Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is 80 years strong, and its longevity and enduring legacy of success are, in large part, thanks to veteran staff who have worked hard in pivotal roles for decades.

OSUIT’s core mission is to provide young people with the training they need to thrive in their careers and to help Oklahoma businesses and industries flourish. Employees such as Sandy Whomble have dedicated a great deal of their lives to OSUIT’s mission of excellence.

Whomble is a senior financial aid assistant. She is also OSUIT’s seniormost employee, having started working on campus 49 years. She helps students secure scholarships that enable them to afford a quality education, paving the way toward future prosperity.

She started at OSUIT as a student, and her workload was heavy. She studied accounting and had a 40-hour work-study job.

OSUIT opened in 1946 after being transformed from a World War II-era Army hospital into a vocational school for military members returning from war. It evolved into a school for all people looking to learn a trade and gain a good career. Whomble remembers a very different-looking campus back in 1977.

“We still had a lot of the barracks from when it was a military hospital,” she said.

OSUIT was called Oklahoma State Tech at the time, and it offered a diverse array of training and associate degree programs that equipped students with skills to fill jobs and meet services in demand at the time, including boot and saddle making, jewelry making, upholstery and dry cleaning.

“I think there was still interest in those kinds of areas and [no other school] in the area was offering that,” Whomble said. “Some of the students were going out on their own and starting their own business, especially in shoeing, saddle or jewelry.”

As industries changed, so did many of OSUIT’s training programs. The school has remained at the cutting edge, offering curricula that prepare students for today's jobs as well as tomorrow's. Whomble has been a reliable presence in the financial aid office, making a difference in the lives of several generations of students.

“I'm trying to help the students get their financial aid done and get them what they were eligible for so that they can complete their education,” she said.

Whomble described OSUIT’s core mission as making sure “that students are getting their education so they can live in Oklahoma and get a good job.” She said she believes in that mission and wants to help students obtain a career-building education at OSUIT.

“That’s why I’m still here,” she said.

Frequenty Asked Questions

Who is OSUIT's longest-serving employee?

Sandy Whomble is OSU Institute of Technology's longest-serving employee, with 49 years of service. She currently works as a senior financial aid assistant.

When did Sandy Whomble begin working at OSUIT?

Whomble began her career at OSUIT in 1977, when the institution was known as Oklahoma State Tech. She also attended the institution as an accounting student.

How has OSUIT changed since 1977?

When Whomble began her career, the campus still had barracks remaining from its time as a World War II-era military hospital. OSUIT has since evolved its academic programs to meet changing workforce and industry needs.

What does Sandy Whomble do at OSUIT?

As a senior financial aid assistant, Whomble helps students access financial aid and scholarships they are eligible to receive. Her work helps students afford their education and pursue career opportunities.

What is OSUIT's mission?

OSU Institute of Technology prepares students with the technical skills and education needed to build successful careers while supporting the workforce needs of Oklahoma businesses and industries.