Southwestern Oklahoma State University
02/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/25/2026 14:28
SWOSU Recognizes Students at 2026 Distinguished Student Award Ceremony
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) recognized students from across its academic colleges during the 2026 Distinguished Student Award Ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Fine Arts Center in Weatherford.
The annual ceremony honors undergraduate and graduate students selected for their academic performance and leadership at the university. Recipients are chosen based on a combination of grade point average and involvement in campus activities, cocurricular programs, and service to the university. Undergraduate students are selected from the top 20 percent of juniors and seniors within their departments, while graduate students are eligible after completing at least 15 graduate credit hours at SWOSU with an A average.
This year's group of 143 recipients represents students from across the university's academic programs. Together, they reflect the work required to balance coursework, campus involvement, and service while maintaining a high level of academic performance. The ceremony recognizes not only individual achievement, but also the broader role these students play in classrooms, organizations, and university activities throughout the year.
The program included remarks from university leadership and a featured address by Dr. Denise Landrum-Geyer, the 2025 Bernhardt Academic Excellence Award recipient and chair of SWOSU's Department of Language and Literature. Certificates were presented by academic and student services administrators representing each college.
A complete list of the 2025-26 Distinguished Student Award recipients is available here: 2025-26 Distinguished Student Award Nominees.xlsx. The full list of recipients is organized by college and can be viewed by using the tabs at the bottom of the Excel file.
About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit swosu.edu.
Thinking about becoming a Bulldog?
Choosing the right university comes with plenty of questions about applications, costs, and campus life. At SWOSU, students benefit from strong programs, a supportive community, and plenty of opportunities to get involved. This FAQ highlights answers to some of the questions students most often ask when considering SWOSU.
FAQs
How to apply to SWOSU?Start your application process by visiting SWOSU's admissions page to choose the path that fits you to submit your application!
To learn more, visit the SWOSU Admissions page.
For graduate degrees, you submit your application through the Graduate Application Portal and include transcripts and immunization records. Deadlines vary by program.
To learn more, visit the Graduate School Admissions page.
Tuition rates for SWOSU vary based on residency status and credit hours. For the most accurate and current tuition information, please refer to the official SWOSU Tuition and Fees page.
SWOSU welcomes transfer students! Requirements depend on hours completed: if under 24 hours, submit an application, test scores, and transcripts. For more than 24 hours, submit your application, transcript(s), and immunization records. A GPA of 1.7 is required for up to 30 hours; 2.0 is required beyond that.
To learn more, visit the Transfer Students page.
SWOSU offers a range of financial assistance, including scholarships, grants, and loans. These can come from academic departments, foundations, or federal and state resources.
To learn more, visit the Scholarships & Grants page.
SWOSU's "In-State + $1 Tuition Program" allows non-resident (including transfer and international) students to pay the in-state tuition rate plus $1 per credit hour. No extra application is needed. Savings can exceed $3,450 per semester (based on 15 credit hours).
Note: This rate applies to tuition only, not fees, housing, meal plan, or books. To learn more, visit the In-State + $1 Tuition page.
Yes! SWOSU offers graduate programs in areas such as Education, Business, Nursing, Allied Health, and more.
To learn more, visit the Graduate School Admissions page.
Yes! SWOSU offers online courses and degree options across undergraduate and graduate levels to give students flexibility with their schedules.
To learn more, visit our SWOSU Online page.
On-campus housing includes traditional residence halls and apartment-style living. These options offer amenities like meal plans, laundry, and social spaces.
To learn more, visit our Residential Life page.
SWOSU hosts more than 80 student clubs and organizations-ranging from Chemistry Club, Scuba Club, Gaming Club, Honors Associations, Hispanic American Leadership Organization, to Faith-based, academic, and recreational groups.
To learn more, visit the Student Organizations page.
SWOSU offers services including academic advising, tutoring, writing support, health and counseling services, financial aid assistance, residence life, library, and more.
To learn more, visit the Student Services page.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University published this content on February 25, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 25, 2026 at 20:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]