Shannon Miller Shares Message of Resilience at SSC

September 11, 2026Josh Hutton

In this photo, Seven-time Olympic medalist, cancer survivor and health advocate Shannon Miller speaks to students, employees and community members at Seminole State College’s Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium.

Seven-time Olympic medalist, cancer survivor and health advocate Shannon Miller speaks to students, employees and community members at Seminole State College’s Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium. The Sept. 10 presentation, sponsored by SSC’s Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions program, focused on wellbeing, resilience and overcoming adversity.

In this photo, Shannon Miller poses for a photo in front of a Seminole State College banner with SSC NASNTI Program Director Kay Wallace.

Shannon Miller visits with SSC NASNTI Program Director Kay Wallace prior to Miller’s Sept. 10 presentation. The event marked the final sponsored program of SSC’s current five-year NASNTI grant, which provided $2.25 million to strengthen student support, accessibility, computer science instruction and campus programming. The grant concludes Sept. 30 without federal renewal.

In this photo, Shannon Miller is joined by current and former Seminole State College Regents and community leaders for a group photo in front of an SSC banner. Pictured from left are former SSC Regents Marci Donaho and Kim Hyden; SSC Regent Robyn Ready; Miller; SSC Regent Haley Coates; Avedis Foundation President and CEO Dr. Kathy Laster; and SSC Regent Teresa Burnett.

Shannon Miller is joined by current and former Seminole State College Regents and community leaders prior to her presentation at SSC. Pictured from left are former SSC Regents Marci Donaho and Kim Hyden; SSC Regent Robyn Ready; Miller; SSC Regent Haley Coates; Avedis Foundation President and CEO Dr. Kathy Laster; and SSC Regent Teresa Burnett.

In this photo, Shannon Miller performs her gold medal-winning balance beam routine during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Photo by Dave Black.

Beyond Olympic Gold: Shannon Miller on Work, Failure and the Strength to Ask for Help

September 4, 2026Brooks Nickell

Shannon Miller put it plainly: “The trouble is, you cannot outwork cancer.”

For most of her life, Miller could measure progress in repetitions: one more push-up, one more routine, one more landing. The girl who grew up in Edmond turned those ordinary days of work into an extraordinary career, winning seven Olympic medals and two world all-around championships before her 20th birthday.

Then a rare form of ovarian cancer forced Miller to reconsider the self-reliance that had carried her so far. Determination still mattered. Discipline still mattered. But neither could replace the help of a team.

Miller said, “My cancer diagnosis and treatment was a curveball I never saw coming. I was always a workhorse in the gym. I was not the most talented, the strongest, or the most flexible, but I would outwork anyone.”

Miller will share lessons from her athletic career, cancer diagnosis and life beyond gymnastics at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium at Seminole State College. The event is free and open to the public. Her presentation is part of the 2026 “Wellbeing and Resilience” theme of SSC’s Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions program and will serve as a culminating event for the final year of the College’s current five-year NASNTI grant.

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USA Esports Team Manager Shares Lessons on Leadership at SSC

August 28, 2026Josh Hutton

In this photo, USA Esports National Team Manager Daniel Clerke (left) and Maryville University senior Nick Wiseman (right) give a presentation at Seminole State College.

Seminole State College hosted USA Esports National Team Manager Daniel Clerke (left) and Maryville University senior Nick Wiseman (right) for a presentation on Aug. 27 in the Jeff Johnston Auditorium. The event was hosted by the Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions federal grant program. Clerke discussed his philosophy of treating esports like other youth sports, using competition to teach discipline, teamwork, personal responsibility and the importance of physical and mental well-being.

In this photo, USA Esports National Team Manager Daniel Clerke and Maryville University senior Nick Wiseman interact with SSC students and employees in the College’s new Esports Lab on Aug. 27.

USA Esports National Team Manager Daniel Clerke and Maryville University senior Nick Wiseman interact with SSC students and employees in the College’s new Esports Lab on Aug. 27. Clerke visited SSC to present “Beyond the Game: Leadership, Competition and Careers in Esports” and discuss leadership, competition and career opportunities within the growing esports industry.

In this photo, Shannon Miller holds up her Olympic medals while sitting for a photo.

SSC to Host Seven-Time Olympic Medalist Shannon Miller

August 24, 2026Josh Hutton

Seminole State College’s Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions program will host seven-time Olympic medalist, ovarian cancer survivor and health advocate Shannon Miller at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in the Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Auditorium on the SSC campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The presentation will serve as a culminating event for the final year of SSC’s current five-year NASNTI grant. The program’s 2026 theme, “Wellbeing and Resilience,” focuses on providing students with resources and strategies to support their personal well-being and academic success.

Following Miller’s presentation, audience members will have an opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session and photo opportunity.

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This photo is a portrait of Daniel Clerke.

USA Esports Team Manager Daniel Clerke to Speak at SSC

August 19, 2026August 19, 2026Josh Hutton

Seminole State College will host Daniel Clerke, National Team Manager for USA Esports, for a presentation titled “Beyond the Game: Leadership, Competition and Careers in Esports” from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, in the Jeff Johnston Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Clerke will take attendees behind the scenes of competitive esports, exploring the leadership, competition and career opportunities that have emerged as the industry has grown. He has spent 14 years building championship teams at the professional and collegiate levels. His teams have earned more than $11 million in prize winnings, captured world championships in Call of Duty and Smite and won 24 collegiate national championships.

Clerke currently serves as National Team Manager for USA Esports as the organization prepares to represent the United States at the Esports Nations Cup. In that role, he oversees operational aspects of the national team program, including the selection of game coaches and coordination of competitive rosters.

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SSC Employees Preview New Esports Lab

June 4, 2026Josh Hutton

In this photo, Seminole State College faculty and staff tour the new Esports Lab during a workshop hosted Thursday, June 4 by the Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions federal grant program.

Seminole State College employees previewed the new Esports Lab during a workshop hosted Thursday, June 4 by the Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions federal grant program. The event gave faculty and staff the opportunity to tour the lab, learn about the room’s technology and hear an overview of the esports program before the lab’s grand opening this fall

In this photo, SSC NASNTI Computer Science Specialist Alecia Bailey leads employees through the new Esports Lab, allowing them to sit at individual stations and learn about the high-tech devices available in the space.

SSC NASNTI Computer Science Specialist Alecia Bailey led employees through the new Esports Lab, allowing them to sit at individual stations and learn about the high-tech devices available in the space. The workshop also featured presentations on room access, program details, scholarship opportunities and live streaming.

Members of the Seminole State College esports team pictured (left to right): Alexandria Flatt, Kashtin Wilson, Braden Carter, Joseph Mull, McCamey Jones, Daxton Likens and Croix Tucker. Not pictured is Destiny Branham.

SSC Esports Team Caps Inaugural Season with Playoff Appearance

November 21, 2025Josh Hutton

Seminole State College’s new esports team has completed its inaugural season in the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE), highlighted by a playoff run in Overwatch 2 and strong showings in Chess and Mario Kart.

SSC joined the NJCAAE in October 2025 and currently competes in Division III. All members of the existing Esports Club tried out and earned a place on the competitive team. The club has been meeting in Tanner 202, a dedicated gaming space equipped with 24 gaming PCs and gaming chairs, with team practices held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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Grandin Speaks on Animal Welfare, Reaching All Kinds of Learners at SSC

November 12, 2025November 12, 2025Josh Hutton

On Nov. 10, students, faculty and community members filled the Jeff Johnston Auditorium at Seminole State College for “An Afternoon with Temple Grandin.” The renowned animal behaviorist and advocate for neurodiversity appeared via Zoom, presenting “Animal Welfare Presented Through the Lens of Autism,” a talk that braided the two themes that have defined her career: humane livestock handling and opening doors for visual and hands-on thinkers. The event was made possible by SSC’s Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions federal grant program, which is funded in the amount of $450,000 annually.

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SSC Faculty Present on Accessibility at National Conference

July 29, 2025Josh Hutton

In this photo, Seminole State College Assistant Professor of STEM Dr. Deanna Miles (left) and Associate Professor of English Yasminda Choate (right) pose for a photo after presenting at the 48th Annual AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) Conference in Denver, Colorado.

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).

In this photo, Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions Computer Science Specialist Alecia Bailey (left) and NASNTI Student Success Specialist Ben Little pose for a photo after attending the AHEAD conference .

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.

SSC NASNTI Staff Attend Ready Inspire Conference

July 22, 2025Josh Hutton

In this photo, Ben Little (left), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) Student Success Specialist, and Alecia Bailey (right), NASNTI Computer Science Specialist at Seminole State College pose for a photo at the 1st annual Ready Inspire Conference hosted by Ready Education.

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.