Photo caption: From left: Jennifer Bighorse, Alison Black, Kaylor Carlton and Tracy Lowe are part of the 2019 NCAIED’s 40 Under 40 class. Osage News
Four Osages are among the members of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development’s 2019 40 Under 40 class.
Jennifer Bighorse, Alison Black, Kaylor Carlton and Tracy Lowe will be recognized Aug. 24 in Phoenix as part of NCAIED’s annual awards gala.
Since 2009, NCAIED has annually recognized 40 Indigenous professionals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business, their professions, or in their communities.
Previous honorees include U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), rapper Frank Waln, former WNBA all-star Shoni Schimmel and National Indian Gaming Commission Vice Chair Kathryn Isom.
“The 2019 class of our Native American 40 under 40 Award winners is a truly impressive group of amazing young leaders,” said Chris James, President and CEO of the National Center. “They join a growing community of past winners who are already making a difference in their communities and professions. I look forward to honoring their achievements and welcoming them into the 40 under 40 family.”
For more than a decade, Bighorse has served as the director of marketing for Osage Casinos. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, she is also on the board of directors for Arts Alliance Tulsa and was part of Class 61 of Leadership Tulsa. She is also of Cherokee, Sioux and Creek descent.
Black is the director of Indian Education for the Red Rock-based Frontier Public Schools. An alumna of Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University, she is the president-elect of the Oklahoma Council of Indian Education and serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. She is also of Southern Cheyenne, Ponca and Prairie Band Potawatomi descent.
A resident of Glenpool, Carlton is a speech pathologist and the director of rehabilitation at Okmulgee’s Highland Park Manor. She is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and Oklahoma State University.
Lowe is a project manager with Broken Arrow-based Sawyer Fabrication and is also of Creek descent.
Daniel Sherron, a citizen of the Ponca Tribe, was also named to this year’s 40 Under 40 class. He currently serves as the clinic manager for Osage Nation Health Services. Prior to coming to work for the Osage Nation, the Ponca City resident was the executive director for the Tonkawa Tribe’s housing authority and served on his tribe’s gaming commission. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.
Past 40 Under 40 recipients from the Osage Nation include:
Jessica Rosemary Harjo 2009
Jacque Jones 2010
Berbon Hamilton 2011
Shannon Shaw Duty 2012
Ryan RedCorn 2013
Christy Finsel 2014
Anne (Jacobs) Chapman 2015
Jeremy Jones 2015
Jon RedCorn 2015
Mary Jo Pratt 2016
Dr. William Shunkamolah 2017
Hallie Winter 2018
By
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Original Publish Date: 2019-08-12 00:00:00
