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Standard of Excellence

Riley Smith the Epitome of OU Experience

When looking to depict the possibilities that come with an ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ education, one need look no further than this year’s graduate and commencement speaker Riley Smith.

The University was in Smith’s DNA from the start, with both parents being OUKS alumni (Tessley Smith ’96 and Kelley Bethell-Smith ’99), along with multiple aunts and uncles. Growing up, she got a taste of the Ottawa Spirit through countless stories told of her family’s glory days and by attending events on campus. Later came tales from her mother’s service on the alumni board and board of trustees.

What ultimately clinched her decision to come to OU wasn’t heritage, however. “While I felt the gravitational pull of family to OU, what I really wanted to experience was a sense of community, and I felt it as soon as I stepped on campus,” Smith recounted.

From the moment she committed to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ as a communications major, Smith determined to get every ounce of value she could from her experience, but also to pour every ounce of effort into her newfound community. “My goal was to leave OU better than I found it,” she said.

As a result, Smith took advantage of all opportunities afforded her to both grow and serve. To start her OU career, she earned the Presidential Scholarship as part of the Top Scholars program, which provided 100% of her tuition all four years. Other four-year endeavors included playing on the OU women’s soccer team; serving in the Student Government Association as president her senior year and formerly as vice president, secretary, and representative; joining Tri Phi Sorority and serving as its president for two years; and singing in concert choir.

In 2023, Smith was inducted into the Sigma Alpha Alpha Honor Society and was president for two years. She was also an orientation leader for three years and a member of the Lamda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society for one year.

As if that weren’t enough to keep her busy, Smith also took advantage of multiple OU traveling opportunities to round out her educational, service and cultural experiences. She went with Beyond Sports to Spain to help with a soccer camp; traveled to Malawi, Africa, on a mission trip; served in a village in Guatemala, Central America; went on an educational trip to Toronto, Canada, with Top Scholars; and through Student Athletes Abroad, will complete an internship in Northern Ireland this summer to help bridge the gap between Protestants and Catholics.

By approaching her academic career with such passion, Smith exhibited the standard of excellence for what a student can gain from and give to their OU experience. And by being involved in such diverse activities, she exemplified what a liberal arts education is all about.

“I honored my whole self and not just pieces of myself by balancing all of my interests,” she explained. “Being in a lot of things required diligence, time management and motivation, but I was so passionate about all the experiences that I was able to have at OU, it was pretty easy to stay driven.”

Smith’s communications professor, Jordie Smith, witnessed that zest for life – and service – firsthand, and couldn’t have been more impressed. “When I consider the impact Riley has had on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, I immediately recall a quotation from Seneca the Younger: ‘Be silent as to the services you have rendered, speak only of the favors you have received.’

“Riley has been a silent servant, working tirelessly without uttering a word of condescension,” said Smith. “In my nearly two decades as an educator, I've not once encountered someone so devoted to her institution and entangled in the care of its people. I can say with every confidence that ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is illuminated by the relentless efforts of Riley Smith.” 

Fortunately for OUKS, Smith will continue her service to her alma mater into the foreseeable future as an admissions recruiter.

“I have been the recipient of a lot of giving from alumni, and I am so thankful for that,” shared Smith. “There’s so much that’s unique and inspired about our university, and if you’re a person who has been lucky enough to experience that, I think it’s only right to give back. I genuinely can’t wait for the opportunity to empower other students to have the same experience that I did.”

Expanding Opportunity:

Finding Purpose Far From Home: Aaron Ruby

When Aaron Ruby made the decision to travel from Birmingham, England to Ottawa, Kansas, he did so with a clear goal: to play football and pursue his education.

Like many students, Aaron arrived with expectations about what his college experience would be.

What he didn’t expect was how much it would change him.

At ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, Aaron quickly found himself part of a community that encouraged him to explore beyond his initial path. Through relationships with faculty, teammates, and mentors, he began to discover new strengths — including a passion for communication and critical thinking.

That journey led him to the OU Debate Team, where he and teammate, Eli Burtrum, defeated Butler University in the Championship Round of the Pi Kappa Delta National Speech and Debate Championships in Springfield, Missouri.

“I have realized that the Lord called me to be here,” Aaron says. “And I have found a home in OU.”

Aaron is pursuing a double major in Psychology and Communications, with plans to open his own counseling and therapy practice. His story is one of growth, discovery, and transformation — made possible by the opportunities he found at OU.

Building the Future of Healthcare — One Learner at a Time

At ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, high academic ambitions are more than a goal — they are a commitment to preparing students to lead, serve, and make a difference in their professions and communities.

That commitment is already taking shape through the University’s new Physician Assistant Program at the Overland Park campus.

Launching a new graduate-level healthcare program is no small undertaking. It requires vision, determination, collaboration, and a willingness to grow together through every challenge and success. According to Program Director Susan Salahshor, perseverance and persistence have become defining characteristics of both the faculty and the learners during the program’s earliest stages.

“As with any new program, there have been growing pains,” Salahshor shared. “But the transparency and collaboration between faculty and learners has been one of the most beneficial parts of the process.”

That spirit of partnership has helped establish a strong foundation for the program’s future. Students have embraced the high expectations placed before them, understanding both the rigor of the profession and the responsibility that comes with caring for others.

Support from University leadership has also played an important role in the program’s growth. Dr. Kevin Maret, President of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s Professional and Online Campuses, praised the commitment and vision of the program’s leadership and faculty.

“Dr. Salahshor, the PA faculty, and staff are focused on providing the highest quality of education to the learners,” Maret said. “They continue to raise the bar for learners as they prepare them for the clinical year.”

Maret also noted the immediate impact the learners themselves have already made on campus life.

“We are so excited to have the PA learners on site,” he said. “The energy and focus they bring to campus is contagious.”

Just as important has been the support from donors and friends of the University who believed in the vision of the program from the very beginning.

“Thank you to those donors and friends of the University who invested in us from the start,” Salahshor said, “and who continue to share their encouragement and interest as the program moves forward.”

As the Physician Assistant Program continues to grow, it stands as another example of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s ongoing investment in academic excellence, innovation, and preparing students to meet critical needs in today’s world — forever more.

From Sierra Leone to Surprise: Elevating the Student Experience Through Partnership

For Joseph George, the journey to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arizona began thousands of miles away in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa.

After graduating high school, Joseph and several friends began searching for universities that would challenge them academically while also supporting their faith. Joseph knew he wanted to pursue engineering, but he was equally determined to find a smaller, Christian-based university where he could grow personally as well as professionally.

Through family connections, he discovered OUAZ.

“I was looking for a place where I could study engineering and also feel connected spiritually,” Joseph said. “OUAZ gave me both.”

Like many students arriving far from home, Joseph initially faced challenges adjusting to campus life. Without being part of an athletic team, finding community and building friendships did not always come easily. But over time, he immersed himself in student life and began creating meaningful connections across campus.

Joseph became a Resident Assistant in the residence halls, served as a Worship Leader for Spirit Life, and was eventually elected Student Body Vice President — roles that helped shape both his leadership skills and his sense of belonging at OUAZ.

His experience in the classroom also opened doors beyond campus.

As part of his engineering degree requirements, Professor Jack McMorris helped Joseph secure an internship with the City of Surprise — a partnership made possible through the growing relationship between the university and the city.

That internship would become a defining part of Joseph’s student experience.

Tasked with developing and completing a project from concept to completion, Joseph selected the improvement of Partnership Plaza — the shared greenspace located between the OUAZ residence halls and Surprise city offices.

The project focused on creating a more engaging outdoor environment for both students and city employees. Joseph’s plan included the addition of recreational features such as cornhole boards, outdoor ping pong tables, and picnic areas, while also addressing the technical engineering considerations behind the project, including land grading, slope calculations, drainage planning, and equipment anchoring.

“It wasn’t just designing something on paper,” Joseph said. “I had to think through every detail and make sure the project would function well long-term.”

Upon completing the project, Joseph received both a Certificate of Completion and a formal Letter of Acknowledgement from the city — recognition of the quality of his work and professionalism.

More importantly, the experience helped launch his career.

After graduating from OUAZ in May 2025 with an engineering degree, Joseph was hired by the City of Surprise as a Development Services Assistant, where he now contributes to projects throughout the community.

Joseph credits the internship opportunity and the partnership between OUAZ and the city as instrumental in helping him transition from student to professional.

“The internship gave me real-world experience that prepared me for employment after graduation,” he said. “It helped me build confidence and showed me what it means to work on projects that impact people.”

Looking ahead, Joseph hopes to one day launch his own engineering firm — one focused not only on quality work, but on mentoring and creating opportunities for recent graduates entering the profession.

“My goal is to help young engineering graduates gain the experience they need to succeed,” he said. “I want to create opportunities for others the same way opportunities were created for me.”

Stories like Joseph’s reflect the heart of the OU Forever More campaign’s third pillar: Elevating the Student Experience.

Through donor support and community partnerships, OUAZ students are gaining opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom — opportunities to lead, serve, build relationships, and launch meaningful careers.

For Joseph George, that experience helped turn a student from Sierra Leone into a young professional already making an impact in the city he now calls home.