Harvey Foundation awards scholarships to SE students

Press Release Date: 11-3-2010

DURANT, Okla. – The O.J. and Mary Christine Harvey Educational Foundation has awarded three additional scholarships to Native American students attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

As a joint effort between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Southeastern Native American Center for Student Success, the number of Native American students being awarded a scholarship from the Harvey Foundation for the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters is eight. Each scholarship is valued at $5,000 per year, with $2,500 paid in each of the fall and spring semesters.

Chris Wesberry, Coordinator of Southeastern’s Native American Center for Student Success, said, "We are honored that the O.J. and Mary Christine Harvey Foundation continues to support Native American students at Southeastern. The selected students share a commonality in their culture, but at the same time they are an academically diverse group. We look forward to seeing what they become."

The 2010 recipients are Rique Joe Martinez of Ryan, Judy Kay Picone of Hartshorne, and Lauren Caley Wesberry of Tishomingo.

Martinez is a freshman concentrating on general education courses but has an interest in the Occupational Safety and Health program as well as a degree in an Education field. Rique is employed by the Choctaw Casino and Resort.

Picone is a sophomore English Education major who graduated from Jones Academy. She is a member of the President’s Leadership Class and works in the recruitment office at Southeastern.

Wesberry is a junior majoring in chemistry. Her plans after graduation are to attend optometry school at Northeastern. She works at Clay-Rhynes Eye Clinic in Durant.

The three new awardees join fellow recipients Travis Trenton Dill, Jessica Ann Gann, Haley Jaey Grant, Morgan Kincaid McGee, Brittany Chanel Snapp, and former recipient Ray Perez Stephens.

Dill, of Bokchito, is a junior majoring in criminal justice. Gann, of Hugo, is a junior majoring in communication/broadcasting. Grant, of Madill, is a senior majoring in biology. McGee, from Bethel, is a senior majoring in graphic design and visual media. Snapp, of Valliant, is a senior majoring in communication. Stephens, from Caddo, is a 2009 graduate pursuing his masters in Occupational Safety and Health at Southeastern and was one of the first recipients of the Harvey Foundation scholarships at the University.

This year, Dr. O.J. Harvey, along with two foundation board members and their spouses spent time on campus with the eight scholarship recipients and staff from the Choctaw Nation and Southeastern. During this time, the recipients took the opportunity to update the board members on where they are in their degree plans, their future career plans, and thanked the Foundation for its support.

McGee, a 2007 recipient, said, "This scholarship has allowed me to start and finish my degree in Graphic Design and Visual Media. I am very appreciative. I will graduate this December."

Among the recipients are presidents and vice presidents of student organizations, a writer for the Southeastern student newspaper, a radio personality, a future Highway Patrol officer, a nursing student, a safety specialist, an English teacher, and an optometrist.

Jo McDaniel, Director of the Choctaw Nation Scholarship Advisement Program, said, "The continued support from the O.J. and Mary Christine Harvey Educational Foundation is making such an impact on our Choctaw students at Southeastern. Financial assistance is so vital for our college students and we are very thankful to the Harvey Foundation for providing these scholarships."

The recipients continued the Native American custom of presenting a gift to someone who has honored them. They presented a traditional ribbon shirt to Dr. O.J. Harvey, founder of the O.J. and Mary Christine Harvey Educational Foundation. The ribbon shirt is symbolic of Native American culture as it relates to social gatherings and special events. Historically, in the Native American tradition, many nations/tribes have conducted give-aways when being honored. Instead of receiving gifts, the honorees present gifts to those who have helped them reach their goals.

The O.J. and Mary Christine Harvey Educational Foundation was established to assist in the education of academically capable students, especially Native Americans. Among the more important reasons why the scholarships have been committed to Native American students at Southeastern is the highly cooperative working relationship between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Southeastern, the high number of Native American students attending the University, and the fact that Southeastern is a national leader in graduating Native American students.