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women sit at tables on the floor of Gallagher-Iba Arena for a symposium

16 scholarships awarded at Women for OSU Symposium

Monday, April 29, 2024

Media Contact: Jennifer Kinnard | OSU Foundation | 405-334-1022 | jkinnard@osugiving.com

Cheryl Clerico named Philanthropist of the Year

President Kayse Shrum
OSU President Kayse Shrum speaks at the Women for OSU Symposium.

Sixteen Oklahoma State University students were awarded scholarships at the annual Women for OSU Symposium on Thursday inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Each recipient prioritized philanthropy in their life and has made a significant impact in their community. The scholars’ passion for helping others includes interests such as health equity, food insecurity, mental health awareness and more. Kodie Gough was selected as the Student Philanthropist of the Year. The full list of Women for OSU student scholars includes:  

Kodie Gough | Graham, Texas Student Philanthropist of the Year

Marketing | 2026 

Eddy Bagaruka | Nyarugenge, Rwanda 

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | 2027 

Emily Frantz | Fort Worth, Texas 

Nonprofit Management |2025 

Jacie Gray | Scurry, Texas

Music Industry | 2025 

Lauren Haygood | Owasso, Oklahoma 

Doctor of Philosophy, Geology | 2025 

Alyson Mack | Tahlequah, Oklahoma 

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | 2026 

Kirstien Minley | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | 2025 

BreAnna Peeper | Stillwater 

Elementary Education | 2026 

RachelKate Puckett | Yukon, Oklahoma 

Management Information Systems and International Business | 2025 

Kayman Ross| Choctaw, Oklahoma 

Biology and Biochemistry | 2025 

Kennedy Seals | Richmond, Indiana 

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 2026 

Lauren Seggerman | Cedar Park, Texas 

Veterinary Medicine | 2025 

Kylie Hammack | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Wirt June Newman Memorial Scholarship 

Economics & Political Science | 2025 

Ara’Seli Salas | Muskogee, Oklahoma  Ike and Marybeth Glass Women for OSU Endowed Scholarship 

Sociology: Criminology/Criminal Sciences | 2025 

Emily Sowah | Edmond, Oklahoma Sheryl Benbrook Women for OSU Endowed Student Scholarship 

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | 2025 

Areli Villalobos | Ponca City, Oklahoma Sandra K. Trennepohl Women for OSU Endowed Scholarship 

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | 2025 

Cheryl clerico
Cheryl Clerico was honored as the 2024 Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year.

The Women for OSU Symposium celebrates members of the Cowboy family who are philanthropic leaders on campus and beyond. Cheryl Clerico was honored as the 2024 Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year. 

Alongside her husband, John, Cheryl has given more than $16 million to OSU, including nearly $5 million funding the Clerico Family Foundation Scholarship. The Clericos have a passion for helping students succeed, dedicating time to help serve as mentors to each scholar. They are also patron donors to The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts and are strong supporters of OSU golf. 

The symposium also recognized this year’s five Partnering to Impact grant recipients. Partnering to Impact is a donor-funded program that awards grants up to $10,000 to areas at OSU that focus on four initiatives: Health and Wellness, Education, Campus Beautification, or Arts and Culture. This year’s recipients include: 

  • Increasing Access to Civic Education for Underserved Rural Students in Oklahoma
  • Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy 
  • F1RST2GO 
  • Sonia Kovalevsky Day Math Workshop 
  • Red Pantry Hygiene Expansion 
debra Norville
Keynote speaker Deborah Norville

The event featured a keynote address from Deborah Norville — longtime “Inside Edition” anchor, two-time Emmy winner and “New York Times” bestselling author of “Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You.” 
Next year’s symposium will be held on April 24, 2025, and feature keynote speaker Princess Sarah Culberson. Culberson is the princess of Sierra Leone and uses her personal story of adoption and growing up in a biracial family to understand cultural differences and build a culture of belonging. 
 
For more information on this year’s Women for OSU Symposium, including videos of award winners, visit OSUgiving.com/women. 

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