Bozone, Edmonds named Rozell scholarship recipients

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--Recognized for their demonstrations of leadership and service to the community, Northeastern State University seniors Morgan Bozone of Tulsa and Megan Edmonds of Inola are recipients of the 2012-13 Senator Herb Rozell Scholarship.

Bozone studies speech/language pathology and is president of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and a member of the President's Leadership Class. She is also a member of the NSU Speech, Hearing and Language Association and a Rookie Bridge Camp volunteer. Her first year at NSU, she was named an outstanding freshman.

Edmonds majors in English education and serves as a RiverHawk Ambassador and a Peer-Instructor. She has been involved with the Northeastern Activities Board, the President's Leadership Class, Delta Zeta Sorority, the Student Homecoming Week Committee, the Big Event Committee and the Greek Sing. While in Delta Zeta, the sorority gave her the Regional Collegiate Director Award and the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant.

Bozone and Edmonds, who graduate in May 2012, believe the service of dedicated citizens is indispensable to building a strong community.

"Giving back helps others but it also helps you grow as a person," Bozone said. "People work toward a goal and it builds community bonds. There is no better feeling in the world than knowing you have helped someone especially a person who may be in a difficult situation and needs a bit of assistance to alleviate it."

The opportunity to make a difference through community action also motivates Edmonds.

"I think that sometimes in our daily lives we lose sight of the important things," she said. "By spending time helping others you learn to appreciate the things you have and things you have worked so hard to achieve."

The Senator Herb Rozell Scholars Program was established to honor the outstanding works and deeds of the former state senator, who dedicated 28 years of public service to the people of District 3 and the State of Oklahoma. It recognizes NSU seniors who exhibit tremendous campus and community leadership, outstanding scholastic achievement, and commitment to excellence for the future. The program is funded by private donations to the NSU Foundation.

Each year the recipients of the scholarship lead planning and execution of NSU's annual Big Event on the last Saturday of March.

Bozone, who wants to attend NSU graduate speech/language pathology program, said she looks forward to planning the Big Event.

"I know I'm excited and I'm certain Megan feels the same way," Bozone said. "We might add a little twist to the Big Event. This is our senior year and we want to leave a legacy of service - to go out with a bang."

The academic year has just begun so Big Event planning is still in its preliminary phase, but Edmonds has served on the committee twice before.

"I have a few personal goals I would like to achieve, but most of all I want the next Big Event to be the best yet," she said.

The Senator Herb Rozell Scholars Program was established in 2004 by Rozells friends and family upon the senators retirement from the state legislature. The scholarship awards $1,000 per semester to two undergraduate students.