Batton Scholar Spotlight: Kendra Germany
By Zach Maxwell
Choctaw Nation
(Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about the six recipients of the Batton Family Scholarship, which has been offered since 2012 to Choctaw students who are close to graduating at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.)
Durant, Okla. - Kendra Germany has always wanted to be a writer.
And her mother always urged her to seek out an education after graduating from Coleman High School. With those two goals in mind, she set her sights on a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
She used a combination of OHLAP funds and Choctaw Nation Higher Education grants to get most of the way through the financial portion of a four-year degree. But she needed that extra push to pave the way for her senior year.
In 2012, she was named one of the first recipients of the Gary & Angie Batton Family Scholarship. In 2013, she graduated with her journalism degree.
“It was an honor to be chosen. I was really thankful and proud that I was selected,” said Germany. “I’ve just always liked writing. I want to be somewhere in media, whether it be newspapers or magazines.”
She is currently working as a receptionist at her brother Dr. John Germany’s chiropractic office in Durant. She also recently accepted an opportunity to be a contributing writer for her tribal newspaper, the Biskinik.
The Germany siblings are the second generation of Choctaws in their family to attain college degrees. Their mother, Sheila, is a teacher at Coleman.
“My mom is the reason I got an education,” Kendra said. “She made sure we put education first.”
That guidance has helped steer the Germany siblings toward their goals and dreams.