Oklahoma Wesleyan University

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

Dr. Bob Bonner

Dr. Bob Bonner graduated from Central Pilgrim College in Bartlesville in 1967 with a B.A. in Religion. He received a second B.A. in Biblical Studies from Phillips University in 1968, as well as a Masters in Education in 1970. He continued his education at Ball State University in Indiana where he received a Doctorate in Education in 1977. He has a broad background in ministry, serving as pastor for several Wesleyan Churches in both California and Oklahoma; Director/Editor for the Department of Local Church Education for
The Wesleyan Church; and as an administrator for seminaries in South Africa. He has over 35 years of experience in The Wesleyan Church, holding various offices and positions at the local, district, and national levels. Dr. Bonner has also ministered for 25 years in higher education as a professor and administrator. He currently serves as the chair of the Education Division of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. He has also enjoyed 35 years as a public speaker in churches, youth camps, revivals and workshops in both local and international venues. Bob is married to Linda and they have two children. Julie just went home to be with Jesus this past Aug. 18 after a long battle with cancer. Jaren is a pilot for Delta Airlines and lives with his wife Carrie and their son Brandon Caleb in Winston-Salem North Carolina. Bob and his family enjoy biking, snow skiing, sailing and hiking in God’s beautiful outdoors. He is known for his great sense of humor; is easy to talk to; and is an extremely caring person.

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sharol Little

“With Sharol you have a clear example of a former student who is having a positive impact on education in Kansas and Colorado,” said Betty Lou Harris in a letter supporting the nomination of Dr. Sharol Little for Alumni Achievement Award. Little is the superintendent of Wiggins School District, Colorado. In these last 30 years, she has worked throughout the educational system as a secondary teacher and a public information director in Hays, Kansas. Then she was the assistant director of Kansas North Central Association and assistant professor at Wichita State University. Sharol has taught at Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University. She has served as assistant superintendent in Liberal and Hutchinson as well as superintendent in Winfield, Dodge City and Manhattan. “She has sought ways to bring parents and community leaders into the schools,” said a city manager. “She helped to convert a school to a homeless center, passed bond issues for a new highschool and 5/6 grade center, and cleaned up our town.” Little has earned a bachelor of science degree in education, a master of science in educational administration and an educational specialist degree from Fort Hays State University. In 1990, she earned a doctorate of education from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. She attended Miltonvale Wesleyan College during the 1960s where she met Ron Little, a graduate of 1966 and a game biologist for over 35 years with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. They married in 1967 and have two sons that both graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rod is married to Janet and has two daughters. Ty is a major in the USAF flying the C-17 in the Iraq war.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OKWU

Mary Maness

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Mary Maness is the oldest of three children. Their family activities centered around the church, and she gave her heart to the Lord at age 13. She always dreamed of going to a Wesleyan college. She moved to Owosso, Michigan, to work at Owosso College and was a student there as well. She transferred to Michigan State University and completed a B.A and M.A. in Elementary Education. Mary came to Bartlesville to be the Administrative Assistant to the Academic Dean, Dr. Paul Faulkenberry. Her assignment was to help with the initial North Central accreditation, and she began teaching as well. After the accreditation process was complete and as the education program grew, she began teaching full-time. During that time she completed Reading Specialist certification at Oklahoma State University. Mary became involved in two intercultural programs. The first was the Central American program in which students came to campus to learn English and American culture. She had the opportunity to teach English as a Second Language to students from several Central American countries. The second program was the partnership between BWC and Ogaki Women’s College in Ogaki, Japan. The highlight of that experience was traveling to Ogaki, Japan, to teach classes there. Recently, Mary completed 30 years at OKWU. “Teaching primarily reading, language arts, and children’s literature courses has been a great experience. I usually say that I teach the “fun” courses. Working with student teachers and first year teachers has given me many opportunities to be in public and private schools and see theory in action as our students and graduates become master teachers. During the past several years, Mary has been a part of teacher training teams sponsored by World Hope International – four to Haiti, two to Nicaragua, and one to Bosnia. This past summer she had the privilege of representing World Hope’s child sponsorship program at several Wesleyan conferences.

YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT

Sandra Kent

Sandra graduated from OKWU with a B.S. in Elementary Education in1992. She began teaching in Pawhuska, Oklahoma at Indian Camp School the following August. She taught 5th grade for one year and then taught 6th grade for the next seven years. In 1997, she graduated from Oklahoma State University with a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Administration. Her last year of teaching at Indian Camp, she also served as the assistant principal. In the fall of 2000, Sandra took on her first position as an elementary principal. She spent four years in Oologah. While there she helped to bring the 5th grade back to elementary from the middle school and also helped with the transition of going from one very large elementary to having two separate buildings for a Lower and an Upper Elementary. She took the helm of the new Lower Elementary building at that time. Sandra led Oologah Lower Elementary through the process of becoming an Oklahoma A+ School. This is an arts integration initiative that creates an integrated curriculum model for the improvement of instruction. The Lower Elementary was one of the first 20 schools accepted into the network. Sandra also won the State Superintendent’s and Arts Alliance Award for Excellence in Arts Education in April of 2004. Sandra spent one year in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and is now the principal at Wilson Elementary in Bartlesville. Sandra is married to Thad, a 1992 graduate.