♪♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE TRIBUTE TO OUR 2020 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS.

I'M SCOTT THOMPSON, A FOUNDATION TRUSTEE, AND I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM HONORING 100 GIFTED HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND 5 INNOVATIVE EDUCATORS FROM OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SINCE 1987, THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE HAS HONORED ITS ALL-STATERS AND EDUCATORS IN A GALA AWARDS BANQUET BROADCAST STATEWIDE.

WHILE WE CANNOT GATHER IN PERSON THIS YEAR, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO OETA FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO ARE AN INSPIRATION FOR US ALL.

AND WE BEGIN WITH OUR ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS WHO WERE SELECTED THROUGH OKLAHOMA'S MOST RIGOROUS ACADEMIC COMPETITION BASED ON SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

AN IMPORTANT TRADITION OF OUR AWARDS BANQUET IS THE ALLSTATE PROCESSION IN THIS STUDENTS MARCH TO THE STAGE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND HONORED TEACHER GUESTS.

THIS YEAR WE INVITED OUR ALL-STATERS TO CREATE A VIRTUAL PROCESSION USING CELL PHONE VIDEOS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND SPECIAL TEACHERS WHO HAVE HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.

IT'S MY HONOR, THEN, TO INTRODUCE THE BEST OF THE BEST, THE ACADEMIC ALLSTATE CLASS OF 2020.

>> MY NAME IS ADEN FROM BIXBY HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS MISS THOMPSON, WHO TAUGHT ME IN FRESHMAN ENGLISH.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISJULIE BARRETT, MY HISTORY TEACHER.

>> HI, MY NAME IS DUSTIN.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS MISS JOY EDWARDS.

>> I'M FROM FORT DICKINSON HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

CASSANDRA EDWARDS.

SHE TEACHES 18 WORLD HISTORY, 18 LITERATURE AND WORLD LITERATURE.

>> I'M EMILY IS FROM WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS MY BAND DIRECTOR, MR.

JORDAN FORREST OF.

>> I'M AVA SWENSON.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS MR.

GRIFFITH, MY A.P.

UNITED STATES HISTORY TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS CARSON AND I'M FROM TURPIN HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER, RANDY JONES.

>> HELLO, I'M TRAVIS FROM WEST MOORE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS TREVINO, MY HISTORY TEACHER IN MY SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR YEAR.

>> I'M AVA FROM CASH HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

THOMAS ADAMS AND HE IS MY A.P.

CALCULUS TEACHER.

>> HI, MY NAME IS ANNA McMULLEN AND I'M FROM CRAVEN HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

PETERSON, MY JUNIOR YEAR A.P.

CALCULUS TEACHER AND ONE OF MY GREATEST SUPPORTERS.

THANK YOU.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

BIOLOGICAL LEN, MY ENGLISH TEACHER OF.

>> I'M SARA FROM CLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY JUNIOR YEAR A.P.

ENGLISH TEACHER MISS CRYSTAL CLEBURNE.

>> I'M FROM NORMMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS KINCAID, WHO HAS BEEN MY TEACHER FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, MY NAME IS JULIE AND I'M FROM DEER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS MISS KATIE DONAHUE, MY UNITED STATES HISTORY TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS JARED.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS BRIAN COX, MY CALCULUS TEACHER.

HE'S ALSO MY DAD.

>> MY NAME IS HAYDEN.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

KERI ANDERSON, MY STUDENT COUNCIL ADVISORY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> MY NAME IS KAYLA AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

JOHN FRENCH, WHO TEACHERS CALCULUS.

>> MY NAME IS KURT FROM CUSHING HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I'M ERIC WANG FROM McAURTHUR HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

BIGBY, MY ENGLISH TEACHER AND THE BEST I COULD ASK FOR.

>> I'M KATIE TURNER FROM WALTER HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

AMOR, MY CALCULUS 3 TEACHER.

>> I'M CONOR WALKER FROM OMEGA HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER, MRS.

KERI BERGER.

>> I'M LAUREN SMITH FROM EVANS SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS LAURA FAUCI.

SHE WAS ONE OF MY JUNIOR ENGLISH TEACHERS.

>> I'M EMILY FROM BRECKENRIDGEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS HUDSON HASKINS.

I GO TO BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO LEARN UNDER THE WONDERFUL MISS BRIANNE JOHNSON FOR A.P.

LITERATURE, ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE.

>> MY NAME IS GAYLE.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS GARY, WHO HAS BEEN MY SCIENCE TEACHER FOR ALL FOUR YEARS OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

>> HI, MY NAME IS JOHN WAGNER FROM BIXBY HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

GERALD DAVENPORT, MY OUTSTANDING PHYSICS TEACHER, WHO TAUGHT ME TO RAISE MY EXPECTATIONS AND PUSH MYSELF HARDER THAN I EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

>> MY NAME IS KEITH FROM HENRY HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY ALGEBRA ONE TEACHER, MR.

GRAPHMAN.

>> ANAHEIM TARA FROM BIXBY HAS EXPHS MY HONORED TEACHER IS THE WONDERFUL MRS.

MICHELLE, WHO WAS MY ENGINEERING TEACHER FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR.

>> MY NAME IS DANIEL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS BECKY ROBINSON, MY BAND AND MUSIC TEACHER.

>> I'M HOPE FROM ELGIN, OKLAHOMA AND MY HONORED TEACHER IS MY STUDENT COUNCIL SPONSOR, MISS CRYSTAL CUNNINGHAM.

>> MY NAME IS KEVIN.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MEEKER, WHO IS MY SPEECH AND DEBATE COACH.

>> HELLO, I'M SAM FROM NORMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

WARREN, MY PHYSICS TEACHER.

HE'S TAUGHT ME FOR TWO YEARS.

>> I'M BRIAN FROM CHALK SAW HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS A.P.

TEACHER ANGIE.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY PHYSICS TEACHER, MR.

WARREN.

>> I'M FROM NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER, MRS.

DOODLE.

>> HI, I'M LINDA'S FROM NORMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS AMY LAWSON, MY A.P.

ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M CAROL FROM NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

PREWITT, 6TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS SOPHIE AND I'M FROM KREMLIN HILLS.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

ROGER GOOD SON, MY MATH TEACHER AND ACADEMIC COACH.

>> MY NAME IS NATHAN FROM COOKER HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MARK DAVID, A.P.

PHYSICS TEACHER.

>> HI, I'M TYSON VERNON FROM ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS JESSICA ROBINSON, MY A.P.

GOVERNMENT TEACHER.

>> I'M CAYLINNE FROM MORRISON HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY A.P.

ENGLISH TEACHER AND NATIONAL HISTORY DAY ADVISER, MISS SANDERS.

>> I'M JAYDEN FROM SHADOW DOCK HIGH SCHOOL.

OLUMIDE HONOR TEACHER IS CHRIS KELLEN, MY AG TEACHER AND F.F.A.

ADVISER.

>> I'M TIMEKA WONG.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

LARRY HASKELL.

>> HI, MY NAME IS SHELBEY JONES AND I AM A STUDENT AT SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL.

JAMIE COACH.

>> I'M HARRISON FROM KINGFISHER HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

JANET, MY A.P.

CALCULUS TEACHER.

>> I'M DEMETRI BRADFORD FROM CLAWSON NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS RACHEL THOMPSON FOR HER DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.

>> I'M LYDIA ENGLAND FROM HOME CHARTER ACADEMY AND MY HONORED TEACHER IS PROFESSOR ROD AKMAN.

>> MY NAME IS MARGARET MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

GRIFFITH, ENGLISH TEACHER.

I WAS AN AIDE FOR HER.

>> I'M NICOLAS FROM WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONORED TEACHER IS BONNIE WOODS.

>> I'M VIVIAN TAYLOR.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISNEWTON, MY MATH TEACHER.

>> I'M HAYDEN WILLIAMS.

MY HONORARY TEACHER IS MY A.P.

PHYSICS TEACHER, MRS.

SUELLEN FURK.

>> I'M MADISON STEVENS FROM WEATHERFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS STACY CUMMINS, MY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL DRAPER FROM ADA HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

BRIGHTON, WHO WAS MY A.P.

LITERATURE TEACHER AS WELL AS MY EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER AND FRESHMAN STUDENT COUNCIL ADVISER.

>> I'M TOBIEIAS JOHNSON FROM IMMEDIATE MONT HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS ALISSA LITERATURE TEACHER AND PRECAULK TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS LAUREN AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY A.P.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER.

>> I'M MADISON AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS BRET FRANK, WHO HAS BEEN MY ACADEMIC COACH FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.

>> HI, MY NAME IS CORN WALLS AND MY HONORED TEACHER ARE ENRICHED PARTIES AND MRS.

KATHY JOCELYN.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS SAMUEL DUSTER, MY A.P.

TEACHER.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

ALICIA WINTERS, WHO WAS MY EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS KERA AND I'M FROM NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL.

HIGH HONOR TEACHER IS MY FILM, YEAR BOOK AND ENGLISH TEACHER, MR.

KERRY FREESEN.

>> I'M A SENIOR AT BETHANY HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS PAUL WAYNE BAKER, MY SPEECH AND DEBATE COACH AS WELL AS SITH GRADE HONORS MATH TEACHER.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS BECKY LAWIVELER.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY A.P.

LITERATURE TEACHER, MRS.

JEN WARD.

>> I'M XENA FROM EDISON HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

RACHEL, AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL.

>> I'M IAN McINTYRE FROM DUNCAN HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

MATT HARRIS, MY A.P.

WORLD HISTORY TEACHER.

>> I'M DANIEL FROM STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MISS HOPE SHEPHERD, WHO IS MY TENTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER AND NATIONAL HONOR ASSOCIATE AT MY HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I'M AUSTIN PADDOCK.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

HAT MRS.

HATFIELD.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS KELLY HOWARD, ENGLISH TEACHER FROM SOPHOMORE TO SENIOR YEAR.

>> I'M CINDY LEE AND I'M FROM THE OKLAHOMA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS.

MY HONOR TEACHERS ARE PROFESSOR SCOTT WILKINS, MY AMERICAN LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION TEACHER, AND DR.

KELLY CHAPMAN, MY TEACHER AND ADVISER.

>> I'M AMANDA AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY DEBRIS ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR, AMY CLARITY.

>> I'M COLEMAN BLACKMAN.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

MULLEN, MY A.P.

TEACHER FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

>> I'M CHRISTOPHER.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY A.P.

CALCULUS TEACHER.

>> MY NAME IS JACKSON AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

DEBRA GILL, MY A.P.

ENGLISH LITERATURE TEACHER.

>> I'M DISIRS RICKETTE AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS DR.

KATHY KNOWLES.

SHE IS MY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

>> HI, I'M FROM MOORE HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

ISHMAEL KISSINGER.

HE'S BEEN MY DEBATE COACH AND ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

>> HI, MY NAME IS CAESAR AND I'M FROM EDMUND SANFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

WILLIAMS.

>> HI, IT'S VANESSA CASSIDY FROM DUNCAN HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

SANDRA, MY A.P.

ENGLISH TEACHER.

>> I'M MADISON FROM MEEKER HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

AMANDASAURS, MY EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER, BIOLOGY TEACHER AND ACADEMIC TEAM COACH.

>> I'M NOAH HIGHTOWER FROM WATONGA.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MRS.

CHRISTIE FOR ENGLISH ONE AND TWO, SPANISH ONE AND TWO AND SHE IS MY JU-CO SPONSOR.

>> MY NAME IS GABRIEL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MR.

CHARLES HILL, MY FORMER ACADEMIC COACH AND SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.

>> I'M LUKE HAMILTON FROM PAULS VALLEY, HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONOR TEACHER IS MY TRIG TEACHER, MR.

BRENTLY.

>> MY HONOR TEACHER IS TRISHA, MY DIRECTOR.

>> I'M KHOLETON FROM PLANE VIEWLESS.

MRS.

WALL SALAS BOTH MY A.P.

CALCULUS TEACHER AND ALSO MY ACADEMIC TEAM COACH.

>> I'M MICHAEL FROM.

>> I'M LANDON FROM MIDWEST CITY HIGH SCHOOL AND MY HONORED TEACHER IS MY BAND DIRECTOR, JOHN DAVID.

>> I'M KEVIN FROM EDMUND MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.

MY TEACHER CAUGHT ME PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING FOR THREE YEARS.

>> >> I'M FROM NORMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS BRANDON DICKERSON AND HE WAS MY ENGINEERING AND PHYSICS TEACHER AT TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

>> MY NAME IS KYLIE FROM CALICO HIGH SCHOOL.

MY HONORED TEACHER IS ANDREA, MY HEALTH CAREERS TEACHER.

>> WE ALSO SALUTE THESE ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS.

KEEGAN MOUSE OF UNION HIGH SCHOOL IN TULSA, CHRISTINE DOUGH OF BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL IN TULSA, KEEGAN FIERY OF BERRYHILL HIGH SCHOOL IN TULSA COUNTY, NATHAN IAMS OF BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL IN TULSA, HELEN DODD FROM STILLWATER, BO ROBBINS OF GUTHRIE HIGH SCHOOL, RONAN LOCKER OF OWASA HIGH SCHOOL, MARK MILLS OF JENKS HIGH SCHOOL, MICHAEL LUSA OF BROKEN ARROW HIGH SCHOOL, McKAYLA REED OF ALPHA HIGH SCHOOL, PACE MIDDLE STAFF OF AMBER CASSETTE HIGH SCHOOL, AND ERIN VILLANOVA OF MIDDLE COLLEGE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OKLAHOMA'S 2020 ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS.

THEY'LL BE INVITED TO ATTEND NEXT YEAR'S BANQUET AS SPECIAL GUESTS OF OUR FOUNDATION.

TODAY, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE FIVE REMARKABLE TEACHERS.

THE HONOREES SELECTED FOR THEIR CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND PROFOUND IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING, FOR 5,000-DOLLAR CASH AWARDS.

RECEIVING THE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY TEACHING IS MICHELLE RAHN, A S.T.E.M.

TEACHER.

MICHELLE ENCOURAGES HER STUDENTS TO BECOME YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.

RECEIVING THE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SECONDARY TEACHING IS SHELLEY SELF, AN ART TEACHER AT COWETA HIGH SCHOOL.

THE TEAM CREATED DECORATIONS FOR TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.

RECOGNIZED AS THE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE WINNER IN SECONDARY ADMINISTRATION IS CHUCK McCAULEY, SUPERINTENDENT OF BARTLESVILLE.

THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP, THE DISTRICT PASSED TWO HISTORIC BOND ISSUES, BOOSTED TEACHER MORALE AND EXPANDED PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS.

AT THE REGIONAL UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL, THE FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES DR.

DAVID BASS, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

DR.

BASS'S JOY OF DISCOVERY AND PASSION FOR HIS SUBJECTS ARE SO CONTAGIOUS THAT MANY STUDENTS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MAJOR TO BIOLOGICAL AFTER TAKING HIS COURSES.

AND RECEIVING THE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITY TEACHING IS DR.

ED DR.

EDRALIN LUCAS, PROFESSOR OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

HIS NUTRITION LESSONS HELPED STUDENTS AND OTHERS LIVE LONGER LIVES.

THEY'LL BE RECOGNIZED AS OUR 2021 MEDAL WILKERSON AT NEXT YEAR'S AWARDS BANQUET IN TULSA.

ALSO JOINING US WILL BE EDUCATION ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR ERIN GRWELL, WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO BE THE SPEAKER.

SHE AND HER STUDENTS ARE CO-AUTHORS OF THE FREEDOM WRITERS DIARY WHICH INSPIRED A FEATURE FILM STARRING ACADEMY AWARD WINNER HILLARY SWANK.

>> HI, MY NAME IS ERIN GREW WELL WITH THE FREEDOM TWRIERS AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ALL OF YOU ALL-STATERS AND MEDAL WINNING EDUCATORS.

AS THIS PANDEMIC PERSISTS, I'M SO SAD THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO JOIN YOU IN YOUR ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET IN AMERICAN, BUT NEVER FEAR, I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, I WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU.

I WANT TO CELEBRATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR HUMBLE SERVICE, YOUR GLOBAL CITIZENRY AND YOUR ABILITY TO BE LIGHT DURING THIS DARK TIME.

I WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR PASSION AND YOUR PURPOSE TO BE THAT LEADER, TO BE THAT EDUCATORS, TO BE THE LIGHT.

TELL THEM I CAN'T WAIT TO JOIN YOU NEXT YEAR AT YOUR BANQUET.

BE SAFE, BE WELL, BE HEALTHY, AND REMAIN HELPFUL.

ONE OF MY GREATEST JOIST JOYS AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE BANQUET TO HELP HONOR OUR STATE'S ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS AND MEDAL WINNING EDUCATORS.

ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T CELEBRATE IN PERSON TONIGHT, KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA ARE PROUD OF YOUR LEADERSHIP IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATING ALL-STATERS WHOSE FINAL SEMESTER DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED.

YOU MAKE US PROUD AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE THE FUTURE WILL TAKE YOU.

>> HEY, EVERYBODY, THIS IS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MATT TAN KNELL.

I'M EXCITED TO JOIN MY FELLOW OKLAHOMAANS IN CONGRATULATING OUR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS.

THE 100 STUDENTS SELECTED AS ALL-STATERS REPRESENT THE TOP 1% OF OUR STATE'S PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

THE FIVE HONORED EDUCATORS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CREATIVITY AND IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING ARE OUR TRUE HEROES AND ROLE MODELS IN OUR STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TO ALL THE HONOREES, YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN YOUR COMMUNITIES ARE TRULY REMARKABLE AND AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OKLAHOMAANS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE STATES OF OKLAHOMA, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THIS YEAR'S ACADEMIC ALL-STATERS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS 100 OF THE TOP PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN OUR STATE BASED ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

I ALSO WANT TO SALUTE THE FIVE MEDAL OF EXCELLENT WINNING EDUCATORS WHO ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR INNOVATION AND IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM.

YOU ARE ROLE MODELS IN YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND INSPIRE US ALL TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE.

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THESE DIGNITARIES IN CELEBRATING THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR ALL-STATERS AND MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS.

INSPIRED BY THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDER, DAVID BOREN, THE FOUNDATION HAS BUILT A LEGACY RECOGNIZING AND ENCOURAGING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SINCE 1987, OUR ACADEMIC AWARDS PROGRAM HAS BESTOWED NEARLY $5 MILLION IN ACADEMIC AWARDS IN SCHOLARSHIPS, BUT THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

OUR FOUNDATION IS TRAINING AND INSPIRING TEACHERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCES IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELDS.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE FUND FOR TEACHERS AND A NEW TRIBAL ALLIANCE TO AWARD FELLOWSHIPS OR SELF-DESIGNED SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

THROUGH OUR NEW TEACHERS OF ENGLISH LEARNERS PILOT PROJECT, THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN LEARNING FROM NEARLY 60,000 OKLAHOMA STUDENTS WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.

WE WORK TOGETHER WITH COLONIAL WILLIAMSBERG TO BRING AMERICAN HISTORY TO LIFE AND PREPARE TOMORROW'S CITIZENS.

WE AWARD FELLOWSHIPS FOR TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE TEACHER INSTITUTE, CO-SPONSOR COLONIAL DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR OKLAHOMA FIFTH GRADERS.

OUR STATEWIDE MENTORING INITIATIVE PROMOTES THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTS OF QUALITY YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS, HONORS OUTSTANDING MENTORS WHO ARE HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

THROUGH OUR OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOUNDATIONINGS NETWORK, WE OFFER TRAINING, NETWORKING AND RESOURCES TO MORE THAN 200 SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS, BUILDING GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA.

THE OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE HAS REMAINED TRUE TO ITS FOUNDING PRINCIPLES.

WE BELIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS SHOULD BE VALUED AND CELEBRATED.

WE BELIEVE TEACHERS DESERVE RESPECT AND SUPPORT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE BELIEVE THE GREATEST INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IS TO SUPPORT QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AS WE CLOSE OUR PROGRAM, IT'S OUR TRADITION TO END THE ACADEMIC AWARDS BANQUET BY INVITING OUR ALL-STATERS TO THE STAGE TO SING OUR STATE SONG, OKLAHOMA, ACCOMPANIED BY THE OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA.

TODAY, WE MAY BE SEPARATED BY THE MILES, SAFELY SOCIAL SOCIAL DISTANCING IN OUR HOMES, BUT WE'RE TOGETHER IN SPIRIT AND PRIDE AS WE CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE GREAT PROMISE OF OUR HONOREES, SO WHY DON'T YOU JOIN NEWS CELEBRATING OKLAHOMA'S OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADERS AND EDUCATORS.

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