Varnum High School student, Kerri Benard, has been awarded the 2021 Hagan Scholarship.

The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide scholarship that gives students the opportunity to graduate college debt-free. The scholarship will provide recipients with up to $48,000 while pursuing a degree at a four-year college. In addition to helping eliminate college debt, the scholarship will also provide free summer workshops for second and fourth-year recipients as well as the opportunity to study abroad.

“For me, winning the Hagan Scholarship is an absolute honor,” said Benard. Benard believes that winning the Hagan Scholarship has brought her one step closer to pursuing the career of her dreams and that the scholarship will open many doors for her.

"By lifting some of the financial burdens off of my parents and myself, I can focus solely on my education and integrating myself into success,” said Benard.

Benard will graduate from Varnum High School as the first senior in school history to also graduate

from Seminole State College with her associate's degree. Benard plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the Fall of 2021 and is hoping to complete her Bachelor's Degree in the next two years as an OSU student.

One of the things that Benard is looking forward to the most about college is rush week. Benard said that she has already toured OSU with a few current OSU students. “ I am certain that OSU is the place for me and I can't wait to see what is in store!”

Benard asked us to include a special thank you to her parents for teaching her to work hard and chase her dreams as well as her teachers at Varnum and the Varnum community as a whole. “Whether it be parents, fans, or my haters, every one of them has contributed to the person I am today!¨ said Benard.