February 2025 - Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has named 100 public high school seniors from across Oklahoma as Academic All-State honorees for 2025.

The All-State class features students from 67 schools in 62 school districts. Each All-Stater will receive a $1,500 award, an honor cord and a medallion.

OFE will honor the Academic All-State class at the 2025 Academic Awards Celebration on Saturday, May 10, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Registration for the event is open at OFE.org; admission costs $75.

The foundation encourages honorees to invite a teacher who has strongly impacted their academic success. OFE will recognize these educators alongside their students during the ceremony.

“These 100 students serve as a powerful example of academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools,” OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody said. “By celebrating the All-State class and their educators, we reinforce the importance of public education in Oklahoma.”

Since the program launched in 1987, OFE has recognized 3,901 Academic All-State students from 342 school districts.

Six schools — the most since 2012 — are celebrating their first All-Stater this year: Alex High School, Dove Science Academy of Oklahoma City, Epic Charter Schools, Colcord High School, Fort Supply High School and Kiefer High School.

To be eligible to apply, students must meet one of three criteria: an ACT composite score of at least 30; a combined SAT evidence-based reading & writing and math score of at least 1370; or be selected as a National Merit Semifinalist.

The selection committee evaluates applicants through a rigorous process based on academic achievement, leadership and community service, as well as letters of recommendation and an essay. Retired educator Jan McClaren chairs the committee, which is made up of a diverse group of business, education and civic leaders along with past honorees. The committee works independently of other foundation activities.

The 2025 All-Staters scored an average of 33 on the ACT, with 12 scoring a perfect score of 36. Their average weighted GPA is 4.36, and 34 are National Merit Semifinalists.

Founded in 1985, OFE is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. Through its flagship Academic Awards Program, the foundation presents $175,000 annually to honor outstanding public school students and educators.

2025 Academic All-State Scholars

Name	School District	High School	Hometown
Abigail Pettijohn	Alex	Alex High School	Blanchard
Abigail Reyna	Altus	Altus High School	Altus
Luke Huck	Bartlesville	Bartlesville High School	Bartlesville
Sam Hungerford	Bethany	Bethany High School	Warr Acres
Hahyeon Kim	Bixby	Bixby High School	Jenks
Kyle Steward	Bixby	Bixby High School	Bixby
Ganesh Gandhi	Byng	Byng High School	Ada
Paige Kreis	Byng	Byng High School	Ada
Nour Soulane	Charter	Dove Science Academy	Yukon
Audrey Bewley	Charter	Epic Charter Schools	Oklahoma City
Landon Tidwell	Charter	Santa Fe South Pathways Middle College	Oklahoma City
Tavi Holland	Cheyenne	Cheyenne High School	Cheyenne
Cashen Shire	Chisholm	Chisholm High School	Enid
Sarah Tran	Choctaw-Nicoma Park	Choctaw High School	Midwest City
Max Whitlock	Choctaw-Nicoma Park	Choctaw High School	Choctaw
Campbell Crum	Claremore	Claremore High School	Claremore
Vince Minard	Colcord	Colcord High School	Colcord
Matthew Sharp	Dale	Dale High School	Shawnee
Edward Ma	Deer Creek	Deer Creek High School	Edmond
Dhathri Puttheti	Deer Creek	Deer Creek High School	Edmond
Skanda Kabilan Swamy	Deer Creek	Deer Creek High School	Edmond
Ava Miller	Duncan	Duncan High School	Duncan
Kyler McCormack	Edmond	Edmond Memorial High School	Edmond
Olivia Romanson	Edmond	Edmond Memorial High School	Edmond
Thansi Garikipati	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Delaney Grubbs	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Preston Koloen	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Angela Dong	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Sophie Johnson	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Leah Smith*	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Maxwell Xie	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Kinzley Lebeda	Enid	Enid High School	Enid
Paisley Kelso	Fort Supply	Fort Supply High School	Woodward
Brecklynn Carnes	Grove	Grove High School	Grove
Joseph Wang	Grove	Grove High School	Grove
Jacob Ellis Burchard	Guymon	Guymon High School	Guymon
William Anderson	Harrah	Harrah High School	Harrah
Chloe Clements	Idabel	Idabel High School	Valliant
Eva Mahajan	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Lauren Marnell	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Harini Senthil	Jenks	Jenks High School	Jenks
Emily Seo*	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Mustafa Siddiqui	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Isla Walker	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Alexa Schwabe	Kansas	Kansas High School	Kansas
Hollie Murrell	Kiefer	Kiefer High School	Sapulpa
Aidan LaBonte	Lawton	Eisenhower High School	Lawton
Dylan Helvey	Lawton	MacArthur High School	Lawton
Elizabeth Stewart	Lawton	MacArthur High School	Fort Sill
Anna Dostal	Mannford	Mannford High School	Jennings
Trace Ribble	Marlow	Marlow High School	Duncan
Kamden Hutchison	McAlester	McAlester High School	McAlester
Achinth Ilamurughu	Moore	Moore High School	Moore
Elena Phan	Moore	Moore High School	Oklahoma City
Andy Le	Moore	Southmoore High School	Oklahoma City
Houston Le	Moore	Southmoore High School	Moore
Callen Veit	Morrison	Morrison High School	Stillwater
Darick Pham	Mustang	Mustang High School	Yukon
Hannah Doss	Navajo	Navajo High School	Altus
Sullivan Ho	Norman	Norman High School	Norman
Lucy Kershen	Norman	Norman High School	Norman
Patrick Thai	Norman	Norman High School	Oklahoma City
Owen Eshelman*	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Ethan Li	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Connor Simms	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Liz Swindell*	North Rock Creek	North Rock Creek High School	Meeker
Carina Chen*	Oklahoma City	Classen SAS at Northeast	Oklahoma City
Aashna Paul	Oklahoma City	Classen SAS at Northeast	Oklahoma City
Sabrina Smith	Oklahoma City	Classen SAS at Northeast	Oklahoma City
Rojina Adhikari	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Broken Arrow
Jonathan Hidalgo Rodriguez	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Enid
Mia Amarachi Osita	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Midwest City
Krishen Raju	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Edmond
Cooper Puckett	Oologah-Talala	Oologah-Talala High School	Oologah
Abram Smith	Owasso	Owasso High School	Owasso
Riley Styers	Plainview	Plainview High School	Ardmore
Luke Culwell	Poteau	Poteau High School	Wister
Ryleigh Hill	Pryor	Pryor High School	Pryor
Sadie Ratzlaff*	Ringwood	Ringwood High School	Meno
Emma Gunn	Rush Springs	Rush Springs High School	Marlow
Addison Vance	Salina	Salina High School	Pryor/Salina
Rylee Meece	Sallisaw	Sallisaw High School	Sallisaw
Reese Wood	Sand Springs	Charles Page High School	Sand Springs
Jensen Dean	Seminole	Seminole High School	Seminole
Seojoon Kim	Stillwater	Stillwater High School	Stillwater
Matthew Li	Stillwater	Stillwater High School	Stillwater
Samuel Patterson	Stilwell	Stilwell High School	Stilwell
Nash Williamson	Sulphur	Sulphur High School	Sulphur
Jalee Meyers	Tecumseh	Tecumseh High School	Shawnee
Kathryn Davison	Texhoma	Texhoma High School	Texhoma
Isha Aryal	Tulsa	Booker T. Washington High School	Tulsa
Erina Katoh	Tulsa	Booker T. Washington High School	Tulsa
Jack Whitney	Tulsa	Booker T. Washington High School	Tulsa
Paul Young	Tuttle	Tuttle High School	Tuttle
Cannon Gray*	Verdigris	Verdigris High School	Claremore
Morgan Johnson	Wagoner	Wagoner High School	Wagoner
Karlee Glover	Warner	Warner High School	Checotah
Alyssa Foust	Weatherford	Weatherford High School	Weatherford
Parker Shields	Weatherford	Weatherford High School	Weatherford
Cheyenne Semmel	Woodward	Woodward High School	Woodward

*Indicates the All-State scholar is the family member of a past honoree.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is deeply saddened by the passing of its founder, David L. Boren, who provided visionary leadership in championing public education by recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Oklahoma public schools.

In 1985, while serving as a U.S. senator, Boren brought together a group of business and community leaders with a shared goal to strengthen and support public education across the state. From those discussions, the foundation was formed, along with the vision for its flagship Academic Awards Program, which continues to recognize and celebrate outstanding students and educators.

“David Boren had a remarkable and lasting impact on public education in Oklahoma,” said OFE Board President Lee Ann DeArman. “His passion for academic excellence and his belief in the power of education to change lives laid the foundation for everything we do today. On behalf of our board of trustees and the entire OFE community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Since its founding, OFE has tremendously impacted the Oklahoma public education community. The foundation and its partners have invested more than $13.4 million in grants and awards directly benefiting Oklahoma public school teachers and students. The foundation has honored 3,901 students as Academic All-Staters and 188 educators and programs as Medal for Excellence recipients.

Beyond its awards and recognition programs, OFE has helped build one of the nation’s largest networks of public school foundations. In the foundation’s early years, Boren encouraged trustees to establish public school foundations in their own communities, laying the groundwork for a movement that continues to benefit school districts statewide.

Today, Oklahoma is home to more than 200 of these citizen-led nonprofits, which collectively raise millions of dollars annually to support public schools. Through the Oklahoma School Foundations Network, OFE provides free training, resources and networking opportunities to help these organizations thrive and maximize their impact.

Boren’s dedication to public education extended throughout his lifetime. He served as chair of the OFE Board of Trustees until 2022 and remained a trustee until his passing. His son, Dan Boren, is a trustee of the foundation, and his wife, Molly Shi Boren, is a distinguished trustee emeritus.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has selected public school foundations in Noble, Oklahoma City and Stillwater to receive its 2025 Outstanding Program Awards for Oklahoma School Foundations.

Presented by OFE and its Oklahoma School Foundations Network, the awards recognize innovative programs sponsored or administered by public school foundations in Oklahoma. The honorees are chosen based on their impact on their school and community.

The 2025 award recipients are:

Art Off the Wall, Noble Public Schools Foundation
T-Up for OKCPS 2025, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation
Pre-K Play-Based Learning Initiative, Stillwater Public Education Foundation

Each foundation will receive a trophy and a monetary award of $1,000. They will be honored May 10 at OFE’s Academic Awards Celebration at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

“Oklahoma’s public school foundations enhance education in so many ways,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “Each of these programs has had a significant impact on an Oklahoma public school community, and we hope that celebrating their successes will inspire similarly meaningful programs across the state.”

OFE is a statewide nonprofit that recognizes and encourages excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The Oklahoma School Foundations Network was created to support new and established school foundations across the state. To learn more, visit OFE.org.

Art Off the Wall, Noble Public Schools Foundation

A bi-annual fundraising event, Art Off the Wall features works created and donated by well-known Oklahoma artists along with student artists. The first event in 2023 drew more than 80 attendees and raised nearly $14,000 to fund classroom grants, making it the highest single-event fundraiser in the foundation’s history.

Noble Public Schools Foundation President Sarah Soell called Art Off the Wall “one of the most fun and engaging events we have ever hosted.”

After enjoying dinner, attendees are given an hour to view the art. Then they are entered in drawings that are sorted into three tiers based on ticket prices. Once their names are chosen, they have 30 seconds to select their favorite piece of art to take home. There is also a separate auction for higher-value art pieces.

“We are overwhelmed by the support from our community and the talented local artists who contributed their works to make this event a true celebration of the arts and education,” Soell said. “Their support underscores the commitment of our neighbors to support educational initiatives that enhance the learning experience for the students of Noble Public Schools.”

The second Art Off the Wall will be held in December 2025.

T-Up for OKCPS 2025, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation

T-Up for OKCPS is an annual campaign that activates the community to foster support for public education by purchasing and wearing bilingual “OKCPS Champion” T-shirts. This year’s shirts share the message Together, Somos Más Fuertes.

On May 8, the same day as the foundation’s Stars of Education event, the foundation asks the community to wear their T-shirts in a visible and united show of support for public education.

“T-Up for OKCPS is more than just a fundraiser,” said Kendra Horn, president and CEO of the OKCPS Foundation. “It’s more than just T-shirts. It is an advocacy campaign that educates and activates the community to support the teachers, students and staff of Oklahoma City Public Schools.”

Businesses who join in as sponsors have their logos displayed on the back of the shirts. The foundation also recruits ambassadors who share why they support OKCPS and encourage others to purchase shirts.

Since the program launched in 2022, the amount raised has increased each year. In 2024, T-Up for OKCPS raised $110,000, and the 2025 campaign goal is $120,000.

This year’s limited-edition shirts are on sale for $25 from Feb. 28-April 3 and can be purchased at okckids.com/t-up.

Pre-K Play-Based Learning Initiative, Stillwater Public Education Foundation

The Pre-K Play-Based Learning Initiative focuses on obtaining materials and manipulatives for play-based learning in Stillwater Public Schools’ pre-K classes. Thanks to a grant from Simmons First Foundation, the Stillwater Public Education Foundation was able to provide $43,875 to the district to purchase items like water sand tables, play kitchens, play tools and wooden blocks.

Standardizing materials in pre-K classrooms allows the district to ensure a more equitable learning experience for students, giving them equal opportunities for play-based learning. Previously, classes were using items personally purchased by teachers, which led to inequity among the classes.

Mary Beth Talley, who teaches pre-K at Sangre Ridge Elementary School, said she is thankful to the foundation for investing in classrooms.

“I am so grateful I teach in a district that values the importance of play in our early childhood classrooms,” Talley said. “When you allow a child to play, you are building their confidence and deepening their love of learning.”

Roughly 300 students in 17 pre-K classes benefit from the program.