March 14, 2026 Issue, Page 13 of 14

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The Elk City News SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026 • 13 Weekly Oklahoma Oil and Gas Report Oil & Gas Report for the State of Oklahoma for March 3- 9, 2025 Elk City Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Express Employment By Sheryl Ponce and Elk City, where they have no er positions. office. Express Employment staff in- Express Employment Profes- The company is partnering cludes Seth Phillips, manager; sionals have re-opened and re- with businesses to place potential Jamie Moody, employment spe- modeled their office, which is lo- employees in the right job. They cialist; and Kayla Travis, business cated at 903 S. 10th St, in Clinton. service the area from Hinton west developer. Welcome them to the They can be reached at 580-323- to the state line. Currently they Elk City area, and support their 4400. The Elk City Chamber of are looking to fill jobs in the area efforts in providing businesses Commerce held a ribbon cutting, of clerical, light industrial, skilled with just the right staff to enhance welcoming them to the chamber trades, along with numerous oth- their services. Reach Higher Scholarships Help Adult Learners Finish Degrees at SWOSU The Reach Higher degree-fin- long-standing educational goals al Leadership program, Reach ishing program at Southwest- while balancing professional and Higher Flex Finish, said the ern Oklahoma State University personal responsibilities. adult-friendly degree completion (SWOSU) awarded over $15,000 “The Reach Higher program options through the Oklahoma in Finish Line scholarships to 10 has allowed me to fulfill a goal State Regents for Higher Educa- students enrolled in Reach High- that will help change my career tion allow students to progress er degree programs, with awards trajectory.” stated Bobbi Gray of toward graduation at a pace that averaging just over $1,500 per Kingfisher. fits their schedules. student. “The leadership courses I have “The program is geared to The scholarships are funded and am currently taking are im- working adults by offering flexi- through the Finish Line schol- pacting me as a coach in the most ble enrollment and online course- arship program, an ongoing ini- beautiful way. I can complete this work,” Wiggen said. “Many of our tiative that provides financial work solely because of the Reach students may only take a class or support to students at Oklahoma Higher program.” two a semester due to their other State System colleges and uni- Amanda Schwartz of Moore obligations, and others will take versities participating in Reach said returning to college once five to six courses to try and finish Higher adult degree completion seemed unlikely after spending as rapidly as possible. It is truly up programs. The funding assists 15 years homeschooling her four to the individual.” adult learners who are nearing children. The Reach Higher program re- completion of their degrees. “Before finding this program, sults in a Bachelor of Science in Reach Higher is designed for I didn’t think that going back to Organizational Leadership and adults who previously completed finish my degree would ever be an provides concentration options college coursework but did not option,” Schwartz said. “Raising that support career advancement finish a degree. At SWOSU most and educating my own four chil- across multiple professional fields students in this program will dren have been my primary focus to provide even greater flexibility complete a Bachelor of Science in for all of those years. Now, with for students. Organizational Leadership with a only my last two at home this is The program is currently ac- concentration in one of four ar- the perfect time to finish what I cepting students for the 2026 eas: business, education, psychol- started 22 years ago and show my summer and fall semesters, and ogy, or technology. own children that it truly is never scholarship funding may still be Several scholarship recipi- too late to finish.” available. Additional information ents said the program has creat- Dr. Todd Wiggen, Coordina- is available by contacting Wiggen ed an opportunity to complete tor of SWOSU’s Organization- at [email protected]. Have a photo to share? Send to [email protected] with a description!