Healthcare Career Exploration Summit for High School Students Awards $25,000 in Scholarships, Hosted by OU Health

OU Health, the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system, awarded five $5,000 scholarships to high school students from across the Oklahoma City metro area on Nov. 4 during its Healthcare Career Exploration Summit.

The summit drew nearly 300 high school students from 12 school systems across the Oklahoma City metro, all eager to explore careers in healthcare. Through interactive presentations and hands-on demonstrations led by OU Health professionals, students learned directly from physicians, nurses and other experts about the many paths available in medicine and health sciences.

“At OU Health, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. This summit and these scholarships are an investment in Oklahoma’s future,” said Amanda Holguin, vice president, enterprise talent and culture at OU Health.

OU Health combines patient care with education and research to advance healthcare and train the next generation of medical professionals. The Healthcare Career Exploration Summit reflects that mission by introducing students to the diverse opportunities available in academic medicine, from clinical care to medical research and public health.

The hands-on activities gave students direct experience with specialized equipment and advanced technology used across the University of Oklahoma Health Campus, including hospitals, clinics, teaching labs and classrooms.

“Seeing students engage with our team and explore healthcare careers is incredibly rewarding. This summit opens doors and sparks ambition,” said Holguin.

The five $5,000 scholarships were randomly awarded to participants during the event. The scholarships support OU Health's commitment to developing Oklahoma's future healthcare workforce and ensuring students have access to educational opportunities in medicine and healthcare.

Scholarship recipients include:

• Emma Grace Stafford of Southmoore High School
• Wyzanae Love of Douglass High School
• Chad P. Billings of Star Spencer High School
• Thi Quyah Nhi Vo of Southmoore High School
• A student from Capitol Hill High School (name withheld at the student’s request)

For Wyzanae Love, the Healthcare Career Exploration Summit solidified her dream of becoming a labor and delivery and pediatric nurse.

“I thought I was going to cry. I’ve always wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse, because I just love babies,” she said. “This scholarship is a bigger push forward. For me, it’s very exciting. This day was just a great experience. I had never been to a health event like this before.”

Chad Billings was shocked when his name was called as a scholarship winner, but now his future in healthcare is more attainable, he said.

“I had pharmacy in the back of my mind, and this scholarship definitely makes it easier to get into this field,” he said. “Originally, I was planning on entering the military to get into college, so this definitely helps me.”

For families across Oklahoma, events like the Healthcare Career Exploration Summit mean their children can see themselves in healthcare careers and understand the pathways to get there. Students who train and build careers in Oklahoma are more likely to stay and serve communities across the state.

OU Health regularly hosts educational programs and community events as part of its broader mission to serve Oklahoma through clinical excellence, groundbreaking research and workforce development.

For more information about educational opportunities and programs at OU Health, visit OUHealth.com/Careers.