Oklahoma Christian University honored donors and local talent at the 15th Annual Associates Gala at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum April 5.
Kent Allen, vice president of advancement, said the Associates Gala is Oklahoma Christian’s thank-you dinner for the school’s donors. He said people can become associates for as little as $300 a year, and about 730 attended the gala.
“But some people give in the thousands of dollars to help become associates,” Allen said. “That money is then put in our general fund—our unrestricted fund—kind of general student scholarships just to help keep the price of the university down.”
Not only is the gala a way of showing appreciation for donors, Allen said it is also an opportunity to show off the quality of Oklahoma Christian students. Freshmen J.D. Martin and Jesse Garner performed, as well as the Oklahoma Christian Chorale, according to Allen.
“But more than that, the president will share a number of stories with our constituents who are in attendance, just the great accomplishments of almost all of our students,” Allen said. “Which, that’s why everybody comes. They want to hear what’s going on at Oklahoma Christian and whether their dollars are making a difference in the lives of students.”
Junior Ashley Holland said she went to the gala, because she works for Alumni Relations. Holland said she had never been before, but it was good to see how many people are connected to Oklahoma Christian.
“John DeSteiguer stood up and showed new changes and happenings that have developed on OC’s campus,” Holland said. “My favorite part was that they showed pictures of specific students and the major accomplishments they had made, either for or with the help of OC. It gave donors, who might not always visit or see campus and its developments, the opportunity to see how they help the Oklahoma Christian community.”
Allen said the Lee Allan Smith Spirit of Oklahoma Award is presented every year at the gala to individuals who have devoted themselves to the betterment of Oklahoma. According to Allen, Smith has been a good friend of Oklahoma Christian for decades, in addition to being a major Oklahoma City community leader.
“He kind of embodies the spirit of Oklahoma, which is can-do and work hard,” Allen said. “The Green family, with the establishment of the Museum of the Bible, which is now opened in Washington, D.C., stand for great Christian principles. We felt it was going to be a good thing to honor them last year.”
This year, the award honored Darci Lynne Farmer, the young ventriloquist who won America’s Got Talent. Allen said he believed a lot of younger couples would attend the gala this year with their kids, because they have seen Farmer on television.
“I thought that the gala was so well done, and was not only informational but also entertaining,” Holland said. “It was really exciting to see Darci Lynne and see that Oklahoma Christian really cares about its associates and alumni.”
According to Allen, the dinner usually brings a diverse group of donors together who all believe in Christian higher education.
“It is a good cross section of donors, from young to old, brand new donors to those that have been with us for 50 years,” Allen said. “It’s an honor for us to have this thank you dinner, which is fully supported by donors, so it doesn’t come out of the budget. People give us money to actually put on the dinner. All the money that’s given by associates truly does go to Oklahoma Christian.”
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