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OFE News Release

Chip Diffendaffer of Weatherford Named Volunteer of the Year by Foundation

September 22, 2004
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Chip Diffendaffer, web manager at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and president of Jetfire Design Inc. of Weatherford, has been named Volunteer of the Year by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence founder and chairman David L. Boren (right) presents the foundation¹s Volunteer of the Year Award to Chip Diffendaffer, a 1996 Academic All-State alumnus from Weatherford.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma's public schools. The organization first recognized Diffendaffer in 1996, when, as a Sentinel High School senior from Rocky, Okla., he was selected as an Academic All-State Scholar. He has since become one of the foundation's most active All-State alumni volunteers and, along with his business, Jetfire Design Inc., recently assisted in the redesign and restructuring of the foundation's web site.

Diffendaffer was recognized by Foundation for Excellence chairman and founder David L. Boren during the foundation's Board of Trustees meeting earlier this month in Oklahoma City.

"We are pleased to present this award to one of our most active and dedicated Academic All-State alumni who has given so much to our foundation over the years," Boren said. "Chip is truly a great ambassador for public education in Oklahoma."

Diffendaffer has been a member of the Academic All-State Alumni Association and continues to work to strengthen alumni ties to the foundation. He has volunteered at numerous foundation-sponsored events and has twice co-chaired the alumni volunteers for the annual Academic Awards Banquet.

This past school year, Diffendaffer joined the foundation's Schusterman Mentor Program, volunteering to serve weekly as a friend and positive academic role model to a student at East Elementary School in Weatherford. This year, he is expanding his involvement with the Schusterman Program, serving as assistant coordinator.

Diffendaffer was particularly praised for his work in redesigning the foundation's web site. Visitors to www.ofe.org can now donate to the foundation online, update All-State alumni information, download application forms, and view the foundation's latest news and publications.

"We are so pleased with the new look and navigation scheme of our web site, but even more proud of the fact that one of our own All-State alumni was behind this effort," said Communications Director Brenda Wheelock, who worked with Diffendaffer on the project. "Chip's expertise, combined with his passion for our organization, makes him most deserving as our Volunteer of the Year."

CONTACT:
Brenda Wheelock,
OFE Communications Director
(405) 236-0006; e-mail bwheelock@ofe.org