Oral Roberts University Wins Half Million-Dollar Grant

Oral Roberts University is getting a little more high-tech, thanks to a grant from a Tulsa, Okla.-based energy company. ONEOK has awarded ORU a $500,500 grant to build a technology boardroom to support the College of Business’ Shark Tank program.

The Shark Tank is a program that gives ORU students the opportunity to pitch business and project ideas to investors during their senior paper project, which includes a business plan. Students can win dollars for their ideas if they convince investors to support their plan.

The technology boardroom will be a high-tech, executive-style boardroom that will serve as a teaching lab for the College of Business and the Shark Tank’s host environment. ONEOK offered about $260,000 this summer toward the construction of the ONEOK Technology Boardroom. The remaining funds will support the Shark Tank over the next four years.

John Gibson, ONEOK chairman, president and CEO, called ORU’s Business Shark Tank program “a unique hands-on learning experience that allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real-world business plan.” Gibson looks at awarding the grant as a way to sow into future talent the company needs to succeed in an innovation economy.

“ORU is deeply grateful to ONEOK for their generous gift to the College of Business,” said ORU President Dr. Mark Rutland. “This partnership with ONEOK gives us new resources to prepare our students to excel in their future careers. Great companies like ONEOK will benefit from hiring ORU’s graduates who have been challenged in such a professional environment.”