Henryetta resident Lydia Harrison, a 2018 Home School graduate, recently received the Dr. Kennamer Academic Scholarship from the 3 Rivers Limbhanger’s Regional Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).
Henryetta resident Lydia Harrison, a 2018 Home School graduate, recently received the Dr. Kennamer Academic Scholarship from the 3 Rivers Limbhanger’s Regional Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).
NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the hunting tradition.
The NWTF is proud to have supported over 4.9 million dollars in academic scholarships to students across North America who demonstrate a commitment to conservation, academic excellence, and who possess the leadership skills to make a difference.
In 2017, the NWTF awarded 478 scholarships for $227,830.
Out of the many NWTF local scholarships awarded in 2018 in the state of Oklahoma, the winner of the $500.00 NWTF scholarship from the 3 Rivers Limbhanger’s Local Chapter was awarded to Lydia, who has been home schooled for 13 years. “This fine young lady embodies the principles that the NWTF scholarship was founded upon. She is a top-notch student, leader among her peers and has proven her commitment to preserving our hunting heritage, conserving our natural resources and making her community a better place,” was said of Lydia.
Lydia was required to write an essay describing her commitment to conservation and preserving “her” hunting heritage.
In her essay, she reflected on how her father taught her “good work ethic” and “how to accomplish goals” as they would prepare for the upcoming hunting season. “He taught me how to respect the wildlife and in turn to respect life,” Lydia said. “I learned patience and how to revel in the alone time while hunting.”
She also said she learned how to overcome obstacles, which “spilled over into her education.”
“I know the path after high school will be unpredictable, lonely and tiresome, but I am prepared to face those hurdles with patience and courage that were learned in cold, dark, hunting blinds. The benefit of hunting is undeniable,” Lydia said.
She hopes to share with her sons and daughters some day the life skills she learned from her father. Lydia also wants to pass on her hunting heritage and teach others how to conserve the natural resources God has given us so that the community around us can be a better place.
She is the daughter of Rick Harrison, Henryetta First Baptist Church Pastor, and Dayna Harrison, an English as a Second Language Teacher and Home School mom. Lydia also has four sisters, 24-year-old Jessica Harrison, 23-year-old Mikayla Harrison and 14-year-olds Emma and Samantha Harrison.
Lydia has been active in the community doing volunteer work with Relay for Life, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army and has been an employee of First Family Federal Credit Union since 2015.
