This year marks the 100th anniversary of business education at Oklahoma State University. To celebrate this milestone, the Spears School of Business is planning a series of events so that alumni, students and friends can participate throughout the year.
Events begin with the 100th Anniversary Golf Classic at Karsten Creek on Aug. 8. On the weekend of Sept. 5-6, special tours, an open house of the Business Building, groundbreaking for the new business building, the 100th Anniversary reception and a tailgate prior to Saturday’s football game are planned. The final celebration event will be the “Spears School Tribute: 100 For 100” dinner scheduled Nov. 7.
“This is a great time to be associated with the Spears School of Business as we celebrate our 100th anniversary. This centennial celebration is meaningful because it marks the confluence of the past, present and future. Our wish is that many from the past – students, faculty and staff – will re-engage with us as we mark the beginning of a new century in high quality, engaging and accessible business education,” said Ken Eastman, interim dean of the Spears School.
Opportunities for alumni, students and friends to get involved are available at the 100th Anniversary website: spears100.okstate.edu.
Each week hundreds of students, alumni and friends will visit the website to see who will be revealed in the “Spears School Tributes: 100 For 100.” In preparation for the 100th anniversary, all were invited to submit tributes to remarkable business graduates. More than 150 submissions were received, and from that list 100 tributes were selected. These tributes represent a rich history and diversity of experience among those who earned a business degree from OSU. Each week, 10 new tributes are posted.
In addition, there are various ways for business school alumni to get involved via the 100th anniversary website (spears100.okstate.edu):
Art by You (http://spears100.okstate.edu/get-involved/art-by-you/): Submit any artistic photo of your choice (unique, creative, artistic, etc.) and if selected it may be displayed throughout the current business building, on the 100th anniversary website or potentially in the new business building.
Share your story (http://spears100.okstate.edu/get-involved/share-your-story/): Share your story from your time as a student, faculty or staff member. Tell us what you remember most about your days at OSU, the first time you pulled an all-nighter to prepare for that dreaded mid-term, etc.
Remembering Faculty (http://spears100.okstate.edu/osu-business-school-faculty/): Please share your favorite story from your days as a business student, or leave a message for one of your favorite professors. Select from a list of more than 500 faculty who have taught at the school the past 100 years.
There is much to celebrate over the 100 years since the School of Commerce and Marketing was established at Oklahoma A&M College. The 37 students who enrolled in 1914 couldn’t have envisioned today’s enrollment of more than 4,000 business undergraduate students and 1,200 business graduate students.
Record enrollment has driven need for a new larger business building. As a result, the 100th Anniversary celebration will coincide with groundbreaking for a new business building. Through the website, all students, alumni and friends are encouraged to register for the following 100th Anniversary events:
August 8, 2014 (Friday)
100th Anniversary Golf Classic at Karsten Creek Golf Club: Registration is $175 per person, and is open to alumni, students and friends of the Spears School.
September 5, 2014 (Friday)
1-3 p.m.: Tours of OSU Athletics Facilities, including Gallagher-Iba Arena and some areas inside Boone Pickens Stadium, and the OSU Student Union (free but registration is required).
3-4 p.m.: Open house in Business Building lobby (free, come and go event).
4-5 p.m.: Groundbreaking of the new business building (free but registration is required).
5:30-8:30 p.m.: 100th Anniversary Reception is an opportunity for alumni and students to reconnect with former classmates, faculty and staff at the Wes Watkins Center. (Cost is $25 for adults, $15 for students.)
September 6, 2014 (Saturday)
100th Anniversary Spears School Tailgate Party, hosted by the OSU Foundation, begins three hours prior to the kickoff of the Oklahoma State vs. Missouri State football game at Boone Pickens Stadium.
November 7, 2014 (Friday)
6:30-9 p.m.: Spears School Tributes: 100 for 100 Reception and Dinner at the OSU Student Union Ballroom. (Cost is $65 per person.)
For information on sponsorships, please visit the website:
spears100.okstate.edu/get-involved/sponsorships/, or contact Anna Smith at 1-866-678-3933.
