Twahna Hamill one of the six recipients of the Batton Family Scholarship.
Batton Scholarship Spotlight: Twahna Hamill
(Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about the six recipients of the Batton Family Scholarship, offered since 2012 to Choctaw students who are nearing graduation at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.)
Twahna Hamill feels a deep connection to her ancestors. Her family hails from Bennington as well as the Choctaw Reservation in Mississippi. This has helped guide her path toward a Bachelor’s degree and now her pursuit of a Master’s in Native American Leadership.
Hamill was one of the first recipients of the Gary & Angie Batton Family Scholarship in 2012. The scholarship opened many doors for her, allowing her to concentrate on classes and participate in a Native Studies course that took her to the Natchez Trace in Mississippi.
“I loved it, it was beyond the experience of a lifetime,” she said. “I’ve been able to put that experience into my graduate courses in ethno-history.”
She also wrote an essay about her aunt Lorene Blaine, a revered Choctaw elder. Hamill’s academic journey has also allowed her to learn more about her Mississippi family.
“I feel like there is something that can complete you more as a person by knowing the experiences of your ancestors,” she said. “It enriched my life to know they left a great legacy.”
Soon after finishing under-graduate studies, Hamill took a job as a retention specialist with the Native American Center for Student Success at SE.
“Retaining students has been the best part, because I want to help them reach their goals,” she said. “I want to see them get to know their culture and pursue their passions, whatever it may be.”
This opportunity opened another door, and she has now accepted a position as a coordinator with the Choctaw Nation STAR (Student Talent and Retention) program.
Hamill is set to graduate in December with the Master’s degree and plans to continue her career in the fields of education and Native American history.
“My wife and I have always had a passion for giving back,” said Chief Gary Batton, also a board member of the Southeasteren Foundation. “I’m hoping that we can give another opportunity to our Choctaws. I know what it’s like to grow up in small town USA and go to off to school.”