A behavioral sciences workshop that assists local professionals and college students has been named after a Southeastern Oklahoma State University professor who helped with the program for four years.

The Dr. Wayne A Dixon Honorary Scholarship Workshop, previously called the Behavioral Sciences Scholarship Workshop, is in its seventh year. The workshop, sponsored by the behavioral sciences and continuing education departments, will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in the SE ballroom.

Dr. Jon Reid, SE professor of psychology and counseling, said psychology and counseling faculty started the workshop in 2003.

The workshop includes presentations by licensed counseling professionals and is designed for professional counselors, therapists, social workers and behavioral specialists.

Attendees receive contact hours that are needed in order for them to stay licensed. The workshop offers these credits closer to home. Many of the speakers have made presentations at state and national conferences, said Reid, who spearheaded the program.

The workshop also raises funds that go toward scholarships for undergraduate psychology students and community and school counseling graduate students.

For the first four years, Dixon supervised undergraduate student research projects. After Dixon’s death in March 2007, the organizing committee considered naming the workshop after him. They unanimously made the official decision after last year’s program.

“Dixon invested a lot of time in guiding projects,” and he didn’t receive compensation, Reid said, adding that Dixon helped student presenters through the process. Some of the research projects even won state awards.

“He was a great member of our faculty,” he said. “We definitely appreciate him.”

Reid said the workshop has always been held in September or October. This year’s organizing committee consists of roughly four faculty members, including coordinator Dr. Daniel Weigel, director of the community counseling program and associate professor of counseling.

The committee coordinates the event and brainstorms presentation ideas. The Continuing Education Department handles the advertising and determines the registration price, Reid said.

“They’re really very helpful in putting [the workshop] together,” he said.

The Continuing Education Department and the scholarship committee split the fees that are raised, in order to pay for related costs and fund scholarships.

Scholarships are distributed based on applications.

Forty to 50 people attended the first few years, but attendance has increased every year, Reid said. Now, the workshop attracts approximately 80 individuals.

Close to $4,000 has been raised for student scholarships since the program began, Reid said.

He hopes even more will be raised this year. One way the committee is reducing costs this year is by putting handout materials online. The fee to print the materials can be expensive, Reid said.

Four speakers are featured at this year’s event: Weigel; Michele Claxton, director of the Continuing Education Office; Tim Boatmun, associate dean at the Academic Outreach and Advising Center; and Ed Mauzey, professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences.

Registration for the workshop is $85. Southeastern faculty, staff and students pay a discounted fee of $30. To register, contact the Continuing Education Department at 745-2858 or e-mail kdonovan@se.edu. Interested individuals can also register in person at the office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Reid said the registration fee is reasonable compared to others.

The workshop can also be fun for faculty members who volunteer their time. They often see former counseling students at the workshops.

“It’s nice to see them again and hear [about] what they’re doing,” Reid said about seeing former students.

He said the presentations are not designed for current students, but they are encouraged to attend.