Many excited and proud community and state leaders gathered Wednesday morning to formally dedicate the new Woodward campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Perhaps one of the most exited and proud leaders present was Dr. Deena Fisher, dean of the Woodward campus and one of the strongest advocates for the development of the campus.
“I wish each one of you could have witnessed the first day of our classes, the smiles, the bright eyes and the Ranger pride that shined in the students’ faces as they entered this beautiful building,” Fisher said in her remarks to the crowd attending the dedication ceremony. “It’s a sight that I know I will treasure forever.”
And it is a sight that Fisher and the many others who worked so hard to get the new campus built have waited to see for 12 years.
“These projects don’t just happen without a lot of hard work, effort and energy,” said Dr. Jeff Hale with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
Among those who added their efforts to the project were area legislators, Hale said.
“I think we can safely say without the legislative leadership this campus would not be here today,” he said.
The campus also would not be in existence without the support of local government officials including both the Woodward City and Woodward County Commissioners, according to NWOSU President Dr. Janet Cunningham.
“The 12-year effort to build the campus has truly been a community and state partnership,” she said.
In addition to recognizing the support of state and local government, Cunningham also recognized the role of the Woodward Industrial Foundation in making the new campus a reality.
“I want to echo several speakers’ appreciation for Hugh Jones, LaVern Phillips and the Woodward Industrial Foundation for their ongoing support of the Woodward campus,” she said.
Regent Mike Mitchel of the Regional University System of Oklahoma not only thanked Phillips, but referred to him as “Mr. Just Do It.”
“Long before Nike said ‘just do it,’ that was kind of a saying around here,” Mitchel said. “Mr. Phillips doesn’t take no for an answer. He came to me many, many years ago and said why can’t we have a campus in Woodward? I said, ‘I don’t know,’ and he said, ‘just do it.’”
And with the addition of the Woodward campus, former Rep. Elmer Maddux, who was an incumbent when the new campus was first proposed, said Northwestern Oklahoma State University has insured that it will remain viable and continue to “be a very good place for students to come and learn.”
“Remember knowledge is power and (this) campus helps our citizens possess that power,” Woodward Mayor Bill Fanning said in his remarks to the crowd during the ceremony, noting that “a quality education develops our students into productive citizens and tomorrow’s leaders.”
Fanning then noted that he looks forward to Woodward and NWOSU being “great partners for years to come.”
