Tremendous Thursday, 2018

Our trip from Stillwater to Enid began like no other day. We left the hotel 20 minutes late, the flash floods caused us to take an alternate route, and the students were super exhausted. Despite these minor setbacks, we held steadfast for Leonardo's Discovery Center. While the rain left us inside, the students still had an amazing time playing with all the various activities inside. 

Our next stop was Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. Here, students learned valuable medical terminology, had hands-on experience with the latest technology in the medical industry, and were about to consult with doctors about their experience in the medical field. 

After an immense amount of new knowledge, we were starving for food!! We had lunch provided to us by the Enid Convention Center. Not only did we have lunch here, but we were also greeted by former alumni from the adult program leadership program, Leadership Oklahoma. 

Following lunch, we left for EduCare in Oklahoma City. Here, our students learned about EduCare and their mission, which is to provide strength-based family support and to create and accomplish goals that lead to increased family and child success.

Our last stop before dinner was the Devon Tower located in downtown OKC. At the Devon Tower, our students were lead to the 50th floor (by the elevator of course)! Once there, tour guides lead us around the building and showed us the construction for beautification in the surrounding area. 

Finally, our last stop was dinner! We drove to the Plaza District and were served Empire Pizza! Luckily the food was not fully ready when we arrived and students had the opportunity to explore the district and take some cool pictures! 

Once we arrived at the hotel, the students got ready for their 80's themed dance. The students danced all night and were sad because the trip was coming to an end. 

Wacky Wednesday 2018

Our morning started off a little later than most of our days and we were all excited to sleep in a little more! We started off by visiting and touring the marvelous Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. Tour guides helped us reveal the meaning behind many magnificent pieces of art. Additionally, the students were mesmerized by the beautiful garden in the back-yard.

After the Philbrook Museum, we proceeded to the Woody Guthrie Event Center and Museum. Once there, we learned about The Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice (OCCJ). The OCCJ puts on a community-based event called Camp Anytown. This camp is for high schoolers to come together in a peaceful setting and bring their individual experiences of their diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, racial, and economic backgrounds.

After a morning full of learning, the student's stomachs could be heard growling from across the room. So we headed to lunch at Dust Bowl and enjoyed a few games of bowling. Once done, we left for our next destination, Stillwater! 

Once in Stillwater, we made our first stop at Eskimo Joes Print Shop! Here students were able to meet the Co-Founder and CEO, Stan Clark. Furthermore, students learned about the extensive process of how Eskimo Joes famous t-shirts are made! The students were fascinated by the fast production of the promotional items. 

Since we were in Stillwater we had to visit the beautiful campus of Oklahoma State University! After touring the campus we went to the most iconic restaurant in Stillwater, Eskimo Joes! When students got their tummies full once again, we went to the hotel for the night. 

Tremendous Tuesday 2018

This early morning caught many of us by surprise and not just by the early wake-up call at 5:00am. YLOK Class 18 began bright and early at Fort Sill in Lawton to see what the daily life in the army is like. Our students participated in physical training, simulated gun shooting exercises, marching, and eating in the "Chow Hall." While the students were very tired after their visit, they gained a new prespective and respect for the military.

Our journey continued in Lawton, as we ate lunch at Waynes Drive-In, a locally owned drive in. Our students even got to special order drinks while enjoying their delicious food! After eating our amazing lunch, we got back on the bus and headed to Tecumseh.

After arriving in Tecumseh, we went to the Tecumseh Juvenile Detention Center. We had the opportunity to hear from four students who were currently residents at the Center as well as take a tour of the facility. Our students asked great questions and walked away with a much deeper knowledge of the Center and the issues that it faces.

We headed on to our next location, Tulsa, with another fun bus ride. We went to Los Cabos along the Riverwalk for dinner and enjoyed excellent Mexican food! It was a GREAT dinner, and to top it off, many students had a great time singing outside in the beautiful weather. 

Marvelous Monday 2018

Today was an exhilarating day as we began bright and early at 8:00 am! Our 50 student leaders began the day with team building exercises at OKC Riversport. The team building exercise was comprised of three components: hula-hooping with linked arms, building a structure with Lego blocks while one group verbally gives instructions of how to build it while not allowing the builders to see the picture of the structure, and solving a puzzle as a group.

After the students warmed up to one another and gained some group trust, they were able to take on the OKC rapids. We had so much fun and were pretty wet at the end!

Next, this bright group of students took a tour of the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum. They were astonished by the devasting events that occurred in April 1995. This was a great learning experience for the students as they gained a deeper understanding of the events and the history of Oklahoma.

At the Memorial and Museum, the students received a great message from Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Jim Winchester. Judge Winchester played a game with the students called "You Be The Judge." He gave our students three different scenarios and talked through what the thought process would be if they were the judges of each specific case. 

Before dinner, we took a short break to tour the University of Oklahoma. Our students were very fortunate and the weather was amazing! By the end of the tour, most of our students were yelling "BOOMER." 

Finally, to finish our time in Norman, we went to the Sarkeys Foundation and ate Hideaway Pizza for dinner! Additionally, we had an open discussion with Chickasaw Judge Linda Weeks. 

After leaving dinner, we boarded the bus for our first long trip of the week to Lawton, Oklahoma. We visited Cameron University and were able to speak with Vice President Johnson, Vice President Vanderslice, and Dean Naifeh over some yummy ice cream and chicken nuggets. It was an amazing day and we are looking forward to seeing the sun rise early in the morning!

Sensational Sunday 2018

Today marks the beginning of YLOK Class XVIII's week long trip across Oklahoma! This year, 52 outstanding high school leaders arrived at the Oklahoma Heritage Association with exuberant faces and were excited to learn and meet new people. 

Our opening ceremony began with an introduction by Mario Paden, who is the CEO of Leadership Oklahoma.  After saying goodbye to all parents and friends from last year’s class, it was time for our students to begin getting to know each other. The best way to do that in a short amount of time is of course speed dating. They were asked fun questions as conversation starters and were required to give hugs at the end of each two-minute date—it was so much fun getting to watch them interact with each other! Additionally, the group took a personality, which helps them distinguish their unique strengths and weaknesses.

This was a great first afternoon and we are super excited for our first full day tomorrow!

 Below is the first of many group photos.

Fantastic Friday 2017

Friday. The day of YLOK that we get to look back on a great week and wonder how it flew by so quickly. Our morning started off at the State Capitol with mock legislation led by former state representative Joe Dorman. The students were provided with legislation and had to defend and argue against what pieces of it they saw fit for the state of Oklahoma. Many students stood up and made great points on both sides! 

 

Following mock legislation, we made our way to lunch at the Oklahoma History Center. We ate lunch, reflected on the memories made during the week, and looked forward to the many memories continuing as friendships began to grow throughout the next few years. Each student was presented with an engraved Oklahoma shaped plaque in honor of graduating!

  

To end our week, we enjoyed skits presented by the class. Not only do we have future Governors, Senators, and Community Leaders in this YLOK Class but we also have some pretty stellar comedians. It was an awesome way to reflecting back on the week before we parted ways for the summer.  

 

As we look back on the week, each chaperone for the group can agree that these students taught us more than we could have ever taught them. They connected to each other and truly invested in the lives of those around them. We are so excited to see the many accomplishments to come as these students continue to grow into their leadership styles and pursue their interests in college and beyond. We are looking forward to see the many great achievements that lie ahead for this class because we know their service and sincere interest in helping those around them will make an impact on our state. With YLOK Class 17 leading the pack, our future is in great hands.

Thankful Thursday 2017

As we began our last full day together, it was only fitting to get it started bright and early. We said goodbye to Stillwater and hello to Enid! Our first stop was at Leonardo's Discovery Center, where our students had the opportunity to play on a three story tall playground, see a chameleon, and explore the world of dinosaurs.



After the Discovery Center, we made our way over to Integris Bass Hospital. Here students were able to have valuable hands on experience with some tools used in the medical field as well as talk with professionals within the hospital that worked in other professions other than just the doctors.



We were fortunate to then have a tour of the Enid Convention Center before our lunch. Many past Leadership Oklahoma graduates were in attendance and each gave a little piece of advice to our students as well as their "why" behind loving Enid. It was amazing to see the deep love of Oklahoma and Leadership Oklahoma as an organization--thank you to all those who gave their time!



Our time in Enid had come to a close and it was time to reach our final destination--Oklahoma City. After our final long bus ride, our first stop was Educare. Educare is an early childhood school that prepares children from birth to age five for success in kindergarten and beyond. This was an eye opening experience for many students!

After Educare, we made our way to the Devon Tower where we were given a Walkaround Tour of OKC on the 50th floor. It was so cool getting to hear about the growth that OKC has had in the last couple of years and the future plans for our capital as well while seeing it from the tallest building on our skyline. It also was a great place for some pictures with our new friends :)



For our last supper together, we were treated to Empire Slice in the Plaza District. It was a beautiful night, getting to enjoy the beautiful weather and company was such a treat!

When we arrived at our hotel, we had one final speaker. We had the opportunity to hear about leadership from Renzi Stone. He talked about the importance of finding your passion, determining purpose, and gaining perspective.

Next up--the 80's dance!!! Cookies, pizza, music, bright colors, and fun pictures filled the night. There couldn't have been a better end to our week than getting to spend the night all together. It was very cool getting to see the entire class have a blast together; it's crazy to think it's only been five days together. Although we are sad our time is coming to an end, we are so looking forward to celebrating and honoring each member of the class tomorrow on our final day!

Wonderful Wednesday 2017

Our first stop of the day was at Williams’ Energy where we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast provided by the Williams’ Energy Staff. We then were given the opportunity to listen to several of those within the company to explain their stories, memories, and life-lessons learned while participating in leadership. They also reiterated strongly how wonderful of an opportunity this program is for young people to gain a leg up in networking and leadership development. Our students then were able to ask questions to a panel of young professionals within the Williams Corporation ranging from newly hired employees to interns. 

 

After Williams, made our way to the Woody Guthrie Event Center and Museum where we heard from directors of Camp Anytown, which is put on by The Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice. Camp Anytown is a camp for high schoolers to come together in a peaceful setting and bring their individual experiences of their diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, racial, and economic backgrounds. The directors led activities for our students to open their eyes to the diverse backgrounds of our group and grow respect and awareness for each other in a new way.

Our next stop was the Philbrook Museum of Art where we received an extensive and enlightening tour of the museums grounds. They were absolutely breathtaking; we learned a large amount of interesting information about the museum and the significance of the pieces in it.

 

We drove straight to out lunch destation at Dust Bowl after our tour of Philbrook. We enjoyed delicious sandwiches and chips as well as some bowling before heading to our next stop, Stillwater. 

 

 We left Tulsa and made our way to Stillwater for a stop at the Eskimo Joe’s Printing Press. We toured the facility and saw firsthand the process of t-shirt creation. Traveling through the production facility as t-shirts, we made the rounds all the way from the graphic design department to the finishing room. 

 

After traveling to Eskimo Joe’s, we made our way to Oklahoma State University where took a tour of the campus before eating yummy food at Eskimo Joe’s. After a delicious meal and shopping around, it was time to check into our hotel for the night and prepare for the next days activities. 

Tasty Tuesday 2017

After a long first day, we were up bright and early, leaving the hotel at 5:30 to make our way to Ft. Sill in Lawton to see what it was like to be in the army. Immediately on base, our Drill Sergeants stepped on our bus and began the day. Our students performed intense physical training, practiced marching, and ate breakfast while being under the watch of over ten Drill Sergeants—it was an experience of a lifetime! Although there was much anxiety, all students walked away with a new understanding and respect for the army and the people who are going through basic training!

 

Because our students were so fantastic and had such great attitudes while at Ft. Sill, we decided that everyone needed a quick retail therapy break. We took a pit stop at the Lawton Mall—some students rode mini animals, some shopped, some ate Chick-fil-A—but we all had fun. 

 

For lunch, we had the opportunity to hear from Joe Abshere at Wayne’s Drive In in Lawton before eating a yummy burger and special drink. We hopped on the bus and were off to Tecumseh!

Something that is unique about this experience is that we travel every day on a bus many miles. This was our first “long” bus ride, and it is so cool getting to see the students bond on the bus. Whether that means taking pictures of their friends taking a nap or laughing about new stories, each bus ride creates memories that last for a lifetime.

After arriving in Tecumseh, we went to the Tecumseh Juvenile Detention Center. We had the opportunity to hear from four students who were currently residents at the Center as well as take a tour of the facility. Our students asked great questions and walked away with a much deeper knowledge of the Center and the issues that it faces.

We headed on to our next location, Tulsa, with another fun bus ride. Los Cabos was for dinner along the Riverwalk and we were able to hear Shane Fernadez, the incoming Chair for YLOK, speak a little on his story and his experience in Oklahoma. It was a GREAT dinner, and to top it off, many students made a trip to Marble Slab for a little treat to end the day. 

 

The day ended with bracelets for each student, games of mafia, and some piano playing at the hotel. Tuesday was full of fun, eye-opening experiences and we can’t wait to see what Wednesday holds for us! 

 

Magical Monday 2017

After an afternoon full of getting to know each other, we started our morning in Oklahoma City heading to the Riversport Adventure Park! It was a beautiful view, overlooking the Oklahoma City skyline as well as the river going by the Park. When we first arrived, we spent some time flying down some awesome slides, and then it was time to hit the rapids! Our group broke into nine groups, were prepared for battle, and then they were off. There were dripping clothes, racing rafts, and many smiling faces. It was an amazing start to our week!

 

We left happy and hungry, making our way to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. While receiving a warm welcome from Kari Watkins, we filled our tummies with Backdoor BBQ—yum! After a great lunch and introduction to the Memorial and Museum, we did an activity called “You Be the Judge” with Justice Jim Winchester. He gave our students three different scenarios and talked through what the thought process would be if they were the judges of each specific case.

 

We made our way through the Memorial tour then, getting to see the recently renovated Museum and reliving the fateful day that changed so many lives. 

 

Thankful and full, our time in Oklahoma City had come to a close and it was time to travel to our next destination—Norman! We had the opportunity to listen to Dean Pulin of the Business College speak and then have a tour of the campus. 

 

Time for another meal, this time pizza provided by the Sarkeys Foundation. This was our final stop in Norman, and then it was time to make our way to Lawton for the evening! Pulling into town, we immediately went to Cameron University to be greeted by our Chair, Albert Johnson, and yummy ice cream. We loved sitting on the balcony overlooking the campus and enjoying our ice cream after a long day! This concluded our Monday activities—we are looking forward to the fun that’s to come tomorrow, starting bright and early! :)

Super Sunday 2017

The day we have been waiting for has finally arrived! 50 of the best leaders in the state of Oklahoma arrived at the Oklahoma Heritage Association and began the best journey across the state of Oklahoma. Check-in is always the most exciting time, getting to see new and old faces and welcoming students into the YLOK family that we all love.

The beginning of our program started with some words from Lee Anne Stone, our fearless leader, Marion Paden, and Albert Johnson. After saying goodbye to all parents and friends from last year’s class, it was time for our students to begin getting to know each other. The best way to do that in a short amount of time is of course speed dating. They were asked fun questions as conversation starters and were required to give hugs at the end of each two-minute date—it was so much fun getting to watch them interact with each other! We knew it was a special group immediately. 

 

Next, we were able to hear from Travis Monroe and do a leadership activity. Mr. Monroe talked about different leadership styles and how to bring out the best version of you. A delightful dinner was served before leaving for our Bricktown hotel. 

 

We had snackies, played cards, and learned a few more names before going to sleep. It was a great first afternoon and we can’t wait for our first full day tomorrow!

The Finale

Friday. The day of YLOK that we look back on a great week and always wonder just how quickly everything flew by.

Our morning started off at the state capitol with mock legislation led by former state representative and gubernatorial candidate Joe Dorman. The students were provided with legislation and had to defend and argue against what pieces of the legislation they deemed fit for the state of Oklahoma. Many students stood up and made great points on both sides! I am confident that many of the students sitting in those chairs on Friday will be the same individuals serving as our representatives and senators in the years to come.

Following mock legislation we made our way to lunch at the Oklahoma History Center. We ate lunch together and reflected on the memories made and looked forward to the many memories continuing as friendships began to grow throughout the next few years. Each student was presented with an engraved brick from material right in Oklahoma so that they can always keep a piece of Oklahoma with them.

To end our week, we enjoyed skits presented by the class. Not only do we have future Governors, Senators, and Community Leaders in this YLOK Class but we also have some pretty stellar comedians. We enjoyed reflecting back on the week before we parted ways for the summer.

As we look back on the week, Jonna and I both can agree that these students taught us more than we could have ever taught them. They connected to each other and truly invested in the lives of those around them. We are so excited to see the many accomplishments to come as these students continue to grow into their leadership styles and pursue their interests in college and beyond. I am looking forward to see the many great achievements that lie ahead for this class because I know their service and sincere interest in helping those around them will make an impact on our state. Our future is in good hands and with YLOK Class 16 leading the pack, I believe we have nothing to worry about.