Three with SE/Durant ties graduate from Leadership Oklahoma
Press Release Date: 05-04-2010
Kyle Stafford, Michele Claxton, and Greg Phillips recently graduated from Leadership Oklahoma.
DURANT, Okla. – Three individuals with ties to Southeastern Oklahoma State University/Durant – Greg Phillips, Michele Claxton, and Kyle Stafford – are recent graduates of the Leadership Oklahoma Class XXIII.
Phillips is a Durant insurance agent; Claxton, a Southeastern graduate, is executive assistant to SE president Larry Minks; and Stafford, also a SE graduate, is executive director of university advancement at his alma mater.
This year's Leadership Oklahoma class was recognized at a luncheon on May 1 at the Museum of the Red River in Idabel.
"Leadership Oklahoma is a highly-respected program that has been of great benefit over many, many years," Minks said. "It speaks well for Durant and the University that three individuals were chosen to participate from this area."
The primary focus of Leadership Oklahoma is its annual educational, issues-oriented ten-month class program. Monthly two-day sessions are held in various communities throughout the state.
Participants were recognized for their completion of the program, which involved educational programming in nine locations across the state of Oklahoma from September 2009 through May 2010. Those included:
Orientation – St. Crispin's: Seminole/Wewoka
Military Issues – Lawton
Tribal Government and Transportation – Tahlequah/Muskogee
Criminal Justice – McAlester
State Government and Human Services – Oklahoma City
Health Care and Economic Development – Tulsa
Education and Energy – Pawhuska/Bartlesville
Agriculture and Immigration – Guymon
Environment and Graduation – Broken Bow
Each year, some 50 Oklahoma leaders who represent a wide geographic base and who have diverse backgrounds and vocations are selected to participate in Leadership Oklahoma. Each class is exposed to the many social and environmental complexities of the state in order to stimulate inquiry, analysis and independent development of solutions for the public good.
Class members meet and talk with Oklahoma's current leaders and explore the state's opportunities, needs, issues and resources. Based on the interaction and respect developed during the class year, a living network is formed – a network capable of identifying, evaluating and implementing projects of value to the people of Oklahoma.