USAO team plays 'Mind Games' on KSBI Wednesday

Two teams of students from the University of Science and Arts will go head-to-head this fall against teams from other Oklahoma universities as KSBI TV debuts its new show Mind Games.

Billed as a “21st century Oklahoma academic competition,” Mind Games pits teams of students from Oklahoma colleges and universities together in a weekly battle of the brains.

USAO has assembled two teams of its best and brightest, named the Green and the Gold, to represent Oklahoma’s national liberal arts college in the competition.

Dr. Dex Marble, vice-president of academic affairs at USAO, says that, “We applaud our students’ effort in preparing for the show.

“USAO places a high emphasis on the unique nature of our interdisciplinary, liberal arts model. I'm curious to see how that approach applies to a quiz-show format.”

USAO’s Green team is Wendy Chambers, Hilary DeVries, Jeff Eike, Jefferson D. Gray and Preston Vasquez. They are scheduled to play first, squaring off against Rogers State. The team will film their competition at the KSBI studios with the show to air on the following day at Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

Chambers is a senior art major from Wayne. She enjoys traveling abroad and is long time fan of heavy metal music.

DeVries is a senior biology student from Tulsa. She has been a roller derby participant for the last year and also enjoys playing the guitar and drums.

Eike is senior from Ames pursuing a double major in computer science and music. His activities at USAO include serving as a senator and former president in the USAO Student Government Association (SGA).

Gray is a senior drama major from Comanche. He is an aspiring playwright who has appeared onstage at USAO as Orsino in Twelfth Night and Sir Joseph in HMS Pinafore.

Vasquez is a sophomore mathematics major from Bridge Creek. He is the current president of the SGA and has a lifelong love of mathematics.

Chambers admits that she is nervous about the competition but takes pride in the quality of the education she’s received at USAO.

“USAO has given me an arsenal of art history and fine arts knowledge with its courses required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts,” Chambers said.

“This university has also expanded my knowledge in other areas through its interdisciplinary courses.”

The first round games are for $2000. The winning team splits $1200; the consolation prize is $800 to be awarded as scholarships through the schools.

Teams advancing to later rounds will compete for larger sums of scholarship money.

The USAO Mind Games teams are being coordinated by Katie Davis, associate professor of drama. The teams are receiving additional coaching from faculty and staff.

Coaches include: Dr. J.C. Casey, professor of communication; Dr. Jeannette Loutsch, assistant professor of biology; Layne Thrift, director of the USAO Art Gallery; Melissa Rickman, reference/instruction librarian; Dr. J.C. Sanders, assistant professor of physics; Dr. Quan Tran, assistant professor of mathematics; and Rob Vollmar, writer for the media and community relations department.

Dillon Robbins, a freshman from Chickasha, is assisting the coaches.

USAO will air Mind Games in the Davis Hall Amphitheater so that the campus community can cheer on their representatives.

USAO’s Gold team will take on Northeastern A&M in an episode scheduled to air Oct. 5.