OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence will honor 100 Oklahoma public school seniors as members of its 2026 Academic All-State class.

The Academic All-State class will be recognized at OFE’s Academic Awards Celebration on May 2 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Each honoree will receive a $1,500 award, an honor cord and a medallion. The celebration is open to the public, and registration is open at OFE.org.

At the event, OFE recognizes each All-State honoree alongside an educator who has significantly impacted that student’s academic success.

“This is our 40th Academic All-State class, and every year we are amazed by our honorees’ academic accomplishments and deep involvement in their school communities,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “By celebrating them alongside their teachers, we send a powerful message about the importance of public education and great educators.”

Since the program launched in 1987, OFE has honored 4,001 All-Staters from 345 school districts.

This year’s honorees are from 63 public schools in 58 districts. Three schools are celebrating their first Academic All-Stater: Fox, Grandfield and Tulsa Honor Academy. Grandfield and Tulsa Honor Academy each have two All-Staters, marking the first time since 2008 that a school’s first two All-Staters have occurred in the same class.

Students can apply for Academic All-State only if they 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 having been selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

A 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. A diverse group of business, education and civic leaders that includes past honorees makes up the committee. Dayna Rowe, a Yukon resident with decades of experience in the public education sector, serves as chair. The committee works independently of other foundation activities.

The 2026 All-State class averaged a 33 on the ACT, with nine honorees scoring a perfect 36. Their weighted average GPA is 4.36, and 38 are semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

OFE, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, grants to K-12 mentoring programs, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators.

2026 Academic All-State Scholars

Name	School District	High School	Hometown
Jozlin Campbell	Alva	Alva High School	Aline
Ehimen Umobuarie*	Arapaho-Butler	Arapaho-Butler High School	Clinton
Jackson Boudreaux	Bartlesville	Bartlesville High School	Bartlesville
Adit Paul	Bartlesville	Bartlesville High School	Bartlesville
Griffin Salerno	Bartlesville	Bartlesville High School	Bartlesville
Colin Cooksey	Blanchard	Blanchard High School	Blanchard
Rafael Maldonado	Broken Arrow	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow
Yireh Oh*	Broken Arrow	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow
Adalee Alley	Buffalo	Buffalo High School	Buffalo
Evelyn Fisher	Cache	Cache High School	Cache
Victoria Biederman	Charter	Epic Charter School	Tulsa
Larissa Burton	Charter	Epic Charter School	Oklahoma City
Julie Tran	Charter	Tulsa Honor Academy	Tulsa
Sydney Tran	Charter	Tulsa Honor Academy	Tulsa
Austin Clift	Chickasha	Chickasha High School	Anadarko
Eve Mathews-Cox	Claremore	Claremore High School	Pryor
Melody Youtsey	Claremore	Claremore High School	Claremore
J McCullough*	Clinton	Clinton High School	Clinton
Xander Williams	Cushing	Cushing High School	Cushing
Paul Potts	Dale	Dale High School	Shawnee
Crystal Le	Deer Creek	Deer Creek High School	Edmond
Aryahi Singh	Deer Creek	Deer Creek High School	Edmond
Lexi Mann*	Drummond	Drummond High School	Drummond
Emma Green	Durant	Durant High School	Durant
Fathiyah Ayodele	Edmond	Edmond Memorial High School	Oklahoma City
Tabina Chowdhury	Edmond	Edmond Memorial High School	Edmond
Paisley Little	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Sophia Long	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Sawyer Saenz*	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Jiho Yoon	Edmond	Edmond North High School	Edmond
Brooks Davis	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Ilakiya Raghavendiran	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Emme Shum	Edmond	Edmond Santa Fe High School	Edmond
Luke Friesen*	Elk City	Elk City High School	Elk City
Benjamin Parker-Christensen	Fort Gibson	Fort Gibson High School	Fort Gibson
Hailey Helmke	Fox	Fox High School	Ratliff City
Landry Hunt	Grandfield	Grandfield High School	Grandfield
Cassidy Timms	Grandfield	Grandfield High School	Grandfield
Kennedy Matthews	Grove	Grove High School	Grove
Tej Beniwal	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Krishna Bhadriraju	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Cody Brown	Jenks	Jenks High School	Jenks
Aiden Hoskin	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Sahil Patel*	Jenks	Jenks High School	Tulsa
Emma Zhang	Jenks	Jenks High School	Jenks
Caleb Schultz	Kremlin-Hillsdale	Kremlin-Hillsdale High School	Kremlin
Briley Brundidge	Latta	Latta High School	Ada
Kaydon Payne	Lone Grove	Lone Grove High School	Ardmore
Lillian Bryant	Midwest City-Del City	Carl Albert High School	Oklahoma City
Lillian Whitson	Moore	Moore High School	Moore
Lily Rowland	Moore	Westmoore High School	Oklahoma City
Gareth McJunkin	Muskogee	Muskogee High School	Muskogee
Josiah Edmond	Mustang	Mustang High School	Mustang
Ruoni Tang	Norman	Norman High School	Norman
Ryan Chen	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Lillian Dai	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Juliana Hong	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Miranda J. Huang	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Andrew Zhang	Norman	Norman North High School	Norman
Meghna Ponnavolu	Oklahoma City	Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast	Edmond
Amasha Samaraweera	Oklahoma City	Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast	Edmond
Melody Chen	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Norman
Christina Dang	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Yukon
Karen Forteh	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Stillwater
Julianne Hoang*	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Oklahoma City
Eesha Katta	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Lawton
Eunice Kim	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Stillwater
Bishal Lamichhane	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Jenks
Edward Nguyen	OSSM	Okla. School of Science & Mathematics	Oklahoma City
Lauryn Jackson	Oklahoma Union	Oklahoma Union High School	Nowata
Avery Collier	Oologah-Talala	Oologah High School	Oologah
Ty Elias	Owasso	Owasso High School	Owasso
Mallory Sepúlveda	Owasso	Owasso High School	Owasso
Ethan Savage	Plainview	Plainview High School	Ardmore
Madison McCall	Ponca City	Ponca City High School	Ponca City
Sydney Meeker	Ponca City	Ponca City High School	Ponca City
Paisley Nichols	Purcell	Purcell High School	Wayne
Nischal Joshi	Putnam City	Putnam City High School	Oklahoma City
Rishi Patel	Putnam City	Putnam City High School	Oklahoma City
Ava Tu	Putnam City	Putnam City North High School	Oklahoma City
Adelynn Orendorff	Sallisaw	Sallisaw High School	Sallisaw
Sophia Hart	Sand Springs	Charles Page High School	Sand Springs
June Guzman	Sequoyah	Sequoyah High School	Claremore
Kiley Sartin	Shawnee	Shawnee High School	Shawnee
Denver McBride	Silo	Silo High School	Durant
Kaydan Scheihing	Skiatook	Skiatook High School	Skiatook
Kaydence West	Soper	Soper High School	Boswell
Aiden Yejoon Kim*	Stillwater	Stillwater High School	Stillwater
William Lin	Stillwater	Stillwater High School	Stillwater
Kathy Liu*	Stillwater	Stillwater High School	Stillwater
Brody Jennings	Sulphur	Sulphur High School	Sulphur
Ryan Batterton	Tecumseh	Tecumseh High School	Tecumseh
Dhea Pushpraj	Tulsa	Booker T. Washington High School	Owasso
Scout Rorabaugh	Turpin	Turpin High School	Turpin
Kelly Tran	Union	Union High School	Broken Arrow
Wyatt Morris	Vanoss	Vanoss High School	Stratford
Katie Kreizenbeck	Weatherford	Weatherford High School	Weatherford
Noah Hendrix	Wilburton	Wilburton High School	Wilburton
Ethan J. Thomas	Yukon	Yukon High School	Yukon
Abigail Zachariah	Yukon	Yukon High School	Yukon

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

Oklahoma Public Schools Foundation Launches to Champion Investment in Public Schools

Home / Archives for February 2026

February 23, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY — A new nonprofit organization will lead the way for individuals and businesses to invest in Oklahoma’s public schools.

Formed through partnerships with the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, the Oklahoma Public Schools Foundation will champion investment in public schools across the state.

OKPSF will focus on facilitating and raising awareness of the tax credits created by Oklahoma’s Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act. The program, adopted in 2021 as an expansion of a law initially passed in 2011, incentivizes direct investment in Oklahoma’s public schools by allowing donors to give to designated educational improvement projects at the district of their choice and then reduce their state tax bill through a tax credit.

“These tax credits have created an incredible opportunity for Oklahomans to strengthen public schools,” said OKPSF Director Lauren Dow. “Donors can maximize their tax benefits while putting their dollars toward worthy, innovative programs that impact Oklahoma students in a big way.”

The donations must go to an eligible public school foundation, public school district or educational improvement granting organization to be eligible. OKPSF will operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a public school foundation, partnering with public school districts and collaborating with existing local education foundations to maximize support for public schools.

OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody said the new foundation ties back to OFE’s founding and mission to recognize and encourage academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools.

“From the beginning, our nonprofit has focused on how private investment dollars are vital to public education in Oklahoma,” Inbody said. “OFE leadership felt that this was the right time and opportunity for us to broaden our reach and impact with this type of foundation, and we found the right partner in the OSSBA.”

The OSSBA works to promote quality public education for the children of Oklahoma through training, support and information services to the state’s locally elected school board members and the districts they serve.

“We are profoundly grateful for the generosity shown by Oklahomans who support public education,” said Dr. Shawn Hime, executive director of the OSSBA. “This new partnership will open the door for even more opportunities to invest in students, teachers and the long-term success of our state. This foundation will help ensure that goodwill and the generous nature of Oklahomans translate into even greater opportunities for schools and students.”

The program focuses on one- and two-year gifts. One-time gifts are eligible for a 50% state tax credit, while gifts given in two consecutive years are eligible for a 75% tax credit.

A person filing as an individual can receive a state tax credit of up to $1,000; couples filing jointly are eligible to receive up to $2,000; and a qualified business entity can receive up to $100,000 in tax credits.

Dr. Joe Siano, OSSBA associate executive director and a member of OFE’s board of trustees, serves as OKPSF’s board president. Other board members include Anthony Childers, general counsel for Oklahoma City Public Schools; Brooke Clark, relationship manager of institutional wealth at BOK Financial; and Dr. Gregg Garn, deputy athletic director of performance excellence at the University of Oklahoma.

Those wishing to learn more about the foundation can visit OKPSF.org.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Public school foundations from Fort Gibson, Moore and Muskogee will receive the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence’s 2026 Outstanding Program Awards for School Foundations.

OFE and its Oklahoma School Foundations Network present the Outstanding Program Awards annually to recognize innovative programs sponsored or administered by public school foundations in Oklahoma.

The 2026 award winners are:

Tiger Tutoring, Fort Gibson Education Foundation
Building Bridges, Moore Public Schools Foundation
EFM Trivia Challenge, Education Foundation of Muskogee

Each public school foundation will receive a trophy and $2,000 award. Honorees are chosen based on the program’s impact on their school and community.

“Public school foundations positively impact our school communities in so many meaningful ways,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “Supporting and uplifting them is a vital part of OFE’s work, and we’re thrilled to honor these foundations.”

The Outstanding Program Award winners will be celebrated at OFE’s 40th annual Academic Awards Celebration on May 2 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Those wishing to attend can visit OFE.org for more information.

OFE is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that elevates public education through esteemed honors, grants to K-12 mentoring programs, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators. OFE’s Oklahoma School Foundations Network provides training, resources and networking opportunities for Oklahoma’s 200-plus public school foundations.

More Information on the Outstanding Program Award Recipients

Tiger Tutoring, Fort Gibson Education Foundation

Through the foundation’s partnership with Armstrong Bank, Fort Gibson High School students are gaining job experience while helping first graders learn.

Tiger Tutoring allows juniors and seniors to serve as after school tutors for first graders. They participate in a traditional hiring process that includes filling out applications, interviewing and completing new hire paperwork. Armstrong Bank provides the tutors with personal financial literacy training. Bank staff walk them through opening an account, initiating direct deposit and getting a debit card, along with providing education on fees and investing.

For three days a week, each high schooler works with two or three first graders on improving reading skills. The first graders are selected based on academic need, and each tutor is supervised by an early childhood teacher.

“This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when schools and businesses come together with a shared purpose,” said Cheryl Hill, principal of Fort Gibson Early Learning Center. “By investing in our youngest learners and empowering our high school students as leaders, we are strengthening not only academic achievement, but the future of our entire community.”

Building Bridges, Moore Public Schools Foundation

This innovative program focuses on removing housing insecurity as a barrier to education. The foundation is collaborating with Moore Public Schools and the nonprofit organization Bridges of Oklahoma to provide housing and support services for high school students experiencing homelessness or family crisis.

Thanks to funds raised through a capital campaign, duplex-style housing is being built to bring safe, affordable housing to students who don’t have a stable place to live.

“Our mission is to enhance, enrich and expand students’ educational experiences throughout the district, and this campaign is a natural extension of that work because students cannot fully learn without stability,” said Lizzy Bozarth, executive director of the Moore Public Schools Foundation. “What began with students raising the first dollars through Moore Love has grown into a village that will serve generations of young people facing family crisis.”

Students will also receive individualized wraparound support such as case management, connections to community resources and education on life skills and job readiness.

Construction is expected to finish this fall, and the program will serve at least 20 students annually.

EFM Trivia Challenge, Education Foundation of Muskogee

The foundation’s annual fundraiser brings together the Muskogee community to engage in a friendly game of team trivia. EFM Trivia Challenge is still going strong after more than 20 years. It draws around 450 participants and has significant corporate sponsorship, with more than 40 tables sold each year.

The event brings in $35,000 to $45,000 annually, allowing the foundation to grow its endowment and increase the number of grants it provides to classroom teachers. More than 40 grants are funded annually, and an off-cycle grant application has been established to meet needs that arise throughout the year.

Foundation board member Melony Carey said the event has been an excellent way to unite the community in support of education.

“When the adults are challenged to test their knowledge in an evening of trivia, learning and education come to the forefront of everyone’s thinking,” Carey said. “And it’s fun for a good cause!”