About OEF
Our mission is to further STEM education in Oklahoma and increase the number of engineering professionals living and working in the state.
Leadership
Trustees and Staff
Jimmy Sparks, PE, President
Olsson
Greg Steelhammer, PE, Past-President
DCP Midstream
Michael Penney, Treasurer
TekSystems
James Beauchamp, Trustee
Boeing
Diana Bittle, Trustee
American Fidelity
Joy Kotey, PE, Trustee
City of Oklahoma City Utilities
Martin C. Buchanan
Buchanan Investments
Paul Green, PE, Trustee
Freese & Nichols
Brian Dolan, Trustee
Leidos
Kevin Sitton, Trustee
Phillips 66
Alex Marks, Trustee
Whites Energy Service
Tommy Willis, PE, Trustee
Benham Group
Jennifer McCollum, APR
OEF Excecutive Director
Grantors





History
The Oklahoma Engineering Foundation was founded in 1975 by the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers. With the support of the engineering community, OEF built the Oklahoma Engineering Center. Since 1979, the Center has remained the hub of engineer activity in Oklahoma, housing the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers; the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation; the American Council of Engineering Companies; the Oklahoma Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, and the Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
In the 2000s, OEF sold the Center to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, remaining in house as a tenant. All profits from the sale were invested in the Oklahoma College Engineering Scholarship Endowment with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
Our First Program
The first program implemented by OEF was an engineering scholarship program established by 12 Oklahoma engineers including our founding president, the late Garth P. Kennedy. Today, the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation Scholarship Fund is a permanent endowment managed by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The endowment provides an enduring way for us to help college students further their education in engineering.
Pioneers of the Oklahoma Engineering Fair
OEF pioneered the OEF Engineering Fair in 1981, to give middle school and high school students a chance to become familiar with the engineering field. At the time, it was a new concept for students. Today, the fair is held every spring at Science Museum of Oklahoma. It brings together students, teachers, professors, and the business community to give students an introduction to engineering and related principles. Students are also given the opportunity to showcase their creativity in engineering construction and design through various categories of competition including a bridge competition; rubber band powered vehicle competition; drone competition; tower competition; electric motor competition; ping pong launcher competition and wacky wonders competition.
Please mark your calendars for February 22, 2023, the OEF Oklahoma Engineering Fair at Science Museum of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma MATHCOUNTS
In 1983, OEF introduced Oklahoma to the national MATHCOUNTS program, the longest-running national mathematics competition for middle school students. Open to all middle schools in the state, the Oklahoma MATHCOUNTS program has impacted almost 8,000 middle school students over four decades. (This does not include the countless students impacted by the free curriculum we provide to schools.) It is a premier program that fosters highly advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills that students need to become innovators and leaders and to help keep Oklahoma competitive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
In 2023, MATHCOUNTS Oklahoma will celebrate its 40th anniversary and we will recognize longtime supporter, American Fidelity, as the presenting sponsor. Please mark your calendars for March 4, 2023, the MATHCOUNTS Oklahoma State Competition at Oklahoma City University.

Our Vision
OEF’s vision is to engage, encourage and empower middle school, high school and college students to succeed in engineering careers. This is needed now more than ever. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oklahoma student achievement in math and science plummeted. Based on results of state academic testing presented by the Oklahoma State Department of Education in late 2021, fewer than one in four students were at grade level in math and fewer than 30 percent of students were at grade level in science. The math tests are administered in grades 3rd-8th as we all as 11th grade. Science tests are administered to students in grades 5th, 8th and 11th. The statistics are alarming, especially since historically, closing the achievement gap has historically proven difficult. One of OEF’s primary missions is to further STEM education in Oklahoma. Please help us increase our efforts through a tax-deductible donation.


Lifetime Partner
The Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) created and launched the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation in 1975. OEF was housed within OSPE for many years and staffed by OSPE employees. OSPE is our lifetime partner.
OSPE promotes the ethical and professional practice of engineering, advocates licensure, and enhances the image of the profession through education, leadership training, networking, and outreach activities.

MATHCOUNTS
In 1983, OEF introduced Oklahoma to the national MATHCOUNTS program, the longest-running national mathematics competition for middle school students. Open to all middle schools in the state, the Oklahoma MATHCOUNTS program has impacted almost 8,000 middle school students in its 30 year history. This does not include the countless students impacted by the free curriculum we provide to their schools.
Organizing Documents
Essential Docs
Articles of Incorporation
Check out OEF’s 1976 Articles of Incorporation. We honor the vision and sacrifice of Garth P. Kennedy, Roy J. Thompson, Lial Eddy and Ira T. Oliver, the Oklahoma engineers who signed the articles nearly 50 years ago! There legacy lives on.
Bylaws
Our bylaws will be updated in January 2023. Please check back soon.
Meetings
The Oklahoma Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees meets quarterly and more frequently if needed. Meetings are held in January, April, July and September.
Past Board Members
OEF has a legacy of strong board support. We are building a complete list of all past board members, so please check back regular for updates. We want to recognize all of those individuals who haev contributed to our great organization!
Xan Black (Tulsa Alliance for Engineering)
Tim Bolden (American Fidelity)
Kevin Cooper (Access Midstream)
Matthew Hatami (American Energy Partners)
Mandy Johnston (Phillips 66)
Danny King (Francis Tuttle)
Liesel Polwort (SAIC)
Brandon Taylor (Chesapeake Energy)
Financials
Solicitation of Charitable Contributions Certificate of Registration
IRS Forms
GiveSmart OKC
Please visit OEF’s profile on the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s webite. Click here.
GuideStar
Candid is an information service specializing in reporting on U.S. nonprofit companies. It was created following the merger of GuideStar and the Foundation Center. Click here to review OEF’s GuideStar profile.
Board Recruitment
