ORU Launches New Speaker Series in Tulsa to Promote Business Connections and Economic Growth - Featured Guest Speaker Hans Helmerich
Tulsa, OK— The ORU Fenimore & Fisher College of Business (F&FCOB) recently hosted
its first Partners in Economics, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship luncheon (PECE (pronounced
"PEACE") with special guest Hans Helmerich. During the event, ORU also announced the
naming of the University’s newest building, the Media Arts Center, in recognition
of Peggy V. Helmerich, an actress and philanthropist.
Mr. Hans Helmerich, the guest speaker, has served as the Chairman of the Board at
Helmerich & Payne since 2012 and has been a director since 1987. His visionary leadership
style and the subsequent success of Helmerich & Payne have illuminated a path for
leaders in Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma. Mr. Helmerich also serves as a member of
ORU’s Board of Reference.
Mr. Helmerich shared his remarks at the PECE luncheon, stating:
“Billy Graham said a couple of things about ORU that resonate today, and they echo into this room. He talked about the opportunity ORU has to represent God in a way that other higher education institutions have declined to do. I think ORU's best days are ahead. We live in a broken world, but I believe the students who leave this campus are more needed today than they ever have been before. This is a unique opportunity for the ORU community and business leaders to connect and gain valuable insights into the world of economics, commerce, and entrepreneurship.”
Hans Helmerich and ORU College of Business Students
ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson shared his remarks at the PECE luncheon and announced the naming of the MAC in recognition of Peggy V. Helmerich, stating:
“Many of you know that Peggy was an actress and has a huge heart for charitable causes
in Tulsa, including educational causes and learning initiatives. The Peggy V. Helmerich
Media Arts Center will provide our students with state-of-the-art technology, a digital
production studio, a 450-seat auditorium, a music performance hall, and a black box
theater. This building, as with all new construction at ORU, is being built debt-free
without any tuition dollars from our students because of our wonderful supporters,
such as the Helmerich Foundation and Trust.”
ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson
The F&FCOB will host recurring PECE luncheons to provide a dynamic platform for economic discussions and serve as a networking space, connecting esteemed business leaders with the ORU community. The PECE initiative intends to raise awareness within the business community about the remarkable accomplishments of the F&FCOB, its exceptional students, and its nationally accredited curriculum.
PECE is driven by three core objectives:
- INSPIRE: It aims to engage thought leaders both from our nation and our local community.
- INNOVATE: By empowering creative business responses to economic and societal influences.
- IGNITE: It seeks to stimulate economic growth and expansion.
Dr. Julie Huntley, Dean of the F&FCOB, had this to say about how PECE impacts ORU, its students, and the city of Tulsa:
“By connecting locally and nationally recognized thought leaders with the ORU community, PECE offers a networking space for promoting our students, our alumni, and our city through deeper industry engagement. The F&FCOB will generate a greater awareness of the accomplishments of the college, its outstanding students, and its nationally accredited curriculum. While serving the needs of Tulsa’s business community, PECE offers a platform for showcasing the quality of our students and our growing programs.”
ORU has continued to grow and has made extensive additions and improvements to its campus in the last five years. Construction of the Global Learning Center, the Nursing and Engineering Complex, the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship, and Niko Njotorahardjo Hall have all been completed, and last year, the Fenimore & Fisher College of Business was renovated and updated, with the addition of the new Capital Markets Trading Floor. The new Welcome Center, the J.D. McKean Library, the Mike Carter Athletic Center, and the Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center complete Phase One of the Whole Leaders for the Whole World Campaign. Phase Two includes a contemporary meal service building and new student housing.
Please click here to learn more about Phase II of the WLWW campaign.
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 150 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the #1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.