CV Tech student receives full scholarship to UCO
EL RENO — The medical industry is like a vast expanse, Megan Gay said. So many career options exist that she had to explore more before jumping in, she said. Gay, 18, a Yukon High School senior, enrolled in biomedical sciences at Canadian Valley Technology Center with a goal of exploring advanced medical studies before college. The full-time program is offered to juniors and seniors in surrounding high schools and includes the study of anatomy, cell biology, genetics and disease research as part of Project Lead the Way curriculum. The two-year academy emphasizes biomedical knowledge and projects as well as academics.
Gay has attended the program faithfully for a half-day for two years and is just weeks away from graduation. One of the biggest payoffs for that investment to date has just occurred, she said. Gay has been awarded the Institutional Baccalaureate Scholarship at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. In laymen’s terms, the announcement represents the offer of a full-ride scholarship, which covers 18 hours of tuition every semester for four years. Gay credits the college-prep curriculum provided through biomedical sciences.
“Biomedical sciences has given me knowledge of every aspect of this field, and I’m excited to explore it further in college,” she said. Scholarship requirements include a minimum score of 30 on the ACT exam and an unweighted grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. There is also an interview process in which other achievements and activities are explained before a scholarship selection committee, she said. Gay will pursue an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and plans to attend medical school in order to become an orthopedic surgeon. “My favorite part of biomedical sciences is learning about medical interventions,” she said.
“The technology that has been created to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses is impressive, and I would love to be able to design equipment to better the lives of people in need.”
Gay is the daughter of James and Lorie Gay, both of Yukon.