OCU School of Religion graduates 8

• Jake Tartarian plans to attend Saint Paul School of Theology on OCU’s campus to work toward a Master of Divinity degree. He wants to become a Deacon with an emphasis on youth ministry. Tartarian said he especially appreciates his classes with Dr. Leslie Long. Studying the history of Christianity and Celtic Christianity, he was inspired by learning that Christians long have struggled with issues similar to current concerns. And summer internships with Project Transformation helped him to sense his role within a community and to get firsthand experience in mission-type work with young children.

• Keith Bethell came to OCU from his home in the Bahamas specifically to gain an undergraduate degree in youth ministry, and he took full advantage of his opportunity. He served two years as a Religious Life intern with Rev. Jennifer J. Long and was active in Delta Alpha Chi, the Christian men’s service fraternity. Through his studies and interactions with students and professors, Bethell said he learned to look at the Bible in more creative ways and grew in finding his voice, especially in fields of ministry. He now serves as director of youth and young adult ministries at Choctaw United Methodist Church.

• For Sean Crews, his experience at OCU is exemplified in a summer mission trip with the brothers of Delta Alpha Chi to Roger’s Park UMC in Chicago. "It was a great trip, full of service and a whole lot of fun. This was enabled by an institution that promotes service learning to its individual students and organizations, encouraging and providing us with the hearts and minds to desire a servant’s heart in whatever field we may be in," Crews said. His professors cared "not only for my academic success, but for who I am as a person." Crews will continue as the youth minister and children’s program coordinator at Kingfisher-First UMC.  

• Clinton Keller will spend the next year researching graduate schools and gaining practical experience working in organizations that address his academic interests. He said he values being involved in the Religious Life activities and serving on the Chapel Worship Team. His two most significant off-campus experiences were a class, held at the Washington Center, in Washington, D.C., about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and volunteering on a medical mission team in Honduras.

• Clarissa Flint plans to continue her studies for the Master’s of Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma. She wrote, "The professors at OCU have been great, and getting to take classes like Contemporary Theology from Dr. Starkey has been the most enlightening part of my year at the school."

• While a student at OCU, Luisa Medina was engaged in active ministry through her work in the Oklahoma Conference Volunteers In Mission office. She is open to future possibilities.

• Jamison Rudd continues as youth minister at Blanchard UMC.

• Daniel Clinton returns to his home in Tulsa as he eyes future plans.

For more information about pursuing an undergraduate degree in religion at OCU, contact Dr. Sharon Betsworth, sbetsworth@okcu.edu.  To learn more about the Master of Religious Education program, contact Dr. Leslie Long, llong@okcu.edu.