Legacy of Leading: Stephens receives Lead Orange Award within Collaboration in Leadership
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Media Contact: Christy Lang | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-9740 | christy.lang@okstate.edu
Josh Stephens was excited and anxious to kick off his college journey in fall 2021.
As a professional pilot major at Oklahoma State University, flying and studying were at the forefront of his focus, but his involvement quickly evolved beyond the cockpit.
Stephens’ willingness to serve and passion for leadership positioned him to make an impact in his Stillwater community.
Path to Leadership
Stephens knew he wanted to be a pilot since he was young, as he  While deeply involved in service work throughout high school, he anticipated slowing down at college.
Yet, his love for service and encouragement from his fraternity inspired him to remain actively involved as a college student. slowing down when he arrived at college. Yet, his love for service and encouragement from his fraternity inspired him to remain actively involved as a college student.
“Once I got involved on campus, I wanted to make sure whatever I did had a service component to it because that's very important to me,” Stephens said.
Making a Difference
From working as a campus tour guide, to serving as a student ambassador, to taking on leadership positions for student organizations, Stephens continued to feel called to step up and be a leader.
He served as the College of Education and Human Sciences Student Council president and made a significant impact in the role.
Student Council Vice President Rebecka Cleary said his focus on serving others allowed him to inspire and influence others.
“Josh inspires the people he is around through his humility and joy,” Cleary said. "It's amazing to witness the energy and dedication he brings to everything he engages in. He consistently uplifts others and celebrates their achievements before his own."
A special memory Stephens recalls is hearing firsthand how the Student Council positively impacted students. He vividly recalls interviewing a student council applicant who recounted a moment that greatly affected her.
During her freshman year, she was feeling disheartened following a challenging exam. While walking through the Great Hall by the Student Council’s table, she was greeted by three smiling members who offered her a free snack. Their kindness made her whole week, lifting her spirits when she needed it most.
A special memory Josh recalls is hearing firsthand how the Student Council positively impacted students. He vividly recalls interviewing a student council applicant who recounted a moment that greatly affected her. During her freshman year, she remembered feeling disheartened following a tough exam. While walking through the Great Hall by the student council’s table, she was greeted by three smiling members who offered her a free snack. Their kindness made her whole week, lifting her spirits when she needed it most.
“Hearing stories like that reminded me why we do what we do,” Stephens said. “We really are making a difference, whether it's making someone's day better or providing leadership and professional development for our council members.”
Bringing Leaders Together
While brainstorming ways to serve the college, Stephens saw an opportunity to do something different — collaborating with student leaders in different colleges at OSU. Under his leadership, the CEHS Student Council launched the first-of-its-kind leadership summit, inviting student council members from all corners of the university.
"We held a weekend summit for leadership training and talked about how our councils are run, challenges we face and how to grow together and use each other as a resource," Stephens said.
With networking sessions, leadership development workshops and a featured keynote speaker by Josh Taylor, director of OSU’s Hargis Leadership Institute, the summit broke down silos between academic disciplines and fostered a culture of collaboration.
Lead Orange
Stephens’ cumulative leadership and service efforts were recognized when he received the Lead Orange Award in the Collaboration in Leadership area this past spring. The honor is given to a student who demonstrates outstanding service to the university's values.
“I'm deeply honored to be recognized this way, particularly because it symbolizes the collective effort of our college community,” he said
Stephens attributes much of his success to guidance from mentors and support from his peers at OSU.
“Josh doesn’t like the spotlight or require it, as he is a very humble leader,” said Patrick Smith, prospective student services manager in CEHS. “While he’s very motivated to help and serve, and I know he appreciated the recognition, he would have given the same effort regardless.”
As he prepares for his final year at OSU, Stephens is excited about the future and the potential to continue making a difference, which is quite a change from how he felt arriving on campus.
His journey at OSU has been marked by a relentless passion for leadership and a commitment to service, qualities that will undoubtedly propel him to new heights in his aviation career and beyond.
Story and Photos By: Sierra Walter | ASPIRE Magazine