Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics

On Wednesday, the annual OSSM awards ceremony welcomed students, faculty, families, and friends to celebrate student achievements across academics, leadership, service, research, and PE. Faculty members and community representatives awarded scholarships and departmental awards, with students enthusiastically supporting and cheering for their classmates.

Congratulations to all the award recipients and to all students for a great 2025-26 school year.

Seven OSSM students represented the school at the State History Day contest on Thursday, with four earning top finishes in their categories.

Trapper J. earned first place in the paper category and qualified for the national contest, while Dakota N. also qualified for nationals with a second-place finish. Andi T. will compete in the nationals having won third place in the website category. Taytum S. is national alternate with a third-place finishe in the paper and website category.

Congratulations to all of our History Day participants on their hard work and accomplishments. Dr. McCargish is the team advisor.

Music, movement, and creativity filled the Manning Academic Center (MAC) on Thursday night during OSSM’s Fine Arts Performance. During the evening, students showcased their talents through ballroom dancing, rock and jazz band performances, vocal music, dance, as well as clay sculpture, watercolor, filmmaking, and crocheting. The evening was a great celebration of the arts on campus. Special thanks to Michael Sloyka, Director of the OSSM Fine Arts program.

The countdown to graduation is on, and OSSM seniors are making the most of their final days together. On Wednesday, the Class of 2026 headed to HeyDay in Norman for the annual senior party, which included bowling, miniature golf, arcade games, and laser tag.

With just two weeks left together as a class, the afternoon was filled with plenty of friendly competition and time together outside the classroom. Thank you to the OSSM Foundation for sponsoring the event.

This weekend, OSSM students took their talents to the national stage at the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. Run by the U.S. Department of Energy, this is one of the most prestigious STEM competitions in the U.S.

Kelvin X., Joshua L., Jiaze G., Elina J., and Conner D. faced off against top teams from across the country, putting their knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and math to the test in fast-paced buzzer rounds. The team was led by Dr. Fazlur Rahman, whose guidance helped prepare them for the competition.

Their trip also coincided with the historic 250th birthday of the United States, which gave students a chance to experience the energy and significance of being in the nation’s capital.

The 4th Annual OSSM Integration Bee was back on Wednesday with several rounds of tough integrals and quick thinking by the students. Similar to a spelling bee, but with calculus, students take turns solving integrals at the board while advancing through increasingly challenging rounds.
The individual competition featured a rematch from last year's rivalry between Pranav D. and Aarush A., with Aarush earning the title of Grand Integrator this year and Pranav finishing as runner-up. Aarush also teamed up with Preston F. and Aden J. to win the team competition. The second-place team of Ethan S., Pranav D., and Skye W. also gave a stellar performance.

The Integration Bee is a fun and challenging event that continues to be a favorite for students who enjoy putting their skills to the test.

Special thank you to Dr. Givens and Dr. Kighuradze for planning, hosting, and judging the competition.

Senior Suvan Z. has been named an Amazon Future Engineer Scholar, a nationally competitive honor recognizing students who are pursuing excellence in computer science and STEM.

Chosen from thousands of applicants and one of only 400 students nationwide, Suvan earned this distinction through his academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to a future in technology. The scholarship provides up to $40,000 for college, along with a paid internship at Amazon and an ongoing mentorship.
He is pictured with Professor Jones, who recommended him for the award.

A first visit to Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center gave students the chance to step inside art in a whole new way.

Students explored current exhibitions, including the Anthony McCall experimental film and light installations, where they could move through and interact with the work itself. The visit also included time to tour additional exhibits and create their own light pieces.

Michael Sloyka, Ph.D., serves as Fine Arts Director.

From molecules to mineral rights. The guest speakers at Wednesday's student assembly showed how far a strong foundation in math and science can take you.

Michelle Phillips (Class of 1995), VP of Land at Lime Rock Resources, and Matthew Allen (Class of 1998), partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, brought oil and gas law to life, sharing stories from their careers and describing the real-world impact of their work.

Their message reinforced that STEM skills belong not only in labs but also in boardrooms, contract negotiations, and in shaping the future of the energy industry.

Deborah N., Akira S., and Abrielle V. represented OSSM at the April meeting of the downtown branch of the International Optimist Club, where they competed in the Oratorical Competition for a chance to advance to the district level and earn scholarship awards.

Deborah N. placed 1st and will advance to the district competition in Lawton. Akira S. earned 2nd place, and Abrielle V. also participated. After lunch at the Devon Tower, each student delivered four- to five-minute speech exploring their definition of “community.”

The students' sponsor is Professor Monique Baxter.