The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women (OCSW) will present two 2023 Guardian Awards to The Honorable Senator Roger Thompson (Okemah) and The Honorable Representative Cyndi Munson (Oklahoma City); the 2023 Kate Barnard Award to Seminole State College President Lana Reynolds (Seminole); and the Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Lou Kerr (Oklahoma City), a nationally-renowned community philanthropist and advocate for women.

Thompson, Munson, Reynolds and Kerr will be recognized and presented the awards at the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, April 28th, at 5:30 pm at the Omni Hotel located at 100 Oklahoma City Boulevard.

The Kate Barnard Award is in memory and recognition of Oklahoman Kate Barnard, who in 1907 became the first woman to win a statewide elected office in the United States. In 1998, OCSW created the Kate Barnard Award to recognize and honor women who have made a difference in Oklahoma as an elected or appointed salaried public official in Oklahoma.

Lana Reynolds is President of Seminole State College and has worked in Oklahoma Higher Education for over 30 years. She assumed the role as the institution’s first female President on July 1, 2017. She is a member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Council of Presidents and serves as Chair-Elect of that Council. She is a past Chair of the Council of Two-Year College Presidents. Reynolds hosted the first “Not Me – Stop Human Trafficking” Community Conversation at the College to educate college and high school students on recognizing the early signs of human trafficking.

Created in 2010, the Guardian Award recognizes Oklahoma legislative, executive, and judicial officials who have made significant contributions to guarding, protecting, and preserving the rights of women and families.

Senator Thompson was first elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 2014. He represents Senate District 8, which includes Okmulgee and McIntosh counties, as well as portions of Okfuskee and Muskogee counties. Currently he is serving his second term as Chairman of Appropriations, where under his leadership, the committee was able to make historic investments in core government services, including Oklahoma schools. In 2022, the committee approved appropriations for the Commission’s “Not Me – Stop Human Trafficking” Initiative, the first official statewide effort to educate Oklahoma students and educators at high schools, universities, colleges and career and technology centers on how to recognize the early signs of human trafficking.

Elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2016 to House District 85, Representative Munson, is the first Asian-American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature. Munson has concentrated on legislative efforts to provide equal pay for equal work, strengthen the rights of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, assist Oklahoma men and women veterans, and help Oklahomans who suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia health issues. Currently she serves as Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award was created for the purpose of recognizing Commissioners or former Commissioners who have or has done exceptional work promoting the mission and vison of the Commission.

As an active community and philanthropic leader in Oklahoma and across the country, Lou Kerr is president and chair of The Kerr Foundation, Inc. She founded the Annual Women’s Business Leadership Conference with Oklahoma State University that celebrated its 30th year in bringing strong, forward-thinking women from to speak to Oklahoma women. Kerr has been member of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women for many years, serving as a Commissioner and an Advisory Council member. In 2013, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.

The Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony has several sponsors, including the Chickasaw Nation as the Presenting Sponsor. For more information, visit www.ok.gov/ocsw .

About the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women: The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women is the official state commission that serves as the voice for women in Oklahoma. It strengthens and empowers women in Oklahoma by informing and educating the Legislature and Executive branches about issues to improve opportunities and quality of life for women. In addition to the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, OCSW conducts Community Conversations on issues impacting Oklahoma women and families and promotes The Appointments Project (TAP), an effort to identify and encourage women toapply for appointments to statewide agencies, boards, and commissions for the state of Oklahoma.

OCSW is a proud member of Girl Scouts of America as Honorary Troop 1912 to help girls thrivein Oklahoma. Visit OCSW at https://www. ok.gov/ocsw/.