The 2025 Charles W. Graham Travel Study Gala was a record-breaking success, with over $75,000 raised. The 13th annual event was held on February 28, 2025, at the First National Center in Oklahoma City.
The proceeds from this event directly benefit students who are eager to travel and gain hands-on learning experiences. Travel study programs at Gibbs College provide students with out-of-classroom educational experiences that allow them to connect what they are learning to real-world settings, such as Chicago, New York, Taliesin, Falling Water, Rome, Dublin, and many other places.
Gala guests with bidding numbers.
At the start of the evening, Hans E. Butzer, FAIA, dean of Gibbs College, welcomed everyone to the Gala and recognized Ben Graves, who recently passed way, for his contributions to the fundraising event through the years. The Gala was emceed by Rachel White, AIA, who is a Senior Associate at Miles Architecture, and a member of the Division of Architecture Professional Advisory Board.
The event featured a panel discussion during which three students shared about the impacts of their own travel-study experiences and how these opportunities have influenced their lives and academic careers. The panel was led by Dr. Ben Bigelow, director of the Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science, and included students Jada Higgins (Interior Design, Class of 2026), Jared Schenk (Construction Science, Class of 2026), and Jeremy Crites (Landscape Architecture, Class of 2025).
Student panelists Jared Schenk, Jeremy Crites, and Jada Higgins.
Winners of the annual Napkin Sketch Contest were announced, including students Cristian Rojo (First Place), Felipe Flores (Second Place), and Elisa Wilson (Third Place), as well as the runners up, Andrea Duarte, Fatemeh Amiri, and Vanessa Jordan. The contest is organized by the Division of Architecture Professional Advisory Board each year, with cash prizes awarded to the top entries.
There were also silent and live auctions with a variety of exciting items available, including merchandise signed by Patty Gasso and Sherri Coale, an OU Theatre Production Bundle, an OKC Thunder basketball package, a Jam Session with musician Beau Jennings, framed artworks of this year’s Napkin Sketch Contest winners, and more. We extend our gratitude to those who donated auction items!
Napkin sketch by Elisa Wilson.
This event would not have been possible without the support and generosity of its sponsors. The Foundation level sponsor was Marbella Communities. Framing level sponsors included MA+ Architecture and Raymond Harris.
Blueprint level sponsors included AC Owen Construction; Benham, a Haskell company; FMG Haworth; Johnson & Associates; Lingo Construction; Miles Architecture; Miller Architects + Builders; Mimi Harm; M’Liss Graham; and Nina Wadley. Shared table sponsors included Dolese, Economy Lumber, Flintco, Spaces Incorporated, PEC, and Wheeler District.
Gibbs College is also grateful to the many team members who made this event possible, in particular Stacy Berglan, Deborah Foster, Camille Germany, Casey Guest, Josh Hall, Brandy McDonald, Angela Person, Leslie Spielman, Lisa Tucker, and Hannah Williamson.
To everyone who attended this year’s Gala, we thank you for your time and support of Gibbs College’s travel study programs. We hope to see you again next year!
Foundation Level
Framing Level
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
