Valentine's Day Sooner Style

As January draws to a close, that means Valentine's Day is almost here!  If you're looking for something unique and beautiful for the Sooner fan, alumni or friend in your life, do we have a deal for you!

FTD University of Oklahoma Sooners Rose Bouquet

FTD proudly presents the University of Oklahoma Sooners Rose Bouquet.  Show your colors and pride with this unique rose bouquet celebrating the spirit of a university that rises to every challenge!  These remarkable roses display the bold colors of red and white, and arrive accented with lush greenery.  Presented in a memorable gift box displaying the colors and logo of the University of Oklahoma - as well as "SOONER NATION" inside the box - the bouquet is available in a vase etched with our school logo.  It is a wonderful way to celebrate any occasion, especially Valentine's Day!

These beautiful arrangements are available through the OU Alumni Store.  Click here or go to www.oualumnistore.com.  Your Valentine will be thrilled to receive such a unique gift with just the right amount of Sooner Nation flare!

FTD University of Oklahoma Sooners Rose Bouquet and Packaging

Last semester we arranged almost 75 of these for a reunion banquet and Boomer Bash.  Attendees loved them and jumped at the chance to take them home.  They are a wonderful gift to give and exciting to receive.  Don't wait until the last minute!  Check it out now and, this year, you'll be prepared.

FTD University of Oklahoma Sooners Rose Bouquet on the front desk at the OU Alumni Association

Also remember, Caravan to Norman is this Saturday, February 4 and registration ends tomorrow!  If you'd like to attend two basketball games (the Sooner Women hosting OSU, and the Sooner Men facing Iowa State), have lunch and tour the Barry Switzer center all for ONLY $25 per person, don't hesitate to register now!  For more information or to sign up, click here or go to http://www.ou.edu/content/alumni/home/events/caravan.html.  You can also call the OU Alumni Office at (405) 325-1710.  We hope to see you there!

Caravan to Norman Details

TEDxOU featuring OU's Kyle Harper

TEDxOU Registration, Stuart Lounge, OU Memorial Union

Today, OU is hosting TEDxOU in the Memorial Union.  There are over 350 people in attendance and I can say, with complete certainty, they are all excited to be here.  If you don't believe me, check the TEDxOU Twitter feed!  If you're not familiar with TEDx, don't fret!  Simply put, TEDx is a global series of conferences devoted to "ideas worth spreading."  The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.  These events generally consist of a suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder -- and to provoke conversations that matter.

tedxou.com

Among the TEDxOU speakers is Kyle Harper, another OUtstanding University of Oklahoma alumnus!  He graduated from OU, summa cum laude, in May 2001 with a degree in Letters and then went to Harvard earning a master's degree and doctoral degree in History.  After that, he returned to OU as an assistant professor in the Department of Classics and Letters and was selected by President Boren as the Director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage.  He has published numerous books, articles and chapters as well as book reviews, conference papers and presentations.  He's received many awards and fellowships and his academic service is unmatched.  He also speaks Italian, German, French, Arabic and of course, English.  Kyle is what we call a "big deal" around here!  And if that's not enough, he is a specialist on Roman history.  In fact, he and his wife have graciously agreed to go on the OU Alunni Sightseeing Sooner's "Portrait of Italy" trip in May.  His knowledge of the history will make this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our OU Alumni and friends!  For more information on this, and many other Sightseeing Sooner trips, click here.
 

tedxou.com

As I'm typing this, Kyle is speaking at TEDxOU.  Because of his education and expertise, he is able to provide thorough information on a wide variety of topics.  Before TEDxOU, Kyle told the OU Daily, “TED is an institution that is always on the cutting edge of technology, science and knowledge.  It’s an opportunity for me to represent not just OU, but to represent my department, my discipline.  We have the image of historians as people who sit in libraries and in some sense might seem like an unlikely candidate for a TED talk. The kind of history I do brings 21st century science to the study of the human past.”  Kyle’s doctoral dissertation, “Slavery in the late Roman Empire,” was published as a book in June, and his second book, titled “From Shame to Sin: Christianity and the Making of Western Sexuality,” is already under contract.  I think Billy Kulkin summed it up best with his "That was deep" tweet when Kyle concluded his TEDxOU speech.

Dr. Kyle Harper speaks at TEDxOU in Meacham Auditorium

 You rock, Kyle!  Way to represent OU and "astOUnd!"

Alumni Club Scholarships

The OU Alumni Association has been buzzing with excitement yesterday and today as we hand out Alumni Scholarship checks to well-deserving students!

If you're interested in learning more about how this process works, see below:

The clubs have done an outstanding job raising money and making generous donations to reach such an incredible total!  To locate a club near you, please click here for our alumni club directory.

If you need further assistance, please email alumni@ou.edu or call (405) 325-1710.

And if you'd like to join the OU Alumni Association, please click here.

Boomer Sooner!

OUtstanding Alumni: Megan Winkler

Way to go, Megan, the new Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma's Executive Director!

Megan Winkler

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma is pleased to announce Megan Winkler has been named executive director. Winkler will be assisting the organization with a number of tasks including event planning, fund raising, publicity/awareness, advocacy and general office management.

Winkler received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in sociology from the University of Oklahoma in 2003. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2009 with a master’s degree in business administration.

Megan most recently served as the manager of business development and client services for GableGotwals law firm. She has previous non-profit experience with KISS Institute for Practical Robotics in Norman, Okla.

About the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO) was established in January 2000 and is a 501(c)3 organization located in Oklahoma City. The organization’s mission is to raise awareness about Down syndrome in our community and provide resources for support and education to families of children with Down syndrome.

OUtstanding Alumni: Dr. Bill Burnett

Congratulations to Dr. Bill Burnett, who has just been named to Navy Command's Top Civilian Post!

Dr. Bill Burnett -- note the OU tie!

Dr. Bill Burnett, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, has joined the Stennis Space Center, Miss.-based Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC) as the Deputy Commander and Technical Director, the command’s top civilian.

As the Deputy/Technical Director, Dr. Burnett will serve as the primary technical contact to the command with responsibility for managing, planning and directing all phases of the Naval Oceanography program.

Prior to joining NMOC, he served as the Branch Chief with the National Buoy Data Center (NDBC), also located at Stennis.

Dr. Burnett’s new position is actually a reunion. He worked in different NMOC commands, capacities and jobs, beginning in 1988 when he joined the Stennis-based Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) as a meteorologist at the Operational Oceanography Center. NAVOCEANO is NMOC’s largest subordinate command. Dr. Burnett also worked at the Naval European Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Rota, Spain, and on the NMOC headquarters staff. His last stop at NMOC before moving to NDBC was the Plans and Programs Division Head on the headquarters staff.

During his time with NDBC, Dr. Burnett served on the International Tsunami Commission and as the U.S. National Representative to the World Meteorological Organization’s Data Buoy Cooperation Panel. He also supervised the International OceanSITES Global Data Assembly Center and implemented the world’s first Regional Marine Instrumentation Center.

Dr. Burnett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma in 1988. He earned Ph.D. and master’s degrees in marine science from the University of Southern Mississippi.

He began his career in 1985 as a physical science aide and storm chaser with the Storm Electricity Group at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman.

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command directs the Navy’s meteorology and oceanography programs, operates  the Navy’s atomic clock for precise time and tracks the positions of the stars for navigation. The command is comprised of approximately 2,500 officer, enlisted and civilian personnel stationed around the world. Naval Oceanography enables the safety, speed and operational effectiveness of the fleet by identifying the risks and opportunities for naval and joint forces posed by the present and future natural environment. 

Way to go on this monumental accomplishment!  We're proud to call you a Sooner!

Fashion Friday: Bob Stoops

Bob Stoops, AP

Bob Stoops, one of the winning-ist coaches to ever hit the division one college football scene, not to mention one of the most fashion forward.  We know him and we love him and now we can dress like him!

The OU Alumni Store carries a wide variety of apparel and accessories.  So whether you want a Sooner Stoops visor or a snazzy pullover, the Alumni Store has exactly what you're looking for.

To find an OU visor that's just right for you, click here.
For a great selection of OU pullovers and zip-up jackets, click here.

To see more of what the OU Alumni Store has to offer, visit www.oualumnistore.com.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!  Wear that crimson proudly!

Happy New Year!

From this special place where dreams are born and hopes are rekindled, 

we wish you a very happy new year.

Photo by Allen King