Pi Beta Phi - Oklahoma State University

PAGE 5 Oklahoma State University What are we doing about the engraved bricks and history markers on the front patio? All personalized bricks and history markers will be replicated and included in the landscape plan. There are more than 50 years of composites. What will happen to these? All composites will be digitized and available to be reprinted and/or displayed. How many rooms are left that can be "named?" Not many room naming opportunities are available. If you are interested, please contact Mary Revell Rykard '81 to discuss. Rooms start at $25,000 and can include up to five names. Will there be a circle drive with the new house? We will have a drop-off/pick-up area on the house's south side. How many beds will the new house support? We currently have 95 beds and plan to expand it to 101. Reach out to Campaign Co-Chair Mary Revell Rykard at merykard@aol.com for more information. YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOUSE ANSWERED I f a little black horse came right into your first-grade classroom and gave your teacher enough free books for everyone, that would be a memorable day! That's just what happened on March 8, 2022, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Members of Oklahoma Beta joined Turning Point Ranch, a therapeutic horsemanship center near campus, to write a grant request to the Pi Beta Phi FDS500 Grant Program. The grant would be used to procure books from Pi Beta Phi's literacy partner, First Book, to benefit local students... ...and they got it! Books were ordered in October 2021, then again in 2022 when additional funds were raised. The original plan was to take 100 books to four different elementary school libraries in Stillwater. Instead, they were able to provide a different book to every child in every first-grade class, plus books for every library. Baxter, a mini therapy horse at Turning Point, went to every classroom and gave every teacher the "present" of books. First graders were over the moon, especially with the tag inside each book where they could write their names. Oklahoma Beta collegians intend to go back to each of the 14 classes to read to students in April. They'll also volunteer at Turning Point's HorseTales Field Day, where Title One first graders come to the ranch to read to horses and participate in 15 other horse-related activities, from stick horse racing to roping. Turning Point's HorseTales Literacy Program was organized by Natalea Brown Watkins '71, and one of the key volunteers in the First Book program was Faith Bollom '19, who delivered books to the Richmond Elementary class taught by her sister, Emily Bollum '16. Books, Books, Books and a Little Horse to Boot! Oklahoma Beta Joins Turning Point Ranch to Provide Books to First Graders Baxter with Turning Point Executive Director Rachel Royston, Faith Bollom '19, teacher Emily Bollom '16 and some of her Richmond first graders. Chapter President Jayla Hurt '20 (918) 984–5644 | jaylajohurt@icloud.com Vice President Operations Karsen Jones '21 Vice President Risk Management Steeley Beringer '21 Vice President Member Experience Emily Creel '21 Vice President Finance and Housing Macy Duck '21 Vice President Community Relations Piper Aldridge '21 Vice President Inclusion Emma-Frances Smith '21 Vice President Recruitment Izzy Mauldin '21 (405) 919–3054 | isabellamauldin0@gmail.com Executive Council

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