Maria Mota and Brent Dickey's story is a perfect blend of two very different worlds. Maria, known as "Duda" to her friends, comes from Brazil and moved to the United States in 2019 as a foreign exchange student. She spent her exchange year living with a host family in Owasso, which led to her graduating from Owasso High School. During her time in Owasso, her host family’s experience with the NICU at St. Francis greatly influenced her career choice. Motivated by this experience, Duda pursued a nursing degree at Rogers State University, earning her BSN in May 2024. She now works at St. Francis Children’s Hospital in the NICU.

Brent, a California native, began his higher education journey at Ventura Junior College, where he played baseball. He later transferred to Rogers State University to complete his Bachelor’s in Sports Management and his Master’s in Administration. It was during the 2020 pandemic that Brent and Duda met. Captivated by Duda, Brent found her on social media, and after a few dates, they quickly realized they were meant to be together. In March 2024, Brent proposed, and the couple married in June of the same year.

After graduating in May 2023, Brent took on a role as an eighth-grade history teacher at Will Rogers Junior High, where he also coaches junior high and high school football, baseball, and basketball.

Both active and energetic, Duda and Brent are members of the Claremore Pickleball Club at the local REC Center. When not playing pickleball, they enjoy walks at Claremore Lake or the RSU Nature Reserve. For a refreshing drink, Duda highly recommends 6:19 Nutrition, praising their friendliness with the comment, “They are the sweetest people in town.” They also enjoy exploring local businesses in the Lilac District, and when it comes to dining out, J Farley’s and Francesco’s are their go-to spots.

Duda and Brent cherish their life in Claremore, expressing gratitude for the supportive community. They love the “small-town charm” and look forward to purchasing their first home in the area. As they put it, “We love our community and how we feel like we can always count on them!”