Posted on 07/29/2005 8:50:04 AM PDT by CharlieOK1
Forget “The Scholar.” Fifteen-year-old Katelyn Wilbanks from Catoosa, Oklahoma, received her “full ride” scholarship without having to undergo a battery of tests and challenges against stiff competition. Her own challenges, though, have been a bit more difficult.
Wilbanks was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that’s resulted in 54 surgeries. Her left leg was amputated last year. Doctors expected her to die as a toddler, but she’s continued to defy the odds.
Now she dreams of attending the University of Oklahoma, becoming a physician and helping others fight this disease. Thanks to the university and the “Today Show,” that dream might just come true. On Tuesday’s show, Wilbanks appeared on a segment called “Christmas in July.” The university’s president was on hand (along with the OU marching band) to present Wilbanks with a full scholarship. This, of course, assumes she’ll be accepted; she’s only a high school sophomore.
Was this a true act of generosity or a publicity gimmick for OU? Let’s drop the cynicism and give the university the benefit of the doubt. Here’s wishing Wilbanks the best of luck and OU a Big 12 title as its reward.
She is in the Tuesday segment.
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No doubt a wonderful story but stills smells of a publicity stunt. Sorry, but just because she was born with spina bifida doesn't mean she's any more deserving than the next person. Put aside that my kid is an honors student which probably won't net her enough for a university parking sticker, so where can she a full ride scholarship for being born with blonde hair and blue eyes?
She was not expected to live out her toddler years, yet has overcome a lot of hardships with a great attitude. To a lot of people, even people that consider themselves pro-life, spina bifida is an acceptable reason to have an abortion (see exceptions for severe deformity).
I will grant you that it looks like a publicity stunt, but it is still a great story.
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