Projects and Initiatives
Sooner Parents annually provides parent publications, supports various university projects and helps to fund supplemental programming across the campus.
History of Supporting OU Students
Over the years, the parents organizations have taken special interest in support of projects at the university.
- The Dads' Association publicly supported the bond issues that built Ellison Infirmary in 1927 and in 1964, its members passed a resolution supporting the creation of the OU School of Dentistry.
- In 1940, the Mothers' Association sponsored and helped furnish Rochdale Hall for 38 needy women students. They also endorsed safety on highways and world peace.
- The Parents' Association contributed $5000 to the building of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
- In recent years, the Parents' Association has helped co-sponsor some of the events linked to Dad’s Day and Mom’s Day activities.
Current Sponsorships and Support
Awarding $30,000 in scholarships this academic year! Each year, numerous $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students whose parents are members of Sooner Parents. Two $1,000 Gore Memorial Scholarship will be distributed each year, along with two Honorable Mentions of $500 each. Applications for the scholarships will be available through OU's CASH system. CASH opens October 1 and runs through February 1, each calendar year.
Donating $2,000 for the Financial Aid Services Emergency Scholarship Fund and $1,000 for the Sooners Helping Sooners program!
The Sooner Parents Mini-Grant program supports educational efforts in the Division of Student Affairs as well as in academic colleges across campus. Providing $10,000 in mini-grants each year.
Providing emergency grant funding to current Norman and Tulsa campus students affected by unforeseen financial strain, such as natural disasters, theft of personal property, death in the family, and a variety of other circumstances.
Sooner Parents donated $3,000 toward scholarships for students to participate in OU Suit-Up. OU Suit-Up is a partnership with JCPenney's Corp. Each year, the Moore location closes the store early to give our students exclusive access to discounted professional clothing. Several students are selected each year to receive gift cards to fund their purchase.
Each Fall, Sooner Parents presents an award of merit to the Outstanding Senior of each undergraduate college as selected by the individual colleges. Sooner Parents also recognizes the all-around Outstanding Senior at the University selected by a university committee comprised of faculty, staff and students.
A calendar is printed each summer for new OU parents providing month-by-month updates of what students may be experiencing during their transition to OU. It also provides ideas for parents each month.
OU Mom, OU Dad, OU Grandparent, OU Sister, and OU Brother stickers are distributed throughout the year at special university events by Sooner Parents volunteers.
