April 2007 

NRCYS Wins Award for Teen Publication

The National Resource Center for Youth Services, located at OU-Tulsa, recently won the College of Continuing Education's award for Outstanding Collaborative Efforts for the "My Money Handbook."  This handbook is a financial reference guide for foster children and other youth.

The "My Money Handbook" was a collaborative effort between the NRCYS in Tulsa, and KGOU/KROU Radio; the Center for Independent and Distance Learning; marketing and communications; and television video and satellite services from OU in Norman.  Additionally, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services was a collaborative partner.  The handbook combines multimedia components with an interactive workbook to teach young adults the science of managing money on a daily basis.

The NRCYS is a program of the OU College of Continuing Education, and is located at the Schusterman Center.  Since 1973, the NRCYS has offered youth programs and services, ranging from training residential youth care workers to teaching foster children how to prepare for adulthood.  Printed resources from the NRCYS are available on the center's Web site at www.nrcys.ou.edu. 

The ice storms earlier this year heavily damaged the Green Country Council of Camp Fire's Camp Waluhili.  A group of students and faculty took a day of spring break to work with Camp Fire staff and volunteers to clean up the damaged camp - consisting of damaged trees, roofs and power lines.  If any other students, faculty or staff are interested in assisting with the clean up efforts, call Vicky Proctor, camping services director, at 592-2267.

Additionally, a group of occupational therapy students helped kick off Occupational Therapy Month by presenting a gardening demonstration at a local Lowe's hardware store.  The students promoted a Gardening for Healthy Living program and demonstrated how to build a raised flower bed.  OU occupational therapy students from Oklahoma City also presented this program at Lowe's locations in Norman and Midwest City.  (Top photo: from left, Glynna Ruggiano and Lauren Smith clear limbs at Camp Waluhili.  Bottom photo: a group of occupational therapy students at Lowe's.)

Campus Campaign Celebration Scheduled for April 25

To celebrate the end of another successful Campus Campaign, all faculty and staff are invited to a celebration lunch at noon on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 in room 4201.  Lunch will be offered, and employees are eligible for door prizes including a basketball signed by OU women's basketball coach Sherri Coale and team.   OU-Tulsa employees helped make this year's campaign a success by pledging money to their favorite departments, and by purchasing Spirit Week buttons and Ghost Marathon shirts.  Spirit Week buttons brought in more than $1,000, and the Tulsa items in the online auction raised more than $1,500 - a 107 percent increase over 2006!

The celebration lunch is offered free of charge to employees who have donated to the 2007 Campus Campaign, including Spirit Week or the Ghost Marathon.  For those who have not yet donated this year, the lunch will cost $5.  Be sure to e-mail kware@ou.edu to reserve a seat, and remember, pledge cards are still being accepted!

Big Event A Big Success

The day began with a kick-off breakfast where Cindy Morrison from KTUL promoted community volunteerism and thanked the volunteers for their time.  Volunteers then proceeded to locations including Patrick Henry Elementary School, American Red Cross, Volunteers of America, The Salvation Army, Tulsa Zoo, Habitat for Humanity, Domestic Violence Intervention Services, the city of Turley, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Whiteside Park.  Volunteer duties included running a blood drive, landscaping, picking up trash, cleaning, building, and bowling.

The Big Event is the nation's largest one-day, student-run community service effort.  Thanks to the OU-Tulsa Student Association for coordinating the effort at the Schusterman Center.  (Photo: A group of OU volunteers help out Big Brothers/Big Sisters at last week's Big Event.)

Ed Reeder: OU-Tulsa Employee of the Quarter

Ed Reeder, the lead groundskeeper for the operations department, is the newest OU-Tulsa Employee of the Quarter.  Ed's work and job dedication is apparent all across the Schusterman Center - he designs and plants all flower beds on campus, as well as grows most of the flowers in a campus greenhouse.  He was nominated for his work ethic, his willingness to do any job asked, and his vast knowledge of his profession.

Come and congratulate Ed at a reception at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 in the Faculty/Staff Lounge at the Schusterman Center.

Watch this section every month for the newest Healthy Hint - another way faculty, staff and students can improve individual health and the health of OU-Tulsa.

Kim Hill
Graduate Student of the Year
Presented by the National Association of Social Workers in Oklahoma

Kim is a graduate student in the OU-Tulsa social work program.

Diane Horm, Ph.D.
Elected as Fellow
Zero to Three's Leaders for the 21st Century Program

Professor Horm is the George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Professor in Early Childhood Education and Director of OU-Tulsa's Early Childhood Institute.

Did You Know?

OU-Tulsa's 2007 Convocation graduation ceremony will honor more than 240 graduates from undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.

Please remember to add this fact to your outgoing e-mail signature.  For help creating an e-mail signature, call 660-3317. 

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