Mr. Rouben Tourian of Weatherford, a 1996 & 2013 SWOSU alumnus, was presented with one of the university’s highest honors, the SWOSU Presidential Order of Merit by SWOSU President Dr. Joel Kendall. SWOSU President the late Dr. John Hays, a 1969 SWOSU graduate and 2011 Distinguished Alumnus, established the Order in 2004—it is the highest honor in the personal gift of SWOSU’s chief executive. The SWOSU Presidential Order of Merit is headed by the SWOSU President and stewarded by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. An independent, institutionally related charitable entity headquartered on the SWOSU Campus in the historic Burton House, the Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU.