Alanna Williams was named the recipient of the Leo Canaday Memorial Scholarship Tuesday night before the NOC Lady Mavs hosted NOC Enid. Pictured (L-R): Vice President for Development & Community Relations Sheri Snyder, Director of Development and Donor Relations Candy Oller, Alan Hardesty, Leo Hardesty, Mikaela Hardesty, Vicki Hardesty, Alanna Williams, Melissa Williams, Krislyn Williams, Lady Mavs Coach Greg Krause, Athletic Director Alan Foster. (photo by Shiloh Martin/NOC)
Alanna Williams earns Leo Canaday Memorial Scholarship
The Leo Canaday Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Alanna Williams as the recipient for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Williams is a freshman Health, Physical Education & Recreation major from Hartshorne, Oklahoma.
The Leo Canaday Memorial Scholarship was established in 2004 by Canaday’s wife, Pat. Through the generous support of family and friends, this scholarship provides students an opportunity to pursue their educational goals at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa and is presented to a member of the NOC Women’s Basketball team.
Leo Canaday attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College in 1954 and was a member of the Maverick Football team. He obtained his Bachelor Degree and Master’s Degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Leo returned to NOJC in 1963 where he served as Athletic Director and Physical Education Department Chairman for 30 years, retiring in 1993.
While at Northern he coached football, men’s and women’s basketball, track, tennis and golf. His women’s basketball teams won seven conference championships, one regional championship, a 3rd place finish at the 1975 National Tournament and a National Championship in 1979.
He was named conference Coach of the Year seven times, and was named Regional and National Coach of the Year in 1979. In 2004 he was honored with the Northern Oklahoma College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Representing the Canaday family were Leo’s daughter, Vicki Canaday Hardesty and husband Allen, Mikaela Hardesty (great granddaughter of Leo) and Leo Hardesty (great grandson of Leo). Canaday’s daughter, Lisa, watched via Livestream from Florida.
Assisting in presenting the scholarship certificate to Williams was Lady Maverick’s Head Coach Greg Krause, Vice President for Development & Community Relations Sheri Snyder, Director of Development and Donor Relations Candy Oller, and NOC Athletic Director Alan Foster. Williams’ mother, Melissa, and sister, Krislyn were present for the award.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOC serves nearly 4,000 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing. For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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