OSU's global Cowboy connection

Friday, August 21, 2020

OSU’s golf team welcomes a new member thanks to Lakhana Didyasarin, an OSU alumnus, chairwoman, and founder of the American School of Bangkok.

Didyasarin graduated from OSU in the 1970s with a master's in education. In 1983, she founded the American School of Bangkok, a leading private school in Thailand that offers pre-k through 12th-grade education. The school is known for its international perspectives and rigorous academic curriculum modeled after American educational programs. The American School of Bangkok has two campuses, Sukhumvit and Green Valley, in Bang Na.

With fond memories of her time at OSU, Didyasarin encouraged school director Ms. Gift Nisanart Dharmageisirattana to contact OSU for collaboration. In early June of 2020, representatives from both schools met to discuss potential professional development seminars and degree programs for ASB teachers and internship opportunities for OSU students at ASB.

As a result, the two schools agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, signifying a unified goal of cooperation in the area of teachers' education.

Rina Tatematsu, a graduate of ASB's Green Valley campus, will be the first student from this program to attend OSU. The Green Valley campus' junior golf program is Asia’s first full-time preparatory junior golf academy, with a junior world champion and eight national champions on the team.

Tatematsu has accepted a scholarship to play golf for OSU and plans to major in economics. The Cowboy Family welcomes her to Stillwater and looks forward to future collaboration and cooperation with the American School of Bangkok.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lyn Putnam | SGSP Communications Specialist | 405.744.5496 | lyn.putnam@okstate.edu