Women of Vision 10-Year Anniversary Dinner Highlights Annual Giving and Campus Impact

October 28, 2025

Women of Vision held its 10-year anniversary celebration and annual event on October 23, as part of The Weekend festivities held on the OBU campus. With nearly 150 women in attendance, the evening included alumni, parents, community partners and friends of the university who gathered to celebrate 10 years of impact and influence provided through this unique Giving Circle. Women of Vision is dedicated to empowering women through philanthropic endeavors that support OBU’s mission.

The featured speaker for the evening was Kelly King, Women’s Minister at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and a visiting assistant professor of Christian Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. King has served Oklahoma Baptists as their Women’s Missions and Ministries Specialist and as the Women’s Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources.

OBU First Lady Jill Thomas, director of Women of Vision, said, “The theme of this special evening for Women of Vision was ‘remember.’ It was a meaningful opportunity to come together and look to the past, celebrate the present and anticipate the future as we remember and recognize God's faithfulness to OBU. Women of Vision stands on 10 years of faithful women who have a heart to invest in our campus and students. Together, we celebrated God’s goodness and blessing."

The Women of Vision scholarship fund, established in 2018 through an endowed gift, is presented annually to one or more female students and selected during their junior year. This year, three students were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship provided by WOV: Noelle Compton, Chloe Roberson and Kenley Pickett.

The recipients were selected by a committee and chosen based on criteria that exemplifies the ideals of Women of Vision.

The core value of Women of Vision is to come together and plan for the future with imagination and wisdom. It is a collective group of women who love OBU, who see the needs on campus and have vision and who unite and make change.

Membership is open to all OBU alumni and friends and includes events that foster networking, service, and community-building. The group focuses on providing financial resources to make lasting improvements across Bison Hill by funding a campus project each.

All three Women of Vision project proposals this year supported the goals and initiatives of OBU's Shape the Future campaign. Voting members chose from one of three options: a drawing room in Raley Chapel, an engineering lab space in Thurmond Hall or a women's weight room in the Noble Complex. They voted to donate Women of Vision funds for the drawing room in Raley Chapel as their 2025 project.

“At the heart of everything we do, our goal is to benefit students,” Thomas said. “Over the past ten years, our projects have increased safety across campus, added value to labs and classrooms, enhanced community spaces, residential halls, and more. Our desire is to enrich our students' experiences in order to deepen relationships and their sense of belonging on Bison Hill. It is one more way we all support our future shapers to live all of life, all for Jesus."

To learn more or become a member, visit www.okbu.edu/wov.