Southeastern students attend 2024 Higher Education Day at the capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY – A group of 20 students from Southeastern Oklahoma State University joined other students from across the state recently at the State Capitol building for the annual Higher Education Day.

Southeastern students were privileged to hear from State Representative and Assistant Majority Whip Eddy Dempsey (R-Valliant), State Representative Justin Humphrey (RLane), State Representative Cody Maynard (R-Durant), and State Representative and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City), as well as lobbyist Lesa Smaligo in a morning session. Rep. Dempsey and Smaligo are Southeastern graduates.

Students asked the speakers about specific legislation, the legislative process, upcoming elections, and the experience of working in the Capitol.

Also visiting with the Southeastern delegation were Regents Chris Van Dehende and Connie Reilly of the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO).

Students then attended a program in the chambers of the House of Representatives, with speeches from Governor Kevin Stitt, Speaker Charles McCall, Sen. Adam Pugh, Rep. Mark McBride, State Regents chair Jack Sherry, and Chancellor Allison D. Garrett.

“Students, faculty and staff from Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities came together today at our State Capitol to highlight the value of a college degree,” said Garrett. “Over half of the top 100 occupations identified as critical for our state require an associate degree or higher, including the top 29 highest paying jobs. Investing in higher education drives economic opportunity for individual Oklahomans and strengthens the workforce pipeline for our vibrant business community.”

Twenty Southeastern students visited the State Capitol building for the annual Higher Education Day.