Tri-County event honors area high school students
Press Release Date: 05-06-2010
State Sen. Susan Paddack addresses the crowd at Tri-County Honors as Regent John Massey and Southeastern president Larry Minks look on.
DURANT, Okla. – The Tri-County Honors Program, co-sponsored by First United Bank and Southeastern Oklahoma State University, was held Tuesday night in the Visual & Performing Arts Center on campus.
The event recognized high school honor students from Bryan, Choctaw and Marshall counties.
State Senator Susan Paddack (District 13) was the keynote speaker. Entertainment was provided by Southeastern’s musical ambassadors, the Chorvettes Stageworks Company, under the direction of Dr. Aaron Adair.
Paddack was elected in November 2004 and has earned numerous honors and awards. She was re-elected without opposition in 2008. In the Senate, she serves as a Democratic Whip and Co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee. In addition, Paddack serves on the full Appropriations Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, the Education Committee, and the Tourism and Wildlife Committee. She was named Legislative Newcomer in 2005 by the Higher Education Alumni Council of Oklahoma.
A reception opened the evening and was followed by the honors award ceremony.
Greg Massey, president and Chief Executive Officer of the First United Bank and Trust Company, offered welcoming remarks at the event. Ninety-six students were invited from 16 schools in the three counties. Bryan County included honor students from Achille, Bennington, Caddo, Calera, Colbert, Durant, Kiamichi Technology Center, Rock Creek, Silo and Victory Life Academy. Choctaw County was represented by students from Boswell, Fort Towson, Hugo and Soper. Marshall County sent students from Kingston and Madill high schools.
First United Chairman of the Board John Massey, Southeastern president Larry Minks, Sen. Paddack, University Recruitment Coordinator Elizabeth Stidham, and First United Bank representatives – Scott Stidham, Debby Boyd, Tommy Sleeper, Chris Moore, John Worthy, and Rick Lane -- from representative communities, participated in the presentation of medals and certificates.
Administrators introduced the honorees from their respective schools. Following is the list of students honored by school:
Achille: Jozcelynne Bell, Cody Callaway, Kendall Dollins, Katelynn Ervin, Evan Wakefield.
Bennington: Tiffany Amiott, Jamie Anderson, Alex King.
Boswell: Cole Dillman, Apryl Mock, James Ribera, Hilton Vansickle.
Caddo: Chris Eastwood, Terra Harbin, Chelsea Reece, Hunter Self.
Calera: Leslie J. Carter, Cale D. Eidson, Brenton K. Rucker.
Colbert: Dillon Cummins, Padyn Hobgood, Jabal Reed, Colton Stout.
Durant: Candace Bailey, Joshua Barrett, Kylie Collier, Erin Davis, Megan Fields, Kaitlin Hedgecock, Christian Jeter, Kaylee Johnson, Kelsey Ketchum, John Michael Luckett, Erin McDaniel, Lesley McDaniel, Kama Moore, Ashley Morgan, Morgan Pierce, Stormy Posey, Denae Roberts, Jimmy Tran, Holden Wright.
Fort Towson: Heather Bevills, Josephine Flint, Bionka James, Zack Samaha.
Hugo: Meagan Carter, Rachel Hulsey, Kristie Lopez, Obed Perez, D. J. Shanklin, Valerie Wilson, Victoria Wood, David Carlile, Leandra Cross, Kelsey Ruminer, Amy Wallace.
Kiamichi Technology Center: Tiffany Amiott, Jamie Anderson, Jeff Mayes.
Kingston: Chassity Crowley, Lindsey French, Alicia McGahey, Miriah Peoples.
Madill: Sarah Codner, Sarah Dempsey, Drue Goodwin, Raul Gutierrez, Nichole Hartin, Natalia Marquez, Mary Kate McKay, Kenna Self, Kayla Williams.
Rock Creek: Tra Allen, Jordan Bishop, Chelsea Feltman, Amanda Hart, Lexi Holt.
Silo: Cameron Baxter, Lynsi Bourne, B.J. Burns, Jacob Carter, Joseph Caruthers, Preston Dye, Travis Estus, Lyndsey Lamar, Brian Lodes, Kale Palmer, Brittany Townsend, Kendra Treat.
Soper: Shelby Gallant, Macy Pierce, Ashlyn Scott, Cade Scott.
Victory Life Academy: Aaron Burt, Angelica Sheriff, Bethany Wallace, Karli Wigington.