Rich Mobley sees a lot of the students coming through his office door wanting to stay in town for college.
Mobley, senior guidance counselor at Ottawa High School helps students in the direction of their college choices.
“Since I coach football at Ottawa University and work for OHS, I’m an actual liaison for the schools,” Mobley said. “We absolutely want to build ties.”
This year, Mobley went to a meeting at OU and was introduced to the idea of a scholarship strictly for students graduating from OHS.
Laurie White, freshman was the first recipient of the new Ottawa High Achiever scholarship. Candidates were first judged on their grades, extracurricular activities, ACT score and church involvement. Interviews were conducted to choose the winner of the scholarship.
White secured four years of full tuition paid, but sees more in her award.
“It’s a huge honor,” White said. “With it being the first time for the award, it meant a lot to receive it. I feel really privileged.”
Money also influenced Sarah McAdoo, junior, in her choice in coming to OU but she’s found other positives in attending the university.
“I really enjoy going to college in the same town I have grown up in,” McAdoo said. “I have the opportunity to still be involved in my younger siblings’ lives and seeing my extended family; and it sure makes doing laundry easy!”
Rebekah Seymour, junior, finds that OU grew on her after her decision to come here also. The ease of her transition was amplified in knowing the town.
“Unlike some students who come to Ottawa and can’t handle the small town life, I love my home town,” Seymour said. “I already know what restaurants are the best and where to take my car if it is having problems.”
Even as a first year, White is looking to use her home town connections even in the future.
“It helps a lot to know where everything is, where I can go for things to do,” White said. “One of the important things I already have established is job opportunities and connections.”
Mobley finds that it isn’t unusual for students of OHS to be comfortable at OU.
“It’s a combination of two things: one, it’s close to home, not everyone wants to get away, and two, the kids have a lot of respect for OU,” Mobley said. “The students from Ottawa know the community and the University.”