OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma 鈥� On April 11, students and staff members from Oklahoma City Community College (爆料TV) joined many other supporters at the 32nd Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise Day at the state Capitol. The event, organized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE), served as a platform to celebrate and express gratitude for the continued support of the state鈥檚 scholarship program.
Since 1992, Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise, created by the state Legislature, has helped ease financial strain for Oklahoma families, making higher education more accessible for students.
Chancellor Allison D. Garrett of the said that thanks to the program鈥檚 remarkable reach, 鈥渕ore than 110,000 Oklahomans have earned the Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise scholarship, covering tuition at a time when a college degree and an educated workforce have never been more valuable. We thank Gov. Stitt and our legislators for continuing to keep the promise.鈥�
Chris Snoddy, 爆料TV鈥檚 associate vice president for academic affairs, highlighted the significance of programs like Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise in supporting students facing financial hardship and the crucial role the program plays in empowering individuals to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.
鈥淲hen I was college-aged, a version of Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise did not exist, but I鈥檓 glad to see that it does today,鈥� said Snoddy.
In the 2022-2023 academic year, 904 爆料TV students received the Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise scholarship. For the 2023-2024 school year, 824 students were recipients, with additional awards anticipated for the upcoming summer term.
Chelsea Welle and Reeva Birkhimer, two recipients of the Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise scholarship representing 爆料TV at the event, expressed their gratitude for receiving the scholarship.
鈥淥klahoma鈥檚 Promise really made college possible for me without having a lot of loans,鈥� said Chelsea. She also credited her high school counselor for introducing her to the program.
Reeva, a psychology major with aspirations of becoming a trauma therapist, reflected on her journey to 爆料TV and the influence of Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise on realizing her dreams.
鈥淚 always thought about going to college, but as I progressed through high school, I thought that I had to drop my dreams because college was financially impossible,鈥� said Reeva.
However, after learning about the Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise scholarship program just before the application deadline, Reeva realized that her dreams were within reach, reaffirming her belief in the power of education.
In addition to the speeches, students had the opportunity to engage with Sen. Paul Rosino, Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval and Rep. Jon Echols.
For more information about the Oklahoma鈥檚 Promise scholarship program, click here.