Spirit of Oklahoma award presented to Sherri Coale

At its recent state convention, the Oklahoma Grand Assembly, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls honored Sherri Coale, head coach of the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball team, with their Sprit of Oklahoma Award.

The Spirit of Oklahoma Award, Rainbow’s highest non-member honor, is awarded annually for outstanding achievement by an Oklahoman in the arts, education, business, government or philanthropy in Oklahoma. Coale received the award for her continued leadership of young women balancing an emphasis for team members on not just athletics, but also academics and community service.

Locally, Guthrie Assembly #22 had 35 girls attended along with approximately 20 adults.

Regarding the award, Brian W. Pierson, Executive Officer with Oklahoma Rainbow, stated, “Year after year Coach Coale provides an opportunity for talented young women to develop individually as members of an outstanding basketball program.  More importantly, she not only gets the most from her players on the court, but maintains an equal, if not greater emphasis on achieving excellence in the classroom while developing a commitment to the community at large. She was a perfect selection for our Spirit award this year.”

Coale received the award at the Rainbow annual convention held over Memorial Day weekend on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. Previous recipients of the award include H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt; OU President, David and Molly Boren; Judge Lee West; and OCU President Robert Henry.

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a service organization for young women between the ages of eleven and twenty that is sponsored by the Masonic Fraternity. The Oklahoma Grand Assembly has almost 600 members from across the state.