Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance is one of twenty-one Oklahoma organizations that are now finalists for the prestigious Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards, presented annually by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP). Out of almost 19,000 nonprofits statewide, only twenty-one were named finalists.
“We are honored to be recognized as a finalist for this prestigious award,” said Levi Patrick, Executive Director at TRSA. “The OKCNP is the standard of excellence for nonprofits in Oklahoma. Their seal of approval is more than an award, it’s an affirmation that our organization is sound, and we are making an impact in Oklahoma.”
On April 22, 2023, finalists will join together at Tulsa’s Southern Hills Country Club to celebrate and hear the announcement of the 2023 ONE Awards winners. Finalists are divided into seven mission categories and receive $5,000, with category winners receiving $7,500. On the night of the event, an overall winner will be awarded $10,000 and the title of Oklahoma’s 2023 Nonprofit of Excellence. In total, this year’s finalists will receive $125,000 to recognize the impact of their charitable work throughout the state. As of 2022, the OKCNP ONE Awards has given more than $2 million to more than 200 Oklahoma nonprofits.
“We’ve made real progress but have a lot more to do to make if we are going to build a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce that is better equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” shared Patrick. “My hope is that this is an opportunity to bring more awareness to the amazing work of our partners who are prioritizing equitable STEM education for Oklahoma’s youth.”
Awards are presented in the following categories:
- Arts and Humanities
- Community
- Education
- General Impact
- Health Services
- Self-Sufficiency
- Youth Development
TRSA is one of three organizations in the education category, including ASTEC Charter Schools in Oklahoma City and Coffee Bunker in Tulsa. Click here for the complete list of finalists.
The finalists were chosen by the ONE Awards Selection Commission, a group of prestigious community leaders from across Oklahoma. The Commission, chaired by Phil Lakin, Jr., includes Kathie Coyle, Lisa Greenlee, Alana Hughes, Seth Fairchild, Courtney Knoblock, Sarah Roberts, Wendi Schuur, Meg Salyer, and Mary Kate Wilson.
“The ONE Award recipients are selected not only for the excellence of their program delivery and internal management,” said Lakin, “but also for their innovation, leadership in the sector, and response from the communities they serve.”
For more information about the ONE Awards, please visit www.okcnp.org/one-awards.
Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance leads the Tulsa area in cultivating impactful partnerships and learning pathways that inspire and prepare all youth with confidence and competence in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The organization is committed to deepening students’ STEM identity through career awareness, access to career pathways and opportunities, and exposure to STEM role models who look like them. TRSA strengthens the larger STEM ecosystem through its work with youth, families, educators, and partners.