Sixteen OU seniors were selected as outstanding senior award recipients for their achievements in leadership, service, honors, scholarship and awards.
According to a Friday press release, Kyle Eskew of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences was awarded the overall outstanding senior by a committee of OU faculty, staff and students.
Eskew told OU Daily he succeeded by doing what he was passionate about during his time as an undergraduate student.
“It was the string of different communities that I got in with and really just found enjoyment in, and, for one reason or another, got recognized a good number of times where I accomplished in them (but) that was never really the goal,” Eskew said. “I kind of just enjoyed what I was doing along the way.”
Students across 15 colleges were selected to receive the award. From there, the students go to a university committee that selects the overall outstanding senior of the group.
Eskew is the first senior awarded overall outstanding senior from the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, which he said is a big deal for the college.
“Our academic programs committee selected the overall outstanding senior (from) the College (of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences) … and then from these, they selected the overall outstanding senior, which happened to be me this year,” Eskew said. “Which is exciting for our college because I was the first person ever from the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences to get it.”
The other recipients of the outstanding senior award include:
Taylor Fleming from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture.
Syed Aslam from Norman, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences.
William McGovern-Fagg from Norman, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences.
Jillienne Connell from Grapevine, Texas, Michael F. Price College of Business.
Braeden Moreland from Elgin, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.
Kenny Kim from Oklahoma City, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education.
Ziyad Asli from Marrakech, Morocco, Gallogly College of Engineering.
Jody Farmer from Maidstone, Vermont, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts.
Juan Dills from Oklahoma City, Honors College.
Mary Sofia Torres Mendez from Bogotá, Colombia, David L. Boren College of International Studies.
Douglas Farley III from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, College of Professional and Continuing Studies.
Haleigh Hurst from Decatur, Texas, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Kaylee Wimberley from Ponca City, College of Allied Health.
Aaron Hui from Edmond, College of Dentistry.
Caitlin Newton from Anadarko, Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing.
Eskew currently serves as Crimson Club chair and is a member of President's Leadership Class. He also participated in various research projects through the National Weather Center and around the country. Eskew said he found success in doing what he loved for himself and in giving back to the university.
“But really it was just about doing what I wanted to do for both … personal goals and, you know, out of my love for the university.”
The recipients were recognized by OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students David Surratt and representatives from OU colleges at a ceremony Friday.
This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Geethika Kollu and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
