Durant, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University junior Haley Langley has been selected as a recipient of the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship).
Langley is a psychology major from Hugo in the Southeastern Honors Program and is also a fall semester designate for the McNair Scholars program. She will study in the summer of 2025 in Vienna, Austria, and Leiden, The Netherlands, through Southeastern’s partnership with Webster University. Both programs offer advanced training in psychological research, combining rigorous classroom study with laboratory-based research.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona. With the support of the U.S. Congress, this scholarship honors the Senator’s legacy of public service by enabling children and spouses of active or activated United States military personnel (Haley’s father is Cpt. Eric Langley of Ada) to develop the leadership and career readiness skills and global perspective to pursue careers of service and contribute to preserving the principles and alliances that are critical to an international order based on the rule of law, human rights, and democracy.
“I am truly humbled and amazed to have earned this opportunity,” Langley said. “Studying abroad has always been a dream, but it wasn’t until Dr. Lincoln believed in me that I thought this could be a reality. I am forever grateful to him for encouraging me to apply, guiding me through the process, and supporting me for the last three years to grow, not just as a student, but as a person. While there are so many people I owe thanks to, none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my Honors Program mentors, my relentlessly supportive faculty mentors inside the Psychology department, and my friends and family. Words truly can’t express how deeply thankful I am for the army of support I have behind me.”
“When I first met Haley as a concurrent student in an Early Humanities class, it was clear she was the kind of student that would be capable of great and impressive things,” said Dr. Kyle C. Lincoln, Director of Study Abroad for Southeastern. “It seems, to me, all too fitting that the legacy of Senator McCain honors young people possessed of such an unusual capacity for wisdom and understanding about what might heal the broken parts of the world. Most of Southeastern’s brightest students might pursue one of these international research programs in the summer, but quite as anyone who might meet Haley would suspect, Ms. Langley is undertaking two of them. Dedication to the belief that individuals might, through their hard work and courage and perseverance, change the world was at the core of the Arizona Senator’s career, and I know it is a part of Haley’s path forward.”
About Southeastern
Founded in 1909, Southeastern Oklahoma State University provides an environment of academic excellence that enables students to reach their highest potential. By having personal access to excellent teaching, challenging academic programs, and extracurricular experiences, students will develop skills and habits that promote values for career preparation, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning. Our over 6,000 students include 50% first-generation students and 28% students of Native American descent, with 82% receiving financial aid. Southeastern ranks amongst the most affordable schools in the region thanks to out-of-state tuition waivers and is proud of its exceptional affordable accredited MBA program, stellar aerospace and teacher education programs, and outstanding national ranking in graduating Native American students.
