Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) recognized students from across its academic colleges during the 2026 Distinguished Student Award Ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Fine Arts Center in Weatherford.

The annual ceremony honors undergraduate and graduate students selected for their academic performance and leadership at the university. Recipients are chosen based on a combination of grade point average and involvement in campus activities, cocurricular programs, and service to the university. Undergraduate students are selected from the top 20 percent of juniors and seniors within their departments, while graduate students are eligible after completing at least 15 graduate credit hours at SWOSU with an A average.

This year’s group of 143 recipients represents students from across the university’s academic programs. Together, they reflect the work required to balance coursework, campus involvement, and service while maintaining a high level of academic performance. The ceremony recognizes not only individual achievement, but also the broader role these students play in classrooms, organizations, and university activities throughout the year.

The program included remarks from university leadership and a featured address by Dr. Denise Landrum-Geyer, the 2025 Bernhardt Academic Excellence Award recipient and chair of SWOSU’s Department of Language and Literature. Certificates were presented by academic and student services administrators representing each college.

A complete list of the 2025–26 Distinguished Student Award recipients is available here: 2025-26 Distinguished Student Award Nominees.xlsx. The full list of recipients is organized by college and can be viewed by using the tabs at the bottom of the Excel file.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit swosu.edu.