During the week of June 8th, Echo Director of People & Culture, Yassamine Ebadat, gathered with members of the OU Athletics department and teachers and students from Oklahoma schools to present winning checks for the Echo Energy-sponsored Sooner Sketches competition.
It was just like any other year of check presentations – except it was done completely virtually.
With happy smiles and slightly nervous energy, the group sat around on Zoom – some miles away from each other – and listened as Chris Plank, popular OU TV and radio host, facilitated the virtual check presentation and Sooner, one half of the Boomer and Sooner OU mascots, presented the check. The group discussed Echo Energy’s commitment to arts education, the current challenges schools across Oklahoma are facing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the successful partnership between OU and Echo Energy.
The 2019-2020 winning students and schools include:
- Savannah Waltman (fourth grade) at Heritage Trails Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma
- Luke Lohman (sixth grade) at Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid, Oklahoma
- Cassandra Gatlin (fourth grade) at Timber Creek Elementary in Moore, Oklahoma
Each school will receive $1,000 to provide much-needed art supplies and programming. Throughout the Sooner Sketches art contest, Echo Energy will donate $30,000 to fund art programs throughout Oklahoma public schools.
The winning artwork from the Sooner Sketches competition will be featured in the Echo Energy Art Gallery at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium each season.