Local College Students Gather At State Capitol
(Press Release 02-19-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Students from Oklahoma's colleges and universities, Oklahoma Chancellor for Higher Education Glen Johnson, presidents of Oklahoma's higher education institutions and other state officials gathered at the State Capitol Tuesday (2-10-09) to promote the value and importance of higher education in Oklahoma. Students were told that while higher education remains a priority for lawmakers, it is uncertain as to whether colleges will raise tuition and fees since state appropriations are set to decline as a result of a near $900 million short fall for the pending budget year. The Chancellor told legislators and students that Oklahoma has made great strides in recent years with more than 238,000 students now in the Oklahoma higher education system.

Students from Eastern Oklahoma State College pictured with  District 1 Representative Dennis Bailey, Democrat from Broken Bow, include from front left: Whitney Keeling, Farmington, AR; Bailey and Kelbie Kennedy, Tuskahoma. Back row: Jacob Lundry, Haworth; Ethan Purkins, Caddo; Sam Eden, Park Hill; Sammy McDowell, Spiro; Angel Leopard, Webbers Falls; Emily Hassler, Calvin; Bart Everett, Oklmulgee; Stormy McCarn, Clayton and Kyle Petty, Clayton.

Students from Eastern Oklahoma State College pictured with  District 42 Representative Lisa Billy, Republican from Purcell, include from left:  Sammy McDowell, Spiro; Whitney Keeling, Farmington, AR; Angel Leopard, Webbers Falls; Stormy McCarn, Clayton; Billy; Ethan Purkins, Caddo; Sam Eden, Park Hill; Jacob Lundry, Haworth and Bart Everett, Okmulgee.

Eastern Oklahoma State College student Sammy McDowell from Spiro is pictured with  District 3 Representative Neil Brannon, Democrat from Arkoma.

Eastern Oklahoma State College student Angel Leopard, right, from Warner is pictured with  District 15 Representative Ed Cannady,  Democrat from Porum.

Students from Eastern Oklahoma State College pictured with  District 18 Representative Terry Harrison, Democrat from McAlester, include from left: Kyle Petty, Clayton; Kelbie Kennedy, Tuskahoma; Sammy McDowell, Spiro; Whitney Keeling, Farmington, AR; Angel Leopard, Webbers Falls; Stormy McCarn, Clayton; Harrison; Jacob Lundry, Haworth; Sam Eden, Park Hill; Ethan Purkins, Caddo and Emily Hassler, Calvin.

Students from Eastern Oklahoma State College pictured with  District 7 Senator Richard Lerblance, Democrat from Hartshorne, include from left: Bart Everett, Okmulgee, Jacob Lundry, Haworth; Stormy McCarn, Clayton; Sam Eden, Park Hill; Whitney Keeling, Farmington, AR; Lerblance; Angel Leopard, Webbers Falls; Kelbie Kennedy, Tuskahoma; Ethan Purkins, Caddo; Kyle Petty, Clayton and Sammy McDowell, Spiro.

Students from Eastern Oklahoma State College pictured with  District 19 Representative R.C. Pruett, Democrat from Antlers, include from left: Sammy McDowell, Spiro; Stormy McCarn, Clayton; Whitney Keeling, Farmington, AR; Angel Leopard, Webbers Falls; Pruett; Jacob Lundry, Haworth; Ethan Purkins, Caddo; Sam Eden, Park Hill; Emily Hassler, Calvin and Bart Everett, Oklmulgee.

Students from Eastern Oklahoma State College pictured with  District 17 Representative Brian Renegar, Democrat from McAlester, include from left: Kyle Petty, Clayton; Kelbie Kennedy, Tuskahoma; Sammy McDowell, Spiro; Whitney Keeling, Farmington, AR; Angel Leopard, Webbers Falls; Stormy McCarn, Clayton; Renegar; Ethan Purkins, Caddo; Sam Eden, Park Hill; Emily Hassler, Calvin; Jacob Lundry, Haworth and Bart Everett, Oklmulgee.