"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah Schools “Cool School” of the Week

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students located near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of children orphaned by the Civil War. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 high school students every year.Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students located near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of children orphaned by the Civil War. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 high school students every year.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Sequoyah Schools has been selected as KTUL News Channel 8’s “Cool School” of the week for the week of October 15-19. Each day, Monday through Friday, a different Sequoyah Schools student will be featured on their morning show and the station will broadcast their Touchdown Friday Night show live from the Sequoyah Schools football game on Thursday, October 18 at 10 p.m. The morning show segments were pre-recorded with KTUL anchor Keith Taylor.

“The interview was nerve-racking, and exciting, because we are going to be on TV,” said Lorin Hammer.

“It felt really good knowing that I was one of the few students selected to represent Sequoyah,” said Tes Hardison. “Cheerleading is a huge part of my life and it made me proud to represent my school as a cheerleader.”

Students that will be featured are Hardison, Nathan Stanley, Jessica Williams, Hammer and Trey Francis. Each student was selected to represent a different aspect of student life at Sequoyah and will tell their personal story of their experiences as students at Sequoyah Schools and talk about what their futures may bring.

“These students are great representatives of Sequoyah Schools,” said Gina Stanley, Sequoyah superintendent. “Each one has a very unique story to tell about what they have accomplished here. They are a very well-rounded group.”

Hardison is a cheerleader who rebounded from a career-ending injury to become an All-American and earn the chance to perform in front of thousands at a national college football bowl game. Stanley is the number one quarterback recruit in the state and has been selected as an All-American and will play in the Offense/Defense All-American game on January 4 in Miami, Florida. Williams is concurrently enrolled in classes at both Sequoyah and Northeastern State University while winning a NAMMY award with the Cherokee National Youth Choir. Hammer is a three-year starter on the Sequoyah girls’ basketball team that has earned three straight state championships and an invitation to the Nike Tournament of Champions basketball tournament in Phoenix, Arizona in December. Francis has earned a conditional cadetship to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and has already completed a summer training program with the military.

“It’s a big privilege to be selected to represent our school, out of 400 students that we have here,” Hammer said. “There are a lot of girls that could have been chosen to talk about girls’ basketball. I’m honored that it was me.”

The Sequoyah segments will air at 5:20 a.m. and again at 6:20 a.m. on KTUL. The Friday night show will air on Thursday this week due to the fact that fall break is October 18 and 19 and most schools have scheduled their football games on Thursday.