Shawnee High School proudly recognized 14 members of the Class of 2027 as recipients of academic letter jackets, celebrating their exceptional academic achievement and dedication to excellence.
The students, who rank in the top 5% of Shawnee High School's senior class, were honored during a special on-field recognition ceremony made possible through the continued support of Arvest Bank. This year marks the 42nd annual Shawnee High School Academic Letter Jacket Awards Program, sponsored by Arvest Bank.
An Arvest Bank representative joined Shawnee Public Schools administrators and Board of Education members to celebrate the students' accomplishments. Representing Arvest Bank was Jill Rawls, Executive Vice President and Sales Manager. Also participating in the recognition were Shawnee Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason James, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Dominguez, Board of Education member Clif Harden, and Shawnee High School Principal Bobby Cook.
Arvest Bank's longstanding sponsorship reflects its commitment to recognizing academic excellence and the dedication required to reach this milestone. The program also celebrates the encouragement and support students receive from their parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors, and school administrators.
"These students have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to their education, and we are proud to celebrate this achievement with them," said Shawnee High School Principal Bobby Cook. "Earning an academic letter jacket is a significant milestone, and we are grateful to Arvest Bank for continuing this tradition and investing in the success of our students."
The 2026-2027 Academic Letter Jacket recipients and their plans include:
Kimberly Albers, daughter of Burt and Lingju Albers, plans to attend Oklahoma State University on a full-ride scholarship through the National Merit Scholarship Program. She hopes to enter an accelerated pre-medical program, major in Nutritional Sciences, and eventually attend OSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue a career in family medicine.
Diego Arzola Balvaneda, son of Gregorio and Maria Arzola, plans to pursue a career as an industrial electrician.
Taylor Bailey, daughter of Joe and Amy Bailey, plans to attend East Central University to earn a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology before pursuing a doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the University of Oklahoma.
Conner Brantley, son of Will and Jaime Brantley, plans to attend college to study psychology while continuing to compete in cross country and track.
Abigail Clements, daughter of Seb and Amanda Clements, plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study sports media.
Cooper Dunn, son of Justin and Jill Dunn, plans to major in Music and Computer Science at Oklahoma State University.
Jun Gao, son of Feng Gao and Wei Zhao, plans to attend college and medical school with the goal of becoming a physician.
Rhett Hokit, son of Brandon and Julie Hokit, plans to attend college to major in Finance and Accounting.
Jace McDaniel, son of Tim and Tracy McDaniel, plans to continue playing soccer while pursuing a degree in Finance.
Anthony Newsom, son of Brent and Amanda Newsom, plans to study psychology at the University of Oklahoma and eventually pursue a Ph.D.
Claudia Thomason, daughter of Rodney and Kim Thomason, plans to continue her wrestling career at the collegiate level while earning a degree and pursuing a career in the medical field.
Troy Thomason, son of Rodney and Kim Thomason, plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study Music Education.
Jack Timmons, son of Scott and Rebecca Timmons, plans to pursue a degree in psychology to become a college basketball coach.
Zoey Wood, daughter of Jessi Wood and Tyler Wood, plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma to earn a degree in Theatre Education.
Shawnee Public Schools congratulates these students on this well-earned recognition and celebrates the hard work, determination, and academic excellence that brought them to this milestone.
The district also extends its appreciation to Arvest Bank for 42 years of supporting Shawnee High School students and helping recognize the importance of academic achievement.