Strengthening Ethiopian Ties
Thursday, August 29, 2019
OSU’s Hargis addresses graduates at Haramaya University
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis, First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and other OSU leaders joined Ethiopia’s Haramaya University in celebrating its commencement for more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students on July 6.
Oklahoma State helped establish the Ethiopian university nearly 70 years ago. Nearly 200 OSU professors and administrators have assisted Haramaya University through the years. While OSU is not as involved in Ethiopia as in the past, the two institutions are looking to strengthen ties once again.
Hargis delivered the commencement address to graduates, becoming the second Oklahoma State president to do so. OSU President Oliver Willham made the commencement speech to the first class of Haramaya graduates in 1957, when the institution was known as the Imperial College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts.
“It was a special honor to attend the Haramaya commencement and provide the message to graduates,” Hargis said.
“Oklahoma State is extremely proud of its long history with Ethiopia and its people. We are excited to work with Haramaya officials going forward.”
Hargis challenged the graduates to use their hard-earned degrees to advance Ethiopia’s economy and well- being through their passion, creativity and valuable skills. Hargis hooded the doctoral students and handed diploma covers to a number of other graduates.
Haramaya was a result of the Point Four Program established by U.S. President Harry Truman, who selected OSU President Henry Bennett to direct it. The Point Four Program was created to support nations in the aftermath of World War II and help combat the rise of communism. Truman envisioned America’s land-grant universities providing expertise in agriculture, engineering and other areas.
In May 1951, Bennett addressed the graduating class of then-Oklahoma A&M College. “We must,” he said, “upon the rubble and wreckage of the old imperialism erect a new world system — a world system inclusive of all, a world imperialism of morality and justice based upon economic efficiency and security.”
Bennett and his wife died Dec. 22, 1951 in a plane crash in Iran while on a State Department tour of several nations. He never saw the growth of Oklahoma State’s relationship with Ethiopia, but planted the seeds of a special relationship that continues today.