Lodge gives scholarships to area seniors

In May, the local Elks Lodge awarded $5,600 in scholarships to area students.

Monies for the local lodge’s four individual $1,000 scholarships were made available from the Elks Golf Tournament and Elk’s Poker Run.

The other $1.600 was awarded through the Oklahoma Elks State Association’s Major Projects.

These six scholarships were awarded in person to the winners at their respective school’s award assemblies by lodge members.

The four Lodge scholarships were awarded to:

• Leah Harbert, Tishomingo High School

Harbert is the Salutatorian of the Class of 2010. She is currently enrolled at Murray State College. She has been very active in FFA, showed pigs and has been an FFA officer.

Harbert has sung at the Oklahoma State FFA convention, as well as for various churches. She competes in FFA speech contests and has attended various leadership activities through the FFA.

Athletically, she is an avid runner participating in both track and cross-country. In her spare time, she keeps the nursery at the United Church of Tishomingo on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.

She is the daughter of Milton and Sheila Harbert.

• Cheyenne Rhoades — Turner High School

Rhoades is currently enrolled at Murray State College and has a 4.0 GPA there and will graduate from THS with a 3.99 GPA. She has worked as a vet assistant, caring for horses.

Rhoades has accumulated many awards, including Student of the Week, Student of the Month, homecoming queen and is currently FCCLA president.

She has been involved with fastpitch softball and named Co-Defensive Basketball Player of the Year. She has volunteered at the Red Cross, Earth Day and Tutoring Kids.

• Theron Weaver — Wilson High School

Weaver has a high scholastic ability and a willingness to work hard to reach his goals. He participates in varsity basketball and enjoys skateboarding.

Weaver is a past Rotary Student of the Month, Daily Ardmoreite Student of the Week and is listed on the superintendent’s honor roll.

He is currently enrolled at Ardmore Higher Education. A member of Oklahoma Honor Society, he is president  of Keystone Club and is a youth leader in his church.

• Veronique Parker — Ardmore High School

Parker is the daughter of Veronica Parker Taylor and Tony Taylor. She presently has a 3.54 GPA and has completed nine honor courses, including two college courses at the Ardmore Higher Education Center.

She is a two-year member of the women’s track-and-field team and serves as captain.

Parker has been honored as an Ardmoreite Student of the Week, is listed on the principal’s honor roll, is a Scholar Athlete, won the Academic Excellence award, is Kiwanis Student of the Month and won the Outstanding Social Studies Student award.

She plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma in the fall.
Parker also won two $800 OMP scholarships.

The monies for the Oklahoma Elks Major Projects scholarship are made possible by annual donation of $3.65 made by members, whose efforts are commended.

Recipients of the Oklahoma Major Projects scholarships were:

• Justin Mathis and Stephen Smart, both of Ardmore High School.

Annually, the BPO Elks give more than $3.2 million for scholarships and the Order ranks as one of the largest private providers of college scholarships in the nation, which is second only to the federal government.