OSU First Lady Ann Hargis Takes Top Honor
Friday, October 3, 2014
Oklahoma State University First Cowgirl Ann Hargis received the top honor at the 34th annual Woman of the Year program, which recognizes Oklahoma women for their leadership in business and service to their communities.
“The 50 Making a Difference program is celebrating 34 years; we are so proud to have had the opportunity to honor accomplished women across the state who have made such tremendous impacts in the business world,” said Joni Brooks, president and publisher of The Journal Record. “The 2014 Woman of the Year, Ann Hargis, is another shining example of a talented, multifaceted woman who is truly making a difference. Ann took her own personal journey to wellness, then decided to share that with others, and as a result, she is leading change for Oklahoma and the nation, helping others to improve their health.
“The Journal Record is proud to celebrate Ann and all the women who make such a positive impact in our communities every day,” Brooks said. “We know there are many more outstanding women across the state who are someone’s ‘woman of the year’ and we look forward to celebrating their achievements in the coming years.”
Seven women will be named to this year’s Circle of Excellence – an honor reserved for those being selected for The Journal Record’s 50 Making a Difference for the third time. They include Sherry Barton, Lauren Branch, Cheryl Evans, Jane Jenkins, Beth Kerr, Kathy Potts and Ann Warn.
All of the women are profiled in the publication 50 Making a Difference, which is inserted in Friday’s edition of The Journal Record.
Gail Evans, author of Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman, was the featured speaker at this year’s banquet. Evans is a former executive vice president of CNN and a founding partner of Global Research Services, an Atlanta-based research and marketing firm.
Sponsors of this year’s Woman of the Year program included the Chickasaw Nation, Cox Business, Crowe & Dunlevy, Eide Bailly, OGE Energy Corp., Oklahoma City University’s Meinders School of Business, Prosperity Bank and Sonic Corp.
“The Woman of the Year is a perfect way to acknowledge the strength of the women leaders in our community,” said Cliff Hudson, president and CEO of Sonic Corp. “The women nominated this year, including our own Carolyn Cummins, embody the spirit of Oklahoma City and its continued growth. Sonic is pleased to partner with The Journal Record to acknowledge these truly amazing women and the professional values they bring to OKC.”
Hargis is a champion for wellness. From teaching yoga classes to creating innovative programs, she is dedicated to improving the wellness of OSU students, faculty members and staff members.
She was instrumental in paving the way for the nation’s first dedicated chief wellness officer at a university and creating Pete’s Pet Posse, the first university-endorsed pet therapy program in the nation. Hargis also is responsible for encouraging the creation of the new indoor and outdoor OSU walking paths and campus beautification. Her efforts have helped implement other wellness initiatives, including a farmers market on campus, healthy cooking demonstrations in residence halls, the Choose Orange program that identifies healthy dining options, Made in Oklahoma products and a nutrition labeling system for all grab-and-go items.
Hargis said her love of wellness grew out of her appreciation for yoga.
“Growing up as a tomboy, I already had a strong love of sports,” Hargis said. “Learning and appreciating the philosophy of yoga allowed me to love a greater concept: wellness. Truly understanding how to achieve balance and keep all aspects of your life in harmony is a gift.”
In addition to her various roles with university organizations, Hargis serves on the boards of Friends of Music, Stillwater Public Education Foundation, Payne County Youth Services, Oklahoma WONDERtorium and the Oklahoma Arts Council. - See more at: http://journalrecord.com/woman-of-the-year/#sthash.ZlP2m4a0.dpuf
By Jessica Mitchell
The Journal Record