Calling on community ties, the Chickasha Public School Foundation (CPSF) has established two new $500 scholarships for Chickasha high school seniors to attend the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. One scholarship targets academic achievement; the other is based on financial need.

"The Chickasha Public School Foundation initially decided to create one USAO scholarship to recognize the importance of the college in our community," said Roddy McKenzie, CPSF foundation development director. Additional funds enabled the foundation to create a second scholarship.

"We decided to fund the $500 scholarship for 2007 with an auction at our annual Fall Banquet in 2006. The auction proved to be so successful that we were able to fund two $500 scholarships and just decided to do one merit and one need-based, realizing that there is a need for both types of scholarships."

The scholarships provide $500 for two students for the fall semester. Students may apply for the general scholarships through USAO.

Recipients are chosen by USAO's financial aid office.

"This reflects a substantial and longstanding linkage between the university and the community," said Dr. Michael Nealeigh, vice president for university advancement.

This year's scholarship recipients are recent Chickasha high school graduates Whitney A. Brown and Robert A. Story, Jr.

The recipients were recognized at the annual scholarship award program presented at the high school.

Glenn and Brenda McNatt, owners of Royal Filter Manufacturing, presented a $10,000 check to the Chickasha Public School Foundation's Bret Burns Thursday to assist in the purchase of new mats for the Chickasha High School wrestling room.

Their son Austin has been involved in the wrestling program for years, and they decided to make the contribution in honor of Austin's late grandfather, Gene A. McNatt, who passed away last year shortly after donating a new electronic scoreboard to the Ninnekah High School baseball program.

"My father was always an inspiration to me in the way he helped the youth of our community," Glenn said. "This is the first anniversary of his passing and this is a way I can keep his tradition alive." The mats in the wrestlers' practice room have been cracking and splitting from age and use, allowing perspiration and bacteria to get down into the thick foam backing. Some of the wrestlers actually got staph infections from working out on them last year. The school simply couldn't afford to replace them and the McNatts stepped up, donating a large portion of the funding. With the generous contribution, Superintendent Jim Glaze was able to secure school funding for the rest of the project.

"I've been blessed," McNatt said. "Austin's grown up with this group of kids and I've watched all of them grow from little boys into young men. I wanted to do something to help them out.

"Brett Burns and the Chickasha Public School Foundation and Superintendent Jim Glaze also need to be thanked for helping us to get this done," McNatt added.

Burns helped expedite the process of getting the money through channels so the mats could be ordered immediately and in place for the opening of school.

"Brett was the bridge," McNatt said with a chuckle.