News

Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College announced Lou Berry as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Retired Staff award.

NEO will formally honor Berry during the Outstanding Alumni Banquet on Saturday, Oct 1 at 11am in the Calcagno Family Ballroom.

All alumni and friends of the college are invited to attend the event. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Purchase tickets at the door or through neo.edu/homecoming. Homecoming festivities will take place Sept 30 through Oct 1, 2022.

Lou Berry grew up in Miami, Oklahoma. She graduated from Miami High School and was a member of the Miamiettes dance team, the after-school work program, the business club, and the National Honor Society.

Berry attended NEO from 1968 to 1970 and graduated with her associate degree in computer science. She served as a work-study and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

After graduating from NEO, Berry attended Missouri Southern State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in management technology.

Berry loved her two years at NEO so much that she returned to serve as the I.T. director from 1980 to 2011. During her 31 years with NEO, she was a Presidential Partner, a member of the NEO Staff Association, NEO Women and Friends, and served on several committees.

Berry is now retired and resides in Miami with her husband Tom. She has two daughters, Jennifer, and Julie. Berry and her husband have five grandsons, one granddaughter, and four great-grandchildren.

The Berry family includes a long line of Norsemen. Both of her daughters attended NEO. Jennifer was a Norse Star and Dobson Presidential Scholar, and Julie was a cheerleader. The girls were active in Phi Theta Kappa just like their mother. Her grandson, Jordan, attended NEO and was involved with Student Body Government and selected as the George Nigh Scholar. Her son-in-law, Josh McElhaney, also graduated from NEO and was active in Student Support Services.

Both Jennifer and Josh had careers at NEO. Jennifer served as the Executive Director of the NEO Development Foundation and Josh served as a Student Recruiter.

Berry said she is proud of her service at NEO. She served as the director of a $1.2 million Title III grant for a fiberoptic network on campus. She also had the pleasure of having Miami city manager, Bo Reese, and NEO faculty, Chip Hammons, as work studies.

For more information, please contact Eric Iverson, NEO alumni coordinator at eiverson@neo.edu.