Newsroom | 2026 News Releases

Four students receive scholarships to pursue careers serving rural Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma awarded four $5,000 scholarships to high school students participating in the Oklahoma Youth Expo. The 2026 scholarship recipients are: Macy Biddy (Thomas-Fay-Custer), Jade Cook (Elmore City-Pernell), Mia McGowen (Wister FFA) and Timber Mefford (Tillman County 4-H).

Since 2013, BCBSOK has partnered with OYE to provide over $250,000 in scholarships to 52 high school seniors. The annual grants recognize high school seniors who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and a commitment to serving rural communities through careers in health care. Each recipient plans to pursue a career in medicine with the goal of returning to rural Oklahoma to improve access to care.

“Access to quality health care in rural Oklahoma depends on thoughtful, long-term investments in people and communities,” said J.T. Petherick, AVP State Government Relations, BCBSOK. “These students represent the future of that effort, and we are proud to support their path towards serving rural communities across our state.”

Access to care remains one of the most pressing challenges facing rural Oklahoma. By supporting students who are committed to practicing in underserved areas, BCBSOK is helping build a sustainable health care workforce pipeline that preserves local care and strengthens community health outcomes.

“The Oklahoma Youth Expo proudly invests more than $350,000 each year in academic scholarships for our graduating seniors, made possible by committed partners like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma," said Tyler Norvell, president of the Oklahoma Youth Expo. "Through their livestock projects, our exhibitors learn responsibility, discipline and how to care for something beyond themselves, skills that translate directly into careers in healthcare and service to others. Many of these young people live in, and will return to, rural communities where quality healthcare is critically important. We are deeply grateful for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma’s continued investment in the future of Oklahoma’s agricultural youth.”

For more information about BCBSOK’s community investments and rural health initiatives, click here.

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
For more than 85 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has been committed to meeting the health care financing needs of Oklahomans. As the state's oldest and largest private health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma provides health care benefit plans for more than 850,000 Oklahomans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Oklahoma Youth Expo
The Oklahoma Youth Expo is the largest youth event in the state of Oklahoma. As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, more than 8,500 exhibitors, their educators and families travel to Oklahoma City each spring from all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties to exhibit their livestock projects. Throughout the course of the elevenday event, OYE has a $25 million impact on Oklahoma City. For more information about the Oklahoma Youth Expo visit okyouthexpo.com. 

Media Contacts

BCBSOK
Tricia Ament
Tricia_Ament@bcbsok.com

Oklahoma Youth Expo
JD Rosman
jd@okyouthexpo.org