Reporter

Autobiography. Tulsa residents are invited to share their stories of the Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) high school that inspired them the most in conjunction with the GlobalHealth Inspiration Award for High Schools. Designed to award TPS high schools for inspiring generations of students to achieve educational excellence, the nine TPS high schools -- Central, E. Central, Edison, Hale, McLain, Memorial, Rogers, Booker T. Washington and Webster -- each will receive $2,000 if their inspired fans come forward and share their stories.

From now through Thursday, Oct. 26, students, alumni, teachers, parents and community members have the opportunity to recognize their favorite TPS high school. Visit this special page on the TPS website at tulsaschools.org/GlobalHealth and share what makes your favorite TPS high school so inspiring.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Oklahoma

Stepping Up. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma (BBBSOK) and Governor Mary Fallin presented the first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Governor's Award to House Speaker Kris Steele during an event Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Steele has served as a Big in the organization since 2010 and is a major supporter of the BBBSOK Amachi program, which provides mentoring to children of incarcerated parents.

The Amachi program is designed to break the intergenerational cycle of crime among incarcerated parents and their children. Statistics show that children with incarcerated parents are five times more likely to become incarcerated themselves at some point in their lives. Children matched through the Amachi program show significant outcomes after being matched one year with a Big Brother or Big Sister. Reports show that 68 percent show improvement in their classroom behavior, and 73 percent report a better sense of the future.