Ronda Chapman McKown

2019 Distinguished Alumni

B.S. School of Media and Strategic Communications '89

Ronda Chapman McKown came to OSU in 1985. She was a National 4-H Achievement winner, State FFA Vice President, member of the Freshman Representative Council and Agriculture Student Council freshman representative. At OSU, she worked mornings for OETA’s SUNUP morning show and for Congressman Wes Watkins’ district office. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. After graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film, news and public affairs, Chapman landed her first job as a news reporter at KSNF-TV in Joplin, Missouri.

 

In 1991, Chapman moved to Oklahoma City and joined ABC affiliate KOCO-TV as news reporter and storm chaser. Chapman won numerous Oklahoma Association of Broadcasting awards for outstanding feature and investigative news reporting and an Emmy for her live-news reporting of the Oklahoma City bombing. Chapman was the first reporter at the scene relaying the devastation worldwide. For years, she gave back to OSU in many ways - writing and producing the Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame videos, serving on the OSU National Alumni Association, OSU Athletic Board and 4-H Foundation Board.

 

Now, she and husband, Vernon, own Ideal Homes and several other businesses in Norman and Stillwater.