Dr. Cindy Ross: The Wakita Effect - OKIE Magazine

Paint the Town Black and Gold
Cameron Aggie Spirit & Pride on the Rise
By Anika La Shawn Sa
Sta Writer
Paint the Town Black and Gold is a student-led
initiative designed to build the
community support of Cameron
University.
“The idea is to further
connect and partner with the
Lawton-Fort Sill community,”
said Zeak Naifeh, Director of
Student Activities at Cameron
University. “We have over 100
businesses that
support Cameron.”
The concept of
Paint the Town
began as an idea of
the Student
Government
Association in the
Spring semester of
2008. Once a week
a group of students
are sent out into the
community to
introduce Cameron
University and
welcome all new
businesses in the
Lawton-Fort Sill area. The students take welcome packets
to new businesses, and after the initial contact they
Dr. Cindy Ross ...continued from page 7
blessed to have the opportunity to lead. “The students
at Cameron can experience quality academics and a full
collegiate experience,” she says … a true statement that
Dr. Ross has earned the right to promote.
Ironically, she doesn’t consider herself a visionary,
yet developed the rst campus master plan in over 20
years, and her strategic plan involves making Cameron
University the “University of Choice” for Southwest
Oklahoma. She’s well on her way.
With the passion that she has for Cameron
University, and her commitment to its success, it is easy
to imagine Dr. Ross standing on the balcony of the new
McMahon Centennial Complex, looking out across
campus, and wondering what Cameron will look like in
another 50 to 60 years.
And it’s possible that C. Vernon Howell will be
standing there with her…smiling.
follow-up with the business owners.
“Our first customer or client was the Lawton-Fort Sill
Chamber of Commerce. When we welcome businesses
we’re asking for
support and
recognition. We
don’t ask for
donations, we’re
not fund raising…
we’re friend
raising.” Naifeh
said. “It’s about
networking with the
Lawton-Fort Sill community, and
based on interactions and feedback,
many businesses are supportive.”
Naifeh has been Director of
Student Activities at Cameron for five
years, and during its run, Paint the
Town Black and Gold has been very
successful. He said, “Many
businesses are willing to help out
and get involved. For a community of
100,000 people, Lawton-Fort Sill is a
tight knit community.”
Students spend the time
networking and affiliating new
businesses with Cameron University.
The main student organization involved in Paint the Town
Black and Gold is the Student Government Association,
other groups involved are Programming Activities Council,
Student Housing Association, and Presidents Leaders
University Scholars.
The primary goals of Paint the Town Black and Gold
are: to increase the visibility of Cameron University in our
community; to encourage and enhance support of and
involvement in activities at Cameron University; and to
Promote Aggie spirit among faculty, staff, students,
alumni, and the Lawton-Fort Sill community. They have
definitely reached their goals, and then some. Paint the
Town Black and Gold has helped Cameron University
become more visible, and has growing support from
Lawton-Fort Sill and the surrounding communities.
To show your Aggie pride, and become a supporter of
Paint the Town Black and Gold contact:
Zeak Naifeh, Director of Student Activities
Cameron University
2800 W. Gore Boulevard, Lawton, OK 73505
(580) 581-2217 znaifeh@cameron.edu
www.cameron.edu/paintthetown
Page 8 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE