Kingfisher High School senior Morgan Snowden was named recipient of Kingfisher County Republican Women’s sixth annual Marie Cooper Memorial Scholarship at a banquet Monday night.

Snowden, the daughter of Mark and Karen Snowden, was one of three finalists for the $1,000 scholarship distributed over four semesters.

The scholarship was created by KCRW to honor Cooper after her death in 2013.

Cooper was a fixture in local, state and national Republican politics for nearly half a century.

She was a member of Bellmon’s Belles, the group of women organized more than 40 years ago by Henry Bellmon’s first wife, Shirley, to help Bellmon become the state’s first Republican governor.

A long time member of Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women, the state’s largest women’s political organization, Cooper served as the second vice president and then was elected state treasurer in 1987.

In 2003, Cooper was a founding member of KCRW and was active in writing and rewriting its bylaws as well as a regular participant in club meetings and activities up until her death.

“But her greatest contribution to our political system was her keen interest in getting young people involved,” KCRW President Christine Reid said in her remarks. “So when we lost Marie in 2013, we could think of no more fitting tribute than this scholarship created in her honor that would help young people with higher education expenses while also encouraging their interest in the U.S. Constitution and the political process.”

The scholarship is presented based in large part on a 500-word essay on the Bill of Rights, plus academic excellence, leadership and community services.

Former scholarship winners have included Jill Mencke and Jenna Tar-rant of Hennessey, Jordan Cox of Okarche and Shane Soudek and Cricket Kaya of Kingfisher.

Snowden and the other finalists, fellow KHS seniors Peyton Burns and Tyler Borelli, read their essays aloud prior to the announcement of the scholarship winner.

Snowden is one of the honor graduates of the Class of 2019, is a 4.0 Award recipient and regularly listed on the superintendent’s honor roll.

She has received outstanding achievement awards in a number of subject areas, has been named student of the month as well as student of the year in Spanish II.

Snowden is a member of the Mercy Hospital Kingfisher Student Careers Council, served as National Honor Society secretary and also is a member of the Oklahoma Honor Society.

She plans to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University and major in accounting.

Her essay focused on the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom.

“Currently, we are free to practice whatever religion we wish without the fear of state sponsored persecution,” she wrote in part.

“We are free to gather together in worship centers or practice religious ceremonies. We can attend schools or other institutions without pressure to follow a certain religion. If we did not have this protection, Americans would be fearful to practice religious ceremonies or gather with other members of the same faith.

“Without the First amendment, there would be nothing stopping the government or other citizens from attacking, imprisoning, or ostracizing religious groups.

“In addition, a state-sponsored religion could be established. American citizens would be forced to convert to the religion of the government despite their true beliefs.”

Borelli is the son of Greg and Vaynna Borelli and is a member of National Honor Society, Student Council, the KHS leadership class, Business Professionals of America and is a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Youth Group and is a Sunday school teacher.

He served as a page for both State Sen. Darcy Jech and State Rep. Mike Sanders during this legislative session, is listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll, earned a KHS distinguished achievement medal for valor and was an all-district receiver for the Kingfisher Yellowjackets.

He plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in agribusiness.

‘We as American citizens are blessed with so many rights that are not given in any other country,” Borelli wrote in his essay.

“Our founding fathers laid the foundation of our republic in answer to the tyrant rule we were under for so long by the British.

“Men, women and children fought and still continue the fight to ensure our amendments are unchanged so that we live in one nation under God.”

Burns is the son of Ryan and Lori Burns and participated as a moderator in the From Now On student-led gubernatorial debate and served as a page for Rep. Sanders, where he was elected student governor for the week by his fellow pages.

He is a member of the repeat national champion FFA chapter, was named an academic all stater at Oklahoma Youth Expo, served on the youth advisory council for American Farmers and Ranchers and is a finalist for a state FFA office.

Burns’ individual contributions to the FFA chapter’s success include participating on national competition teams in livestock judging, marketing, parliamentary procedure and agriculture issues forum.

He’s also competed nationally in individual speaking contests and participated in leadership conferences, conventions and camps at both the state and national levels.

Burns also is a member of the KHS golf team, winning a number of individual and team awards in the sport.

His community service includes working as a campaign volunteer for Gov. Kevin Stitt and U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, volunteering as a youth golf camp coach, with the Linus Project, the Gold Star Classic Special Needs Livestock Show, local blood drives and food and toys drives and more.

Burns plans to attend OSU and major in agribusiness or ag communications.

In his essay, Burns wrote in part:

“This country was created on freedom of speech. It was one of the core reasons why the patriots sought independence from Great Britain.

“They wanted a voice and their own government, and we have that ability here in the United States. Our freedom of speech is greater than any power that any country has.

“You do not see people wanting to immigrate into socialist countries like Venezuela and Russia. People want to come into the United States because we are the greatest country in the world and offer the freedoms of speech and religion that are important in preserving our nation’s values.”

The scholarship winner and finalist certificates were presented by Reid and fellow KCRW scholarship judges Lacey Dunivin and Tiffany Wagner.

Kaci Farrar served as banquet committee chairman.