Growing up in Seminole County, my family ran a small grocery store. It wasn’t just a place for buying essentials — it was a hub of community life. People came to exchange news, swap stories and even engage in spirited political debate. I still remember the thrill of campaign season, when candidates would make our store a regular stop. It wasn’t uncommon to see someone in slacks and a sport coat shaking hands in front of our gas pumps, explaining their vision for the future of our county.
Incoming students and their families will gather at Seminole State College’s Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium for New Student Orientation on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature sessions on financial aid, campus technology, student resources and opportunities to connect with faculty, staff and peers before the fall semester begins.
Seminole State College will welcome incoming students and their families to campus for New Student Orientation on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium.
The annual event is designed to help students transition into college life, connect with campus resources and start the semester with confidence.
The day will begin at 11 a.m. with a joint welcome for students and parents in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium. At 11:30 a.m., parents will move to Social Sciences Room 104 for a session titled Financial Aid 101, while students remain in the auditorium for Slay the Classroom, a presentation on utilizing campus technology and tips for academic success.
At 12:20 p.m., students and parents will reunite in the auditorium for Know Your Resources = Know Your Power, a session focused on student support services and tools available to help them succeed.
From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., attendees are invited to enjoy free snacks and socializing in the Boren Library.
“This orientation is a great opportunity for students to meet faculty and staff, ask questions, and get comfortable with our campus before classes begin,” SSC Student Support Services/SSS STEM Director Jana Wilson-Byrd said.
For more information, contact Wilson-Byrd at j.wilsonbyrd@sscok.edu. Classes begin at SSC on Aug. 18 and enrollment remains open through Aug. 22.
Extended office hours at Seminole State College will run from Aug. 16 through Aug. 22 to help students prepare for the fall semester. Services will be available in the Walkingstick Student Services Building, including admissions, advising, financial aid, testing and the SSC Bookstore.
With classes beginning on Aug. 18 and enrollment open through Aug. 22, Seminole State College will offer extended office hours in the Walkingstick Student Services Building to provide students and prospective students additional opportunities to complete enrollment and prepare for the semester. Extended hours will begin Saturday, Aug. 16, and continue through the first week of classes.
To accommodate busy schedules, SSC will keep the admissions office, advising offices, financial aid office, testing center and SSC Bookstore open beyond regular business hours. The extended schedule includes Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which also serves as Student Orientation Day. From Monday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 21, offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 22, the hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Participants in Seminole State College’s GEAR UP summer camp pose for a group photo outside the Enoch Kelly Haney Center. More than 160 students from 12 area schools attended the two-week event, which included campus tours, STEM lessons, recreational activities and college-readiness workshops.
Seminole State College’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) welcomed more than 160 students from 12 partner schools to campus this summer for two weeks of educational camps. The events were designed to provide sixth and seventh grade students with a glimpse into college life while building STEM skills and promoting academic success.
Students from Asher, Maud, Wewoka, Seminole, Varnum, Strother, Konawa, Okemah, Tecumseh, Wetumka, Holdenville and Moss participated in the camps, which offered a mix of campus tours, hands-on lessons and recreational activities.
SSC named 179 students to its Summer Honor Rolls. Students achieved a 3.5 GPA or above and were enrolled in at least six credit hours.
Seminole State College has released the names of honor roll students for the 2025 summer term. A total of 179 students were recognized for their academic achievements.
The Summer Honor Roll is comprised of students who successfully completed six or more credit hours in the summer term and maintained a 3.5 grade-point-average or above.
Students named to the Summer Honor Roll include (listed by hometown):
SSC Upward Bound students pose for a photo inside the Dallas Cowboys locker room at AT&T Stadium during their “Big Trip” to Dallas. The group toured the stadium as part of a week filled with college visits and cultural experiences.
Seminole State College’s Upward Bound federal grant program hosted a series of summer camps and trips for nearly 160 area high school students, offering academic enrichment, college readiness and cultural experiences.
Approximately 125 students who recently completed their 9th through 11th grade years participated in a residential camp on the SSC campus from May 27 to June 26. These students attend 20 partnering high schools, including Bowlegs, Butner, Earlsboro, Holdenville, Graham-Dustin, Macomb, Maud, New Lima, Okemah, Paden, Seminole, Shawnee, Strother, Stroud, Tecumseh, Varnum, Weleetka, Wetumka and Wewoka.
Five teams and 52 student-athletes were recently recognized for their academic achievements by the NJCAA. (Pictured) SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell welcomes athletes across all sports to campus in the fall of 2024.
Fifty-two student-athletes and five athletic teams at Seminole State College have been honored by the National Junior College Athletic Association for their academic excellence in the 2024-2025 academic year. The NJCAA Academic All-American Student-Athlete Awards are presented in three categories: First Team (4.0 GPA), Second Team (3.80-3.99 GPA), and Third Team (3.60-3.79 GPA).
“This recognition is a reflection of the commitment our student-athletes make every day—not only to their teams, but to their academic goals as well,” SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell said. “We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”
Seminole State College Assistant Professor of STEM Dr. Deanna Miles (left) and Associate Professor of English Yasminda Choate (right) presented at the 48th Annual AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) Conference in Denver, Colorado, July 14-18. They shared SSC’s efforts to ensure all courses and programs are accessibly designed for all learners. Hundreds from across the nation attended the conference. Also pictured is NASNTI Computer Science Specialist Alecia Bailey (center).
Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions Computer Science Specialist Alecia Bailey (left) and NASNTI Student Success Specialist Ben Little attended the AHEAD conference to explore assistive technologies and accommodations in higher education. A component of SSC’s NASNTI federal grant program is to bolster accessibility across campus.
Seminole State College’s Director of Community Relations Kim Pringle was recently elected President of the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association (OCPRA) during the organization’s monthly board meeting on July 15.
Pringle, who has served on the OCPRA Board for the past four years, will now lead the statewide organization that supports marketing and communications professionals at colleges and universities across Oklahoma. OCPRA offers professional development, networking opportunities and a competitive awards program that honors outstanding work in higher education communications.
“I am honored to serve as President of OCPRA and continue to work alongside such talented professionals from institutions across the state,” Pringle said. “The organization plays a vital role in connecting communications teams and celebrating the creative work that supports student success and institutional growth.”
Pringle brings a diverse background and seven years of experience at SSC to her new leadership role. In addition to directing the College’s community relations initiatives, she serves as the liaison to the SSC Educational Foundation, co-directs the President’s Leadership Class with President Lana Reynolds, oversees the Business and Industry division, and represents the College at numerous public events.
Pringle holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a Vocal Certificate from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Education from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
She and her husband, Travis, reside in Shawnee with their two daughters, Addison and Breckyn.
Ben Little (left), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) Student Success Specialist, and Alecia Bailey (right), NASNTI Computer Science Specialist at Seminole State College, attend the 1st annual Ready Inspire Conference hosted by Ready Education in Orlando, Fla., July 7-9. The conference brought together higher education professionals from across the U.S. and internationally to network, share best practices and explore strategies for improving student engagement. SSC utilizes the Ready Education platform for its mobile app. The NASNTI program at SSC is 100 percent federally funded, receiving $450,000 annually.
