Fifty-eight student-athletes and six athletic teams at Seminole State College have been recognized for their academic achievements this year by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The NJCAA Academic All-American Student Athlete Awards are divided into the three groups based on grade point average – First Team requires a 4.0 GPA, Second Team requires a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99, and Third Team requires a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79.
“Our students’ dedication to excellence both in the classroom and on the field exemplifies the core values of Seminole State College. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and perseverance,” SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell said.
Professor of English Jessica Isaacs has been named the new Dean of Instruction at Seminole State College, effective July 15, 2024.
Isaacs has worked full-time at Seminole State College for the past 22 years. She has served as the Division Chair of the Language Arts and Humanities Division and played a pivotal role in the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in both 2020 and 2010.
“We have so many great opportunities for growth at SSC. As a senior faculty member in this new leadership role, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned, to support faculty any way I can and to help our students succeed,” Isaacs said.
Seminole State College has announced an extension of the scholarship application deadline for the Fall 2024 term to July 31, 2024. This decision follows the delay in the availability of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which has impacted many students’ ability to complete their financial aid applications on time.
The extended deadline provides prospective and current students additional time to apply for scholarships amid uncertainties caused by the FAFSA delay. The 2024-25 FAFSA was initially delayed due to a massive overhaul of the application, as required by Congress. As of June 21, the percentage of FAFSA completions by 2024 high school graduates was down 11.8 percent versus the class of 2023 at the same time last year, according to the National College Attainment Network.
The application deadline for students to enroll in Oklahoma’s Promise, a state scholarship program, is set for July 1. This is the final opportunity for students who were 11th graders in the 2023-24 school year to apply for the scholarship.
Oklahoma’s Promise is a program that provides high school students with the opportunity to secure a tuition scholarship applicable at an Oklahoma college, university or public career technology center. Eligibility is based on family income: $60,000 for families with one or two dependent children, $70,000 for three or four children and $80,000 for five or more children. Special provisions are available for adopted children from certain court-ordered custody and those under court-appointed legal guardians.
Seminole State College has released the names of honor roll students for the 2024 spring semester. Three separate honor rolls recognize students for their academic achievements.
The President’s Honor Roll is comprised of students who maintain a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average in at least 12 credit hours of coursework.
Students named to the Vice President’s Honor Roll must have a 3.5 grade-point-average or better and no grade below a “C”.
The Part-Time Students’ Honor Roll is for students who maintain a 3.5 grade-point-average with no grade below a “C” in at least six but less than 12 college credit hours.
The Seminole State College Board of Regents approved a partnership with Seminole Public Schools for the development of an agricultural education farm at the Pleasant Grove School property at their meeting on May 16.
Summer courses begin Monday, May 20, at Seminole State College. The enrollment period for the first slate of summer courses remains open through May 22. The second slate of summer courses begins June 3 with enrollment through June 6. Course offerings and application information can be found on the College’s website, sscok.edu.
SSC is currently running a refer-a-friend promotion. When students apply for summer courses, they can list a referral. All students who make referrals are automatically entered to receive a $500 scholarship.
Jessica Downey’s career trajectory has not followed a conventional route. When she was about to graduate from Seminole High School in 2009, she did not have a specific career goal in mind.
“I knew I wanted to do something challenging and make a difference in the world, but I hadn’t nailed down a path,” Downey said.
She attended Seminole State College out of high school, where she was a recipient of the President’s Leadership Class scholarship.
Seminole State College held a pinning ceremony at the Enoch Kelly Haney Center on May 3 for 14 nursing students expected to meet degree requirements this semester. The pinning ceremony also included candle lighting, signifying the transition from student to one of service. Since the nursing program began in 1972, more than 1,100 nurses have launched their careers at SSC.
Nursing graduates, faculty and staff pictured: (back row, left to right) Advisor Carmen Hutchins, Nursing Program Office Manager Julie Mathews, Assistant Professor Damaila Lester, Assistant Professor Brenda Hudson, Assistant Professor of Nursing Miranda Stewart, Nursing Director Dr. Misty Gray, Assistant Professor Ann Benson, Assistant Professor Christine Clay, and Assistant Professor Jessica Shelburne; (middle row, l-r) Makayla Winchester of Holdenville, Angelina Lewis of Edmond, Melissa Martin of Wewoka, Delaney Young of Seminole, Crystal Hays of Tecumseh, Annahlisse Bartschi of Holdenville and Tiffany Hunter of Stonewall; (front row; l-r) Addison Wilson of Norman, Ellisa Dyer of Holdenville, Cynda Factor of Holdenville, Ashley Keys of Seminole, Caryssa Bui of Shawnee, Ashley Lucas of Wewoka, Kayla Smith of Shawnee.
The SSC Physical Therapist Assistant program also hosted its pinning ceremony on May 3 at the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium. PTA faculty and nursing graduates pictured: (back row, l-r) Jamie Fesler of Prague, Brandon Fritz of Edmond, Brendan Biffle of Seminole; (front row, l-r) PTA Director Shakira Stafford, Logan Bush of Moore, Reagan Cooper of Prague, Hailey Pryor of Holdenville and PTA Instructor Lisa Knight.
Seminole State College students completing degree requirements at the end of the 2024 spring and summer semesters, along with 2023 fall graduates, participated in the College’s annual commencement exercises on Friday, May 3.
The graduation ceremony was held inside the Raymond Harber Field House on campus. Speaker of the House of Representatives Charles McCall was the featured guest speaker.
