Photo Essay: How OSU is helping students achieve their dreams
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu
As students step out into the world, the future can feel daunting.
For college students especially, that uncertainty often shows up as big questions: “What will I do after graduation?” “What kind of experience will shape me while I’m here?” “Who am I becoming along the way?”
At Oklahoma State University, those questions are met through the Cowboy Code. More than a set of ideals, it offers a shared way of thinking and acting, one that encourages students to dream as big as the sky while reminding them they are supported along the way. Within the Cowboy Family, ambition is not a solo pursuit but something shaped by mentorship, community and shared experience.
OSU does more than help students work toward goals they already have. It asks them to look again at what might be possible. In classrooms, laboratories and studios, students are pushed to think beyond the expected path and consider futures they may not have imagined at the start. Faculty and staff do not simply point to opportunities; they help students recognize them.
To dream as big as the sky is to reject limits. It is a call to innovate, to take risks and to believe that ambition paired with integrity can change lives and communities. At OSU, those dreams are not only welcomed, but they are also nurtured, tested and set free.
Here’s how OSU Cowboys are living the Cowboy Code and dreaming as big as the sky.
We dream as big as the sky.
"So far, OSU has given me a lot of research opportunities through my classes. I have gotten to start researching topics and things I am interested in early on in my college career."
Hometown: Cedar Hill, Texas
“The Ferguson College of Agriculture has definitely helped me achieve my dream of being a veterinarian, especially with the faculty being very hands-on with the students and really wanting to get to know them. Every day, I feel more prepared to start my career.”
Hometown: Runnells, Iowa
“My biggest dream while I'm at OSU is to get opportunities to prepare me for my career. I want to get internships or get involved in anything that's gonna propel me to get the career that I want.”
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
“OSU has allowed me to meet a bunch of like-minded people who inspire me and provide a good community that helps push me toward my dreams.”
Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma
“Being on the student council really helps me a lot, I absolutely love it. I've met really nice people here who have actually helped me move toward my goals and haven't stopped me since. I have huge encouragement at OSU to do whatever I want to do and grow while doing it.”
Hometown: Allen, Texas
“OSU is a great school for engineering. My uncle actually graduated here in the '80s, so coming here not only allows me to get a great degree, but also carry on a family tradition."
Hometown: Guthrie, Oklahoma
"OSU has been great. It's really made me realize how achievable my dreams are and how close I am to them. My time here has really bridged a gap and made me feel much more comfortable about my future."
Hometown: Owasso, Oklahoma
"My biggest dream while I'm here at OSU is to get myself in a position where I can make the most out of my degree and be able to help as many people as possible."
Hometown: Locust Grove, Oklahoma