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What is the ODSA TRiO Achiever Award?
The progress and success of the TRiO programs is personified by the TRiO Achiever Awards. The strength and determination of TRiO students across the state and the nation is represented by this awardee. The annual ODSA TRiO Achiever Award is designed to recognize and honor former Oklahoma TRiO participants who have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in their professional pursuits and for whom TRiO played a fundamental role in their educational achievements. Each year a former ODSA TRiO participant is selected as the ODSA TRiO Achiever who embodies the TRiO spirit of excellence and achievement. The ODSA TRiO Achiever is introduced to the membership at the annual conference and represents ODSA at the SWASAP Regional Conference.
2008 ODSA TRiO Achiever
Even with the promise of paid tuition, he was
uncertain how to get to college. He was accepted into the Carl Albert State
College Talent Search program and the staff advised, prepared, and guided him
through the college application and admission process. The influence of
this program is demonstrated by a statement made by Kenneth
“It’s difficult to explain how such simple things as checking on me at
school and talking to me about my future could have such an impact, but for
someone who is first in their family to attend college, it can mean the
difference in reaching your goals or giving up.”
He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated
in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. While an
undergraduate student, he was a member of the President’s Leadership Class, a
Ruth Norman Scholar, and a United States Senate Youth Scholar. He is the
only person to serve two terms as the State President of Future Business Leaders
of America and one term as National President.
In 1998, at the age of 22, Kenneth Corn was elected
to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He has the distinction of being
the youngest state representative in Oklahoma’s history. In 2002, he was
elected to the Oklahoma State Senate. Twenty-five years old at the time of
the election, he is the second youngest individual to serve in that position and
is currently the youngest Senator in Oklahoma.
Among his many accomplishments in the Oklahoma
Legislature, he pushed through landmark legislation that provides health
insurance benefits to Oklahoma educators, as well as legislation to bring
teachers’ salaries to the regional average. He has also submitted a bill
to create Oklahoma’s “Second Century Promise”. It will expand Oklahoma’s
Promise (OHLAP) to include more students and ensure virtually every Oklahoma
student has the ability to afford a college education. The three words he
uses to describe “Second Century Promise” are: hope, change, and opportunity.
In 1998, Kenneth received a pencil from the Carl
Albert State College Talent Search program. The pencil was inscribed with
this quote “Education is the key to the future and your future begins today.”
He has stated that the message “…is as
inspirational for me today as it was for me in high school. I truly
believe that education is the great equalizer…no matter where you come from you
can reach your goals through education. My dream is for every child to
believe that motto on the Talent Search pencil is speaking personally to them.”
ODSA TRiO Achievers
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Willis U. Alexander, Jr. 2007 TRiO Achiever Langston University Upward Bound / Student Support Services |
Jason W. Boston. 2006 TRiO Achiever OSU - Oklahoma City Student Support Services |
Rep. Michael Shelton,
2005 TRiO Achiever
Langston University |
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Sherry D. Williams, 2004 TRiO Achiever
University of Oklahoma |
Terrence Alford,
2003 TRiO Achiever
Langston University |
Piyush Patel,
2002 TRiO Achiever
Redlands Community College |
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Dr. Marsha Gathron,
1988 TRiO Achiever
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
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Johnny O. Flenory, Oklahoma City Upward Bound, 1983
University of Oklahoma Student Support Services
Mike Cornelius, ECU Upward Bound, 1984
MSC Special Services Project Officer
and
Johnny O. Flennory, 1984, Oklahoma City Central High School Upward Bound and University of Oklahoma Special Services,
National TRIO Achiever, 1984
Benny Manning, 1987
Dr. Marsha Gathron - SOSU Upward Bound, 1988
Associate Professor of Education, Austin College, Sherman TX
National TRIO Achiever, 1988
Eva Neill O’Connor - SOSU Upward Bound, 1989
Senior Chemist/Aristech - LaPorte, TX
Dr. Phillip Washington - SOSU Upward Bound, 1990
Dental Surgeon, Washington Dental Clinic, Ardmore, OK
Tracy Cline - CASC Student Support Services, 1992
TRIO Counselor
Dr. Guy Sneed - SOSU Upward Bound, 1993
(Doctor of Medicine)
Dr. Bill Osborn - ECU Upward Bound, 1994
ECU Faculty/Administrator
Cedric Bailey - ECU Upward Bound and Student Support Services, 1995
Dr. Marcus Mosley - Langston University Student Support Services – 1996
No TRiO Achiever - 1997
Cheryl Conditt - SOSU Upward Bound, 1998
Counselor, Durant High School, Durant OK
Corinice Cephus - Rogers University Upward Bound, 1999
Upward Bound Counselor
Pam Douglas – Cameron University Student Support Services, 2000
Mental Health Therapist
Jodi Jones – Northeastern Oklahoma State University, 2001
Coordinator of Technology, Student Support Services
Piyush Patel – Redlands
Upward Bound, 2002
Entrepreneur and student
Terrance Alford– Langston University, Student Support Services, 2003
Broadcasting
Sherry D. Williams – University of Oklahoma, Project Threshold (SSS), 2004
Attorney
Michael Shelton – Langston University, Student Support Services, 2005
Oklahoma State
Representative, District 97
Jason Ward Boston - OSU-OKC,
Student Support Services, 2006
Lead Analyst, LexisNexis Real Estate Dept.
Willis U. Alexander, Jr. - Langston University, Upward Bound / Student Support Services, 2007
Teacher, John Marshall High School
(Click here to print this list of TRiO Achiever Award recipients)
