Scholarship Spotlight: Laura Anthony
United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma is proudly dedicated to promoting Scottish and Celtic culture around the state of Oklahoma. The USCO Scholarship is a one-time funding gift awarded for needs in Scottish and Celtic culture endowments including the arts, education and athletics. Our scholarship is available to Oklahomans of all ages.
Our Recent Award Winner
Congratulations to Laura Anthony on qualifying for Scottish Masters Athletics International Highland Games Masters World Championship in Switzerland this fall! USCO President Will Arnett and Vice President Michael McDaniel presented Laura with a $2,000 scholarship on May 21st, 2023 to go towards her trip. Laura is an outstanding ambassador for the Scottish Community in Oklahoma and represents the state well in the Highland Athletic world!
A Letter from Laura
My journey into the Highland Games began in April 2021. My brother had seen a YouTube video of another athlete throwing hammer. He just knew he had to try it, and he decided he needed to recruit me too. I was honestly just humoring my brother in this endeavor with no intention of ever competing. I was just being the supportive big sister and being able to have an activity my brother and I could share. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with the sport, the culture, and the people.
The more I competed, the more I found myself closing in or landing on the podium. I was HOOKED!
My Highland Games career has been like riding a rocket ship. I went from being brand new in the summer of 2021 to finishing out my 2022 season ranked #2 in the Masters Women 40-49 class, second to one of our Pro class women. This year I was awarded an invitation to Masters World Championships in Nuendorf, Switzerland (August 25-27, 2023). After competing in the World Championship, I will leave and go to Scotland. This will be my first time there. A team of masters women from the USA will take the field at the Braemar Gathering (the one the Royal family attends). This will be the first time in history that women have thrown in this event. We will also take the field the following day in Blairgowrie and Rattray before coming back home.
What an opportunity for this small-town, unassuming, stay-at-home mom, and farmer from Oklahoma. I plan to serve you all proudly as I continue to take the field and grow in this sport!
