Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Stillwater, has the only 24/7 small animal critical care unit equipped to handle serious emergency and critical care cases in Oklahoma. The Kirkpatrick Foundation Small Animal Critical Care Unit (CCU) upgrade is a project that will renovate the 1,250 sq. ft. CCU. The upgrade will update equipment and provide videoconferencing to veterinary practitioners and veterinary technician programs in Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma State University/Oklahoma City Veterinary Technician Program.

Dr. Michael Lorenz, Dean of the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and President Jerry Carroll of OSU-OKC, discussed ways to integrate veterinary student and veterinary technician student education between their two campuses. They agreed that the upgrade of the unit will significantly benefit the veterinary technicians enrolled in the summer internship program at the CVHS Teaching Hospital. The distance learning opportunities available through videoconferencing from the CCU will help train and teach the veterinary technicians who are unable to participate in the internship program in Stillwater. They determined this is an effective and efficient way to collaborate and integrate instructional programs.

Annually, the Teaching Hospital cares for approximately 8,000 small animals (i.e. dogs, cats, birds, ferrets and other exotic species). On average, 1,018 patients per year are in the CCU, with 2,833 CCU hospitalization patient days. With support from the Kirkpatrick Foundation, this project will serve approximately 320 OSU veterinary medical students and 60 veterinary technician students at OSU/OKC through either live training in the small animal CCU during their internships or distance learning training through videoconferencing technology.

As a result of the upgrade, the Teaching Hospital will be able to increase outreach services to the 1,200 licensed veterinary practitioners in Oklahoma and countless others in the region. The upgrade will provide expanded training opportunities on state of the art diagnostic equipment, modernized nurse’s station, adequate cages for large and small breeds, a separate cat room and a quiet room. Over 1,000 pet owners whose critically ill or injured pets spend time in the small animal CCU will receive better patient care as a result of this grant. No other program in Oklahoma provides this level of training or patient care.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation Southwest Office established the Kirkpatrick Foundation Preservation Fund for Central Oklahoma in early 2007, with funding from the Kirkpatrick Foundation. The Fund will provide matching seed grants to Central Oklahoma’s historic property owners and developers. Resulting projects can save the unique heritage of their surrounding area and spur economic development and inspire new interest in endangered historic buildings. The seed grants take a practical approach to restoration by first calling for a thorough assessment of the property by qualified experts including architects and engineers. Areas needing immediate attention are prioritized, saving additional time and money.

With technical assistance from The Trust, grant recipients gain experience and build their capacity to take on historical preservation projects, learn how to manage a grant, hire an architect or engineer and establish a plan of action. These lessons help those involved in the process become leaders in the preservation movement. The project will stimulate public discussion and educate property owners and developers about preservation. This effort will also present reasonable alternatives to demolition and new construction. If a building can be saved and reused, the Fund will have made a great contribution to the area’s revitalization.

The first Oklahoma organization to take advantage of this new opportunity was the Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City. The resulting report provided a comprehensive overview of the restoration priorities with specific recommendations for each of the nine properties of the Homestead. This type of detailed analysis can provide the property owner with a virtual road map for improvements including essential versus optional repairs and anticipated cost rating, i.e. low, medium or high. Recommendations will adhere to proper preservation methods and honor historic authenticity.

The Preservation Fund complements the National Trust strategic plan, which focuses on three overarching goals: save historic places, revitalize communities and lead the preservation movement. The Southwest Office grant application stated, “Preservation is like a war of attrition…the last one standing wins and we want the historic building to keep standing.”

Statewide partners in this effort include Preservation Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office.

Foundation funding will enable support for Lyric Theatre's 2008 productions and Musical Interactive, an outreach and touring performance program featuring selected songs and scenes from an established Broadway musical. Free of charge and geared towards all grades, a companion study guide will be available for teachers and students for a more in depth history of musical theatre. Lyric serves approximately 105 Oklahoma communities, 110,000 patrons and school children in 131 schools (elementary, middle and high schools), including many rural communities from Idabel to Elk City and Ada to Muskogee. The project directly relates to Lyric's 2008-2010 Strategic Plan, which details the need for expanded programming and continuing a tradition of producing excellent musical theatre.

The project is evaluated through different methods throughout the year, including ticket sales, third-party reviews and patron feedback. Classroom teachers fill out brief surveys to evaluate performances and the Lyric staff refers back to the Strategic Plan to measure progress and success.

Lyric collaborates with The Oklahoma City Philharmonic, an important partner in any Lyric production. Also, strong ties are held with the Oklahoma City University School of American Dance and Arts Management, the University of Oklahoma Musical Theatre Department and several other university departments. Lyric employs university students during the summer to fill many technical, performance and front of house roles, providing valuable on the job experience for many students.

Lyric's production component is led by Paul Stover, Executive Director; Nick Demos, Artistic Director; Paul Gebb, Education Director and Robert Matson, Academy Administrator. Robert Matson and Ashley Wells lead the Musical Interactive program. Lyric Theatre was incorporated in 1963. Their mission is to produce excellent professional musical theatre, nurture artistic talent, promote collaboration among the arts, and enrich the lives of Oklahomans.