All-in for his education
Gabriel Louis earns the Gates Millennium Scholarship
During the 2013-14 school year, Gabriel Louis walked the halls of Durant High School. In the fall of 2014 he will advance to the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, and will do so as one of the select few to earn a Gates Millennium Scholarship. This good-through-graduation scholarship is awarded to a limited number of students in the United States and is based on merit and educator evaluation.
This prestigious award, combined with a handful of additional scholarships through OSU, will allow Louis to pursue his education in the field of computer engineering. His interest in technology and knack for machines, combined with his appreciation for OSU led him toward this path.
With such a well-paved road to success before him, Louis can attribute his current state to his dedication. “From the time he came into my class in 9th grade, he was not going to accept being satisfactory,” stated Neta Newton, math instructor for Durant High School.
Louis studied under Newton for three years of pre-AP math, and AP Calculus during his senior year. As a reference towards his application to Gates, Newton speaks of Louis’s attitude towards academics as “always willing to go the extra distance.”
Being recognized for his efforts in the classroom, Louis has been a regular on the Durant Superintendent’s Honor Roll. He seized the title of honor graduate as he remained in the top 10 percent of his class, and earned membership in the Oklahoma, Oklahoma Indian and National Honor Societies.
Beyond the classroom, he was also involved in football, a sport he has played since early childhood and received honorable mention as all-district cornerback in his senior year. Holding multiple offices in the student council through the years and remaining active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes are also elements to his résumé which helped clinch the Gates. Piano has also been a passion in Louis’s youth. Playing his first notes at the age of 10, he advanced his skill to play the music of classic composers and eventually grace the stage of state competitions where he received a superior rating. He plans to expand his musical talents in the future with study of the violin.
Throughout his life, education has been of utmost importance. He credits his mother, Terry Louis, as a key to his success. “She always demanded a lot and never let me just ‘get by’,” stated Louis as he humbly explained where he learned the importance of applying all his effort.
“He’s always had the desire to excel in everything he does – mediocre didn’t cut it,” stated Terry as she spoke of her son’s success. “I look forward to the next chapter in his life and where it will lead him. It has been a blessing that he was selected as a Gates scholar and I give God all the glory.”
Gabe reads along with a student, providing guidance.
Currently, Louis is employed through the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) where he serves as a positive role model in the classroom at Washington Irving Elementary School in Durant. Washington Irving, participating in the Choctaw Nation Partnership of Summer School Education (POSSE) initiative, is hosting summer classes for young area children.
Louis functions as a tutor and facilitator of daily activities. “I like mentoring kids – trying to get them on the right track,” Louis stated. This is his second year in this position. Before working with POSSE, he spent his summers serving the Choctaw Nation Child Care Development Center.
“Gabe is a great role model for our students. His leadership skills are very evident,” stated Lisa Whitley, Louis’s summer supervisor, as she mentioned his positive impact on students.
Spreading his knowledge of creating a high school résumé desirable to scholarship donors, Louis stated, “Don’t get discouraged. Keep applying and don’t let yourself get lazy or develop bad habits.” He also recommends that tribal members utilize the programs offered by their tribes, mentioning that Choctaw Nation Education had been significantly helpful in his academic efforts.