“Education is exorbitantly expensive,” said Reese Siegle, a Chickasaw Foundation scholarship recipient. “But through scholarships like the Lillian Fowler Memorial Scholarship, I was able to significantly relieve the financial burden that comes with studying medicine.”
Siegle continued: “I am a product of a public health service physician and Indian health service nurse,” he noted, “both of their experiences in medicine have inspired me to pursue a career serving American Indian patients. I am presently attending medical school at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences through the Indians into Medicine Program, and I plan to come back one day and serve Chickasaw Nation as a medical doctor.”Reese was astonished to learn he received the Lillian Fowler Memorial Scholarship. “It was at my white coat ceremony that I received the letter stating I had been the recipient of the Lillian Fowler Memorial Scholarship,” he mentioned. “My nana, Sharon Leming, was ecstatic. She explained to me that Lillian Fowler had attended boarding school with my granny. Their friendship continued through adulthood when my granny would go to the senior site in Pauls Valley to cook.”
Siegle explained further: “Nana told me that Granny and Lillian spent lots of time laughing and telling stories together and that they were ‘pretty big buds.’ [She also] told me how happy my granny would be knowing I had received a scholarship honoring her good friend. For me, receiving the Lillian Fowler Memorial Scholarship means honoring Lillian Fowler and my granny Rosalie Imotichey.
Reese credits the help of the Chickasaw Nation and Chickasaw Foundation for his road through education. “My path to medicine looks a little different than many people. I graduated my undergraduate school in three years and immediately matriculated into medical school,” he said. “A family member once told me ‘You only attended elementary, junior high, high school and college because you had to [in order to] go to medical school.’ In other words, the highest priority goal for me is becoming a doctor by attending medical school. Without the financial help of Chickasaw Nation, I never would have been able to devote as much of my time to my studies or take as many credit hours as I did and graduate early.”
Chickasaw Foundation congratulates Reese on his educational success and wishes him the best in his studies!