You can find recent updates and news articles relevant to the SWOSU Department of Chemistry & Physics below!
SWOSU Engineering Physics Banquet with Alumni Speaker Scheduled for April 26
Article Date: April 21, 2025
The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Chemistry and Physics will host its annual Engineering Physics Spring Banquet on Saturday, April 26, at the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford. Dinner will be served at approximately 7 p.m., but the museum will be open at 6 p.m., allowing guests to view exhibits before the meal. Alumni, current students, families, faculty, and administrators are invited to attend to recognize student accomplishments and program milestones.
Following dinner, the program will include the induction of new members into Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society. Awards will be presented for academic achievement and contributions to the physics program, and recipients of scholarships for the upcoming academic year will be announced.
The evening will conclude with a keynote address by Dr. Dylan Frizzell, a 2014 SWOSU Engineering Physics graduate and current Director of Data Science for Agile Defense. His talk, titled “What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up,” will highlight his career path. Beginning with his time as a student at SWOSU and extending through a series of roles in both academic and national defense sectors.
Tickets for the banquet are $25 per person. Payment may be made at the door, but reservations must be submitted in advance to ensure an accurate head count. The deadline to reserve tickets is Wednesday, April 23. Reservations can be made by calling 580-774-3109, emailing physics@swosu.edu, or mailing a note to Dr. Terry Goforth at 100 Campus Dr., Weatherford, OK 73096.
About Dr. Dylan Frizzell
Frizzell, an Oklahoma native, was raised on a farm in Mountain View and earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from SWOSU in 2014. He completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees in high energy physics at the University of Oklahoma with a thesis titled “Observation of Single top Quark with Associated Z Boson Production at the Large Hadron Collider using the ATLAS Detector.” During his thesis research, Dylan worked at Argonne National Lab, Fermilab, and spent two years at CERN in Geneva Switzerland. He contributed to publications involving dark matter searches, silicon pixel detector construction, statistical methods, and machine learning techniques. His collaborative work on the ATLAS team to make detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties was recently awarded a share in the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
After earning his Ph.D., Frizzell joined Boeing Defense Systems as a software engineer, working on the E7 wedge-tail and AWACs platforms focusing on data fusion algorithms. Later in his career, he began work as a Data Scientist at Intellibridge LLC specializing in National Defense and Homeland Security. He has designed and built artificial intelligence systems for projects related to national security and public sector operations.
In addition to his current role at Agile Defense, Frizzell serves as a fate consultant for oil and gas companies under the entity Data Cowboys, LLC, and he remains active in agriculture on his family farm. He lives in Piedmont with his wife Carly and their son Bennett.
About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
Student Research from SWOSU Featured on Research Day at the Capitol
Article Date: April 18, 2025
Undergraduate researchers from the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences were recently selected to present their findings at the 30th annual Research Day at the Capitol, held April 14–15, at the Oklahoma State Capitol. This event brings together top student researchers from across the state to present ongoing research to legislators, scientists, and members of the public.
Representing SWOSU, Marshall “Julius” Koons of Ringling and Adreana Aquino of Edmond shared their research findings in the Capitol rotunda during the legislative session.
Koons earned third place in the Regional, Community, and Tribal Colleges category for his poster presentation titled “Purification and Preliminary Crystallization of SSA_0908, a Substrate-binding protein Streptococcus sanguinis.” Aquino presented her project titled “Reactive intermediate deaminase A (RidA)—A Bacterial Metabolite Detoxifying Protein from an opportunistic pathogen, Streptococcus sanguinis.”
Both students conduct their research under the mentorship of Dr. Vijay Somalinga, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. They began working in Dr. Somalinga’s lab in the fall semester of 2022 and are currently funded through the OK-LSAMP and OK-EPSCoR REU research scholarship programs. Their selection to participate was made by SWOSU’s Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (URSAC), which annually nominates students to represent the university at the Capitol.
Research Day at the Capitol is sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, OK-EPSCoR, and the National Science Foundation. The event is intended to highlight the high-quality research conducted by undergraduate students at Oklahoma colleges and universities while strengthening awareness among lawmakers about the role of research in higher education. Participants receive training on effective science communication and compete for awards judged by an independent panel.
Students from SWOSU’s Biology program have participated in Research Day at the Capitol for five consecutive years. During that time, SWOSU students have received three grand prize awards and two category awards, continuing a strong record of recognition at the state level.
Undergraduate research continues to be a significant part of the academic experience at SWOSU. Students across disciplines are conducting meaningful and competitive work that contributes to their fields and provides opportunities for professional growth and recognition.
For more information about the SWOSU Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, visit https://www.swosu.edu/biological-sciences/index.php.
Chemistry Students and Faculty Attend ACS Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA
Article Date: April 2, 2025
Twelve students and six faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Physics traveled to the National American Chemical Society Meeting in San Diego from March 22 through March 27. While attending the meeting students and faculty presented the findings from numerous research projects resulting in eleven posters as well as two oral presentations. In addition to the presentation of their research, the group capitalized on opportunities for networking, project development, establishing collaborations, as well as career development/services. Travel to this meeting was provided through generous funding from the Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (OK-EPSCoR), Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (OK-INBRE), Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP), and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
SWOSU Premieres on Amazon Prime’s The College Tour
Article Date: February 25, 2025
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) proudly announces its feature in the 13th season of The College Tour, now available on Amazon Prime Video. This milestone marks SWOSU as the first public university in Oklahoma to be showcased on the acclaimed series, offering viewers an immersive, student-led exploration of the university’s dynamic community and diverse opportunities.
“We are honored to showcase SWOSU on The College Tour and share the incredible stories of ten students,” said Dr. Diane Lovell, President of SWOSU. “As the first public university in Oklahoma to be featured, this is a proud moment for our community and a great opportunity for prospective students to experience what makes SWOSU special.”
Hosted by Emmy-nominated producer Alex Boylan, The College Tour provides an authentic glimpse into universities nationwide through the voices of their students. In SWOSU’s episode, ten exceptional students and recent graduates share their personal journeys, illustrating how SWOSU’s supportive environment and robust academic programs have shaped their futures.
Featured Student Stories:
Madison and Mo – These students discuss their active involvement in athletics and leadership roles, emphasizing the vibrant campus life and the array of organizations that foster personal growth.
Tiffany – An engineering technology enthusiast, Tiffany delves into her hands-on experiences in SWOSU’s state-of-the-art labs, highlighting the university’s commitment to practical learning.
Josh – Transitioning from a pre-pharmacy student to the beloved campus mascot, Josh reflects on the diverse opportunities SWOSU offers beyond the classroom.
Discover What Sets SWOSU Apart:
- Hands-on Learning & Career-Ready Programs – From the nationally recognized Rocket Dawgs rocketry team to cutting-edge STEM and healthcare initiatives, SWOSU equips students with real-world skills.
- Affordable Tuition & Personalized Education – Competitive tuition rates and small class sizes ensure individualized attention and mentorship from dedicated faculty.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities – The episode features the Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy and Rural Health, a cutting-edge facility poised to revolutionize healthcare training.
- A Welcoming Community – With over 80 student organizations, time-honored traditions, and a lively campus atmosphere, SWOSU provides a nurturing environment where students can thrive.
Watch Now & Experience SWOSU
The SWOSU episode of The College Tour is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Prospective students, families, and educators are invited to watch the full episode and explore exclusive content on the SWOSU website.
Join the conversation on social media using #SWOSUCollegeTour and share your thoughts and experiences.
About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
SWOSU Junior Honored as 2025 George and Donna Nigh Scholar
Article Date: February 13, 2025
Adreana Aquino, a junior at SWOSU, has been named a recipient of the George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship and participated in the George and Donna Nigh Leadership Academy held February 1–4, 2025, in Oklahoma City. Aquino, a double major in Biological Sciences and Chemistry from Edmond, Okla., was selected for this honor due to her demonstrated leadership abilities, academic success, and active role in her community.
Established in 1999, the George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship recognizes one student from each Oklahoma higher education institution. Recipients are chosen for their exceptional character and dedication to service. Recipients receive a $1,000 scholarship award and opportunities for professional development through the Leadership Academy.
The four-day academy included workshops on leadership development, networking opportunities, and presentations from prominent state leaders. Aquino joined students from across Oklahoma to deepen their understanding of public service and develop leadership skills.
Aquino is a standout scholar and leader at SWOSU. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while excelling in advanced coursework and undergraduate research. Her research accomplishments have earned her the distinction of being an Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP) Scholar, and she has presented her work at multiple state and regional scientific conferences.
Beyond academics, Aquino is actively involved in campus life and community outreach. She serves as secretary of the SWOSU Biology Club, a Microbiology Teaching Assistant, and a discussion leader for Principles of Biology I. Additionally, she volunteers with F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), mentoring young students in STEM and judging robotics competitions.
Dr. Rickey Cothran, Chair of the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, expressed his support for Aquino. “Adreana is a model student. She has a genuine desire to learn and share what she knows with others. When she graduates from SWOSU and her professional program, I have no doubt she will make a positive impact on society through her profession and service to community.”
“I was inspired by hearing from Governor Nigh and the other students in the Academy who are all committed to improving their universities and communities,” said Adreana Aquino. “My biggest takeaway is that being a leader is about empowering people to see their potential, while being kind and compassionate. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and am excited to use the leadership skills both on campus and in my community.”
SWOSU Rocket Dawgs Secure Third Consecutive Argonia Cup
Article Date: April 5, 2024
The SWOSU Physics and Engineering Club’s Rocket Dawgs claimed their third consecutive Argonia Cup title on Sunday, March 24. The Argonia Cup, an annual rocketry competition held in the Rocket Pasture near Argonia, Kansas each spring, saw participation from eighteen university teams this year. Among the competitors were schools such as Auburn University, University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M University, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Missouri.
The challenge of the 2024 competition centered on launching a two-stage rocket and successfully recover both sections in flightworthy condition. Scoring was calculated based on the rocket’s maximum altitude (in feet) multiplied by (N/10 + 1), where N represents the number of golf balls onboard the forward stage (sustainer) of the rocket. SWOSU’s rocket reached an altitude of 8,588 feet while carrying 156 golf balls, earning an impressive 142,561 points.
This year’s Argonia Cup required the teams to find a balance between achieving height and carrying more payload (golf balls). After multiple trials, the Rocket Dawgs opted for a 17-foot-long, 3.4-inch diameter rocket. The design choice favored a long, narrow structure to minimize wind resistance, allowing for greater altitude without compromising structural integrity during take-off and landing.
Taking the lead on the first day of the two-day competition, the Rocket Dawgs maintained their position despite formidable challenged from other teams. By the end of Saturday, Purdue University secured second place with 120,890 points, followed by Oklahoma State University in third with 81,356 points, and Kansas State University in fourth with 26,257 points.
Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions, including 30–40mph winds and rain, led to the competition’s premature conclusion on Sunday morning, resulting in unchanged final standings from Saturday’s results.
In last year’s competition, two-stage flights were also featured, with SWOSU winning as the sole team to complete a successful two-stage flight. This year, the drama heightened with five successful flights recorded.
The Rocket Dawgs are supported by Madeline Baugher and the Oklahoma NASA Space Grant Consortium, the SWOSU Department of Chemistry & Physics, SWOSU Alums Sharon Hodges, Brock Mason, Daniel Gassen, and the amazing members of the Tripoli Oklahoma Rocketry Club.
“We win because we solve problems,” said Dr. Wayne Trail, club sponsor for the Rocket Dawgs. “We have really bright, hardworking students.”
SWOSU is proud to congratulate the Rocket Dawgs on securing their third consecutive Argonia cup title. This incredible achievement highlights their dedication and expertise in rocketry. We look forward to celebrating their continued success.
“What makes the Rocket Dawgs unique is how much dedication our small team has,” said Jessica Massey, Rocket Dawgs co-captain. “We are very resourceful, and that helps us work together to problem-solve and achieve our goals. Our dedication to this team is unmatched, and that’s a key part of our success.”
Learn more about the SWOSU Rocket Dawgs’ story by watching the video below!
SWOSU Engineering Physics Students Win National Recognition
Article Date: December 15, 2023
The Society of Physics Students, the student section of the American Institute of Physics, has awarded the SWOSU Physics and Engineering Club an Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office. This is the seventh year in a row the Club has been recognized by the SPS and the fifth time in that span the chapter has received the highest honor (Outstanding Chapter) as a top-tier student-led physical sciences organization, a designation given to fewer than 10 percent of all SPS chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and internationally.
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a professional association designed for students and membership is open to anyone interested in physics and related fields. SPS operates within the American Institute of Physics (AIP), an umbrella organization for professional physical science societies.
The SWOSU Physics and Engineering Club is advised by Wayne Trail and is led by student officers. The 2022-2023 officers are:
- President Chris Svebek, Engineering Physics, ‘25
- Vice President Jessica Massey, Manufacturing Technology, ‘24
- Secretary Vareeksha Sharma, Computer Science, ‘26
- Treasurer Andres Arrieta, Engineering Physics, ‘24
- Public Relations, Natalie Svebek, Allied Health, ‘25
- Historian, Justin Wiersma, Engineering Technology, ‘26
Club President Chris Svebek said “We are delighted to receive this honor and to continue in the Club’s tradition of fun projects, hard work, and excellence. We welcome new members from all majors in the Club; the only requirement is curiosity.”
SPS chapters are evaluated on their level of interaction with the campus community, the professional physics community, the public, and with SPS national programs. The Outstanding Chapter Award recognizes high levels of outreach as well as unique approaches to fulfilling the mission of SPS to “help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community.”
The 2022-2023 SWOSU Physics and Engineering Club engaged in numerous activities including building and using an Internet-accessible telescope, participating in, and winning the Argonia Cup Rocketry Competition for the second straight year, and participating in many recruiting events including Physics Day, SWOSU Saturday, and Family Day.
OK-EPSCOR Researcher Video: Jessica Thompson
Article Date: September 8, 2023
SWOSU Senior Chemistry Major Jessica Thompson, one of Dr. Tim Hubin’s senior research assistants, was interviewed for one of the featured videos sponsored by EPSCOR and Science Museum Oklahoma. OK-EPSCOR is an NSF grant program that Dr. Tim Hubin is one of the primary investigators on.
Hubin’s Group Develops Oxidation Catalysts to Purify Wastewater
Article Date: May 4, 2023
Wastewater containing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) including organic dyes pose a potential threat to the aquatic ecosystems as well as living organisms and humans. Organic dyes have been widely used for industrial and commercial purposes. Many organic dyes are potentially toxic and carcinogenic in nature. To address this environmental and water re-use concern, it is important to degrade dyes as well as
other organic pollutants or CECs. Elimination of the CECs from wastewater is environmentally necessary, as well as being necessary for the acceptance of purified water for reuse by humans. Conventional methods for treating CECs include usage of iron-based metal catalysts and photocatalysts involving semiconductor metal oxide nanoparticles. However, these conventional catalysts suffer from several drawbacks such as stability in a narrow pH range, low surface area, high cost, poor scalability, and limited ability to absorb visible light. Hence, Dr. Timothy Hubin, Department of Chemistry and Physics Chair, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), collaborated with Drs. Somrita Mondal (SWOSU), Timothy Prior (University of Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, UK), Allen Oliver (University of Notre Dame, IN), and Jeanette Krause (University of Cincinnati, OH), and SWOSU students: Leslie Garcia, Tuyet Hoang, Jessica Thompson, and Michael Allen to design transition metal – cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycle oxidation catalysts for degradation of CECs including organic dyes leading to waste water purification.
Hubin’s group has developed a series of oxidation catalysts, which can effectively bleach organic dyes at room temperature over a wide range of pH. The research team have successfully synthesized and characterized a wide variety of ethylene cross-bridged tetraazamacrocyclic ligands with different functional groups and their transition metal complexes, which can act as oxidation catalysts. “Our cross bridged tetraazamacrocycles are highly stable in wide pH range, are economically affordable, and are capable of bleaching organic dyes at room temperature and normal light,” Hubin said. “Our catalysts are scalable, and can be synthesized in large scale, which is an essential condition for treating wastewater in large water bodies,” Mondal added. The research team have monitored the catalysts’ capability to bleach three dyes (~ 1 mM): methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO) and Rhodamine B (RhB). “Our catalysts have displayed maximum efficiency in bleaching of Methyl Orange (MO) resulting in a very high turnover frequency (TOF up to 175/hour), which confirms their excellence in catalytic activity, but our catalysts have been least effective in degrading Rhodamine B (RhB) among the three dyes we have explored so far,” Hubin said. “The highest turnover frequency our catalysts can achieve with the bleaching of RhB is ~ 13, which is a quite satisfactory value for catalytic activity,” Mondal added.
The current research from Hubin’s group can pave the way for successful design of a series of oxidation catalysts for degradation of dyes and CECs leading to wastewater purification. The research team plans to examine different metals and ligands to design a wide variety of catalysts for better efficiency in dye bleaching, to embed the catalysts into polymer support to make them heterogeneous for recyclable use of catalysts, and to explore the use of the catalysts for degradation of different CECs other than dyes. The team also wants to explore the real life application of the catalysts they developed for purification of wastewater in water bodies.
Chemistry Students and Faculty Attend ACS Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN
Article Date: April 13, 2023
Students and faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) attended the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2023 meeting in Indianapolis on March 26-30. This annual event brings together 10,000-15,000 chemists from around the country to present their undergraduate research on a national stage. Attendees have the opportunity to attend keynote events, career workshops, professional and leadership development courses, and poster presentations. They can also participate in networking workshops with recruitment from chemistry graduate programs and chemical, pharmaceutical, and biomedical companies, take workshops or short courses on various chemical research topics, and attend interviewing sessions.
The ACS is a professional organization of chemists in the U.S. and worldwide composed of around 150,000 members. Chemistry professionals attend ACS meetings and expositions each year to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. This event attracts thousands of chemical professionals, providing excellent opportunities for undergraduate students to share their passion for chemistry and connect with one of the world’s largest scientific societies.
Eight SWOSU students represented the university at the event: Audra Crisp, Justin Childress, Emma Detrick, Jocelyn Garcia, Jonathan Ebel, Audrey Jergensen, Daniel Nilson, and Jessica Thompson.
The four SWOSU faculty attending with them were Dr. Tim Hubin, Trevor Ellis, Jon Henrikson, and Dr. David Martyn. Hubin gave an oral presentation, and all of the attending students from SWOSU had the opportunity to participate in various poster presentations, with faculty accompanying them.
Hubin’s oral presentation was titled “One (ethylene cross-bridged) ring to rule them all: Exceptional complex stability under harsh aqueous conditions applied to a range of chemical applications.” Ebel and Hubin’s presentation was titled “Ethylene cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycle transition metal complexes with alkene and alkyne pendant arms for copolymerization to produce heterogeneous catalysts for water purification.” Thompson and Hubin’s presentation was titled “Polyesters and polyamides including copolymerized transition metal oxidation catalysts for water purification.” Ellis’s presentation was titled “Preparation and reactivity comparison of a series of Ni(II) complexed nucleophilic glycine equivalents.” Childress and Ellis’s presentation was titled “Reactivity of the iminium carbon of Ni(II) complexes of glycine Schiff bases.” Jergensen and Ellis’s presentation was titled “Reactivity profile of Ni(II) complexes of glycine bearing electron-withdrawing groups under kinetic conditions.” Crisp and Ellis also presented: “Method development and validation of pKa determination of glycine-metal complexes by 1H-NMR.” Garcia and Henrikson’s presentation was titled “Effects of pH on spectral analysis of caffeinated, half-caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee beans from the Café Timor Coop.” Lastly, Nilson and Martyn’s presentation was titled “Synthesis of amine-functionalized cholesterol derivatives for use in metal-complex based imaging agents.”
This event was a great opportunity for SWOSU students to showcase their research and engage with the broader chemistry community, further solidifying the department’s commitment to fostering excellence in science education.
Bringing Home the Argonia Cup, Again!
Article Date: April 8, 2024
by Chris Svebek and Jessica Massey, Society of Physics Students Members, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
In March 2023 the Rocket Dawgs, the rocketry team from our Physics and Engineering Club at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), took home its second consecutive Argonia Cup title! Run by the Kloudbusters Rocketry Club, the Argonia Cup is an annual rocketry competition held in Rocket Pasture, an actual pasture near Argonia, Kansas, just north of the Oklahoma border. During the two-day competition held each spring, university teams try to meet a challenge over three competitive launches (and unlimited practice launches). The rules of the competition can change from year to year, depending on whether teams successfully met the previous year’s challenge. Because we nailed the challenge in 2022, there was a new challenge for 2023. This year’s challenge was to fly a two-stage rocket to a minimum altitude of 9,000 feet above ground level and then land the payload (a golf ball) as close as possible to an X on the ground. Scores were determined by the equation A-20D, where A is the highest altitude of the rocket, D is the distance between the golf ball and the X, and all distances are measured in feet. We wanted to go higher than 9,000 feet, so we designed a rocket with a 2.6-inch diameter that could easily reach 10,000 feet and possibly up to 16,000 feet.
A successful two-stage launch, in which the stages fully separate in flight, is hard to achieve. The main challenge is getting the second motor to ignite properly in flight. To do this, we used redundant timer-based ignition systems that also have tilt limits. The tilt limits make sure the second stage doesn’t ignite if the rocket is tilted by more than 20 degrees from vertical. Two-stage rockets also require twice as many electronics for recovery and deployment as single-stage rockets, and two-stage launches have more uncertainty. Further, the mechanical coupling between the two stages is full of opportunities for failure, including early and late release. We planned to deliver the payload (the golf ball) to the X using a small quadcopter deployed by the rocket at its highest altitude. Using a rocket with a small diameter meant that we needed a small drone (quadcopter).
We wanted a drone with 3-inch-diameter propellers that could hold a large battery yet fit into a 2.6-inch-diameter rocket (the propellers are linear and fit in the rocket tube lengthwise). So, we designed one. We ran into a few problems, but we were able to mitigate them. At the Argonia Cup we were the only team to meet all the requirements of the competition: landing the golf ball and recovering all parts of the rocket in working condition. So, despite landing our golf ball 2.41 miles away from the X and a score of about -239,000 feet (yes, negative!), we still won the competition. Last year we won by landing on the X in a single-stage flight—we were the first team to do so in the competition’s seven-year history! That’s what inspired the two-stage requirement in this year’s competition. Since no team really met the challenge of the Argonia Cup this year, we expect the same challenge next year—and we’re already planning for it!
SWOSU Rocket Dawgs Win Second Consecutive Argonia Cup
Article Date: March 31, 2023
The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Physics and Engineering Club’s Rocket Dawgs won their second consecutive Argonia Cup title last Sunday, March 26, at the Rocket Pasture near Argonia, Kansas.
The competition requires teams of college students to launch a two-stage rocket to at least 9,000 feet then deliver its payload, a golf ball, as close as possible to a predetermined location on the ground (an “X” made of tape on the grass). Further, all rocket components must return to the ground by parachute or under controlled motorized flight and be in flying condition after being recovered.
This year’s competition was particularly challenging due to the two-stage requirement, and the Rocket Dawgs were the only team to meet all the requirements, despite landing 2.41 miles away from the “X.” So, the only award given was for first place to the Rocket Dawgs.
Last year, the Rocket Dawgs won by landing on the “X” in a single-stage flight and were the first team to do that in the seven-year history of the competition. That accomplishment led to the two-stage requirement in this year’s competition.
Since the Argonia Cup began, the Rocket Dawgs were the first team to land on the “X” in practice, the first team to land on the “X” in competition, and the first team to have a successful two-stage flight. Other teams that competed were Auburn University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University (two teams), University of Missouri, Purdue University, University of Tennessee, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Southern Illinois University, Western Michigan University, and LeTourneau University.
“Congratulations to the SWOSU Rocket Dawgs on their stellar victory, bringing the Argonia Cup back to SWOSU! Your dedication, hard work, and passion for innovation have propelled you to new heights, and your achievement is truly out of this world,” exclaimed Dr. Diana Lovell when asked about the Rocket Dawg’s recent win.
The Rocket Dawgs are supported by Madeline Baugher and the Oklahoma NASA Space Grant Consortium, the SWOSU Department of Chemistry & Physics, SWOSU Alum Sharon Hodges, Brock Mason, Daniel Gassen, and the amazing members of the Tripoli Oklahoma Rocketry Club.
Congratulations to the Rocket Dawgs on another outstanding victory. SWOSU is incredibly proud of their achievements and looks forward to seeing what they will accomplish next.
NASA ISS Chief of Staff Melissa Gard to Speak at 2023 Physics Banquet
Article Date: March 28, 2023
Cooperative Agreement Technical Officer for the ISS National Laboratory at the NASA Johnson Space Center,
will be the speaker for the 2023 annual Physics Spring Banquet.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is excited to host its annual Physics Spring Banquet on Saturday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at the Stafford Air & Space Museum. The event is organized by the Department of Chemistry and Physics and will celebrate the achievements of SWOSU’s Physics alumni, students, and their families. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with an opportunity for guests to tour the museum’s exhibits before dinner is served at 7 p.m. After dinner, new members of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society, will be inducted with a ceremony. The Department of Chemistry and Physics will also present academic achievement awards and recognize contributions to the Physics program. Additionally, scholarship recipients for the next
school year will be announced.
The highlight of the evening will be a talk by Melissa Gard, a SWOSU Physics alum from 1989, Chief of Staff for the International Space Station (ISS) Program, and the Cooperative Agreement Technical Officer for the ISS National Laboratory at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Her address, titled “A Little about Space Station Research, and Why I Can’t Hold Down a Job” is certain to be both informative and entertaining.
Gard began her career at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where she performed design, computational analysis, and testing on ISS environmental control, life support, thermal and fire protection systems, and ISS research facilities. In 1998, she was assigned to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Congressional products and technical reporting for the Shuttle-Mir and ISS Programs. Gard then transferred to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she served as Technical Assistant to the Deputy Program Manager for the Shuttle-Mir Program and ISS Operations Manager. Following that assignment, she was the Mission Manager for the third and sixth expeditions to the ISS. Gard was moved to the ISS Mission Evaluation Room, eventually serving as Senior Manager of the team that monitors ISS technical operations and performs anomaly resolution.
In 2006, she was appointed as the Executive Director/Designated Federal Official for the Congressionally mandated ISS Independent Safety Task Force. She has been the Manager of the Increment Integration and Operations branch in the ISS Mission Integration and Operations Office, the Manager of the Research Planning Office in the ISS Research Integration Office, the Deputy Manager of the ISS Mission Integration and Operations Office, and the ISS Program Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative for the SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services and Russian Language and Logistics Services contracts. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field, including the Silver Snoopy award for ensuring crew and mission safety and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Exceptional Service Medal, and Outstanding Leadership Medal.
Tickets are $25 per person. Guests may pay at the door, but to guarantee a seat, tickets should be reserved by Wednesday, March 29. To reserve tickets, contact SWOSU Physics at 580-774-3109, email physics@swosu.edu, or leave a note addressed to Dr. Terry Goforth, 100 Campus Dr., Weatherford OK 73096. SWOSU’s annual Physics Spring Banquet is a wonderful opportunity for alumni, students, and their families to connect with faculty and administrators, celebrate achievements, and learn from an accomplished professional in the field.
SWOSU Hosts Tech Tours and Activities to Showcase Technology Careers
Article Date: October 26, 2022
Students from local high schools participated in a variety of activities and demonstrations at SWOSU aimed at showcasing technology-related programs and career fields. The Tech Tour program, which took place on Oct. 25, was a cross-campus event where multiple programs and departments collaborated to offer six different hands-on experiences focused on chemistry/physics, computer science, engineering technology, engineering physics, graphic design, and information technology.
Playing a scrimmage in the SWOSU Esports arena was a highlight for many of the participating students. Additionally, students heard from SWOSU admissions, financial aid, residence life, and the wellness center.
“Tech Tours was an overwhelming success – we engaged prospective students and showcased all SWOSU has to offer for in-demand technology fields,” said Dean of Enrollment Keith Sayles. “We look forward to offering similar events in the future where we can connect prospective students with potential careers.”
2022 OK Chemist Award Presented to Dr. Tim Hubin
Article Date: October 24, 2022
The Oklahoma Chemist Award is the most prestigious award given to a chemist within Oklahoma. The award consists of $1000 as well as a plaque to memorialize the award. A brief description of the accomplishments by the recipient are engraved on the plaque and are submitted, along with a photo of the winner, to Chemical and Engineering News for official publication in a forthcoming issue. Chemical and Engineering News is a major publication of the American Chemical Society and has world-wide distribution. The Oklahoma Chemist Award for 2022 was presented to Dr. Tim Hubin on Saturday, October 8 at the ACS Pentasectional meeting in Bartlesville, OK. Dr. Hubin is the first SWOSU faculty to be given the award, and his achievements at SWOSU have been impressive since he was hired by former SWOSU Chemistry & Physics Chair turned Provost Dr. Blake Sonobe in 2005. Dr. Sonobe is one of the award nominators, and he has a lot to say about Dr. Hubin:
“Hiring Tim Hubin was one of the final and most significant decisions I was involved with prior to my departure from the Department and surely the most consequential for the students, department and university. Tim clearly ranks as one of the most, if not the most, accomplished faculty members in SWOSU’s history. The depth and breadth of his activities are innovative and expansive. Upon arrival at SWOSU, he overhauled our traditional inorganic chemistry lab into a project-based lab giving each student a specific project through which they would learn synthetic inorganic methods and analysis of inorganic intermediate and final products. This produced immediate results in greater student interest and enthusiasm and that translated into increased interest in undergraduate research. Coupled with the research being conducted by other faculty members, the number of chemistry majors, students engaged in undergraduate research, students participating in summer research programs at SWOSU and other institutions and students enrolling in PhD programs upon graduation began growing and continued to grow for many years.”
Another nominator Dr. Cammi Valdez, a former student of Dr. Hubin, cited her experience in Dr. Hubin’s Inorganic Chemistry course, which he redesigned two years prior as a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Dr. Valdez recalled the lab portion consisted of “synthesizing a metal complex through a series of 5 reactions (condensation, alkylation, reduction, complexation, and oxidation) and using mass spectrometry, IR, and UV-Vis to confirm intermediate products after each reaction.” Dr. Valdez highly valued the research question focused approach and utilization of the chemistry techniques taught in lecture to answer research questions. Dr. Hubin’s Inorganic Chemistry course had a lasting impression on Dr. Valdez, as it was the first time she had experienced a course lab that wasn’t recipe or single session based. Dr. Hubin later published Valdez’s class’s results, and she was surprised to receive a publication from her undergraduate coursework. An accomplished faculty member now, Dr. Valdez models her teaching and mentoring after Dr. Hubin to ensure continued student success.
Other nominators spoke of Dr. Hubin’s dedication to undergraduate education, impact on the development and careers of future scientists, and excellence as a mentor to undergraduates in internationally leading research. Dr. Hubin has offered undergraduates opportunities in advanced research in the areas of medicinal inorganic compounds, macrocyclic chemistry, and supramolecular structures. Undergraduates working with Dr. Hubin have produced publishable results and many have moved on to postgraduate study.
To date, Dr. Hubin has 55 refereed publications with 55 unique undergraduate co-authors, 60 presentations at national meetings and invited seminars, and 6 patents while at SWOSU. He has also been the recipient of more than $2.3 million in research funding from INBRE, EPSCoR, OCAST, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science (OK-LSAMP), ACS Petroleum Research Fund and a Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Unrestricted Grant. In the past 17 years, Dr. Hubin has mentored over 75 students in undergraduate research at SWOSU. Dr. Archibald, a long-time colleague of Dr. Hubin, has worked closely with many of his undergraduate research students. According to Archibald, “Tim has been well recognized for his research and achievements with numerous awards. In my opinion, he has laid the foundations for even greater impact in the future. The legacy of skilled scientists he has trained and the collaborative invention of compounds that are likely to proceed to clinical trials are a huge achievement. He is an innovative scholar, an excellent scientist, and a community leader.”
2022 WIS Conference Activity & Outreach
Article Date: October 6, 2022
The Department of Chemistry & Physics was represented at the 2022 Oklahoma Women in Science Conference by Dr. Hubin and Dr. Bigley. The event was focused on exposing middle school through high school students from across the state to a variety of STEM experiences with an educational focus.
The SWOSU Chemistry booth demonstrated Charles’s Law by submerging balloons in liquid nitrogen then removing the balloons with decreased volume from the doers and letting them re-inflate in front of the students.
Dr. Bigley would tell you that our experiment is not cool – in fact, it’s very cold.
OK-LSAMP Research Program at SWOSU
Article Date: August 24, 2022
The Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP) is designed for students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the OK-LSAMP program began in 1994 when several Oklahoma institutions of higher education joined forces to significantly increase the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of under-represented minority students in STEM disciplines. The OK-LSAMP program is named after retired Ohio Congressman Louis Stokes, who is responsible for numerous minority focused programs throughout the NSF. The ultimate goal of OK-LSAMP is to increase the number of degrees earned in STEM disciplines by students from under-represented populations. Current goals and activities of OK-LSAMP focus on undergraduate research experiences, graduate school preparation, and international experiences.
The OK-LSAMP program has helped thousands of students from various under-represented populations graduate with degrees in STEM fields. Nationwide, approximately 30% of all STEM degrees earned by Native Americans are completed in Oklahoma Institutions. Oklahoma continues to graduate more Native American students than any other state.
Requirements
Requirements of the OK-LSAMP program include:
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative or graduate/retention GPA
- Full-time student status in approved STEM field (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, & Mathematics)
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- Demonstrated intent in pursuing undergraduate research and a graduate degree in STEM discipline
- Participation and contribution to program activities
- Membership of the following under-represented groups: African American, American Indian, Hispanic, Native Pacific Islander, White (must be first-generation college student)
There is no annual deadline to apply for OK-LSAMP, but the sooner you apply, the sooner you can start participating and receiving benefits!
More information about the OK-LSAMP program can be found on the Oklahoma State University (Lead Institution) website: https://diversity.okstate.edu/departments/ok-lsamp/index.html
If you are interested in participating in the OK-LSAMP STEM research program at SWOSU, complete an application on the Oklahoma State University website, or contact SWOSU OK-LSAMP Coordinator Dr. Tim Hubin at tim.hubin@swosu.edu.
SWOSU / DRG Launch Aerospace and Defense Initiative
Article Date: June 7, 2022
SWOSU announced today that it has launched the aerospace and defense workforce initiative. The initiative will promote current students and degrees as well as the university’s rich aerospace & defense heritage.
The initiative is a partnership between SWOSU and Oklahoma City-based Delaware Resource Group with a mission to place a greater emphasis on the impressive accomplishments of SWOSU’s degree programs, which include accredited programs in Applied Engineering Management and Manufacturing Engineering Technology. Degrees in Engineering Technology, Engineering Physics and Computer Science set students on the best possible career path to explore their passion for aerospace and defense, Oklahoma’s second-largest industry.
“We’re thrilled to launch this initiative alongside our esteemed partners and longtime benefactors at Delaware Resource Group,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell. “We know just how beneficial our degrees are to students striving to excel in aerospace and defense, and we want to ensure that prospective students and employers from around the world are just as aware.”
SWOSU, with locations in Weatherford, Sayre and Yukon, has produced numerous graduates who have achieved an extraordinary level of success in aerospace and defense. SWOSU alumni have excelled and continue to serve at NASA, the U.S. Armed Forces, government institutions such as the CIA and FAA) and leading aerospace and defense corporations such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
Distinguished alumni, faculty and partners include Brian Busey and Philip Busey, John Aaron, Herbert Fix, Benny Hill, Gina Ligon, Harry C. McCool, J.R. Pratt, General Thomas Stafford, and Tom Weichel, all of whom have made pivotal contributions to the history and development of global aerospace and defense.
About Delaware Resources Group
Established in 2002, Delaware Resources Group (DRG) is a Native American-owned leading global aerospace defense contractor based in Oklahoma City. The company is a total training systems integrator providing services and support all over the world. Thousands of service men and women around the world count on DRG to provide critical training and logistics services for many of today’s modern military programs and aircraft. DRG is a certified Minority-owned Business and a recognized Indian Economic Enterprise.
For more information on SWOSU and DRG’s joint Aerospace & Defense Workforce Development Initiative, email SWOSU Chief of Staff, Garrett King or call 580.774.3706.
