DURANT, Okla. – The Durant Education and Service Sorority (DESS) Endowed Scholarship was commemorated Wednesday in a ceremony held at Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Welcome Center.

The DESS Endowed Scholarship was established through the Southeastern Foundation to benefit students attending Southeastern.

The DESS has its origins in Epsilon Sigma Alpha. In 1989, the members formed the Durant Education and Service Sorority for the purpose of benefitting our local community through education and community service.

In 1999, DESS members began contributing and earmarking funds to the Southeastern Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship. That goal has now been reached and members feel it will have a lasting impact for women seeking an education at Southeastern.

Funds to endow this scholarship have been made available through the generosity of this community. DESS’s main fundraiser each year is the Holiday Parade of Homes.

The scholarship will be awarded to women attending Southeastern and will be based on academic performance and need for financial assistance.

The DESS president is Shawn Shirey. The scholarship committee consists of Heather Burrage, Elizabeth Stidham and Abby Rogers. Past scholarship chair Mary Frank was instrumental in establishing and building this scholarship.

In addition to contributing scholarship funds, DESS annually supports funding for the Pregnancy Center, Crisis Control Center, Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, Durant Public Schools, Families Feeding Families and various other local causes.

Among those attending Wednesday’s scholarship ceremony were, front row, left top right, were Jenny Sanchez, Cindy Soltis, Polly Wilson, Diana Dale, and Mary Frank. Back Row, Kyle Stafford, Sharon Robinson, Abby Rogers, Heather Burrage, Elizabeth Stidham, Alisa Dorman, Gayla Barreras, Deneice Ridlehuber, and Southeastern president Larry Minks.