Weatherford, OK – Ethan Mewhirter of Lawton, Oklahoma has been named the Sonobe Family Scholar at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) for the 2025–2026 academic year.

A native of Lawton, Mewhirter is a Senior majoring in Chemistry.

The Sonobe Family Scholarship was established by Blake and Janie Sonobe of Weatherford in 2014.

The Sonobes came to SWOSU in 1990. Blake taught in the Department of Chemistry, serving as chair of the Chemistry Department (1997-99) and interim chair/chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics from 1999 until 2005. He served as senior vice president and provost for academic and student affairs from 2005 through October 2012 when he joined the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

The Sonobe Family Scholarship rotates among Pharmacy, Chemistry, and Biology students.

The Sonobes are longtime SWOSU benefactors. They are Founder-level investors in the SWOSU Bulldog Angels Fund for students in crisis, and in 2018 Blake was recognized in the SWOSU Alumni Association's annual Emeriti Honors.

The Sonobe Family Scholarship is stewarded by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. The Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships, and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU. For more information about the Sonobe Family Scholarship or any SWOSU Foundation, Inc., funds, please contact 580-774-3267 or visit www.SWOSUFoundation.com.

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