Four Southeastern Oklahoma State University students—Jill Scott, Cora McKinney, Jacee Bentley, and Kaysun Thralls—traveled to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, April 15, to participate in Higher Education Day and Oklahoma’s Promise Day at the State Capitol. The event, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, highlighted the value of the state’s higher education system in workforce development and economic growth while celebrating the ongoing support for the Oklahoma Promise program.

The day began with a recognition of the Oklahoma Promise Program, a scholarship initiative that provides qualified Oklahoma students with tuition assistance for college. Representative Arturo Alonso Sandoval, the youngest current state representative and a recent college graduate, delivered the keynote address. His speech emphasized the transformative power of education and the importance of legislative support for programs like Oklahoma’s Promise.

The Southeastern students also had the opportunity to meet briefly with Sean Burrage, Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, and former president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Burrage shared insights into the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in the state, reinforcing the importance of events like Higher Education Day.

Following the opening program, the students met with their local representatives to express gratitude for their support of higher education and to discuss issues impacting their communities. Jill Scott, one of the participating students, shared her experience meeting with her district representative, Cody Maynard.

“My biggest takeaway from Higher Education Day was the opportunity to talk to my current district representative one-on-one,” Scott said. “Rep. Maynard took the time to personally engage with us and answer all my questions. We discussed the education system in Oklahoma, how it can be improved in the next decade, and even the issue of poverty in our state. His responses were insightful and expanded my understanding of these critical issues.”

The day concluded with a panel discussion on the floor of the House of Representatives, featuring distinguished speakers from the Oklahoma legislature and higher education landscape. The panel addressed topics such as funding for higher education, workforce readiness, and the role of programs like Oklahoma’s Promise in shaping the state’s future.

As the students returned to Southeastern, they brought with them not only a greater understanding of the legislative process but also a renewed commitment to advocating for higher education in their communities.