November 19, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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2 if o> yd Serving A ] ya | Western Oklahoma Rw 4} Sirice 1901 Weekday Edition Hospital’s Foundation holds annual gala Dr. Jack Morrison, center, was honored for his long service to the community at the Foundation of Great Plains Regional Medical Karli Lovelace, left, was crowned Miss Elk City, and Lily Parker, right, was crowned Miss Center's gala Friday night in Elk City. Stand- Queen of the West Saturday in Elk City. Staff photo by Don Munsch ing with him are Marnie Tosh, vice president of the Foundation board, and Corey Lively, Miss Elk City/Miss Queen of the West CEO of GPRMC. Photo submitted. By Don Munsch, Editor competition crowns 2020 winners The Foundation at Great Plains Regional Medical Cen- ter held its fourth annual benefit gala Friday night, raising By Don Munsch, Editor single time.” money for the development of the orthopedic center at the Karli Lovelace was crowned Miss Elk City 2020 and Lily This was her third competition, including the Miss Okla- hospital. Parker took home Miss Queen of the West 2020 Saturday at homa competition. This year’s gala raised more than $136,000, said Marnie the annual dual competition, held at the Kelli O’Hara Center “Tam absolutely shocked,” Parker said. “This came totally Tosh, vice president of the Foundation board. for Performing Arts in Elk City. unexpected, because this was my very first pageant, and I am. “The generosity of this community continues to surpass Finishing their reigns for 2019 were Macy Eminger, Miss just real honored to be part of this legacy.” my expectations and on behalf of the entire Foundation Elk City, and Ava Cruchon, Miss Queen of the West. Both competitions — Miss Elk City and Miss Queen of the Board, we would like to say thank you to all that have con- First runner-up for Miss Elk City 2020 was Dixie Boyce- West — date back to 1962. tributed to our success,” Tosh said in an email Monday. Smith. First runner-up for Miss Queen of the West was Faith Lovelace is from Elk City, but she moved to Stillwater “Because of our donor support, we look forward to a bright Steedman, while second runner-up was Lexi Neahring. Miss her freshman year of high school and graduated from high future at GPRMC.” Elk City had four candidates: Lovelace, Boyce-Smith, Dar- school there. Her parents moved back here, though, and she More than 400 guests were in attendance at the gala, cy George and Britney Reyna. Miss Queen of the West had considers Elk City her home town. She is a sophomore who Tosh said. six candidates: Parker, Alexis Walker, Lynzie Herron, Faith has a double major of business administration and business Dinner, music from Souled Out and a live auction high- Steedman, Madison Clark and Lexi Neahring. management at NOC-Tonkawa. Her career goal is to earn lighted the gala, which was held at the Elk City Center “It’s an amazing feeling,” Lovelace said about winning her master’s in accounting and become a CPA or work for a Convention’s South Building. The black-tie event also in- Miss Elk City. “It’s like you put so much hard work into company like Edward Jones and becomea certified financial cluded a silent auction, open bar and wine raffle. Auction this, and then when you win, it’s always a surprise every See Competition page 2. items include everything from trips to domestic and for- eign locales to Gucci bags to sports memorabilia. Elk City private school Tosh said in an interview last month that the Foundation is the non-profit side of the hospital. It’s managed by a group by community members who help raise funds receives scholarship money Leadership Elk City now See Gala page 2. accepting applicants By Don Munsch, Editor People wanting to learn more about the community and gain leaderships skills can do so through Leadership Elk City, which is now taking applications for its next class. Leadership Elk City is a program of the Elk City Chamber of Commerce, and through Leadership Elk City classes one through six, 76 people have graduated and are now “actively engaged” throughout the community, said Jim Mason, LEC co-founder and co-chair, in a news release. The Elk City Chamber of Commerce is organizing its next leadership class and is accepting applications for Class VII. “Through once-a-month sessions, selected adult partici- Children from Western Oklahoma Christian School pose with others for a check for scholar- pants in Leadership Elk City will receive an intensive exam- ship money that was announced last week for the school. Staff photo by Don Munsch ination of Elk City, how it’s developed and what drives it,” Mason said in the release. “New perspectives for creative leadership will be developed with the goal of giving par- By Don Munsch, Editor the state and they can designate it to a school — not necessar- ticipants the foundation needed to expand leadership roles Western Oklahoma Christian School in Elk City received ily to a kid, but a school — and from that, we can take money, in work, in the community and their personal environment. scholarship money Thursday afternoon in a ceremony in provide a tax credit to the donor and in return we take that Participants will receive ‘The 5 Voices’ and ‘The 21 Irrefut- which representatives of the Opportunity Scholarship Fund money to low-income families and be able to support their able Laws of Leadership,’ which will be utilized throughout attended and presented a check. education at an accredited private school,” said Rob Sellers, the class sessions.” The school said the money would help 50 lower-income OSF executive director, after the check announcement cer- Applications are available at the Elk City Chamber of students receive an accredited private school education emony. “All of our schools have to be accredited.” Commerce and at City Hall. Those who are interested should thanks to the scholarships funded by donation to OSF. A. Sellers said the scholarships would pay for just a portion apply soon because class size is limited and the application check of $23,370 was given to the school from OSF. of the education. process is competitive. Deadline is Dec. 4. Tax credit scholarships use only privately donated money, “We just fill the gaps,” he said. The class is open to any adult with Elk City ties, either liv- according to the OSF, which is based in Tulsa and helps 67 During the ceremony, attended by the school’s children, ing or working in Elk City. A class of 10-12 participants will schools across the state. Sellers said his organization wants the opportunity to help be selected to join this distinguished program for 2020. The “What happens is we take in money from donors across See Scholarship page 2. See Leadership page 2. 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