Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2005 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - A dozen bright Cherokee youth will receive a higher education, due to scholarships from the Cherokee Nation Education Corporation. The scholarships were awarded from three separate funds, the Harold "Jiggs" Phillips Memorial Scholarship, the Omo Scholarship and the James Upton Memorial Scholarship. In addition, another student with a special interest in science has received a four-year Martz Scholarship.
Derek Blackwood 
Recipients of the Harold "Jiggs" Phillips Memorial Scholarship are Derek Blackwood, of Westville, and Tia Snyder, of Watts. They will each receive a one-time scholarship worth $2,000. Their high schools and communities selected these two students who demonstrated a strong desire to further their education. This scholarship was established in 2003 by the Virginia Phillips family and friends of the late Harold "Jiggs" Phillips, a former tribal council member of the Cherokee Nation’s Trail of Tears District, located in Adair County. Phillips was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and served 18 years on the Tribal Council. He retired from Westville High School after having served 30 years for the Westville School District as teacher, coach and principal.
Tia Snyder 
Recipients of the Omo Scholarship are Rachelle Dellinger, Sonny Hawk, Vanessa John, Amanda Little and Lana Turner. They will each receive $1,000 per year for up to four years. Ronald Omo of Billings, Montana, established the Omo Scholarship in 1998 for graduates of Sequoyah High School who are exemplary citizens. Omo is a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen and operates a successful business. He has provided financial support for many area scholars through his scholarship program, including 13 past graduates of Sequoyah who are still attending college with assistance provided by this generous program.
From L to R; Vanessa John,
Lana Turner, Sonny Hawk, Rachelle Dillinger, and Amanda Little recipients of the Omo Scholarship.
Recipients of the James Upton Memorial Scholarship are Heath Horawa, Christopher Smith, Vanessa John, David Stopp and Julie Petersen. They will each receive a one-time scholarship worth $500. All are graduates of Sequoyah High School and have demonstrated a strong desire to continue their education. The Distribution Contractors Association of Richardson, Texas and other friends and family of long-time Tahlequah resident, James R. Upton, established the Upton Memorial Scholarship in 2002. Upton was a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen, an attorney and retired executive of a national oil industry trade association headquartered in Tulsa.
From L to R; Chris Smith, Heath Horowa, David Stopp, and Julie Peterson recipients of the James Upton Memorial Scholarship. 
Jonathan Pallie, a 2004 graduate of Sequoyah High School, is also receiving the Martz Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 per year for four years. This scholarship was established in 2004 in memory of Donald Foreman Martz. Martz, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was a dedicated physicist and scientist."While in college, I want to major in engineering or something that will enable me to use my interest in invention and math," Pallie said when he received the scholarship. "Developing new things to help the economy and better human life on earth is what I want to do with my life."
Pallie has maintained a 4.0 grade point average during his first year of college at Northeastern State University.
"A major goal of the Cherokee Nation Education Corporation is to increase the number of higher education scholarships," said Shelley Butler-Allen, associate director of education services for the Cherokee Nation. "We know that well educated and talented Cherokees will continue to make important contributions to the Cherokee Nation."
The Cherokee Nation Education Corporation is a non-profit corporation chartered by tribal codes of the Cherokee Nation. Its mission is to promote educational opportunities for tribal members and to preserve the language, culture and history of Cherokee people.
For additional information on these scholarships or the Cherokee Nation Education Corporation, contact Margaret Peake Raymond, development director, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2420).
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |