By Sam Harp, Gaylord College Class of 2025
Keith White found journalism at a young age -- or, rather, it found him. Raised in a newspaper publishing family in Grandfield, OK, White was immersed in journalism from an early age. There, he learned skills that would propel him into the ranks of Gaylord College, the OU Daily and a 47-year-long career in journalism, earning his way to editor positions at prestigious publications such as the National Journal Group, The Hill and Congressional Quarterly (CQ). For his past experiences, White attributes a significant part of his success to the opportunities granted to him by what would become the Student Experience Fund.
Before graduating with a journalism degree from OU in 1974 and covering statehouses in multiple states and national politics, White was a photographer for OU’s Sooner yearbook. Leveraging the skills he learned from his family’s business, he gained work in the OU Daily’s print press room when OU’s journalism school (now Gaylord College) was still located in Copeland Hall. It wasn’t long before White “elbowed” his way into the newsroom; his determination paid off as he became managing editor and was among the first five students to report directly from the Oklahoma State Capitol.
White’s passion for journalism burned bright: In the summers, he would return home to report for his family’s paper. Initially focusing on sports, his curiosity gradually shifted towards the dynamic world of politics. In 1973 he covered the corruption conspiracy surrounding Oklahoma Gov. David Hall. “There’s a lot of stuff you can cover locally, and that’s always good experience,” said White.
When White returned to Norman, his creative fire continued. At the OU Daily, he covered the heated presidential race between Sen. Humphrey and Sen. McGovern for the Democratic nomination. He witnessed President Gerald Ford speaking in Tulsa. He covered a torrential flood that killed nine in Enid, OK, and was among the first press allowed to enter the Oklahoma State Prison at McAlester in 1973 following a deadly prisoner riot. “These are all just things that we thought, ‘This sounds interesting, why don’t we go do that?’ And we just took off and did it,” said White. He maintains that all of these opportunities were made possible with the help of funding for the students from the school.
The fund also enabled him to attend Society of Professional Journalists conventions across the country. “It’s one thing to go through the classes and work your way to a degree … but the more exposure you get to the outside world, going to conferences and reporting assignments, it’s very eye-opening and I think it helps better prepare you for what you’re going to face when you get out in the world.”
White hopes that his gifts to the Experience Fund enable students to report on significant events, working alongside seasoned political journalists in settings like Washington or national party conventions. “If you can see what it takes if you can see how it’s done, that’s a valuable experience,” he said. “The more you can provide money to help kids do that, the better off everybody’s going to be.”
The word “accomplished” is an understatement when describing OU alumna Barbara Sessions. Graduating in 1968 with a B.A. in Public Relations, Sessions furthered her education with an M.A. in history of science and European history. Her deep connection to OU is rooted in the experiences that defined her time at the university, notably her role at the Oklahoma Daily (now OU Daily).
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree, with a focus on advertising, in 1970. I wanted to be the next Mary Wells Lawrence. She founded a highly successful advertising agency and served as the first female CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Will Cornelius, Gaylord graduate of 2018, eagerly embraced every opportunity during his undergraduate years. Cornelius’s journey to Gaylord was unconventional. Starting as a Price College of Business student, Cornelius realized he wanted to pursue a career that better fit his skills and passions. Encouraged by a fraternity brother in Gaylord College, he decided to look into broadcast journalism.
Keith White found journalism at a young age -- or, rather, it found him. Raised in a newspaper publishing family in Grandfield, OK, White was immersed in journalism from an early age. There, he learned skills that would propel him into the ranks of Gaylord College, the OU Daily and a 47-year-long career in journalism, earning his way to editor positions at prestigious publications such as the National Journal Group, The Hill and Congressional Quarterly (CQ). For his past experiences, White attributes a significant part of his success to the opportunities granted to him by what would become the Student Experience Fund.
