Taryn McCaa of Elmore City was recently selected as the 2025 recipient of a $10,000 Merit Scholarship from Old Glory Bank.
The national scholarship, awarded to an incoming college freshman, focuses on recognizing the academic, service and leadership qualities of the recipient.
To be considered, applicants are required to be an Old Glory Bank account holder and meet minimum GPA requirements. Students were asked to submit a school transcript demonstrating their academic accomplishments, a resume outlining community involvement and leadership rolls, and a personal essay.
Following a blind review process, McCaa was selected as one of ten semi-finalists from across the nation to be considered by a panel of final judges, made up of community leaders and former educators.
“Taryn exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and service. Her journey reflects a powerful combination of intellect, passion, and perseverance – values that built America and which she will undoubtedly use in college and beyond to bless her community and our country,” Old Glory Bank said in a July 15 press release announcing McCaa as the 2025 Merit Scholarship recipient.
McCaa graduated from Elmore City-Pernell High School in May with an academic record that included holding a 4.38 weighted GPA, a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA, and the completion of 33 hours of concurrent college coursework.
An active member of Future Farmers of America and 4-H throughout her school career, she has held key leadership positions in both organizations, along with earning numerous awards and accolades.
She served on the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Youth Council and the American Farmers & Ranchers Youth Advisory Council. She has also been a four-time attendee of the AFR Youth Leadership Summit and represented her peers at numerous leadership events across the state.
She has competed in the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Tulsa State Fair and Garvin County Junior Livestock Show for nearly a decade. Her affiliations with the Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen's Association, Maine Anjou Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association further reflect her commitment to the agricultural community.
Beyond her leadership in agriculture, McCaa has made her mark in her school and community, serving as class president, student council vice president, and a member of the National Honor Society.
Her civic engagement includes organizing community service projects like clothing drives, food bag distributions, and veterans' outreach.
She has also been recognized as an Oklahoma Youth Expo Academic Allstate honoree and an Intertribal Agriculture Council Essay Finalist for three consecutive years.
McCaa plans to attend Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in Animal Science with a pre-veterinary concentration, with the goal of becoming a specialized equine veterinarian.
