The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences recognizes distinguished alumni each year at the Hall of Fame Banquet.

The six individuals honored in 2026 have made their mark within their respective fields and continue to set examples of leadership, innovation, selflessness and service.

Of the alumni recognized at this year’s event, two were inducted into the CEHS Hall of Fame, two were honored as Outstanding Alumni and two were recipients of the Rising Star young alumni award.

“This college has never been a collection of unrelated programs that happen to share a building,” CEHS Dean Stephen Clarke said. “It is a human impact engine. We prepare the people who teach Oklahoma’s children, care for its patients, counsel its families, feed its communities, design its environments and fly its aircraft.

Every one of our graduates expands society’s capacity to take care of its people, and the alumni we honored this year are the clearest evidence of that. Their accomplishments inspire us. Their service humbles us. And their success reminds us of the extraordinary influence a college education can have on the world.”

The Hall of Fame induction is reserved as the highest honor bestowed by the college. The honor is given in recognition of outstanding professional and personal achievements throughout a life and career. Inductees exemplify the Cowboy Code and have not only made the world around them a better place but have also brought significant recognition and honor to the university. Those who receive this award have made a lasting contribution, consistent with the mission of OSU and the College of Education and Human Sciences.

The Outstanding Alumni honor recognizes graduates who have established distinguished careers and made impactful contributions to their profession and beyond. Their quest for excellence is shown through their accomplishments, service to the community and demonstrated leadership.

The Rising Star award was reintroduced this year to recognize young alumni who show exceptional promise in building distinguished careers, contributing meaningfully to their professions, and serving their communities with purpose.

2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

Dr. Lakhana Didyasarin followed a generational call to education after graduating from high school in Thailand. She pursued this in the United States, where she earned an initial degree in education at Oklahoma State and a master’s degree at the University of Nebraska before beginning to teach English as a Second Language — a subject that quickly became a passion. Didyasarin is the founder of The American School of Bangkok (ASB). This K-12 school has earned international recognition, including being named among the top 50 schools worldwide by the Global Forum of Education and Learning in 2019. She also founded United Communications, which produces educational television for children across Thailand. Beyond her success in creating educational opportunities for children worldwide, Didyasarin operates on the fundamental belief that knowledge must be used to serve others. Through the years, she has dedicated herself to humanitarian efforts in Thailand. From providing deeply impactful teaching equipment to schools to helping build libraries and homes, Didyasarin’s passion for people has been evident in the wake of national crises. Today, she serves as a leader in the Cowboy Family by providing learning and mentorship opportunities to Oklahoma State student-teaching interns at ASB in Thailand and is an inspiration to future educators.

Virgil Williams graduated from Oklahoma State University in the 1950s, already a recipient of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's “Outstanding Male Pilot” award as a proud member of the Flying Aggies. His professional career spanned more than three decades and established him as a respected leader in corporate aviation. Williams spent 35 years at the Upjohn Company as chief pilot and director of aviation. During that time, he also served on the board of directors for the National Business Aviation Association and helped establish the Michigan Business Aviation Administration. He is a recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award, a recognition for 50 years of safe flying. Williams founded the Plainwell Aviation & STEM Academy, a nonprofit organization that aims to introduce young children to the possibility of pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. Through mentoring, introductory flights and educational programming, he has helped inspire a new generation to look toward the sky and imagine what might be possible. Now retired, he has a heart for philanthropy, as evidenced by the Virgil and Maurine Williams Family Aviation Endowed Scholarship at OSU, which supports many students who share his passion for excellence in aviation. Williams published the memoir, “Come Fly With Me,” in 2020.

2026 Outstanding Alumni Honorees

Gwen Shaw graduated from OSU with a degree in home economics education-communications and a standout college resume. She served as homecoming steering committee chair, played on the women’s basketball team and was an active member of Mortar Board, Student Senate and Angel Flight organizations. After graduating from OSU, Shaw began working at Procter & Gamble in Tulsa. She spent most of her career in food-service packaging sales and worked alongside several American favorites, including McDonald’s, Applebee’s, KFC and M&M Mars. Her career was defined by the relationships she built and the operational strategies she created, which improved nearly every aspect of the customer experience. Shaw retired in 2017, knowing her ability to make an impact was not confined to her career. Having served as State 4-H secretary and been inducted into the Oklahoma 4-H Hall of Fame in her youth, she returned to the organization as an adviser. Shaw has also served as an elder at Edmond’s First Christian Church, sponsored OSU scholarships, the OSU Alumni Association and Women for OSU, and founded both Edmond Democratic Women and Disciples for Water — the latter a ministry which inspired her to offer a service learning opportunity in Kenya for students in the College of Education and Human Sciences.

Dr. Gay Washington is a third-generation graduate of OSU, where she earned not only a bachelor’s degree in special education but also a master’s degree in applied behavioral studies and a doctorate in educational administration. Washington built her career in the Stillwater Public School District, where she began as a teacher in 1978 and continued to serve in a variety of roles, including director of special education, principal, assistant superintendent of educational services and interim superintendent. She also contributed to student success in higher education in Oklahoma by serving as an assistant professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University. Washington became the executive director of the Oklahoma WONDERtorium in 2017, a children’s museum featuring interactive STEAM exhibits, and later worked as an educational consultant with LEAD Training LLC. Today, she is dedicated to giving back to the very place that shaped her, serving as president of the Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education and doing her part to ensure student success by establishing the Dr. Gay Washington-Miller Endowed Scholarship.

2026 Rising Star Recipients

Dr. Katherine Janike graduated summa cum laude from OSU in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences and a Spanish minor. She earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she contributed to research on rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory lung disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Janike completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She received the Lopata Legend Award for clinical excellence and completed the internal medicine academic track to hone her teaching skills. Janike then pursued advanced gastroenterology training at the University of Oklahoma, combining her interests in nutrition and medicine while earning recognition for clinical reasoning, teamwork and patient communication. Board-certified in internal medicine and board-eligible in gastroenterology, Janike joined the Rush University faculty in Chicago in 2026. She currently serves as an assistant professor and clinical educator in the Department of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition.

Tina Sergi, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS, TSAC-F, is a U.S. Army medical officer and registered dietitian serving as the holistic health and fitness nutrition domain lead for the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bliss, Texas. After earning a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of New Hampshire, Sergi earned her master’s in nutritional sciences from OSU in 2021. Her research evaluated the impact of body mass index on performance and health among military personnel, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. Her achievements include the Women’s Faculty Council Student Research Award, a nomination for Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshal, and a dietetic internship with the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado. Sergi served on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation board (2022–25) and was named Maryland’s 2025 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year. She remains dedicated to advancing nutritional research and leadership in dietetics.

For more information about these distinguished awards, visit education.okstate.edu/alumni/awards.