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
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
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
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.