OKLA. CITY —
Perrin Duncan, 17, of Edmond and Mason Harvey, 13, of Guthrie recently were named Oklahoma’s top two youth volunteers of 2013 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerisrn. Although Perrin is not a Girl Scout she was nominated by Shannon Evers, the executive director of Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, and Mason was nominated by Guthrie Junior High School in Guthrie.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 18th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Perrin, a senior at North High School, was a dedicated fundraiser for an annual charity drive at her school before becoming co-chair of its 2012 campaign, which yielded more than $280,000 for the Sooner Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 1994, students at Perrin’s high school began a tradition of raising money for a different charity each year. Perrin had heard about the annual campaign, called BALTO (Bring A Light To Others), from her older brother and friends.
“They told me what an amazing philanthropic fundraiser it was,” she said. “I wanted to get involved as soon as I could, as I have always had a desire to help others.”
As soon as Perrin entered high school, she volunteered to raise funds for the campaign. She wrote letters, planned events and participated in a variety of other fundraising activities. That year, Perrin personally raised $3,600. The next year, inspired by a fellow student who was battling terminal cancer, Perrin raised $5,000 for Oklahoma’s Children’s Hospital Foundation. In recognition of her passion and commitment, she was named co-chair of BALTO the following year. Working with her fellow co-chair, Perrin chose the state’s Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to be the beneficiary of the 2012 fundraising project, decided on a theme for the campaign, selected 130 students to be official fundraisers and oversaw 20 special events.
“Money started flowing in October and with every event, a new record was set,” Perrin said. The final tally, $282,145, exceeded the year’s goal by more than 40 percent. “It was one of the most rewarding and stressful years of my life,” Perrin said, “but I wouldn’t change my experience for anything.”
Edmond North Student Council adviser Brian Hunter said, “Perrin was really shy her freshman year but started blossoming as an individual. By her junior year she had become an outstanding leader with outstanding character. As BALTO co-chair she took our existing program and improved it, and as a senior she is Student Council president mentoring the younger students. She is an incredibly dedicated worker and leads by example.”
Mason, an eighth-grader at Guthrie Junior High School, has become a crusader against childhood obesity after shedding 85 pounds in the seventh grade.
“Once upon a time, I was very unhealthy, overweight and picked on by bullies,” Mason said. “In the sixth grade, at my heaviest, 206 pounds, I told my parents I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.” He started exercising and making smarter food choices, and by the beginning of the next school year, he had dropped an astonishing 85 pounds “and felt awesome!” he said.
Recognizing that childhood obesity is a big problem nationally, Mason figured he could use his example to persuade other overweight kids that they, too, can slim down. Since he regarded 85 as his “magic number,” he resolved to meet 85 important or famous people who could help him tell his story and host or attend 85 events to raise awareness of childhood obesity. So he spends much of his free time reaching out to people and planning or appearing at special events. His celebrity encounters have included first lady Michelle Obama and the mayor of Oklahoma City, who invited him to the State of the City address. He has organized several fitness events and participated in many others and works hard to promote each one. In addition, Mason speaks in front of school assemblies and other groups, accompanied by a slide show. “I am the boy that could barely finish exercise during football and now I run 5Ks,” he said. “Don’t let people tell you it can’t be done. Believe with all of your heart and do it.”
As State Honorees, Perrin and Mason each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2013.
The program judges also recognized four other Oklahoma students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
“Prudential is proud to honor these students for making meaningful contributions to their communities,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope that shining a spotlight on their initiative, creativity and compassion inspires others to consider how they, too, can make a difference.”
High school volunteers can make a difference in society.
“Through their volunteer service, each of these young people has made his or her mark on at least one person, school or community,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “When you consider the collective impact of each of these individual acts, it’s clear that young people can be a major force for good.”
Education
Prudential selects Oklahoma’s 2 top youth volunteers
Edmond, Guthrie students named top winners
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Deer Creek official says state ‘testing results could be flawed’
Deer Creek Public School District official Cindy Koss voiced concerns that testing results may be flawed due to circumstances surrounding the testing process that took place in April and May.
In early May Edmond School District Superintendent David Goin addressed similar concerns in a letter to the Edmond-area legislative delegation.
Koss, chief academic officer for the Deer Creek District, reported to the Deer Creek board members there were invalidations and screen lock-up delays resulting in tests having to be retaken. -
UCO instructors recognized as top Oklahoma professors
StateStats.org, in conjunction with partner website OnlineSchoolsOklahoma.com, recently recognized several University of Central Oklahoma instructors as top professors in Oklahoma.
Each year StateStats.org sets out to find post-secondary educators who had been recognized recently for excellence in the classroom, on campus and in the community.
The recipients recognized as top professors, followed by profession, are as follows: -
ACM@UCO opens registration for youth summer rock camp for ages 10-16
The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) recently opened registration for ACM@UCO’s annual summer rock camp.
The summer rock camp will be from 1–4 p.m. July 22–26 on the fourth floor of the ACM@UCO building in the Bricktown district of downtown Oklahoma City. -
UCO student earns national scholarship to study in South Korea for 1 semester
For University of Central Oklahoma student Taylor Egger, spending a semester in South Korea this upcoming academic year will be more than just studying abroad — it will complete a longtime dream.
The sophomore international business major is the recipient of the highly competitive national Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year. -
OCU Hebrew students to study Dead Sea Scrolls
Students in a Biblical Hebrew class at Oklahoma City University will get a chance to study one of the Dead Sea Scrolls during the fall 2013 semester.
Religion professor Lisa Wolfe’s class, Readings in Biblical Hebrew, will participate in the project that is part of the Green Scholars Initiative, a program associated with the massive collection of biblical manuscripts and related artifacts that have recently been acquired by the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby. -
UCO awards leadership scholarships to local students
The University of Central Oklahoma recently awarded the President’s Leadership Scholarship and the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarship to multiple Edmond residents recognizing their demonstrated talent and distinguished achievement in leadership, citizenship, service and communication.
President’s Leadership Scholarship recipients include Bishop McGuinness High School graduate Sheyla Rabei and Edmond Memorial High School graduate Lexi Banister. -
UCO College of Fine Arts, Design awards scholarships
The University of Central Oklahoma College of Fine Arts and Design recently awarded two scholarships to Edmond resident Ben Campbell for the 2013-14 academic year.
Campbell, a Music Business major at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO), received the Don Betz Leadership in Arts Award and the Freda J. Cross Endowed Scholarship.
“We are proud of our students. These scholarships show our pride and support for excellence in academics, leadership and performance,” said John Clinton, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design.
“We believe in our students and our program and aim to help them achieve success in all areas of life.”
CFAD is a center for excellence for the fine and performing arts, as well as a center of innovation for improving and promoting arts education. The mission of the college is to prepare creative leaders and professionals in the fine arts, education and design. -
Local students graduate from Rice
ECU lists honor roll students
Outstanding academic work during the 2013 spring semester has earned listings on the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s Honor Roll for students at East Central University in Ada.
The President’s Honor Roll is reserved for students who earned A’s in all their courses for a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Edmond’s Gina Ann Mengwasser, physical education (teacher certification) was listed on the President’s Honor Roll.
The Deans’ Honor Roll lists students who have at least a 3.33 grade point average with no grade lower than a C. At least 12 credit hours must be completed successfully during the semester to be included on either honor roll. The following Edmond students are on the Dean’s Honor Roll: Sabina Koirala, nursing; Brandon Ray Nicholson, business administration; David Gregory Traxler, cartography (geotechnique); and Rachel Marie Watson, biology. -
Food Bank gives free summer meals for children
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“One in four children in Oklahoma struggles with hunger every day,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “No child should have to worry where their next meal will come from. This program ensures that children will receive adequate nutrition during the summer months when school meals are not available.”
Meals will be provided to all children age 18 and younger, without charge. The Regional Food Bank will provide free summer meals at the following sites and times in the Edmond area: -
Cancer Center welcomes 8 summer research scholars
Two students with Edmond connections are among eight college students who will spend their summer working alongside researchers at the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as part of the Summer Research Scholars Program.
Crista Riggs is an Edmond resident and a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., and Max Lyon, from Oklahoma City and a student at the University of Central Oklahoma, will be joining six other students as they work at the cancer center.
The program is in its fourth year at the cancer center, and it affords students the opportunity to work under the mentorship of senior cancer scientists. The aim is to heighten students’ interest and better prepare them for careers in cancer research and medicine. - More Education Headlines
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