HARTSHORNE, Okla.–– Jones Academy proudly announces the graduating class of 2026.
Founded in 1891 by the Choctaw Nation, Jones Academy is a no-cost American Indian boarding school located four miles north of Hartshorne in Eastern Oklahoma. The school is nestled among 540 acres of rolling pastures and trees at the foot of the Pocahontas Mountains in Oklahoma’s Ouachita Mountain range.
Approximately 200 students in grades 1-12 each year attend from tribal nations across the United States.
Jones Academy and its partners are transforming learning experiences for Native youth by helping them discover life pathways and cultivate a sense of cultural identity.
Education at this American Indian boarding school isn’t only about book knowledge. It’s also about the life lessons that create mature, balanced, responsible and compassionate adults.
Maya Clarabelle Baker, 18, is the daughter of Travice Lewallen of Heavener, Okla. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. While attending Jones Academy, Maya participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America at Hartshorne High School. She served as an officer with the United National Indian Tribal Youth Council and was a member of the CNO Youth Advisory Board and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. In fall 2025, she represented Jones Academy at the AISES Conference in Minneapolis. Maya also excelled in 4-H and showed hogs. She is enrolled at Eastern Oklahoma State College and plans to pursue a career in counseling.
Emery Paige Comby, 18, is the daughter of Jimmy and Alexanderia Comby of Tucker, Miss. Emery is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. As a student at Jones Academy, she represented the school at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society conference in San Antonio. Emery was active in the Jones Academy UNITY Council and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America at Hartshorne High School. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and earned honor roll recognition. During high school, Emery completed concurrent courses through Eastern Oklahoma State College and will graduate with 18 college credit hours. She describes her sense of humor as being “as dry as the Sahara Desert.” Emery plans to attend Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Okla., where she will enter the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
Malakai Reye Franklin, 18, is the son of Sarah Segura of Oklahoma City and Francisco Segura of McAlester, Okla. He is an enrolled member of the Creek Nation of Oklahoma. Through the CNO 477 Youth Employment Services program, Malakai worked at the Jones Academy cafeteria, working hard and making money. In the evenings, he joined a group of students whose Native American drumming became a familiar sound across campus. At dusk, they produced a sacred sound that moved the listeners’ hearts to both a venerable tradition and the promise of a new generation of drummers. Malakai has enrolled at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City, where he plans to prepare for a career in welding.
Harold Joseph “Joey” Freeland III, 18, is the son of Melissa Freeland of Wilburton, Okla., and John Patten of Mesa, Ariz. He is the grandson of Katheryn Garfield and Harold Freeland of Wilburton, Okla. Joey is a descendant of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada and Oregon. At Jones Academy, he participated in 4-H and the United National Indian Tribal Youth Council. Joey was also a member of the school’s esports team and competed regionally. After graduation, he plans to attend Talking Leaves Job Corps Center in Tahlequah, Okla., to study construction technology.
Adriana Lorene Montejo, 18, is the daughter of Anita Montejo of Columbus, Ohio. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and has attended Jones Academy since first grade. Adriana participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America at Hartshorne High School and studied interactive media at Kiamichi Technology Center in McAlester, Okla. She was active in the United National Indian Tribal Youth Council and the CNO Youth Employment Services program, working in the dorm, gym and Student Success Center. Adriana was always volunteering to serve and ready to help. She was one of the SSC Director Mr. Barnes’ favorites. Adriana plans to attend Carl Albert State College this fall and pursue a career in the cosmetics industry.
Ruben Alexander Sharp, 18, is the son of Cassandra Fraser of El Reno, Okla., and Ross Sharp of Weatherford, Okla. Ruben is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. While at Jones Academy, he participated in the UNITY Council and played stickball. Ruben also worked through the CNO Youth Employment Services program. He studied construction technology at Kiamichi Technology Center, where he demonstrated strong aptitude in the field and worked toward certification in building and construction. After graduation, Ruben plans to work for the DREAMS program with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and hopes to transition into full-time employment with the tribes.
Sweetie Amirah Shawnee, 18, is the granddaughter of Lula Sankadota of Weatherford, Okla., who serves as her guardian, and the late Jasper Sankadota. She is the daughter of the late Jodi Sankadota and James Shawnee of Geary, Okla. Sweetie is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. At Jones Academy, she was active in the UNITY Council and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. In 2025, she was selected as a delegate to the AISES Conference in Minneapolis. Sweetie completed the criminal justice program at Kiamichi Technology Center and interned this spring with the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office. She plans to complete general education courses at Eastern Oklahoma State College before transferring to the University of Central Oklahoma to study forensic science. She dreams of becoming a crime scene investigator.
Jimmy Andres Trejo-Rains, 18, is the son of Stephanie Rains and Lucio Trejo of Oklahoma City. He is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and has attended Jones Academy since first grade. During his time at the school, Jimmy participated in 4-H and livestock shows and served as president of the UNITY Youth Council during his senior year. He studied construction technology at Kiamichi Technology Center, where he was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and excelled in woodworking and cabinetry. In March, Jimmy interviewed with Mill Creek Lumber and Supply Company in Tulsa, Okla., and plans to begin full-time employment with the company after graduation.