Name: Mrs. Michelle L. Stephens - Oklahoma Christian University

newsFor more on these and other stories, go to news.oc.edu. To receive regular news updates by email,call the Office of Alumni Relations at (405) 425-5120 or email angela.morton@oc.edu to be addedto the AlumNews email list.OC DEDICATES NEW STUDENT HOUSINGDuring a December ceremony, OklahomaChristian officially dedicated theUniversity Houses, two state-of-the-art newresidence halls on the west side of campus.“We’re extremely proud of our newstudent housing,” OC President Mike E.O’Neal said. “Oklahoma Christian hasalways provided its students a rich learningenvironment, but these new facilitiesincorporate state-of-the-art features andcompete with the very best student housingnationwide.”The University Houses, part of theschool’s $34 million housing constructionand remodeling project, provide 98 newbeds for sophomore women and 108 newbeds for sophomore men in separate facilities.Students have been living in the hallssince the beginning of fall classes.The residence halls are three stories andhave both single and double suite-stylerooms, private bathrooms in each suite anda common living area. The first floor ofeach residence hall has a fitness center. Thesecond and third floors of each residencehall have a private TV lounge. There arelaundry facilities on all three floors of eachresidence hall. A new central mechanicalplant enables heating and cooling controlin individual rooms.Each room in these “smart residences”has wired and wireless access to the universitynetwork, email and the Internet.Even the new laundry facilities are “smartsystems,” with a new feature called LaundryView.This feature enables the washersand dryers to email students over thecampus WiFi Network when their cycle isfinished or when a machine is available.The new halls are further enhanced bythe three-story University Commons. Thisfacility provides a grand lobby area to hostschool functions, a student activity area, afood service area, private and group studyrooms, meditation/prayer rooms, and aguest room.The commons facility also includes a40-seat seminar room with state-of-the-artaudio, video, Internet and presentation capabilities.Faculty members can host classesand study sessions, and the university plansto host conferences in the new facilitybeginning this summer.Another new student apartment complexunder construction across campus will beavailable to students next fall. Ultimately,the combined housing projects will increaseOC’s on-campus capacity by 593 beds.BOND SALE FINANCES HOUSING INITIATIVEIn January, Oklahoma Christian successfullycompleted the sale of a $14.1 milliontax-exempt bond issue.Funds from the sale were used to financeconstruction of the university’s new UniversityHouses and to remodel two otherresidence halls.“The successful issuance of these bondsis a very significant event in the future ofOklahoma Christian University,” OC presidentDr. Mike O’Neal said. “We are nowproviding our students with quality housingthat is competitive with any other university.This will help accommodate our excitinggrowth of the past two years and make useven more attractive to future students.”Jeff Bingham, OC’s chief financial officer,said the ability to issue tax-exemptdebt for this type of project saved significantmoney and enabled the university tocomplete the housing project much morequickly.OC ROLLS OUT ‘RED CARPET’ FOR TEENSHigh school juniors and seniors, youthgroups, and parents were treated to a “RedCarpet” weekend earlier this month for theannual Spring Visit and Spring Sing events.Spring Visit shows all Oklahoma Christianhas to offer. Prospective students havethe chance to meet current students andprofessors, test or audition for scholarships,and see the sights in the OklahomaCity metro area.OC LAUNCHES JUNIOR SCHOLARS PROGRAMOklahoma Christian University willsponsor a two-week overseas study programfor current high school juniors thissummer.JuniorScholarsExperienceThe “Junior Scholars Experience,”scheduled for June 17 through July 2, willprovide students unique learning opportunitiesin Athens, Greece, and Rome.The readings, discussions, devotionals andtours link course content with internationalexperience to create a dynamic learningenvironment.The program is led by OC professorsand features the course, “Western Thoughtand Expression Through the Renaissance.”Participating students have the chance toform lasting friendships with other juniorscholars while earning four hours of creditthat may be transferable to the college oruniversity of their choice.Enrollment is limited to 15 students whohave a score of 28+ on the ACT and whohave completed applications for admissionto Oklahoma Christian and to OC’s HonorsProgram.The cost of $2,950 per person includesfour hours of tuition, airfare, room andboard (two meals per day), entrance feesand tours. For an application or for moreinformation, call (800) 877-5010 or (405)425-5050.ANNUAL LECTURESHIP FOCUSES ON PHILIPPIANSOklahoma Christian hosted its 56th annualBible Lectureship in January.With the theme “Progress and Joy inChrist – God’s Power for Living in Philippians,”the event attracted more than 1,000preachers, elders and other church leadersfrom the region.Noted speakers included Dr. HaroldHazelip, chancellor of Lipscomb University,Dr. Harold Redd, minister at MidtownChurch of Christ in Memphis, and Dr.Jerry Jones, leader of the popular MarriageMatters seminars.SERVANT LEADERS HONORED AT LECTURESHIPA special feature of this year’s lectureshipwas the presentation of the 2006Christian Servant Awards, presented to VISION SPRING 2006 Transforming lives for Christian faith, leadership, and service.