Barbara Faith Cunningham Forsythe Scholarship
The Barbara Faith Cunningham Forsythe Scholarship was established by her husband Homer to honor the 1961 OCW graduate. It is a tribute to her dedication and excellence as a teacher and for her inspiration to her students in their academic pursuits. The scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior female student, with a 3.0 GPA or above and a major in English (English Literature), English education or communication (journalism).
Forsythe’s younger years were heavily influenced by her family’s emphasis on education as their top priority. She also was inspired by her secondary education teachers, who were very proficient and encourage her.
She loved to learn and she loved to pass on her knowledge to others. She loved the eccentricities of the English language and was an avid reader. “Good poetry made her smile,” Homer said.
Forsythe grew up in Wewoka, Oklahoma in a family of eight children. While attending OCW, she participated in various campus activities. She was the recipient of the OCW Merit Scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in English education and a minor in journalism.