Gov. Henry’s Vision Honored by TCC
By DR. THOMAS K. McKEON
President and CEO, Tulsa Community College
The Tulsa Community College Foundation will honor Gov. Brad Henry with the 2010 Vision in Education Leadership Award on Sept. 7 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel.
This award exemplifies Gov. Henry’s contributions to educating Oklahomans, both now and for future generations.
He has placed his greatest emphasis during his two four-year terms serving as governor on the improvement of public education, raising teacher salaries and benefits, putting more resources into the classroom and setting higher academic standards for students.
Gov. Henry has expanded the state’s early childhood education programs, which have earned national recognition, and increased funding for college scholarship programs ensuring opportunities for access and achievement for more Oklahomans than ever before.
He increased student participation in Oklahoma’s Promise from 12,000 to 19,000 during his terms. Gov. Henry also successfully paved the way for a voter decision to establish an education lottery to benefit the state’s public classrooms.
He has also focused on keeping college graduates in Oklahoma. The Economic Development Creating Excellence, or program, when fully realized, will fund research and capital investments across the state.
In 2005, he signed into law the largest higher education capital bond issue in the history of the state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Higher Education Capital Bond Program dedicated more than $475 million to expand and update labs, classrooms and basic campus infrastructure for Oklahoma colleges and universities to better meet the needs of their students.
It is because of his dedication, hard work, leadership and vision that the Tulsa Community College Foundation is pleased to honor Gov. Henry with the Vision in Education Leadership Award this year. His vision, goals, priorities and actions will have a direct impact on the quality and growth of our state for years to come. He has steadfastly worked with Oklahoma’s best interests in mind, and the decisions he has made have centered on what would be best for the citizens of this great state.
The Vision in Education Leadership Award is presented to an individual annually who is dedicated to education leadership. The annual event where the award is bestowed benefits the students, faculty and programs supported by the Foundation.
This dinner not only honors one of Oklahoma’s finest education leaders each year, it also raises funds to support scholarship programs for students and faculty. For more information about the Vision Dinner or to purchase tickets, please contact Jenna Grant at jgrant@tulsacc.edu or call (918) 595-7836.
Updated 08-06-2010
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