Seminole State College President Emeritus Dr. Jim Utterback was honored Saturday with induction into the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. Utterback, who served as President of SSC from 1997 to 2017, received a bachelor’s degree from SWOSU in 1978 and a master’s in 1979. Utterback (far right) was recognized with five other former Southwestern students. Pictured left to right are: Thomas E. Weichel of Colony; Dr. Carl Hook of Norman; Dr. Gina Scott Ligon of Papillion, Nebraska; and Kelli Litsch of Weatherford. The late Jim Litsch of Thomas was posthumously inducted.
Executive Director of the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum Marci Donaho, of Seminole, has been reappointed by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to continue to serve on the Seminole State College Board of Regents for another seven-year term. Continue reading “Donaho Reappointed to SSC Board of Regents”→
Seminole State College is currently enrolling for Kids on Campus, a variety of children and youth camps scheduled throughout the summer. The series of activities are scheduled for June 3 through July 25 and will focus on a selection of kid-friendly learning activities. Continue reading “SSC to Host Summer Kids Camps”→
A delegation of Danish students visiting Seminole State College, got a first-hand look at Oklahoma agriculture last week as they toured Snyder Farms in the Prague area. Jesse and Gina Snyder hosted the group – even providing them with homemade Kolaches. The group spent a week in New York City before coming to Seminole as part of an educational and cultural exchange program between SSC and College 360 in Silkeborg, Denmark. Continue reading “Denmark Student Delegation Experiences Local Attractions”→
Seminole State College took visiting Denmark students on a tour of America’s historic Route 66 highway on Tuesday afternoon. The group stopped in Chandler, Okla. to visit the Route 66 Interpretive Center, a museum that contains memorabilia from the 1930’s to present day. Continue reading “Get Your Kicks on Route 66”→
Eleven Danish students, and their sponsors, Henrik Staal and Annemarie Kratz Theusen, arrived in Seminole April 22 as part of an educational and cultural exchange program between 360 College in Silkeborg, Denmark and Seminole State College. The delegation is pictured with SSC President Lana Reynolds (far right) at a luncheon welcoming them to campus. Continue reading “SSC Welcomes Denmark Student Delegation”→
Seminole State College and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society hosted a free screening of the documentary series Killing Pain on April 18. The event drew more than 140 campus and community guests. The series focuses on Oklahoma’s opioid crisis and the steps being taken to stem the epidemic. Continue reading “SSC’s Documentary Screening Draws Large Crowd”→
Seminole State College students and personnel visited the State Capitol to join the Oklahoma’s Promise Day celebration on April 9. Since its inception in 1992, the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program has awarded college tuition scholarships to more than 85,000 high school graduates, according to the Oklahoma’s Promise 2017-18 Year End Report. Continue reading “SSC Joins Oklahoma’s Promise Day Celebration at the Capitol”→
Seminole State College and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society will host a free screening of Killing Pain, a documentary series chronicling the state’s opioid addiction epidemic, on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kelly Haney Center lecture hall. Continue reading “SSC to Host Free Documentary Screening about Opioid Crisis”→
Two Seminole State College
employees were recognized for their hard work and dedication during the monthly
Seminole Chamber of Commerce Forum on April 11. Assistant Professor
of Criminal Justice Sam Rivera was honored as “Faculty Member of the
Month” and Director of Student Support Services and STEM Student Support
Services Janna Manlapig was honored as “Professional Staff Member of the
Month.”
The Seminole Chamber of
Commerce Education Committee, along with the Lions Club and Blue Ribbon Realty,
recognize SSC employees several times during Forum each year. Individuals are
nominated from across the campus and chosen by SSC administrators to receive
the honor.
Sam Rivera
Rivera completed his
bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management at Union Institute and University.
He received his master’s degree in Criminal Justice at the University of
Oklahoma.
While living in California, Rivera
served the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department for 23 years before retiring.
Following his time in Sacramento, Rivera took on the role of SSC Chief of
Police from 2015 to 2017. Since that time, Rivera has held the position of
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice.
He is involved with a number
of campus organizations and committees. He is a member of the Assessment
Learning Committee, the Chair of the Professional Development Committee and an
advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Rivera and his wife
Stephanie reside in Wewoka. They have four adult children: Samantha Kale of
Foresthill, California; Andrew Rivera of Auburn, California; Ryan Rivera of
Killeen, Texas; and Reagan Rivera of Shawnee.
Janna Manlapig
Manlapig received her
bachelor’s degree in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and her master’s
degree in Adult and Higher Education Administration from the University of
Oklahoma.
In her role as Director of
Student Support Services and STEM Student Support Services she administrates
grants and plays a key role in helping students with their academic pursuits.
She is involved with the
Student Success Council and Professional Staff Council. She also sits on
advisory boards for nursing and MLT. She is an active member of the Emmanuel
Episcopal Church in Shawnee, where she participates on the meal service team,
plays in the hand bell choir and plays percussion for the youth service on Wednesday
evenings.
She and her fiancée Holly
reside in Shawnee. Manlapig has two children, Mitchell and Kamryn.
