TU student former member of President’s security team

No two students here at the University of Tulsa have followed the same path to end up where they are today; every student has something different driving them to succeed everyday. That’s what makes the university such a diverse community.
Some graduated at the top of their class and attend in pursuit of academics. Some have an unique way of looking at things and attend to share that perspective with the world. Some attend to do all of that and more. Still, some have served as part of President George W. Bush’s Security team — well, one student in particular — and attend to better the surrounding community.
Megan Lowry is that student, and her desire to help her community has lead her to reach heights some people only dream about.
Lowry was one of three applicants selected out of 600 to serve on President Bush’s Security team.
Originally serving as a Marine Corps Military Police Officer, she applied to the position on a whim.
“I never thought a Native American girl from nowhere Oklahoma would ever be a candidate for that job, but I thought it would be epic if I could do it,” she said. “I chalked it up to a dream and told myself I was ridiculous for entertaining the thought.”
That dream became a reality, though, after an extensive application process. After the initial 600 were selected, they were put through a screening process that reduced the number down to 150. “The selection board of Marines started making statements like ‘if you’ve ever had a ticket for anything, gotten in a fight in school or had any disciplinary actions taken against you, get up and leave…If you’ve ever had an ‘F’ grade, get up and leave…If any of your family has been to jail, get up and leave,’” Lowry said.
The remaining applicants were invited back the next day for a mental assessment. Lowry was a given Myer Briggs test and attended an interview with a panel of Marines that would have sent most people running for the hills.
“During the interview all five Marines (who were male) stared me down like I was worse than the scum on the bottom of their shoes, all the while firing off question after question some times at the same time, trying to get me flustered,” she said.
After it was all said and done, though, Lowry and two other applicants were given news that would start a new chapter in their lives.
Lowry worked on the security team during Bush’s last term in office, and her typical work day was anything but typical.
“We would get up at 4 a.m., practice physical fitness and report in for formation when it was still dark out,” she said. “We would get briefed and start a 12 hour shift, then get off work if we were stateside and go back out for more physical training and martial arts work till it was dark. We worked anywhere from an 16 hour day to three to four days straight (no sleep).”
With all the time she spent around President Bush, it’s no surprise that she got to know him well and found him to be very enjoyable. While he neither represents her political views nor her party affiliation, she does have a strong sense of respect for President Bush.
“He was the kind of President that bent down and picked up my cover [hat] that had blown off and put it back on my head,” she said.
“He also fixed my pant leg when his dog messed it up. He and his wife were like the grandparents you always saw in movies that were super sweet and kind hearted. He was very personable and passionate about his job as well.”
Even though her time with President Bush has ended, Lowry still leads a pretty interesting life. Not only did she attend culinary school in San Francisco and work as a chef here in Tulsa for a while, but her desire to help people has led her to pursue a higher education and start a number of community outreach programs.
One of her most successful programs was a suicide awareness and prevention event that raised seven thousand dollars in scholarship money. She even trains service dogs on Thursdays for free.
“I knew I would be able to come to a prestigious school and better my community outreach efforts,” she concludes, “and get the education needed to be able to achieve my goal: to help and serve my community.”