100-Year History Highlights OKWU Homecoming
Oct. 23, 2009
A plethora of activities highlighted homecoming festivities at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, a weekend that also celebrated the institution's 100th anniversary.
OKWU welcomed approximately 1,000 alumni and friends to Bartlesville, Okla., on October 9-10, 2009. Twenty-four states were represented as well as an international alumna.
Homecoming 2009 honored the 100th anniversary of OKWU. Back in 1959, the college opened on the Bartlesville campus, as Central Pilgrim College, as a result of a series of mergers dating back to 1909. In 1968, the name Bartlesville Wesleyan College (BWC) was adopted, and then in 1972, BWC was consolidated with Miltonvale Wesleyan College (MWC). During consolidation, a decision was made to create a four-year liberal arts college and so this heritage began for BWC, which became Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 2001.
Consistent rain put a slight damper on the weekend and forced the cancellation of multiple sporting events, but the celebration was still a huge success. Highlights included a special homecoming chapel, class reunions, dedication of the new library, men's and women's first official basketball practice ("Midnight Madness"), and men's and women's alumni basketball games.
Alumni were also encouraged to sit down with current students who acted as reporters and recorded favorite memories that will be used to help preserve OKWU's heritage and history. A 100th anniversary reunion lunch of MWC graduates was also held with 250 in attendance.
On Friday evening, the annual homecoming alumni banquet honored special alumni: Dr. Darrell Hermann from Dallas, Texas, class of 1970; Donna Hubbard, from Greeley, Colo.; and Col. Tom Bedient, U.S. Army, retired, from Lenexa, Kansas. Col. Bedient graduated from MWC in 1964, and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award. The Young Alumni Outstanding Award went to Chad Hayward of Colorado Springs, Colo., who serves as executive director for the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations.
"[The weekend] was very wet, but it did not dampen the spirits of our guests," says Janet Odden, Director of Alumni Relations.
OKWU is one of five higher education institutions of The Wesleyan Church.
