NEO maintains record enrollment numbers for eighth consecutive ...

NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE
NEO UPDATE
Dr. Hale with Student Body
Government Officers
Back L-R: Amy Ishmael- Vice
President of Student Affairs
and Enrollment Management,
Cheyenne Moyer- Secretary, Stacy
Smith- Senator at Large, Megan
Montgomery- Treasurer,
Front L-R: Charles Nash- Vice
President, Dr. Hale- NEO President,
Levi Mitchell- SBG President,
Robert Jones- Senator at Large
The Newsletter of NEO A&M College • September 2012 Edition
&
Back to School
Cunningham appointed
Assistant Vice President
for Academic Affairs
NEO announces Tyler
Dewey as new Livestock
Judging Coach
Homecoming Schedule
Second Annual NEO
Wellness Health Fair
Spotlight
Clinton Brightwell, Tres Wright, Lindsay Reid enjoying the new renovated Kah-Ne Hall
NEO maintains record enrollment numbers for eighth consecutive semester
At a time when other public institutions
are experiencing declining enrollment,
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, (NEO)
continues to have strong enrollment numbers.
During the past three years, NEO has
expanded its number of class sections as well
as degree and certificate options to meet the
demands of record growth.
“With 11 new certificate and degree programs
and continued campus beautification, it is no
surprise we continue to attract students from
across the country,” said Amy Ishmael, Vice
President of Student Affairs and Enrollment
Management.
Ishmael went on to say that more than 800
students lived on campus – the largest
increase since the nineties.
Ishmael is not the only one to have noticed.
Director of Housing, Jim Roland said, “I am
very excited with the numbers we have living
in our residence halls. Right now we have
eight rooms in Vann Hall that have three kids
to a room and 12 in Russell Hall.”
Approximately 500 student athletes moved
in during the week, and the College saw an
additional 850 students move in during NEO’s
‘Welcome Weekend.’
With the growth, sales in the campus
bookstore have increased 10 percent since
this time last year, and parking is now at an
absolute premium.
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“The rising number of students who have
decided to enroll at NEO A&M College is
indicative of the need our campus fills,” Dr.
Jeffery Hale, president, said. “The College is
committed to helping more students discover
that NEO is the place for them to start earning
their associate’s degree. We are competitive
and affordable.”
Hale continues to renovate facilities on campus
to keep NEO up-to-date, and the next building
scheduled for completion is the historic
Kah-Ne-You-Ah Hall. Kah-Ne is receiving the
finishing touches and will be done shortly
after Labor Day. However, the building was
completed enough that it housed classes the
first day of classes.
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0 Fall 2012 Fall 2011 Fall 2010 Fall 2009 Fall 2008
First-time
Resident Hall
Term Headcount Fresmen FTE Occupancy
Fall 2012 2504 855 2,091.20 810
Fall 2011 2501 857 2,119.27 734
Fall 2010 2349 799 1,970.53 669
Fall 2009 2157 791 1,791.60 650
Fall 2008 1803 656 1,533.47 550

NEO A& M College
Welcome Day Tent
Lindsay Reid &
Haley Hudson &
Taylor Langford
Lindsay Tasos
enjoying the fountain
Morgan Marley
Dylann Bislop, Ben Bass, Tyler Dewey and
Garrett Williams take a stroll through campus .
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Students enjoy the Student Union cafe
Ryan Jones, Lindsay Tasos, Megan Montgomery
and Alexis, Stinson - take in the campus -
Students enjoy Pancake Feed
welcome week
Clinton Brightwell, Tyler LangfordLindsay Reid, Abby
Hendrickson
Dylann Bishop, Ben Bass share a laugh in the
Mac lab
NEO Students in
the New Mac Lab
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CUNNINGHAM APPOINTED
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Shannon Cunningham,
Assistant Vice President
for Academic Affairs
“NEO has founded
its roots in building
relationships with
students, helping to
foster their growth,
and promoting a
rural environment
that promotes
success - I take a
lot of pride in being
a part of that, and
I am humbled to be
blessed with this
opportunity.”
Shannon Cunningham,
Assistant Vice President for
Academic Affairs
Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma
A&M College, (NEO) named Shannon
Cunningham as the new Assistant Vice
President for Academic Affairs. She will
continue serving in her role as Dept. Chair
of Agriculture and Horse Judging Coach in
addition to her new position.
Cunningham has been at NEO for nine
years. She earned an associate’s degree
from NEO in 2000. She worked toward her
bachelor’s degree in animal science at
Oklahoma State University and graduated
from OSU in 2002. In 2006, Cunningham
received a master’s degree from the
University of Arkansas, and she is nearing
the completion of her Ph. D. in agriculture
education at OSU.
Her professional achievements include
acting as presenter at Rural Community
College Association Conference on
undergraduate research at NEO A&M
College.
“I am very excited about this new
opportunity to diversify my involvement at
NEO. I am passionate about education,
providing opportunities for students, NEO,
and the community – and this position
provides a number of outlets to expand
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on those aspects,” Cunningham said.
“NEO has founded its roots in building
relationships with students, helping to
foster their growth, and promoting a rural
environment that promotes success - I
take a lot of pride in being a part of that,
and I am humbled to be blessed with this
opportunity.”
Cunningham’s professional and
community affiliations include serving as
a director for the National Horse Judging
Team Coaches’ Association; the National
Horse Judging Team Coaches’ Association
– Academic All American Coordinator;
Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership
Program, Class XV, Member; Oklahoma
Women In Higher Education – Executive
Board member; and Miami Arvest Bank –
Board member.
“Shannon’s experience, interpersonal
skills, and passion for excellence make
her the ideal candidate for the position
of Assistant Vice President for Academic
Affairs” said Dr. Jeff Hale, NEO A&M
College President. “The NEO faculty, staff,
and students have great confidence that
Shannon Cunningham will lead with great
distinction.”

NEO ANNOUNCES TYLER DEWEY AS NEW
LIVESTOCK JUDGING COACH
NEO A&M has the deepest and proudest Livestock Judging tradition in the country. This is represented by the
trophies and plaques from past teams. This group of students is bringing the pride and tradition back to NEO
“I am very excited and honored to be a
part of the rich livestock judging tradition
at NEO. I look forward to the challenge
of returning the team to its history of
winning and prestige.”
Tyler Dewey, Livestock Judging Coach
THE TEAM’S CONTEST SCHEDULE
CONTEST LOCATION DATE
National Barrow Show Austin, Minn. 9/10/2012
Aksarben Omaha, Neb. 9/30/2012
Tulsa State Fair Tulsa, Okla. 10/6/2012
American Royal Kansas City, Mo. 11/3/2012
NAILE Louisville, Ky. 11/14/2012
Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College,
(NEO) announced Tyler Dewey as the College’s
new Livestock Judging Coach. Dewey is entering
his fourth
year at NEO and also teaches agriculture classes
in addition to his coaching responsibilities.
“I am very excited and honored to be a part
of the rich livestock judging tradition at NEO,”
Dewey said. “I look forward to the challenge of
returning the team to its history of winning and
prestige.”
Livestock judging is defined as the evaluation of
livestock according to breeding and productive
qualities in order to determine their breeding
value, according to the freedictionary.com.
“I have great confidence in Tyler’s ability, skill,
and talent. He is dedicated to rekindling the
tradition and legacy that is NEO
Livestock Judging and has already successfully
hosted several events and camps that have
reinvigorated commitment and interest from
our alumni and community,” said Shannon
Cunningham, Dept. Chair of Agriculture. “Tyler is
a tremendous asset not only to the Agriculture
Department but as our new livestock judging
team coach. I am excited about the things to
come for our team under his leadership.”
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Second Annual NEO Wellness Health Fair – Sept. 25th
Staff members at Northeastern
Oklahoma A&M College, (NEO) are
preparing for the Second Annual
Wellness Health Fair scheduled
for Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 from
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event will take
place inside the Student Activity
Center on the NEO campus.
“The Health Fair will help those who
attend to become better informed
about how diet, exercise and other
practices affect our health,” said
Donna Hale, Yoga Instructor and
First Lady of NEO. “The choices that
we make either positive or negative
have a lasting effect on our quality
of life. There are opportunities in
the area to better our health that
many people are not aware of.”
The Health and Wellness Fair is free
and open to the public.
NEO Medical Lab Technicians will
be on hand conducting health
screenings from 7-10:30 a.m. both
NEO NURSING STUDENTS
STUDY ABROAD.
Nursing students from NEO
recently traveled to Ireland as
part of the Nursing Program’s
globalization project. Debbie
Morgan, Director of Nursing,
served as the group leader on
the second trip sponsored by
the Nursing Program. Morgan
was accompanied by firstyear
nursing students Alecia
On-The-Hill, Skylar Humble,
and Linda Jones; second-year
nursing student Kendra Allman;
and community member Mary
Allman.
Tuesday and Wednesday. The health
screenings are $25 and include
a complete metabolic panel and
lipids. They accept checks or cash.
Those who are interested need
to fast from midnight until their
screening and should only consume
water and medication. For details,
contact Mitzie Miller, Medical Lab
Technician faculty member.
Yoga and Zumba breakout sessions
will also take place during the fair at
no cost to participants.
There will be free exhibitor booths,
numerous door prizes, and health
screenings available. A tobacco
cessation break-out session will be
offered from 10:30 – 11 a.m. in the
O-Club Room.
For more information or to reserve
an exhibitor booth, contact the
Wellness Coordinator Chad Davis
at chad.davis@neo.edu or call 918-
540-6098.
“The immersion trip to Ireland was
part of the globalization efforts of
the Nursing Program to broaden
students’ perspectives of health
care and nursing,” Morgan said.
“These students completed a
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Yoga Instructor Donna Hale, (bottom, right-hand
corner) shown teaching a breakout yoga session
during last year’s Health and Wellness Fair
“The choices
that we make
either positive
or negative have
a lasting effect
on our quality of
life. There are
opportunities in
the area to better
our health that
many people are
not aware of.”
Donna Hale, Yoga Instructor
Left to right: Linda Jones, first year nursing student; Alecia On-The-Hill, first year nursing
student; Mary Allman, community member; Skylar Humble, first year nursing student; and
Kendra Allman, graduate of the NEO Nursing program
course in spring 2012 entitled
“Global Perspectives in Nursing”
where they studied Ireland: its
culture, heritage, language, current
system of health care and nursing
issues before travelling abroad.

NEO
SPOTLIGHT
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, (NEO) announces
New Apointments
THEATRE NEO TO PRODUCE DEATHTRAP
Theatre NEO’s (of Northeastern Oklahoma
A&M College) first show of the 2012-13
season will be Deathtrap, a comedy thriller
by Ira Levin. The play is directed by Maria
Nichols and will be presented in the Fine Arts
Auditorium on Oct. 4, 5, and 6 @ 7:30 p.m.
and Oct. 7 @ 2 p.m.
One of the great popular successes of recent
Broadway history, this ingeniously constructed
play offers a rare and skillful blending of two
priceless theatrical ingredients: gasp-inducing
thrills and spontaneous laughter. Dealing
with the devious machinations of a writer of
thrillers, whose latest plays have been flops,
and who is prepared to go to any lengths to
improve his fortunes, Deathtrap provides
twists and turns in such abundance that
audiences will be held spellbound until the
very last moment.
Deathtrap holds the record for the longest
running, comedy-thriller on Broadway and was
also nominated for the Tony Award for Best
Play. The play was later adapted into a film
starring Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine,
and Dyan Cannon.
Theatre NEO’s production of Deathtrap
includes the following cast members: Blake
Gonzalez, sophomore theatre major from
Eucha, Okla. in the role of Sidney Bruhl;
Maryclaire Allen, freshman musical theatre
major from Rogers, Ark. in the role of Myra
Bruhl; Chris Keithley, sophomore theatre
major from Fairland, Okla. in the role of
Clifford Anderson; Britany Geidl, freshman
music theatre major from Pineville, Mo. in
the role of Helga Ten Dorp; and Alex Warstler,
freshman theatre major from Galena, Kan.
in the role of Porter Milgram. Amber Waller,
sophomore theatre major from Beggs Okla.
will be stage managing, and assistant director
is Bentley Heydt, sophomore theatre major
from Miami, Okla.
Prices are $10 for adults, and $6 for seniors
and children. Admission is free for NEO
students, faculty and staff with ID.
BRADLEY
THOMAS
GOLDEN
NORSEMEN
RUNNING
BACKS COACH
ANTHONY
FOGLE
GOLDEN
NORSEMEN
WIDE RECEIVER
COACH
NICK
PETTIT
ASSISTANT
MEN’S AND
WOMEN’S
SOCCER COACH
COREY
SNOWDEN
COLLEGE’S
COMPUTER
TECHNICIAN
SASHA
FRENCH
CAMPUS NURSE
Thomas, a graduate of Ardmore
High School in Okla., played on the
NEO Golden Norsemen 2002 and
2003 Conference Championship
teams under Coach Dale Patterson’s
leadership.
Thomas went on to play for Evangel
University where they also won a
conference championship.
Fogle, originally from Houston, Texas
has an extensive background as a
player and as a coach. Lettering four
years at the University of Oklahoma,
Fogle then played professionally for
the New York Jets and Green Bay
Packers before moving to Canada.
Fogle finished his playing career in
the Arena Football League with stops
with the Oklahoma City Wranglers.
Pettit is originally from Edmond, Okla.,
where he graduated from Edmond
Memorial High School. Pettit was
on the Edmond Memorial’s 2008
6A State Championship team which
finished fourth in the Nation. He
then attended and played soccer
for Oklahoma Baptist University in
Shawnee, Okla.
Snowden graduated from Oklahoma
State Institute of Technology in
2012, where he also worked in the
Computer Information Services office.
Snowden said he enjoys being in
leadership positions and took on the
roles of Vice President of the National
Gaming Executives in 2012 and is
also a member of the Association of
Information Technology Professionals.
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College,
(NEO) welcomes NEO graduate
Sasha French back to campus as the
College’s on-site nurse.
French graduated from the NEO
Nursing program in 2008 and
since then has been working as a
Registered Nurse in an inpatient
setting at Freeman Health System.
EDITOR/STORIES/PHOTOS: KATIE DEWEY EDITOR: PEGGY RHINE GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT: ZULY WARE
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