February 16, 2022
SWOSU Press Release
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with locations in Weatherford, Sayre and Yukon has announced that Toby Clampitt of Rush Springs has been named the 2021-22 Dr. John Hays Memorial Scholar.
Clampitt is studying public health and biological sciences at SWOSU. Clampitt is a first-generation college student who is employed at SWOSU’s Al Harris Library. After completing his undergraduate work at SWOSU Clampitt intends to pursue an MD.
“The late John Hays was a much-loved, widely-respected servant-leader who exemplified all that is good about SWOSU,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell. “We are honored to celebrate Dr. Hays’s life as stewards of the Dr. John Hays Memorial Endowment and we are delighted to congratulate Toby Clampitt, our 2021-22 Dr. John Hays Memorial Scholar.”
Hays, president of SWOSU from 2001-2010 and a 1969 SWOSU accounting graduate, died on October 9, 2020.
The Weatherford resident worked 30 years at SWOSU, having served as assistant business manager, comptroller, assistant to the president, vice president for administration and executive vice president for administration before being named president.
During his years as president, Hays completed the Wellness Center, started/developed the university’s athletic complex and had several major buildings renovated on the Weatherford and Sayre remote locations. He also was instrumental in the development of a comprehensive marketing campaign for the university and started the President’s Leadership Class.
Hays was very active in community and economic development activities in western Oklahoma. Hays was on the ground floor of many projects such as the Business Development Center at SWOSU, Weatherford Business Incubator program and Weatherford’s hiring of a full-time economic developer.
His involvement in civic activities was expansive, including Leadership Weatherford, YMCA, Vision 20/20, Weatherford Arts Council, Weatherford’s assisted senior citizen living center and many other projects through the Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a past president of the chamber of commerce and did much to unite the chamber of commerce, City of Weatherford and SWOSU.
Hays was a member of the inaugural class of the Higher Education Leadership Academy and was a member of Leadership Oklahoma.
The Dr. John Hays Scholarship Endowment is stewarded by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. An institutionally-related charitable entity, the Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU. Located on the Weatherford campus in the historic Burton House, the Foundation currently stewards over $36 million in assets for the benefit of SWOSU.
For more information on the Foundation or to donate to the Dr. John Hays Scholarship Fund, please visit www.SWOSUFoundation.com or call 580-774-3267.
Copyright 2022 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
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