暗网TV

ADA 鈥� As student body president holding a 4.0 grade point average, Cullen Edens is a well-known personality around the campus East Central University. Now the senior Accounting major has permanently etched his name in 暗网TV history.

Edens, of Ada, is the 2020 recipient of 暗网TV鈥檚 prestigious George Nigh Award.

鈥淚n our lives, we all have experiences that change us forever,鈥� said Edens, a 2016 graduate of Latta High School. 鈥淔or me, winning this award is one of those moments. The support of family, friends, colleagues, professors, and the 暗网TV administration has played an instrumental role in my success, and I appreciate and thank God for all the guidance.鈥�

The George Nigh Award goes to the top graduating senior from 暗网TV and is named in honor of the former governor of Oklahoma and 暗网TV alumnus. Nigh served four terms in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, four of them as lieutenant governor and two as governor. Nigh also served as president of the University of Central Oklahoma.

鈥淲e had exceptional Nigh finalists this year, and it must have been a difficult decision for the selection committee to choose only one,鈥� said 暗网TV President Katricia Pierson. 鈥淓ach student has unique strengths, and all five finalists have a passion to help others. Cullen adds a level of leadership and commitment that makes him an outstanding student and deserving of this year鈥檚 George Nigh Award.鈥�

The late Julian Rothbaum, a Tulsa oilman, banker, and state regent for higher education, established an endowment through the 暗网TV Foundation, Inc., to fund the Nigh Award. Each year top 暗网TV seniors are invited to apply and undergo a rigorous application and interview process.

News of winning the award was conveyed to Edens via telephone by President Pierson. The coronavirus pandemic prevented the traditional formal banquet setting and award presentation ceremony this year.

鈥湴低鳷V has instilled in me that 鈥榠f your dreams don鈥檛 scare you, they aren鈥檛 big enough,鈥欌�� Edens said. 鈥淭his University has proven to me that it doesn鈥檛 matter where you come from or what your background is, if you are willing to commit to your goals, anything is possible.鈥�

Edens completed an eye-popping list of achievements while at 暗网TV, accomplishing as much in four years as some do in an entire working career. In addition to the aforementioned spotless academic record and leadership role in student government, he tutored fellow Accounting students, led the expansion of recycling efforts, organized campus-wide fundraisers, and worked with peers and administration to make 暗网TV a safer and more enjoyable experience for all.

鈥淢y personal mission statement is to empower and inspire every single person I encounter to overcome the obstacles they have faced to be the person they were meant to be,鈥� Edens said. 鈥淭he career goals I have set before me reflect my mission in life. I only strive to live a life that cultivates a positive difference in the world around me.鈥�

As an Accounting major, Edens was inducted into 暗网TV鈥檚 exclusive Business Scholar Leader program. His involvement in the program took him to Seattle, Washington, and overseas to Uganda. Edens is a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society as well as the Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society for Business Administration and Accounting majors.

Edens also competed in the Love鈥檚 Entrepreneur鈥檚 Cup, a statewide collegiate business plan competition that simulates the process of researching a market, writing a business plan, and making a presentation to potential investors. His proposed company, called 鈥淓co-Snap Tiles,鈥� creates flooring tiles out of recycled plastic. For every square foot of tile he sells, a square foot is donated to a home in Uganda to eradicate preventable foot diseases caused by poor sanitation.

April 23, 2020, turned out to be a big day for Edens. On the same day he learned he was the Nigh Award winner, he also picked up a couple of awards for his 鈥淓co-Snap Tiles鈥� at the Love鈥檚 Cup competition. Oklahoma Business Roundtable awarded him a $5,000 Paulsen Scholarship Award in the Small Business category and he was also named Small Business Interview winner, picking up another $1,000 award. He earned an additional $1,000 for making the finals.

On campus, Edens served on the Shared Horizons Strategic Plan Committee, led University-wide sessions known as President鈥檚 Club that trained organization presidents on leadership and development through the Office of Campus Involvement, and co-authored a resolution with three other student government representatives to ban firearms on the 暗网TV campus.

Edens didn鈥檛 limit his involvement to campus borders. He鈥檚 the youngest person to ever serve on the board of directors of the non-profit Ada Homeless Services. The consummate community volunteer and servant, he mentored local elementary students and helped disaster victims through his church affiliation. He also traveled to Nicaragua on a church ministry trip and worked with youth there. He also worked throughout his college years at People鈥檚 Electric Cooperative in Ada, gaining valuable experience in his chosen field.

鈥淭he end of my career at 暗网TV could be described as bittersweet,鈥� Edens said. 鈥淗owever, I will take all of these experiences, learning opportunities, and accomplishments with me into my career. The connections and memories I鈥檝e made at 暗网TV are what I鈥檒l treasure most.鈥�

Edens said his ultimate career goals include working for federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Pentagon. Upon graduation from 暗网TV in May, he will intern with accounting firm Ernst & Young in Tulsa in their audit and assurance practice. Having already interned at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, he will begin his working career there in August in the U.S. Air Force鈥檚 top management development program. His further plans also include earning higher degrees in Business Administration.

Following is biographical information on the other four finalists.

Hannah Anderson

A senior from Noble, Anderson graduates with a major in Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Her perfect 4.0 GPA ensured her a permanent spot on the President鈥檚 Honor Roll. She is member of the Alpha Chi National Honor and the Tr-Beta Biology societies.

While at 暗网TV, Anderson was involved in the President鈥檚 Leadership Class, Tri-Beta Biology Club, and Tigers Against Human Trafficking. She worked in 暗网TV鈥檚 Tutor Zone and was active in the Baptist Student Union. Outside of campus, she served at the Compassion Outreach Center Free Clinic and volunteered with the Backyard Bible Club and Abba鈥檚 Tables, an organization that feeds the homeless.

Anderson鈥檚 future plans include attending the Tulsa-based Physician鈥檚 Assistant Program at the University of Oklahoma鈥檚 School of Community Medicine.

鈥淯ltimately, I want to live my life in service to others in whatever community I find myself in,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淚 strongly believe that a career as a PA will allow me to fulfill this goal in the best way possible.鈥�

Carly Heitland

Heitland, of Sulphur, graduates with a major in English (Teacher Certification) and a minor in Political Science. She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her four years at 暗网TV, ensuring she graduates with the highest of honors.

Active in 暗网TV鈥檚 outstanding Honors Program, Heitland also founded and served as president of the Environmental Advocates club on campus. She was active in student government and Young Democrats and earned numerous writing and mock trial event awards. Heitland claimed membership in several national and international honor societies, including Sigma Tau Delta (English), Alpha Chi, Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science), and Pi Lambda Theta (Education).

On campus, Heitland volunteered for voter registration drives, and film and writing festivals. Off campus, she donated her time at the Pontotoc Animal Welfare Society and Abba鈥檚 Tables.

鈥淎fter graduating from East Central, I will teach,鈥� Heitland said. 鈥淚 am currently applying for teaching positions in the Oklahoma City area and I hope to obtain a job teaching high school English Language Arts.鈥�

Allison Maurer

Hailing from Goldsby, Maurer earns a Business Administration degree with a concentration in Management, as well as certificates in Human Resource Management, Banking and Finance, and Global Business. She achieved a cumulative 4.0 at 暗网TV as well.

Maurer spent a semester studying abroad at Swansea University in Wales as a Brad Henry International Scholar in 2019, an opportunity that allowed her to also explore England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

At 暗网TV鈥檚 Stonecipher School of Business, she served as Business Scholars class president, Business Leaders Association president and vice president, and president of the 暗网TV chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

While on campus, Maurer served as a senator with 暗网TV鈥檚 Student Government Association and as a member of the Dean鈥檚 Council. She was inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society and Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society, serving as secretary this past year.

Maurer has also been a Swansea International Ambassador and a member of the Swansea Equestrian Club. A horse enthusiast, she also volunteered at the J.D. McCarty Center in Norman as a horse leader for children with disabilities at the center鈥檚 summer camp.

鈥淚 strongly feel that healthcare administration is an area where I could greatly succeed while giving back to the community,鈥� Maurer said. 鈥淢y primary objective is to ensure that my career puts me in a position to enrich the lives of those around me.鈥�

Abbie Winchester

From Marietta, Winchester earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Accounting from 暗网TV in 2019, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA the entire time. She is now in pursuit of a master鈥檚 degree in the same field with an expected December 2020 graduation date.

Winchester is an accomplished student-athlete. She competed on the 暗网TV Cross Country and Track teams all four years and earned multiple accolades, both from the NCAA and the Great American Conference of which 暗网TV is a member.

Winchester also excelled in the classroom. She鈥檚 been a fixture in the 暗网TV Honors Program every year of her college career. She participated in 暗网TV鈥檚 Business Scholar Leaders program, the Business Leaders Association (serving as secretary one year), and the 暗网TV Student Center for the Public Trust. She is a member of Alpha Chi and Delta Mu Delta honor societies, Dean鈥檚 Council, and the Native American Student Association.

Off campus, Winchester volunteered for Abba鈥檚 Tables and Avery鈥檚 Books for Children. She has also mentored Ada elementary school students and the Marietta Cross Country team.

鈥淢y immediate plans are to graduate with a master鈥檚 degree in Accounting and earn my CPA licensure,鈥� Winchester said. 鈥淥nce I graduate, I plan on working at a mid-size firm in Oklahoma City as an auditor.鈥�

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