Bobcat sisterhood turned family comes together to honor alumna
Monique Mixner King and her Pi Beta Phi sisters took a girls鈥 trip every other year to maintain their Bobcat bond. Pictured (from left) are Karey (Boals) Schner, AB 鈥93; Tiffany (Nordby) Takac, BSC 鈥93; Leticia (Leinard) Weidenhamer, BSC鈥 93; Monique Mixner King, BSHSS 鈥93; Caroline (Cofer) Golon, AB 鈥93; Carrie (Geese) Dupler, BBA 鈥93; and Susan Moran, BBA 鈥93.
What began 30 years ago as an 91探花 sisterhood evolved into a full-fledged Bobcat family that, while scattered across the nation, makes time every year to come together 鈥 most recently to ensure that the legacy of one of their own lives on.
When Monique Mixner King, BSHSS 鈥93, passed away in March 2018 after battling cancer, her Bobcat family was there alongside her biological family. They grieved together, but they also learned together. In the midst of celebrating Monique鈥檚 life and the impact she had made in their lives, her family also discovered the impact she had made on the world as a parent, colleague and devoted speech therapist.
In the months that followed, Monique鈥檚 Bobcat family came together to make sure that the 鈥渞ipples she鈥檇 made in the world鈥 would continue. Together, they established the Monique Mixner King Memorial Scholarship.
Monique Mixner King and her sorority sisters are pictured outside of the Pi Beta Phi house on graduation day in 1993.
鈥淚 just want Monique to be remembered,鈥 said Karey (Boals) Schner, AB 鈥93, who coordinated the creation of the scholarship. 鈥淚 want Mike and their daughters to know that her life meant something and will always be remembered.鈥
Boals met Monique their sophomore year at OHIO when Monique joined Pi Beta Phi. Boals described their friendship as a kind of 鈥渓ove at first sight鈥 and said she always knew she and Monique would become lifelong friends. Before long, their friendship grew to include five other Pi Phi sisters: Carrie (Geese) Dupler, BBA 鈥93; Caroline (Cofer) Golon, AB 鈥93; Susan Moran, BBA 鈥93; Tiffany (Nordby) Takac, BSC 鈥93; and Leticia (Leinard) Weidenhamer, BSC 鈥93.
As Commencement day approached and these seven OHIO women prepared to start their lives as college graduates, Dupler shared the fond memories she had of her father and his friends getting together every year with their families. The women decided to start their own tradition, relishing in the 鈥済irls weekends鈥 they began holding every year.
As the women began to marry 鈥 Monique marrying fellow Bobcat Mike King, BBA 鈥92, in Athens 鈥 and to become 鈥渁unties鈥 to each other鈥檚 19 children, their annual 鈥済irls weekends鈥 alternated every other year with family weekends.
鈥淚t was just something that was in our souls,鈥 Takac said of the group鈥檚 annual gatherings. 鈥淲e love each other, and we鈥檙e a family.鈥
Monique Mixner, BSHSS 鈥93, and Mike King, BBA 鈥92, met each other through mutual 91探花 friends in the fall of 1993 and brought their Bobcat friends together again when they returned to Athens for their wedding.
It is in the spirit of that family that each of the families within it, as well as Monique鈥檚 parents Donna and Mel Mixner II, contributed to the Monique Mixner King Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, which will be awarded to full-time undergraduates who demonstrate financial need in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, honors Monique鈥檚 dedication to her work and her passion for lifting up others.
鈥淪he absolutely loved what she did,鈥 Mike King said of his wife鈥檚 work as a speech therapist, including the 10 years she served the Mason City School District. 鈥淎nd it was because she could be an advocate for people.鈥
King noted that his wife not only advocated for people but for her profession and 91探花.
鈥淪he loved OU and really identified with it, and I think that鈥檚 probably true for all of us,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think Monique would want more people to not only come into OU but specifically into that college program. She was an absolute passionate believer in speech therapy and building that.鈥
With that in mind, the scholarship that bears Monique鈥檚 name gives preference to students studying in OHIO鈥檚 School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences.
Monique Mixner King, BSHSS 鈥93, is seen with her daughters (from left) Margot, Ellie and Lucy.
鈥淲e are always honored when scholarships are provided to students within the College of Health Sciences and Professions, and the Monique Mixner King Memorial Scholarship connects students majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a strong foundation of support as they work toward their professional future,鈥 said Sara White, assistant dean for student success within OHIO鈥檚 College of Health Sciences and Professions. 鈥淚t is clear that Ms. Mixner King had a deep love for both 91探花 and her career in speech therapy, and her legacy will be forever honored through her scholarship that supports the success of our students.鈥
It is that legacy that brought Monique鈥檚 Bobcat family 鈥 Michael, Elise, Margot and Lucy King, Karey (Boals) Schner and David Schner, Caroline (Cofer) Golon and Chris Golon, Tiffany (Nordby) Takac, Carrie (Geese) Dupler and Brandon Dupler, Leticia (Leinard) Weidenhamer and Chad Wiedenhamer, and Susan Moran and Michael Fisher 鈥 together again.
鈥淢onique was such a curious lifelong learner and believed in education so much,鈥 said Boals. 鈥淭o think about someone being inspired by her drive as an educator and a professional woman in the world 鈥 I love that idea.鈥
91探花 is raising funds to award the Monique Mixner King Memorial Scholarship to a student for the 2020-21 academic year. To donate, click here.