As a junior in high school, Minnijean Brown Trickey made a difference. She set a standard and she fought for what she believed in. More than 50 years later, she encouraged USAO students to do the very same.

Faculty dreamed it. They built it. And now the Masons are helping to fund it.

USAO's deaf education program is one of its most unique and marketable departments. With roots that stretch back more than five decades, Oklahoma's only public deaf ed program has touched the lives of countless people. Find out more with USAO student Jed Copley.

Though Dr. Ingrid Shafer retired from active teaching at the University of Science and Arts in 2009, you could hardly tell it from the number of hats she still wears on the university's behalf.

Her full title, professor emerita of philosophy and religion, Mary Jo Ragan professor of interdisciplinary studies and editor-in-chief of Crosstimbers magazine only hints at all that Shafer has done since her retirement.

In 2010, she served as the Area Chair for Religion and Culture at the Popular Culture Association national meetings in St. Louis.

Inspired in part by the addition of several public art pieces on the USAO campus, the Chickasha Area Arts Council, the City of Chickasha and the university are collaborating on a project that will make downtown Chickasha a hub for the arts in the community and the area.