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.
A decade-long partnership between the University of Oklahoma and Southcentral Foundation, an Alaska Native-owned, nonprofit health care organization based in Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to grow and strengthen a research workforce serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Soami Ellis, a recent OU graduate, has become the university’s first professional helicopter major to earn a CFI rating. This milestone is made possible through a recently established School of Aviation program made in partnership with Semper Fly Helicopters in Norman.
The University of Oklahoma is experiencing a period of transformation few institutions in higher education can match – but OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. says the university’s progress is less a finish line than a foundation for what comes next.
