November 14, 2026 Issue, Page 8 of 13

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8• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026 The Elk City News OSU competition prepares students for real-life aerospace careers “Dispatch, search team one at station one is ready for briefing.” That radio transmission signaled the start of competition as high school teams prepared to take flight at the second Fly Forward: Search and Rescue State Championship. Co-hosted by the Oklahoma State University Aerospace Institute for Research and Education and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, the Nov. 4-5 competition brought nearly 70 teams from across the state to Lake Carl Blackwell. There, students navigated simulated search-and-rescue scenarios designed to mirror challenges first responders face in the field. “The inspiration for this event came from the role drones can play in helping first responders,” said Natalie Noles, OAIRE director of business operations. “As a former dispatcher, I’ve seen how important it is to support emergency response. We wanted to bring real-world scenarios to life through hands-on training. Partnering with the OSU Police Department gives students a chance to build practical workforce skills while learning how drones can support emergency response.” Teams faced three first responder scenarios: finding an overturned kayaker along the shoreline; locating a lost hiker on one of the many trails at Lake Carl Blackwell; and providing aid to a victim of a snakebite. Developed in collaboration with OSUPD, Stillwater Medical Center, and LifeNet Emergency Medical Services, the scenarios challenged the students’ ability to pilot, think critically and work as a team. The teams were evaluated on their ability to identify targets and complete the mission efficiently. “An event like this really helps us see the capabilities of drones and allows us to think outside of the box about how we might be able to use drones to respond to whatever emergency may be thrown at us,” OSUPD Capt. Dan Ray said. “It’s also impactful for us to show students the role they can play in emergency response.” Compared with last year, the competition expanded from one day to two, featuring both novice and advanced teams. “Building on last year’s event, we’ve made the course more challenging, both logistically and in the dispatch terminology participants will encounter,” Noles said. We want them to work through a realistic scenario that tests their communication and problem-solving skills.” Dr. Jenny Peters, lead aviation and aerospace instructor at Pryor High School, brought her team for the second year because she sees the competition as an opportunity for students to develop skills that extend beyond the classroom. “Learning how to be professional, how to communicate with the team, how to fly the drone, how to troubleshoot certain problems and how to problem-solve in the moment. Those are all skills that students need to have in order to be successful,” Peters said. “Whether they decide to go into industry, go for business on their own or go to Oklahoma State.” For Peters, it’s about more than developing the student’s technical ability. “It’s about them learning how to communicate in a team environment and to build those flight skills. ... It gives them a team mindset because I’m doing what is best. I’m doing the best job that I can for the team,” Peters said. For some students, the competition also offers a glimpse into a potential career. Jace Forney, a sophomore at Moore High School, was introduced to drones as an eighth grader and imagines a career centered on designing and testing them. For him, this event is an opportunity to gain more experience and work as a team. “I’m most looking forward to the experience, having fun, being able to test my skills. And everyone else being able to test their skills gets me really excited,” Forney said. “It’s so cool that we can actually come out here and use what we’ve learned. The competition also presented challenges that required students to think beyond their initial approach. “The most challenging thing we’ve done today was looking for the targets, because you’ve got to think outside the box a little bit. They’re not always where you think they’re going to be, and so I really that was a little bit of a challenge,” Forney said. Opportunities like Fly Forward also support a broader need across Oklahoma: developing the next generation of talent for the state’s growing aerospace and aviation industry. As drones and other uncrewed aircraft systems become increasingly important across industries, students who gain early experience with the technology are introduced to career possibilities in aerospace engineering, aviation, public safety and beyond. According to ODAA, aviation and aerospace generates $52.5 billion in annual economic impact, making it Oklahoma’s second largest and fastest-growing industry. More than 1,300 aerospace companies and 107 airports help power a sector that continues to expand and create demand for a highly skilled workforce. MERRITT As a land-grant institution, OSU’s mission is to translate discovery into action in a way that benefits society. For OAIRE, that mission is fulfilled in part through outreach efforts like this searchand-rescue event and drone workshops that help introduce youth to technologies and career pathways that shape the state’s future. “Seeing students put what they’ve learned into action, work through a realistic search-andrescue scenarios and support one another as a team is so important,” Noles said. “The camaraderie is a big part of the event, and it’s exciting to see students build connections while learning how drones can support first responders.” ADVANCED AWARD RECIPIENTS Critical Response Award: Perry High School Cowboy Rescue Award: Hilldale High School Master Navigator Award: Wilson Hugh School Spirit Award: Mustang High School Grand Champion Award: ADA High School NOVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS Pathfinder Award: Tupelo High School Life Saver Award: Weatherford High School Venom Shield Award: Alva High School Spirit Award: Rock Creek High School Grand Champion: Wright City High School VISUAL ASSETS: https:// d i g it a l a s s e t s . o k s t at e . e du / share/EB81769A-5762-4DB2865CEB020D2F6959/ Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Celebrates Grand Opening of Comprehensive Pediatric Behavioral Health Center New facility, expected to begin serving patients in December, will expand specialized treatment for Oklahoma children with 72 inpatient beds and outpatient programs OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 4, 2026 — Oklahoma Children’s OU Health celebrated the grand opening of the Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health Center on Nov. 4, Oklahoma’s first and only comprehensive pediatric behavioral health center integrated with a children’s hospital. Expected to begin serving patients in December, the center will combine psychiatric treatment with pediatric medical expertise to offer inpatient and outpatient services for children and adolescents who need more intensive or coordinated care, with families involved throughout treatment. The facility addresses a critical gap in pediatric behavioral health services. Some children experiencing a mental health crisis may need inpatient stabilization, while others may require structured treatment beyond routine outpatient visits. The center’s multiple treatment levels are designed to meet those needs. “For families seeking help for a child, finding the right level of behavioral healthcare can be difficult and overwhelming,” said Jonathan W. Curtright, MBA, MHA, president and CEO of OU Health, the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system. “This center expands the care available here in Oklahoma and connects it with the specialized services of our children’s hospital. It represents a lasting investment in children’s health and in the families who depend on us.” The center’s services and features include: 72 inpatient beds for shortterm stabilization and longer-term treatment. Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs for children who need substantial treatment and support without an overnight hospital stay. A specialized neurodevelopmental unit to support children with developmental needs. Space in every patient room for a parent to stay, helping families remain involved in care. Areas for recreation, outdoor activities and family resources, all designed to support treatment and recovery. The center’s design emphasizes patient and staff safety, family participation and spaces that support healing. “A child’s behavioral health needs cannot always be separated from their medical or developmental needs,” said Rasim Somer Diler, MD, MBA, DFAACAP, clinical service chief of psychiatry and behavioral health at OU Health and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. “This center creates an opportunity to redefine pediatric behavioral healthcare in Oklahoma and beyond through integrated, evidence-based and personalized care. By bringing together specialized expertise and keeping families involved throughout the healing process, we can help children reach their full potential, thrive in their communities and build healthier futures.” The center will also strengthen Oklahoma’s behavioral health workforce by providing clinical training opportunities for future healthcare professionals. Students and trainees will learn alongside experienced clinicians, connecting the University of Oklahoma’s educational mission with the state’s need for specialized care. “No child should have to face a behavioral health crisis without access to the care they need, and no family should have to navigate that crisis without hope,” said University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. “This extraordinary center represents a transformational step forward for Oklahoma – bringing compassionate, specialized care closer to home and offering children and families a path toward healing and a brighter future. At the University of Oklahoma, our purpose is to change lives, and I can think of few efforts that embody that purpose more profoundly than this one.” The project reflects years of collaboration among OU Health, the University of Oklahoma, University Hospitals Authority and Trust, state lawmakers and philanthropic partners. Investment approved by the Oklahoma Legislature, funding from University Hospitals Authority and Trust, and charitable gifts helped make the facility possible. “This center reflects a shared decision to make children’s behavioral health a priority for Oklahoma,” said G. Rainey Williams Jr., chair of the OU Health Board of Directors and chair of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust Board. “We are grateful to the Legislature, our philanthropic partners and everyone whose work brought this project to completion. Their commitment has created a resource that will serve children and families for generations.” Philanthropic supporters include the E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, Devon Energy, Junior League of Oklahoma City, Fred Jones Family Foundation, Sarkeys Foundation, Presbyterian Health Foundation and Rob- ert Glenn Rapp Foundation. Learn more about the Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health Center. OKLAHOMA CHILDREN’S OU HEALTH Oklahoma Children’s OU Health is anchored by the state’s only comprehensive, freestanding children’s hospital and powered by a statewide team of pediatric experts — delivering care through hospital-based services and pediatric clinics located across the Oklahoma City metro area, including the University of Oklahoma Health Campus and communities throughout the state. Proudly serving all 77 counties, we bring breakthroughs to every child and every family. With unshakable optimism and a family-centered approach, our pediatric specialists lead with empathy, innovation and unstoppable drive. As part of the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system, OU Health, the pediatric specialists at Oklahoma Children’s are at the forefront of medical innovation, conducting groundbreaking research and training future healthcare leaders. Families trust our pediatric expertise, from leading-edge heart surgery to 24/7 emergency care. We offer the state’s only pediatric Level I Trauma Center, the most comprehensive Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, the region’s sole pediatric heart transplant program, and a dedicated pediatric mental and behavioral health facility. At Oklahoma Children’s, we provide a family-centered approach to healing, supported by resources like pet therapy, music therapy, and child life specialists. Discover more at OklahomaChildrens.org. Out of all the FFA students in Oklahoma, Grant Shepard was one of just 50 students to qualify for the State Greenhand Quiz Contest! While he didn’t land in the top five, earning a spot at state is an accomplishment worth celebrating. We are proud of the time, effort, and hard work he put into getting there. We proudly support the students, staff and administration at Merritt Schools ~ Great Plains Bank ~ First National Bank Yes Finance 1414 W. 3rd St., Elk City, OK 580.225.1525 LocalLoanGroup.com