Wimberly School of Religion
& Graduate Theological Center

STUDENT SUCCESS

Current Students

Each year, Oklahoma City University presents the Bishop’s Scholar Award to deserving students as a part of its effort to identify and support academically advanced United Methodist youths who are committed to careers in Christian service to The United Methodist Church.

The Bishop’s Scholar Award provides up to the full cost of tuition for four years.

The 2008 recipients are: Jason Blakeburn of Clinton, OK; Kenna Boatman of Owasso, OK; Joanna Chenoweth of Albuquerque, NM and Alyssa Wardwell of Muskogee, OK.

Jason Blakeburn has a variety of interests and he seems to excel at them all. He is an Eagle Scout who continues to support those working toward that honor and he has participated in regional dance and theatre groups and piano competitions. Jason's homeschooling has included extensive travel, art camps, and scout camps across the country. At First UMC, Clinton, Jason is active in his youth group, serves on the Administrative Council and as a Sunday School assistant. Over the past year, he has explored his call to ministry through shadowing his pastor on his visits to nursing homes, hospitals, and homes, as well as other church duties. Rev. Larry Holder writes, "Jason is a special person with many gifts...Whether leading or following, one gets the same hard work from Jason."

Ministry with youth is both the passion and the calling of Kenna Boatman. She takes a leadership role in welcoming younger members and helping them get involved in the youth group at First UMC, Owasso, where her father, Rev. D. Taud Boatman, is an Associate Pastor. Kenna excels in high school and groups such as FFA, Spanish Club, Drama, and Youth Alive, a Christian-based service organization. At her church, she serves on the Administrative Council, serves the Shalom Meal on Wednesday evenings, and helps with children's choirs and Vacation Bible School. She comes highly recommended by her pastor, Chris Tiger, and the Director of Youth Ministries, Carol Cooper, who says of Kenna, "The love of Christ lives in her and is shown to all she comes in contact with."

Joanna Chenoweth comes to OCU from Covenant UMC in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she has been a member since the age of three. Joanna is very active in the youth group as well as teaching elementary age Sunday School, serving as co-leader of the confirmation class, serving on the worship team, and preaching on a number of occasions. Her pastor, Rev. Scott Sharp, is a former member of the Oklahoma Conference and Director of Student Religious Life at OCU. He describes Joanna as "an incredible young woman, a great student, and a selfless leader" and one who would be a great fit for the OCU community.

The congregation of St. Paul UMC in Muskogee will miss Alyssa Wardwell when she begins her studies at OCU in the fall. She was a founding member of the church's contemporary worship service where she plays the guitar, sings, and leads worship. She is also active in the youth group, helps with children's events, and is a member of the liturgical dance team. Alyssa excelled in Latin Literature classes and is active in a number of school and non-profit groups. Her actions support the assessment of her pastor, Rev. Kevin Tully, when he wrote: "She cares about others, and she cares about making our world a better place."


Alumni

Brandon Blacksten, a 2008 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Norman, Oklahoma, received the Turner Fellowship for a full scholarship to Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Blake Huggins, a 2008 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Stilwell, Oklahoma, received a full tuition scholarship to attend Boston University School of Theology.

Michael Slack, a 2008 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, received a full tuition scholarship to attend Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Rebecca Yount, a 2007 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Owasso, Oklahoma, is a US-2 assistant public policy advocate for Church World Service in Washington DC representing the Oklahoma Annual Conference. US-2 is a missionary program with missionaries and interns that serve communities in need throughout the United States for two years.

Kevin Hall, a December, 2006 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from Tulsa, Oklahoma, received a full tuition scholarship to Illif School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.

Rev. Linda Harker, a 1993 graduate of the Wimberly School of Religion, serves as District Superintendent of the Muskogee District of the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Harker has also been selected to be a General Conference Delegate for the 2008 United Methodist General Conference to be held in Fort Worth, Texas.

Rev. Mary Lou Eastmond, a 1991 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate from the Master of Arts in Religion program, is an ordained deacon serving as Conference Director of Christian Education in the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1992.

Julie Dowler, a 1990 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate has enrolled in Vanderbilt's PhD program in religion and personality.

Rev. T. Scott Keneda, a 1988 OCU Wimberly School of Religion graduate is now Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Emory's Candler School of Theology.