Cutline: NOC regent chair Jason Turnbow was honored June 16 at his final regent meeting by the board of regents and president Diana Morris Watkins. (photo by Shiloh Martin/Northern Oklahoma College)
NOC honors regent Jason Turnbow
After four years as a Northern Oklahoma College regent, Enid’s Jason Turnbow completed his service during the June meeting in Tonkawa.
At Turnbow’s final meeting on June 16, president Diana Morris Watkins read a proclamation honoring Turnbow’s service.
Turnbow was praised for “during his four years of service to the College, he has shown himself to be dedicated to the ultimate goals of higher education, to the students, the faculty, and the staff of the institution; and through his tenure, he leaves the College a tremendous legacy of academic success, innovation, and improved campus facilities.”
The proclamation also stated that during Turnbow’s tenure, the collaborative partnership between NOC and OSU has proven beneficial as NOC celebrated the 20-year anniversary of working together to promote college access and degree completion. NOC also celebrated the 25th anniversary this past year at NOC Enid with a series of events and festivities including a joint 25-year celebration of David Allen Memorial Ballpark and Jets Baseball.
The president added that Regent Turnbow’s dedication to Northern’s Mission helped cultivate and promote student growth and success by creating life-changing experiences which included the transition of NJCAA Division I men’s and women’s Soccer program from Tonkawa to Enid as well as adding a new NJCAA men’s and women’s Wrestling program to the Tonkawa campus.
Turnbow became a regent in 2021.
“When I learned about a potential opening on the Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents in 2021, I was encouraged by a former State Regent and previous NOC Regents to express interest,” Turnbow said. “I have always seen how essential NOC is to our communities, and I wanted to help strengthen the college’s relationships with area high schools and with Oklahoma State University.”
Turnbow has seen many changes in higher education with new initiatives.
“During my tenure as Regent, some of the most impactful initiatives have been the Early 30 and Dual Credit to Degree programs,” he said. “Seeing students earn both their high school diploma and an NOC degree at the same time showcases the transformative power of concurrent enrollment and the real opportunities it creates for young people in our region.”
Higher education also faces many challenges, according to Turnbow.
“Like many institutions across the country, higher education in Oklahoma faces the challenge of adapting to a changing workforce,” Turnbow added. “It’s critical that NOC continues to evolve—offering relevant degree programs that meet community needs while keeping student success at the forefront.”
Turnbow reflected on some key moments on the board of regents.
“One of my most memorable moments as a Regent was seeing our pre-engineering students on the NOC Rocket Team reap the rewards of their dedication and hard work by winning the Grand Prize in the First Nations Launch Competition. Their victory earned them a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where they were joined by students from MIT, who had won the Mars Competition. It was an inspiring example of the exceptional opportunities NOC students can achieve.”
He is extremely excited about NOC’s future.
“Looking ahead, I believe NOC is poised for tremendous success,” he added. “President Morris-Watkins has become an exceptional leader for the institution. The addition of the new Men’s and Women’s Wrestling teams, as well as Enid’s new Soccer programs, brings energy and opportunity to our campuses. Most importantly, NOC is surrounded by stakeholders who care deeply about the college and who work tirelessly to enhance the student experience.”
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOC serves nearly 3,100 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.
For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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