NSU Looking for Those Who Make a Difference

TAHLEQUAH -- How often do you have the chance to tell the world about someone who made a difference in your life?

The Northeastern State University Centennial Celebration in 2009 offers the perfect opportunity to share your story, and recognize a member of the faculty, staff or student body who made an impact that benefited you or someone you know.

Nominations are now being taken online for NSUs 100 Centurions, a unique group of individuals who will be formally recognized during NSUs Founders Day activities on Mar. 6, 2009, the official launch of the Centennial Celebration. Recipients of this special award may be living or deceased, and must have a direct connection to Northeastern.

To nominate an NSU Centurion, visit www.nsuok.edu/centennial/ and click the link to the 100 Centurions Nomination form at the bottom of the page. Nominations will be accepted online through Jan. 31, 2009.

We want to recognize those individuals who have made an impact on the lives of our students and community members throughout the past century, said Jerry Cook, director of NSU Community Relations and co-chair of the Founders Day Committee. The legacy of NSUs family extends to every member of the alumni, faculty, staff and students, both past and present. The person who made a difference in an individuals life could have been a professor, a student, a secretary, or a member of the Universitys support team. It may be someone who had an impact on the life of an individual who is no longer living. Were interested in knowing how they affected another person and how it changed that persons life.

Cook added, We expect to learn the stories of many unsung heroes who demonstrated qualities of true leadership during our past century, and to record these stories for those who follow us in the next hundred years.

The word centurion refers to the commander of a century in the Roman army, with century defined as 100 men. The Founders Day committee has adapted the term centurion to indicate someone whose leadership, commitment, and sacrifice while helping others allowed them to command the century, or create the past 100 years of NSU history.

We define these individuals as leaders of our first century, Cook said.

Those who are not able to submit a nomination online may contact Cook for further information at 918-444-2009.

Cook praised the work of Dr. Renée Cambiano and Barbara Fuller, members of the NSU College of Education faculty, who came up with the idea of creating the 100 Centurions award.

The NSU Centennial Countdown began last August with a Community Picnic attended by nearly 800 students, faculty, staff, and community members in the Sen. Herb Rozell Ballroom of the University Center. The official launch of the Centennial Celebration on Founders Day commemorates the 100th anniversary of the purchase of the Cherokee National Female Seminary by the Oklahoma legislature to create Northeastern State Normal School.

The celebration will be marked by special guest speakers, presentations, and the unveiling of the statue of Sequoyah, a tribute to the noted Cherokee diplomat of the 19th century who is also heralded as the creator of the Cherokee syllabary.

For more information about the NSU Centennial Celebration, visit www.nsuok.edu/centennial/.

12/23/2008

Published: 2008-12-23 00:00:00