Community achievers: OU dentistry, UCO students earn scholarships; school leaders honored

Staff reports
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Dentistry, UCO Scholarship recipients

Fifteen students at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry at the OU Health Sciences Center were recent recipients of scholarships from Delta Dental of Oklahoma and the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. Scholarship winners, from left, are Carley Abbott, Conner Brasher, Chelsea Saffo, Preston Patrick, Tanna Heddlesten, Zane Mills, Madison Campbell, Jack Koszykowski, Lauren Means and Teresa Vu. Not pictured are Britney Brzoticky, Emily Forthun, Alissa Meadows, Meghan Souders and Thanh Truong.

• Delta Dental of Oklahoma and the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation recently awarded $118,000 in scholarships to 15 students at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry at the OU Health Sciences Center. Scholarship recipients included Carley Abbott, of Noble; Conner Brasher, of Edmond; Britney Brzoticky, of Weatherford; Madison Campbell, of Alva; Emily Forthun, of Oklahoma City; Tanna Heddlesten, of McAlester; Jack Koszykowski, of Oologah; Alissa Meadows, of Edmond; Lauren Means, of Lawton; Zane Mills, of Sedan, Kansas; Preston Patrick, of Tahlequah; Chelsea Saffo, of Broken Arrow; Meghan Souders, of Tulsa; Thanh Truong, of Broken Arrow; and Teresa Vu, DS3, of Wewoka.

• University of Central Oklahoma student Gareth Morton, a junior political science major from Tishomingo, was recently named a 2022 Sumners Scholar for his academic excellence and civic engagement. Named after former Congressman Hatton W. Sumners, the Sumners Foundation Scholarship awards grants, scholarships and educational opportunities to institutions and students who demonstrate academic excellence, civic responsibility and leadership.

Gareth Morton
Gareth Morton

• The University of Central Oklahoma College of Education and Professional Studies recently awarded scholarships to Oklahoma City area residents. Recipients and their scholarships include April Anderson, J.W. Weatherford Scholarship; Christiana Bakare, Public Health Endowed Scholarship; Annalisa Blount, Jolene Schwind Endowed Scholarship and the Dr. Charles H. and Larissa McBurney Endowed Scholarship; Michelle Braig, Donna Nigh Scholarship for Special Education Majors, the Jacob Crabbe Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the Laura Bell Dyer Scholarship; Stacia Carbajal, Elementary Education Teacher Scholarship in Honor of Maj. Gen. Rita Aragon; Zoe Collums, Donna Nigh Scholarship for Special Education Majors;

Also, Tiffany Cone, Patterson Family Endowed Scholarship; Marli Evans, Alice Adele Way Endowed Elementary Education Scholarship; Tonia Fairbanks, Dr. Joann McCarthy Endowed Scholarship in Educational Leadership; Amy Fudge, Haulman Cunliff Endowed Scholarship in Bilingual Education/TESOL; Brandon Garcia, Dr. Joan E. Bottger Endowed Scholarship for Kinesiology; Destiny Hill, Cora Morton Loafman Scholarship for Human Environmental Sciences; Monica Holford, Dr. Joann McCarthy Endowed Scholarship in Educational Leadership; Andrea Jackson-Samuel, Stephanie D. Johnson Endowed Scholarship; Joe Johnson, Dr. Joann McCarthy Endowed Scholarship in Educational Leadership; Brittany Kersh, Dr. Stephen H. McDonald Endowed Scholarship; Keith King, Dr. Jimmie Thrash Memorial Scholarship;

Additionally, Jherra Martin, Morgan Family Scholarship; Samantha Martinez, Maxine Prather Endowed Scholarship for Elementary Education and the Guthrie Scottish Rite Charitable and Education Foundation Scholarship; Christy Nieves, Dr. Joann McCarthy Endowed Scholarship in Educational Leadership and the Oliver Hodge Memorial Endowed Scholarship; James Nyamao, Dr. Gerry C. Pinkston Endowed Graduate Scholarship; Diego Richards, William G. Walker Endowed Scholarship for Industrial Safety; Payton Richards, Fred and Catherine Turpin Scholarship for Speech-Language Pathology; Sean Risinger, Dr. Gayle A. Kearns Endowed Scholarship; Taylin Rollins, Black and Randolph Families Scholarship in Education, the Dr. Janet Jordan White Endowed Scholarship in Teacher Education, the Alvin Alcorn Endowed Memorial Scholarship and the Alice Adele Way Endowed Elementary Education Scholarship; Caitlyn Shelly, Tracy Memorial Trust Scholarship; Amy Simcsuk, Emma Weaver Rodkey Endowed Graduate Studies Scholarship; Kiley Smith, Dr. Joann McCarthy Endowed Scholarship in Educational Leadership; Roxanne Singerman, Tommy C. Beavers Endowed Graduate Studies Scholarship in Education; and Melody Wood, Hall Family Scholarship.

OKC schools' EmbraceOKC Champions

Oklahoma City Public Schools recently celebrated its EmbraceOKC Champions, leaders who stood out for their dedication and contribution to the mental health needs of families and students.

EmbraceOKC is a comprehensive approach to providing a school-based system of support for Oklahoma City Public Schools' students and families that involves community partnerships, tiered academic, behavioral strategies, and mental health services that range from prevention to treatment, a news release stated.

“The following individuals were nominated because they have embraced mental health as preventable and treatable, protected children’s mental health and helped ensure that their school is a sanctuary of safety and support,” said Armisha Harrison, Oklahoma City Public Schools director of mental health.

Recognized in the high schools were:

Tasha McLellan, counselor, Capitol Hill High School; Jocelyn Trager, counselor, Classen SAS at Northeast; Kevin Jones, principal, Douglass High School; Zachary Gleason, teacher, Emerson North High School; Samantha Eggleston, teacher, Emerson South Mid-High School; Michelle Reece, counselor, John Marshall Enterprise High School; Claudia Rivas-Taylor, counselor, Northwest Classen High School; Maya Johnson, band director, Southeast High School; David Mosely, teacher, Star Spencer Mid-High School; and Stormy Griffith, coach and teacher, U.S. Grant High School.

Recognized in the middle schools were:

Sally Berry, principal, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School (grades 5-6); Brandon Bennett, teacher, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School (grades 7-8); Sarah Moore, teacher, Classen SAS Middle School; Laniesa Williams, counselor, Capitol Hill Middle School; Katie Brown, assistant principal, Jefferson Middle School; Geri Hemphill, assistant principal, John Marshall Enterprise Middle School; Sergio Arandas, teacher, Mary Golda Ross Middle School; Christine Hays, teacher, Roosevelt Middle School; Katherine Brooks, teacher, Southeast Middle School; Kim Landers, principal, Taft Middle School; Sara Oudsi, counselor, Webster Middle School; and Deserae Jackson, principal, Wheeler Middle School.

Recognized in the elementary schools were:

Pam Miller, counselor, Adams Elementary School; Amber Stephens, counselor, Adelaide Lee Elementary School; Candace Vaenedoe, counselor, Arthur Elementary School; Meondrial Lewis, paraprofessional, Bodine Elementary School; Heather Reinschmeidt, counselor, Britton Elementary School; Jackie Staggs, assistant principal intern, Cesar Chavez Elementary School; Tracie Layman, counselor, Coolidge Elementary School; Theresa Blanchard, counselor, Esperanza Elementary School; John Roberts, counselor, Eugene Field Elementary School;

And, Nancy Ross, counselor, Fillmore Elementary School; Ladonna Martin, counselor, Hayes Elementary School; Jill Carson, counselor, Heronville Elementary School; Aubrey Moyer, reading specialist, Hillcrest Elementary School; Jessica Johnson, assistant principal, Martin Luther King Elementary School; Malisa Hepner, counselor, Monroe Elementary School; Angela Oliver, counselor, Nichols Hills Elementary School; Jonelle Polk, assistant principal, Thelma Parks Elementary School; Kadessa Upchurch, teacher, Prairie Queen Elementary School; Michelle Harrison, family advocate, Quail Creek Elementary School;

Also, Sena Sweat, counselor, Ridgeview Elementary School; Susan White, counselor, Rockwood Elementary School; Martin Rivers, counselor, Rogers Elementary School (Grades 4-6); Armondo Ayala, principal, Shidler Elementary School; Erin Thompson, teacher, Southern Hills Elementary School; Antonie Gilliam, paraprofessional, Spencer Elementary School (Grades 2-3); Cormiere Bishop, counselor, Van Buren Elementary School; Nadiriah Burris, counselor, Willow Brook Elementary School; and Lee Acres, counselor, Wilson Elementary School.

To be considered for this column, please email achievement announcements and photos to LLynn@Oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Community achievers in Oklahoma City area for June 29