One of first students returns to tell tale
- Hendricks was an editor of an OCCC literary magazine as a student
- OCCC was originally pass/fail instead of having letter grades
Linda Hendricks
Photo by Mike Ferak
By Yvonne Oberly, Staff Writer (staffwriter3@occc.edu)
Linda Hendricks was one of the first OCCC students when the college opened back in the fall of 1972 as South Oklahoma City Junior College.
One year prior to the school opening, members of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce went around the city and received support from the community on opening a new college, Hendricks said.
Soon after, a meeting was held at the RC Cola Factory to talk to prospective students. Many attended and received information to enroll a year later, Hendricks said.
“Hendricks is shown as an enrolled member from the first semester,” Dean of Admissions Gloria Barton said.
Hendricks said she still remembers when she started at OCCC.
“The first day was so exciting because it was new,” she said.
Hendricks began as a musical theater major, but later changed it to applied science in graphic communications, she said.
She made the change after injuring her knee and having to undergo surgery as a result of performing in a play, Hendricks said.
She carries many memories from when she went to the college.
Hendricks was one of the yearly editors of an OCCC literary magazine called “The Absolute.” This magazine included many works from students including poetry, short stories and photography.
She was very active in school plays and the choir. She still, to this day, has paper programs from those exciting events, she said.
“We used to rehearse for choir right next to the cafeteria and the biology room. This became quite a disturbance for people eating as well as trying to focus on learning so we eventually moved to a rehearsal room.
“The electricity went out during a recital one time. Everything got quiet for a second, but everyone just kept on singing,” Hendricks said.
Unlike today’s traditional letter grades, back then it was either fail or pass. And it was no surprise to finish a 16 week course in 18 weeks, she said.
Transferring to other schools was also difficult because students did not have a grade point average, Hendricks said.
Hendricks enjoyed her time at the college.
“It was a good experience and I learned a lot,” she said.
She recalls a few professors she had that are still here which includes Sue Hinton and Richard Rouillard.
Hendricks earned an associate degree in applied science in graphic communications at OCCC.
She then transferred to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha from which she received a scholarship in photography, Hendricks said.
She later transferred to The University of Oklahoma where she received a bachelor of fine arts degree in filmmaking and photography, she said.
Her son, Steven Hendricks, now attends OCCC and is a Sports Medicine major.
Hendricks has been happily married to her husband Tom for 28 years, she said.
Her husband recently retired after 26 years as an emergency medical technician for the Moore Fire Department, she said.
Hendricks lives in Oklahoma City.
She keeps herself busy being the program director for the United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma.
