First recipients selected for Al White Scholarship

DURANT, Okla. - Selynthia Camille Holiday and Kayla Yvonne Minor are the first two recipients of the Al White Scholarship at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

The scholarships were made possible by a $1,000 donation from the Southeastern Foundation Board of Directors. Donations will be accepted to endow the scholarship.

White, the former Director of the University's Talent Search Program, recently retired after a 32-year career at Southeastern. He is a 20-year member of the Colbert (Oklahoma) Board of Education. His name is on a new library, elementary school and gymnasium at Colbert, where he has served since 1996 as President of the School Board.

He has received numerous state and national honors and is listed in Who's Who Among Black Americans for his work in developing techniques for the world's first embryo transplant in cattle, which led to human amniocentesis testing and stem cell research. He was the major force behind two resolutions passed by the Oklahoma State Legislature supporting TRiO programs as part of the Oklahoma Division of Student Assistant Programs, where he served as president.

The $500 awards are given in honor of White to students who have come through the Southeastern Talent Search program. Recipients must have completed one year of college and be enrolled in the second year. The scholarship is intended for minority students with preference to African Americans. Priority is for math- or science-related fields of study or majors.

Holiday and Minor are graduates of Hugo High School who have participated in the SE Talent Search Program beginning in their seventh-grade years. They will receive the scholarships for the Spring 2010 semester. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours per semester to be eligible for this scholarship.

Holiday is majoring in Biology/Medical Science. Her hobbies are basketball, track and tennis and she is a sophomore at Southeastern.

Holiday said, "I selected Southeastern to continue my education because it is close to home, the price is reasonable, and it is known to be a really good school with a lot of help available for students. After graduating from Southeastern, I plan to further my education and pursue my goal of becoming a dentist."

Minor is a junior Elementary Education major and a Southeastern cheerleader who enjoys shopping and spending time with family and friends.

Minor said, "I selected Southeastern because I wanted a school with a student-teacher ratio where I could get to know my professors on a personal level and not just as 'sir' or 'ma'am.' I plan to be a first-grade teacher and a cheer coach and give back to my hometown community when possible."

Southeastern Foundation