Shawnee High School’s Class of 2024 received a number of scholarships and awards during a special recognition ceremony Monday evening.
Shawnee Public Schools staff, members of the Shawnee community and representatives from colleges and universities were on hand to honor the seniors.
Four students were named as Oklahoma Academic Scholars: Gregorio Arzola, Marilyn Bartley, Sarah Peters and Emma Oller. The Oklahoma Academic Scholars Program recognizes students who earn a minimum grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale and achieve a 27 composite score on the ACT.
The Academic Letter Jacket recipients also were recognized. These seniors represent the top 5% of their graduation class: Gregorio Arzola, Marilyn Bartley, Michael Batley, Dalton Bishop, Reid Bowlan, Zion Hibben, Bella Koepke, Ryanne Northam, Emma Oller, Sarah Peters and Clara Timmons.
The following students received local scholarships and awards:
Gregorio Arzola, the first-place winner of the state-level Masonic Essay Contest;
Marilyn Bartley, the Shawnee Kiwanis Scholarship, the Shawnee Educational Foundation Scholarship, the Junior Service League Scholarship, the Shawnee Association of Classroom Teachers Scholarship, the Shawnee Shakespeare Club Scholarship and a local winner of the Masonic Lodge Essay contest;
Reid Bowlan, the Junior Service League Scholarship;
Bella Dahlman, the Ken McDowell Scholarship, the Shawnee Educational Foundation Scholarship and the Taylor Ricks Memorial Scholarship through the Junior Service League;
Zion Hibben, a local winner of the Masonic Lodge Essay Contest;
Bella Koepke, the Shawnee Kiwanis Scholarship, the Shawnee Educational Foundation Scholarship and the Shelter Insurance Foundation Agents Scholarship;
Maryl Lewellen, the Sarah Dudley Memorial Scholarship and the Shawnee Association of Classroom Teachers Scholarship;
Emma Oller, the Fred Gouker Memorial Scholarship, the Shawnee Educational Foundation Scholarship, the Junior Service League Scholarship and the Max Wayne Jones Memorial Scholarship;
Kaitlyn Parsons, the Shawnee Little Theatre/Ronny Jones Scholarship, the Pottawatomie County Retired Educators Scholarship, the Marilyn S. Bradford Scholarship, the Brian Crawford Memorial Scholarship, the J. Lloyd Ford Band Scholarship and the Max Wayne Jones Memorial Scholarship;
Sarah Peters, the J. Lloyd Ford Band Scholarship, the Freeland Wood Scholarship and a state winner in the Masonic Lodge essay contest;
Kennedy Santos, the First United Bank Academic All Stars Scholarship; and
Clara Timmons, the Junior Service League Scholarship, the Shawnee Association of Classroom Teachers Scholarship and the Karen Sue Freeman Memorial Scholarship.
The following seniors received scholarships from these colleges and universities:
Rose State College - Faith Lynn
The University of Central Oklahoma - Kaitlyn Parsons, Holly Valentine, Destinee Stephens, Jaden Chappell, Sydnie Barry and Steven Avitia.
Oklahoma Baptist University - Lisbet Gutierrez, Marshall Webb, Traydn Rakestraw and Kendyl Fowler.
East Central University - Bella Koepke
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma - Stormi Kommer
Oklahoma City University - Zion Hibben
Oklahoma State University - Kennedy Santos, Destinee Stephens and Clara Timmons
The University of Oklahoma - Steven Avitia, Marilyn Bartley, Jaden Chappell and Raynee Leone.
The University of Tulsa - Emma Oller
Simmons University - Bella Dahlman
Also presented were several athletic awards. Each award is given to one male and one female athlete.
Receiving the Outstanding Sportsmanship Award are Clara Timmons and Steven Avitia.
Receiving the Performance Award are Clara Timmons and Creed Muirhead.
Tylyn Thurman and Traydn Rakestraw received the Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award.
Commencement exercises for the SHS Class of 2024 is set for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 14 at Firelake Arena.