Five Northern Oklahoma College alumni were inducted into the NOC Distinguished Hall of Fame last Saturday evening in the Renfro Center at NOC Tonkawa.
Inductees from 2020 include Risha Grant, Marta Sullivan, and Jon Kissinger joined 2021 inductees Evelyn Coyle and Dr. Justin Funk.
Nominations for the Distinguished Alumni were received from alumni, employees, and area community members. A selection committee chose these distinguished alumni based on the following criteria: Contributions of service to NOC, community involvement, leadership positions, citations and awards, and education.
Framed photos are placed in the distinguished alumni hall of fame located in the Vineyard Library Administration Building at NOC Tonkawa.
This is the 20th year of the Distinguished Hall of Fame which now includes 50 alums.
The oldest of the 50 distinguished alums is from the Class of 1908, the youngest from the Class of 2005 (Dr. Justin Funk) and is the first to have an NOC Enid graduate.
Evelyn Coyle
Evelyn (Scoles) Coyle graduated from Northern Oklahoma Junior College (currently Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa) in 1951. A native of Tonkawa, Coyle then attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) graduating in 1953.
Evelyn has been a longtime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Chapter FC, PEO, Delphi Study Club, American Legion Auxiliary, and member of the Tonkawa United Methodist Church.
Evelyn has volunteered with the Tonkawa Historical Society, American Red Cross, Board for Directors for the Salvation Army, a member of the Kay County War Memorial committee, University Center Foundation Advisory Board, Pioneer Woman Museum Advisory Board and the Via Christi Village Advisory board.
She also served 12 years on the Tonkawa City Council starting in 1987, four of which as mayor.
In 1992 the Chamber of Commerce named Evelyn Citizen of the Year and in 2007 she received the Lifetime Service Award.
Dr. Justin Funk
Dr. Justin Funk received his Associate of Science in Business Administration from Northern Oklahoma College in 2005. After NOC, Funk attended Oklahoma City University and then studied Optometry at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2011.
Funk played baseball at NOC Enid for coach Raydon Leaton starting two years at shortstop for the Jets. He was named the 2005 Male Athlete of the Year.
Justin and his wife, Mara, are active boosters of the NOC Jets baseball and basketball teams. They attend Willow View United Methodist church where he serves as a committee leader.
Dr. Funk is a member of the American Optometric Association, Oklahoma ...