Women for OSU inspires new generation of Cowboy philanthropists

Women for OSU inspires new generation of Cowboy philanthropists

Friday, September 13, 2024

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | [email protected]

Through her passion for supporting Oklahoma State University, Cheryl Clerico hopes to inspire a new wave of philanthropic Cowboys.

Women for OSU Chair Leslie Paris (right) and Philanthropist of the Year Cheryl Clerico.

On April 25, Clerico was honored as the 2024 Women of OSU Philanthropist of the Year at the annual Women for OSU Symposium inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. This prestigious recognition celebrates Clerico's enduring support for OSU and honors philanthropy within the Cowboy family.

For over 15 years, Women for OSU has played a pivotal role in advancing the university's mission by celebrating philanthropy and the financial contributions of its council and the broader OSU community. Clerico, along with her husband, John, have committed more than $16 million to OSU, with nearly $5 million funding the Clerico Family Foundation Scholarship, which goes beyond financial aid. The Clerico family - Cheryl, John, and their daughter, Diane Deakin - meet with each scholarship recipient twice a year to offer guidance and work to connect them with people who can help them succeed.

"Giving back is a key element of the Cowboy culture at Oklahoma State," Clerico said. "Our family receives great joy and satisfaction from the personal growth and the continuing successes of our Clerico Family Foundation scholarship recipients."

OSU President Kayse Shrum praised the Clericos for their heartfelt contributions and profound impact on OSU.

"It is amazing the amount of time they commit to the [Clerico Family Foundation] scholars," Dr. Shrum said. "It's not just a scholarship; it's an investment in helping individuals reach their goals and becoming the person they have dreamed of being."

Courtney Neff, an OSU alumna and Clerico scholar, recalls the transformative impact of the Clerico family's mentorship. Arriving at OSU as an anxious first-generation college student, Neff found the support she needed to succeed through the family's guidance. Now serving as the Section 106 coordinator for the Osage Nation Historic Preservation, Neff credits the Clericos with helping her achieve her goals.

"I received a lot of guidance and mentorship," Neff said. "The Clericos gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities. We had dinners every fall where we talked one-on-one, and I benefited greatly."

Inspiration for Cheryl and John's philanthropy traces back to the legendary OSU philanthropist, T. Boone Pickens.

"He inspired many of us to devote our time and resources to the betterment of Oklahoma State," Clerico said. "One of Mr. Pickens' favorite sayings was 'There are two types of people in this world: givers and takers.'"

Clerico is passionate about passing on this spirit of giving to the next generation. This year, the Women for OSU council awarded 16 scholarships, including the 2024 Student Philanthropist of the Year, Kodie Gough.

"Philanthropy is simply the greatest gift ever," Gough said. "It is such an honor to be able to serve the Stillwater community. It has given me a sense of purpose within Stillwater instead of simply just being a student."

A marketing major from Graham, Texas, Gough exemplifies the philanthropic spirit through her involvement with the Cowboy Strong Student Emergency Fund and efforts to combat food insecurity on campus. Her volunteer work extends to organizations such as Our Daily Bread and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and she serves on the Spears School of Business Student Council and the OSU Student Foundation.

"Kodie is extremely reliable, and her enthusiasm really carries through for her as the philanthropy chair," said Sarah Johnson, OSU Spears School of Business assistant dean for undergraduate learning. "Kodie always brings to the table activities that she knows students will be interested in, and she gets the group ready to go in a professional way. She creates an environment that Spears and OSU can be really proud of."

Like Gough, Clerico encourages the entire OSU family to find their own way to support the university.

"John and I would like to challenge everyone to find a need or a project that can benefit from your time and resources," she said. "Find your passion, help make dreams a reality. You will be helping future generations of students, and I promise you it will be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do."

The Women for OSU Partner Program offers the OSU community impactful opportunities to support the university. One of the membership benefits is selecting the Partnering to Impact grant recipients. Partnering to Impact's mission is to support unbudgeted projects that benefit the health and wellness, education, campus beautification, or arts and culture across the OSU system. Since 2020, the program has funded 20 initiatives.

OSU graduate and CNN Newsource correspondent Julia Benbrook interviews keynote speaker Deborah Norville.

At this year's symposium, five projects received Women for OSU Partnering to Impact grants: Increasing Access to Civic Education for Underserved Rural Students in Oklahoma, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, F1RST2GO, Sonia Kovalevsky Day Math Workshop and Red Pantry Hygiene Expansion.

Jayme Ferrell, OSU Foundation associate vice president of constituent development and previous director of Women for OSU, believes that philanthropy within the Cowboy family transforms lives.

"Cheryl, Kodie and all our student scholars inspire us to support our passions and serve our communities," Ferrell said. "We are grateful for generations of Cowboys who demonstrate their love for OSU through philanthropy and
a culture of giving."

Photos by: OSU Foundation

Story by: Samantha Hardy | STATE Magazine

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