Alumni from the Oklahoma Military Academy, Rogers State University’s predecessor institution, will gather September 10-11 for their annual reunion. The event will be held on the Claremore campus to celebrate the military school’s notable legacy.
The reunion was originally scheduled for summer 2020 and was postponed to fall 2021. This will be the first time OMA met since the pandemic began. Known as the “West Point of the Southwest,” OMA served as a high school and junior college that provided a military-focused curriculum during its years of operation from 1919 to 1971.
Throughout the weekend, OMA alumni and guests will celebrate and honor OMA’s deceased alumni. OMA alumni ceremonies will include the Distinguished Alumni and Hall of Fame recipients, Perseverance Award, Lt. General William E. Potts Award of Excellence and music provided by the Oklahoma Army National Guard. A 9/11 ceremony will also take place, along with a moment of silence. The public is invited to attend this special ceremony.
“We are excited to be together again for the 2021 reunion. The OMA is a piece of history and holds a special place in the hearts of many cadets. We will honor the past and celebrate the present,” Dr. Danette Boyle, executive director for the OMA Alumni, said.
A golf tournament will be held September 10 at 9 a.m. at the Heritage Hills Golf Course. The cost is $70 per person or $250 for a four-person team. RSU Women’s golf team, led by head coach Whitney Hocutt, will participate as celebrity golfers during the tournament. Hocutt was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach of the Year.
The women’s golf team had a record-setting season this year. The Hillcats finished 12th overall in the 2021 NCAA DII Women’s Golf National Championships in Michigan. The Rogers State’s season came to a close this spring with two victories, five top three finishes and top five finishes in every event leading up to the national championships.
“The golf tournament is a fun gathering for former cadets, their spouses and family. We are thrilled to host the tournament alongside our successful women’s golf team this year. We invite the public to participate, while learning more about OMA’s rich history,” Boyle said.
1983 Distinguished Alumni Mr. Dave T. Faulkner will be inducted to the OMA Hall of Fame posthumously. Among Faulkner’s accomplishments are past presidencies of the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, the Oklahoma Peace Officers Association, the Oklahoma FBI National Academy of Graduates and the Oklahoma Retired Troopers Association. Having served in the Navy, Faulkner was a World War II veteran.
Sixteen students in the Guard Officers Leadership Development program will be in attendance. This is the largest number in university history. The GOLD program is a challenging premier leadership program available to Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers who attend RSU. Upon completion of the GOLD Program, students earn the rank of Second Lieutenant and become a commissioned officer in the Army National Guard.
To register for the golf tournament, contact Danette Boyle at [email protected] or call 918-343-6888. For more information about the OMA Alumni Association Reunion or see the schedule of events, visit www.rsu.edu/omareunion.