Our students earn National Merit awards

By Rose Lane Editor

Eleven graduates of Fridayland high schools have been named winners of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships.

They are among 3,000 winners across the nation who are receiving the awards financed by U.S. colleges and universities. Officials of each sponsor college selected their recipients from among the finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

These awards provide $500-$2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institu- tion financing the scholarship.

Our National Merit Scholars are:

Lindsey D. Fagan, Deer Creek High School, National Merit Oklahoma State University Scholarship. Probable career field: Veterinary medicine.

Maureen E. Grimes, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, National Merit TCU Scholarship. Probable career field: Psychology.

Jonathan A. Hedrick, Casady School, National Merit University of Tulsa Scholarship. Probable career field: Music composition.

Lucas J. Lindsey, Crossings Christian School, National Merit See MERITS, Page 2

The pedestrian bridge’s design concept represents classic cars from the 40s, 50s and 60s and nearby airports, Wiley Post and Clarence E Page.

Iconic pedestrian bridge open over the NW Expressway

Oklahoma City took another step towards becoming a more pedestrian and cycling-friendly community today by opening a 121-foot pedestrian bridge over NW Expressway near Wilshire.

The bridge offers safe passage for walkers, cyclists and runners on the 7.8-mile Hefner – Overholser Trail which runs from Britton Road at Lake Hefner Drive to NW 39th Street at Overholser Drive.

“This bridge provides an important and safe connection for the hundreds of thousands of people who use our world-class trails system every year,” said Mayor David Holt.

Merits

From Page 1

University of Oklahoma Scholarship. Probable career field: Psychology.

Braden A. Perkins, Heritage Hall, National Merit David A. Burr Scholarship. Probable career field: Computer science.

Curt T. Schwager, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, National Merit University

From Page 1

Baron and co-director Sandra Mae Frank received the Helen Hayes Award for their work in creating an American Sign Language/Spoken English

“I thank the voters for approving this bridge and for continuing to invest in opportunities for physical activity and alternative transit.” of Tulsa Scholarship. Probable career field: Mechanical engineering.

The bridge’s design concept represents classic cars from the 40s, 50s and 60s and nearby airports, Wiley Post and Clarence E. Page.

The $5.3 million project was funded by the 2007 Bond Program and the 2017 Better Streets Safer City Bond Program.

Noah D. Rice, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, National Merit TCU Scholarship. Probable career field: Medicine.

Jasper R. Anello Roberts, Deer Creek High School, National Merit David A. Burr Scholarship. Probable career field: Astrophysics.

Thomas Doan, Mount St. Mary Catholic High School, production of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man.” Performances ran June 17-July 24, 2022, at Olney. The production opened to great acclaim, including a feature on the “PBS NewsHour.”

National Merit University of Tulsa Scholarship. Probable career field: Anesthesiology.

Henry Taylor Ison, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship. Probable career field: Computer science.

Cooper Shapard, Crossings Christian School, National Merit Southern Methodist University Scholarship. Probable career field: Computer engineering.

Both Baron and Frank have collaborated on other musicals across the nation, including an ASL/Spoken English production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” produced by ZACH Theatre and Deaf Austin Theatre in Austin, Texas, earlier this year. Frank starred as Cinderella and Baron co-directed the production with Deaf Austin Theatre’s Artistic Director, Brian Cheslik. Frank also starred in an ASL/Spoken English version of “Fun Home’’ at Lyric in 2018, directed by Baron. In 2016, Baron directed Lyric’s ASLintegrated production of “Fiddler on the Roof’’ –starring Frank – at the Civic Center Music Hall. Baron’s version of the classic musical brought deaf and hearing actors together in a unique production and earned him the Governor’s Arts Award from the state of Oklahoma that year.

Baron came to Lyric Theatre in 2010 from Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C., where he served as associate director. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Wake Forest University in North Carolina and his master’s degree in directing at Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Providence, R.I. In 2012, he received his first Helen Hayes Award for his direction of “A Year with Frog and Toad’’ at Washington D.C.’s Adventure Theatre. Frank, a graduate of Gallaudet University, made her Broadway debut in Deaf West Theatre’s production of “Spring Awakening.”

Additionally, Frank stars in the hit NBC-drama “New Amsterdam.”

The Helen Hayes Awards were established in 1984 by the Washington Awards Society, and now are presented annually by Theatre Washington.

Hillary and her husband and CoChairman Peter thanked the donors and leadership volunteers who played an instrumental role in reaching the campaign goal.

In addition to the more than $3.6 million raised through the campaign, Allied Arts also announced that central Oklahoma is to receive nearly $3 million of the $10 million in state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that went into law on May 26.

“Securing this ARPA allocation, in concert with our coalition partners, Oklahoma Arts Council and Tulsa Arts Alliance, was a monumental team effort,” said Allied Arts Advocacy Chairman Ben Kirk.

Event guests also learned that the 2024 Step-Up artist is to be the late Benjamin Harjo, Jr. Harjo is one of the nation’s preeminent First American artists, often referred to as the “Picasso of Native American art.” The piece for next year’s employee giving campaign is a limited-edition print of 1,100, each individually hand-signed by Harjo before his passing and designated distinctively for Allied Arts as the 2024 Step-Up Artwork.

“Allied Arts is privileged to have, to the best of our understanding, Mr. Harjo’s last work,” Peter said. “We are honored to celebrate his legacy throughout the next year with our 2024 Campaign.”

In 2023, employee giving campaigns were held by 169 businesses across the greater metro and raised a record-breaking $778,000 for Allied Arts. Employees attended presentations and heard from partner organizations about what donations helped them accomplish.

While the 2023 campaign has technically concluded, Allied Arts accepts donations and delivers employee giving presentations year-round. Call (405) 278-8944 to learn more or visit alliedartsokc.com/donate to make a secure donation online.

Above: Allied Arts President and CEO Sunny Cearley looks on as retired President and CEO Deborah McAuliffe Senner announces the winner of the first Excellence in Arts Education Award, Cindy Scarberry, founder of the Granvile School of Music. At right: Wilmari and Robert Ruiz.

2023 Allied Arts Co-Chairmen Peter and Hillary Farrell, right, recognize the Honorary CoChairmen Bill and Sherri Lance.