NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – More than 300 people attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law’s annual Order of the Owl Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 17, 2025, where they celebrated four new inductees: Valerie Couch, class of 1983, Timothy DeGuisti, class of 1988, Brad Henry, class of 1988, and Sean Burrage, class of 1993.
“The OU College of Law hosts many events throughout the year, but the Order of the Owl is a cherished tradition that brings the OU Law community together to reflect on our shared legacy, to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of those we honor tonight, and to offer us a look at the life of the OU Law student fully realized,” said Dean Anne Carpenter.
The Order of the Owl recognizes OU Law graduates who demonstrate leadership and service through outstanding accomplishments in their legal careers. When reflecting on this year’s inductees, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said, “You all stand as examples of what we are obligated to do as lawyers. It’s the idea that to be happy, you need to love and to make a difference, and we as lawyers are uniquely positioned to do just that. And each of you receiving this award tonight is living proof and embodiments of that.”
When accepting her award, the Honorable Valerie Couch said, “OU Law has tremendous momentum right now, but its future is not a given. We can’t take it for granted. We all have a stake in its future. Its mission has never been more crucial to our wellbeing personally or the wellbeing of our country.”
The Honorable Brad Henry added, “I didn’t know who I was or how much I valued public service until I was in law school. OU Law doesn’t just educate; it instills character in its students.”
In addition to these four members, OU Law also honored Artoush Varshosaz, class of 2008, with the 2025 Order of the Parliamentarian. This award recognizes more recent OU Law graduates for distinguished accomplishments in the first 20 years of their legal careers.
Since 2011, the College of Law has inducted 46 deserving OU Law alumni into the Order of the Owl Hall of Fame. They are:
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.
Pejman Kazempoor, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, has been recognized for his commitment to addressing methane emissions and providing a cleaner world.
Muhammad Furqan, M.D., professor of hematology-oncology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Associate Director of Clinical Research at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, is leading a national clinical trial evaluating whether immunotherapy can improve outcomes for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following surgery.
The Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research at the University of Oklahoma will launch its first Sovereign Policy Intensive in September, a new program designed for elected tribal officials that focuses on understanding broadly relevant federal systems grounded in departmental structures, legislation and appropriations, and legal frameworks.
