OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is deeply saddened by the passing of its founder, David L. Boren, who provided visionary leadership in championing public education by recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Oklahoma public schools.
In 1985, while serving as a U.S. senator, Boren brought together a group of business and community leaders with a shared goal to strengthen and support public education across the state. From those discussions, the foundation was formed, along with the vision for its flagship Academic Awards Program, which continues to recognize and celebrate outstanding students and educators.
“David Boren had a remarkable and lasting impact on public education in Oklahoma,” said OFE Board President Lee Ann DeArman. “His passion for academic excellence and his belief in the power of education to change lives laid the foundation for everything we do today. On behalf of our board of trustees and the entire OFE community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Since its founding, OFE has tremendously impacted the Oklahoma public education community. The foundation and its partners have invested more than $13.4 million in grants and awards directly benefiting Oklahoma public school teachers and students. The foundation has honored 3,901 students as Academic All-Staters and 188 educators and programs as Medal for Excellence recipients.
Beyond its awards and recognition programs, OFE has helped build one of the nation’s largest networks of public school foundations. In the foundation’s early years, Boren encouraged trustees to establish public school foundations in their own communities, laying the groundwork for a movement that continues to benefit school districts statewide.
Today, Oklahoma is home to more than 200 of these citizen-led nonprofits, which collectively raise millions of dollars annually to support public schools. Through the Oklahoma School Foundations Network, OFE provides free training, resources and networking opportunities to help these organizations thrive and maximize their impact.
Boren’s dedication to public education extended throughout his lifetime. He served as chair of the OFE Board of Trustees until 2022 and remained a trustee until his passing. His son, Dan Boren, is a trustee of the foundation, and his wife, Molly Shi Boren, is a distinguished trustee emeritus.
