When Fixico Number One, a discovery well for the Greater Seminole Oil Field, sent up a six-thousand- barrel gusher in 1926, Seminole rapidly transformed from a quiet town of 854 residents into a booming city with a population of nearly 30,000. Seminole became, famously, a sea of mud as cars, trucks and heavy equipment outpaced the ability of our town to provide infrastructure.

As the town began to find its footing at the start of the 1930s, its citizens wanted to create more educational opportunities for its residents. And so, on Sept. 7, 1931, classes began at what was then called Seminole Junior College. It served as an extension of Seminole High School and in its first year had an enrollment of 57 students.

The economic boom subsided. The population of Seminole stabilized at approximately 11,000 by 1935. But Seminole Junior College remained a path to higher education and greater job opportunities.

In 1969, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recommended that state-supported junior colleges be separated from local high schools. In this time of uncertainty for our college, Seminole stepped up. A 40-acre tract of land was donated by the city. A $250,000 public school bond to finance SJC’s first building on its new campus was put to a vote, and the bond was approved by an eight-to-one margin.

The rich history of our college is inextricably linked to the history of Seminole. When our institution was in desperate need of help, the people of this city bet on us.

And we, in turn, bet on Seminole.

There is an indescribable feeling when you’re on the cusp of a monumental change, and I believe we are entering a period of revitalization and growth in Seminole.

A key catalyst in this transformation has been the construction of the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex by the SSC Educational Foundation. This state-of-theart facility has not only enhanced our sports offerings but also spurred economic development in the region.

In the past two years, we’ve hosted countless little league tournaments, state high school championships and NJCAA regional and district tournaments. The facility has led to a substantial increase in sales tax and inspired new investments in the area. The complex has been complemented by the construction of muchneeded housing, as well as ongoing projects such as a new hotel, a strip mall and an entertainment center. These developments will create jobs, stimulate local businesses and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous community.

We help our students not only grow academically but also personally. We encourage them to give back to their communities and chase goals they once believed to be out of reach. At SSC, you will commonly find stories of students and employees finding success locally, regionally and even nationally.

Our students and employees are at the forefront of all our administrative decisions. That is why – despite a flat budget – we awarded modest pay raises to all full-time employees for the upcoming year and did so without raising tuition costs for our students.

As the city changes around us, big changes are around the corner for our college too. We have launched a career center to assist students as they transition into the workforce. We are looking to add new academic programs to meet the demands of a changing job market and are nearing the completion of a campus wellness center.

It is my sincere honor to serve as President of this institution. It is with pride that I look back at the accomplishments of students, faculty and staff over the past year. It is with eager optimism that I look forward to a renaissance – a new era of growth for our community and college.