June Undergraduate Student of the Month

Scholarship: SPGSF, Wells Fargo Undergraduate and Accenture
School: Oklahoma State University
Degree: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

GPA: 4.0

Bio

Coming from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Cory has been born and raised in not just Oklahoma but within the Native American heritage. Cory was born in the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma. He was then raised through high school in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma capital: Durant, Oklahoma. Upon graduating high school, Cory attended Oklahoma State University to begin studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. While at Oklahoma State University (OSU), Cory has been able to maintain a perfect 4.00 GPA while finishing 98 credit hours. While attending OSU, Cory has been able to get involved with like-minded individuals through scholarship and leadership organizations such as President’s leadership Council and CEAT Scholars. Through both organizations, Cory has gotten to show leadership through volunteer opportunities. Both organizations encourage Cory to get out into the community and give back. Coming into college, Cory found some part time work officiating intramural volleyball games for OSU. However, moving forward, He looked for a more stable job. In September of 2023, Cory began working at Payne County Youth Services as a part time receptionist. He would do day-to-day receptionist tasks such as filing and managing calls. Cory would get up to 16 hours a week to go with his already extensive class schedule. Eventually Cory decided to begin looking for a job that was in line with his career objectives. Consequentially, Cory applied to and was accepted into an Internship at ASCO Aerospace LLC. in Stillwater, Oklahoma. At this job Cory manages tasks that look to increase efficiency in the production phase of airplane parts. He has been with them since October 2024. Everything Cory has done in college has been to promote his success in the real world. In fact, he has completed one internship, is currently working an internship, and accepted another. Cory worked throughout the Summer of 2024 with Air Hygiene where he was able to travel the country testing Air stack Emissions. As for the future, Cory has accepted a job for the Summer of 2025 with ONEOK Oil and Natural Gas. He will begin work in their hydraulics Department. In the future, Cory is looking forward to finding a job that can support his future family. Because family is such a big part of his life, he would love to stay around Oklahoma and look for developing Aerospace jobs within Native American Operations. Cory would love to give back to a community that has blessed him so greatly. Native Forward was there to lift me up over the ledge and cover all remaining costs on my student balance. As I entered my junior year, I had just completed an internship and was finally somewhat financially stable. Unfortunately, two days before school started, I got into a car wreck that cost me almost all my school savings. Almost on cue, Native Forward once again came through with aid for me in the upcoming school year. I say all this to state: without Native Forward I would not be able to be the student and person that I strive to be. Native forward has lifted me up and given me chance after chance to succeed. When I begin to lose hope, Native Forward shows that there is not only a community that believes in me, but a community that will push me to succeed. Being a Native Forward Scholar gives more than monetary value. It gives me the courage to continue in my endeavors. It encourages me to forge my own destiny and help create positive Change for all Native Americans alike. To me, Native Forward is a solid foundation to lean on.

Want to be our next Student of the Month? Apply here!