Community achievers: Scholarship recipients, Scouting honors, conference participant

Oklahoman
·4 min read

Scholarships

Aven Korstjens
Aven Korstjens

• Aven Korstjens, of Mustang High School, was awarded the Matthew George Scott IV Bronco 4 Ever Scholarship, established at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in honor Scott IV, a fallen Mustang alumnus.

• Trena Rogers, of Mustang, is the 2022 winner of the $500 Robert “Bob” Burton Democrat Scholarship awarded by the Canadian County Democrats. Rogers is a physics and chemistry teacher at Mustang High School. She is the sponsor of the Young Democrats organization and Key Club. Rogers completed her first semester of graduate school with a 4.0 grade point average at the University Central Oklahoma.

Trena Rogers
Trena Rogers

• Sheilah Sterling, of Harrah, has received the Eleanor Orts Francis Scholarship from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School Department of English.

• The University of Central Oklahoma College of Mathematics and Science recently awarded scholarships to Del City resident Aliessia Jones and Oklahoma City residents Mayank Agrawal, Tamala Arinwine, Travis Bauman, Nestor Bravo, Kelci Bright, Abigail Chitwood, Caleb Clifton, Megan Dalton, Zackary Dalton, Maya Fitch, Madison Griffin, Michelle LeBegue, Tobenna Offiah, Tauliyah Parks, Angela Pham, DaShena Randall, Tayana Rollins, Zayd Soliman, LaRosa Utin and Melody Wood in recognition of their academic excellence and service to the university.

• Marina Jones, a senior political science major from Choctaw, and Zain Whitlock, a freshman political science major from Newalla, are the inaugural scholarship recipients of the University of Central Oklahoma Foundation's George and Donna Nigh Scholarship.

The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation recently honored George Nigh, former UCO president and Oklahoma governor, and his wife Donna, with the newly established George and Donna Nigh Scholarship at the 29th annual Presidential Partners Luncheon. Pictured, from left to right, are Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar, UCO president; Zain Whitlock, a freshman political science major from Choctaw; Donna Nigh; Marina Jones, a senior political science major from Newalla; and, George Nigh.

• The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation recently awarded scholarships to Jessica Addai, Esther Akinwale, Cecilia Alali, Michael Gomes, Cheyenne Harrod, Clare Jordan, Luz Lopez, Marisol Martinez, Izabel Barry, Marli Evans, Michelle Braig, Richard Christian, Zoe Collums, Wendell Davis, Tobenna Offiah, Lizeth Torres, Hien Tran, Jorden Roby, Taylin Rollins and Melody Wood.

• The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Liberal Arts recently awarded scholarships to Oklahoma City area residents Na'imah Abdul Al-azeez, Jessica Addai, Emma Barrett, Izabel Barry, Logan Boyd, Reaghan Briggs, Erica Canete, Chase Compton, Majia Cottrell, Wendell Davis, Jacquelyne Day, Maya Fitch, Kari Hampton, Kobi Hampton, Promise Hill, Jose Ibarra, Brianna Jennings, Jessica Jones, Taylor McArthur, Allison Miller, Jessica Morales, Maigan Rarick, Gerardo Santillan, L Smith, Mariah Webb and Jahlana Williams.

• The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business recently awarded scholarships to several Oklahoma City area residents: Suzzane Anwaruddin, Travis Bauman, Barbara Birdsong, Skyler Bowen, Steven Bradley, Solansh Brightwell, William Claybrook, Jose Esparza, Victor Gallardo, Jeslin John, Keionna Johnson, An Le, Casey Lofton, Areley Medina, Laura Pistorious, Brady Robinson, Jordan Roby, Nannelee Stout, Clark Stevens, Hien Tran, Neenu Varughese, Turner Waddell, Allie Wallace, Kristin Westlake and Sara Willis.

• The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Fine Arts and Design recently awarded more than 125 scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year, including several to Oklahoma City area residents Gracelyn Boyd, Sarah Carter, Sarah Eischen, Halee Harder, Blake Harlow, Lauren McPhetridge, Nicolas Moore, Esteban Mosburg, Jennie Nguyen, Oliver Nguyen, Karissa O'Connor, Cielo Pallares, Andrea Riano-Moreno, Erin Thompson, Amiyah Underwood, Ash Marie Van Ness, Fabiola Velasco, Ian Wehrenberg and Jasmine Wright.

Scouting

Talal Raed Al-Zubi
Talal Raed Al-Zubi

• Talal Raed Al-Zubi, 17, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank within the Boy Scouts of America program. He is a member of Troop 168 chartered to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, under the direction of Scoutmaster Tony Robertiello. Talal demonstrated leadership to others in a service project benefiting Citizens Caring for Children where he oversaw the assembly and donation of hygiene kits for youths ages 13 to 21. Over 200 kits were donated.

• Timmy Dolan, Montgomery Ille, Logan Kihara and Greg Turner have achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout. All four are members of Troop 120 at Christ the King Catholic School, under the direction of Matt Jackson.

Dolan's Eagle Scout project benefited Bishop McGuiness by building a bulletin board for the drama department. Ille's Eagle Scout project benefited Choctaw/Nicoma Park students receiving occupational and/or physical therapy by building a therapy mat table. Kihara's Eagle Scout project benefited Centennial Elementary School in Edmond by painting the kindergarten and first-grade playground. Turner's Eagle Scout project benefited Bishop McGuiness by building a bulletin board for the art department.

Four members of Troop 120 recently earned their Eagle Scout rank. Pictured, from left, are Timothy Garrett Dolan, Montgomery Andrew Ille, Greg Adam Turner and Logan Michael Kihara.
Four members of Troop 120 recently earned their Eagle Scout rank. Pictured, from left, are Timothy Garrett Dolan, Montgomery Andrew Ille, Greg Adam Turner and Logan Michael Kihara.

Conference

Caleb Bowden, of Norman, participated in the National Model United Nations 2022 conference this spring in New York City. Bowden is a student at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.

Nineteen students from McDaniel College traveled to the conference, where they represented the People's Republic of Bangladesh and won two awards.

The mission of the National Model United Nations is to advance the understanding of the United Nations and contemporary international issues.

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

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC area achievers include scholarship recipients, Eagle Scouts