NEWS
Layne Keep will graduate from the University of Oklahoma this May, carrying on a century-old tradition in her family. Keep’s mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all graduated from OU. Her great-grandmother, Laura Focht Morgan, graduated exactly 100 years before Layne in May 1925.
“What has really affected me has been the legacy of women getting a degree,” said Keep, who will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in communication sciences and disorders from the OU College of Allied Health. “In a time when very few women were graduating from college, my great-grandmother’s story is truly amazing.”
Laura Focht was orphaned during her sophomore year of college, leaving her the sole caretaker for her 8-year-old sister and her great aunt. Faced with responsibilities that would have overwhelmed many, Focht chose not to abandon her education. Instead, she devised a plan. She rented out the family home in Oklahoma City and moved her little family to Norman so she could continue her studies.
“Her story of grit and resilience has driven me always to do my best academically,” said Layne. “I understand the blessing and tool that education is to women, and I take immense pride in the fact that every woman in my family has graduated from college over the last century. I am eager to have the opportunity to join them.”
Layne grew up visiting Norman for Sooner athletics games and hearing OU stories from her family. So, when she began her own student experience, she knew how to jump in with both feet. From sporting events, she has seen every sport at least once, to student life events, including serving as the chair of University Sing, she has taken part in activities across campus.
“I am so happy to say that I now have stories to share with my children about what it means to be a Sooner,” Layne said.
Keep’s entire family plans to attend her graduation ceremony, which will celebrate not only her accomplishments but also those of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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Newly published research in Science Advances, led by Jessica Cerezo-Román, at the University of Oklahoma, documents the oldest known cremation in Africa and provides some of the earliest evidence for intentional cremation using a pyre in the world.
