Laird receives surprise scholarship

Madill High School Senior Mia Laird was surprised by a scholarship from OG&E on Monday 22. Laird, who was being recognised for her interest in STEM, sent in an essay for the scholarship.

The OGE Positive Energy Scholarship is awarded yearly to three high school seniors who are committed to pursuing a career in STEM.

The students are awarded a $60,000 scholarship and will receive $15,000 a year for uptofouryears.Studentswill need to maintain good grades to keep the scholarship.

The Vice President of Marketing and Communications with OG&E Christi Woodworth talked about the scholarship and of how impressed theywerewithLaird.

“We are so excited to present Mia Laird, a senior at Madill High School, with an OGE Positive Energy Scholarship,' Woodworth said. 'which is essentially a full ride. It’s a $15,000 a year scholarship renewable for four years.'

Woodworth continued to talk about Laird's talents.

'[This scholarship is] for a high achieving student, who wants to pursue a S.T.E.M. career. Mia plans on going to the University of Oklahoma and we look forward to supporting her studies there.”

Woodworth spoke about why Laird was selected by theScholarshipReviewCommittee.

“Theywereblownawayby her application,” Woodworth said. “She is highly talented inacademicsandbeyondthat she is also highly involved in school. Both of her parents are both school teachers as well. She is our first recipient from Madill. So this is big news.'

'It's a big scholarship and we are excited to be here today,' Woodworth continued. 'It’s really a fun opportunity for us to give back and really make a transformation gift to an incredible young person.”

Stephanie Coleman, who is a Community Relations Coordinator and helped to organize the event, said she was very impressed with Laird.

“You can tell she works so hard with all the things she has been through in life and we wanted to reward somebody that did such an excellent job with all she has beenthrough,”Colemansaid.

Patrick and Jennifer Laird, Laird's parents, were equally surprised about the event and scholarship. Both the Laird’s are teachers and Jennifer was in Tulsa at a Robotics competition with a group of students.

Patrick was able to have his wife on a video call during the event. Jennifer said she was surprised by what happened but was not surprised that her daughter was recognised for her work.

“Mia is always surprising us, so I never underestimate that girl. She just never gives up,' Jennifer said. 'So I am not surprised that she was given the recognition she deserves. Butweweredefinitely surprised because we did not know it was going to happen. She is pretty amazing.”

Patrick said he had no idea what to expect when he arrived and was near speechless,.

“There are no words,' he said with misty eyes. 'I knew she was qualified and very capable but for it to actually happen is a dream. You definitely do not count on it. “