Over 300 community members, local leaders and aviation partners gathered Wednesday, August 19, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Stillwater Regional Airport passenger terminal, marking a significant milestone for transportation, connectivity and economic development in Stillwater and the surrounding region.

The City of Stillwater and Visit Stillwater hosted the grand opening celebration, which featured remarks from community, state and federal leaders, aviation and airline partners, and Oklahoma State University leadership. The event also celebrated 10 years of commercial air service at Stillwater Regional Airport.

The celebration included remarks from Airport Director Kellie Reed, U.S. Senator James Lankford, Oklahoma State University President Dr. James Hess, Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Executive Director Nick Young, and American Airlines representative Dale Morris. City and airport leadership were also recognized for their work on the project.

Visit Stillwater President and CEO Cristy Morrison spoke about the organizations partnership with the City of Stillwater to market Stillwater Regional Airport and encouraged attendees to become ambassadors for local air service.

As part of the grand opening, Visit Stillwater hosted four interactive stops throughout the terminal. Attendees explored the Departure Lounge, OSU-branded Charter Lounge, Baggage Claim and Ticketing Area while learning more about the new terminal and collecting SWO-themed items. Guests also enjoyed snack boxes from Hello Catering, airport-branded cookies from Dough Peeps Bakery, and received a commemorative SWO boarding pass.

The new terminal represents years of planning, investment and collaboration among the City of Stillwater, Stillwater Regional Airport, federal and state partners, Oklahoma State University, American Airlines, Visit Stillwater, the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and the architects, contractors and project partners who helped bring the facility to completion.

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Stillwater City Council has approved funding for professional services to begin predesign and planning for the City’s public parks. The contract with ADG Blatt PC includes three task orders: planning for a municipal tennis facility, feasibility and concept planning for an outdoor aquatics facility, and development of a Primary Parks Vision Plan.

The Parks Sub-Committee, Vice Mayor Amy Dzialowski and Councilor Kevin Clark, has been working with City Management and ADG Blatt PC to develop the scope of services, pending City Council approval. While Stillwater has more than 20 community parks, sports fields, and recreation areas, this planning effort will focus on the City’s primary parks and how they can evolve to better meet current and future community needs. The work will build on input received through community meetings, park surveys, Envision Stillwater (Comprehensive Plan), and the City Council’s Study Session.

City Manager Brady Moore included, “Parks are an important part of what makes Stillwater a great place to live, work, and raise a family. This is an opportunity to take a thoughtful, long-term look at our parks system and make sure we are investing in the quality-of-life amenities that our community wants. We encourage everyone to share their ideas and provide valuable input that will help guide this work as we plan for the future of Stillwater’s parks.”

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FROM THE CITY OF STILLWATER:

The City of Stillwater remains committed to completing the Strickland Park Ballfields renovation as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the synthetic turf has been delayed due to international shipping disruptions. The manufacturer has advised that the shipment is currently unable to transit the area, and there is no estimated timeline for when shipping will resume.

As a result, the fields may not be completed in time for the fall baseball and softball season. We know this is disappointing, especially for the Stillwater Area Softball Association (SASA), athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families.

We greatly appreciate the dedication of Carolyn Walstad and the entire SASA team, who continue to work diligently to schedule more than 70 fall teams. For details regarding events, go to: https://www.stillwaterareasports.com/.

Construction continues to move forward with the installation of lighting, fencing, and concrete improvements so the project will be ready for turf installation as soon as the materials arrive.

These renovations are part of the $1.8 million Strickland Park Ballfields Improvement Project, recommended by the Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) and approved by the Stillwater Economic Development Authority (SEDA) in March 2026. The project is funded through the Visitor Sales Tax and is designed to enhance the experience for local athletes while strengthening Stillwater's ability to host regional tournaments for years to come.

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Oklahoma State University’s historic comprehensive fundraising campaign, The Code Calls, has reached a major milestone. The university announced it surpassed $1 billion committed toward its $2 billion goal, signaling powerful momentum and broad-based support from the Cowboy family.

Reaching the halfway point reflects alumni, friends and partners’ deep commitment to the university and their belief in OSU’s ability to transform lives through education, research and service, said OSU President Jim Hess.

Built on the Cowboy Code, The Code Calls campaign celebrates tradition while charting an ambitious vision for the future of the largest university system in Oklahoma. The Code Calls places student success at its core and will create life-changing scholarship opportunities for students, drive groundbreaking research and elevate OSU academics and athletics to new heights.

Through donor-funded, renewable scholarships and targeted student experience initiatives, the campaign will expand access to higher education, ensuring talented students have access to the resources they need to earn a degree with career-ready skills. A signature example of this vision is the Horizon Scholars program, launched to create a premier leadership and scholarship experience that connects students with mentors, resources and a strong community from day one.
Following a record-setting year for fundraising during Dr. Hess’ first year as president, OSU Foundation President Blaire Atkinson said crossing the $1 billion mark is an extraordinary moment for OSU and for everyone who has answered the call to invest in its future.

Gifts to the campaign are already making a meaningful impact — expanding scholarships for students, strengthening academic and research excellence, and extending OSU’s land‑grant mission to communities across Oklahoma and around the world.

Atkinson said the campaign reflects the generosity and commitment of donors whose support continues to create opportunities across OSU.

To learn more and to support The Code Calls fundraising campaign, visit osugiving.com.

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BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN CREATES LIFE-CHANGING MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES IN STILLWATER

In 2025, we served a record-breaking 175 match relationships in Stillwater! The increase in volunteer commitment is driven by community awareness and partnerships with community leaders, local businesses, Stillwater Public Schools, and other civic organizations.
As we continue to accelerate our remarkable progress into 2026, we are seeking an increase in funding to keep up with the pace of our efforts.

Stillwater Area Director, Sarah Kline, says: “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every sponsor, donor, and community member who made our Emerald Gala successful. Because of your generosity, we reached our gala fundraising goal...but our work doesn’t stop there. Our mentoring program requires a substantial investment to ensure safety, match longevity, and meaningful outcomes. Without an increase in financial support, we risk slowing or limiting our ability to serve the growing list of youth on our waitlist. We must also reach our Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising campaign goal. Your support through our grassroots Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising campaign means we can continue growing instead of scaling back. We’re excited to celebrate what we’ve accomplished together, and we look forward to creating strong outcomes for children in Stillwater.”

To participate in our Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising campaign, register your five-person Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising team at bfksstillwater.org. Whether you choose to fundraise through a bake sale, a fitness challenge, or on social media, all roads lead to the lanes, where everyone comes together at the end of the campaign for a night of bowling, prizes, and celebration on August 27 at The Hub.

For questions about sponsorship opportunities, contact Sarah Kline at sarah.kline@bbbsok.org or 405.624.9922. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, go to bigoklahoma.org.###

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