100 ideas for Oklahoma

NEWS 9

A year in the making, a new book "100 Ideas--Innovation for the Second Century", will be released Tuesday.

Copies of the book that have been printed number 2,500. They'll go to state officials and to libraries.

The 100 Ideas executive director says the year-long project to gather input was a bi-partisan affair.

On the cover of the book is a picture of Maggie Cochrane. Cochrane is a physical therapy major at OU. Her idea that was printed in the book seeks to combine environmental concern with education quality.

She submitted an essay urging schools to become more eco-friendly through recycling bins, solar panels and tree plantings so as to save money,

"And that money goes back to the schools towards improving the curriculum, teacher pay, reversing the brain drain," Cochrane said.

Her idea not only got into the book, it also won her a $12,000 scholarship.

"I was so excited," Cochrane said. "It was definitely the best Christmas present I had ever gotten."

Oklahomans submitted over 3000 ideas for the project, so most didn't make it.

No tax dollars were spent on the 100 Ideas book or project.

More than 3,500 ideas were submitted after House Speaker Lance Cargill asked Oklahomans for their input. Books will be given to each of the state's 149 lawmakers, to other state officials and to local and college libraries.

Among the ideas published were more public school days, requiring voter identification and a study looking into a high-speed train connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa.