Three years ago, Katelyn Wilbanks was surprised on the Today Show when University of Oklahoma President David Boren presented her with a full-ride scholarship to OU.
Now she's finally on campus, and she said it's everything she wanted it to be.
"I'm a big fan of OU football and I always wanted to work for them so it was kind of a dream come true," the Catoosa native said this week at the Sooner Housing Center where she moved in recently.
Wilbanks was chosen to be featured on the Today Show's Christmas in July special by a producer who met her. The producer was visiting her own father at the church Wilbanks attended in Tulsa.
The producer saw Wilbanks in 2005 shortly after she had her leg amputated at the knee. Wilbanks was born with spina bifida, a permanently disabling birth defect that affects the spinal cord. Wilbanks has had 56 surgeries, starting almost immediately after her birth.
"Most of my childhood was spent in the hospitals or doctor's offices or emergency rooms," she said.
Most of the surgeries were in an effort to save her foot from amputation, so the producer was surprised to see Wilbanks with a cheerful attitude so soon after her leg was amputated.
"She was just kind of, 'Wow, we'd like to do something for her,'" Wilbanks said.
So the producer spoke with OU officials about donating something to Wilbanks for the Christmas in July show. Wilbanks has always been an OU fan, ever since she would watch football games on TV with her grandparents.
Wilbanks and her mom and aunt were interviewed for what she told them was a human interest piece about inspiring people.
"It was like one big surprise," Wilbanks said. "Everybody knew, everybody in Catoosa knew."
Then they went on the show, not expecting to receive such a lavish gift.
"I was most excited that my future was going to have a lot more opportunities," she said.
She said she was very excited, because she had been wondering how she was going to make it to OU with costs so high.
"I probably wouldn't have been able to make it up here without a full ride," she said.
In addition to the four-year full scholarship, Wilbanks was told once she got to OU she would have a job: equipment manager for the football team. That's something she said she always wanted.
Wilbanks started that job July 28. She collects helmets, uniforms, pads and other gear from the football players and cleans them and gets them ready for the next use.
School will start Monday for Wilbanks, who already looked like she'd found her new home Tuesday. She walked around the muddy campus decked out in OU paraphernalia.
Wilbanks said she was told Boren was eager to give her the scholarship because she overcame challenges with such a good attitude.
Wilbanks attributed that positive attitude to the support of those around her.
"I don't know why or how," she said. "I think it must be just the people I've had around me and the friends and family."
Certainly her positive attitude has helped her adapt to her new surroundings. She gushed about all the nice and helpful people she's met in Norman, and the good friends she's already made.
"I had a blast at Camp Crimson," she said. "We're all Facebook buddies."
Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
Local news
Three years after receiving gift from OU, Katelyn Wilbanks finally on campus
- Local news
-
-
'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year
Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacey seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
-
Communicating finances is good for relationship
If Valentine’s Day makes you think of flowers, candlelight and whispering sweet nothings into your sweetheart’s ear, maybe it’s time to think again. While many factors can play into whether a relationship endures for the long term, ...
-
The Week Ahead: China has mighty appetites
America’s banker visits its grocer in the coming week. When Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping tours the U.S., his itinerary includes expected stops in Washington, D.C., and California. But he’s also scheduled to stop in Iowa. Usually ...
-
I-35/Robinson Street interchange project
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded the bid for the Interstate-35 and Robinson Street interchange project on Feb. 6. Silver Star Construction Company of Moore, was awarded the bid at $2,730,900 — $373,700 lower than the ...
-
Public hearings
Residential Code informational meeting 6- 8 p.m., Feb. 16 Multipurpose Room, Norman Municipal Complex 201 West Gray Street The Norman Department of Planning and Community Development is hosting a public information program on the city’s ...
-
Business briefs
The Norman Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster. A librarian will speak about Valentine’s day and how it came about and a book display. RSVP: ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
