Rogers State University President Dr. Larry Rice (center) congratulates 2024 Distinguished Alumni honorees Dr. Keith and Lisa Martin (from left), Hillcat Legacy Award recipients; Jody Moore, Distinguished Hillcat Award recipient; and Caitlyn Ngare, Rising Star Award recipient.
The stormy forecast did little to dampen spirits on the Hill over the weekend, when 150 alumni, students, faculty and staff past and present converged on Rogers State University for the second annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner.
Held April 27 in the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center, the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner was an event co-hosted by the RSU Foundation and RSU Alumni Association, at which, alumni of note were recognized for their personal achievements and service, and for bringing regional, statewide and/or national distinction to themselves and the university.
Following opening remarks from Director of Alumni Engagement Travis Peck and RSU President Dr. Larry Rice, the first award was presented to Rising Star Award recipient Caitlyn Ngare.
Ngare earned her associate degree in business administration and management (general) in 2019, and her bachelor’s degree in business administration, management and operations in 2021.
While at RSU, Ngare was active in the Honors Program, a member of the Student Government Association and director of public relations for RSU Young Professionals. She is currently pursuing her MBA in business analytics from Northeastern State University and serves as talent coordinator for Claremore Economic Development.
“I’m humbled to stand before you all as an award recipient tonight,” Ngare told the crowd. “RSU holds a special place in my heart, not only for the education I received, but also for the sense of belonging and connection I have found here, personally and professionally.
“Within the first few weeks of me being on campus for Big Tent Day, I didn’t know it yet, but my future career had already been put into motion,” she continued. “It was at this event that I was introduced to Rogers County Volunteers for Youth, which helped shape me into the young professional I have become. There are few places where students can say they were connected to their community that quickly.
“I’d like to thank everyone who played a small part in connecting me with the many leadership opportunities I’ve had in Claremore, but most importantly, to thank my family as they’ve supported me to be where I am today,” she said. “I’m truly honored to be a part of the Hillcat family.”
The next recipient was Jody Moore, who was honored with the Distinguished Hillcat Award.
Moore earned her associate degree in accounting in 2005 and her bachelor’s degree in sport management with a minor in business administration from RSU in 2015.
She has served as an RSU admissions assistant, admissions counselor, Volunteers for Youth HLP project director and is currently executive director of Safenet Services in Claremore.
“I just want to thank each one of you for being here tonight, for taking the time to support myself and the other distinguished Hillcats. There are so many people deserving of this honor that when Travis called to tell me, I asked him if they’d run out of distinguished people,” Moore laughed. “There are so many people from RSU who have done so many great things. That speaks volumes of the programs that have been put together here by President Rice and the faculty and staff here.
“When I take time to stop and reflect on how I got where I am right now, it wasn’t without struggle and it wasn’t without help,” she said. “I often say that we’re better together and that has been the anthem for my life – that could describe my time at RSU. I had so many faculty and staff to support me.”
Moore recounted those within her circle who encouraged and supported her to continue her education and pursuits, helping her achieve her goals and saying her successes were also “their successes.”
“I might dream a little bigger than your average person. I’ve had friends that have carried me on my difficult days and cheered wildly for me on my good days,” she said. “For their support, I can never fully express my gratitude. I’m just an ordinary lady who has been surrounded by extraordinary people. I want to leave you all with this thought – sit at the table with the dreamers, the go-getters, the star gazers, the warriors, the ones who fight for others – the conversation hits different. It’s where you’ll truly learn how to live. Thank you so much for this amazing honor.”
The final award for the evening was presented to husband and wife alumni Dr. Keith Martin and Lisa Martin, introduced by Peck as “RSU royalty” and both of whom were selected as recipients of the Hill Legacy Award.
Keith graduated from RSU (then Rogers State College) in 1983 with an associate degree in science – biology, later earning a B.S. in biology – education, and an M.S. in biology – higher education, both from Northeastern State University. He also holds a Ph.D. in wildlife and fisheries ecology from Oklahoma State University.
Keith’s tenure at RSU started in 1990, first serving as an instructor of biology, then assistant professor of biology, associate professor of biology, professor of biology, interim department head and later department head for the Department of Mathematics and Science. He then served as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (now the College of Arts and Sciences) for 15 years before his retirement from full-time employment in 2023. Keith has had several articles published in national periodicals and was responsible for numerous successfully funded research grants.
Lisa was a graduate of RSU’s first nursing class in 1983, initially working as an emergency room nurse, in the cardiac ICU, in home health and as a nurse for Claremore Public Schools. She returned to RSU in 2004 as director of the student health center, a position she held until her retirement in 2020.
“It’s with a lot of gratitude that we’re here tonight for this award,” said Keith, who took to the podium with wife Lisa. “As we were getting ready to leave the house tonight, our granddaughter kind of said it bluntly in asking ‘What’s this award for?’, to which I said, ‘Well, I guess they think we’re special,’ and she said, ‘Well, I’m special. Do I get an award?’
“I think that’s what makes people kind of embarrassed at this kind of honor,” he continued. “We just worked and had fun, enjoyed who we were working with and that’s not really unlike anybody else in the room. You work for a long time at your job, at your career, and here we are, getting recognized for that – not to mention that, for an award like this, it’s impossible to thank everybody. There are too many people that invested in us, in our lives, to thank them all. You feel like you’re doing a disservice to someone because there have been so many people who have invested in your life and your success. God has endowed us with so many great relationships.
“Lastly, it’s impossible to even begin to start with the memories, the stories about this place,” he said. “When you’ve been here as long as I have, you accumulate a lot of stories. There are just too many for you to tell, so that’s why there’s a sense of reluctance to accept an award like this, but Lisa and I accept this (award) with much gratitude and much humility.”
Before the evening ended, event sponsors were acknowledged, including Rogers County Pet Hospital, RCB Bank, GRAND Mental Health, BancFirst, Spectrum Paint, Hathcoat & Wade Law Firm, PLLC, Community Home Health, Rescue Heat & Air, Rogers State University Foundation, Price Law, P.C., Hillcat Athletics, Megen Rhine Consulting, Cedar Point, Claremore Economic Development, and Rogers State University Alumni Association.
The RSU Alumni Association serves as the connection to the university and alumni across the nation. The Rogers State University Office of Development serves as the fundraising arm of the institution and works to maximize the university’s resources and leverage its effectiveness through obtaining the financial support of individuals, foundations, and corporations.
For more information about the RSU Office of Development or to make a tax-deductible contribution, visit https://www.rsu.edu/development-foundation/
From left: Dr. Keith and Lisa Martin, Travis Peck, Jody Moore, Caitlyn Ngare