Student Research - Ron Petrin Memorial Fund 2026

A Project by OSU Department of History

This fund enables History Department students to conduct research and present their research at academic conferences. Dr. Ron Petrin was an OSU professor who believed it was important for students to become actively involved in the historical profession. His mentoring, care, and encouragement enabled generations of students to pursue their dreams as historians. This fund, named in Dr. Petrin's honor, allows current and future students to follow the path he paved for so many of his students.

Since the fund started in 2021, thousands of dollars have been collected to help OSU History students present research at professional meetings including the American Historical Association (AHA), Western Historical Association (WHA), Newberry Consortium in American Indian and Indigenous Studies (NCAIS), 2023 Civil War Institute summer conference, and Oklahoma History Symposium. Please help us continue helping History students at OSU!

Beyond being a legacy to Dr. Petrin, we want this fund to honor all faculty who helped students work their way into the historical profession. We also want this fund to be a place where past students can donate whatever money they can to help the next generation of historical scholars at OSU to take their first steps toward becoming history professionals.

Please enter the amount you would like to contribute*:

per charge

Or select a giving level below

$20

Every Gift Counts!

All gifts help current and future history students achieve their goals.

$50

Phi Alpha Theta

Dr. Petrin was very active in the OSU chapter of Phi Alpha Theta and with the national organization. He always encouraged students -- undergraduate and graduate -- to present research at Phi Alpha Theta conferences.

$100

American Historical Associatio

Conference registration is expensive. It now costs over $100 for non-member students to register for the American Historical Association annual conference.

$250

National Archives

The National Archives in Washington DC is an important source for historical research. This level of giving helps get a graduate student to DC for research.

$500

Robber Baron

In honor of Dr. Petrin's fascination with the economic aspects of the Gilded Age.

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FAQ

How will the OSU Foundation manage my information?

Information submitted to the Oklahoma State University Foundation shall be governed by its Privacy Statement.

Will my PhilanthroPete gift be tax-deductible?

Yes. Each gift will receive a receipt for your contribution. If you selected a perk with an associated benefit, the fair-market value will be deducted from your gift when applicable. We generate a gift receipt and send it you for tax purposes usually within the week we receive your gift.

How can I double my donation?

Many companies match gifts to higher education, which can double or triple your gift. To find out if your employer (or your spouse's employer) has a matching gift program, please visit https://osugiving.com/your-gift/employer-matching.

Is it safe to make my gift online?

Yes! We use a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information that is sent to the server using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. This prevents your personal or financial information from falling into the wrong hands.

Who can I contact with questions about my gift?

If you have questions about making your gift, please contact the OSU Foundation at 800.622.4678.

Will you notify the honoree of my tribute gift?

At this time, we will not notify every honoree of tribute gifts. However, you are always welcome to share a link to the donor wall where your tribute will be published with the honoree directly.