Two Oklahoma high school seniors have been named Chancellor Hans Brisch Scholars for outstanding leadership, civic involvement and academic talent.
Jayke Flaggert, Choctaw High School, and Tyler Garcia, Wagoner High School, will each receive a $2,000 award through the Chancellor Hans Brisch Scholarship program.
The Chancellor’s Scholars Program was created in 1990 with private funds. The program was renamed in 2006 to honor Brisch, who served as chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education for 15 years. Brisch retired in 2003 and passed away in February 2006.
The 2019 Chancellor Hans Brisch Scholars were selected from nominations made by high school principals statewide.
“Chancellor Hans Brisch Scholars are students who distinguish themselves both academically and through community service, and these two students personify excellence in service and academic achievement,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “The State Regents congratulate them as they join an elite group of leaders who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others, and we wish them continued success as they pursue their college degrees.”
Flaggert has been involved in his community through participation in political campaigns as well as various service projects, such as volunteering with Hope Harbor, the Regional Food Bank and the City Rescue Mission. He also has served on several teen advisory boards, including Youth Services of Oklahoma, Infant Crisis Center, Payne Education Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Hope Retreat Ranch and the Martin Park Teen Board.
As subcommittee coordinator for the City of Choctaw Bonfire, he collaborated with city officials, contacted and scheduled food trucks and hosted 500 people for the community event. He also initiated and organized the Freshman Preview 2018, a program to assist incoming freshmen with the transition from middle school to high school.
Flaggert has received numerous awards and honors, including recognition as a Cameron University and State STEM Champion and as a delegate for Cameron University Nano Explorers, Oklahoma State University Operation Orange, OSU PLC Conclave, Oklahoma Boys State, Rose State College LEAD and the University of Oklahoma High School Leadership Conference. He is a member of the Youth Leadership Exchange, Cleats for Kids, Children’s Hospital Foundation, Student Board, Key Club and Student Council and was selected Sophomore of the Year by the Choctaw Kiwanis. He is a Ben Carson Scholar and an Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient. He is a member of the Academic Team and the National Honor Society and ranked first in his class. He will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend OU this fall.
Garcia volunteers with several local community organizations, including Muskogee County Court Appointed Special Advocates and Wagoner County Launch, and as a student mentor with CrissXCross, where he spends an hour each day with a kindergarten student, providing leadership, relationship building and assistance in the classroom. Garcia also initiated and implemented The Dawg Pound, a student-led spirit section. After suffering a traumatic brain injury following an ATV accident when he was 11, he worked through his own recovery and regularly volunteers with Post Up for ATV and Hunting Safety and assists with organizations focused on teaching helmet safety.
He was selected to represent Wagoner High School in Youth Leadership Wagoner County and at American Legion Boys State. Additionally, he was elected by his peers to the Boys’ State City Council. He is a senior leader on his high school wrestling team, where he is a state and national qualifier. He was selected to participate on Team Oklahoma, a selective group of competitive wrestlers chosen to represent Oklahoma in national competition.
Garcia is a member of the Student Council, the Oklahoma Association of School Councils, Mu Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society and the Superintendent’s Honor Roll. He was selected for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Rotary Student of the Month and Senior Class President. He will graduate with 20 college credit hours, ranks in the top 10% of his graduating class, and has a high school GPA of 4.3. He plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma.
Brisch Scholars are academically talented high school seniors with outstanding leadership ability and a commitment to the enhancement of their communities as demonstrated through their involvement in high school and/or community programs or projects that have resulted in an improvement of the learning environment of the school or the social betterment of the community.
In the 29 years since its inception, the Chancellor’s Scholars program has provided scholarships for more than 100 deserving students. Private gifts, including professional honoraria from the current and past chancellors, support the program, which honors not only Brisch but the office of the chancellor and all individuals who serve Oklahoma in that position.