This summer, more than 120 students, staff and faculty are leaving the comforts of home to serve and spread the Gospel in around 20 countries, showing that “OC is Mission,” too.

“We are motivated and encouraged by the pure hearts for service that so many OC students have,” deSteiguer said. “We commend them, as well as our many faculty and staff who exemplify OC’s Christian mission to spread the good news and serve others.”

OC summer missionaries will lead Bible studies, make new friends and work on service projects, all in the name of Jesus. Those traveling appreciate prayers for success and safety.

Last year, students serving in Tanzania, Africa, helped as a "bucket brigade" that put out a fire at a school dormitory. To read about updates on some of the current OC mission projects, visit OC’s Center for Global Mission’s Facebook page.

Below is a list of countries and the OC students, staff and faculty that are serving in each location.

Argentina: Madison Huntsman, Josh McCoy, Jenny Stewart

Australia: Adam Bowman, Kent and Nancy Hartman, Kyle Keesee

Austria and neighboring countries: Anna Berthold, Jillian Bryson, Kolby Calhoun, Bradford Eckhart, Daniel Griffin, Ryan Hinds, Elizabeth Maher, Payton Minzenmayer, Alexander McMannama, Candyce Moore, Afton Paris, Alex Powers, Brayden Reiter, Seth Reiter, Shelby Richards, Alissa Stephens, Hardeman Tucker, Hayley Waldo, Dylan White

Brazil: AnnaBeth Duncan, Kristine Pike, Mindi Powell, Jess Tucker

Burkina Faso: Quinn Fields, Chelsea Leigh, Jessica Parker, Caleb Smith

Canada: Zechariah McNeil

Chile: Abi Johnson, Caleb Johnson, Craig Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Kara Johnson, Sarah Johnson

Czech Republic: Clayton Brewer, Jeremy Lasso

Germany: Clyde and Gwen Antwine

Honduras: Eric Alberts, Erin Bailey, Hope Casey, Dudley Chancey, Kayla Cook, Meredith Corwin, Carli Covalt, Mariah Danley, Kelli Ewert, Miriam Flores, Linda Fly, Shawna Hood, Kym Langford, Bradley Litzkow, Peyton Moehlenbroch, Andrea Moore, Ivan Noffsker, Katie Pryor, Marion Rich, Kaitlyn Schemeissner, Liz Webb

Japan: Mitch Aufiero, Karley Davis, JoLin Nguyen

Peru: Kasey Aufiero, Kayla Frei

Russia: Branson Hartshorn

Rwanda: Bonaventure Bikorimana, Francois Birori, Ines Dushime, Becca Greenwood, Yves Iradukunda, Christelle Kwizera, Alyssa Lui, Yingui Lui, Hunter Marris, Jeanmarie Ndayisaba, Darian Russell, Ariette Sangwa, Paige Shaw, Marci Smith, Grace Umutesi, Diane Uwacu, Lauren Whitworth

Thailand and Cambodia: Jonna Bezner, Mahya Inoue

Tanzania: Bret Arnold, Eddie Brumley, Abbie Bryant, Bethany Dean, Molly Gettle, Mackenna Jones, Ben Langford, Jonathan Parker, Julianne Stinson, Stuart Woodfin

U.S.-based mission work: Kaler Campbell, Carley Cave, Amber Cox, Quinn Drake, Jamal George, Zeke Gustafson, Loryn Hammer, Sierra Harris, Kelsey Henson, Josh Jones, Dillon and Ariel Leu, Mike Lynn, Jessica Parker, Crystal Robinson

Do you know someone on a mission trip that is not on this list? Let us know! Please include their name and location.

“We are incredibly honored to add the combined wisdom, leadership and spiritual vision of these three accomplished executives to our Board of Trustees,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “Each of them has impressive experience leading organizations through growth while excelling in their service to clients and partners. They will help the board as it fulfills the mission of this excellent university.”

The OC Board of Trustees, led by chairman Don Millican, now has 38 active members and 14 life trustees.

Shumard, a 1985 OC graduate with a management degree, is vice president of Medical Doctor Associates in Norcross, Ga., a national physician staffing and recruiting company.

He also serves on the board of Predisan, an international Christian nonprofit organization that provides healthcare, community development and spiritual outreach to Honduras.

He and his wife Sandra, also an OC alum, have three sons: Luke, Travis and Jesse.

Dr. Walker is administrative director and a psychologist at the North Texas Pain Recovery Center in Arlington, Texas. He also is an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of North Texas, and he serves as the consulting psychologist for the Kennedale Fire Department.

Walker has been a member of OC’s National Alumni Council since 2011. After graduating from Oklahoma Christian in 1976, he earned five graduate degrees and accumulated more than 200 hours of graduate education.

He is a member of 11 professional associations and serves on the board of the Kennedale Public School District. He is an elder at Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ in Arlington.

Wilburn is co-founder and CEO of Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc., the nation’s leading children’s and maternity consignment sales event.

In less than nine years, the company has established 132 franchises in 25 states, with several more under development. Its total sales were more than $23 million in 2012.

Wilburn and the company have been featured in “Entrepreneur” magazine and on “Good Morning America,” “The CBS Early Show,” “The Today Show,” CNN and FOX.

Oklahoma Christian, recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study, an undergraduate Honors Program and graduate programs in business, engineering, ministry and divinity.

For the last two years, the cost of attendance for OC undergraduate students has stayed the same, making Oklahoma Christian the only university in the state and the only reporting member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities that did not raise its total price. More information is available at www.oc.edu/value.

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KFOR recently featured Oklahoma Christian University professor Jeff Price in its "Is This a Great State or What?" series.

Price leads OC's gaming and animation program, which earned Oklahoma Christian national recognition from The Princeton Review. OC received honorable mention on The Review's list saluting the best undergraduate schools in the U.S. and Canada to study video game design.

Price also has vintage arcade games like Space Invaders, Pong, Defender and Centipede in his OC office. He uses them as teaching tools and, of course, to have some fun along the way.

Read more on KFOR.

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Gabbi Cook's parents were missionaries in Peru and planned a quick visit to the U.S. in August. Unexpectedly, doctors found cancer in Gabbi's liver and her parents have had to give up their missionary calling. Luckily, Gabbi received a new liver right before Christmas, but her family has incurred numerous health expenses. 

Kid President mentioned Gabbi at the end of one of his most popular videos, OC students are doing good on Gabbi's behalf through the 30 Day 30k campaign aimed at inspiring 30,000 people do good works on Gabbi's behalf. Those good deeds include raising money, but giving encouragement and praise are sometimes just as important. 

Talented OC students and alumni Sandra Peck, Brett Vanderzee and Laura Vanderzee are performing. Students are also selling drinks, snacks and balloon animals. The event will conclude around 8:30 p.m.

To learn more about helping Gabbi, visit Facebook.com/30day30k, twitter.com/30day30k or the donation page at Give Forward. 

Jase came to OC with his wife, Missy, and their three children. Prior to Chapel, he did a video shoot with Oklahoma Christian president John deSteiguer ... standing in the OC Pond. (Click here to watch the video.)

"The Bible is a weapon of mass instruction, and a love letter from God Almighty. And the message is clear - He is for you, not against you," Jase said during his Chapel talk. "The power is in the message. Share the message and let God water the seed."

Duck Dynasty is the most-watched program in the history of the A&E Network. The premiere of its third season on February 27 was the No. 1 cable show of the week.

1st - Chi Lambda Phi - "Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh"
2nd - Gamma Rho - "Jessie from Toy Story"
3rd - Psi Epsilon - "Monsters, Inc."
4th - Freshmen - "Finding Nemo"

Faculty/Staff Favorite - Psi Epsilon
Student Favorite - Psi Epsilon
Most Original - Psi Epsilon
Best Banner - Psi Epsilon
Best Choreography - Chi Lambda Phi
Best Costume - Psi Epsilon
Best Lyrics - Kappa Sigma Tau
Best Video - Freshmen
Best Vocals -  Gamma Rho
Unity Award - Lambda Chi Zeta
Tealridge Golden Cane Award - Chi Lambda Phi

For more about OC Spring Sing, click here to read a preview of this year's show and click here to see past videos and results.

This year, Oklahoma Christian joins a select group of programs Apple is renewing nationwide as exemplary learning environments.

The Apple Distinguished Program designation is reserved for programs that integrate technology in education and meet criteria for visionary leadership, innovative learning and teaching, ongoing professional learning, compelling evidence of success, and a flexible learning environment.

“Oklahoma Christian has been selected as an Apple Distinguished Program because we support the way students live and how they want to learn,” OC vice president for information technology John Hermes said. “From the iPhone and iPod touch, to the iPad and our current MacBook Air program for all undergrads, we’ve adapted to the technology needs of our students. We’re honored to be recognized by Apple for enhancing and extending teaching and learning with the thoughtful and innovative implementation of educational technology.”

OC’s technology innovation dates back to the 1960s, when individual study carrels gained national media attention and attracted college representatives from around the country to see the concept firsthand.

Oklahoma Christian stayed on the cutting edge, and in 2001, became the first university in the state and one of the few nationwide to offer campus-wide wireless Internet and a laptop for each full-time student.

Oklahoma Christian became an Apple Digital Campus in 2008. This year’s incoming students received the Macbook Air, which is the ultimate, lightweight, everyday notebook featuring the world’s most advanced operating system.

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Spring Sing coincides with Spring Visit weekend, which brings hundreds of students from around the globe to OC’s Oklahoma City campus each year.

The four Spring Sing performances will be Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m., Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 9 at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the OC Box Office in the Garvey Center each weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket reservations may be placed by phone at (405) 425-5545. 

“Spring Sing is a good time to visit OC because you get to see so much campus involvement – in everyone from students to staff,” Spring Sing Staff Advisor Amanda Watson said. “It gives high school visitors a chance to see what it looks like to be involved on our campus in a positive fun way, and gets them excited about becoming a future Eagle.” 

Ten social service clubs and a group representing the freshman class have prepared for this year’s show since January. The women of Gamma Rho, Iota Kappa Phi, Lambda Chi Zeta, Pi Zeta Phi and Theta Theta Theta will take the stage. Five of OC’s six men’s clubs – Alpha Gamma Omega, Chi Lambda Phil, Delta Gamma Sigma, Kappa Sigma Tau and Psi Epsilon – also will perform.

Chi Lambda Phi has won nine of the past 11 shows, with Gamma Rho winning the other two in that span. Chi is on a three-win streak and will bring Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin to life on the Spring Sing stage this year.

Student hosts and hostesses emcee Spring Sing and perform songs between each club’s show. This year’s hosts and hostesses are seniors Katelyn Jackson, Sarah Risley and Brian Wilcox, junior Megan Helterbrand, sophomore Jabbarri Jones, and freshman Sean Steele.

Junior Lee Branch will be the third member of the Branch family to direct Spring Sing. His father, Alfred, directed in 1984 and his sister, Meagan, directed in 2011. Alfred Branch went on to serve as OC’s fifth president and now serves on the OC Board of Trustees.

“After growing up in Edmond and going to Spring Sing for as long as I can remember, then hearing about when my dad directed and witnessing my sister direct the show two years ago, having this opportunity to direct this year’s show has meant so much to me,” Lee Branch said.

Branch is president of Delta Gamma Sigma and directed Delta’s club show last year.

“Being executive director is a unique opportunity to not only manage and work with people, but also challenge your creativity,” Branch said. “I am excited for everyone to see what the hosts and hostesses are bringing this year, they have been working so hard all semester and are amazing performers.”

Other students involved in the production of Spring Sing 2013 are Assistant Director Natalie Howard, Club Coordinator Danielle Reall, Band and Vocal Director Reece Kingcade, Advertising Sales Coordinator Emily Grelle, Treasurer Jaynes Parker, Executive Producer Mary Watson, Choreography and Costumes Coordinator Hannah Faye Foster, Lobby Design Coordinator Taylor Davis, Tech Director Kandyce Moore, and Light Design and Sound Coordinator Zeke Gustafson.

Spring Sing has been an OC tradition since 1969, when former Chorale director Ken Adams was inspired by a performance he saw elsewhere. Executive Director of Alumni Relations Bob Lashley served as Spring Sing advisor for 12 years, and Watson is in her second year advising after being involved as an OC student and directing her club show.

“Each person involved in Spring Sing in whatever way has memorable moments and performances,” Watson said. “That’s the beauty of it.”

For more information, email amanda.watson@oc.edu or call the OC Box Office.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the event is titled “My Black America.” Panelists include Oklahoma City Thunder broadcaster Grant Long, KOCO news anchor Wendell Edwards, Dallas Cowboys Stadium human resources director Monica Brooks, OC professor Dr. Lawrence Murray and OC admissions counselor Candace Owens.

The event will be moderated by Gary Jones, OC’s multicultural and service learning coordinator. Jones also serves as the sponsor for Oklahoma Christian’s BSU.

“This event serves as a great venue to hear perspectives on what it means to be black in America in 2013,” Jones said. “Our speakers are very accomplished professionals from Oklahoma City and Dallas. They understand the sacrifices made by those for whom Black History Month was created to honor, as well as the challenges that still exist.”

The panel discussion will be held in the Adams Recital Hall in the Garvey Center on the OC campus. For more information, email gary.jones@oc.edu.

About Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Christian, recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study, an undergraduate Honors Program, and graduate programs in business, engineering, ministry and divinity. In addition to its Oklahoma City residential campus, OC has study abroad opportunities in Europe, Honduras and the Pacific Rim. This year, Oklahoma Christian opened a Learning Support Center in Kigali, Rwanda, allowing Rwandan students to study in OC’s online MBA program.

The Oklahoma Christian University alumna's audition aired on American Idol's January 31 broadcast. It featured both Halie (Swan) and her "dog" Oscar, who unfortunately didn't get a thumbs up from American Idol's resident "dawg," Randy Jackson, or fellow judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban or Nicki Minaj.

Halie, a 2008 OC graduate, hails from Vernon, Texas. Thanks to "HumanSlinky" for capturing Halie's full American Idol segment ...

Here are more photos from Halie Hilburn's American Idol debut:

Halie and Oscar meet Ryan Seacrest.

Oscar cuts in on Halie's audition.

Halie and Oscar try to win over the judges.

The judges critique Halie and Oscar's "duet."

The moment of truth - Halie's going to Hollywood!

Halie shows off her golden ticket.

Ryan Seacrest decides it's time to break up the act. "Oscar" is getting left behind.

Halie talks about her big break.

This year’s Cabaret theme is “Hooray for Love: Highlights from the Great American Songbook.” Fourteen pieces written by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen and Burt Bacharach will be performed. Classics include “The Man I Love,” “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” and “If I Only Had A Brain.” 

The Cabaret will begin at 6 p.m. each night with its signature candlelight dinner in the McIntosh Conservatory in OC’s Garvey Center. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the adjacent Adams Recital Hall.

The dinner menu features a tossed green salad, Chicken Cordon Bleu with a rice pilaf and grilled vegetable mélange. Triple chocolate cake and strawberry topped cheesecake will be served for dessert. 

This is the first Cabaret since longtime Chorale director Dr. Ken Adams retired in 2012. The Adams Recital Hall is named for him and his wife Lindy in honor of their contributions to OC’s Music Department over the past 40 years.

Chad Anderson will direct this year’s Cabaret alongside Eric Grigg, music director and pianist, with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Larry Moore on bass. Anderson is a 1998 OC graduate and has directed nearly a dozen Homecoming musicals and Valentine Cabarets at his alma mater.

The Cabaret cast includes OC students Kirby Allen, Kalee Floyd, Hannah Faye Foster, Ryan Gonzales, Alyssa Jackson, Jabbarri Jones, Reece Kingcade, Stephanie Loyd, Rebecca Moran, Sarah Risley, Sean Steele, Lane Wheeler, Lauren Wheeler, Brian Wilcox, Moriah Willing and Tommy Winberry.

Tickets are $7 for the show and $20 for the dinner and the show. To purchase tickets or request more information, call (405) 425-5530 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The gift was made during a ceremony Monday afternoon on the OC campus. AT&T made a previous donation of $15,000 to OC’s Bridge Program in 2011.
 
“We are incredibly appreciative of AT&T’s continued generosity to our Bridge students,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “We want every student to succeed, and this gift helps ensure they have the tools to do so.” 
 
At the ceremony, student Karissa Wheeler spoke of the positive difference the Bridge Program has made in her college experience. Wheeler will graduate in December with a degree in family studies/child development. She came to OC from Chicago and began as a student in the Bridge Program. She is now a mentor for other students in the program.
 
“My high school advisor told me I would never make it in college. It only took a few weeks for me to fall behind in algebra. I remember going to see (Bridge Program assistant) Lannea Pemberton and telling her my advisor had been right. Thankfully, she never gave up on me, even when I didn't believe in myself,” Wheeler said. “I have also had the privilege to become a mentor with the Bridge Program and work with students who struggle like I did. Watching my students succeed is one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had.”
 
The university’s Bridge Program helps students whose secondary education has not fully prepared them for college. It provides students with special tutoring, developmental classes, instruction in time management and study skills, career counseling, guidance and mentoring. Many of the students are the first generation of their families to attend college, and others often come from low-income families.
 
The program began in 2006 with 13 students and has more than 100 students today. Just a few years ago, OC was one of only two colleges in the state recognized in the Center for Student Opportunity’s College Access and Opportunity Guide, which highlights supportive college environments for low-income, first generation students.
 
Oklahoma Christian, recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study and an undergraduate Honors Program, plus graduate programs in business, engineering, ministry, and divinity. 

In addition to its Oklahoma City campus, OC has study abroad opportunities in Europe, Honduras and the Pacific Rim. This year, the university opened a Learning Support Center in Kigali, Rwanda, allowing Rwandan students to study in OC's online MBA program.

The film (trailer featured above) was selected by the Trail Dance Film Festival and will be shown Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. in Duncan, Okla. 

The film was the culmination of Jurney’s Advanced Creative Production class last year and featured work from Oklahoma Christian University’s communication and theater departments. It was filmed and edited by Jose Cruz, Emily Eldridge, Daniel Warren, Jason Oser, Cameron Sutherland and Logan Rine. Actors include Nathaneal Nalley, Sarah Henry, Jacob Weaver, Kris Murray and communication professor Barrett Huddleston. 

The Trail Dance Film Festival is an open-genre independent film competition. In addition to audience screenings, the festival also includes vendors, live entertainment and panels featuring film professionals.

“Dead Tired” will be shown at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan and tickets can be purchased at the door.

The film centers on the story of Todd, a young man with narcolepsy who just wants to live a normal life.  

Many Trail Dance films have received distribution, including Bill Sebastian's “Midlothia,” and “Johnny Was," which was picked up by Starz. Jon Sajetowski (“Donnybrook”) went on to direct ABC's “Wife Swap,” and David Lawrence (“My Name is Wallace”) booked a recurring role on NBC's “Heroes.”

The festival concludes with a grand awards gala where the Golden Drover Award is presented to worthy filmmakers. One lucky student will be awarded a scholarship to pursue a career in filmmaking.

Baird, a professor of Bible and philosophy at Oklahoma Christian, will succeed Dr. Scott LaMascus, OC’s new vice president for academic affairs. LaMascus has directed the Honors Program since 2009.

Baird graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Bible and English. He received his theology degree from the Harding Graduate School of Religion in 1982 and earned his doctorate in philosophy from Oxford in 1992.

He has taught in OC’s College of Biblical Studies since 1992 and has served as the preaching minister at Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City since 2000.

In 2001, Baird won OC’s Gaylord Chair of Distinguished Teaching, which recognizes teaching excellence, innovation and effectiveness in working with students in and out of the classroom.

His class with Professor of Physics Dr. Len Feuerhelm, “The Bible, Science and Human Values,” is an integral part of OC’s Honors Program. The course, which explores the relationship between science and religion, won a $10,000 prize from the Templeton Foundation.

Baird and his wife Yodie have two sons, James and Taylor, and a daughter, Elizabeth. His father, James O. Baird, was Oklahoma Christian’s second president, serving from 1954 to 1974.

“Dr. Baird’s training at Oxford, his commitment to Christ and his family, and his intellectual leadership among faculty and students are all ingredients of a vision that will take OC Honors from regional leadership to national prominence,” LaMascus said.

OC’s Honors Program, which currently includes 30 National Merit Scholars, is accepting “waitlist” applications for fall 2013.

The program offers what the National Collegiate Honors Council calls the “most robust” model for Honors programs, with an Honors core curriculum in place of the general education core. Most OC Honors students live on campus in the new Honors House at Davisson Hall. 

Honors Program alumni have achieved a 100 percent acceptance rate to graduate schools the past three years. Recent alumni are graduate students at schools such as Florida State University, Stanford University, and the University of Texas at Austin. 

“OC’s Honors Program is one of the best in the nation. It is best in class because of high-caliber students receiving personal and expert instruction from top-notch faculty, and because of excellent leadership,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “Dr. Baird is the perfect choice to continue the OC Honors pattern of engaging, visionary leadership - pioneered by Drs. Bailey McBride and Scott LaMascus - that inspires students to be more than they thought possible.” 

Oklahoma Christian, which set an enrollment record with 2,271 students this year, is recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review.

The university offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study and graduate programs in business administration, engineering, ministry, and divinity.

In addition to its Oklahoma City campus, OC has study abroad opportunities in Europe, Honduras and the Pacific Rim. Honors students receive a stipend to participate in the Study Abroad program based out of OC’s new facility in Vienna, Austria.

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The 200-page publication also is filled with thoughtful essays written by Johnson and 48 full-color photographs featuring scenes from the Texas Hill Country. Ben Friberg, a professional cameraman for an Austin television station, shot most of the photos during the 2012 bluebonnet season.

Thursday’s basketball games also will feature a “Dunks for Diapers” fundraiser for Lilyfield Christian Adoption and Foster Care. Admission to the doubleheader is free to anyone bringing a baby item such as diapers, wipes, baby lotion, bath items, etc. 

Saturday’s basketball doubleheader will feature the 23rd-annual Toys for Tots Drive sponsored by OC’s Delta Gamma Sigma social service club. Admission is free to anyone bringing an unwrapped toy to the games. The Lady Eagles play Southern Nazarene University at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Eagles’ game against Southwestern Christian University at 7:30 p.m.

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Oklahoma City filmmaker Kyle Roberts is proof that when you work hard at what you love, you’ll get noticed.

Roberts, 28, owner of Reckless Abandonment Pictures, was selected to participate in the new reality competition series “Viral Video Showdown.”

His team’s appearance on the show is scheduled to air during a marathon beginning at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday on Syfy. The specific episode featuring Roberts’ team will broadcast at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“One of the producers just contacted me. They found my work through different stop motions and music videos and stuff,” said Roberts, who is also a NewsOK videographer. “They said, ‘We love your work. We’d like you to send an audition tape,’ so I had to still go through a process. They didn’t just say, ‘Come out to L.A.’”

Each episode of “Viral Video Showdown” centers on two viral video creators being given a limited budget and a handful of days to complete a video featuring the same theme. The winner receives $5,000.

Although Roberts is a Missouri native, he has lived in Oklahoma since earning a double major in broadcast journalism and corporate media at Oklahoma Christian University.

His team for “Viral Video Showdown” is named after his production company and includes about 18 crew members, all from Oklahoma. Three of his fellow crew members – editor Hal Gatewood, production assistant Jason Oser, and writer/actor Lucas Ross – also are OC alumni.

“It was a big challenge, but I think we did a good job,” Roberts said. “The fact that we had five days to do this … we incorporated live action and stop motion and fights and not superhero stuff, but video game stuff ... and it was (an) all-Oklahoma based crew. It was awesome. I think everyone’s going to enjoy it.”

Roberts’ specialties are stop-motion animation and music videos, including an approximate one-minute re-creation of the 1987 “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon introduction, complete with action figures that took three months to film. Stop-motion animation is a film technique where a series of still photos are taken that when combined make static objects appear as if they were moving.

He has just started directing the independent movie “Posthuman,” which is expected to be released online next spring as a web series in eight to 12 segments.

“Posthuman,” written by The Oklahoman’s Features Editor Matt Price and DC Comics writer Sterling Gates, is a mix of the styles of two of Roberts’ favorite filmmakers – John Hughes and J.J. Abrams.

Oklahomans have shown support for Roberts’ filmmaking in the state.

“The biggest pro is just that everyone gets so excited, which is awesome,” Roberts said. “And they should be. We’re doing cool stuff. But that’s probably the biggest pro of pro-Oklahoma filmmaking is you tell someone you’re doing a movie of any kind, and then you tell them you’re doing a teen superhero movie or whatever, and they get so passionate about it.

“Things that could cost two or three thousand dollars for a space rental for that night is either free or like maybe 500 bucks tops,” he added.

As far as professional goals go, doing what he’s passionate about is at the top.

“I’ve just been kind of making videos and doing what I love, and then I started getting a bunch of attention and quickly realized it’s not just my friends watching this; it’s people all over the world. And, it’s like, ‘OK, maybe we’ve got something here.’

“I don’t do statistics on my personal YouTube account and figure out ‘OK, this is trending, I got to do that.’ I just do what I really want to do.”

For more information, go to www.ra-pictures.com and www.syfy.com/viralvideoshowdown.

By Melissa Hayer
Copyright 2012, The Oklahoman

Another OC squad placed third in the regional competition, which featured 20 teams from three states and included schools such as Southern Methodist University, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Cameron University, Oklahoma City University, the University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma.

The regional championship qualifies Oklahoma Christian for the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl on Feb. 28 in San Antonio.

OC’s first-place team consisted of Christian Asbill, Chas Carter and Austin Hughes. OC’s third-place team members were Hannah Ketring, Brandon McWaters and Genesis Rodriguez. 

Students from both OC teams will combine into one squad for February’s competition, which features 32 teams from around the United States and Canada.

“These students put in countless hours and worked together to get each other prepared for this tournament,” said sponsor Dr. Jeff Simmons, associate professor of business at Oklahoma Christian. “I am so impressed with their talent and am proud of the way they conducted themselves with grace and humility in their success. We are looking forward to representing OC at the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.”

The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics organizes the 10 regional contests and the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Each contest includes a set of cases that raise issues in practical and professional ethics. Teams prepare analyses of each case before the contest, then answer questions from a moderator in multiple rounds of competition at the event.

Questions may concern ethical problems on wide ranging topics, such as the classroom (e.g. cheating or plagiarism), personal relationships (e.g. dating or friendship), professional ethics (e.g. engineering, law, medicine), or social and political ethics (e.g. free speech, gun control, etc.).

For more information, go to http://appeonline.com/ethics-bowl.

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The Russian delegation toured OC as part of the Edmond Sister Cities Program, which Oklahoma Christian helped found.

President deSteiguer presented the students with certificates of accomplishment for participating in the educational portion of the Edmond Sister Cities Program.

The delegation also went to OC’s theatre production of “Barefoot in the Park” and visited a biology class taught by Dr. Eric Phelps, a music class taught by Dr. Kyle Pullen, and an international management class taught by Dr. Don Drew.

Drew, OC’s associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate schools, was one of eight community leaders who went to Russia as part of Edmond’s first delegation to Engels in June.

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