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MCKINNEY, Texas – The second annual Choctaw Nation Gaming & Hospitality Scholarship Golf Tournament raised $161,989 for the Chahta Foundation Gaming & Hospitality Scholarship Program. This amount is matched by the Choctaw Nation, bringing the scholarship total to more than $323,000.
News presented by First United Bank.
The tournament was held at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas on Oct. 21, 2024, with presenting sponsors Aristocrat and Gaming Capital Group. It featured 33 teams and 37 sponsors closely affiliated with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts.
These scholarships aim to assist tribal members in becoming future leaders in the gaming and hospitality industry by awarding scholarships to those seeking a degree in a variety of fields including, hospitality management, hotel management, business, management information systems, economics, finance and marketing at a vocational, two-year or four-year institution.
“This scholarship is life changing,” said Angela Palmer, executive director of the Chahta Foundation. “One of our recipients last year was headed into her senior year of college and didn’t have the funds to cover tuition, so she was about to drop out of school, but this scholarship allowed her to continue her education.”
In October, the Chahta Foundation awarded fifteen $10,000 scholarships to Choctaw students pursuing degrees in fields that benefit the gaming and hospitality industry. This year’s scholarships were given to tribal members in Oklahoma, Texas, Delaware, Arizona, Arkansas and New York.
2024 Chahta Foundation Scholarship Recipients
- 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, Oklahoma (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)
“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. Their investment is helping to educate our next generation of industry leaders,” said Heidi Grant, senior executive officer of commerce for Choctaw Nation.