Askins surprised by establishment of endowed scholarship in her name

As Jari Askins concluded her service to Cameron University (first as interim president and more recently as Special Assistant to President Shane Hunt) during a farewell reception, she was prepared for expressions of gratitude and the recounting of her professional accomplishments. Although the Duncan native took centerstage during Tuesday's event, she chose not to bask in the accolades but instead took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the many individuals who offered assistance during her Cameron tenure.

What she wasn't prepared for, however, was an announcement heralding the establishment of the President Jari Askins Endowed Scholarship in Leadership.

"All of us at Cameron University are forever better because of the leadership and service of President Jari Askins," said Hunt. "I am incredibly thankful to Jari for her friendship and support and to our Aggie community who joined to honor her by permanently endowing this scholarship that will help generations of CU students have more opportunities and brighter futures."

The fundraising initiative was launched by a group of Askins' friends and supporters in Duncan and other parts of Stephens County. Not only did they want to recognize her recent tenure as CU's interim president, they wanted to acknowledge her efforts to establish Cameron University-Duncan. In 2004, as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Askins was the primary author of House Bill 2624 that resulted in the transition of the Duncan Higher Education Center into a branch campus of Cameron University.

"The establishment of this endowed scholarship came as a huge surprise to me," Askins said. "It's extremely meaningful. Leadership training for people I work with or generations of the future has always been very important to me, and the fact that Cameron is honoring my year as president with this scholarship means so much. It means an opportunity for students who most likely come from Southwest Oklahoma and will continue to live in Southwest Oklahoma will have some of the same training and opportunities that I was given."

The Cameron University Foundation welcomes additional contributions to the President Jari Askins Endowed Scholarship and other endowments. To make a contribution or to establish a new endowment, contact the CU Office of University Advancement at (580) 581-2999 or email [email protected].

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