CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State's Associate Athletic Director for External Operations and Senior Woman Administrator Sara (Williams) Braun was selected to the first 40 Under 40 Class by the Claremore Progress.
 
"We all know what Sara does around here for the RSU Athletic Department, and it's nice to see her contributions to the community being recognized by the Claremore Progress," RSU Director of Athletics Chris Ratcliff said. "Sara gives so much to Claremore and does a great job of coordinating our community engagement efforts for the RSU student-athletes."
 
Braun joined RSU in August 2010 as the senior woman administrator and assistant athletic director for media relations. She served in that role for five years before transitioning into her role as the assistant athletic director for external operations in October 2015. Braun was promoted to associate athletic director in July 2016 after helping RSU earn full membership into NCAA Division II.
 
Since coming to College Hill, Braun has made the navy and red present throughout the community. She has implemented a program to put each Hillcat team in local Claremore schools as the athletic department has partnered with 17 schools in Rogers, Mayes and Tulsa County. The Cats hosted nine free sports clinics for children in Claremore and visited six assisted living centers in town. The almost 250 student-athletes at RSU totaled more than 5,000 hours of community engagement with 46 different schools, organizations and businesses during the last year. She also is the advisor for the RSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and serves as the athletics liaison on the Homecoming committee.
 
Outside of RSU, Braun serves on the Children's Advocacy Center Board of Directors and has served on the CAC's Charity Basketball Game Committee for five years that has helped the center raise more than $10,000 each year. She is also on the Claremore West Bend Winterland committee.
 
The 40 Under 40 is a measure of power, influence and success of movers and shakers under 40 years of age. It includes a number of sections including business, government, faith and community. It is a ranking of achievements, influence and ambition.
 
The Claremore Progress received 117 nominations for the class and a number of individuals suggested, but not officially nominated.