Former First Lady to be honored at 2022 Women for OSU Symposium

Media Release

Ann Hargis, former Oklahoma State University First Lady, has been selected as the 2022 Women for OSU Philanthropist of the Year. She will be honored at this year’s Women for OSU Symposium, which will be held at Gallagher-Iba Arena on April 28.

Registration to watch the event’s live stream, which begins at 10 a.m. and is free to the public, can be done at https://cloud.osugiving.email/wosu-2022.

Ann served OSU alongside President Burns Hargis from 2008-2021. Her biggest passions were helping students and improving health and wellness on campus during her tenure.

She played an instrumental role in creating the America’s Healthiest Campus® initiative and turned OSU into a leader in university wellness. In 2013, Ann co-founded Pete’s Pet Posse, which has grown to become the largest university pet therapy program in the country. 

In 2021, Women for OSU surprised Ann by establishing the Ann Hargis OSU Center for Pet Therapy Endowment. Once the endowment is fully funded, it will secure the long-term future of the Center, where she continues to be involved today.  

She and Burns also established an endowed professorship and made the OSU leadership scholarship possible.

Her love for the arts has left a lasting impact as well, as the Hargis’ have made considerable contributions to The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, the Doel Reed Center for the Arts and the OSU Museum of Art.

Ann was awarded an honorary doctorate at OSU in 2019 for her work in the area of wellness and improving the lives of others.

She continues to be an active and engaged member of the community, making contributions to a wide variety of philanthropic organizations in Stillwater and throughout the state.

“We had no idea the gift we’d been given all those years ago when she enthusiastically came on board as First Lady,” Diane Tuttle said. “In all situations, she exemplifies how a person should live their life. She is the epitome of an energetic, caring and generous person.”

Women for OSU strives to strengthen women’s connections to the university and channel their passions. The Women for OSU Symposium allows friends and alumni to connect with one another and the university. It also provides an opportunity to recognize and honor women who are making a difference, to announce scholarship recipients and to award Partnering to Impact program grants to OSU faculty and staff.

Women for OSU is awarding 15 student scholarships this year to the following:

• Jaci Deitrick | Newcastle, Oklahoma
  • Agribusiness and Psychology – Honors
• Paul Delgado | Edmond, Oklahoma
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Morgan Garrett | Oklahoma City
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Tess Haddock | Stillwater
  • Agricultural Economics with a Minor in Social Justice
• S. Mackenzee Hester | Washington, Oklahoma
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Brooke Hightower | Cushing, Oklahoma
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Haley Howard | Oklahoma City
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Makinley Kennedy | Lawton, Oklahoma
  • Strategic Communications
• Tina Newton | Perry, Oklahoma
  • Higher Education Leadership and Administration
• Chloe Scheitzach | Edmond, Oklahoma
  • Physiology: Pre-Med
• Alma Rios Wilson | Buffalo, Oklahoma
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Mary Erdmann | Tulsa

Sandra K. Trennepohl Women for OSU Endowed Scholarship

• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics: Pre-Med
• Kayla Morrison | Ponca City, Oklahoma

Wirt June Newman Memorial Scholarship

• Horticulture
• Denise Leal | Belize City, Belize

Ike and Marybeth Glass Women for OSU Endowed Scholarship

• Language Literacy and Culture
• Savanna Smith | Trophy Club, Texas

Sheryl Benbrook Women for OSU Endowed Student Scholarship

• Veterinary Medicine

This year’s symposium will also feature keynote speaker Lauren Bush Lauren, philanthropist, businesswoman and granddaughter of President George H.W. Bush. 

A former fashion model and designer, Bush Lauren is the CEO, creative director and co-founder of FEED Projects, an organization dedicated to fighting world hunger. 

For more information about the symposium, visit OSUgiving.com/women.