Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Five Sequoyah High School (SHS) seniors recently received notification that they had earned the Gates Millennium Scholarship, an all-expense paid scholarship to the college of their choice for the next 10 years. Todd Crow, Jamie Loy, Ryan Doyeto, Laren Richards, and Deena Nez join numerous past Sequoyah graduates in being named Gates Millennium Scholars.

“I am so proud of these students,” said Karen Mullican, college prep class teacher. “When you see these students in class, in the hall, or at school events congratulate them on this accomplishment and for their representation of Sequoyah High School.”

The Gates Millennium Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to minority students who show outstanding academic achievements and leadership abilities. Thirteen Sequoyah High School seniors qualified to apply for the scholarship. Eight were chosen as semi-finalists and five were selected as Gates Millennium Scholars, tying the record for the most that Sequoyah has ever had in one year.

“I was so relieved that I didn’t have to worry about funding for my college education anymore,” said Loy. “I was just so happy, and my parents were happy and relieved as well.”

“A big reason for our success was the help we received from Ms. Mullican, the SHS college prep teacher and librarian,” Crow said. “She was constantly on our case about filling it (the application) out and getting everything turned in.”

Crow, Doyeto, and Loy plan to attend the University of Oklahoma this fall. Doyeto plans to major in architecture, Crow in English literature and cultural studies, and Loy in mass communications. Nez plans to enroll full-time at the University of New Mexico as an architecture major and Richards will attend Haskell Indian Nations University.

Past SHS graduates who have received the Gates Millennium Scholarship are Kendall Perry in 2002, Katreena Foreman in 2003, Kryste Benge, Walter Buffalomeat, Robert Conrad, Jayme Steeley, and Ashley Wilson in 2004, Melvin CallsHim, Rachelle Dellinger, Amanda Little and Lana Turner in 2005.

Sequoyah High School, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now, it is known as Sequoyah High School, named for Sequoyah, a scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation resumed the operation of SHS. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 9-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 300 high school students every year. From its humble beginning as a school with one building and 40 acres of land, SHS has grown into a modern institution covering more than 90 acres with a dozen major buildings nested on a beautiful campus five miles southwest of Tahlequah, Okla. For more information call 918-456-0631.

Sequoyah High School "Home of the Indians!" P.O. Box 520, Tahlequah, OK 74465             Sequoyah High School Alumni P.O. Box 187, Park Hill, OK 74451-0187 Sequoyah High School, an Indian boarding school, originated in 1871, when the Cherokee National Council passed an act setting up an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans that came out of the Civil War. Sequoyah High School's approximate 300 enrollment represents 42 tribes and 14 different states. Students are eligible to attend if they are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or one-fourth blood descendants of such members.