Carl Renfro receives Business Partner Excellence Award from Regents

EDMOND — Carl Renfro and the Renfro Family Foundation received an Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Business Partner Excellence Award as an outstanding partnership with Northern Oklahoma College recently at the University of Central Oklahoma awards luncheon in Edmond.

This award is designed to highlight successful partnerships and to further cultivate the higher learning environment through the State Regents’ Economic Development Grants.

The Renfro Family Foundation continues to invest in Northern Oklahoma College, making meaningful contributions to students and programs while enhancing the quality of life in Northern Oklahoma communities. Renfro is a community and state leader promoting arts, education, economic development and the preservation of Oklahoma history.

Carl and the late Carolyn Renfro donated $100,000 in November 2006 to establish the Carl and Carolyn Renfro Endowed Lectureship Program in cultural and community enrichment offerings with guest lecture and performance series.

The Oklahoma State Regents matched their gift for Higher Education, making the endowment permanently restricted in the NOC Foundation. Thanks to the Renfros’ generosity, this program has touched nearly 10,000 individuals and has made a lasting impact in many lives.

In 2017, the Carl Renfro Scholarship Fund was established to assist deserving students from single parent households or single parent students reach their goals. Renfro is devoted to higher education, serving as an Oklahoma State Regent for 12 years.

As a visionary leader, Renfro dedicates his time, talents and experience to projects that make a significant difference in his community and state, including most recently serving on the Future of Higher Education Task Force Committee. The Task Force was charged with developing recommendations that best position Oklahoma’s state system of higher education to meet the future challenges of maintaining accessibility and affordability without compromising education quality.

NOC Regent Jeff Cowan, NOC President Cheryl Evans, Carl Renfro, Brenda Renfro, NOC President Emeritus Joe Kinzer, NOC Vice President for Development and Community Relations Sheri Snyder, and NOC Vice President for Financial Affairs Anita Simpson (photo provided)

Chancellor Glen Johnson, NOC Regent Jeff Cowan, NOC President Emeritus Joe Kinzer, Carl Renfro, Brenda Renfro, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development Sean Kouplen, and NOC President Cheryl Evans (photo provided)