Citizen to continue education at University of Oklahoma

MCN Secretary of Education surprises student with acceptance package

MOUNDS, Oklahoma — When Muscogee (Creek) citizen and high school senior Christina Townsend was called to the office at Mounds High School in Mounds, Okla., she thought she was in trouble.

“That was the first thing that went through my mind,” she said. “I had no idea why I had to go to the office.”

However, on Sept. 17, Townsend received the surprise of her life when MCN Secretary of Education and Acting Tribal Administrator Greg Anderson made the announcement that she was accepted.

“(OU Gaylord College) Dean Ed Kelley wanted me to let you know that you have been accepted to the OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication,” Anderson said to Townsend. “Welcome to the family.”

Townsend said she was not sure if the OU Gaylord College wanted her.

“I was checking their website to see if I have been accepted and did not see any changes,” Townsend said.

Anderson’s announcement put her fears to rest.

“The dean made a personal call to me to let me know about your acceptance,” Anderson said. “They wanted you (Townsend) to feel welcome.”

Townsend said journalism is her career choice.

“I love writing, I love English (class) and I love talking,” she said. “This is what I was meant to do.”

She said copy editing is what she enjoys the most when it comes to journalism.

“I know it is editing that I want to go into when it comes to journalism,” Townsend said.

Mounds High School Counselor Sarah Deering said that Townsend is an overall excellent student and person and is happy she was accepted to OU.

“It is great knowing that Christina will be going to the school that she wanted to go to,” Deering said. “She gets to continue her education in journalism, which is her passion.”

Townsend said as soon as she went to Norman, Okla., to visit the campus, OU was the choice for her.

“No other choices, this is where I wanted to go,” she said.

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