The OURA Scholarship Committee and the OU Scholarship Office are pleased to announce the selection of junior Biochemistry/Pre-Med major Breanne Roberts and junior Chemical Engineering major Hannah Seyoum as recipients of the OURA Endowed Scholarship for 2024.
The 20-year-old Breanne is the eldest of four children from a single-parent household in Grove, OK, a small town in the northeastern part of the state near the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees. Her hobbies include baking, reading, watching movies/TV, and traveling when she has the chance. "I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a doctor," she writes, "and I even shadowed my childhood primary care physician in high school to get an idea of what being a doctor is like. He was the same doctor who delivered me, and he made sure to tell the patients he saw ... how he had seen me from birth to a young woman ready to start my journey to become a doctor." Breanne chose OU because she is an Oklahoma's Promise student, and her dream is to attend the OU College of Medicine. "I wanted to become more familiar with the Norman/OKC area, and I also knew OU could be a great college to prepare me for medical school. I am majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Spanish. I chose Biochemistry due to my interest in the complexities of the human body and its processes. I chose Spanish because I had taken classes in high school and loved learning the language. I also knew that Spanish would be really helpful for my career, as Oklahoma has a growing Hispanic population and I want to be able to communicate with patients properly to provide them with the best possible care. With this idea in mind, I plan on studying in Puebla, Mexico this coming summer. The pre-health program there will teach me about Mexico's healthcare system as well as familiarizing me with medical terminology in Spanish."
Breanne is enormously thankful to have been selected for the 2024 OURA Endowed Scholarship and expresses her sincere gratitude to the Association's members, Board, and Scholarship Committee for this honor.
The 19-year-old Hannah was born and raised in Edmond, OK by "her wonderful mother," enjoys singing, watching movies, practicing the guitar, and playing with her dog, and is a big sudoku fan. At OU she is majoring in Chemical Engineering on a pre-medical track with a minor in vocal music. "Since childhood," she writes, I have always dreamed of becoming a scientist, a doctor, or both! Growing up, I watched my mother study for her nursing exams and proudly saw her become an RN, which deepened my interest in the medical field. In high school I loved chemistry and wanted to learn how to apply it to real-world challenges, especially in medicine, which led me to my current degree path." "I chose to minor in music," she continued, "because singing has been a passion of mine since the 5th grade. I have participated in various choirs, show choruses, and musicals, and wanted a way to continue expressing myself creatively in college. Music enriches the soul, I believe, and I am excited to continue growing and improving my technique." Hannah currently works as a virtual scribe for urgent care centers, where she is learning valuable skills in medical documentation and terminology. She also serves as a resident advisor (RA) in Walker Tower, which allows her to share her experiences with students and help foster a sense of community at OU. "Both roles have been rewarding opportunities for growth," she adds, "and I look forward to continuing my academic and personal journey here at OU."
Addressing the OU Retrees Association, Hannah writes: "I am sincerely grateful to be selected as a recipient of your scholarship. As a Chemical Engineering major on the pre-med track and a vocal music minor, I am excited to pursue my passions in chemistry and medicine. Your support motivates me to strive for excellence in everything I do, and it inspires me to give back to my community and help others, just as you have helped me. Thank you again for believing in my potential. I am truly honored to receive this scholarship, and I look forward to making the most of the opportunities it has afforded me."
