Each year, the Foundation features students in their senior year of study who have received Catholic Foundation Scholarships as an update on their academic accomplishments and plans following graduation.

Parish: St Eugene Catholic Church, Weatherford, Oklahoma
Attending: Oklahoma State University

“It is hard to believe four years have gone by. My experience at OSU has been an incredible journey! Hard work, mixed with great times, I wouldn't trade a single moment. My involvement on campus in several service-oriented and philanthropic organizations has greatly affected my character and taught me the importance of giving back. I am an art history major, and will not graduate until May 2013. Without scholarships like those the Catholic Foundation provides, I would not be able to be involved on campus near the extent of which I am currently. Also being able to maintain focus on academics simultaneously is a privilege, one I wouldn't have if my financial burden were greater!

“The CFO scholarship encourages involvement in your local parishes, and allows students to focus on campus activities and involvement. I have been very blessed to receive this scholarship for the past 4 years, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is eligible. I currently am waiting to hear back from internship possibilities for the upcoming summer. Hopefully, based upon an internship I will be able to further determine my emphasis of study within art history. I currently plan to pursue a career in museum related studies. Thank you for all you do!  Sara”

Sara shows her Pistol Pete sign at Oklahoma State.

Parish: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Oklahoma City
Attending: University of Oklahoma

“I have had an incredible experience at OU thanks to the many mentors and friends I have made along my college journey. Some of my fondest memories while I have been an OU student include two study abroad trips to Europe and Peru, several internships such as NBC’s Today Show and leadership positions like Gaylord College Ambassador and Oklahoma College Broadcasters Vice President. My major has been Broadcast Journalism with minors in Spanish and International Studies

“Without the financial help of the CFO Scholarship, I would have had to work more hours to pay for college, resulting in less time to focus on academics and opportunities to grow as a leader while sharpening necessary skills for my future profession. It means a lot to have an organization of my faith believing in me and encouraging me to pursue my academic goals. This scholarship has been a tremendous help for me, and I know it has potential to help many other Catholic students by allowing them to focus on academics and leadership-building opportunities, all while encouraging them to work hard toward their goals.

“My passions are people and storytelling. I hope to pursue a professional career that will allow me to work with my two passions, whether that be TV news, entertainment, documentary or anything else that God may have planned for me.”

Parish: St. Michael Catholic Church, Goltry, OK
Attending: Northwestern Oklahoma State University

“My experience at NWOSU has been great! I have really enjoyed my time there. I feel like I have received a very high quality education. What really makes Northwestern special to me is that I am not just a number to them. They make you feel at home by giving you quality attention and many opportunities to succeed. The teachers are very helpful academically, but they also care about you on personal level also. My advisor is always very helpful in helping me make the decisions I need to make, and the rest of the teachers and faculty are always there for me if I need them. I have enjoyed the activities that have been available to me, especially the intramural sports. One high point of my time at NWOSU is all of the relationships I have made. I have made many new friends and met many new people through the college. In fact, I am very thankful that I chose Northwestern because I met my fiancé there. My major is Health and Sports Science Education.

“My CFO Lawrence Scholarship helped me tremendously in paying for my education. It has gone towards my tuition, and also the books that I have needed for class. It helped me to not have to pay as much out of my own pocket for my expenses. This scholarship also gave me an extra incentive to want to go to college and pursue my degree. I would definitely recommend this scholarship to other Catholic students. It is very helpful. It is something that some of the students might need to help them be able to go to the college that they want, and get the education that they deserve.

“After graduation I plan on being a teacher and a high school football coach. I plan on using my degree and becoming an elementary P.E. teacher, or maybe becoming a high school history teacher. My main goal is to become a successful football coach. My dad is the head football coach at Timberlake High School, so I have always been involved with a successful program. I think that this will help me to achieve my own goals as a coach.”

Tyler Severin in front of the Ranger Statue at NWOSU.

Parish: St. Monica Church, Edmond, Oklahoma
School Attending: Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University, SWOSU, has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I am currently in my fourth year of college and am studying to achieve my Doctorate of Pharmacy, PharmD, degree. It is a six year minimum program focusing intensely on medications, applied pharmacology, medication therapy management, and patient pharmacological care. While a lot of my fellow seniors are preparing for graduation at this point, this is not the case for me. However, it will be well worth the extra time, cost, and effort in the long run. I’m excited to be in the last stretch of achieving one of my long term goals of life.

One of the most exciting things while attending SWOSU must have been when I applied and when I was accepted into the SWOSU College of Pharmacy PharmD program. I was so excited I could barely believe it. My first two years of college were spent exclusively to ensure that I had the best possible chance of achieving this goal of mine. The absolute most exciting thing that has happened to me since starting college is when I asked my high school sweetheart and girlfriend of over 4 years to take my hand in marriage and be my wife.

Without this scholarship, I would be totally unable to attend college, yet alone the college of pharmacy. While the reward is well worth it in the end, it is hard at the current time due to increased tuition costs. Since it is a doctoral level program, the tuition is 2-3 times the regular rate for SWOSU tuition. I would wholeheartedly recommend this scholarship to any student who is wishing to attend college! It has been one of the best and smartest decisions I have decided to do.

Upon graduation in May of 2014, I plan on studying for and taking the NAPLEX, which is the North American Pharmacists Licensure Examination. If I do pass this exam, I will then be a licensed pharmacist and can practice pharmacy in the state of Oklahoma. Whenever this happens, all my hard work and determination will have paid off and I will be able to help patients on a daily basis with their health care needs, which would not have been possible without this scholarship!  

Nathan Beattie receives an award from the Pharmacy College at SWOSU.

Parish: St. Ann Church, Elgin, OK
Attending: Cameron University

I am sorry it has taken me so long to send this to you, the last semester is the most hectic. My educational experience at Cameron has been great. My favorite memories are those of me and my friends in my department staying in the Sciences Complex on late nights studying for exams. It was tough work but the conversations helped us through all the studying.

My area of study is chemistry. I will get my bachelors degree in Chemistry with a minor in  biology. I like all areas of science so I just took as many science classes as I could that interested me.  The CFO scholarship has helped greatly! Mostly in the area of buying textbooks. Textbooks are very pricey and when you have to buy 3 to 4 most semesters it really adds up. The CFO scholarship has been most helpful with that. I would definitely recommend the CFO scholarship to other Catholics. My faith has been so so helpful throughout college and having an organization that shares that faith back you up is mentally helpful as well as financially helpful.

My plans after graduation include teaching abroad for a year and then applying to graduate school in neurobiology or physical chemistry.