Creative SPARKS! Awards, sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, recognize and award ideas, endeavors, solutions or activities that contribute to the well being of young Oklahomans and their education.  Winners receive scholarships, cash prizes and money for their classrooms that totaled over $19,000 for 2011.

“These students worked through a series of four lesson plans on creativity and then crafted an essay or project on creativity in Oklahoma,” said Susan McCalmont, president of Creative Oklahoma. “After judging over 130 entries, I can say the future of Oklahoma’s creative economy is bright.” 

The 2011 Creative SPARKS! Overall Award winners are:

• Overall Grand Prize Winner: Laenie Fletcher, senior at Edmond Memorial High School – One-year tuition waiver to any public university in Oklahoma; $2,500 for her classroom; and Creative SPARKS! Award plaque
• Grand Prize Winner (grades 7 – 12): Ashlyn Brown, 7^th grader at Oakdale Elementary School in Edmond - $2,500 for her classroom; $500 cash prize to student; and Creative SPARKS! Award plaque
• Grand Prize Winner (grades K – 6): Jace Taggart, 5^th grader at Angie Debo Elementary School in Edmond - $2,500 for classroom; $500 cash prize to student; and Creative SPARKS! Award plaque
• 2^nd Place Award: Morgan Smith, senior at Yukon High School - $1,750 for her classroom; $250 cash prize to student; and Creative SPARKS! Award plaque
• 3^rd Place Award: William Shorow, 5^th grader at Northern Hills Elementary in Edmond - $900 for his classroom; $100 cash prize for student; Creative SPARKS! Award plaque

Creative Oklahoma’s Innovation Grants award cash grants to encourage development of innovative ideas that contribute to the common good. Recipients of the award receive a cash grant in amounts that can range from $1,000 to $10,000.

“These grant winners are examples of innovative and creative people at work for a greater purpose,” said McCalmont. “We are glad to help them continue in their pursuits.”

The 2011 Innovation Grants winners are:

• Hip Hop + Change, a project of It’s My Community Initiative in Oklahoma City that uses hip hop to teach youth healthy decision making, critical thinking and leadership strategies - $2,500
• Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Future, a unique K-12/University partnership model of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and East Central High School in Tulsa focuses attention on increasing the number of creative, innovative and entrepreneurial citizens - $2,500
• Reading Explorers: Decoded, a project of Public Strategies DBA Pivot Concepts of Oklahoma City that is designed to stimulate students’ interest in reading - $2,500
• Life Legacy: A Lasting Impression of Wisdom, by Mount St. Mary High School teachers in Oklahoma City who bring students together with senior citizens to document their stories with visual impressions - $1,500
• Raisin’ Cain: A History of Cain’s Ballroom, by Raisin’ Cain Productions of Tulsa who are working to produce a documentary on the history of Cain’s Ballroom and the influence of Oklahoma musicians - $1,500
• Water for One Campaign, by Wishing Well of Oklahoma City that provides sustainable water wells in poverty-stricken areas of the world - $1,500