Drew Sturdevant, Byng, received the Eleanor Wight Memorial Scholarship. The honor is given to a graduating high school senior who has been active in the arts and is planning to continue that tradition. It honors the late Eleanor Wight, a long-time supporter of the arts and humanities in Ada and a former member of the Ada Arts and Humanities Council board of directors. The council’s logo is her design.

Sturdevant is the son of Bill and Jan Sturdevant and is a senior at Byng High School, where he is a leader in all aspects of student life. He has numerous honors and awards to his credit, including the Masonic Award, Citizenship Award, All State Vocal, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference Ambassador and Counselor, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, Rotary and Elks student of the month, chosen state representative by the State Board of Business Leaders to attend the National Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Florida and honored with United States Student Council, National English Merit Scholar, Valedictorian Scholar and State Academic Scholar awards. Sturdevant has been active in theater, speech and music and has placed in academic contests throughout Oklahoma. He has been a member of the East Central Oklahoma Choral Directors’ Association Honor Choir for six consecutive years and has won Outstanding Student Awards in algebra, English and science. Beta Alpha Phi honored him with its Best Actor Award.

He plans to attend Oklahoma University where he will major in musical theater and education. Sturdevant said he hopes to someday perform on Broadway, but wants to return to Oklahoma to teach and share with students his love of music and the theater.

Ashlee Martin, Ryan Meeks, Lauren Royston and Lori Kay Odell were finalists for the Wight Scholarship.

  Dr. Starla Hibler was honored as Outstanding Adan For The Arts. Besides her regular teaching duties at East Central University, Dr. Hibler has given numerous piano solo recitals on campus and has been twice featured as piano soloist with the ECU band. She is a regular performer for the Wednesday Morning Music Club and the Ada Arts and Heritage Center's First Friday Concert Series.

Dr. Hibler received her B.M. degree from Illinois Wesleyan, M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from the University of North Texas and has studied at the Vienna Conservatory, all in her major field, piano. She currently is associate professor at East Central University.

She has been busy as accompanist for the ECU University Chorus and for various artists such as Jenny Olson. Dr. Hibler has served on the Ada Arts and Humanities Council board of directors for many years. She organized the first benefit concert for the council's Scholarship Fund with "An Organ Extravaganza." She initiated various local organists for this event and also performed at the concert herself.

Dr. Hibler has been ECU Piano Camp Coordinator since 1992. The camp brings young pianists to the area for several days of special music instruction and performances by the staff and students. She is in her second year as District Chairperson for the Oklahoma National Federation of Music Clubs' Junior Festival, which is held each year at ECU.

Dr. Hibler also has a private piano studio and is organist for St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Ada.

  Ashlee Martin is the daughter of Tim and Aneda Martin, Roff, and is a senior at Ada High School. Her honors and awards include being named an Oklahoma Academic Scholar, All-State Band, All-District Band, delegate to Girls State where she was elected to several offices, and was a House page at the Capitol. Martin has been on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll throughout high school and has many honors and awards in music and academics under her belt.

Martin also plans to attend the University of Oklahoma where she will major in music education. She says she wants to help children discover something special within themselves through music and to instill in others the joy she gets from music.

   Ryan Meeks is a senior at Ada High School and plans to pursue music education at the University of Oklahoma. He is the son of Tammy Meeks Shutler and Leslie Meeks.

He is a member of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, E.C.B.D.A. Honor Band and the Oklahoma Ambassadors of Music. He was Outstanding Freshman Bandsman and French horn section leader and principal horn for Ada High School band. Meeks has also held honored places in his choir and orchestra at First Baptist Church and was a delegate to Oklahoma Boy’s State. He has held various offices and honors from a variety of organizations throughout his high school career.

Meeks says he wants to follow the example set by his music teachers and give the gift of music to others.

   Lauren Royston is a senior at Latta High School where she has accumulated a long list of honors and awards. She is a member of the State Academic Bowl Team and has academic honors in monologue, poetry and dramatic duet from several competitive and regional speech tournaments. Also active in theater, Royston was part of the cast of the regional winning one-act play and has performed with the Ada Community Theater.

Royston is the daughter of Dwayne and Sandy Royston, Ada, and plans to major in performance theater or journalism at Florida Southern College. She says she plans to continue on stage throughout her life and hopes that one day her path will lead to Broadway.

   Lori Kay Odell is valedictorian of her senior class at Roff High School and plans to major in art education and minor in mathematics at East Central University. She is the daughter of Dwight and Debra Odell, Fitzhugh.

She has a long list of awards and achievements, including honors from interscholastic meets in painting, drawing, Spanish, art history, plane geometry and science. She has participated in and won awards at the Roff Oktoberfest and was an officer at Oklahoma Girls State 2000. Odell has also been very involved with Girl Scouting, which honored her with its Girl Scouts of USA Gold Award. She has held a variety of offices with her class at Roff, where she has also been a member of the yearbook and newspaper staff, BETA Club, Gifted and Talented, Academic Team, Drama Club and cheerleader.