Christina Isom of Lehigh, a senior at East Central University in Ada, is one of six students from Oklahoma's regional universities who have been named Brad Henry International Scholars and will spend the fall semester at Swansea University in Wales.
The scholars were chosen by their institutions for the international study abroad program that was established by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in June 2008. They will leave Sept. 6 and will return on Dec. 20.
Christina Isom (right), a senior at East Central University, stands with ECU President John Hargrave in the Blue Room at the State Capitol after being recognized as a Brad Henry International Scholar. She and five students from other regional universities will study this semester at Swansea University in Wales.
"We got a mass email that said 'Study abroad,'" Isom said. "I always wanted to do that. I had to apply, and the committee selected me."
She will have a pre-session class for two weeks at Swansea University, then probably enroll in international relations and international politics when classes begin in October. She will earn 15 hours of college credit.
"We will go to school and travel a lot," Isom said, "because we're so close to everywhere."
Isom, a graduate of Coalgate High School, is double-majoring in legal studies and political science at ECU. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in law and politics.
She is the vice president of scholarship and social chair of Alpha Gamma Delta International Fraternity, secretary of ECU's Legal Professions Association and a member of the Panhellenic Council.
She also is on the Dean's Honor Roll. She is the daughter of the late Charlene Isom-Golden.
Also selected as Brad Henry Scholars were Erika Christner, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford; Summer Hill, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah; Aleshia Richardson, Langston University, Langston; Tori Strecker, Cameron University, Lawton; and Valorie Vernon, Rogers State University, Claremore.
The state regents provide a $10,000 stipend for students selected to participate in semester-long study or research programs affiliated with Swansea University. Academic credit for these programs will be awarded by the Oklahoma universities.
"These students possess the academic talent, dedication to service and the leadership skills that makes them highly qualified for this program," Chancellor Glen D. Johnson said. "Through this program, they will learn the importance of succeeding in a global economy. We will look forward to these students returning home and sharing with their campuses what they have learned."
Christner is a junior studying mathematics with minors in history, statistics and Spanish at SWOSU. She plans to earn her master's degree in education so she can teach English and math in the United States and around the world.
Hill is a senior studying cellular biology at NSU. After earning a bachelor's degree, she hopes to attend medical school in Oklahoma.
Richardson is a senior majoring in mathematics at Langston. She plans to be a math teacher in secondary education. While teaching, she will work toward a master's degree in higher education administration with the goal of becoming a high school principal.
Strecker is a senior studying public relations with a minor in speech communications at Cameron. She plans to attend law school at the University of Oklahoma. Her career goals are to work in corporate public relations, acting as both the public relations representative and in-house legal council.
Vernon is a senior studying liberal arts with an emphasis in English at RSU. She plans to earn her master's and doctoral degrees in English and work in higher education.
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