Senate District 37 candidate Brian O'Hara speaks at community forum

Brian O'Hara, a Republican candidate for Senate District 37, spoke at the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at Tulsa Technology Center Monday morning in Sand Springs.

The following is a transcript of his opening remarks. Candidates were given a five-minute time limit, followed by a question and answer session.

"It's fantastic to be here, and what's even more fantastic is the fact that my wife and I have been married 34 years (points to McAtee and Nollan), 36 years, 35 years. That says a lot about the candidates that you have running for this office. 

There are certain people that when they run for office, they're a part of your community. I have been incredibly blessed to have been a part of your community. That's why I decided to run. Like Phil and others, I've had the opportunity to hear what you guys have to say. Not only on the doorstep, not just for the last two or three months, but for the last five years.

Working for Congressman Bridenstine, I've had to hear your concerns. I've had to listen. It's a privilege to know what you guys are talking about. Yes, education clearly is the first and foremost thing on most of your minds.

I want to set your minds at ease right now. I know people ask me, and they often ask me because they know where the congressman stands, 'where do you stand on education?' Well let me explain to you. I have five children, all five of them went to public school. My last just graduated from Jenks. I've had six exchange students come into my home. All six of them went to public school.

I was a PTA president. My wife has been a part of the PTA as well. My mother taught, my brothers teach - one has passed away - so I have a real desire to work on education. My youngest son's going to go to UCO and what he wants to do is be a teacher. Again, I have a vested interest because I don't want him coming home.

I say all this to say this. Congressman Bridenstine, and some of you may know this, does support vouchers. I met with a very conservative group, and I knew where they stood on vouchers. And they asked me point blank, where do you stand on vouchers? I said I don't support them, and I explained why.

One, the money. Two; when you allow City government, State government, Federal government to come into your classrooms, whether it be home schooling or private school, then you have the ability to have those entities tell you how to educate your children. And most of you are sending your children to private school or home schooling because you don't want that.

The budget is the second thing I hear on the doorstep, and you hear often. I've been saying this for two and a half years. The budget needs to be our priority. I owned a business, I owned a couple of Subways before I came to work for the congressman. It is ludicrous for us to consider the last two weeks of the session what we're supposed to do in the beginning of the session.

As a businessman, if I wanted to say my subway sandwiches, this is what I need to sell, at the end of the month rather than the beginning of the month, I would have gone broke. So I understand how important that is.

I was a City Councilman in Jenks. Look, Elizabeth (Grey) will tell you, we need to find a way to help fund them. The safety districts is something I will support. And what that does is give you the opportunity to decide what you want your money to go to.

Going back to education, one of the things I'd like to start seeing us do on education is to allow you, the individual voters, the people in the school districts to decide. We have an antiquated system that's thirty years old on how we fund schools. We need to look at that. We need to give off-the-top dollars, your dollars. Only about 78% of the money you use, you pay in taxes, actually goes to your school district. We have to change that. We have to allow you guys to decide where you want your money to go. So I would advocate that we change the funding to allow you guys to have your schools in better shape.

There are a lot of other things going on. Those are just three areas where I think I can be of benefit to you. But the main thing is, Phil said it, is relationships. I've built relationships over the past five years. With each and every one of you. I've come to your events. I've come to Chillin' and Grillin'. I've come to Boo On Broadway and I've had the opportunity to meet you individually, so I know who you are. I know where you stand on the issues. Now also note, that unless we build relationships what we do at the Capitol won't matter. 

So I'm asking for your support. The Republic primary is September twelfth. I would love for your vote. My cards are out there, my personal cell phone is on them. Any questions you have, I'll answer. And sometime's it's not going to be the answer you want, but it'll be an honest answer, it'll be a truthful answer, and I appreciate your support."

Senate District 37 candidate Phil Nollan speaks at community forum

Phil Nollan, a Republican candidate for Senate District 37, spoke at the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at Tulsa Technology Center Monday morning in Sand Springs.

The following is a transcript of his opening remarks. Candidates were given a five-minute time limit, followed by a question and answer session.

"I'm used to being the guy in the background, doing the research. I know a lot of you out here in the audience already, and you know our background as a family. Maybe you don't know that I grew up in Tulsa and went to Tulsa Public Schools. I graduated and went to Oklahoma State University where I met my lovely, and through some miracle - I'm not sure how - I managed to talk her into marrying me, and we've been married thirty-six years ourselves. 

What was neat about that is, she brought me back to Sand Springs at a home football game when John Blake was still playing football. When Barry Switzer was recruiting him I saw him in a big fur coat down on the sidelines. But what was neat about that was the home town feel that we had here in Sand Springs, in the stadium. When Jadine walked around, she knew everybody. That's something I didn't get in Tulsa. I said, 'Jadine, when we get married I want to move back to Sand Springs and I want to raise our kids here.' That's what we've done. 

We have three kids, two grandkids, and we're blessed to have our two grandkids living close to us. I love being a papa, it means more to me than anything else.

Now a bit more about me and my career. I got a computer science degree at OSU when computer science was not the cool thing to get. I went to work for the oil and gas industry. I've been in the industry about thirty-five years as an information technology professional.

I'm a nationally-certified project manager. I think during my process of my early years I learned how to manage projects and programs, I learned how to lead teams, learned how to work on big IT budgets, learned how to deliver things as promised - on time and under budget. 

My recent employment with EMC, I had to work with Fortune 100 customers like Chesapeake, Devon, Williams, Conoco, Phillips 66, OU, OSU, and a lot of companies here in Oklahoma. What I found in working with those companies is, they had big demands like I know this job has. Like I know the job that my wife has to do. Meeting those demands is not going to be easy, but you've got to keep your word. You've got to keep your promises, and you have to do the best you can do to make it happen.

You've got to develop relationships with people in the organization. You've got to develop relationships with the people up in the House, and in the Senate. You have to develop relationships in the business community and in the school community. I think that's maybe an advantage that I have a little bit at least in the Sand Springs and West Tulsa and Berryhill area, because I've knocked on a lot of the doors that Jadine's knocked on. I've heard the concerns of the people at the door.

The number one polling issue is education and education funding. That is the number-one polling. What's number two? The State budget. How do we fix the State budget. Then public safety and health follow that.

Those are the big issues, and they're glaring everybody in the face. Everybody has answers to them. There's a lot of opinions on both sides of the aisle. There's even opinions within the caucus itself, and that kind of fragmented everybody to try to come up with a solution this past year which we didn't come up with too many good solutions this past year.

My wife and I, we've served all our lives in the community. We enjoy serving. We're at a stage in life now where our kids are grown up. This is something that I could do full time. I could be your State Senator full time.

I have a personal passion for education. My wife was on the school board for eleven years. I worked closely with her behind the scenes doing research and working with the schools. Heck, I was on the committee that helped build the stadium that we have now after fifty-seven years of the rock stadium that we had before. What a great project that was for Sand Springs. Our new stadium that we have and the track out there and our fine arts center. Those are some of the things that we've done.

We've got a lot of good things happening in Sand Springs in our community business-wise with the Vision 2025 corridor, our parks, our quality of life projects have really stepped up. We've had a lot of new things.

I want to take that excitement and that energy to the State Capitol. I want to say there are a lot of great things we can do, all we have to do is get together. We've got to come together, we have to stop this bickering between the aisles. And really, the Republican caucus is so big, there's bickering within the caucus itself. Those don't all work good together.

I'm just excited to be here. This is so much fun. I've been on the sidelines for seven years and I've wanted to get in the game. Coach, call me in! And I haven't had a chance. This is an opportunity and I'd appreciate your vote on September twelfth."

Senate District 37 candidate Nicole Nixon speaks at community forum

Nicole Nixon, a Republican candidate for Senate District 37, spoke at the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at Tulsa Technology Center Monday morning in Sand Springs.

The following is a transcript of her opening remarks. Candidates were given a five-minute time limit, followed by a question and answer session.

"My name is Nicole Nixon. I'm a mom. I live in Southwest Tulsa.

Three of my community schools were consolidated. The schools that were consolidated; they'll have you believe that it was because we have low enrollment numbers. They'll have you believe that we have too many schools out there and we're spending too much money on them. The truth is, the more that I dug into this, the more their numbers were skewed, and the more none of this made sense. 

I was told that they were going to consolidate North Tulsa schools but because of the Betty Shelby case, that they didn't want to have a riot on their hands. So they attacked Southwest Tulsa. 

As far as the funding, Tulsa Public Schools is the second largest school district in Oklahoma. Tulsa Public Schools is not properly utilizing their funding. And the second-largest school district in the state not properly utilizing their funding is sending a message to the legislature that none of the public schools are adequately utilizing their funding. It makes all of us look bad. And when they stand their and they point their finger at the legislature, half of the reason that they have problems is because they put themselves in that. It's not acceptable. 

I used to be a metal salesman. I worked in the steel industry. I am familiar with hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toed boots. I worked with tons of manufacturing businesses: aerospace, defense. I have the ability to negotiate.

I want to have a voice when it comes to my children's education. I want all of us to have a voice when it comes to our community and what is going on in our legislature. It's not acceptable what they're doing.

We have leaders that are not being leaders. A good leader makes more leaders. They have tried to blame it on the freshman legislators. But when in actuality, they haven't reached out and tried to help them learn or pulled them on the team. They've been using them as pawns. 

I decided to run because I'm tired of it, as most of us are. As far as job growth and our economy, education comes number one. We have a great education, we attract businesses, we have a well-educated workforce.

Some of you may have seen me on the news. I was down in Oklahoma City at the Capitol, fighting for our schools. If you visit my website, there's media links to all the reports of me standing up and fighting. Tonight I'll be at the Tulsa Public Schools Board meeting, like I am at most of those board meetings.

Without a presence by the parents and the people, we have no chance of making government accountable to the people. We've got to step up, join our PTAs. You don't have to have a student that goes to school there to join. We have to make a bigger presence. 

As far as bringing more voter awareness, I think the key to that is having a solid election day every year. From school board all the way up, we need to create a culture where people know 'today is voting day and I'm gonna go vote for this candidate, but I know there's going to be a whole bunch of other names on that list and I don't want to get it wrong.' We need to have them looking at our school board members. We need to have them showing up. We've all got to do this together.

I humbly ask for your vote. Give me a voice. I just want to be able to help my children and your children and our state. I want to have the opportunity to get in there and find out what is going on and start fixing the root of our problems rather than treating symptoms."

 

 

 

Senate District 37 candidate R. Jay McAtee speaks at community forum

R. Jay McAtee, a Republican candidate for Senate District 37, spoke at the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at Tulsa Technology Center Monday morning in Sand Springs.

The following is a transcript of his opening remarks. Candidates were given a five-minute time limit, followed by a question and answer session.

"My name is R. Jay McAtee. Today's my anniversary, I've been married to my wife thirty-five years today. I love you dear.

I'm a lawyer in Tulsa and a judge here in Sand Springs. I've been a municipal judge for fifteen years, it's taught me a lot. I've represented businesses and families for thirty-five years. I represent workers' compensation businesses and insurance companies, defending workers' compensation claims. 

I've been living in South Sand Springs (Prattville) since 1990. I live on Overholt Drive off 51st Street. Raised my two kids there, my wife and I did. We call Sand Springs home. I attend First Presbyterian Church, I'm a Clerk of Session there. I've been attending First Pres for sixteen-seventeen years. That's my church home.

That's who I am. Now why am I running for State Senate District 37? It's not for the money. I don't need it. I'm a successful attorney, I've got a good practice. My wife asked me 'why are we doing this?' I told her because I'm fed up of forty-eighth or worse. It's time I give something back to this state, and I think I've got the ability to do that. 

Just yesterday, what was in the Tulsa World? 'Deep-pocketed non-profits use dark money to sway Oklahoma elections.' Oklahoma is controlled by special interests. That's not right. We need to take Oklahoma back. We need to give it back to the citizens of Oklahoma. And I don't intend to let special interests dictate my vote. I truly believe that special interests have caused Oklahoma's problems.

The legislature needs to take the budget and make it their number one item on day one, February 8-9, 2018 and they need to not attend to any other business until that budget is addressed. Folks, you can't cut forever. I'm a businessman. You cannot cut down to the bone. If you get to the bone, you're done. So we have got to figure out how to meet Oklahoma's budgetary needs.

Gross production tax - yes I made the oil industry mad at me last week when I went in front of the State Chamber's lobbyists and I said this. First thing out of their mouth was 'where do you stand on gross production tax?' Well folks, the reality of it is, the horizontal drilling is robbing us. That horizontal gross production tax is for the first three years. You know what they get in the first three years? They get all that they're gonna get out of that well. 

The vertical drillers are paying 7%. They're getting robbed. And we're getting robbed by out-of-state interests - big oil - and it's time for them to step up and help fix Oklahoma.

We can't pay our teachers until we figure out how to do the budget. I am absolutely in favor of paying teachers. My mother taught in Laverne, Oklahoma, out in the panhandle thirty-plus years. She had her Master's in English. I believe in teachers. It's a profession just like lawyers, just like anything else. There's good, there's bad, there's mediocre, and there's excellent. I think teachers generally are excellent, because they're responding to a calling, and we need to support them.

We need to support roads and bridges, we need to do a lot of things, but none of it's going to happen until we have bold leadership that's ready to step up at the Capitol and say 'no, we are going to stop the special interests from dictating to Oklahoma what Oklahoma needs.' 

I hope I get your vote. We have a lot of good candidates running against me. It's gonna be a fun race."

Senate District 37 candidate Rick Hardesty speaks at community forum

Rick Hardesty, a Republican candidate for Senate District 37, spoke at the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at Tulsa Technology Center Monday morning in Sand Springs.

The following is a transcript of his opening remarks. Candidates were given a five-minute time limit, followed by a question and answer session.

"What I'm hearing is, we need to get our schools better funding. We need to get more money into our education system. To me that makes sense as a small business owner in needing to have a viable workforce and things like that...The reason I started running, the main reason, was I sat and watched...and they have practically closed every school over there and it kind of got me angry.

Normally I'm not that politically involved, but after seeing all this going on I decided that our legislators that we currently have in Oklahoma City aren't really doing the job that they're supposed to be doing. That's looking out for the best interests of our state, not just a few corporate entities. 

The reason I think I can do a fairly good job over there is that I also do real estate, and in real estate we negotiate stuff every day. That's what real estate is. If I take a contract with a customer to sell their house or sell their business, I'm gonna get them the exact highest price we can get. And vice-versa. If I'm working with a buyer, I'm going to get them a property as cheap as I can. So every day, we're negotiating and I'm good at it. 

It's gonna take the citizens in the community to get together with public forums and let them know exactly how you feel.

We have over 75 different business tax incentives in Oklahoma in the name of promoting new business. They're not working. Very few of them give us a return on our investment and that's by their own studies. We have a tax incentive commission and they randomly pick different ones. And of the last report they did, ten out of the eleven that they did had a negative impact on our state. The businesses that are taking advantage of the tax incentives are the larger corporate people who are trying to hit a home run. 

I think that we had the opportunity to get our horizontal well drilling credit back to 7% and we missed out on it. In Oklahoma they've been paying 1%. Now it's 2%, which is far below the national average. If they go to Texas they're going to pay 11-13%. If they go to North Dakota they're going to pay 13%. In Oklahoma they pay 2%. I think it's time to do away with that. That was set up in times for if oil prices dropped below $15 per barrel. That's costing us hundreds of millions of dollars a year that could go toward other things. 

In all the surveys that are taken to attract businesses into Oklahoma, good education system was the number one answer to attract corporations and companies to start businesses in Oklahoma. It's not tax incentives. We need to get our priorities straight, put money back where it matters. That's my goal."

Word of Life church paints, cleans up Limestone Elementary

Photo courtesy of Micah Felts.

More than eighty members of Word of Life church in Sand Springs turned out for a work day at Limestone Technology Academy Sunday afternoon.

The event was the first of many service days the church will be hosting at local public schools. After four years of hosting a free community carnival, the church decided to focus on a series of projects to help the community rather than one big event.

Workers spent several hours after church painting the gymnasium, cafeteria, and other rooms, as well as cleaning up and improving the school's landscaping.

The first day of school for Sand Springs students will be Tuesday, August 22nd.

Word of Life is located at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave. and is pastored by Chad Stewart. The church has been meeting in Sand Springs since 1981. Click here to visit their website.

Great Raft Race adds Sand Sculpture Contest, rental crafts, and School Challenge

The Great Tulsa Raft Race hosted a press conference Friday morning to announce four new additions to this year's event.

The Sand Sculpture contest that ran for more than a decade through the 1980s and 1990s will return. The contest reportedly drew a thousand competitors at its peak and was featured on Good Morning America in 1991. World Champion sand sculptor John Gowdy is expected to present a Tulsa-themed piece at the race's finish line and will judge the competition.

Kayaks and inflatable rafts will also be available for rent for the first time through the Raft Race website. Registration for the event ends August 15th for both contestants and renters. In addition to renting a craft for the full race, participants will also be able to rent kayaks at the finish line.

Three weeks prior to the event there will be a pre-party presented by the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation at Fuel 66. Full details on that event are yet to be announced.

American Airlines Government Affairs liaison Chase Beasley announced a new STEM Challenge for area schools. The Regional STEM alliance will create a curriculum around raft building, while American Airlines Engineers will partner with KKT Architects to assist ten schools in the construction of their vessel. American Airlines will provide the entry fee for the student teams, but raft materials will not be provided. 

Raft Race officials will aim to select a diverse group of schools, including Tulsa Public Schools, Sand Springs, and other neighboring districts. Student teams must include five to ten participants including one adult. All students must be 12 years or older. 

The Tulsa tradition ran from 1973 to 1991 before being resurrected in 2015. The Labor Day race will launch in Case Community Park in Sand Springs and will end at the River West Festival Park in Tulsa.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum spoke at the event and announced his intentions to participate in the race. "We're doing so much right now to make this revitalized as the defining natural asset that we have here in Tulsa...For generations people were able to utilize the Arkansas River as a point of recreation, and last year the citizens overwhelmingly said 'we want that again.'"

"This is one day out of 365 that we get to use the river for recreation. Think about what it's going to be like here in a few years when you can use it any day of the year," said Bynum.

The official T-shirt for the event was also announced. The mermaid design will be the official shirt received in the registration package, but the runner-up design will also be available for purchase.

Participants can register for the race and find more information at www.tulsaraftrace.com.

Sand Springs Board of Education approves hiring of new baseball coach

Northwoods principal Laura Hamilton is presented with a Coin of Excellence by Board of Education Chairman Rusty Gunn.

The Sand Springs Board of Education met in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening at the Sandite Performing Arts Building. 

Northwoods Fine Arts Academy principal Laura Hamilton was presented with a Coin of Excellence. "Under pressure, this girl is amazing," said Superintendent Sherry Durkee in reference to a high-speed police pursuit and shooting that occurred on school grounds last year. Prior to being promoted to Principal, Hamilton was also the site teacher of the year for the 2012-2013 school year.

The Sand Springs Pilot Club and Sand Springs Women's Chamber were also presented with special recognitions for their contributions to the school district. 

Superintendent Durkee discussed the school partnership with Daybreak for mental health services. "They've been a really healthy partner...we have a councilor in every building." She also talked about Sandites Teaming for Academic Results (STAR). School administrators will hold more frequent meetings with site representatives throughout the year.

According to Assistant Superintendent Kristin Arnold, the district doesn't expect to receive the results from Spring testing till October, while A-F report cards won't be received till March.

The district is working towards having enough chrome books to follow students from grade to grade.

Durkee also discussed the possibility of having a new sound system installed at the Ed Dubie Field House. The court was recently repaired and new LED lights are soon to be installed. "It's our premier 6A facility for three sports," said Durkee.

The Lady Sandite basketball team won a conference title and made the State Semifinals this past season while the wrestling team won both State and Dual State titles. The Boys' Basketball team fell a few games short of a winning season, but is demonstrating consistent growth and improvement under fifth-year head coach Eric Savage. The Volleyball team also had one of their best seasons in school history under Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year Janna Green. 

The high school is without full-time security officers on staff for the first time in years and administration doesn't have any immediate plans to hire new officers. According to Durkee, the school has gotten by fine in the past year while the previous officer missed substantial workdays due to health issues. The Sand Springs Police Department will continue to assist with security during sporting events, but for the time being the district will consider the potential cost-savings of eliminating the position for the foreseeable future.

The Board unanimously approved the filling of twenty-two positions, including that of Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Baseball Coach. Former Edmond Memorial Head Coach James Garrison will take over the reigns from retiring coach Bill Hutson. He will be joined by new pitching coach Matt Brown, also from Edmond Memorial.

James was an assistant coach at Union for two State Championship seasons. He spent one year at Edmond Memorial and amassed a 14-19 record. His contract was terminated after the season.

Sand Springs's Janet Johnson named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist

Sand Springs's own Janet Johnson is one of twelve finalists for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. The candidates were announced today in a ceremony at Yukon High School.

Johnson teaches science at Clyde Boyd Middle School, a position she has held for 16 of her 19 years in education.

“Classroom teachers are the heart and soul of education, and research tells us they are the most important person in the schoolhouse,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “Each of these 12 men and women represents the best of the best of those who have devoted their life to among the most noble and life-changing of professions.”

All finalists are teachers of the year for their districts and were selected after their application packets were reviewed by a panel that included educators, members of the business community, legislators and nonprofit partners.

The 2018 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year will be revealed Sept. 19 in a ceremony at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

The 2018 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year will remain in the classroom for the 2017-2018 school year. Beginning July 1, 2018, the honoree will assume full-time Teacher of the Year duties, which include speaking engagements and serving as Oklahoma’s teacher ambassador, encouraging others to enter or remain in the profession. The 2017 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Jon Hazell of Durant, will continue to tour the state until July 2018.

Other Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalists include:

  • Jill Andrews teaches high school English at Claremore High School in Claremore Public Schools. She has been an educator for 19 years and has held her current position for 12 years.
  • Neeli Boyd teaches first grade at Wiley Post Elementary School in Putnam City Schools. She has been an educator for eight years and has held her current position for two years.
  • Sarah Carter teaches mathematics at Drumright High School in Drumright Public Schools. She has been an educator for five years and has held her current position for five years.
  • Rob Davis teaches history at Yukon High School in Yukon Public Schools. He has been an educator for 15 years and has held his current position for three years.
  • Betty Deen teaches English at Oologah Middle School in Oologah-Talala Public Schools. She has been an educator for 24 years and has held her current position for 19 years.
  • Donna Gradel teaches science at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow Public Schools. She has been an educator for 29 years and has held her current position for 21 years.
  • Chad Harper teaches STEM at Mustang High School in Mustang Public Schools. He has been an educator for 18 years and has held his current position for 18 years.
  • Dionne Liebl teaches English at Deer Creek High School in Deer Creek Schools. She has been an educator for 17 years and has held her current position for five years.
  • Shala Marshall teaches Spanish at Jenks High School in Jenks Public Schools. She has been an educator for 16 years and has held her current position for four years.
  • Christine Mueller teaches band at Moore Central Junior High School in Moore Public Schools. She has been an educator for 23 years and has held her current position for 18 years.
  • Laura Smith teaches band and music at Byng Elementary, Byng Junior High and Byng High School in Byng Public Schools. She has been an educator for 15 years and has held her current position for nine years.

In addition, OSDE named four “Rising Star” teachers. Each is a district Teacher of the Year winner with fewer than seven years in the classroom who demonstrated great skill and potential in their applications.

The Rising Stars are:

  • Colby McGee teaches agriculture at Allen Public Schools. He has been an educator for two years and has held his current position for two years.
  • Haley Price teaches English at Newcastle High School in Newcastle Public Schools. She has been an educator for four years and has held her current position for four years.
  • Jessi Ross teaches second grade at Mooreland Elementary School in Mooreland Public Schools. She has been an educator for seven years and has held her current position for five years.
  • Madison Wingate teaches pre-kindergarten at Pierce Elementary School in Oklahoma City Public Schools. She has been an educator for four years and has held her current position for four years.

City of Sand Springs approves new comprehensive plan for next fifteen years

The Sand Springs City Council recently voted to adopt a new "Sand Springs 2030 Land Use Master Plan," updating the city comprehensive plan for the first time since 2002. City employees first began the new plan in fall of 2015 and it was approved by the City Planning Commission in May.

The plan hopes to anticipate future development and provide a flexible tool for evaluating development proposals. 

Chapter I: Community History and Background

The first chapter of the plan is taken from Carl E. Gregory's The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. The chapter recounts the tale of Charles Page's acquisition of wealth and land, his charitable exploits, and his steps to develop the community that would become Sand Springs.

The town began with the relocation of a failing orphanage, the construction of the Sand Springs Home, the founding of the eighty-acre Sand Springs Park, the formation of the Sand Springs Railway, and finally the incorporation of the City in 1912 with approximately 400 citizens. 

Charles Page's generosity included the offering of free land to citizens and a $20,000 relocation bonus for companies. In 1918 he established a "Widow's Colony" alongside the Home. He recruited the relocation of the  Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company, Commander Mills, Southwest Box Company, and Sinclair Prairie Refineries. Less than ten years after its incorporation, the community had grown to more than 4,000 individuals.

In 1965 the City annexed the Prattville community on the south side of the Arkansas River, and in 1969 the City chartered a Council-Manager form of government.

Chapter II: Plan Development

In the fall of 2015, the Planning Department launched a community survey that received more than 600 participants. In the summer of 2016 an interactive map was presented to the community, allowing them to identify what type of development they would like to see in which parts of the community. It received over a hundred suggestions, including a revitalization effort along Charles Page Boulevard and a desire to see the site of the former Gerdau Steel Mill utilized.

Following the community surveys, input was also requested from each of the City departments regarding their needs and desires. Community property owners were contacted regarding their desires for undeveloped properties under their ownership, as well as developmental challenges and difficulties they have encountered. The public school district was consulted regarding future plans for growing the district. 

Chapter III: Social and Demographic Factors

The 2030 projected population by INCOG (Indian Nations Council of Governments) is 23,083 in Sand Springs. At the 2010 Census, Sand Springs had a total population of 18,906 residents, an increase of 8.3% from the 2000 population of 17,451. 

In 2010, the median age of Sand Springs was 36.5 years. The population was 81.8% white, 2.4% African-American, and 8.8% Native American. The average household had 2.63 occupants. The city had a higher employment rate than Tulsa County, Osage County, and the Tulsa Metro. The median household income in 2013 was $54,381, also higher than the Tulsa Metro, Tulsa County, and Osage County.

Chapter IV: Goals and Action Plan Strategies

Land Use

Goal 1: "Sand Springs will be a well-coordinated and planned community with uses that complement and support infrastructure improvements."

Goal 2: "Sand Springs will utilize sound land use planning principals that encourages the appropriate placement of a variety of housing, commercial, recreational, entertainment, and employment options throughout the community."

Goal 3: "The City will maintain land development regulations to manage future growth and development in a manner that protects environmental resources."

Quality of Life

Goal 1: "Sand Springs will be a community that encourages people to be active and healthy and that promotes healthy living and sustainability. This will be accomplished by providing opportunities for active living to all ages year round."

Goal 2: "Sand Springs will have a network of trails, sidewalks and bicycle transportation systems that safely connect parks, schools, libraries, neighborhoods, shopping areas, museums, and other historic sites."

Goal 3: "Sand Springs will be a community that has access to expanded health and wellness care, in addition to attempting to increase the availability of health food choices available to the community."

Goal 4: "The City shall be an aesthetically pleasing community based on a solid foundation of code enforcement and in seeking opportunities to improve zoning and development codes."

Goal 5: "Sand Springs shall have desirable/appealing parks offering recreational opportunities for the community."

Goal 6: "The City will strive to have park equality by providing its citizens throughout the City parks that are well manicured, maintained, and functional for optimal enjoyment."

Goal 7: "Develop Case Community Park into a regional destination by implementing strategically planned park improvements and enhancements, thus creating a public space that is inviting, functional, appealing, and sustainable."

Goal 8: "Continue to develop the Keystone Ancient Forest into a premiere nature preserve/hiking venue in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area."

Goal 9: "Develop City-owned Sports Facilities into premiere venues with top quality playing surfaces, lighting, and amenities."

Infrastructure

Goal 1: "The City of Sand Springs strives to meet or exceed requirements of the EPA and ODEQ regulations at all times in constructing, maintaining, and operating all Water Treatment Pumping, Distribution and Storage Facilities and Systems."

Goal 2: "The City of Sand Springs strives to meet or exceed requirements of the EPA and ODEQ - for providing contemporary and adequate treatment facilities & operations to meet or exceed effluent discharge quality requirements, while making appropriate accommodations for conveyance and collection systems for treatment.

Goal 3: "Plan for new street improvement projects that provide for priority replacements & upgrades to maintain the best possible drivability with sufficient number of lanes, and include provisions for maximum feasible multimodal mobility."

Goal 4: "Plan for rehabilitation/new improvement projects that provide for priority replacements & upgrades to maximize stormwater detention and drainage efficiency and capacity."

Goal 5: "Plan to be a City that takes preventative measures to prevent damaging of the Earth's ecosystems and in order to maintain a high quality of life Sand Springs citizens and the Tulsa Metropolitan Area by managing and disposing of their waste efficiently and safely."

Downtown Area

Goal 1: "Sand Springs shall have a lively, active, and pedestrian oriented downtown with a mix of uses such as restaurants/bars, boutiques, shops, offices, and housing.

Goal 2: "Reinforce and enhance the City's downtown as one of the primary focal points of the community."

Public Safety

Goal 1: "Sand Springs Emergency Services will have excellent law enforcement/firefighter customer service that meets the needs of the citizens now and in the future."

Goal 2: "Sand Springs shall be a community with safe neighborhoods, shopping, and employment areas."

Goal 3: "Sand Springs will proactively maintain/replace public safety technology, equipment, and fleets in order to provide an effective capable workforce."

Goal 4: "Develop, Design, and Construct a Municipal Safety Facility."

Goal 5: "Develop and Maintain a Community Policing Plan."

Economic Development

Goal 1: "The City of Sand Springs will strive to promote local commerce, trade, and commodities by strengthening working relationships with the local/regional Chamber of Commerce, existing businesses, and institutions."

Goal 2: "Aggressively pursue new local, regional, or national restaurant and retail businesses."

Goal 3: "Identify and complete projects that will beautify Sand Springs, assisting with marketing and economic development."

Goal 4: "Evaluate and consider the acquisition of real estate for future development purposes."

Goal 5: "Encourage and engage Subdivision and Multi-Family Developers/Developments."

Goal 6: "Develop an Economic Development website resource hub and strive to educate and advance the objective of all involved with the City to be involved in assisting with economic development as possible."

Goal 7: "Sand Springs will have a strong independent local economy that compliments the surrounding region but is not dependent on it."

Chapter V: Future Development Plan

"The Plan is a policy document that lays out the blueprint of how the community should grow over time and where certain uses should be placed relative to their intensity. Other factors such as underlying zoning patterns, adjoining communities land use plans, and future capital improvements also played a role in determining where the land use categories were placed. However, the plan is a plan and is not inflexible or concrete. From time to time, there will be certain uses that are proposed that will merit additional evaluation and create the possibility for Plan amendments."

Historic Twin Cities Elementary demolished after a century in Sand Springs

A historic piece of Sand Springs is nearly gone as Twin Cities Elementary undergoes demolition. After sitting vacant for nearly a decade, the building is finally coming down after the Sand Springs Board of Education decided that it would be too costly to ever reopen. 

Twin Cities first closed her doors in 2003 after 83 years of helping to rear young Sandites. Later that year it was reopened as the Sandite Child Development Center before being closed again in 2009 after the construction of the new Early Childhood Education Center.

Eight years later, the building is a pile of bricks--cut down just a few years shy of her centennial anniversary. 

In January of 2016 the school board listed the school and its grounds for sale by owner. After the district received little market interest, Superintendent Sherry Durkee consulted with Montie Box of Montie Box Realtors and concluded that the building's last appraisal was overly generous due to substantial deterioration, mold infestation, and other problems.

Recommendations were made to the Board of Education in November of 2016 that the building be demolished with the property retained for possible district expansion in the future. In May the Board approved a $55,449.50 contract with American Demolition to raze the structure.

Robert Purser was the last principal to head the school, taking the reigns in 1998. He passed away in 2008 and his funeral service was held just two doors down from Twin Cities at Olivet Baptist Church. 

Twin Cities was one of the oldest buildings still standing in Sand Springs. The former Booker T. Washington High School was demolished in 2010, leaving just two schools from the original  township. Garfield STEAM Academy and the Central Ninth Grade Center are now the oldest educational facilities in Sand Springs. Garfield received a $6.5 million renovation over the summer of 2016.

Sand Springs graduates 392 in Class of 2017

Charles Page High School and Page Academy graduated a combined 392 seniors Saturday evening at the Oral Roberts University Mabee Center, pending a final check of grades and credits, as Principal Stan Trout always reminds them.

Though their actual diplomas will be picked up this summer at the high school, the empty frame they are presented at the Mabee Center each year is the ceremonial pay dirt they've been working toward for their entire lives. 

Trout has been with them on this journey for as long as most of them can remember, in his tenth year as the school principal. It has been forty years since he walked across that stage, and he has seen many great Sandites follow in his footsteps. But he made sure to note that "never in the life of our school has there been a senior class that has distinguished itself more or shined a more positive light on its community."

"This is an unusually talented class, and here is some statistical evidence to back that up," said Trout. 83 seniors are members of the National Honor Society. 67 attained Honor Graduate status by maintaining a 4.0 GPA. 23 were Oklahoma Academic Scholars, meaning they maintained a 3.7 unweighted GPA and scored a 27 or higher on the ACT.

Charles Page doesn't recognize a single Valedictorian, but if they did it might be National Merit Commended Scholars Josh Taber or Elijah Warren. Or maybe Oklahoma All-State Scholar Brock Smith, who was among the top 100 high school seniors in all of Oklahoma. 

The Class of 2017 saw a number of remarkable achievements. The Sandites won their first State wrestling Championship since 1971 and their first Dual State title in school history. They made the State Semifinals in football and girls' basketball, the latter of which won a Frontier Valley Conference Championship. The band won the first Winter Percussion State Championship in school history. Daton Fix, Beau Bratcher, and Jack Karstetter won wrestling State titles. Fix went undefeated in high school with four titles. Delvin Jordan, Jr. was a wrestling State Runner-Up. Cheyenne Walden won four Cross Country State titles and five track State titles. 

Honor Graduates Chase Burris and Katie McInnis gave brief speeches.

"At the end of the day, all that matters is what makes you happy," said Burris. "Not what makes your parents happy, not what makes your friends happy, not what makes your girlfriend or boyfriend happy." He concluded his speech by quoting Chance the Rapper. "Don't forget the happy thoughts. All you need are happy thoughts."

Former Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist Kendra Roulet gave the farewell address for the faculty, and it was a special class for her. This was the last class she taught and the first class she counseled. "Don't settle for anything less than extraordinary," she told them. "Follow your passion, find your place."

Superintendent Sherry Durkee gave her first graduation address since succeeding Lloyd Snow last year.

Board of Education President Rusty Gunn's speech paralleled Roulet's. "Find what is is that you're on the planet for, and don't stop short of fulfilling your purpose."

Principal Trout continued his tradition of presenting a jar of sand and water to the graduating class, collected from the sandy springs from which the town draws its name. "Take a little bit of Sand Springs with you into everything you do in life, and you will never fail."

Following the presentation of "diplomas," Oklahoma Medal for Excellence recipient Frank Cooper gave his notorious reading of Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, filled with personal anecdotes about CPHS students. 

The CPHS band, Stage Choir, and Senior Quartet all gave performances and Class President Katilynn Godown led her classmates in the turning of the tassles and the throwing of the caps.

Though they still have eleven days left before their high school days officially come to an end, Saturday night symbolically marked the ending of an era for 392 young adults who will now take their first steps into a new world. 


Honor Graduates

Dawson Randall Clarke Allen
Anna Marie Andrews
Christian Joseph Barnard
Madilyn Grace Barron
Shayla Brooke Blair
Carley Elizabeth Boyd
Alexis Victoria Branson
Beau Andrew Bratcher
Christel Denise Burgoon
Chase Aaron Burris
Nia Marae Byrd
Dustin Beau Cagle
Katherine Dayne Campfield
Michael Lloyd Carper
Zachary Ryan Carter
Taylor Rene Cartwright
Kalie Paden Chatham
Tyler Rain Cutnose
James Trey Lawrence Dacus
Alexis Jordan Davis
Megan Marie Deshazo
Makenzie Shae Dewitt
Brooklyn Paige Evans
Daton Duain Fix
Kaitlynn M Godown
Colson Robert Guinn
Cody Alan Gurley
Leah Nicole Hancock
Keartlin Marie Hilligoss
Dharma Loren Hopkins
Gabriel Taylor Jeffus
Nathaniel Logan Jeffus
Madison Emily Keiper
Madison Leigh Kinard

Jasmine Rain Longoria
Makenzie Grace Massey
Madline Diane McFarland
Katheryn Riley McInnis
Connor Lynn McKeaigg
Reid Eugene Meadows
Dakota Gage Mitchell
Dalton Hunter Morgan
Cassandra Lee Owens
Sydney Jae Pennington
Ashton McGregor Persons
Hope Elizabeth Pollard
Marc Sidney Reeves
Daniel Lee Ropp
Shelby Starr Rotramel
Konner Gordon Rugg
Allison Taylor Sellers
Joelie Shaye Simmons
Brock Raymond Smith
Clayton Mickeul Smith
Michael Owen Som de Cerff
Jacob Alexander Steel
Rebekah Ann Sutterfield
Joshua Chance Taber
Elizabeth Kaylan Tate
Gracen Aileen Taylor
Mackenzie Ryan Thompson
Brooklyn Nicole Turner
Shiloh Nicole Wallace
Colton Lane Washington
Brendan Michael Williams
Hunter Edwin Willis
Nikolay Pavlovich Yakovlev


Oklahoma Academic Scholars

Christian Barnard
Madilyn Barron
Shayla Blair
Carley Boyd
Beau Bratcher
Nia Byrd
Dustin Cagle
Evan Clary

Alina Gavrilov
Kaitlyn Godown
Kearstin Hilligoss
Madison Keper
Madison Kinard
Katheryn McInnis
Reid Meadows
Eric Newman

Joelie Simmons
Brock Smith
Jacob Steel
Joshua Taber
Elizabeth Tate
Shiloh Wallace
Hunter Willis


National Honor Society

Dawson Allen
Anna Andrews
Kasey Bales
Madilyn Barron
Rachel Blair
Shayla Blair
Carley Boyd
Alexis Branson
Beau Bratcher
Jasmine Brown
Christel Burgoon
Chase Burris
Nia Byrd
Dustin Cagle
Dayne Campfield
Zachary Carter
Taylor Cartwright
Paden Catham
James Dacus
Alexis Davis
Shawn Dean
Megan Deshazo
Makenzie Dewitt
Brooklyn Evans
Kristian Fairchild
Daton Fix
Melina Flores
Alina Gavrilov
 

Katie Godown
Carlos Gomez-Valero
Amari Grant
Colson Guinn
Cody Gurley
Leah Hancock
Kearstlin Hilligoss
Dharma Hopkins
John Houston
Gabriel Jeffus
Logan Jeffus
Alexis Keeling
Madison Keiper
Madison Kinard
Julia Lewis
Jasmine Longoria
Makenzie Massey
Madeline McFarland
Ketheryn McInnis
Reid Meadows
Dakota Mitchell
Dalton Morgan
Baylee Mudd
Shannon O'Meilia
Sydney Pennington
Ashton Persons
Hope Pollard
Samantha Ramirez
 

Marc Reeves
Daniel Ropp
Shelby Rotramel
Allison Sellers
Joelie Simmons
Blake Simpson
Brock Smith
Clayton Smith
Savannah Snyder
Michael Som de Cerff
Rebekah Sutterfield
James Taber
Joshua Taber
Elizabeth Tate
Gracen Taylor
Jake Terry
Mack Thompson
Brooklyn Turner
Shiloh Wallace
Cassie Ward
Colton Washington
Faith Wecker
Sybil West
Brendan Williams
Hunter Willis
Spencer Wright
Nikolay Yakovlev


CPHS Class of 2017 Graduates

Lincoln Burnell Adams
Madelin Renee Adams
Kimberly Ruth Aguilar Henriques
Austin Cole Salexander
Dawson Randal Clarke Allen
Sabra Kay Almayahi
Mariela Alvarez
Jarod Ryan Anderson
Anna Marie Andrews
Braden Michael Ashlock
Ryker Cole Ashlock
Deidra Vee Asmus
Camilla Mae Austin
Joshua Elijah Lee Avery
Cameron Mirza Baig
Ian Andrew Baker
Connor Erik Baldridge
Kasey Alex Bales
Joe David Banther
Sarah Mae Barlow
Christian Joseph Barnard
Isaac James Barretto
Isabella Jacqueline Barretto
Madilyn Grace Barron
Zane Bourhan Basma
Caitlin Anna Beard
Mikeale Ostis Becraft
Trey Austin Belding
Jeremy Alexander Benninghoven
Malany Jo Benton
Aaron Michael Bertrand
Jacob Dwayne Bettis
Blayne Averie Bittencourt
Christopher Jacob Blackwell
Rachel Amariah Blair
Shayl Brooke Blair
Megan Renay Bledsoe
Emily Dorothy Blimm
Bailey Nicole Boaz
Chauncy Tyrek Bogans
Carley Elizabeth Boyd
Kinsey Rayshell Braden
Michael Edward Bramlett
Alexis Victoria Branson
Aubrey Kaitlyn Brashier
Beau Andrew Bratcher
Kelli Rochelle Bridges
Cameron Wayne Britton
Jasmine Rene Brown
Caitlin Joy Bruce
Mason Andrew Bruton
Christel Denise Burgoon
Michael Daniel Burns
Chasearon Burris
Matthew David Burton
Makenzie Lea Butler
Nia Marae Byrd
Lauren Elizabeth Cady
Dustin Beau Cagle
Baylee Noelle Campbell
Collin Christopher Cambell
Katherine Dayne Campfield
Kameron Seth Carpenter
Michael Lloyd Carper
Timothy David Carroll
Emily Danielle Carter
Zachary Ryan Carter
Taylor Rene Cartwright
Brian Wayne Catlett
Marissa Lachon Catlett
Kalie Paden Chatham
Evan Williams Reles Clary
Deanna Lee Cody
Haley Lauren Coffey
Alexander Bryce Collins
Cydney Jaymes Collins
Jacob Alexander Collins
Jessica McKenzie Collins
Ericka Dawn Colson
Megan Savella Jo Conley
Luis Antonio Contreras
Jacob Lee Cooper-Garbey
Joshua Andrew Cordell
Erin Bayley Cox
Sidnee Rachelle Crase-Owens
Erendira Betsabe Cuevas Gomez
Tyler Rain Cutnose
James Trey Lawrence Davus, III
Treyce Bradley Dahlem
Kenneth Lee William Daniel
Alexis Jordan Davis
Austin Daniel DAvis
Derek Martin Davis
Jordan Katharine Davis
Megan Sue Davis
Mikala Brianna Davis
Shawn Linley Dean
Eston David DeLozier
Richard Tyler Delozier
Megan Marie Deshazo
Makenzie Shae Dewitt
Cody Dean Dillion
Jessicca Darlene Dover
Tyler Ray Dressler
Paige Nichole Duvall
Jasmine Raine Eastman
Joshua Colton Eddington
Amanda Jean Ellis
Brooklyn Paige Evans
Anthony Dylan Fairchild
Kristian Taylor Fairchild
Angela Grace Firey
Austin Tyler Fisher
Daton Duain Fix
Melina Joseline Flores
Dante Chase Foote
Allison Rose Ford
Simona Elizabeth Forsyth
Ashley Nicole Foster
Michaela Brooke Fox
Brett Ray Freeman
Robert Wayne Freeman
Shyanne Marie Fullerton
Gavin Joseph Garcia
Ignacio Garcia
Alina Vasilisa Gavrilov
Kayla Nicole Genn
Kaitlynn Michelle Godown
Carlos Mateo Gomez-Valero
Alexis Paige Goodman
Nicole Dawn Goodman
Amari Rashon Grant
Joshua Dean Gray
Cody D'Alan Grayson
Hunter Alexander Greathouse
Anthony Michael Green
Caleb Lynn Gregory
Tyler Lane Grewe
Anna Marie Griffith
Graci Renee Guard
Colson Robert Guinn
Cody Alan Gurley
Austin Alan Gaegely
Jason Floyd Hall
Nathan James Hall
Sarah Kaylyn Hall
Alec Dwayne Haller
Leah Nicole Hancock
Tiffany Marie Handley
Patrick William Hardesty
Vernon Eugene Harris, IV
Danielle Allysa Hays
Kaitlynn Nicole Henson
Alejandro Jose Hernandez
Mary Elizabeth Higgins
Kearstin Marie Hilligoss
Clayton Dean Hillsberry
Katelyn Nicole Hinkle
Michala Colleen Hinton
Megan Michelle Holloway
Taylor Erin Holloway
Dharma Loren Hopkins
Megan Christine Hopson
Shane Brian Horn
John Thomas Houston
Ashlee Paige Howard
Samuel Ryan Huff
Noel Brigitte Hughes
Jesse Keith James
Jaden Joel Jarret
Seth Taylor Jason
Gabriel Taylor Jeffus
Nathaniel Logan Jeffus
Bailey Lynn Jetton
Johnathan Luis Jiminez
Maxwell Cannon Johnson
Ally McKenzie Joiner
Daniel Gregory Jones
Nicholas Logan Jones
Nolan Ray Jones
Delvin Jerome Jordan, Jr.
Ashanti Iman Jordon
Manuel Alejandro Julio-Gomez
Jack Cole Karstetter
Alexis Jordan Keeling
Kyle Alan Keener
Madison Emily Keiper
Kohlton Neal Keller
Terrell Donta Kendricks
Madison Leigh Kinard
Kody Lane Krehbiel
Cassidy Leigh Ann Kupiec
Zackary Tyler Kupiec
Jacob Andrew Lamb
Robert Charles Larkin, Jr.
Aurora Bluejacket Lee
 

Alley Nichole Legrand
Rose Lee Leslie
Julia Ann Lewis
Karsen Taylor Lewis
Jasmine Rain Longoria
Eugenio Davila Lopez, Jr.
Kandi Branee Lovins
William Baily Makaula
Dalton Parker Manor
Zora Renee Marriott
Mike Martinez
Makenzie Grace Massey
Wyatt Jac Mathena
Cody Andrew Mathis
Jacob Christian Mauck
Shaina Grace Mayhue
Sydney Virginia Mayhugh
Elisha Nathanael McBride
Austin Eugene McCaskey
Tatum Marie McEntire
Madeline Diane McFarland
Kierra Desiree McGee
Tristan Allen McGinnis
Katheryn Riley McInnis
Zoe Renee McIntosh
Connor Lynn McKeaigg
William Jared McNally
Reid Eugene Meadows
Cody Lane Mendenhall
Destany Cheyanne Mendenhall
Taylor Sky Mendenhall
Caleb Bryce Merriman
Shelton Steven Metcalfe
Arial Marie Mickish
Amista Marie Miller
Dakota Gage Mitchell
Elissa Page Mitchem
Houston Scott Moore
Michaela Maye Morehead
Dalton Hunter Morgan
Cody Richard Motes
Ezra Paul Mowery
Baylee Jo Mudd
Audrina Adele Myers
Victoria Paulette Napier
Ausitn Roger Garrett Newman
Eric Andrew Newman
Samantha Corine Newman
Annah Marie Nichols
Logan James Nicklas
Jackson Alastair Scott Noble
Katessa Elise Noble
Makenna Rashea Norris
Derek Odysseus
Shannon Mae O'Meilia
Maileah Marina Ontiveros
Erin Taylor Orf
Cassandra Lee Owens
Dillon Dakota Owens
Brian Keith Palmer
Tanner Evan Pardue
Isaac Adan Pelayo
Sydney Jae PEnnington
Ashton McGregor Persons
Ryan James Phyllips
Larami D'Nae Pickle
Perry Wayne Pittman
Jordan Micahel Pizzimenti
Justin Plummer
Kayleigh Ann Polasek
Hope Elizabeth Pollard
Sheridan Mae Pool
Jennifer Lee Powell
Jaden Q. Puckett
Grace Emmalouise Rainey
Rosa Isela Ramirez
Samantha Nicole Ramirez
Bryanna Rose Ramsey
Mark Signey Reeves
Michael Williams Ritchey
Brandon Charles Roberson
Zachary Ryan Roberson
Taylor Morgan Roberts
Kyleigh Jean Brooke Robertson
Kristin Marie Rogers
Daniel Lee Ropp
Logan Tate Rotramel
Shelby Starr Rotramel
Konner Gordon Rugg
Jake Christian Ryals
Mary Mackenzie Sanders
Benjamin Michael Scantling
Pablo James Schinnerer
Kyler Jaymez Schnieder
Allison Taylor Sellers
Chance Ray Shadwick
Cody Austin Shafer
Christopher Richard Shain
Invyi Unique Shaw
Jacob Benjamin Sheppard
Joelie Shaye Simmons
Nathan Armstrong Simonton
Blake Neil Simpson
Zachary David Sims
Clay Ashton Skelly
Brooklyn Grace Slabby
Griffin Michael Slane
Kyler Michael Smidt
Alexandra Nicole Smith
Amanda Kay Smith
Brock Raymond Smith
Clayton Mickeul Smith
Jusin Dean Smith
Kearra Marie Smith
Nathan Michael Smith
Shelbie Deann Smith
Savannah Joyce Snyder
Edgar Adrian Soberano
Michael Owen Som de Cerff
Samantha Jo Sorrels
Garrett Ryan Spence
Alec Mitchell Spencer
Emilee Ann Spencer
Anthony James Spliedt
Skyler Christopher Staab
Jacob Alexander Steel
Keri Leann Steelman
Joshua Kalen Stevens
Charles Riley Stewart
Hunter Rae Stewart
Joshua Dylan Stowell
Tyler David Strong
Rebekah Ann Sutterfield
James Sebastian Taber
Joshua Chance Taber
Richard Maxwell Tankersley
Makayla Marie Tapia
Elizabeth Kaylan Tate
Gracen Aileen Taylor
Michael Jacob Terry
Brendan Edgar
Sarah Jo Thomas
Mackenzie Ryan Thompson
Nicholas Benjamin Thompson
Marissa Elaine Thornburg
Tylor Reed Tiblow
Aaron Treyce Tolbert
Joshua Robin Towery
Jay William Tribble
Vanessa Michelle Tucker
Brooklyn Nicole Turner
Zakkary Hunter Turnham
Cammy Jo Tyer
Henry Thomas Vindiver
Luis Antonio Villafuerte
Jonathan Emmanuel Vital
Kevin Ray Vreeland
Cheyenne Nicole Walden
Devon Michael Walker
Race Lenndon Walker
Shiloh Nicole Wallace
Cassie Gwynn Ward
Nicholas Colton Ward
Tanner Reid Ward
Darian Lavell Warren
Elijah Cale Warren
Caleb Amir Wash
Colton Lane Washington
John Anthony Waters
Sierra Dawn WAters
Faith Leeann Wecker
C-Jay Michelle Weiesnbach
Bradley Michael West
Erin Nicole West
Sybil Maria West
Jeffrey Daniel Whinery
Jordon Wayne Whittington
Ryan David Whittington
Ian Gregory Wiggs
Tristen Jonathan Wiley
Raven Ranger Wilkens
Andrew Henry Willhite
Brendan Michael Williams
Cole Mason Williams
Hunter Glen Williams
Trevor Davis Williams
Hunter Edwin Willis
Noah Wylie Wilson
Quintin Max Wimer
Kaylee Grace Wolbert
Phillip Julian Womack
Adam Houston Wood
Kaileeann Marie Worthington
Spencer Allen Wright
Nikolay Pavlovich Yakovlev
Kyndal Marie Zicker
 

ONE Gas gifts $5,000 grant to Sand Springs Education Foundation

Left to right: Dick Ford, Kristin Arnold, Christopher Phillips, Sylvia Fooshee, Lou Pinkerton, Sherry Durkee.

The Sand Springs Education Foundation received a $5,000 grant from ONE Gas, Inc. Monday afternoon that will be used to fund new technology for a Sand Springs elementary school.

The money will be used to purchase a Nureva Span system for use at the newly remodeled Garfield STEAM Academy in north Sand Springs. 

The cloud-based program utilizes a solid-state illumination projector to create a panoramic canvas up to ten feet wide with ten simultaneous touch points so multiple individuals can work at the same time. Students will also be able to work on personal devices and add their work to the shared canvas in real-time. Students are also able to hold video chats with other classrooms across the world with Nureva systems. 

The Sand Springs School District is one of the first in the nation to utilize this ground-breaking technology, and already has two units at Charles Page High School.

Pictured, ONE Gas Community Relations Manager Christopher Phillips presents Foundation Director Sylvia Fooshee with a $5,000 grant. Left of Phillips is Foundation Trustee Dick Ford and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Kristin Arnold. Right of Fooshee is Foundation Trustee Lou Pinkerton and Superintendent Sherry Durkee.

Senate bill expanding Oklahoma's Promise passes, heads to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave unanimous final approval Tuesday to legislation modifying Oklahoma’s Promise, the state-sponsored tuition program. Sen. Jason Smalley is the author of Senate Bill 529, which he said makes necessary changes to the program to protect the integrity and stability of the program. 

“This bill tackles a number of areas concerning Oklahoma’s Promise to ensure that those students who truly need financial assistance can get it while also being inclusive of those degrees that take longer than the average program,” said Smalley, R-Stroud.

Oklahoma’s Promise allows eighth-, ninth- or 10th-grade students from families with an income of $50,000 or less to earn a college tuition scholarship. SB 529 changes the definition of income at the time of application in the 8th-10th grade from “taxable and nontaxable” income to “federal adjusted gross income” and increases the family income limit from $50,000 to $55,000.

The bill will stop payment for remedial courses beginning in 2018-2019 at an estimated annual savings of approximately $1.5 million. 

SB 529 changes how often family incomes are checked. Currently, the statutes require that the second income check at $100,000 for Oklahoma’s Promise students be conducted only one time when the student starts college. Under this bill, the $100,000 check will be conducted every year the student is in college, beginning with the 2018-19 academic year for an annual estimated savings of about $1.5 million. 

The measure also requires the State Regents to establish a maximum limit on the number of college credit hours covered by the scholarship. Currently, students are eligible to receive the scholarship for up to five years or the completion of a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first. This will limit the number of credit hours paid for during the five year period.

Most undergraduate degrees require 120-124 semester credit hours but about 20 percent of degrees require more than 124 hours, including a number of engineering degrees and some teacher education degrees in specialty areas such as science and music. Undergraduate architecture degrees require up to 150 credit hours. Through the Administrative Procedures Act, the State Regents will establish a general maximum limit on credit hours while allowing exceptions to that limit for degrees requiring credit hours in excess of the limit. The limit is expected to be applicable to first-time entering freshmen college students in fall 2018. Once fully implemented, the change is expected to save about one to two percent of total program costs annually.


This press release was submitted by the Oklahoma State Senate media department. 

Any opinions expressed or implied are those of the author and do not reflect an editorial endorsement by Sandite Pride News. 

Sandite Pride News encourages community submissions regardless of platform or position, to effect a constructive dialogue about any issues affecting our community. 

SB 529 passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 87-3. In the Senate it passed unanimously 43-0.

This Week in Sand Springs

Monday

  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys Golf Regionals - Bailey Ranch Golf Course, Owasso
  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls Tennis Regionals - Yukon High School
  • 6:30 p.m. Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board Meeting - Case Community Center
  • 7:00 p.m. Sand Springs Board of Education Meeting - CPHS Fine Arts Building

Tuesday

  • 7:00 p.m. Clyde Boyd Middle School Spring Concert - CBMS Auditorium

Wednesday

  • 9:00 a.m. 6A Girls Golf State Championship - Ponca City Country Club

Thursday

  • 9:00 a.m. 6A Girls Golf State Championship - Ponca City Country Club
  • 11:30 a.m. CPHS Baseball vs Jenks - Regional Playoff at Jenks
    • Winner plays at 4:30, Loser plays at 6:30

Friday

  • 100 Mile Yard Sale
  • 8:00 a.m. 6A Girls Tennis State Championship - Oklahoma City Tennis Center
  • CPHS Baseball - Regional Playoff at Jenks
    • Possible games at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. depending on Thursday results

Saturday

  • 100 Mile Yard Sale
  • 7:30 a.m. OKUSA Wrestling East Regional Tournament - Sapulpa High School
  • 8:00 a.m. 6A Girls Tennis State Championship - Oklahoma City Tennis Center
  • 9:30 a.m. Track and Field 6A Regional Championship - Claremore High School
  • 10:30 a.m. Chandler Park Lost City Climbing Competition 
  • 1:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - Regional Playoff at Jenks
    • Depending on Thursday and Friday results

Sand Springs Board of Education approves 5-year Strategic Improvement Plan

The Continuous Strategic Improvement (CSI) team was recognized for their work in developing the 5-year plan for SSPS.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Board of Education handed out a plethora of awards at their regular monthly meeting Monday evening and discussed the strategic plan for the next five school years.

Brock Smith received the Sandite Spirit Award for making the 2017 Academic All State team, Charles Page High School Head Baseball Coach Bill Hutson received a Coin of Excellence, and the team behind the new Strategic Plan received the Sandite Pacesetter Award and were recognized both individually and as a group.

The official mission for SSPS going forward will be to "empower every child to maximize their potential for responsible productive citizenship in the 21st century." The strategy identifies four pillars for success. 

  1. Empower Students with successful learning and behaviors.
  2. Empower Teachers and Staff through successful recruitment, training, mentoring, school culture, and climate.
  3. Empower Families and Community with successful community and family engagement.
  4. Empower Resource Innovation through successful integration of technology, environments for learning, and financial support and resources. 

Allison Potts, Angelia Noel, Brian Jackson, Catrina Edgar, Claudia Smith, Christina Abbott, Dick Ford, Emily Glaser, Jay Rotert, Jennifer Smith, JJ Smith, Kami McCabe, Karen Biggs, Liz Binger, Megan Morrow, Michael Bynum, Mikael Howard, Mindy Roley, Renee McFarland, Rusty Gunn, Sarah Lattie, Stan Trout, Sylvia Fooshee, Vicki Harbaugh, Sharon Dean, Sharon Wilbur, and Stephanie Hyder were all a part of the Continuous Strategic Improvement (CSI) team.

The Board approved three out-of-state trips for the CPHS Volleyball team. The Lady Sandite varsity squad will head to camp in Branson, Missouri, while the 7th Grade, 8th Grade, JV, and Freshman teams will make two trips to a camp in Fayetteville, Arkansas. All three trips will be held in July. The trips are funded in full by the Booster Club.

The Lady Sandites celebrated their best season in school history last year and Head Coach Janna Green was named the Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year. The volleyball season will begin in August, possibly up to a week before the school year actually begins.

The Board rescinded an agreement passed last month with Oklahoma LED, then passed the same agreement but along a lease-own option rather than outright purchase.

The Board authorized the use of $55,449.50 to hire American Demolition to raze the former Twin Cities Elementary building. The school intends to retain the property with expectations of district growth in the foreseeable future, but the currently building would be too costly to renovate.

The Board authorized a $0.05 increase in the price of student lunches, as recommended by the Director of Child Nutrition. 

The Board voted in favor of shortening the 2016-2017 school year by one day, thanks to a number of unused snow days. The last day of school for students will be Thursday, May 25th, allowing teachers to use the 26th as a professional day without having to return after Memorial Day Weekend. 

The Board approved a $35,240 contract with Sports Unlimited for a partial floor replacement in the Ed Dubie Field House. The plan also includes a $5,000 contingency. The floor became warped on one side of the court, within the three-point line, during basketball season. The Lady Sandite Conference Champion team had to give up their right to host a Regional Tournament because of it. 

The Sand Springs Board of Education meets on the first Monday of every month in the Charles Page High School Fine Arts Building at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public with opportunities for public questions, concerns, and comments.

Individual Career Academic Plan bill authored by Jadine Nollan passes Senate vote

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today praised Senate members for approval of a measure to help ensure that all students develop their own relevant and dynamic pathway for success in college, career and life. Authored by Rep. Jadine Nollan and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, House Bill 2155 phases in the implementation of an Individual Career Academic Plan (ICAP) over a three-year period, beginning with pilot districts. Oklahoma is one of only seven states that does not have a state-level ICAP strategy for students.  

The legislation now heads to Gov. Fallin for her signature.

“Too many high school students wait until after graduation to begin exploring career pathways in career technology centers or colleges,” Hofmeister said. “By contrast, tailored career and academic plans made earlier in middle school help our students complete required courses and build foundational skills to be able to hit the ground running after high school with meaningful, self-defined career, college and life goals.”

Beginning in sixth grade, ICAPs will follow each student through middle and high school and evolve to reflect any changes in interests, strengths and growth. They will include interest inventories, written goals, a step-by-step plan to reach those goals, career surveys, academic progress measures and a list of completed apprenticeships, internships or mentorships. Students will be able to create individualized portfolios, utilize high-school planning tools, explore career options and access college campus information with the assistance of parents, school counselors and teachers.

Many graduates today lack the skills employers are looking for or the necessary coursework to succeed in college or career without remediation. Thirty-nine percent of all first-year college students in Oklahoma currently require remedial courses before earning college credit, a process that, according to the Center for American Progress, costs Oklahoma families $22.2 million annually. By defining career goals or post-secondary plans earlier in their education, students will have the opportunity to make important decisions regarding coursework and extracurricular activities that align with their postsecondary career and life goals.

In addition, ICAPs will encourage greater enrollment in advanced coursework in high school, particularly during a student’s senior year, and funnel more Oklahoma students toward postsecondary degree attainment or industry certification. Currently, only 54 percent of Oklahoma students complete a degree program or advanced credential after high school. By 2025, the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development estimates that 77 percent of new jobs in Oklahoma will require some sort of postsecondary credential or degree. ICAPs will equip schools to close this so-called “workforce gap.”

“This legislation is a positive step forward and better positions Oklahoma students to achieve their aspirations and compete,” said Hofmeister. “Too many doors shut unnecessarily on students because of poor planning. Exploring career options and advanced planning fosters self-motivated learners.”

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) will pilot ICAPs in selected districts during the 2017-18 school year, and increase the number of district pilots in 2018-19. In the 2019-2020 school year, they will become a graduation requirement for those entering ninth grade, as required by House Bill 3218, which the governor signed into law in 2016.

Thirteen CPHS Band members receive Superior ratings at State

The Charles Page High School band traveled to Oklahoma State University last Thursday for the Solo and Ensemble State Instrumentals and came away with several Superior and Excellent ratings.

Tim Carroll received a Superior rating in his Marimba and Xylophone solo.

The Clarinet Trio, Flute Trio, and Saxophone Quartet all received Superior ratings.

Dawson Allen received a Superior rating for his Tuba solo.

Jake Thompson received a Superior rating for his French Horn solo.

Carter Nance received an Excellent rating in his Snare Drum solo. 

 

Charles Page High School Band raises $9,835 through mattress fundraiser

Charles Page High School Band Director Kyle Wright was recently presented with a check for $9,835 from Dennis Gentry of Custom Fundraising Solutions at the band's Spring Concert.

The money was raised through the First Annual Sand Springs Band Mattress Fundraiser.

Click here to view our photo gallery from the concert.


CPHS Spring Concert Program

Adrift - Andrew Markworth
(Winter Drum Line)

Concerto No. 2 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(Jake Thompson, Horn. Pam Eubanks, Piano.)

Andante & Rondo - Antonio Capuzzi
(Dawson Allen Tuba. Pam Eubanks, Piano.)

Cole Minor Blues - Jeff Jarvis
(Jazz Band II, feat. Jacob Collins.)

What a Wonderful World - Rick Stitzel
(Jazz Band II, feat. Ethan Beard, Hannah Farias.)

Four - John Berry
(Jazz Band II, feat. Nathan Hall.)

Modulation - Jeff Queen
(Carter Nance, Snare Drum.)

A Cricket Sang & Set the Sun - Blake Tyson
(Tim Carroll, Marimba.)

C'Mon Back - Lennie Neihaus
(Jazz Band I, feat. Nathan Hall and Matthew Burton.)

Jamie - Sammy Nestico
(Jazz Band I, feat. Angela Firey.)

Confusion - Lennie Niehaus
(Jazz Band I, feat. Jacob Collins, Savanna Darland.)

Ecossaise - JN Hummel
(Mikeale Becraft, Kira McDonald, Rebekah Sutterfield.)

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child - Rick Hirsch
(Matthew Burton, Joshua Stukey, Spencer Wright, Colby Neace.)

American Overture for Band - Joseph Willcox Jenkins
(CPHS Concert Band)

Black Horse Troop - JP Sousa
(CPHS Concert Band)

Exaltation - James Swearingen
(CPHS Concert Band, feat. Matthew Burton.)


NBDA Honor Band Members:
Josh Stuckey
Andrew Willhite
Jake Thompson

All-State 2nd Round
Josh Stuckey
Andrew Willhite
Jake Thompson

All-State
ake Thompson

State Solo & Ensemble
Bailey Delay
Emily Finnegan
Jillian Landers
Mikeale Becraft
Kira McDonald
Rebekah Sutterfield
Matthew Burton
Josh Stuckey
Spencer Wright
Colby Neace
Jake Thompson
Carter Nance


Concert Band

Flute
Victoria Baker
Kallie Cox
Bailey Delay
Emily Finnegan
Ben Hunt
Jillian Landers
Klaire Pinson
Haley Stuckey

Oboe
Stephanie Ayala

Bassoon
Elie Summar

Clarinet
Mikeale Becraft
Jamey Dorris
Kaylee Looney
Mira McDonald
Kayla Simms
Rebekah Sutterfield
Deanna Whitney
Breanna Wright

Bass Clarinet
Rebekah Schuler

Alto Saxophone
Dylan Bruton
Matthew Burton
Jordan Dirck
Xavier Kilgore
Zak Kizer
Brandi Sigala
Mason Singleton
Alexus Stevens
Amberly Watson
Elizabeth Whittington

 

Tenor Saxophone
Addison Baker
Josh Stuckey
Spencer Wright

Bari. Saxophone
Colby Neace
Tonja Pipes

Trumpet
Natalie Anderson
Erika Baker
Jacob Collins
Dathan Conder
Megan Conley
Bailee Dotson
Kristyn Fields
Nathan Hall
Jackson Noble
Miguel Palma
Kallie Rice
Chris Spellings
Ben Stowell
Jacelyn Trotter
Stephen West
Andrew Willhite

French Horn
Ethan Beard
Jake Thompson
Alexis White
Clayton Wright

Trombone
Chandler Blake
Hannah Farias
Garrett Lincoln
Montana Pitre
Lindsey Prince
Carson Scantling
Gabriel Wakefield
Anabeth Wiebe

Euphonium
Lauryn Barnes
Jasmine Schneider
Brian Scott
Luca Vaca

Tuba
Dawson Allen
Tyree Baker
Kristen Bolte
Sam Keiper
Laura Loomis
Griffin Slane

Percussion
Andrew Berryman
Stormi Blevens
Timothy Carroll
James Collins
Korbyn Cowan
Savanna Darland
Steven Dorris
Angela Firey
Zach Gougler
Jason Hall
Kellie Johnson
Evan Krall
Chrystian Marshall
Danny Murray
Carter Nance
Hanna Nelson
Nikole Sandberg
Izzy Smith
Blakely Staton
Erin West
Hallie West


Winter Drum Line Members

Front Ensemble
Angela Firey
Zach Gougler
Sara Nance
Quinn Paden
Kellie Johnson
Izzy Smith
Hannah Nelson
James Collins
Bryce Gregory
Elie Summar
Erin West
Steven Dorris
Korbyn Cowan
Meghan Charles
DJ Harper

Battery
Tim Carroll
Savanna Darland
Carter Nance
Blakely Staton
Chrystian Marshall
Nikole Sandberg
Danny Murray
Hallie West
Evan Krall
Jason Hall
Stormi Blevins
Jake Thompson
Clayton Wright
Jackson Noble

Winter Guard Members

Lauren Barkdull
Hannah Callahan
Kenzie Cypert
Trininty Dobson

Holle Keith
Rebekah Schuler
Adrianna Tapp
Ashley Tate


Jazz Band One

Natalie Anderson
Adison Baker
Lauryn Barnes
Jordan Dirck
Sam Keiper
Tonja Pipes
Blakely Staton
Luca Vaca
Ethan Beard
Jacob Collins

Jamey Dorris
Hannah Farias
Angela Firey
Nathan Hall
Braden Kizer
Samantha Pidcock
Brian Scott
Chris Spellings
Rebekah Sutterfield


Jazz Band Two

Chandler Blake
Haley Stuckey
Elizabeth Whittington
Dawson Allen
Matthew Burton
Tim Carroll
Jacob Collins
Savanna Darland
Angela Firey
Jason Hall
Nathan Hall

Chrystian Marshall
Colby Neace
Jackson Noble
Lindsey Prince
Griffin Slane
Josh Stuckey
Jake Thompson
Gabe Wakefield
Andrew Willhite
Clayton Wright
Spencer Wright

CPHS graduate and NASA engineer Tim Wright speaks to Sand Springs elementary students

CPHS Class of 1988 graduate and soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee Tim Wright speaks to Pratt Elementary students. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

"It seems like yesterday that I was right next door at Clyde Boyd (Middle School)," said Tim Wright to a packed gym full of Pratt Elementary students.

In fact, it was nearly thirty years ago that the Charles Page High School alumni attended Sand Springs Public Schools. 

Since graduating in 1988, Wright has moved on to bigger and better things than many people dare to dream of. 

From graduating the Florida Institute of Technology, to seeing his handiwork travel across the solar system, Wright has quite literally reached for the stars throughout his career. He is one of three Sand Springs alumni who will be recognized for their accomplishments Thursday evening at the 28th Annual Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame banquet at the CPHS Ed Dubie Field House.

SEE RELATED: CPHS Class of 1985 graduate Dr. Stacey Butterfield to be inducted into Sandite Hall of Fame

SEE RELATED: CPHS Class of 1967 graduate Larry Hurst to be inducted into Sandite Hall of Fame

Wright, who currently resides in Florida, returned to his hometown a few days before the banquet in order to speak to Sand Springs students about his journey and the future of engineering and space travel.

"I was an okay student," said Wright. "But if you said when I was your age that I was gonna be a rocket scientist, my friends would have said 'no way!' One day in high school I was working a construction job and I saw a jet fighter fly over. I was like, 'how does that go so fast?' So I got interested in that and talked to my CPHS councilors, who told me I should look into engineering."

Wright piqued the students' interest with talk of hover-boards, YETI tumblers, and LEGOs. After asking who liked to build their own creations with LEGOs without any instructions, nearly every hand in the building went up. "You just qualified to be engineers," he said. "You think outside of the box."

"I graduated Charles Page, and I was a proud Sandite. I was in my first day in engineering school and the teacher said to look at the person on my left and look at the person on my right. 'By the end of the year, one, if not both, will not be here. It will be hard,' said the instructor. I was from Oklahoma, and I was not gonna let that happen."

After graduating FIT with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Wright got his first job at Cape Canaveral building launch pads for unmanned rockets. 

Wright has spend most of his career at the Kennedy Space Center, working with the Space Shuttle program. His job primarily involves reentry operations and returning astronauts safely to Earth. His contributions to that effort earned him the NASA Silver Snoopy Award in 2015 for his work on developing heat shields. 

In 2006 Wright worked as the Thermal Protection System Facility Engineering Manager with United Space Alliance and helped to develop the BRI-18 tile. The Boeing Replacement Insulation tile is now utilized around main landing gear doors, external tank doors, and nose landing gear doors. It was first installed on the Discovery shuttle, which was retired in 2011.

"I'm a thermal protection engineer. I deal with heat and cold and trying to protect things. We launched 135 shuttles during that program and lost two. One of those I was there for, and that was the Columbia accident. That was probably the worst day of my career."

"At NASA, often things don't go as you planned. You can choose to give up, or you can choose to say 'I'm gonna fight back and I'm gonna make things better.' We spend the next two years making new parts that were stronger, new cameras that could go around the shuttle after launch and look for damage. After that day we made space flight safer and better than it's ever been."

In December of 2014, Wright's team celebrated a successful mission by the unmanned Orion capsule they had developed. Orion slingshotted around the Earth to become the farthest-traveling space capsule since the Apollo era, then safely returned to the planet. The Orion is scheduled to make another unmanned flight on September 30, 2018, then will hold its first crew by 2021.

"Every day I go to work and I get to look at that NASA emblem and that American flag, and I get reminded of what my job is," said Wright. "Rockets are very dangerous and it's up to engineers to limit that danger."

"No one ever thought these things would be done, and they're happening every day out there. Right now the goal at NASA is to go to Mars in the year 2030. If you're ten years old now, you'll likely be finishing college when we reach Mars. If you do good in math, if you do good in science, and you go to college and get a degree in engineering or some kind of science, then you can be the ones to go to Mars."

Wright is the second Sandite to be named to the Hall of Fame for working with NASA. Colonel William R. Pogue was inducted in the inaugural Class of 1990 after participating in the Apollo 7, 11, and 14 missions in 1966.

The Hall of Fame banquet will be catered by Rib Crib and will feature a silent auction and music by the CPHS Jazz Band. Sand Springs Teacher of the Year Janet Johnson will also be recognized at the event.