Star Spencer Senior Awarded Over $750,000 In Scholarships Thanks To Teacher

As high school seniors prepare for graduations all over the country, it’s also a time to reflect on relationships that they have formed over the years.

“She was a like a positive role model, because my life, I never had like positive role models, I had people that I didn’t want to be like,” said Neighujah Harmon, who just graduated from Star Spencer High School.

Harmon met Dr. Kirk when she was in the seventh grade and the two immediately formed a bond.

“I thought, here’s this lady that is ambitious, loves to talk, full of energy and you know there’s just something special about her,” said Dr. Christina R. Kirk, English teacher as well as the college and career readiness advisor at Star Spencer High School.

“My high school career like she just pushed me, and pushed me, and pushed me, to the point that I got tired of her,” joked Harmon.

Dr. Kirk, in addition to teaching, is also an attorney, a judge, and an author, and she saw a lot of herself in Harmon.  

“I want a career and not a job and at the time I didn’t realize how that stood out to her, but she took it and ran with it,” said Harmon.

Dr. Kirk has been working with Harmon to apply for college scholarships.

“We started preparing for scholarships in the eighth grade,” said Dr. Kirk.

Harmon, now a senior, has a 3.9 GPA, is class president, student council president and class valedictorian, putting her in perfect position to receive scholarships.

“We went to the black college expo in Texas in August, and right there on the spot she received about $250 thousand worth of scholarship offers and awards,” said Dr. Kirk.

She now has over $750 thousand in scholarships and over 38 acceptance letters to historically black colleges, with more money and acceptance letters expected.

“It is important for me to attend a HBCU because I want to be in the majority for once and I also want to learn about the different cultures,” said Harmon.

Harmon and Dr. Kirk have traveled over 2,800 miles visiting HBCU campuses and in the fall, she will attend Alabama A&M.

“Psychology and minor in African American studies, because I feel that it is important to focus on black teens mental health,” said Harmon.

Dr. Kirk finds her passion in teaching and helping students prepare for college. The 2023 graduating class has a little over 40 students and over $1 million in scholarship money awarded.

Dr. Sean McDaniel, superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools, congratulated Harmon on her accomplishments.

“I’ve been around Oklahoma City Public Schools for probably around 35 years, watching people come and go and there have been some students that have done some unbelievable things, I don’t ever remember anyone coming through Oklahoma City Public Schools to do what you have done. That’s in the athletic world that in the academic world.”

Everyone expects great things from the recent graduate, pressure that she welcomes, letting everyone know, she’s not done yet.

As Harmon prepares to leave for college with her family, it is a given that Dr. Kirk travels with them for orientation and to get her moved into her dorm room, as she is doing with several other college bound students.