No one could resist a picture with Pistol Pete this past Saturday at the third annual OSU Educational Talent Search Kick Off Classic.  Students and parents lined up in the Student Union Ballroom to have Pete sign their posters and T-shirts.  One student even has the mascot’s permanent-marker signature on her purse. Twenty-seven ETS students and their families came to this year's Kick Off Classic.

This year, OSU doctoral student Adelina Longoria addressed students and parents about the importance of postsecondary education.  Longoria drew from her similar background and experiences to relate to ETS families from Blackwell, Glencoe, Morrison, Drumright, Bristow and Olive.

Staff, students and family also enjoyed a slideshow presentation recapping the year’s ETS events while enjoying lunch at the round tables set up in the ballroom. Then students eagerly awaited their chance to win door prizes donated by Stillwater businesses. Blackwell High school student Felicia Ebert won a backpack from Wooden Nickel, while BMS student Colbie Curtis won two movie tickets to Carmike Cinema. Kayla Beck won a gift certificate to Chris’s University Spirit. All ETS Students received a backpack filled with school supplies, an ETS planner, coupons and candy from the program. Students and parents perused tables with viewbooks and applications from colleges and universities statewide. After the program, staff took parents and students on a tour of the OSU campus.  Thanks students for a great start to the school year!