Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has selected 27 incoming freshmen to receive Baccalaureate Scholarships and Oklahoma Rising Scholar awards for the 2026–27 academic year. The scholarships are among the university’s most competitive awards for incoming students and recognize strong academic achievement, school and community involvement, and preparation for college-level work.

Recipients receive scholarship packages that include tuition support, annual cash awards, and residence hall scholarships for up to four years. The awards represent a commitment from SWOSU and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) to support students who have already built strong academic records before beginning college.

Students selected for the awards are reviewed by a cross-campus committee. The committee considers academic achievement, school and community involvement, essay responses and each student’s potential for success at SWOSU.

The Baccalaureate Scholarship is sponsored through OSRHE and recognizes students who enter college with a high level of academic achievement. To be considered, students must earn at least a 30 on the national ACT or a 1390 on the SAT. SWOSU awards 20 Baccalaureate Scholarships each year, with 15 awarded through the state and five sponsored by the university. Each recipient receives a full tuition waiver for up to eight semesters, an annual cash award of $3,500 and a residence hall waiver equivalent to a regular semi-private room. The total value of the award package exceeds $67,600.

The 2026–27 Baccalaureate Scholarship recipients are listed below by name, high school, and hometown:

• Adalee Alley—Buffalo High School, Buffalo

• Haedyn Avila—Southmoore High School, Oklahoma City

• Brooke Carter—Snyder High School, Snyder

• Peyton Cox—Mooreland High School, Woodward

• Katelyn Depue—Lexington High School, Purcell

• Erick Do—Moore High School, Oklahoma City

• Zachary Fulton—Westmoore High School, Oklahoma City

• Dasia Givens—Weatherford High School, Weatherford

• Addyson Hatfield—Elgin High School, Elgin

• Tessa Jones—McAlester High School, Krebs

• Turner Jones—Cordell High School, Cordell

• Aceline Lor—Owasso High School, Owasso

• Jackson McCullough—Clinton High School, Clinton

• Danny Nguyen—Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow

• Jocelyn Peterson—Mount St. Mary High School, Oklahoma City

• Caleb Schultz—Kremlin-Hillsdale High School, Kremlin

• Ryan Thompson—Putnam City High School, Oklahoma City

• Ella Upton—Southwest Covenant High School, Yukon

• Lendan West—Wright City High School, Valliant

• Georgiah Xiong—Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow

The Oklahoma Rising Scholar award is also sponsored through OSRHE and recognizes Oklahoma residents who have shown strong academic ability before entering college. To be considered, students must meet one of several academic standards tied to ACT or SAT scores, grade-point average and class rank. SWOSU presents seven Oklahoma Rising Scholar awards each year. Recipients receive a full tuition waiver for up to eight semesters, an annual cash award of $3,200 and a residence hall waiver equivalent to a regular semi-private room. The total value of the award package exceeds $66,400.

The 2026–27 Oklahoma Rising Scholar recipients are listed below by name, high school, and hometown:

• London Hunter—Homeschool, Piedmont

• Tatum Kegin—Covington-Douglas High School, Douglas

• Baily Lawellin—Mooreland High School, Woodward

• Brax Meacham—Hydro-Eakly High School, Hydro

• Paisley Nichols—Purcell High School, Wayne

• Kathryn Skinner—Duncan High School, Duncan

• Charlotte Vaughn—Southmoore High School, Moore

The students selected for this year’s awards will enter SWOSU with strong records of preparation and achievement. The scholarships will provide support as they begin their college careers and recognize the work they have already done in their schools and communities.

“These scholarship recipients represent some of the brightest and most accomplished students in our service area as well as across the state,” said Dr. Adam Johnson, Vice President for Student Services. “Their commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement has already set them apart, and we look forward to the many ways they will enrich the SWOSU community during their time on campus.”

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

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