Northwestern Foundation Release
Karen G. Johnson, Northwestern alumna and daughter to Frank and Lourine Smith, honors her parents’ generosity and passion for education with the W. Frank and Lourine Smith Scholarship.
Growing up in rural northwestern Oklahoma and recipient of scholarships while in school, Johnson was able to pursue her education at Northwestern. This led her to the University of Oklahoma Medical Technology Program, where she was certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Technology.
Johnson’s experience at Northwestern and her parents’ emphasis on philanthropy inspired her to give back. “They stressed and encouraged philanthropy and supporting local businesses,” Johnson said. She wants to see Northwestern and the community continue to thrive.
Frank and Lourine Smith instilled the value of education and work ethic throughout their daughter’s upbringing. They encouraged her to pursue her dreams and left her with long-lasting words of wisdom: “Education can never be taken away from you.”
Johnson hopes the scholarship will benefit students who are wanting to pursue a career as a medical technologist. Full-time, continuing students majoring in biology or chemistry with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average are eligible for the W. Frank and Lourine Smith Scholarship. Preference will be given to northwest Oklahoma residents and those studying to become a medical technologist. The scholarship may be applied toward university-related expenses, such as tuition, fees, room, board or books.
For more information on the W. Frank and Lourine Smith Scholarship, or about investing in Northwestern students, call Skeeter Bird, Northwestern Foundation CEO, at 580-327-8599 or email him at aebird@nwosu.edu.
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