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The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) recently recognized the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) Development Foundation for the Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award. This award highlights the already outstanding partnership through a financial grant. The OSRHE showed support through the $500 State Regents’ Economic Development Grant, which will continue to aid the Foundation’s mission to create student success. Since the 1980s, the NEO Development Foundation has created opportunities for NEO students, staff, and faculty by providing support for scholarships, faculty development, and other campus initiatives. Led by Executive Director Jennifer Walker and Foundation Board Chair Anna Milligan, the Foundation distributed over a quarter-million dollars in student aid last year and raised a record-breaking $75,000 at its annual fundraising gala.

“The NEO Foundation continues to be a catalyst for positive change at NEO A&M College,” said NEO President Dr. Jeff Hale. “In the past decade alone, they’ve increased their net assets tenfold. Student scholarships have grown from $20,000 annually to $125,000 each year. Their faculty and staff recognition programs continue to very popular and meaningful. Bottom line, the NEO Foundation is very deserving of this recognition by the State Regents.”

In addition to the NEO Development Foundation, 27 business and higher education partnerships throughout the state were also recognized as innovative collaborations that further the education of Oklahoma’s workforce. For more information or to donate to the NEO Development Foundation, contact Jennifer Walker at Jennifer.Hessee@neo.edu. (Photo from left: Rick Vandaveer, Sandy Shults, Jennifer Walker, Annette Black, Phyllis Worley, and Mark Rasor)