Growing up in Fresno, California, Caleb Kelly had a mentor who showed him football as a path to a safe life. Now at the University of Oklahoma, the junior linebacker has a mentoring program that shows football players paths to being successful men after they leave the game.
Middle-schooler Hadyn typed her name into a computer. Hooked up to a laser cutter, the equipment made a whirring sound, and she saw her name materialize into a stone. Hadyn thought it was cool seeing her design come to life. She was at the Norman Public Library Central.
In theater and the performing arts, there can be a lot of pressure to be great. From on-stage tasks like memorizing lines and executing choreography to backstage tasks like making sure that curtains are drawn at the end of the performance, it can be a lot for even a group of adults.
She pulls the food out of the bags and double checks that the delivery is right. She walks up to the house to complete the delivery and thinks about how Meals on Wheels is more than just providing meals. Linda Austin has always wanted to help people in need, and one way she has put her passion into play is to volunteer for the nonprofit Meals on Wheels.
Stacy Bruce sat in her office in front of a poster that read “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” Though the inspirational quotes surrounding her seemed simple, they set the tone for her leadership of Bridges, an organization that houses, feeds and encourages teenagers in Norman in difficult situations.
After Paula Sophia Schonauer transitioned physically from male to female, she went back to work at the Oklahoma City Police Department. A few years into her transition, she said she was openly harassed by her fellow officers. She naturally complained to her bosses.
The two highest ranking staffers in the Gender and Equality Center have left the University of Oklahoma for out-of-state positions within the span of a year, forcing students and remaining staff to modify the organization to function without its major leaders.
Fueled by a belief in justice and passion for equality, 17-year-old Faythe Miller has dedicated her professional life to the defense of the oppressed and misfortunate.
Donovan England wants to be an actor. Much of his preparation comes from his drama class, but he finds his best lessons come from being a worship leader at his church, where he gets to mix his two passions: performing and worshipping God.
“I think that my family is such a strong influence in my life that I just love being around them, and they’re always so positive and uplifting. They hype me up,” says Claudia Standeford, a 17-year-old from Bartlesville, Oklahoma.