize undergraduates who have won prestigious national and international scholarships and the faculty who mentored them through their educational experience. 

“To show our gratitude to students and faculty and continue to develop OSU’s academic reputation, we needed to showcase such things as success in prestigious competitions, overseas study, arts and humanities, etc., and the wall is a big component of that,” said Bob Graalman, director of the Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Recognition.

 “The hall is also a great way to attract prospective students by starting campus tours at this site. It is exciting to see them, their parents, and OSU staff and alumni checking out the information on display.”

The hall had to be deconstructed because of the recent 3-year renovation of the Student Union.  Materials from the original wall were salvaged and the hall has now been relocated to a larger space on the west wall of the second floor of the Student Union atrium. 

Logan Scott is a winner of the Washington Internship for Students Engineering Fellowship. His accomplishment is commemorated in Halligan Hall.

“This hall honors the spirit and accomplishments of the individual, truly reflective of the opportunities afforded to each honoree by OSU,” said Scott.

A new addition to the space is a bust of Lew Wentz. For the last two decades the Lew Wentz Foundation has supported undergraduate research projects by funding major scholarships for approximately 40-50 undergraduate scholars.

According to Graalman, the bust recognizes another critical part of scholar development activities.  “It is important to show what an influence Wentz funding has had for generations of OSU students—past and present.”

“When I discuss our programs with colleagues from other schools, undergraduate research is the one that generates the most comments and praise,” said Graalman.  “OSU students now thrive in scholarship competitions, job applications, and graduate school admissions as a result of many programs available here, along with the success of the OSU Honors College.”

Originally dedicated in 2000 to celebrate OSU becoming a Truman Honor Institution, the hall is named for former OSU President, State Senator Jim Halligan and his wife Ann. Construction of the original hall was built with funds donated by Dr. James and Carol Whitenek and Jim Carreker. 

The rededication ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Sequoyah Lounge and end with a ribbon cutting in the atrium.”

By Debra Schlegel