Owasso Junior Receives Award
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
STATE RECOGNITION: On April 23, Owasso High School junior Gina Cordray accepted the Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent’s Awards for Arts Excellence in both the band and orchestra categories. Cordray received the award from State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister and Gary Beisly, grand master of the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma.
On April 23, Owasso High School junior Gina Cordray accepted the Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent’s Awards for Arts Excellence in both the band and orchestra categories.
Only eight people received the award in the band category and 11 students in orchestra this year within Oklahoma. Cordray was the only student in the state to receive awards in both band and orchestra.
Cordray, an Owasso native, plays percussion in the High School band. Her instruments include the drums, timpani and marimba. However, Cordray’s activities spread far beyond the band room.
Cordray is a member of the National Honor Society and next year, will serve as secretary. She is also on student council and the varsity cheer team. As a junior, she was enrolled in two Advanced Placement classes and, next year, will take four AP courses. In addition, she is very involved with her church, St. Henry Catholic Church, and teaches Sunday school there.
“Gina is the rare student who involves herself in a variety of activities and excels in all of them. And she doesn’t excel just off of raw talent. She works hard at everything: she puts in the hours and gets the reward at the end,” says Owasso schools band director Chris Barber.
Barber was the one who encouraged Cordray to apply for the award.
To be eligible, a student must be a high school junior or senior, have been selected to All-State Band or Orchestra, and have earned a superior rating at the State Solo and Ensemble contest or been selected to the summer Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain.
Qualifying students must apply with essays, show evidence of strong school and community involvement, and provide letters of recommendation from teachers.
Cordray began playing piano in first grade. In fifth grade, she began pursuing percussion, and she joined band in sixth grade.
With all of Cordray’s activities in school and beyond, music serves as a stress reliever, she says. “Music is a way for me to fill my mind and relax.”
With another year to go before high school graduation, Cordray has time to determine her career path, although she expects to pursue a career within the (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field, such as engineering or dentistry, and possibly a college minor in music.
“This award will have a profound impact for Gina on colleges and scholarships, as it validates not only her participation in the arts but her prowess as well,” Barber says.
Cordray received her award from State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, who commented on the award, “The State Superintendent Awards for Arts Excellence recognize high school seniors who have achieved artistic and academic excellence and have contributed service to their communities. I believe that students who excel in the arts acquire skills that are integrated into other areas of academic study and their adult lives. I recommend that school administrators, arts educators and community leaders encourage the participation of those students who meet the criteria for this honorary award.”
Updated 05-25-2015
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