Kelly Mitchell helps students connect—and reconnect

Kelly Mitchell, left, with his Seed Sower Statue and David Surratt, OU Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

When University of Oklahoma alumnus Kelly Mitchell established a Sooners Helping Sooners Endowed Scholarship Fund in his name, little did he know that there would be a pandemic locking down the world eight years later, making student needs even greater.

His initial $75,000 gift to the OU Foundation in 2012 supported the original Sooners Helping Sooners Fund, established as a student peer-to-peer challenge grant. The 2020 pandemic prompted Mitchell to write a separate agreement to include outside donors. He also expanded the focus to benefit students facing pandemic-related emergencies, such as being stranded on campus with no means to get home.

Since 2012, more than $521,000 has been distributed to students struggling with unforeseen financial demands through both Sooners Helping Sooners funds.

Mitchell, who is from Dallas, earned his OU Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1983. Following graduation, he began working in petroleum land management before completing law school at the University of Tulsa. Now, Mitchell hopes to find ways to support people in any way he can.

“Academic scholarships are already accessible to students, often hinging on merit and other criteria alongside need,” Mitchell said. “This grant is solely emergency-based. Sometimes you need money to stay in school because someone who was previously helping with expenses can no longer do so, or maybe there’s a health crisis with the student or their family. Emergencies are emergencies, and I am happy to be able to help.”

Danielle Steely, the director of Student Affairs administration at OU in charge of Sooners Helping Sooners on the Norman campus, said the fund is instrumental in supporting students.

She said generous donors like Mitchell, who added $250,000 to the fund in January, make it possible for the program to continue. Steely noted that OU Giving Day also provides supplemental contributions for the grant program.

“Post-COVID, the funds continue to offer limited emergency financial assistance to OU students who are unable to meet immediate essential expenses because of temporary hardships,” she added. “During FY23, $21,400 was awarded to students in need, primarily for rent and food insecurities.”

David Surratt, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, said Sooners Helping Sooners is a great example of an OU alumnus finding a way to create a large impact on the university. “There are a number of financial situations that can arise for students in any given year,” Surratt said. “Because of Kelly Mitchell and other private donors, students can feel supported during those trying times.”

“Each year, I get to hear feel-good stories about the recipients,” Mitchell said. “During COVID, there were so many travel restrictions and students couldn’t get home. Either they couldn’t get a flight, or if they did, the costs were too great. There were many hoops to jump through. People were just so isolated from their families, and these funds helped them reconnect with their friends and family. I love knowing that I have helped connect students with resources—and reconnect with loved ones.”