RSU Hosts Groundbreaking for Robson Center for Science and Technology

Rogers State University took a step into the future this week with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Robson Center for Science and Technology (RCST).

Held on Friday, March 27, beneath a tent just south of the Stratton Taylor Library on RSU’s Claremore campus, the ceremony celebrated the transformative Robson Center which will establish RSU as a leader in STEM education, as well as serve as a regional catalyst for workforce and economic development.

Faculty, staff, students, community members and supporters of the STEM@RSU Campaign – which raised awareness and funding for the project – were present, as were several special guests who addressed the crowd, commenting on the significance of the historic occasion.

“It’s a pleasure to be here today on behalf of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education as we mark an important milestone for Rogers State University,” said Chancellor of Oklahoma State System for Higher Education Sean Burrage. “Groundbreakings are about more than just construction – they reflect an investment in students, communities and the future, and that’s exactly what this project represents.”

Following Burrage was Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be here today,” Hoskin began. “I’ve read a study that says that 90 percent of the scientists who have ever lived are alive right now, and in the generation ahead, there will be more scientists and engineers born and educated than in any time in human history – that’s happening no matter what we do.

“In the years ahead, there will be crisis, there will be opportunities, there will be chances to cure diseases, to lift up communities, to solve some of the great problems that plague us today and will plague us in this century,” he continued. “The only choice that Rogers State University has to make, the only choice the Cherokee Nation has to make, the only choice the state of Oklahoma has to make is whether or not we’ll be a part of the solution or we’ll be bystanders, and I’m proud to see today something that doesn’t surprise me about this university – that they don’t plan to be bystanders about what happens in this century, they intend to be leaders in this region. Rogers State University is a leader and today proves it, I think more than anything I’ve ever seen.”

Other guest speakers included Oklahoma State Senator (District 2) Ally Seifried, herself an RSU alumna; Executive Director of Claremore Economic Development Meggie Froman-Knight; Past Chair of the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, Cameron

University and Rogers State University Regent Anita Holloway; RSU President Dr. Don Raleigh; and Founder of Robson Properties and Chairman Emeritus of RCB Bank Frank Robson.

“This is truly a landmark day for Rogers State University,” Raleigh said. “Standing here together, we mark a moment that has been years in the making – one that will shape the future of this university and our region for generations to come. This is transformational. This is a very, very big deal.

“In short, this Center represents promise – it’s a promise that RSU will continue to expand access to high quality STEM education, a promise that we will help meet the workforce needs of our region and our state, and a promise that students – many of them first generation, many of them from this community and from the Cherokee Nation – will have access to world-class learning environments close to home. On behalf of RSU, I want to thank everyone who helped bring us to this moment. Thank you for believing in Rogers State University, thank you for believing in our students, and thank you for believing in the future that we’re building together.”

“I really appreciate that this building is going to be named the Robson Center (for Science and Technology),” Frank Robson said, “but I think we forget there was a person who had a tremendous amount to do with this. He’s a great salesman, and if it weren’t for this great salesman, we wouldn’t be here today. That great salesman I’m talking about is (former RSU president) Dr. Larry Rice.

“I want to thank all of the other contributors who helped get us where we are today,” Robson said. “Thank you very much.”

After closing remarks from Vice President of Development Steve Valencia, several of the special guests gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking photo.

The 44,000 square foot, $35 million facility led by Flintco will serve as home to some of RSU’s fastest growing and in-demand programs, such as chemical engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, molecular biology, environmental conservation, and pre-medicine programs.

Additionally, the Robson Center also will support courses in nursing and allied health.

Currently, there are 1,100 students (approximately) at RSU majoring in STEM related disciplines.

Building a new home for RSU’s science and technology programs has been part of the institution’s master plan since 2014, with initial concepts developed. The pandemic of 2020 stalled efforts to move forward and unfortunately significantly drove up the cost of construction.

The turning point for the project came in 2024 when the Cherokee Nation committed $4 million to construction followed by the State of Oklahoma making a commitment of $10 million because of the leadership from Sen. Ally Seifried.

The Rogers State University Foundation began its efforts to raise private funds for the project with the STEM@RSU Campaign, launched in November 2024. The campaign made steady progress and then finished 2025 with both the largest gift in university history of greater than $4 million from a donor who was anonymous at the time but was later revealed to be local businessman and philanthropist Frank Robson, as well as a $3 million Legacy Grant from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

Earlier this month, the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved the recommendation that the Center would bear Robson’s name.

RSU serves the northeast corner of Oklahoma and is the only four-year public residential university in the Tulsa metropolitan area.

This story was originally published by Rogers State University.