As each school year begins, Durant Kiwanis Club begins to announce Durant High Seniors of the Month and Bryan County Senors of the Month. These scholars are then eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded in May.
The Durant High School Kiwanis Senior of the Month for September is Jocelyn Ennis. Ms. Ennis maintains a 4.0 GPA qualifying her as a member of the National Honor Society and the Oklahoma Honor Society. She is also a concurrent college student. In addition to her academic work, she is a recipient of the College Board National Top School Recognition. She serves as Executive Historian of Student Council and is a member of Key Club.
Through Student Council and Key Club volunteer activities, Ennis believes she is serving her community. Future plans include continuing her studies at a college or university with a major in elementary education. She said,” I love helping others, especially the younger kids whenever possible.”
Attending the Kiwanis meeting with Jocelyn to receive her award and gift certificate was her mother, Megan Gresham and DHS Counselor Kelly Kane.
Kiwanis Bryan County Senior of the Month for September is Samuel Terieira representing Legacy Christian High School. Mr. Terieira earns a 3.94 GPA while participating in football, basketball, soccer, and wrestling. Sam is a school choir member and was named to Oklahoma All State Choir.
His community involvement centers around an internship at Victory Life church and being a member of the worship team. Terieira is focused on college after his graduation to pursue a career in the medical field.
Attending the Kiwanis award ceremony with him was Geary School Counselor Tamara Lindley and Sam’s mother.
October DHS Kiwanis October Senior of Month is Lydia Bullard. She holds a 4.0 GPA and therefore is a member of National Honor Society and Oklahoma Honor Society. Lydia is concurrently enrolled in college classes.
Ms. Bullard is heavily involved in FFA serving as Chapter President, is a Washington Leadership Conference scholarship recipient, and is aiding the chapter to earn the FFA National Three Star Degree. She attended the Alumni Leadership Camp, AFR Leadership Summit, and the AgHER Culture Conference.
Bullard is a DHS Key Club member aswellasamemberof theChoctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board, Durant Chapter Chairperson. Her volunteerism also includes helping with Choctaw language promotion and photo shoot. She helps distributes food at the Choctaw Elder Dinners and organizes backpack drives for foster children.
Lydia’s future plans after graduation is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in business. A graduate program would enable here to become a veterinarian specializing in large animals. She dreams of having her own clinic in a rural area to aid farmers.
By volunteering in her community and church she wants to focus, “…my energy on making each of those places a space where others feel safe and heard…I understand the need for individuals to bring joy to broken communities through acts of kindness and understanding, not judgment.”
Joining her at the Kiwanis meeting were her parents, Oklahoma Senator David Bullard and DHS Principal Amber Bullard.
Kiwanis Bryan County Senior of the Month from Achille High School is Karlie Torres. Ms. Torres has an A, GPA and is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Oklahoma Honor Society. Currently she is involved in Upward Bound and TRIO programs.
In addition to academics, Karlie is Vice President of HOSA, Captain of the Cheerleaders, Student Council President, and a FCA leader. She is on schedule to complete certification in Medical Assisting MA, Phlebotomy, and EG. Torres is entered in competition for National Technical Honor Society.
After high school, she plans to attend Southern Nazarene University to major in early childhood education and to audition for the cheer team.
Her service to her community centers around her leadership skills. She believes she is “…consistently uplifting others and creating an encouraging environment, even when I may be facing personal challenges of my own.” Kaylie feels she will “…push forward, grow, and make a meaningful impact, not just in my career, but in the lives of others.”
Durant Kiwanis Club will continue honoring area students through out this school year. Their Pastor Appreciation Day was on November 19 at Roma Italian Restaurant.
