Allison Adair Cunningham Zimmerman, daughter of Rick and Janet (Erikson) Cunningham, was born January 10, 1987, at Norman, Oklahoma, and passed away February 14, 2020, at the age of 33 years, 1 month, and 4 days.
Allison attended school in Alva and graduated with the Class of 2005 at Alva High School, with highest honors. She developed a wonderful set of friends that lasted a lifetime. Allison participated in Speech and Debate where she earned All-State Honors two years in a row in Dramatic Duet, with her partner Jamie Gourley Peters. She was also in Electric Gold and Mixed and Girls Vocal. She was president of Le Club. She served as a page for Rep. Elmer Maddux at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Allison attended the University of Central Oklahoma for one year, but returned to Northwestern where she finished her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication in May of 2009. She was the Senior Class President and a Top Eight Outstanding Senior. Allison was the Co-Anchor for the Best Television Newscast awarded by the Oklahoma Broadcast Association (OBA) and received the Sadie Adwon Memorial Scholarship awarded by the OBA. She represented NWOSU at the George and Donna Nigh Leadership Academy and also as a speaker at Higher Education Day at the Capitol. She was a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador, serving as both President and Vice President. Allison was in Cardinal Key and served as Vice President of Red and Black Scroll. Allison was a Ranger Connector and was first runner-up in the Miss Northwestern Pageant. She was the female lead in the Northwestern play, The Shape of Things. She served as an intern for News Channel 9 in Oklahoma City, and also interned for Congressman Frank Lucas’ Oklahoma City office.
Following graduation, Allison was accepted to graduate school at Oklahoma State University. She was a research and teaching assistant for her department. She graduated in May of 2011 with her Master’s degree in Mass Media and Strategic Communications.
On May 15, 2010, she was united in marriage to Michael David Zimmerman at the Alva Friends Church. To this union two children, Brooklyn and Zane, were born. She was a college instructor in Mass Communications at NWOSU for the past five and a half years. She was also a member of the Friends Church and Chapter ET of PEO.
Allison loved teaching and her students and had a deep faith in God. She especially enjoyed music that helped her through the good times and bad. She loved parties and playing games and watching Dateline. She loved her family, her friends, makeup, watches, jewelry, new shoes, selfies, and Swedish Fish. Her favorite thing was to dance in the kitchen with Brooklyn and Zane.
She is survived by her daughter, Brooklyn Claire Zimmerman, and her son, Zane Michael Zimmerman; her parents, Rick and Janet Cunningham; three brothers, Brett Cunningham and wife, Kasey, of Edmond; Tanner Cunningham and wife, Erin, of Oklahoma City; and Drew Cunningham of Alva; three nieces and nephews, Jayden, Cloey, and Lenyx Cunningham; many friends (including the Wolfpack) and other family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Northwestern Foundation to establish a scholarship in Allison’s memory.
Remembrances may be shared with the family at http://www.marshallfuneralhomes.com.
Memorial services were Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium with Rev. Jeremy Coolley officiating. A private interment for the family was under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva.
Words usually come easy for me, but this one has me speechless. I am just so sad to hear this news. Not only am I a Mass Communications alum, I was also an assistant professor at NWOSU from 2006-2014, so Allison was one of my students. She literally lit up the classroom and was such a joy. She was always smiling and willing to help. She worked on the NWTV staff and was such an overachiever. I’m sure she expected the same of her own students.
Prayers for the Cunningham family and all of my friends and former students of NWOSU impacted by this loss.
— Jesse Schroeder, NWOSU Mass Communications alumnus and former NWOSU professor
Allison and I were co-anchors on NWTV-7 during our time at NWOSU, around 2007-2008.
There are so many things I could say, so many memories come to mind.Working with her on NWTV or listening to her on KNSU Radio, as well as running into her at every NWOSU event. The list goes on.
Allison was a one of a kind person. She was kind, helpful, persistent, outgoing, and dedicated.
I am very fortunate to have worked with her throughout those years; I will never forget our time together on NWTV.
My prayers and strength go to all those close to her.
— Clayton Holub, 2009 Mass Communications alumnus and former co-anchor of NWTV-7
When Allison first became a professor at Northwestern, I was struggling to find out who I was and deal with my own health issues. She welcomed me in with open arms. At least once a day, I was in her office just to talk. She had this way about her that, no matter what the problem, she could ease your worries and guide you on the right path. She taught me that nothing was impossible and I should always follow my heart. She was such a rock for me and became someone I looked up to! Allison was a beautiful person inside and out, a great mother and an amazing friend.
— Savannah Tillman, 2017 Mass Communications alumna
Allison instilled a confidence in all of her students. She loved her family and friends with a passion. Some of my favorite memories were producing video with her. She encouraged all of her students to live life to the fullest and be kind.
— Victoria “Tori” Ladd, 2017 Mass Communications alumna and former teaching assistant to Ms. Zimmerman
Ms. Zimmerman was an amazing teacher with a good heart. I can personally say that every year I walked away from her classes, field trips and practicums with knowledge that I could use to better myself within my major. Ms. Zimmerman was a big part of my college experience, and I would like to thank her for all the lessons and opportunities she gave me.
— Taylor Morris, 2017 Mass Communications alumna
There are people in this world that you know were put in your life for a reason and Allison Zimmerman was that person for me.
The first time I met her was in August of 2013, she was my speech teacher because our original teacher left right before the semester started. She wasn’t even a full-time teacher yet and that was her first class to teach. Allison was one of the most amazing people I have ever met.
She was kind, gentle, caring and always knew the right thing to say. She cared deeply about everyone, especially her family. Allison would help anyone with just about anything. Her office was always a revolving door of students coming to talk to her. Even when she wasn’t feeling in best, you could always go in and talk through things with her.
I considered Allison one of my best friends. She helped me go through some difficult times while I was in school. I will miss everything about her like her smile, laugh and how she was able to always put me in a good mood simply with her words.
There is a quote by Billy Joel that says, “Only the good die young,” and Allison was one of the best. She will be missed but she wouldn’t want us to grieve. She would want us to celebrate her life and continue on. I love you and will miss you every day.
— Montana McCllough, 2019 Mass Communications alumna
Ms. Zimmerman taught me so much and was always so easy to talk to. She is the reason I got interested in the broadcast field, and she persuaded me to join NWTV-7 as a sports anchor and reporter. She was always positive and encouraged me to do my best and believe in myself. I’ve made so many memories and learned so many skills with her guidance. I will forever remember and cherish the impact she had on my life.
— Nick Dill, current reporter for NWTV-7
I’m heartbroken for her family and the NWOSU community. I was an instructor of Mass Communications and adviser for the newspaper from 2005-2013, and Allison was my student. She was a bright woman, both intellectually and in spirit. She was cheery and, at times, endearingly goofy. I was so happy to hear she returned to her alma mater to teach, as I knew she would do amazing things for the program. I know so many people are feeling this loss today.
— Melanie Wilderman, former NWOSU professor and adviser to The Northwestern News
I attended NWOSU and was one of Ms. Z’s advisees from the fall of 2016 until I graduated in May 2019.
She got me hooked on Mass Communications from the very start. I came on an official visit for golf in the spring of my freshman year while I was attending ECU, and I met with her to discuss becoming a Mass Comm student. She all but forced me into broadcast my first semester, and I’m so grateful that she did. She saw something in me and brought it out in the best way. She supported me and was there for everything while I was in school, and pushed me when times got tough or I lost motivation toward the end of my time as a student.
When I got hired as a recruiter this summer, she was the first one to text me and congratulate me. In my eyes, Ms. Zimmerman fully embodied being a Ranger, and I will be forever grateful to have met her and been influenced by her.
This is the selfie we took in November 2018 when she enrolled me in my last semester of undergrad.
— Collin Stork, 2019 NWOSU Mass Communications alumnus
One of my favorite memories was always our group road trips to the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association conference. She was so fun to be around, and she was so friendly to someone who just moved to Alva from a different country. I will always remember her warm smile.
— Xin Xin Liu, digital media manager for KOCO-5 News and former classmate of Zimmerman’s
My first Mass Communication class was with Ms. Zimmerman. This was the class that really sparked my interest in majoring in Mass Communication! I had no idea what I wanted to major in or what I wanted to do in the future, but Ms. Zimmerman was extremely helpful with answering any questions I had. Her class is where things started to “click” for me, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do for my future.
Ms. Zimmerman wanted to see all of her students succeed, and she did everything she could to help us all. She worked tirelessly to help her students in every way! She was patient, kind, and so generous with her time! Some of my favorite college memories came from her classes.
I am so thankful I had the opportunity to know her! She will be greatly missed, but we will all have the memories and knowledge that she shared with each of us!
— Haylee Bates, 2017 Mass Communications alumna
