A pair of Purcell High School graduates are making news this week.

Class of 1982 grad Kurt Gray was honored Tuesday at the high school by the Norman Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with a certificate honoring him as a National Citizenship Education Teacher.

The prestigious award was for promoting citizenship education in the classroom and in the Purcell School District.

Just this week, under the tutelage of Gray, numerous Purcell 8th graders passed the U.S. Citizenship examination.

Under State Law Oklahoma residents must pass the test in order to acquire a driver’s license.

It’s been suggested that State Lawmakers be held to the same standard.

The other big news is 2023 PHS graduate Mercer Martin has recently been elected as the President of The University of Oklahoma Student Body, now known as the OU Student Government Association.

A photo and information about Gray may be found on page 2A of this week’s Purcell Register.

Mercer’s photo and her involvement at OU can be found on this week’s front page.

Mercer becomes the first female PHS graduate to be elected President of the Student Body.

With the research that’s available, the only other Dragon graduate to serve in that capacity was Randy McDaniel in 1989-90.

McDaniel went on to recently serve as the Oklahoma State Treasurer from 2019-2023.

Mercer recently worked in U.S. Congressman Tom Cole’s Washington, D.C. office.

One can only wonder what her political aspirations might be.

A hearty round of congratulations goes to both of these outstanding individuals.