SWOSU Engineering Physics Students Receive Scholarships and Program Honors

From left to right: Jonathon Barrett, Tristen Fleck, Ethan Layman, Austin Jones, Grayson McCullough, Manuel Mayorga, and Hritu Bishwakarma.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Engineering Physics students gathered at the Stafford Air & Space Museum for the program's annual spring banquet. Students were recognized for their work in the classroom and involvement in the program. Alumni, families, and faculty attended alongside current students.

Several students were recognized for the time and effort they have invested in their studies and in the program. Sophomores Manuel Mayorga of Hinton and Grayson McCullough of Clinton were inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society. Jonathon Barrett, a junior from Anadarko, was named a SWOSU Distinguished Student. Mayorga and McCullough also shared the Outstanding New Engineering Physics Club Member Award.

The Outstanding Midclassman in Engineering Physics Award went to three sophomores: Manuel Mayorga; Grayson McCullough; and Hritu Bishwakarma of Gorkha, Nepal. The award recognizes academic achievement and involvement in the program. Ethan Layman, a junior from Spearman, Texas, received the Leadership Award as president of the Engineering Physics Club.

Ten students were named recipients of scholarships.

J.R. Pratt Scholarships were awarded to Jonathon Barrett, Hritu Bishwakarma, Tristen Fleck of Blanchard, Ethan Layman, and Avery Wallace of Aline. The Benny J. Hill Scholarship went to Grayson McCullough, Austin Jones of Elk City, and Camryn Marshall of Elk City. The Ray C. Jones Scholarship was awarded to Manuel Mayorga, and the Arthur McClelland Memorial Scholarship went to Trezel Dorain of Canute.

Each of these ten students also received OSRHE STEM Workforce Development Scholarships.

The evening included a meal prepared by SWOSU Food Services before the program began. It concluded with a presentation from Dr. Terry Goforth, a 1981 SWOSU physics graduate and retiring professor of engineering physics. She spoke about the construction of a new sundial at the Stafford Air & Space Museum and explained how sundials measure time. She also shared reflections from her years as both a student and a faculty member at SWOSU.

The annual banquet provides an opportunity for students, alumni, and faculty to connect while recognizing academic progress and involvement in the program.

For more information about the department, visit https://www.swosu.edu/undergraduate/engineering-physics/index.php.

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 https://www.swosu.edu.