President Robert Henry is accepting three awards during November.
“The president has to represent OCU to the community,” Henry said. “I feel like I’ve had some success in that area.”
Henry will accept the “Community Service Award” from the Conference of Churches Nov. 9 along with university trustees Bob Long and Lou Kerr.
“There will be not other institution that will have that many people,” Henry said. “It shows the religious community of OCU still plays a great leading role.”
The Asia Society of Oklahoma City is recognizing Henry as the “Outstanding Civic Leader” Nov. 11.
“I’m kind of an internationalist,” Henry said. “I think there’s a whole world out there, and we need to talk to and reach out and understand each other.”
This is one of several minority groups that has honored Henry for producing cultural dialogue.
“In our country now, there’s a bit of parochialism and retrenching, and the world doesn’t really allow that anymore,” Henry said. “We all have to work together.”
ASTEC will award Henry the title of “Door Opener Honoree” Nov. 14. Kerr is also being honored at this event along with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.
“It’s supposed to be for someone who’s opened doors for people to communicate and talk and work together,” Henry said.
ASTEC is a charter school in Oklahoma City, and funds from the gala go towards the schools.
He said he encourages students to attend to learn more about his passion for education.
“You can’t be the person you want to be without the challenges that education puts towards you,” Henry said. “There’s more to just making money, buying a home, having kids, and retiring There are other things like learning to appreciate art and literature.”
Henry was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame Oct. 30, along with former provost Susan Barber.
He was also given an honorary doctorate from Henry’s alma mater, University of Oklahoma, when he gave their commencement speech last May.
“I spent a lot of time on that speech, and it kind of summarized what I think education is supposed to do for us,” Henry said.
Henry said he enjoys spending time raising money and raising awareness for a wide range of topics.
“I have a lot of causes, and I would encourage student to find some causes and get behind them in their lives,” Henry said.
Henry will be retiring in June 2018 to focus on legal writing.
Sireene Khader, cell and molecular biology sophomore is in the president’s leadership class, also known as OCULeads, and she said she considers him very deserving of these honors.
“His love for the community and OCU will be missed,” she said.
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