Scholar Athletes
Colon scholarship winner: Bishop McGuinness' Gabe Ikard
Gabe Ikard was slacking.
That was the only explanation his parents could muster when they received his academic progress report from Bishop McGuinness earlier this spring. Maybe those football recruiting visits distracted him. Maybe basketball season sidetracked him. Jim and Becky Ikard knew something had to be done, so they decided to talk with their youngest son as soon as he came home.
Read Gabe Ikard's bio
Watch Ikard's video interview with Jenni Carlson
Runner-up scholarship winners
Carl Albert: Zach Aylor
1 
Athletics: Won Class 5A state wrestling title at 189 pounds as a senior, earning first-team All-City honors. Will wrestle at Central Michigan.
Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.2. Scored 27 on ACT. Student council officer.
Deer Creek: Dax Dilbeck
0 
Athletics: Honorable mention All-State and honorable mention Little All-City quarterback as a senior. Will play football at Oregon State.
Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.2. Valedictorian. Scored 26 on the ACT
Tuttle: Sterling Koons
0 
Athletics: Honorable mention All-State and honorable mention Little All-City in football as a senior. Will play football at Air Force.
Academics: Grade point average of 4.2. Scored 30 on the ACT. National Honor Society. Oklahoma Honor Society.
Colon scholarship winner: Edmond Santa Fe's Constance Ezugha
Constance Ezugha pushed herself through her afternoon workout earlier this spring, sweating and straining.
On the other side of the track, Edmond Santa Fe High School coach James Edwards watched the team’s star. He stopped a freshman and pointed across the track at Ezugha. "She looks like she’s training for an Olympics,” the youngster said to Edwards, wide-eyed.
Read Constance Ezugha's bio
Watch Ezugha's video interview with Jenni Carlson
Cashion: Bailey Welch
0 
Athletics: First-team Class A All-State and first-team Little All-City in basketball as senior. Led team to 2007 state title.
Academics: Grade point average of 3.9. Scored 20 on ACT. Concurrent college enrollment. National Honor Society.
Edmond Memorial: Jill Enge
0 
Athletics: State swimming champion in 100 breaststroke as a senior. First-team All-City selection all four years of high school. Will swim at Evansville
Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.1. March of Dimes Sports Headliner Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Westmoore: Katelin Cherry
0 
Athletics: Four-time first-team All-City selection and three-time state runner-up. Won three state championships in track and was first-team All-City for three years.
Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. Scored 31 on the ACT. Fellowship of Christian Athletes president.
View the School Representatives
About the Bob Colon scholarships
How it's done
The quest to honor the best scholar-athletes began last fall with a mailing to every high school in the Oklahoma City area. It ends today with the announcement of our 2009 Scholar-Athletes.
Who was eligible? Seniors who attend Oklahoma City-area high schools.
How were they nominated? By their schools. A school could nominate as many as three students, who completed a form detailing their athletic and academic achievements. A faculty letter of recommendation was also requested.
Is there a minimum grade point average or standardized test score required? No.
What was the formula for evaluation? Evaluations were based 60 percent on athletics, 40 percent on academics, and excellence was valued over mere participation. For example, a student who played only one sport but played it at a high level received higher consideration that one who played three sports but never started.
How were the school winners chosen? Three members of The Oklahoman's staff evaluated each school's nominations and determined a winner for each school.
How were the scholarship winners selected? A panel that included Oklahoman staff members evaluated the school winners, selecting the top 10 girls and the top 10 boys. Then, a 10-member panel ranked those girls and boys. Their rankings helped determine the overall winners and the runners-up.
Constance Ezugha and Gabe Ikard
How it's judged
A big thank you to all of the scholar-athlete judges, particularly the 10 members of the final judging panel:
Kim Holland: Oklahoma insurance commissioner
Rich Cho: Oklahoma City Thunder assistant general manager and legal counsel
Samantha Woodward: 2008 Bob Colon Scholarship winner
George Overbey: 2008 Bob Colon Scholarship winner
Mike Sherman: Oklahoman sports editor
Darla Smith: Oklahoman assistant sports editor
Scott Munn: Oklahoman assistant sports editor
Ryan Aber: Oklahoman high school sports reporter
Brandon Chatmon: Oklahoman high school sports reporter
Justin Harper: Oklahoman high school sports reporter
