Rick Scott is one of three 2026 distinguished alumni to be honored Thursday, March 26 at Northern Oklahoma College.
Scott is the President of Rick Scott Construction of Ponca City and Tulsa.
Rick Scott was born in 1963 to Raymond and Dorothy Scott and raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma, alongside his brother Steve. From an early age, Scott displayed a natural curiosity about how things worked. As a child, he often enjoyed taking things apart to understand their mechanics—though, as he jokes, putting them back together was sometimes the harder part. That curiosity sparked an early interest in construction and the building trades that would ultimately shape his career.
Scott attended Lincoln and Trout Elementary Schools and East Junior High before graduating from Ponca City High School in 1981. That fall, he enrolled at Northern Oklahoma College, where he pursued a degree in Construction Technology under the direction of instructor Rick Allan.
While at NOC, he not only gained valuable technical skills but also formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime. He also enjoyed campus life, attending basketball games, wrestling matches, and other student activities during his time at the college. Scott graduated in 1983 with an associate degree in Construction Technology.
One requirement of the program was a woodworking course, and it quickly became one of his passions. What began as coursework soon developed into a lifelong hobby. Today, he continues to build and create woodworking pieces, many of which he donates to charitable auctions throughout the community. His craftsmanship has helped raise more than $70,000 for local charitable organizations, reflecting his commitment to giving back.
His professional career in construction actually began before he finished high school. The summer before his sophomore year, he went to work for LeMonnier Construction in Ponca City, mowing grass and cleaning up job sites. He continued working for the company after school, on weekends, and during summers throughout his high school and college years. After graduating from NOC, Scott joined LeMonnier Construction full time, where he developed expertise in carpentry, concrete finishing, trim work, and cabinet building.
In 1985, LeMonnier Construction was awarded the contract to build a new racquetball court on the NOC campus. Scott served as the construction superintendent for the project—his first commercial construction project and a meaningful one for his alma mater. He remained with LeMonnier Construction until 1996, gaining valuable experience that would prepare him for the next step in his career.
In August 1996, he took a significant leap and started his own company, Rick Scott Construction, focusing on commercial construction. The company quickly grew and today operates offices in both Ponca City and Tulsa. Rick Scott Construction employs more than 40 people and works with hundreds of subcontractors, completing projects with annual revenues of approximately $30 million. Over the years, the company has completed hundreds of projects across Oklahoma and Kansas.
Among the notable projects Rick Scott Construction has completed are the Conoco Museum in Ponca City, the Phillips Museum in Bartlesville, the Standing Bear Museum in Ponca City, a police and fire station in Wellington, Kansas, the Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and the STEM building for Ponca City Public Schools, along with numerous other projects including several at NOC.
While Scott takes pride in the many buildings his company has constructed, he is most proud of the growth and success of his employees. Many who began their careers with the company as laborers or receptionists have grown into leadership roles, and some have gone on to start successful businesses of their own.
In addition to serving as president of Rick Scott Construction, he is a member of the advisory board of directors for RCB Bank and serves on the board of trustees for the University Center, continuing his commitment to supporting the growth and development of his community.
Adam Leaming and Wilma Harman will also be inducted on March 26.
Non-refundable tickets are now available for $25 each through March 13.
The Class of 1976 will also be recognized. The Alumni Legacy Scholarship will also be presented.
The banquet will be held at the Renfro Center at 6 p.m.
The award recognizes the achievements of former students whose personal lives, professional achievements and community service exemplify the objectives of the college.
A complete listing of Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Award recipients is located on the NOC website at www.noc.edu/alumni.
Please contact Ciera Kirby at [email protected] or 580.628.6685 for ticket information.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOCÂ serves nearly 3,100 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater, and the University Center in Ponca City. Â Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.
For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
