Reach Higher Program Hosts Reconnect Events, Awards Scholarships

June 14, 2023

SWOSU Press Release

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is pleased to announce that two Reconnect events will be hosted for its Reach Higher degree finishing program. The events will take place in the Memorial Student Center on the Weatherford campus on Friday, June 23 from 4–6 p.m. and on Saturday, June 24 from 10 a.m.– 1 p.m. Dr. Todd Wiggen, the Reach Higher Coordinator, will be available on site to meet with potential Reach Higher candidates for admission, advisement, and registration. While official transcripts from non-SWOSU schools attended are required for admission, provisional admission can be granted with unofficial transcripts.

The Reach Higher program is specifically designed to support working adults who have accumulated 60+ hours of college credits and are seeking to return to school to complete their bachelor’s degree. The program offers the convenience of fully online coursework and maximizes elective credits for individuals from various disciplines. Students pursuing the program will earn a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership with an area of focus in Business. Many students also choose to complete minors in their original area of study. The program ensures that students retain the credit they have already earned by accepting a significant number of elective hours.

During the 2022-23 academic year, the Reach Higher degree-finishing program at SWOSU awarded over $43,000 in scholarships to deserving students. Among the recipients of the Finish Line Scholarship is Jennifer Nightengale of Foss, OK; Carly Nguyen of Choctaw, OK; Kimbra Thomas of Weatherford, OK; Carly Carney of Hydro, OK; Allison Brian of Altus, OK; Janessa Bustin of Sayre, OK; Denise Boswell of Weatherford, OK; Rhonda Bennett of Anadarko, OK; Tyler Welch of Gans, OK; Antonae Thompson of Oklahoma City, OK; Tara Denney of Cheyenne, OK; Brayan Flores of Oklahoma City, OK; Pamela Sutton of Canton, OK; and Joshua Gossman of Moore, OK.

The Finish Line scholarship program provides funds for state-system colleges and universities participating in the Reach Higher adult degree completion programs to assist adult students nearing degree completion.

Several students are also recipients of the SHINE scholarship, which is designated for Reach Higher students and funded by the SWOSU Foundation. The recipients for the 2022-23 academic year include Amanda Blankenship of Owasso, OK; Joshua Gossman of Moore, OK; Brad Jones of Mustang, OK; Abigail Ulery of Oklahoma City, OK; Diana Juarez of Oklahoma City, OK; and Steven Sanders of Elk City, OK.

Wiggen, coordinator of the Organizational Leadership program, Reach Higher Flex Finish, expressed his enthusiasm for the Reach Higher adult-friendly degree completion options offered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. These options encourage adults who have previously earned some college credits to successfully complete their degrees.

Wiggen stated, “The program is really geared to working adults by offering flexible enrollment and online coursework. Students can go as fast or as slow as they want and are able. Many of our students may only take a class or two per semester due to their other obligations, and others will take five to six courses to try and finish as rapidly as possible. It is truly up to the individual.”

The Reach Higher program at SWOSU enables students to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. As part of the degree program, students will complete an area of focus, which has traditionally been Business but will soon include online options in Education, Psychology and Technology.

“The Reach Higher program is a life-changing opportunity for me. As a working adult raising a family, I’ve wondered if I would ever finish what I started over 20 years ago,” said Brad Jones, recipient of the SHINE scholarship. “The Reach Higher program has given me a renewed confidence in myself as a student and is lifting the burden of disappointment I’ve had in not achieving something that my parents and others invested in.”

Prospective students interested in joining the Reach Higher/Organizational Leadership program for the Fall 2023 semester at SWOSU are invited to contact Dr. Todd Wiggen via email at todd.wiggen@swosu.edu or leadership@swosu.edu for more information.