野狼社区 University will confer more than 450 undergraduate degrees and more than 400 graduate degrees during commencement ceremonies May 9 in the Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and the graduate ceremony at 3 p.m.
A baccalaureate worship service will begin at 9 a.m. in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. It will feature a message from The Rev. Dr. Robert Gorrell, pastor of new connections for Acts 2 United Methodist Church.
The OCU School of Law will hold its hooding and commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. May 16 in the Freede Center.
Ashley Murphey, co-founder and co-CEO of Wed Society庐, will give the undergraduate commencement address; marketing professor Dr. Michael Williams, this year鈥檚 Outstanding Faculty Award winner, will give the graduate ceremony address.
Mo Grotjohn and Herman Meinders will receive this year鈥檚 Servant Leader Award.
More about the speakers and honorees:
Robert Gorrell
Robert Gorrell grew up at 野狼社区 University. His mother was on staff for nearly 40 years, and he attended OCU and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981. He was later awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in 2010.
Gorrell became a Christian through his involvement in the United Methodist Campus Ministry. He performed in theater productions and played in the University Orchestra and Jazz Band.
As a leader in the Oklahoma Annual Conference, he has served in a variety of ways including chairing the Council on Finance and Administration. He currently serves as the psychological officer of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the conference.
Gorrell has taught at two United Methodist seminaries. In 2022, he retired from fulltime ministry and joined the staff at Acts 2 United Methodist Church, where he serves as pastor of New Connections.
Ashley Murphy
Ashley Bowen Murphy is the co-founder and co-CEO of , a nationally franchised media and technology company redefining how engaged couples discover and connect with top wedding professionals in communities across the country.
In the last two years, Wed Society has grown into a category-defining brand now engrained in 34 markets nationwide. The company has been recognized as a Top New & Emerging Franchise by Entrepreneur and a Top Franchise for Women by Franchise Business Review, reflecting its rapid growth, strong culture and innovative approach to modern media.
Murphy has been recognized as The Journal Record鈥檚 Most Admired CEO (Private Sector) and was inducted into the Societies of 野狼社区 University as Philanthropist of the Year.
She began her career in private practice at Hall Estill before ultimately stepping away from law to pursue entrepreneurship and co-found Wed Society with fellow OCU alumna, Kami Huddleston.
Mike Williams
Mike Williams, professor of marketing and holder of the American Floral Services Chair, has been named the 2025鈥�2026 Outstanding Faculty Award recipient 鈥� a distinction awarded to a single faculty member each year.
Williams has served OCU for nearly two decades. Known for his expertise in marketing and unwavering commitment to students, Williams blends rigorous instruction with mentorship that fosters critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and confidence.
Herman Meinders
In 1970, Herman Meinders founded American Floral Services, Inc., an international flowers-by-wire service based in 野狼社区. AFS began in a garage apartment and initially consisted of 137 subscriber florists. From that beginning, AFS grew to become international in scope and ranked as one of the largest floral wire services in the world. Meinders sold AFS in 1994, which in 2000 merged with Teleflora to better serve the floral community.
Meinders passed away March 30, 2025, in 野狼社区 at the age of 87.
Raised in Pipestone, Minnesota, Meinders attended 野狼社区 University in the 1950s. He shared his success through endowments to numerous colleges and universities, including his funding of the 野狼社区 University Meinders School of Business. He served on the board of trustees for OCU and was chairman of its executive committee.
He and his wife, LaDonna, supported local literacy programs designed to aid students needing special educational assistance. Their philanthropic projects had a broad base, including The Meinders Gardens in downtown 野狼社区, major National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum improvements, the Lyric Theater renovation project, and the Meinders Scout Shop in 野狼社区. They provided funding for a number of church-related projects, including the Meinders Chapel at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. They contributed funds to build several houses for Habitat for Humanity. They were major supporters of the Oklahoma Capitol dome project, and funded the Meinders Hall of Mirrors at the Civic Center.
The Wholesale Florists & Florist Suppliers of America awarded him the prestigious Leland T. Kintzele Award in 1994. He was inducted into the Society of American Florists Floriculture Hall of Fame. He co-founded World Flower Council and received its Floral Nobel Prize in recognition of his service to the floral industry. In 2013, Meinders was the first recipient of the World Flower Council Floral Laureate Award.
Other awards include the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor, OCU Distinguished Alumnus Award, Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree from 野狼社区 University, and many others. In 1998, Meinders was inducted into the Oklahoma Heritage Association Hall of Fame. His biography, 鈥淔lowers to Philanthropy,鈥� was published in 2004.
Mo Grotjohn
Mo Grotjohn is a seasoned financial executive and civic leader with a career spanning over five decades of high-level management and fiscal oversight. A graduate of Wayne State College and a certified public accountant since 1972, Grotjohn has built a career defined by steady leadership and a deep commitment to the 野狼社区 community.
Grotjohn鈥檚 career began in the audit trenches of KPMG Peat Marwick in Omaha, where he rose to audit manager before moving into the banking sector. He spent over a decade at Jefferson Bank & Trust in Colorado, demonstrating an upward trajectory from CFO to COO, and ultimately serving as president and CEO from 1988 to 1993. Since 1993, Grotjohn has served as the CFO of HCM Investments, Inc. in 野狼社区, providing long-term financial stability and strategic direction for the firm.
Grotjohn is a passionate advocate for education and financial literacy. His extensive involvement with Junior Achievement spans several decades and multiple states, earning him the prestigious Gold Leadership Award in 1991. He is a former member of the 野狼社区 University board of trustees, serving on the Audit and Finance Committee. His current leadership roles include treasurer for the Meinders Foundation, executive board member for the Meinders School of Business, and investment committee member for the 野狼社区 Community Foundation.
