STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State University chapter of Phi Beta Lambda recently attended the PBL National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

"There were many presentations and things to take away from the conference," said Kyle Buthod, a member of OSU's PBL chapter. "We had to opportunity to meet students from all over the nation, including Canada, British Columbia and other places."

At the convention, the students competed in various business competitions that simulated real-world industry situations. These contests were fiercely competitive, featuring the best and brightest future professionals in the nation, said Sarah Chabinak, the senior academic counselor for general and international business in OSU's Spears School of Business.

STILLWATER, Okla. - Edward Price III, an associate professor of economics, retired from Oklahoma State University's Spears School of Business faculty on June 30.

Price, who served 30 years on the Spears School staff, taught more than 10,000 students and instructed various graduate and undergraduate courses, including principles of economic analysis, economics of social thought, micro- and macroeconomics, managerial economics and industrial organization.

"My favorite part of being at OSU has been the opportunity to develop new classes, such as the economics of sport, and new deliver forms - classes through extension and the independent study office," Price said.

STILLWATER, Okla.  - The OSU Alumni Association is launching a new program to assist Oklahoma State University in recruiting students to Stillwater.

The Alumni Recruiting Network is designed to harness the power of more than 200,000 living alumni to recruit high school seniors across the state of Oklahoma, the United States and around the world to come to OSU.

"There are no better recruiters for our great institution than our loyal and enthusiastic alumni," says Larry Shell, president of the Association. "We know this program will have a positive impact in expanding the visibility of one of our nation's top land-grant universities."

State Regents for Higher Education voted today to freeze tuition for the next academic year at all public colleges and universities.

It was the first time since 2001 that tuition hasn't increased at any state campuses.

An expected influx of federal stimulus money offset cuts in state funding and even increased higher education public funding by 3 percent for the fiscal year starting July 1.

One of the United States' largest energy companies continues to support OSU and its potential employees.

ConocoPhillips gave its annual gift of $2 million to OSU at the beginning of the month.

This marks the seventh annual donation of that amount since the company's merger in 2002.

ConocoPhillips recommended for allocating $1 million to the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, $350,000 to the SPIRIT Scholars Program, $225,000 to Spears School of Business, $192,000 to diversity programs;,$70,000 for other support and $45,000 to the College of Arts and Sciences.

STILLWATER, Okla. - Marilyn Kletke, professor of management information systems at Oklahoma State University's Spears School of Business, has recently been chosen as a course reviewer for Quality Matters (QM).

QM has generated widespread interest and received national recognition for its peer-based approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement in online education. An online or hybrid course certified by QM is reviewed in more than 40 specific components to evaluate the course design so future students and faculty can have the greatest value from each course.

"Making distance courses better for students is the real goal," Kletke said. "Being a part of Quality Matters will give me the best opportunity to make recommendations on courses and help faculty develop their online materials into what students truly need."

Inspired by her experiences and the entrepreneurship seminars and conferences she attended, Nord's A Cup of Cappuccino for the Entrepreneur's Spirit: Volume I aims to give its readers an opportunity to receive the inspiration and education she has received from listening to over one hundred entrepreneurs share their stories. Featuring true motivational stories, this book includes adversities, challenges, triumphs, and successes experienced by the entrepreneur to help readers discover passion and basic principles they can use to live the entrepreneurial dream.

This article was originally published in the TulsaWorld. Click here to view the original article.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Brad Henry on Wednesday appointed Shawn S. Taylor as associate district judge for the 12th Judicial District in Mayes County.

Taylor succeeds Terry H. McBride, whom Henry appointed district judge.

"Shawn Taylor is an ideal choice for associate district judge," the governor said. "He possesses the experience, integrity and temperament needed to be a truly outstanding jurist."

Stillwater, Okla. - High school students from across the state gathered to attend the Oklahoma State University Information Systems Technology Exploration (ISyTE) Academy May 31 - June 5 on the OSU campus in Stillwater, Okla.

The six-day program was designed for students who will be in 10^th, 11^th or 12^th grade during the 2009-2010 academic year and it allowed participants to experience college living first-hand and participate in hands-on activities relevant to business, technology and management information systems (MIS). Participants stayed on the OSU campus and worked with current OSU MIS faculty and graduate students.

STILLWATER, Okla. - Craig Robison, director of Student Academic Services in the Spears School of Business, will retire from the Oklahoma State University faculty July 1.

Robison served in several positions during his 38 years at OSU. He joined the faculty in 1971 and spent three years working in residential life as a hall director. He then transferred to the College of Engineering, Technology and Architecture, where he spent 14 years as the director of Student Services in Engineering Technology. He has been the Spears School's director of academic services for 21 years.

"OSU has had a great impact on my life," Robison said. "OSU is home. The fine people who give their all for students are some of the best people and colleagues one could have. The faculty and campus-wide staff cannot be matched anywhere."