Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Public university in Goodwell, Oklahoma, US

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Former names

| Pan-Handle Agricultural Institute (1909–1921)
Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College (1921–1967)
Oklahoma Panhandle State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (1967–1974)
Motto| Progress Through Knowledge
Type| Public university
Established| 1909

Parent institution

| Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges
Accreditation| HLC
President| Julie Dinger
Students| 1,720 +
Location|

Goodwell

Oklahoma

United States

36°35′35″N 101°38′14″W﻿ / ﻿36.59306°N 101.63722°W﻿ / 36.59306; -101.63722
Colors| Crimson & Blue

Nickname| Aggies

Sporting affiliations

| NAIA – Sooner
Website| www.opsu.edu

Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU, informally Panhandle State or simply Panhandle) is a public college in Goodwell, Oklahoma. OPSU is a baccalaureate degree-granting institution. General governance of the institution is provided by the Board of Regents of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. Academic programs and financial support are authorized and coordinated through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

## History

[edit]

In 1908, the Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation stating that, "...each of the Supreme Court judicial districts [shall have] a district agricultural school of secondary grade for instruction in agriculture and mechanics and allied branches, and domestic science, and economics, with courses of instruction leading to the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the state normal schools".[1]

Oklahoma Panhandle State University was created in response to this act and opened in 1909 as Pan-Handle Agricultural Institute, (PAI) offering secondary agricultural education for the Panhandle area. PAI began offering courses to prepare public school teachers in 1915.[1] In 1921, the legislature authorized the school to offer a two-year college curriculum, and the name was changed to Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College (PAMC). The college began offering four-year degree programs in 1925. In 1967, the school was designated as Oklahoma Panhandle State College of Agriculture and Applied Science. In 1974, the university assumed its present name.[2]

Franklin Hall, the school's oldest building, is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

## Academics

[edit]

The university is organized into 3 colleges that offer associate degrees and bachelor's degrees in such areas as history, education, business, and nursing. OPSU's agriculture-related degree programs produce valued and competent graduates who are qualified to work in the region's many bovine, equine, swine, and farming-related industries.

OPSU is regionally accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to grant associate and bachelor's degrees. It is also approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education for the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers, The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc.(ACEN).

Primary quad and clock tower at OPSU

The constituent colleges are:

* College of Agriculture, Science, and Nursing
* College of Business and Technology
* College of Arts and Education

Nationally competitive teams in: Computer Programming (OPSU AITP), Business (OPSU PBL), Crops Judging, and Livestock Judging.

## Athletics

[edit]

Main article: Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies

Carl Wooten Field and Water Tower

The Oklahoma Panhandle State (OPSU) athletic teams are called the Aggies. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) for most of its sports since the 2017–18 academic year. The Aggies previously competed in the Heartland Conference of the NCAA Division II ranks from 2002–03 to 2016–17.

OPSU competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include equestrian, rodeo and shooting sports.

### Football

[edit]

The football team plays at Carl Wooten Field and at one point competed in the Central States Football League (CSFL) until after the 2017 fall season. Previously, the Aggies competed in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference during the 2016 fall season. In the early nineties, OPSU Aggies football was known as a football powerhouse in the NAIA. The program has recently had some success thanks to the late Mike Wyatt (2007–2010). The 2010 team produced the Aggie football program's first winning season since 2004, going 6–5. The current coach, Russell Gaskamp, has set new records in player involvement in community service activities.

### Rodeo

[edit]

A point of pride for OPSU is its men's and women's rodeo teams. The school is a member of the Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and has won several regional and national team championships as well as numerous individual championships in the sport. The OPSU men's rodeo team won national titles in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004. 2013, 2017, and 2018.[1] As part of their scholarship package, rodeo team members may receive lodging in special housing and stalls for their animals.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Frank Beede, a former offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks. Beede played offensive line for the OPSU football team from 1995 to 1996.
* Jim Holder, an All American running back from Wichita Falls. Holder set NAIA rushing records in 1963 and is the only Aggie inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame.[3]
* Joshua Johnson, a world champion sprinter.
* Wright Langham, a biochemist and internationally renowned expert in numerous fields, especially plutonium.
* Jon Lantz, a former college football coach.
* M. C. Leist, a former Democratic member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
* Casey Murdock, a Republican member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing the 27th district since 2018.
* Leo Winters, a former Oklahoma State Treasurer and  Lieutenant Governor.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Richter, Sara and Tom Lewis. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. "Oklahoma Panhandle State University." Retrieved May 9, 2014.
2. ^ [1] Oklahoma Panhandle State University Retrieved February 16, 2014.
3. ^ "College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 at a glance". USA Today. Gannett. July 20, 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2022.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Sexton, Kathryn A. (1979). The Heritage of the Panhandle - The History of Panhandle State University: 1909-1979. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 548 pp.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Official athletics website

* v
* t
* e

Colleges and universities in Oklahoma

Public institutions|

| The University of Oklahoma system|

* Cameron University
* Rogers State University
* University of Oklahoma

|

Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges system|

* Connors State College
* Langston University
* Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
* Oklahoma Panhandle State University
* Oklahoma State University–Stillwater

Regional University System of Oklahoma|

* University of Central Oklahoma
* East Central University
* Northeastern State University
* Northwestern Oklahoma State University
* Southeastern Oklahoma State University
* Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Independent|

* University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

Private institutions|

* Bacone College
* Randall University
* Mid-America Christian University
* Oklahoma Baptist University
* Oklahoma Christian University
* Oklahoma City University
* Oklahoma Wesleyan University
* Oral Roberts University
* Phillips Theological Seminary
* St. Gregory's University
* Southern Nazarene University
* Southwestern Christian University
* Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
* University of Tulsa

Community colleges|

* Carl Albert State College
* Eastern Oklahoma State College
* Murray State College
* Northern Oklahoma College
* Oklahoma City Community College
* Redlands Community College
* Rose State College
* Seminole State College
* Tulsa Community College
* Western Oklahoma State College

* v
* t
* e

Sooner Athletic Conference

Full members|

* Central Christian Tigers
* John Brown Golden Eagles
* Langston Lions
* Mid-America Christian Evangels
* Oklahoma City Stars
* Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies
* Southwestern Assemblies of God Lions
* Southwestern Christian Eagles
* Texas Wesleyan Rams
* UNT Dallas Trailblazers
* USAO Drovers
* Wayland Baptist Pioneers

Associate members|

* Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes
* Cleary University Cougars
* Indiana Tech Warriors
* Louisiana Christian Wildcats and Lady Wildcats
* Lourdes Gray Wolves
* Ottawa Spirit
* Rochester Warriors
* Texas College Steers

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template