Fourteen area high school graduates, including eight from Sequoyah High School, received Gates Millennium Scholarships through the American Indian Graduate Center.

Funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Millennium Scholarship seeks to grant access to higher education to a diverse population, including Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics. The scholarship pays tuition, room and board, plus other fees for as long as the recipient remains in college.

“This could include associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, even doctorate,” Sequoyah High School Principal Corey Bunch said, figuring the eight Sequoyah scholarships were about $100,000 each.

Bunch said Sequoyah made a strong showing, especially considering that only 150 scholarships were awarded nationwide and 33 were awarded in Oklahoma. Christa Moya, director of financial aid for the American Indian Graduate Center, said Sequoyah had the highest number of Gates Scholars than any school in Oklahoma.

“We have several recent graduates who have received the Gates Millennium Scholarship, but this year, we have had a great senior class,” Bunch said. “These young men and women have been given the opportunity that many students only dream of. They have been rewarded with the opportunity to earn a college degree completely paid for by the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program.

“These eight students have learned that through hard work, dedication, and self discipline that their future goals are attainable, and I fully expect them to become the leaders that will shape our society for years to come.”

He said the 89 members of Sequoyah’s 2008 senior class received $2.2 million in scholarships.

Bunch said two Sequoyah recipients, Raelee Conrad and Cody Poe, plan to attend Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Lorin Hammer plans to attend Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

Oktaha High School graduate Daniel Adney said the scholarship will pay for up to 90 percent of his school expenses. He said he plans to attend Northeastern State University, then either Oral Roberts University or Oklahoma State University and major in mechanical engineering. He also wants to obtain a pastoral degree.

Recipient Robert DuPriest of Fort Gibson said the scholarship will help him “give back to the community.”

He said he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to seek a degree in environmental engineering. He said he hopes to build systems to help curb pollution.

Recipient Ashley Nixon of Eufaula also plans to attend the University of Oklahoma, said her brother Kenneth Nixon. He said his sister is touring Ireland with other members of Roger Thompson’s history class from the high school.

Stilwell’s two Gates Scholarship recipients, Darilyn Lacie and Riley Bunch, plan to attend Oklahoma City University, said Stilwell High School secretary Vicki Allison.

Sallisaw recipient Brian Dugan won numerous journalism awards and will attend the University of Oklahoma, counselor Tracie Gibson said.