Lynn Hilst (second from left) and Jeff Hilst (second from right) join Tom Coon (left), emeritus OSU Agriculture vice president and dean, and Jayson Lusk, OSU Agriculture vice president and dean, to open the new Hilst Center for Student Success. (Photo by Mia Reinert)

Where success grows: Hilst family donates to Center for Student Success

Friday, December 13, 2024

Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu

Ferguson College of Agriculture students now have an ideal space in Agricultural Hall tailored to their needs.

Thanks to the financial support of Lynn and Jeff Hilst, students have a designated space to connect, study, seek assistance, and engage in a variety of activities, said Chesley Comstock, prospective student coordinator for the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

The Lynn and Jeff Hilst Center for Student Success includes several features designed to support students throughout their college experience. The new space features an open, expansive design, creating a warm and welcoming environment for students, Comstock added.

“Students walk by the glass walls of this space and can see themselves here,” Comstock said.

Inside the center, students can access new Mac or PC computers for homework or printing and more than 50 comfortable chairs and tables designed for study and collaboration, Comstock said.

“It has been such a joy watching students mingle and fill this space,” Comstock said.

Since the center’s opening, students have embraced the space, bringing it to life, Comstock added.

“The increase of space in the area is a great benefit for all students,” said Bruce Trammell, agricultural leadership senior. “I enjoy going in and sitting down while completing assignments and being able to visit with students from all across the college.”

Among the various groups using the center, the Career Liaisons have particularly benefited from the space, said Emmery Sides, Career Liaison vice president and animal science and agribusiness senior.

With its open design and accessible resources, these student leaders have found the center to be an ideal environment for hosting meetings and fostering professional development opportunities, Sides said.

“With the new center, we get a lot more traffic because people want to come in and see what is available,” Sides added.

For student organizations, the center offers a flexible space to host small gatherings and meetings.

The center houses eight full-time employees and six graduate students who support the college’s student career development efforts, alumni and employer relations, study abroad, Freshmen in Transition Living Learning Program, prospective student services, and the Oklahoma State University rodeo program.

The center also serves as a valuable resource for the Ferguson College of Agriculture Ambassadors, who use the space for recruitment efforts, Comstock said.

“We really focus on recruiting prospective students to the college,” said Kennedy Seals, biochemistry and molecular biology junior and Ferguson College of Agriculture Ambassador. “Each week, prospective students come into the student success center conference room to meet with us.”

Another program that has benefited from the space is Study and Snacks, which provides students with snacks and a comfortable study space Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The atmosphere and expanded resources have made the center a go-to location for students to recharge and focus, said Danielle Bellmer, assistant dean of academic programs for the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

“Thanks to the new space, Study and Snacks is an on-going program that can now expand,” Bellmer said. “There is so much more room for students to spread out and get help on their various classes.”

Since its opening in August, the Hilst Center for Student Success has become a popular hub for students, Bellmer said.

During Study and Snacks, multiple students can receive help on the same subject at the same time, she added.

This strong turnout is a great example of the center’s immediate impact in fostering academic support and student engagement, Bellmer said.

The Hilsts’ donation played a significant role in developing the center into its current form, Bellmer said.

Their support has provided college’s students with a versatile space designed to meet their needs for years to come, Bellmer added.

“We have always wanted to support OSU,” Lynn Hilst said. “The center is full all of the time, so it’s great that people are utilizing it.”

The Hilst family’s contribution has supported the foundation for growth within the Ferguson College of Agriculture, Bellmer said.

“This is exactly what the Ferguson Family is all about — making sure students have what they need,” Comstock said. “We as a college are working to provide that for them.”

Looking ahead, the Lynn and Jeff Hilst Center for Student Success is expected to continue supporting students and contributing to their college experience, providing resources for those pursuing careers in the agricultural industry, Comstock added.

Story by Bailey White | Cowboy Journal