RiverHawks Scholar Program

Why RiverHawks? | Alumni Family Spotlight 💚🦅

"Hope is currently living by herself near the NSU campus! She has her own apartment, a car, and recently started a new job at a retail store called Golden Rule.

I think RiverHawks prepared Hope to live independently by teaching her everyday skills like grocery shopping, meal planning, laundry, and other responsibilities. She has also been able to maintain a job and all of the responsibilities that come with it.

The biggest thing has been Hope's independence. She has been thriving since college. She has a job, a new car, and can cook, clean, and enjoy living on her own.

One of my favorite memories from Hope's time in the program was the recognition she received while she was in college. She was welcomed with open arms, and I loved seeing the awards she earned at the end of each year.

To any family considering the RiverHawks Scholar Program, I would say: definitely go for it! RiverHawks has helped so many people with disabilities through its unique college program by building skills for learning and for life."

💚 Stories like Hope's remind us that success looks different for every student, but confidence, independence, and opportunity are goals worth celebrating. Thank you for sharing your family's journey with us!

💚 Why RiverHawks? 💚

✨ This week, we're featuring the Hussain family.

"We wanted Hakeem to have the opportunity to experience college while continuing to build the life and independent living skills that will help him succeed as an adult. We also wanted him to be part of a community where he would feel accepted, supported, and included.

Our hope was that Hakeem would become more independent, build friendships, gain confidence, and become more involved in campus life.

Since joining the RiverHawks Scholar Program, we've seen Hakeem become more engaged on campus. He joined one of the student clubs, participates in campus events, and has become more social. It's been wonderful to see him spending time doing activities beyond just being on his laptop. He still benefits from reminders and support to stay organized and focused, but we're encouraged by the progress he's making and know that independence is a journey.

Some of our favorite memories have been attending Homecoming with Hakeem and watching him experience one of NSU's favorite traditions. We also loved attending the Spring Awards Ceremony, where we had the opportunity to meet the RiverHawks staff, the other students, and their families. Those events gave us a true sense of community and reminded us that we're all supporting one another through similar journeys."

💚 Thank you, Hussain family, for sharing your RiverHawks story!

🎉 Freshman Orientation is officially underway! 💚🦅

Today, we welcomed our newest RiverHawks Scholar students to campus as they begin an exciting new chapter at Northeastern State University!

From getting familiar with campus to meeting new people, learning about the program, and starting to build the skills they’ll need for college life, this weekend is all about getting ready for the journey ahead. 🌟

We are SO excited to watch this group grow, learn, make memories, and become part of the RiverHawks family!

Welcome to NSU, Class of 2026! 🦅💚

Your RiverHawks journey starts now!

🎉 Happy Birthday, Trevor! 💚🥳

Today we're celebrating one of our awesome sophomore scholars! Trevor is a loyal friend, a deep thinker, and (whether he likes it or not) the honorary "old man" of the group. 😂🧓

Thank you for always bringing your thoughtful perspective and being someone others can count on. We hope your birthday is filled with laughter, great memories, and everything that makes your day special.

Happy Birthday, Trevor!

💚Why RiverHawks? | Alumni Family Spotlight💚

🌟Featuring the Maddux Family: Alumna of 2024

"Abby works at the UPS Store, lives in an apartment with her roommate, and is active with Special Olympics swimming, TopGolf, and pickleball. She serves on the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities and has a very active social life, spending time with friends, going out to eat, attending the theater, watching movies, and celebrating at parties.

Overall, RSP taught Abby how to be more aware of her disability and surroundings and to ask for help when needed. She also learned what her adult responsibilities are and how her choices impact people trusting her.

While she still needs support, she honed her skills for independence and managing herself. As parents, we gained a clear understanding of how and where to support her after graduation, allowing us to put the right supports in place when she moved into her own apartment.

The paid employment, money management, scheduling, time management, and workplace expectations she learned at NSU have been invaluable. We have continued Sunday lessons, and she has a weekly 'reset meeting,' much like her NSU inspections. We also based her ongoing supports on the NSU pillars of independent living, continued learning, social engagement, and employment.

My favorite memories are of staff and students greeting Abby as we walked across campus and around Tahlequah. A professor stopped us at Chili's to tell me how much he enjoyed having Abby in class, campus police told me she could have a job with them anytime, and even the cafeteria workers greeted her by name. NSU truly embraced RiverHawks and Abby, and I felt it too.

Yes, there were hard moments. We lived five hours away and made many trips to Tahlequah when challenges came up. But it was by far the best transition program and the best choice for Abby. We do not regret one moment she spent there, and we continue to see the fruits of her hard work as she lives her best life as a RiverHawks graduate.

You won't regret it."

-Laurie Maddux

💚 Why RiverHawks? 💚

Every RiverHawks journey is unique, and we're honored to share the stories of the students and families who make our program so special.

✨ This week, we're featuring Kourtney's Family.

"Our family chose the RiverHawks Scholar Program for several reasons—an on-campus college experience, a strong emphasis on helping students develop independence, the support offered through tutoring, mentoring, group activities and events, and the opportunity for students to have an on-campus job.

Our hopes for Kourtney were to build her confidence, develop lasting friendships, and learn independent living skills.

Kourtney just completed her first year, and in that time, her confidence and social skills have grown. She has become more self-sufficient while being fully immersed in a true college experience.

It was hard to choose just one favorite memory! Some of our favorites include move-in day and seeing the excitement on her face, watching her participate in the Homecoming Parade with her new friends, and celebrating together at the end-of-the-year banquet.

If we could give one piece of advice to another family, it would be to schedule a visit with the RiverHawks leadership team. That first meeting on campus confirmed for us that we were making the right decision.

Above all else, the RiverHawks Scholar Program has given our daughter the opportunity to truly experience life as an NSU student—from living in the residence halls and making new friends to attending classes, sporting events, and enjoying campus life. That experience means everything to our family."

💚 Thank you for sharing your RiverHawks story!

🎉 Happy Birthday to our Assistant Director, Jaycee! 💚🥳

Today we're celebrating someone who goes above and beyond for our RiverHawks Scholars every single day. From cheering on students through their successes to creating new opportunities for growth and independence, Jaycee's passion for this program shines in everything she does.

We hope your birthday is filled with laughter, joy, and all your favorite things. Thank you for all you do for our RiverHawks family!

Help us wish Jaycee a very Happy Birthday!

🎉 Our RiverHawks Scholar Program Online Store is officially OPEN! 🎉

Now you can show your RiverHawks Scholar pride while supporting our students at the same time! From t-shirts and hoodies to other great merchandise, there's something for everyone.

Even better, a portion of every purchase goes directly back to the RiverHawks Scholar Program, helping us continue to create meaningful opportunities and experiences for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

🛍️ Shop the store here: https://nsuriverhawksstore26.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Thank you for supporting inclusion, independence, and the future of our students.

💚 Why RiverHawks? 💚

Every family's journey to RiverHawks is different, and we're grateful to share the stories that make our program so special.

✨ This week, we're featuring Trevor's Journey.

"When we looked at NSU, OU, and OSU, we chose NSU because it had the right class size and an exceptional administration. Knowing that the RiverHawks Scholar Program at NSU served as the model for other programs gave us confidence in our decision.

The program offers a welcoming learning environment, a supportive campus, and an all-around positive college experience. We saw marked growth in Trevor's social and academic skills during the first year.

One of our favorite memories has been attending the RiverHawks Scholars Gala. It is a celebration of everything our students have accomplished and the community that supports them.

What stands out most to us is that the RiverHawks Scholar Program is led by dedicated professionals who truly care about student success. The history of NSU, along with its smaller class sizes, allows professors to provide students with the individual attention they deserve."

Thank you to Trevor and his parents for sharing their RiverHawks story. 💚

Thank you to for inviting us to present during a breakout session at the Teachers of Successful Students Conference today! We love getting the opportunity to spread the great movement that is IPSE and creating more opportunities for students with IDD. Our Junior Hayden helped us present and advocated about her experiences about being a RSP and NSU student!