2026 QUANTUM EXPERIENCE
Help us raise support for world-class educators at OSSM!
We invite you to be part of the Quantum Experience, an evening centered on the impact you make possible. Together, we’ll celebrate the educators who shape students’ lives every day while investing in the Faculty Endowment, which helps attract and retain exceptional teachers who extend that impact far beyond the classroom. This evening is both a celebration and a thank-you, a moment to gather, reflect on what you help make possible, and continue building something meaningful together.
At its core, OSSM is committed to developing the next generation of STEM leaders through a rigorous, immersive learning environment. The Quantum Experience brings together the community that makes that mission real: supporters like you, dedicated faculty, and driven students. We hope you will join us in celebrating what you help make possible and in sustaining the people who make OSSM truly exceptional.
ABOUT THE EVENT
DATE: MAY 1, 2026
WHEN: 6 PM RECEPTION; 7 PM DINNER AND PROGRAM
WHERE: OSSM CAMPUS (401 N.E. 10th ST.)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
James T. Dunlap, MD, MBA
Vice President, System Operations & Service Line, Orthopedics, Premier Health
OSSM Class of 1994
A native of Lexington, Okla., Dr. James Dunlap credits OSSM with shaping his academic and professional trajectory. He earned a biochemistry degree with distinction from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a medical degree from Georgetown University. He then completed orthopedic surgery training and a spine fellowship at the University of Kansas and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Before joining Premier Health in Dayton, Ohio, he served as an officer and surgeon in the U.S. Air Force. As Vice President at Premier Health, he leads systemwide orthopedic strategy and clinical initiatives. He recently completed an Executive MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and was recognized by Poets & Quants as one of its Best and Brightest Executive MBAs.
2026 AWARDEES
Impact Award
Dr. Dean Dawson
Professor, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Dean Dawson grew up in the northern U.S. and attended the University of Wisconsin for his undergraduate work, majoring in microbiology. He did his doctoral work at the University of Utah. His interest in chromosomes led him to Harvard University, where he conducted postdoctoral research with Jack Szostak, the Nobel laureate and chromosome biology pioneer. From there, he joined the faculty of the Tufts University Medical School, where he eventually rose to direct its genetics program. In 2006 he joined the faculty of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, attracted by its strong program in Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology.
Dr. Dawson’s lab uses both yeast and human cells to explore the cellular machinery that partitions chromosomes to dividing cells. They investigate how errors in chromosome behavior can lead to cancer and birth defects.
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Dawson has had a steady flow of OSSM students as lab trainees. Many entered his lab through the OSSM mentoring program, while others have performed summer internships during their college years after graduating from OSSM. His mentees have gone on to great things at schools around the country – from OU, OSU and OCU to the University of Chicago, Washington University, the University of Texas and others. And they have gone on to careers as psychologists, physical therapists, physicians, oncologists, research scientists and professors.
Partner of Excellence Award
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Charitable Foundation
Lloyd Noble (1896–1950) was an Oklahoma oil and gas pioneer and philanthropist born in Ardmore, Indian Territory. In the 1920s and 1930s, he revolutionized drilling operations through innovation, organization, and efficiency, building a successful business that spanned North America.
Deeply impacted by the Dust Bowl and the struggles of farmers and ranchers, Noble committed his resources to soil conservation, agricultural advancement, and community well-being. In 1945, he founded The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, named in honor of his father, to support agricultural research, land stewardship, education, and charitable causes.
Today, his legacy continues through the Noble Research Institute and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, which invest in agricultural progress, scholarships, health initiatives, education, and stronger communities, primarily in Oklahoma. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of OSSM, beginning in 1994, to aid in the construction of the Samson Science and Discovery Center. Recently, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation has been a great supporter of OSSM’s Faculty Stipend program, continuing to enable OSSM to attract and retain world-class faculty.
Lou Kerr Award
Jan Barrick
Educator and Innovator
Jan Barrick is widely recognized as a lifelong champion for educational excellence and student achievement in Oklahoma. With a career spanning more than three decades, Barrick has dedicated her life to improving how students learn, how teachers teach, and how schools measure success. Her work has influenced classrooms, educators, and education policy across the state, making her one of Oklahoma’s most persistent advocates for academic improvement.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Barrick began her professional journey as a special education teacher in Lawton, where she quickly developed a passion for helping students who struggled in traditional learning environments. She later taught in Norman and Edmond public schools and also at the University of Central Oklahoma, gaining experience at multiple levels of education.
Driven by the belief that every student can succeed with the right instruction and study methods, Barrick founded a tutoring and consulting enterprise that eventually grew into Alpha Plus Educational Systems. The organization developed curriculum resources, teacher training programs, and data-driven academic strategies designed to improve student performance. Over time, her model expanded into hundreds of schools across Oklahoma, helping educators align instruction with state standards and measurable improvements.
Barrick became particularly known for her work helping low-performing schools raise academic results, emphasizing structured instruction, assessment, and targeted remediation. Her philosophy centered on the idea that student success is driven by clear standards, effective teaching strategies, and accountability in the classroom.
Throughout her career, Jan Barrick has remained committed to a single mission: unlocking the potential of every student and strengthening the future of education in Oklahoma. Her legacy is defined by innovation, persistence, and a belief that great schools are built through high expectations and bold leadership.
Jan has served on the OSSM Foundation’s executive board for 10 years.
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
Presenting Sponsor – $50,000 (1 Available)
- Two VIP tables of 10 (includes an OSSM student) and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
- Social media premier branding – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (2 Posts)
- Premier red and white wine at table
- Recognition by OSSM President during program
- Special gift for each table guest
- 60-second commercial with premium placement to be played at the event (provided by sponsor)
- Premier recognition on event invitation
- Recognition as Quantum Experience Presenting Sponsor: “2026 Quantum Experience Presented by ‘Your Company’”
Premier Sponsor – $40,000 (1 Available)
- Two VIP tables of 10 (includes an OSSM student) and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
- Social media premier branding – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (2 Posts)
- Premier red and white wine at table
- Recognition by OSSM President during program
- Special gift for each table guest
- 30-second commercial with premium placement to be played at the event (provided by sponsor)
- Premier recognition on event invitation
Discovery Sponsor – $30,000
- One VIP table of 10 (includes an OSSM student) and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
- Social media premier branding – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (1 Posts)
- Premier red and white wine at table
- Recognition by emcee during program
- Special gift for each table guest
Exotic Particle Sponsor – $20,000
- One premium table of 10 (includes an OSSM student) and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
- Social media premier branding – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (1 Posts)
- Premier red and white wine at table
- Recognition by emcee during program
Binary Tree Sponsor – $10,000
- Eight (8) event guests and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
- Social media premier branding – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (1 Posts)
- Premier red and white wine at table
Complementary Angle Sponsor – $5,000
- Six (6) event guests and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
- Social media premier branding – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (1 Posts)
Active Cell Sponsor – $2,500
- Four (4) event guests and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
Magnetic Field Sponsor – $1,000
- Two (2) event guests and invitations to VIP Reception
- Brand advertised on OSSM Foundation event website with logo linked back to your website
- Brand Advertised on the printed program
- Brand visually recognized during the event on the digital event slides
Additional Sponsorship Opportunities
- VIP Reception Sponsor: $12,000 (1 Available)
Wine Sponsor: $7,500 (1 Available) –LOGO ON ALL PRE-SET WINE BOTTLES (LABEL SIZE 3.5″X 4.5″)SOLD- Centerpiece Sponsor: $5,000 (1 Available) – LOGO PLACED WITH CENTERPIECES ON EVERY TABLE
- Media Sponsor: $5,000 (1 Available)
- Add-Ons: $150 – EXTRA BOTTLES OF WINE AT YOUR TABLE (1 RED, 1 WHITE)