Scholarships awarded to Choctaw tribal members in gaming and hospitality educational endeavors

The Chahta Foundation recently awarded fifteen scholarships totaling $150,000 to Choctaw Nation tribal member students pursuing degrees in fields that benefit the gaming and hospitality industry.

Recipients were chosen from the hundreds of applications that were submitted. Funds for the scholarships are raised through an annual Choctaw Nation Gaming and Hospitality Golf Tournament. The Gaming and Hospitality Scholarship was established in 2023.

Scholarships are awarded to Choctaw students who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in the fields of hospitality management, hotel management, business, economics, marketing, communications, or culinary arts.

Each scholarship in the amount of $10,000 is awarded at $5,000 per fall and spring semester while the recipient is attending an accredited vocational/technical, 2-year program, or 4-year program institution.

The 2024 scholarship recipients are:

• Ainsley Abernathy from Lucas, Texas (University of Oklahoma)
• Braylen Lyday from Mead, Oklahoma (Southeastern Oklahoma State University)
• Carolyn Billy from Wright City, Oklahoma (Eastern Oklahoma State College)
• Edward Cobb from Newark, Delaware (Delaware Technical Community College)
• Gavin Crouch from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma (Southeastern Oklahoma State University)
• Gracelyn Tramba from Oklahoma City (United States Naval Academy Preparatory School)
• Karsen Jefferson from Tahlequah, Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma)
• Kayla Bacon from Idabel, Oklahoma (Oklahoma State University)
• Mackenzie Kimmel from Phoenix, Arizona (University of Mississippi)
• Marissa Barnett from Bentonville, Arkansas (University of Oklahoma)
• Matthew Brame from Moyers, Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma)
• Sarah Turner from Atoka, Oklahoma (Mid-America Christian University)
• Shelbi Goss from Dewey, Oklahoma (Rogers State University)
• Tucker Dry from Durant, Oklahoma (Southeastern Oklahoma State University)
• Zackery Wilson from New York, New York (Florida State University)

Chahta Foundation Executive Director Angela Palmer said the gaming and hospitality industry provides essential revenue and vital services, strengthens our sovereignty and supports opportunities such as those for the scholarships which were awarded.

According to Palmer, it also opens the doors for countless careers, allowing growth and prosperity for generations to come and that the Chahta Foundation and the Choctaw Nation are committed to supporting the next generation as they prepare to step into their goals.

At a banquet awarding the scholarships, Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of the Commerce Division for the Choctaw Nation, said, “We want to congratulate all of our recipients and thank the Choctaw Tribal Council, the Chahta Foundation and our gaming partners for supporting these scholarships. Your investment is helping to identify and educate our next generation of industry leaders.”

Chief Batton spoke individually with each recipient at the banquet, telling them that they stand for the future of the Choctaw Nation. He said it was exciting to see what they were going to be able to do and challenged each one to continue to be lifelong learners.

Chief Batton said, “For me, I think it’s very inspiring, and I don’t know if they intentionally meant to do this or not, but each one of them talks about how they want to have a positive impact on people’s lives, and that’s just awesome to see our upcoming leaders wanting to do that.”