Oklahoma
Records 1 through 15 out of 35

	Year: 1974 William B. Coons Ponca City, OK, Ponca City High School College Plans: Oklahoma State University   Graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1978.
	Year: 1985 Joseph B. Basinger Bartlesville, OK, Bartlesville High School College Plans: University of Texas--Austin   Plan II at UT-Austin was a great classical liberal arts program and a sound background for medical school.
	Year: 1989 Jason E. Thomas Norman, OK, Norman High School College Plans: U.S. Air Force Academy   Jason, co-valedictorian of his class, was an Oklahoma Academic All-Stater in the Oklahoma Honor Society. He has won several awards for his poetry and artwork, some of which has been printed on state and local club t-shirts. Jason was president and committee chairman for the Mu Alpha Theta math club and was sergeant-at-arms of the Latin club, from which he received 17 state awards. With fellow Presidential Scholar Rita Tripathy, Jason cc-wrote a locally-produced one-act play that was “an instant favorite,” according to a teacher. Having attended academic workshops at the U.S. Military and Naval academies, he plans to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy to study electrical engineering.
	Year: 1989 Rita Tripathy Norman, OK, Norman High School College Plans: University of Oklahoma   Rita considers herself a true American but embraces her Indian culture through traditional dress, food and language. At school, she was a member of Youth in Government, the Mu Alpha Theta math team, S.A.D.D. and served as a head delegate to the Model United Nations. Rita co-wrote a one-act play with fellow Presidential scholar Jason Thomas that was produced locally. Ranked first in a class of 659, Rita plans to study psychology at the University of Oklahoma to some day become a physician or psychiatrist. Rita has volunteered at a local hospital, a nursing home and has worked with handicapped children. She enjoys playing the piano, reading, biking and has just taken up an interest in astronomy and fencing.
	Year: 1990 Dana C. Brown Norman, OK, Norman High School College Plans: Georgetown University   Class of 1994
	Year: 1997 Amy L. (Buettner) Mah Edmond, OK, Edmond Memorial High School College Plans: University of Notre Dame   Amy graduated from Notre Dame in 2001 with a degree in Russian and History. She served as an intelligence officer in the Air Force for four years and is currently in the reserves as a captain in the Air Force Special Ops Command.
	Year: 1998 Emily K. Drennan Norman, Ok, Norman High School College Plans: Oklahoma State University; Belmont University   Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Economics; Bachelor of Arts, Spanish Minors: Finance; Marketing; International Business; Latin American Studies
	Year: 1999 Daniel R. Philp Norman, OK, Norman High School North College Plans: Dartmouth College
	Year: 2000 David R. Okada Tulsa, OK, Holland Hall School   Perhaps Schopenhauer was right: I am all men, any man is all men...Whatever one man does, it is as if all men did it. -Jorge Luis Borges, La Forma De La Espalda What Borges talks about here-the total dissolution of boundaries between men, the idea that one man's life is inextricably interwoven into the larger fabric of humanity-is what drives David to strive, to achieve, to accomplish, not for personal gain, but for the benefit of society at large.
	Year: 2000 Sarah S. Park Tulsa, OK, Booker T. Washington High School   Keeping herself busy in Tulsa, OK, a hobby in itself, Sarah has fenced in five Junior Olympics, paints abstract portraits, and founded and cited a literary magazine. She's a National Merit Scholar and an Oklahoma Academic All-Stater, and she placed first four times each in the National French and Spanish Exams. She served on the Executive Board of her school's National Honors Society, leading a statewide book drive to benefit Tulsa elementary schools. Of course, being overpoweringly modest, Sarah would never mention any of this. You'd have to ask her mother. Sarah will attend Harvard in the fall.
	Year: 2001 Melissa L. Dell Enid, OK, Oklahoma Bible Academy   I am a person who above all else has a passion about everything I do. I never do anything halfway. My first passion is a love of learning - a love for books, for debate, for travel, for independent research. I also love to run; I founded the girl's cross-country team at my school. I become so excited about my activities that I can't help but share them with others. I wanted to share my love for advanced study so I helped to start an Advanced Placement program at my school. As a part-time job, I have my own test preparation business so that I can help other students be successful. Perhaps I am a bit of an idealist, but I hope my passions will light a spark in others so that they too will follow through on their dreams.
	Year: 2001 Meredith E. Purgason Tulsa, OK, Cascia Hall Preparatory School   The best thing about Meredith is that there is no one else like her in the entire world. She has always been proud to be and individual. True, she is smart, she is also pretty, but neither of those words can truly describe her. Meredith's true uniqueness lies in the combination of all her traits, not simply in the possession of one or two interesting qualities. She is an idealist who appreciates people, things, and life in general. She enjoys learning about astronomy and Native American Culture. She is a patron of the arts who also likes reading, Jimmy Buffett, and long strolls on the beach. As this bio is beginning to sound like a personal ad, I will close, knowing that 150 words cannot do justice to any human being, and thus encouraging you to meet as many people as you possibly can.
	Year: 2001 Dean E. Spears Tulsa, OK, Jenks High School   Dean, the son of Don and Jan Spears, lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dean attempts to adhere to a quote he admires,believing that "chance favors the prepared mind." His interests include history, literature, art history, music and government.He was his band's drum major, was a student council representative, and is an Eagle Scout. Dean is lookingforward to studying economics and political science next fall.
	Year: 2002 Leo L. Perry Stigler, OK, Stigler High School College Plans: Harvard University   As a Native American growing up in Oklahoma, I have always felt a strong connection to nature. My most profound moments of peace and clarity occurred as I walked through the woods surrounding my home. My excursions into the natural as a child contributed heavily to my development as an independent yet global thinker. Having make-believe adventures in the trees and meadows fostered my imaginative and creative abilities, while my curiosity about almost everything evolved into my passion for science and discovery. Indeed, nature afforded an optimal setting for my personal growth. Although life may lead me far awayfrom this pristine background, I will never forget the awesome, moving power of nature.
	Year: 2002 Carrie A. Spielman Edmond, OK, Edmond Santa Fe High School College Plans: University of Oklahoma   I love a good storyteller. To me, this is a person who cannot only captivate and hold interest, but also manages to teach the listener something of value. Oftentimes, sharing a great story is even more exhilarating than listening to one. Choosing the details tobest illustrate an idea, and revealing it in such a way as to entrance the listener is, for me, a thrill. Because writing helps me to express myself in a way no other media can, I hope to continue it throughout my life. I credit my parents with helping me develop a great sense of respect for diversity, and for supporting me throughout all of my activities, which have included cross-country, after-school jobs, and interning at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

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