On July 1, three faculty members from the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, along with a few students, will set off on a seven-day Route 66 summer road trip from Norman, Oklahoma, to Santa Monica, California. Professors Sherry Kast, Carla Holmes, and Scott Hodgson, along with a three-student production crew from Gaylord Hall Productions, will use this journey to conduct interviews with community leaders and cultural experts along Route 66 in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Their findings will be shared with students to aid in the strategic development of Route 66 Centennial initiatives aimed at promoting tourism and economic development in Oklahoma. This project aims to instill a love for the Mother Road in a new generation. Additionally, this trip will serve as a fundraiser for Gaylord College to support the Gaylord Route 66 Student Experience Fund. This fund will enable Gaylord students to pursue educational opportunities and continue their work with the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission through 2026.
This trip signifies the latest step of a multi-year project between Gaylord College and Oklahoma’s Route 66 Centennial Commission. Students embarked previously on trips across the eastern and western stretches in Oklahoma. As part of the larger project, students will build a comprehensive campaign that boosts awareness and drives traffic along Route 66 in celebration of its centennial in 2026.
Gaylord College is collaborating with the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission to develop a comprehensive campaign celebrating Oklahoma’s iconic Mother Road as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026. Students will play a pivotal role in this initiative by developing public relations and advertising campaigns, creating videos and social media content, uncovering underrepresented stories, and promoting this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
The trip will also feature OU alumni pop-up events in Amarillo, Texas, on July 1; Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 2; and Los Angeles, California, on July 7. These events will allow alumni to engage with the project and celebrate their connection to the historic Route 66.
View the road trip landing page at https://link.ou.edu/GaylordRT66RoadTrip.
Make a donation at https://give.oufoundation.org/Route66
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