Axel Thurman and Hannah Parker of Durant High School have been selected as the Shamrock Bank Impact Athlete and Performing Arts Students of the month for October 2025.
Axel, a senior, excels in football, wrestling, baseball and powerlifting.
Each week the past two gridiron seasons, Thurman has topped the tackle chart for the Lion defense. As a junior, he earned the district 5A-3 “Inside Linebacker Player of the Year” award selected by the coaches. In addition, Axel has earned three “Durant Lumber Company Hard Hat” player of the game honors.
“Axel is a great player and young man on and off the field “, Durant head football coach Todd Vargas said.
“He is what makes coaches love coaching. His attitude, relentless effort and selflessness is what separates him from most others. “
As fall transitions to winter, Thurman wrestles for Jim Taylor’s mat squad then heads out in the spring to play baseball.
One of the fastest players on the Lions baseball team, he hit . 333 and served as a pinch runner with ten stolen bases in the team’s drive to the Class 5A state tournament last May.
Not stopping there, Thurman is a strong member of the DHS powerlifting team that won state honors in Class 5A this past school year.
Stellar in the classroom, too. Axel has compiled a 4.0 cumulative and 4.261 weighted grade point average and is a member of Oklahoma, National and Oklahoma Indian Student Honor Society.
He is also active in the community serving as a volunteer for “Colton’s Run” and the “District 9 Choctaw Seniors.”
Thurman is still deciding on his college destination. But, he is planning on playing football and majoring in software engineering.
“I strive to be a leader on and off the field,” Thurman said. “I am also a proud member of the Choctaw Nation and took two years of the Choctaw Language in high school.”
Axel’s parents are Daniel and Autumn Thurman. He has a sister, Aspen, and a brother, Ayce
Hannah Parker is a highly decorated member of the DHS choir and participates in musical theatre and varsity tennis
The senior has been selected to the All District Honor Choir for six years along with being named to the Children’s All State Honor choir.
On stage, Hannah has the lead role in this year’s DHS musical production of “Into the Woods.” In addition, she has performed in “Annie”, Seussical” and “Camp Rock”.
An excellent tennis player, she placed third at the Class 5A tennis regional tournament and sang the National Anthem at the State Tennis Tournament.
Hannah has forged a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of National and Oklahoma Honor Society and is taking classes at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
In addition, she placed at the district’s curriculum contest her junior year and received the “Champion of Character” award for tennis her sophomore year.
Active in her church, Hannah has volunteered for “Colton’s Run” and with her church’s vacation bible school for several years.
She would like to pursue a career in nursing with a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). But, has not decided on a specific university. Her possibilities include Oklahoma Christian University or Harding University.
“I am a Christian and participate in many of my church’s activities,” she said. “I’ve grown up in the church and have been baptized. I do everything in God’s name and for His glory. I am so thankful to Him for everything that I have been able to do.”
Hannah’s parents are Richard and Page Parker. She has one brother, Cole.
Congratulations to Axel Thurman and Hannah Parker the Shamrock Bank Performing Arts and Impact Athlete Students of the Month for October 2025.
