1st Quarter Newsletter

Halito!

As we put the first quarter of 2019 in the books, we are amazed by your dedication to investing in the future of the Choctaw Nation. Thanks to end of the year donations and generous hearts, you helped us add six new scholarship to our program! The newly-formed scholarships, available to Choctaw students, are:

Phillip Ray Haddock

This scholarship honors Phillip Ray Haddock, who dedicated over 42 years to teaching students about vocational trades and architecture, and is to be awarded to students graduating from Bryan County in Oklahoma.

Illitimaiyachi: Together We Overcome

This scholarship is for students graduating from a McCurtain County High School and planning to attend an accredited vocational/technical program institution.

Edward Locke and Dessie Wade Locke

Edwina Locke established two scholarships in honor of her late parents. The scholarships will be awarded to students graduating from Clayton High School and who are attending an accredited vocational/technical program institution in Oklahoma.

OSU – Alikchi

Alikchi (doctor) was established by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for students who have been accepted or are currently attending the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Tulsa or Cherokee Nation campuses. 

KCOA

The Kiamichi Commissioned Officers Association (KCOA) Education for the Future Scholarship is for students graduating high school within the 10.5 counties of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who are focused on a healthcare related degree.

 

Our theme for education is Onnakma (Tomorrow). You have supported the education of future Choctaw leaders, and we are already seeing them in action this year as you’ll read about in the following stories.

January, February, and March have been about ensuring Choctaw students are informed of the opportunities available to them through the 2019 scholarships. We spent those months preparing for the closing date of March 31. With the new scholarships in place, we are excited about the potential to award our highest number of students to date.

In the Education story of the newsletter, you’ll read about the heart journey of a mother who has impacted hundreds of lives, in Oklahoma and worldwide, through efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. Shelley Russell is the mother of an OHS state trooper who was killed by a distracted driver. She founded the Trooper Nicholas Dees Memorial Scholarship through the Chahta Foundation in 2015 and hosts an annual memorial run to raise funds. These efforts have come full circle with Tyler Wickson, the first recipient of the scholarship, who is now serving as a police officer in southeast Oklahoma.

The circle continues on the blog with a story of our first payback scholarship recipient, Megan Palmer, who graduated and has taken her position as a physical therapist at the Choctaw Nation Hospital in Talihina. Though she faced post-graduation challenges, she persevered, and now her story is inspiring others to never give up on their educational journey. Her heart for helping people reach their optimal health is a fulfillment of making our people stronger together. 

The Choctaw Nation Hospital recently hosted a day for high school students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. One of its main purposes was to spark interest in the students and generate excitement with sharing the knowledge that they can set and reach their education goals, then return home to work in the Choctaw Nation. Andrea Wimberly shares more about the impactful day in the Health story.

Through your support, we continue to preserve Choctaw culture through safekeeping artifacts in a climate-controlled art facility. Last November, we held a two-day intensive at the collection to cataloge beautiful treasures. In the Culture story, we unpack more of these boxes for you to peek inside and discover traditional Choctaw basketry: the forms and functions they served in the daily lives of our ancestors.

As we head into spring, we are grateful you have joined us for another year of uplifting Choctaw people and culture!