Five Oklahoma high school seniors have been named Chancellor Hans Brisch Scholars for outstanding leadership, civic involvement and academic talent.
Caroline Caldwell, Oklahoma Bible Academy, Jadyn Dykstra, Waukomis High School, Brooklyn Matlock, Cyril High School, Katelyn Myers, Lomega High School, and Addison Rice, Norman 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.
Caldwell, Dykstra, Matlock, Myers and Rice were selected from nominations made by high school principals statewide.
“We are proud of these gifted Oklahoma student leaders who place a high value on academic success and service to others,” said Chancellor Sean Burrage. “We wish them continued success as they pursue college degrees to achieve their personal goals.”
Caldwell ranked among the top of her class and is a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a two-time state qualifier in extracurricular activities, demonstrating her ability to excel both academically and outside the classroom. In her capacity as the leader of Students Performing Unselfish Deeds (SPUD), Caldwell oversaw monthly fundraising initiatives and planned the school’s yearly SPUD Week, which helps a local family in need. She oversaw school-wide activities, auctions, and sponsorships, encouraging community support and student participation. As a leader in Leap for Joy, Caldwell organized donation drives that gathered more than 60,000 necessities for new parents.
Caldwell helped with literacy and crafts at Adams Elementary; volunteered at Greenbrier Village Nursing Home; took part in Vacation Bible Schools, guiding youth through daily activities; and volunteered at the Night to Unite prom for people with mental disabilities. She has continuously assumed leadership positions in school-related and volunteer endeavors, motivating peers with her dedication and drive. Caldwell intends to continue her academic and service endeavors at the University of Oklahoma.
Dykstra maintained excellent academic standing, placed first in her class, and earned college credit by concurrently enrolling at Northern Oklahoma College. Dykstra has been actively involved in community and school service. She oversaw the upkeep of the town’s welcome signs, organized teacher appreciation events, and assisted in setting up food and clothing drives through Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She was instrumental in organizing the Waukomis Special Needs Livestock Show, helped at a Christian youth camp called Enter His Gates, and volunteered to help vets prepare vaccines and assisted pet owners during the Enid Rabies Vaccination Clinic.
She was a leader in several groups, such as the Waukomis Chief Band, FCCLA, and FFA. She led the band through daily practice and competitions as drum major and conducted performances. In her capacity as President of the FFA Chapter, she oversaw chapter operations and spoke on behalf of the group in public. Dykstra plans to continue her education at Oklahoma State University.
Matlock earned 45 hours of concurrent college credit and finished her senior year as the top student in her class. She belongs to the Oklahoma and Cyril Honor Societies and is an Oklahoma Academic Scholar. She held the positions of senior class president, Honor Society secretary, FFA chapter president, Caddo County 4-H Vice President, and Student Council President during her high school years. On two separate occasions, she was chosen to attend national leadership seminars in Washington, D.C.
Matlock has been involved in community and school service. She oversaw shirt design, orders, and event preparation for a Pink-Out fundraiser and football game that earned $1,500 for a local family impacted by cancer. She organized a simulated presidential election to encourage civic engagement, led a voter registration campaign for eligible pupils, and presented to the entire school on the history of voting rights. She worked with younger colleagues to prepare for agricultural competitions and frequently taught elementary school kids “Ag in the Classroom” sessions, and she volunteered at the Caddo County Free Fair. Matlock plans to continue her education and leadership development at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Myers was a member of the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies and finished high school as valedictorian with 27 hours of concurrent college credit. Her academic accomplishments include being named “Student of the Year” in almost all key subjects and winning first place in the SWOSU Interscholastic U.S. History competition. Myers has served in a variety of leadership roles, such as president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, vice president of the Student Council, and president of the FFA chapter. She won numerous state medals in track and cross country and helped lead the basketball team to a state championship while serving as captain of the track, cross country, and basketball teams.
Myers is also very involved in community service. She is CEO and co-founder of Beef for the Bank, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has donated over 3,500 pounds of beef—more than 14,000 meals—to food-insecure families. In addition, she works with Meals on Wheels, volunteers at the Kingfisher County Compassion Health Clinic, and has participated in mission trips to Ecuador, where she assisted with children’s ministries and built homes. She also participated for years in the Lions Club, local Vacation Bible School and Operation Christmas Child. Myers also served as a Youth Ambassador for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives and regularly advocates for rural issues in her role with Cimarron Electric. She intends to study nutrition at Oklahoma State University with the goal of becoming a physician assistant.
Rice finished high school with the top spot in a class of around 500 students. She earned 13 college credit hours in Spanish, completed several advanced placement and concurrent courses, and was awarded the Oklahoma Seal of Biliteracy. As a weekly “buddy” to a first-grade student with special needs in her church’s children’s ministry, Rice helped foster an inclusive atmosphere for involvement. She supported employment training options for people with disabilities through a multi-year service collaboration with the nonprofit organization, Not Your Average Joe.
Rice volunteered at many school and community activities, played piano at nearby hospitals and senior homes, coordinated food and clothing drives, translated for Spanish-speaking families at the Norman Christmas Store, and taught Spanish to fifth graders once a week. She was chair her senior year and vice chair her junior year for Norman High’s student-led philanthropy season, TigerPalooza. Under her direction, students gathered money for nearby organizations like The Salvation Army and SunHive Collective. She was also a leader in the young ministry team at her church, a senior senator on the Student Council, and secretary of the Rotary Interact Club. Rice will continue her dedication to leadership, education, and service at the University of Oklahoma.
Brisch Scholars are academically talented high school seniors with outstanding leadership ability who demonstrate a commitment to improving the learning environment of the school or positively impacting the community. In the 34 years since its inception, the Chancellor’s Scholars program has provided scholarships for more than 110 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.