For Immediate Release – Lawton, OK, March 31, 2006 State Regents approve more than $365,000 in matching funds for Cameron lectureships The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) approved $365,472 in matching funds for Cameron University’s endowed lectureship program at its regularly scheduled March meeting. Cameron boasts 53 endowed positions (lectureships, professorships and chairs) – more than any other regional university and trails only The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University among all state colleges and universities. “The state-matching program allows university’s to double the impact of their endowed positions,” said President Cindy Ross. “These endowments are vital to providing increased learning opportunities for Cameron students through undergraduate student research, internships and distinguished visiting lecturers.” Cameron had 18 lectureships matched by the OSRHE, 14 of which were fully funded at $25,000 or more. These lectureships include: the Dr. Bobby Gene Vowell Endowed Lectureship in Physical and Biological Sciences; the Jack and Joyce Amyx Lectureship in Business; the Edward and Lenore Hamra/Edward’s Men’s Wear Endowed Lectureship in Retail Marketing; the Ajay and Shireen Bhargava Endowed Lectureship in Indian Studies; the Philip J. Jones Endowed Lectureship in Ethics; the Clodus and Pauline (Chaat) Smith Endowed Lectureship in American Indian Studies; the Trent Patton Endowed Lectureship in Science Adventures; the Richard T. Brittingham, M.D., Music Theatre Lectureship; the Bhargava Endowed Lectureship in International Studies; the Jimmy Virgie Stanton Endowed Lectureship in Physical Sciences; the BancFirst Lectureship in Finance; the BancFirst Lectureship in Investments; and the Buck and Irene Clements Lectureship in Child Development. (over) Lectureships, ADD ONE Thirteen of the lectureships were initially gifts of $12,500 but were matched by the McCasland Foundation of Duncan – creating $25,000 endowments – before they were sent to the OSRHE. After being matched by the State Regents, the lectureships are now $50,000 endowments. The 14th lectureship matched by the state regents was the $28,500 Herb and Dorothy Pittman Carter Lectureship in Physical Sciences. The Carter lectureship is now a $57,000 endowment. The State Regents also allocated matching funds for four established Cameron lectureships, which have had additional funds donated to them since their creation. The Tuck and Anna Pittman Endowed Lectureship in Instructional Technology increased $4,972 and that amount was matched by the regents. The Jack Bryan Endowed Lectureships in Art and the Bobby Gene Vowell Lectureship in Physical and Biological Sciences both had $3,000 increases and were matched by the State Regents accordingly. Finally a marketing lectureship experienced a $1,000 increase, which was also matched. “I am thankful for each of these donors and their generous investment in Cameron’s students and faculty,” Ross said. “Cameron is also grateful to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Their matching program creates a countless number of opportunities for student learning at Cameron University and around the state.” In total, the State Regents approved more than $56 million in matching funds for 18 universities. – 30 – PR# 06-052 Editors and Broadcasters: For more information, contact CU Government & Community Relations at 580.581.2211.