Joining an elite group, two Kingfisher High School graduates were recently selected to the top 21 Outstanding Seniors at Oklahoma State University for 2023.

Emily Garrett, the daughter of Greg and Sara Garrett, and Madelyn Gerken, the daughter of David and Cara Gerken, were honored Monday, April 10, at the OSU Alumni Center.

The award recognizes seniors who excel through academic achievement; campus and community activities; academic, athletic or extra-curricular honors or awards; scholarships and work ethic during their time at OSU.

In the fall, the pair were also selected by the OSU Alumni Association as members of OSU’s 50 Seniors of Significance.

That honor represents the top 1 percent of the Class of 2023, including all five OSU undergraduate academic colleges, making them eligible for the Outstanding Senior awards.

In the spring semester, the Seniors of Significance finalists update their credentials and interview for the Outstanding Seniors Award, which are then recognized during a formal banquet at the end of the year.

An agricultural communications major with a law and legal studies minor, Garrett graduated summa cum laude from the Ferguson College of Agriculture in December and plans to attend the University of Tulsa College of Law in the upcoming fall semester.

Garrett follows a legacy of OSU alumni in her family which includes her grandparents, Tom and Irene Garrett, as well as her parents.

Attending OSU functions growing up, Garrett said she was excited to attend OSU, but wondered if it would live up to her expectations.

“It has exceeded my expectations and it’s been an awesome four years,” Garrett said.

“My time at Oklahoma State University has been full of personal growth, professional development and genuine friendship. Words can’t express the love I have for this university and the excitement I hold to remain loyal and true forever.”

At OSU, Garrett was president of the Panhellenic Council in which her duties included supervising various aspects of the 13 sororities on campus and was president of Alpha Omicron Pi chapter.

Garrett also served as secretary of the Student Government Association and received the Michael and Judith Johnson President’s Distinguished Scholarship and Panhellenic Council Woman of the Year.

She was a volunteer for Saville Center for Child Advocacy and OSU In the Streets, as well as a variety of other activities.

Honored to be a recipient of the Outstanding Senior award, Garrett said, “I have learned a lot in my undergraduate studies at OSU, but would also like to point out how thankful I am to the Kingfisher High School teachers who prepared me to succeed in college.”

Commending all the staff at KHS, but mentioning in particular accounting, desktop publishing and fundamentals of technology instructor Sabrina Nault, Garrett said she discovered how much she had learned about effective study habits, time management and preparing for deadlines during her high school education.

Graduating from Ferguson College of Agriculture with a bachelor’s in animal science, Gerken plans to pursue a master’s of health administration.

While at OSU, Gerken served as President’s Leadership Council undergraduate coordinator, Centennial Homecoming Celebration Athletic Pride executive and was a Ferguson College of Agriculture Student Success Leader.

Gerken also was an OSU employee of the year finalist, included in the top 20 Freshmen Women and served as Oklahoma FFA state secretary.

She was a volunteer for OSU in the Streets, The Table and served as Stillwater Bible Nursery volunteer coordinator and Mother’s Day Out teaching assistant.

“Oklahoma State University has been a formative institution as a young adult in cultivating my love for others and a community,” Gerken said.

“I am excited to represent OSU as an alumni through my conduct, career and character,” she added. “Go Pokes!”

With this chapter ending and a new one beginning, Garrett said if she could say something to the incoming freshmen it would be, “It’s okay to miss your parents and to miss home.”

When she came to OSU four years ago, Garrett said she really missed home, but thought the rest of the students didn’t seem to experience the same homesick feelings.

“It turned out they missed home too,” she said.

Those feelings get better and you’ll fall in love with OSU, she added.

“It’s everything I thought it would be and I love being a part of the OSU tradition,” Garrett said.