Four new members of The Societies of ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City University will be honored at the organizationβs 35th annual Awards of Excellence Luncheon on Tuesday, April 11, at the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City Golf and Country Club.
βThe Societies of ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City Universityβs recognition of Hilarie Blaney, Christina Mallory Chicoraske, Patsy Homsey and Sally Starling as new members of this exceptional group of leaders is a point of pride for our institution,β said Ken Evans, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ president. βThese four womenβs contributions to our community and beyond makes them not only role models to our students but changemakers within our network of alumni and friends. We are proud to work with them and congratulate each on their well-deserved honor.β
Blaney, senior vice president and lending officer in private banking at BancFirst, is receiving the Dulaney-Browne Library Society Award which was established in conjunction with the library on ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½βs campus. She is a graduate of ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½, earning her Bachelor of Science in business management in 1976 and her Master of Business Administration in finance in 1985. In addition, Blaney holds certifications from the renowned Protocol School of Washington, D.C., and Investments and Wealth Institute. Blaney is cofounder of Impact ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ that has distributed almost $4 million to the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City nonprofit community over the past eight years since its inception. Blaney is married to ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ law graduate Kevin Blaney, has one daughter, Jordan Dean, and four stepchildren.
Chicoraske is being honored with the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City University Distinguished Philanthropist Award. She currently serves as the interim director of statewide learning and development for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services with the State of ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½. Chicoraske earned her Bachelor of Arts in religion at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ and her Master of Public Administration from OU before working as the assistant director of undergraduate admissions at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ and the Uptown 23rd Historic Districtβs first executive director. She holds many awards for her volunteerism and activism at numerous area nonprofits and has been on the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Alumni Advisory Board for the past six years. She and her husband, Tim, live in the Wheeler District in ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City.
Homsey is the recipient of the Kirkpatrick-Petree Music and Performing Arts Society Award. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Homsey moved to ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ to attend OU, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in business and arts and sciences. Along with her long-time dedication to philanthropy, she has worked as deacon, wedding coordinator and member for 37 years of the Windsong Choral Group at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Previously, she served as a model for Oscar de La Renta and Bill Blass as well as a buyer for Ballietβs and executive clothing stylist for numerous clothing companies. Homsey is married to J.R. Homsey and has two sons, Hogan and Thomas Hunzicker, four stepchildren and four grandchildren.
Starling is the recipient of the Norick-Hulsey Gallery Society Award. She is a current board member of the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City Ballet, Girl Scouts of Western ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ and the Presbyterian Health Foundation. She also volunteers her time with a multitude of nonprofits in ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ City and has spearheaded successful fundraising campaigns for these entities. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College in California and worked in the U.S. Senate as well as on state and federal campaigns. She and her husband, Jeff, have two teenage daughters, Addison and Megan, and works in the community often with her parents, Polly and Larry Nichols, on various initiatives.
