Oklahoma achievers: Edmond wins tourism award; local youths earn Eagle Scout

Oklahoma Army National Guardsman wins NetWars

Oklahoma Army National Guardsman 1st Lt. Makya Stell, assigned to the 205th Network Signal Company, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, wins the annual “NetWars” games during the Cyber Shield training event held at the Virginia National Guard State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach this month.

NetWars Cyber Shield is the longest-running and largest Department of Defense cyber exercise composed of about 900 Guard and Army Reserve soldiers, airmen, civilian cyber professionals, and international partners from across the globe.

Stell was the first woman to have ever won the “NetWars” games as an individual player.

Edmond wins three tourism awards

Visit Edmond and three local tourism partners won awards at the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association’s annual RedBud Awards, sponsored by Edmond Electric.

The state-wide RedBud Awards Ceremony recognizes Oklahoma tourism attractions and destination marketing organizations for their outstanding efforts to serve and promote Oklahoma’s tourism industry.

The Tourism Award winners are:

Edmond Farmer’s Market won a RedBud award for Outstanding Agritourism Attraction. This award recognizes an attraction that features entertainment and a strong marketing and public relations effort that contributes to the overall tourism industry.

Edmond Arts Festival won a Merit Award to Outstanding Event. This award recognizes a festival that presents a creative and unique activity and utilizes effective marketing and public relations to attract tourists.

KickingBird Golf won a Merit Award for Outstanding Attraction. This award recognizes an attraction that has made marked improvements in the facility, has a strong educational value and features marketing and public relations that contributes to the overall tourism industry.

Metro-area youths earn Eagle Scout rank

Ten metro-area students, from Troop 120 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Nichols Hills, have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank within the Boy Scouts of America program.

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Boy Scout must progress through five ranks, earn at least 21 merit badges, serve six months in a troop leadership position, plan, develop and provide leadership to a service project for a school, community or religious organization and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Eagle Scout rank awarded to:

• Seth Broussard built a shelf and work-desk for administration at Christ the King Catholic School.
• Andrew de Keratry built three “Buddy Benches” for the playgrounds at three local schools to encourage kids to help those who might be feeling left out or having a rough day.
• Michael Dolan designed and built a custom shelving unit for a Pre-K class at Christ the King Catholic School.
• Andrew Elder built a stone fire pit with seating for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Camp in Welston.
• Collin Lipps built a masonry block retaining wall for a campsite at Arcadia Lake for the City of Edmond.
• Liam Mullins project entailed a demo and rebuild of a fence at Santa Fe Family Life Center.
• Graham Nichols designed and built custom bookshelves for Michelle Pierce’s Pre-K class at Christ the King Catholic School.
• William Oldfield built three shelving units at the Sanctuary Women’s Development Center, a day shelter for homeless women and children.
• Austin Shumsky built a large shelving unit for a teacher’s classroom at Horace Mann Elementary School.
• Tucker Tebow built 4 benches for Western Oaks Elementary School.

To be considered for this column, please email achievement announcements and photos to DLindauer@Oklahoman.com .

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma achievers: Edmond wins tourism award; local youths earn Eagle Scout