The Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business announced today a transformational gift that will create a state-of-the-art entrepreneurship program within the Spears School.
The Spears School’s share of the $57.2 million gift from Texas alumni Amy and Malone Mitchell III is the largest donation ever to a university entrepreneurship program.
”The Mitchells’ gift will be a catalyst for infusing an entrepreneurial
culture at OSU that will convert intellectual capital into
entrepreneurial activity that creates value for the state and region,”
said Sara Freedman, Spears School dean. “We can’t thank Amy and Malone
enough for what this means to OSU, our students and the state of
Oklahoma.”
Two Spears School
alumni recently were selected as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year
(EOY) 2008 recipients. Charlie Eitel, Chairman & CEO of Simmons Bedding
Company was named EOY for the Alabama / Georgia/Tennessee region, and Greg
Massey, CEO of First United Bank, was named EOY in the Financial Services
Division for the Southwest region. Both Eitel and Massey received bachelor’s
degrees in business administration from OSU in 1971 and 1987, respectively.
The EOY regional winners were selected by an independent judging panel made up
of regional business, academic and community leaders. The group was narrowed
down from more than fifty to twenty-seven finalists in six categories.
The finalists were then interviewed by a panel of judges comprised of
past EOY award winners and successful business leaders. The judging
criteria included a thorough assessment of recent financial performance,
strategic direction and product or service innovation, company leadership
including personal integrity, values and key employee initiatives, and
community involvement.
Jabara family inspired to make gift by recent Mitchell commitment to business school’s entrepreneurship program
Oklahoma State University announced today a $500,000 gift from the Fran Jabara Family Foundation to augment an existing professorship focused on entrepreneurship. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the gift will provide $2 million of impact in endowed funds.
A proposal for a Department of Entrepreneurship in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University is headed to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for approval, following approval today by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents in its regular meeting in Oklahoma City.
The Spears School of Business is in the process of expanding it entrepreneurship curriculum and activities. Currently OSU offers an option in entrepreneurship in the Department of Management. If approved by state regents this option would be moved to the new department and expanded to include both an entrepreneurship major and minor.
Lanny Chasteen, professor of accounting and Wilton T. Anderson professor, retired June 3 after 39 years on the Oklahoma State University Spears School faculty.
Chasteen joined the School of Accounting in1969 and served the department in various roles, including 14 years as department head.
gift that will create a state-of-the-art entrepreneurship program within the Spears School. 
Two Spears School
alumni recently were selected as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year
(EOY) 2008 recipients. Charlie Eitel, Chairman & CEO of Simmons Bedding
Company was named EOY for the Alabama / Georgia/Tennessee region, and Greg
Massey, CEO of First United Bank, was named EOY in the Financial Services
Division for the Southwest region. Both Eitel and Massey received bachelor’s
degrees in business administration from OSU in 1971 and 1987, respectively.
community leaders. The group was narrowed
down from more than fifty to twenty-seven finalists in six categories.
The finalists were then interviewed by a panel of judges comprised of
past EOY award winners and successful business leaders. The judging
criteria included a thorough assessment of recent financial performance,
strategic direction and product or service innovation, company leadership
including personal integrity, values and key employee initiatives, and
community involvement. 
Lanny Chasteen, professor of accounting and Wilton T. Anderson professor, retired June 3 after 39 years on the Oklahoma State University Spears School faculty.
