Mike Turpen, chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, will be the keynote speaker at East Central University’s 2014 fall commencement exercises at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Kerr Activities Center.
Bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to 232 students while 95 others will obtain their master’s degrees during the ceremony.
Turpen, a champion for education in Oklahoma, is perhaps best known for his weekly appearances as a political analyst on “Flashpoint with Turpen and Humphreys,” which can be seen on KFOR, channel 4, in Oklahoma City.
Turpen was elected attorney general for Oklahoma in 1982 and has been a practicing partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewis in Oklahoma City since 1987.
Other than being a political pundit and attorney, Turpen has a deep commitment toward education in Oklahoma. In recent months, he has toured the state raising funds for university scholarships. Earlier this year, Turpen was on the ECU campus and successfully helped raise more than $55,000 for scholarships, a majority of the funds going toward the Nikki Stonecipher Memorial Scholarship.
He is the author a new book, “Turpen Time – the Wit and Wisdom of Mike Turpen.” In the book, he talks about everything from nocturnal meetings in the White House with his friend and President Bill Clinton, to a first kiss somewhere between the swing set and dog house.
His book is designed to teach life lessons and features many of his one-liners, called Turpenisms. A popular Turpenism is “If you’re throwing mud, you’re losing ground.”
Turpen has served as the chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. He made a bid for governor of Oklahoma in 1986, losing in the Democratic Primary to David Walters.
Turpen graduated from the University of Tulsa, where he received his bachelor of science degree in history in 1972. He earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Tulsa, College of Law in 1975.
After law school, Turpen joined the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office as the chief prosecutor and then first assistant district attorney. In 1976, Turpen was elected as the district attorney for Muskogee County and served in that capacity until 1983.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2010 to highlight a long list of awards and achievements. In 2008, he received the Oklahoma Arts Council Governor’s Award for Community Service; Treasurers for Tomorrow Award from the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation; and the Urban Pioneer Award from the Plaza District Association.
He was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the President’s Advisory Council on the Arts at the Kennedy Center in 1992. In 1986, he was the recipient of the National Foundation for the Improvement of Justice Award and was honored by the National Organization for Victim Assistance as one of 10 Outstanding National Leaders in the Field of Victim Rights over the past decade. These are just a few of the many honors and awards that Turpen has earned.
His wife is Susan and they reside in Oklahoma City. They have three children – Sean, Patrick and Sarah. Mike is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, where he is currently active as a teacher for the confirmation class and on the WPC Foundation Board of Directors.
Candidates for BACHELOR’S DEGREES are listed by their hometown or current residence:
ADA: Nashea Abram, Zachary Adams, Michael Allen, Anali Almodovar, Nathan Austin, Aileen Barton, Stephanie Bayne, Joshua Benard, Srijana Bhandari Kharge, Nabin Bhatta, Amanda Bird, Teresa Buretta, Cailee Canada, Eric Carmichael, Tracy Chiles, Anthony James Cloutier, Mary Cox, Maura Culver, Melissa Diacon, Lam Dinh, Krystyan Dorsey, Francesca Dumas, Charlynn Estes, Angela Foster, Leslie Foster, Lillian Gantt, Adam Gibson, Newakis Girdley, Nishakar Gopali, Chad Gray, Shakila Green, Kayla Gurley, Rejina Gurung, Sheela Gurung, Acacia Hainsey, Julie Harrel, Steven Harris, Kaylee Heck, Dylan Hendricks, Chaylum Hogue, Keysha Hogue, Katelyn Holmes, Stephen Hover, Salvador Jasso, Ashley Johnny, Lance Keenan, Shane Kimbrell, Cameron King, Mary LaMack, Reece Lewis, Jessica Linn, Christopher Lutrell, Alika Maharjan, Kelsey Martin, William Martin, Guillermo Martinez Mendoza, Brenadah Mays, Taylor McDonald, Whitnee Meadows, Kaylie Mills, Tyler Mills, Jennifer Morris, Taylor Nasu, Aubrie Northcutt, Shelby Owens, Charles Palmer, Roshan Pancha, Kendra Parker, Payton Patton, Melissa Perez, Breann Pinley, Bianca Pogue, Benly Ramos, Amanda Roundtree, Daniel Rowe, Kristy Scott, Kshitiz Shrestha, Monica Shrestha, Alison Siweckyj, Amber Smallwood, Destiny Smith, Evan Stallings, Kayla Stevens, Michael Stevens, Tammi Stick, Kyle Straughn, Holly Suman, KaCee Thompson, Pushkar Timilsina, Jodi Turtle, Donald Wegley, Joshua White, Kortney Williamson, Teyler Williston, Jennifer Wingard, Alexander Winton, Brandon Wright, Stacey Zulu
ALLEN: Clifford Gilliam
ANTLERS: Consuelo Splawn
ARDMORE: Rhonda Allen, Krystal Antwine, Patricia Boles, Kaitlyn Garrison, Lee Hare, James Havens, Kristen Hetzel, Kayla Kester, Krystal Lewis, Alisha Lopez, Ramona Perez, Dillon Potter, Taylor Rudd, Douglas Stephens, Kelly Underwood
ASHER: Amy Eckart-Gregg
ATOKA: Chrystle Moore
BLANCHARD: Kristen Birdsill
BRAGGS: Garrett Kizzia
BROKEN ARROW: Eli Cook
BYARS: Sara Haight
CARNEY: Jessica Tyler
CENTRAHOMA: Heidi Reed
CHOCTAW: Lauren Huff
COALGATE: Sahara Jump
COMANCHE: Elizabeth Clift
DAVIS: Toby Long, Jay Nunley, Easton Rogers, Molly Trimmer
DEL CITY: Adam Maxey
EDMOND: Subash Adhikari, Sujata Bohara, Siavash Khodadadian, Gina Mengwasser
ELMORE CITY: Gavin Doss
EUFAULA: Lisa Edge, Jesse Jocoy
FLETCHER: Seth DeLong
FRANCIS: Coty Dildine
HARTSHORNE: Krystal Collins
HENRYETTA: Tarra Christy, Heather Konsure, Janis Hart, Alice Rawls, Lia Runion
HUGO: Ashlyn Stafford
KONAWA: Phyllis Duck
LINDSAY: Amber McCleskey
MACOMB: Rebeka Stephenson
MADILL: Kayla Williams
McALESTER: Martin Barr, Kristen Carlin, Shaquille Kinchion, Sarah Lanham, Melissa Locke, Draysen Murdaugh, Erica Riley, Alexandria Tucker
McLOUD: Kelci Estep
MEEKER: Kelcie Badley
MIDWEST CITY: Allicyn Farris
NOBLE: Megan Hart
NORMAN: Heather Horner, Erin Phillips, Brittani Pollock, Billy Reinhart, Trey Tahsuda
OKLAHOMA CITY: Ken Berry, Erin Burton, Jorge Carrizales, Jane Karanja, Jameel Whitney
PAOLI: Stephanie Duncan
PAULS VALLEY: Kathryn Cozort, Casey Fowler, Lauren Huggans, Toni Livingston, Micaela McCurley, Jessica McNeill, Jessi Miller, Jasmine Quinonez
QUINTON: Maecy Paters
RATTAN: Christopher Brown
RINGLING: Shannon Hall
ROFF: Jessica Stewart
SEMINOLE: Charity Dillon, Landon Glass, Yu Han, Jennifer Mattson, Kelci Quisenberry
SHAWNEE: Elisabeth Collard, Denise Dean, Dean Ferdig, Jessie Randall, Debby Sharp, Steven Sturgis, Charleen Wade
SPENCERVILLE: Martha Greer
STONEWALL: Samantha Cannon, Kelsie Romines, Lois Sweat, Susan Van Horn
STRATFORD: Robbie Hatton
STRINGTOWN: Stephanie Self
SULPHUR: Grant Bates, Theresa Braden, Trey Craig
TECUMSEH: Joshua Coats, Misty Stiles
TISHOMINGO: Vanessa Vecchio, Kayla Wood
TULSA: Samantha Dalton
TUPELO: Chesna Henry, Trevor Sutton
WAGONER: Jaylea Thompson
WILBURTON; Randi Brown, Melonie Jackson, Crystal Toland
WISTER: Lydia Speake
WYNNEWOOD: Jessica Parker, Miranda Willis
ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Kelli Reed
CALHAN, Colo.: Richard Dillard
HIALEAH, Fla.: Robert Buitrago
MIAMI, Fla.: Yasmani Mosquera
KANEOHE, Hawaii: Megan Waiki
ARLINGTON, Texas: Rasesh Pote-Shrestha
FAIRVIEW, Texas: Austin Crisler
FORT WORTH, Texas: Cady Murphy
HURST, Texas: Surendra Chapagain
LANCASTER, Texas: Deon Criss
ROUND ROCK, Texas: Ethan Gold
SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Pramila Napit
TYLER, Texas: Bethany Green
Candidates for MASTER’S DEGREES are listed by their hometowns or current residence:
ADA: Michaela Barger, Ashley Cothren, Brianna Davis, Holly Flowers, Lisa Frederick, Lauren Hicks, Suzanne Ivory, Marcia Jack, James Jones, Benjamin Lewis, Aaron Manuel, Casondra McConnell, Wendy McKibben, Christina Mead, Nkefua Ngassa, Tamra Pacillo, Antonine Peek, Stacy Prewitt, Marissa Renes, Maryna Sweeney, Lauren Tancik, Tiffany Thompson, Chioma Umunna, Nikki Utt, Terry Vandergrift, Hong Zhang
ARDMORE: Christopher Dvorak, Richard Hackney, Robert McGehee, Osie Neasbitt, Karen Tadych
CALVIN: Roxanne Loyless
CENTRAHOMA: Charity Eidson
CLAYTON: Tara Hairrell
COALGATE: Joy Burris, Sarah Robbins
DAVIS: Florence Long, Nikki Patton
DURANT: Aleisha Brewer, Cody Gilmore
EDMOND: Nicholas Pettit
EL RENO: Whitney Stevenson
ELMORE CITY: Jennifer Earp
ENID: Shane Murray
FREDERICK: Kimberly Vanderburg
HARTSHORNE: Christina Baker
HUGO: Michele Shaffer
KINGSTON: Amanda Brister
MADILL: Courtney Leming
MARIETTA: Gerald Mason
McALESTER: Amy Burnam, Brenda Burnside, Jessica Gregg, Amy Lewis, Lloyd Robinson, Jayme Spruce-Clifton, Angela White
MIDWEST CITY: Chris Collier, Brandon Hawkins
NOBLE: Renee Haley
NORMAN: Austin Ardrey, Glenn Overton
OKEMAH: Ronnie Titsworth
OKLAHOMA CITY: Russell Coats
OWASSO: Andrea Vaughan
PAULS VALLEY: Jennifer Brenholtz
POTEAU: Nathan Billy, Amber Madume, Cheri Mathews, Paula Midgley, Belinda Westfall
SEMINOLE: Sharon Bryant, Lincoln Dearing, Richard Morgan
SHAWNEE: Jonathan Gibbs, Vanessa Jones, Annie Keehn, Karen Phillips, Nathan Smith
STONEWALL: Steven Sweat
STRATFORD: Deborah Estes
STUART: Jonathan Booth, Felicia Wilson
SULPHUR: Desa Smith, Benjamin Warren
WAYNE: Penny Thompson-Massey
YUKON: Anthony Douglas, James Woodard
BELLFLOWER, Calif: Joey Zrinzo
IOLA, Kan.: Ryan Mahoney
LAS VEGAS, Nev.: Andrew Herrod
DALLAS, Texas: Cassandra Nordie
GALVESTON, Texas: Christopher Joblin
GRAPEVINE, Texas: Chance Stevens
IRVING, Texas: Caitlin Bradley
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