November Student of the Month

Scholarship: Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund
School: Oklahoma Baptist University
Degree: Biology
GPA: 3.72

Community Service

• Bison Buddies Mentoring Program
• Give Back Shawnee
• Native American Student Association
• Native American Food Night Organizer
• Native American Angel Tree Shopping
• STEM Day Volunteer
• Shawnee Boys and Girls Club Volunteer
• Green Bandana Mental Health Advocate

My name is Rylie Spaulding, I am from Wagoner, Oklahoma, and am a member of Muscogee Creek Nation Tribe. I am in my senior year at Oklahoma Baptist University. I graduated with an Associate’s Degree from Connors State College while in high school through concurrent enrollment, the first Native American student to accomplish that from both my high school and Connors State College. As a result of my success in the concurrent enrollment system, I was featured in a national news article in “The Guardian,” highlighting my achievement. I graduated as my class valedictorian in 2022, and received numerous awards and scholarships. At Oklahoma Baptist University, I was recruited to play NCAA golf. I also received the state Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame scholar and national LPGA and Western Women’s Golf Scholar. In addition, I am on the executive committee of Pi Sigma Phi, a member of the Native American Student Association, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, Age to Age Volunteer, Green Bandana Project Volunteer, Council for Exceptional Children Volunteer, and Bison Buddies Mentoring Program Volunteer. I have been recognized with the Oklahoma Elks Foundation Most Valuable Student award, Oklahoma Indian Honor Society, National Indigenous Recognition Program Winner from College Board, and Muscogee Creek Nation Foundation Freshman and Health Systems Scholar. It is my honor to be recognized by Native Forward for my academic and athletic achievements through being selected as a Native Forward Post Graduate Science Scholar. It is truly humbling to receive the national award and represent my Tribal community through my achievements. My educational goal is to attend a Physician’s Assistant program to ultimately serve the healthcare needs of my Tribal community in the state of Oklahoma. 

Want to be our next Student of the Month? Apply here!