Oklahoma achievers: Francis Tuttle students win; School for the Blind contest winners

Staff reports
·2 min read

Francis Tuttle students win national scholarship

Two automotive technician students in the Auto Service Program at Francis Tuttle received the BAT-Man (Be A Technician) Scholarship to help toward their career education.

NHRA Pro-Stock Racer Steve Johnson, students Isaac Sirisombath and Michael Van Zandt, and Instructor Steve Boyd pose with the students’ reward for winning the national Steve Johnson Racing Scholarship.
NHRA Pro-Stock Racer Steve Johnson, students Isaac Sirisombath and Michael Van Zandt, and Instructor Steve Boyd pose with the students’ reward for winning the national Steve Johnson Racing Scholarship.

Isaac Sirisombath, a student at Putnam City North, and Michael Van Zandt, a Deer Creek graduate, got to choose between $500 toward their automotive tech education or over $1,000 worth of tools. Both students chose the tool sets, which were provided by Milwaukee Tool and presented by Steve Johnson, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer.

Automotive tech students from across the country are eligible to apply for the scholarship. For more information about programs at Francis Tuttle, call 405-717-7799.

Local real estate agents honored

EXIT Realty Corp. International recognized its champions for outstanding achievement through the 2021/2022 real estate market as home prices and interest rates continued to rise.

The real estate professionals recognized are:

Krista Martin, franchisee, was honored with the Gold Award. The award was given in recognition of closing between 75 and 99 real estate transaction sides during the production year July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

Vada Dwaileebe, franchisee, was honored with the Bronze Award. The award was given in recognition of closing between 25 and 49 real estate transaction sides during the production year July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. Dwaileebe was also inducted into the prestigious Sapphire Circle in recognition of closing 250 real estate transaction sides during one's career with EXIT.

Kim Branch, sales representative, was honored with the Bronze Award. The award was given in recognition of closing between 25 and 49 real estate transaction sides during the production year July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

Craig Kiriokos, sales representative, was honored with the Bronze Award. The award was given in recognition of closing between 25 and 49 real estate transaction sides during the production year July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

OKC residents earn medals at Cane Quest

Three OKC residents earned top medals at OK School for the Blind’s (OSB) Cane Quest competition, a national program of the Braille Institute of America, based in Los Angeles, California.

Oklahoma School for Blind students from Oklahoma City earned medals at OSB’s Oklahoma Regional Cane Quest competition (from left): Quanté Sellers, Julio Valdez and Elbin Carrillo.
Oklahoma School for Blind students from Oklahoma City earned medals at OSB’s Oklahoma Regional Cane Quest competition (from left): Quanté Sellers, Julio Valdez and Elbin Carrillo.

Quanté Sellers, an OSB eighth-grader, earned a top all-star award in the Scouts category for contestants who worked on residential travel skills on the OSB campus.

Contestants in the Scouts category competed on the OSB campus in Muskogee. They were judged on a variety of human guide skills, body and spatial awareness abilities, and safe negotiation of stairs.

OSB senior Julio Valdez won a gold medal, while his friend and classmate Elbin Carrillo took the silver prize, both in the Trailblazers category for contestants in grades 10 through 12.

Competitors in the Explorers and Trailblazers categories for older students competed in busy downtown Muskogee. They crossed streets and alleys and demonstrated long cane techniques while following recorded directions.

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

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma achievers: Francis Tuttle Students win; School for the Blind